Chapter: 17. Night Talk
Well… since this is a family conflict for Xue Fei, Xiya won’t question it further for now.
She knows too little about Xue Fei’s past life in this life, so she currently lacks the ability and qualifications to help her strategize.
However, Xiya still hopes that in the future, if given the chance, Xue Fei can reconcile with her family and not have to wear a forced smile while living far from her homeland, seeking peace in such a way.
This is possible.
The evidence is that—when Xue Fei talks about these things, she does not detest her family.
As the night sky pressed down on Yaolu, and the morning breeze stirred the willow trees.
Perhaps if they chatted a few more sentences, dawn would break outside the window.
But the two girls on this small bed were getting more and more spirited in their conversation, as if it were not the early morning but a tea party at noon.
Only this tea party lacked tea and pastries.
~
Sitting side by side, they leaned against the bedside table, surrounded by the comforting fragrance of each other’s presence.
Xiya wrapped her fingers around the golden hair that fell onto the pillow, gazing out at the endless lake reflecting the shining stars, murmuring to herself.
“Xue Fei, you must be careful not to cause too much commotion in the future. This is what worries me…”
“Are you still afraid I’ll blow up your house?”
“No, I’m worried that after my house gets blown up, someone in the kingdom will notice and then trouble you.”
“Then what’s there to be afraid of!” Xue Fei started to tug at her sleeves, showing off her little arms with no muscle! “Just punch whoever comes at me, I’ll guard my daily life!”
“But if you punch whoever comes at you, won’t it just be like the battlefield again?”
“Ah… that does seem true.”
Xue Fei, you said I was thick-headed… sometimes, you can be quite daft too.
This is what Xiya intended to express.
Unconsciously, Xiya’s shoulder moved closer to Xue Fei.
Until her shoulder gently touched Xue Fei’s.
“Actually, I feel a bit lack of confidence…” Xiya suddenly whispered this sentence.
“Huh?”
“Today at the palace meeting, I have this vague premonition that regarding Xue Fei, the kingdom and the Church State will surely not sit idly by. They will make some moves, but what exactly that will be… and whether it will disrupt the life Xue Fei wants, we don’t know yet.”
“Hehe~ weren’t you just saying you were fearless? Why are you down now?”
“Um… it must be because after meeting Xue Fei, you’ve led me astray.”
“Blame me?!”
“Yes, blame you.”
I definitely have to blame you, Xue Fei.
Before I knew you existed in this world… I only knew I was a hero, with my responsibilities to protect the kingdom.
I would get tired, and I would get annoyed.
But after being tired and annoyed, I don’t know what else meaningful I can do.
Born into a family named the “Sword of the Nation,” many seemingly unreasonable things can only be explained as “a matter of course,” whether it be being dispatched to the front lines to intimidate the enemy or preparing dull speeches to inspire the crowd.
Or there was a time when… I really thought fighting for the kingdom was enough and that this was how life should be spent.
Until I saw your smile again on the battlefield.
That figure standing amidst the scorched battlefield… still reaching out to me, how dazzling.
At that moment, the entire world of “Hero Xiya Let” transformed from monotonous gray and blood red to a kaleidoscope of colors.
Xiya gradually recalled that in addition to fighting and killing, the meaning of existence has a more important subject.
—Called peaceful years.
On the surface, this is Xiya protecting Xue Fei’s dream life.
In reality… it is Xue Fei reaching out to her own self in the depths of hellfire, bringing her into that vast and boundless sea of sky.
Even so… Xue Fei, can you still say it wasn’t you who “led me astray”?
Xiya Let unknowingly closed her eyes, resting her head against Xue Fei’s shoulder.
The golden and silver hair intertwined, creating a breathtaking color of the world.
“Xue Fei… I think it’s not that I’m lacking confidence, it’s just that I’m worried…”
“Worried… about what?”
Xiya…! So heavy!
Not just my head is heavy, but this “slime” is weighing down my arms too!!
Honest Xue Fei couldn’t say anything or ask anything, and she didn’t dare to move.
However… more importantly…
She was seriously listening to Xiya’s heartfelt words.
This girl had been trying to act calm since stepping off the battlefield, and only now, in this quiet environment, could she finally share some genuine feelings.
So go ahead and talk, I’m all ears.
Xiya’s eyes suddenly sharpened.
She unexpectedly said something that momentarily stunned Xue Fei.
“If… I mean if, if things become really uncontrollable later… and there are no peaceful days in the kingdom, then… Xue Fei, let’s leave here together. Not in the human realm, nor in the demon realm, but to find a place where we can truly live.”
“……”
“Xue Fei…?”
Xue Fei’s petite body trembled slightly.
“I…”
“You…?”
“I… I can’t believe you’re such a thick-headed fool!
Ah! Are you really that stupid?!”
“Aah…! Ouch!”
Xue Fei jumped up suddenly, bare feet stepping on the bed, her palm in a knife shape lightly tapping on Xiya’s head—like hitting her back for earlier.
But she used a bit more strength than Xiya! Just to make it fair!
If not for careful observation, it would be hard to notice that the little girl’s cheeks seemed slightly rosier than before.
Whether out of urgency, anger, or something else.
But she was indeed stomping her feet in anger, that was for sure.
“You foolish hero… you should be more aware! Think about it, all your assets are in Aulus Kingdom, and you want to leave with me? Wouldn’t you just carry the stigma for life? Didn’t you say your family is harmonious? Just to mess around with me, you want to run away from home? Isn’t that just plain stupid! Hurry up and bang your head against tofu to get smarter!”
Xiya touched her head where she was hit.
Pouting like a fool.
Her murmured response left Xue Fei speechless.
“You’re criticizing me… but Xue Fei, aren’t you the same? You voluntarily gave up everything and left the demon territory, and you don’t have the right to scold me, right…?”
“That was…! That was…! Ah! What a hammer! Not sleeping at this late hour! Talking about this is simply disrespecting the god of sleep! Sleep, sleep!”
“There’s no god of sleep…”
Xue Fei, even for the sake of dodging the topic, don’t drag an imaginary god into this…
Xue Fei snorted and burrowed back into the quilt.
Turning her back to Xiya, she lay down, becoming a silver-haired fluffball, appearing indifferent and non-confrontational.
But her ears, which were crazily twitching to catch any movements behind her, made her current anxiety plainly visible.
Damn Xiya… what are you suddenly saying…
Even if I, Xue Fei, wander the world, I wouldn’t drag you down!
There was silence behind her for a long time, making Xue Fei even more confused.
Until a rustling sound came from behind not long after…
She felt something soft pressing on her back.
At the same time, what was wrapping around her belly was Xiya’s hand!
Being… being held from behind!
“Ah…?”
“Xue Fei.”
Xiya Let’s face was buried in Xue Fei’s silver hair.
Thus, it was hard to see her expression.
Only the lavender scent from her and the constant soft pressure of “slime” against Xue Fei’s back could be felt.
“I want to say again… it’s been a long time, sister really misses you…”
“…!”
“This bed isn’t big, so I’ll just hold you to sleep like this, okay…?”
“Okay… what good can it do?! I’m already… not afraid of the dark anymore!”
“But… I am afraid.”
“……”
Upon hearing this, Xue Fei fell silent for a moment.
Her little legs, which had been wildly kicking the bed protesting just now, also stopped moving.
She was still turned away from Xiya.
But the tone of her words…
Seemed subtly different from before.
“Do as you wish… I have no way to deal with you, you’re truly a foolish Xiya… can’t do without me.”
“Mm… I can’t do without Xue Fei.”
“So…! Don’t be so straightforward!”
“Xue Fei, hugging you feels a bit uncomfortable…”
“You’re picky, huh?!”
Xue Fei’s wail echoed in the room.
It was like calling forth the sunlight that illuminated the horizon.
A ray of sunlight had already started to shine on the windowsill.
And the colors in Xiya’s eyes, unaffected by the sunlight, began to shine with a flickering light.
Daybreak arrived.
But drowsiness slowly crept in.
In the blur, as consciousness faded, Xiya held Xue Fei tightly, whispering intermittently.
“Xue Fei… you… when you brought me the medicine on the way to the hospital… you knew you wouldn’t make it… what were you thinking at that time…?”
“Ah? Are you sleepy or something? Why suddenly ask about something so far back.”
Even though Xue Fei said this.
Her little hand, however, gripped Xiya’s hand that was resting on her belly tightly.
Her deep purple eyes drifted for a moment, perhaps recalling her thoughts at that time.
In a moment, she found the answer.
“At that time… when I got hit by a car, there wasn’t enough time to think so much.”
“I remember… I was thinking…”
“If I could see Xiya again in the future… how wonderful it would be.”
Xiya, holding the warm Xue Fei, resisted the drowsiness, listening to these precious words.
The smile on her face, framed by half-golden hair, was truly beautiful…
Hmm… Xue Fei, thank you for thinking about me until the end.
I wonder if you now understand my willingness to sacrifice everything to be with you…?
Because you were the first to sacrifice everything.
Xiya hugged Xue Fei tighter, her consciousness gradually dissipating as she prepared to enter dreamland.
Before falling asleep, she might have figured out something?
Why do I see Xue Fei always blushing and my heart racing?
The answer is actually very clear.
On that distant rainy night, when Xue Fei fell in a pool of blood, at the moment she reached for the medicine box.
After learning of this, Xiya’s once-pure emotions had transformed to a new height.
Only at the moment when these feelings completely germinated, the lives of the two had already reached their end.
But if this Xiya were to see the current Xue Fei…
The suppressed feelings that had sprouted for twenty years would shoot up into the sky like the pea in a fairy tale, growing into a towering tree that could not be stopped!
What does it matter if Xue Fei has turned into a girl?
Xue Fei is still Xue Fei, there can be no one but you.
If anything, it’s even better this way.
Ah… right.
I think… the reason we can meet again.
Perhaps it’s because of your wish.
And I, before my end… made the same wish as you.
—”How wonderful it would be to see you again.”
As dawn broke, sunlight illuminated the vast skies and fields.
And the two young girls who poured their hearts out throughout the dark night had just fallen asleep~
As they slept, so unaware.
The Holy Sword placed on the bedside emanated a faint golden glow, now and then, now not.
Then it too seemed to sleep, quiet and at peace.
