On the 29th, night fell.
Wei Dongling came early to the pavilion outside the South City. Seeing no one around, she quietly climbed onto the glazed tiles and lay on her side, staring blankly at the twinkling stars in the sky.
The South City was quiet. After a long time, the person she was waiting for still didn't come.
Wei Dongling was almost dozing off when suddenly she sensed a faint movement beneath her.
She sat up abruptly and locked eyes with a black - clad man on the ground.
The man covered his face with a black cloth, only revealing a pair of narrow eyes. Wei Dongling recognized him. It was Awakening of Insects!
Awakening of Insects clasped his fists and bowed deeply. "Miss Wei," he said, then leaped up and sat steadily beside Wei Dongling.
He didn't remove his mask. Wei Dongling saw a long, dark - colored scar like a centipede behind his ear and asked, "How's your injury?"
Awakening of Insects was touched. He lowered his head and replied, "Thank you for your concern. It's recovering well. That day, thanks to your rescue. I'm here today to tell you what I promised truthfully."
Wei Dongling nodded. "Okay."
Back then, Awakening of Insects was a killer on the run. He was an outstanding and valiant fighter, living a life on the edge of death for a long time.
Until he was spotted by a noble family and became a death - fighter.
The first mission he received was to go with ten other death - fighters to take the head of a man named Wei Jiang.
According to the clues, the eleven of them searched far and wide and finally found Wei Jiang's trace along the Dazhu Mountain range. To their surprise, the man was just an ordinary rural doctor.
They thought this mission would be extremely easy. But to their greater shock, this rural doctor was actually highly skilled! His light - body technique was superb. He could walk on tree branches as if on flat ground. Several times they saw his figure but couldn't get close to him at all.
The rural doctor was extremely cunning. Every time he sensed danger, he would turn around and flee. The eleven of them couldn't keep up with him!
The leader, An Yi, broke out in a cold sweat. "He's a descendant of the Ghost Seven Gate! This job might be tough."
But they all knew the rule. Returning empty - handed meant only death.
Finally, they decided to act separately and look for opportunities to assassinate him.
The rural doctor's previous residence was already empty. Awakening of Insects had no clue and wandered aimlessly in the reed marshes by the river.
That year, the reed flowers were light and pure white. When the night wind blew, they fluttered layer upon layer, looking as beautiful as waves. Awakening of Insects couldn't help but be captivated.
A strong wind blew, making the reed flowers surge. A small leaf flew into Awakening of Insects' eye. As he lowered his head to rub it, out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw a man's figure in the reed forest not far away.
It was Wei Jiang!
He was limping through the path in the reed forest, dragging one leg. Awakening of Insects quickly crept up behind him.
He didn't dare to get too close for fear of alerting him and could only follow from afar. But soon, he found that Wei Jiang was seriously injured. There was something sticking into his leg. Awakening of Insects stared intently and recognized it. It was An Yi's unique hidden weapon, the diamond - shaped thorn! The thorn was coated with a deadly poison. One would surely die within twelve hours!
Awakening of Insects drew out his soft sword from his waist and crept up.
As he got closer and was about to thrust his sword, Wei Jiang turned around warily, clamped the sword blade with one hand, and punched him in the face, sending Awakening of Insects staggering back several steps.
Wow! Could a dying man still be so fierce?
Awakening of Insects' fighting spirit was aroused. He got up, grasped the sword tightly, and was about to charge forward for a fierce fight. But then he heard a small, hesitant voice coming from behind Wei Jiang.
"Daddy!"
Awakening of Insects craned his neck and saw a little girl about seven or eight years old standing beside a small boat at the end of the reed forest. She had two small braids and was shivering in the night wind in her thin clothes. When she saw Wei Jiang's figure, she was calling out from afar.
"Don't come here!" Wei Jiang stared at Awakening of Insects with dead eyes, full of desolation. He said to the little girl, "See that big tree across the river? As always, let's have a race. Whoever gets there first wins!"
The little girl didn't sense the danger here. She nodded and said okay, then turned around and ran away along the riverbank.
The master never said that the rural doctor had a child. Should he keep the child or kill her to eliminate the root?
While Awakening of Insects was silently pondering, the injured rural doctor bowed to him.
"I'm willing to offer my head. Please, kind sir, act as if you never saw my daughter today."
Awakening of Insects was hesitant. Then the injured rural doctor knelt in front of him with a thud.
Although he knew that the man in front of him was doomed to die, Awakening of Insects finally felt pity.
It was just letting a child go. As long as he didn't say anything, no one would know.
"Come here at this time tomorrow. I'll surely be waiting." Wei Jiang endured the severe pain and bowed deeply, knocking his head on the ground.
Awakening of Insects turned around and walked away slowly.
By this time, Wei Dongling was already sobbing uncontrollably.
Awakening of Insects was silent beside her, feeling uncomfortable involuntarily. A killer was supposed to be selfish and cold, not affected by emotions. But why did he feel sad and reluctant when he saw Miss Wei crying like this?
Awakening of Insects looked up at the moon, clasped his fists, and said, "I've kept my promise and told you everything truthfully, without a single lie. Please take good care of yourself, Miss Wei." Saying that, he turned to leave.
But Wei Dongling asked him, "Who do you work for?"
Awakening of Insects lowered his head bitterly and said, "I'm sorry, I can't say." Then he turned and leaped off the glazed tiles.
Wei Dongling said again, "You have to let me know who my father's murderer is!"
Awakening of Insects looked back. "A person of high power. Miss, don't throw yourself against a stone."
Wei Dongling roared with a sob, "I don't care if it's the emperor! Is it the State Uncle Zhao or the Crown Prince?"
Awakening of Insects was terrified. "Miss Wei, please watch your words!"
Wei Dongling leaped and landed beside Awakening of Insects. She said sadly, "As a child, if I don't even know who killed my father, what's the meaning of my living in this world?"
Awakening of Insects was silent.
After a long time, he finally said quietly, "Back then, the eleven death - fighters took Wei Jiang's head back to the capital, but they were all killed one by one by the master to silence them. I defected to Concubine Xue, the Crown Prince's biological mother, and only then did I manage to keep my humble life."
After saying that, Awakening of Insects turned and left.
Wei Dongling's face was full of tears, and her body was trembling uncontrollably. She ran back madly under the moonlight.
Scenes of the past flashed before her eyes. The image of her father in her mind made her heart ache.
Wei Dongling, don't cry! Wei Dongling, stand up and avenge your father!
So it's the State Uncle Zhao. Fine. New and old grudges, we'll settle them slowly!
She didn't know how long it took to get back to the city. There were more and more people on the street. Wei Dongling slowed down and walked back in a daze. Her tears had soaked her chest.
When she passed by the Night Fragrance Pavilion, the most prosperous brothel in the capital, she saw the whole place brightly lit.
A young master in brocade robes was walking out. As he walked, he was laughing and greeting the people inside, "Then I'll take my leave first, Brother Yu. Enjoy yourself! I wish Brother Yu seven rounds a night and never go soft!"