Wen Kexing took one look at her. Impassively raising a hand that did not have human blood on it, he caressed Zhang Chengling’s head, nodded, and said without much emotion, “I know.”

He raised his head. His gaze seemed to pierce through the night, looking towards someplace very far away; strangely, a smile surfaced on his face, as though he was a weary traveller who had finally gotten a glimpse of fate’s true face after traversing leagues and leagues, over great mountains and across broad rivers. There was a subtle hint of mockery, but more of it was relief and tranquility that could not be put into words.

Gu Xiang lowered her hand slowly, and said in a soft voice, “Master…”

Immediately, Wen Kexing lifted his hand to stop her, and said, “You are a maiden that has been married off--like water that has been thrown out of the door. From now on, this matter has nothing to do with you. Tomorrow, you shall go and find Ye Baiyi, as you are supposed to do. Of course, I won’t withhold your dowry. Don’t go back there.”

Zhang Chengling wanted to be stronger, however he could; he had just decided to stand tall like a real man to protect the people he should be protecting, and exterminate the people he should be exterminating; no matter what he encountered, he would never retreat, and never fear. But it was as if his tears would not stop, landing one drop after another--he found himself cowardly, but also felt as though he had turned back into that weak, helpless child who could not accomplish anything.

Villains had killed his family; he wanted to properly learn martial arts to become stronger, so that he could protect his kin and friends from further harm in the future; or even kill villains, to avenge those who had died.

But that was Uncle Zhao...

He was the person who his own father, before he closed his eyes for good, had tugged at Uncle Li’s hand and made Uncle Li promise that he would entrust him to; he was that person who, in that dilapidated temple in the wild that cold night, Uncle Li had gripped shifu tightly and instructed to entrust him to.

He was that person who had stayed by his side day and night in those darkest times. He was that person who, with reddened eyes, proclaimed in front of all the heroes under the sky to aid Zhang Chengling in obtaining justice for his family. He was...

The ways of this world were too arduous, and human nature too complex. If he could not even trust those closest to him, those he found most reliable, what else could make a person entrust themselves to someone entirely?

Wen Kexing sighed faintly. Looking away from the crowd, he turned around and returned to his room. However, Zhou Zishu paused, beckoned at Zhang Chengling and said, “Little tyke, come over here.”