Chapter 97

Chapter 97: Bitter Crying

The confusion in Lou Yun’s mind finally had its answer. It explained why Yi Jin Guan had been so hesitant and unable to speak when Lou Yun asked about Huier’s injuries earlier.

Why Huier refused to leave her room and stayed holed up inside all the time!

Also, considering Zuo Mingyang’s explosive temper, mere injuries wouldn’t have stopped him. Even if he were dying, even if he had to crawl, he would have exerted his utmost effort to hunt down his brothers’ killers, not remain here all day recovering from injuries.

The reason he hadn’t gone was because he was staying by Huier’s side, afraid she might do something foolish over the destruction of her face!

Lou Yun drew a deep breath. With a flicker of movement, he appeared behind Zuo Mingyang and gently patted his shoulder. Softly, he said, “Brother.”

Zuo Mingyang hadn’t expected anyone to appear behind him at this moment. Startled by the pat, he jumped up instantly. As he turned and saw clearly who had touched him, the profanity that had almost exploded from his lips was forcibly swallowed. He just stood there, stunned.

But in an instant, he snapped back to his senses. Surprise and joy washed over his face. His mouth opened to call Lou Yun’s name, but Lou Yun clamped his hand over it and dragged him swiftly into the distance.

The moment Lou Yun released him, Zuo Mingyang, brimming with excitement, threw his arms around Lou Yun. He thumped Lou Yun’s back forcefully, his voice excited yet deliberately restrained. “Brother Lou! It’s you! You really aren’t dead! Haha! I knew it, kid—you’ve got big blessings and thick luck, you’d never die!”

Lou Yun likewise thumped Zuo Mingyang’s back forcefully, a deep warmth rising in his heart!

Knowing full well he was no match for the beastman, Zuo Mingyang had still risked his life to try and save Lou Yun and Wan Huier. Such an act could only come from a true friend!

At the beginning, these two had each believed the other was dead. Now, reunited, the feeling was not only surreal—as if reborn across generations—but filled with indescribable excitement.

After the two old comrades released their embrace, the intense joy lingered, yet simultaneously, their thoughts turned to Wan Huier, her face scarred in the fire. Their spirits sank once more.

Zuo Mingyang sighed heavily. “Brother, you have no idea. If Huier hadn’t collapsed from exhaustion back then, I honestly don’t know if I could have brought her back at all. And after we returned, she kept insisting every day she wanted to go to Chiyan Mountain to look for you. In the end, I had no choice. I locked her in the room and assigned people to watch her day and night, terrified she’d actually run off searching. But now… sigh!”

Lou Yun nodded. “Brother Zuo, you don’t have to say it. I understand everything. What I want to know is, what exactly is Huier’s condition now? Her… her face, is it truly all burned?”

Zuo Mingyang nodded gravely. “Yes. Her whole face is completely burned. You can’t recognize her original features at all. Brother, it’s all my fault! All mine! If Huier hadn’t been trying to save me and could have just escaped herself, she would never have ended up like this. Why? Why did I have to crave that wine so much?! I should die!”

Lou Yun quickly cut off Zuo Mingyang’s self-recrimination. “Brother Zuo, what’s done is done. Repeating it changes nothing. And if it were you, wouldn’t you have done everything possible to save Huier too? Right?”

Zuo Mingyang, that stalwart, iron-willed man, now had red-rimmed eyes. Two tears rolled from his tiger-like eyes. “Brother… Huier is still just a young girl. Changed like this… how will she face the rest of her life? If I could, I would gladly give my life to restore Huier’s original face! Brother, curse me! I failed to protect her properly. I failed her. I don’t deserve to be her elder brother!”

Lou Yun would certainly never blame Zuo Mingyang for not protecting Wan Huier well. But he knew Zuo Mingyang spoke the absolute truth. A girl just sixteen years old, at the prime of her youth, her face ruined—how would she live the rest of her life?

“Brother Zuo, you absolutely cannot blame yourself for this. Stop reproaching yourself. What we need to think about now is whether there’s any way we can restore Huier’s face.”

As he spoke, a thought flickered in Lou Yun’s mind. He thought of someone who just might have that kind of ability!

And this person was someone Lou Yun had originally planned to take Wan Huier to see—Granny Bai Cao!

Lou Yun’s initial plan was to take Wan Huier to see Granny Bai Cao, hoping she might accept Huier as her apprentice. He even felt reasonably optimistic. Granny Bai Cao lived alone in the woods. Huier was sweet and sensible—Granny Bai Cao would surely like her. And if Huier could truly learn Granny Bai Cao’s pill concoction skills, it would greatly benefit her future!

The reason he hadn’t told Wan Huier was partly in case Granny Bai Cao refused, but mostly to give her a huge happy surprise if it succeeded!

Now, Lou Yun placed all his hope on Granny Bai Cao having a way to restore Huier’s face!

Unaware of Granny Bai Cao, Zuo Mingyang shook his head despondently. “I don’t know. These past days, I’ve been too afraid to leave, staying right here watching over her, terrified she’d do something stupid!”

“Don’t despair just yet. I might have an idea, though I can’t be certain… sigh. Let’s talk about it later. For now, I need to see her.”

“Alright. She refuses to see anyone else, but maybe she’ll see you. Go quickly. Comfort her well.”

Lou Yun nodded and walked toward the small building. The distance was only several dozen meters, yet he walked very, very slowly, pondering exactly how he should face Wan Huier.

Finally, he reached the front of the building. Lou Yun steadied himself, raised his hand, and gently knocked twice on the firmly closed door. There was no response from inside, only faint, muffled sobs. Huier was crying.

Taking a deep breath, Lou Yun spoke softly. “Huier, it’s me. Big Brother Lou.”

The moment his words left his lips, the crying inside abruptly stopped. Lou Yun continued gently, “Huier, open the door. Big Brother Lou isn’t dead. He’s returned alive!”

While speaking, Lou Yun’s sharp six senses remained intently focused inside the room. He could clearly hear Wan Huier get down from the bed, then drag her hesitant footsteps as she edged little by little towards the door, stopping right there. Yet, the door remained unopened.

Lou Yun knew Huier desperately wanted to see him; it was just that her ruined face made her unwilling to let him look. So he continued, "Huier, don’t you want to see your elder brother? Even if you don’t want to see me, I really want to see you. For the past six months, I’ve thought of you every single day!"

"Huier, open the door!"

Lou Yun had carefully avoided mentioning anything about Huier’s face throughout, afraid of upsetting her.

After about half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Huier’s voice finally came from behind the door: "Elder Brother, is it really you?"

"Heh, silly girl, can’t you even recognize my voice?"

Huier started sobbing again, her voice choked. "Elder Brother, you’re not dead. It’s so wonderful. I knew it, I knew you wouldn’t die. I miss you, Elder Brother. I want to see you, but Huier is now…"

Her crying grew louder, yet it sounded strangely muffled. Huier was crying with her hand over her mouth.

"Huier, I heard about what happened from Uncle Zuo and Uncle Yi. I know everything. No matter how you look now, in my heart, you will always be my most beloved little sister. Besides, I’ve already thought of a way to help you become your old self again!"

After another pause, Huier’s voice sounded again, this time notably trembling: "Elder Brother, you… are you telling the truth?"

Lou Yun could hear the spark of hope in her voice and quickly pressed on. "Heh, when has your elder brother ever lied to you? It’s true. There’s an alchemist in the Cang Lan Nation named Granny Bai Cao. I know her. She’s a six-grade alchemist! She can definitely restore you to how you were before. Actually, I’d planned all along to take you to her, have her accept you as her disciple. You’d stay by her side, serve her, and learn her alchemy. I hadn’t told you yet, I just wanted to surprise you!"

Huier stopped crying and fell silent. Lou Yun waited with bated breath. Finally, moments later, the door opened!

The first thing to rush out wasn’t Huier, but a red blur that flung itself straight at Lou Yun’s face, its tongue furiously licking his cheek. This was naturally Xiao Huo. Ever since Lou Yun had fallen into Chiyan Mountain, Xiao Huo had stayed with Wan Huier. It had heard Lou Yun’s voice earlier and had been desperate to get out.

At any other time, Lou Yun seeing Xiao Huo would have meant a joyful reunion. But not now. He gave Xiao Huo a pat, then gently placed it on his shoulder before turning his gaze inside the door.

Lou Yun’s first sight was Huier’s back. Her head was still wrapped in a piece of black cloth. Evidently, even at this moment, Huier still didn’t want Lou Yun to see her face.

Lou Yun reached out and softly grasped Huier’s shoulders. The instant his hands touched her, her body gave a distinct tremble.

Then, Lou Yun applied a little force, slowly turning Wan Huier’s body around to face him directly.

However, since Wan Huier’s head was covered by the black cloth, her face remained hidden. Now, her body began shaking violently.

Lou Yun freed one hand and gently took hold of the black cloth covering Wan Huier’s head. At that touch, Wan Huier suddenly grabbed his hand, her voice hoarse: "Elder Brother, don’t!"

Lou Yun comforted her softly, "Huier, don’t be afraid. Let your elder brother see. Only then can I properly gauge whether Granny Bai Cao can heal you or not!"

After a moment of hesitation, Wan Huier’s hand released its grip. Lou Yun gently tugged at the cloth, finally giving a firm pull. The cloth slipped from Wan Huier’s head. And at the same moment, Wan Huier’s face was unveiled before Lou Yun’s eyes.

Huier before had been undeniably beautiful. But now, what manner of face was this? The skin and flesh were almost entirely rolled back, exposing the raw pink beneath. Deep grooves and scars crisscrossed it densely, making it look extremely horrifying.

Lou Yun felt not a trace of fear or disgust looking at this face. There was only profound heartache. Tenderly, he cupped Wan Huier’s face, bringing her eyes level with his own.

"Huier, I’ve said it. No matter how you change, you will always be your elder brother’s most beloved little sister. When you’re with me, don’t be embarrassed. Don’t be scared!"

Wan Huier could clearly feel the sincerity and affection radiating from Lou Yun’s eyes. That deep, genuine feeling was absolutely impossible to fake!

"Brother!"

Wan Huier let out a mournful cry and threw herself into Lou Yun’s embrace, bursting into loud wails!

After Lou Yun’s fall into Chiyan Mountain, Wan Huier had cried almost endlessly, times beyond counting. Then, after saving Zuo Mingyang during the fire, which left her face disfigured, her tears had flowed day and night. Yet only now, held tightly within Lou Yun’s arms, did she truly and completely let out all the emotions pent up inside her!

Her worry, her fear, her hope, her terror, her sorrow, her despair – everything poured out unreservedly right before Lou Yun!

Lou Yun didn’t try to soothe her verbally. He simply held her quietly, letting her cry her heart out. He knew, Huier desperately needed this release.

The crying went on for nearly an hour. Only when he heard Huier’s sobs gradually soften did Lou Yun gently pat her back and murmur, "Alright, Huier. That’s enough crying. If you keep crying, your elder brother will start crying too now. Be good. Wipe your tears. Your elder brother will take you to Granny Bai Cao right away!"

After letting out such a torrent of pent-up grief, Wan Huier’s spirit was visibly lighter than before. Yet she still dared not raise her head, burying it firmly in Lou Yun’s chest as she whispered, "Elder Brother… can that Granny Bai Cao you mentioned… really cure my face?"

Lou Yun nodded emphatically. "Yes! And even if she can’t, someone else surely will! If need be, I will search every corner of the Spirit Weapon Star to find that person! And I promise you this: so long as your face remains unlike its former self, I will not leave your side for a single day!"

In his arms, Wan Huier gave a light nod, softly murmuring, "Mmh. Thank you, Brother."

"Silly girl, why so polite with me? Come on, gather your things a little. We’ll make our farewells to Uncle Yi and Uncle Zuo, and then we set off to find Granny Bai Cao!"