In this life and in this world, never leaving, never forsaking… is that it?
You really did just say such an embarrassingly cheesy line like it was nothing, straight out of a K-drama.
I scratched my head. The cold indifference I’d tried so hard to maintain instantly crumbled in the face of that smile.
“You’re really stubborn…” What could possibly make a girl with such a frail body have such a stubborn personality? But then, when I thought about it, I understood.
Before she met me, a timid girl—if she didn’t have the stubbornness, or rather, the conviction, to survive and protect her little sister—how could the two of them have lasted in this chaotic world until my mother and I appeared?
“Qing’er, when a girl says something like that, how could you possibly refuse?” At some point, Mistress had appeared at my side, looking gently at the Bing Qiao sisters. Then she leaned in and whispered in my ear, “I’ll ask your Master to ease up on their training a bit. The right amount of training will be good for her body, too, you know?”
Mistress is Mistress for a reason—she knows these words must never reach Bing Qiao. Otherwise, she’d definitely demand that the old man treat us all the same.
Well, a little training might actually help Bing Qiao’s health.
“Do as you like.” After thinking for a long time, this was all I could manage to say.
“Thank you, Young Master!” Bing Qiao said happily. She then grabbed her silent little sister Leng Yu’s hands and beamed, “Sister, Young Master agreed!”
Seeing her older sister so happy, Leng Yu finally managed a small smile. “Yeah, with us here, even that blockhead Young Master will have to put in some effort. After all, we’ll tell the old man.”
“So you’re here to keep an eye on me!?” Give me back my moment of being moved!
“Ahem… Well, um, what about my opinion as the Master?” Just as everything was about to be settled, the old man suddenly realized that as the Master, he should have the final say. He spoke up, a bit embarrassed.
“Is there any problem with taking Qiao’er and Yu’er as your disciples?” Mistress hugged the two sisters close, nuzzling them as she spoke to the old man.
“Fine.” The old man, stubborn as he was, could never win against the childish Mistress. He sighed helplessly, then turned to the Leng Yu sisters. “So… what kind of Bingqi do you want to learn?”
Bing Qiao and Leng Yu exchanged a smile, then suddenly grabbed my hands, one on each side, and spoke in unison.
“Sword!”
“We want to be the Sword that protects the Young Master!”
That’s what the Bing Qiao sisters said—without the slightest hesitation, without a moment’s doubt. They chose the Sword, simply hoping to use it to protect their master.
Mistress smiled. She looked at me, my face burning as I lowered my head, then at the two girls clinging to me. She patted my head. “Qing’er, when girls say things like this, aren’t you going to respond?”
How am I supposed to respond in a situation like this!? I’m not actually a little kid—inside, I’m already an old man! Of course I’d be embarrassed to be told something like that!
But nobody else knew that. Everyone else was fine, but especially Bing Qiao—after expressing her feelings, she was looking at me with a shy yet hopeful expression. Leng Yu, as always, was expressionless, but her eyes were fixed on me.
Ah, no, even if you look at me like that, I still can’t say it.
“R-Respond to what?”
The moment I said that, everyone turned their disappointed, resentful gazes on me—even Mistress, who always spoiled us, looked a little angry at my lack of courage. Bing Qiao lowered her head in disappointment, and Leng Yu let out a cold snort.
Hey, hey, hey, what’s with this atmosphere, like I just heartlessly rejected a girl who had always selflessly devoted herself to me? Doesn’t this make me look like a total jerk!?
To preserve my image as a decent guy—and to get everyone to stop glaring at me—I sighed, walked forward, and took the two girls’ hands.
“Then, I, Xiao Qing, swear here and now.” Even though this whole atmosphere felt like some kind of public humiliation, I still forced myself to look into their blue eyes and say, “No matter what the future holds, no matter what happens… we will never be separated. If we ever are, even to the ends of the earth, I’ll find you.”
“Huh?”
Just as I was blushing furiously, saying such an embarrassing line, Leng Yu looked at me with a face that said, “What nonsense is this guy spouting?”
“Eh?” I was momentarily stunned.
“Sis, what is Young Master saying? It’s amazing he can say something so embarrassing,” Leng Yu muttered, glancing sidelong at me as she cupped her hand to whisper in Bing Qiao’s ear.
“I know, right? I’m a little surprised too. I didn’t think Young Master could go that far. Honestly, it’s a bit much,” Bing Qiao added, grinning and piling on the damage.
“You’re the ones who asked me to respond!!” Now this is just awkward!
Just as I wished I could crawl into a hole, laughter and gentle words drifted from the sisters: “Thank you, Young Master.”
With my back to them, I quietly replied, “Mm.”
No matter what, our Chengnuo will never change.
“All right! Since you’ve all chosen your Bingqi, we’ll officially begin training!!” Tong Yuan the old man shouted, more excited than any of us Tudis. For the record, I had absolutely no enthusiasm at all.
“S-So, how exactly are we going to train?” Zhao Yun, trying to live up to her mother’s expectations, found a bit of motivation.
“Good question!” the old man exclaimed. “You’re all just starting out, with no foundation at all. If you pick up weapons now, it’ll only backfire. So, there’s only one thing you can do right now!!”
“One thing?”
The old man waved his arm grandly, pointing at the mountain path behind him. Facing our eager faces, he spoke a single word.
“Run!!”
“……………Eh?”
“Run! Run until you can’t move another step!!”
“……” We didn’t react at all, just stared at him with faces that said, “What kind of nonsense is this old man spouting?”
Veins bulged on the old man’s forehead. He grabbed a stick and whacked me and Zhao Yun hard.
That force was definitely not something you could just shrug off. Even though the old man had enough control, the searing pain was enough to make the frail Zhao Yun almost collapse, tears welling up in her eyes.
But the old man didn’t waver at all. Even though he usually looked stern, the coldness he showed now made Zhao Yun and me see a different side of Tong Yuan.
“Dry your tears.” The old man’s voice was calm, but carried an irresistible authority. His gaze made Zhao Yun too scared to move.
“As my Tudis, the only thing you’re allowed to shed is sweat from training, never tears of weakness.” The old man stood tall, stick in hand, his words full of dignity.
“A Master must first set an example.” The old man took a deep breath and said quietly, “Since I am your Master, and since I carry the hopes of your parents, I cannot allow myself a single moment of slackness. While I train you, I will become a demon if I must, to live up to the name of ‘Master’—diligent and tireless, guiding you to greatness.”
Zhao Yun wiped her tears with her sleeve, her eyes now full of determination.
Not just Zhao Yun—even I was moved by the aura of a strict teacher the old man exuded now, and answered him with caution and respect.
“Yes.”