From the moment he became a Death Soldier, Aoki was prepared to face countless life-and-death moments, but after so many years, he and Lin Qiyou mostly stayed within a safe environment.
So he only felt like a lamb being raised in captivity, waiting to be slaughtered, rather than a true Death Soldier.
Although only a few months had passed in the real world, within the Simulated Xianxia World, flowers had bloomed and withered ten times.
During these ten years, he and Lin Qiyou spent every day together, and he had long regarded this girl, whom he had watched grow up, as a sister.
Unable to look away, he had to admit one thing.
That was…
“Aoki, I have something to ask you.”
A somewhat cold voice came from the Lin family head.
Aoki, shirtless and waiting for his spiritual veins to be excavated, looked over and could clearly see a trace of anger in the Lin family head’s eyes.
“Please speak, Family Head.”
Aoki’s upper body was covered with dense runes, making it inconvenient to perform formal greetings.
“How has the young lady’s condition been recently?”
“The young lady? Everything remains the same; her cultivation steadily improves.”
“And the others?”
“The others, meaning?”
“Has the young lady had any close contact with others recently, especially male disciples?”
“If you mean male disciples, then I’m probably the only one?”
Aoki seemed to catch what the Lin family head implied because when he said this, he noticed the subtle glance from the family head.
“What do you think of the young lady?”
The Lin family head asked.
“To Aoki, the young lady is the same as the family head. As the future heir of the Lin family, her prospects are limitless.
Aoki’s spiritual veins will help her soar to great heights, transforming from dragon to phoenix. He feels grateful in his heart.
Besides, if it weren’t for the Lin family, my younger siblings and I would have long starved on the streets. They are also under the family head’s care now.
Naturally, Aoki will remain loyal to his duties.”
Aoki’s words were airtight.
He elevated both the young lady’s and the family head’s status and revealed his current position where he dared not act recklessly.
He knew that if he didn’t say this, giving the Lin family head any reason to suspect or doubt him, the family head might have locked him up like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered instead of allowing him to freely cultivate.
The family head snorted coldly, thinking Aoki’s mind was still sharp.
After hesitating and recalling Aoki’s concern for his siblings and his obedient demeanor, he decided to trust him.
“What about the silver bell…?”
“The silver bell lets me know where the young lady is to better protect her.”
When choosing the birthday gift, Aoki had indeed put some effort into it.
He had anticipated this question from the family head.
In fact, he could have chosen not to give it, but he found himself unwilling to see Lin Qiyou’s disappointed yet unspoken expression every year.
After all, they had spent so much time together.
“Is that so… then you’ve really gone to great lengths?”
“You flatter me, Family Head.”
“That silver bell must be expensive. Where did you get the money?”
“Aoki saved up through taking commissions for some time.”
The bell was something Aoki had picked up from that female disciple.
“Hm… no wonder then.”
“What do you mean?”
“No wonder Lin Qiyou fell for you.”
“Fa-family head, you must be joking!”
Aoki made an extremely shocked expression, but deep down he already knew.
The girl’s stubborn attempt to hide her feelings had long flown silently into Aoki’s heart through her every smile, frown, word, and action over the years.
Back then, the childhood betrothal was just a fake arrangement.
But he had gradually realized this was only an illusion created by the spiritual veins.
Whether it was his feelings for Lin Qiyou or her feelings for him,
All because of the spiritual veins.
Calling it false was probably quite fitting.
However, the Lin family head and the attending physician seemed unaware of this characteristic of spiritual vein transplantation.
“Hm, if I said I agree to you and…”
“Absolutely not!”
Aoki made a move to stand, but the family head quickly pressed him down to avoid ruining the runes on his body.
“Why not? Do you think Lin Qiyou isn’t worthy of you?”
The family head raised an eyebrow.
“Family Head, please stop joking. I’m just a Death Soldier…”
Aoki said a bunch of words about how he was unworthy of Lin Qiyou, thinking to himself, “Old man, stop testing me!”
After a moment, satisfied with Aoki’s words, the family head nodded and said, “Since your only wish is for Lin Qiyou to ascend and attain the Dao, then help me with one small favor.”
…
……
A few days later, Lin Qiyou had recovered from the weakness caused by the spiritual vein treatment.
In the Martial Practice Field, she swung her sword, feeling the surging spiritual energy filling her veins like crashing waves pounding through her limbs and body.
Each treatment made her spiritual veins more complete and her power stronger.
But in exchange, the feeling of falling into an icy lake grew deeper.
Every time her spiritual veins were treated, this sensation became more intense, sometimes almost unbearable.
But to become stronger and heal herself, she had to overcome her fear of the pain.
“Hmm, not bad, not bad. The spiritual veins within you grow ever stronger. Truly worthy of being…”
Her master hesitated, eyes filled with regret.
Lin Qiyou was a bit confused but was soon distracted by a black figure entering the Duel Arena.
Seeing Aoki, returned from a commission, Lin Qiyou’s heart began to race uncontrollably.
She felt as if her heart was about to be pushed out by the spiritual energy in her throat.
Hurriedly, she averted her gaze and covered the silver bell at her waist.
She was troubled, wondering why her heart beat so fast.
She needed to say something… right, she should arrange a sparring session with him! She did this every time after treating her spiritual veins.
No, this time, she’d wait for him to speak first.
He always checked on her spiritual veins.
When he approached and spoke, she would challenge him…
Yet when Aoki came beside her, she turned to look and found he simply brushed past her, only letting out two coughs.
What was going on?
Surprised, Lin Qiyou didn’t ask but distractedly finished today’s training with Aoki.
Neither of them spoke much.
At night, Lin Qiyou and Aoki each returned to their own rooms.
Lin Qiyou ate very little dinner, troubled by anxiety.
Why was she so anxious?
Simply because Aoki hadn’t spoken to her or paid her any mind today.
Why wouldn’t he talk to her?
Was he troubled by something?
He never acted like this before.
Unconsciously, the girl forgot her own nervousness around Aoki and focused entirely on his unusual behavior.
“Cough, Aoki?”
Lin Qiyou leaned against the wall and called out, immediately regretting it, thinking she had spoken without thinking.
But there was no response.
After a while, her heart burned with anxiety.
In the past, Aoki would always respond if she called out.
What should she do?
He must be facing some difficulty.
“Aoki?”
She said again, tapping the wall.
“Miss?”
There was finally a response from the other side.
Lin Qiyou opened her mouth, unsure how to ask, but Aoki spoke first:
“I’m moving to a different residence tomorrow.”
Lin Qiyou was stunned: “If you move away, how will you protect me?”
“That’s Master’s order.”
“Ah? Why?”
Lin Qiyou’s heart tightened, frowning deeply, her eyes full of reluctance.
“I’ll ask Master tomorrow why. Isn’t your current place fine?”
“There’s one more thing. Actually, the silver bell was given to you by the family head through me. Before, I was just borrowing flowers to present the orchid. Don’t think I gave it to you as a gift.”
Aoki’s words left Lin Qiyou silent for a long time.
“Understood. You can move tomorrow.”