Chapter 21: The Past

“Mei, send her away.”

Little Man En saw Lai La, but didn’t even want to say a word. After all, with his withdrawn personality, he wouldn’t be nice to strangers.

“Yes, Young Master.”

Matthews and Campbell were hiding nearby, and when they saw this scene, their cheerful expressions instantly froze. The atmosphere was extremely awkward.

“…Brother, you must be amused.”

Matthews smiled apologetically and explained to Campbell. “My child has a somewhat withdrawn personality, but he’s actually not a bad kid.”

Campbell only sighed. “Ah, forget it. Maybe they are fated not to be together. cough cough…” He suddenly coughed violently a few times, spattering blood onto the hand covering his mouth.

“Brother, are you… all right?”

Seeing Matthews’ anxious expression, Campbell’s displeasure eased a little. “It’s nothing, don’t worry. An old problem…”

“Let’s call it a day. Lai La and I have imposed on you long enough, we should leave.”

“Brother, what are you saying? Now that we finally have time, we should spend more time together. As for Lai La, I have two other sons she could try meeting.”

Matthews couldn’t help but feel anxious; after all, the two were best friends. And Campbell was terminally ill now, so every moment together counted. Campbell understood his meaning, but still changed the subject. He didn’t like being pitied.

“Forget it, only God knows what will happen in the future. You can’t force these things. Matthews, take care.”

He finished speaking and was about to turn around to look for Lai La when he heard the laughter of children behind him.

“Wow! You’re amazing, Lai La! How did you pile the sand so high?”

Man En exclaimed from the side. He had watched Lai La build a waist-high castle out of sand. His eyes were full of envy.

“Do you still want me to leave?”

“Please, by all means, stay and teach me!”

Man En answered almost without hesitation.

“And?”

Lai La turned her back, pretending to be angry.

“I was rude just now. I apologize.”

“Hmm, that’s better.”

“Come, I’ll teach you…”

Seeing this, Campbell, who had intended to leave, also became hesitant.

“Let’s not meddle in the children’s affairs, us adults.”

Matthews lightly patted Campbell on the shoulder. “Brother, come with me. We have a very famous tavern here.”

—

After a few rounds of drinks, Matthews was dead drunk, lying face-down on the table, unconscious. Campbell looked at him with a dark expression.

“If you can’t hold your liquor, don’t drink. Seriously…”

He shook his head and thought back to the times he had drunk with Matthews. “You really haven’t changed a bit!”

Saying that, he carried Matthews on his back and walked towards the soldiers not far away. “Ah, I used to carry you home when you were drunk too. Now that I think about it, I don’t owe you anything.” “But you’ve gotten a lot heavier…”

After a few steps, Campbell started breathing heavily. “Just hold on a little longer… we’re almost… there.” In the end, he fell to the ground along with Matthews.

Coincidentally, the soldiers heard the noise and came over to help the two up. “Viscount Campbell, how are you?”

“Cough… cough… still not dead yet. I’ll leave this guy Matthews to you to send back. I want to continue walking around.”

“Yes.”

Campbell walked slowly and finally recovered. Looking at the prosperity of Matthews’ territory, he felt genuinely happy for his close friend. “My Campbell City isn’t bad either, but unfortunately, I don’t have many days left…” Thinking of this, Campbell’s mood became low again.

“Enough, I’m tired. Let’s go back.”

“You are Viscount Campbell, right?”

“Who? Who’s calling me?”

Campbell looked around, but didn’t see any suspicious person.

“If you want to cure the disease in your body, come outside the city. I’m waiting for you outside the city.”

Immediately, Duke Campbell’s gaze sharpened. He almost immediately came to the outskirts of the city alone.

“Who are you? Show yourself!”

As his voice fell, a man clad in a black robe and wearing a mask slowly appeared. He walked while clapping, looking very eerie.

“As expected of Viscount Campbell, who is as famous as Matthews, such courage.”

But Campbell had no mood to exchange pleasantries with this person. “Kid, I didn’t come here to chat with you! You said you could cure my illness?”

“Absolutely true, Lord Campbell.” “But, we need to change places first.”

With a snap of the black-clad man’s fingers, the two were transported to the depths of the forest outside the city. Viscount Campbell was greatly shocked to see the other’s ability. “Who the hell are you?”

“Ust Critias, Trunk Bearer of the Heretic God Sect.”

“Heretic God Sect?”

Campbell looked askance at the black-clad man, as if scrutinizing him.

“What, if you want to leave now, it’s still not too late.”

“Hmph, trying to be mysterious. I only care whether you can cure my illness.”

Ust didn’t say much, instead pulling out something like a heart from his sleeve. But eerily, this detached heart was beating vigorously. Instantly, Campbell sensed something was wrong.

“What… is this?”

“The heart of a Blood Demon.”

“Blood Demon?”

“Yes, replace your terminally ill heart with this, and you can live. But everything has a price…”

—

“All right, can you feel the flow of mana?”

Lai La looked at Man En, whose eyes were tightly shut, and asked softly.

“No… I can’t feel anything at all…”

Man En lowered his head, looking somewhat dejected.

“No, actually you have already felt it.”

Lai La patted his shoulder and said affirmatively.

“Really? Can I really use mana now?”

“If you doubt it, just build another castle yourself and try.”

“Okay! Then I’ll definitely build one bigger than yours!”

Saying it, he did it. Before long, a castle taller than a person was built. Looking at his “labor” results, Man En couldn’t help but be overjoyed.

“What’s the big deal, it’s pretty easy, right?”

He put his hands on his hips and nodded repeatedly. “Mana is just like this. Come with me, I’ll take you to play something else.”

“Yes, Master Man En.”

Mei followed behind Man En and looked back at Lai La. Lai La pressed her finger to her lips and smiled, shaking her head gently at Mei.

That day, the three went out and played until very late before returning.

“Master Man En, good night.”

Mei respectfully bowed to Man En in the room.

“Mm, you go rest too.”

After a soft sound of the door closing, only Man En and Lai La were left in the room.

“Ah! It’s been so long since I’ve been this happy!”

“What a coincidence, I was about to say the same.”

Man En and Lai La both flopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling, silent for a long time.

—

“As for me, I’ll have to leave tomorrow.”

“Huh?”

Man En immediately sat up and stared blankly at Lai La beside him. “Why? Uncle Campbell said yesterday that you’d be staying for a while longer, didn’t he?”

“I don’t know… it was just suddenly decided, I can’t do anything about it.”

—

“Then… will you come again?”

Lai La chuckled softly and also sat up. She looked seriously at Man En. “Will you miss me?”

“Do you even need to ask? Of course I will! Other than Mei, you’re my only friend.”

Hearing this, Lai La’s expression immediately became serious and earnest. “Then… let’s get married. Maybe then I won’t have to leave.”

How could Man En expect her to say that? His face immediately turned bright red, and he began to feel at a loss. “…Marriage… that’s way too early! Geez.”

“…Just kidding, just kidding…”

Lai La forced a smile, but couldn’t hide the disappointment on her face. Seeing her like that, Man En also felt a bit apologetic. “Come on, you shouldn’t make jokes like that! And it’s late, we should get some rest.”

She just smiled at Man En. “That’s true. Well then, good night, Brother Man En.”

The next day, Man En woke up very late.

“Lai La, are you there?”

“Lai La?”

He suddenly woke up with a start, but the other side of the bed was already empty. What happened? Had she already left? Why didn’t she tell him? Young Man En couldn’t understand. He didn’t know why his heart felt blocked. He couldn’t describe this feeling, he just wanted to see Lai La one more time.

He ran barefoot desperately towards the mansion’s main gate. Finally, just as Lai La was about to leave, he caught up. Little Man En, panting, stared blankly at Lai La who was about to get into the carriage.

“Don’t go!”

Lai La stopped in her tracks, lowered her head, not daring to look at Man En.

“Stay! Lai La!”

“Stay here!”

Lai La looked up, looked at Man En, bit her lip, and waved at Man En. “Thank you, Brother Man En. I had a lot of fun yesterday. See you again!”

“Don’t go! Don’t leave!”

Matthews’ hand landed on Man En’s shoulder, and he slowly shook his head at him. Amidst Man En’s cries, the carriage drove farther and farther away.

And from that time on, Man En never saw her again.