Cemetery 17

  The resting place of the Red Robe's wife was quite simple, a black long tombstone with a patch of blood red on it. Hickory kept rubbing the mark on top, his expression very downcast: "This color is really hateful... but mom liked it."

  "This is the mark of the Red Robe Master." Panni recalled some basic knowledge about the Red Robe Master.

  "Mom comes from a red robe family, you should know what kind of family that is..."

  "Of course, I know that only those with magical qualifications and who become Red Robe Mages will be recorded in the family register, considered nobles of Sel, right?" Penni nodded, he was very clear about this, such children, he had seen a few, but without strong backing, they would still be eliminated in the academy, and the Red Robe families usually acknowledged such things.

  It sounds unrealistic, but in Serre, the higher the world is, the more cruel it is. Those who fall down in a corner of the academy, even if they barely survive, will probably find it hard to go further. The damned will die sooner or later.

  "My mother's talent was ordinary and she couldn't become a mage, so she married 'that person' very early..." The girl continued to say in a nostalgic tone.

  Pan Ni nodded, this was not unusual. If the Red Robe family produced a useless member, they would usually strip them of their surname and kick them out, giving men some money to fend for themselves; women were arranged to be married off, generally many lower- to middle-ranking members of the Red Robe clan were willing to take in such women, which would allow them to gain better prospects.

  Although Sel's society is cruel, isn't "appointing people based on nepotism" a universal truth that applies everywhere?

  Penny had roughly figured out the context of Hickel's parents' union, and from an objective point of view, this was indeed a not-so-perfect love story - or rather, there wasn't any love at all.

  No wonder the little girl became so cynical and disillusioned with the world.

  "He's always stuck in that lab, never coming out. This tavern, even the sign on the door was painted by my mother herself. As a wife of a Red Robe, I'm living a life more painful and laborious than a slave." Hickel's face was filled with sarcastic smile: "This is what the nobility looks like in this land."

  "But even when she was on the verge of death from vomiting blood, she still couldn't forget the so-called glory of the red robe, and didn't even want to call him back from the research room to take a look at her. Although she lived like a slave, she still loved him so much, is it really worth it? ... Glory, does Sel have such a thing?" The girl's expression became bewildered again.

  "It's possible, I think. Being a family member of the Red Cloaks is not a very good thing, because they don't have any extra energy to love anything." Panni said thoughtfully about the lifestyle of the Red Cloaks.

  "Really?"

  "I think Mr. Zhan Hua Shi is not an absolute person." Panni hesitated for a moment, saying that he remembered the experiment on the day before leaving the college.

  Those who try to probe their students in that way, though cunning, are really cruel and ruthless? Penny didn't believe it. If someone else were in Janssen's position at the time, they would probably use poison or magic to control Penny directly, and what happened afterwards might not be like this now.

  Although he was not interested in being a Red Robe, Panni still had a fairly positive evaluation of this mentor.

  "How can you speak well of him?" Hickel shouted angrily.

  "Have you ever tried to understand him? Or are you just relying on your childhood impression and treating him as a typical red robe?" Panni asked: "That thing, it was ten years ago, when you were only four years old... maybe the impression is very deep, but... have you ever really understood what he was thinking?"

  "I... I won't forgive him." Hickory said with his head down.

  "But he's your father. Hickory, I think your character, no matter how much you hate him, can't possibly treat him as a real enemy." Penny said: "If we can't be enemies, why not try to understand him? Is understanding and forgiving really that difficult?"

  "The girl paused for a moment, her eyes gradually becoming unfocused, as if Panni's words had entered her thoughts."

  Understanding and forgiveness? Is this possible?

  "Or have you been avoiding him all along, never wanting to get in touch with him over the years? At least try to understand him before finding a real reason to decide whether to love or hate, otherwise it's just harming yourself and others, isn't it?"

  "Sometimes, taking a step forward only requires a little bit of courage." Penny said, looking towards the right side of the cemetery, where a middle-aged man in a deep red robe was slowly approaching. The girl also noticed and hastily tried to stand up, but her wrist was held back by the boy.

  "This is an opportunity, courage, a bit of courage." Penny gazed seriously into the girl's eyes, feeling the trembling and struggling in her hand, and said calmly.

  "As he...” The man drew closer and closer, Xikole bit her lower lip, her head almost bowed to the ground. In the instant when his hand grasped hers, she didn't know where a surge of courage came from, but suddenly she no longer had the urge to run away. However, her thoughts in her heart became more and more chaotic.

  I don't know if it's anxiety, fear or confusion, but surprisingly there isn't much resentment.

  "...". The footsteps approached, a red corner appeared on the ground in front of him, and Xikole slowly raised his head. The face he saw was somewhat old, with some faint impression, yet also with some strangeness.

  It's been ages since we last saw each other, hasn't it? I've been avoiding him for years now...

  This time, it seems like there's no gap to escape from.

  "Xī kē ěr, yǐ jīng liù nián le……"

  Translation: "Hiccor, it's been six years already……"

  "Dad... I can finally see you again..." Leng Zhanhua gazed at a pale face, and after a moment, he sighed and stroked the girl's cheek: "She looks just like Celine... so beautiful."

  Xikoer's eyes were dazed for a moment, and tears flowed down like a tide. She fell into Penny's arms, paralyzed, and the resentment in her heart flowed out with her tears.

  "Dean Zhanhua..." Panni felt very awkward. According to the usual plot of an 8 o'clock drama, shouldn't this be a grand reconciliation scene where the father and daughter hug each other and cry? How did it end up like this? It's hard to imagine that a father wouldn't misunderstand the situation when he sees his own daughter so casually snuggling into someone else's arms. What kind of relationship do they have? And so on... Panni really didn't want to touch this sore spot, especially not now.

  He stood up, wanting to hand Sikuo over to Old Jianhuashi, but saw Jianhuashi with his hands behind his back, completely without the intention of taking it, and instead gazed far into the distance: "Since she chose you, then I have no reason to replace your work, apprentice, you're not bad."

  Pang Ni was at a loss for what expression to make, so he could only sit back down on the grass with the girl.

  "A person's life is faced with countless choices, and every time you choose, you have to ask yourself: what are you doing it for? What can you gain from it? What will you give up? Will you regret it?

  Dean Zhan didn't fall silent, but instead stroked the black tombstone with a red patch, saying slowly: "I used to think I could sacrifice everything for power and authority, but in the end, I still regretted it. Some things, once missed, can never be regained. Her departure made me thoroughly awake, knowing what we pursue as so-called power is actually for what. What do you think, apprentice?"

  "I think it should be something important to oneself that needs protection," Penny said thoughtfully.

  "I just said, you're not bad." Dean Zhan Hua smiled: "You are more awake than the vast majority of my students, at least very clear about what you want, this is why I appreciate you, although your talent is ordinary."

  Pang Ni let out two dry laughs.

  "But it's clear that you're still a bit muddled, however this muddle is different from those self-proclaimed clever ones I've eliminated. I think you can be saved and there's a need for you to be rescued."

  "Although your qualities are different from those of most of my colleagues, I think you would be more suitable as a Red Robe than they are." Zhan Huashi turned to Penny: "This is also one of the purposes of my visit today, apprentice, are you willing to continue serving Sel?"

  "No!" Hickory, who was lying in Penny's arms, screamed and gazed at his father with a very sad look: "Please, don't take him away, please."

  "Of course it was voluntary, my dear daughter, you don't have to worry." Zhan Huashi gazed gently at Xikole, his eyes were not like those of a red-robed master should have had, but only for an instant, and then returned to the usual calmness and indifference, turning to Penny: "And what about your choice, apprentice?"

  "I don't want to change my current life, sir," said Penny, who was quite satisfied with his present life.

  "Alright, you're also familiar with the address of Lakeside Academy. Before you forget everything you've learned, its doors are always open to you. I hope you'll change your mind soon." Jian Hua Shi adjusted his glasses and patted Xikeer's head: "My daughter, I hope you can be happy from now on."

  "Thank you... Dad." Hickory's lips moved slightly as he said in a low voice.

  "Today is the happiest day for me, Hickel, you finally called me that." Zhan Huashi smiled again and quickly got up to leave. Penny saw him off all the way until he got into a horse carriage, then let out a sigh:

  "Let's go back."

  "Oh, okay." Hickory rubbed his eyes and stood up, following the boy into Dehumi City. Soon, the girl cheered up and ran ahead of Panni.

  "Penny, how about grilled steak for dinner tonight?"

  "Not too good, high-calorie foods are easy to get fat."

  "Good kids don't pick at their food!"

  "Still have to see how many guests there are tonight, maybe it's busy......" Penny's voice was weak and listless.

  As they were discussing, they entered the city and suddenly saw a thick smoke in the distance. They asked passersby about the cause, and people on the side of the road hurriedly said: "A group of people attacked the Xilin wine house just now and set it on fire, burning it down!"

  Penny and Shikor exchanged a glance, saw the shocked look in each other's eyes, and took off running.

  ***

  The last chapter forgot to ask for recommendations, and indeed the increase in recommendation votes was greatly reduced... This chapter makes up for it, sincerely asking for recommendation votes, new books need support.