I'm a bit overconfident, I've signed up for next month's PK, please everyone vote for me with all your might, let this guy on the verge of losing his job also have some good luck!

  Humans are the most unpredictable creatures in the world, and I am no exception.

  Yuán Xù felt like a fool, as soon as he saw the misty eyes of little Ya Tou, his temper was gone.

  He had no choice but to surrender and hand over his sword, leading his own horse to send her back.

  This horse was all white, with only a streak of crimson on his forehead. He was normally extremely violent, and would kick anyone who touched him. The girl leapt onto his back, grasping his waist tightly, and urged him forward with an urgent passion.

  The official road was vast and endless, with a sky full of bright stars. Yuan Xiu caught a whiff of faint, mysterious fragrance, turned around to see a young girl with a hint of sadness on her face, her eyebrows and eyes like a painting. A casual glance from her made his soul restless, he didn't dare look again, focusing instead on the reins in his hand.

  Lin Chen felt a stiff body in front of him, and his heart was both amused and moved.

  Foolish child... She thought to herself, gently adjusting the cloak on her shoulders - it was what he had handed over just now. A sweet feeling arose in her heart, slowly spreading.

  The official path is long and winding, between young men and women, a kind of gentle affection quietly arises.

  "Where do you live?"

  The girl pointed, and in the distance, a corner of a pavilion hidden behind trees.

  "Are you Miss Lin?"

  Yuan Xiu was extremely shocked. He had heard that the Lin family had four sons and one daughter, with their only precious gem being a 12-year-old girl who was more beautiful than her mother...

  It seemed like she saw through his thoughts, and the girl's eyebrows furrowed in anger: "I'm not!"

  She denied it categorically.

  Miss Lin?

  She remembered that in the late afternoon, she had just familiarized herself with her new home in Fuliya City with her mother when someone gazed at her with a greedy and covetous look.

  "Are you Miss Lin? Indeed, you are stunningly beautiful, far surpassing your mother! My family's General would like to invite you to stay with us for a few days and keep the Prince company - Congratulations, Miss, you will surely become the Princess Consort in the future!"

  In an instant, she understood the Lin family's intentions...

  Sacrifice myself to clear Lin Yuan's name... what a wonderful calculation!

  Those filthy hands... when they reach for me, if I don't immediately draw my sword, it would be better!

  Mother forced herself to death, letting herself escape quickly, if she hadn't listened, it would have been better!

  Mother... I hope you're doing well!

  ＊＊＊＊

  Arrived at the other building, although it was midnight. Inside, however, there was complete chaos.

  They swept through the halls like a gust of wind, and all that could be seen were servants and maids rushing about, grabbing valuable items. A few were even fighting over gilded boxes. Lin Chen asked his mother, but no one knew anything.

  In the flower bed, I saw a florist, he trembled with his fingers pointing to the artificial hill by the pool.

  In the cave of the fake mountain, Mother's body had already turned cold——

  Lin Chen felt as if heaven and earth were crumbling and perishing at this moment.

  She fell heavily to her knees, sharp pebbles piercing through her kneecaps, yet she felt nothing.

  The only person in this world who shares her bloodline is gone!

  She bent down, touched her mother's wet skirt, grabbed the florist, and shook him violently, as if she wanted to strangle him: "Who?! Who did it?!"

  Yuan Xu rescued him in time and asked warmly, and Huajiang told the truth.

  It turned out that the soldiers who came to capture Lin Zhen did not return, and when the officials waited for a while, they saw the tattoo on Lin Zhen's mother's forehead. They remembered the old news from years ago and suddenly understood the mystery behind it. They couldn't help but mock Lin Zhao Yun: "Brother Lin, this 'Phoenix replacing the Crow' is truly brilliant!"

  He searched the house but couldn't find Lin Yuan, so he intimidated and humiliated them for a while before leaving. The Lin family knew that the Tartar army would soon come to seek revenge, so they hastily packed up their valuables and left with their closest followers in a carriage.

  The servants were busy searching for valuables and no one noticed that a young life had slipped away.

  With a resolute stride, she stepped into the clear pool... What kind of desperation did this normally timid and taciturn woman need to take such a step?

  Lin Chen found a silk handkerchief next to the wet corpse, with blood-stained characters on it, which remained clear despite being soaked in water.

  "Thirteen years ago, it was a dream come true. Yesterday, the heart-shaped embroidery on her clothes was just a laughing stock for others. I am originally a lone wanderer in the mortal world, my body is already unlucky, and I cannot bear to drag down this delicate child, do not think of me fondly!"

  Lin Zhen murmured to himself, under the starry sky, feeling a sense of emptiness in his heart.

  Thirteen years ago... In the last moment, in mother's heart, there was still that sweet yet heartbreaking night.

  A fleeting night stolen from a lifetime of separation between two talented and beautiful individuals who were meant to be together since childhood.

  She ruined her whole life for this one night.

  The satin on her body, though faded in color, still faintly visible its former beauty.

  This is what she wore when she and he had an unexpected encounter in the brothel.

  Such a treasured and cherished thing, in others' eyes, is merely a salacious rumor, laughed at and slowly forgotten.

  Lin Chen imagined that his mother would have a mix of sweetness and worry in her heart when facing Lin Zhao Yun's sudden "favor".

  This sweetness was crushed by the cruel reality in an instant ——

  Nothing is more sorrowful than a dead heart, she must be thoroughly desperate!

  For her own daughter's sake, so she wouldn't be threatened or dragged down, the mother resolutely walked towards the yellow spring.

  "Mother! Why didn't you wait for me? You said before that you would wait until I achieved something and let you enjoy the rest of your life! Why..."

  Lin Chen didn't shout loudly, she repeated in a low whisper.

  Her eyes turned into empty holes, she didn't want to think about anything.

  Who... whispered loudly in his ear...

  She can't hear anything.

  A pair of warm and powerful hands helped her up, by the rippling pool, under the lights of the building, Yuan Xiu looked at her for a long time before stretching out his hand.

  He slapped her hard.

  "Snap out of it!"

  Almost exhausting his life's intensity, Yuan Xu was no longer his usual carefree self, he stood shaking with the girl.

  "Your mother didn't want to burden you, that's why she made this decision. Are you going to remain in the dark forever?"

  Lin Chen's eyes without focus, somewhat melted.

  "Wake up! We must leave immediately, the Tartar cavalry will arrive soon to avenge!"

  The girl's eyes finally cleared up.

  She drew her sword and walked unsteadily into the front yard.

  Only a white blade flashed, and in an instant, a servant who often had foul language with her mother and daughter was cut in two.

  "Who else has been disrespectful to my mother? Come out yourself!" She coldly smiled, looking at the stopped quarreling maidservants.

  That smile was like a demon's, and everyone was scared out of their wits. One of the maids who had stabbed her mother with a hairpin turned pale and tried to hide behind someone without leaving any trace, but Lin Chen discovered her.

  With a light touch of the sword's sharp edge, the woman let out a shrill cry and had a cross-shaped wound added to her face.

  "From now on, you'll also have a tattooed face, let you taste the flavor of being discriminated against and insulted!"

  Yuan Xu watched from the side, not stopping him. After listening to Hua Jiang's introduction to Lin Chen's mother and daughter's life experience, he was also furious in his heart, wanting these sycophants to be punished.

  The rest of the people could no longer hold back their fear and let out a few cries before scattering in all directions.

  A serene and elegant villa, suddenly a deathly silence.

  Lin Chen picked up some money and goods on the spot, buried his mother in the forest next to the other courtyard, bid farewell, lit a fire, and burned down the mansion.

  In the dark of night, a massive fire burst into the sky, and amidst the rolling thick smoke, Lin Chen suddenly remembered that today was his thirteenth birthday.

  "It's almost midnight, and I'm already thirteen..." she said listlessly to Yuan Xiu.

  "It's been a long day......" Yuan Xiu replied, from the first encounter on the city wall, to her fall and their second meeting, and finally, this time, within just one short day, they had met three times.

  Such a fate, I'm afraid it will be hard for me to forget for the rest of my life...

  "What's next?"

  Yuán Xù very much wanted her to go back with him, but thinking of the rebel army being a mix of good and bad people, all men, he didn't dare mention it casually.

  "I want to go find Master and formally become his disciple."

  Yuan Xun let out a sigh of relief, but also felt inexplicably disheartened.

  He carefully took off an ancient jade pendant from around his neck.

  This is a very rare dragon-patterned jade, with emerald green dripping in the middle, and a snow-white streak that seems to be alive, baring its teeth and brandishing its claws.

  The craftsmanship of heaven and earth has naturally created this rare treasure.

  He tied a knot with a red thread and handed it to her: "This is for you, so our acquaintance won't be in vain."

  He didn't say it was a family heirloom, which has been passed down from mother-in-law to daughter-in-law but never to daughters.

  Lin Chen took it over, hung it around her neck, and her snowy skin was crystal clear, making it even more radiant and warm.

  I'm leaving.

  She mounted a fine horse led out of the stable, and with one leap she was ten or more zhang away.

  Yuan Xiu turned to leave, but heard a clear and cold voice behind him: "Yuan Xiu, I saw you take out a flute, play a tune for me, okay?"

  She reined in her horse and gazed at him intently, asking.

  He was stunned, and the next moment, he foolishly nodded his head in agreement, overjoyed beyond measure.

  The flute sound in the dark night swirls, clear and lingering - although life is turbulent, it's a joy to have one or two close friends.

  He felt a sense of peace and joy in his heart, with a gentle smile in his eyes, as if caressed by a soft breeze.

  The flute sounds lingering.

  "Yu Xuan, remember, my name is Lin Chen!"

  The girl's voice was distant yet clear.

  "You wait for me for three years, and in three years' time, I will learn the art of war and fight alongside you..."

  ……

  You waited for me for three years...

  I will fight alongside you...

  The morning dew trembled on the bed, muttering incessantly, but only opening and closing her lips, unable to make a sound.

  Innumerable scenes, innumerable faces, fluttering in the void, like time flowing...

  The next moment, all of these turned into nothingness.

  She slowly came to, and saw a look of surprise all around her.

  "Shang Yi has woken up!"