Chapter Ninety-Four: First Encounter (2)

“Father, please speak,” Li Yiqiu said calmly, steadying her thoughts. “I’ve endured all these years and have long been prepared mentally. Whatever you say, I will remain composed.”

Li Muqiu stared at his daughter for a long moment, seeming hesitant. Finally, he said, “Qiu’er, the Supplementary Elixir is gone. But you must hold onto hope—you must persist. If you keep going, you will succeed. Qiu’er… Qiu’er…” Seeing his daughter unresponsive, he called her name softly, worry etched in his voice.

“Gone… gone… why is it gone?” After a long silence, a mist of tears welled up in Li Yiqiu’s eyes. She had waited for so many years, all for this day—the day the Supplementary Elixir was to be delivered to Qingchi. She had believed that from now on, she would finally be freed from the torment of her illness, from the agony worse than death itself. But after all her hopes, this was the bitter truth she received.

“Qiu’er, the wind outside is strong, and your body is fragile. Let’s go home and talk later,” Li Muqiu said, his heart aching as he saw the vacant look in her eyes.

“No. I’m not going anywhere. I want to talk right here. The Supplementary Elixir… why is it gone?” Li Yiqiu’s frail voice rose slightly. “Father, you always say my body is weak, that you fear the wind will worsen my condition. But now that the Supplementary Elixir is gone, what is there left to fear? Death is death anyway.”

Li Muqiu looked at his daughter’s stubborn face, at the single crystal tear hanging beneath her long lashes. In that moment, he seemed to see his late wife. He let out a long sigh. “Qiu’er, I know all the suffering you’ve endured these years, but it wasn’t for nothing. Your illness will be completely healed. You must believe me—while I’m here, there is nothing I cannot accomplish.”

“You lie. Ever since I was old enough to understand, you’ve been lying. You kept telling me my illness would get better soon, that I should endure a little longer. But how many years have passed? My illness hasn’t improved; it’s only worsened. Can you tell me why?”

“I was foolish too. Every time you said that, I believed you—I believed my illness would truly get better. Whenever the pain struck, it felt as if every bone in my body was being shattered piece by piece. The agony made me want to give up, to end it all. But every time I thought about giving up, I remembered your words. I gritted my teeth and endured, passing one hurdle after another, year after year…”

“I’ve endured this inhuman torment without knowing how long I must continue, or how long I can hold on. But I believed you, even when I saw no hope. I stubbornly persisted. Until one day, you told me you had entrusted the sacred place to prepare the Supplementary Elixir for me, that it could remove all my pain and restore me completely.”

“But… nothing changed. Just like before, I still see no hope. From beginning to end, you were deceiving me. You only wanted to torment me, to make life worse than death. You’re a liar. I will never believe you again. Never.”

“Qiu—Qiu’er…” Li Muqiu’s face turned pale in an instant. His tall, imposing figure staggered back a few steps, his once straight and sharp posture now slightly hunched. “How can you say such things to your father? You…”

“You’re not my father. You’re a liar. Leave. I never want to see you again. Whether I live or die from now on is none of your concern.” A complex expression flickered across Li Yiqiu’s gentle face before being replaced by a resolute determination. It seemed she had made a firm decision.

“You brat, how dare you speak to your own father like that?” Che Wuyou had been silently listening to their conversation. From what he heard, he understood the whole situation. Although he felt deeply guilty for secretly taking the Supplementary Elixir himself out of spite, seeing Li Yiqiu speak to her father like that inflamed his anger.

Che Wuyou had never been favored by his father, Che Hongshi. Despite lacking talent, he worked hard, hoping for even the slightest sign of approval—a glance, a word of praise. But such a simple wish had proven to be a luxury. Not only did his father never praise him, but he was frequently beaten and scolded, eventually met with nothing but disdainful looks. This had deeply wounded him.

So when he saw Li Muqiu caring for his daughter so devotedly, yet Li Yiqiu showed no gratitude and even wounded her father’s heart so cruelly, Che Wuyou’s fury surged uncontrollably.

“Who are you, daring to insult me?” Li Yiqiu, though frail and having suffered much, had never been spoken to like this, let alone insulted. She was both angry and surprised that, here in Qingchi Mountain, in the territory of the Qingchi Sword Sect, someone dared openly speak so disrespectfully to her.

“I’m Che Wuyou. Never heard of me? I insulted you because you dared insult your own father. Why shouldn’t I insult you?” Che Wuyou immediately regretted his outburst. It was a rash moment, but now that it was done, he knew backing down would only earn her contempt and might even threaten his life. So he resolved to stand his ground, hoping there was still a chance for survival.

“You have a lot of nerve, meddling in my affairs… You must apologize and beg for my forgiveness, or I’ll have Black Cang peck out your eyes,” Li Yiqiu said with quiet authority. In Qingchi Mountain, she was like a princess; no one had ever defied her.

“I didn’t say anything wrong. Why should I apologize? Your father rushed all the way here through hardships, fighting the demon sect for the Supplementary Elixir. He even tore relations with the Tianshan Sword Sect over it. And you still call your father a liar? What else can you be but a brat?” Che Wuyou straightened his neck stubbornly, refusing to yield.

“You dare lecture me?” Li Yiqiu was seething with rage. How could this seemingly ordinary boy be so bold? Not only was he defiant, but he dared call her a brat again. Did he not fear that she would order Black Cang to peck out his eyes?

“Black Cang, peck out one of his eyes!” Li Yiqiu calmly commanded her mount. “Let’s see if he still dares to insult or lecture me after that.”

“Chirp!” Black Cang responded with an excited, clear cry. With its two legs as sturdy as iron rods, it slowly advanced toward Che Wuyou.