It was midnight, the perfect time to flee. Xue Lihua knew that given Li Yue'er’s petty and vengeful nature, once she recovered from her injuries and came to her senses, there would be no way forward for her or her daughter. She had endured for so many years; if not for her daughter, she would have left long ago—or rather, she would have had no desire to live at all. She had once abandoned everything for love, but now, she had lost it all. She had nothing left. Her family and her father would certainly never forgive her for choosing a man from an insignificant, low-quality family back then. Of course, Li Ce’s dual spirit root talent was considered quite impressive in a small place like Panze Town, enough to earn him the title of genius, but it was only in this small place; a colossal entity like the Xue Clan would never have looked twice at such a man.
Xue Lihua smiled bitterly. She had nothing left. As long as her precious daughter could survive, she was willing to give up anything, including her own life.
Thinking this, Xue Lihua took an item from around her neck. It was a bead. It was this very bead that had blocked Li Yue'er’s final strike. She had once heard her father say that this bead could preserve her life and possessed defensive properties. Inside the bead was something that could even save the life of someone on the brink of death, but it could only be opened with the blood of someone from the Xue Clan. Without further hesitation, Xue Lihua dripped her blood onto it. As expected, the bead shattered, revealing a pill as white and lustrous as jade inside.
Overjoyed, Xue Lihua immediately stuffed the white pill into Li Dai’s mouth. Li Dai had no time to react to what she was eating. The pill melted the moment it touched her tongue, turning into a sweet, clear stream that flowed down her throat and into her stomach.
Immediately, she felt a warmth spreading throughout her entire body, as if she were being reborn. Her internal and external injuries began to heal at a visible rate, and her hair, which had been yellow and withered from hunger, seemed to regain its vitality, as if she were shedding her old self for a new one.
Even though she was still a thin, spindly little thing, she was now a delicate and fair-skinned sprout.
Li Dai was shocked. Having lived in the twenty-first century’s era of technology, she had never seen such a miraculous medicine. Moreover, Xue Lihua’s own injuries were not light, yet she had fed her such medicine without a moment’s hesitation. This deepened Li Dai’s gratitude, even though Xue Lihua believed she was only doing it for her original daughter.
What Xue Lihua did not know was that her real daughter had already been whipped to death by that vicious woman, which was how she had been able to enter this body.
Putting that aside, it was midnight, and Xue Lihua dared not delay. She packed their belongings, shoved the bundle into Li Dai’s hands, and led her through a labyrinth of paths to the Fangfei Courtyard. Holding Li Dai’s small hand, Xue Lihua headed toward the rockery in the back. This courtyard was remote and unguarded, so the path remained clear.
Upon reaching the rockery, Xue Lihua triggered the mechanism. With a low, rumbling roar, a pitch-black tunnel entrance appeared at the base of the mountain.
Li Dai, being an adult at heart, understood that they were making their escape and couldn't help but feel nervous. "Such a loud noise—I’m afraid people will come soon! Let’s hurry inside!"
Xue Lihua shoved the bundle into Li Dai’s arms and pushed her into the tunnel.
"You must cultivate well and take care of yourself!" With that, she turned back and resolutely triggered the mechanism.
Li Dai’s eyes widened; she had never imagined Xue Lihua would do this. She pounded on the closing wall, as if feeling the original owner's emotions, and sorrow welled up within her. She was not a true seven-year-old; she understood the look in Xue Lihua’s eyes. She was not going to leave. She had chosen to stay behind to draw attention away from them, giving her daughter more of a chance to escape, so she wouldn't be found by the Jin Family and her daughter.
Yes, having accepted the memories of the original owner that had not yet dissipated, she knew exactly who wanted her dead.
Li Dai was sometimes hard-hearted, but sometimes she was incredibly soft. Xue Lihua had treated her well, and she didn't want to leave, but the circumstances gave her no choice. If she didn't go, with her current weak state, staying behind would only be throwing another life away.
Li Dai wiped the tears from her eyes, hunched over her small frame, and moved away from the pitch-black tunnel entrance.
The damp tunnel made her skin crawl, but she moved even faster, not daring to think about Xue Lihua’s fate. She prayed that she would be safe. When the time was right, she would surely return.
Outside, a commotion erupted. Someone shouted, "Fire! There’s a fire!"
Li Dai gritted her teeth, ignoring the sounds, steadied her mind, and kept crawling. She had just arrived in this world and had to survive. Survival was the only path to hope and a future. She would never forget Xue Lihua’s devotion—never!
When Li Ce arrived, the entire Fangfei Courtyard was already a ruin.
He stared at the broken courtyard, thinking of the woman he still could not forget. A flash of profound grief crossed his eyes, but he masked it quickly. It was he who was not strong enough; it was he who had deceived her and failed her. He had always known her to be soft on the outside but firm on the inside, yet he hadn't expected her to be so firm as to reach this point.
He was not unaware of Jin Xiang’s slanders against her, but for the sake of the family, he could only yield. Was his coldness not a form of protection? Why couldn't she understand?
Li Ce clenched his fists, not daring to look at the truth hidden in the flames. "Concubine Xue was in poor health and died suddenly," he said in a deep voice. "Bury her properly!" With that, he activated his wind-step technique and fled as if escaping.