WangXian Forever 5

Chapter 53 Truce

At least Jiang Cheng was down to sniffling rather than fully blown sneezes, but perhaps it was nature's way of stopping him from speaking, because every time he opened his mouth, the sneezes returned.

Meanwhile, XiChen and SniZidian were having a great time, waving goodbye to this part of their family who were leaving Cloud Recesses again. Even Uncle Qiren came to say goodbye at the gates.

Wei Ying tried not to cry, honestly he did, but when Uncle Qiren patted his head again, he burst into tears. It was hard for everyone.

It took a combination of XiChen and Lan Zhan to reassure him, that everything would be alright, before he let go of the elder. Li XiWang took his hand and refused to let go, not even when they were miles away from Cloud Recesses.

They decided to walk, it being the safest option while their prisoner was travelling with them. Horses might have been faster, but it would have given her a chance to escape easily.

Wei Ying had already spoken to Hui Gai about her, and the demon had also agreed to supervise her along their journey.

Hui Gai had come to terms with a few things recently.

The first, had been brought to his attention by none other than their hunger striker, Zhitiao. She had asked him for the reason he stayed, and the answer was easy; it was Wei Ying, through and through. Although now, his little friend was part of their group.

Li XiWang had somehow stolen his heart along the way, and now he couldn't imagine living without either of them. If he was to leave, where would he go?

At least here, with his friend, he felt useful. He felt wanted, and he felt included. And, it was nice.

This journey they were going on, he felt he would be able to contribute much more. He didn't need to sleep, and neither eating or drinking affected him. He could easily watch and subdue Zhitiao while remaining in the necklace around Li XiWang's neck, but Hui Gai had discovered something important.

They liked to see him.

When Hui Gai was first released from the cursed handle of the knife, he had been worried. He had placed his trust in his brother, related by birth and blood, and look where it had gotten him. His Pengyou had saved him again and again, and not asked for a single thing in return. Whenever he did want something, he made sure that Hui Gai knew he was not obliged to go through with his requests.

But the fact that his friend thought of him at all, was a point of high honour for the demon.

Through his many interactions with Wei Ying, Hui Gai had realised that his first thoughts about the selfless man had been correct.

Wei Ying was a strong, upright man who stuck to his principles, who stood by his family and who tried, despite the many difficulties, to do the right thing.

Even now, as they began on this journey, he could see Pengyou glancing at their prisoner more than just a few times. His friend was worried about Zhitiao.

Zhitiao hadn't eaten anything for the past three days. She was already looking weaker, stumbling now and again, and only prevented from hurting herself by Hui Gai's fast reflexes.

Hui Gai had an idea how to help her, but it would require the help of his little friend, who was currently terrified of the assassin.

Li XiWang was trying to cope with many things.

Firstly, this trip may or may not result in the finding of her parents. She still wasn't sure how she felt about that.

All her life, she had tried to smother the feelings of abandonment, the heartbreaking thoughts which meant her parents hadn't wanted her. But the more they discovered about them, the more she was feeling that they might not have had a choice.

Her parents had enemies. One who was currently walking right in front of her.

While Hui Gai had not gone into details, he had explained who she was and why she held more than a little dislike for her parents.

Li Xiwang thought it was a tragedy. Her young mind thought it an injustice that two people in love would be hated for just that.

Her mind was only now beginning to process other facts regarding them, and having seen and met her father's extended family, and really liking them, she was understanding that circumstances played a huge role in determining what had happened.

Her uncles and aunts, as royalty under the sea, ancient kings, had finally forgiven her father and wanted him back. It begged the question: where was he? And why had he not sought out his family? Was he with her mother?

This thought was even more worrying. It would be great if they were together...but what if they weren't?

Li XiWang knew that even if she put aside her own concerns regarding her parents, she would need some answers before she would be able to make a choice about them.

In the back of her mind, she lived with guilt. Guilt because in her heart of hearts, she had two amazing parents already. She did not want to give them up, not at all.

Her love for her fathers far exceeded anything she could feel for her biological parents, and she felt bad for this. Was it a betrayal? She wasn't sure. Father Wei and father Zhan had given her unconditional love and she could not now imagine a life without them.

They had made it clear that they would always be with her, would always look after her. Through words and through actions, they were more her parents than any other being alive.

Her second worry was to do with her identity.

She was Li XiWang. Had been since birth.

But that did not explain her weird dreams, so vivid and real, that when she woke, she had trouble discerning what was actually there, and what she had seen.

Knowledge that she had no idea how she knew, kept flooding her thoughts. She would wonder about certain diseases or ailments and the cure would pop up in her mind.

It was a miracle, but at the same time, it frightened her. She hadn't told anyone yet, but she knew Hui Gai was aware.

She would sometimes see a large room, round and comfortable looking. It had books crammed all over; in the book shelves lining the wall, on tables, piles of books scattered over the floor and pushed into every nook and cranny.

One space was filled with tubes of different ingredients and liquids. A makeshift oven and stove stood to one side, and copious amounts of wine bottles were stacked in the oddest of places.

This room was fascinating...and familiar. She didn't know why, either, just that it was.

Thirdly, their prisoner.

Whenever Li XiWang looked up, the young woman would be looking at her strangely. And then she would blink, slowly and on purpose, as if she knew how much Li Xiwang detested her eye lids. The painted eyes were even more creepier in real life.

To say she was scared, would be an understatement.

So Li XiWang tried to ignore her. She kept her hand in her father's, and walked forward resolutely, determined to do well.