Path of the Lilies

67. First Path of the Lilies: Death and Rebirth (1)

The two of them headed to the hut. Ye Ai Xia's steps were slow and it became even slower to the point that she stopped a few steps away from the hut.

"Mom?" Ye Jiao looked at her mother worriedly. "Is there anything wrong? Can Ye Jiao do something?"

"No," Ye Ai Xia raised her hand and messed up the girl's hair. She could feel the turmoil inside her body was getting stronger. There would be nothing that she could anymore.

Turning her head to the ground, she spotted a beautiful white flower not far from them. Her hand was stretched out and plucked the flower before putting it on Ye Jiao's ear. The little girl's eyes widened as she looked at her mother with confusion.

"Mom?"

"The lily flower looks good on you," Ye Ai Xia said slowly. She took out the embroidery necklace that she brought with her. It belonged to Ye Xiao, but now that he had gone, she would just give it to her daughter. Slowly, she put it around her neck and patted it lightly. "This is for you. Take care of it well."

"This," Ye Jiao caressed the center of the necklace. The embroidery was flower shaped, but it had changed its shape due to the time. The thread had turned soft over the time as the color started to fade. "Mom, this is dad's, right?"

"Yes, it was his. So, you have to take care of it well, ok?"

"Jiao'er understands," Ye Jiao nodded her head firmly. Her small hand was holding the necklace tightly.

She propped her body and continued to walk towards the hut. Her limbs felt heavy, but she continued until she reached the small hut. The floor was made of mud, so she could partially drag her body inside.

Ye Ai Xia leaned on the wall as she caressed Ye Jiao's face. "Why did you start crying?"

"Huh?" Ye Jiao touched her face as she realized that she was crying. She didn't understand why, but she felt that she would lose something precious from her right now. Her eyes stared back at her mother. "Mom will leave me..."

Ye Ai Xia's eyes widened. She smiled wryly. The Heavens were kind to her that they gave her a talented and caring daughter. Unfortunately, she wouldn't be here to see her daughter's growth.

"Jiao'er, Mom is sorry. Mother won't be able to accompany you again," Ye Ai Xia smiled with sadness. Her strength had started to leave her body as the result of forcing herself to break into rank 4 even when she had no qualification. "Listen to me, well."

"No! Mom, don't leave Jiao'er!" Ye Jiao clutched her mother's clothes tightly. Her eyes turned red as she stared at her mother with a despairing expression. She didn't want to lose her mother.

Ye Ai Xia patted the girl's head. "Don't be so sad. Mom is just going to your father's place ahead of you. You can only stay here for a short time. This might be a safe place, but you can't stay here forever. Once you form your core...you should leave."

"But Mom..."

"Sshh," Ye Ai Xia stroked the girl's cheek. "It'll be fine. Any other places are safer than the capital city. Mom believes that... you will be able to become a great figure in the future."

Ye Jiao cried hard as she listened to her mother's words. She would train hard, but she didn't want to lose her mother. "Mom, don't leave me... please..."

Ye Ai Xia smiled wryly as her eyes watered. She also didn't want to leave her daughter alone. This girl was only eight and a half years old. The world was simply too big and dangerous. She didn't want to leave her daughter alone to face the cruelty and harshness of this world.

Alas, it was impossible.

It was her decision to pick this path. There might be a better future for her if she accepted Wei Shang's proposal, but she doubted it. This is her path and she had to face the consequences of her own action.