Those who had instigated Li Pinyue to usurp the throne were dragged out, their cries of agony filling the air.
Li Mingke's hands and feet were ice cold.
The elders remained silent, as if they hadn't seen it.
She stopped talking about Li Mingke later, but she remained in a daze. The discussions were translated into words and entered her ears, but they only passed through her mind once, leaving a very faint trace.
Before today, she had considered whether to tell her mother that Yue'er was better than her in every way, and that Yue'er should take her place as the young master.
But today's family meeting made her realize that her thinking was completely wrong. Li Zengqing would not waver for various reasons and would firmly weld her to this position.
Through the elders' attitudes toward her, she clearly understood her place in the family.
After the meeting, she practically leaned on Li Pinyue as she walked out, completely dazed.
"Sister, are you alright?" Li Pinyue helped her up and noticed that her palms were sweaty.
"fine……"
A gust of cold wind made her shiver, and she realized that her back was already covered in sweat.
When the Third Elder, who had spoken earlier, passed by them, he only glanced at them briefly before slowly walking away.
Li Mingke's throat was itchy.
When Youju saw that Li Mingke was pale when she returned, she was startled and hurriedly told the maid to boil water and personally helped her to bed.
"Young Master, how did you fall ill after going out for a while?"
She took off Li Mingke's shoes and changed his clothes, only to find that Li Mingke was almost soaked. Just then, a maidservant said that the water had been boiled, so she quickly told her to put Li Mingke in the water to cool him down.
Once in the water, Li Mingke rested his head on the edge of the wooden tub, his eyes half-closed, looking sickly and listless.
The hazy steam floating in mid-air, like a thin veil, quietly concealed her face, making it impossible to see her expression. Her eyelashes trembled like the tail feathers of a small bird, revealing her inner unease.
Water droplets flowed down from the ends of her hair, past her temples, across her face, onto her collarbone, and then down into the water.
"Young Master...?" Yuju called softly.
Li Mingke gently shook his head.
Seeing that she seemed preoccupied, Youju whispered to her, "Young Master, please continue soaking. I'll wait for you outside. Call me when you're done."
"good."
"The master brought back some plum juice from the south a few days ago; it's sweet and sour. Shall I go get some for the young master?"
Li Mingke nodded slightly.
Young Orange went out and returned shortly afterward, carrying a small wooden boat in her arms. The boat was hollowed out and contained a plump glass bottle and a small glass cup.
After placing the plum juice in the container, she quietly withdrew.
Li Mingke took a sip of plum juice.
"It's still a bit sour... I guess I still prefer sweets." She muttered to herself.
It's so sour!
She hissed, the air entering her mouth intensifying the acidity.
The acid seemed to transform into a nimble young beast, baring its fangs and claws as it raced down her esophagus, quickly taking over her throat.
Then, it surged into my stomach like a flood bursting its banks. This acid was like a powerful source of radiation, continuously releasing countless acidic particles. These tiny yet highly corrosive particles relentlessly eroded everything around them.
Soon, the unbearably sour taste began to invade her heart, spreading unchecked throughout her heart muscle. Each heartbeat was accompanied by a piercing pain.
She covered her face with her hands, and water droplets dripped through her fingers.
In this oppressive, confined space, she suddenly felt that her existence in this world seemed meaningless.
She had seen vegetable scraps carelessly thrown into the trash can by the cook.
Ordinary stones picked up and then discarded by children.
And the stray cat in the back alley that you can see just by turning around.
"I'm no different from them."
That's what she thought.
Unbeknownst to everyone, her usual optimism concealed a deep-seated inferiority complex and vulnerability.
She used a forced smile to cover up her inner wounds, like the moon obscuring the sunlight.
The moon is, after all, the moon. When she is alone, the sun's intensity engulfs the moon, exposing the secret place she has built in her heart to the fierce sunlight.
She was like a traveler trapped on the sea, shrouded in mist, not knowing where to go or where to return.
Just like countless times before, she subconsciously touched the disguise bead on her neck.
"Never lose the Disguise Bead; it is your talisman."
But she was shocked to find that the amulet had now disappeared.
She transformed her identity, as if she had peeled off a layer of skin to grow a completely new self.
But without her original armor-like disguise, she began to panic, feeling a sense of utter helplessness and fear.
The calm of many days was all for this moment, to unleash a giant wave, capsize her, and plunge her into the sea.
She finally got lost in the boundless sea...
She had been sleeping at the bottom of the sea for a long time when suddenly a breaking sound came from the surface of the sea.
Light pierced through the seabed, cutting a crack in the ocean.
The sweet fragrance of plums wafts over.
The plum juice, which had been standing perfectly upright, was spilled on the ground, and the bright pink juice flowed down the crack.
She was more sensitive to color than before, yet she still felt as if restless, drowning blood was bursting from her veins, carrying boundless passion and thirst.
Stars rise over the sea.
Her mind instantly became as bright as day.
The once quiet shattered jade seemed to receive some kind of call, and it began to dance in her sea of consciousness. Although it was not drawn from its sheath, one could still feel its fierce sword wind.
With an air of dominance over everything, it seemed as if it could sever all things.
"If my existence has no meaning, then what am I doing right now?"
If she keeps letting herself fall, who will catch her?
"I'll catch me."
"The future me that I want to become will catch me."
If life is destined to be as trivial as dust, and it is long and short, why not do our best to dance out the light?
Will they die amidst the blazing flames, or suffocate on withered grass and decaying wood?
She stood up from the water with a "whoosh".
Dewdrops gathered on her body, forming her new armor.
As the fog lifted, she found her way.
She is not alone.
Her parents, relatives, and friends all silently supported her behind the scenes.
They are her oars, allowing her to carve out her own unique marks in her own sea.
"Young Orange!" The voice was clear and cheerful, a girl's light and lively voice.
"Young Master!" Youju entered through the curtain.
"Help me change my clothes."
...
"You mean, we should learn the Li family's secret techniques now?"
Li Zengqing and Wu Xilan were deeply in love when Li Mingke entered, and the two hurriedly separated.
Hmm, is this daytime provocation?
Dad and Mom still have such a good relationship!
Wu Xilan awkwardly covered her face with her sleeve, while Li Zengqing remained nonchalant and didn't seem to mind.
"Yes, I am now able to cultivate, and I have laid a foundation these days, so I hope to learn the Li family's secret techniques from my mother."
Upon hearing this, Wu Xilan immediately objected, "Mingke, you've just started cultivating, you need to start from the basics. Being too aggressive is not good. Father will find you a..."
Li Zengqing knew that her husband doted on the children, so she interrupted, "That's fine too."
"Qingqing!" Wu Xilan called out to his wife.
"It's good that you have this idea, but I don't plan to teach you myself."
"If my mother won't teach me, who else can teach me? But those elders treat me like this..." she stammered.
Most of the elders disliked her, and she was afraid that the teacher her mother would find for her would be one of the elders who hated her.
"No, I'll take you to meet someone who will be happy to teach you."
"Qingqing, do you mean..."
"That's right, it's him!"
Li Mingke blinked in confusion as he watched his parents speaking in riddles.
...
Demon Lord Luan Hua returned to the Demon Cave. On the way, Gu Piao kept asking why he didn't bring his wife back with him, but instead let her go to the First Line of Heaven with Immortal Jinyun.
Isn't this like throwing lambs to the slaughter? The Lord has done so much, all he's been waiting for—to bring his wife back!
Are we just going to hand it over like this, letting all our previous efforts go to waste?
You don't understand.
Demon Lord Luan Hua only said this one sentence.
Bone Piao was getting anxious.
How could he not understand? Even if he didn't understand, he knew that once Madam fell into the hands of Immortal Venerable Jinyun, it wouldn't be easy to get her back!
But Luan Hua remained indifferent. Finally, she got so annoyed that she sent him to do odd jobs.
Bone Piao was puzzled by his master.
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