Chapter 45 Dongcheng Huangtu
Li Tianlai held Qin Weibai’s soft hands and left the yard of the Yu’s Restaurant. The time that followed was alone time with Qin Weibai, which was what Li Tianlan anticipated the most and was most excited about.
The little alley was a dozen meters long. The two walked through it silently. Li Tianlan did not speak much usually, but that did not mean that he was not good at making conversation. He opened his mouth a few times but did not know what to say. He could only hold Qin Weibai’s hand subconsciously, his palms filled with sweat.
“Tianlan, are you very nervous?”
Qin Weibai turned to glance at him, her smile was gentle and playful, and somewhat mischievous.
This side of Qin Weibai would not be shown to other people. Li Tianlan looked at her dazedly once more.
“I’m nervous.”
Li Tianlan nodded honestly. At their lunch table, Qin Weibai had said she would be his girlfriend.
Boyfriend and girlfriend, lovers, and the next step would be husband and wife.
Was this not an intimate relationship?
However, when he held Qin Weibai’s palms, Li Tianlan felt that something was missing.
Of course, he felt an unexpected bliss and satisfaction. But when he thought carefully, the two of them seemed to be missing something natural.
Or perhaps, one could say, this was a feeling only he experienced.
Qin Weibai behaved naturally toward him. It was too natural. It was a gentleness that seemed to be a natural instinct for her. It nourished silently and without him knowing. Li Tianlan found himself unable to extricate himself from it.
But standing in Li Tianlan’s shoes, such feelings seemed to have come too suddenly.
Which was why one should say that he was baffled, rather than nervous.
“What are you nervous about? Are you worried I’d eat you up?”
Qin Weibai smiled and took out the car keys to open the door.
Yu Donglai had followed Flaming Fire to the Garden Party. As such, they had left behind the car Flaming Fire and Qin Weibai arrived in. The two of them could drive it home.
Li Tianlan sat at the passenger seat silently, preoccupied with worries.
Qin Weibai did not say anything else. She drove the car and they slowly left the Yu’s restaurant. She drove seriously, her eyes fixed on the road in front of her clearly. Her clear eyes did not seem to have a single speck of dust in them.
Li Tianlan sighed softly and finally asked the question he had thought about for a long time. He asked softly, “What’s your relationship with my father?”
His father Li Kuangtu had betrayed their country and died 20 years earlier. Meanwhile, Qin Weibai was not even 24 this year. The timeline did not fit.
But in Li Tianlan’s heart, this was a conjecture which was most likely valid.
If Qin Weibai had some sort of connection to his father or perhaps had gotten something from him, she would take care of Li Tianlan and even marry him. While ludicrous, it was not completely unreasonable.
While such a reason might feel forced, but to Li Tianlan, it was also the most likely.
As for a connection between his grandfather and Qin Weibai, that was even more unlikely.
Over the past years, his grandfather had always stayed in Li’s Village. The number of times he left the village was pitiful. It was completely impossible that he would trust Qin Weibai’s stand without reserve unless Qin Weibai had something to do with his father. This could be the reason why his grandfather had accepted that name card.
“Your father?”
Qin Weibai was driving, and she turned around to look at Li Tianlan. She said gently, “I don’t know him.”
“Then, that name card?”
Li Tianlan looked at Qin Weibai seriously and realized that it did not seem as if she was acting. He felt his head ache.
But the love he felt for Qin Weibai was beyond his control. If he did not get a complete understanding of the whole situation, he would not be able to feel secure.
“Grandfather said you were completely trustworthy when he gave me your name card.”
Li Tianlan said, his expression calm and his eyes gentle.
Back then, Li Honghe’s words were simple, but how could Li Tianlan not understand what he meant?
Li Tianlan took the name card and when he called the number on it, it was almost as if he had entrusted himself and the border campsite all to Qin Weibai. After reaching Huating, he started to understand the current general trends. Then, Li Tianlan naturally realized how dangerous such a move was.
If Qin Weibai had even had the slightest thought of releasing this news, then Li Tianlai might die terribly, and even everyone squirreled at the border campsite would meet with an unfortunate end.
But even so, Grandfather had given Qin Weibai’s name card to him without any fanfare. What did this mean?
Could it be that his Grandfather had something to do with Qin Weibai?
Li Tianlan ruminated quickly. During the year in which the Li’s Village hid at the border, Qin Weibai was just a child of three or four. Over the past years, there were only a scant few times his grandfather left the village. And every time he left, he would leave for less than a month. In such a situation, no matter how much contact his grandfather and Qin Weibai had, their time was limited. So why did he trust Qin Weibai so much?
“You...”
Li Tianlan opened his mouth. This time, Qin Weibai interrupted him and said softly, “I went to the border when you were in the desert. There, I met your grandfather and left behind my name card. That’s all.”
“That’s all?”
Li Tianlan’s expression was that of incredulity.
“There are many things that are not as complicated as you think. You’re not allowed to get angry because I’m speaking the truth. Even though I don’t like your grandfather, I have to say that he is a very intelligent and charismatic old man. He had once been the God of War of Zhongzhou State, and even though he had been hermitic for many years, he is still as impressive.”
Qin Weibai slowed the car down and said leisurely, “So don’t make any wild guesses. I don’t have any relationship with your father nor your grandfather. I went to the border just for you and I only have a relationship with you. Are you satisfied with this answer?”
Li Tianlan was not only dissatisfied, he felt even more baffled.
She only had a relationship with him?
They had never met, so what sort of relationship was that? What was it that made such a beauty so desperate to attach herself to him?
“You said you were willing to be my girlfriend?”
Li Tianlan asked after he took a deep breath to calm himself down. Interacting with beautiful women had never been easy. It was so for Wang Yuetong, and even more so for Qin Weibai. A short conversation did not answer his problems but instead confused him even more.
“Yes.”
Qin Weibai nodded lightly, blushing slightly. However, her tone was natural and graceful. She said, “You’re my boyfriend from today on. So you’re not allowed to be nervous, understand? No matter what I’m like out there, I’m me in front of you. If you’re nervous in front of me, I’ll feel like a failure.”
Li Tianlan looked at Qin Weibai, dazed.
Qing Weibai intentionally avoided looking at him. She said softly, “Tianlan, there are some things that I can’t tell you now. I’m not hiding it from you intentionally, but I don’t know how to tell you. Give me some time and when I’m prepared, I will let you know everything. I have no secrets from you.”
Li Tianlan’s eyes softened and stretched his hand out to hold Li Weibai’s hand which was on the steering wheel. He smiled and said, “Do you like me?”
“I not only like you.”
Qin Weibai’s body seemed to turn into jelly. She looked at the road in front of her and muttered to herself, “I not only like you.”
“It is said that one did not know when love started to develop and when it deepened. Could it be like this for us?”
Li Tianlan looked at Qin Weibai, who was obviously in a daze. He made a joke, pretending to be relaxed.
Qin Weibai however, did not laugh.
One did not know when love started to develop?
One did not know when it started to develop?
She bit her lips and her lips curved up subconsciously. However, her gaze was somewhat miserable.
The car entered a villa that could only be considered mid-tier in Huating. Qin Weibai drove the car into the separate yard of the villa and the two got off.
Before getting off the car, Qin Weibai opened the storage box. The storage box had obviously been remodeled. It had a password. She calmly entered a long and complicated password and took out a blue notebook that seemed both familiar and not from within.
Li Tianlan glanced at it but did not say anything. After getting off the car, he took a few steps and wanted to hold Qin Weibai’s little hands subconsciously. He did not want to let go of that warm, soft and slender hand once he held it.
But Qin Weibai was even faster. She went up to him and hugged his arm tightly.
Li Tianlan stiffened as he felt Qin Weibai pressing up almost her entire body to him. He felt a fierce spark of fire rising from his body.
However, when he saw the blue notebook that Qin Weibai treated as a treasure, he felt his heart twinge. He calmed down, wanting to say something, but stopped before he did.
“What do you want to say?”
Qin Weibai hugged his arm. She lifted her head, her face beautiful and charming.
This was true charm.
Li Tianlan almost forgot where he was for an instant. He paused for a while before regaining his wits. He laughed self depreciatingly and said softly, “I haven’t asked you before, but in my heart, I always thought that you had something to do with my father or my grandfather. That’s why you have been so kind to me. Even the notebook in your hand, I once thought it was my father’s. But since you said that you have nothing to do with my father, to whom does this weekly scheduler from the Sky Academy belong to?”
Qin Weibai hesitated, something she rarely did.
Li Tianlan was just making conversation. When he saw Qin Weibai’s reaction, he said, “I was just casually asking. You don’t have to say anything if it’s not convenient for you to.”
“There’s nothing inconvenient about this.”
Qin Weibai opened the front door of the villa. She held on to Li Tianlan’s arm and they walked in. She said softly, “It’s just that I don’t know how to say this. You should read this notebook but now is not the time. When the time is right, I will hand it to you.”
“Are you saying that this notebook has something to do with me?”
Li Tianlan’s face was filled with shock. He seemed to have found a reason for why Qin Weibai liked him, but he found this rather incredible.
“There’s not much of a connection, but it’d be helpful to you.”
Qin Weibai pulled Li Tianlan to sit down at the sofa. She smiled tranquility, just like the decor of the villa.
The villa was about 1,000 square meters. The interior design of it was not resplendent nor magnificent, but it made one feel comfortable. From the overall layout to every minute detail, they were all done with great style and it seemed very homey.
She poured a glass of water for Li Tianlan and gently touched the notebook in her hand, looking as if she was in a trance. She said softly, “What is recorded in here, is everything related to a Heavenly Son in a period of ten years. His experiences, his thoughts, his views, and even his thoughts about martial arts. Everything regardless of whether it was important or not was recorded. When the time is right, I will give this to you.”
A Heavenly Son.
This could not be used on anybody. It was not a title that a person who had no enemies could use casually.
Of the four Invincible Realm experts in Huaxia, it was estimated that only Wang Tianzong, who had the Human Emperor, could come somewhat close to this title; and it was only somewhat close.
Heavenly Sons had come from Zhongzhou State in the past 500 years. And every Heavenly Son was capable of annihilating the Dark World.
“This person...”
Li Tianlan frowned.
“He died a long time ago.”
Qin Weibai’s calm tones felt foreign to Li Tianlan.
She held an exquisite celadon teacup in her hands, her eyes wandering as if she had entered her memories.
“He, he could be said to be the most heroic person I’ve ever seen.
“We met for the first time at Huating Airport. The only Invincible Realm expert on the assassin board had infiltrated Huating and his intentions were unclear. The Zhongzhou State government had wanted him to investigate the Invincible Realm assassin’s intentions, but he could not even be bothered and had come with the thoughts of killing the assassin.
“Many high-level officials of Huating came to pick him up on the day he arrived. This included the leader of Huating who is very likely to rise even higher.
“I was there as well that day. He emerged from the plane with a smile and looked very harmonious. He was even leading a pet dog. The leader of Huating who did not have a good relationship with him went up and wanted to shake his hand, but he conveniently placed the dog leash in the leader’s hand. The leader of Huating was a member of the Decision Making Committee. Then, the man did not even look at others and he just struck.”
“Struck?”
Li Tianlan’s eyebrows picked up and he asked with some confusion, “Who did he strike?”
“He made a move at the Invincible Realm assassin. We don’t know which High-level official of Huating he had come for that day, but he was dressed as an airport staff that day and was waiting for the right time to strike. The assassin was unlucky for he was discovered by the man before he could even make a move. The entire fight only lasted a few seconds. A battle between two in the Invincible Realm just with their bare hands. And the victor emerged in just a moment!”
Li Tianlan’s heart beat violently as he listened, captivated.
Two in the Invincible Realm fought and one was killed within seconds. He could not even imagine that scene even if he wanted to.
“That’s really strong. What happened after that?”
He asked.
Qin Weibai gave him a blank look and chuckled, “What then? Then he grabbed the dog’s leash from the Huating leader and boarded the plane again. He didn’t talk to the High-level officials of Huating from the beginning to the end.”
“I asked him later, and he said there was nothing to say. If that group of buffoons had time to entertain him, he might as well go play with Baby.”
Qin Weibai smiled with a complicated expression and made to explain, “His dog is named Baby.”
Li Tianlan was stupefied. An image of the Heavenly Son was formed subjectively by his mind.
He was arrogant, strong, silent, sharp and high and mighty.
It was a pity that such a person was dead.
Lucky he’s dead.
Listening to Qin Weibai’s explanation, he smiled and said, “That dog is really lucky.”
“Yes, it could be said to be the pet dog with the highest status in many years. When it was alive, not even the man dared to provoke the dog, much less others. It was said that at a high-level private gathering, an invincible figure in Kunlun City refused to apologize for accidentally stepping on the dog’s tail. He died on his way back to Kunlun City within three days, and not all his body parts were found.”
Qin Weibai held a cup of tea and spoke gently, her eyes growing more and more dazed.
Li Tianlan’s gazed flickered and he added a new impression to the original image he had of the strong man.
Extreme madness.
Such a character really had the elegant demeanor of ignoring everything and decimating everything.
Li Tianlan suddenly remembered a statement and said it without much thought, “This is what men should do.”
“This is what men should do?”
Qin Weibai smiled bitterly, “At that time, he was really arrogant and invincible, but so what? Didn’t he die in the end? He started his career at the age of 19 and was killed at the age of 29. After ten years of spectacular development, was he not just a sad song in the end?”
Li Tianlan paused.
He had never thought that such a character would die so young.
“How did he die?”
He asked softly.
This time, Qin Weibai fell silent for five whole minutes before answering in a soft voice. “We told the outside world that he had died in an ambush, but he died because of a betrayal.”
“His last fight was earth-shattering. There were more than 20 experts at the peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm and six Invincible Realm experts who surrounded and attacked him at the same time. In the end, the Thunder-shocking Realm experts were completely annihilated. Of the six Invincible Realm experts, three died and one was maimed, two were severely injured.”
“Actually, even then, when he was forced to his wit’s end, he still had a move he did not use. If that move left its scabbard, then at the very least he could kill all of them and died with them. But at the last moment, the woman he loved most and loved him most stabbed him in the heart.”
“He didn’t go mad or was angry before he died. He just looked at her quietly and finally died in her arms. He died with his eyes open, probably because of his sorrow.”
The twenty over experts at the peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm had all died.
Of the six Invincible Realm experts, three had died and one was maimed.
Li Tianlan was shell shocked, his heart swelled.
With such combat capabilities, it was not too extreme to call him a Heavenly Son.
He could practically go against a nation and was unbeatable in this world.
But such talent had died in the hands of his beloved woman. Would he really be able to die in peace?
Li Tianlan thought of himself subconsciously.
If he became unbeatable one day, and had fought all his enemies but was stabbed in the back by Qin Weibai, what should he do?
He would really die with regret but would be sorrowful and not be able to hate her.
“A man and a woman. They had different standpoints from the very beginning. If they are dragged together, it is ill-fate.”
Qin Weibai took a deep breath and said in a complicated tone.
“What’s his name?”
Li Tianlan suddenly asked. He felt upset when he heard the story. If he had been involved, the bone-deep sorrow would make him feel almost as if he could not breathe.
Qin Weibai hesitated slightly for a moment. In the end, she answered softly, “He’s Dongcheng Huangtu of the Dongcheng Family.”