So he nodded seriously and said, "Don’t worry, Master, I promise not to leave a single one, I’ll kill them all."
"Good, hahaha, that’s my good disciple!" Lu Dingtai was very pleased, and upon parting, he gave Zhao Ya a small bottle of Vajra Strength Pills.
This stuff can be used not only for regular training but also to temporarily replenish Qi Blood during battles, making it an essential remedy for home travel and committing murder and arson.
After thanking Lu Dingtai, Zhao Ya left with the bottle of Vajra Strength Pills.
After he left, Lu Dingtai silently paused for a moment before saying, "Come out, he’s gone."
Meng Shiwen lifted the curtain and walked out from the inner room, her face showing some bewilderment and helplessness.
"Master."
Lu Dingtai sighed, "It’s not that I don’t want you to go, after all, he is your father, and visiting his grave is only natural. But that kid knows full well you’re in the back room and yet didn’t mention it, clearly showing he doesn’t intend to take you back."
Meng Shiwen lowered her head, speechless.
Though Lu Dingtai always presented himself as decisive and ruthless to outsiders, he showed rare tenderness to this girl who was not his daughter but was like one.
"If you truly want to go, I can send a message to him to take you back to Wuxiang City, what do you think?"
Meng Shiwen shook her head in refusal.
"No need, I don’t particularly want to go. The deceased are gone, and rituals for the dead are merely for the living to see, serving no real purpose."
Having said that, Meng Shiwen took her leave.
Watching her back, Lu Dingtai sighed lightly.
He knew that the knot in Meng Shiwen’s heart hadn’t been untied.
Ah, Junior Brother, do you realize how your moment of stubbornness back then caused your daughter so much suffering?
A rare somber expression appeared on Lu Dingtai’s face.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya returned home.
Zui’Er was busy packing luggage excitedly.
Zhao Ya had told Zui’Er that they were leaving for Wuxiang City soon, so Zui’Er was too excited to sleep well these past couple of days.
When she saw Zhao Ya return, Zui’Er happily said, "Ya, I’ve packed everything. When do we set off?"
Zhao Ya smiled, "What, feeling anxious?"
"Yes." Zui’Er nodded vigorously.
"Tomorrow, we’ll depart early in the morning."
Zui’Er instantly beamed with a radiant smile.
"Great!"
Then, as if boasting, she pulled Zhao Ya to show him the luggage she had prepared.
"Look, here are two pairs of shoes I sewed for Grandma. She loves new shoes, but our family couldn’t afford them back then, so she rarely wore a pair. Even when she passed, she was wearing old cloth shoes."
As she spoke, Zui’Er’s voice choked up.
Zhao Ya knew she had deep feelings for her grandmother and felt guilty for not letting her enjoy better days back then.
He stepped forward and gently embraced Zui’Er.
"It’s okay, don’t be sad. Grandma is surely watching from above and seeing you so happy now, she must be very pleased."
"Yes, I’m not sad; I’m happy." Zui’Er wiped away tears from the corner of her eyes and earnestly replied.
"Yes, you are happy, I believe you!" Zhao Ya said.
After comforting Zui’Er and helping her sleep, Zhao Ya went into the courtyard and suddenly spoke.
"Senior Sister, after waiting outside for so long, are you not coming in?"
A moment later, a figure flashed by, and Meng Shiwen appeared in the courtyard.
Zhao Ya surely knew why she came, yet he said nothing, simply gesturing to a stone bench in the courtyard.
"Please sit, Senior Sister."
Meng Shiwen sat down, speechless.
Since she didn’t speak, naturally, Zhao Ya would say even less.
The two remained silent like this.
For a full cup of tea’s time, Meng Shiwen finally spoke abruptly, "Are you leaving tomorrow...?"
"Yes."
"Going to Wuxiang City?"
"Correct!"
"For what?"
"To kill."
After a few brief exchanges, Meng Shiwen fell silent again.
Zhao Ya quietly watched her, not urging.
Finally.
Meng Shiwen lifted her gaze, hesitantly taking out a small bag.
"I’ve prepared some things; if you visit his grave, could you please burn them for me?"
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ya outright refused.
"No."
"Why?" Meng Shiwen was confused.
"Since you’ve prepared these for your father, why don’t you honor him yourself? Why ask me to help?" Zhao Ya replied lightly.
A deeply conflicted expression emerged on Meng Shiwen’s face again.
"But I..."
"When I met Master Lu, you should’ve been in the back room, Senior Sister. Why didn’t you come out then and tell me what you truly wanted?" Zhao Ya was quite aggressive.
Meng Shiwen showed a pained expression, murmuring, "I don’t know how to face him. On one hand, I hate him for abandoning me, yet on the other, I pity him, alone and buried in a foreign land, without even someone to offer incense at his grave."
"Actually, many things are difficult to face due to your avoidance fundamentally."
"He’s your father, and I don’t wish to intervene in your emotional entanglements, but I just want to say, he never abandoned you. Even on his deathbed, he proudly told me stories about you."
At this point, Zhao Ya stood up, speaking indifferently.
"Tomorrow morning, Zui’Er and I will set off. If you wish to go, come to me with your things, otherwise forget it."