Girl Talk

--- Chapter 51 ---

"M-My champion..." 

The barbeque event ended a while ago.

Lan Shirou's words stuck in Lan Xueruo's mind, even until now.

The young princess's thought process drifted throughout the night. 

She couldn't sleep at all.

Lan Xueruo sighed and walked to Silver Lake near the hotel. She stared at the beautiful reflection of the moon on the pearly yet dark body of water.

Monarch Heart Secret Art.

It's a secret cultivation technique that the Blue Wind Imperial Family salvaged to this very moment. 

There are so many misconceptions about this profound art. 

There is a reason why one must have a pure heart to cultivate this. After all, this is not a cultivation technique one uses to become strong.

It is a cultivation technique to find the strong!

In the past, the ancestor of the Blue Wind Imperial Family discovered a profound art when adventuring the wilds. He was but an orphan in the vast world.

The ancestor of the Blue Wind Imperial Family trained hard every day but realized that the growth of Monarch Heart Secret Art was 'extremely' difficult. 

That's until he met someone, a man from a distant land.

The Monarch Heart Secret Art ultimately showed him a glimpse of chance.

He 'successfully' pried into the man's fate and luck. And he described it as a life-changing event.

They quickly become sworn brothers as the ancestor of the Blue Wind Imperial Family chose the man as his champion!

Years passed, and the ancestor of the Blue Wind Imperial Family linked his fate and luck with his sworn brother. He supported him with all he could.

The man soon grew prominent and built Heavenly Sword Villa, one of the four great sects in the Blue Wind Empire. No, they are currently the strongest sect in the Blue Wind Empire!

At the same time, the Blue Wind Imperial Family was also founded in the same year, month, and even day as the Heavenly Sword Villa.

Yes, they are like blood brothers at this point.

That's why. In return, the Heavenly Sword Villa has always existed as the guardians of the Blue Wind Imperial Family.

And that's how the Blue Wind Imperial Family has a firm connection with the Heavenly Sword Villa.

Although the two factions have grown distant over time, their bonds never disappear. However, the agreement remains that the sect will protect against threats to the imperial family.

No one dared touch the Blue Wind Imperial Family as long as the Heavenly Sword Villa existed. 

"The empire is declining..." 

"Mother's life... It wouldn't be very long before she-!"

"No, I don't want to imagine it." Lan Xueruo crouched on the ground and covered her face. She doesn't want to imagine the death of her mother.

The thought of it alone was enough to make her shiver in misery.

She sighed and gazed at the lake again, "My champion..."

"The Monarch Heart Secret Art described one's fate and luck like a domain and stars."

"The bigger the domain, the stronger their fate is..."

"The more stars one has, the more blessed one is..."

"The ancestor recorded that the Heavenly Sword Villa's founder possessed fate like a massive lake 300 miles away and countless sharp-shaped stars." 

"On the other hand, Yu Long is like the universe itself. His existence is the center of the universe, with countless stars that I couldn't discern their shapes were." 

"I could only vaguely sense their shapes. They are alive as if they have a beating heart." She lamented softly.

No matter how Lan Xueruo felt, it was ridiculous.

Her understanding of Yu Long is very shallow. Well, they only met and got to know each other for three days.

Thud!

A sound of someone's footsteps appeared behind Lan Xueruo.

The princess panicked and turned around, seeing a familiar-looking lady in a cozy blue dress.

"Xia Qingyue." She uttered her name in relief.

Xia Qingyue looked for something and sat down on a clean rock beside Lan Xueruo. "You look troubled." She said calmly.

A wry smile appeared on Lan Xueruo as she responded, "Am I?" 

Xia Qingyue stared at her, "Yes." 

Lan Xueruo squished her own face in shame. "Well, I'm thinking about the future and afraid of it." 

"My mother is doing well, you see. Interacting with others seemingly sucks her life force..." 

"I don't want to see her dying like this."

"I don't want her to die."

"I want her alive. So she can watch me grow into a calm noblewoman like her. Or maybe attend my future wedding." She giggled in hopelessness.

Xia Qingyue listened and said, "She's a good mother..." 

"Mm, she is." Lan Xueruo flashed a smile toward the seemingly cold girl.

After that, they stared at the lake silently.

"I don't hate you." Xia Qingyue suddenly commented.

"Hmm? I thought you did." Lan Xueruo blinked her eyes in surprise.

Xia Qingyue's cheeks flushed as she continued, "Unlike others, your soul is pure. Someone with such a pure soul doesn't deserve to be hated." 

"However, the world doesn't seem to like a pure-hearted person like you and me." 

"Like you, I also suffered..." 

"My mother left me when I was four. It was difficult." 

"I wanted to find her, but I was ignorant of the world. Well, what can a child do? However, one day, I met a 'very special' person."

"Yu Long?" Lan Xueruo guessed.

Xia Qingyue let out a charming laugh, "Correct." 

"He, who could melt my ice mask... Yu Long." 

'So, she could smile like that...' Lan Xueruo was 'surprisingly' amazed by the girl's beautiful laugh. It was like a fairy whispering to her ears, pleasant.

The princess finally realized that Yu Long meant more than anything to Xia Qingyue.

Xia Qingyue released a sigh, "Yu Long is too outstanding." 

"His soul is like no others." 

"That's why he could attract so many unique people."

"He was a beacon of light for many people, including me." 

The charming girl pursed her lips and added, "I'm acting possessive because I don't want him to get more burdened." 

"You don't know, but countless lives depend on Yu Long."

"This responsibility is heavier than anyone could bear..."

"I'd be more than happy if I could lighten his burden slightly." Xia Qingyue closed her eyes. She patted her developing bosom and recalled how Yu Long forged a bond with many people.

His family.

His subordinate.

'Even myself, a pitiful young lady from a backwater place.' Xia Qingyue thought humbly.

Lan Xueruo caught what Xia Qingyue meant and bitterly said, "So you don't want me to get closer to Yu Long because I'd be an additional burden for him?"

"Pretty much." Xia Qingyue responded casually.

"..." Lan Xueruo.

This girl is straightforward.

Xia Qingyue did sugarcoat her intention, but still. 

It's not wrong.

Xia Qingyue put on a defeated expression, "However, I failed." 

"Eh?" Lan Xueruo was stunned.

"When you were using your cultivation technique, I also saw a glimpse of Yu Long's fate and luck. No amount of possessiveness will stop you from getting close to Yu Long. So my attempt is useless." Xia Qingyue shrugged helplessly.

"The strings have intertwined." 

Xia Qingyue stood up and commented, "You must be thinking about something related to him." 

"He's a person of many talents. He could create miracles by 'simply' sitting in the corner of the room." 

"My advice is just follow your heart." 

"Or you'll regret it later." 

Lan Xueruo blinked once, and Xia Qingyue's figure disappeared from her vision. All that remains is her charming voice.

"Regret, huh?" Lan Xueruo hugged her knees and enjoyed the cold atmosphere at the end.

After a while, Lan Xueruo stood up and returned to her room.

"Xueruo?" Lan Shirou mumbled while still sleeping. 

Lan Xueruo sat on the edge of the bed and held her mother's hand.

"Yes, mother?" 

"You're a good child..."

"My daughter is a good child." 

"I'm relieved to raise such a good child." 

"I-If only I could live a little longer." Lan Shiruo whispered, a tear slowly dropping from her closed eyes.

Lan Xueruo's eyes also moistened when hearing this.

She wiped tears away and determinedly said, "Don't worry." 

"I've decided..." 

"Even if I had to beg, even if I had to sell myself." 

"I would get Yu Long to be my champion." 

"If what Xia Qingyue said is true, he might be able to create a miracle and cure mother." She covered her mother in a blanket and lay on the second bed.

"Tomorrow..."

"I hope he accepts me."