Behind her.
Came the clear yet slightly dejected voice of a young girl.
The shock on Luo Qiu's face lingered.
How did she discover me?
How did she appear behind me?
And most importantly.
The words she just said indirectly proved that she was her elder sister, didn't they?
Luo Qiu's hands seemed to tremble.
Clearly.
Zhao Shuning was right behind her at this moment.
Clearly.
She could speak as she used to.
But.
She dared not.
She truly dared not.
Luo Qiu's expression showed a hint of panic as her lips moved.
Not a single sound came out of her dry throat.
"Don't you want to see me? Or are you too afraid to?"
Zhao Shuning asked.
At this moment.
Luo Qiu had her back to Zhao Shuning.
It was only then that Zhao Shuning was certain that the person in front of her was indeed Luo Qiu.
But.
She didn't turn around.
Her body was cold and still. Luo Qiu didn't even glance back at her.
The events that happened over five hundred years ago were still vivid in Zhao Shuning's mind.
She knew Luo Qiu's temperament and understood her hardships.
But.
Now.
The two of them had met again.
Even Zhao Shuning herself didn't know how they should start a conversation.
Luo Qiu was even more so.
From beginning to end, she just clenched her hands tightly and didn't say a word. She was scared, worried, and lacked the courage to turn around.
Luo Qiu was afraid.
If it was really her elder sister under that guise, how could she face her with her blood - stained hands? She didn't like herself like this. She had said that she didn't like little Qiu with blood - stained hands.
"Why won't you see me?"
"You've been following me for quite some time, haven't you?"
"You didn't attack me because you already knew that I'm Luo Feiyan, right?"
Luo Qiu's eyes widened extremely.
This was the first time.
She heard the name "Luo Feiyan" from Zhao Shuning's mouth.
Is it really her, elder sister?
"Why are you too afraid to see me?"
Luo Qiu's steps faltered.
Her hands trembled uncontrollably.
In the deep night, it was impossible to tell what expression was on her face.
Zhao Shuning took a step forward.
Luo Qiu took a step forward as well.
She was so scared.
She was truly terrified.
Behind her was the person she cared about the most.
But she was also the one who had ruined all of her elder sister's prospects. What face did she have? What right did she have to see her?
On the night in Chaozhou.
The wind was strong.
Luo Qiu's face felt icy cold.
Before she knew it, her tears had already wet her face, and the black robe in front of her was also soaked.
The silent tears dripped onto her clothes one by one.
Luo Qiu had lost everything.
She had truly lost everything.
She could care about nothing.
She could abandon family affection, friendship, love, loyalty—everything.
"Little Qiu, I know it's you."
Zhao Shuning smiled softly.
At this moment.
The atmosphere between them was extremely oppressive.
Luo Qiu still didn't turn around. She didn't even have the courage to take a look at Zhao Shuning.
"How have you been these over five hundred years?"
"Have you seen mother? Back then, Ruoqiang was almost destroyed by Loulan. Did you save mother? You must have saved her, right?"
Luo Qiu didn't respond.
At this moment.
Her fingernails had dug deep into her flesh.
Her hands were dripping with blood.
"Have you been to the small bamboo garden again?"
"How are the rabbits there living now?"
"Your spiritual power should have already broken through to the ninth rank. I noticed it when I was in the cave on Qingyun Peak. Little Qiu's achievements are truly remarkable."
"Have you completely removed the cinnabar poison remaining in your body?"
"Are you and Mo Yan still alive?"
"Are the successive upheavals on the Kyushu Continent these years related to you two?"
Luo Qiu stretched out her hands.
She suddenly covered her ears.
She shook her head desperately.
She didn't want to hear, didn't dare to hear.
Every greeting from her elder sister was like stabbing countless knives into Luo Qiu's heart. Each knife would splash out gushing blood.
How should she answer?
Yes.
She was indeed a ninth - rank alchemist now.
But.
She didn't listen to her elder sister's words well and didn't live a good life. She had done many evil deeds.
She also wanted to say.
The little kid Ji Qinglin who had always followed her elder sister, the same Ji Qinglin who had just made her elder sister so furious, his death was also related to her.
It was she herself.
Who had ruined her elder sister's future as an empress.
"Little Qiu."
Zhao Shuning stepped forward.
But Luo Qiu suddenly let out a scream.
Then she suddenly hugged her legs and squatted down.
She buried her head deeply between her legs.
Zhao Shuning said, "Are you injured?"
After saying that.
Zhao Shuning sighed.
There were still many things she hadn't settled with Luo Qiu regarding today's events. However, seeing her so out of control at this moment, Zhao Shuning's heart still ached slightly.
She was Luo Qiu.
The unparalleled and extraordinary woman.
The kind - hearted daughter of a prominent family who had endured countless taunts and bullying since childhood.
She had become like this.
Half of it.
Was because of the injustice on the Kyushu Continent.
Zhao Shuning wasn't a savior and had no right to criticize her.
Zhao Shuning just felt sorry for Luo Qiu. With her outstanding abilities, if she really wanted to do something, her name would have already been well - known on the Kyushu Continent.
But.
Over the years.
Why had she hidden herself so tightly?
There wasn't a single rumor about her on the Kyushu Continent.
"Let me treat your wound."
As soon as Zhao Shuning's hand touched Luo Qiu's shoulder.
Luo Qiu's body suddenly stiffened.
She quickly retreated.
The speed.
Even Zhao Shuning at present couldn't match.
When they looked at each other again.
Luo Qiu's face was full of tears, and was there... remorse?
Zhao Shuning reached out her hand.
"Little Qiu—"
But Luo Qiu just glanced at her and uttered three words: "I'm sorry."
Then she fled.
It was truly a hasty flight.
She was so panicked, just like a frightened fawn.
Zhao Shuning's hand.
Was still hanging in the air.
But Luo Qiu's figure had already disappeared from her sight.
Zhao Shuning's mood.
Suddenly became mixed.
She sighed again.
If Luo Qiu wanted to leave, with her current ability, she was afraid she couldn't stop her.
She probably had a lot of knots in her heart.
That's why she was so scared even when Zhao Shuning just touched her gently.
Luo Qiu had fled.
She had really fled.
She used all her spiritual power and quickly escaped from the scene.
She came to this desolate wilderness.
For some reason.
She suddenly lost all her strength.
Her legs went weak, and she suddenly knelt down in the wilderness.
"I, I'm sorry for you—"
"Sorry, sorry."
I thought that everything I did was for you.
For you, I could have blood - stained hands. I could be infamous for all eternity.
But I didn't expect.
The blood on my hands also included yours.
Just now.
When I met your worried eyes, I regretted it deeply.
Luo Qiu raised her hands, her eyes dull.
"What have I done all these years?"