Chapter 78

Fortunately, I have the Heart-Clearing Mantra,

otherwise I would have capsized in the gutter this time!

However,

when Li Xiao, having calmed down, subconsciously took a sip of water to steady his nerves,

and looked again,

he immediately spat the water out!

It turned out that in order to cover the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon on her back,

in her haste,

Hancock had actually turned around,

facing Li Xiao head-on!

Holy crap!

This move of yours is like a cow riding a rocket—it's sky-high awesome!

With my state of mind,

I could still resist a little when facing that snow-white back,

but if I face the front...

You are trying to disturb my Dao heart!

Besides,

the back could still be described a little,

but this front,

the author wouldn't dare write it!

If he's not careful,

the Great River Crab God will break the dimensional wall with a claw and drag him into the dark room!

Look at the mess this has caused!

Now I, Li, have to eat alone!

How inappropriate!

Facing Li Xiao, who remained clear-headed,

Hancock panicked even more!

Even though she had turned her back,

she still wasn't at ease,

and without any intention of covering her front,

she reached both hands behind her,

firmly blocking that brand known as the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon!

Seeing this,

Li Xiao hurriedly continued to recite the Heart-Cleansing Mantra,

took a deep breath,

and slowly stood up to walk toward Hancock!

However,

facing Li Xiao who was walking toward her,

Hancock retreated in panic!

The dignified Empress,

at this moment looked just like a decent woman about to be bullied!

Li Xiao picked up the long dress from the ground,

slowly draped it over Hancock,

covering most of her body,

and then patted her head,

saying softly:

"I saw it, it's just the Hoof of the Celestial Dragon, why are you covering it up so frantically?"

"It's just a brand!"

"It proves the dark days you once experienced, but it cannot determine who you are today!"

"Every one of us longs to live in the sun, but as long as there is sunlight, shadows will inevitably be created!"

"But the shadow is also a part of your life, you cannot escape it!"

"You have to face it, you have to accept it!"

"You have to accept the darkness you once experienced, and then live more resiliently in the present!"

"The brand on your body is not scary, it only represents the past!"

"The brand in your heart is the most terrifying; it will accompany you forever, and even death cannot free you from it!"

"You must understand, this is not a lowly slave mark, this is a medal of your victory over darkness!"

"You are no longer that little girl from before!"

"You are one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, you are the current Empress of Amazon Lily, you are Empress Boa Hancock!"

"If anyone points fingers at you, just use your strength to make them shut up!"

"Even if it's a Celestial Dragon, you can step on him!"

"If you encounter someone stronger than you, don't you still have me?"

As Li Xiao's voice fell,

a ray of sunlight happened to shine through the window above the hall onto Li Xiao's face.

Hancock looked up,

and before her was an incomparably gentle smiling face,

with an unparalleled radiance!

That radiance wasn't dazzling,

it was like the afternoon sun,

warm and gentle,

yet it tore a hole in the darkness of her heart!

For so many years,

she had maintained a strong and arrogant posture in everyone's eyes!

But in reality,

only she knew,

that buried deep in her heart was deep-seated inferiority and fear!

A person often emphasizes what they lack the most!

It was precisely because of the inferiority and fear brought by her childhood experiences,

that she constantly emphasized this arrogant and strong Empress posture!

But this arrogant and strong posture,

was like a drum filled with air!

As long as you find the weakest part of the drumhead,

it breaks with a single poke!

However,

at this moment,

there was someone standing by her side,

smiling and telling her,

that the so-called Hoof of the Celestial Dragon was just a brand,

The so-called Hoof of the Celestial Dragon is nothing more than a brand.

the darkness only remained in the past,

and the present should be a brand-new Boa Hancock!

In an instant,

endless grievances welled up in her heart!

Hancock suddenly hugged Li Xiao,

buried her head in his chest,

and then began to wail loudly!

These tears, held back for over a decade, flowed out like an uncontrolled faucet,

quickly soaking the clothes on Li Xiao’s chest!

Seeing this,

Li Xiao didn't say much,

just reached out to hold Hancock,

gently stroking her long hair with his right hand,

and said softly:

"It's okay now, I'm here!"

After a long while,

Hancock finally calmed down,

her face, buried in Li Xiao’s chest, heating up rapidly,

like a ripe red apple!

Seeing that Hancock’s emotions had gradually stabilized,

Li Xiao helped her tidy up her long dress,

and then brought her back to the dining table,

saying:

"Alright, alright, let's continue eating. It would be a waste not to eat all this delicious food!"

Hearing this,

Hancock nodded quite obediently,

and began to eat honestly!

Even though she would still sneak glances at Li Xiao from time to time,

at least there was no repeat of the situation where she spilled a whole bowl of soup on her dress!

After the meal,

Li Xiao got up and left,

preparing to leave the Amazon Lily,

and head to the forest on the outskirts of the island to cultivate in seclusion!

Compared to the hustle and bustle within the Amazon Lily,

the quiet forest on the island was more suitable for Li Xiao’s seclusion.

Before leaving,

Li Xiao looked at Hancock in front of him,

and slowly said:

"Actually, I have a way to remove the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon mark on your back!"

Hearing this,

Hancock immediately looked up at Li Xiao,

and said with a face full of surprise:

"Really? You can remove that mark!"

For Hancock,

the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon mark on her back was the nightmare of her life!

In order to prevent others from discovering the Hoof of the Soaring Dragon on her back,

she and her two sisters lied that because they defeated the monster Gorgon of the Central Sea,

they were cursed on their backs!

Once they took off their clothes,

everyone nearby would be turned to stone!

Thus, every time they bathed, they forbade everyone from entering the city!