Chapter 56: Just Cry It Out

(Yesterday I rewrote the second half of chapter 55; if you missed it, you can refresh. I really felt it was unsuitable, not fitting Kantisi's character, so I revised it overnight.)

A thief incident quickly passed.

Of course.

This means the matter is over, but it doesn't mean the ensuing effects can be so easily gotten over.

After Kantisi sentenced the three thieves who were originally guards to permanent exile from A Ru Cun, Luo De, in front of all the villagers who had come to watch, twisted each of their necks a full 360 degrees.

This was the first time anyone dared to act directly after the verdict.

What surprised the villagers even more was that Kantisi made no gesture, merely saying calmly: "They are no longer under A Ru Cun's protection."

Upon saying that.

Add to that Luo De's sharp gaze, sweeping across the crowd like a hawk.

Cannot be provoked.

These three words quietly rose in the villagers' hearts.

In the following days.

Discussion of this incident never ceased in the village; villagers' after‑tea‑and‑rice chats were basically about this.

But as the party involved, Luo De never showed his face again after that day.

At Luo De's home.

A De Ba Yi, who had been badly injured while protecting Ke Lai, has been staying here to recuperate these past days.

However, his demeanor gives no sign of being seriously injured.

Now he sits energetically leaning against the headboard, gulping down the medicine Ke Lai feeds him mouthful after mouthful.

Outside the door.

After seeing off the doctor summoned from Kawanyi, Luo De shook his head and walked in.

A De Ba Yi's hands are ruined.

The Black Flame Snake is nothing to trifle with.

Fortunately, Ke Lai retained her sanity while fighting those three thieves; otherwise, had she fully unleashed the Archon's resentful power, A De Ba Yi would have been burnt to ash on the spot.

But even so.

A De Ba Yi's hands still suffered irreversible damage.

Moreover, this is not just his hands being useless; it also declares his academic career over, with no possibility of further research.

"Why would you do this?"

Luo De asks this question several times each day these days.

In his impression, A De Ba Yi is a scholar who utterly despises desert folk, just like the old Luo Yi who would rather die than teach them.

But how is he now suddenly willing to sacrifice his life to protect Ke Lai, a desert person afflicted with Magic Scale Disease?

However.

Every time A De Ba Yi answers with a cold snort.

It seems he still holds a grudge against Luo De for angering him to death back then.

"Sigh——"

Luo De can't do anything about it.

The past is the past; the present is the present.

Before, I tried to get A De Ba Yi to focus on me so I could steal his plant‑grafting and hybridization techniques.

Now A De Ba Yi nearly lost his life for Ke Lai; even if I were cold‑blooded, I wouldn't go so far as to continue harming him as a person.

After pondering for a while.

Undeterred, Luo De continued: "I know you don't want to talk to me, but I suggest you still look after Ke Lai's emotions."

"After you were injured."

Saying this, Luo De paused, glanced at the silent Ke Lai mechanically feeding him medicine, and helplessly said: "She feels guilty and is also worried about you."

Upon hearing Ke Lai's name.

A De Ba Yi's stern face finally relaxed a little; this was also the first time since moving in that he voluntarily spoke to Luo De.

It's just that what he said is a bit unpleasant to hear.

He said: "Is it your business to manage my affairs?"

"Why shouldn't I manage it?"

"Those three thieves I killed; your food and drink I provide; even your medical expenses I pay; then every day I still have to tend the chicken coop and pigsty, and go to the fields to water and fertilize."

Luo De pointed at his eye sockets, indicating: "Look, dark circles have appeared."

"Serves you right! You deserve this!"

"Don't you know your own level?"

"With that level you dare to raise chickens and pigs here? Pah, may you drop dead from exhaustion!"

A De Ba Yi launched a merciless critique of Luo De's proudest farming research.

He is very eloquent.

His words made Luo De break out in a sweat.

Your guess was correct.

This guy indeed has ample reserves of vital‑theory knowledge.

He clearly has never come to Luo De's home.

Yet he can blurt out that the chicken coop already has unexplained deaths among the mushroom chickens.

Compared to Luo De, this half‑baked.

A De Ba Yi is the true expert in this area.

Thus, he is criticized.

Luo De offered no rebuttal, humbly listening attentively.

That's all that was said.

Live and learn.

Knowledge is boundless; having such an expert here, if he were willing to give Luo De a few pointers, what would a few mocking remarks matter?

He scolded for a good while.

A De Ba Yi grew tired of scolding, so he coughed once to clear his throat.

Ke Lai by the bed understood, immediately went to pour a cup of hot water and fed it to A De Ba Yi.

After drinking it,

Looking at Ke Lai still in a depressed state, A De Ba Yi changed from his mocking tone toward Luo De, squeezed out a smile and said: "Little one, what are you blaming yourself for? Look, I haven't blamed you; you don't need to torment yourself like this."

"I"

Hearing this, Ke Lai tightly bit her lip, tears instantly welling up in her eyes.

But she said nothing.

She merely lowered her head.

Soon, sobbing sounds rose in the room.

How could she not blame herself?

If it weren't because she couldn't control herself, leading to being bewitched by the Archon's resentment, how could she have injured A De Ba Yi to this state!

"Oh, come on, come on, why are you crying?"

"Look, I'm fine, still vigorous and lively!"

A De Ba Yi raised his right hand, wrapped in bandages, trying to touch Ke Lai's head.

But he now

simply cannot do that.

So he changed tactics to amuse Ke Lai.

He raised his hand and patted his chest, hehe laughing: "Look, I'm injured, but aren't we both the same now?"

His meaning.

is that he and Ke Lai now both have their bodies wrapped in bandages.

Except

A De Ba Yi's wounds haven't healed.

That pat immediately made him hiss and grin in pain.

And seeing him constantly shaking his hand,

Ke Lai, who had just been crying, instead burst into laughter.

But after that laugh, her crying became even worse.

What had been only suppressed soft sobs now turned into loud wailing.

The wailing, choked with sobs.

This left A De Ba Yi at a loss, his bandaged hands not knowing where to place them.

Luo De, seeing this, did not step forward to join those urging Ke Lai, but quietly slipped away.

Cry, cry.

Just let it out.

I only fear that Ke Lai won't be able to cry, keeping these things bottled up inside—that would be terrible.

(End of chapter)