Chapter 99: What are you doing out so late at night?

Another two days passed.

Luo De and his companions never did see Duoli, who was supposed to come discuss investment business with A Ru Cun, arrive.

Instead, they were greeted by the person Dixiya least wanted to see.

"Kuseila!"

"How could it be you!?"

Upon seeing her father again, Dixiya's first reaction was neither joy nor the hatred and anger that followed their past arguments, but rather shock and an indescribable heartache from their long separation.

Kuseila, who appeared before Dixiya once more, was injured.

The injury was severe.

Dixiya could easily tell that he had been beaten by someone.

"Who is it?"

"Who beat you into this state!"

Although they had not seen each other for years, and despite having long despised her father's wicked deeds, upon seeing Kuseila covered in wounds, Dixiya could not help but feel a sourness in her nose, stepped forward to support him, and helped him inside the house.

And only then.

The bewildered Kuseila finally reacted, looking at the unharmed Dixiya and asking: "Dixiya, you, you're not hurt?"

"Injured?"

"What injury have I sustained?"

"What nonsense are you spouting! Quickly take off your clothes, I'll apply medicine for you."

Ignoring Kuseila's astonished expression, Dixiya without further ado pulled off his clothes, took out the best ointment she had on hand, and carefully applied it bit by bit to the large bruises.

After many years.

Once again receiving his daughter's care, Kuseila momentarily felt an unreal sensation, even forgetting what he had just been about to ask, sitting there dazed and letting Dixiya have her way with him.

"Cough—cough—"

At that moment, Luo De, who had just ushered Kuseila inside, stood at the doorway and gave a light cough.

"Luo De, you've come at just the right time; go help me fetch that bottle of red medicinal oil from my room."

Dixiya said without turning her head.

Kuseila, having come to his senses, asked: "Dixiya, what is that?"

"Luo De, my friend."

"Hey, I told you not to move around; the ointment I just applied got rubbed off."

Dixiya complained while reapplying the ointment to the fresh wound.

Now Kuseila was completely bewildered.

He had clearly received a letter from Shazaman saying Dixiya had suffered serious injuries and was now receiving treatment in A Ru Cun.

Yet as soon as he arrived, Dixiya was lively and unharmed, not a single injury in sight.

What on earth is going on?

Kuseila's eyes were full of confusion.

Why would Shazaman deceive him?

Could it be merely to arrange a meeting between him and Dixiya?

Or does he have some other motive?

No, he'll have to wait until he returns to ask Shazaman about this.

"Dixiya, the medicine has arrived."

Kuseila was pondering when Luo De's voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked up.

He saw Luo De hand the medicinal oil to Dixiya, then after sizing himself up, ask: "Dixiya, who is this person?"

"He is."

Dixiya paused, then frowned slightly and said: "My father."

"Eh, your father?"

"Why didn't you say so earlier!"

After muttering that, Luo De immediately rose and headed out, saying as he walked: "Your father has come; this calls for a proper celebration. I'm going to buy groceries, and when I return I'll cook you a specialty dish."

After Luo De's silhouette disappeared outside the door.

Kuseila's gaze then shifted back to Dixiya's face; watching her earnestly apply medicine to him, he hesitated a moment but still couldn't help asking: "Dixiya, you..."

"If you have something to say, spit it out; your stammering is unlike you."

After applying the oil to the last bruise, the worry on Dixiya's face vanished instantly; she then crossed her arms coldly, distanced herself from Kuseila, and said: "Out with it— which mercenary band did you fight this time to end up like this?"

"I"

Kuseila wanted to defend himself, but upon meeting Dixiya's distrustful gaze, he could no longer utter a defense; instead, his voice turned slightly cold as he said: "The matter of Ahmaer's Beard no longer concerns you."

"Heh—"

"Yeah, indeed it has nothing to do with me."

"If it were still related to me, who knows what I might end up doing by following you all?"

Dixiya likewise had nothing good to say.

If one were to say that the person she most admired back then was her father Kuseila, then the person she now despises most is likewise her father Kuseila.

"."

Kuseila was momentarily speechless, then rose and slammed the table, saying: "What do you know? If you hadn't done this, where would your childhood toys have come from? Where would the stories you heard have come from? Where would the picture books you've seen have come from!"

"I would rather not have heard those stories as a child!"

I haven't even seen those fairy tale books stained with someone's blood, whose blood it is unknown!

Dixiya confronted Kuseila tit for tat, her anger flaring, and she again began loudly questioning Kuseila: "You still haven't told me what you came to A Ru Cun for? Have you set your sights on this place? Hmph, if that's really the case, I advise you to leave quickly—I don't want my sword stained with your blood!"

Good, good, good.

You really are my good daughter.

You still know not to want me to die under your sword, right?

Kuseila laughed in anger, even seeming to forget the pain on his body.

Seeing him step by step walk toward Dixiya, his voice cold and ruthless, he said: "I've set my sights on A Ru Cun—what of it? I just want to take this place—what of it? If you have the ability, kill me now."

You!

Hearing this, Dixiya clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filling with rage.

She really wanted to punch Kuseila in the face.

But seeing her father covered in wounds, his hair already streaked with gray, she couldn't bring herself to throw a punch no matter what.

She took several deep breaths.

After finally calming her anger, she pointed toward the door and shouted angrily: "Get out! Get out of A Ru Cun! Don't let me see you again!"

Being pointed at by her like that,

Ke Lai, who had been peeking from outside the door, was suddenly startled into a shudder.

Just now she had heard Dixiya seemingly arguing with someone; she, who had been playing with a sand fox in the courtyard, immediately ran over.

Before she could hear even two sentences, Dixiya suddenly flared with rage and pointed at herself.

"Good, good, it's not scolding me."

Seeing that Dixiya wasn't targeting her, Ke Lai patted her chest, gave an embarrassed smile, and hurriedly ran away.

Dixiya was arguing with a guest.

She needed to hurry and find Luo De to bring him back.

Inside, Dixiya and Kuseila naturally had no one watching what she was doing.

Just being shouted at by her daughter like that.

Kuseila's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

After a long while.

His complexion suddenly darkened; his whole person seemed to have lost all vitality, and he weakly uttered a few words: "Fine, I'm leaving."

Having said that.

He then walked toward the door like a dying person, mechanically moving his legs, limping.

Gazing at Kuseila's retreating back.

For some reason, Dixiya's heart welled up with a feeling of reluctance.

She reached out her hand, wanting to call out to Kuseila.

But the words were at her lips, yet she couldn't get them out.

Just as luck would have it.

Just as Kuseila was about to leave, Luo De's voice sounded from outside the door again: "Hey, uncle, where are you going? You finally came all this way—why rush off like that?"

The voice faded.

Seeing Luo De grab Kuseila with one hand, no matter how unwilling Kuseila was, he couldn't break free, only able to watch helplessly as he was forcibly dragged back.

"Dixiya, you too."

"Look, your father finally came to see you once with great effort—how could you just watch him leave like that?"

"Really, there's no way to be a daughter like you."

After complaining at length, Luo De directly pushed Kuseila in front of Dixiya, then picked up the vegetables and meat he had bought and went to the kitchen to prepare lunch.

The atmosphere in the room instantly solidified.

"Um."

"Dixiya."

Kuseila awkwardly opened his mouth.

"Don't talk to me."

"Finish this meal and leave quickly."

Dixiya couldn't be bothered to deal with Kuseila.

However, she did not leave.

She knew very well that, given Luo De's temperament, since they had just said to keep Kuseila, if she went out now she would definitely be dragged back.

She might as well not go out.

At worst, she just wouldn't speak to Kuseila.

Such an awkward and strange atmosphere persisted until Luo De shouted, "Mealtime!" and then it ended.

No matter how unwilling.

Dixiya still brought Kuseila to the dining table.

Thus a strange scene unfolded in Luo De's home.

These days, immersed in new knowledge, A De Ba Yi held a bound experimental report in one hand and, with the other, spooned the vegetables in front of him haphazardly, stuffing whatever into his mouth; he didn't care what others were saying, and didn't even notice if another person had joined.

Ke Lai, meanwhile, cautiously shrank her neck, secretly observing; while eating she kept glancing left and right, fearing Dixiya would flare up again.

Of course.

With so many people present, Dixiya naturally wouldn't ruin the atmosphere; at most she'd just stay silent like now, drinking alcohol alone, glum and unhappy.

As for why she felt glum and unhappy,

It's not just because there's more Kuse La; it's also because Luo De is this overly enthusiastic bastard.

Normally this guy is pretty good at reading people's expressions.

How come today he's acting like he's blind?

Even though he's put on that kind of face himself, he's still there chatting and laughing with Kuse La; even if Kuse La ignores him, he can still mutter to himself and giggle there.

Really annoying!

Luo De's warm hospitality makes Kuse La hardly able to cope.

Even though he had already tried his best to say he didn't want to drink, he was still forced to drink till he passed out by Luo De.

By the time he woke up again, the moon was already hanging in the sky.

He got up lightly from the bed, rubbed his still slightly aching head, then got up and walked toward the door.

Kuse La's skills are still pretty good.

Although one of his legs had been broken by someone, he still made no sound and easily vaulted over the wall and jumped out.

At the moment of leaving.

He turned back, took a deep look at Luo De's home, his expression shifting through a complex mix, seeming sad yet also delighted.

Finally.

He let out a heavy sigh and walked alone and desolately toward the depths of the desert.

But he hadn't gone very far.

Then he heard again that voice he least wanted to hear.

"Kuse La Uncle, where are you going at this late hour?"

"Is it the God King's legacy?"

(End of chapter)