Chapter 407: A Long-Awaited Reunion, Pouring Out One's Heart

The two sides met, each harboring their own sorrows.

"It's you!"

Everyone was still concerned about the weak Maidong; no one expected the eldest daughter of the Liu family to suddenly let out a cry of surprise, startling everyone into looking at her, only to see her eyes brimming with tears and her expression filled with grief.

Who is she talking about?

Lianqiao looked at Liu Xia; after all, these two were siblings, and there was no one else to ask but him, yet the latter merely furrowed his brows, keeping his head low and saying nothing.

Just as Lianqiao was at a loss, she saw Liu Lan grab hold of Langtou's arm.

"It's you! It really is you!"

Although Langtou's face was covered by a cloth, Liu Lan recognized those brows and eyes at a single glance; it was indeed Sangmu, whom she had waited for for many years.

Langtou was clearly uncomfortable; his eyes darted away as he pulled himself free from Liu Lan.

"Young lady, please show some self-respect. You have mistaken me for someone else."

But how could Liu Lan be willing to let go? She stumbled after him, her hands gripping his sleeves tightly, refusing to let go no matter what.

"Even if you turned to ash, I would not mistake you for someone else!" Liu Lan's face was covered in tears, her voice choked with sobs. "It's me, Sangmu. I am Lan'er. Don't you remember?"

Hiss!

Lianqiao drew a sharp breath inwardly. How should one put this? What did she mean by "turned to ash"? Could there be some deep-seated hatred between the two? Yet looking at Liu Xia, it didn't seem like he had any conflict with the man.

Tsk!

The love and hate of a great family—this was even more exciting than reading a storybook!

During her time at Xianyun Abode, Lianqiao had spent no small amount of time in Lingxiang's little library, and truth be told, it was truly extremely interesting; no wonder Lingxiang always liked reading these little storybooks.

Lianqiao kept silent while sighing—if only she had some melon seeds or snacks right now, that would be perfect!

If he knew these little thoughts in Lianqiao's heart, Liu Xia would likely be so angry he'd ascend to heaven, but for now, he just kept his head down, saying nothing.

Hah! Men! At critical moments, they are truly not reliable at all!

Lianqiao glanced at Liu Xia and continued to watch the show.

"Young lady, you really have mistaken me for someone else. I am a member of the Demon Race, not of your kind. I imagine it is just that our features are somewhat similar."

"A member of the Demon Race? If that is the case, I beg you, sir, to pull down your face covering, so that I may put this heart of mine to rest."

Under normal circumstances, pressing someone so hard would be very rude, but Liu Lan was certain she could not be mistaken, so even if it meant going against the rules she had learned since childhood, she could not let go of the person before her.

"I..." Langtou did not know how to respond for a moment; he only furrowed his brows and turned his face away, his expression one of endurance.

Seeing Langtou like this, Liu Lan knew the truth. She released his sleeve, took a long breath, wiped the tears from her face, and turned to say to Liu Xia:

"Fourth brother, this journey is fraught with danger; you must be extra careful."

Liu Xia, being addressed, looked bewildered, as if he hadn't yet returned to his senses, and only gave a dazed response.

Seeing this expression on Liu Xia, Liu Lan was very dissatisfied. She brushed off her sleeves and added: "Lingxiang has shown me kindness. Going deep into the Demon Realm to save him this time, it is only right that I be included."

"No..."

Liu Xia instinctively wanted to refuse, but upon seeing Liu Lan's gaze, he immediately understood her intentions and hurriedly changed his words:

"That's right, Big Sister is correct. We children of the Liu family are not the type to leave a kindness unrequited..."

Before he could finish, Langtou hurriedly spoke up: "No! That tiger's den that is the Demon Realm—how can you go? Wouldn't that be throwing your life away?"

"Why does the General say this? Are you looking down on me? This young woman at least comes from a military family; even if I am not versed in cultivation techniques, I have read military manuals, and arranging troops and formations is no challenge for me. When necessary, I have my own ways of self-preservation, so there is no need for the General to worry."

Seeing Liu Lan's firm expression, Langtou panicked and hurriedly grabbed her shoulders.

"The Demon Realm is filled with Demon Soldiers everywhere, and even the ordinary citizens of the Demon Race are extremely formidable; they are all wicked and vicious people." He then pleaded: "Listen to me, do not go!"

"Listen to me..."

Liu Lan was momentarily dazed; this tone was exactly the same as it had been back then. She lowered her head and smiled in triumph—he still wouldn't admit it.

"General, you and I are complete strangers; why must you be so worried? My life is my own; whether I live or die, what does it have to do with you?"

"I..."

Langtou's hands loosened, but he did not let go of Liu Lan, thinking about how to explain himself so he could persuade her.

Just then, Liu Lan suddenly raised her hand and, taking advantage of Langtou's distraction, snatched away his face covering.

The cloth fell, revealing a horrifying jaw, a sight too ghastly to behold.

"You..."

Liu Lan covered her mouth in shock; she could not believe what she was seeing, and Liu Xia also turned his face away.

Liu Xia had seen Langtou's appearance before; the wounds on that jaw and the stitched-together monster it had become were truly shocking to the heart.

Upon seeing the shock in Liu Lan's eyes, Langtou finally snapped out of the surprise of his face covering falling off. He hurriedly turned around, back to Liu Lan, his fists clenched tight, yet he said not a word.

He did not know how to explain, and even less how to face Liu Lan with his current appearance.

Langtou...

No! It was Sangmu!

Sangmu's brows were locked in a deep frown; even with his hideous appearance, he could not hide the pain in his eyes.

For so many years, Sangmu had been suppressing his feelings; he missed Liu Lan every moment, but now, in this state, how could he be worthy of her?

What should he do?

What should he do!

Just as Sangmu was filled with sorrow, a pair of hands wrapped around his waist.

"I have imagined many scenarios of us meeting again, and I even thought you might have suffered injuries, but I never once thought of not seeing you." Liu Lan pressed against Sangmu's back, her voice soft, her tone firm: "Because I believed that you were definitely still alive, and that I would definitely see you again."

Liu Lan did not cry; she only sighed with a smile, though the corners of her lips were trembling.

"No matter what you have become, you are still Sangmu. In this life of mine, there is only you, and it has always been only you."

Listening to Liu Lan's words, Sangmu looked up, yet tears still slid down the corners of his eyes. He closed his eyes, his heart still struggling.

Could they still continue? Was he still worthy?

Tears welled up in Liu Lan's eyes; she pressed tightly against Sangmu's back, not wanting the tears to fall, yet they soaked through Sangmu's clothes.

"You..." Liu Lan let out a long sigh, as if she had set down a heavy burden she had carried for years, "You are still alive, that's wonderful! Truly wonderful..."

Listening to Liu Lan's choked sobs, Sangmu could no longer control himself; he turned around abruptly, pulled Liu Lan into his embrace, and tears streamed down his face.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

After years of longing, he wanted nothing more than to knead the person in his arms into his own body, yet he was afraid that too much force would hurt her, so he only held her gently, repeating his apologies.

Watching the two of them stammering, Lianqiao curled his lip: "That's it? That's it? I thought it was some big deal!"

He truly could not understand; it was just a damaged face, what was there to be ashamed of.

"What would you know!" Liu Xia wiped away his tears, "Sangmu was never favored by Mother, which is why he joined the army, and now that he has ended up like this, Mother is even less willing to betroth my sister to him."

"Isn't it just a face? What is difficult about that?"

Hearing this, Liu Xia asked with surprise: "You have a way?"

"I don't," Lianqiao said as a matter of course.

Liu Xia rolled his eyes at him: "Then what are you talking about?"

"Yes! I don't, but Banxia does!"

"Banxia?"

"That's right! She is the one who has the Judge's Pen!"

Back when they were at the sect, Banxia had once demonstrated her newly learned Phantom Vision Technique to Lianqiao; if supplemented by her Mirror Flower Water Moon, changing a face would naturally be a trivial matter.

"Banxia..."

Liu Xia's heart tightened as he looked at the Eight Trigrams Plate at his waist; the Spirit Silk on the plate was extremely clear.

Banxia, so that wisp of your soul is in the Netherworld...

Wait for me!

I am coming to save you right now!