Back when Xing Xiuguang met Jie Moshu, he barely could recognize him. But there was a small sizzle of awareness, of possibilities. The people in Foodville were as human as ever. Only him that stood out somehow. Like he didn't belong here. Not just in this neighborhood, but in this world.
He could practically feel the rich waves of celestial aura emanating off that man. And he knew something was wrong. The sensation even made the hairs at his nape stand, so deep that it took root in his bones. An immortal from the Sky Realm.
No, not just any immortal. A powerful deity-scale at that.
The ultimate beauty poison, of course, he thought. It was Liu Huayu's drowning incident from four years ago. Mortals could have said it was some kind of lung disease, but he knew better than anyone else it wasn't that simple. With his skills as the King of Medicine, it would have been easy for him to give his adoptive daughter first aid.
No doubt, the existence of the poison in Liu Huayu's body alerted others, which meant those pretentious Sky Realm's gods were probably searching for her since then.
Was he underestimated by those from the Sky Realm? He didn't believe it. That was impossible. Since the poison had been aroused, he let Liu Huayu consume the godly herbs he had extracted from years before. Her presence was out of Sky Realm for twenty-one years, there was no way…
Be strong, Xing Xiuguang told himself. He started squinting at this man who dressed head to toe in black. His expensive-looking dark suit matched his eyes. Pale skin, full lips, dark eyes.
"Father-in-law—"
Xing Xiuguang frowned. "Quit that act, I know you're from Sky Realm. So, get things straight. What do you want with Liu Huayu?"
"I really wanted to ask your daughter's hand in marriage," his voice came out smooth and calm. He didn't even care if the other party was fixing a hostile gaze at him. One might even call it sincere if one weren't Xing Xiuguang.
"Who are you?" He asked, looking all ready to attack at a moment's notice if the man somehow breathed wrong.
The man was still for a moment before lowering his chin. Taking a deep breath, he decided to answer honestly, "I'm Jie Moshu."
"Jie Moshu?" Xing Xiuguang's eyes widened as he realized who the man standing in front of him was.
His mouth quirked at his recognition, their eyes met and held. Crimson on hazel. He knew Jie Moshu could see his emotion reflected through his gaze. Anger simmered underneath his cold face.
He had made a vow to keep Liu Huayu away from everything that might cause her in danger. Even if it meant to cut her ties off with those people related to her horrible past. And that was exactly what he was doing to do. In fact, he was willing to bet far worse than he expected. No, he was unprepared to let Liu Huayu meet with her past.
"You're not supposed to be here," he barked at Jie Moshu. "So why is it that you're on her side, supposedly living away from knowing your existence?"
He shrugged, his broad shoulders straining against the fabric of his suit. "I've found her since the poison in her body triggered."
"You've found her since a long time ago," he murmured. "I can see it now. Or perhaps that was your plan all along. To keep us under your watch and strike when the moment is right. Sly tricks from the Sky Realm never change."
Instead of being insulted, Jie Moshu replied in a heart-to-heart manner, staying calm and not letting his emotion get ahead of himself. "I don't mean harm. Despite what you think, I'm really here for her—the one that I've trusted Princess Jingwei for, the shard of my wife's heart."
His chest tightened, and he couldn't breathe. Jingwei, the sole woman in his life. It had been so long since he heard someone called his wife by her title and it took his breath away for a moment. Even if Jie Moshu was probably just playing the tricks to rub the sore spot in his heart. Right now, everything felt fresh and raw, it felt like she was just gone yesterday.
Xing Xiuguang shook his head, his expression guarded in distrust. "Jingwei was saving her away from the Sky Realm. Especially from you."
Jie Moshu drew in a breath. "I know you want to protect her, and that's my intention as well."
A vein started to pulse in Xing Xiuguang's temple, he almost heard himself grind his teeth together. "Oh, I doubt that, given the fact that you owe Jingwei's her life."
Jie Moshu couldn't lie. His gaze dropped from Xing Xiuguang's for guilt and grief.
"I don't get it," Xing Xiuguang's brow furrowed together deeper. He had the urge to throw something, but somehow he managed to hold his temper. "She's fine without you, living away to start anew. Does it bother you that she's having a peaceful life? How's she finally having the chance to be a normal human?"
"She deserves to be happy."
Jie Moshu's voice was unexpectedly soft, but his eyes were cold, flat, and hard as they snapped back at Xing Xiuguang. His body tensed, his hands clenched into a fist, but there was nothing he could do—or the fact that Xing Xiuguang seemed to hate him on sight. Still, he drew in a breath, trying to calm himself and get to the bottom of things.
"I don't deny everything that you've said," Jie Moshu's words dripped in grief. "True, what I did cost you your wife. But I'm selfish. I know that I should have enough with her being alive and well, but I can't stop myself from seeing her, being near her presence. I love her and I've never stopped loving her since the day I met her."
For a moment, Xing Xiuguang remained silent. He used all his righteous acts as a father, a guardian to Liu Huayu as an excuse to keep her away. He had always thought that it was best for her, it would be what Jingwei had wished for if she was still alive. But seeing how hard it was for Jie Moshu to pass all of this alone, raising a child without a mother figure. It hurt him.
Somehow he saw his own reflection on Jie Moshu. Would he be any different if he was in his shoes? Knowing Jingwei was fine without him, with his heart longing to be with her. His heart squeezed on itself. Perhaps, they simply taste the bitterness of immortality.
"If you love her that much," he finally said, the sting of truth burning his throat. "You should be aware of the danger she'll be facing later on. The Celestial Emperor won't let you have your ways with her,"
Jie Moshu opened his mouth to say something, when the wooden door burst in, looming a little boy's figure. His pounded footsteps filled the quiet restaurant as the welcoming bell chimed in.
"Father! Mama, she's—she's..." Axiang said between his ragged breath.
Jie Moshu frowned at the sight of his son sweating out from running. "What happened to her?"
Drawing a deep breath, Axiang braced himself to give out the bad news. "She's in trouble!"
Xing Xiuguang stumbled into the table, but when he turned to see Jie Moshu, his expression was mirroring his shock and horror.
Worry filled his dark eyes as his pupils turned into crimson red. His face was tight with tension, and the tendons in his neck stood out against his pale skin, like bowstrings about to snap.
He moved at a light speed, and within one blink, he was already crouching beside Axiang, his hands wrapped to the little boy's sides. "Where's she?"
"The sea…" Axiang answered, feeling fuzzy and unsteady. "She went to the sea and told me to ask for help—"
"Axiang," Jie Moshu said, "I'll come back with your Mama with me. Don't worry."
As he turned to leave, he spoke with that final effort to assure Xing Xiuguang, "I'm well aware of the danger we'll face together. And that's the very reason why I'm here. To protect her at all costs, to let her deserve the happiness she's been yearning for—a family."
The sight of Jie Moshu made him lose words. A family. Xing Xiuguang almost heard Jingwei's energetic tone with a smile that created dimples on her right cheek. He felt a rolling in his stomach. For some reason, those words bombarded him with the warm memories of Jingwei: 'I wished for Yuhua to have a family like she had always wanted.'
He ran up to Jie Moshu, squeezed his shoulders as he spoke in a firm tone, "Promise me that you'll keep her safe."
"I give you my word." And with that, Jie Moshu disappeared from his sight.
Xing Xiuguang's hand unconsciously reached for the Hummingbird Folding Fan in his pocket. As soon as his palm touched the cold, hard fan, the longingness sweeping everything away. A sad smile flashed across his face. His gaze lingered on the far view from the window. And somehow he knew Jingwei would agree with his decision as well.