"Elder Xue, why…" Zhuo Fan began.
Xue Dingtian kowtowed in tears, "Steward Zhuo, you are a man of great ambition while we are simply a poor simple clan. Ning'er is also still ignorant to the cruelty of this word and is unable to survive your battles. I know it disgraces Steward Zhuo's act of mercy in saving Ning'er by doing this, but none of us wish to see her go through it again. I beg Steward Zhuo to help me."
Xue Dingtian kneeled there and shuddered, before a shocked Zhuo Fan.
The Xue clan didn't want Ning'er to be involved with Zhuo Fan any longer and were begging him to let her go. But was it that easy for his heart to accept?
"Ning'er's awake!"
Xie Tianyang's cry of joy came from inside. Zhuo Fan woke up and rushed inside, ignoring the kneeling old man. Xue Dingtian wiped his tears and came as well.
But what they witnessed wasn't a face filled with joy, but one filled with doubt. Xue Ningxiang rubbed her eyes, looking over each of them, "Who… are you? Who… am I? Where am I?"
They all cried in shock. [What's wrong with Ning'er? Did her soul not mend completely? A mental scar?]
Zhuo Fan shook his head, "People, don't be nervous. Ning'er had a damaged soul and recovering is the same as being born anew. It is normal for her to forget everything. But as her essence was the original one, she will be the same Ning'er we all know. She won't change."
The people understood. Ning'er had lost her memories after that ordeal. But that was for the best. Forgetting such dreadful memories was a blessing for the kind and pure Ning'er.
Everything was fine as long as Ning'er was back to her bubbly and naive self. They'd just have to get reacquainted.
"Ning'er, I am your dad!" Xue Wanlong cried.
"Ning'er, I'm your grandfather." Xue Dingtian approached with shaking hands.
"Ning'er, I am your elder brother, Xue Gang!" "Ning'er, I am your second brother, Xue Lin!"
Everyone circled around Xue Ningxiang to introduce themselves. Xie Tianyang even straightened his hairdo and put on a weird smile before jumping in front of Xue Ningxiang, "Ning'er, do you remember me? I'm your husband!"
They all went quiet.
Zhuo Fan came over looking glum as he said, "Xie Tianyang, are you trying to take advantage of this chance and get close to Ning'er now that she has lost her memories? I'll give you a thrashing!"
Xie Tianyang rubbed his head, "Ha-ha-ha, Ning'er don't mind it. It was only a joke. Actually, I am…
"Your childhood sweetheart and fiancée!" Xie Tianyang proceeded with his shamelessness.
Everyone rolled their eyes. Zhuo Fan's fist crackled, "Xie Tianyang get the hell out. I promise not to kill you, much!"
Xie Tianyang glared at him but then closed his mouth.
He was crystal clear that there was no chance of beating Zhuo Fan.
"Ha-ha-ha, coward!" Seeing his sullen face, Ning'er giggled as she showed a bright smile.
Xie Tianyang wasn't about to accept it, "Who called me a coward? I can't beat him, but for you, I will still fight him!"
Xie Tianyang rolled up his sleeves and went with Zhuo Fan outside to start the duel.
Xue Ningxiang waved, "Wait, why are you picking a fight if you can't win? Please don't take my joke to heart. I didn't mean it. I don't want to see you hurt over something so meaningless."
"Ning'er, you're still the same. You may have forgotten me, but you're so kind and caring. I'm relieved." Xie Tianyang sighed.
The rest nodded. Ning'er didn't remember them but she hadn't changed at all.
Xue Ningxiang turned to Zhuo Fan standing farther back with a bewildered look, "Who are you? Do you know me? They all rushed to introduce themselves but why aren't you saying anything?"
Whoosh~
Everyone looked at Zhuo Fan with complicated looks.
Zhuo Fan's eyes trembled. Seeing her sincere face and then recalling Xue Dingtian's pleading, he smiled, "Ha-ha-ha, me? I'm a bad guy!"
Ah!
Xue Ningxiang jerked in fear.
Looking at the crystal clear eyes, unmarred by the ugliness of the world, Zhuo Fan grinned. He knew he had made the right choice and said, "I eat people and even hurt you."
"W-why did you hurt me?" Ning'er trembled. She ducked behind Xue Dingtian, peeking at the white haired Zhuo Fan like a startled kitty.
Zhuo Fan looked at her with tenderness, but his mouth said, "Bad men hurt people. Do I even need a reason? So miss, for your own sake, you should stay far away from me!"
Zhuo Fan then walked outside sighing.
[Goodbye, Ning'er!]
They watched his solitary figure leave, filled with admiration. He was a true hero to own up to his actions and make prompt decisions.
They didn't want Ning'er to be by his side and suffer. But they had to admit, Zhuo Fan was a reliable man…
Xue Ningxiang saw him go and for some odd reason she felt pain in her chest, "Why does my heart ache when I see this bad man?"
"Hey, bad men only know how to cause pain, Ning'er. Just forget it." Xie Tianyang gave a rushed explanation.
This was for the best. With Zhuo Fan letting her go, Ning'er could now return to living a normal life. If the two got close again, Xie Tianyang wasn't afraid of being smacked around, but he could never stand for Ning'er being used again and turning expendable simply to constrict Zhuo Fan.
Xue Ningxiang nodded, the passing Zhuo Fan already forgotten as she laughed along with her relatives.
Zhuo Fan stood outside and listened to the laughter. He closed his eyes, neither happy nor sad.
[This is… for the best.]
An hour later, Xie Tianyang came out of the room and sighed at the bleak figure, "Thank you."
"What thanks? We had the same intentions right?" Zhuo Fan looked ahead as he said.
Nodding, Xie Tianyang walked before Zhuo Fan and placed two items in his hand.
Zhuo Fan trembled.
Sighing, Xie Tianyang looked downcast, "Forgive me. I shouldn't do this to a brother, but Ning'er…"
"You want to break all ties with me?" The two Thunder Rings shook in his trembling hand.
Nodding, Xie Tianyang sighed, "We are cut from a different cloth than you. You want to fight for supremacy in this world, while we merely drag along with our meager existence. We do not want glory, nor do we want you to disturb our peaceful life. I have spoken with the Xue clan. Tomorrow, I will take them to a remote place in the mountains and never come down. I no longer want to be Sword Marquise Abode's second young master!"
"Few are like you, to sacrifice so much for another." Tightening his hand, Zhuo Fan said evenly, "I hope you live a happy and peaceful life."
"I wish you the same, for one day to lord over all and be remembered for eternity." Grinning, Xie Tianyang said, "Alright, let me give one last hug to the man who I shared life and death with. After we part here, we will become total strangers."
Xie Tianyang squeezed Zhuo Fan into a bear hug as Zhuo Fan just stood there.
Xie Tianyang then returned back into the room. Neither looked at each other, with all ties broken.
"Zhuo Fan, did Xie Tianyang give you the rings?" Chu Qingcheng asked.
Nodding, Zhuo Fan looked at the flickering Thunder Rings in his palm with pain, "Qingcheng, you were right. A cold and heartless man like me doesn't deserve a woman's love nor to have a sworn brother. I am destined for loneliness."
"No…"
Chu Qingcheng was about to explain, but Zhuo Fan tightened his fist and threw the rings as his gaze steeled, "From this moment on, my eyes shall only have the world in sight!"
Zhuo Fan walked home, his eyes no longer hesitant.
Chu Qingcheng saw where the rings fell and sighed seeing Zhuo Fan's cold back, "Did you know… you're not at all lonely…"
Chu Qingcheng flew towards the rings…