Out of fear of death, Invest Everything into Health

Chapter 762: Chapter 297: Because I Like You

Xiaoye’s chest heaved violently as she said painfully, "Stop talking."

But Fan Wubing continued unabated,

"The power of the Anger Demon Dao made you her second will. From the moment you were born, you knew you were another An An. But An An didn’t know, her innocent self thought there was a friend living in her head. But you understand, once An An grows stronger, grows up, matures, knows more, she will understand what you are and then slowly erase your existence."

Xiaoye squatted on the ground, covering her ears, not wanting to hear.

But Fan Wubing’s voice echoed in her mind,

"You are very afraid. So, you used the Anger Demon Dao to keep correcting her body and spirit to the age of thirteen. Ensuring she never grows up. Why thirteen? Because you were born in her thirteenth year and hadn’t experienced her life before that. If you had been born in her twelfth year, she would forever be twelve. To you, the more innocent she is, the more real your existence."

Fan Wubing came in front of Xiaoye, stretched out his hand, and lifted her head to meet his gaze,

"Xiaoye. Let me ask you a question."

Xiaoye looked a bit lost in spirit.

Fan Wubing asked,

"Did you drive away the people around An An only for yourself?"

Xiaoye’s eyes cleared up, and she said loudly, "No! I never thought about myself! I just didn’t want her to experience the pain of her thirteenth year again!" She became angry, her voice choked with emotion, saying, "She was an orphan since childhood; an old beggar took her in, cared for her as she grew up, protected her, and even taught her to read. But in her thirteenth year, that old beggar didn’t survive the winter. It was to bury the old beggar that she sold herself to that slave master!"

Xiaoye gritted her teeth, "You can never imagine how fragile she was at that time. That slave master pretended to care for her, deceived her trust, and then did such vile things!"

"Xiaoye..."

Xiaoye interrupted Fan Wubing, shouting, "Fan Wubing, you’re wrong, you’re not really as omniscient as you think! You certainly didn’t foresee it. Jiang Sha only gave An An the power to protect herself; the one who truly chopped that slave master into mincemeat was her! I still remember now, she used a cleaver, cut three hundred and seventy-nine times! She’s not timid or cowardly; she’s a natural-born villain! From the moment she was born, she had a murderous instinct!"

Xiaoye said weakly,

"Do you know who that old beggar was?"

Fan Wubing asked, "Who?"

"He was the illustrious Jade Ancestor." Xiaoye buried her head, crying as she said, "Jade Ancestor exhausted his last bit of energy to teach An An, to dispel her murderous nature. How... how could I, how could I betray his efforts, watch her become a monster that knows only slaughter?"

At this moment, Fan Wubing did not come to a sudden realization, but instead took a deep breath and said softly,

"So, you were actually absorbing her desire to kill. Because you absorbed too much of her murderous desire, your own self was no longer as brave and strong as she imagined, but instead became eager for destruction, eager to overturn order."

Xiaoye sobbed, "I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect her."

"You never told anyone about this, not even An An herself."

"No."

"Now that you’ve spoken about it, do you feel any better?" Fan Wubing asked, his gaze gentle and smiling.

Xiaoye raised her head and was stunned for a moment. She suddenly realized that Fan Wubing had intentionally provoked her to express her feelings.

She gritted her teeth and said, "An An was right, you’re a good person!" Then began crying again, "But I’m unwilling, I’m really unwilling! Why didn’t she meet you that year when she was thirteen! If she hadn’t encountered that slave master, wouldn’t Jade Ancestor’s painstaking efforts not have been in vain!"

"Xiaoye..." The strong, brave Xiaoye, who had always protected An An, became incredibly fragile at this moment.

Fan Wubing used his broad embrace to offer her some warmth and a sense of security.

The two were silent, saying nothing.

As the eternal sun soared past the afternoon, Xiaoye suddenly lifted her head and said to Fan Wubing,

"You’ll definitely protect An An well, right?"

"I’ll watch her grow until she can protect herself."

"Good, I’ll leave her to you."

After speaking, Xiaoye erased her existence. She was so determined, not lingering for a moment longer, as if she had never wanted to come to this Mortal World.

...

After Xiaoye left, An An awoke from her slumber.

She opened her eyes and saw Fan Wubing’s somewhat regretful face, thought she was dreaming, and instinctively reached out to touch it. Feeling the warmth and real touch, she suddenly woke up.

Then, an endless stream of memories surged into her mind like a tide. From when she was thirteen to now, everything.

She came to know what her good friend Xiaoye was and also came to understand what Xiaoye had borne for her.

Thus, in a daze, she cried and said to Fan Wubing,

"Xiaoye told me you’re someone worth trusting, she acknowledged you. But she still said there can only be one of you between her and you."

Fan Wubing asked,

"Does she have anything she wants to tell me?"

"She wants you to take her place as my best friend."

Fan Wubing smiled and said, "Okay."

An An wiped her tears and said, "But I don’t want you to be my best friend."

"Why?" Fan Wubing was astonished.

An An buried her face in her knees, saying sadly,

"Because I like you."

The world became silent, and time grew heavy and slow.

After a long time, Fan Wubing asked,

"An An, tomorrow is the Ghost Festival, do you want to go back to pay respects to the Jade Ancestor?"

"I do. Will you come with me?"

"Yes. Thank him, for looking after you before you turned thirteen. After you turned thirteen, let me take care of you."

The world bustled with activity, and time grew light and swift.