Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluation, part 16 (after battle)
But...
But you still... should have told me...
It wasn't just Xiren. People around me, they...
... they all began to change.
On the other hand, I found myself relieved that Xiren...
... no longer worried about me.
Sharing this with you would not have changed a thing.
It would only have drawn grandmother's unseen shadows to you.
They would have drawn the light from your eyes and smile from your lips...
... and you would never have sparred with me again.
I...
Yo, Baoyu!!!
The loud voice sounded so elated that it might as well have been ecstatic.
<…!>
You're pretty good at hide-and-seek, huh?
It's you, big brother Xue Pan. Have you been looking for me?
Yep. And I'm gonna kill you before Baochai finds you!
Hong Lu... you really know how to make friends, huh... ha ha...
Rodya muttered, clearly taken aback.
But why were you looking for me? I don't even have that many coins on me.
Hong Lu replies with a smile.
... Because it's you.
Because you exist, Baoyu.
Do you know how many brushes with death, some of them fatal, we had to suffer?! While you...
... enjoyed a peaceful life with the favor of the elders? Just because you were born lucky?
So why didn't you just take that privilege and fuck off to some other Nest out there, huh? Oh, wait. Are you here...
... because you wanted a front-row seat to our struggles? Is that it?
…….
Baoyu, please. Please just ask the venerable Jia Mu if it's possible.
Please... I'm your friend. We used to play together. Me, you, and Baochai. Don't you remember?
Or, or if that won't do, then ask your revered Xianren. Can't you ask them for just a little favor...?
…….
Please, I'm begging you. I don't want to fight anyone.
I just want to live a quiet life like you do. I just want some semblance of a peaceful life, that's all I ask...
There... isn't anything I can do for you.
I'm pleading here, Baoyu...
Go away, big brother.
You know how this place gets... dangerous when the shadows take over.
Feel free to keep up that nice guy charade. Pretend to be a good person all you want.
But know that I have seen your true, hideous face. You're just another messed-up Jia who doesn't give a shit about anyone else but yourself.
And that's exactly what I can't stand about you. Acting like you're above us... like we're dirt under your feet... All the while pretending to be this noble... generous guy...
I'm not just gonna disqualify you, Baoyu... I'm gonna cut your brain up so we'll never, ever have to suffer -
Say, big brother Xue Pan.
If having their favor could be considered 'lucky'... and if it was something I could have just given away...
... then I wouldn't have hesitated to give it to you.
It's just too bad that that's not possible.
... What?
I've gotten this close to death... no, I've already been decapitated three, four more times... I've lost count...
You have no idea what I had to crawl through to even live. You think you can just -
…….
... Lin Daiyu.
Ha ha, what a fool you are, Jia Baoyu. Do you not know that her family is in service to ours?
Baochai, that girl will lose all sense upon seeing Baoyu, so it falls to me to use you right.
My mother saved you from the terrible fate of being thrown to the streets - it's about time you repaid that favor.
You haven't even done much ever since our family picked you up, have you? Your standing's on thin ice here.
Perform well in this Family Hierarch war, and I promise you fame and fortune for you and your family.
…….
What cannot be mine must remain out of my sight...
The people of Xue family have said as such many, many times.
But you must let go of what cannot be yours.
That is the only way to preserve your heart and endure Daguanyuan.
You're absolutely ridiculous.
A mere bodyguard in service of our family dares to lecture me about the nature of Daguanyuan?
No, I... know Daguanyuan better than you do.
So... let it be known that my advice comes from my heart.