Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluation, part 21 (after battle)
Oh...
Dammit...
It had to be you, huh. I really hoped we'd never have to meet...
Xichun...! Ya doing okay?!
Well, I'm... not dead.
But I'm almost out of coins, as you can see.
We were attacked by Jia Huan, who wiped out our clan's remaining forces.
I barely managed to protect what I had because there was no way I was letting him eliminate me, but... Well, given how the game's going, I guess I'll place somewhere within the top 5 merely by surviving this far in the shrinking arena.
Good enough to pick up some trinket from a random corner in the treasury. Isn't that right, brother?
Xichun almost let out a wry laugh, caught herself, then sighed deeply as she regarded us.
So what's happening here? You guys look rough. And... what's big sis Daiyu doing here...?
Jia Xichun asked, realizing the oddly downcast atmosphere surrounding our group.
Oh. You don't need to mind that, Xichun.
But if you want to come with, you could -
No.
Just leave me. If I'm to be eliminated, I'll at least face it head-on and accept it.
My lady...
Wei, the Family Hierarch war was a place to demonstrate what I have prepared so far.
This just means that I haven't prepared well enough.
It sucks, and it's frustrating, but... I have to accept the results.
... I see. The game should end soon, since they said there aren't that many candidates left in the game.
I'll see you outside. Stay safe.
…….
... Really? You're... just gonna let me go? Aren't you gonna take my coins?
You don't have nearly enough coins to -
I'm in the same place as you are. It sucks, but we're going to try our best to the end.
But I don't want to take what is yours.
…….
I don't know when it happened, but... I knew that you'd suddenly... changed.
What... did you say?
Yes, Xichun. If that is what you want...
... feel free to hurt me, kill me just like our own siblings and children from other families have tried.
I'm bound to leave Daguanyuan in a few years' time, so...
... before that happens, maybe you can -
How... could you say something like that to me?
I... Well, you know.
I don't want to care about matters of life and death anymore.
You... never should have said that. To me.
... I won't be visiting you ever, ever again.
And I hope our paths never cross even after you depart Daguanyuan.
Those words haunted me every time I saw your face, brother.
You were smiling... like someone who'd already given up on everything.
But I guess I have no room to talk. I didn't even bother asking you what happened, I just...
... completely ignored and avoided you.
…….
I ran into big brother Qiu earlier.
I thought he was going to kill me, or take away what few coins I had, but...
... he just glanced at me before walking away.
Weird, right?
You... big brother Qiu... I have no idea what either of you want.
... You should keep moving.
Rest assured, I will protect my lady to my last dying breath.
I wish you good tidings until the end of the games.