Villain Lady

Seeing how Shi Yan changed his attitude upside down, Wei Liuying looked at the sky. Her funny friend might have his brain roasted this time.

Yang Xian's face turned slightly dark when he saw how Shi Yan behaved. He raised his legs and delivered another kick to Shi Yan's back.

Kick!

Even though with their martial arts, they didn't really have any problem staying outside like this since their clothes were quite thick, it would be better for them to stay inside. The chilling wind would be too much for them.

"Xian! Is that how you treat your friend?"

"That's how I treat troublemaker."

Shi Yan was speechless. Yang Xian didn't deny him as his friends, but he was called as troublemaker. Ah… he felt that it was truly very difficult to have a proper talk with Yang Xian without getting slighted by this annoying strategist. 

As they got closer to the residence, Wei Liuying could sense another person's presence inside and it felt awfully familiar. Wei Liuying quickened her pace and got into the house and saw a young woman sitting there. Her eyes widened as a smile formed on the corner of her lips. "Xiao Qing."

Xiao Qing turned around and smiled brightly when she saw Wei Liuying. Even though Wei Liuying was dressed as a boy, how could Xiao Qing not recognize her after spending so much time with Wei Liuying in the past? She was sure that even if Wei Liuying wore disguise, she would still recognize her perfectly. 

"Miss!"

"You look healthy!"

"You too, Miss."

Wei Liuying patted Xiao Qing's shoulder. "There's no need to call me Miss anymore. You're with Yan now."

"You can take her back with you if you want. I settled her in this city not long ago." Shi Yan's voice came from behind. He walked straight to the fireplace to warm his body up. The night wind was too cold.

"No."

"Miss!"

"Thank you for that offer, but I would like Xiao Qing to be happy too," Wei Liuying replied. "Not as my servants anymore but as someone free outside."

Xiao Qing frowned. She was always happy to stay by Wei Liuying's side. it has been a very memorable time for her to follow Wei Liuying during the time when she was in Wei Family Residence. Even though there were so many difficult things occurred there, she treasured her time with her Miss.

"But, Miss…."

"I won't be able to take care of you, Xiao Qing," Wei Liuying said unhurriedly. "Besides, I'll have to live on my own when I depart to the battlefield."

Whatever words Xiao Qing wanted to say, all of that was left in her throat. She was unable to bring herself to say anything as she looked at her Miss. She had heard from Shi Yan that from now on, Wei Liuying would have to pose as a man and roamed on the battlefield. It was unknown when she would return back to live as a noble young lady with her disguise like this.

Xiao Qing couldn't fight as well as Wei Liuying. In addition, what she good at was only movement's technique, so it would be impossible for her to be of help to Wei Liuying in the dangerous battlefield.

But… there was a faint sense of unease within her heart as she looked at her former Miss.

"Xiao Qing, have you ever thought of what you want to do in your life?" Wei Liuying asked slowly. She first met Xiao Qing when she was 8 years old because Feng Chun didn't want to take care of Wei Liuying on her own anymore. 

Xiao Qing was sold by her own parents because they were poor. It was not weird for parents to sell their own children. Even nobles did that all the time towards their daughter, much less poor people who truly needed money to buy food. If they have several children, they could sell someone out.

Usually, the one sold would be the girls.

"I…" Xiao Qing opened her mouth but didn't answer. When she was sold by her parents, she truly didn't know what she should do. All she could do was to follow Feng Chun's instruction to stay with Wei Liuying all the time.

But when she saw the young Wei Liuying got beaten up by her own mother because the girl failed to help her improve Feng Chun's relationship with her husband, Xiao Qing felt her heart was torn. Wei Liuying was younger than her, yet the treatment she got in the residence was even worse than animals.

At first, it was clear that Wei Liuying was enduring and hoping that she would still be able to get her mother or father's love.

But neither gave her any.

The young girl was forced to accept the reality that neither one of her parents wanted her. Xiao Qing couldn't do anything as she was nothing more than Feng Chun's spies that was sent to watch over Wei Liuying. And all the time, she was filled with fear, fear that she would be caught by Feng Chun for not doing her work correctly.

It was tiring.

Xiao Qing didn't like the residence either.

But as Wei Liuying gradually grew colder and kept her distance, Xiao Qing made her decision. She wanted to help the poor little girl so that they would be able to get out of that inhumane residence.

"We agreed at the beginning that we'll get out together," Wei Liuying said unhurriedly. "Now that you're free, you can do whatever you want. Don't you also have your dream to fulfill?"

Dream?

Ah, right. When she was young, Xiao Qing always wanted to have a family on her own and be happy with someone who loved her too. Raising her head, she smiled at Wei Liuying. "Yes, Miss."

Wei Liuying smiled. "Good."

"But if you ever need my help, I'll surely come to help you, Miss," Xiao Qing said seriously. At first, it was nothing more than pity and also the common goal. However, Xiao Qing also cared for her Miss, so if Wei Liuying ever needed help, she would not hesitate to lend her hand and do everything in her power to make Wei Liuying's wish came true.

"I'll be fine." Wei Liuying patted Xiao Qing's hand. "Can you tell me what you want?"

"I…" Xiao Qing knew that she wanted to have a peaceful life, but she was not certain about what kind of life it would be and where.

Listening to the two girls' conversation, Shi Yan frowned. "Are you sure about this?"

"Yes."

Yang Xian returned with several bowls of food in his hand. "I don't have the time to cook, so this time I bought them."

"Thank you, Strategist Yang."

"You can call me by my name directly."

"Strategist Yang."

"You're stubborn." Yang Xian turned to look at Xiao Qing. "You can choose either to live as a commoner in this city or other cities or to serve another master. I'm sure Yan will not mind releasing you if you want to."

Xiao Qing fell silent. She watched as Yang Xian distributed the four bowls for them to eat, including her. It was a bit overwhelming for her to sit on the same table as these powerful figure, but she knew that rejecting would only meet with them persuading her. She had already tried that back with Wei Liuying.

What did she want to do now?

Now that the time was up, she should start a new life.

"I want to live as commoner."

"Here?"

"Dong Shan City," Xiao Qing replied after a while. She didn't want to have to see Wei Liuying whenever she returned. It would only torment her about her decision to finally leave her previous Master.

Wei Liuying nodded. "Can I trouble you to send her to Dong Shan City, Yan?"

"I'll return back there after the negotiation is over, but I'll send people to send you there along with the messenger for my sister in a few days," Shi Yan offered generously. 

"That'll be good."

"Alright. Now that it's over, time to eat."

"Yes, Strategist Yang."

"Call me Yang Xian."

"Strategist Yang."

Shi Yan shook his head when he watched Yang Xian tried to make Wei Liuying called him with his name directly. Even though it sounded childish, he felt that Wei Liuying chose to be polite with Yang Xian as a way to make sure that she didn't get over comfortable. After all, it would be hard for her to not get attached if she ever got comfortable.

It was the same as the others. 

When they first met with each other, they would be polite and tried to keep their distance. The distance will be reduced from time to time as they continued to interact with each other.

The four of them didn't spend a long time eating. Shi Yan left with Xiao Qing after they were done, leaving the two of them back in the residence. Once the two of them left, Yang Xian looked at Wei Liuying and asked, "Have you decided?"