Villain Lady

Wei Liuying didn't know how she managed to relay the message to Shi Yan after that. He was staying with Shi Lu Wen and naturally came out when he found out his sister was crying. When he heard the news, he didn't cry like Shi Lu Wen, but it was clear that his expression was distorted.

Clearly, they didn't expect to hear such news.

It took some time before they calmed down and asked for more details regarding his body's location.

"You buried him in Village K?" Shi Yan asked. His usual playful tone sounded strange now that his voice cracked a bit.

Wei Liuying nodded. "I can't possibly leave him in Xiong Tribe area, so I brought him to his old house and dug a grave there. When the war is finished, it's possible to move him back if you want to."

Shi Yan nodded. He was thinking of moving the grave back to Han Shi Kingdom's cities when there was time. However, he was not sure when would be the perfect time for him to do that. The war would not end anytime soon and moving the corpse would be difficult in this situation.

"It's hard to believe, though." Shi Lu Wen wiped her tears.

"I'm so…"

"That Shi Mo can actually fall in love."

Wei Liuying: "…" I can't comment on anything in this topic.

Shi Yan shrugged. "It's time for that brat to mature too."

"In that case, when will it be your time, Yan Ge?"

"…I'll think about it."

Wiping her tears again, Shi Lu Wen sighed. She looked at Wei Liuying and smiled faintly. "Don't worry, I'm sure that Mo Ge is happy to be able to be reunited with Princess Ji Xiaoli in the afterlife. Since they can't be together in this life, they might be happy because they can be together in their next one."

Wei Liuying nodded. She looked at the siblings who have calmed down considerably. They looked much better now than before.

"I won't blame you," Shi Yan said after a while. His expression had turned better, but his tone was still tinged in sadness. "Shi Mo is always like that. Even if you disagreed with him, he'll follow you on the back and then create chaos in the designated place. No matter what you do, there's no way you can stop him."

"I see."

"You should focus on your work. The war is not over yet. With Prince Lian is still out there and many other tribes joining force, it's clear that the northern border will need a clean sweep," Shi Yan said. "I was hoping that I could have started the trade again, but I don't think it's possible."

Shi Lu Wen shook her head. "You're always thinking about money, Yan Ge."

"Money is important!"

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Strategist Yang will soon depart. If you want to reach Prince Ji Sheng's City before it's night time, you need to leave now," Shi Lu Wen added.

Wei Liuying nodded and stood up. "In that case, I won't bother you anymore. If you need my help to locate and move Shi Mo's body, I'll surely help you."

"It's fine." Shi Lu Wen walked to the door and opened it. Her eyes were looking down. "Unlike our parents, Shi Mo's father was a soldier. Ever since he was young, it has been his dream to become a soldier and died in the battlefield honorably just like what his father did. I'm sure that he's happy because he can fulfil his dream."

Shi Lu Wen's voice cracked nearing the end of the sentence. Wei Liuying patted her shoulder lightly. "Thank you."

Even if it was only said to make her feel better, Wei Liuying appreciated Shi Lu Wen's thoughtfulness. The young girl was still young, but she always cared for others a lot. Probably, it was also why she would make a good female doctor. 

Slowly, Wei Liuying walked out of the house and strode back to the location where the soldiers were staying. Shi Lu Wen stayed still in her place, watching Wei Liuying's back disappeared into a distance.

"Why do you tell her that?"

"It's the truth," Shi Lu Wen said. "And I'm sure that you know about foolish Mo Ge's dream better than me."

"Falling in love with the most beautiful girl and died in the battlefield for her?" Shi Yan asked. He sighed and stood up. "He's still as stupid as ever."

"You're one to talk, Yan Ge."

Shi Yan was silence for some time. The three of them were children from ordinary family who used to live in a small village. Shi Mo's father was his father's brother, so they were cousins.

While Shi Mo's father was a soldier, Shi Yan's father was a farmer. They lived a poor but fulfilling life. Unfortunately, such life didn't last long as the flood and war occurred, increasing crime rates. It also caused some bandits to come to the villages to exhort the villagers there.

Naturally, there were guards, but the bandits had their own way to make sure that they can bypass them. They could simply give the guards exception that they would not touch their families as long as they were allowed inside.

The guards, who were not strong enough, finally let the bandits pass and let them do whatever they wanted. They did nothing but watch with their family members while the other villagers were suffering.

One of their those who suffered was their parents.

That brutal night when everything changed for them was an unforgettable memory for Shi Yan. Back then, Shi Lu Wen was still small and he kept her hidden to make sure that she didn't watch any of those cruelty. However, he had seen it by himself.

How the village elders allowed the bandits to come in just for meagre sum of money.

How the women, both married and teenagers, were taken away by the bandits and there was nothing the children could do but to fight back and failed miserably due to their low power.

How the cries of the people were not heard by those who had ability and they were simply left to suffer alone.

How those with power were misusing the authority given to them and abandoned the weak ones.

That was the day he swore that he would do anything to become rich and make sure that no one would be able to harm those around him anymore. And it was also the very day Shi Mo was determined to join the military.

Their lives changed from that very moment. 

Shi Yan closed his eyes for a moment. He looked at Shi Lu Wen and patted her head tenderly. "I'll arrange for my carriages to move in different route for now. With the war raging on like that, I won't be able to go to the north."

"Yes." Shi Lu Wen's gaze dropped to the ground. She lifted her hand and wiped her tears. "I hope the war will end soon."

"It will." Shi Yan looked in the direction where Wei Liuying went. The others must have been there too. He believed that if it was them, they would be able to end this long lasting war. "The war will end soon."

"En."