Chapter 3
“Young lady… please calm down. If this matter spreads, it will harm your reputation.” Li Wu suddenly found his whole body was so stiff that he could not move. He was so scared, he closed his eyes and screamed in panic.
Fortunately, Li Wan’s whip didn’t really want to hit him, it turned around and hit the ground aside.
“Now everyone has to please me when they see me. Even if they know I beat this ugly thing, no one dares to say anything.” Li Wan raised her chin arrogantly. As long as she had her second brother, she could do whatever she wanted.
“Young lady, think about it, if the news reaches Young Master Zhao in Yuncheng, hehe…” After Li Wu finished speaking, a flattering smile appeared on his face.
Li Tianyan, who was standing outside the hall, frowned after hearing this. He wanted Li Wu to be whipped a few more times, but this kid was quite clever and actually moved out the people named Zhao in Yuncheng.
The Zhao family in Yuncheng also had members who had become the outer disciples of Tianfan Immortal Sect. In the past, the Li family was naturally unable to have relationship with Zhao family, but now with Li Tiancheng’s status and Li Wan’s charming appearance, there was a chance.
“You actually… actually…” Li Wan, who was told this, was speechless for a long time. Finally, she stomped her feet and ran away in anger. Before leaving, she did not forget to leave one sentence, “You guys, if you dare to tell what happened today, I will make you look good.”
Li Tianyan watched Li Wan disappear from the corner of the corridor dragging her whip, he stepped into the main hall of Jingxin Hall and walked to Cheng Qi and said, “Go back.”
The person who curled up into a ball heard Li Tianyan’s words. Not only did he not relax at all, but he shrank his body even tighter. A few whip marks from the whip could be vaguely seen through the thin clothes.
Cheng Qi was only thirteen this year, and with his small body, he looked like a ten-year-old child. Even though Li Tianyan had seen many bloody scenes in his previous life, he couldn’t bear to see the abused child in front of him.
Sighing helplessly, Li Tianyan’s voice was a little more majestic, “I won’t do anything to you. Do you want to continue to stay here, or go back with me?”
Cultivators all competed with God for their fate; their fate was in their own hands. If someone didn’t want to survive, no matter how much others helped them, it would be in vain. Li Tianyan naturally would not do such useless things. After saying this, he just stood there, waiting for the other party’s response.
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Cheng Qi finally regained his composure after the initial fear. The words he just heard kept echoing in his mind. His eyes were full of confusion. Where could he go if he didn’t go back? His body couldn’t help but think about it, he got up from the ground.
Li Tianyan watched with cold eyes as the child stood up with difficulty and had no intention of helping. Cheng Qi also kept vigilantly paying attention to his actions. Seeing that Li Tianyan did not move, he felt relieved.
However, he had not eaten for two days and was whipped by someone. He almost fell down as soon as he stood up.
This time Li Tianyan reacted quickly and grabbed the other person’s arm, but suddenly heard an inaudible gasp. He lowered his head and saw that the new and old wounds on the child’s arm exposed from the sleeves.
There were whip wounds from Li Wan just now, as well as bruises from Li Tianyan’s stick a few days ago, and even some had become old scars. It seemed that this shuanger was abused before he coming into Li family. His life in the Cheng family was not much better.
Cheng Qi hurriedly retracted his arms as soon as he stood firm, but his eyes glanced up secretly, and quickly lowered his head before meeting Li Tianyan’s eyes.
“Let’s go.” Li Tianyan felt relieved after seeing that Cheng Qi could still stand alone. He was not used having close contact with people. It would be great if Cheng Qi could walk back by himself.
Before stepping out of the Jingxin Hall, Li Tianyan suddenly thought of something and stopped. “Li Wu, you go to the madam first to report, I’ll take away the person first. After two days when he feels better, I will accompany him to pay respects in person.”
“Yes, young master.” Li Wu’s stiff body gradually regained consciousness. He stood up, holding the whip wounds on his back. Hearing Li Tianyan’s words, he didn’t dare to respond lazily.
He didn’t know what the young master did to him just now. He was a warrior after all but thrown out like this. Li Wu remembered clearly that he could avoid the young lady’s whip at that time, but his body suddenly lost control.
After receiving that whipping, Li Wu decided to restrain himself for the time being before he could figure it out.
Li Tianyan saw that Li Wu finally understood things better, he took Cheng Qi back to his Qingzhu Courtyard with satisfaction.
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Cheng Qi walked quietly behind Li Tianyan along the way. When he met the servants passing by, he saw the contemptuous looks in other people’s eyes. Even though Cheng Qi was used to such scenes, he would still cover his own face with his hands unconsciously.
“Xiao Liu.” Li Wu was sent to report the news to Hong Man.
When he returned to Qingzhu Courtyard, Li Tianyan could only summon the shuanger servant who was sweeping the garden.
Although Xiao Liu had been in Qingzhu Courtyard for many years, he had never served the young master in person. He was not familiar with Li Tianyan and was a little nervous when he suddenly called to him. “What are your instructions, Young master?”
“Go to the kitchen to get some porridge, and then ask the cook to boil some vegetables dish,” Li Tianyan instructed Xiao Liu.
He had overheard the conversation between two maids outside the Jingxin Hall, learning that Cheng Qi had not eaten for two days. Li Tianyan thought it would be best to provide some nourishment before addressing other matters.
“Yes, Young master.” Xiao Liu responded promptly and quickly left the courtyard, heading towards the kitchen located in the backyard of Li Mansion.
With Xiao Liu gone, Li Tianyan and Cheng Qi were left in the room. Faced with this unexpected marriage, Li Tianyan’s feelings were complicated.
Upon reflection, neither of them was old enough to be a Taoist couple at the moment. The future was uncertain, and circumstances might change. Li Tianyan decided to take things slowly, considering Cheng Qi might find his true path in the next two years.
“Sit down.” Li Tianyan’s demeanor toward Cheng Qi softened. He gestured for him to sit.
This was the first time Cheng Qi witnessed a calm demeanor from Li Tianyan since their wedding night. Though confused, he obediently took his seat, enduring the stinging pain from his wounds as he did so.
Observing Cheng Qi’s silence, Li Tianyan picked up a kettle from the table and poured him a glass of water.
After a while, Xiao Liu returned, appearing empty-handed. Li Tianyan found it peculiar and questioned him with a raised eyebrow.
As Xiao Liu entered the room, he noticed the young master’s inquisitive look and nervously explained, “Young master, the people in the kitchen said it is already past lunchtime, and they won’t light the fire. They suggested waiting until the dinner.”
As soon as Li Tianyan heard it, he knew that the servants of Li Mansion were deliberately making things difficult. How could there have been such a rule in the past?
After thinking about it, he got up, dug out the money bag from the cabinet, and handed a small piece of broken silver to Xiao Liu, saying, “Since the kitchen can’t do it, go outside and buy it.”
Xiao Liu was a little surprised when he saw the young master giving him money. After all, the young master’s attitude towards the young madam was not very good in the past. Maybe he finally figured it out after being ill.
“I can wait for dinner.”
Before Xiao Liu took the money, a thin voice came from behind. Li Tianyan turned his head and saw Cheng Qi sitting on the stool. He raised his head slightly, but his face was still unclear due to his messy hair. However, a pair of dark gray eyes hidden in his black hair were visible.
Li Tianyan turned around and said to Xiao Liu in front of him, “Go quickly.”
“You have to wait for a while; why don’t you go change your clothes and apply some medicine first?”
Before, Cheng Qi was walking behind him, and he didn’t notice it. Now, as Li Tianyan looked at his back, he remembered the child was injured from the whipping.
Cheng Qi did not answer; he just sat there and stared at Li Tianyan blankly. From childhood to adulthood, everyone looked at him with nothing but disgust, including the father who gave him life, the mother who gave birth to him, and the madam in the family. Aunts, brothers and sisters, even the servants in the mansion, and the former Li Tianyan, all had the same disgust.
No matter how others scolded him and hit him, Cheng Qi was already numb. But facing the caring Li Tianyan in front of him, he felt panic for the first time. He was suddenly afraid that everything in front of him was just an illusion and he would be back in the blink of an eye to that endless abyss.