Chapter 4

Chapter 4: Why

The soft hum of the car’s engine was the only sound that filled the air as Wang Qiang navigated through the dimly lit streets, his eyes occasionally glancing at the rearview mirror. Beside him, An Hua sat quietly, her posture composed, yet a subtle tension lingered in her gaze. The events of the night still seemed to weigh on her, but she remained as calm and collected as always.

"So, Fang Rushi had almost harmed a girl's life while trying to suck her life force," An Hua spoke, breaking the silence as she leaned back in her seat, eyes focused on the passing scenery. Her voice was laced with a mixture of disdain and amusement. "But he was unlucky. Her father, of all people, had known about it with the help of a Shaman." She scoffed, shaking her head. "What bad luck. But I suppose it’s good that he was captured. These people, they never learn their lessons, do they?"

Wang Qiang, who had been silently listening, raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t one to indulge in idle conversation, but something about her words piqued his curiosity. "Is it true?"

An Hua turned toward him, her expression puzzled. She wasn’t sure what he was asking about at first, but his intent was clear when he repeated the question.

"Is it true about you and your parents?" Wang Qiang asked, his tone quieter this time, as if hesitant to broach a sensitive subject. "The confrontation you had with Fang Rushi before attacking… Was it because of them?"

For a moment, An Hua’s face softened, a brief flicker of something unreadable crossing her features. She turned her gaze back to the window, watching the city blur past them. Her parents—memories of them were a tangled mess of emotions she had long tried to suppress.

Her voice, though steady, held a hint of something deeper when she finally responded. "Uh… about that…" She paused, as if carefully choosing her words. "Anyway, they'll get what they deserve. It's only a matter of time."

She let out a soft sigh, shaking her head to rid herself of the thoughts she didn’t want to dwell on. "But thank you, Wang Qiang. These years would have been difficult without your help. My family and I are truly grateful for everything you've done… and I am too."

Her smile, though polite, was tinged with sincerity. She hadn’t forgotten how much his support had meant to her, especially during those dark days when she had felt utterly alone. An Hua could never express it enough, but there was a bond between them, one she knew she could rely on.

Before Wang Qiang could speak, An Hua’s sharp eyes had already noticed that the car had reached her neighborhood. The streetlights illuminated the quaint houses and quiet streets, and the moment had come for their journey to an end.

She turned toward him, her expression softening slightly. "You can stop here," she said, gesturing to the entrance of a small gate that led to her house. "Thank you for the ride. Drive safely. It’s already late, so I won’t invite you tonight."

She flashed him another smile, this time warmer, but still carrying the same sense of distance she always maintained with those around her. "Goodnight, Boss Wang," she added, her voice light and almost teasing.

Without waiting for his response, she opened the door and stepped out, moving with graceful ease toward the gate. Her movements were fluid, almost otherworldly in their quiet elegance. Wang Qiang watched her for a moment, his thoughts momentarily drifting.

As he sat there, waiting for her to disappear from view, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just witnessed something rare, something that made him wonder if he truly knew her at all. In the few short years they had known each other, An Hua had always been an enigma—beautiful, intelligent, and deeply enigmatic. But there was something more to her, something he couldn’t quite put his finger on.

A fleeting thought crossed his mind. Would they meet again?

He found himself surprisingly eager for it, though he quickly shook the thought away. Stop thinking like that, he chided himself. She was a mystery, and mysteries weren’t meant to be solved.

With a quiet sigh, Wang Qiang finally drove off, leaving An Hua behind as the streets faded into the distance. His mind was already moving onto the next task awaiting him at the base, but there was something that lingered—a feeling he couldn't quite shake.

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The cool night air greeted An Hua as she stepped inside the house, the soft creak of the gate behind her signaling her return. She walked into the small, cozy living room, where a faint light from the bedside lamp illuminated the space. It was peaceful here, in contrast to the chaos of the world outside. The calm was exactly what she needed.

After a quick shower, she found herself in front of the mirror, her hands moving instinctively as she brushed through her damp hair. The strands slipped through her fingers, each one catching the light in delicate patterns as they dried. Her reflection was still the same, but there was something different about her tonight. The flickering of emotions from earlier, the encounter with Wang Qiang, and the lingering thoughts of the past—it all seemed to weigh on her more than usual.

Her fingers paused over the flower mark on her wrist, the one that had been with her since birth. She ran her thumb over it gently, feeling its faint warmth. The mark had grown brighter over the past few days, signaling something she couldn’t yet comprehend. Her mother had always told her that the mark was her lifeline, a symbol of her power, and the brighter it grew, the stronger she became.

But strength came with its own burdens.

She had long learned to cover it up to avoid drawing attention, but tonight, it felt almost as though the mark was demanding recognition—like it was a reminder of something that was coming. She wasn’t sure what that something was, but deep down, she felt it was drawing closer.

Her thoughts drifted back to Fang Rushi and the mysterious figures who had once been part of her past. If he could show up here, then it was only a matter of time before others from the Righteous Realm appeared. An Hua had to prepare herself for that inevitable confrontation, no matter what it might bring.

For now, though, there was one thing that needed her full attention: the promise she had made to her brother, Ah Shi. She had told him she would return home, and she intended to keep that promise. But what could she get him as a gift? What would be suitable for a brother who had waited for her all these years?

She shook her head with a sigh, pushing the thought aside. One thing at a time. Tomorrow is soon enough to figure that out.

With a final glance at the mark on her wrist, An Hua turned away from the mirror. There were challenges ahead, but she was ready for them. For now, the world outside could wait. Tonight, she would focus on keeping her promise—and on the steps she would have to take to face whatever the future held.

As she lay down to sleep, her mind finally began to quiet, but the faint glow of the flower mark remained, a quiet reminder that her journey was far from over.

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