Chapter 696: Chapter 692: Lost and Found Again

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“In life, there are no ifs, ands, or take-backs. Every negligence and oversight you make has consequences that penetrate your heart. Some people say the most beautiful things in the world are those which you can’t obtain and things you’ve lost. But what you can’t obtain clearly isn’t yours, while those lost were once yours. Now let me ask you, what’s the most beautiful?”

The dust in the steward’s room had settled, revealing the second son, looking quite disarrayed, leaning against the wall with a dazed look in his eyes.

Tang Xing was exceptionally talented, a talent that wasn’t solely exhibited in martial arts, but in all aspects—this is where the saying “the competent do not have an impossible task” comes from.

However, as the second son, he was too young and had an easy life. He did not need to think much and just strolled along the comfortable path before him. Under the care of his father, siblings, and loving mother, it seemed that he could reach the destination even with his eyes closed. Any trouble he encountered could be made up for, and thus, naturally, the second son was reluctant to think more deeply.

But the agonizing loss today finally made him reevaluate himself. At this moment, he seemed to feel himself maturing.

Reflecting back, he felt many of his past actions were foolish. If time could be turned back, there were many things he could’ve done much better.

Leaning against the wall to stand up, Tang Xing’s face looked awful yet had regained calmness. Although there were expressions of regret and pain on his face, there was a hint of resolution in his eyes. Despite his shaky voice, he stared at his elder brother seated opposite him and said, “What’s most beautiful is what we have now. Is this the lesson you intended to teach me using Miao Zhu’s life?”

Pain and resentment filled Tang Xing’s eyes, because he had realized— his brother had seemingly allowed events to unravel this far because he believed that exchanging a servant girl’s life to enlighten his foolish little brother was a worthwhile trade.

And as the primary beneficiary, he was indeed the true killer of Miao Zhu. Though he had decided to be tough, tears streamed unstoppable down his face, growing more and more.

Just as the tears that had stopped started welling up again, Tang Xing, who cried bitterly, felt deeply wronged. After all, for a twelve-year-old child facing such cold calculations, he didn’t know how to fight back, so he could only wail and shout, “But brother, Miao Zhu was innocent, how could you bear to do this!”

In the face of such a juvenile accusation, Tang Luo was completely unmoved, not even showing a reaction.

The aggrieved young boy didn’t get a response and finally let go of his warrior’s pride, resentfully sobbing, “How impressive to bully your little brother! I’m going to tell father and mother! Waa waa waa waa!”

Upon hearing his younger brother’s ultimate weapon, Tang Luo’s face darkened, feeling that his effort had been in vain.

A twelve-year-old still tattling, how unworthy of a warrior!

Do you really think you can threaten me by telling on me? Let me tell you what!

It really worked…Tang Luo covered his face, feeling a throbbing headache. He hadn’t anticipated that his shameless little brother would run off to tattle — it was completely unexpected.

“Alright, alright, stop crying. People might think you’ve been deeply wronged!”

“But I have been wronged!” The young boy’s nose was even sorer, and he cried even louder, “You bullied me! I’m going to write to mother, let her come back and teach you a lesson!”

For the first time, Tang Luo saw someone reporting a complaint in such a righteous manner, and he was extremely disgruntled saying, “You’re a warrior! How can you run to mother with every little problem?”

Family was probably the only place in the world where love, not logic, prevailed. If this little guy really reported to his mother, Xu Shuhui, given her overbearing love for her youngest son, Tang Luo would undoubtedly be held accountable. After all, his little brother was still a child in their mother’s eyes and he was an adult.

Whenever a problem didn’t involve the bottom line, it was always wrong for an adult to bully a child. And Tang Xing’s lack of cunning might just seem adorably innocent in their mother’s eyes.

That’s why Tang Luo was desperate to dissuade Tang Xing from telling on him. But, the unsophisticated younger boy perceived a change in his situation after he threatened to report him. It felt like a fighter had found his adversary’s weak spot.

The weeping second son finally found a way to fight back against his domineering elder brother. He even had a clear idea of how to write the letter. So, of course, he wouldn’t back down easily.

Seeing how his attempts to teach a lesson were on the verge of spiraling into a scene where the elder brother was bullying the younger brother, Tang Luo finally gave up and said, leaning his forehead on his hand in resignation, “Alright, alright! Stop crying. Your little girlfriend isn’t dead!”

The wailing stopped instantly. Tang Xing sobbed a few times, his teary eyes as wide as saucers and asked, “W-what?”

“I said, your little girlfriend isn’t dead!” Tang Luo stated flatly, his expression hard, “Go to Red Cloud Mountain’s main peak at the Du Clan’s place and fetch your girl from Elder Du Ling.”

At first, he had indeed intended to let things take their course and use Miao Zhu’s unfortunate fate as a case study to educate his brother. Only a truly heart-wrenching loss can make a boy mature, but in the end, he couldn’t bear to do it.

Just as Tang Xing said, Miao Zhu was completely innocent. Why should she suffer because of his foolish little brother and even pay with her life for his lesson?

When arranging for the clan members to retreat, Tang Luo had asked Du Ling to take Miao Zhu to Red Cloud Mountain and made double arrangements.

If Tang Xing were to remember the poor servant girl, this would serve as a lesson for him. But if he forgot her, then the poor girl would get her freedom back.

Based on what he saw now, after this hard-lost-love lesson, Tang Xing should have learned to cherish, right?

The surprised Tang Xing forgot to cry, and with his big, watery eyes kept asking, “Really? Is it true?”

The joy of recovery caused the young boy to forget about his previous intent to tattle. He stared blankly with tear streaks down his face, looking just like a fool.

“Hmph.” Tang Luo took out a fresh handkerchief from his bosom and threw it onto Tang Xing’s face, “First, clean your face. A twelve-year-old crying so much, it’s disgraceful!”

“Heh-heh!” He took the new handkerchief, quickly wiping his face clean to reveal a fresh face and a big smile, “I’m going to get Miao Zhu!”

The carefree young boy stuffed the handkerchief into his bosom and turned to leave the steward’s room. His jubilant demeanor made Tang Luo’s eyelids twitch.

“Wait a moment.” Tang Luo sighed, cautioning the impatient little fellow, “In the future, you’ll encounter many things. Remember to think thrice before making a decision because each careless mistake could bring you significant loss. Many people and situations, once done wrong, cannot be turned back, understand?”

He had broken through the Fierce Realm too early, and only the heavens knew whether his abilities, after he disperses them and returns to the Mortal Realm, would still grant him the ability to reproduce in the future. If not, the entire Tang Family legacy would lie on the shoulders of his younger brother. Therefore, Tang Luo hoped the boy would mature quickly, although for a twelve-year-old, his words may seem a bit too urgent.