Chapter 4094 — Meeting Xueli Again
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 3
For the past half year, Xueli had done the menial labor of a servant in endless repetition. Her only hope each day was to pin her hopes on serving this Miss Sima well, so that the other might teach her some methods for assailing the Foundation Establishment stage.
Unfortunately, this Miss Sima had never regarded her as anything at all. Not only did she fail to treat her kindly on that account, but because of Xueli's looks and bearing, she found her utterly objectionable and repeatedly seized upon any pretext to inflict corporal punishment. Several times Xueli was beaten black and blue and left bedridden, yet still had to grit her teeth and rise to keep working. The bitterness of it all was simply too painful to look back upon.
Struggling on in such a daze, Xueli endured a full half year. She had thought her wretched fate would continue on and on forever—but never expected that a secret tryst between Sima Qian and her lover would become the turning point in her life. Only, that turning point was not a turn for the better...
The man Sima Qian called Senior Brother Wei discovered her existence by chance and was instantly thunderstruck, smitten at first sight. What was more, he soon discovered that Xueli's constitution was an innate ice-cold body, extraordinarily suited to cultivating the Snowsword Sect's core techniques.
This Senior Brother Wei wished to become her dual-cultivation partner and decided on the spot to take her as his wife. To Sima Qian this turn of events was a thunderbolt from a clear sky, yet given Senior Brother Wei's status and strength, she had no recourse whatsoever, however unwilling she was. She could only agree to keep Xueli confined and prepare to hold the wedding on a chosen day.
From Sima Qian's lowly maidservant to Senior Brother Wei's dual-cultivation partner—neither was the outcome Xueli wanted. But locked away in this secluded bedchamber, unable even to step beyond the door, how could she ever lay claim to her own fate?
"Xueli? You don't remember me?" Seeing no reaction from her, Wei Zhao was startled, thinking she, like Tianchan, was deliberately refusing to acknowledge him. He hurried forward at once, reaching out to take her hand.
At that moment Xueli was still sunk in bitter, helpless bewilderment. Only when Wei Zhao rushed up before her did she suddenly realize someone had entered the room. Her heart gave a violent start, and instinctively she assumed the newcomer was that Senior Brother Wei.
Xueli quickly rose and retreated several steps. A closer look, however, showed that it was not Senior Brother Wei at all, but a rugged, rough-hewn martial man she had never seen before—and this man actually knew her name. Who had let him in?
Seeing Xueli's alarmed expression, Wei Zhao was briefly taken aback. Only then did he realize he was still wearing the Thousand-Silk Mask and had not even changed back his deliberately assumed voice. He at once reverted to his own voice: "Don't be afraid, Xueli. It's me, Wei Zhao."
"Ah!!!" At these words Xueli was thunderstruck, her face flooded with disbelief. "You're Wei Zhao? You really are Wei Zhao?"
"Truly, the genuine article." Wei Zhao smiled and opened his arms. He had still not figured out exactly what was going on, but it was not hard to guess that Sima Qian might burst in at any moment, so he did not remove the Thousand-Silk Mask. Even so, it was enough for Xueli to recognize him.
The familiar voice, the familiar frame, the familiar scent—Xueli did not know why Wei Zhao had taken on another appearance, but she could indeed recognize him. This was the very Wei Zhao she had thought of day and night.