A dense killing intent instantly caused the temperature within the villa to drop several degrees. Mrs. Wang, an ordinary person, couldn't bear it. Her face turned pale as her whole body trembled.
Lin Mo hurriedly retracted his murderous aura, allowing Mrs. Wang to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
He had already slain those who bore grudges against him, so who would want to harm Meng Die and Aqin?
Lin Mo clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white and his eyes were bloodshot. Could it be that Xia Mengdie had already met with misfortune while he was away in Han Country?
"The young miss left a letter when she left, saying that when the son-in-law returns, I should give it to you," Mrs. Wang suddenly spoke up.
Lin Mo unclenched his fist, revealing a look of surprise, "Where is that letter?"
Mrs. Wang said, "It's in my room, I'll go and get it for the son-in-law right away."
Lin Mo stood under an old willow tree, opening the envelope given to him by Xia Mengdie. The handwriting was delicate, unmistakably that of Xia Mengdie.
Yingzi and Mrs. Wang stood at the entrance of the villa, looking at his figure with some concern.
"In the master's heart, Sister Mengdie is always the most important," Yingzi revealed a bitter smile at the corner of her mouth, unconsciously gripping her pure white palms, her expression forlorn.
Lin Mo read the handwriting on the envelope:
"Mo, when you read this letter, please forgive my sudden departure. Over the past six months, I have felt that something was wrong with my body, shivering through the nights. In order not to worry you, I sought medical advice, but there were no definitive diagnoses.
Moreover, I often forget things, so I wrote down my feelings for you in a diary, which I placed by the bed. Every morning when I wake up, I read it, fearing I would forget my feelings for you, but recently, my condition seems to be getting increasingly severe.
Mo, you are very powerful, a hero. I love you deeply, too. Perhaps you have known about my condition all along, and you were powerless to help, which is why you didn't tell me. I don't want to forget you, nor do I want to leave you.
I have met a very skilled person who will take me to get treatment. I'll come back to find you once I'm better.
Do not worry, take care.
Meng Die!"
Upon finishing the letter, Lin Mo's entire body stiffened. Lifting his head, he looked out towards the lake, its surface roiling with gold, and felt heat gathering around his eyes.
"It was my love for you that was too selfish, causing you to endure so much pain," Lin Mo murmured to himself, his face tinged with bitterness.
He always wanted to keep Xia Mengdie's illness from her, but it turned out she had known all along.
'You have always suffered, and I, in pursuit of great power, recently neglected to care and attend to you.'
"I once vowed to never fail the beautiful nor the beloved, but in the end, my selfishness brought you endless suffering."
Lin Mo sighed softly, his eyes brimming with sorrowful determination.
Water lilies on the lake's surface burst into sprays several meters high, the droplets refracting the setting sun's rays, resembling grandly blooming golden flowers.
Lin Mo took a deep breath, returned the letter to its envelope, and solemnly placed it in his chest pocket.
"Master, are you alright?" Yingzi had never seen Lin Mo like this before, her face marked with concern.
"I'm fine."
Lin Mo shook his head and went back inside the villa.
Afterward, Lin Mo summoned Ma Jianlin and Lu Haotian, then handed the matter over to them.
News of Xia Mengdie's departure spread, and Yang Chuxue, Lin Guang, Lin Shanshan, and the young Auntie all rushed over.
"Xiao Mo, how could Meng Die just leave?" Yang Chuxue frowned, looking at her son's somewhat haggard face, and couldn't help but feel heartache.
"She has some things to take care of, but she'll come back."
"Brother Xiao Mo, it's all my fault. Because of my issue, you went to Cold Country. If you hadn't gone to Cold Country, you could've been with Sister Mengdie when she came back, and she wouldn't have left without a word." Lin Shanshan said with tears in her eyes, blaming herself.
"This has nothing to do with you. Her leaving isn't because of you," Lin Mo said indifferently.
"Mom, Aunt, Shanshan, you don't need to worry about me. Meng Die said she'll come back. I'll wait for her, and if she doesn't return, I'll go find her myself," Lin Mo declared.
Lin Guang glanced at his son and then spoke to his wife, "Xiao Mo is no longer a child, and he's not an ordinary person either. You don't need to worry about him too much."
"Xiao Mo, come with me for a moment."
With that, Lin Guang stood up and walked out to the small garden outside the villa.
Following him outside, Lin Mo asked, "Dad, is something the matter?"
"Xiao Mo, I know you're not an ordinary person, but you are still my son, Lin Guang's son, a member of the Lin Family. You must stay strong," Lin Guang said, his gaze stern and solemn.
"Dad, you underestimate your son. Rest assured, I'm fine."
Lin Mo spoke calmly, a slight smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Good, that's good," Lin Guang nodded.
After everyone else had left, Lin Mo returned to the villa, went into Xia Mengdie's room, and opened her diary that she had left behind.
After waiting for a week or two, Xia Mengdie still had not returned.
"Master, your wine," Yingzi said as she placed the wine on the table, sighed, and then went to the back garden to practice her swordsmanship.
Yingzi drew the Purple-Blue Treasure Sword, its sword light glinting as leaves fluttered down like raindrops. She had never seen her master in such a state of decay; was all this hurt because of Sister Mengdie?
At that thought, Yingzi's sword swings became even sharper, even carrying a hint of anger.
In the Huaxia Martial Arts World, the buzz surrounding Lin Tanyu hadn't diminished at all.
"I heard that Lin Mo killed the Cold Country Sword Saint Liusheng Zongzhai in Cold Country, forcing them to bow down."
"That's a boast, isn't it? Is he really that powerful?"
"Do you know who said this? It was Li Yang from the Southwest Li Family, the third ranker on the King's List."
"I also heard that several other Kings sought out Lin Tanyu and all returned, conceding that they were no match for him; now they've gone back to their own families or Sects to train in seclusion."
"Moreover, it's said that Kuang Diao has fallen in Cold Country."
"Do you think the former number one will challenge Lin Tanyu?"
"Aixinjueluo Qiyue, he was once the top ranker of the Qingyun List, now superseded by Lin Tanyu. He's bound to seek out Lin Tanyu sooner or later."
"Who do you think will win?"
"Lin Tanyu's reputation is indeed significant now, but the Aixinjueluo family has been in Huaxia for centuries, and it's said that Qiyue is a genius that the Aixinjueluo family hasn't seen in a hundred years. It's really hard to say who would win!"
...
In Hong Kong, in a villa near Victoria Harbor.
"Master, I have seen Lin Tanyu in Cold Country. His strength is truly extraordinary," said Lu Xing, back in female attire, with long, flowing hair and stunning looks, carrying an ethereal air of otherworldliness.
And sitting before her was an elderly man with an extremely unattractive appearance.