Surprise

Three years after Bai Lianhua brought Bai Junhui back to Shanyi Village, last night was the point where Bai Lianhua could feel her father was truly back here. Even though his soul was occasionally left in the Li Ming city palace, sometimes he still muttered while painting things that smelled of Gao Renwei, but Bai Lianhua has started to understand little by little how her father let go of his stupidity and a broken heart. Every now and then Bai Lianhua would ask granny lotus about a love affair and why humans would succumb to such things, but then granny lotus would just laugh and say, “You're the only one who seems too smart to be fooled by something called love. You're very ambitious, but you're also naive at times. Feeling disappointed because your father left you first build a stronghold high on your own expectations. Makes you more focused on protecting and protecting people from feelings they might be experiencing as you are experiencing too. It's a virtue that can lead astray, Lianhua."

The virtue that leads astray. Even now, when she turned 25, Bai Lianhua had never understood her teacher's words. Every day Bai Lianhua trained in the swamp. Occasionally listening to old stories about warriors who used to be busy and duel each other in the hills and beaches. When granny lotus was a kid, the ancestors told stories that at the seaside of Yu Meng City, there were many celebrations welcoming the descendants of the Ocean Turtle Warriors. As one of the three celestial gods in legends and history, warriors greatly respect and worship them. Maintaining culture and martial arts in each sect.

But after that mass warrior burning and annihilation, the lotus family was divided and all the sects disappeared within a short period of time.

“Although the sects of the three heavens are dead, there are some descendants of warriors who are hiding and secretly imparting their power to the heirlooms. There is also something that is passed down to one person and then that one person teaches it to another. As time went by, the era without warriors developed. And those who learn about internal power and magic, are increasingly lost, or extinct. It's lucky that you met me," said granny lotus. Bai Lianhua was indeed feeling fortunate. Because she knew, granny lotus was one of the warrior's descendants. That's why she didn't mingle with other people in the city just so she could focus on controlling her own energy and teaching Bai Lianhua.

“I handed down the jade lotus to you, and told you to go to Yu Meng city one day to meet the Ocean Turtle Sect so you could convey a message,” said granny lotus one day. The stature of granny lotus with white hair bent back and wearing only green clothes exactly like the color of the soil between the swamps did not escape her daily life. Unless she was in the mood to go to Bai Lianhua's house. She would change her hairstyle and flip it up. Get rid of the mysterious impression.

Bai Lianhua, who had been given the jade lotus a few years ago, was reminded again. "What's the message, Granny?"

“We must restore the glory of the warrior, Lianhua.” Lotus granny's words occasionally summoned the soul in her heart. She knew exactly the story of the Legend of the Three Heavens and how the emperor Li Gongyi cruelly exterminated them all just because he was afraid that the people would side with the warriors. In fact, emperors and warriors should cooperate with each other. The descendants of warriors certainly hold this frozen grudge to counteract. At least, to make people no longer think that warriors are magicians who bring suffering. Precisely with warriors, the people and the empire are stronger to resist attacks from outside.

“Every descendant of a warrior must know about this. So they always guarded themselves and looked for ways to gather the other descendants in each sect. The Ocean Turtle Sect had long only passed on martial arts, but they had yet to receive this message to reconnect with the other sects. Aside from his position being slightly far away, I just want one day, this kind of thinking will stop.”

Bai Lianhua touched her jade and looked at granny lotus whose face was covered in wrinkles. "Do you want me to go there?"

"Not now. You should learn the Finger Dagger style first. The journey there will take a lot of time too. I'm afraid your father's business is not finished."

“My father? What business, Granny?”

Sitting on a dry rock, Granny Lotus looked up at the sky. The trees around the swamp stood sparse. Making the clear sky above it still visible. Calm paddling water surface. Occasional sounds of small birds and frogs fill the serenity of the swamp.

“He is carrying so much burden and blame. His heart is split. There is regret, a deep sense of love, as well as disappointment. Once I saw it I could already read it. But… I hope you can take care of it. I'm even afraid that Yao Yupan will be affected.”

Bai Lianhua's mother. Even though Yao Yupan was now busy running the confectionery shop, sometimes her mother still showed her father a lot of attention. Sometimes too, when the mother is conscious, she will only ask the father whether he has eaten or not. The rest, her mother will be busy in the kitchen preparing snacks or designing baskets for snacks.

Once Bai Junhui wanted to help Yao Yupan paint baskets for snacks so they could be sold at a high price and limited supply, but Yao Yupan had to go to the toilet every now and then to wipe away her tears and hold back her fondness for suddenly remembering about her past relationship. Maybe love why her husband had to change so sadly.

“I can take care of it, Granny. You take it easy. Father has also admitted all his mistakes and my mother forgave him. Now they are like two people who love each other in silence. For me seeing them together again, that's enough. Moreover, there is no Gao Renwei, that demon bitch.”

After returning from the practice session with granny lotus, the sky was already a little dim. The sun was setting from between the horizon lines. A burst of orange fills the horizon, the birds come home. When she got home, Bai Lianhua saw a horse-drawn carriage pulled up in front of her residence. Several bodyguards stood at the door of the house as if they were guarding something. Of course, Bai Lianhua was confused. As soon as she wanted to enter, a guard detained Bai Lianhua.

"Who are you?" he said firmly.

Bai Lianhua frowned and brushed the officer off sharply. “Move aside, this is my house!” As she said so, the officer's spear tip swung, and was about to stab Bai Lianhua in the face. Bai Lianhua was taken aback, she flipped backward in a swift motion. With a light hand swing, she released inner strength and channeled it through two fingers using the Finger Dagger style. Training it. When she slashed her inner strength through two fingers, the wind blew sharply, accompanied by a strong blow that sent the spear in the guard's hand flying and several other guards immediately came.

Due to the commotion, a familiar voice came from inside the house. "Stop!"

Her voice is very similar to her stepmother's. Bai Lianhua gasped, she walked inside, and in front of the door, stood a beautiful woman—almost the same height as Bai Lianhua. Looking up with a nice smile. Her dress was made of soft red silk trimmed with gold stitching. Her dress drags on the floor. Her beautiful long hair was pulled up into a bun and tied with a golden tiara. Her face was beautifully made up and almost made Bai Lianhua's mouth open.

"Bai Naxing?" Bai Lianhua's eyes flickered in shock and confusion. What's that girl doing here? And why is she dressed like royalty?

***