For the mercenaries, humans had always been more frightening than ghosts. They had no significant issues with it.
This abandoned castle became their station after former leader Turgel retired. However, there were no plans to settle down permanently.
As they were accustomed to changing their station according to contract terms, they were always ready to depart.
As soon as they entered the castle, Eddie, with a triumphant expression, shouted, “Yahoo! We’re here!”
“…Arrived.”
“Captain, have you arrived?”
“But as soon as we arrive, we have to go. Pack up, comrades! We’re heading to the palace now!”
The palace? Did they hear wrong? The castle stirred with disbelief. Everyone seemed incredulous at Eddie’s words.
“Have you all been fooled, it’s true! The captain has signed a contract with the Astrid Royal Palace!”
“All members of the mercenary band, prepare to leave. We’re going to the palace.”
As soon as Rebel issued the command, the mercenary band erupted in brief cheers and began bustling about.
The only exception was Lailo. Even while preparing horses, gathering weapons, and packing, he had a sour expression.
Excited Eddie, noticing Lailo’s expression, asked, “Lailo, are you having negative thoughts? Or any complaints?”
“I have to leave my wife behind.”
“Ah… right, Mrs. Grit. Can’t we bring her along?”
“Be sensible. How can we take her? Going together is a big deal. Captain!”
Lailo tapped Eddie on the back and yelled towards Rebel. Rebel, who was adjusting the saddle, turned his head towards Lailo.
“I’ll go say goodbye to my wife!”
“Alright.”
Even amidst the preparations, Lailo was going to bid farewell to his wife. But no one showed any complaints or grumbling.
Sometimes, it’s best not to mention certain things. Even the aggressive and bold mercenaries had their own sense of tact and courtesy.
The path leading behind the castle was narrow and steep. Flat stones had been laid, but strong winds occasionally made the climb difficult.
Near the end of the path, the start of the Ricus Mountains appeared. It was relatively the sunniest and least windy spot around there.
A stone tombstone stood there. Lailo approached it. “Grit, I’m here.”
Weeds had grown again in just a few days. Even in this harsh environment – cold, dry, and windy – the weeds stubbornly survived.
“Annoying, these darn weeds. We didn’t even have these to eat back then, right?”
He joked while clearing the weeds near the tombstone. Right after they got married, they had struggled daily for food due to a severe famine.
Yet, the couple never complained and worked hard to get by.
Lailo thought their fortunes would improve when he started with the mercenary band, but soon his wife fell ill. The memory of her withering away day by day was still vivid.
One day, drunk Lailo shouted towards the sky.
“Isn’t heaven too indifferent? Just when we started to live better, this happens. Can’t people like us live without suffering?”
He still hadn’t heard an answer to that question, even years later. He wondered if staying by his sick wife’s side could have slightly improved her condition.
Trying
Lailo’s concern was not small, knowing that weeds would grow abundantly if he couldn’t visit for a while. He wondered why the weeds grew so fast. He tidied up around the tombstone as much as possible.
“It seems like it will be a long journey. So, don’t wait for me…”
Lailo gently brushed the tombstone with his hand. A life abruptly cut short in the prime of youth. The brief span of birth and death years engraved on the stone was painfully poignant.
He mulled over the words he wanted to say to his buried wife but eventually pressed them down into his heart.
“Appear in my dreams sometimes.”
He had a mountain of things he wanted to say, but he preferred to save them for when they met in the afterlife. Lailo then turned and walked away from the tombstone.
The wind blew again along the Ricus Mountains. The discarded weeds caught in the wind, scattering one by one, and soon flew up the mountain, disappearing into the distance.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
