Unrecognized Talent

That evening, after dinner.

At the headquarters of the Crimson Knights.

“Why did you go to the Sima family’s estate this afternoon?”

Not only Lyte, but Duanmu Yun had also come to demand an explanation.

However, the person before them was not Xie Shenhong, but Xie Hai Zhu.

Although Xie Hai Zhu held Duanmu Yun in high regard and affection, she would not humble herself to blindly follow every command.

“What’s wrong with the Sima family? Are they not loyal subjects of the kingdom? Surely their bestowed compound surname wasn’t a sham, was it?”

In the Vermillion Bird Kingdom, a compound surname symbolized status; Sima Le, originally named Ma, had only received the surname Sima after the Battle for the Royal Capital ten years prior.

In this instance, Xie Hai Zhu feigned ignorance of the Patriots’ Society to deflect their accusations.

Perceiving this evasion, Duanmu Yun could not help but sigh.

“Hai Zhu, I’m doing this for your own good.”

“And where, pray tell, is this ‘good’ you speak of?”

“Shenhong, must you always speak like this!” Duanmu Yun grew angry, but her anger quickly turned to regret, and she swiftly reverted to her usual gentle tone.

“Hai Zhu, the Sima family is colluding with the Patriots’ Society; you must cease all contact with them.”

“Sister Yun, could you please refrain from interfering with the Patriots’ Society matter?” Xie Hai Zhu took a sip of her tea.

Duanmu Yun paused, startled, then urgently said,

“Hai Zhu, this is no laughing matter!”

“I know, which is precisely why I’m asking if you can entrust this matter to me.” Xie Hai Zhu set down her teacup.

Duanmu Yun suppressed her frustration once more.

“Hai Zhu, stop being so willful. You don’t understand the gravity of this situation…”

“Why do you assume I don’t know?” Xie Hai Zhu, who had maintained the calm expression and tone of a doll, finally revealed a despondent look at that moment.

“Am I truly so unworthy of your trust?”

Unlike her male form, Xie Hai Zhu understood all too well that the inferiority complex within her was not a solitary issue.

Though her male self utterly detested her current mindset and actions, she was nonetheless determined to find a path to salvation for her other self.

“I…”

Duanmu Yun was momentarily speechless.

“Xiao Yun.”

Upon hearing that address, Duanmu Yun’s eyes widened, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, on the verge of tears, but she quickly composed herself.

No, it was more accurate to say that Xie Hai Zhu had made her realize.

“I apologize, but I am not the person you are waiting for,” Xie Hai Zhu stated.

“In my current state, I cannot fully comprehend the pain my Shenhong self endured, but I implore you not to overprotect me any longer. I am no longer a child.”

Yet, Xie Shenhong’s stubbornness was clearly inherited from someone.

Hearing this, Duanmu Yun immediately rose, speaking with agitation.

“No, it’s just that I—”

But she could not finish her sentence.

Suddenly, a flash of fiery light illuminated the room, and a black-haired youth materialized out of thin air, covering her mouth.

“Enough, Yun’er,” Nangong Yan said.

“Just do as Hai Zhu says. Trust her.”

“But…”

Duanmu Yun wanted to say more, yet the words refused to leave her lips.

“Very well, this matter is now entrusted to you. Should you require anything, contact us, and we will cooperate.” Nangong Yan gently stroked Xie Hai Zhu’s head.

“But remember to prioritize your safety.”

“I will.”

Confronted with such unreserved trust, even Xie Hai Zhu found herself sitting upright, answering with extraordinary seriousness.

“Also, I hope you won’t blame Yun’er, but do not apologize either. This matter was indeed her fault.”

Xie Hai Zhu, understanding that these words were meant for her male self, nodded, then glanced at the somewhat crestfallen Duanmu Yun.

“Sister Yun, I’m sorry. I’ve been too willful.”

This was Xie Hai Zhu’s apology, offered on behalf of her current self.

Duanmu Yun, however, turned and fled, whether from guilt or some other emotion, remained unknown.

“Brother Yan.”

“It’s not that I don’t want to follow her; it’s that she needs to be alone right now.”

“No, what I wanted to ask was… how would the ‘old’ Hai Zhu have handled this situation?”

“Do you wish to compete with her?”

Nangong Yan quickly grasped the difference between the current Xie Hai Zhu and the usual Xie Shenhong—her initial reaction to being treated differently was not dejection or self-doubt, but rather a desire to surpass the original.

“Yes.”

“Then my answer is I don’t know. After all, the past is the past, and one should look forward positively,” Nangong Yan chuckled softly.

“I believe your current self can do even better.”

Although she did not receive a direct answer, there was no trace of nostalgia for the ‘old’ Hai Zhu in Nangong Yan’s eyes; his pupils reflected only the blue-haired, crimson-eyed girl before him.

Affirmed to such an extent, all Xie Hai Zhu could do was pledge her utmost loyalty, even unto death.

“As you command.”

****

Before long, Nangong Yan departed, and Duanmu Yun did not return.

Only a flustered Li Ziying entered, serving tea and water.

“I have a small favor to ask of you.”

“Huh?” Li Ziying gasped in surprise at her words, her hand trembling, nearly knocking over the teacup.

Fortunately, Xie Hai Zhu stabilized both the tea and the cup, preventing a spill.

“There’s no need to panic; it’s just a minor matter.”

“No, no, no, Lady Hai Zhu, please speak your command freely, as long as it’s not… anything too dangerous.”

“Help me punish Lyte.”

“What?” Li Ziying was stunned.

“He trespassed into a private residence and injured so many people. He should, at the very least, reflect at home for three days, don’t you agree?”

“Understood!” Li Ziying, though intimidated by Xie Hai Zhu’s authority, was no incompetent; she immediately saluted and accepted the task.

Once Li Ziying left to carry out her orders, Xie Hai Zhu estimated the remaining time, then instantly teleported away.

In a flash, she arrived at the Huangfu estate. After carefully sensing her surroundings, Xie Hai Zhu revealed a faint smile.

Lyte was home.

‘It seemed that after being refuted by her male self today, he still needed to feign extreme dejection.’

Xie Hai Zhu quickly approached the main gate and pressed the doorbell.

The sudden chime of the doorbell startled the guard. He looked left and right but saw no one. Given that the kidnapping incident had only recently passed, he immediately pressed the alarm button.

Yet, no sound emerged.

Just then, a slender, deep blue figure entered his line of sight.

“I wish to see Lyte. Please inform him of my presence.”

The guard stared blankly for a good while before finally reacting.

“Hai, Hai, Hai…”

Yet, his mouth stammered, unable to form coherent words for a long moment.

“I do not wish for this visit to be overly grand. May I trouble you with this?”

The guard nodded, then ran into the mansion in a panic.

Before long, Xie Hai Zhu arrived at the courtyard of Lyte’s room, where she found the golden-haired youth.

“My knight, I trust my late-night visit hasn’t caused you any inconvenience?”

“Of course not, Lady Hai Zhu! The doors of the Huangfu estate are always open for you, should you wish it!”

Lyte knelt on one knee, expressing his loyalty to Xie Hai Zhu as usual… or rather, he didn’t.

Unlike his usual self, Lyte’s face was etched with sorrow and unresolved turmoil.

‘So that’s it. He intends to turn this predicament into an opportunity, deliberately displaying sorrow to gain her sympathy and thus increase her trust?’

‘Truly, the man I chose.’

Xie Hai Zhu directed Lyte to rise and step forward.

*Smack*.

She delivered a resounding slap across his face.

****

Feeling the stinging pain on his cheek.

Lyte stared blankly at the blue-haired girl.

‘What just happened?’

“I dislike your previous statement. Say it again.”

Lyte grew even more bewildered, but driven by habit, he once again prepared to kneel.

“Do not kneel.”

Lyte could only try to bow.

“I am not a child; I do not require this level of deference.”

Lyte began to understand. He stood perfectly straight, gazing at the blue-haired girl who, though noticeably shorter than him, seemed just as towering.

“Do you believe I came to you so late merely to issue commands?”

“No.”

“Then, as a friend, what should you do?”

The speaker’s intention was clear.

The listener took it to heart.

Recalling his long-standing attitude towards a certain person, Lyte finally understood.

‘So, his mistakes weren’t just a lack of honesty, but also…’

At this realization, Lyte took a deep breath, no longer trying to maintain his facade, and spoke with a weary tone.

“My apologies, Lady Hai Zhu, but I am rather tired this evening.”

“Is that so? Then I shall visit another day.”

Without teleporting, the blue-haired girl walked towards the gate.

“Lady Hai Zhu!”

“Yes?”

The blue-haired girl paused.

“Thank you!”

Beneath the splendid moonlight.

The girl turned her head, offering a faint smile.

Her willow-silk-like azure hair seemed to dance gracefully.

“There’s no need to thank me; I did this for my own sake as well… I’ll leave the rest to you, my knight.”

Gazing into those ruby eyes, capable of dispelling all confusion and darkness.

Feeling the stirring within his heart.

Lyte nodded heavily.

“Yes!”