Chapter 76 I Want to Be People’s Hope

Wendy was not a child soldier raised in captivity, blindly following orders, nor was she a fanatic brainwashed into fearless sacrifice, oblivious to pain. She was simply an ordinary girl, living an ordinary life.

She understood with absolute clarity that if she were to carry out Li Tianming’s command, the ordinary, accustomed life she had always known would vanish from her grasp forever.

Failure was a given, but even if she succeeded and managed to escape, the Kingdom would never forgive her, and the Shogunate faction would be unlikely to exert themselves to protect her.

More crucially, despite knowing Xie Shenhong for only half a month, she found herself utterly incapable of harming her.

Even if Xie Shenhong could, by some stretch, be considered her enemy.

Yet, refraining from action was equally impossible.

Li Tianming’s menacing expression when he issued the order… she was convinced that the moment she harbored any thought of retreat, her life would irrevocably end.

She did not want to die.

Nor did she want to kill.

She was utterly at a loss, unsure of how to proceed.

Wendy aimlessly drifted through the streets until, passing a clothing store she frequented, a sales associate called out to her.

“Miss Wendy, we’ve just received a new collection of autumn wear. Would you like to come in and take a look?”

“I’m sorry, I have something to attend to today…”

“I see. Well, please come again next time!” The sales associate offered a professional smile, but after a moment of hesitation, a look of concern softened their features. “Miss Wendy, if I may be so bold, has something happened? Is there anything I can help you with?”

“I’m fine, I’m just preoccupied with work. See you another day.”

Realizing her exhausted appearance had drawn unwanted attention, Wendy quickly waved her hand and scurried away like a frightened rabbit.

It was hardly surprising that such a situation had arisen.

On ordinary days, she was always cheerful, lively, and carefree, yet now she wore a deeply troubled, crestfallen expression; anyone would assume something was amiss.

‘No, my expression is far too suspicious. Forget about making a move; I’ll probably be arrested before I even get close to Xie Shenhong.’

‘And then, after she’s released, Miss Xie will discover that Wendy almost killed her…’

Taking out a small cosmetic mirror and gazing into it for a long while, Wendy’s despair deepened.

But to pretend as if nothing were wrong… she was sorry, she couldn’t do it.

She was not adept at concealing her emotions, let alone outright faking them.

The only reason she hadn’t given herself away on a daily basis was her thick skin and her deliberate habit of pushing anything unrelated to her peaceful life to the back of her mind.

Yet, even her ability to overlook things had its limits.

This current predicament simply wouldn’t allow her to ignore it.

‘Why must I endure this?’

Wendy clutched her head and crouched in a street corner.

The futile act of closing her eyes only intensified her worry for her parents’ safety.

It only plunged her deeper into despair.

‘(Ah, I’m so tired.)’

Then, as if suddenly overwhelmed, after a torrent of anxieties, her mind became a complete blank.

The persistent torment vanished, leaving her consciousness with nothing but an overwhelming sense of exhaustion.

She was too tired.

She didn’t want to be this tired anymore.

‘If I just ended it all, wouldn’t the weariness cease?’

With this thought, Wendy condensed the water vapor in the air into an ice blade, then aimed it at herself—

****

Whoosh!

A warm ray of sunlight descended from the sky, instantly melting the terrifyingly sharp blade of ice.

“Calm down!”

A blonde, blue-eyed youth rushed over.

“Ly-Lyte Ge? H-hello.”

However, upon seeing him, Wendy didn’t calm down; instead, she grew even more flustered, her teeth beginning to chatter.

‘(What am I doing? Don’t panic! Lyte Ge doesn’t know what I was about to do…)’

Wendy repeatedly tried to reassure herself, striving to regain her composure, but just as a flicker of calm began to emerge, Lyte’s next words plunged her into utter despair.

“No need to be nervous. We already know you’re with the Shogunate faction.”

“Huh? Wh-wh-what are you talking about?”

As Wendy’s tongue tied itself in knots, tears welled up in her eyes.

She was utterly doomed.

The “we” Lyte spoke of undoubtedly included Xie Shenhong… and perhaps even the high command of the Knights knew.

They had only saved her to drag her back for brutal interrogation.

But even if she cooperated fully, would she be absolved of her sins?

Confess everything, then be disposed of because she had no further use – wasn’t that the usual playbook?

Even if it wasn’t that dark, and she somehow miraculously survived, what about her parents? The Shogunate faction wouldn’t let them go unpunished, would they?

And even she herself, the Kingdom couldn’t possibly protect her indefinitely from threats, could they?

‘Refuse to cooperate?’

‘Me?’

‘I’d probably be exposed the moment I tried to lie!’

‘Ahhh, all hope is lost!’

‘Why didn’t they just let me die!’

“Wendy!”

A sudden shout in her ear made Wendy jump.

She focused her gaze, only to find that Lyte had vanished.

Standing before her now was only an elegant girl with fiery red hair.

She froze once more.

“What’s wrong? Are you wondering if you should take this opportunity to strike me?” Xie Shenhong smiled faintly.

Wendy shook her head blankly.

“Won’t you try such a perfect opportunity?” Xie Shenhong spread her arms wide.

“Don’t worry about Lyte; he’s no longer nearby.”

Wendy didn’t attempt to extend her divine sense to perceive his presence, instead gazing at Xie Shenhong with a bewildered expression.

She knew there was a high probability Xie Shenhong wasn’t lying, yet she couldn’t fathom Xie Shenhong’s reasons for doing this.

Indeed, rumors in the academy depicted Xie Shenhong as kind and helpful, but that was typically reserved for classmates and compatriots.

If Xie Shenhong was truly the Crimson Hawk, it was inconceivable for her to be so warm and friendly towards a spy like Wendy.

No, even without all that, simply knowing the other party intended to kill her, yet opening her arms defenselessly to welcome her, was an utterly preposterous act.

The only possibility was…

“I’m not joking.

Nor am I trying to tease you.

I simply believe Wendy will make the best choice.” Xie Shenhong smiled.

Wendy looked at the person before her, feeling a swirl of confusion.

No matter how she looked, Xie Shenhong’s expression was merely a gentle smile, devoid of any other emotion, like a kind older sister. Yet, the words she spoke sent shivers down Wendy’s spine.

Wendy couldn’t help but ask, “The best choice?”

“Yes, because you no longer have any choices left,” Xie Shenhong said softly.

Wendy’s body stiffened abruptly. Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to speak, but no words escaped her.

“Because you are the ‘Crimson Hawk’,” Xie Shenhong answered for her.

Wendy’s eyes widened sharply, filled with horror and disbelief.

“You, how do you know?”

She asked, her voice trembling with shock.

“Isn’t it a simple matter?” Xie Shenhong sighed softly.

“The reason the Knights have been relentlessly pursuing you is precisely because you possess that weapon, isn’t it?”

“But I don’t know anything about a weapon!” Wendy retorted urgently.

A hint of pity entered Xie Shenhong’s eyes; she looked at Wendy as if gazing upon a dead person.

“You will know soon enough.”

“I’m not joking, nor am I trying to force you… I just want you to live.”

Hearing these words, Wendy couldn’t help but laugh—a desolate and desperate sound.

Indeed, she lacked the courage to make a move.

So there was nothing to be afraid of at all.

“There’s no need to be so tense. Tell me if you have any difficulties.”

True, even being embraced like this, with a gentle hand stroking her head, was nothing to fear.

Wendy gradually calmed down.

But it wasn’t reassurance; it was surrender.

After all, there was nothing she could do.

She could only yield to Xie Shenhong’s appeal to emotion and confess everything.

And then leave it to fate.

She quickly pulled away from Xie Shenhong’s embrace.

“I’ll tell you.”

“Mhm, anything else?”

“I won’t hide anything.”

“Anything else?”

“Anything else?”

Wendy froze for a moment.

‘Was she trying to draw a big picture for a prisoner awaiting interrogation?’

“Mhm, what else do you want to do?”

But having understood this was merely a pipe dream, she wouldn’t be foolish enough to make a futile effort…

“Wendy.” Xie Shenhong’s crimson eyes, which seemed to penetrate all secrets, fixed upon her. “Don’t overthink things. Just speak your mind. If you can’t trust me, or if you feel my sincerity is lacking, then you should especially say so. After all, if you name your price, I can then bargain.”

“…”

“Perhaps you believe many things are meaningless even if spoken, but nothing is ever destined to fail before it’s even attempted.”

Wendy surrendered.

She decided to comply with Xie Shenhong.

Even if it was utterly meaningless.

She still wished to at least have a beautiful dream before succumbing to complete despair.

“I… I want to live the exact same life as before.”

Xie Shenhong immediately replied.

“Mhm, you can.”