No Family Left

In the Holy Land of Eastern State, Tang Xiaoxue was speaking with a handsome young man.

"If anything happens to my brother, I'll bash your dog head in," she said.

"What does it have to do with me? I was just following your and Little Swallow's orders," said Xiao Hei, also innocent.

Tang Xiaoxue didn't care: "I don't care. This is your fault."

Xiao Hei was truly a dog, arguing right and wrong with a woman.

Ten minutes later, with a bruised and swollen face, Xiao Hei admitted: "It's all my fault, you're right about everything."

Just then, a disciple came to report: "Saintess, Fengxi Sect's people have arrived in Eastern State."

Tang Xiaoxue immediately pushed Xiao Hei aside: "Really? That's great. Send the order to prepare to receive them."

"Yes, Saintess."

Turning to Xiao Hei: "Stupid dog, come with me to receive my brother."

Xiao Hei immediately perked up: "You got it!"

Then the two flew off in one direction.

These past few days, Zhang Huizhu had been wondering how to explain things to Tang Xiaoxue when an Eastern State disciple came to report: "Zhang Sect Leader, the Saintess is here."

Taking a deep breath, Zhang Huizhu stood up and walked out of the room. She saw Tang Xiaoxue looking very conflicted and helpless on the deck.

"Saintess."

Tang Xiaoxue hurriedly asked: "Zhang Sect Leader, is my brother very angry with me? Does he not want to see me?"

Xiao Hei said: "Xiaoxue, you're overthinking. Your brother isn't that petty. He must be thinking about how to educate us. We just need to cooperate later."

Unsure, Tang Xiaoxue asked: "Really?"

Xiao Hei was fully confident: "Why would I lie to you? I know him best."

Seeing the two get more and more spirited, Zhang Huizhu truly couldn't bear to interrupt them, but she steeled herself:

"Your brother is dead."

The two hadn't reacted yet: "My brother he..."

Tang Xiaoxue froze: "What happened to my brother?"

Zhang Huizhu replied again: "He's dead."

Tang Xiaoxue staggered back two steps, unbelieving: "Impossible, absolutely impossible. You're all fine, how could he die?"

Xiao Hei wasn't as agitated. He consoled: "Xiaoxue, don't get excited. This isn't the first time your brother's died. He'll definitely be fine this time."

Tang Xiaoxue hurriedly nodded: "You're right. The Dao Ancestor will definitely save him."

Xiao Hei said: "Let's go back and ask the Dao Ancestor. He must know where Little Rain is."

Zhang Huizhu interrupted: "Your brother didn't get killed this time. He chose to self destruct to buy time for our retreat."

"You should understand what this means."

The last trace of hope was also shattered. Tang Xiaoxue was hit by consecutive blows. She couldn't accept this reality for a time.

Tang Xiaoyan walked over and hugged Tang Xiaoxue. "Little brother once said: I've lived virtuously and never done anything bad, yet suffering has never spared me. The human world is a good place, but I won't come again next life."

"His whole life was rough. He couldn't even fulfill his simplest wish. Was this world kind to him?"

"Maybe he truly hates this world. Perhaps in another world, he won't have to suffer so much."

"We should be happy for him," she said, tears flowing nonstop.

In her arms, Tang Xiaoxue sobbed: "This is big brother's fate! But why is heaven so cruel, making him experience the world's cruelty again and again?"

"It knows death will free him, yet why does it make him come back to life repeatedly? Why must it continue tormenting him? Hasn't he suffered enough already?"

"Is his suffering still not enough!?"

Reality is thus. Those who want to live, heaven obstinately makes die. Those who seek relief, heaven keeps alive to taste suffering to the full, unwilling to let them go.

Tang Xiaoxue's greatest regret in life is not having protected her brother. She lacked the ability before. Now she has it but lacks the chance.

When Liu YuXin learned of Tang Xiaoyu's death, it was also hard for her to accept this reality. But upon hearing death would free Tang Xiaoyu, though grieved, she had to acknowledge that fact.

She hadn't known before what Tang Xiaoyu went through, but hearing the accounts of Tang Xiaoyan, Tang Xiaoqin, and Zhang Huizhu, she profoundly understood that death can sometimes be relief too.

The atmosphere was very somber. Zhang Huizhu broke the heaviness.

"Now isn't the time to grieve. We should go complete what Tang Xiaoyu left unfinished."

Tang Xiaoxue wiped her tears. "You're right. I must help brother complete what he left undone."

"Return to the Holy Land first to discuss again."

When holding Tang Xiaoyu's funeral, they discovered there weren't any of his belongings left. Finally, Tang Xiaoqin ran to White Tiger City to retrieve some of Tang Xiaoyu's used items to bury with him.

Many people came, including Zhao Siqi rushing over to send off Tang Xiaoyu one final time.

"In this farewell, unexpectedly it's forever. Weren't you going to come hit me still? You won't repay the life-saving grace, just leaving like this?"

"You liar, why did you trick me? Why trick me?"

Before Tang Xiaoyu's tomb, no matter whether day or night, there was always someone keeping him company, speaking to him.

Speaking of past, present, and future—if Tang Xiaoyu could see, he would smile very gratifiedly. It turned out he wasn't alone as he thought. So many people cared about him.

Little Ling'er and her servant girls also came to admit their wrongs. After Tang Xiaoyu left, they never felt familial warmth again, nor had someone who truly cared for them.

They had permanently lost the person who cared for and cherished them. To Shan Shan and Wen Wen, Tang Xiaoyu had always occupied the role of a father. With his death, they felt they'd become those unaccompanied, uncared for children again.

...

After everyone else left, Tang Xiaoxue came before Tang Xiaoyu's tomb and broke down crying loudly: "Why did you have to leave me, Brother? How could you bear leaving me alone in this world?"

"I've already lost mother and father. Now I don't even have you, Brother. I don't have a single relation left. What am I going to do in the future? Tell me. What should I do!?"

When this world has not a single kin left, how helpless and lonely it is.

Tang Xiaoxue remained at Tang Xiaoyu's tomb for a whole night until morning sunlight shone again upon the earth.

Tang Xiaoxue stood up. "Brother, I'll finish what you left undone."

Returning to the main hall, Tang Xiaoxue resumed her usual calm and began assembling everyone to discuss countermeasures.

When all had arrived, she said: "We must now concentrate our power to block enemies outside our territory."

"Eastern State presently doesn't have the strength alone to counter the alliance of the other Four States. So we must cooperate with the yao tribes."

"Does anyone have thoughts on this?"

Zhang Youde asked: "Can those yao tribes be trusted?"

Xiao Hei took offense: "What do you mean can they be trusted? We yao are way more trustworthy than you humans. I'm the boss of the yao tribes. Are you questioning me?"

Curious, Zhang Youde said: "Aren't those your two elder brothers?"

"My two elder brothers are currently busy transcending tribulation. The yao tribes listen to me now."

"Then there's no problem."

Tang Xiaoxue stood up: "Everyone prepare on your ends then! We set out to meet the enemy in half a month."