"Haha, you are right. I do need you to promise me one thing. However, it is not dangerous. On the contrary, it can help you better protect the people you want to protect. In this way, do you agree?"
Having said that, Ling'er couldn't continue to be pretentious and immediately knelt down.
"Senior, please accept my three bows."
"Don't worship too early, because you need to pass the test to receive the inheritance. If you can't pass it, I can only send you away."
"No matter whether or not the younger generation can successfully receive the inheritance today, the younger generation should bow down. In terms of seniority, you are older than me. In terms of ability, you are stronger than me. In terms of reason, you answer my questions. So no matter from which perspective, I should bow down."
He took two steps forward, knelt down, and knocked his head to the ground with a look of respect.
She had changed into new clothes, no longer looking disheveled as before. She was dressed in red, as charming as a demon. When she knelt, the spiritual flower between her eyebrows flashed a light.
Although it was just a remnant soul, it was still conscious. Looking at the kneeling woman in front of him, he was very satisfied.
She is charming but not seductive, cunning but not deceitful, especially the flower between her eyebrows, which always makes her feel like she has seen it before.
Although she hadn't taken the test yet, she didn't know why, but she felt very at ease. It seemed that a voice was telling her that it was her, it was her, she was the one she had been waiting for.
"What's your name, kid?"
"Xia Ling'er."
"Ling'er, what a good name! No wonder you exude such a lively spirit. It turns out that you are just as your name suggests." This sentence sounded like a compliment, but it was also from the heart. After all, the person in front of her was just a junior, so she didn't need to flatter him.
"Thank you for the compliment, senior. Let's get started." Ling'er was worried that Xia Junyu would be worried if he couldn't find her for a long time.
"good."
As soon as the word came out, the surrounding scene changed immediately.
There was an extremely faint sound on the old streets, among the dilapidated houses, next to the dark green trash can.
"Hungry, I'm so hungry... so hungry..."
Ling'er walked over to the sound and saw a skinny child. He was wearing ill-fitting clothes that he had picked up from somewhere. The clothes had become tattered because he had worn them for too long. Under the baggy clothes, the skinny child looked even skinnier.
She slowly raised her head, her eyes were empty and unfocused. Ling'er saw her pair of purple eyes that were different from those of ordinary people.
His eyes narrowed slightly, and the unbearable past buried deep in his memory appeared clearly before his eyes.
This child is herself.
She was abandoned by her parents at birth and lived in an orphanage until she was five years old. Then she was sold to human traffickers by a black-hearted nurse. Later, she ran away.
A five-year-old child, completely unable to take care of herself, can only survive by snatching food from stray dogs and cats.
But I still fell ill and no longer had the strength to look for food. I could only lie here quietly and wait to die.
Passersby occasionally walked by the roadside, but no one paid attention to the child who had not eaten for seven days and seven nights. Maybe her voice was too soft, or maybe the passersby were too hurried, or maybe they just didn't want to admit that people were too indifferent.
The little girl's breathing became weaker and weaker, and she could no longer hold on. At this moment, a mysterious man in black suddenly appeared in front of her and handed her a steamed bun.
The man was wearing a black jacket and a hat. The hat was so big that it almost covered his forehead. He was wearing a black mask, and under the shadow of the hat, the little girl could only see a pair of cold eyes.
The originally blurred vision became clear again. Not knowing where the strength came from, the little girl grabbed the steamed bun and started to eat it voraciously.
While eating, he repeated "thank you" in a low voice.
Later, that man took her away and became her master.
Swimming underwater in the cold winter, practicing martial arts under the sun in the hot summer, tasting poisonous grass, being bitten by various poisonous insects, practicing martial arts on cliffs, walking on the edge of a knife... ...
She should be grateful to her master.
It can be said that if she had not met him, she would have died that day.
Although the master was very strict with her in the next six years, she never complained.
In this world, people are indifferent and no one owes anyone anything. The master has no responsibility to her. He is willing to adopt him, educate him, and give her a meal, which is a kindness.
Those six years were unforgettable for her.
Repeating the hellish training every day, she learned how to kill since she was eight years old.
She still clearly remembered that the first time she killed someone, she vomited for three days.
In order to help her adapt faster, she chose close combat the first time she killed someone, using a dagger as the weapon.
The sound of the knife piercing her heart was not loud, but it echoed clearly in her ears. The moment the knife was drawn, blood spurted out, landing on her clothes and face...
The smell of blood filled her nostrils, making her feel at a loss.
When that man died, his eyes were wide open, and he just stared at her, with his eyes open.
That scene appeared clearly in her dreams for a long time afterwards, and she woke up from her sleep many times.
However, these things are just like daily routine for her now. Not to mention killing people, even if there are mountains of corpses in front of her, she can still drink and eat calmly.
Looking at the scenes she had experienced, she smiled faintly and shook her head.
"spirit!"
The deep male voice, like a precious cello, strikes the heart with every word.
Ling'er turned around and saw a familiar figure.
"Brother Tianlang." Ling'er smiled lightly, looking at the tall and gentle man in front of her. The word "gentle" actually has nothing to do with Tianlang.
Because in the eyes of outsiders, Tianlang is synonymous with indifference.
His gentleness is only revealed when he is facing Ling'er.
"Ling, what are you thinking about? Although the mission has been completed, you can't be so lax." Tianlang stretched out his hand and handed her the gun he had just taken.
"You have to know that our identities are special and danger is everywhere. So, no matter what the situation is, you must remain vigilant. Even if the person you are facing is me." Tianlang is her instructor, and also half a teacher. However, Ling'er's ears are almost calloused by his words.
I always feel that Tianlang is a little too vigilant. Maybe it's an occupational disease.
Later she realized that it was true that Tianlang had an occupational disease, but he was only overly nervous about her because he cared too much about her.
At that time, she didn't understand anything, and didn't understand the friendship in Tianlang's eyes. But for some reason, she understood it now.
It felt as if she and he had really been together.
Ling'er felt a little strange about her own thoughts. For example, she didn't know when the "later" happened. She also didn't know where the feeling that they had been together before came from.
But at this moment, she was so glad that she did not miss this man.
Thinking of this, Ling'er took two steps forward and reached out to hug Tianlang.
Tianlang's body stiffened, and the document bag in his hand fell to the ground before Ling'er took it.
"Ling, what's wrong with you? Did something happen?" Tianlang maintained the same posture as when he was hugged, not daring to move, for fear that it was a dream and he would wake up if he moved even a little.
At the same time, he was a little nervous because he knew Ling'er. She was not a person who understood emotions and would not get close to anyone easily. Suddenly, the first thing he could think of was what might have happened to Ling'er.
"Brother Tianlang, it's so nice to see you again." Her purple eyes were misty, and the arm holding Tianlang tightened subconsciously, as if she was afraid that he would disappear if she let go.
"Ling, what's wrong with you? Did someone make you unhappy?"
"No. I just miss you and want to hug you." This sentence is true. The moment she saw Tianlang, that kind of strong and real emotion immediately emerged, although she didn't know where this feeling came from.
Tianlang's stiff hands gradually softened, he hugged Ling'er's thin shoulders again, and patted her gently.
"Ling, don't worry. My mission this time was difficult, but you've already completed it, right? Well, don't worry, it's all over."
Task
What task
All her attention was focused on the man she hadn't seen for a long time, and she didn't pay attention to anything else.
He raised his eyes and looked around.
The scene before me instantly replaced my joy with fear. This is!
A flash of light passed by, and Ling'er's eyes widened instantly.
This was the scene before her death. This mission was a scam from beginning to end to kill her.
And brother Tianlang also lost his life while trying to save her.
"No!"
He suddenly pushed away the person he was hugging tightly, "Brother Tianlang, hurry up, leave here quickly!" Otherwise, you will die. I have witnessed it once, and I don't want to witness it a second time.
He turned around, protected Tianlang behind him, and scanned the surroundings vigilantly.
The red light just now should be a sniper.
There should be a large number of assassins lying in ambush around here.
"Ling, what's wrong with you?" Tianlang stretched out his hand, turned Ling'er's body around, and then looked at her with a serious expression.
Her purple eyes were filled with panic, worry and fear, which was very unlike her.
"Ling, is this mission too tiring? Well, I'm here. Don't be nervous. Relax. Come on, I'll take you home."
He lowered his hands from Ling'er's shoulders, took her hand, smiled, and led her away.
There was no sniping as I imagined, no death as I remembered, everything was so harmonious.
Could it be that there was something wrong with her own memory
Could it be that everything that happened before was just her illusion
Until she returned to her villa, she had not yet recovered from this series of doubts.
She seemed to be unable to distinguish what was real and what was fake.
"Ling, wait here for a moment. I'll get you something to eat." He tried to let go of Ling'er's hand, but the moment he let go, Ling'er held it back.
"Don't go." Because she couldn't tell the difference, she felt a little uneasy subconsciously. She always felt that she had forgotten something very important, but she couldn't remember what she had forgotten.
But she was very scared, afraid that Tianlang would disappear. This feeling was like she had lost him before.
And she knew very well that this feeling of loss did not come from the killing in her memory that might not have existed. So where did this fear come from
I can't figure it out...
Looking at Ling'er like this, Tianlang had a worried look on his face, then he sat down next to Ling'er.
"Ling, don't be afraid. No matter what, just remember that you are real." Tianlang seemed to be hesitant to speak, and what he said was a little strange.
Looking into Tianlang's eyes, Ling'er's mind gradually calmed down.
"Let's eat."
"Okay, wait, I'll get it done."
It was the first time Ling'er saw Tianlang cooking, and the food he cooked was very good, with good color, aroma and taste. It was hard to believe that the usually cold instructor could actually cook.
"Ling, you have worked hard on this mission. Your superiors have given you a month's vacation. I will be responsible for taking care of you during this month. I will accompany you no matter what you want to do." Tianlang said in a calm tone while eating.
"Holiday?" Ling'er asked back in doubt.
Tianlang nodded as a response to her.
"Then... let's go on a date." Ling'er blurted out without thinking, but it scared Tianlang who was eating.
Because Ling'er's answer was completely unexpected.
"Cough cough cough" I wasn't paying attention and got choked.
Seeing this, Ling'er immediately stood up, patted Tianlang on the back, and poured him a glass of water.
"Are you okay? Eat slowly."