Blooming Flowers, Silent Sorrow

Translator: Silvery Butterfly
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Xiao Bao once again witnessed Huai En’s ruthlessness towards his enemies.pRphHiHUTOoUbeIFKvrguTuuYeXjig

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When he killed, he aimed directly for the vital points, each move intended to kill. To achieve this, he would sacrifice himself as bait. Xiao Bao finally understood why Huai En, despite his exceptional martial arts skills, bore so many scars. It wasn’t just because he had repeatedly fought to the death with others, but because his fighting style was truly reckless. It wasn’t that he couldn’t avoid the enemy’s attacks; rather, he deliberately placed himself in the most dangerous positions to lure the enemy into his range. If he could avoid the enemy’s blades and swords, all the better. If not, he would at least pierce the enemy’s throat in the next second. This was Huai En’s strategy in situations where the enemy was strong, and he was outnumbered.ahQtLroDLLTfPBqSXSkDZZWzCMuleX

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Thinking back to Huai En’s past injuries, there wasn’t a single time when he wasn’t outnumbered. He probably knew that only by killing his opponents could he avoid more harm.dnxitziRwvFIyEKdHrrrRODwhVrcOm

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Xiao Bao felt a sharp pain in his heart. Huai En was only 15 years old, what burdens was he carrying?kYamOivkfRyKUDzsQZOqRXCCGOJrqt

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After driving away the men in black around him, Huai En’s goal was simple and clear: capture the leader first.bVdMeusdLmeMAhEQHfomeicdKegYaS

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The young man, having witnessed Huai En’s desperate fighting style, was already somewhat apprehensive. Seeing the blood-drenched Huai En approach with a cold, merciless look, the young man realized that evasion was impossible. If this strike landed, he would be cleaved in two.EjgoxSrbdcXPjqLDQlEaFMSNdgvBvL

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The sound of swords clashing was piercingly sharp. Four men suddenly appeared in front of the young man, raising their swords together to block Huai En’s lethal strike.cQQQNGeJdRCaqUOtnODqtwGsdKySZX

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The young man’s face was pale as he was hurriedly dragged back by his men. The surging black-clad figures formed a thick barrier, firmly shielding him.alxEXpIbzACbylhCnnEjHvdJuAnrcY

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Huai En snorted coldly, using the resistance to push back forcefully, retreating to stand in front of Xiao Bao.SwPhmvElfkMLlpGERGMAoRGeVAYNHD

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“I bet you snuck out on your own. With your skill level, who would trust you with any task?”ADgMNJwJTSXkshTXyfzssQROyRLYSE

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The young man’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment at being exposed and anger at being outmatched.HdgLnEYZiWuLvPaMezdnnOKgffUznN

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Xiao Bao quickly stepped forward, “Huai En, are you alright? You’re bleeding.”nowYIcYbSOeenPrkVOrvwxkObyefmw

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Without looking back, Huai En flicked Xiao Bao’s sword up with his toe, catching it and tossing it back to him. “Just a flesh wound, it’s nothing. Take care of yourself.”eXXIAJFsiQUIsdwyzwQUpNgXCpbHMF

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Gripping the heavy sword in his hand, Xiao Bao nervously swallowed. He longed to bravely follow Huai En into battle, ideally saving him in a critical moment like a hero rescuing a beauty. But he couldn’t even remember the last time he practiced martial arts. His skills were only good enough to guard a gambling den, and the young man and the men in black were formidable, able to approach undetected even by Huai En. Though several were already down, more were eyeing them menacingly. Xiao Bao feared he and Huai En might end up dying in this cave with no help.MmAsIODrEvsAgKtSFvfeTZmSoCmsZC

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Zhao Cai, Jin Bao, Su Yin, I’m sorry. I should have listened. Someone save us, please.OKtdHKZbLvQrmEdORPfDbXNFAxACpZ

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Seeing Huai En wounded, Xiao Bao felt helpless pain. For the first time, he hated his own uselessness.rfZVIxEAJkjgPGwPbjJjwsuefBaESP

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What did they want? Something Huai En had? Xiao Bao vaguely felt it was related to the last time Huai En was attacked.aSicBqxoDkFYFjaTgCCWXYmmJkgXzH

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As he pondered, the men in black attacked again. Huai En was surrounded, beset from all sides. Xiao Bao saw only a web of flashing swords and blades enveloping Huai En, with continuous screams and splashes of blood.yGqQlLjlsyhcrHzGRFxCBKQMFNaOBz

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Amidst the chaos, Huai En suddenly paused, his left shoulder immediately slashed by a blade. Yet he steadied himself, having heard a distinct sound. Zuo Ying was almost there.rpkOjnEfPeFccLLwgXUZhgqcWrlXcJ

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Xiao Bao immediately realized that Huai En couldn’t hold on any longer. He looked exhausted, with several new wounds on his body. He began to retreat step by step, but still blocked those men from getting around him and threatening Xiao Bao.yekCKLUZkjGjYbdSxAdRQvkNEWkUxN

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Xiao Bao felt a rush of blood. Perhaps they would die here today. Without him, Huai En could certainly leave on his own. It was unbearable to have the person he loved take all the attacks while he hid behind him, unable to do anything. This feeling was disgusting.yXlPHJzmxJOILVtCxEfGPCHeABAbWO

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Huai En was almost back to his side, barely holding on, while the black-clad men attacked him like mad dogs. Xiao Bao’s mind buzzed, and his body moved uncontrollably. Xiao Bao had a strong lung capacity, and his loud shout startled everyone present. They saw him charge out from behind Huai En, swinging his sword at the men in black.OFCabtsVhoRHQYTfXJGTunmfOkLAte

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His swordsmanship was poor and his speed slow, barely blocking one attack and revealing many flaws.SQefqLcIyPVkbgFgVtlKjBaqFAjrvG

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Huai En was truly anxious now. One hand fought off enemies while the other grabbed Xiao Bao, pulling him back. “Are you crazy? Get to the back!”VuPFfSXwUmwmWiOkKCEGyHnlpIWMOe

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Xiao Bao’s vision was filled with a dark mass and the flashing silver of sword flowers. His forehead was covered in sweat, his legs were weak, and his heart pounded as if it might leap out of his chest. Fear made his pupils contract sharply, but he told himself he couldn’t retreat. Whether or not he could protect the one he loved, if he didn’t even have the courage to try, he wasn’t a man!YMfDtFKYHTLUIVzKLRwakUFVDKgFhI

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He heard his own trembling, ethereal, but very determined voice, “Huai En, you can go on your own. Just go.”SpNWVeQVLkDZEaOIEeTLaXrgsVjRNx

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Huai En was stunned for a moment, feeling a pang of bitterness. He thrust his sword through the throat of the man opposite him, and blood splattered over the two of them as he withdrew his blade. He angrily shouted at Xiao Bao, “What nonsense are you talking about!”SiaDEGPWIkAwROKckucEGzViBpoYHH

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As the hot, metallic-tasting blood sprayed onto Xiao Bao’s face, his world turned blood red. His fear deepened, knowing those shimmering silver sword flowers could pierce his body at any moment, slicing his flesh. He would bleed the same scorching blood and experience unimaginable pain. He wanted to cry, to scream, to curl up in a corner and hide, but he desperately tried to position his body in front of Huai En.mhmkTyWBhdEOvefkZjZbzFmsMjexgx

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Huai En let out a low growl, grabbing Xiao Bao’s belt and throwing him backward. With a powerful sword strike, he forced back the three men in front of him and then shouted, “Stop!! I’ll give it to you!!”asOdMCJgiaFqSuuFjrZCnbqpjInaei

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Everyone present was stunned. The young man waved his hand, and the black-clad men immediately stepped back.cbWuCpnfnwjprbwaeAmthnWJtgodLe

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“You’re finally admitting it? You really won’t cry until you see the coffin, huh?” The young man’s slightly smug voice echoed in the cave.GoxsgguMNtDQyOcGOPUZffKIYxMonZ

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Xiao Bao sat on the ground, his legs weak, unable to believe he was still alive. He stared blankly at Huai En’s back. Did Huai En really have what they wanted?lBHfuolDRANvJTwCdcEAWJDlxaTgGb

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Huai En tore open the inner lining of his outer garment and pulled out a thin booklet. “Let us go, and I’ll return this to you.”eHrbqBVvIppzVUMRqmNqFYUpHmBebw

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“Hahahaha, do you think that just because you take it out, you can still leave?”EYjOSeXFPpNlPTCUzAXzvEwWmMRCmB

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Huai En suddenly yanked Xiao Bao off the ground and, in a flash, moved to the spring, holding the booklet high. “If it gets soaked, it becomes worthless. No one will ever discover what’s inside. Do you want to try?”SEcdwNkXodClboTIiruFuYOTjYaYIV

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The young man’s expression turned cold and vicious, a stark contrast to his age. Crossing his arms, he nodded slightly, “Fine, leave the thing, and I’ll let you go.”iSETuEmlXCInpVKaWMDYSMsdlAKNCs

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Huai En snorted, “You people, especially your father, if you had any integrity, we wouldn’t be standing here today. Why should I believe you?”yEQUlDAxaIRIaikSmbxxSmnrvdAzTI

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“So, what do you want?”iWEZvkoEmvZeGRsfJytIhYJTWxtFvi

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“Let us retreat to the cave entrance.”ZIYWfGyKfxubEVWJZscXuwUopLAhuv

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The young man waved his hand, and everyone backed away against the stone wall.hOnoRFQvPjrvZRJWmgsDMolVhaGkPn

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Huai En dragged Xiao Bao along the spring, moving toward the cave entrance under the watchful eyes of the men in black.AnvODMRTfdfSBCmFQJsnpltnMsmUGq

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“Now, step back further. I need a safe distance.”ZxBrolGjSjdeZvdGPbroQYSUbfdKNt

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The black-clad men retreated again as ordered. Huai En gave Xiao Bao a push, “You go first. Run quickly and don’t look back.”bDQkFYBeWjQNuVoZyBnpMMtMKrNsXG

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Knowing his speed was slow, Xiao Bao didn’t want to hold Huai En back. He turned and ran out.KjlPokihYMOcHJetjjUpUPuajgDGnq

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Huai En and the young man locked eyes, both fearlessly glaring at each other. He listened as Xiao Bao’s footsteps gradually faded. This person was confident enough to let them go, so there must be reinforcements outside. He had to estimate how long it would take him to reach the outside faster than Xiao Bao.lYCrZJyGCIhVuplwwdHwPoqcRfMCKi

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“Aren’t you going to throw it over? That worthless fool has already run far.”SfGzbJkqkEErBqcJzWJmmrZhrHtEOw

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Huai En gave him a cold glance, suddenly throwing the booklet towards the middle of the spring and disappearing into the dark passage.RlBZLDeZzIvqvaCofOZSZOaRGiWkRc

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Xiao Bao ran toward the distant light at the fastest speed of his life. The closer he got to the cave entrance, the clearer the sounds of fighting outside became. His mind was a mess. Obviously, there were ambushes outside too. What should he do?RenzLfGWdCJAMiLYidEJBRDAHatwPQ

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Suddenly, a gust of wind blew behind him. Xiao Bao was about to scream when someone grabbed his hand. “It’s me.”qiHuPsqSgdhWUHpFjhvbSVGaYLbqHU

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The familiar scent instantly calmed Xiao Bao. He was about to speak when the person already pulled him quickly toward the cave entrance. “Stay close to me and don’t let go of my hand.”CWTqezFTzLMawRAfeTrlsZLtNDYBlL

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Instinctively, Xiao Bao gripped the hand tightly. The approaching light was somewhat dazzling, but fortunately, it was already evening, and the light wasn’t too strong. As they dashed out of the cave, his eyes adjusted quickly.ytqEkQEjFkiTjpfiqaGKgIjjEzuygd

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Outside was another battlefield.bzjVqJdsBcvrisSHflVVexpclAkZWb

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