Spring Winds

'Ooh, I really don't want to look, but I wanna know what happens!' Zhu Na Ran slinked into her chair as she peeked through her fingers with squinted eyes as Yao Mei trekked up her usual path to meet Wan Li. （／_＼）

Unknowing of what would happen in the foreseeable future.

"Ahh, I can't watch!" She didn't want to see Yao Mei's crushed face after she heard what happened to Wan Li! 'Aiyah, Heaven is too cruel on these two! (`･/A＼･)

What did they do to deserve such a sad end!?' QAQ Find authorized novels in , faster updates, better experience, Please click <a href="#%5Bgl%5D_13224236905124005/the-story-of-lovebirds-(5)_51315809254962044">#%5Bgl%5D_13224236905124005/the-story-of-lovebirds-(5)_51315809254962044</a> for visiting.

"Who are you?" In place of Wan Li was an unfamiliar young man dressed in plain blue clothes. However, even without the fancy decorum, one could see that his robes' material was expensive.

The young man didn't say anything as he turned to face Yao Mei. "I assume you are 'Yao Mei?'"

"...Who's asking," narrowing her eyes, Yao Mei's hands slowly moved to the handle of her concealed dagger. "And who are you?"

"Hah," the young man scoffed at her movements; his solemn and uncaring expression didn't change. There's no need for that. I'm not here to fight; I'm her messenger."

"Her messenger?" A bad feeling started to bubble up in her heart, as it almost became unbearable to breathe.

However, she didn't know the reason for such. "Why would you need to tell me something that she could say herself?"

The young man didn't say anything as he looked away, which only worsened the fear in Yao Mei's heart.

Marching over to him, Yao Mei grabbed him by his robes' collar, uncaring of her callous actions. "Tell me!

Why isn't Ah Li here?

Is she alright?!

Did something happen to Ah Li-"

"She's dead."

Her heart dropped to her stomach, and for a long time, the world remained cold and still.

Yao Mei looked to the man's face to see if there was a hint of falseness in his words.

She hoped that he was lying to her Ah Li was safe and happy somewhere out there.

However, the man's face remained unchanging and frigid, a tinge of redness in his eyes as he too struggled to maintain his passive expression.

"W-what, h-how…"

Y-you, have to be lying to me!" She managed to choke out as her throat grew tight and her sight blurred. Gripping his collar, her actions became frantic as she became desperate for answers.

There's no way that she's..." Dead.

Yao Mei didn't dare nor imagine such a thing ever happening. Just the other day, Wan Li was fine and happy, so how could she suddenly pass like a drifting breeze?

"Whether you believe me or not, that's up to you," the man said as he pushed her off of him. "I've done my job, and I have a funeral to plan."

"Wait," grabbing his arm, Yao Mei hastily wiped her eyes to get a good look at the gentleman. "Who are you, and how can I know that you're reliable.

And how do you know about me?"

"Hah," the man let out any other heartless and cold laugh. "I know about you well enough, Yao Mei.

Or as she would say, 'Ah Mei.'"

He turned around and stalked his way over to her and looked down at her with cold eyes. Although Yao Mei was rather tall herself, she couldn't quite match this man's height. Craning her eyes upward, she returned the glare.

"I know all about your rendezvouses with Lady Wan, how she would always prepare you homemade lunches and sneak her every night, how she would spend hours into the night, making embroidered goods for you.

I'm not the only one who knows about your escapades together.

Her father found out, and when he did, he-" The young man stopped talking. "I think you can figure out the rest."

"Ah Li's father? He-"

"He killed her."

Who could do such a thing? Even a beast wouldn't eat its cub, so why would Wan Li's father do that to her.

"Heh, he said it was to maintain the Wan Family's honor. To have an unmarried daughter sneaking out of the house to meet up with her lover was beyond shameful. However, you'd never think such a thing if you've met her.

Her act fooled even me.

And to think that the one that she loved was me… "

"What!" Zhu Na Ran couldn't help but hold her jaw to prevent it from dropping to the floor.

"Oh my gods, I did not expect that kind of twist!" Σ(゜゜)

She wasn't the only one who was shocked, as Yao Mei looked to be in disbelief as well from such a predicament.

"What?"

"Ah, nevermind," as if realizing what he said, he quickly brushed it off. "Anyways, it doesn't matter now.

She's gone."

"Wait, what did you mean that you thought that she loved you?!"

"I thought that because she was my fiance!

I thought that she finally had feelings for me after all of these years together. Yes, we may have been arranged by our parents, but I loved her!

I didn't even care that she was seeing someone else; as long as she was by my side, I was willing to let all of that slide.

B-but, to think she chose to die instead of marrying me… "

"Ohhh!" At this point, Zhu Na Ran didn't even bother to catch her jaw, as she let it drop to the floor. Σ(ﾟ口ﾟ;)//

"Oh my gods, so the plot thickens!" Although Zhu Na Ran knew of some of the details leading up to the end, Wan Li's untimely passing being one of them, she didn't expect this from the side characters.

"Wan Li really rather die than marry that dude?! ∑('＝';)

Damn, that's rough, buddy," shaking her head, she watched Yao Mei reel in from the man's sudden outburst. (´･_･`)

"I-I, I don't know what to say…"

"Yeah," the man nodded his head as he glared at her. "Well, know, if Lady Wan hadn't met you, she wouldn't have died.

She would've learned to love me instead and become a good wife instead of falling for some peasant crossdresser!"

"Oooh!" Zhu Na Ran was losing her mind as she watched the young man hurl insults at Yao Mei. （・□・;）

"Young man, you better run! I've seen that 'formerly' dense girl, take down ten men single-handedly at once!

If you're so eager to see Wan Li, she wouldn't have a problem throwing your skinny a*s down this mountain!"

However, much to her surprise, Yao Mei didn't do any of that!

Instead, she merely muttered out, "I see," before aimlessly walking away.

"What!? !?(･_･;?

What happened to our energetic girl who wouldn't take a single insult from anyone! You're really going to let that slide, Yao Mei? (╯‵□′)╯︵┻━┻

What about the things he said about your Ah Li, huh!? ʰᵘʰ (ꐦ○_○）✧

You're going to let that go too?"

"However, one last thing," Yao Mei suddenly spoke up as she looked at the young man with dead eyes. "What is her father's name?"

"Wan Yi Gen."

"I see…"

Wan Yi Gen.

To say that this name was infamous in both nations was an understatement. This man single-handedly raised his family's prestige within one generation from being a humble merchant to the Ming Xiang's leading general.

Many from both sides of the war praised and feared him for his military prowess.

However, under the radiant gleam of success, there was a sinister man that laid beneath.

A few years ago, the army faced a shortage in provisions as a vicious drought ravaged the nation. Despite this, the emperor stubbornly refused to surrender to the peace agreement that Xiao Qiang proposed.

Instead, he urged the general to continue waging war on the rival nation.

Being the 'good' general that he is, Wan Yi Gen followed his emperor's orders.

However, the provisions' issue was starting to show cracks in his army, as his soldiers started to slowly desert one by one as the army began to starve.

Soon, Wan Yi Gen was on the verge of losing the battle, army, and power.

Suddenly, a sinister idea came to mind. Since his men couldn't find meat in the forest, he just had to find meat elsewhere.

Gathering up his concubines and concubine-born children, he locked them in cages and slaughtered them.

Grinding their flesh, bone, and meat into a stew, he managed to feed his army, win the battle, and maintain his power.

From that day one, General Wan Yi Gen gained the name of 'Man-Eater,' as he notoriously feds his soldiers the flesh of their enemies to gain strength for the next blood bath.