I Refused To Be Reincarnated-Chapter 696: Left Behind in the Rain

Chuckling, Adam helped the eager girl down from his shoulders.

The moment her feet met the muddy ground, she raised her fists and bolted to the house. Old wooden stairs groaned under her rapid feet, drowned by her delighted voice. "Papa, Mama, I’m back!"

He watched her drum on the door, a soft smile tugging at his lips... until it froze when he heard her next words.

"I brought someone who can cure your illness. He’s kind and strong, and... and... My husband!"

A frown creasing his brows, he glanced at the surroundings. Her scream had drawn the attention of a few villagers and neighbors. They scrutinised her in confusion, then covered their mouths, exploding into whispers when they saw his dark and purple robes embroidered in golden patterns.

A middle-aged woman berating her daughter in particular made him clench his jaw.

"She harpooned a cultivator so young. A handsome one at that! She’s also quite beautiful, but she must have something more—something that hooked him. Listen, girl, you’re almost her age, so befriend this goddess to learn her techniques." She sighed. "Or you’ll marry a boor like your father."

His face grew somber as he walked to the girl... his steps faster than usual. However, his mouth closed when he saw her radiant face. Somehow, he didn’t have the heart to refute on her long-awaited reunion day.

He closed his eyes with a defeated sigh, hoping her parents would save him the embarrassment by opening the door. And they surely did a second later.

An old couple squinted through the creaking doorway, suspicion tightening their withered faces.

The husband, a bald man thin enough to be sent flying by a gust of wind, leaned on a rough cane. He spoke in a solemn tone, riddled with buried grief and barely suppressed anger.

"This joke of yours is anything but amusing. Ha! Youths these days can’t leave old people in peace, I tell you." He raised his cane, waving it in a clear threat before the stunned girl. "Even if my bones are old, I can still teach you a lesson your rear will take weeks to forget!"

Adam frowned, his eyes darting between the couple and the girl. Her lips quivered, and tears welled in her dimming eyes. Something didn’t add up. The deep grief, the anger, her plummeting mood. Could these two really be her parents?

As he pondered, the girl lowered her head, sniffling. "S-Sorry. I-I was so excited to see my parents... I must have remembered their house wrong..."

The old woman’s expression softened. She pulled her husband’s cane down, glancing at Adam’s robes wisely. "Excuse my husband, esteemed cultivator. Our daughter’s unfortunate death still brings a taste of ash to our mouths. But we now understand you meant no harm. It was an innocent mistake."

Understanding flashed in Adam’s sky-blue eyes. "I’m sorry for your daughter." He produced ten gold coins, then placed them in the woman’s trembling palm. "For the inconvenience."

"T-That’s too much..."

She tried to refuse. But he closed her hand over the shining coins. "Use them to renovate this old house." He leaned closer, chuckling. "And put some meat on your husband."

He took the girl by the hand and waved goodbye to the petrified couple. "I wish you many years of happiness."

Trembling, they watched him walk down the stairs. The woman’s hand felt as heavy as lead, while a grin slowly curved her husband’s lips.

"We’re rich!" He waved his hand back, shouting. "Sorry for the misunderstanding, sir! I wish you happiness, too. And to conquer a thousand beauties!"

Adam stumbled at the ridiculous wish. If he had regretted Misha’s absence today, he now felt infinitely grateful for her busy schedule. Between the kid claiming they would marry and the couple, she would have gone zerk already.

An icy shiver ran down his spine as he crouched beside the sobbing girl. "It’s alright." He patted her head to comfort her. "I’m sure they wouldn’t want to see you grimacing once we find them, so smile."

She hesitated for a second before offering a firm nod. "I’m sure this was our home." She pointed at the beam with the dark spot. "I almost burned it down when my parents went to the market. Fortunately, Uncle Wei smelled the burning wood and rushed to put the fire down before it could spread. Did they... move somewhere else?"

Adam tucked his fingers around his chin. "They might, but do you know who didn’t?" A grin curved his lips. "Your uncle Wei." freewёbnoνel.com

Her eyes widened, all the energy she had lost returning in a hopeful heartbeat. "Right! We can ask him."

Without wasting a second, she rushed to the neighbor’s house, where a brown-haired, middle-aged man seated by the wall glared at her. Like the old man next door, he seemed unhealthily thin, and his face bore marks of weariness uncommon for someone his age.

"It’s me, Uncle Wei. The girl who almost burned the neighborhood a few years ago."

Wei’s pupils constricted, his voice cracking in disbelief. "Those pink eyes... Is that you, little Qing?"

Her fists tightened as she nodded. Qing—she had finally found the name her parents had given her. "Qing." She repeated, her voice cracking. "It’s me! The girl you played with when my parents were at work. You even bought me delicious candies twice."

Wei shuddered, his mind failing to grasp her return. "But how? And why are you so different? No, your... parents." He clenched his fists behind his back, tears streaming down his cheeks.

Horrified by the reaction, Qing stuttered. "A-Are they fine?"

"Fine?" He glanced at the approaching Adam, his jaw clenching. He remained silent for a few seconds, then wiped his face and sighed. "Little Qing, there are things... hard to express with words. But I can tell you this: your parents sold the house a few days after you left. They are also in good health. For the rest... I’m sorry. It’s better if you see for yourself... You’ll understand everything by then."

He rose, his right leg trembling through his pants’ coarse fabric, cupped his fists in respect, and bowed. "Thank you for bringing this sweet child home, but we can’t take more of your precious time. I’ll guide her to their homes and solve this..." He bit his lip, hissing the last word. "Story."

Adam locked eyes with Wei, reading grief, anger, and fear in their depths. A fear that almost made the man’s mask crumble. Yet, he also felt a strange sense of selflessness. Most importantly, a tiny detail didn’t escape his attention.

’Her parents are healthy? Was the witch bluffing when she claimed they’d die without her cure, or... is something darker happening?’

The sect, the witch, her parents, the wounded leg Wei tried to hide—everything seemed entangled in a messy net.

A net he would untangle. Not overtly, openly. His looks drew as much respect as suspicion. He was like a walking beacon, warning those with secrets to bury them deeper.

Eyes narrowed, he nodded at Wei, his voice dry. "I count on you, then."

Qing’s eyes widened, her voice cracking. "You said we would meet them together. Don’t leave me, big brother!"

Despite her plea, his figure flickered, and he disappeared without answering or even looking at her.

"N-No!" She dropped to her knees, her blond hair cascading over her face as she cupped it and cried.

Why did he leave like that, without letting her feel his warm gentleness at least one last time? What about their marriage and meeting her parents? Why did it feel as if the heart Adam had healed was crumbling into pieces?

Huddled on the muddy ground, the pieces of her mended heart felt heavier than any stone, leaving her utterly lost to the rain that began to fall.

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