Chapter 13 — Blood Lines Connect Spiritual Roots

I thought this was the end of the story. Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince suddenly opened his mouth:
“Your Majesty, I would like to annul the marriage granted.”
It's quiet in the palace. The Queen immediately looked at him.
“Excessive Action!”
The Crown Prince did not stand up. His voice was hoarse, but steadier than a few days ago.
"I already have someone in my heart, I can't treat Miss Tham kindly."
"Since the engagement, Miss Tham has been harmed many times, all because of my incompetence."
“I don't deserve to marry you.”
I was stunned. This statement came too late. But the end still came. The saint looked at him for a long time.
“Do you know what you're saying?”
The crown prince bowed his head.
“I know.”
The Queen's face turned pale. I lowered my eyes and suddenly remembered my brother's words. People just need to learn how to say no, and they will have their first sword. Now the Crown Prince finally drew his sword. It's just that before, that blade had never pointed towards the person who deserved to receive it. The saint did not immediately agree. He ordered someone to bring a bag of incense, sealed the pieces of wood in front of everyone, and gave the money to the inner servant to take to the post-mountain Tham residence. I bowed my head in thanks. When I walked out of the Death Palace, the Crown Prince called me back.
“Miss Shen.”
I stop walking. He stood in the hallway, the rain shining on his cold and tired face. He said:
“Sorry.”
I look at him.
“This apology from Your Highness should not be addressed only to me.”
He was silent. I said softly:
“You should also tell yourself.”
“If you had admitted earlier that you didn't want to, many people wouldn't have come today.”
The Crown Prince's face was slightly white. I said no more, turned around and left. Outside the palace gate, the royal maid lifted the sealed box and boarded the carriage with me. I hugged the box, my fingertips resting on the cold wooden surface. The red thread on my wrist finally felt slightly cold. The principal's voice was very faint:
“There is progress.”
I bowed my head and smiled. This time, tears did not fall.
—
18 When the pieces of wood were brought back to the back of the mountain, the horizon was weighed down by a layer of low clouds. Father ordered everyone to retreat down the mountainside. Only I held the box and walked in front of Loi Kich Moc. The lid of the box opens, inside is lined with bright yellow fabric. Several pieces of charred wood lay on top, so small that just a breath of air would destroy them. The bridge of my nose stings. This is the flesh and bone that someone else scraped off the elder brother's body. We carefully lifted the pieces of wood and placed them in the crack. The red thread on the wrist was slightly hot. U light appeared from deep within the crack, bit by bit swallowing pieces of wood. The mountain wind suddenly stopped. I hold my breath. A moment later, the figure in black slowly condensed next to the log. His body was much lighter than before, the edges of his sleeves seemed to be melting into the mist. But the person still stood there, eyes downcast looking at me. I finally breathed a sigh of relief.
“Brother.”
Person said:
“Crying already?”
I glared.
"Do not have."
People look at the corner of my eyes.
“It's red.”
I mumbled softly:
“It's because the wind blows.”
He does not expose. I ask:
“Are you feeling better?”
The person nodded.
"A little bit."
I'm still not sure.
“Just a little?”
The elder brother raised his hand, as if he wanted to pat my head. But the fingertip stopped in mid-air, then retracted again.
"Wood's heart is hurt and needs to be nourished by thunder and lightning."
I raised my head and looked at the sky.
“Do we have to wait for the next thunderstorm?”

The person said "yes". I still wanted to ask how long I had to wait, when suddenly a bell rang at the foot of the mountain. The bell sounds clear, but for some reason it reminds me of the three-day rain of the past. Father quickly led a person up the mountain. The other person wore an old robe, a bamboo trunk on his back, gray beard and hair, and shoes covered in mud. I just took one look and realized it. Even though many years have passed, his face is much older than in memory. But you are the wandering Taoist who once told me to accept Loi Kich Moc as my elder brother. The Taoist stood a few steps away, bowing to Loi Kich Moc.
"Remnant spirits after the great calamity, haven't seen each other for many years, are you still safe?"
The leader calmly looked at him.
“You are still alive.”
The Taoist laughed.
“Thanks to luck, I live a few years longer than ordinary people.”
I quickly asked:
“Daoist, is your injury serious?”
The Taoist looked at me.
"Miss Shen, he woke up because of your brother's voice, and to protect you, he went too deep into the world."
“This time appearing before the Emperor has consumed a lot of resources.”
My heart is tense.
“How can I save him?”
The Taoist stroked his beard.
"It's not difficult to save."
"Lei Kich Moc is originally a spiritual body born in lightning fire. Three days later, when thunder strikes the mountain, bring the piece of wood back to the wooden heart, then use the bloodline of the recipient to connect, and you can reincarnate the spiritual root."
I immediately said:
“I agree.”
The leader's voice was cold again:
“No way.”
I look at people.
"Why?"
The Taoist sighed:
“Once the bloodline is connected, it will no longer be the thread of peace that it once was.”
"The life energy on Miss Tham's body will be shared with Moc Linh, and the lightning on Moc Linh's body will also be shared with you."
“From now on, luck and misfortune will be interconnected.”
"He's hurt, you're hurt too."
"You're sick, he's weak too."
I was stunned. The leader looked at me, his voice lowered:
“You don't have to do that.”
We ask in return:
“Then why can you appear in the palace for me?”
People don't speak. We continue to ask:
"Why can you help me stop the poisoned tea, break the brooch, stop me from falling, come night and night to teach me how not to marry?"
Between the two eyebrows, the person moved slightly. I said in a low voice:
“You can protect me, why can't I protect you?”
The Taoist stood next to him, a smile in his eyes.
“These words already have some resemblance to someone who can stand on their own.”
My face gets hot. The leader looked at the Taoist.
“You talk too much.”
The Taoist immediately coughed and pretended to look up at the sky. The mountain wind blows again. His father stepped up and asked the Taoist:
“If we use this method, will Duong Duong's life be in danger?”
The Taoist replied:
“If wood spirit has an upright mind, then no.”
The father looked at the elder brother. The leader also looked back at him. Two people stood facing each other in the mountain wind after the rain. Parents suddenly spoke up:
“I have entrusted my daughter to your protection for many years.”
“Now I still want to ask you to continue protecting her.”
“But if I have to use its life in exchange for your existence, I don't agree.”
The leader was silent for a long time.
“I won't let her die.”
Parents said:
“I trust you for once.”
The mother standing next to her blushed. She held my hand.
“Duong Duong, have you really thought it through?”
I nodded slightly.
“Mother, I have thought carefully.”
If I was still the person who only knew how to cry like before, I probably would have been so scared that I hid in my room. But now I understand. Fear doesn't mean you can't choose. I choose to save my brother. Also choose not to continue letting anyone make decisions for you.