Never Again 27 Leaving Again 3

Suddenly remembering the girl in his embrace, he held her out in front of him before scanning her from head to toe. Seeing that she was untouched, he breathed out a sigh of relief before smacking her across the head.

"Ow! What's that for?!" Xi Rin exclaimed, rubbing the back of her head.

"What do you think you're doing?! You could have got killed!" He yelled, furious. What is she thinking?! She has no cultivation or anything. That man could have easily killed her in a snap of a finger.

"Isn't it fine now?! He's already dealt with."

"No, it's not!" He pressed down on her shoulder, his voice harsh and angry. "What if I didn't come in time? He could have stabbed you."

"I know." She replied simply, not expanding any further.

"Do you not care for your life?"

"I do."

"Then why did you do it?"

"Obviously it's to help you." Xi Rin retorted, getting exasperated form this pointless argument.

"That's the stupidest thing I heard!"

An eyebrow on Xi Rin's face slightly jumped, showing that his previous comment hit a nerve. But before she could say anything back, he continued berating her.

"You're no a martial artist nor a hero. What made you think you can fight him? For G.o.d's sake, you're a girl!"

And like that wasn't enough, he added with contempt:

"You're so tiny, he'll probably easily break your bones."

"Hey!" Xi Rin yelled. "Listen, you punk. If it weren't for me, I swear that guy could have killed you easily without you noticing with that knife in his hands."

"But-"

"No buts. What's done is done! I'm alive and well with a single scratch."

"But why didn't you yell or something, so I'll notice and deal with him instead?"

"It'll be too slow and it'll alert him." She answered casually.

"But if you knew he had a knife, would you still do the same?" Qiu Zhi asked, his voice low and serious and the look in his eyes suggested that the answer would carry more weight than it seemed.

"Yeah." She answered, not missing even a beat.

"... Why?"

"The least I could do.... is save my friend right?" She smiled softly, yet it held a sadness which Qiu Zhi cannot decipher.

A friend? Did she call him a friend?

And for this "friend", she would risk her life?

He felt warmth in his heart, yet at the same time, it pained him.

What has he done to deserve her?

Back when she met a beast in the forest, he left her to die. He even thought of killing her if she ever posed as a threat. He had never treated her particularly nice nor did he h=ever done anything to raise her affections for him. He currently has no money or status either. Just a poor troublemaker who just happened to save her.

Oh heavens, how can he deserve such a friend?

"You are one stupid girl."

Seeing the somewhat happy look on his face, Xi Rin decided not to tell him the truth that she just coincidentally saved him. Honestly, she thought it was just a robber...

╮(╯∀╰)╭

But seeing how Qiu Zhi reacted, she knew it's not as simple as that. She wanted to pry but she knows it's better not to ask. However, that also doesn't mean she won't ask in the future.