V1: Chapter 24: Her Noble Soul

“I see it all.”

Donald stood by the window, gazing at Liang Lin practicing her sword in the sunlight in the backyard.

“This child carries a great soul.”

“If you say Liang Lin is cold and ruthless on the outside, you're sorely mistaken. She has a kind and righteous soul; the color of her soul is pure white. Even though her hands are stained with too much blood, she has protected many innocent people.”

Donald then turned his gaze to Liang Di, who was sitting in the pavilion, reading a book in the shadows.

“In your eyes, Liang Di is pretty, gentle, and easygoing, right? That's not it.”

Donald turned away, his blue eyes clear as water.

“Her soul is a gray, murky void. Liang Di, she's the most cold-blooded person, that's why she pretends to be so gentle on the surface.”

“If I hadn't come today, that fool Auston would have died in bed.” Donald sighed. “But he got what he deserved. The wicked will be punished by the wicked. He was the one who first tried to kill Liang Di, and ended up losing more than he gained.”

“Before bringing Liang Di here, I originally intended to send Liang Lin away, but you know, Barton, I can see into people's souls, so I chose to keep her. I changed my mind.”

That's right, the day before bringing Liang Di back to Langwendi, Donald had returned to the Langwendi family mansion.

His original intention was to take Liang Lin away, to keep this innocent child away from the Langwendi family's internal strife.

But the moment he saw Liang Lin, he was astonished to find that the child's soul had changed. She was no longer timid and innocent; her resolute courage and determination made Donald unable to believe his eyes.

•

At that time, Liang Lin also saw him.

"Hey, this isn't a place for begging." She stood in front of Donald, hands on her hips.

It's no wonder she mistook him. Since retiring, Old Master Donald had dressed extremely simply, his clothes patched, and his unkempt, pale beard made him look quite like a beggar.

"Oh? Oh, hahaha~" The old man laughed heartily, offering no explanation. He wanted to see how this adopted daughter of the Langwendi family would react to a beggar.

Liang Lin frowned, her eyes filled with disdain, but the next second, she pulled a bag of silver coins from her pocket and handed it to Donald. "Here, you go quickly, this is all the money I have on me."

Donald didn't take it.

“Take it!” Liang Lin urged, her little mouth opening and closing rapidly.

“This money is enough for you to eat for years! You begged all the way to the Duke’s mansion; the servants will beat you up later. Seriously, I’m giving you money and you won’t take it! You ungrateful beggar, aren’t you? Hurry up! Take it! Go buy what you want!”

What a stubborn, hypocritical child.

Donald’s smile, hidden beneath his beard, was genuinely fond of this little girl. The moment he took the money, a thought popped into his head—to keep Liang Lin here, to keep the lonely and eccentric Liang Di company.

I’m sorry, child, consider it…my selfishness (how could this not be considered “ingratitude”?)

“Thank you,” Donald nodded to Liang Lin at that moment.

Liang Lin waved and turned away gracefully.

•

“Barton, do you think monsters can develop feelings?” Donald asked the butler.

Barton hesitated.

“I think… a monster will always be a monster.”

“But I am also a descendant of monsters.”

“Duke…” Barton shook his head, “In our hearts, you are the most wise and kind duke.”

“Haha~ then let’s make a bet.” Donald glanced out the window again, seeing Liang Di stood up, walked out of the pavilion, and strolled towards Liang Lin.

“Let’s see if the little monster will ever become a normal little girl.”

Barton adjusted his glasses and also looked out the window, “If it’s what you say, then it will definitely come true. Your judgment has never disappointed.”

Outside the window.

“What are you doing here?”

Liang Lin held her sword between herself and Liang Di, her beautiful brows furrowed, “There are many people around now, don’t try to do anything… anything, I mean something like.. uhh… anyway, just don’t try to cause trouble.”

Shameful, unable to utter such vulgar words.

So cute, like a little cat with its fur standing on end, waving its claws to defend its territory.

"What do you take me for? We're practically in the same boat now. Grandpa asked you to assist me, so you have to stay by my side at all times."

She wore that innocent look again, her eyes sparkling, her cherry lips curving upwards, her beauty as lovely as a peach blossom in spring.

Liang Lin knew that Donald's word "assist" was essentially protecting her.

When Donald mentioned Auston's poisoning, his eyes were on Liang Lin, indicating he knew the truth.

If the old man was on the side of justice, then if Liang Di tried to frame her, the old man would be her get-out-of-jail-free card. But the fear was that family would help family, not an outsider like her.

"I understand, but you don't need protection, do you?"

"I often do investigations. You've seen how chaotic the underground tavern is. You know, I... can't easily intervene."

"Ha~"

Liang Lin sneered, "Indeed, a witch out in public can easily scare people."

Still that irritating look.

Liang Di smiled on the outside, but inwardly cursed.

It seemed this girl hadn't learned her lesson; she hadn't learned a thing or two about respecting her owner.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see the old man on the third floor watching them, so she didn't dare be too presumptuous and stepped forward.

Liang Lin warily held her longsword to her neck, like some chaste virtuous woman, ready to slit her own throat if Liang Di "defiled" her even slightly.

Only then did Liang Lin realize that when Liang Di stood up, she was half a head taller than her; her forehead was just slightly above the other's nose.

...Damn it!  Liang Lin's anger welled up looking at the difference in their height (╬ ‾᷅皿‾᷄ ╬)

What?! Her aura was instantly suppressed because of her height!

Just then...

Liang Di: "Eh? So you're this short?"

Liang Lin: Huh? *twitch mark appeared on her forehead (ꐦ ⊙.ఠ)

"You, you you you...?!"

She was so angry she wanted to vomit blood, but what the other person said was true.

"Pfft... Hahaha~"

Liang Di covered her mouth, laughing so hard she almost fell over.

Her original intention in approaching Liang Lin was to threaten her in a low voice to make her obey, but now she was so amused by Liang Lin's reaction and expression that she completely forgot what she wanted to say.

Liang Lin: "..."

Is she sick?

"It's meaningless. Is your life only about mocking others? I'm leaving." Liang Lin said irritably, turning to leave.

"Wait."

Liang Di wiped away the tears of laughter from the corners of her eyes with her fingers, forcing back her laughter.

"I have something else to discuss with you, something important. I need you to come out with me."