Protoganist's Sidekick Fights Back-Chapter 17: Her Broken Shackles

A bittersweet smile touched Bai Yunxi's lips as she watched Su Kang's retreating figure, an unexpected pang of sadness echoing in her heart.

Su Kang, meanwhile, felt a surge of determination. He was certain of one thing—Bai Yunxi carried no lingering affection for her deceased husband.

And even if a spark remained, he would fan it into oblivion, replacing it with a fire of his own.

The Li family had a rule: a person who disappeared would not be considered dead until eighteen years had passed.

Yet Li Fang had spoken of his father's death long before the official declaration, even before the funeral rites.

He wouldn't have done so unless his mother had influenced him. Bai Yunxi must have planted that belief, protecting her son from false hope.

Su Kang's lips curled into a faint smirk. I've only pursued her for a month. There's no need to rush. I won't let a dead ghost stand in my way.

For now, all he had to do was give her space—time to figure out her own thoughts, to find her own path.

For the next two days, their journey continued in silence, their spiritual boat slicing through the sky.

For Bai Yunxi, however, the quiet did little to soothe her. She knew she liked Su Kang to some extent, and he had done much for her.

But she was used to suppressing her emotions, locking them away where they couldn't control her.

The Great Rift Valley was a vast and breathtaking sight. Towering mountains flanked rolling hills, their slopes painted in hues of golden yellow and deep green.

A wide river snaked through the valley's heart, its waters pristine and clear, revealing glimpses of the world beneath its shimmering surface.

Nestled within the valley was a city—small, yet thriving, with around twenty-five thousand inhabitants.

A second-grade spiritual vein pulsed beneath the land, drawing cultivators to settle here, making it a place of both cultivation and commerce.

Their spiritual boat descended near a remote village. Without a word, Su Kang used his spiritual qi to lift Bai Yunxi from the vessel, placing her gently on the ground.

The effortless gesture unsettled her more than it should have. Before she could question him, he strode off purposefully, his gaze locked on something unseen.

She watched his back, a flicker of confusion in her heart. Is he... searching for someone?

Uncertain but compelled to follow, Bai Yunxi trailed after him.

After a fifteen-minute walk, they arrived at a secluded bamboo hut, tucked away amid swaying trees. The tranquil setting contrasted sharply with the turbulence in her heart.

Su Kang stepped forward and knocked.

A brief pause. Then, the door creaked open, revealing an old man with white hair and a face weathered by time.

Though his body bore the marks of age, his sturdy frame suggested a lifetime of hard labor.

His sharp eyes studied Su Kang with quiet caution. "Who are you?" he asked, his deep voice steady.

"I'm searching for a woman who may reside here," Su Kang replied, his voice calm yet firm. "May I confirm her identity?"

The old man regarded him for a moment before nodding. "Come in."

Stepping aside, he gestured for them to enter, his instincts warning him that Su Kang was no ordinary traveler.

Bai Yunxi hesitated at the threshold, an inexplicable tension gripping her chest. Then, she stepped inside—

And froze.

Lying on a simple wooden bed was a woman, her hair streaked with white, her robes plain and worn.

Though time and hardship had left their mark upon her, her features still carried a beauty that Bai Yunxi had long feared she would never see again.

Her breath caught in her throat.

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"...Mother?"

The word barely escaped her lips, a whisper trembling with disbelief.

The woman stirred, her gaze shifting toward Bai Yunxi. For a moment, confusion flickered in her eyes—then shock.

Tears welled up as recognition dawned.

Bai Yunxi's composure shattered. She rushed forward, falling to her knees beside the bed, her hands trembling as they reached for the woman's.

"My daughter..." Her mother's voice broke with emotion as she raised a trembling hand to touch Bai Yunxi's face. That was when Bai Yunxi noticed—

Her mother's right arm ended at the elbow.

Bai Yunxi gasped. "Mother!"

Tears streamed down her cheeks as her mother pulled her into a trembling embrace, both of them breaking into sobs.

Su Kang stood in silence, watching the reunion unfold with an unreadable expression.

Then, without a word, he turned and stepped outside, leaving them to their long-awaited moment.

And just like that, he was gone.

After the tears subsided, Bai Yunxi and her mother sat together, their hands still clasped. The old man brewed tea and quietly placed the cups before them, giving them space.

Her mother took a deep breath before speaking. "We were ambushed," she murmured, her voice distant.

"They sent beasts after us. Your father... he fought to buy me time."

Bai Yunxi's hands curled into fists. "He... he sacrificed himself?"

Her mother nodded, her face etched with grief. "He tricked them, led them away. Told me to run. I managed to reach a water boat, but even then..." She hesitated, lifting her severed arm. "The boat was attacked by wild beasts and I wasn't strong enough."

Bai Yunxi felt something lodge in her throat, an unbearable weight pressing against her chest.

"The hunters found me drifting in the river. I was unconscious for two months. When I woke up, my memories were gone, and there was lack of spiritual energy."

She exhaled, her gaze clouded with years of pain.

"At first, I lived in the hunters' village. Later, I moved from place to place, relying on my body's strength to survive. I became a hunter myself. It wasn't until a few years ago that my memories slowly started returning. But by then... I was too weak to travel alone. I had no means to return to you."

She glanced at the old man and smiled faintly. "He helped me rebuild my life. The people here became my family. I am grateful for them."

Bai Yunxi listened in silence, tears slipping down her face. She had spent so many years grieving, never knowing her mother had suffered even more.

"You've suffered so much, Mother," she whispered. "I'm sorry I wasn't there... I thought I lost you forever."

Her mother cupped Bai Yunxi's face, her expression soft. "No, Xi'er. What matters is that we're here now."

Evening arrived, and curious children peeked through the doorway, their wide eyes filled with curiosity. The old man waved them away gently.

A short while later, he returned with food, the children trailing behind him.

"Old granny, this is some food our mother prepared for you and elder sister," a fourteen-year-old girl said with a bright smile.

"Thank you, Wu'er." The old woman's expression softened as she gestured for the girl to sit.

Bai Yunxi noticed Su Kang's absence. He had disappeared without a word.

As they ate, she learned more about the children—some were the old man's grandchildren, while others belonged to the village.

Her mother was deeply cherished here, not just as a survivor but as a protector.

After dinner, the old man took the children away, bidding them goodnight. Bai Yunxi and her mother stayed up late, talking in hushed voices, catching up on lost years.

For the first time in decades, she felt at peace.

The next morning, Bai Yunxi sat with her mother, their bond already strengthened after a single night together.

But something else weighed on her mind—Su Kang.

"Where is the young man who brought you here?" her mother asked, sensing her daughter's distraction.

Bai Yunxi hesitated. Su Kang had left without a word. Yet... she felt lighter now. The burden she had carried for years had eased.

His presence had done that. His reassurance about Li Fang, his quiet strength—it had lifted something heavy from her heart.

She told her mother everything, her voice soft, confessional.

Her mother's expression darkened. "You didn't tell him? About Li Xiao?"

Bai Yunxi stiffened.

Her mother's voice sharpened. "Li Xiao pursued you for months and failed. You agreed to marry him only because the Bai family needed the connection. And because... you didn't dislike him."

Bai Yunxi looked down. "...Yes."

She leaned forward. "Do you like Su Kang?"

She met her mother's gaze, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "...I don't know."

Her mother smiled knowingly. "You wouldn't hesitate like this if you didn't feel something."

Bai Yunxi lowered her gaze.

"Xi'er," her mother said gently, squeezing her hand. "For so long, you have lived for others. Try, just this once, to live for yourself."

Bai Yunxi exhaled, a small smile tugging at her lips.

For the first time, she allowed herself to wonder—not as a widow, not as a mother, but as a woman—what her life might look like if she let him in.