My heart moved: “How did you end up being captured and sold? Damn it! Don’t ever mention that Jin Mo kid to me again!” I slammed the table heavily. “Alright, I’m hungry. Let’s go eat!”
“What? You’re 18? Who are you kidding?” I stared at Yi Qing skeptically. How could this child lie? Didn’t his mother teach him that lying is wrong? We must be well-educated youth and good citizens!
“I, I didn’t… I’m really eighteen!” Yi Qing looked flustered under my gaze.
But he seemed no more than fifteen or sixteen. I quickly activated my memory search engine, trying to verify his age. I grinned wickedly: “How about we cut and count the rings!”
Bang—three men collapsed simultaneously. Yi Qing’s face turned red, seemingly afraid I might actually cut him, quickly covering his groin, stammering: “I, I really didn’t lie.”
Wu Chen, unable to bear the harassment of an innocent beauty, intervened: “Just nutritional imbalance.”
Oh? I recalled his story of domestic abuse.
So it was true. I no longer doubted his background. Sighing softly, I sat beside him, grasping his rough hand and gently pressing the calluses, imagining the hardships he’d endured at home—no wonder he ran away.
Thinking of my own childhood, showered with love, I felt compassion: “It’s okay, you have me now. Join my Herbal Gathering Sect, led by me, Sect Master Flower Xiao Xin, towards a brighter future! Applause!”
Infected by the room’s laughter, Yi Qing also began to smile, like a lily blooming in the wilderness. Poor little flower, unknowingly picked by some people. But many years later, he would laugh holding his baby, saying this was the best thing he’d done in his life.
“Someone’s here,” Xiao Zi put down his bowl, calmly wiping his mouth.
“They don’t come with good intentions,” Feng Qing paused, continuing to pick up dishes.
“Sect Master Flower, long time no see?” An uninvited guest arrived, led by senior Iron Book.
“Oh? What’s wrong?” Iron Book was surprised. How could such a powerful sect master have troubles?
“My beauty ran away, I’m heartbroken…” I was so frustrated! I hadn’t even seen his true face!
Damn it, what a scam! Deceiving my fragile emotions!
