Chapter Thirteen

1

"What are you doing?" The girl with the purple eyes, upon seeing the two masked individuals, immediately had a freezing expression that dropped below zero.

"Misses, please come with us." The masked people glanced at the girl. Although their expressions couldn't be seen, there was clearly a moment of hesitation upon seeing the girl's eyes. Anyone familiar with her would be surprised.

"Let go." The girl said to the person holding onto me and wearing a mask.

"Until we can determine his safety, it is difficult to obey your command."

"You~"

"Please understand, Miss, if you have any concerns, we cannot bear the responsibility." These two people appeared very respectful, and I didn't resist either. It would be even worse if I did!

"I said he is safe."

"Well~ Miss is still young, it is difficult to discern. If Miss insists on setting him free, as long as the two of you are willing to go back, he will naturally leave unharmed."

At this moment, I really wanted to use her eyes to make them all lie down, but she didn't.

"Sister~"

"Ha~~ I just came out for one day, I don't want to go back so soon!" The girl's sister really didn't want to go with the two masked people, but it seemed that her younger sister didn't give her a choice.

".........." The younger sister whispered something in the older sister's ear.

"Really?"

"Mhmm!"

"Then~~ how did you know?!" Suddenly, the older sister became very nervous. What did she say, exactly?

"He said it himself!" The younger sister glanced at me. What did I say that involved her?

"Let him go, we'll go with you!" The masked individuals didn't say anything else. They released me rather impolitely, and then whisked the two girls away.

"Why are you leaving so quickly? At least let me ask for your names!" Unfortunately, there was already no one around. Only the remnants of the trees remained.

What on earth happened last night? It became so broken and ruined.

There were already many trees surrounding it, but now only yellow soil remained. However, it was strange. Where did all those trees go? It's impossible for them to leave no trace. Even if they were burned, there would be marks!

2

There were too many strange things. It's not like I can figure them all out!

I spent the next few days in the jungle. Although the weather was cold, after all, it was the end of the year!

In fact, for the past few days, I had been heading east. My intuition told me that the east was the closest place to the edge of the jungle.

Although I didn't know if my intuition was right or wrong, I still left the jungle.

I had no idea how time was passing. All I knew was that the new year was coming. My clothes hadn't been washed for several days, and I looked disheveled like an orphan. No, I was already an orphan.

I walked on a small street, probably in a small town. I hadn't been here before.

Actually, I couldn't survive in the town alone. During my time on the road, I had always been taken care of by an old homeless man.

Old Master Deng used to be a businessman. Although he wasn't wealthy, he was financially well off! That's what he said, and an old man who had nothing to gain and still treated me so well wouldn't be lying.

Even if he did lie, I would still want to believe him.

"Kid, here you go~~~~" He handed me a bread covered in dirt without saying anything, and I started eating without hesitation.

Old Master Deng sat by my side, watching me.

"Mhmm~~ Give you half." I split the bread in half and handed it to him.

"Hahaha~~ No need, old man doesn't need it!"

"You're thinking about your grandson again~~"

"You brat, mind your own business. You even dared to intervene in my affairs!"

"But you wrote it all over your face, how can I not say anything?!"

"Heh~~ Kid, you have sharp eyes! Fine, I did think about it, and even thought about dying."

"Is it that exaggerated?"

"What do you know~~~ Are you a father yourself? Don't know how to distinguish between big and small!" Old Master raised the bottle in front of his chest and took two big gulps.

"My grandson, if he's still alive, should be two years older than you~~~ Gulu (drinking sound)~~ It's all my fault!" At this moment, the old man felt a nameless sadness and surprise. What could make someone who once had a complete life become a wanderer and live a broken life of sleeping rough?

"How did your grandson die?"

"He offended someone, caused the destruction of the family, these days someone like me is rare!" Old Master Deng had clearly seen through the world, seen through the essence of money. It didn't matter how much money there was, those in positions of power would always have more.

"Now it's just back to the way it was, coming and going as I please! No one will plot against me anymore, and I don't have to worry about who might harm me." The old master let out a relaxed sigh, but his eyes held a hint of resentment as he looked up at the sky.

"Grandpa, how could anyone want to harm you? You're a good person."

"Children are just children, and good people are the ones who get taken advantage of the most! Kid, never be a good person, and never be a bad person either!"

"Huh? Then what kind of person should I be?"

"A mortal!" the old master softly uttered these two words. "Just an ordinary person, don't try to be a hero because you can't afford it, and don't harm others because it will eventually harm yourself. Think about it carefully! Is it really good for you to wander around all day, child!" The old master suddenly started lecturing.

"It's not bad with grandpa around!"

"But what if I'm not here? What will you do then?"

"I... I will take care of myself!" Hmm, how am I going to do that?

"Hehe, old grandpa should have died ten years ago. Living for another ten years means I've made a profit. I'll take you somewhere tomorrow!"

"Grandpa, you're in good health. There's no problem with living for another ten years!"

"Hmph~" The old master laughed helplessly. "Grandpa doesn't want to leave you!" He stroked my head with his rough right hand, his eyes so gentle. I couldn't help but feel a bit reluctant. But why do I feel this way?

2

The next day, the old master took me to a place, a small teahouse where only a couple was sitting by the window.

"Why so early!" the old master greeted them warmly as he approached.

"Old Zheng, it's been so many years!" the man spoke.

"It's not that long, just ten years!"

Isn't ten years a long time? Strange~~

"He's the child?" the man looked at me kindly.

"Yes, I'm entrusting him to you from now on!"

Huh? What does that mean? I don't understand!

"Grandpa, you don't want me anymore?"

"Kid, following this old man won't do you any good. With Uncle Lin here, you'll grow up well, you know?"

"I don't know, I just want to stay with grandpa!"

"You naughty kid, I'm serious!" The old master's gaze was firm and I couldn't refuse.

"Will I still be able to see grandpa?"

"You will! There will be a chance!"

"No lying! Lying is for dogs!"

"You cunning kid! Grandpa will see you one last time before he dies! Don't worry!"

And so, with the promise from the old master, I arrived at my foster parents' home and became a part of their family, becoming Mingxin's older brother. But the old master never appeared again, until now...~