370 Chapter 370: A Girl and a Boy

...

Feeling the terrifying aura, the three children were so scared that they couldn't even utter a harsh word, crawling and rolling away from this place.

After seeing the three bullies leaving, Zeng Yi turned to look at the boy who had been bullied by them. He tried to stand up from the grass, but he was already exhausted and struggled to get up, looking quite disheveled.

"Give me your hand."

A gentle voice reached the boy's ears. He raised his head and looked at the bright smile, as well as the hand stretched out in front of him. Although he hadn't cried when he was being bullied by the three kids just now, his nose felt sour and his eyes became slightly moist.

"Thank you."

The boy thanked him, wiping his dirty hand on his clothes before clasping the outstretched hand. With the reassuring and reliable strength, he was lifted up.

As soon as he stood up, the boy felt a warm energy entering his body, alleviating the pain and restoring some of his strength.

Zeng Yi used his spirit power to help the boy circulate his qi and blood, so as to prevent any hidden injuries in his body.

After a while, Zeng Yi withdrew his spirit power and patted the dust off the boy's shoulder.

"Why didn't you fight back just now?"

The boy raised his head, stubbornly saying, "I fought back, but I couldn't beat the three of them."

"Oh? So you mean if it were only one person, they wouldn't be your match anymore?" Zeng Yi asked with a smile.

"Of course." The boy raised his chin proudly.

This made Zeng Yi laugh, "Too bad, I arrived just in time to see you being beaten up. Who knows if you were just bragging."

"I wasn't bragging!" The boy seemed a bit indignant.

Zeng Yi nodded, "Hmm, even if what you said is true, you still need to become stronger."

Upon hearing this, the boy couldn't help but lower his head, gripping his fists tightly. "I know, next time I'll become even stronger and get back at them for today's humiliation!"

Looking at the boy bowing his head, Zeng Yi couldn't help but squat down and place his palm on the boy's shoulder.

"It's good to remember failure and humiliation. However, true strength is sometimes not only demonstrated in power, but also here." As he spoke, Zeng Yi extended his hand and pointed to the boy's chest.

Hearing Zeng Yi's words, the boy was momentarily confused and couldn't understand their meaning.

Watching the pensive boy, Zeng Yi smiled and said, "Alright, if you get bullied again next time, go tell the teacher that you're Hu Liena's cousin. The teacher will help you."

Upon hearing this, the boy looked at Zeng Yi with a disdainful expression. "I won't do that. Reporting to the teacher is what weaklings do. I won't do that!"

Saying that, the boy ran away.

He ran a few steps before stopping, turning around to look at Zeng Yi, and waving his arm.

"Big Brother, thank you today!"

Watching the boy, Zeng Yi also smiled and waved back at him.

As he watched the boy leave, Zeng Yi couldn't help but touch his nose.

Just now, he felt like he was being mocked by the boy!

"I never expected you to be so gentle!"

A pleasant voice came from behind, and Zeng Yi turned around to see Hu Liena standing behind him.

"Not bad! But it seems like the people in your Spirit Hall are quite cold hearted. I've seen so many students and even teachers passing by, yet no one cared?" Zeng Yi looked at Hu Liena with some confusion.

Hu Liena calmly said, "Here, students can form cliques and small organizations, bully others, and the higher-ups almost allow such rules. As long as they don't use spirit power or severely harm others, the Academy won't interfere. If there's real dissatisfaction that can't be resolved, you can apply for a fight in the Fight Hall to settle the grudges."

"I, too, came through that way."

Hearing her words, Zeng Yi couldn't help but furrow his brow and shake his head. "Your Spirit Hall is quite ruthless."

"Otherwise, why would our Spirit Hall be so powerful?" Hu Liena said indifferently. "But it's strange, as an outsider, you still care about the people in our Spirit Hall. I didn't know there was any relationship between your sect and our Spirit Hall."

"That's strange? I just can't stand seeing the strong bullying the weak. This has nothing to do with either the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect or the Spirit Hall." Zeng Yi said nonchalantly, then sat on the grass lazily, basking in the sun.

"In the end, it's a difference in positions that leads to hostility and conflicts. But I dislike this. I prefer to live for myself and stick to my own beliefs, moving forward along the path that I choose."

Just like this, lying down comfortably, bathing in the sunlight, feeling the gentle breeze, and falling into a peaceful nap.

Listening to Zeng Yi's words, Hu Liena's heart couldn't help but be stirred. She felt like she was getting to know him again.

Watching Zeng Yi lying on the lush green grass, shaded by the trees from the warm sun, with sunlight sparsely falling on him through the foliage, and the little strand of hair on his forehead gently swaying with the breeze.

With his eyes closed, he seemed to be peacefully asleep.

Looking at Zeng Yi, Hu Liena couldn't help but touch her heartstrings.

Perhaps, Zeng Yi in this moment was his truest self.

...

"Big brother! Big brother!"

With a heart-wrenching cry, the boy couldn't help but stop his steps once again, turning his head to look at the girl.

The girl held a brand new teddy bear in her hands. Her rosy round face was already teary-eyed, and her small feet chased after the boy who was walking away.

Hearing the call from behind, the boy stopped and turned around. On his tender face, a maturity beyond his age was reflected.

"Go back."

The girl held the teddy bear tightly, tears streaming down her face. She looked at the boy on the other side, tears the size of beans continuously welling up, staining her cheeks, with drops falling on the teddy bear.

"Will we ever see each other again?" the girl cried out.

"Of course!" The boy smiled and assured the girl. "When I become a Spirit Master, I'll come back to find you!"

"Take care! Sakura!" the boy waved his hand and turned around, his tender face becoming resolute. Carrying a long sword on his small frame, he embarked on his own journey.

What awaits him ahead, will it be hell or another unknown scene?

Watching the boy continue to walk away, tears streaming down the girl's eyes, she tightly hugged the teddy bear he had bought for her.

"Brother!"

With a heart-wrenching cry, the boy couldn't help but stop his steps once again, turning his head to look at the girl.

The girl cried out, "In the future, Sakura will come to find you, how can I find you, brother?"

Hearing this, the boy paused for a moment, then a smile appeared on his face, like a gentle breeze.

"In the future, I will make the name of Sword Hero resound throughout the continent. By then, you just need to inquire about the Sword Hero, and you will surely find me!"

Hearing the boy's promise, the girl, with tear streaks on her face, couldn't help but smile.

"Okay!"

The girl stood in front of the city gate, watching the boy leave. Gradually, the boy's figure disappeared from the girl's tearful eyes. In that moment, the once sunny and warm day turned cold and dark.

In this entire world, there was only her, alone, lonely, silent, and fearful.

The girl became helpless, panicked, and kept calling for her brother, but there was no response. In the end, she became desperate, as if the whole world had abandoned her.

"Ah——"

A piercing scream resounded in this dark world, as if coming from the depths of the underworld.

The dark, lonely world was filled with countless fine cracks, like a spider web.

Bang~

Finally, the world shattered like a mirror, dissipating.

In a room, a bedside lamp illuminated the dim light.

"Hoo~ hoo~ hoo~"

The girl suddenly sat up from the bed, beads of sweat running down her pale cheeks, panting heavily. Her eyes were filled with bloodshot veins, showing a fierce gaze.

"The same dream again."

The girl reached out and rubbed her slightly aching head, then hugged the stuffed teddy bear beside her.

This teddy bear was already covered in various colored patches, and a small crack had opened on its head, revealing a strand of white cotton.

The once pink and white teddy bear was now stained with dried blood.

Due to various patches and bloodstains, this teddy bear no longer resembled its original appearance. It even appeared sinister, terrifying, and creepy, capable of frightening people if left on the road at midnight.

However, it was still cherished like a precious treasure in this girl's hands.

The girl held the creepy teddy bear tightly, pressing her delicate face against its body, greedily inhaling its scent. Her pale cheeks, scared by the nightmare, started to blush, and drops of sweat ran down.

"Don't worry! It won't be long before we can meet with Brother. You must be looking forward to it too, little bear."

A strand of silver hair fell in front of the girl's eyes as she hugged the creepy teddy bear, and a terrifying smile appeared on her cracked face. Her eyes gleamed with crimson light.

"Brother, Sakura misses you so much~"

"Hehehe~"

In the dim room, two points of crimson light flickered, and the chilling laughter echoed in the room, causing one's scalp to tingle and a shiver to run down their spine, as if the temperature had dropped.