''Hmm, Hmm, Hmm~'' Jacob Harding was humming while walking in the darkness of the District. His face was peaceful but the melody coming from him betrayed his inner emotions.
He isn't a man of music, he can enjoy a soft melody while reading but he can't lose himself in music alone, much less play or sing by himself.
But this time is different, the expectations and elation made him feel a few decades younger, his body walked steadily as always but his breathing was erratic.
Glancing slightly at the fainted boy carried on his subordinate shoulders, Jacob Harding felt the corner of his lips raising.
It is not the first time he fainted, in the 'training' he did it quite the times, but the herbs and experience weren't there for decoration.
During 'break times' Harding like a devil, whispered... 'Preached', about what he is familiar with; weakness, pain, and powerless. He admits that he tried to brainwash the kid, but he was surprised that even when the boy was recovering looking half-dead, he could still mutter 'Keep talking'.
Maybe he was using him as a distraction? It didn't matter, it made him happier, he is also a treasure like her.
Coupled with the information coming from his people that Helena didn't leave her house after separating from Heng, it made his mood rise so much that he will surely have sweet dreams tonight.
His precious woman, his special one, and his toy; left the small job she had near the pit, and it seems that she is also gathering clothes and other children's products, all adjusted to Heng as if she decided to dedicate the rest of her life to the boy.
For him is great news, not only did he find another treasure, but his most precious one is going to give him the last joy before death. Her attention to Heng is all he wants.
Sighing regretfully that he can live eternally playing with the two of them, Harding looked at the street where she lives.
He can imagine how anxious and fearful she was the entire day, walking around her house trying to distract her mind from imagining what her precious child is going through. But she knew that at some point the door will be called and she will suffer from the sight.
There is also the possibility that the door will never be called and that will be even more terrifying for her. Harding pictured the scene in his mind and his eyes covered by his glasses had a bright flash.
He could have been more prepared, not doing anything to Heng the first day and waiting until she burns in anxiety, asking no one, 'When will that beast act?', every day without knowing the state Heng would have when she opened the door.
But he didn't have the same patience from the past, ironically, the mental cultivation he has, coupled with his age should have made him the most patient, but only he knows that desperation is more present in him, 'What happens if tomorrow die and I can't taste her desperation?'.
So he is going full-on with his commitment, without breaks, false hope, or scruples. This also means that Heng's training will be different from others' requests, all of his resources will be used, and if there is something of him that is left, then he will leave it to the kid as an inheritance.
In a sense, this will be his child with Lena, so he shouldn't treat him 'badly', helping him grow up well and supporting his ambitions. With this in mind, Jacob Harding chuckled and looked at the blue house in front of him.
He is the one that found the painting, the one that ensured the peace of the street, the one that 'revised' all books and artifacts the traveler that lived three houses away from this one gets every time he gets back.
She never left his hands, and he sometimes wonder if she knew that.
With a soft smile, he signaled at his subordinate to put Heng in front of the door. After that, without knocking on the door, the two of them backed off a few steps, but their sights were on the door the entire time.
There was no need to knock, 'Knowing' her, she already knew that they were here, so they only needed to wait.
And it worked, they just give the last step back and the door opened. So Jacob Harding with a smile said.
''Good night Lena. I brought him back.''
*****
[Host mental stability reached safe values.]
[No lingering chronic pain detected.]
[Host, time to wake up.]
Zhou Heng slowly opened his eyes. They are dry, and even without seeing them, he can still feel the burning sensation along with the redness they are showing.
The blue iris contrasts with the slightly red sclera. He can also feel the taste of blood in his mouth, after all, even when that old man gave him a towel to bit, the damage from gritting his teeth with so much strength is still there.
Earlier he noticed that without proof he believed Helena's words against that old man, but the more time he expended listening to him, the more weird his opinion was, but after entering that room, all went the same way. From an eccentric to a maniac.
Listening to his achievements made Zhou Heng feel awe and desire, but seeing his methods made him feel fear.
A Hero, can't have fear but a Villain? He now reeks on it. Zhou Heng even had sparks of unreasonable resentment against the old man, he does, even when knowing that he is the one that is at fault.
The old man may be a sadistic maniac, but it was him the one that looked for this... treatment. Yet the resentment could only be eased a bit with those thoughts. Zhou Heng could be less hostile to him if it wasn't for the provocation-encouragement between the torture.
Zhou Heng now is fully thankful for the system that in the past could only wake him as an alarm, but in this situation, he can throw all those memories into a secured box, helping him forget the experience.
With this in mind, Zhou Heng's eyes slowly read the messages, and a bitter smile formed on his young face, with a hoarse, trembling, and young voice, he said in a whisper, ''Thank you.''
[The Records Section of the System is functioning as programmed. The Host doesn't need those words. The System advises the Host to brace himself for the future.]
''...Don't thank me... Not for this...'' Another hoarse voice sounded above Zhou Heng startling him. The voice misunderstood the whisper of Zhou Heng and answered, ''Such thing... I don't want thanks... Never, no matter what...!''
Only at this moment did Zhou Heng notice that an unknown fragrance was entering his nose, looking up he saw a haggard face with red eyes and broken lips.
He also felt a pair of arms embracing him and a soft sensation in the back of his head. She was supporting his body, with a delicate hug, not too much strength as if careful to cause him any damage but with the persistence of never letting him go.
He tried to move, but he could only feel numb. Looking down, he saw his body covered with small bandages, bits of herbs coming from inside, a thought rapidly came to him, 'numbing agents'.
The woman embracing him, Helena, saw his actions and hurriedly told him, ''Don't move, let them do the effect, just rest... I will take care of you... You may have hunger, wait a bit more and I will bring you something to eat.''
Helena was truly cautious when helping him, whenever she cried and a tear was going to fall on him, she moved so the tear fell in another place. She even had to swallow all her rage and pride and accept Jacob Harding's help. When he came to bring Heng, he also gave her a bag with herbs to calm his pain.
Only she knows how difficult was to accept his things after what he has done to her in the past, not to mention today.
After carefully placing Heng in the bed and failing to detect prequels by seeing his face for a time, Helena then went out to bring him something to eat.
Zhou Heng that was resting now in the bed, began to try to move his body. but he failed, not only the herbs, but his body in response to today's events was extremely tense, he felt that if he moved too suddenly he will tear some tissues.
Looking at the ceiling Zhou Heng's mind was blank, he wanted to distract his mind but to no avail. His tired body and tired mind prevented him, the system may say that he is stable and there is no lingering pain, but that is only in the levels of danger, below danger could be enough to make him tear up if there were also some tears left.
Thinking for a moment, he decided to use the system, if it could be used to seal some disgusting memories, it could also be used to evoke some warm ones to relieve his mind.
The Records of the system worked smoothly, soon Zhou Heng's mind was filled with memories of his past. Some memories were from his grandfather when he was just a baby, his grandfather, holding him with only one hand.
Even if Grandpa Zhou had a brutish appearance and had a brutish past, he was quite skilled when carrying children, the memories passed and Zhou Heng saw his grandfather preparing food for him.
Teaching him martial arts, joking with him, and being serious while teaching him. The face he had when the young Zhou Heng, just a little bit older than his current body, told him that he would also work for the family.
How he was present on every one of his birthdays including the last one before he came to Bausmat. Thinking about it he also remembered Alisa, that on her birthday always shared desserts with him.
There is no traditional cake, but there was a dessert from this world that used extracted fish fat along with sugar, corn starch, and fruits.
The result was a marshmallow slab for birthday. Zhou Heng doesn't know about the birthday of the nobles, but for him, this slab was enough. The smile Alisa had every time they shared it, keep passing in his mind.
When she treated him like a little kid, patting his head or using him as a pillow. When they started taking baths together or discussing things, Zhou Heng also remembers when he took advantage of the knowledge from his real life, in a petty way of winning arguments.
A small smile formed on Zhou Heng's face, bringing him into a more relaxed state. Clinging to memories to relieve his mind, Zhou Heng thought about tomorrow, the old man gave him a recovery day, but Zhou Heng knows that the training isn't over, the sooner he gets accustomed the better.
A memory of Harding suddenly came to him, and his expression became thoughtful. He said that he just need to keep trying until he is familiar with the pain, an idea came to Zhou Heng's mind but he can't experiment with Helena being near.
He is already guilty of worrying her; if the idea is successful and she happens to see it, her already haggard state will become even worse.
At this moment, as if to answer Zhou Heng's thoughts, Helena appeared carrying a tray with a bowl filled with shredded fruits.
Helena walked to his side and helped him sit in a comfortable position on the bed, she wanted to feed him as if he was a baby. Her haggard face was still there, but she washed the tears lines so she looked better than before.
''The fruit is good for your current state. I will sleep with you, if there is any discomfort tell me immediately... There is no need to act strong right now.''
Zhou Heng nodded slightly at her words. Seeing him being obedient, Helena relaxed a bit, and with a small smile, she continued.
''I already washed your body when you were unconscious. Just let me take care of everything...''
Helena caressed his head, dark thoughts were passing on her mind. With an obsessed, look she murmured, ''My baby...''