"It's just...why would she let you off the hook? You must be the one she hate the most because of your mom, yet she chose to take you in. Have you never thought that she might've had alternative motives?"
"What are you trying to say?"
Wang Yi's tone turned serious.
"You tell me, has she ever got aroused by you?"
The youth kept silent.
"If not...then tried to seduce you?"
Wang Yi couldn't believe his ears.
Has this woman ever seen teacher XiaoXiao's temper?
That strict murderous teacher XiaoXiao? Getting aroused?
By him?
How laughable.
If anyone knew that XiaoXiao has adopted him after buying him as a slave, would naturally be horrified if they learned the foster mother and adopted son had an immoral relationship.
However, Wang Yi despite this nonsense found himself wondering.
a woman like teacher XiaoXiao, who always has that domineering gaze on, who downgrades her disciples and especially acts indifferent towards that particular one...
Not to mention that stoic expressionless face she puts on when she faces her adopted son.
How would she even look like if she was aroused? What kind of face would she make when she desires something?
Would she, perhaps...have pink rosy cheeks accompanied with doe like teary eyes?
or would her mouth hang agape with her cute rabbit teeth showing...?
Maybe also her usual confident mature voice would turn shaky as she would softly plead for a thing she wants-
ah!!!
Are you crazy!???
That's your foster mother you're fantasizing about!!!
Wang Yi scolds himself, feeling his face heating up at his impure thoughts, but quickly recovers to take a cold glance at Ke La as he says,
"Ah, you see if teacher XiaoXiao was less strict and lovelier she would've been way cuter...especially those jade rabbit teeth of her can't be hidden. Hate to admit but they're very adorable..."
"But i want to also curse her so much sometimes."
He finishes with a resentful thought, crashing his palm as a imitation of killing.
Of course he can't say that in front of Ke La.
It's very hard to imagine XiaoXiao in a position where she desires for something, who doesn't even laugh and doesn't cry, but it only makes the teenager more intrigued, wanting to see it for himself.
"Wait."
Come to think of it...I've certainly seen her weep before- , Wang Yi recalls.
Actually the last time I've seen teacher Xiao shed tears was when i was still a child of slavery.
And that happened not long after she became a widow...
-Flashback, 10 years ago-
After the cancellation of the execution by the authorities, Wang Yi, who previously was utterly trembling in dread, found himself relieved.
This wasn't his fated ending.
The child, not knowing what wrong did he do except that his mother committed a massacre and personally injure his auntie XiaoXiao, was least to say bewildered.
He was a child of only seven, not long ago lost his father for whatever reason that he wouldn't understand and soon after his death was followed by his mother, leaving him become an orphan.
That people wanted to somehow get rid of.
This happened right after when he thought that he would be sent home and seek for new guardians as the cancellation agree still proceed, however later the authorities suddenly announced that they would make him a slave that is to be bought by the rich.
As they sent the little Wang Yi with his neck chained, just like others, to where all the slaves are gathered behind bars, the only thought running through his mind were:
" i hope my new guardian will be nice and lovely, care for me, protect me..."
this imagination he had was the only way to keep him smiling and going in anticipation, despite the terror deep inside from seeing all the slaves, old and young, covered in bruises and scars, shivering to their deaths.
"Will i be treated the same..?"
Turns out he wasn't wrong.
"Your auction is in two days."
A man announced as child Wang Yi stopped digging, eyes litting up and he smiles happily.
His prayers must have been answered!
as a boy at a young age who was exposed to see how humans were treated, including himself, whether they were prisoners of wars, slaves to be sold or victims of kidnapping, they would all be tortured, humiliated and badly beaten one way or another.
There's no ending to this that he came to realize how normalized violence had became in his short experienced life.
It made Wang Yi dread of waking up every morning to know this is all that's left to see and feel.
he and the others throughout this whole time were forced to do labor, work to build roads and infrastructures to serve the upper hands, and were fed very little while also sleeping on the floor with a thin mat that he has to share with tons of other slaves, elder and young, female and male.
Whenever he would request to instead sleep in water because of his merman needs, they would kick him like he was air, disregarding him.
So because of his age, he and like the other kids would be forced to sleep near elderly women.
It's fine. It was for the best. Because I'm going to meet my new family soon.
The child positively thinks of his upcoming auction, throughout the whole day motivated.
-The day of auction-
"Sister in law, how about we buy tanghulu? I remember it was your favorite when we were younger!"
Xie Hun excitedly starts swinging the red shiny sweets on her face.
In the bright-light of the starry night XiaoXiao has become like her shadow, yet she forces a smile that can't be seen through the veil that covered her face of horrific scars.
"Thank you."
Is all she said, but her once used to be bright eyes were now filled of deep voidness and unspeakable darkness.
This past month has been hectic for them, significantly for XiaoXiao, given how she one by one lost all the people she cherished like a never ending cycle.
Except now the only one that's left is her brother in law, Xie Hun, who is staying by her side.
At first witnessing the shattered state XiaoXiao was in, where she couldn't eat, couldn't sleep, feeling like she was now living a meaningless life, was more painful to see than his younger brother's passing.
Xie Hun wants to beg, plead, get down on his knees and tell her that her life here has meaning, that Xie Yun, her late husband would only grieve if he saw her torturing herself like this, but Xie Hun know that face. It is the one she wears when her ears are closed, eyes blind and her mind has put up barriers to everyhting.
no matter what I say it will only push you further away...i just wish you well-, Xie Hun regrets as silent bitter tears roll down.
But today was different, he was supposed to make his all out of tonight, keep her entertained to cheer her up.
The town was in holiday with huge celebrations around and people of all regions gathered for fun activities, XiaoXiao who hasn't seen the outside world for so long must step out.
"Woah, look at all those people gathered at that teahouse...sister in law, there seems to be something going on. Why don't we take a look?"
Xie Hun points at the chaotic gathering full of loud cheers and screams of anger, dragging XiaoXiao with him.
"Everyoen look! Look at this pure and clean child!"
This time Wang Yi was thoroughly cleaned from head to toe, body covered in beads of mixed beautiful stones with a flashy outwear, unlike his previous days where he was nothing but a dirt.
Behind the robes hid all of Wang Yi's black and blue body, eyes and mouth tied up so he wouldn't be able to say nor see anything.
Wang Yi didn't expect that he would be shown like a product what he sensed in front of multiple eyes, he didn't even have the time to breath yet alone to go against those who did this.
Before this, they told Wang Yi that someone nice would pick him up from that dreadful place, how a child would've guessed he was tricked...
"He's perfect, isn't he? Come touch him if you want before purchasing!!"
Wang Yi's covered eyes shot up to look at the auctioneer, scrowling as he tightly squeezes his chained knuckles with a hint of upcoming fear as he senses various of people with hungry eyes nearing him.
No, don't come near me!!
Don't you dare, don't!!!
STOP!!! GET AWAY!!
Get away from me!!!
Stop- NO!!!
No,- STOP TOUCHING ME!!
"It seems like they're holding an auction for child slave...!!!"
"That's horrific, why would they go far as to cover his eyes and mouth!!!??"
Then Xie Hun's eyes filled with agression lands on the auctioneer who has a wicked smile on as the slave was being harassed, held, touched by everyone.
"They're so inhumane!!"
XiaoXiao, noticing Xie Hun's rage for the first time in a while, began panicking. It wasn't a good sign, if his rage is filled up to the brim then he might lose control and turn into his werewolf form and possibly hurt citizens.
"Brother in law, calm down, i-I'll go get that child, okay? You just stay here and don't move-"
But once she reached the occuring scene, she found herself in the same position as Xie Hun, however more rational.
Wang Yi, legs and hands chained up with all his might resisted, tossing and turning. It felt awfully disgusting even at his age.
Just when his little body was out of energy, his eyes started to tear up, helpless.
I hate this.
I hate this!!
I HATE THIS!!!
I don't wanna be here!!!!
Mother...!!!
Father!!
Why did you abandon me, w-why...
Why!!!!
Just when he was about to curse all of a sudden the loud croud and the evil hands stopped moving, frozen in place.
With no explanation how and when XiaoXiao appeared, she didn't hesitate to strangle the auctioneer with her
long sharp claws. Slowly yet steadily ripping through his skin till drops of blood oozes out.
"Y-yo...you-"
The man started choking, not least expecting to be attacked, eyes popping as he couldn't make up the words,
Isn't she one of the legendary four famous figures, XiaoXiao!???
next to her the general's older brother Xie Hun who was about to turn into a werewolf!!
The child, not being able to see, couldn't tell what was going on and why suddenly everyone went silent.
"You...how dare you- HOW DARE YOU LAY YOUR HANDS ON A DISCIPLE OF MY SECT!!"
She looks at everyone with red eyes especially burning in anger, which was enough to make people not be able to speak and tremble out of fear.
Not good, they shouldn't provoke those powerful figures...