After three weeks, the little girl Xu Hanyu had saved finally woke up.
Rushing over with food, he asked, "Hey, how are you feeling?"
The girl remained silent, her gaze fixed on a dark purplish birthmark on his left arm. Concerned it might scare her, Xu Hanyu hid his arm and said, "I'm sorry if my arm scared you."
She shook her head.
"What happened to your arm?" she asked.
"Well, if you're curious, I can tell you about it…" he paused, looking down for a moment before continuing, "It's a cursed birthmark I've had since I was born. Because of it, I can't harness my wuqi well since my six meridians are blocked..." As he spoke, a hint of sadness entered his voice, showing his struggles.
After he finished, a heavy silence fell between them. The young girl felt a wave of empathy for Xu Hanyu and looked down, feeling guilty. Noticing the change in her mood, she decided to change the subject.
"T-thank you for helping me," she said, trying to shift the conversation a bit.
"Uh, it was nothing really," Xu Hanyu replied shyly, rubbing the back of his head.
"But what happened to you that day?"
Xu Hanyu looked at her, waiting for an answer. She was quiet, as if she preferred not to explain. Sensing her discomfort, he said, "It's okay, you don't have to share if you don't want to," hoping to ease the mood.
He said, "Check out what I brought for you," pointing to the tray.
"It's chicken soup. Give it a taste, you might like it," he urged, and she nodded.
As she reached for the bowl, "ahh–!", she quickly pulled back, realizing it was too hot. Xu Hanyu noticed and set the tray down.
"Hey! Are you alright? I'm sorry if it's too hot!" he said as she withdrew her hand.
Surprised by his concern, the girl felt a mix of embarrassment and gratitude, lowering her head in thought.
'Why are you so kind? Suddenly, you remind me of my mom, who genuinely looks out for me… I really want to be around someone like you who shows they care.'
Xu Hanyu gently blew on her hand, saying, "I'll cool it for you." The girl smiled, feeling comforted.
"Alright, it should be fine now," he assured her. "I'll feed you, so don't worry."
He picked up the bowl again, took a spoonful of soup, blew on it, and then offered it to her.
"Be careful not to get yourself into a mess."
Xu Hanyu couldn't help but ponder as he fed her, feeling as if this scenario resembled a child feeding another child.
Meanwhile, the girl slowly savored the soup from the spoon that Xu Hanyu was feeding her. As soon as she tasted it, a wave of comfort washed over her. She admitted that it was the most delightful flavor she had ever experienced.
"Did you enjoy the soup?"
"Y-yes, I like it.."
The young master beamed and replied, "I'm glad you like it. Let's finish up so we can take a stroll in the garden later." She nodded in agreement.
He continued to feed her until the bowl was empty.
Xu Hanyu had never had a friend outside his clan, making him feel like a regular kid. Despite whispers about being a weak cursed child and comments on his new friendship, he remained unfazed.
As they walked through the Xu Clan's garden, he carefully assisted her, knowing she was too weak to walk alone.
"By the way, you haven't told me your name. May I ask what it is?"
"I..I'm Chan Chan.."
"Chan Chan..? That's such a lovely name. I'm Xu Hanyu"
"Chan, if it's alright with you. Will you be my friend.."
"Friend? What is that..?"
"It's someone you want to play and laugh with all the time." The little girl seemed puzzled by the term 'friend', her eyes lighting up with curiosity.
"Play and laugh all the time?" she repeated, as if trying to understand it.
Xu Hanyu nodded with a small smile. "yes.."
She paused for a moment as she looked up at Xu Hanyu, before slowly nodding her head. "Yes, I'd like that… to be your friend."
The young master smiled warmly and extended his hand towards Chan Chan. "Then we're friends now," he said. "Here, let's shake on it."
Chan Chan looked at his hand for a moment, a small smile finally appearing on her face. She cautiously reached out and took his hand in a soft shake.
"Friends.." she repeated quietly, as if testing out the word on her tongue.
…
In the past six months, Xu Hanyu's friendship with Xu Lian has deepened, making them nearly inseparable. Instead of returning home, Xu Lian chose to stay with the Xu Clan and train, quickly becoming one of their best fighters.
During a Wuqi Demonstration, the elders, including Lord Xu, observed the children. Despite his blocked meridians, Xu Hanyu worked hard to create a spark of his wuqi, determined to succeed.
'Please, just this once..!'
As he pushed himself further, a faint red-orange light appeared briefly before disappearing like a gust of wind.
"Chan Chan, passed Zhong Shi 245pts!" Suddenly, Elder Xu Bai, announced the first to finish the test which was Chan Chan.
In a matter of months, Xu Chan's wuqi realm skyrocketed from Zhong Shi with 167pts to an impressive Zhong Shi 245pts , a feat that can be quite challenging for someone her age to accomplish.
Hearing these, even the two elders who were watching, including Lord Xu, were surprised at the huge progress Chan Chan have.
"... passed Xin Shi level 8!"
"... passed Xin Shi level 7!"
Xu Hanyu looked around and saw that everyone else was done too. He felt the usual pressure again, the nagging feeling that he was falling behind. In the end, the young master gained nothing significant, just a tiny flicker of his wuqi.
As the young master and Chan Chan were about to leave the training area, Chan Chan noticed Xu Liao and Xu Jie sitting on a bench, whispering to each other. The two were looking down at Xu Hanyu with clear disdain.
"Look at that useless guy," Xu Jie said to Xu Liao, his voice dripping with scorn.
Xu Liao laughed, keeping his eyes on Xu Hanyu. "He's the same as ever, isn't he?" he sneered.
They both laughed at their own comments before moving on.
"If it weren't for Chan Chan and Xu Lian backing him up, I would have taught him a lesson by now!" Xu Liao said, imagining how he would humiliate Xu Hanyu.
Xu Liao grinned wickedly. "He really needs to understand his place."
Chan Chan noticed the two insulting him and shot them a fierce glare, making them look away.
After the Wuqi Demonstration, he chose to spend time alone with Xu Hanyu at his training ground, feeling empathy and concern for him.
Both of them shifted nervously, knowing that she was not someone to be trifled with.
They exchanged worried looks and tried to act like they didn't notice her stare, awkwardly turning their backs while remaining seated.
"Did you see that?" Xu Liao whispered to Xu Jie.
"No, I didn't see anything…" he replied with a shaky voice. They both fidgeted, avoiding Chan Chan's gaze, who was still observing them silently.
Chan Chan couldn't help but scoff at their actions, muttering before leaving the area, "What a bunch of cowards." She knew they wouldn't dare to confront Xu Hanyu as long as she was there.
…
"Cha'er," Xu Hanyu said, taking a seat on the boulder as they arrived at his own training ground, "You've been staying here for six months now. Are you planning to leave here sooner?"
While eating the baozi that Xu Lian had brought for them, Chan Chan's demeanor changed, and she asked softly, "Xu Hanyu ge-ge, do you want me to leave?"
"Am, I don't know. I mean, it's not that I want you to leave…" Xu Hanyu hesitated for a moment, then spoke truthfully, "Well, I was just curious, to be honest. You know, I actually want you to stay here with me. Without you, I feel like I would be lonely again."
Chan Chan noticed the faint smile on his face but was tinged with sadness as he looked at the ground. Sensing that he might need some comfort, she rose from her spot and walked over to him slowly.
He was taken aback when she unexpectedly grasped his left hands, holding them firmly and warmly.
"Xu Hanyu ge-ge," she spoke softly and sincerely, "I don't want to leave this place either. If it weren't for you, I would have never experienced something so profound in my life…"
'If I leave here, they will continue to hunt me down and hurt me again.'
With that, she had decided not to leave and sought permission for long-term stay in their clan. The three elders and Lord Xu had carefully considered her request and ultimately agreed to the arrangement, allowing her to stay for a while in the clan, even though there were unanswered questions about her background.
But she decided to stay for more than just Xu Hanyu. There were other things on her mind that made her believe that leaving could totally change her life in ways the young master wasn't aware of.
As they spent more time together, their connection deepened. With each passing day, the little girl began to open up to Xu Hanyu, sharing laughter and playing as if they became one and her true self. Xu Hanyu experienced a sense of solace whenever he was in the company of Chan Chan.
This comfort stemmed from his belief that Chan Chan never judged him for being a cursed child and accepted him without reservation, despite his physical limitations.
…
Five years have passed, Lord Xu was tirelessly working late into the night at his clan's armory business. The Xu Clan's armory business was located close to the harbor that was five minutes away from their headquarters, as Tai Hua City was nestled between the shoreline and the mountains.
When Lord Xu finally chose to take a break, he leaned back in his chair and glanced back in his chair and glanced at the letter he had received from last night. It was from his eldest son, Xu Rong, who had left for another empire five years ago. He carefully reached for the letter and opened it.
As he read the contents, a smile spread across his face. It was clear that he received good news from his eldest son.
"Xu Rong is finally coming home.."
While Lord Xu was focused on reading the remaining content of the letter, he suddenly sensed a familiar presence outside his office. Recognizing the aura, he quickly stepped out. The streets were eerily quiet at dawn, with no one around except for him.
As he looked around, he noticed something moving in the shadows of the buildings. "Is that you?" he whispered softly while looking in the direction where he sensed a strange motion.
He then climbed up to the roof for a better view. Once he reached the rooftop, he spotted a cloaked figure that seemed suspicious.
When the figure realized they had been seen, they took off running. Lord Xu, determined to catch them, leaped down from the roof in pursuit. The chase continued as the mysterious person darted across the rooftops, but Lord Xu anticipated their moves and blocked their path, forcing the mysterious person in cloak to stop.
Now facing each other on the roof, Lord Xu spoke gently, "Zhong Tian, is that you..?" The man slowly pulled back his hood, revealing his face. Lord Xu gasped in shock, realizing it was his old friend, Zhong Tian.
"It's really you.."
"You caught me. Long time no see, my old friend, Xu Dan. You don't mind me covering my face with this..?"
"I don't..."
…
The two of them stood tall inside in Lord Xu's office at the armory.
"I thought you wouldn't come back," Lord Xu began to speak as his eyes softened looking at him.
"How is he..?" Zhong Tian turned his back to him, facing the painting on the wall as inquired with a steady but laced concern.
"He's a healthy kid. Over the years, he's been doing well, and I'm glad he found someone who accepts him. And the seal has been quiet all this time as well," Lord Xu replied.
"That's good to hear."
"Do you want to see him?"
"No, I came to give you this," Zhong Tian said, revealing a bottle of potion.
"Make sure he drinks this when he turns eighteen," he instructed.
"Why? What is this..?" Lord Xu asked, examining the potion closely.
"The Regal Spirit inside him will start to awaken. It's not easy to handle such a force at such a young age, and if the phenomenon is going to happen, enemies will see it and might come after him. And this potion will help him conceal his aura and manage the pain."
"So you're saying, what happened to you at his age will happen to him too?"
"Yes."
"I understand. But he will turn eighteen in three years, you came with the potion too early.."
"I have things that have to be done, in order to revive my clan."
"Then, I'm always here if you need help.."
"I don't need your help, it will only put your clan in danger. And I do not want that.." Lord Xu was silent for a moment thinking that his words were true.
"That's all I came for." Then Zhong Tian continued.
"I get it, but aren't you going to see him?"
"No, not until he's strong enough to face the dangers ahead."
"But I know you still care about him. You really don't want to see him?"
"It's for the best… and you're his father now."
"Even so, you're his biological father. I can't indefinitely keep the truth from him."
"A father looks after his child, but I, as the one who abandoned him, don't deserve that title."
"You didn't abandon him. If you had, you wouldn't be here with this potion. Your actions show you care more than you think."
Then Zhong Tian smirked slightly, pausing before he spoke again. "I shall take my leave before the sun rises," he said, moving toward the door.
Lord Xu couldn't help but feel a deep sense of sorrow and regret within him. But just as he was about to leave the room, Lord Xu asked one last question that made Zhong Tian stop in his tracks. "How have you been all these years?"
"Right as rain," he exits the door while Lord Xu watches him go.
…
Near the Xu Clan's main building, Chan Chan and Xu Hanyu used to play in a wild area. Now, as tall teenagers, Chan Chan wears a graceful blue outfit, while Xu Hanyu, the purple streak of his hair has spread, wearing royal purple attire, has sharp features and a gentle demeanor.
The young lady perched on a tree branch, Chan Chan called out to Xu Hanyu, who looked around, confused.
"Psst..! Xu..Hanyu..!"
To get his attention, she dropped a leaf on his head.
When he finally spotted her, he scolded, "How did you get up there? You might fall!"
Chan Chan replied, "I flew up! Want to join me?"
"No, it's safer if you come down," he insisted.
"Later," she said, determined to stay.
"Stop being so hard-headed! Lian jie-jie will be here soon with baozi!" he urged.
At the mention of baozi, Chan Chan's eyes lit up, and she jumped, almost losing her balance. "Baoz–! ahhhhh!" she yelled, forgetting her height.
Xu Hanyu turned just in time to see her falling. In a panic, he rushed to catch her, and they landed with a thud. Dazed, he opened his eyes to find her resting on his chest.
He couldn't help but chuckle a little at the sight, even as he scolded her. "You really are too troublesome.."
While lying on the ground, Xu Hanyu, still holding Chan Chan tightly, heard a familiar voice shout.
"Hanyu'er! Chan'er! I brought the baozi!"