Chapter 3: Youth

Alright, I will trust you this once. The brothers and I are heading back to drink. When you come over tomorrow, we will have robe meat said Zhang Xiaopang as he signaled for those around him to leave slowly, including Li Ping, who did not linger for a moment and left together with Zhang Xiaopang

Clearly, he has been enduring all along, constantly yielding, even if he goes hungry and is poorly clothed, he has never complained, living strongly. Yet the other party... actually wants to put him to death

However, what he did not expect was that today, upon arriving here, Li Ping proposed that the two of them play a game of building a thatched hut, to see who could build it faster and better

Lin Yun suddenly opened his eyes. He was timid, yet not foolish; he was tolerant, yet fully aware in his heart

Hmph, it is best this way. If I find out that you have deceived me, I will make you pay for it. Alright, these six barrels of water should go in; not to mention a robe, even a wooden wolf would be rendered lifeless. But it is quite strange, how could there be a thatched cottage here, and how could a robe have crawled inside it?

Just as his consciousness was about to fade into oblivion, he suddenly heard a voice coming from outside.

To speak frankly, he is indeed afraid in his heart; on one hand, he fears that something might happen to the child, and on the other hand, he fears that his second uncle will blame him

At first, it was quite good. But everything changed in the year he turned six

At this moment, Lin Yun in the thatched cottage had already fallen into a deep coma

He began to struggle desperately, shouting, but could only emit muffled sounds.

"Why, why does Ping Ge treat me this way?" His voice was very youthful, and within that youthfulness, it revealed his confusion and a sense of heartache

In response to this, Lin Yun was overjoyed

The man grumbled as he walked out of the house

A ten-year-old child is at an age characterized by greed; in their consciousness, the distinction between right and wrong is not so clear. Regarding Li Ping's actions, Lin Yun feels nothing but gratitude and excitement.

He wanted to struggle, to shout, but his limbs were bound, and his mouth was stuffed with a pile of weeds. Instinctively, he felt that he had encountered a villain

He does not understand why, if he truly encountered a villain, such cruel means would be used against him

In his gaze, under the illumination of the starlight, it appeared even more dazzling, filled with an indescribable essence

However, within just three days, the young man in this household, Li Ping, seemed to have transformed into a different person, treating him with kindness. Not only would he take the initiative to offer him food, but he would also invite him to play together.

Therefore, he has always held himself to extremely strict standards, not daring to transgress even in the slightest, and has consistently been one to endure adversity with compliance

Li Ping, are you sure there is a roe deer in here

In an instant, Lin Yun felt an overwhelming sense of grievance in her heart

Had I known it would be like this, I should not have agreed to the Second Master in the first place. This is not adoption at all; it is clearly a matter of being a debt collector.

It is indeed said to be a thatched cottage, but in reality, it is merely a small house without any framework

At first, it was his son who would tease him for no reason, deny him food, and indirectly humiliate him, even to the point of hitting and scolding. The male master would only say a few words symbolically, and later on, he would not care at all, sometimes even personally resorting to violence, hitting and scolding Lin Yun

The clothing belongs to a boy who is the only one left in this family, specifically the eldest son, Li Ping

Moreover, it has long been submerged by the river, and not only is it unsuitable for sleeping, but even approaching it would make one feel quite uncomfortable. Therefore, he could only stand beneath this large tree, silently gazing at the sky

Behind it, there is a thatched cottage

Indeed, this child is the one who was scolded by that father and son earlier, and he is also the child whom the monk from Tianlong Temple entrusted to this place ten years ago

Zhang Xiaopang asked in confusion

He simply believes that what he has done is not good enough

Li Ping swore solemnly, and although his voice still trembled, it had improved significantly.

His name is Lin Yun

Li Ping ... ... this is to end one's own life

Thus, he worked himself to the bone, but by the time he completed the task, there was no sign of Li Ping.

However, this family has the surname Li, so Lin Yun has known since childhood that he is merely an outsider

Just as he was trying to use all his strength to break free, he suddenly discovered that a stream of clear water was flowing in through the cracks of the thatched cottage. Soon, the water increased, and coupled with the fact that the straw was already not breathable, after being soaked by the water and subjected to high temperatures, Lin Yun, who was trapped inside, gradually began to lose consciousness and felt a sense of suffocation

Then, when he opened his eyes again, he found himself already bound within the thatched hut he had constructed himself

I am just a child, aren't I? In his memory, those ruthless and vicious people are all terrifying figures, towering and menacing, capable of sending one into a state of utter despair with just a single blow. Why must one endure such torment?

This... may have been built by someone passing by who stopped here to rest. As for that robe, I saw with my own eyes that its legs have been broken. It must have thought it would be safer hidden inside this hut.

After the male head of the household took his eldest son out for a while, his attitude changed.

Thus, the more this is the case, the more he understands in his heart, daring not to speak much or interject frequently. When eating, he is always only half full, as long as he is not hungry, he never seeks more from this family.

He felt that his long-standing acquiescence had finally moved this family and touched this young man

Outside the city of Liusu, beside the Liusu River, a small figure is curled up beneath a large tree, silently gazing at the starry sky

It is Li Ping's voice

That feeling is akin to gazing upon an endless starry sky, profound and dark, yet it seems to stir the heart, as the eyes move, imparting an indescribable sense of refreshment

... ...

Especially today, it is said that he will be brought to this river to catch wild game

However, after stepping out, a barely noticeable look of panic finally appeared on his son's face

However, this wait has unknowingly turned into a deep slumber.

Lin Yun silently endured everything

In an instant, Lin Yun's consciousness regained a glimmer of awareness; he recognized that the person speaking was a child who often bullied him in the town, named Zhang Xiaopang, who was indeed as his name suggested, a chubby boy

When ... ... of course, you hear ... ... this whimpering sound, it is clearly when we were flooding, making him feel uncomfortable. What, Zhang Xiaopang, are you not ... ... afraid, are you?

One's own misfortunes also follow suit

"Stay at home and wait. After your mother returns, tell her to rest early. I will go find that boy," said the middle-aged man somewhat uneasily.

In a state of fear, coupled with the sweltering heat, he took refuge in the shade beside the thatched hut he had constructed, waiting.

This name was later conveyed by the old monk to his own nephew after he descended the mountain