The reason Zhu Yun chose to run away from home was that she didn't want to trouble her mother anymore.
She didn't understand such complicated matters. She only knew that it was because she had awakened the wrong martial spirit that things had turned out that way.
Perhaps, as those servants said, her mother would be better off if she wasn't around.
So she simply packed her bags and quietly left the house.
For her, who had just turned six, it was the first time she had traveled far without anyone accompanying her.
As expected, she encountered trouble not long after leaving home.
It started pouring rain. All the pedestrians on the road quickly returned home, leaving only her standing on the empty street, looking at the unfamiliar scenery at a loss.
Where else could she go? Should she just go back home like this?
Having only just taken a few steps out of the protection of her home, Zhu Yun lost her way on the road of life.
She had no choice but to find a random eaves to shelter from the rain, praying in her heart that the heavy rain would stop quickly.
During this time, laughter kept coming from the windows beside her. It was a happy family. Through the window, she could see a little girl about her age smiling and acting spoiled in her parents' arms.
Looking at their happy faces and listening to their joyful laughter, Zhu Yun felt her eyes gradually well up.
This scene reminded her of the Zhu family not long ago. At that time, she was also so carefree, but just awakening a martial spirit, everything changed.
Why did happiness disappear so suddenly?
Tears kept rolling down her cheeks. Zhu Yun slowly squatted down on the ground and started to cry loudly.
No one heard her cries. The sound of the heavy rain covered everything. A little girl who had run away from home would not get any attention at all.
— It should have been like this.
"Um... are you okay?"
Suddenly hearing a question by her ear, Zhu Yun subconsciously raised her head. What came into view was the concerned expression of a boy about her age.
She didn't expect to be seen crying so hard. Zhu Yun subconsciously felt a surge of shame and anger. She blurted out:
"I'm fine, don't bother with me!"
However, the boy just smiled awkwardly.
"Your expression doesn't look like you're fine."
As he spoke, he squatted down beside her.
"What's wrong? Did you get lost from your mother?"
"I told you to leave me alone!"
"I'm really just worried about you. You'll catch a cold being outside alone in the heavy rain."
The boy said with a wry smile.
His words struck a soft spot in Zhu Yun's heart.
Before, as long as she cried, someone would definitely come to comfort her and worry about her, but after her martial spirit awakened, all those who cared about her disappeared.
The boy's words made her own words suddenly sharp.
"What about you? Aren't you also staying outside alone in the heavy rain like me? Did you get lost from your mother?"
Hearing her words, a flicker of anger instantly flashed across the boy's face, but he took a deep breath and suppressed the anger, saying indifferently:
"My mother passed away. I just went to visit her grave."
"Ah..."
Even the young Zhu Yun immediately realized that she had said the wrong thing after hearing this.
Her previously high spirits vanished completely, and she stammered:
"I'm sorry..."
"It's okay."
The boy's expression showed that complicated smile again.
"It's been a year, and I've already accepted it. After all, people have to look forward."
"..."
Zhu Yun stared blankly at the boy, speechless for a moment.
He should be about the same age as her, but he seemed much more mature than her.
For some reason, her eyes welled up again. She choked and asked:
"Can you save me? Please."
The boy smiled slightly.
"Tell me what happened to you."
So, next, Zhu Yun told the boy everything about herself.
The boy listened to her story, and the more he listened, the stranger his expression became. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh at the end.
"I didn't expect such a coincidence..."
"Huh?"
Zhu Yun was confused and looked at him doubtfully.
The boy reached out to her and said with a smile:
"Come, give me your hand."
"Okay..."
Zhu Yun didn't understand what the boy wanted to do and obediently placed her hand on his.
Then, she felt a warm current come from the boy's hand, flow into her body, and merge with her soul power.
"Huh?"
Zhu Yun couldn't help but let out a sound of doubt, but before she could ask, the boy let go of her hand and gave her a brilliant smile.
"Okay, I know how to save you. Wait, those who were good to you will definitely come back."
"Really?!"
The doubt that had just risen in Zhu Yun's heart was immediately blown away, and she jumped up on the spot.
"Yes."
The boy nodded gently and extended his hand to her again.
"Come, let me take you home."
"But..."
Zhu Yun hesitated again.
Although the outside world was big and scary, she didn't want to go back and trouble her mother.
"Don't worry."
Facing the hesitant Zhu Yun, the boy said softly:
"Give me a week. I will definitely come to save you in a week. Believe me."
"...Okay."
Zhu Yun hesitated for a moment, but finally took the boy's hand.
The boy's hand was very warm, providing a trace of comfort to her lonely heart.
The boy held her hand and walked through the streets of Star Luo City in the rain. He seemed even more familiar with the location of the Zhu family than she was.
Soon, he brought her to the entrance of the Zhu family. At this time, the Zhu family compound was already in complete chaos.
Seeing Zhu Yun return holding the boy's hand, the guard at the door quickly shouted inside:
"Wait, Miss, she's back!"
Not long after the sound fell, a black figure rushed out from the door, rushed to Zhu Yun's front, and hugged her tightly.
"Xiaoyun, where did you go? You worried your mother to death—"
"Mom..."
Feeling the warmth of her mother's embrace, Zhu Yun's eyes welled up again.
But she didn't cry immediately. Instead, she pointed at the boy and said to her mother:
"Mom, this brother brought me back."
"Oh, thank you... Huh? Wait, you are—"
Zhu Yun's mother wiped her tears and was about to thank him, but the words of gratitude she had prepared suddenly stopped in her mouth. She stared at the boy blankly, as if she had seen someone incredible.
The boy smiled awkwardly:
"Well... Madam, perhaps you don't believe it, but this is really a coincidence."
"...I understand."
Zhu Yun's mother was silent for a moment, then let go of Zhu Yun, stood up, and bowed solemnly to the boy.
"Anyway, thank you for bringing Xiaoyun back."
"You're welcome."
The boy waved his hand and said:
"Then I'll go back first. See you in a week."
"Okay."
Zhu Yun's mother did not try to keep him and just watched him leave.
Zhu Yun looked at the boy in confusion, then at her mother in confusion, and asked:
"Mom, do you know him?"
"Yes."
Zhu Yun's mother lovingly rubbed her daughter's little head and said softly:
"His name is Huo Yuhao, and he is someone who might become your future husband, Xiaoyun."