Yun Ming smiled kindly at the group of children, tilted his head to shield his eyes from the somewhat dazzling sunlight, and his mind was filled with a myriad of thoughts.
Having traveled over a hundred kilometers, he had indeed arrived on a good day.
The blue skies and white clouds of Minerva District were more peaceful than those of Wei Fei Territory, as the buildings in the street corners and alleys blocked the cold wind.
It was considerably warmer.
However, in comparison, the clothes of these little ones still seemed a bit thin... They were looking for money everywhere, had the story already progressed to this point?
Nicole Demara in the story was a money-grubber; because she had nothing, she couldn't save her best childhood friend.
A protective suit to treat Aether erosion could easily cost millions, and the Orphanage naturally couldn't afford that much money.
Even if they could, they couldn't be irresponsible to the other children.
So, this little girl named Nicole organized all the children in the Orphanage to pick up dinnar and some valuable scrap on the roadside... But how could those things compare to the value of a protective suit? It would take another ten thousand years of collecting to come close.
She couldn't buy hope.
Her best friend's last wish was to see the sunlight outside again, but her sickroom was located in the innermost part of the Orphanage.
So the children held up dinnar, reflecting the sunlight.
Allowing the girl to see hope one last time.
The story ended there, as told by Nicole herself, how much of it was true and how much was false... No one could guess the mind of that cunning rabbit in later generations.
People are always good at smiling while speaking of the most painful scars in their hearts, as if that could prove she no longer cared.
This is a lie.
A round coin traced an elegant arc on the ground, finally clattering to a stop at Yun Ming's feet.
As if it had been meticulously planned.
He cooperatively picked it up and handed it to the pink-haired little girl who had rushed over, appearing to be about the same age as Ling'er.
Two black hair ties, tied into bows, held her pigtails, making the twin ponytails look very cute and well-behaved on the little girl.
It was clear her face had just been washed... there were still some water droplets clinging to the ends of her hair that hadn't been wiped clean, and her chest was heaving, clearly from running in a hurry, only pretending to stumble when she got close.
Details never lie; she wasn't yet the cunning rabbit of the future, meticulous in her actions.
A small setup, seen through at a glance.
However, Yun Ming found it hard to reconcile this adorable girl.
With the future arrogant big sister who defaulted on debts, never succeeded in financial management, had connections in both the underworld and legitimate businesses, and blushed when talking about love.
This time, he had come.
What kind of changes would happen in the girl's life?
"Here you go."
"Thank you, big brother. Are you new? We haven't seen you in Peaceful Street before..."
Nicole blinked, secretly observing the group of three.
Hongdou and Ling'er tacitly remained silent, leaving the next steps to Yun Ming. They could see that the area was already surrounded by the children of the Orphanage.
"Hmm... I'm here to save someone..."
"Where is Gentle Home? Could you please show us the way?"
Clang, clang... Nicole's hand, clutching the dinnar, unconsciously loosened, and her eyes visibly changed rapidly until a tear overflowed.
Director Xu had quietly told her.
Someone had already promised to save Nomi, and soon, very soon... She had always thought it was a lie.
Director Xu had only said that to coax her to sleep.
But until Yun Ming appeared before the girl, even if it was fake, she was willing to believe that he was the one who had come to save Nomi.
She bit her teeth, grabbed Yun Ming's hand, and with all her might, sprinted towards the Orphanage.
"This way!"
Giving no one a chance to react.
In a blink of an eye, Ling'er's big brother was taken away. No, where is he... Someone's being kidnapped in broad daylight!
"Speaking of which, treating erosion sickness, Ling'er was also 'abducted' by him that way, wasn't she..."
"Hmm... Sister Hongdou, it wasn't abduction. Big brother is the best to Ling'er..."
"Then Ling'er, with her puffed-out cheeks, is jealous, afraid he'll bring back another one?"
"No, I'm not."
"That pink-haired little girl just now was very cute."
"Hmm... Ling'er is also very cute!"
Ling'er's cheeks puffed out like little steamed buns, secretly viewing that pink-haired big sister as a competitor.
She clearly deliberately washed herself clean and deliberately threw the coin near big brother; it was obvious she had ulterior motives... A 'green tea' girl... Even if you're pitiful and an orphan.
You're not allowed to treat Ling'er's big brother like that!
Yun Ming is Ling'er's big brother alone!!!
...Gentle Home.
The girl pulled the boy, running recklessly.
Yun Ming, meanwhile, surveyed his surroundings. The Orphanage had no fence; it was a long building, with handmade toys placed in the courtyard.
The corridor walls were adorned with various graffiti.
Very heartwarming.
Although it might not be appropriate to say such a thing in this serious atmosphere, he still wanted to say... classic Japanese anime run.
Today, he also experienced it.
As long as he saved an eroded patient, he could achieve a perfect happy ending. For Yun Ming, a Second Realm expert from Yun Kui Mountain who was already familiar with treating various patients—
It couldn't be easier.
Today was another day of saving Ailidu... Immeasurable merit.
Soon, the two arrived at the deepest room in the Orphanage corridor. Lying on the sickbed was an eight or nine-year-old.
The slightly older girl had somewhat haggard yellow hair, her complexion appeared withered, and she had clearly been tormented by the illness to the point of having not much time left.
Her thin, boneless arms were covered in bandages.
Sitting by the bed was a middle-aged man whose white shirt had turned yellow, his temples already gray. He gently held the girl's hand.
As if to convey courage and hope.
"Will it really get better?"
"I've already found a master from Yun Kui Mountain, Nomi. You'll get better, everything will get better."
"Director Xu is lying again. Didn't you say you begged for a long time, and they didn't respond..."
"No... This time is different. It's a very skilled young master..."
Nomi's face twitched slightly, revealing a not-so-pleasant smile, but the bulging blue veins on her arms still revealed her abnormality.
"Mm, thank you, Director Xu..."
"Director Xu, I... I'm tired, I want to rest for a while..."
She was trembling from the pain, but Director Xu had no choice but to cooperatively pretend not to know, preserving the girl's last shred of dignity.
As he walked out the door, Nomi's suppressed sobs came from the room. Aether erosion was like countless ants tearing at the flesh.
For some patients who could not recover.
Living was not necessarily more comfortable than dying.
But sometimes living is not just for oneself, but also for those who want you to live. The world is so tragic.
Yet within this tragedy, there is an unparalleled beauty hidden.
Yun Ming happened to encounter Director Xu, who was leaning against the doorway, deep in pain and self-reproach. This man, who, according to Uncle Nan... came from a wealthy family, had dedicated half his life to the Orphanage. He had exhausted his family fortune, even going so far as to incur debts.
No one understood what he was after.
Xu Li, Director Xu... The sound of footsteps in the corridor caught his attention. In the past, such urgency usually meant a child had encountered trouble on the street.
He quickly composed himself, only to see his smartest, most talented student, holding a young man's hand.
The girl cried and laughed, laughed and cried, shouting hoarsely.
"Director Xu, he's here... he's here!"
Nicole was incoherent.
She didn't even know the name of the young man behind her; to her, he was hope, and knowing that much was enough.