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Four years ago, the Stark Valley was once a land full of life where people possessing different magical elements lived peacefully. Fruit-bearing trees were everywhere as well as colorful flowers that filled the air with their fragrances. It was once called "The Valley of Life."
It was a fine morning, many people were busy with their everyday lives. A child around six years old was sitting on the grass while watching those who were busy practicing their elements with dreams of going to the Mountain of Glory and become a disciple.
Suddenly, the clear blue sky darkened and the parents of the child immediately ran towards him but it was too late as a terrifying creature appeared out of nowhere and landed on the ground, stepping and crushing the beautiful and fragile flowers with its large claws. The creature had a huge body and four legs. Its tail was long as well as its neck. It also had a horn on its forehead and huge wings. The boy couldn't move from his position.
"Wei Shun! Run and don't look back!" The child's father shouted pushing his son away.
"Go! Always remember...we love you." His mother said with tears in her eyes.
The poor child walked a few steps away from them and looked back. He didn't move and just cried. He looked at his parents and the people around him who were in a panic.
The legendary creature started to spit fire, burning their houses and the surrounding area. The people fought back using their elements but the creature was too strong and defeated them.
The child stood frozen in place and looked at his parents who ran in his direction. The creature fired a huge ball of fire aiming at the child. The child's mother summoned a large fire dragon and it shielded the child against the ball of fire. While his father immediately pushed him towards a small hole under the ground. The last thing he saw before he was surrounded by darkness was his parents fighting the creature and on top of the creature was a man, a man wearing a mask.
When he opened his eyes, he immediately went out of the hole and what he saw terrified him, a land with no trace of life. There were glowing embers on the ground. He looked for his parents and friends but he couldn't find them. The smoke was too thick and the wind was too strong carrying some ashes away.
He was surrounded by roaring flames but he couldn't feel the hotness of his surroundings for coldness was slowly creeping into his life. He was all alone. The place he once called home where he shared his dreams with his parents and friends was now a land full of nightmares. He blamed himself if only he could defend himself and others. If only he was strong enough...
"There's a survivor here!" was the last thing he heard before losing consciousness.
--- excerpt from the novel “Daybreak”---
"Are you alright, Wei Shun?" Yu Zeng asked the child.
"Yes, big brother." He smiled warmly at Yu Zeng. I am not alone now. I will do everything to protect my big brother.
"Congratulations Wei Shun! You won. I'm so proud of you." Yu Zeng couldn't contain his happiness but something suddenly caught his attention while looking at the small and cute face of the child. He gathered a handful of water and immediately placed it on Wei Shun's cheek to heal his bruise.
"Does it still hurt?" He asked the child.
"No, big brother. Thank you." Wei Shun hugged Yu Zeng but his knee accidentally touched Yu Zeng's wound. Yu Zeng grimaced in pain.
"I'm sorry, big brother." Wei Shun was worried.
"It's okay. It's not really painful." Yu Zeng checked the wound on his leg and placed some water on the wound and concentrated. The pain disappeared and the wound was starting to heal.
"Congratulations, Wei Shun!" Heng Guiying placed his hand on the child's shoulder.
"Thank you, big brother." Wei Shun glanced at Heng Guiying and returned his attention to Yu Zeng who was tending his wound on his leg.
Fan Chun who suffered from light burns was helped by two disciples to stand. I feel sorry for him. I hope he gets better soon but what he said to Wei Shun was unforgivable. Yu Zeng thought. He looked at his wound which was almost healed. He could no longer feel pain in his leg.
.
.
.
.
.
The grandmaster, Zhou Zhihao went to the center of the stadium emitting a cold aura around him.
"Congratulations to the winners of the first stage. We will meet here again tomorrow for the announcement of the matches for the next stage." Zhou Zhihao flew and left.
Yu Zeng tried to stand but lost his balance when he accidentally tripped over a small rock on the ground.
"Are you alright? For sure, your wound is still painful. Don't push yourself too much." Heng Guiying immediately caught him and without a second thought carried him in a princess carry style.
Do I look okay? Yu Zeng was crying inside. You should treat the heroine like this and not me. Why am I always carried like this ah? He looked at the rock on the ground. How come I didn't notice it a while ago?
"I can walk by myself. You can let go of me now. My wound in my leg is almost healed." Yu Zeng said.
Heng Guiying didn't listen to him and just continued carrying him.
Mei Shu who was sitting a few seats away from them couldn't help but glare at Yu Zeng. Playing a damsel in distress again, aren't you, Yu Zeng?
Dong Fang looked away and left the place without saying anything.
What's wrong with the villain? He looked angry. Yu Zeng could feel the strange gazes coming from the other disciples. He looked at Wei Shun who was silently walking next to Heng Guiying while looking at the ground.
"Yu Zeng, let me take care of you. Okay?" Ai Jin who was standing next to Heng Guiying said while smiling at him.
Yu Zeng noticed Mei Shu walking in their direction. He felt the hand of the protagonist tightened his hold around his waist.
"Hello, Yu Zeng! Thanks for the match. I hope you get better soon." She said coldly.
"Thanks." Yu Zeng smiled awkwardly.
"Can we talk?" Mei Shu asked Ai Jin.
"Talk about what?" Ai Jin smiled at Mei Shu.
"I have something to tell you." Mei Shu glanced at Yu Zeng, then she looked at Ai Jin.
"Okay." Ai Jin controlled herself not to roll her eyes in front of Mei Shu. This is my chance to show my sweet side to both Yu Zeng and Heng Guiying. You better make sure this is something important.
"Not here." Mei Shu said.
"I will see you later." Ai Jin said to Yu Zeng and Heng Guiying. Then, she followed Mei Shu.
Heng Guiying walked away from the place while carrying Yu Zeng; Wei Shun followed them.
"Let's stay in my room." Heng Guiying smiled at Yu Zeng.
"Why are you taking me to your room?" Yu Zeng's eyes widened when they stopped at the door of the assigned room of Heng Guiying.
"I will take care of you." Heng Guiying looked at him in the eyes.
"I can take care of myself." Yu Zeng tried to avoid his gaze by closing his eyes.
"...or do you like me to stay in your room?" Heng Guiying whispered to him.
"You can put me down and go back to your room." Yu Zeng felt his breath in his ears; he opened his eyes and tried to go down but no matter how he struggled, the protagonist would not let him go. Why is the protagonist acting this way?
Heng Guiying didn't listen to Yu Zeng and opened the door to the next room where they saw Dong Fang lying on Yu Zeng's bed.
"Did you change your bed?" Heng Guiying scanned the room and saw two empty beds.
"Not really." Yu Zeng answered.
Dong Fang stood up and glared at Heng Guiying who was still carrying Yu Zeng.
"Aren't you going to put him down?" Dong Fang asked and went to his bed.
"What if I don't." Heng Guiying tightened his hold on Yu Zeng.
Wei Shun just stood still at the side and didn't dare to utter a word nor make any movement. I need to become stronger to protect big brother from them.
"I will stay here. I will take care of you... like how you took care of me." Heng Guiying winked at Yu Zeng and put him on the empty bed.
Yu Zeng gathered a handful of water and immediately placed it over the wound on his leg which completely healed it.
Thank goodness. "I'm healed now. You can go back to your room." Yu Zeng said to Heng Guiying.
Dong Fang who was lying on his bed smiled when he heard what Yu Zeng said.
"Okay. But I will come again to check on you." Heng Guiying was a bit hesitant to go out.
"There's no need for that." Yu Zeng looked at his leg.
Heng Guiying didn't reply and just left the room with a serious expression on his face.
"Big brother, I will go outside to practice." Wei Shun told Yu Zeng.
"You need to take a rest first Wei Shun." Yu Zeng said.
"It's alright, big brother. See you later." Wei Shun went out of the room.
Yu Zeng looked around the room and saw the villain sleeping on his bed. He decided to go out and went to the hot spring to soak.
The place was quiet. He smiled and took off his clothes before soaking into the hot spring. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"You should have invited me."
Yu Zeng almost jumped out of the water when he heard a familiar voice behind him.
The villain? I thought he was sleeping?
He turned around and saw Dong Fang leaning on a tree.
"I don't want to wake you up and disturb your sleep." Yu Zeng wanted to walk away.
"Oh... Is that so?" Dong Fang walked towards the hot spring and took off his clothes. Yu Zeng couldn't take his eyes off Dong Fang's body.
(...to be continued.)
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...reviews are welcome! :)
Author's notes:
Do I look okay? Yu Zeng was crying inside. You should treat the heroine like this and not me.
Author: ...you are the heroine? ♪♪ ♪😉😊
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He looked at the rock on the ground. How come I didn't notice it a while ago?
Rock: "..." Sorry man, just doing my job.
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Thank you for reading and for subscribing. ❤️ I hope you like this chapter. :)
Feel free to check my other stories. 💕
Spoiler for the next chapter:
"The second match for the next stage will be Yu Zeng from East Sect against Dong Fang from South Sect." Zhou Zhihao said with a nonchalant expression on his face.
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