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After finishing this sumptuous dinner, Xiao Ju lay on Zeng Yi's shoulder, and Zeng Yi walked on the nighttime street with Yan Que. The night breeze blew gently, brushing their clothes and hair.
"Are you full? If not, I can buy something for you," Zeng Yi asked, looking at Yan Que who was walking beside him with her head down.
Yan Que shook her head, "I'm full."
"Oh, where are you going now? Are you going home?" Zeng Yi asked again.
Upon hearing this, Yan Que fell silent and didn't speak.
Seeing her like this, Zeng Yi couldn't help but think about her past experiences and sighed inwardly.
It seems she doesn't have a home anymore!
"How about you come stay with me in the hotel for a night?"
Still, Yan Que didn't speak and continued to follow him silently with her head down. This situation puzzled Zeng Yi.
It's really hard to guess what's on a little girl's mind!
The two of them walked in silence on the street, creating an awkward atmosphere.
"Big brother, are you a soul master?" After a long while, Yan Que's crisp voice broke the awkwardness and she asked Zeng Yi.
"A soul master? Yes, why?" Zeng Yi instinctively answered.
Hearing Zeng Yi's affirmation, Yan Que became more certain. Her eyes hesitated and struggled for a moment, but soon they became firm.
This is the only chance she has, and she has no other choice. She must seize this opportunity!
Thinking of this, Yan Que gritted her teeth, quickly ran to Zeng Yi's front, and knelt down in front of him.
Her actions shocked Zeng Yi. He was about to speak, but she spoke first.
"Big brother, please accept me as your disciple! I know what I'm doing is wrong, using your kindness towards me as a threat. But, I have no other options. I must become stronger!" Yan Que quickly said what she wanted to say, and then she bowed deeply to Zeng Yi. The sound of her head hitting the ground could be clearly heard by Zeng Yi.
"Please, you must agree. I have great talent! I have innate Rank Nine spirit power, not inferior to anyone else. I can even cook and do laundry, even if you accept me as a servant. Just teach me cultivation! I must become stronger, I must!"
Yan Que's forehead pressed tightly against the cold ground, trembling all over. She was afraid, afraid that Zeng Yi would refuse. She pleaded with him, her voice choked with sobs.
Watching the girl kneeling in front of him, her thin body trembling, Zeng Yi's gaze became sharp and cold.
He could easily imagine her story. Having innate Rank Nine spirit power, although not on par with full innate spirit power, it was still an incredibly strong talent. Awakening spirit power at the age of six, and now Yan Que was eight years old, it took her two years to advance to Rank Ten. If she didn't become a soul master, it definitely wasn't because of a lack of talent. Could her talent be worse than Zeng Yi's own innate Rank Four spirit power?
It was obvious how much suffering and hardship she had endured over the years. All because she was a commoner while those useless people were nobles?
If it weren't for her luck of encountering Zeng Yi, she might never have become a soul master in her lifetime.
After all, she had innate Rank Nine spirit power. In the entire Douluo Continent, there were only a few people who could compare.
These people are truly despicable!
Thinking of this, an intense killing intent surged in Zeng Yi's heart. In his eyes, these noble oppressors, who did nothing and bullied the weak, were all undeserving of pity.
Zeng Yi didn't let her stand up. If she wanted to become stronger, there were no shortcuts. Relying on the extravagance of others couldn't make one a powerful person. If one couldn't face their own cowardice and only wanted to become stronger, it was just a laughable dream.
"Lift your head and look into my eyes," Zeng Yi said sternly.
Hearing this stern tone, Yan Que couldn't help but panic. Did her behavior anger this big brother?
Indeed, using someone's kindness towards oneself to make such a request was too wilful. It was already a great favor for this big brother to help her, but she hadn't considered his perspective at all and only thought of her own interests.
Thinking this way, Yan Que trembled and raised her head, meeting the gaze of Zeng Yi, who stood before her with his deep, black eyes.
Looking into her determined eyes, which contained some timidity and fear, but still able to meet his gaze head-on, Zeng Yi was quite satisfied.
"Why do you want to become my disciple? Just to become stronger?" Zeng Yi asked calmly, still with a serious expression.
Upon hearing this, Yan Que couldn't help but feel joy. The big brother actually said this, which meant he was willing to accept her as his disciple, as long as her answer satisfied him.
"I want to become stronger so I can seek revenge for my mother! I will repay what he did to me and my mother!" Yan Que said to Zeng Yi, her voice filled with strong hatred. Her voice even became hoarse towards the end. Zeng Yi could clearly feel her boundless hatred and the grief within her.
However, this plot seems so familiar. It's like those protagonist stories in web novels, abandoned by the family, relying on her mother for survival, but hated by others due to her outstanding talent. The road was very arduous. But in the end, she obtained a cheat or an old grandpa, fulfilled the prophecy of being the chosen one, and rose from obscurity to become the strongest?
But then again, am I not the protagonist as the transmigrator? Can this be believed?
Right! Tang San was also a transmigrator, and it seems he is the protagonist of Douluo.
Zeng Yi looked at the determined eyes of Yan Que and couldn't help but think, could she also be a transmigrator? Is she the true protagonist?
Then what about me? Am I an external assist, or rather, an old grandpa?
Thinking of this, Zeng Yi felt a chill in his heart.
"If it's just for that, then I can't accept you as my disciple," Zeng Yi replied calmly. Although he had been thinking about some unrelated matters earlier, he genuinely listened to what Yan Que had said.
And Zeng Yi's words, like a huge boulder, shattered the last straw in her heart, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably, as if she fell into an endless abyss, extremely cold, unable to feel any warmth.
"Why?" Yan Que's empty eyes showed no signs of life as she stared blankly at Zeng Yi in front of her and murmured.
"Why? Are you only seeking strength for revenge?" Zeng Yi's face showed no pity as he calmly asked.
"Shouldn't I? Shouldn't he die? If it weren't for him, my mother wouldn't have brought me, a young child, to this city, enduring the contempt of others, and eventually died from exhaustion. Do I have any faults in hating him? He couldn't even protect his own woman, why did he cling to my mother back then? Why? Shouldn't he die? What's wrong with seeking revenge!" Yan Que's delicate cheeks instantly contorted, her palm gripping tightly onto the ground, tearing her skin and flesh, staining the ground red. She screamed at Zeng Yi, full of hatred, her voice becoming hoarse.
A crisp slap echoed.
Zeng Yi slapped Yan Que's face, causing her brain to momentarily blank.
"So you only want to become stronger for such shallow reasons? Ridiculous!" Zeng Yi grabbed her collar, lifting Yan Que to his face, his eyes sharp as he looked at her, and said coldly.
"Relying solely on this revenge mentality to become stronger will never lead to becoming a powerful individual. If you cling to this mentality, you will eventually be consumed by your own flames of hatred, do you understand?"
"This is the thinking of a weakling. If you only hold onto this kind of thinking, your entire life will be like this." Zeng Yi said, then he let go of Yan Que's collar, and she fell weakly to the ground.
Looking at the girl lying on the ground, her gaze dazed and lifeless after being struck by his words, Zeng Yi couldn't help but sigh.
Did I go too far with my words? It seems I'm not very suitable to be a teacher!
However, your thinking is definitely wrong!
"Think carefully! Is it really just the resentment for revenge that has kept you going until now?"
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