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~ Within the Herziel

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Byakko felt as though n his whole mind turn numb. He looked around, only to find himself in a black space, of emptiness. Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out in his ear, “Just calm down and close your eyes.”

Normally, he would have opposed such an order. However, right now, nothing felt more satisfying than closing his eyes. As he followed the voice’s instructions, he could feel his whole body change. It was getting smaller. His arms and feet were no longer paws as the light of the world dawned on his face again. He opened his eyes to see a wrinkled but gentle and tranquil face.

“Young Master, are you okay?” a soothing and gentle voice sounded out, causing Byakko to be confused.

[Who are you calling out to?] Byakko wondered as he tried to look around but his vision remained stuck. He recalled Lumu’s speech and started to ask, “Lumu, you're here aren’t you?”

“Yes.” Lumu’s voice remained tranquil as he continued, “we won't be able to see each other now, but we can still talk. But try not to ask so many questions. I wish to enjoy the show.”

If Byakko still had his body, the veins on his forehead would have burst by now. He gave a cold snort and continued to focus on the scene in front of his eyes. A worried old woman with white hair and large green eyes, bending down to his laying body.

Shi Yan broke out into a wide smile. “Li En, I got you something.”

The old woman looked at the boy, baffled. There was nothing on him at the moment. However, she continued to ask, “Young Master, what did you get me?”

Shi Yan chuckled, “come closer and I’ll show you.”

Li En brought her head forward, anticipating what the boy would give her. Suddenly, she felt two small and soft arms wrapped around her neck. A delicate and soft sensation rippled on her cheeks. Leading to an adorable laughter. “Hehehe. Did you like my kiss?”

The old woman could not help but break out into a cheeky grin as she hugged the boy up, lifting him into her bosom. She returned a kiss on the boy’s cheek and wiggled her nose against his nose. “Yes, thank you very much, Young Master.”

Without anyone noticing, Lumu started to frown. However, he did not say a word about his dissatisfaction. Instead, he spoke, “Byakko, I'm going to forward this a little. Just to test waters.”

The white tiger understood what the man meant. Regardless, forwarding or not, Byakko had no choice in the matter. Without a care, he nods his head, “sure…”

At the next moment, Shi Yan blinked, it was already dusk. The boy was back with Li En inside their cave. The sound of pounding water was very loudly disrupted by the sound of coughing. *bam!* Li En’s hand abruptly pounded onto the stone table as she desperately clings on for support.

“Li En!” Shi Yan scream with worry. He quickly pushed the chair behind her to force her to sit.

*Cough Cough!* Li En’s entire body turned limp as she laid back to the chair behind her. Her breathing seemed to weaken as she tried her best to call out, “Young Master…”

“Li En! I’m here! I’m here! What do you need? Water?” the boy, terrified, looked around and saw a straw bowl. “Li En! Hold on!” with haste, the boy dashed forward to grab the bowl and ran out to the river side. Meanwhile, within the cave, Li En closed her eyes as her consciousness seemed to drift off, focusing on something else.

When the boy was running, he screamed with distress, “Li En! Li En! I got water!”

The old woman’s eyes slowly opened as her gaze seemed to blur. Her eyes shifted to the corner to focus on the little boy trying to hold up the bowl to her mouth. She muttered, “Young Master…”

Trying to tilt her head to the side to accept the drink, Li En accidentally fell off her chair. Fortunately, Shi Yan was quick to react. Managing to place the bowl onto the table in one swipe and pushing against her body to prevent the inevitable crash.

*Erghh!* Shi Yan clenched his teeth and let out a soft groan. With his small body against a grown woman’s body, it was similar to man trying to push a bull. Beads of sweat started to fall from his forehead as he struggled to push. Very slowly, Li En’s body began to tilt back into the seat. When the boy felt that it was the right time, he gave a final push, managing to return her safely back onto the chair.

“Young Master…” watching the little boy struggle so hard for a old woman like her made her heart filled with warmth. Although Shi Yan is not her child, she would be glad to accept him as her own. The old woman wished that she could carry on living for a few more years to watch this young boy grow into a splendid man. However, she was well aware of her state of health. It was likely that she would be leaving this world soon enough. However, how could she leave a 5 year old to fend for himself?

Her gaze seemed lonely as she thought to herself, [Dear, how I wished that I have passed on before you…] she closed her eyes to have a faint recollection of the past and a small droplet fell from her cheek.

Noticing the glistering liquid on her face, Shi Yan could not help but ask in worry, “Li En, does it hurt?”

The question forced Li En out of her reminiscence as her eyes once again shifted to the corner. In a weak and soft voice, she muttered, “Young Master… I’m fine… I’m just feeling a little tired…”

The young boy gave a nod but it was obvious that something was wrong. However, he was well aware that if he displayed worry, it will spread onto Li En. Sucking it up, the boy tried to look a little more energetic. “Em, Li En, aren’t you thirsty?” Shi Yan tried to pick up the bowl of water again but Li En softly muttered, “Young Master… do not worry. I’m just tired… a little sleep would be nice.”

Shi Yan looked back at the wooden bed with sheep skin at the top. His little chubby face turned a little sour once he realized his inability to carry Li En. He started to look around, to find something else to help him but watching his downed expression Li En could not help expressing her desire to stay on the wooden chair. “Young Master… Sitting on the chair is better for me right now… it hurts if I try to move…”

Shi Yan was well aware of Li En’s lie. After all, the old woman showed no pained expression on her face when she tilted her head. However, he had to reluctantly give up. There was no need to force her to further waste her energy in convincing him.

Lumu continued to frown as he tried again. He got so frustrated that he began to mutter soft curses, “why isn’t it working?”

Being inside the Hertzial, Byakko could strangely hear Lumu’s soft voice as clear as day. He could not help but grin, [serves one right for being so oppressive and stubborn.]

The white tiger soon ignored Lumu’s irritation and continued to focus on feeling the panging pain in his heart. [It is regrettable to praise that bastard but Lumu has really made this whole experience perfect. Everything to the boy’s thoughts and emotions could be heard and felt by us…]

The white tiger sighed with much remorse, [so young yet he has already grown up by so much. I wonder if he had any childhood? Was this woman all he had?]

Shi Yan tried to look as though he didn’t realize Li En’s contrived deception and nodded, “Li En, do you need any blankets or a small fire to keep you warm?”

The old woman replied in an enervate voice, “Young Master… I’m comfortable like this. Thank you…”

Shi Yan could not help to slightly frown. “You cannot say that! Li En, you must keep warm. Even if you do not sleep on the bed, you cannot catch a cold!”

The old woman looked at the boy with the corners of her shivering lips slightly raised. Her heart was filled with a sense of fulfilment as she muttered out, “yes… I guess a blanket would be nice…”

*Em!* Shi Yan nods and moved second wooden chair next to Li En.

The woman who saw the scene cannot bear to softly ask, “Young Master… what are you doing?”

Once Shi Yan had placed the second chair next to Li En, he quickly went to grab the sheepskin on the bed. Preventing it from making contact with the ground, Shi Yan made sure to roll it up before lifting it up on his body. It was only regrettable that with his small stature, he fell back before being able to lift the entire thing up on his shoulder.

“Don’t worry Li En, I got the blanket.” Shi Yan took extremely small steps to move forward. With his face turning slightly red and his legs slightly wobbling, the boy pressed on.

Hearing his heavy breathing and the crashing sound of his fall made Li En aware of the troubles the boy was facing. The whole blanket weight close to 12 kilograms. As a small child, how was it possible for him to carry something as large and as heavy like that? The old woman quickly told him, “Young Master… there is no need for a blanket…”

Naturally, Shi Yan ignored her. He had already travelled past half of the distance already. It would be a waste of effort if he were to head back to the bed.

Hearing the soft rustling sound of his footsteps when he walked pass the straw mat made Li En mutter, “Young Master…” It was common for a servant like her to receive harsh treatments form their master. She had already gotten used to days where she had to work during her weakest moments. It maybe Shi Yan’s own childish naiveness that made him able to be so kind. Nonetheless, it was heartwarming to see someone who could treat her like a slave, still place so much love and care on her.

A widow like her had no children. Even though she had lived a long life, the happiest moments she had were definitely either with her husband or this child. No other moments could compare with the bliss she felt now. The only problem was the lurking worries she had for Shi Yan. What’s going to happen to him in the future once she was gone? Who could possibly take care of him? Although she had already made preparations for that inevitable day, it was still not enough to console the pent-up worries within her. She constantly reminded herself that the boy knew how to cook, read, harvest and hunt. That he would do fine alone in the wilderness but the irksome thought of anything that could injure the child gave Li En a panging pain in her heart.

[Maybe I should bring him to the city…] Li En though but she would steer her heart away from such thoughts because of the consequences. [No… This child should stay away from the world… He should remain hidden as much as possible…]

*Poof* a small gust of wind was produced when Shi Yan finally placed the rolled-up sheepskin on the chair beside Li En. The boy took a few seconds to catch his breath before displaying a radian smile. *hehehe*

[Yes. You certainly did it…] Li En could not help but sigh in her heart as she saw the boy place the blanket onto the chair. Since he had already gone so far for her, she is unable to be reserve. “Young Master… could you help me cover myself?”

“Em!” Shi Yan continued to grin as he slowly rolled out the blanket and placed it over Li En. He was extremely gentle, moving back on forth just to make sure that the blanket did not cause the old woman and form of discomfort.

When Li En saw his hesitating expression, her lips slightly curled and she muttered, “I’m very comfortable already… Young Master, Thank you…”

“Em…” Shi Yan gave an unconvinced sound of acceptance as he gave a final check. Since he was unable affirm if the blankets were at their most comfortable position, he could only reluctantly give up.

Li En was about to close her eyes when she noticed a soft pair of arms hugging her arm. When she opened her eyes, she found the Young Master taking her arm in his embrace. Watching him ready to sleep sitting up, Li En quickly asked in a soft voice, “Young Master, why are you sleeping there?”

Shi Yan placed his cheek onto the old woman’s arm and spoke, “if I sleep on the bed tonight, wouldn’t I catch a cold tomorrow?”

Li En could no rebuke. It was she, herself that told Shi Yan not to sleep without a blanket in case he got sick. However now, her words have came back to bite her, forcing her to accept the boy’s. uncomfortable sleeping posture for the night. Even if she wished to convince the boy otherwise, she understood the boy’s natural disposition and sly nature. He had planned to sleep next to her from the start. Li En could only give a sigh and closed her eyes. “Good night… Young Master…”

“Em! Good night!” Shi Yan gave his last snuggle before closing his eyes to sleep.

As the world turned dark, Byakko also gave a sigh. [how bitter sweat…]

As a Demonic Monster Beast that lived for countless years, he had already experienced all kinds of turbulent emotions. He had turned numb to most pains in this world but there was something he could never let go; Reina his daughter. When the scene before him played out and Shi Yan’s emotions rushed into him, he could feel the little boy’s deep desire or Li En to stay with him. It was similar to how he felt about his daughter… Byakko had always wished to protect her, wished that she would never be hurt or injured because of him. Most of all, wished that she will carry that radiant smile on her chubby face.

While he was reminiscing his daughter, a faint figure that wore white was slowly fainting into his view. When Byakko first saw such that familiar person, his mood completely changed. He gave out a silent snort as his face changed to that of displeasure.

Lumu saw the white tiger in front of him and asked, “So, how was the first day?”

Byakko took a deep breath. “It was much more engaging that I initially thought…”

“Should we move onto the next day or would you like to skip forward into the future?”

Byakko pondered for a while before replying, “I believe we should both watch how things start to develop. I do not think that woman is actually ill…”

For a split second, Lumu frowned but he quickly changes it to show a face of astonishment, “it seems that I have belittled you.”

Byakko gave a grumble, [what do you think I was in the first place?]

Lumu closed his eyes and his body started to vanish again. Meanwhile, Byakko could see that the darkness was slowly clearing up.