Zhang Ye had a dream. He dreamed of a courtyard where many children were playing, and he had become a child as well.
However, he didn’t play with the other children. Instead, he crouched in a corner, watching it all unfold.
Suddenly, a little girl he had never seen before ran over and asked him, “What are you doing?”
The little girl was entirely white—white skin, white eyelashes, short white hair, and a small white shirt and shorts. Except for her blood-red eyes, everything about her was white.
She looked so pure and flawless.
He stared at her blankly for a moment before stammering, “You... you can... see me?”
“I can.” The little girl blinked and asked again, “What are you doing?”
He shook his head wordlessly.
“Why aren’t you playing with them?”
He looked toward the other children, his eyes filled with hope, but then his gaze darkened. He shook his head again and remained silent.
“Then I’ll play with you!”
“Really?” He couldn't help but look up, his eyes wide with surprise.
“Really! Come on, let’s go catch small fish by the river!”
“Grandpa Director... won’t let me...” He shook his head hesitantly.
“Oh, it’s fine!” Without another word, the little girl grabbed his hand and ran toward the river. As they ran, she asked, “What’s your name?”
“Zhang... Zhang Ye...”
“That’s a very nice name.”
Looking at the little girl’s brilliant smile, he summoned his courage and asked, “What... what’s your name?”
“You can call me Xiao Bai!”
“Xiao Bai?”
“It’s Xiao Bai. Call me Xiao Bai.”
“Oh...”
...
“Xiao Bai...” he murmured, opening his eyes.
Eh?
He sat up abruptly, feeling a bit dazed.
Was that... a dream?
Was it just a dream? Or was it a memory from his childhood?
His memories before the age of sixteen were a complete blank. According to the doctor, he had amnesia. But what was that dream just now? Could it be a past memory? Or was it just a simple dream?
Feeling confused, he tried hard to recall it, only to find that everything in the dream seemed to be fading away. Within moments, he could no longer clearly remember what had happened.
He only remembered that there was a girl named Xiao Bai.
But he forgot what she looked like, who she was, and all the memories associated with her. Yet, he vaguely felt that she held an extraordinary significance to him.
“Xiao Bai...” he whispered, as if trying to etch those two syllables into his mind. Suddenly, he turned his head.
“Wait, where’s Leona?” he cried out in alarm. “Ella? Ella!”
“I’m here,” Ella’s figure manifested.
“Where’s Leona?” Zhang Ye asked.
“I don’t know,” Ella shook her head. “After you lost consciousness, I couldn't manifest a physical form, so I don’t know anything. However, most of your injuries have healed. Leona must have cured you... Pfft!” As Ella spoke, her gaze drifted to the top of Zhang Ye’s head, and she almost burst out laughing.
Zhang Ye didn't notice.
“My injuries...” Zhang Ye finally realized his wounds were almost completely healed. His hands were still a bit numb, but a current of mana was still flowing through them, continuing the healing process. He believed his hands would soon return to normal.
But... Leona was gone.
He suddenly felt a sense of loss. It felt as if he had been abandoned, as if... everything he had done had been for nothing...
But he quickly forced a smile. “It’s fine. This way, I don’t have to take care of her every day anymore...”
“Oh? Are you tired of me?” Before he could finish his sentence, a tall figure appeared at the cave entrance. A sultry voice drifted in, and Zhang Ye froze, looking toward the opening.
The sunlight from the entrance spilled over her, outlining her with a hazy glow. She was beautiful.
Leona walked straight up to Zhang Ye and leaned down, bringing her face close to his.
Their faces were so close that Zhang Ye could even feel Leona’s warm breath, causing him to instinctively pull back his neck.
“Then why did you save me?” Leona asked bluntly.
Zhang Ye was stunned for a moment before asking back, “Does saving someone... need a reason?”
Leona froze in place, staring at Zhang Ye blankly.
“Need a reason...” she murmured, and then her lips curled into a grin. “Hahaha!”
“It doesn't!” A bold smile broke across her face as she slapped Zhang Ye’s shoulder hard. “Not bad, kid!”
Zhang Ye immediately grimaced in pain. Leona was too strong; those two slaps nearly sent him face-first back onto the ground.
“Ow, ow, ow...” He hissed through his teeth.
Leona laughed heartily, then turned and walked toward the exit. “Let’s go!”
“Go where?” Zhang Ye blinked.
Leona turned back, looking at him with a smile. “Didn't you want me to teach you magic?”
“Eh?” Zhang Ye stared at her blankly, his expression suddenly turning awkward. “You... you could hear everything?”
“I could.” Leona nodded, then gave a meaningful smile. “Someone was saying while I was unconscious that I should marry him to repay the favor? Who was that, I wonder?” She bit her lip, feigning confusion, but her beautiful eyes remained fixed on Zhang Ye with a teasing glint.
Zhang Ye took a step back, his face flushing red as he scratched the back of his head and laughed awkwardly. “I was just joking...”
Before he could finish, Leona flashed in front of him and grabbed his collar again, pulling him close.
“This lady doesn't like joking around!” With that, she turned around. Fierce flames erupted from her body, forming a lion’s claw that clamped onto Zhang Ye’s head, lifting him up as she walked out.
“I’m cooked, I’m cooked... Wait, it’s not hot?” Seeing the lion’s claw made of flames on his head, Zhang Ye instinctively thought he was going to be burned, but the flame claw wasn't hot at all. On the contrary, it was quite warm.
Wait, hold on!
Where’s my hair?!
Zhang Ye was shocked to discover that he was bald!
I’m bald, but I haven’t become any stronger?!
He wanted to cry but had no tears. It seemed that while he was channeling mana into Leona, his hair had been singed off by the heat...
Leona strode forward without looking back, saying as she walked, “Your talent is the most monstrous I’ve ever seen. In just a few days, you went from an ordinary person with no mana to Tier Four. Also, you stole all your magic from me, didn't you?”
“Uh...” Zhang Ye gave a sheepish smile. “How can a scholar’s actions be called stealing? It’s... purloining.”
Leona: “...”
She laughed loudly. “Interesting!”
“You must be an Otherworlder,” Leona said.
“Eh?” Zhang Ye was surprised. How did she know?
Leona explained, “You don’t have the aura of this world on you. You must have come from another world. Otherworlders always have some strange abilities, so it’s not that surprising.”
“Is that so? Are there many Otherworlders like me?” Zhang Ye asked, pointing to himself, completely forgetting that he was currently being carried by his head by Leona’s lion claw.
“Not many. And while Otherworlders have miraculous abilities, you’re the first one I’ve seen who is such a freak of nature,” Leona said. Then she turned her head, a smile appearing on her exquisite face. “Kid, it’s not easy to be my man. You’d better be prepared.”
“Eh?” Zhang Ye looked at her, and after a long moment, it finally clicked. He looked excited. “You really want to marry me?!”
Leona shook her head. “It’s not that I want to marry you, but whether you can make me want to marry you.”
She smiled and said, “My name is Leona, Leona Salomon. And you?”
Zhang Ye gave a brilliant smile.
“My name is Zhang Ye.”
“Zhang, as in resplendent!”
“Ye, as in brilliant!”
“An interesting Eastern name.” Leona nodded, then continued, “I’ve given you the chance. I only have one requirement.”
“Get stronger!”
“Strong enough to defeat me!”
“Only then will I consider whether or not to marry you.”
“No problem!” Zhang Ye said excitedly. “With my leveling speed, I’ll surpass you in no time!”
“Is that so?” Leona laughed heartily. “I shall wait and see!”
...
...
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