The blue-haired boy still clutching his stomach in the back widened his eyes before frowning slightly.
"Huh? How am I rude?" he muttered in protest, his expression a little awkward.
The young girl quickly turned to look at him, her gaze subtly scolding, as if to tell him to stop talking. Then she turned back to face Liang Yi once again.
Liang Yi stared at the girl in front of her with an assessing gaze, her eyes calm as if weighing a decision.
"Is that your brother?" she asked plainly, her eyes thoughtful. She looked at both the blue-haired boy and the sweet-faced girl. Though they shared a slight resemblance, they gave off completely different vibes.
"I don't know if you're telling the truth or not," she said coldly. "But if he dares to trouble me again, I will not spare his life."
The boy swallowed instinctively while the girl quickly nodded earnestly.
"I promise! My brother won't bother you again," she said with an awkward smile, glancing at her brother with a warning look.
The boy sighed softly and raised his hand. "Alright, alright. I won't annoy you again… at least not today."
Liang Yi stared at him with an icy gaze before she flicked her sleeve and turned to walk away without saying another word.
The boy let out a sigh of relief and turned to smile at the girl. "You came just in time. Otherwise, I might've been buried alive for real."
The girl glanced at him and shook her head slightly. "You still have the nerve to joke!"
Liang Yi walked forward past the two middle-aged men who were slowly sitting up. They looked rather battered, their bodies worn and weary, though not to the point of being completely defeated. Their tired forms stirred upon the scorching sand.
She glanced briefly behind her at the pair of siblings. Their clothing made it clear they were not from Egypt, just like her. She had no idea what they were doing here, but Liang Yi didn't concern herself with that. She had more important matters to attend to she had to finish her task and find Xin Tingting. The girl might have already traveled far or could be hiding nearby.
Liang Yi turned her gaze forward again, picked up a hardened bone rod, slung it over her shoulder, then looked straight at the middle-aged man nearest to her. She spoke with a chilling tone.
"You two do you want to kill a stranger like me? If you do, then get up and fight!"
Her voice was cold as the polar ice. She raised the large bone high and struck it down near the man, hitting the sand with a heavy thud. He squeezed his eyes shut in fear. But after a moment passed and no pain followed, he slowly opened them and saw that the bone hadn't hit him. He exhaled a breath of relief, though his eyes remained fixed on Liang Yi.
"Don't be afraid. I don't plan to kill you. Take it," she said calmly and let the bone drop to the sand before turning to leave. Just then, a voice rang out nearby.
"Liang Yi, I'm back."
Xin Tingting walked in with a warm smile, gently holding a baby close to her chest. Her manner was tender, as if afraid the child might be hurt.
"I just found a baby earlier. He was covered in poison, so I helped him. It looks like he was abandoned by his parents, so I brought him along."
As she spoke, she looked down at the child in her arms with gentle eyes. Her pale, delicate fingers stroked his soft head. The baby's fine hair clung to his smooth forehead. His cheeks were white and flawless like jade, his big round eyes sparkled with innocent curiosity as they blinked slowly, taking in the surroundings.
He let out a soft whimper, shifting his round head toward Xin Tingting, curling against her chest for warmth. His tiny hands opened slowly, fingers stretching awkwardly as if trying to reach out for something. She watched his gestures fondly, her eyes glowing with affection as she cradled him tighter.
"A baby?" Liang Yi frowned with suspicion. She stared at the child in Xin Tingting's arms thoughtfully. When her eyes landed on the white fabric wrapping the small body, her eyes widened slightly the cloth looked similar to the one her mother once used to cover her baby brother. Though time had turned it into an ordinary garment, the resemblance was striking.
A thought flashed through Liang Yi's mind uncontrollably. She stared at the baby, her lips pressed tightly together, feeling as if long-buried memories were awakening once again.
"Yes," Xin Tingting nodded, still gazing at the baby with tenderness. "But I don't know what to name him yet. I'll need some time to think."
She stared intently at the baby's little face while gently caressing his soft cheek. The baby looked back at her with clear, trusting eyes, still waving his little hands as if reaching out.
Then, as if changing topics suddenly, Xin Tingting looked up with a determined smile. "Right! I think we should hurry and set off. I want to find the magical artifact as soon as possible."
Her words pulled Liang Yi from her thoughts. She nodded, even though countless unanswered questions still lingered in her mind. But for now, what mattered most was to move forward, no matter the reason.
"Mm~ I agree," Liang Yi nodded in response. She silently walked beside Xin Tingting. Yet as they continued on, her eyes occasionally drifted to the baby in her friend's arms.
She tried to suppress her thoughts but couldn't stop comparing. If this baby really were her lost brother, why did he seem more mature than he should? Her brother should only be a little over a month old, yet this child seemed far stronger and more developed than normal. Although his body was still tiny, some features including the shape of his face resembled him strangely.
Doubt slowly grew in Liang Yi's heart, but she couldn't conclude anything yet. In the end, she could only push her feelings deep down and continue walking…
A girl with jet-black hair ran up swiftly to Liang Yi and Xin Tingting, stopping to catch her breath before lifting her head. Her big, round eyes were full of hope and hesitation.
"Wait! Umm… Can my brother and I travel with you?"
Her voice carried a hint of pleading, and she quickly added:
"We come from a very distant place and don't know much about the outside world. If we travel with you, we'll feel a bit safer. There are only two of us."
She clenched her small fists slightly, afraid of being rejected. Her eyes looked at both of them, awaiting an answer. A gentle breeze blew strands of her hair, making them sway…
"Sure! What are your names?" Xin Tingting smiled kindly, speaking in a friendly tone. She looked at the black-haired girl warmly. Judging from her appearance and clothing, the girl didn't seem much different from them and seemed to be about the same age. With that, Xin Tingting saw no reason to refuse.
While Xin Tingting welcomed them sincerely, Liang Yi remained silent. She watched the girl with a neutral expression, showing neither emotion nor rejection. She simply observed quietly, as if evaluating something.
"My name is Ye Juan, and my brother's name is Lan Chanzhun. We're both five years old. What about you? What are your names and how old are you?" Ye Juan asked sweetly, smiling a little at both of them. Her large, sparkling eyes radiated friendliness and excitement at meeting new friends.
"I'm Xin Tingting, five years old, and I'm the Goddess of Restoration. This baby here doesn't have a name yet," Xin Tingting replied, looking down at the infant in her arms with soft eyes.
"I'm Liang Yi. I'm also five," Liang Yi answered curtly. Though her response was brief, it didn't carry any coldness or rejection.
Xin Tingting's smile widened slightly before she continued, "Liang Yi and I are here to search for a magical artifact. If you join us, it'll be even better we'll have more friends on the journey."
Ye Juan's eyes sparkled with joy. She turned to look at her brother who stood silently behind her, as if waiting for him to make the final decision. But from their expressions, it was clear their shared journey had already begun.
"Mm~" Ye Juan nodded slightly before stepping beside Xin Tingting. Her eyes were bright as she walked with her new companions. Lan Chanzhun, who had just arrived, slowly moved to stand beside Liang Yi intentionally. As he looked closely at her face, he suddenly froze in awe.
Liang Yi's presence beside him was almost spellbinding. Her jet-black hair, streaked with fiery red at the ends, flowed in the breeze. Behind her, the desert landscape stretched far and wide. But what captivated Lan Chanzhun most were her glowing pink eyes mysterious and alluring, hard to look away from. Her skin was as smooth and radiant as glowing jade, standing out amidst the searing heat.
Lan Chanzhun stared at her for a long time, lost in his thoughts. By the time he came to his senses, they had already passed through the desert valley and reached the flatlands on the other side.
As for the two middle-aged men, they watched the children disappear into the distance before brushing the sand off their bodies and preparing to return to their own place, ready to resume their unfinished duty. Their figures gradually faded into the distance as they rode camels toward their destined direction.