The next morning, as Rui suggested, they went for a walk.
When they reached the bamboo forest, they hear voices coming from inside. It sounded like someone from their age.
"How dare you disobey us? Today we'll teach you a lesson. Tie him up!"
The bamboo forest was a restricted area for younger disciples, so hearing such commotion immediately sparked curiosity in Zoe and Rui as they wonder who would dare to break the sect's rules?
Yet at the same time, Zoe felt the situation strangely familiar. On a day just like this in his past life… he met Xi Shen.
"Senior, let's leave," Rui whispered. Even though he was curious as well of what happening inside the forest, he controls his mind not wanting any trouble later.
Guessing what might be happening inside, Zoe also wanted to leave. But deep down, a faint sense of brotherhood stops him. After all, the one in trouble there be his friend, once he trusted most… and the same one who later ruined his life.
This time, he doesn't want him as a friend or family, but knowing what Xi Shen had to suffer for years for being an illegitimate child. Zoe couldn't just walk away either.
Zoe decided to help him first, and about to enter the forest, Rui grabbed his arm. "Senior, we can't enter without permission."
"Don't worry," Zoe said. "I'll be back before anyone notices."
He stepped inside the forest. As he expected, the scene unfolded exactly as he remembered.
Four young boys were bullying Xi Shen and he had already been beaten, lying on the ground, while they were preparing to tie him up.
Zoe picked up a small stone from the ground and aimed carefully. The stone struck one boy directly on the forehead. It wasn't even thrown very hard, yet he immediately collapsed onto the ground.
'So weak…'
"Who's there? Come out!" the leader shouted.
"What if it's a senior or a master?" one of them said nervously.
"It's me, Zoe," From the hiding space, Zoe stepped out.
Relief appeared on their faces for a moment—before turning into arrogant smirks. "Well, look at this," one of them sneered. "Instead of a lion, we found a little puppy."
"Why insult such a cute animal?" another boy added mockingly. "Just look at his disfigured face."
"These spoiled brats…" Zoe muttered.
Controlling his rising anger, Zoe continues. "That's an interesting comment. But guys, have you ever looked at yourselves in the mirror?
Even compared to my face… you're still far behind."
"You—!"
One of them charged toward Zoe in anger.
After years of mastering swordsmanship and martial arts just to survive in his previous life, predicting such a clumsy attack was effortless for Zoe.
He dodged easily and used a simple trick to make the boy stumble and fall. Soon the others rushed forward together.
But suddenly stones began flying from somewhere nearby, hitting them one after another. Even Zoe couldn't figure out from where Rui is attacking them, but his aim was surprisingly good.
With their combined efforts, the bullies quickly retreated.
Once they were gone, Zoe walked over to Xi Shen, who was still lying on the ground.
"Yeah! We won!" Rui finally jumped out of hiding, looking proud of himself.
"Are you okay?" Zoe asked, extended his hand to help Xi Shen up. But just like before… He glared at Zoe instead of taking his hand.
"Don't pretend to be kind," Xi Shen said coldly. "I know you were enjoying watching me like this." After saying that, he tried to walk away.
'One… Two… Three…' Before Zoe finished the counting in his head, Xi Shen collapsed and fainted.
"Senior brother let's leave him here," Rui said angrily. "Brother Shen doesn't deserve our help."
"It's not right to abandon someone in a place like this," Looking around the isolated forest, Zoe said calmly.
"But why should we help him?" Rui protested. "He didn't even show a little gratitude!" Even while complaining, he still helped Zoe to carry Xi Shen out of the forest.
Once they reached an open area outside the forest, Zoe stopped. "Let's leave him here." Rui stared at Zoe with disbelief. He clearly didn't expect those words and then a bright smile appeared on his face as it was something he clearly want to do.
A few days passed quietly.
Soon, news spread throughout the sect that the troop sent for the dragon hunt was returning. The entire Chen Long Sect became restless. Everyone gathered, eager to hear the results.
Seeing the troop approaching from a distance, Zoe's heart began to race. He wished, what he been fearing must not happened.
The returning disciples looked disappointed, clearly showing the mission was a failure. But that lighten the hope in Zoe. He ran toward Uncle Zeon and hugged him tightly.
Chen Zeon looked delighted to see his nephew healthy and immediately lifted him into his arms.
"How did you turn into a chubby watermelon in just a few days?" Chen Zeon teased casually, not caring about the people watching around them with displeased.
Suddenly Chen Zeon's expression stiffened as Chen Zeng appeared.
Chen Zeon tries to avoid eye contact with his elder brother with a guilty conscience as he knew what he had done was completely went against the leader's orders.
"Follow me. Right now." Chen Zeng spoke in a cold tone.
Chen Zeon slowly put Zoe down and follow his brother while giving a gentle smile to Zoe as he silently saying not to worry.
...
At Chen Zeng's Study
"Was it really a coincidence that she escaped… or did you let her go?" Chen Zeng asked coldly.
"Pure coincidence," Chen Zeon replied calmly, meeting his brother's eyes. "That she happened to encounter me."
Chen Zeng sighed in disbelief.
"Not only you help her and really have the nerve to admit it openly…"
"There's only the two of us here," Zeon said casually. "Do you want me to lie?"
"Don't play clever with me," Chen Zeng warned sternly.
"Brother," Zeon said seriously, "as a leader, it's your duty to protect your people. But that doesn't mean you must always stand with the foolish decisions of those old elders who can't even tell right from wrong.
Your hands may tied by responsibility… but not mine."
"But at least pretend!" Chen Zeng snapped.
"Huh?"
"Why attract unnecessary attention from those elders?" Chen Zeng continued. "You know how they are. Give them one excuse, and they'll turn it into a thousand accusations."
Hearing that, Zeon suddenly burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Chen Zeng demanded.
Zeon quickly tried to compose himself.
"Leave," Chen Zeng ordered, clearly losing patience. As Zeon walked toward the door, Chen Zeng added, "Should I have to remind, make a serious face and storm out..."
Giving a thumbs up, Chen Zeon left the room looking furious. Making everyone mistook, there a serious conflict happens between two brothers.
...
Meanwhile — Chen Long Sect Garden
"Rui… is it just me, or can you also sense, that guy is watching us?" For the past few days, Xi Shen had been following Zoe everywhere he goes.
Zoe couldn't understand what he wanted, but the stalking begun to irritate him.
"What should we do about him?" Rui asked seriously.
"If he wants to say something, why can't he just come and talk like a normal person? Why act like a stalker?" Then Rui added thoughtfully, "Senior, how about I mix some diarrhea powder into his food tonight?"
Zoe looked at Rui in shock as from where he gets such ideas. Then took a deep breath and shouted at the direction, he felt the gaze approaching. ""If you have something to say, come out and say it. Stop acting like a pervert!"
"I'm not a pervert!" a voice immediately protested.
"Then what should I call you?" Zoe replied mockingly. "Buddha?"
Xi Shen stepped out slowly but remained silent as he trying not to start a fight.
"What do you want?" Crossing his hands, Zoe asks.
"That…"
"That what?"
"I wanted to say… sorry. And thank you for helping me that day. I shouldn't have acted like that." Xi Shen spoke awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
"Oh, there's no need for that—" Before Zoe could finish, Rui interrupted.
"Were those words really that hard to say for all these days?" Rui said bluntly. "At least you finally realized you were wrong."
'This little troublemaker… Here I'm trying to finish off this matter, and he been trying to bring troubles.'
Zoe quickly covered Rui's mouth before he could make things worse.
"If it's an apology, I accept" Before leaving there while dragging Rui with him, Zoe spoke.
But that night, a knock appeared in his door. Zoe came out but there was no one. As he went inside, he notices a box, wrapped in neat paper, placed outside.
'A gift!'
Zoe took it and open. Finding a familiar hand fan that once marked the beginning of his friendship with Xi Shen in the box, made him realise who's the one knock on the door.
Not want to throw it away, he left it on the dustbin and went to sleep.