What a Pitiful Child! Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Awakening Ceremony

Brother?

Yu Xiaoheng was slightly taken aback when he heard that.

He had investigated Bibi Dong. She should have been a year older than both Yu Xiaogang and himself.

Still, it did not matter.

That single "brother" had instead drawn them closer.

Looking at the lingering timidity in Bibi Dong's eyes, he softened his tone.

"Where are you from? Why are you alone in the back mountain?"

He paused, then added.

"It's getting late. Do you want me to take you back and find your parents?"

Parents?

At those words, Bibi Dong's body jolted. The faint glimmer that had just appeared in her eyes was swallowed by terror.

Seeing her like this, Yu Xiaoheng understood.

On the surface, he was gently comforting her.

In truth, it was still a tactic.

But when facing such an innocent, even pitiable little girl, complicated rhetoric would only have been superfluous.

A piece of candy and a gentle greeting were worth more than a thousand words.

First, maximize her favorability and build trust.

Everything else could be handled gradually.

Yu Xiaoheng buried his calculations deep in his heart.

He took the initiative to speak, breaking the girl's tension.

"My name is Yu Xiaoheng. What's yours?"

The girl raised her head. Her purple eyes looked at him timidly, her lips moved, and only after a long while did she make a faint sound.

"I... I'm Bibi Dong."

"Bibi Dong?" Yu Xiaoheng nodded, as though committing the name to memory. "That's a lovely name."

He asked again, "Where is your home? Why did you come here alone?"

At the mention of "home," Bibi Dong's gaze dimmed again.

She stammered, "I... I came from my teacher's place... the Qian Family..."

The moment she said "Qian Family," she seemed to remember something terrifying and shook her head hard.

"I don't want to go back!"

Her voice was quiet, yet filled with determination.

But after saying that, she fell into a new dilemma.

Her little face was full of distress, and her two index fingers unconsciously poked against each other.

"But... I heard the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is holding a Spirit Awakening ceremony today, and it'll be really lively... I wanted to go watch..."

She secretly glanced at Yu Xiaoheng, her voice dropping even lower.

"But I'm scared... scared that my teacher's people will find me."

She wanted to watch the excitement, but she was afraid of being caught.

A little girl's thoughts were simple enough to see at a glance.

Watching her caught between the two, Yu Xiaoheng's heart stirred.

The opportunity had come right to him.

"I'm from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan," he said.

Bibi Dong's eyes suddenly widened.

Yu Xiaoheng then offered the irresistible temptation.

"I know a secret passage that can bypass everyone and lead directly behind the Martial Arts Arena's stands."

"From there, no one will notice you."

"!!!"

Delight instantly blossomed across Bibi Dong's face. She looked as though she had just received the most precious treasure in the world.

"Really, Brother Xiaoheng?"

She took an excited step forward, nearly jumping up.

"Of course." Yu Xiaoheng turned around. "Follow me."

One after the other, they passed through a dense bamboo grove and arrived before an unremarkable cliff face.

Yu Xiaoheng pushed aside the tangled vines, revealing a pitch-black opening only wide enough for one person to pass through.

The cave was dark and damp. Wind blew from within, carrying the earthy stench of soil.

Without the slightest hesitation, Bibi Dong followed closely behind Yu Xiaoheng and crawled inside.

The tunnel was dark, with only the sound of footsteps echoing through the hollow space.

Bibi Dong had been somewhat nervous at first, but before long, unprecedented novelty and excitement filled her heart.

She could not help letting out a small cheer.

"Wow! This place is amazing!"

"Shh." Yu Xiaoheng looked back, placing a finger against his lips. "Keep your voice down. Someone might hear us."

His voice was not loud, yet Bibi Dong's whole body stiffened.

She immediately covered her mouth with both hands, her large eyes full of apology and alarm.

"S-sorry, Brother."

She lowered her head, looking like an obedient child who had made a mistake and was waiting to be punished.

Yu Xiaoheng was stunned.

That reaction was a little too extreme.

He had only reminded her. Why did she act as if he were about to hit her?

When Bibi Dong saw that he said nothing, she secretly looked up to study his expression. Her body was taut, as though she feared he might suddenly become angry, hit her, or scold her.

Yu Xiaoheng's heart stirred, and he could not help asking.

"Why... are you so afraid?"

Bibi Dong answered softly, a trace of grievance in her voice.

"I... I've never gone out to play before."

"My teacher taught me that I must always remain ladylike, that I can't make loud noises, and that I can't lose my manners..."

Her words came in fragments, but Yu Xiaoheng could piece together the rough outline.

Ever since this girl named Bibi Dong had been adopted by the Qian Family, she had been locked inside an invisible cage.

Her world contained only tedious etiquette lessons and endless cultivation.

There was no reward for doing things right. For doing things wrong, there was only harsh punishment.

She was like a carefully raised canary, her feathers magnificent, yet she had never seen the real sky.

Yu Xiaoheng fell silent.

Indeed, the future Bibi Dong would be ruthless and cruel, an enemy of the entire continent.

But the one standing before him now was merely a little girl who had never felt warmth, who was afraid even to laugh loudly.

Just like Yu Xiaogang. No matter how poorly fan novels from his previous life portrayed him, after truly living with him as his elder brother, Yu Xiaoheng felt that their brotherly bond was not false.

People could change.

The Bibi Dong before him was still far from the future Pope.

She was only an uncut jade, being carved by Qian Xunji in the most extreme and twisted way.

The faint disgust Yu Xiaoheng had felt because of memories from his previous life dissipated considerably at that moment.

He stopped walking and turned around.

In the dim light of the tunnel, he looked at the girl before him. She was slightly taller than he was, yet thin as a bean sprout.

He reached out and gently placed his hand on her head again.

"It's all right."

Yu Xiaoheng's voice was gentle.

"Here, you can laugh if you want to laugh, and shout if you want to shout."

"With me here, no one will punish you."

Bibi Dong abruptly raised her head.

Her eyes gradually reddened.

Yet her eyes also slowly grew brighter.

At the end of the tunnel was a blinding expanse of light.

A wave of noisy clamor rushed toward them.

They had arrived at the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's Martial Arts Arena.

The two hid in the shadows behind the stands. Through the gaps in the wooden structure, they could see everything below.

At the center of the Martial Arts Arena, beneath the enormous Dragon Pattern Stele, clan disciples stood in a long line and stepped forward one by one.

"Next, Yu Chengxin!"

At Elder Steward's loud call, an arrogant-looking youth stepped forward and placed his hand against the stele.

Bzzzz—!

The stele shone brilliantly. A lifelike phantom of a blue lightning dragon soared into the sky, and a Dragon's Roar resounded in every direction.