"I'm sorry, I—"
Ren Yuanhao gently stroked her hair and whispered, "Some things are destined. What we can do isn’t to dwell on regrets, but to find a way to make things right."
The two lingered by the underground river for a while before returning to the Shang family estate.
"Shion, rest well tonight. We’ll set off tomorrow morning. I wonder how those two in Sand City are doing." Ren Yuanhao and Shion sat on the eaves, gazing up at the starry sky stretched across the heavens, shimmering with dazzling brilliance.
It had been so long since Ren Yuanhao had seen such a resplendent galaxy. Beside him, Shion, her face still veiled, murmured softly, "When I was little, my father and I used to sit right here, watching the stars. Sometimes, I’d fall asleep, and when I woke up, he’d still be there. Once, I asked him, *‘Dad, do you love me more, or Mom more?’* Guess what he said?"
Ren Yuanhao refused to answer such a deadly question and shook his head firmly.
"My dad just shot back, *‘Well, do you think I love you?’* Of course, I said yes. But then he delivered the killing blow—*‘If it weren’t for your mom, I wouldn’t even bother with you.’*"
Shion shook her head and sighed with a smile, her eyes gleaming brighter than the stars above.
"My hometown has skies like this too, but the mosquitoes are brutal. You get to enjoy the galaxy while listening to their symphony. Hard to forget that experience." Ren Yuanhao chuckled wryly.
"Where is your hometown?"
"An ancient, peaceful village. A few hundred meters from my house is a river. In summer, we’d catch fish and shrimp. Willow branches draped into the water like rows of graceful beauties. Behind the house, a few hundred meters more, there are endless mountains. After a rainstorm, my cousin and I would go mushroom picking. If we were lucky, we’d even see a rainbow arching across the sky halfway up the mountain."
Ren Yuanhao sank into the long, sweet memories. But now, his hometown was thousands of miles away. He wondered if his parents were also looking up at the same stars under their eaves.
"That sounds wonderful. I’d love to visit."
Shion didn’t know the customs of his homeland—bringing a girl home was usually seen as introducing a girlfriend to the family.
"Once things here are settled, I’ll take you."
"No lies?" Shion held out her pinky.
"A promise is a promise."
Ren Yuanhao hooked his pinky with hers, sealing the vow. Just then, Shion remembered something.
"Oh, right. I took these back. Now, they’re yours."
Carefully, she untied a black pouch and opened it. A flash of white light revealed four miniature **Esper Cores**.
"That bastard’s cores. I’m handing them over to you now."
Ren Yuanhao studied the incredibly rare cores and didn’t hesitate. "Hmm—I could use the **Wind Element Core**. And your ability seems shadow-related." After a brief consideration, he handed Shion the **Immortal Wind Body Core** and the **Strength Amplification Core**.
"These are…?"
"Yours, of course. The **Immortal Wind Body** can save your life in critical moments, and **Strength Amplification** boosts your offensive power. Combined with your own ability, I’m sure you could handle even a **Gluttony**-level esper."
He said it so casually, as if these priceless treasures meant nothing.
"Hey, dummy, these are **Innate Esper Cores**! They say there are only tens of thousands in the entire world. They don’t just appear out of nowhere, nor do they vanish easily. They’re passed down through generations—worth a fortune! Just handing them over like this is like throwing away gold!"
"If they’re not used, they’re just junk. Besides, if it makes you smile, they’re worth it."
The two shared a laugh, feeling as if they’d met too late—yet their bond had been forged through battle.
"Alright, get some rest. We leave for Sand City at dawn. I’m worried about them."
Ren Yuanhao stood up. Shion carefully tucked away the two cores and turned to leave—but then glanced back, holding up the ointment jar.
"Does this… really work?"
"Of course. Money-back guarantee if it doesn’t." Ren Yuanhao grinned, playing along.
"Good. I’ll try it then."
…
The night was long, but for two hearts finally at ease, it passed in deep, sweet slumber.
The next morning, before Ren Yuanhao could even get out of bed, a startled cry woke him.
He rolled over to see Shion rushing past the threshold.
Her face, bathed in the dawn light, looked **reborn**—soft as a baby’s skin, smooth and radiant. The ugly scars had **vanished overnight**.
"I can’t believe it! This medicine must be incredibly expensive, right?"
Shion laughed, her joy unrestrained. Ren Yuanhao teased, "Shion, don’t laugh too hard, or the birds might fall from the sky."
"Huh? What does my laughter have to do with birds?"
"Ever heard the phrase *‘so beautiful it makes fish sink and birds fall’*?"
Shion’s face flushed, but even in shyness, she remained bold—true to her desert roots. "Well then, I’ll laugh a few more times. Breakfast will take care of itself!"
"Brilliant plan!"
The two shared another laugh before packing up and setting off.
…
Hours later, they returned to **Sand City**. But when Ren Yuanhao reached **Zag’s home**, he found it **ransacked**—no sign of the man or his family. The room was splattered with blood, and even the goods they’d prepared were **gone**.
Just then, **twenty to thirty black-clad warriors** surrounded them.
"*Heh.* Finally caught you. We’ve been waiting for days!" The leader wore **19 beast fangs** around his neck—a mark of formidable strength among warriors.
But strength was always relative.
"So, you’re the ones who took my goods and those three?"
The bloodstains told Ren Yuanhao everything about how brutal the fight had been.
"What if we did? Don’t even think of resisting. Before **Nineteen-Fang**, you’re just **trash**. Be smart—come quietly, leash yourselves, and come with us!" The warrior flexed his muscles, his armor clanking, trying to intimidate them.
"Sure. But I think **this leash suits you better**."
"Smart mouth. **You’re asking for a beating!**"