Even though Yizhiye and Namuzhong had explained that half-beings had special physiques and could go half a month without food, it didn't matter.
This was her only younger brother; she couldn't just watch him suffer.
Shen Xiaoyan wanted to leave the space to find a physician in Yingcheng.
If the physicians in Yingcheng couldn't cure him, she'd go to a larger city.
Or perhaps, she'd go directly to the Sheng Yu Auction House.
They were the ones who had incapacitated him; they must know why and have a solution.
With this thought, Shen Xiaoyan prepared to exit the space.
However, before she could act, Zheng Wei stopped her.
"I won't say anything. You stay, I'll go."
As Zheng Wei said this, he looked earnestly into Shen Xiaoyan's eyes.
Shen Xiaoyan could tell from Zheng Wei's gaze that he was utterly serious.
Just as they were looking at each other, they suddenly heard Ruan Ruan, who was beside them, exclaim, "Uncle is awake."
Shen Xiaoyan and Zheng Wei turned towards the bed almost instantly. Indeed, they saw Shen Xiaoming open his eyes and stare blankly at the ceiling!
"Xiaoming, you're awake? How do you feel? Is anything uncomfortable?"
Shen Xiaoyan rushed to the bedside, asking solicitously.
Shen Xiaoming heard Shen Xiaoyan's words, stiffly turned his head to look at her, an expression of disbelief on his face.
Otherwise, why would he hear his sister's voice again?
But why did he see his sister sitting right beside him?
And that cry of "Uncle" just now, was that Ruan Ruan?
After a long while, he finally dared to believe that this wasn't a dream.
Whether it was his sister, or Ruan Ruan, or his brother-in-law behind his sister, or Yizhiye, Namuzhong, Lu Taobao, or Zheng Jiang and Zheng He, or even Luoluo curled up on the table, they were all real.
He had truly returned to their side.
Had he returned to Da Chu?
If so, did that mean he had also returned to his former appearance?
With this thought, Shen Xiaoming immediately raised his hand and felt his own head.
But the sensation he felt was still fuzzy.
The sliver of relief in Shen Xiaoming's heart vanished instantly.
Why was it like this?
Why did he still look like this abominable self?
Shen Xiaoming clutched his head, his whole body trembling.
He wanted to scream, but no sound came out.
Seeing this, Shen Xiaoyan quickly pulled Shen Xiaoming into her arms, forcefully pried his hands away from his head, and put her own hand there to prevent him from accidentally hurting himself.
"Xiaoming, don't hit yourself. Sister is here. It's alright, everything is alright now."
Shen Xiaoyan comforted him softly, gently patting his back.
After a long while, Shen Xiaoming finally calmed down.
Yizhiye and Namuzhong, watching this scene, couldn't help but look away.
Let alone Shen Xiaoming, who had become a half-being midway, even those born as half-beings would, as they grew older, find it hard to accept their half-being status for various reasons. They would slowly descend into despair and ultimately meet a terrible end.
Though he hadn't witnessed it, just imagining it, he could picture the despair Shen Xiaoming must have felt when he first became a half-being.
No wonder, at the auction, Shen Xiaoming had remained unmoved by the bidding.
If he could have, he would have wished to die on the spot.
Seeing Shen Xiaoming's current broken state, Yizhiye felt immense sadness.
He wondered what kind of despair Shen Xiaoming would feel in the future, knowing he could never return to his former self.
Just the thought of that scene made Yizhiye's heart ache. He resolved not to tell Shen Xiaoming about this unless it was absolutely unavoidable.
But his good intentions were thwarted when Shen Xiaoming spoke up.
"Brother Yizhiye, you are from Sheng Ling Continent, you must know about half-beings. Is there still any possibility for me to become human?"
Although there was a flicker of hope in Shen Xiaoming's eyes, his tone was filled with profound desolation.
Without a doubt, Shen Xiaoming already knew the answer in his heart.
But he still wanted to ask, perhaps there was a chance?
Yizhiye remained silent for a long time, finally unwilling to deceive him.
Even a well-intentioned lie was still a deception, and for Shen Xiaoming, it would be a form of harm.
"No. Although I don't know how you became a half-being, it is impossible to return to your former self."
Yizhiye's bluntness made Namuzhong frown, but she said nothing.
Yizhiye continued, "But Xiaoming, you don't need to be too sad. You are different from ordinary half-beings. Your appearance hasn't changed drastically. As for other things, we can find ways later. Besides, being a half-being isn't entirely without its benefits. At least, your physical strength has greatly improved. I believe you've already noticed this yourself."
Shen Xiaoming nodded blankly, "What's the use of having a stronger body? I'm not even human anymore. A stronger body is just that of a beast."
"No, I'm not a beast. I'm just a monster. Even beasts wouldn't associate with me."
Though his words were filled with self-mockery, his tone revealed deep sorrow and despair.
Shen Xiaoming's face was still that of a young man, yet he carried the demeanor of an old man.
Seeing Shen Xiaoming like this, Su Jue, despite having countless words to say, found himself speechless.
Holding Shen Xiaoming tightly, Shen Xiaoyan could still feel his body trembling.
After a long while, Shen Xiaoming finally spoke, "Eldest Sister, how did you get here? And how did you save me?"
He had been conscious during the auction.
It seemed someone had bought him for three million Qing Jing coins.
He had recognized the voice, but in his disbelief, he hadn't dwelled on it.
Now, recalling it, it truly sounded like his sister's voice.
But where did his sister get so many crystal coins?
Shen Xiaoyan didn't waste time and briefly recounted the entire story.
After listening, Shen Xiaoming could only sigh, wondering if everything was predestined.
"Then Xiaoming, how did you come to Sheng Ling Continent?" Shen Xiaoyan hesitated for a long time before carefully asking.
Unexpectedly, Shen Xiaoming shook his head, "I don't know how I got here either. After I left home, I was inexplicably knocked unconscious. When I woke up again, I was in an endless forest. I don't know how long I walked, but I eventually met a team hunting magic beasts. They invited me to join them, saying they could take me back to the city."
At this point, Shen Xiaoming paused.
Shen Xiaoyan had a bad feeling.
She suspected this group of people was not good.
Although she had only been in Sheng Ling Continent for a little over a month, she had already deeply understood.
The people of Sheng Ling Continent were more heartless and bloodthirsty than those of Da Chu.
They would never casually help others out of kindness.
If they did show kindness, it would surely be for some ulterior motive.
Shen Xiaoming took a deep breath before continuing, "I walked with them in the forest, and learned from them that this was Sheng Ling Continent, Brother Yizhiye's homeland. I also learned that they were heading into the depths of the forest for a cub of a spirit beast."
"It is said that this kind of spirit beast only exists in legends. But for some reason, at that time, various anomalies appeared in the depths of the forest, and these anomalies were consistent with the conditions for the birth of that spirit beast in legends, so they decided to try their luck."
"But luck isn't so easily found, and luck comes with danger. Therefore, they intended to use me as cannon fodder."
"I, alone, was no match for their entire group, so I had no choice but to obey them."
"When we reached the depths of the forest, we indeed found the place where the anomaly was occurring. There was a colorful halo of light. None of them dared to enter, so they asked me to go in."