Rebirth from the Ashes

Chapter 732 His Past (3)

Outside, the temperature plunged as snow fluttered along with the howling North wind.

Yu Qiubai kept watch at the entrance to the basement, not knowing what was going on with Shen Xi in there. With the snow growing heavy and wind blowing in the elements, he was well on his way to becoming a shivering snowman.

It was quiet inside since she went in there. Yu Qiubai listened and waited for a while before moving away to make a call. Although he did not have Li Yuan’s number, Yu Qiubai had Yun Jinping’s contact. After calling Yun Jinping for Li Yuan’s number, Yu Qiubai made up his mind to call Li Yuan.

Given that Xixi said or did nothing to him despite finding out, Yu Qiubai and his mother probably had little to do with the Li family’s dark past.

Time passed.

Standing by the doorway, Yu Qiubai kept his eyes ahead until that person emerged amid the snowstorm around half an hour later.

Afar, the figure was blurry against the snow screen. With hurried footsteps, the person quickly drew close and nodded at Yu Qiubai.

Yu Qiubai nodded back and pointed at the metal door behind before sensibly leaving the space to them.

It suddenly struck Yu Qiubai that he overthought the situation as he detected no animosity from the man. After all, the man could find anyone if he put his mind to it.

Yet, the man did not seek him or his mother. It was proof enough that the man left them be, rather than that he and his mother were doing a good job at hiding.

In the back, the old metal door let out a soft creak.

Yu Qiubai did not look back since the rest to come had nothing to do with him. His job was done. Yu Qiubai wanted to get home to see his mother, having so many questions that needed answers.

It was time his mother told him the whole story.

The snowflakes blew into the basement together with the North wind.

Li Yuan quietly stood by the doorway of the basement, blocking the incoming snowstorm with his huge build.

The cool white light enveloped the room while a foul, musky, and damp smell stank up the air.

Everything in there was exactly as he dug deep into his most repulsive nightmare.

This was the place he dreamed of running away and destroying

He once thought he would never step foot in here again. Yet, he came back to his worst nightmare.

Gazing at the tiny figure curled up in the cage, he could feel his heart broken into pieces.

Apart from the stench that he hated and made him sick to the stomach, there was a scent, uniquely hers, wafting toward him, bringing along magical powers that soothed his soul.

He took strides forward and kneeled by her before reaching his hand out to her. His warm and tender voice amid the quiet space softened the chills in the air. “Xixi.”

Life seemed to be brought back in the cold space.

Locking herself in the cage, Shen Xi rested her chin against her folded knees as her disoriented eyes turned watery. She looked at him, unable to hold back the tears anymore.

The clear teardrops streamed down her cheeks to the base of the cage, letting out tiny pitter-patters. Each teardrop tore his heart apart. He extended his arm out in a panic to wipe her tears away, but his attempt was futile. She quietly and solemnly observed his face, as though to carve every outline of his facial features into her mind and soul.

Unable to hold back any longer, he pulled the girl out of the cage and into his arms. With her hands tightly wrapped around his waist, she shivered and wailed repressively.

He could not find the words to console her. All he could do was hold her tight and prop his chin on her shoulder as he caressed her face. He whispered affectionately, “It’s all in the past.”

The painful and anguish memories of being trapped in a hellish nightmare were over.

Mom once told him that there was light in the world. He did not believe it until the moment he met her.

Her presence was like a light he saw in the deepest abyss, the light he spent all of his life chasing and holding onto. It was beautiful and warm.

He once believed that he did not deserve her or to have a light in his life. He sought her for so many years, yet fate did not let them cross paths.

Before he sank into despair, she reemerged and crashed straight into his heart without warning

Surrounded by the man’s deep and gentle voice, Shen Xi slowly felt a warm stream seeping into her heart and all corners of her body.

She was clueless as to what she should or wanted to say. Only the most primitive and physical contact against his body warmth and heartbeat could calm her nerves and pain. Shen Xi knew he had it rough and experienced many hardships, but she was unaware that the ordeal he went through was far worse than she could ever imagine. He practically crawled out of the depths of a gory hell.

This place was his hell, a hell that imprisoned him.

She could not bear to imagine what he had been through here. He was just a little child who knew nothing.

The cold room with foul blood and frigid cage was once his home.

Despite knowing his pain and his innocence, the Fifth family refused to help and showed him concern. They were all animals that deserved to die! No one was innocent in this!

“She told you.” Heartbroken, Li Yuan gently patted her back to simmer her down.

He did not know how much was told. Yu Qiubai was in the dark about the conversation between his mother and Xixi.

Li Yuan should have met Mrs. Yu sooner as he did not want his fair lady to know about this. It was all in the past, over and done with.

“Brother.” Shen Xi suddenly lifted her head and locked gaze with her swollen and bloodshot eyes. “Are they all dead?”

Were those who hurt him, watched his plight on the sidelines, and betrayed his mother dead?

She was unable to imagine the kind of monster that would do such a horrible thing to his own son. If the animal was still alive, Shen Xi would smoke him out and return the pain inflicted on Li Yuan in a million-fold to the b*stard!