He Li was arranged onto a hospital bed and received excellent treatment. He then moved into the welfare home, living alongside a group of children.
It was quite amusing. He himself had lived in a welfare home during his childhood. Now, having become a god, he found himself living in a welfare home once again.
Was he destined to be a person without a home?
Upon this thought,
He Li chuckled. Why ponder such trivial matters? Such nonsensical thoughts would spoil his appetite. He wouldn't be staying here forever anyway.
Finding joy amidst hardship was the most liberating path. Dwelling in melancholy was simply inviting trouble.
Wherever one is, one should focus on the present. Dwelling on the future would only hinder the current moment.
It was like in love. If from the very beginning, one believed it wouldn't last forever, it was best to end it. Without cherishing the present,
Would they regret not cherishing that person years later? Would they look back in old age with regret?
A little girl with pigtails walked up to He Li, tilting her head back and gazing at him with her large, dark, curious eyes.
He Li was startled. He turned his head, then looked down at the little girl. This girl suffered from congenital heart disease and was very frail. She wore a little red padded jacket even in the late autumn. It was said she was found in a trash can not far from the hospital. Her parents had moved through several cities, and in the end, even the welfare home had given up on her. She was raised here.
Her parents were determined to abandon their child. Even if they were forced to take her back, the little girl's fate wouldn't be any better. It was better to keep her here. While not living a life of luxury, she at least had enough to eat and wear, received excellent medical care, and had a warm home.
"Big brother, were you abandoned too?"
He Li was stunned. So she knew everything. After slightly calming his emotions, He Li smiled and replied, "Yes, I was abandoned too."
"It's okay, Big Brother. Don't be sad. You lost a pair of parents, but you gained dozens of brothers and sisters. It's not a loss."
The little girl said with a smile, her large dark eyes narrowing into crescent moons as she grinned.
He Li also started to laugh, "Yes, it's not a loss."
"The cafeteria is serving food. Aunt Liu asked me to call you for dinner."
Aunt Liu was in charge of the cafeteria. She was a smiling middle-aged woman, always wearing a large white apron, with one hand on her hip, directing a line of children. If anyone misbehaved, she would pull them over and give their little bottom a smack.
The children who were spanked didn't get angry or cry. Instead, they'd playfully stick out their tongues at Aunt Liu and then obediently rejoin the line.
For them, their parents' scolding and spanking were also a form of happiness.
Here, being polite and kind was considered being distant, while being casual and reprimanding was seen as being close.
He Li didn't stay there for long. His injuries had mostly healed, and he had sorted out his identification. He was then arranged to work as a security guard at the compound.
For He Li, it felt like a dream. He met many people here: the little girl with pigtails, Aunt Liu, the short-sighted mischievous boy, the security captain Da Liu who pretended to be serious and diligent but was secretly a bit of a dork, and Chi Ze, the easygoing man who agreed to cover shifts for anyone who asked...
At night,
He Li returned to his rented room. He bought a bottle of white wine, half a jin of pig's head meat, and a jin of cold dishes. He quietly cooked a pot of rice and then,
He took a comfortable bath.
When the meal was ready, he drank the wine, ate the meat and dishes, and finally finished with two bowls of rice.
He Li went up to the rooftop terrace and sat leisurely on a chair, leaning back, his hands behind his head, lazily gazing at the star-filled sky. It was as if he was looking at someone. He narrowed his eyes, his heroic face becoming even more resolute.
After a long while,
He Li picked up the half-empty bottle of white wine beside him, shook it a few times, and the pungent, stimulating aroma of the alcohol filled the air. Looking at the moonlit, starry sky, he chuckled softly and took a sip of wine.
Life was nothing more than this. If one didn't dare to take a leap, they wouldn't get what they desired.
The more one wanted, the more they would lose. In the end, they might end up with nothing.
He Li put down the empty wine bottle and slowly sat up. He spread his legs apart, leaned forward, placing his left elbow on his left knee. In an instant, his presence became imposing.
He softly asked the starry sky before him, "Are you there?" Then, he tilted his head slightly, cupped his right hand by his ear, as if listening, as if waiting for a response.
After a moment of waiting, there was no response.
He Li nodded gently, understanding in his heart. The words, as if from ancient times or the distant future, still echoed in his ears: "Kill yourself." He grinned, utterly nonchalant, then reached out and grabbed his own neck, twisting it forcefully.
Crack!
The corpse fell to the ground.
Beyond the heavens, the void instantly trembled violently. The world roared, and the entire space seemed on the verge of collapse.
Cheng Xilin stood up from the long bench, smiled slightly, glanced at Tata beside him, then extended his hands, back to back, palms facing outward, as if parting a curtain, and forcefully tore open a rift in space.
Whoosh!
A spatial cube flew out from the spatial rift, hurtling into the distance, disappearing in the blink of an eye.
Then,
A hand gripped the edge of the spatial rift.
To Tata's delighted surprise, He Li's ethereal figure emerged from the spatial rift.
He Li first looked at Cheng Xilin, then his gaze finally fell upon Tata. After a moment of confusion, he asked, "Xiao Bai, are you coming with me?"
Tata hesitated for a moment.
It was only this moment of hesitation.
He Li nodded, "Alright, I'll be going first."
He Li's figure dissipated, turning into a wisp of smoke that vanished into the void.
Cheng Xilin smiled happily and looked back at Tata.
Tata shot Cheng Xilin a glare, turned her head away, and remained silent.
Western Battlefield, Divine Race Camp.
Rumble!!!
Rumble!!!
Rumble!!!
The Divine Race camp vibrated incessantly. Divine power in the air flowed like colorful clouds. The Pure Sea behind the camp churned with massive waves, constantly rising and falling.
Yu Qiang, the Divine Lord, stood on the shore, with Xia Min Ao by his side and the entire Divine Race army of the Western Battlefield behind him. They were all watching the abnormal Pure Sea, perplexed and confused as to why the Pure Sea was experiencing such unusual tremors, as it had been calm for countless millennia.
Soon,
They understood the reason for the Pure Sea's disturbance.
He Li, naked, slowly emerged from the Pure Sea. A massive wave imbued with starlight carried He Li to the shore of the Pure Sea.
He Li stood before the entire Divine Race army. A crimson robe appeared on his body. He gestured, and a bolt of lightning from beyond the heavens descended into his hand, transforming into an ancient long saber. He hung the saber at his waist, then twisted his neck, grinned, and smiled at all the celestial gods.
"Everyone, long time no see."
The tremors in the Divine Race camp ceased. The next moment, two immense forces erupted in the sky – divine power and demonic energy.
The Divine Race army sent by Lord Sian hovered in the air, their divine might overwhelming.
Huli, the Great Ming King, a half-step supreme being, possessed demonic energy comparable to the Divine Race army. Beside him, a Golden Crow blazed with scorching flames, resembling the sun.
He Li smiled at Divine Lord Yu Qiang and Xia Min Ao, "You two, please wait for my return. I'm going to get some revenge and kill an Arrogant Lord."
...