Chapter 27: Drawing Attention-Filho biológico não é tão bom quanto o filho adotado? Se você se arrepender, não me procure!(O sonho solitário do garoto de rua)

When Liu Qingqing left, she promised to come see him again whenever she had the chance.

Seeing her close the door, Lin Tian was left alone in his hospital bed, staring at the ceiling in boredom.

"Forget it, I'll watch some TV."

He turned on the television and, by coincidence, found the same program about prospecting for stones and gems. The same woman was there, bounding energetically along a wild path in the mountains.

"Welcome back to our show, everyone! This episode is no longer just about appraising treasures; we’ve introduced a new theme: getting close to nature. Follow me as we explore the gifts that nature has left for humanity!"

As the camera panned, the woman appeared bundled up tightly, looking like a heavily armored tank. She wore a white square scarf wrapped around her neck, and puffs of white mist escaped her mouth with every breath.

"According to the villagers, there are many rare treasures hidden around this mountain range, such as black truffles, fleeceflower roots, wild lingzhi mushrooms... and many other amazing things."

Watching the live broadcast, Lin Tian raised an eyebrow, curious. "What are those things even good for?"

Before he could think further, the woman on screen suddenly let out a startled cry, then scurried over to a small hill.

"Look, everyone! I think I’ve actually found something rare!"

She knelt down, carefully brushed aside some flowers, and looked absolutely delighted. "The color of this mushroom is so vibrant! It looks absolutely delicious!"

"Wait, isn't that thing poisonous?" Lin Tian couldn't help but warn her.

Even though he knew she couldn't hear him, he shouted anxiously, "Don't eat it!"

As he spoke, the sudden agitation caused his breath to falter, and he curled up like a shrimp.

"Oh no!"

Although he didn't understand why, he sensed a vague, impending danger. With no time to think, he instinctively held his breath and followed his body's impulse, sitting cross-legged to regulate his energy.

Before long, a thick, white mist—resembling steam—began to rise from his face. A moment later, he opened his eyes slightly, and a beam of white light shot forth, piercing the sky.

At that very moment, a brilliant flash of light flickered briefly across the sky over City B.

In an obscure corner, an elderly man with a long beard, dressed in a traditional robe, stood as still as a pine tree. He stroked his chin, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"A celestial anomaly... I wonder what this portends..."

"Master, I have come to see you."

A cold, detached voice sounded from behind the old man.

"Where have you been?"

"Master, I..."

Facing his mentor's question, Li Qiang told him everything exactly as it happened. Upon learning that his disciple had harmed an innocent person just for the sake of a woman, the old man couldn't help but let out a long, weary sigh.

"What a disaster you've brought upon yourself!"

Li Qiang was confused. "That kid is just Caiyue's younger brother. I was only following Caiyue's wishes by teaching him a lesson. It’s no big deal, is it?"

Seeing that Li Qiang still failed to grasp his mistake, the old man shook his head in regret. With a grave expression, he said, "Li Qiang, from this day forth, our master-disciple relationship is severed. From here on out, we shall lead separate lives and never meet again!"

Li Qiang: "???"

"Master, what has gotten into you?"

Li Qiang's head was spinning with questions. He didn't think he had done anything excessive. Could it really be because he had beaten that kid into the hospital? Thinking of this, he actually felt a spark of anger. If it weren't for that brat, he wouldn't have been scolded by Xiao Caiyue.

"Master, can you tell me the truth about why you are doing this?" He was determined that even if the man wanted to cut ties, he at least deserved a reason. Was he really so easily dismissed?

"After all these years, your temperament remains as arrogant and your actions as flamboyant as ever. You never consider the consequences. I don't know how much more havoc you will wreak in the future. I have said all I have to say; you are on your own now!"

With a wave of his hand, the old man pushed him away with a force that allowed no argument. Li Qiang had considered his years of cultivation to have granted him considerable strength among martial artists, but he hadn't expected to be unable to resist even this seemingly gentle push.

After stumbling back several steps, his legs trembled, and a flash of hidden killing intent crossed his eyes. "Old man, since you are heartless, don't blame me for being unrighteous!"

With this thought, he suppressed his anger, cupped his hands in a formal salute, and said, "If that is the case, then so be it!" He then walked out of the courtyard with a somewhat bedraggled figure.

"Alas, I was blind to take in such a scourge," the old man lamented, his heart filled with regret. If he hadn't owed a debt of gratitude to the Li family years ago, he would never have agreed to take him as a disciple.

Now that he had nurtured a tiger that had turned on him, he didn't know what else to say.

"Let it be. There is a destiny in all things. Since you have chosen this path, you have no one to blame but yourself."

As he looked at the sky, which had returned to its previous calm, a sharp light flickered in the old man's eyes.

In the supermarket outside the hospital, a petite figure wandered in front of a shelf stocked with potato chips. She pursed her lips and swallowed, but Bai Yun resisted the urge to splurge. She glanced down at the single blue banknote clutched in her small hand and finally chose a box of plain milk for four dollars and a bag of small buns for six.

After paying, she carried the bag and hurried back to the hospital, filled with joy. Today, she had specifically asked Dean Zhou to look after the children so she could come to see Lin Tian. She really had that "Skinflint Zhou" to thank, or she wouldn't have known where he was.

Having confirmed the location, she was already familiar with the place she had visited several times, and she soon found the ward.

Pushing the door open, she saw that Lin Tian was indeed sitting cross-legged on the bed, looking lively as he stared out the window.

"Brother Lin..."

She hurried to his side, took his hand, and began to cry. Everyone knew how unlucky he was; had he offended the heavens? In just one week, he had been rushed to the hospital twice, and each time was worse than the last.

"Oh, why are you crying? I'm fine. I'm already used to it." Lin Tian reached out to stroke her soft cheek, a smile appearing on his face that hadn't been there for days. Only when he was with Bai Yun did he feel truly at ease and secure.

"Brother Lin, what about that bad man? Did he go to jail?"

"No."

Lin Tian's answer made Bai Yun furious. "Is there no justice in this world!"

"Forget it, it's all in the past, and I'm still alive and well, aren't I?" Lin Tian knew that Li Qiang was not someone they could afford to challenge. To prevent the situation from escalating further, he had no choice but to endure it. After all, it seemed to be the only way out.