Chapter 54 Li Ang's Dream (Part 1)

[As that strange drowsiness completely dragged your consciousness into the abyss.]

[Deep within your mind, an almost imperceptible hum resonated.]

["Detecting high-dimensional mental intrusion... Initiating defense mechanism... Constructing virtual personality container."]

[In an instant, your main consciousness was stripped away, floating high above the dome of your Sea of Consciousness.]

[Like an absolutely calm observer, looking down at the "dream" unfolding below.]

[And below, a "Little Li Ang" created by the simulator, carrying all the memories and emotions of your former self.]

[Was experiencing that meticulously woven nightmare.]

[The dream began to flow backward.]

[Time rewound to over a decade ago.]

[It was a place called "Ciyou Orphanage" on the outskirts of Longnan City.]

[Dark, damp, crowded.]

[These were Little Li Ang's deepest impressions of childhood.]

[In the dormitory with peeling walls, a musty smell always permeated the air.]

[The windows were high but small, and the light that filtered in always seemed so stingy.]

[Every day, Little Li Ang had to face not only heavy chores.]

[Washing the endless dishes and scrubbing the bedsheets that were stiff with cold in icy water.]

[But also the grim and harsh face of the orphanage director, and the rattan cane that would fall with the slightest mistake.]

["Eat! Eat! All you know is eating! Why aren't you this active when it comes to chores!"]

[Accompanied by curses, a spoonful of cold, thin rice gruel was heavily poured into the chipped iron bowl.]

[Hunger, like a greedy rat, constantly gnawed at Little Li Ang's stomach lining.]

[That burning pain made him curl up into a ball countless times in the dead of night, biting the corner of his quilt and crying silently.]

[Those days, every second was torment, every day seemed like an endless night.]

[But even in such a Hell, there was a faint ray of light.]

[That was every Friday night.]

[This was the most anticipated, and only anticipated, moment for the children of the orphanage.]

[Because on this day, a public welfare hospital that had a cooperative relationship with the orphanage.]

[Would send a doctor to give the children routine physical examinations.]

[He was a very young man named Li Yeming.]

[He had fair skin, a slender build, and a pair of somewhat thick, black-framed glasses on his nose.]

[His face always carried that goofy, guileless smile.]

[He wasn't as fierce as the director, nor did his eyes show the disdain of other adults.]

[For the children of the orphanage, he was not just a doctor.]

[He was also a window to the outside world, the only color in their bleak lives.]

[After each check-up and distributing the not-so-tasty calcium tablets, Li Yeming wouldn't rush to leave.]

[He would sit under the old locust tree in the courtyard, gather the children in a circle, and then begin to tell stories.]

[He didn't tell fairy tales, or stories of princes and princesses, but rather – Martial Artists.]

["Ahem, today we'll talk about the stories from when new martial arts first emerged."]

[Although he didn't tell them very well, the children all loved to listen.]

[Li Yeming pushed up his glasses, his eyes sparkling.]

["A long, long time ago, there were no high walls, and foreign races ate people everywhere."]

["It was Lord Martial Saint Tang Linyuan who stepped forward! He was like an immortal, smashing enemies with a single punch!"]

["He led our Human Race to drive those monsters back into the abyss."]

["He expanded territory for the Human Race, and that's how we have our peaceful days now..."]

["And also! Forty years ago, right here in our Jiangnan Province, an amazing Martial Saint named Li Qingshan emerged!"]

["He single-handedly stormed the headquarters of that rotten 'Heart-Eroding Cult'."]

["The scene, tsk tsk, punching the Cult Master, kicking the Year Guardian."]

["He beat those villains to a pulp!"]

[Whenever these stories were told, Little Li Ang's pale little face would always turn rosy.]

[He watched Li Yeming's face with rapt attention.]

[Imagining himself as a great hero who could soar through the heavens and delve into the earth, omnipotent!]

[Wearing cool armor, punching that director who always hit him, sending him flying.]

[Evidently, this young doctor himself was also an incurable Wuxia fan.]

[Whenever he reached a crucial point, he couldn't help but stand up.]

[Striking some showy Martial Dao Moves learned from television.]

["Take this! This is called Black Tiger Digs Heart!"]

["Ouch..."]

[Because he was a young resident doctor who sat in his clinic every day and lacked exercise, his body was relatively stiff.]

[He often experienced knee pain or a strained back while demonstrating.]

[His large black-framed glasses would also slide to one side with his movements, making him look comically like a clumsy duck.]

["Hehe, anyway, that's pretty much it!"]

["I don't do it very well, but just bear with it, grasp the spirit, grasp the spirit!"]

[He adjusted his glasses, scratched the back of his head with a silly grin.]

[The children burst into laughter, a rare and pure sound in the orphanage.]

[Sometimes, encouraged, Little Li Ang would also imitate the young doctor.]

[Stepping out from the crowd, throwing a punch here, a palm there.]

[His movements were wobbly, like he was performing some strange dance.]

["Haha! Li Ang, you look like a monkey!"]

["So ugly! Not as good-looking as Dr. Li's Moves!"]

[Other children pointed at him and laughed, their taunts stinging Little Li Ang's heart like needles.]

[Inferiority instantly overwhelmed him, he lowered his head, his face flushed red.]

[Clutching the corner of his worn clothes tightly, wishing he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.]

[But just then, a warm large hand would land on his head.]

["Who said that?"]

[Dr. Li Yeming shielded Little Li Ang, his face stern.]

[He pretended to be serious and said to the other children, "I think Li Ang's Moves are quite good!"]

["This stance, it has some of my skill! He's definitely destined to be a great hero in the future!"]

[After speaking, he squatted down again, looked into Little Li Ang's eyes, and said earnestly.]

["Li Ang, well done, that's it. A Martial Artist, you must dare to throw a punch."]

["Really?" Little Li Ang looked up, his eyes full of hope and tears.]

["Of course! Doctors never lie!"]

[The warmth of that palm became the only warmth in Little Li Ang's childhood.]

[And it also became a seed named "dream" in his heart.]

[Such days continued for a long time.]

[Whenever he was beaten and scolded by the director for no reason, or when his stomach ached with hunger and he couldn't sleep.]

[Little Li Ang would secretly run to the orphanage's back garden.]

[There was a dilapidated stone slab there, and he would lie on it, looking up at the sky blocked by the four walls.]

[He swore to himself repeatedly:]

["When I grow up and become a Martial Artist, I'll be able to eat well and dress warmly."]

["I will defeat these evil adults, drive away the director, and let all my friends in the orphanage eat meat."]

["I also want to show Dr. Li, who wears black-framed glasses."]

["That I will become very powerful, and I want him to proudly say: 'As expected of my Disciple!'"]

[Once the pain from his injuries lessened and his stomach grew accustomed to the burning hunger.]

[Little Li Ang would return to that cold room, waiting in his dreams for the next Friday.]

[Waiting for the doctor's next visit.]