8: Chapter 8 He...has a home again!

Led by the guards, the two entered the Safe Barrier and were given a set of new, warm clothing. After changing in the guardroom, they entered the living area inside the barrier. What they saw were listless people, their clothes all stained with blood to varying degrees. Some of it was their own, while some belonged to others.

Even more distressing, some people clutched severed limbs, crying as if their hearts would break, looking as though they might faint from breathlessness at any moment.

Walking closer, the two realized that the severed arm the person was holding actually belonged to her own child. She had witnessed her child being devoured by a demonic creature and had managed to retrieve only an arm after exhausting all her efforts.

If a Divine Martial Artist hadn't appeared in time, she would have met the same fate as her son, devoured by the demonic creature.

"I wonder if Mom and Dad have safely reached the barrier," Leng Yueze said with a worried expression as he scanned the people around him.

Although he saw some Divine Martial Artists dressed in white, they were all very busy, and he didn't have the heart to disturb them.

He continued deeper inside, with Gu Yanshu also scanning the passersby on both sides.

Just then, a familiar sound of crying rang out not far away.

Turning to look, Leng Yueze's expression immediately lit up with joy. In the corner of a building, a man, two women, and a little girl were crouched together. One of the women was crying incessantly, buried in the man's embrace.

Although the man wasn't crying, his reddened eyes betrayed his deep sorrow. However, to prevent adding to his wife's pain, he forced himself to hold back his tears, suppressing his inner grief.

Seeing the four of them, Leng Yueze excitedly ran over and threw himself into Fang Yueru's arms.

"Mom, Dad, I'm so glad you're okay. Hehe," Leng Yueze said, his cheeks flushed with two spots of red as he smiled at his parents.

The sudden scene left the couple stunned. A moment later, they snapped back to reality and realized that the newcomer was their son, who they had believed was dead. Tears immediately soaked their faces.

Even Leng Yao, who had been holding back his tears, began sobbing uncontrollably like a child.

"Son, it's so wonderful that you're okay, so wonderful!" Leng Yao and Fang Yueru tightly embraced Leng Yueze. Their warm body temperatures made him feel incredibly safe.

"Yes, I'm fine. I'm so glad you're both okay too," Leng Yueze said with a smile.

"Son, how did you manage to escape from the Crimson Flame Demon Centipede?" After crying for about three minutes, Leng Yao and his Wife slowly lifted their heads and asked their son about what had happened after that.

Not far away, Gu Yanshu stood frozen in place, watching the family reunion. If only his own mother were still alive... As he thought this, two clear streams of tears slid down his young face, dampening the dust on the ground.

Seeing such a heartwarming scene, Gu Yanshu momentarily felt lost about where to go next. He no longer had a home; where should he go now?

But he knew that it was Leng Yao and his Wife who had saved him. He couldn't stay and burden this family, so he turned around, preparing to leave.

He planned to find an orphanage, live there until he turned sixteen, and then undergo his Awakening. If the Awakening succeeded, as a Divine Martial Artist, his future would surely be bright. Even if it failed, at sixteen, he would be old enough to work and support himself.

"At that time..." Leng Yueze looked at his parents, about to say something, when he suddenly remembered that he had come with Gu Yanshu.

Turning to look, he saw that Gu Yanshu had already turned and was walking away into the distance.

Seeing this, Leng Yueze quickly broke free from his parents' embrace, rushed over, and grabbed Gu Yanshu's wrist, his tone urgent. "Where are you going?"

Gu Yanshu snapped out of his daze, surprised that Leng Yueze had suddenly grabbed him. He smiled helplessly and replied, "I plan to find an orphanage. After all, I don't have a home anymore."

He spoke truthfully, without hiding anything.

After all, an eight-year-old child harbored no sinister thoughts.

Hearing this, Leng Yueze's face showed a hint of reluctance. After hesitating for a moment, as if deciding something, he pulled Gu Yanshu's hand and walked toward his parents, his tone firm and resolute. "Dad, Mom, can our family adopt Gu Yanshu?"

Upon hearing this, Leng Yao and his Wife didn't react much, but Gu Yanshu widened his eyes in shock, his mouth slightly agape, staring incredulously at Leng Yueze beside him.

At the same time, an emotion called gratitude involuntarily filled his heart.

After more than ten seconds, seeing that Leng Yao and his Wife remained silent, Gu Yanshu felt flustered and tried to pull his hand out of Leng Yueze's grip but was held tightly, unable to break free.

Thinking that the couple might look down on him and be unwilling to adopt him, he was suddenly drawn by an unexpected burst of laughter.

Fang Yueru was covering her mouth, softly laughing. After exchanging a glance with Leng Yao, she nodded affirmatively.

"Of course we're willing to adopt this child."

"Really?!" Leng Yueze exclaimed, his excited voice echoing through the entire street, immediately attracting the attention of everyone around.

Even Gu Yanshu was stunned by these words. Were this couple really willing to adopt a burden like him?

"Of course it's true. But we also need to see what young Gu Yanshu thinks. If he's unwilling, we can't force him."

As he spoke, Leng Yao crouched down, trying to keep his gaze level with Gu Yanshu's.

He placed his warm, large hand on Gu Yanshu's head, his gentle voice softly ringing in his ears.

"Would you like to be our child?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yanshu's heart completely broke down. Large teardrops continuously slid from his eyes.

He rubbed his eyes, trying to wipe away the tears, but his overwhelming emotions made it impossible to stop crying.

"Hurry up and answer! Are you willing or not?" Leng Yueze urgently tugged at Gu Yanshu's hand, his excitement completely unconcealed.

"Pfft~" Amidst his crying, Gu Yanshu was amused by Leng Yueze's coquettish tone and stopped crying as a result.

He rubbed his reddened eyes and nodded excitedly. "I'm willing!!!"

He had thought that after his mother's death, his life would be spent alone in an orphanage. He never expected to gain a family once again.

Looking at Leng Yao and his Wife, whose expressions were now gentle, and at Leng Yueze beside him, who was about his age—differing by at most a few months—his heart was completely enveloped by a feeling called warmth.

He... had a family again!