Chapter 274 - 272. The Orb (1/2)

Third-person POV

Zhang Wei was frozen in his place from Hong er's words, his hands were visibly trembling as he stared at Hong er in disbelief.

”No…no... I must be mistaken… please, please write once again. I must have read it wrong. Please I beg of you!” Zhang Wei grabbed Hong er's hand and pushed his palm to Hong er.

Hong er's face twisted as she didn't know what was happening. She just stated the truth and the child in front of her seemed to unable to accept what she just told him. There was no reason for her to lie, it was not an uncommon matter when one's husband and child died due to the war.

The most vivid memory she had was when she received a piece of news that her husband died in the frontline. At that time, she was 9 months pregnant and predicted soon would go into labor. She hoped that her husband would be by her side during the labor therefore she impatiently waited for her husband's return.

And to make it worse, as soon as the war was done for the day, his body was buried with the other fallen soldiers. Even she couldn't see him for the last time. The moment she heard the news, her water broke and went into labor.

After hours and hours of exerting her energy to push the baby out of her w.o.m.b, the first word that came out of the midwife's lips wasn't congratulatory but another sword that stabbed her heart. Her baby that she carried for 9 months died from complications.

Her vision instantly went black and the first thing that she noticed when she woke up was her eyes were gone together with her voice and hearing ability. She didn't know how she can become so miserable in a single moment, she was devastated. Losing everything she had, if it wasn't Tao Qi who looked over her, she probably would have long died. Whether it was from starvation or taking her own life.

In order not to be a burden to Tao Qi, Hong er learned to communicate through writing and doing the housework relying only on her smelling and sensing ability. It was very hard at the first time, but she never gave up despite the countless injuries that she got every single day.

Sometimes she would wonder how could a little kid like Tao Qi be able to live in such a desolated cave. But every time she inquired about these things to Tao Qi, he would always dodge the topic. And over the years, Hong er realized that Tao Qi wasn't a normal human being.

'He doesn't grow at all.' Was one of the reasons why she thought that Tao Qi wasn't a human.

She fully knew that Tao Qi wasn't a human but what creature he was, she didn't know at all. A ghost? A demon? A spirit? Or maybe a zombie? This question was left unanswered even after 13 years had passed by.

Hong er skillfully took Zhang Wei's frantic hands and pressed his hands with hers. The warmth from Hong er's palm transferred to Zhang Wei's drenched in cold sweat's skin. Zhang Wei's eyes directed to Hong er's finger that was gliding on his rough palm.

”Little boy, do you perhaps mistake me for someone else?” Hong er flashed a warm and sympathetic smile.

”No!” Zhang Wei immediately shouted.

How could he be mistaken? The resemblance of the lady in front of him with the lady in the painting was uncanny. Zhang Wei looked down and noticed the bedsheet was stained with the tears that had unknowingly fallen from his eyes.

At this point, Zhang Wei didn't know what to do. He suspected that Hong er had amnesia, yet, it didn't seem like a normal amnesia. The better way to explain this was her memory was reconstructed into a new series of memories. It was like she was living as another person.