Chapter 334: Old Summer

Chapter 334: Old Summer

The sweltering summers in Yanjing have always been suffocating, and for over a decade, the heat has felt like a steaming cage, making it hard to breathe. The cicadas cry out in exhaustion, as if they were about to bleed, and everything under the scorching sun wilts.

But summer rain comes swiftly. One moment the sky is clear and bright, the next, dark clouds gather, yet the air remains oppressively heavy. The dense forest looms ominously under the dimming sky, rustling with eerie sounds.

"Xie Yuan, will you kneel or not? You managed to escape at the academy that day, but do you think someone will come to save you today?"

"As the son of a great traitor, even if others see you, they won't help!"

"That's right. Kneel down and bark like a dog, and we'll let you off today!"

"Go catch some earthworms; he'll eat them later!"

Seven boys dressed in fine clothing, their faces twisted with hatred, surrounded the chubby boy in the center, shouting angrily. Each one seemed to embody righteous indignation, as if they were the arbiters of justice, ready to sentence the person before them to death.

Boys around ten years old are at an age when they release their inner malice without restraint. One of them, seeing Xie Yuan glaring back defiantly, sneered.

"Don't tell me you're waiting for Fang Wenzhou to call for help. Let me tell you, he was part of our plan from the beginning, pretending to be your friend. Today, he deliberately lured you out. As the son of a great traitor, everyone in this world wishes you were executed! Who would be friends with you, Xie Yuan!"

Young Xie Yuan's eyes widened in disbelief, but the disappearance of his supposed friend seemed to confirm their words.

He hadn't cried when he was cursed, nor when he was beaten, nor when he was bullied at the academy. But now, his eyes suddenly welled up with tears.

Deep within the turbulent clouds, a muffled thunderclap echoed, making the air even more suffocating, as if it wouldn't stop until someone was driven to their death. The sky darkened abruptly.

Hearing the rolling thunder, the boy didn't flinch. His face, as dark as the sky, brimmed with endless malice. "You lot, hold him down. Don't let him run away. I got a new toy today, and I'm going to use it on him. We'll see if he breaks."

Saying this, he pulled out a round-handled curved iron device from his waist pouch. Before the other boys could react, he pressed a switch, and the device extended several sharp needles and four symmetrical blades, glinting menacingly.

Just looking at it, several boys were stunned. "How... how do we use this?"

Seeing their confusion, the boy smirked proudly. "Hold him down, put this in his mouth, and press the switch. He'll scream in agony, unable to cry out to heaven or earth!"

Some boys gasped, while others grew excited.

"Master Guo, isn't this too much? What if we accidentally kill him..."

The boy holding the torture device sneered. "He's the son of a despised traitor. If he dies, everyone will cheer. They'll praise me for ridding the world of a future traitor. And if no one talks, who will know? Don't you want to rid the world of evil?"

At the thought of watching a living person beg for mercy, Guo Yi's eyes gleamed with dark satisfaction.

He had only dared to experiment on cats and dogs before, but this was his first time using it on a human. He planned to make everyone help dispose of the body if Xie Yuan died, ensuring their silence.

That Fang guy also had to die. Only dead men keep secrets.

This way, he would have a new toy.

Hearing this, young Xie Yuan turned to run, but six boys quickly surrounded him, trapping him.

The harder he struggled, the more determined the boys became to subdue him, eager to punish the son of a traitor.

Soon, Xie Yuan's face was pressed into the ground, bleeding and covered in mud. One eye was nearly crushed, causing intense pain. His face showed a mix of hatred, panic, and a faint trace of pleading.

Was it true that he could never have a friend?

He had already decided to consider Fang Wenzhou his lifelong brother.

If Fang Wenzhou called for help, even if he didn't return personally, Xie Yuan would forgive him for luring him here...

As Guo Yi approached, Xie Yuan struggled desperately, his face and body covered in dirt. A piece of soil flew into his other eye, blinding him momentarily.

The thunder grew louder, one after another, as if someone had angered the heavens. The forest whipped with wind and sand, trees groaning, and black clouds surged like a million beasts.

But this scene did not frighten Guo Yi; instead, he broke out in a cold sweat, his excitement palpable.

Kill him!

Heavy rain was imminent. After dismembering his body and throwing it into the river, Xie Yuan's family would find nothing but bones, his blood washed away by the water!

A few large drops of cold rain hit Xie Yuan, making him shiver. The darkness before his eyes filled him with despair.

"What are you bad guys doing? Let him go!"

A voice suddenly rang out, and the pressure on Xie Yuan's body lessened. He managed to lift his head slightly.

But the voice wasn't from his "good friend"; it was a soft, childish voice belonging to a little girl.

His vision blurred, but as he looked towards the source of the voice, a golden light pierced through the rolling black clouds, illuminating the dark forest. The brightness revealed a vibrant red, catching his attention.

The color was like a flame dancing in the pitch-black night, or a flower glowing on a still, dark pond. It captivated him instantly.

Despite his blurred vision, he heard the little girl's indignant voice: "You bad guys, bullying someone outnumbered is no skill!"

Guo Yi, recognizing the little girl's angelic beauty, felt a surge of excitement.

The more beautiful the victim, the more exhilarated he felt when torturing them. The sight of blood and destruction, coupled with their screams, drove him mad with pleasure.

The little girl's eyes sparkled like gems, her face full of anger. She stood tall, declaring confidently: "I am Su Nannan, the eldest daughter of the Su family. If you don't let him go, I'll call for help!"