Li Xiang the Immortal
77 - The Hated Child

"This is my son." Said a beautiful black haired woman with blue eyes of the night sky. He smiled as he stroked the head of the little boy beside him.

A young man who looked to be about 20 years old smiled amiably as he looked at the child beside the woman. He knelt in front of her, "Hello! My name is Yan Cheng. From now on, I will protect you, Young Master."

The 7-year-old boy hid behind his mother's body. He felt afraid of Yan Cheng. "I-mom.. Who is she? I. I'm afraid.." He looked at Yan Cheng from behind his mother's body.

The woman called mother laughed softly. She was worried about what her son was doing, "From now on, Yan Cheng will be your bodyguard, Xiang'er. He'll protect you from people who want to hurt you."

"But." The little boy named Li Xiang looked doubtful.

"It's okay, he's nice. In addition to being a bodyguard, Cheng'er will also be your friend."

Li Xiang looked up, "Friends?"

"Yes, man. Isn't this brother Cheng going to be your first friend now?" The woman smiled.

Yan Cheng nodded his head in a nod while smiling at Li Xiang. He stretched out his hand, "Don't be afraid, I will continue to protect you, Young Master. Even if the stakes are life. I'm ready to sacrifice it." He smiled and showed me his white teeth.

Slowly, Li Xiang did not end up hiding behind his mother's body anymore, "W-do you really want to be my friend?" Said doubtful.

Yan Cheng nodded, "If Young Master believes me, then grab my hand. I will be loyal as a bodyguard and friend to you, Young Master."

Li Xiang glanced at his mother. As if he was asking for an opinion. The woman beside him nodded with a smile. Li Xiang looked back at Yan Cheng's outstretched hand at him, "Em.. B-well, I. believe in Brother Cheng." He immediately grabbed it.

"Thank you, Young Master."

***

Plakk

"Go there! Don't touch my wares! Even if you're Mr. Li's son, you're still an unlucky bearer. I don't want to because of your arrival, my trade becomes unsavory!" Said a trader who was in a market. He sold various kinds of fruits that were stored in a large basket.

The 7-year-old Li Xiang immediately held onto her red cheek because of the slap the merchant had done to her. Yan Cheng was currently not with him. Because the young man was buying pills that were in the shop around the place. Li Xiang himself left without informing Yan Cheng.

Even though from the beginning Yan Cheng did not want Li Xiang to come along. He knows that many people hate his Young Master. He did not want Li Xiang to get maki from people. But Li Xiang insisted, wanting to walk the road outside. He rarely goes out because of his body condition that is easily sick. Because Li Xiang was so begging him, Yan Cheng let him take the pills ordered for the Li clan troops.

Li Xiang bit his lips. The cheeks that had just been hit by the merchant's slap were hot. Even his ears were buzzing. He wanted to cry, but he didn't want to. He did not want Yan Cheng to find him in a state of tears. If that happened, maybe the young man would give the merchant a few punches, "Pardon me. I-I didn't mean it that way.." He lowered his head, not daring to look at the face of the seller in front of him.

"Hey, he's still Mr. Li's son. If you hurt him like that, you'll get in trouble. You know, he's very weak. Maybe after getting your slap, he'll get a fever, hahaha.." Said the merchant near there.

"Haha, you're right too. He is weak.. Even I heard, he can't cultivate. Just studying for a while, he was immediately sick. He's really weak." The merchant in front of Li Xiang looked at the child with a petty look.

Li Xiang bit his lips even more. His hands were tightly clenched. What the guy said was not wrong. He is very weak. Even just walking for a while he could instantly feel tired. He certainly does not want to continue to be weak like this. But even though he tried to practice physically or cultivate, then he would immediately have a fever in just a few exercises. Therefore, he was forbidden to do so by his father or mother.

***

Now the place has turned into a large field. "Hey you! Do you want to come play? You just pay attention, it's not exciting." Said a boy who was the same age as Li Xiang. Behind him stands another child who is also the same age or different 1-2 years.

"W-can I come play?" Li Xiang said nervously.

Li Xiang touched the shoulder that the boy had held earlier, "A-I'm playing along?" Mumbled. Since he had seen the game since then, then Li Xiang knew what to do. He smiled happily and started running, "Hihi. I'll catch you.."

They kept running and chasing each other. Li Xiang coughed a few times and felt tired. But a smile continued to be plastered on his face during the game.

But just as they played a dozen minutes, the parents of the child came and made the game they did stop. "How many times have you told you to stay away from that unlucky carrier?! Why are you still playing with him?!" Say a grown woman while pulling a child's hand.

"Tao'er, don't play with him anymore. If you keep playing with him, our family's gonna get shit, "an adult man pulled another kid.

"But.."

"Nothing but. You have to obey father."

One by one, the children were taken by their parents and now only leave Li Xiang alone there. Li Xiang stood under the shady tree while coughing. He looked at the boy's departure. For the first time he can play and laugh freely like that along with children his age. But all of that should end in a matter of minutes.

"Young Master? Oh, my God, Young Master, I'm looking for you where. Next time you want to go somewhere, tell me first. You're making me anxious." Yan Cheng arrived coming from the right direction.

Li Xiang smiled faintly. Although his heart felt like crying after seeing the gaze of the adults earlier. As if he was disgusting, worthy of being hated. The look of dislike, hate, intimidation, they showed all those gazes to him. He always asked, what exactly did he do until they hated him so much? Did he ever make a mistake with them?

"What did Young Master do? Your clothes look dirty and you cough too. Did you just run?" Yan Cheng asked worriedly. He crouched down before Li Xiang and rubbed his forehead, "Young Master was sweating. Is Young Master okay?"

Li Xiang nodded with a smile, "I'm fine, Brother Cheng. Thank you for worrying about me. I just went to walk outside."

"Alright, then we should just go home. In this hot place, Young Master can get sick. We better get home soon."

Yan Cheng directly carried Li Xiang ala bridal style. Since Li Xiang was an easy person to get sick, then he could not let the child walk all the way home. So he carried her.

Li Xiang simply nodded, "Alright."

Yan Cheng started walking out of the field. The sun is right over your head, because it is already noon. And so, the air feels hot. If Li Xiang had been in the sun too long, then he would have been sick.

"Sir Cheng.."

"Hm? What's the matter, Young Master?"

"Why..were they staring at me like that?"

Yan Cheng frowned and directly looked at Li Xiang's face which was currently staring in another direction.

"Why.. does everyone hate me?"

Yan Cheng was stunned. His mouth seemed difficult to say a single word after getting that question from Li Xiang. He smiled as he looked forward, "Are you sure everyone hates you? What about Mr Li and Mrs Li? Do they hate you, Young Master?"

Li Xiang looked at Yan Cheng, then immediately shook his head, "No... T-of course not."

"Not everyone hates you Young Master. Including myself. I don't hate Young Master at all. Perhaps there are indeed many people who hate the Young Master in this clan. But Young Master still has Mr. Li, Mrs Li and myself here." Yan Cheng smiled as he looked at Li Xiang back.

Slowly, a smile appeared on Li Xiang's face, "And don't forget uncle!" Vigorously.