Facts proved that Zhao Tang was really not a good person.
She took Niannian to a small alley, where a man with an otherworldly and refined air was standing.
The man said he was the one Xiaotuanzi was looking for, but Xiaotuanzi had a hunch that this man wasn't the one. Just as she wanted to leave, the man knocked her out without hesitation and took her away.
When Niannian opened her eyes, she was lying in a princess - themed room.
The decoration and furnishings in the room were all extremely delicate, a hundred times better than the princess room at home.
Seeing her wake up, the middle - aged man in a Taoist robe stood up and looked at her with extremely kind and gentle eyes. He slowly asked, "You're awake. Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Who are you? What do you want?"
Niannian looked at him warily and curled her body back.
The man still wore a gentle smile on his face. He said unhurriedly, "I'm your master, the one you've been looking for. I'm really sorry for not coming to find you for so long."
"Are you my master?"
Niannian could hardly believe the man in front of her. She thought that if she saw her master, she would surely recognize him at a glance, but she was completely unfamiliar with this man.
Seeing that Niannian was still so scared, the man's eyes became even softer. "Don't be afraid. I'm really your master. You may still feel a bit strange about me now, but it doesn't matter. You'll get to know me after we've been together for a while."
The man tried his best to show his kindness, and Xiaotuanzi gradually relaxed because she felt that this man really had no malice towards her.
Life with the man was much happier than at home.
This master never blamed her for anything. Every time he saw her, there was a gentle smile on his face.
The only thing that made Xiaotuanzi feel a bit uncomfortable was that this master always instilled some strange ideas in her. A voice in her heart told her not to trust this man, but another voice said that she must trust her master.
As time went by, the balance in Niannian's heart gradually tilted towards trusting her master.
After living with her master for more than a year, Niannian became more and more dependent on this man.
Normally, her master would take her out to play from time to time, but recently, for some reason, her master strictly forbade her from going out.
Just after her sixth birthday, her master told her very seriously that the outside world had become chaotic.
"Niannian, the outside world is no longer what it used to be. The world is in great chaos, and the people are living in misery. Master needs your help to save those people. Are you willing?"
Looking into her master's eyes, Niannian nodded blankly.
She was willing. For her master, she was willing to do anything.
The outside world really had become very chaotic. There were cries everywhere. Niannian didn't need to do much. Her master just took her around. Whenever it was necessary, her master would teach her how to emit the golden light from her body, and then the golden light would be taken away. Although the process was very painful, as long as her master was happy.
Xiaotuanzi saw the young man she had glimpsed at the banquet that day.
But at this moment, the young man was no longer as elegant as he was before.
The whole person was like an angel who had fallen into hell, exuding a decadent aura all over.
It seemed that he was blind.
No one knew what he had been through.
Looking at his appearance, Niannian suddenly felt a bit heart - ache.
For the first time, she defied her master. She walked up to the young man on her short legs, took his hand and asked, "Big brother, what's wrong with you?"
"Who are you?"
"I'm Niannian."
Xiaotuanzi told him her name. The young man was stunned for a moment, then came to his senses and shook his head with a bitter smile.
"I didn't expect to meet you."
"Big brother, what's wrong with you?"
"I can't see. I'm a bit afraid of the dark, but it's okay. I'll get used to it soon."
Niannian pouted. She wanted to cry when she heard his words. In fact, she was a very strong child. She had never cried since she was taken home until now.
Whether she was misunderstood, blamed or scolded, she didn't care.
But seeing the young man in front of her become so dejected, Xiaotuanzi felt at a loss and just wanted to hug him and cry loudly.
"What about the other two big brothers around you?"
"The one you called the fourth senior brother is already dead. The other one has carried a lot of sins and is now sealed together with a ghost."
Cold tears slid down her cheeks. Xiaotuanzi didn't even realize it and had already started crying.
Her heart ached as if it was being grabbed by a big hand, making her feel extremely suffocated.
Then Niannian looked up and cried loudly.
She didn't know why she was so sad. She just felt empty inside.
Finally, her master forcibly took her away.
Niannian looked at her master and asked very seriously, "Master, why do you save some people but not others?
Why didn't you comfort the big brother just now when he was so painful?
Master, you said that all sentient beings are equal. Then why do I have to be your tool to save people? Am I not a person?
Master, you taught me to be kind to others and have compassion for all sentient beings, but why can I never see your compassion for the people who died on the roadside? I wanted to help the big brother just now. Master, you should be able to see that.
Master, are you really my master?"
Niannian's calm words and a series of questions made the man's face turn gloomy.
He suddenly stopped leading her forward and looked at Xiaotuanzi with a look as if she were a dead object.
"In this world, some people are worth saving while some aren't. The one just now wasn't worth it. I don't like him. Just looking at his face, I know he's not a good person. Saving a bad person will sacrifice countless good people. Do you think it's worth it?
Niannian, master has never said harsh words to you, which makes you have doubts about me.
Am I not good to you? I saved you from that devil's lair. They always scolded you and blamed you and never regarded you as a family member. I gave you food, clothes, all the warmth and care. I'd like to ask, besides your real father, who in this world would treat you so well?
So do you still think I'm not your master now?"
As these questions came one after another, the memories of the man's kindness to her in the past flashed through her mind, as if covering something up.
The pictures in her mind became more and more chaotic, making Xiaotuanzi unable to tell which side was real and which was fake.
Her head hurt so much that it seemed to explode.
"Niannian."
"Niannian?"
"Niannian!"
For some reason, she suddenly remembered the blind big brother just now and remembered the way he had been calling her.
There were happy, blaming, serious and all kinds of emotions. Those were not the emotions the big brother had ever shown towards her, but she remembered them clearly.
Many vague figures appeared beside him.
There were men and women. Finally, all the figures merged into one appearance.
Daoist Qingyun.
"You're not my master!"
Xiaotuanzi suddenly roared out loudly, heart - rendingly, with red - rimmed eyes.
Suddenly, the man in front of her shattered into pieces like a cracked clay statue.
A pink pig appeared in front of her.
A pig?