Chapter 483: Bai

On a snowy winter day, the village blanketed in thick snow seemed to have frozen an entire white fairy-tale world.

By the trash can on the street corner, a dirty but good-looking street child was fighting over the food scavenged from the trash can with a thin, weak puppy.

The street child's hands were red and swollen from the cold wind, but his eyes were clear and bright. His clothes were worn and thin, and his body shivered in the cold wind.

The puppy fighting the street child was equally dirty and thin, yet it stood firm in the cold wind, baring a fierce expression, its eyes full of longing for food.

The street child clutched the food in his hand—a moldy piece of bread. In this freezing, cruel winter day, it was a satisfaction that could fill his stomach. Yet when he lowered his head and saw the thin, weak puppy, boundless sympathy and kindness welled up in his heart.

"Are you also a person?"

Looking at the puppy that seemed ready to pounce at any moment in front of him, the street child felt no fear; he merely gazed at the lonely creature and seemed to recall his own plight.

After saying that, the street child gave up fighting the puppy for food, and he didn't care whether he could survive the night without it.

He curled up in the corner, using his thin clothing and faint body heat to resist the biting cold wind.

His body trembled in the cold wind, yet his eyes held a sense of plainness and tranquility.

Snowflakes fell on the street child's body, and he felt that icy, pure touch. He lifted his head to gaze at the sky, as if seeing the world of his dreams.

That was a world full of hope and possibility, with a father and mother, and him; he knew that perhaps before long he could see them again, and then he would no longer be alone.

Creak! Creak!

A sound of shoes crunching on snow echoed in this dirty, dark corner.

He looked up, and a tall figure appeared before him.

"What's your name?"

The newcomer glanced him up and down, then spoke.

"Bai!"

A fleeting red gleam in the other's eyes carried a chilling cold and fear that made one's blood run cold.

But for some reason, he was not afraid.

"Come with me!"

Having said that, the newcomer didn't bother to wait and see if he would follow, turned directly, and walked away into the distance, stepping on the snow.

Should I follow him?

Watching the other's gradually receding figure, Bai hesitated a little.

The coldness and loneliness just revealed in the other's eyes seemed even more cruel than a winter night.

Watching the other's gradually receding figure, Bai hesitated slightly, then rose and chased after him. Although the other's eyes were icy, he felt a sense of warmth from them.

……

Dong Shilang never expected that, just bored and casually wandering Mist Hidden Village, he would actually meet Bai.

At this time, it shouldn't be long before he encounters Zanbuzhan.

Turning his gaze to the shadow behind him, there, a Mist Ninja with a slanted forehead protector was silently observing Dong Shilang's every move.

As for the small figure following behind Dong Shilang, he merely glanced at it and then looked away.

'This... really is fate!'

Zanbuzhan, arranged by the Mist Ninja as his guard, is responsible for his safety and, of course, for confirming his whereabouts.

Dong Shilang had no objection either; he only asked that the other not appear to be an eyesore.

Who would have thought that, this time with a mission on his shoulders, Zanbuzhan would show no interest in Bai at all.

"Let's go! First, let's go inside and wash up!"

With a small tail trailing behind him, Dong Shilang went straight to the entrance of a hot spring inn.

Bai was filthy all over, his clothes ragged and insufficient for warmth; he needed a thorough cleaning and a change of clothes.

"Guests, this way please!"

A few bills made the inn's boss put aside his somewhat disdainful look, and he eagerly led Dong Shilang and the dirty Bai to a private bath.

"Please also prepare some suitable clothing for him! Make it warm!"

After casually dismissing the smiling boss, Dong Shilang still reminded him.

"Rest assured, guests, I will definitely take care of it!"

"Exactly~"

He rubbed his hands and gave Dong Shilang a gesture that any adult would understand.

"Yes!"

Clutching a handful of heavy bills, the boss grinned broadly and immediately began making arrangements.

"Bai, first go rinse off nearby, then soak well in the bath to wash away the chill!"

After leading Bai to a shower head and teaching him how to use the facilities, Dong Shilang relaxed and sank into the bath, enjoying the rare warmth of winter in the Water Country.

Splash splash splash!

Bai was very clever; Dong Shilang only needed to explain briefly, and Bai could skillfully use the shower facilities he had never encountered before.

He turned on the shower, and the water poured down.

At first, the water droplets struck Bai's stiff skin, so cold it made him shiver.

However, as time passed, the heat of the water gradually dispelled the cold in his body. His skin began to warm from the water's flow, his muscles slowly relaxed, no longer tense.

Soap foam spread through the water, washing away Bai's grime and chill. His skin became smooth and clean, as if reborn.

Splish splash!

While Dong Shilang leaned against the edge of the hot spring pool, he heard a faint sound of someone entering the water.

He couldn't help but lift his eyes and glance over.

He then, with a hint of regret, reached for the tray beside him, picked up a cup of clear liquor, and drank it in one gulp.

His skin was white as jade, smooth and rosy, emitting a soft glow; his black, lustrous hair, like silk threads, swayed with the water's ripples.

A small face, seemingly flushed from the hot spring's heat, making the skin look as delicate as something that could be blown apart.

But...

"Sir, is there something wrong with my face?"

Bai is very sensitive.

Looking at Dong Shilang's strange gaze, feeling a bit uneasy, I shrank back, letting the water cover half of my face.

We had just met, and I hadn't done anything yet, but they took me to soak in the hot spring and even washed my clothes, which made me a bit uneasy.

"Nothing, just a bit regrettable!"

Sighing, Dong Shilang refilled my cup again, then held the wine cup, staring off in a daze.

"Regrettable?"

The other person's gaze just now was a bit strange, and now they say regrettable, leaving Bai confused.

"Yeah!"

When I first saw the other person, Dong Shilang didn't think much of it; just seeing Bai go into the water, the other's skin revealed a fairness that a boy shouldn't have.

Combined with his currently flushed face from the hot spring and his delicate pretty face, it all made him feel a bit regretful.

Such a delicate, pretty child actually being a boy—how could he not feel regretful?

"Lord Hokage, you can't be so willful; after all, this is Mist Ninja territory, so we still need to be careful about safety~"

After strolling around, I brought Bai to take a bath, and just as Dong Shilang returned to the inn, he encountered some uneasy subordinates.

"You just go out with two guards, and whether it's the Third Generation or everyone, they're all very worried about your safety."

Dong Shilang disliked having many guards as troublesome, and with a large entourage, he left the Mist Hidden Inn lightly equipped, making all the Leaf Village ninjas in the inn feel uneasy.

As they spoke, the visitor seemed to notice the figure behind Dong Shilang, and asked doubtfully.

"And… who is this child?"

"Lord Hokage is clearly a single man; how could a trip out bring back such a cute child?"

"Could it be… an illegitimate child left out in the wild? Thinking of these rumors, the visitor's eyes flashed with excitement, and a crowd of figures began following behind Dong Silang."

Seeing this, Bai couldn't help but shrink back, hiding even more carefully behind Dong Shilang to avoid their gaze.

"A promising seedling."

Ignored the visitor's gossipy gaze.

He patted Bai's little head, Dong Shilang looked at Jingyin before him, gave a casual reply without concern, then shifted the topic elsewhere.

"I heard, Shicang…"

"Died of illness?"

Looking at Jingyin's somewhat excited expression, Dong Shilang didn't expect that this girl actually had the potential to become a chatterbox.

However, the reason she says these things to me is also because the Third Generation sees that I and Jingyin are about the same age, and thus wants to advise me through her.

"Shicang…"

Jingyin, who had been chattering nonstop, fell silent at once upon hearing about Shicang.

Shicang had been treated by her all along, but she didn't expect that, seeing the condition gradually improve, after handing him over to the Mist Ninja, he died of illness just two or three days later.

This left her, the doctor who knew Shicang's condition inside out, unable to accept it for a moment.

"Alright, Jingyin!"

Seeing the girl still unable to accept it, how could the venerable Village Shadow die so silently in his own village?

"Notify everyone to heighten vigilance, so as not to be disturbed by any reckless Mist Ninja running over!"

Shicang's life or death meant nothing to him; the only thing he hadn't anticipated was that the Mist Ninja would be so eager to let Shicang 'die of illness'.

This matter, those few bloodline families of the Mist Ninja, probably none can escape involvement.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Mist Ninja will be quite tumultuous over the next few days.

"By the way, don't let them go out these few days."

The Mist Ninja's upcoming power struggle, although due to his presence as an external enemy, should not develop into an uncontrollable stage.

But it's hard to guarantee that some crafty Mist Ninja won't use the Leaf Village people to scheme; he may not fear it, but being cautious is always better.

"... Yes!"

Responding with a sound, Jingyin really wanted to retort that these days, aside from you, Lord Hokage, everyone is very honest, with no one going out to wander aimlessly.

But upon thinking of Dong Silang's identity, I suppressed my curiosity, stepped back, and went to deliver his orders.