After Shen Lang and Tang Wan'er’s playful tussle, he returned to the hotel. After packing his clothes, he took out his phone to buy a plane ticket.
However, Shen Lang never expected that when he took out his phone and opened the ticket purchasing software, he found that all the tickets back to Nanling for today were sold out. Shen Lang could only return to Nanling the next morning.
With no other choice, Shen Lang bought a ticket for the next day, planning to return to Nanling then.
Upon seeing Shen Lang buy a ticket for nine o'clock the next morning, Tang Wan'er also bought one.
After buying their tickets, Shen Lang and Tang Wan'er met each other’s gaze, let out a sigh, and each lay down on their respective beds to rest.
Shen Lang fell asleep, and he didn’t know how long he slept.
In his dream, Shen Lang found himself back in that river, surrounded by men and women who had fallen into the water. Cries and pleas for help filled the air.
Shen Lang struggled and cried for help, but no one responded.
Gradually, Shen Lang’s strength began to falter, his energy waned, and finally, his head sank into the water. He began to suffocate, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.
"Mom... don't abandon Xiao Qi... Xiao Qi is very scared."
At some point, two lines of tears flowed from Shen Lang's eyes, and he let out a sleep-mumbled cry, which startled Tang Wan'er awake.
Seeing Shen Lang’s pained expression, Tang Wan'er looked on with curiosity. What could he have experienced in his dream to make him cry?
Tang Wan'er had only met Shen Lang today, but she knew his core nature was similar to her father, Tang Jiutian – iron-blooded and ruthless. Such a person wouldn't shed tears easily.
Therefore, Tang Wan'er was curious about what kind of dream Shen Lang had.
Furthermore, she thought she heard Shen Lang call out for his mother. She had investigated Shen Lang; he was an orphan with no parents, so where did a mother come from?
"This scoundrel, how many secrets is he hiding?"
Tang Wan'er looked at Shen Lang, finding him more inscrutable the more she looked. However, seeing the tears in his eyes, her maternal instincts were stirred. Her heart softened, and she walked to the bathroom, picked up a clean towel, wet it, wrung it out, and gently wiped Shen Lang’s eyes, drying his tears.
"Tang Wan'er, you're a bitch, what are you trying to do?"
Shen Lang was extremely sensitive. When Shi Wuxie had touched him last time, Shen Lang had been unresponsive because his mind was blank after drowning.
But this time was different. Shen Lang had only been dreaming. When Tang Wan'er wiped his tears, Shen Lang woke up immediately and spoke with a wary tone, "You wicked woman, trying to harm me while I was dreaming?"
"Speak, what did you smear on this towel? Is it the Tang Sect's Guanyin Tear or Luoshen Water?"
Guanyin Tear and Luoshen Water were both top-tier poisons of the Tang Sect. Contact with the skin would cause it to fester, and seeing blood meant death. Outsiders were terrified just hearing about them.
"Haha, didn't expect this, did you? My body is immune to all poisons. Your Guanyin Tear and Luoshen Water are useless against me."
Seeing Tang Wan'er's expression darken, a murderous look in her eyes, Shen Lang became more certain of his guess and laughed heartily, "To try and harm me, you're still too weak. Don't harbor any more illusions."
"Ah—"
As soon as Shen Lang finished speaking, Tang Wan'er threw the towel on the ground and lunged at Shen Lang, biting down hard on his other shoulder.
"You bitch, biting me again?"
Shen Lang was surprised that Tang Wan'er would resort to such means after he had exposed her scheme. No, it was a vicious bite that left his shoulder bleeding profusely, causing him immense pain.
"Shen Lang, you are a scumbag, and you deserve it."
Tang Wan'er picked up the towel from the ground, threw it at Shen Lang's face, and then stomped back to her own bed in a huff to sleep.
"Tang Wan'er, you're just angry and ashamed, and you want to silence me."
Looking at Tang Wan'er, who had closed her eyes and was sleeping angrily, Shen Lang said, "You just wanted to murder me to avenge Tang Zixuan and the others, but you didn't expect me to have a body immune to all poisons, so you bit me out of guilt."
Shen Lang picked up the towel, not minding if it was dirty, and wiped his face.
After wiping his face, Shen Lang folded the towel neatly and placed it on the small table by his bed, lost in thought.
Shen Lang hadn't expected to have this dream after drowning last time. Unlike the fragmented glimpses in the swimming pool, this time Shen Lang realized he was the drowning child and could see everyone around him clearly.
"Who am I, and where do I come from?"
Shen Lang had always wanted to uncover the truth about his origins. After all, only by knowing where one came from could one know where they were going. He didn't want to live his life in confusion.
Perhaps he could get answers from Song Shadao. Shen Lang decided that after returning to Nanling, he would definitely have a good talk with Song Shadao to learn more about that plane crash and his mother and son.
As Shen Lang fell into thought, his phone rang.
Shen Lang picked up the phone and saw it was Yu Xiao calling. Without thinking, he answered.
"Brother Shen, are you busy? Am I disturbing you?"
Yu Xiao's voice was as gentle and sweet as ever. Hearing her voice, the lingering fear from his dream vanished, and Shen Lang felt much better. He replied, "Xiao Xiao, I'm done with my business. I was planning to go back today, but the tickets from Shu to Nanling are all gone."
"However, I bought a ticket for tomorrow morning. It departs from Nanling at nine o'clock, and I'll be back in Nanling in the afternoon."
At this point, Shen Lang realized he had said too much and said to Yu Xiao, "Xiao Xiao, is there something happening at home?"
"I don't know if it's anything..."
Yu Xiao replied, "This morning, Xiao Fei and I went for a run. After we got back, we noticed many strange men around the neighborhood. Their eyes seemed to be fixed on us, making us very uncomfortable."
"Is that so?"
Upon hearing Yu Xiao's words, Shen Lang's expression changed. He said, "Xiao Xiao, before I return, lock your doors and windows, try not to go out, and everything will be fine when I get back, okay?"
"Okay, Brother Shen, we'll wait for you."
Yu Xiao said, "Don't worry about us. We'll be fine. After all, there are many security guards in the neighborhood."
This girl is truly naive. Those neighborhood security guards are useless when it matters. Relying on them for Yu Xiao and the others' safety is completely unreliable.
After hanging up with Yu Xiao, Shen Lang took out his phone and called Yang Ce directly. He said, "Brother Ce, what is Lao Feng doing?"
"Old Feng? Apart from meal times, he spends all day practicing his sword."
Yang Ce chuckled and replied.
Shen Lang thought for a moment and then said to Yang Ce, "Tell Lao Feng to go to my villa. He should remain hidden, but ensure Yu Xiao and the others are protected. If the enemy makes a move, I will retaliate. But if anyone dares to lay a hand on Yu Xiao and the others, kill them without mercy."