C2 Unable to Deduct It

Despite the skepticism among the people of Hillfar Village about a seven-year-old child wandering in the wilderness for a full week without encountering any wild beasts, Zhang Hao's presence, safe and sound, made them want to believe. After all, ever since he lost his mother at three, the villagers had held a special fondness for him.

Zhang Hao's return to Hillfar Village coincided with the evening's approach. A thorough check revealed no injuries, and the villagers gradually dispersed.

As Zhang Hao started toward his home, an elderly man in his seventies hurried toward him and embraced him tightly. "Little Hao, I'm so sorry. It was my fault for taking you up that mountain. I nearly cost you your life," Grandpa Zhao said, his voice shaking with remorse. He had been consumed with guilt, unable to eat or sleep, and it showed in his worn expression.

Upon learning of Zhang Hao's return, Grandpa Zhao had made his way to the village entrance as fast as he could. Seeing Zhang Hao there, his heart, which had been suspended in worry, finally settled.

"Grandpa Zhao, there's no need for self-reproach. Look, I'm okay," Zhang Hao reassured him, feeling the chill of Grandpa Zhao's hand.

"Lift your shirt, let me check for any injuries," Grandpa Zhao insisted. Although the others had already examined Zhang Hao, he complied with the old man's anxious request.

After a careful inspection, Grandpa Zhao's eyes brimmed with tears of relief. "Little Hao, thank goodness you're unharmed. If anything had happened to you, the guilt would weigh on me forever."

"You must be starving after all this time outside. Come to my house, I'll whip up something delicious for you," Grandpa Zhao offered with a warm smile.

Zhang Hao paused, struck by a sudden recollection. The villagers had mentioned he'd spent seven days and nights in a cave. Having eaten nothing in all that time, he should have been famished by now.

For reasons unknown, Zhang Hao felt no hunger whatsoever.

He had intended to decline Grandpa Zhao's offer, but the sight of his warm smile and benevolent expression, tinged with a hint of regret, stayed his refusal. Despite being only seven, Zhang Hao understood that Grandpa Zhao was grappling with guilt and yearning to make amends.

Faced with such a display, Zhang Hao couldn't bring himself to turn Grandpa Zhao down. Even without an appetite, he happily nodded in agreement.

After sharing dinner at Grandpa Zhao's home, the old man escorted Zhang Hao back to his doorstep before departing.

Zhang Hao's home was spartan—a single bed, a table, two chairs, and little else. Lying in bed, he gazed at the dilapidated ceiling, his thoughts drifting back to the events in the cave, which felt like a distant dream.

The idea that he, a seven-year-old, had scaled such a treacherous cave seemed unfathomable.

"Even though I've deceived everyone, who would believe such a tale if I told it?" he whispered to himself as he lay in bed.

Suddenly, a voice echoed in his mind, "I will believe you."

Startled by the elderly tone, Zhang Hao bolted upright and called out instinctively, "Who's there? Show yourself!"

After scanning the empty room, he dashed to the door, flung it open, and peered outside, only to find no one there.

In the evenings, the residents of Hillfar Village seldom ventured out, preferring to retire early.

"Don't be alarmed. I mean you no harm," the voice reassured him, sounding as though it were right beside him, yet no one was in sight.

Zhang Hao's face drained of color. At just seven years old, he was easily frightened by the unexplained.

With a shriek, he slammed the door shut, rushed back to his bed, and burrowed into his blankets.

"It's just a hallucination. It has to be. It can't be real. It just can't..." he quivered under the covers, repeating the words like a mantra.

The mysterious voice in his mind fell silent, perhaps sensing his fear.

After a short while, the elderly voice returned, resonating within his thoughts once more.

"Kid, don't be scared. If it weren't for me, you'd be long gone, dead in that cave."

Zhang Hao froze as the ancient voice echoed in his mind, prompting him to ask instinctively.

"You're lying. I got out of the cave on my own. When did you ever save me?"

Unperturbed by Zhang Hao's disbelief, the old voice responded with an even tone.

"Without drinking my blood, do you think you could have made it, with your bones nearly shattered?"

"It was my blood that helped you skip the Foundation Stage and break through directly to the Early Period of the Blessed."

"Haven't you noticed the seemingly inexhaustible strength in your body?"

As the old voice spoke, color returned to Zhang Hao's ashen face, and the fear that had gripped him began to subside.

Despite its eerie nature, the voice accurately described his current state.

But Zhang Hao was clueless about the Foundation Stage and the Early Period of the Blessed; the old voice's words were lost on him.

A few seconds later, something clicked, and Zhang Hao's voice shook as he spoke.

"That's absurd! When did I ever drink your blood?"

"Remember the pool inside the cave, kid?"

Prompted by the old voice, Zhang Hao's memory of the cave's pool came flooding back, along with the moments before he passed out after tumbling into it.

He had indeed crawled towards it, leaning in to quench his thirst from the pool's water.

To his shock, the old voice claimed the liquid was its blood. The thought of having ingested another's blood sent Zhang Hao's fingers to his throat, trying desperately to induce vomiting.

"Don't bother, you won't be able to get it out. And hey, what's with you taking off your pants?"

"If I can't get it out one way, I'll get it out another!"

"Ease up, kid. Don't overstep your bounds!"