Douluo Dalu: The Abandoned Child

The night was calm, the sea's surface shimmering under the starlight as The Black Queen gently rocked on the water. Most of the crew had retired for the evening, and a serene quietness enveloped the ship. Bei stood at the bow, leaning on the railing as he gazed at the vast expanse of stars. For once, his mind wasn't filled with calculations, strategies, or power. He simply let himself exist in the moment.

The sound of soft footsteps brought him out of his thoughts. He turned slightly to see Liu Erlong approaching, her fiery hair catching the faint light of the moon. She stopped beside him, leaning on the railing as well, her expression contemplative.

They stood in silence for a moment, the rhythmic sound of the waves filling the space between them. Finally, Liu Erlong broke the silence. "I never thanked you," she said, her voice steady but carrying an undertone of vulnerability.

Bei glanced at her, his brow furrowing slightly. "Thanked me? For what?"

She kept her eyes on the horizon. "For giving me a purpose. For dragging me out of that spiral I was in. If it weren't for you, I…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "Let's just say I owe you more than I can repay."

Bei's lips quirked into a faint smile. "Anytime."

Another stretch of silence followed, but it was comfortable, the kind that didn't demand to be filled. After a while, Liu Erlong began speaking again, her voice quieter this time.

"You know, there was a time when I thought I had everything figured out. I was going to get married, start a family and live a peaceful life." She laughed bitterly. "But fate had other plans."

Bei didn't interrupt, sensing this was something she needed to say.

"The day of my wedding," she continued, "he walked away. My groom. My cousin. He left me at the altar because he couldn't handle the shame of our relationship." Her voice tightened with emotion. "I… I lost it. I went on a rampage. Criminals, bandits, anyone who crossed my path, I slaughtered them without hesitation. It didn't matter if their crimes were minor. All I wanted was to destroy something, anything, to make the pain go away."

Bei knew exactly who she was talking about: Yu Xiaogang, the man he had vowed to destroy, the man who, in this world, was his father. The irony wasn't lost on him, but he kept his expression neutral, unsure of how to respond.

"I'm not proud of what I did," Liu Erlong admitted, her voice softer now. "But I didn't know how else to deal with the betrayal, the humiliation. Until you found me and saved me from that life."

Bei hesitated, his usual sharp wit failing him in the face of such raw emotion. Finally, he spoke. "I was saved once too," he said, his voice quieter than usual.

Liu Erlong turned to look at him, curiosity evident in her eyes.

"I remember everything," Bei began. "Since the moment I was born, every detail is etched into my mind. I was a strange child. People could see it, and they feared me. My parents…" He hesitated, then continued, "They left me to die in the Sunset Forest. My mother… she looked at me with such hatred before walking away. My father didn't even spare me a glance. He thought I was a mistake, a monster. He was right, of course." Bei's lips curved into a sad smile. "But it still hurt."

Liu Erlong's hands clenched into fists. "If I ever find that man, I'll kill him with my own hands."

Bei wondered if she'd still feel that way if she knew the man she loved (probably still does) and his father were one and the same. He didn't voice the thought, choosing instead to change the subject.

"You know," he said, a hint of humor returning to his voice, "I just realized something. You're my only friend."

Liu Erlong looked at him, surprised.

"I mean," Bei continued, "I have my family, and they love me, but they're relatives., not friends. You're the only person I can talk to like this." He paused, then added with a wry smile, "Although, now that I think about it, my only friend is more than twenty years older than me. That's kind of sad, isn't it?"

Liu Erlong didn't respond immediately, so Bei looked at her. "Aren't you going to say anything? I'm surprised you're not making fun of me right now."

She smiled softly. "I wouldn't kick a dog when it's down."

Bei chuckled at that, the tension between them easing. Liu Erlong straightened, brushing her hands against her sides. "It's late. We should get some rest."

She turned to leave but paused to glance back at him. "Good night, Bei. You're a good friend."

And then she was gone, leaving Bei alone with his thoughts. He leaned against the railing again, staring at the stars. Since arriving in the Douluo Continent, his mind has been consumed by his goal to become the strongest. Every move, every decision, was part of that plan.

But tonight, for the first time, he considered something else. Friendship. It was an unfamiliar concept to him, both in this life and the one before it. Yet, as he thought about Liu Erlong's words and her presence beside him, he found he didn't mind it. Not at all.