5: Chapter 5 The Alluring Widow

As night fell, a sudden rainstorm arrived.

Thunder roared and lightning tore through the night sky, illuminating all of Qinghe Town in a ghastly white.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The urgent pounding on the door mixed with the sound of the thunderstorm, sounding particularly soul-stirring.

"Uncle Changkun! Help! Please, open the door!"

Xu Changkun had just finished his cultivation when he heard this shrill cry for help. His heart sank as he threw on his outer robe and rushed out of the room.

The courtyard gate opened, and a drenched figure came stumbling in.

It was Li Xiue.

At this moment, she was in a wretched state; her messy hair clung to her face, and her thin clothes were soaked through by the rain, making her whole body tremble uncontrollably.

But Xu Changkun couldn't worry about anything else right now.

Because Li Xiue was holding a pale little girl in her arms—her daughter, Xiao Juan.

"What happened?" Xu Changkun grabbed hold of the swaying Li Xiue.

Her body felt ice-cold to the touch. She was shaking, though whether from the cold or from fear, he couldn't tell.

"Xiao Juan... Xiao Juan suddenly developed a high fever and fainted... I can't wake her up no matter what..." Li Xiue wept like a pear blossom bathed in rain, clutching Xu Changkun's sleeve tightly as if it were her last lifeline. "Uncle Changkun, please save her! She's my only daughter..."

"Don't panic, bring her inside!"

Xu Changkun made a prompt decision and had Li Xiue carry the child into the house.

Lin Fenglan had also been awakened. She came out with a cloak over her shoulders and, seeing the situation, hurried to boil hot water and find dry towels.

The house was brightly lit.

Xu Changkun reached out and felt Xiao Juan's forehead; it was as hot as burning charcoal. Looking at her pupils, they were already somewhat dilated. This was Cold Evil entering the body, combined with her usual malnutrition and weak constitution; once it broke out, it was like a mountain collapsing.

An ordinary doctor facing this situation would likely only shake their head and sigh.

But Xu Changkun was now an alchemist and a Cultivator.

He took a low-grade essence-consolidating pill from his robes—for a child, the medicinal power of a standard one would be too overwhelming to bear, while a low-grade one was gentle and just right.

He dissolved the pill in water and fed it to Xiao Juan bit by bit.

Then, Xu Changkun circulated his spiritual power, placing his palm against Xiao Juan's back to help her refine the medicinal power and dispel the Cold Evil.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Xiao Juan's rapid breathing gradually steadied, a hint of color returned to her face, and she fell into a deep sleep.

"It's done." Xu Changkun ceased his technique and exhaled a mouthful of turbid air.

Li Xiue had been kneeling by the bedside the whole time. Seeing this, her legs went weak and she slumped to the floor, covering her mouth as she wept with joy. "Thank heavens... thank you, Uncle Changkun, thank you..."

Xu Changkun turned around, intending to help her up.

Looking down, he realized Li Xiue was soaking wet, water dripping from the tips of her hair, making her look exceptionally helpless.

Li Xiue also seemed to realize her own disheveled state.

She subconsciously hugged her arms, a blush creeping onto her face. Yet she didn't shy away; instead, she looked up slightly. In those moist eyes, besides gratitude, there was a trace of long-suppressed affection and dependency.

"Uncle Changkun..." her voice trembled with a hint of nasality, sounding particularly pitiable. "I can never repay your great kindness, Xiue..."

Looking at her eyes filled with trust and longing, Xu Changkun sighed softly in his heart.

He took off his own outer robe and draped it over her, wrapping her tightly to shield her from the outside chill.

"Change out of those wet clothes first, don't catch a cold." His voice was low and gentle, carrying a reassuring power.

Li Xiue tightly wrapped herself in the robe that carried his warmth and scent, and tears flowed once again.

It had been five years.

In these five years, she had faced the wind and rain alone, enduring countless cold shoulders and harassment. No man had ever given her such a profound sense of security and respect like tonight, rather than coveting her body.

Lin Fenglan came in with ginger soup at this moment. Seeing this scene, she wasn't jealous; instead, she looked at Li Xiue with some pity. "Sister Xiue, quickly drink some hot soup to warm your body."

That night, Li Xiue and her daughter stayed in the Xu Family's guest room.

The rain stopped.

Xu Changkun stood by the window, looking at the night scene outside, washed clean and fresh.

He knew that he no longer needed to exert effort to pluck this heart; she would open up to him on her own.

Early the next morning.

When Li Xiue left with Xiao Juan, she stopped at the courtyard gate.

She turned around and looked deeply at Xu Changkun, the previous confusion and struggle gone from her eyes.

"Uncle..." She bit her lip as if she had made a certain decision. "What you said last night... does it still count?"

Xu Changkun smiled slightly, his gaze deep and steady. "I, Xu Changkun, never go back on my word."

"Then..." Li Xiue lowered her head, her voice soft but firm. "Once I finish cleaning up my house... I will come."

After saying that, her face flushed, she pulled Xiao Juan and quickly left.

Watching her departing figure, the corners of Xu Changkun's mouth curled up slightly.

[Ding! Favorability progress for target Li Xiue: 99% (Only one final step away)]

With just one more push, this gentle and resilient woman would become the Second Mistress of the Xu Family.