3: Raising poor little ones

After Chen Qingxuan left;

Huang Qingxue quickly scanned her surroundings, her gaze finally locking onto a window.

Creak—

As she climbed up and pushed open the wooden window, a bustling street scene came into view, bringing with it the scent of freedom.

At that moment, Huang Qingxue was so happy she almost cried.

But before leaving, she still cautiously glanced at the door first. Once she was certain Chen Qingxuan hadn't noticed, she steeled her heart and jumped outside.

Escape—

Even if she broke her legs, she had to escape!

This profit-driven Merchant House would never help her; this was her only chance to escape those demonic clutches.

Thud—

Unexpectedly, as soon as she jumped out the window, she slammed hard into the protective barrier surrounding the room, producing a dull thud that made one gasp.

"Ah..."

Not only was the Little Girl bounced back, but she also clutched her head in pain.

"What happened?"

Hearing the commotion, Chen Qingxuan rushed into the room.

"Eh?" Seeing the swelling on the Little Girl's forehead and the whistling wind blowing in through the open window, Chen Qingxuan froze on the spot.

Given the scene before him, how could he not guess the situation?

She wanted to escape!

"I, I..."

Huang Qingxue scrambled up from the floor, her small hands hidden behind her back in agitation. "The bathwater was too hot... I wanted to open the window for some air... and accidentally fell down."

"..."

The corner of Chen Qingxuan's mouth twitched slightly.

This kind of excuse was simply an insult to his intelligence.

He really wanted to pry open her head to see what she was thinking, treating him like a villain despite him helping her heal and giving her clothes.

Leaving Huang Qingxue to her own devices was clearly impossible.

After all, she was his talent, the world was dangerously unpredictable, and he had the System's escort mission.

"Girls should be mindful of their privacy. If the water is hot, just wait a bit before getting in. Call me when you're done washing." Thus, Chen Qingxuan went over to close the window, not intending to expose her lie.

Exposing it wouldn't do any good anyway.

Phew—

Watching Chen Qingxuan's departing back, Huang Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief, feeling lucky for her composure in the face of danger.

Thankfully she was clever!

By now, she knew she had no chance of escaping and could only obediently strip and bathe.

Lest Chen Qingxuan get 'angry'.

"Mm?"

After entering the water, Huang Qingxue let out a comfortable hum.

She cupped the warm water in disbelief, her pretty little face filled with surprise... such dense Spiritual Qi!

Submerging herself in the bathwater Chen Qingxuan had specially prepared made her feel instantly relaxed, as if every pore in her body had opened up and been filled with dense Spiritual Qi... it was a full, super comfortable feeling!

"Hmph, big villain."

While enjoying the tingling sensation of Body Tempering, Huang Qingxue clenched her small fists. "When I have enough strength, I will definitely kill you, you Evil Cultivator... oh wait, I'll kill all the wicked people in the world."

"Exterminate demons, uphold the Dao, and save the common people; let the noble spirit sweep away all evils!"

Huang Qingxue clenched her fists and made a silent vow.

A seed of Seeking the Dao Through Slaughter began to take root and sprout in her heart.

A short while later.

After the Little Girl finished her bath and changed into new clothes, her temperament was completely refreshed.

Chen Qingxuan showed a look of gratification.

As expected of the generation's Divine Phoenix Empress; even if she was a wandering child, she still looked like a Mystic Goddess descended to the world.

When a maid brought the food, Chen Qingxuan looked at Huang Qingxue, whose eyes couldn't hide her hunger. During her wandering days, she had never seen so many delicacies.

After setting out the dishes, Chen Qingxuan said, "Hungry? Come sit."

"Not hungry."

Huang Qingxue swallowed hard but stubbornly shook her head.

"Oh."

This time, Chen Qingxuan didn't coax her and began to feast on his own.

Actually, it was necessary to let the young girl understand that his kindness had a limit; he couldn't always be the one trying to please her while getting the cold shoulder.

"..."

Huang Qingxue froze on the spot, at a loss.

Seeing that Chen Qingxuan really didn't intend to bother with her, she lowered her head, a small hand instinctively reaching for her belly, which was making dissatisfied protests.

If Chen Qingxuan asked her one more time right now... she would compromise.

But unfortunately, Chen Qingxuan didn't ask. He only cared about feasting, occasionally making satisfied sounds.

"Oh~ so fragrant. I must say, the food at this Merchant House is quite good. Look at this piece of meat, perfectly marbled... when you chew it, it's fragrant and tender, and not greasy at all. And look at this Sweet and Sour Spirit Fish... fresh, juicy, sweet and tart... I didn't expect you wouldn't be hungry."

"..."

Huang Qingxue kept her head down, tears of hunger unhelpfully flowing from her mouth.

The next moment, she held her breath, trying to block out the fragrance filling the room, and turned to squat in the corner facing the wall.

She was trying to play ostrich with the delicious food.

"...So tsundere?" Chen Qingxuan's mouth twitched. He had hoped she would soften her stance, but who knew that even though she was drooling from hunger, she could still endure it.

"I'm full. Go rest on the bed."

Then, Chen Qingxuan stood up with a satisfied air and lay down on the bed.

"...Eh?"

Hearing this, Huang Qingxue lifted her small face.

Looking at the leftover food on the table, and then at the well-fed Chen Qingxuan, she pursed her lips aggrievedly.

After a short while.

The young girl finally couldn't hold out anymore.

"That... your leftovers... can I eat them?" The Little Pitiful One walked to the bedside and asked Chen Qingxuan, her tone full of caution and hesitation.

Chen Qingxuan opened his lazy eyes. "Weren't you not hungry?"

"I..." Huang Qingxue swallowed, her gaze darting away. "There's so much left... it's a waste."

"..."

Chen Qingxuan almost burst out laughing.

What a tsundere Little Pitiful One!

"You're right, wasting is wrong, but..." Saying this, Chen Qingxuan sat up from the bed. "But as the old saying goes, there's no order without rules. If you're going to eat things I paid for... shouldn't you show a proper attitude? What do you think?"

Attitude?

Huang Qingxue's expression shifted upon hearing this.

Meeting Chen Qingxuan's gaze, she naturally understood what he meant; after all, she wasn't an uneducated child. "...Brother, can I eat the leftover food?"

"Go ahead!"

Chen Qingxuan was amused.

Seeing the Little Pitiful One finally soften, he no longer had the heart to keep disciplining the girl.

Thump, thump—

Huang Qingxue said nothing more; her long-starved taste buds drove her to sprint toward the dining table.

Although Chen Qingxuan had eaten first, he hadn't intended to let the Little Pitiful One go hungry, so he had taken from one side of each dish and left the other side untouched.

But Huang Qingxue, sitting at the table, didn't seem to notice this and immediately began her frantic eating mode.

It was clear she was truly starving.

*Cough, cough!*

When she choked, Huang Qingxue just patted her chest and didn't stop her whirlwind consumption.

In all her years of wandering, she had never eaten such delicious food.

Going hungry was a common occurrence.

"Watch out for fish bones. If it's not enough, I'll order more for you."

Chen Qingxuan walked over and sat down.

By now, Huang Qingxue had no mind for anything else; her eyes held only the abundant leftovers.

Delicious, so delicious.

She wanted to eat it all up!

Seeing this, a hint of pity rose in Chen Qingxuan's heart, and he couldn't help but reach out to pat her small head. "How about you call me 'Father' and I'll raise you from now on!"

"?"

Huang Qingxue's movements stopped as she stared blankly at Chen Qingxuan.

Cloud-raising the Little Pitiful One~~~~