Chapter 369

Pain, sorrow, bitterness, and loneliness—all of it was completely washed away by this warm current.

Ning Ning placed his small hand in her palm and gently asked, “How does it taste? Do you like it?”

He must be dreaming.

Pei Ji nodded dazedly, his tongue secretly flicking to savor the lingering sweetness in his mouth.

How could he dare to hope for such warm and fragrant food?

In winter, just having a steamed bun to fill his stomach was already more than enough for him.

Let alone… here he was surrounded by several people, all smiling at him with a closeness that felt utterly surreal.

He was, after all, an abomination—neither human nor demon.

How could anyone smile at him, let alone treat him so kindly?

Tian Xianzi fed him one spoonful at a time, and Pei Ji obediently ate each bite.

Zheng Weiqi, knowing a bit about Pei Ji’s childhood, whispered, “His mother is really… Junior brother Pei is so thin. When I tried to touch him before, he instinctively flinched and tried to avoid me. How badly must he have been mistreated?”

He Zhizhou sighed.

“After his mother passed away, things didn’t get any better for him.”

Both of them were born into prestigious cultivation families, growing up with silver spoons in their mouths, sailing smoothly through life without ever knowing hardship.

Ning Ning silently listened, her right hand tightening as she held Pei Ji’s palm.

All bones, covered in scars and calluses.

Stories and films often describe children as “soft and tender,” but he bore no resemblance to such an image.

Pei Ji disliked crowded places and remained too reserved to speak in front of others.

Tian Xianzi and the rest were considerate; once they finished feeding him the porridge, they softly bid the child farewell.

Zheng Weiqi, who always felt deeply for children, repeatedly reminded Ning Ning before leaving, occasionally glancing at Pei Ji’s pale face: “Ning Ning, you must take good care of him. It’s cold; remember to give him more clothes and blankets and have him drink warm water.”

Ning Ning smiled and agreed with a cheerful “Alright.”

Once they left, the dining hall was left with just Ning Ning and Pei Ji.

The boy seemed uneasy, stealing glances at her.

When Ning Ning turned to face him, he quickly lowered his head.

He heard her footsteps grow closer, his heart hanging in suspense with every sound.

Ning Ning said, “Time to go. Is there anywhere you’d like to visit? Hmm… maybe read a book, drink tea, or take a nap?”

Pei Ji didn’t know.

Usually, he spent his days in the cellar, either fainting from pain, sitting in a daze, or talking to Cheng Ying.

“Anything… is fine.”

He answered awkwardly, frustrated by his hoarse voice.

While fumbling for words, he tried to hop off the stool.

“I—”

The word got stuck in his throat.

Before Pei Ji could leave the stool, a hand pressed against his waist and back.

The soft touch left his mind blank; before he realized it, Ning Ning had already scooped him up.

His body stiffened, frozen in place.

This was a proper, close embrace.

When he was younger, Pei Ji had longed for such an action.

The children of the neighbors received hugs so effortlessly, smiling genuinely whenever they were held by their parents.

But his mother never cared to give him one.

Even the simplest touch with him seemed to disgust her.

“Let me think. This action should go like…”

Ning Ning’s breath brushed against his neck as she spoke with a smile in her voice, “You need to wrap your arms around my neck, or you’ll fall.”

So Pei Ji timidly lifted his hands.

His bony little hands brushed against her clothing and reached her slender, fair neck.

When his fingers touched her skin, he held his breath nervously.

So this is what it feels like to be held gently.

The hard thorns on his body dissolved completely.

He didn’t want to think about anything else, let alone resist.

He was content to drown in this moment.

Pei Ji quietly inhaled.

She smelled wonderful.

“Where shall we go?”

Ning Ning pondered for a moment, then smiled and asked, “Pei Ji, do you want to see the mountains and snow?”

***

Ning Ning brought Pei Ji to Wangyue Peak.

They had agreed to watch the snow here.

Though the Pei Ji by her side was a miniature version, it still counted as fulfilling their promise.

Wangyue Peak was lofty and frigid.

Upon reaching the summit, Ning Ning set Pei Ji down but kept his left hand in her right, transferring a steady stream of warmth through her spiritual energy.

“Follow me.”

Familiar with the area, she led Pei Ji through a dense bamboo grove to the highest, steepest cliff.

The bitter winter wind howled, carrying swirling snow.

The boy’s eyes widened in awe.

Having spent most of his life in the dark cellar, the only other place he had known was the mountain village where he lived.

But the sight before him was grand and boundless, as if the reverberating beat of a great drum had shattered his small world.

From the cliff, the ridges and peaks stretched endlessly, resembling a mighty dragon soaring into the clouds.

Amidst the mountains, mist billowed and streams roared.

Snow-covered waves surged and tumbled like a sea in a storm, stretching to infinity, engulfing heaven and earth in an endless white.

Amid such a vast landscape, every individual seemed insignificant.

Ning Ning and Pei Ji sat on a boulder.

She turned to him and asked, “Have you ever been to the top of a mountain before?”

He shook his head.

“I see.”

She paused before adding softly, “Do you like it?”

Pei Ji stared at her in a daze.

The mountain winds lifted her skirt and hair as she smiled at him, appearing as if she might vanish with the breeze at any moment.

That surreal, dreamlike feeling returned.

His breath quickened, and he gave a faint “Mm.”

“As long as you like it.”

Her smile deepened, and she suddenly said, “Pei Ji, do you see that cluster of flowers on the opposite peak?”

Pei Ji didn’t understand her intent but followed her gaze.

Amid the heavy snow, where everything was draped in a silvery sheen, one small cluster of flowers stood out with a faint pink hue.

As he studied it closely, he suddenly saw a flash of white light streaking from the sky, severing a petal from the cluster.

What happened next was even more astonishing.

In the blink of an eye, the white light carried the petal to him.

“Catch it.”

It was Ning Ning’s voice.

He extended his hand as instructed.

The sword energy that had been sharp moments ago now felt as gentle as a spring breeze.

The petal swirled down and landed in his palm, carrying with it a hint of snow from the distant mountain.

“A little gift for you,” Ning Ning said, laughing at his astonished expression.

“Pretty cool, right?”

It really was amazing.

Pei Ji thought, despite the immense distance, despite her barely moving, it felt as if everything in the far-off mountains was within her grasp.

Before he could respond, Ning Ning added, “One day, you’ll be just as amazing.”

The boy froze, staring at her blankly.

He wanted to say that was impossible.

From birth until now, he had grown up in an isolated village, knowing nothing, plagued by illness and scars.

He had nothing to his name except a wretched bloodline that even he despised.

But Ning Ning’s smile faded as her gaze softened.

She brushed the snow off his head and gently said, “The mountains of Xuanxu may seem insurmountable, but in the future, you’ll rise far above them, unhindered by any distance or obstacle—just like this.”

Pei Ji stood there, stunned.

The howling wind filled the mountains, but all he could hear was his increasingly erratic breathing.

“Your bloodline isn’t shameful. When you grow up, you’ll become a great person.”

She smiled and ruffled his hair.

“Actually, you’re already a wonderful little boy now—everyone likes you.”

Likes.

The unfamiliar word landed heavily in his heart.

Pei Ji, bewildered, blurted out without thinking, “What about you? Do you like me too?”

Realizing his slip, the boy’s face turned pale, then flushed red.

He bit his lip and lowered his head.

Another gentle pat landed on his head, and a clear, light voice rang out.

“I like you the most.”

The wind roared, yet the world felt utterly silent.

The frail, small boy gripped the petal tightly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

His long-numb heart beat for the first time.

In the bitter cold of winter, Ning Ning gave him a fragment of distant snow, a soft petal, a vast mountain range, and a small, safe haven.

And perhaps, a hazy but hopeful future.