Chapter 5

In the study, a row of bookshelves stood against the wall, filled with all kinds of books.

On the desk lay the Four Treasures of the Study—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—all complete.

It was the first time he had ever stayed in such a nice room.

He looked up at her and said, “Thank you.”

Those pitch-black eyes gazed at Yuanxi.

Compared to the lifeless, despairing look he had in the Fu residence, there was now a light in them.

After settling Fu Jing in, she needed to plan how to live from now on.

With an extra child in the house, whatever other kids had, he would get too.

Seeing how skinny and weak he was, she had to fatten him up properly so he could grow into a tall, sturdy lad—only then could he help her ward off her calamity later.

Over the past few days on the road, she had noticed many old and new wounds on his body.

His clothes were filthy, his hair dry and brittle, his frame thin and malnourished.

He was shorter than most eight-year-olds, though his little face was quite handsome.

Yuanxi prepared hot water and a set of clean, thick cotton clothes in the bathing room.

She called Fu Jing over and told him to wash up.

When he took off his hat, his tangled, dry hair was revealed.

It wasn’t hard to imagine—living in that Fu residence, where the servants kissed up to those in power and kicked down those beneath them, who would have bothered to take proper care of him?

Yuanxi’s heart ached for the child.

She brought over a low stool and a basin of hot water, had Fu Jing lean over her lap, and carefully rinsed his hair with warm water.

Fu Jing was nervous—this was the first time anyone had ever touched his hair.

Before, the maidservants had always found him too dirty; none were willing to bathe or wash his hair.

He could only splash water on himself, leaving his body and scalp still itchy.

He was terrified Yuanxi would think he was filthy.

She was the only person who had ever been kind to him.

Anxiously resting on her lap, he felt her warm fingertips gently washing his hair.

She didn’t seem disgusted by him, and his heart swelled with happiness.

His scalp felt so good, the whole process like floating on clouds—so comfortable he thought he might be dreaming.

His hair was truly too dirty, matted and tangled.

Yuanxi washed it several times, changing the water repeatedly, until it finally ran clear.

Inside, she cursed the Fu family hundreds of times.

After washing his hair, she let him bathe himself, soaking in the tub while she stepped out.

Leaving the bathing room, she went to her own quarters, opened the cabinet, and took out some silver.

She weighed it in her hand—looks like she’d have to buy him some good food.

Thinking to take advantage of his bath time, she hurried out to buy meat from a nearby vendor.

Outside, a simple horse-drawn cart—the one she usually used for errands—was parked.

“Hyah!” Yuanxi drove the cart to the butcher’s stall, buying a large portion of pork.

For the excess, she dug a hole in the snow outside and buried it—nature’s icebox, incredibly convenient.

She also picked up some vegetables.

After shopping, she rushed back.

The wooden house stood alone, no neighbors or signs of life around—just silence.

A vast expanse of white snow.

She had been in this world for twelve years now.

At first, with no family or friends, she missed her parents and younger brother from her original world terribly.

She wondered how devastated they must have been when they learned about her car accident.

She hadn’t even received her last half-month’s wages.

She never got to say goodbye to her friends, either—so many regrets left undone.

On top of that, adjusting to this body had been difficult.

She soon learned that the original owner of this body had just fought a bloody battle against the Eight Great Sects, sustaining grave injuries—allowing her soul to slip in and take over.

Every day, she had to hide from the cultivators, terrified they’d discover she had no spiritual energy and come for revenge.

She also didn’t know when the original owner might return and force her soul out.

And then there was the calamity awaiting her ten years later.

The constant fear wore on her.

Her life had been lonely, empty.

But now—she had found Fu Jing.

As long as she clung to him, she could survive!

Now, there was a child waiting for her at home.

Her mood felt… different.

Her steps quickened on the way back.

When she returned and pushed open the door, the house was empty.

“Fu Jing!”

No answer.

Yuanxi rushed out to look for him.

The blizzard outside was dangerous—especially for a child alone.

Had he not liked it here and run away?

Trudging through the snow, her heart filled with worry.

Then, she spotted a figure ahead.

Drawing closer, she saw it was indeed Fu Jing.

Barefoot, his face pale, lips purple from cold.

He was desperately searching through the snow, his voice hoarse from shouting, “Sister! Sister!…”

Yuanxi’s heart clenched.

Fu Jing’s cries were despairing.

He knew—she was the one who had pressed that cool cloth to his forehead when he burned with fever, saving his life.

He knew—she was the one who had secretly left a roast chicken in his room when he was starving.

He knew—she was the one who had killed those black-clad men on the temple road, rescuing him.

In this world, she was the only one who had ever been kind to him!

When he stepped out of the bath and found the house empty—

Had sister abandoned him?

Panic seized him!

He stumbled out blindly, chasing after her, shouting all the way.

Yuanxi’s heart ached, her eyes reddening.

She called out, “Fu Jing!”

The small figure stiffened, whirling around.

When he saw her, joy flooded his face as he rushed over.

“Sister!”

Yuanxi hurried forward, steadying him.

“What’s wrong? Why did you run out here?”

Seeing his bare feet still buried in snow, she scooped him up, cupping them in her hands.

She scolded, “Running out without shoes—do you want to lose your feet?”

Fu Jing’s lips trembled, his voice weak.

“I… I thought you left me. I thought you were gone…”

Yuanxi froze.

So they’d both thought the other had run away?

She sighed.

“This is my home. Since I brought you here, I won’t abandon you.”

Pausing, she added, “Besides, I still need you to help me survive my calamity ten years from now.”

Fu Jing latched onto the key words immediately.

“Sister, don’t worry—I’ll definitely help you through it!”

Both of them relaxed.

Trust would take time to build.

Yuanxi carried him back inside, pressing a hand to his frostbitten feet.

The only way to heal them now was with spiritual energy.