Chapter 6

The night was deep, all sounds hushed in silence.

Yuanxi lay in bed, ready to drift into sweet dreams.

Yet just then, she suddenly heard muffled sobs from the neighboring room—a young boy’s suppressed crying.

The sound seemed to emerge from the depths of darkness, stirring fear and unease in her heart.

Her chest tightened.

She immediately sat up, threw on a thick white shawl, and hurried out of bed.

Pushing the door open softly, she moved toward the neighboring room.

When she entered, the room was pitch-black, but by the faint moonlight, she could make out a small figure on the bed—Fu Jing.

His body trembled slightly, as if trapped in a nightmare.

Yuanxi’s heart clenched.

She rushed to the bedside.

He was having night terrors.

Fu Jing’s brows were furrowed in pain, his eyes tightly shut, his face deathly pale.

Tears streamed from the corners of his eyes into the pillow, his thin lips slightly parted as his throat choked out: “It hurts… it hurts… Please… let me go…”

A pang struck Yuanxi’s heart.

She quickly sat on the edge of the bed but didn’t wake him immediately.

Instead, she leaned down and placed a hand on his forehead.

Her delicate, fair fingers glowed with a faint white light.

Soon, Fu Jing’s tightly knitted brows relaxed, his breathing steadying as he sank back into deep sleep.

Only then did her anxious heart settle.

Seeing his tears, Yuanxi couldn’t bear it.

She moved her hand from his forehead to gently wipe them away, whispering—more like a vow: “From now on, no one will ever hurt you again.”

The next morning, outside the wooden cabin, snowflakes fluttered down like countless white butterflies dancing in the air.

The entire world was blanketed in pristine white, as if tucked under a thick cotton quilt.

Yuanxi brought out the noodles she’d prepared—making noodles was her specialty.

Two bowls of clear broth noodles steamed before them, their delicate fragrance wafting up.

The noodles were thin as silk strands, neatly arranged in the bowls like an exquisite painting.

The broth was crystal clear, free of impurities, mirroring the noodles’ reflection.

Scattered atop were bits of scallions and cilantro, adding vibrancy to the dish.

A light stir, one taste—the noodles were smooth yet chewy, the broth savory but not greasy, leaving an endless aftertaste.

To Fu Jing, this was the most delicious food he’d ever eaten in his life—second only to that roast chicken.

An indescribable sweetness filled his heart.

After breakfast, Yuanxi called Fu Jing into the room.

They sat facing each other, and seeing her solemn expression, he straightened his posture instinctively, watching her cautiously.

After a moment’s thought, Yuanxi asked gravely: “Do you want revenge?”

Fu Jing froze.

Revenge?

“I know your childhood in the Fu residence was filled with suffering. Your heart must be drowning in hatred. If this resentment isn’t resolved, the memories will haunt you for life, leaving you no peace.” Recalling his night terrors—likely not the first—she knew his fears would torment him endlessly unless confronted.

At the mention of the Fu residence, fury engulfed Fu Jing’s entire body.

A surge of hatred rose in his chest.

Before, he’d thought them unfair—now he knew they’d wanted him dead!

Lowering his gaze, he recounted word for word what Old Master Fu and Madam Fu had said by his sickbed while he burned with fever:

“The Fu family has power and influence. I… I can’t take revenge.”

His voice was thick with frustration.

“That’s because you’re still young and powerless.”

Yuanxi’s tone was firm.

“But since I’ve taken you in, I’ll raise you properly. Before spring, I’ll teach you basic literacy—your foundation. Once spring comes, you’ll attend the academy. One must study to understand right from wrong and grasp reason. Most children start at four—you’re late, but with effort, you’ll catch up.”

“But books alone aren’t enough. I’ll teach you spells and cultivation. My junior martial brother will train you in martial arts—to strengthen your body. With health and skill, you’ll crush them effortlessly. Trust me, they’ll face the punishment they deserve.”

“A gentleman’s revenge is never late—even ten years hence.”

In one breath, she laid out all the plans she’d devised overnight.

So she’d already considered so much for him, arranged everything meticulously.

Overwhelmed with gratitude, Fu Jing stood and bowed deeply.

“Thank you, Sister. I can never repay your kindness.”

This debt, he would remember forever!

“No need for thanks. Just work hard. Only when you’re strong can you live well.”

Then, thinking of her own predicament, she added awkwardly: “Truth is, my spiritual energy’s only recovered twenty percent. I’ve made many enemies in the past. If they discover I’m weakened… well, life won’t be easy. But if you grow powerful—”

Fu Jing cut in at once: “Sister, don’t worry. I’ll never fail you. Even if it costs my life, I’ll protect you!”

His voice brimmed with determination, as if he were already prepared to sacrifice everything for her.

Yuanxi’s lips curled up.

Warmth flooded her chest.

Yes—raising him was the right choice!

Then, remembering he wasn’t truly of the Fu bloodline, she probed cautiously: “Since you’re not a Fu… do you want to find your birth parents?”

“I’m not looking for them now. Let fate decide.”

His priority was helping her survive the calamity ten years hence.

With matters settled, Yuanxi cast a spell to send word to her junior brother, Bai Yichen, requesting his aid come spring.

Bai Yichen was the only person she trusted in this world.

Back when she’d first arrived, he’d nearly succumbed to qi deviation from reckless cultivation.

Yuanxi happened to pass by his secluded cave, noticed the abnormal energy, and found him with bloodshot eyes, spiritual power in chaos.

By sheer luck, this body’s high cultivation allowed her to absorb his demonic energy just by pressing a hand to his shoulder—boosting her own spiritual energy by twenty percent in the process.

Since she had helped him, Bai Yichen kept insisting that he must repay her kindness.

Well, if that was the case, this time she’d just let him repay the debt.

In the days that followed, Yuanxi contacted the Danfeng Academy outside the mountains, arranged everything, and secured a spot for Fu Jing to start attending school the following spring.

Every day, aside from her own diligent cultivation to enhance her spiritual energy, she taught him to read.

To her surprise, he already knew some characters—he explained that he used to sneak in and eavesdrop on his elder brother’s tutor’s lessons.

The fact that he could remember so many characters just from eavesdropping and could read with almost no difficulty filled Yuanxi with pride.

What a hardworking and studious child!

She bought him plenty of books, brushes, and ink.

Taught him simple cultivation mantras.

That winter, he turned eight years old.

Standing beside her, he only reached her waist.

He looked up at her, his clear eyes filled with nothing but her reflection.

When spring arrived, Yuanxi arranged for Fu Jing to attend the academy, personally escorting him to and from school every day.

She drove her own carriage, prepared warm breakfasts for him, and in the evenings, she would wait at the school gate, watching as Fu Jing ran toward her with joy before pulling him into a tight embrace.

Time flew, and Fu Jing turned ten.

Yuanxi had raised him well—he was now as tall as her.

She taught him cultivation, even hiring a martial arts master to train him.

The master, true to his word, instructed Fu Jing meticulously.

Fu Jing was a natural talent, and the master often boasted proudly in front of Yuanxi, clearly very satisfied with his disciple.

Every day was fulfilling.

Fu Jing spent his years training, cultivating, and studying, and before they knew it, he was already fifteen.

He now stood a full head taller than Yuanxi, looming like a towering mountain.

His youthful, handsome face radiated a sunshine-bright smile, as if capable of dispelling all the gloom in the world.

His skin had a healthy wheatish hue, brimming with vitality.

His broad shoulders and solid chest exuded strength and resilience.

His eyes were sharp and bright, shining like stars, brimming with confidence and determination.

His jet-black hair was tied high, a few loose strands falling over his shoulders, fluttering slightly like banners dancing in the wind.

His steps were firm and powerful, each stride carrying an unspoken authority.

In him, sunlight and strength merged perfectly, making it impossible not to be captivated.

Yuanxi looked at him and nodded in satisfaction.

Not bad at all! I’ve raised him well!

At night, Yuanxi and Fu Jing sat around the dining table.

Fu Jing brought out the dishes he had prepared—four dishes and a soup.

Ever since he turned eleven, he had basically taken over the cooking.

Laundry, meals, cleaning—any chore he could handle himself, he refused to let Yuanxi lift a finger.

Though Yuanxi was happy, she also felt a little embarrassed.

After all, she was the one who had decided to adopt him.

How could she let a child take care of her? Who was raising whom here?

But seeing how tall and strong he was now, she held back from intervening.

It almost felt like an old mother finally enjoying her blessings.

Once the food was served, Fu Jing handed Yuanxi her chopsticks.

“Sister, eat.”

Yuanxi smiled and accepted them.

Bai Yichen, watching them, tsked.

“All these years as his master, and I’ve never gotten such filial piety from him.”

Yuanxi patted his shoulder and laughed.

“Aiya, no use being jealous. After all, I practically raised him like an old mother, hahaha!”

Fu Jing’s hand, holding his chopsticks, paused slightly at her words.

Bai Yichen stared at Yuanxi’s face—so tender it looked like you could pinch water from it.

“Old mother? What ‘old mother’ has the face of an eighteen-year-old? Senior Sister, you really don’t age at all!”

Bai Yichen was now twenty-two and considered himself young, but looking at her—her skin white and smooth as jade, delicate as silk, with a faint rosy glow—who would believe she was centuries old? So envious!

He teased, “Senior sister, if you keep refusing to age, Ah Jing’s going to end up older than you.”

Fu Jing shot him a glare.

“I’m only fifteen.”

“Senior sister, you’re ageless and undying. After living for centuries, you must have seen so much—important people coming and going, birth, aging, sickness, death. When we die and you’re still here, it’ll be hard, won’t it?”

Yuanxi’s expression stiffened.

She had thought about it before—just deliberately avoided it.

She wasn’t the original owner of this body and hadn’t experienced centuries of life.

She had only lived in this body for nineteen years.

The thought of them dying and leaving her alone in the world… it pained her deeply.

Fu Jing’s expression darkened.

He looked up at Yuanxi and said firmly, “I’ll cultivate diligently. I won’t let you live alone in this world. I’ll become like you—ageless and undying.”

Bai Yichen sighed.

“A fine ambition, but an incredibly difficult one. In all these centuries, out of countless cultivators, only Yuanxi has achieved true immortality.”

Yuanxi laughed awkwardly.

Fu Jing said nothing more, but in his heart, his resolve was firm—he would never let her remain alone in this world!