They settled themselves in the public eatery, and Yu Xiao attentively cared for the filthy young boy. When the food arrived, she picked up her chopsticks and carefully transferred several choice pieces onto his empty plate.
"Here, eat up. Don't be shy," she said warmly, her eyes crinkling with encouragement.
The young boy needed no further urging. He grabbed his chopsticks and devoured the food ravenously, clearly famished. His small hands moved quickly from plate to mouth, barely pausing between bites.
A smile flickered across Yu Xiao's face as she watched him eat with such enthusiasm. It was deeply satisfying to see him enjoy the meal without any fussiness or hesitation—just pure, honest hunger being satisfied.
Yu Xiao then turned her attention to her own meal. With delicate fingers, she lifted the edge of her face veil just enough to reveal her mouth. She picked up a morsel with her chopsticks and brought it to her lips, chewing slowly and gracefully, savoring each bite of the delicacies before her. Despite her own hunger, her movements remained poised and unhurried, a stark contrast to the boy's desperate eating.
"Young boy, what is your name?" she asked.
The young boy lifted his gaze to her, his cheeks still bulging with food. He struggled to chew faster, working his jaw hurriedly as he tried to swallow the large mouthful so he could answer. His throat bobbed as he finally gulped down the food, nearly choking in his haste.
Once he'd managed to swallow the mouthful completely, the young boy sniffed—whether from emotion or just a runny nose—and answered promptly.
"Bao Wen," he replied, his voice small but clear.
"Bao Wen?" Yu Xiao repeated softly, testing the name on her tongue. She smiled warmly behind her veil, her eyes crinkling as she nodded in approval. "Alright, Bao Wen. Where do you live?"
The young boy fell silent, then nodded slowly as he met her gaze, his eyes guarded.
"You're so young to be living on the street. Where is your family?" Yu Xiao's voice softened with concern, her earlier warmth giving way to gentle worry.
"I don't have one." His answer came out flat and matter-of-fact, as if he'd said those words many times before. He dropped his gaze back to his plate, his small fingers tightening around his chopsticks.
Ouch! My heart aches for this boy.
Yu Xiao's chest tightened at his words. She pressed her eyes shut for a moment, trying to compose herself against the wave of sympathy that threatened to overwhelm her.
"Your words are enough. I understand." Yu Xiao's voice was gentle, filled with compassion. She leaned forward slightly, her eyes warm and sincere behind her veil. "From now on, we are friends. What do you think?"
The young boy didn't respond with words—only a small, quiet nod. Then, without warning, tears welled up in his eyes, spilling over and streaming down his dirt-streaked cheeks.
Yu Xiao's expression shifted immediately when she witnessed his tears. Her eyes widened with alarm and concern, and she leaned forward instinctively, her hand reaching halfway across the table before hesitating.
"Alright... alright, don't cry." Yu Xiao's voice was soft and soothing as she reached across the table. Gently, she cupped the young boy's cheek with her hand, her thumb brushing away the tears that streaked down his dirty face.
The young boy pressed down his emotions and scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hands, trying to compose himself.
"Finish your food first," Yu Xiao said gently, giving him a reassuring smile. "I'll spend some time with you before I have to leave, alright?"
The young boy nodded, sniffling once before turning his attention back to his plate. He resumed eating, quieter now, more focused—as if the food and her kindness had given him something to hold onto.
Yu Xiao watched him for a moment longer, then lowered her veil back over her mouth and continued with her own meal, eating in companionable silence.
Once they finished their meal, Yu Xiao rose from her seat and gently took the young boy's hand. Together, they stepped outside into the bustling street, weaving through the crowd.
For the next few hours, Yu Xiao devoted herself entirely to caring for Bao Wen, her original purpose in the town momentarily forgotten. She led him from shop to shop, purchasing new clothes—a simple but clean tunic and trousers to replace his tattered rags. She bought him more food for later, sweet buns and dried fruit that made his eyes widen with delight.
Then she brought him to a bathhouse, a modest but clean establishment tucked between two larger buildings. She paid the attendant and waited patiently outside while the boy was scrubbed clean, the layers of grime finally washed away.
When Bao Wen emerged, he was transformed. No longer the filthy, pitiful street urchin, he now looked like any other young boy—hair neatly combed, face clean and bright, dressed in fresh clothes. Only his thin frame hinted at the hardship he'd endured.
Yu Xiao smiled warmly at the sight of him, her heart swelling with satisfaction.
"Gorgeous!" Yu Xiao exclaimed, her hands flying to her mouth in delighted surprise. Her eyes sparkled with genuine joy as she took in his transformation.
The young boy smiled shyly at her reaction, a real smile this time—perhaps the first in a long while. His cheeks flushed slightly under her praise.
Yu Xiao crouched down to his level, her hands gently grasping both of his arms. She looked at him eye to eye, her expression warm and proud.
"Can I call you my sister?" The young boy's question came suddenly, his voice small but hopeful.
Yu Xiao's expression shifted, surprise flickering across her face at his unexpected request. Her hands remained on his arms, but her grip softened.
"You've been so good to me," Bao Wen continued, his eyes earnest and grateful. "You've spent so much on me. No one has ever..." He trailed off, unable to finish.
Yu Xiao felt her heart clench. She was quiet for a moment, choosing her words carefully. "Bao Wen, listen to me," she said gently, her voice tinged with regret. "This is the first time we've met, and I'm truly glad you appreciate what I've done for you. But..." She paused, her eyes sad behind her veil. "My home is very far from here. I cannot stay and look after you as I wish I could."
She squeezed his arms reassuringly. "But I promise you this—I will visit you whenever I can. You won't be alone anymore."
Yu Xiao's voice filled with encouragement and warmth. "As for your request..." she paused, her smile growing behind her veil as she saw the anxious hope in his eyes. "Yes. I would be honored to be your sister."
The moment the words left her lips, the young boy threw his arms around her, hugging her so tightly it nearly knocked her off balance. His small body trembled as tears came again—but these were different tears, born of relief and joy rather than sorrow.
Yu Xiao wrapped her arms around him in return, one hand rubbing gentle circles on his back. "It's alright," she murmured. "I'm here."
They stayed like that for a long moment until the boy's grip gradually loosened. He pulled back slowly, wiping at his eyes as he looked up at her again. His face was still wet with tears, but he was smiling—truly smiling—for the first time since they'd met.
"Bao Wen, I need you to understand something," Yu Xiao said gently, her expression becoming more serious. "If I can get approval from the palace head—permission to bring you with me—then I will take you home. I want to." She paused, her eyes filled with regret. "But right now, it's not something I can decide on my own. I have to ask first."
"It's fine," Bao Wen said, his voice steady despite the tears still clinging to his lashes. "I will wait for you, sister."
The word "sister" came naturally from his lips, as if he'd been waiting his whole life to say it to someone. His small face was set with determination—he would wait, no matter how long it took.
"Then you must go now," Yu Xiao said gently, though her heart felt heavy at the parting. "We will meet again soon. I promise!" She raised her hand solemnly, as if making a sacred oath.
The young boy smiled at her—a genuine, hopeful smile that transformed his entire face. He nodded once, then turned and began walking away, his new clothes clean and bright against the bustling crowd.
Yu Xiao watched as he moved further into the sea of people, his small figure weaving between merchants and shoppers. She kept her eyes on him until the crowd finally swallowed him up completely, and he disappeared from her sight.
Even then, she stood there for a moment longer, her hand pressed against her chest where a bittersweet ache had settled. She had given him hope today—but she had also made a promise she prayed she could keep.
The day had progressed into mid-afternoon, and the streets remained bustling with activity. People hurried about their business, each absorbed in their own routines and concerns.
After Bao Wen disappeared into the crowd, Yu Xiao turned her attention back to her original purpose. She reached into her pouch and counted the spirit stones she had left—only a few remained. It wasn't nearly enough to purchase what she had come here for.
But strangely, she found she didn't mind. After helping the young boy, material concerns seemed less important. Seeing his transformation, giving him hope and a promise of family, that mattered far more than any treasure she might have bought today.
Unfortunately, the bustling marketplace was suddenly thrown into chaos. A group of male cultivators appeared at the far end of the street, all wearing identical black robes with gold collars and intricate embroidery that marked them as members of some powerful sect.
Yu Xiao snapped to alertness immediately, her body tensing. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched the crowd's reaction—people scattered in every direction, their faces twisted with terror. Merchants abandoned their stalls, parents grabbed their children, and panicked screams echoed through the street.
Whatever these cultivators represented, the common people feared them deeply.
A harsh voice cut through the screaming, barking orders with brutal efficiency: "Round up all the merchants! Take everything—goods, money, valuables! Anyone who fights back, kill them immediately!"
The command was delivered with such casual cruelty that it sent a fresh wave of terror through the crowd.
Yu Xiao stood frozen, her lips parting in shock. As she watched the chaos unfold, an unsettling sensation crept over her—a strange sense of déjà vu.
Had she seen this before? This brutal display, these black-robed cultivators terrorizing innocent people... why did it feel so familiar? The images seemed to echo something buried deep in her mind, a memory just out of reach, hazy and indistinct yet undeniably present.
Her heart began to race, though she couldn't say whether it was from fear of the present danger or from something darker lurking in her past.