Chapter 2 — The Girl in the Storm
By the time Liu Qingxue fully settled into the orphanage, life slowly returned to peace.
Peaceful.
Su Xiaoyao's days became routine—wake up, eat, do chores, help villagers, train his body, gather information about the outside world, and quietly plan his future.
And wherever he went…
Liu Qingxue followed him like a small shadow.
like a silent tail.
At first, it was awkward.Then, strangely… it became normal.
She rarely spoke, yet warmth lingered between them. It wasn't worship, nor blind attachment—just genuine gratitude. In a cruel world, sometimes simply being kind was enough to earn someone's entire loyalty.
The old caretaker often smiled whenever she saw them together.
"You two look like siblings."
Su Xiaoyao would simply shrug.
Life remained simple. Peaceful.
That day…
The wind changed.
Clouds twisted unnaturally overhead. Thunder rumbled without rain. The air grew heavy and suffocating.
Something was wrong.
While villagers treated it as an approaching storm, Su Xiaoyao paused mid-step, his gaze deepening. Instinct whispered danger an opportunity.
Normally, he stayed near the orphanage when storms approached.
But that day…
He didn't.
He slipped away into the forest as the storm gathered strength. The deeper he went, the quieter the world became. No insects. No birds.
Just silence.
The kind of silence where even nature seemed to retreat.
Then he saw her.
A girl lay unconscious near a giant boulder, half-covered in leaves and dirt. Her white robe was torn, streaked with blood. Raindrops streaked her pale face as thunder rolled above.
She looked around twelve or thirteen. Old enough to seem elegant, yet young enough to still hold innocence.
Long black hair like silk. Delicate features. Fair skin. Even covered in dirt and blood, her beauty couldn't be hidden.
Her breathing was shallow, her eyelashes trembled faintly.
A faint oppressive pressure surrounded her.
'without a question, she is a cultivator'
Her aura wasn't from this region—refined, noble, carrying weight and identity.
She definitely had a powerful background.
Su Xiaoyao understood he had two choices.
Leave… and live peacefully.Or approach… and risk stepping into the cultivation world.
He sighed softly.
He had always been rational—always calculating, always weighing risks. But sometimes… one had to take bold steps. Opportunities often hid behind danger.
He stepped forward.
Her heartbeat was weak. Her body cold. If left like this, she would either die… or be eaten by beasts drawn to her blood scent.
And honestly…
Leaving a beauty lying in the forest like abandoned cabbage…
Was immoral and insulting to cabbages.
He carefully carried her to a hidden cave veiled behind hanging vines. Despite her terrifying aura, she was surprisingly light.
He lit a fire. Warmth spread slowly as rain thundered down outside.
Even severely injured, cultivators wouldn't die easily…
But her pale face reminded him of himself—lying helpless in a hospital bed in his past life.
His chest tightened slightly.
"…Didn't I leave that behind?"
Apparently not completely.
He crushed herbs and brewed a weak medicinal soup, carefully feeding her before leaning against the cave wall.
Time passed slowly.
Thunder rolled endlessly, rain pounded the earth and fire crackled softly.
Her breathing slowly steadied. Warmth returned to her skin. Sweat rolled gently down her neck. Her eyelashes trembled.
Good.
She would live.
He exhaled in relief.
"That's better."
Moments later…
Her eyes opened, they were blue, clear and cold, Beautiful like the moonlight illuminating night skies.
At first her eyes held confusion then returned to clarity
Wariness instantly flashed within them—but she didn't panic. She calmly assessed her surroundings, like someone trained to handle danger.
Her gaze finally fell on him—
A seven-year-old mortal boy quietly sitting beside a fire, watching her calmly.
"You're awake," Su Xiaoyao said casually.
She tried to sit—pain stabbed through her body.
He spoke calmly.
"Don't move. Your injuries are severe. If you like pain, go ahead. If not, stay still."
She stared at him, then slowly relaxed.
"…You saved me?"
He nodded.
"Why?"
"Do I need a reason to save someone?"
She went silent.
He added casually,
"And besides… letting a beauty die is a waste of world resources."
Her lips twitched.
Probably questioning his sanity.
"…Aren't you afraid? I am a cultivator."
"If you wanted to kill me, I'd already be dead," he shrugged. "So either you won't… or you can't. Either way, worrying is pointless."
Silence filled the cave once more, only broken by rain and crackling fire.
Eventually, her eyes softened slightly.
"…Thank you."
He nodded calmly.
"Su Xiaoyao."
She repeated slowly.
"Free and unrestrained… fitting."
Then she spoke.
"I am Gu Yuexin."
She took something from her spatial ring, swallowed a pill, and closed her eyes to meditate.
Su Xiaoyao leaned back as well.
Rest when you can.
Survive when you must.
The long storm eventually faded.
Sunlight finally broke through.
When he opened his eyes, Gu Yuexin's aura had stabilized—stronger than before.
Good.
He stepped out, caught fish, roasted them, and returned.
A strange scene:
A mortal child calmly eating breakfast beside a beautiful teenage cultivator radiating faint pressure.
Two beings from different worlds were sharing one cave.
Eventually, she opened her eyes.
He held out a fish.
"Want some? I didn't poison it."
She stared briefly… then accepted.
They ate quietly.
No awkwardness.
Simply… calm.
After finishing, she finally spoke.
"My family noticed when I was gravely injured. They will send someone to find me. It may take about a month."
He nodded.
"Before I go… we likely won't meet again," she added softly. "Say what you want. I don't like owing favors."
Straightforward.
'Perfect, I was waiting for her to tell this'
"Tell me about the cultivation world."
This time, she studied him longer.
Then, instead of mocking… she explained everything:
Realms.
Foundations.
Cultivation.
Herbs.
Treasures.
Pills.
Then she waved her hand.
A faint light flashed.
A book appeared on his lap.
"A high-level mortal cultivation technique. If your talent isn't trash… you can walk the path."
His fingers tightened around it.
"…Thank you."
She nodded.
He stood.
"I'll return tomorrow. Staying out longer will worry them."
She didn't stop him.
When he returned, the caretaker and Liu Qingxue rushed over, worry filling their eyes. He smiled calmly.
"I got caught in the rain and slept in a cave. I'm fine."
They sighed in relief.
Though the caretaker had some doubts, she voice them out, Only Liu Qingxue pouted.
He stretched lazily.
"I'm tired, I couldn't sleep properly, I'll rest."
He went to his room then he sat cross-legged, opened the scripture and began cultivating as mentioned
Slow inhale.
Slow exhale.
Time passed.
Warmth flowed through his body.
Qi.
It circulated through his meridians, strengthening flesh and bone.
When the first circulation completed…
He smiled faintly.
"So… I've truly stepped onto the path of cultivation."
The instant that thought formed—
The world froze.
And something happened…
That truly surprised him.