Chapter 4 — Nights Beneath the Same Sky
Night quietly blanketed the village.
Lanterns dimmed and voices faded.Children surrendered to sleep one by one.
but Su Xiaoyao did not Instead, he slipped out.
his footsteps didn't make any sound, Just calm movement beneath the moonlight.
Qi flowed silently inside his body—warm, steady, He was no longer an ordinary child.
But nobody needed to know that.
A thought crossed his mind.
"System, conceal my visible realm. Restrict aura display to Body Tempering realm 1st Stage."
"Affirmative. Isolation concealment active."
Instantly, his presence matched that of a weak beginner, Perfect.
Gu Yuexin was a cultivator. Even injured, she could still sense realms. If she discovered a seven-year-old suddenly standing at Body Tempering 8th Stage after one day… she would definitely be shocked. And since he still didn't fully understand her origins…
It was better to be careful.
He had a guess though.
She probably wasn't from this world.
If he could build a good relationship with her, it would definitely be useful in the future.
The forest welcomed him again with comforting silence.
Wind brushed through the leaves and moonlight painted silver shadows.Everything felt strangely peaceful.
Soon, the cave came into view—hidden behind vines, guarded by silence, faintly lit by firelight.
She sensed him before he even entered.
A faint killing intent flickered…Then vanished.
"…You came back," she said softly.
"I said I would," Su Xiaoyao replied casually, stepping in.
Gu Yuexin sat cross-legged near the fire. Eyes closed. Breathing steady. Her aura faint, yet far stronger than before.
Even injured, she carried quiet nobility—refined, resilient, dangerous in a calm way.
Su Xiaoyao sat in his usual place and placed down the bundle in his hand.
Food.
She opened her eyes slightly, glanced at it, then at him.
"…Again?"
"After a certain stage, cultivators don't really need to eat," she said lightly.
"Is there a problem if you eat?"
She stared at him for two seconds—Then quietly accepted the food and began eating gracefully.
He roasted another fish for himself and they ate together.
After a while, she finally spoke.
"It seems your talent is decent after all. Reaching Body Tempering 1st Stage in one day… for this world, you're already considered gifted."
He smiled slightly.
Two people.One cave.A strangely comfortable silence.
If anyone saw them, they'd would doubt there eyes.
A wounded noble cultivator… quietly sharing grilled fish… with a calm seven-year-old boy.
Days Passed
And Su Xiaoyao kept returning.
Every night.
Sometimes he brought food.Sometimes medicine.Sometimes only quiet company.
During the day, he remained the responsible orphanage child—helping the caretaker, dealing with idiots who troubled Liu Qingxue, cultivating silently with pills and items from the sign-in system.
Meanwhile…
Liu Qingxue began sticking to him more than usual.
Probably because he was becoming even more handsome.
Not his fault.
But it caused problems.
Village girls suddenly became friendlier.Some mothers looked ready to betroth their daughters immediately.
Very dangerous beings.
Cultivators are manageable but village aunties there terrifying.
At night, though…
A different world awaited.
Gu Yuexin's complexion improved each day, her breathing stabilizing more and her aura sharpened as each day passed.
Yet every night…She still waited.
They would sit in the cave, they would sometimes talk, sometime eat in silence or simply listen to the wind together
And somehow… it never felt awkward.
Humans adapt quickly.
Even to sharing a cave with a beautiful cultivator girl.
As such days passed
On the seventh night…
She broke the silence.
"Why are you so calm?"
Su Xiaoyao looked at her.
"About what?"
"Everything," she whispered. "Finding a cultivator bleeding in the forest. Carrying me to safety. Feeding me. Sitting here daily. Talking casually. Not fearing. Not begging. Not acting humble or desperate…"
Her gaze deepened.
"…Not treating me like something sacred."
He shrugged lightly.
"Would panicking heal your injuries faster?"
"…No."
"Would treating you like a legendary goddess benefit me?"
"…Also no."
"Exactly."
Silence.
Then, She softly chuckled.
This was the first time he heard her laugh.
As such nights passed...
Twenty days quietly passed.
Routine settled.
Sometimes she waited at the cave entrance, sometimes her expression softened when he came and sometimes silence felt warmer than words.
Trust didn't need loud declarations.
It grew quietly, she became comfortable and let her guard down around him
On the twenty-first day
A beast wandered near the cave.
It was stone-hide boar, it had Razor tusks and it was at Body Tempering realm.
Dangerous enough to kill a grown man.
Before Gu Yuexin reacted—
Su Xiaoyao didn't panic or shout, he calmly moved
His summoned his sword and struck a precise strike at the boars head with precision, in one clean strike the boars head rolled and blood spilled and boars body collapsed, it all happened in slip second
He dragged it away and roasted it, they ate its meat that night.
Gu Yuexin watched him silently for a long time.
she was surprised and a thoughtful look appeared on her face
"You're… very composed," she said softly.
Her gaze lingered, but she didn't probe further
Just acknowledging…He wasn't ordinary.
And instead of prying, She respected it and Su Xiaoyao appreciated it.
On the twenty-ninth night...
Her injuries were almost healed and her aura regained its noble sharpness.
She said in a calm yet heavy tone "my clan have found me and would arrive tomorrow"
Tomorrow…Her clan would arrive.
Both of them knew, they would separate.
That day the atmosphere inside the cave was heavier and quieter
Not sad… but not light.
She sat with her knees lightly drawn in and Firelight were reflected in her eyes.
"…You really kept coming," she whispered.
"You doubted me?"
"Most people aren't consistent."
"I'm not most people."
"I know," she murmured softly.
Silence lingered, it was warm and close
"You helped me without hesitation," she said quietly. "Protected me. Treated me like a person… not a tool. Not a burden. Not a treasure to worship."
Her eyes lowered faintly.
"…I won't forget it."
Su Xiaoyao leaned back.
"If fate wants us to meet again, it will."
She smiled faintly.
"…Fate, huh?"
Her fingers curled slightly, as if she didn't want to leave, didn't want to lose this quiet peaceful and quiet life, this normalcy and this freedom.
But her world wasn't simple, her responsibilities weren't light.
She closed her eyes gently.
"Come tomorrow. Before noon."
"Why?"
"I want to say goodbye properly."
"I'll come."
They didn't speak further.
Just sat together…
Watching the flames…
Under the same night sky.
Night passed and soon morning came...
Su Xiaoyao barely slept, he didn't know if it was because he didn't want to or he couldn't.
Sunlight filtered through the vines and Wind rustled gently.
Today…
Things would change.
Her clan would come and her identity would no longer be just "a girl in a cave."
And he…Would no longer simply be "a boy who helped someone."
Paths were about to split, whether gently or violently and it was uncertain if they will be able meet again in the future
No one knew but one thing was certain—
Today…
Would not be peaceful.
And then—
A cold mechanical voice echoed inside Su Xiaoyao's mind.
"DING."
"Monthly sign-in available."
A faint smile slowly formed on his lips.