Divine Flame City.
“Sigh~ So we really have to go back now…” Lin Yuhe walked side by side with Shen Mu through the city streets, letting out a deep sigh.
Having finally managed to avoid him during this critical period where their paths could easily cross, was she now forced to return and face her destined fate head-on?
“Say… at this point… the sect’s new disciple tournament should be over, right?”
“…”
Shen Mu remained silent, his eyes lost in deep, serious thought.
“Hey!” Lin Yuhe smacked Shen Mu’s backside. “What are you thinking about? I asked you a question.”
Shen Mu snapped back to reality. “Hm? What did you ask?”
“…I said, by now, the new disciple tournament should be over, right?”
“Uh… probably. If nothing unexpected happened, it’s likely over.”
“Good.”
Lin Yuhe let out a temporary sigh of relief.
“But given how much the current situation diverges from the original storyline, there’s a high chance something unexpected did happen.”
Hearing this, Lin Yuhe couldn’t help but curse. “Damn it! So you’re saying there’s still a huge chance I’ll have to fight him?”
“I can’t guarantee anything.”
These were just Shen Mu’s speculations. The real situation could only be confirmed once they returned.
“Ugh…” Lin Yuhe let out a frustrated groan, sulking. “It’s all that girl’s fault. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have all these follow-up troubles…”
“No point saying that now. Just brace yourself and deal with what comes next.”
Having gone through so many unexpected events, Shen Mu had learned to take things in stride.
As long as he didn’t die, no surprise mattered much.
“Oh my~ Who’s this little girl, all beat up and lying here?”
Suddenly, a middle-aged woman’s voice rang out from the entrance of an alley by the street, drawing the attention of passersby who began gathering to look.
“Look at those tattered hemp clothes—she must be a little beggar.”
“She smells kind of fishy.”
“Ugh, I can’t stand that smell. I’m out.”
Some of the onlookers covered their noses as they passed by Shen Mu and Lin Yuhe, their faces showing faint disgust.
“What’s going on over there?” Lin Yuhe paused, turning to peer curiously into the crowd.
“Who cares? Let’s just get back early.”
Having learned his lesson from last time, Shen Mu had no interest in joining the crowd to gawk.
If he got caught up in another unexpected mess, it’d be like inviting bad luck to knock at his door.
“Sister…”
At that moment, a weak voice called out from the crowd. A small, blonde girl, covered in wounds and grime, dressed in tattered hemp clothes, struggled to her feet.
Using her frail arms to prop herself up, she shakily stepped forward with muddy little feet, slowly staggering out of the crowd…
Her steps faltered as she approached Lin Yuhe.
“I don’t want to go back early.”
Lin Yuhe, preoccupied with other thoughts, barely noticed the small figure inching closer.
Suddenly, she seemed to realize something. “Hey, since it only takes about two days to teleport from Divine Flame City to Xuanyong City, how about we stay here for the first three days?”
Shen Mu gave her an exasperated look.
Then he noticed the disheveled, tattered-clothed girl had come within five steps of her and gave a subtle gesture.
“Hm?”
Lin Yuhe frowned in confusion, looking down at her side…
A petite girl, covered in wounds and mud, with matted blonde hair covering her eyes, stood with her head lowered. Her dirty little fingers fidgeted nervously…
“Sister…” she called out weakly in a childish voice.
The onlookers’ gazes immediately turned toward the two.
“…”
This…
Lin Yuhe was utterly baffled, blinking rapidly, glancing at the strange looks from the surrounding passersby.
The next moment, she reacted quickly, putting on a gentle smile. “Little sister, are you hungry?”
“Sister… don’t abandon me…”
The words sparked immediate murmurs among the crowd.
Whispers began speculating about some special connection between the two.
“…”
Hearing the chattering gossip, Lin Yuhe’s expression froze briefly, but she maintained her gentle tone. “Little sister, do you need help with something?”
“Don’t abandon me…”
The girl weakly repeated the same words.
“…”
She’s clearly latching onto me…
Lin Yuhe’s eyes showed helplessness and awkwardness as she turned to Shen Mu, who was barely containing a smirk. “What are you laughing at?”
“Nothing, just thinking of something amusing. Go on,” Shen Mu said, his mood lifting at seeing her deal with an unsolicited problem.
“Go on? Help me figure this out! I’m not good with kids,” Lin Yuhe whispered urgently, leaning closer.
“Don’t you always have plenty of sneaky ideas? Why’re you stumped now?” Shen Mu teased with a grin.
“…You know how I used to be…”
Lin Yuhe’s face flushed with a hint of shame.
As a former shut-in, she had no issues with normal social interactions.
But kids? She couldn’t understand or handle them.
“Sigh~ Looks like you’re not cut out for parenting,” Shen Mu said, shaking his head lightly.
He crouched in front of the girl, who looked like a roadside beggar, and examined her closely before slowly extending his hand…
But as he reached for her grimy blonde hair, she flinched back, as if afraid.
“…”
As expected, there’s something off about this filth.
Seeing her resist his touch, Shen Mu pursed his lips, not forcing it, and withdrew his hand. “Little girl, do you have the strength to follow us?”
“Mm…”
The girl gave a soft hum.
“Good.”
Shen Mu stood, glancing at the path she’d come from, his suspicions growing stronger.
“Hey, are you seriously planning to take her with us?”
The girl was obviously trouble, and Lin Yuhe didn’t believe Shen Mu couldn’t see that.
“What else?” Shen Mu blinked at her twice, giving a subtle hint.
“…Fine, we’ll do it your way.”
Though Lin Yuhe didn’t know what Shen Mu was scheming, since they’d already shared their secrets, she figured she should trust him.