Yi Jiang's eyes were wide open, visibly full of anticipation, her pupils sparkling.
"Then I'll kiss you, okay?"
"If you don't kiss me soon, Senior Brother, I'm going to hang on you."
"..."
Was that a threat?
Yun Ming pinched the little one's cheek and bit it, like jelly, utterly satisfying.
He slapped her bottom as punishment, then left on his own.
"Senior Brother, you pervert!"
As the young man left, he nearly tripped on the threshold. He looked back to see the little girl covering her blushing face with a blanket, only her eyes peeking out.
She was smiling, clearly with a talent for being a mischievous imp.
Yun Ming glared at her fiercely. How dare someone who begged for kisses and wanted to sleep with her master say such things!
"You deserved that, and you'll get it again next time..." He strode away.
In the morning courtyard, someone was already practicing swordplay.
It was a woman, her long black hair dancing.
The sword gleamed with cold light, her movements like lotus flowers blooming with each step.
"Good morning, Junior Brother."
"Is Sister Wind Chime doing well?"
"No, she's already asleep... You should be glad I'm not the Senior Disciple."
"Does that mean, Sister, you also have feelings for me?"
The woman's movements paused, her pretty face slightly red. "You're asking for a beating!"
"Come, practice your sword with me."
"Alrighty!"
The young man held nothing, yet the Qing Ming Sword suddenly appeared, attacking the woman with the ferocity of a dragon crossing a river.
"If you lose, Sister, let me kiss you."
"Dream on..."
"Tonight, we're staying at the Orphanage. I'll have Ling'er watch you; don't mess with Hongdou."
"Ah, Sister, do you really not trust me that much?"
Ye Qingxuan smiled, a beautiful smile, like a peerless beauty standing alone in the northern lands.
If you weren't pressing against me, I'd actually believe you!
"Let go!"
She turned and slapped the young man, who was clinging to her like sticky candy.
But the young man was like a shadow, taking advantage of her in various ways. He was no longer the little Junior Brother she could bully.
Yun Ming didn't use spiritual energy, simply flicked the sword hilt, and the woman's sword flew from her hand.
Then he embraced her.
"You lost, but Sister isn't that weak..."
"Was that on purpose? Then I won't be polite anymore!"
He kissed her, but no matter how long he kissed, he wasn't satisfied.
It wasn't until Sister pushed his face away in disgust, wiping the saliva from her face, that Ye Qingxuan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
She thought he was going to kiss her... It turned out Yun'er didn't have so many bad intentions.
"Besides getting my face all slobbery, what else can you do?"
"Oh... That depends on what else Sister wants me to do!"
Waking up in the morning and being able to hold Sister's waist was an incredibly blissful thing. It was slender, soft... and yet, it made him feel so at ease.
Sister also smelled nice. Yun Ming, who usually didn't sleep, felt like sleeping when he held Sister.
He succeeded.
When he opened his eyes again, it was Hongdou's face, puffed up like a little meat bun.
The young man was lying on his Sister's lap, unwilling to let go even in his sleep, his hand clutching her waist, clearly very attached.
"Yun Ming is really clingy with Sister Qingxuan..."
"Yun'er has been like this since he was little, there's nothing I can do."
"It's okay, you can sleep on my lap in the future. Don't always trouble Sister, you silly Yun Ming."
"..."
That single sentence left Ye Qingxuan speechless. Although both of them understood their relationship in their hearts, she didn't have the upper hand.
She glanced at her Junior Brother, her expression unreadable.
"That depends on Yun'er's wishes, then."
"Cough, cough... I haven't slept in too long, I fainted without realizing it. Thankfully, Sister was by my side."
"Hongdou, we should go. Time waits for no one!"
He secretly squeezed Sister's hand.
Then he got up, pulled Hongdou, who was about to say something else, and left. In a few steps, he was outside the door, hoisting Ling'er, who was practicing her morning cultivation at Sui Bian Temple.
A love triangle? Not so soon... But was Sister jealous just now? Don't worry, Junior Brother will spread his affection evenly!
"Why are you in such a hurry? It's just sleeping while hugging Sister Qing Xuan. I won't eat you."
Hongdou crossed her arms and rolled her eyes at Yun Ming.
"Cough, cough... Ling'er, the weather is really nice today."
"But it's cloudy outside..."
"Ah, that's not important! Let's go!"
Next stop, Ailidu, Gentle Home Orphanage.
Ailidu has a total of seven major districts, located near the west coast.
Wei Fei Territory belongs to Suo En District, on the westernmost edge of the coast, while Suo En District is Ailidu's political center, located in the south.
The other districts include the most prosperous Minerva District in the northeast, the commercial and academic center, and the birthplace of the game's protagonist.
Pluto District, Ailidu's industrial center.
The eastern Suo En District, a suburb, was also the initial location where the protagonist's story unfolded after the fall of the Old Capital.
Further east is the Fanus District, which is currently being developed. With the Defense Force's suppression and operations against the Void in recent years, that area has been cleared out.
And in the southeast, near the old oil extraction well area, is the Vulcan Industrial Base, though it is now abandoned.
Only some unfortunate people and biker gangs are struggling to survive there.
Gentle Home is located in the southeast of the Minerva District, very close to the Suo En District, but due to its proximity to the Crete Void.
Therefore, it is not very prosperous.
Most of the residents there are elderly, weak, sick, or disabled.
However, because it is under the jurisdiction of the Minerva District, security is relatively good, and the streets are not particularly dirty or messy.
[Peace Road]
The sign at the intersection shimmered with a brilliant golden light under the sun, like the color of hope.
Children were happily playing by the roadside... But a group of little ones in uniform black and white outfits seemed out of place. They knocked on the doors of their neighbors.
Shy but bravely trying to say something.
Or, they were rummaging for something round and shiny by the trash cans and under the roadside benches. It was Ailidu's coins.
One dinnar.
But even the smallest denomination coin was exquisitely crafted, with stars engraved on it, smooth as a mirror.
The refracted light was very beautiful.
It was often used as a toy by children.
"Brother, are those the children from the Orphanage?"
Ling'er was always very clever; perhaps she could see the shared traits in them at a glance, and her mood became a little somber.
Yun Ming gently rubbed the little girl's head. Her blue hair seemed to glow in the sunlight, very delicate.
The group of children also turned their heads, because these newcomers looked distinguished and wealthy, like Ailidu officials who occasionally visited... So they had to behave well so the Orphanage could get more funding next year, but their faces were dirty.
It seemed they had already been seen... What should they do?
Find Nicole—