On the road to Feng County, a convoy of more than fifty military trucks trudged through the torrential rain, their headlights cutting through the gloom.

Half of the convoy consisted of rescuers, while the other half was loaded with essential relief supplies.

“Seriously, did the weather satellites malfunction recently? None of the weather forecasts have been accurate these past few days,” complained a young man in casual clothes, holding his phone and turning to the young officer behind him who was resting with his eyes closed in the second military-green Land Rover at the front of the convoy. “Look, it says cloudy here but it’s pouring outside.”

And it was a heavy rain.

There were still hundreds of kilometers to go to the heavily rain-affected area of Feng County, and the relentless downpour was making everyone anxious.

And more worried about the situation in Feng County.

The young officer in the back seat, dressed in camouflage, was tall and slender, exuding a cold and aloof aura with slightly upturned eyes that carried a hint of sharpness.

He closed his eyes, his brows slightly furrowed, replaying the recent images that had appeared in his mind.

The next moment, the man’s long lashes trembled, revealing a pair of clear dark eyes, bright and deep like a sky full of stars.

“The meteorological bureau has already issued a notice.” The man’s voice was clear and low, like a mountain spring flowing over bright stones, carrying a tranquil essence of time. “Due to the influence of the storm in the southeastern region, the weather is unpredictable. The following data is for reference only, please…”

“Screech—”

The sound of tires skidding violently on the ground interrupted the young officer’s words, and Zhao Xiaobo, unprepared, was flung towards the windshield. If it weren’t for Ye Jianghuai’s quick reflexes to grab him, Zhao Xiaobo’s head might have been split open.

Even so, Zhao Xiaobo was still terrified. Clutching his chest, he swore with a Beijing accent, “Damn it, can you even drive?”

The driver’s hands were tightly gripping the steering wheel, veins popping out due to the effort, and he was visibly flustered. He opened the window and looked ahead uncertainly, saying, “Sir, it seems like there’s been an accident up ahead.”

“An accident?” Zhao Xiaobo instinctively looked towards the mountain wall, suspecting that the heavy rain had caused a landslide.

At that moment, a soldier drenched from head to toe ran over and saluted Ye Jianghuai through the lowered window. “Reporting, sir, there’s been a collision with a person up ahead.”

A… person?

In such continuous heavy rain, on a remote deserted road?

Ye Jianghuai raised an eyebrow, opened the car door, and got out. “How is the person? Are they injured?”

The driver quickly pulled out an umbrella from the car and opened it. Ye Jianghuai took the handle, stopping the driver from following. “Stay here and check the vehicle. I’ll go have a look.”

“Wait for me, I’ll go too.” Zhao Xiaobo, having recovered, was now energized. He grabbed an umbrella from the driver and followed.

“I told you I’m fine. Move aside.” Ling Ji said coldly to the two men surrounding her, rubbing her stomach.

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I'm starving.

If I had known teleportation consumed so much energy, I would have eaten more beforehand!

Instead, I ended up falling halfway due to lack of energy.

And coincidentally, I was seen by a bunch of mortals.

How embarrassing.

Thinking of this, Ling Ji's face turned even grimmer.

Unbeknownst to her, her expression and actions made the two men beside her think she was injured but stubbornly pretending to be fine.

“Sergeant, I remember Dr. Jiang is with the convoy. Should we get her to take a look?” A young soldier, looking barely twenty, spoke to the older soldier, his expression worried while tilting the umbrella more towards the girl, covering her.

The sergeant didn't speak, concentrating on observing this suddenly appearing girl.

The more he looked, the more he frowned.

She wore an obviously ancient-style black robe with wide sleeves, embroidered with hidden patterns on the collar and cuffs, low-key yet luxurious.

Her pale little face was full of impatience, yet it didn't diminish her beauty, adding a touch of defiant allure.

Most importantly... She looked too clean.

Not her aura, but her clothes.

Despite the heavy rain and muddy roads, this girl, without any rain gear, was clean from head to toe, not a speck of mud or water stain.

This was clearly abnormal.

If not for his military uniform and the principle of not speaking of strange things, coupled with the girl's righteous appearance, he would almost suspect she was a fairy.

“What’s going on?” A voice as clear as a spring flowed through the rain, followed by steady and powerful footsteps. Ling Ji looked up and met the eyes of the approaching man through the rain.

Ye Jianghuai was slightly stunned, his mind flashing with images.

Ling Ji averted her gaze, pouted, and turned to leave. The hem of her black skirt fluttered like a delicate flower, radiating a fierce aloofness.

The next moment, the proud flower withered.

Ling Ji clutched her stomach and squatted on the ground, her legs heavy as if filled with lead, unable to move. The elegant hem of her skirt fell straight down like a frost-stricken eggplant.

“Little girl!” The young soldier instinctively moved as Ling Ji turned, but seeing her in pain, he exclaimed and hurried to help her up.

However, someone was quicker. The young soldier only felt a faint scent of pine pass by, and the girl squatting on the ground was pulled up.

His eyes widened as he watched the cold-faced commander, who was known to be indifferent to women, hold the umbrella over the girl's head, letting the rain soak half his body. “Where are you feeling unwell?”

His voice was much gentler than usual!

Ling Ji pressed her lips, bit down hard, turned her head, and kept silent.

Unwell?

No, she wasn't unwell, she was just hungry.

But these people weren't her servants or followers. She had no reason to demand offerings or food from them.

Seeing her not respond, Ye Jianghuai didn't press further. He turned and instructed the sergeant a step away, “Call Dr. Jiang over, bring the medical kit.”

“Growl~”

As soon as he finished speaking, a loud growl came from her stomach. Ye Jianghuai raised an eyebrow in surprise and looked down towards the source of the sound.

Feeling the gaze, Ling Ji glared back fiercely. “What are you looking at? If you keep staring, I'll eat you!”

“Haha.” Zhao Xiaobo couldn't help but laugh, even Ye Jianghuai couldn't help but smile. When the girl glared at him, he gently patted her head. “Hungry?”

Ling Ji nodded.

We demons never lie.

Besides, her stomach was growling; there was no point denying it.

Zhao Xiaobo raised his hand, “I have food. Want some?”

Ling Ji's eyes lit up, “A lot?”

A little wouldn't be enough.

“Plenty.” Zhao Xiaobo promised generously.

The girl looked thin and weak, couldn't possibly eat much. Even if she was a big eater, Zhao could afford it.

Later, when he witnessed Ling Ji's true appetite, Zhao Xiaobo wished he could travel back and slap himself. But now, unaware, Zhao, like a wolf luring Little Red Riding Hood, led her to his car.

Ye Jianghuai stood watching as the girl paused by the car, seemingly curious about something new, then was pushed in by Zhao Xiaobo. Only then did he turn his gaze to the tilted truck with its front end against the mountain wall.

“Commander, I checked the vehicle. It's fine, can still run. But…” Sergeant Qin hesitated before choosing honesty, “The girl appeared too suddenly, like out of thin air. Suspicious and abnormal.”

Where she was abnormal, the keen young commander likely already noticed. Sergeant Qin didn't elaborate, only watching the young man with concern, awaiting orders.

Ye Jianghuai glanced around, then raised the umbrella and looked up at the mountain wall. It was steep and high, with patches of green dotting it, barely visible in the gray rain.

Seeing nothing unusual, Ye Jianghuai retracted his gaze and spoke to the old soldier behind him, “Keep it quiet for now. Transporting supplies and disaster relief is our priority.”

Sergeant Qin nodded, then pulled the confused young soldier into the truck.

Zhao Xiaobo brought a large box from the trunk, squeezed beside Ling Ji, and said generously, “Here, eat as much as you like.”

Bread, ham, jerky, biscuits, chocolate, cake, candy—various types, colorful and abundant.

Ling Ji looked at the heap of colorful things pushed before her, picked up a long item, and hesitated, “Eat it directly?”

“Yes.” Zhao Xiaobo thought she was embarrassed, “Don't be shy, eat as much as you want.”

So when Ye Jianghuai opened the car door, he saw the girl trying to shove a wrapped chocolate bar into her mouth.

Barely inside, Ye Jianghuai lunged forward, grabbing her chin with one hand and slapping her back with the other, “Who told you to eat this? Spit it out!”

Ling Ji thought he regretted

it, clamped her mouth shut, and swallowed the whole chocolate bar.

Then she opened her mouth, showing it was empty, “I ate it, can't spit it out.”

No one has ever taken food from my mouth.

Ye Jianghuai: "..."

Ye Jianghuai was so exasperated he laughed, his grip on her chin tightened slightly. His rational mind told him to leave her be, but for some reason, he leaned closer to the girl, their noses almost touching.

“Open your mouth.” Ye Jianghuai tilted her chin up, looking into her throat. Seeing this, Zhao Xiaobo quickly found a flashlight and shone it inside.

“Jianghuai, her throat looks fine.” After a moment, Zhao Xiaobo said, relieved.

Ye Jianghuai saw no wounds or bleeding in her throat either. He relaxed a bit but still asked, “Do you feel any discomfort? Does your throat hurt?”

“No, I feel fine.” Ling Ji blinked, not understanding their worry.

Her voice was clear, just like before.

Seemingly assured, Ye Jianghuai released her chin, sat back, and looked at her with a more complex expression.

This little girl... has secrets.

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