Zane lay there, his small body shivering with hunger and fatigue.

I can see the moonlight coming in, But when will I be fed?

A tear slid down his cheeks, soaking the silk below him, and his eyesight became blurred.

Zane murmured, "I don't want to feel that pain again," as his small hands clutched lightly and his tiny chest rose and fell with soft shivers.

"Is no one coming for me...?"

As hopelessness continued to set in, a knock sounded at the door, followed by a voice speaking in an unfamiliar language.

Zane's teary eyes widened.

A warm, overwhelming relief surged through him, and more tears welled up inside him, not from sadness this time, but from pure happiness.

Finally… someone's here.

For the past few hours, his body had been instinctively absorbing spiritual energy, forcing him into a cycle of pain. He had tried to stop it, but every time he got relaxed, his body would automatically absorb energy again.

It has happened 20-30 times.

His tiny body ached all over, his skin slightly red from the strain. His golden eyes were teary. His throat is dry. He looked absolutely miserable.

Damn that woman! She just abandoned me without even thinking about how I'd survive!

His frustration grew.

Why even give birth if you can't take responsibility?! First Diana, now this bitch. Why do I keep meeting these kinds of women?!

But right now, anger wouldn't help him.

He needed to get someone's attention before he actually died of hunger.

Without shame, he started crying loudly.

"waa, wah, waah…"

Xiao Rui stood outside the room, staring at the heavy wooden door.It was old, with visible cracks and scratches, yet sturdy.

He heard it again, low but distinct, and his brows furrowed.

"A baby's cry?"

He thought about the woman from earlier and muttered, "But how…?"

At the time, he hadn't given it much thought, but now that he replayed the moment in his mind, something felt off. Her stomach had seemed a little too big.

Was she… pregnant? Did she give birth?

He hesitated.

"Honorable guest, can you hear me?" he called out, pressing his ear against the door.

No response. Only the muffled sound of crying.

His thoughts became confused. She might be in danger if she had given birth. But at the same time, greed flickered in his brown eyes.

A wealthy woman traveling alone might have left valuable things behind.

But, he is smart and he knows that it's dangerous for anybody to travel the Southern Region by themselves.

Only strong martial artists or cultivators, these people well out of his grasp, are able to travel alone in the Southern region.

Yet, Curiosity still remained inside him. He reached for the handle, his fingers shaking a little. He turned the cold, worn metal knob, and opened the door.

The door made a creaked sound.

Inside the room, Zane's tiny eyes were temporarily blinded by the low light that broke into the room.

His golden eyes, still wet with tears, locked onto the man.

For some reason, he felt… relieved.

His crying slowed as a strange sense of comfort took its place.

Xiao Rui paused for a second before grabbing a lamp from the hallway as he noticed the darkness inside.

He entered the room cautiously, holding the lamp high to light the dark room. In the dim light, the surroundings became visible, including a plain bed, old calligraphy on the walls, and a little, frail figure lying on the silk sheets.

---

The room was filled with warm light, and Zane blinked, his golden eye's still filled with tears.

He noticed a man standing in the doorway, holding a lamp. His skin was slightly tanned, the kind earned from years of working outdoors. Short, messy brown hair fell over his forehead in loose strands, and his gray eyes held a cautious look.

He looks like a worker from a poor country.

---

Xiao Rui's gaze landed on the baby. The child had been crying, but now, he had stopped for some reason.

Noticing the dim moonlight from the window barely illuminated anything, casting long shadows across the stone walls.

Xiao Rui approached the nearest unlit lamp. He carefully tilted his own lamp, letting the flame touch the wick. A small burst of light flickered before settling into a steady glow.

He moved methodically, repeating the process with the other lamps. With each one lit, the room gradually brightened, pushing away the cold darkness. The golden light danced across the rough brick walls, making the space feel warmer.

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Finally, with enough illumination, he turned his gaze back to the baby who was staring at him, almost as if he was happy to see him.

His skin was flushed for some reason, and beside him lay a small bag.

Xiao Rui's brows furrowed as he walked toward the bed. The baby's fragile appearance gnawed at his mind, but curiosity drew his gaze to the bag resting nearby.

Carefully, he bent down and picked it up. His fingers trembled slightly as he loosened the drawstring and peeked inside.

His eyes widened.

Under the soft glow of the lamp, gold coins gleamed brightly.

This much...? he thought, his breath hitching at the unexpected treasure.

But before he could fully process the shock, something else caught his attention.

The wooden table nearby bore markings of deep words carved with precision.

Holding the lamp higher, he moved closer, The flame flickered gently, casting shadows across the rough surface.

Setting the lamp down on the table, its steady glow illuminated the carved letters more clearly.

His lips moved as he read the message aloud in a hushed voice:

"Take care of the baby. Use this money, it should be enough for a while."

Xiao Rui's eyes shifted from the bag of gold coins in his hands to the baby on the bed.

So… that woman wants me to take care of this baby in exchange for money?

His quick gaze swept around the room.

No blood. No signs of childbirth.

His brows furrowed as he ran his fingers over the deep, cleanly carved letters.

No ordinary person could do this… Only a cultivators could carve precisely like this on a wooden table.

He turned to face the baby again and saw something, a green round jade pendant on his small neck with some complex carving.

Xiao Rui leaned in and touched it out of curiosity. He felt a cold sensation run through his fingers.

This pendant… it looks valuable.

For a moment, his eyes flashed with greed.

However, he shook his head swiftly.

"Taking from a cultivator's child… that's asking for death."

He turned back to the gold bag instead. He clenched it tightly.

I could finally leave this miserable city with this money and start a new, better life. Maybe even open my own inn and order people around.

The thought warmed him, and a tiny smile appeared on his face.

If this child really is a cultivator's offspring, he might have inherited their talent too & If I raise him well, he could see me as his father… unless his mother returns.

His grey eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the baby again.

If she never comes back, I don't even have to tell him the truth that I am not his father.

He tapped the bag of gold, deep in thought.

And if he does grow into a true cultivator, then my future… is set.

Zane had been watching the man for a while now. From speaking in a strange language to touching his pendant, everything felt bizarre. But more than anything, he was hungry.

His tiny body trembled with frustration. He couldn't hold back anymore.

"Whoa! Wha! Whaaa!"

The unexpected cries made Xiao Rui flinch.

He looked at the baby whose face was a little bit red, his grey eyes flitted with worry. "What is causing it to cry now?Is it hungry?"

He rubbed the back of his head and sighed. "I know absolutely nothing about babies. It will be best to take him home and leave it to my wife."

After a moment of uncertainty, he tucked the money bag into his pocket and turned his attention to the baby. Then he reached down and gently lifted the baby.

As he lifted the baby, soon it stopped crying too

Xiao Rui relaxed a little bit.

But just as he relaxed, he suddenly stiffened.

What the—?! Why is this baby so hot?

His fingers twitched as he felt the child's unnaturally high temperature.

"Damn it… If something happens to him, won't that cultivator come after me?!" He said worriedly.

His heartbeat quickened.

"I need to take him to a physician first… but I also need to get him out of here without the manager noticing it." He thought.

His sharp eyes landed on the wooden table where the carved message remained. That needed to go.

Without hesitation, he gently placed the baby back on the bed and turned toward the table.

First, he grabbed the candle from the table and carefully placed it aside. Then, gripping the heavy wooden desk, he dragged it toward the window.

The wood scraped against the stone floor as he heaved it closer, sweat forming on his brow.

Finally, with one last effort, he lifted the desk slightly and—

Boom!

He shoved it out the window.

The desk fell down, crashing into the empty alley below.

He quickly looked outside. "Good." It was late, and hardly anyone was around. The fall didn't seem to catch much attention.

Letting out a small breath of relief, he turned back toward the baby.

Now, how do I sneak him out?

After thinking for a while a thought crossed his mind.

Xiao Rui took a deep breath, then reached down and tore a strip of cloth from the white silk bed sheet.

Without hesitation, he gently stuffed the cloth into the baby's mouth.

Zane's golden eyes widened in shock.

"Mmm! Mmmph!"

His tiny fists swing wildly, his muffled cries of protest barely making a sound.

Zane's golden eyes burned with anger as he glared at Xiao Rui. He tried to shout, "What the hell, you bastard?! What do you think you're doing?!" But no words came out of his mouth as it was already gagged.

Xiao Rui didn't pay attention to the baby's reaction. Instead, he next grabbed the entire bed sheet, carefully wrapping the child inside like a bundle of laundry.

He left just enough space for the baby to breathe, securing the sheet tightly so no limbs would stick out.

Zane, now wrapped up like a helpless sack, was losing his mind.

Is this guy insane?! Does he think I'll just stay quiet?! Is he going to throw me into a river like I did in the past?!

But at least I did it to adults…

The thought like this lingered in his mind. More memories surfaced, and with each one, his anger began to fade. A strange, sad feeling settled in his chest.

Was this what it felt like, to be powerless?

Xiao Rui took one last glance around the room, then lifted the bundled bed sheet over his shoulder and moved toward the door.

The corridor outside was dimly lit by a few oil lamps hanging on the walls. The air smelled of old wood, faintly mixed with smoke and spices from the kitchen downstairs.

Xiao Rui walked slowly, trying to keep his footsteps light.

Step. Step. Step.

After about ten seconds, he reached the staircase. The wooden steps creaked softly under his shoes as he went down.

As he reached the bottom, the manager looked up from behind the counter.

His sharp eyes locked onto Xiao Rui.

"Took you long enough. What happened? Did the guest ask for something?"

Xiao Rui adjusted the bundle of bedsheets on his shoulder to find a more comfortable position before answering.

Keeping his tone calm and respectful, he said, "Yes, boss. I was told to change the bedsheets. After replacing them, I am taking this dirty one to be cleaned."

He raised the bundle slightly so the manager could get a clear view of the bedsheet. "I'm just taking it to the cleaner now," he said.

The manager scrutinized the bedsheet while rubbing his chin. "Didn't we already have clean bedsheets in that room?"

Xiao Rui tightened his grip on the package, maintaining a calm demeanor. Instead of displaying concern, he expressed a hint of disgust and stated, "She. . . um, made it dirty. "

The manager's frown deepened. "Made it dirty? How so? "

Xiao Rui paused, then leaned closer and lowered his voice, as if confiding an unpleasant secret. "She was on her period. "

The manager's face contorted in disgust at Xiao Rui's disclosure. "Tsk. . . damn it," he muttered, shaking his head. ""At least she paid a gold coin, so I can't complain." The manager dismissively waved his hand."Just make sure it gets cleaned properly."

Xiao Rui gave a polite nod. "Of course, boss." His heartbeat thumping, he made his entrance. He was just a few steps from the entrance when the manager's voice cut through the silence.

"Stop."

Xiao Rui stiffened, a shiver running down his spine as his grip tightened around the bedsheet. The weight on his shoulder, the heavy silence, and the dim light all felt suffocating at once.

Xiao Rui turned toward the manager, his nerves on edge as he struggled to keep his composure under the man's piercing gaze. The manager's expression remained blank, giving nothing away.

"Take it," he said, flicking a small pouch in Xiao Rui's direction.

The bag landed in his palms with a faint jingle, the sound of coins clinking softly.

"Twenty copper coins," the manager said, his voice calm but firm.

The manager studied him for a moment longer before giving a brief nod. "Don't mess it up."

Xiao Rui nodded and turned toward the inn's entrance, clutching the pouch of coins tightly.

Outside, the stone road lay quiet under the pale glow of the moon. Most stalls had already closed, their owners gone for the night, while a few lingered, their lanterns flickering as tired vendors packed up their wares.

Xiao Rui stepped out into the night. The cool breeze brushed his face as he shifted the bedsheet in his arms.

Only when the inn was out of sight did he finally exhale softly. His grip on the pouch eased, but his thoughts stayed alert.

Moving swiftly through the quiet streets, he kept his pace steady. His home was not far from the inn, just a short distance away. The stone pathway beneath his feet was rough and uneven, worn down by years of footsteps. The soft glow of lanterns lit the road, their light flickering against the quiet wooden houses in the night.

Before long, he arrived at a small, humble house with a slightly tilted roof. The walls, made of rock and clay, showed signs of age but stood firm.

He knocked on the door, for three solid taps.

A muffled voice came from inside.

"Who's there?"

"It's me, Lian. Open up."

A moment later, the door creaked open, revealing Lian, his wife.

She was a young woman in her early twenties, her dark brown hair tied neatly into a low bun. Her almond-shaped eyes, sharp yet warm, held a touch of curiosity. Her fair skin was smooth, and she wore a simple, slightly old robe.

Her brows furrowed. "You're early today. What happened?"

Xiao Rui didn't answer immediately. Instead, he stepped inside and gently placed the bundled bedsheet on the wooden table.

Lian's frown deepened. "Why did you bring a bedsheet home?"

She crossed her arms, clearly puzzled as he hurriedly began unwrapping the cloth.

The moment the final layer was pulled back, a small, golden eyed baby was revealed.

His tiny chest heaved up and down, his face flushed, and his golden eyes, still wet with unshed tears, were filled with anger and frustration. Around his neck hung a green jade pendant, which had intricate carvings.

Lian gasped, stepping closer in shock. "A baby?! Whose baby is this? And why in the world did you wrap him up like this?!"

Zane, finally freed from his prison, breathing heavily, his small limbs trembling.

"Waaaah!!", He was trying to say something,

To Lian and Xiao Rui, it sounded like ordinary infant cries. But in reality, the baby's furious thoughts raged.

*You idiot! Who ties up a newborn?! Just wait, once I can move, I'll strangle you to death!*

He glared at Xiao Rui with pure rage.

Lian went closer and immediately scooped him up, carefully removing the small cloth from his mouth.

"There, there… you poor thing." She gently patted his back, trying to soothe him.

Zane quieted slightly at her touch, the warmth of her arms far better than being trapped in a stuffy bedsheet.

She turned back to her husband, her expression serious.

"Explain. Now."

Xiao Rui exhaled and sat down, rubbing the back of his neck. "Listen… this isn't just any baby. He's the child of a cultivator. A woman booked a room at the inn, and when I checked, she was gone and only the baby and a bag of gold were left behind."

Lian's brows knitted together as she glanced between the child and her husband. "A cultivator's child? Are you sure?"

Xiao Rui nodded. "There were no signs of childbirth, and the way she carved letters into the wooden table was so perfect… only a cultivator could do that."

Lian looked down at Zane, studying his delicate yet oddly refined features.

Xiao Rui continued, his tone more serious. "He's also burning up. We need to take him to a physician before it gets worse."

"Feed him first. Then take him to the physician."