Chapter Sixteen: Wu Ping'an

Yu Wanqiao was momentarily stunned, then lowered herself to meet the little girl’s gaze.

“What’s wrong?”

The little girl pouted. “That boy wasn’t playing with those kids earlier. It was them bullying him all along.”

Yu Wanqiao frowned, feeling a pang of guilt for not noticing this sooner. Her heart stirred unexpectedly.

At that moment, the little girl added, “Sister, everything the boy said is true.”

Before she could say more, a woman waved at the girl from a distance.

“Xiaoxiao! Come back for dinner!”

The little girl immediately ran off briskly.

Yu Wanqiao was still trying to make sense of it all when the subtitles appeared again.

It seemed they had grown accustomed to her “resurrection,” no longer as surprised as before.

“Is it just me, or does the antagonist seem too cold? That little boy just wants help.”

“Exactly! You’re the only one seeing clearly. The heroine just doesn’t want to get involved with a copycat. If you were in a strange place and some random little boy ran up to you rambling about a bunch of things and inviting you to his home, would you dare?”

“But this isn’t our world. The antagonist is so capable, why would she be afraid of that?”

...Seeing the subtitles grow increasingly heated, Yu Wanqiao sighed inwardly.

Back when she was at the cliff bottom, she longed for these subtitles to reappear in her vision.

Now that they had, she wondered what she had been thinking at the time.

Suddenly, the subtitles shifted tone.

“No, this scene looks so familiar. Isn’t this the plot the heroine would follow? So why is the antagonist here now? Can someone explain?”

“Ah, now that you mention it, I remember. This chapter is the heroine’s opportunity. According to the novel, at this point she can cultivate normally. She goes down the mountain with her senior brothers for training and happens to arrive here.”

“The antagonist probably didn’t realize how important that little boy was! His mother is plagued by a ghost, leaving her bedridden. This ghost is cunning; no one knew what illness his mother really had. After hearing the boy’s story, the heroine and her companions concluded it was a mental illness, left some spirit stones, and planned to leave. But the boy stopped them, saying it was already late and they should rest another day. That night, the ghost couldn’t resist. It sensed the heroine’s alluring aura and tried to swallow her. Fortunately, the senior brothers noticed something was wrong and saved her. That’s when everyone realized the ghost harbored a great secret!”

Yu Wanqiao stared at the subtitles, about to read on.

In the next moment, a flash of white light blinded her, and when she opened her eyes, she could see nothing.

Only a few fleeting subtitles appeared.

“What the—why did it switch to the heroine’s channel?”

Yu Wanqiao realized they weren’t just watching her, but switching among several of them.

No wonder sometimes she could see these subtitles, and other times she couldn’t.

But that no longer mattered.

Ever since she learned the little boy had spoken the truth, Yu Wanqiao found she could no longer feign ignorance.

Following the place the boy had told her about, she walked there.

Only when she reached a more secluded spot did she see the boy sitting outside a house.

He didn’t react until Yu Wanqiao approached.

When she stood before him, he lifted his head in a daze.

The moment he saw her, his eyes lit up, but soon darkened again as if recalling something unpleasant.

He avoided looking at her and lowered his head silently.

Yu Wanqiao sighed and crouched to meet his eyes.

“What happened? Why aren’t you going inside?”

The boy poked at the ground, remaining silent.

“You said you wanted my help. If you ignore me now, I’m leaving.”

“Don’t go! I—I want to tell you!”

Hearing Yu Wanqiao willing to help, the boy hurriedly spoke, afraid she might leave the next moment.

His given name was Wu Ping’an, bestowed by his mother. He seemed happy to say it, because she hoped he would live a peaceful and safe life.

Yu Wanqiao sighed silently.

The name was good, but it bore a heavy burden.

“Ping’an, then why are you sitting outside the door and not going in?”

Wu Ping’an fiddled with his hands, embarrassed.

“Because today I told my mother I was going out with friends. She was very happy. The clothes I’m wearing were even changed by her this morning.”

Seeing his smile, Yu Wanqiao felt a pang of sadness.

Beside him were some rotten vegetable leaves, and he held a piece of bread.

After the little girl left earlier, the woman standing nearby said Wu Ping’an wandered the streets all day picking up scraps of rotten vegetables to take home and eat. Yet, he was a filial boy who always gave fresh food to his mother while eating the spoiled parts himself.

Yu Wanqiao’s heart churned with mixed emotions.

The boys who had surrounded him earlier only did so because he was easy to bully.

But Wu Ping’an considered them his friends.

She reached out and wiped the dust from his face.

“Trust me and come inside to see your mother.”

Wu Ping’an didn’t hesitate.

“Sister, come with me!”

As they stepped inside, a gentle female voice greeted them.

Mrs. Wu put down her sewing and smiled, turning her head.

“Ping’an, is that you back?”

“Mother!” Wu Ping’an ran forward happily and gave her the bread he held.

Yu Wanqiao didn’t step forward but looked around the room.

After some conversation, Mrs. Wu noticed Yu Wanqiao nearby.

She tensed and pulled Wu Ping’an aside.

“Who are you?”

Seeing her defensive stance, Yu Wanqiao knew she had misunderstood.

Just as she was about to explain, Wu Ping’an interrupted.

“Mother! This is Sister Xianren! Today, I was playing and almost got kicked by a horse, but Sister Xianren saved me! And she’s willing to help us, so I brought her here.”

Mrs. Wu remained cautious.

“Thank you, young lady. Ping’an is still a child and may have said too much. If you have no further business, please go ahead and leave.”

“Mother!” Wu Ping’an grabbed Mrs. Wu’s hand, disbelief in his eyes.

“Mother! This time is really different. I haven’t misjudged her!”

Yu Wanqiao said nothing further but took out the token symbolizing her discipleship under Qingfeng Zhenjun of the Xuanyuan Sect.

“I am Yu Wanqiao, disciple of Qingfeng Zhenjun of the Xuanyuan Sect.”