After the Empress of the North Sea coldly warned the gossiping cultivators, she turned her gaze back to the scene displayed in the Haotian Mirror.
The Empress's brow furrowed slightly in surprise. She had never imagined that Xiao Fan had no idea of her true identity back then, let alone any plans to use her.
Their encounter had been a complete coincidence.
To Xiao Fan, it was merely a case of seeing an injustice and saving a little girl.
There were no ulterior motives involved.
Instead, it was her younger self, admiring Xiao Fan's effortless defeat of the bullies, who had persistently pestered him to take her as a disciple.
She had judged him unfairly with suspicion.
Realizing the truth about the past, she felt a strange sense of loss despite having abandoned her desire for revenge against Xiao Fan. He had indeed killed her parents, and her mother had been innocent and undeserving of such a fate.
Although she no longer sought vengeance, it did not mean she wished Xiao Fan well. She merely felt unworthy of personally enacting revenge.
Seeing that Xiao Fan had no prior knowledge of her identity and no intention of using her left her feeling inexplicably disappointed. She had wanted to believe that Xiao Fan's kindness was a façade, a calculated act.
But now, having seen his memories, she was forced to admit that Xiao Fan was genuinely kind-hearted, simply worried about a little girl's safety.
Her feelings were a mix of emotions.
Especially when she saw Xiao Fan suffering from the toxins in his body, coughing up blood, and barely clinging to life.
She even felt a touch of pity and sympathy for him.
Though she didn't know what changed Xiao Fan into the ruthless Netherworld Demon Emperor, up to their initial meeting, he had been a kind soul, enduring endless suffering yet retaining his compassion.
If not for her father Leng Feng, Xiao Fan would have led a happy, worry-free life, free from the hardships he endured.
Perhaps he would have achieved great scholarly success instead of living a life filled with hatred and struggle.
The Empress of the North Sea suddenly felt at peace. Although Xiao Fan had killed her innocent mother, perhaps it was retribution for the Leng family's wrongs.
The Leng family had seized everything that originally belonged to the Xiao family.
Now, thousands of years later, there was no longer a Leng family or a Xiao family.
Let it all return to dust, to be forgotten by time.
In the Haotian Mirror, Xiao Fan had taken the little girl to an inn to settle down.
He began to inquire about her background.
"Xue'er, where do you live? Are your parents still alive?" Xiao Fan asked.
"I only remember being with my master, nothing else," the girl replied with wide, innocent eyes, looking pitiful.
Xiao Fan frowned, sensing that she was hiding something. She seemed mischievous and full of tricks.
"What is your master's name?" he asked again.
"My master is you! Why are you asking me your own name?" She pouted, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
Xiao Fan thought that a stern approach might be necessary to get the truth.
Adopting a severe tone, he said, "Good children don't lie. I don't take liars as disciples."
Seeing his serious demeanor, the girl realized she couldn't keep up the act and quickly changed her tactics.
Throwing herself at Xiao Fan's legs, she pleaded tearfully, "Master, please take me as your disciple! Then I won't be lying, and I'll be a good child."
"Let go," Xiao Fan said with a frown.
"No! I won't let go unless you take me as your disciple!" She clung tightly to him.
After a moment of stalemate, Xiao Fan sighed, "Fine, I'll take you as my disciple."
Faced with such a persistent girl, he had no choice but to agree, at least temporarily, planning to return her to her family later.
"Great!" She jumped up and down with joy.
Xiao Fan could only shake his head with a wry smile.
His promise to take her as a disciple was merely a stalling tactic. With his limited lifespan and a great vengeance to fulfill, he couldn't be a proper master to anyone.
Yet seeing her so happy, he couldn't bring himself to shatter her excitement.
After she had calmed down, Xiao Fan asked, "Xue'er, why do you want to be my disciple?"
"Because you're strong, stronger than my father! I want to be as strong as you, so I can fight evil and punish bullies!" she said, demonstrating her resolve with enthusiastic gestures.
It was clear that the girl had some martial training, which made Xiao Fan feel a bit more affection for her.
After she had worn herself out, Xiao Fan handed her a cup of tea.
"Thank you, Master," she said playfully, wiping the sweat from her brow and drinking the tea with gusto.
Xiao Fan was taken aback, realizing he had served tea to his "disciple" instead of the other way around.
"Cheeky little one," he muttered, reaching out to tap her head lightly.
"Master, it hurts," she said, looking at him with wide, tearful eyes.
Though he knew she was faking, Xiao Fan couldn't bring himself to hit her and instead gently flicked her nose.
"Hee hee, Master is the best," she said, clinging to his arm affectionately.
"Alright, tell me where your home is. I need to speak with your parents about this."
Xiao Fan patted her head gently. He hadn't felt this light-hearted in eight years and found himself growing fond of the spirited girl.
Unfortunately, with his vengeance unfinished and the toxins in his body, he knew he wouldn't live long enough to be her master.
Once he returned her home, he planned to leave quietly.
Upon hearing his request, she thought for a moment, then smiled mischievously. "Master, my home is huge. You should come live with us."
"Alright, Master will do as you say," Xiao Fan agreed, thinking only of returning her safely and accommodating her for now.