On the ancient cobblestone street, Xiao Mu Yu stood indifferently beneath an awning, mere feet away from the incessant throng of people, yet the spot he occupied felt as distant and serene as if it belonged to another world.
(Oh dear… what splendid luck! The airship to the capital, Feng Ye Xue, has temporarily ceased operations due to the heavy snow, and the inns within the city are fully booked because of the arrival of that charming young songstress. It seems you might have to try sleeping on the streets, human boy—ha ha ha… I believe that would be a delightful experience indeed… ha ha ha…)
Ignoring the raucous laughter echoing in his mind, Xiao Mu Yu coldly observed the chaotic flow of humanity.
The sky was a mass of oppressive black clouds that cast a heavy pall over the surroundings, while snowflakes, as large as goose feathers, continued to swirl in the dim atmosphere.
Such fierce winds and snow would be enough to blockade roads and freeze mountains if one were outside the city; however, within these walls, they succumbed utterly to the unique vitality of humankind.
Each snowflake that fell to the ground could not withstand the weight of countless human feet that trod upon them. Often, they barely touched the earth before melting into puddles, only to be tainted by the eagerly awaited dust of the human realm, losing their once immaculate purity.
In comparison to nature's might, the owners of these feet appeared as insignificant as ants, yet here, they gave the illusion that they were the true masters of this domain.
(Oh dear… human boy, if you had just accepted that lovely young lady's offer, you wouldn't be standing here foolishly buffeted by the cold wind, would you? Truly, you bring this upon yourself… ha ha ha… why must you be so wary? Do you now see every stranger as a potential foe, ready to stab you in the back? Well… your worries are quite unfounded, you know.)
(Heh heh… you are, after all, the formidable Lord of the Winter Embrace Forest, master of millions of high-tier beasts. Slaughtering a city in a fit of rage is no trivial matter. In a sense, you stand atop this continent; others should fear you, not the other way around!)
(Living in constant vigilance, fretting about this and that, must be exhausting. They are but a swarm of ants, after all. You could eliminate dozens of thousands with a single swing of your sword. With your strength, why fear them?)
In response to the demon's incessant murmuring, Xiao Mu Yu merely replied coldly, "The assessment of strength encompasses far more than mere martial prowess."
(Oh? Strength isn't solely defined by combat ability? That's a first for me to hear! Heh heh… human boy, what else does it include?)
"Martial power is but one facet; wisdom is the true measure of strength," he stated matter-of-factly, his gaze icy and piercing, as if recalling some haunting thought. "One who possesses great power yet lacks the wisdom to wield it is merely a mindless brute, easily toyed with by even an eight-year-old girl."
(Heh heh… though I'm unsure of what you mean, it sounds impressive! Ha ha ha!)
A burst of manic laughter erupted, and the only other being able to hear the voice in his mind, a small fox, buried its head into Xiao Mu Yu's hair, showing an expression of exasperation.
(But why must you emphasize "eight-year-old girl"? Ha ha ha! It seems that memory left quite the impression on you… Ha ha ha! Just thinking about how you transformed from a sunny, charming youth into this silent, stoic man due to my influence brings me such delight! Ah ha ha…)
Amidst the unrestrained laughter resonating in his mind, the indifferent man with streaks of gray in his hair paid no heed, merely continuing to observe the vibrant city before him.
A delicate figure caught his eye.
It was a fragile young girl, her slight frame appearing as if it might topple over with a gentle gust of the cold wind. Her tattered, oversized coat could not conceal her innate beauty.
Like pure water emerging from a lotus, unadorned and naturally graceful.
Her pure and gentle aura effortlessly evoked fondness, making it impossible to harbor any dislike for her.
(Oh dear… what's the phrase you humans use? Ah… how small this world truly is; I've encountered that little girl again.)
(What do you think, human boy? If you go ask her now, perhaps you won't have to sleep on the streets! What are you hesitating for? Go now! Seize the opportunity!)
(Such a delicate girl, coming from a less fortunate background, must have endured many hardships. With just a bit of reassurance, you might win her over. How about it, human boy? This is a golden opportunity! It's rare to find someone so beautiful.)
(Once you have her under your charm, if you fancy her, you can keep her around for entertainment. When you're bored, you can have some fun; it's perfect for alleviating loneliness on your travels! And once you tire of her, you can sell her to a brothel—her natural beauty will fetch a handsome price! What are you waiting for? Act quickly! Go over and strike up a conversation! You won't regret it!!!)
"…" In response to the demon's enticements, the man remained silent, his expression unfazed.
He quietly observed the helpless girl standing at the edge of the street, nervously watching the bustling crowd, her fingers anxiously clutching the hem of her garment. Occasionally, she would muster the courage to approach potential customers, only to be met with ruthless rejection.
Thus, separated by the width of a street, the man silently witnessed the girl's repeated attempts to gather her courage, each followed by failure, until her face began to betray the onset of tears.
She instinctively wanted to turn and leave several times, yet something held her back. Ultimately, with a pallid expression, she halted her departure, desperately steeling herself to continue her disheartening endeavor.
(Oh dear… how pitiable! Even I feel sorrow for this unfortunate little girl. If only I had a body, I would hold her close and cherish her… so pitiful… I can't help but feel compassion.)
The man offered no response to the demon's sudden melancholic tone.
Indifferently, Xiao Mu Yu turned away, no longer casting a glance at the frail girl by the street, his gray cloak fluttering slightly in the wind, as if silently accusing the hardness of his heart.
"Wuuu… wujii…" However, the small fox that had been quietly resting on Xiao Mu Yu's shoulder could no longer bear it. The little creature timidly grabbed a strand of his mixed gray and white hair, calling out softly.
"…" Turning his head impassively, Xiao Mu Yu gazed silently at the little fox.
(Ah, it seems the little fox possesses more compassion than you! The little one is urging you to help her. What will you do, human boy?)
After a few moments of silent exchange, the small fox reluctantly retreated, its little head drooping in disappointment.
(Hey, hey… little one, you're not being very helpful! Where's your empathy? Your sense of justice? Your principles? Why give up so easily?)
"Um…" The girl's timid voice interrupted the demon's tirade. Xiao Mu Yu turned to see her standing nervously behind him, fearfully meeting his gaze. "Um… sir, do you need a place to stay?"
Fixing his cold stare upon her, the man replied indifferently, "I have already declined your offer once."
"I… I know…" She nervously twisted the hem of her garment, glancing up at him with apprehension. The moment her eyes met Xiao Mu Yu's, she instinctively lowered her gaze, mumbling, "But I… I thought… perhaps if it's you, sir… you might agree…"
As she spoke the last words, her voice dropped to an almost inaudible whisper, suddenly realizing the ambiguity of her statement, and her cheeks flushed with crimson.
"…"
"…"
Silence.
An oppressive silence.
Only the occasional snowflakes drifting down lightly settled on their hair, bringing a hint of chill.
"What is your name?" Breaking the stillness, Xiao Mu Yu spoke indifferently.
"Ah?" Startled, the girl looked up, finally realizing he was addressing her, and quickly replied, "Yaya… my name is Yaya…"
"Oh, Yaya," he murmured, lifting his gaze to the dark clouds overhead, lost in thought. "Lead the way."
"Eh? Ehh?" For a moment, she was taken aback, but then realized he had agreed, and a bright smile spread across her face as she nodded vigorously. "Mm."
Just then, she seemed to remember that the man before her was merely a stranger she barely knew, and she felt a bit embarrassed by her impulsive behavior, quickly lowering her lovely head and walking ahead in silence.
The wind and snow gradually began to subside.
In the cold breeze, the indifferent man followed in the girl's footsteps, while the adorable little white fox remained drowsily nestled on his shoulder, lazily yawning and burying its head into his mixed gray and white hair, as if seeking refuge from the biting cold.
As their footsteps echoed on the worn cobblestones, did the girl know what kind of demon she had unwittingly led back with her?