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.
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."