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?"