The Sorrowmender

Chapter 38 – First meeting

The ragged child gulped down several large bowls before finally letting out a satisfied burp.

Her appetite was quite astonishing.

Little Wuyou was stunned, yet she still cradled her small face and asked, "Are you full? If not, I can make more for you."

"No need, it's enough."

"How long has it been since you last ate?"

The ragged child thought for a moment, "Three days."

She had been on the road for three days, covering fifteen hundred miles without eating.

"Three days and you're still so energetic? You're more impressive than me."

"You've been hungry too?"

Little Wuyou tapped her chubby cheeks with her fingers, her big eyes full of seriousness.

"Of course, the longest I've gone without eating was four days, only drinking water, hehe."

"Then I'm more impressive than you. I've gone six days without food," the ragged child said calmly, though there seemed to be a hint of pride in her eyes.

Then she continued, "So, is it your master who doesn't give you food?"

Little Wuyou quickly shook her head, "No, no, no, how could that be? Master treats Wuyou very well. That was before I met Master. Back then, I was just like you, a beggar."

The ragged child seemed thoughtful, muttering softly, "No wonder."

"By the way, do you have family?" Little Wuyou asked again.

The ragged child was puzzled, "What does family mean?"

Little Wuyou thought for a moment and slowly said, "Family is the people you live with, the people you care about. In short, they're different from others."

"Well... then I should have one."

"Where are they?" Little Wuyou asked.

The ragged child replied, "In Linfeng City."

Little Wuyou pondered, "Linfeng City, huh? I've heard people say it's far away. Why did you come so far on your own?"

"She told me to come."

"Why?"

"Can't say," the ragged child slowly shook her head.

Little Wuyou felt a bit disappointed and said "Oh," not asking further.

Master had said that if others don't want to talk, you shouldn't press them. It's impolite.

"But I don't like her," the ragged child suddenly added.

Wuyou didn't understand, "Why?"

"Because she always makes me do things I think are bad."

"Bad things?"

"Yes, bad things," the ragged child's clear eyes showed a hint of gloom.

Wuyou didn't ask further. Bad things must be unhappy things, she thought, as her gaze swept over the ragged child. Suddenly, she stood up and took the ragged child's hand.

"Let's not talk about that. Come with me?"

"Why?" The ragged child seemed a bit confused.

"To take a bath, it's really comfortable, hehe."

The ragged child remained puzzled, "A bath?"

She admitted she had never taken a bath, and she didn't want to. But for some reason, the little girl in front of her was so enthusiastic that it left her a bit at a loss, and she naturally followed her inside.

In the bathroom...

"Wow, you're an older sister, so let's bathe together, hehe."

"Uh—do we have to take everything off?"

"Of course, how else would you bathe? Haven't you taken a bath before?"

"I've been caught in the rain, does that count?"

"Of course not. Oh my, why are you wearing so many clothes, so many layers?"

"Sometimes it gets really cold at night, so I wear more."

"Okay, then I'll give you a new set of clothes later, a really warm one."

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"Why are you so nice to me?"

"Master said, just do good deeds, don't ask about the future, meeting is fate, and fate should not be refused..."

"What does that mean? I don't understand."

"Hehe, it's not important. Sister, what's your name?"

"I don't have a name. They call me Street Urchin... What about you, do you have a name?"

"Me? I didn't have one before either. People used to call me Street Urchin or Stinky Beggar. Then I met Master, and he gave me a name, Xu Wuyou. You can call me Little Wuyou, that's what Master calls me."

"Xu Wuyou? Your master is Mister Forgetting Worries, right?"

"Yes, the most handsome Mister in the world, hehe."

"Then your master shouldn't die."

"What did you say?"

"I said your master seems like a good person."

"Of course! Master heals the sick, saves people, resolves disasters, doesn't despise me for being a beggar, took me as a disciple, treats people humbly, doesn't bully the weak, he's the best person in the world—"

Their playful chatter, accompanied by the sound of water, added a touch of warmth to the Pavilion of Forgetting Worries.

Xu Qingzhou leisurely made his way back, slightly tipsy from drinking, in a fairly good mood.

As he reached the door, he heard laughter from inside, raising an eyebrow as he quickly stepped inside, seeing Little Wuyou and another slightly older child sitting at the table, eating snacks.

When the door opened, both of them immediately looked over. Little Wuyou quickly got up and ran to him excitedly, "Master, you're back!"

Xu Qingzhou nodded slightly, but his gaze was drawn to the other child.

It was a girl, wearing Wang Er's old servant clothes, looking about eleven or twelve years old, with eyes as clear as a spring, bright and captivating in the candlelight.

She had long silver hair, her features not stunning but delicate, with some small black freckles on her face that didn't detract from her appearance at all.

At the moment, she was eating pastries, her eyes also examining him.

"Wuyou, who is this child?"

"Master, this sister is from Linfeng City. She just arrived in Tianshuang and has nowhere to stay. I saw her at the door and brought her in without asking you first. Please punish me."

Xu Qingzhou furrowed his brow, silently repeating Linfeng City in his mind, his gaze sweeping over the child again. He felt that the child's clear eyes held a hint of something strange.

It was as if she wanted to harm him, yet he couldn't be sure, because the child in front of him showed no signs of cultivation, just an ordinary child, so how could she possibly harm him?

But this Linfeng City was too much of a coincidence.

"Master, are you angry with Wuyou?" Little Wuyou's weak voice sounded.

Xu Qingzhou snapped back to reality, patting Little Wuyou's head, smiling warmly:

"How could I be? Master isn't angry. Helping others is a virtue. Wuyou's actions make me proud, proving my disciple is a kind person, destined for greatness, hahaha."

"Really, Master?"

"Of course," Xu Qingzhou said firmly.

Little Wuyou was too kind, excessively kind, a fact Xu Qingzhou couldn't change. Even so, he had come to terms with it. Perhaps Little Wuyou could follow the path of Confucianism.

Among the three teachings, Confucianism liked to reason, the beginning of kindness, and was the easiest to produce sages, wasn't it? When he had accumulated enough Merit Points in the future, he would buy her the Confucian Supreme Art, the Righteous Vital Energy Manual.

Little Wuyou was overjoyed and asked, "Master, can this sister stay with me for a night? I promise she won't disturb you."

Xu Qingzhou's gaze fell on the child, smiling, "You should ask if she's willing."

The white-haired child quickly answered.

"I can."

"Master..."

"Alright, then rest early. Master will go to sleep first."

"Master, I'll get water for you to wash your face."

"Okay, take your time."

"Mm-hmm, you go up first and wait for me, hehe."