While the two of the Seven Arbiter-Generals of the Reignbow were still pondering Yunli's whereabouts, Luofu's Golden People Alley, Qiankun Street…
"Boss, give me a skewer of Qiongshi Bird Skewers!"
In the Exalting Sanctum snack street, main night market area of Golden People Alley, a little girl barefoot stood in front of a small stall selling Qiongshi Bird Skewers. She stood on tiptoes with effort, trying to hand over the patrol coins in her hand to the kind-looking stall owner.
"Hahaha, alright alright, little one, here you go!"
Looking at Yunli, who looked like a little child, the middle-aged boss showed a gentle smile. He took the patrol coins that still carried a bit of warmth from the girl's hand, pocketed them, then turned around, plucked the largest skewer from the grass post full of Qiongshi Bird Skewers, and handed it to Yunli.
"Thank you, boss."
Looking at the plump and juicy Qiongshi Bird Skewer in her hand, a trace of drool uncontrollably leaked from the corner of Yunli's mouth.
'Nom! Nom!…!'
Like a hungry tiger pouncing on its prey, under the stall owner's shocked gaze, the girl finished the Qiongshi Bird Skewer in just a few bites. After finishing, she silently stared at the bare bamboo skewer in her hand. Yunli fell silent for a moment, and a faint sense of loss emerged in her heart.
'Uuu… Qiongshi Bird Skewers are pretty good snacks, but compared to candied hawthorn, they're still far inferior. However… the ingredients for making candied hawthorn are already gone…'
Sighing softly in her heart, a bitter look appeared on Yunli's face. Having become addicted to candied hawthorn, she really found it hard to endure days without this delicacy.
"Little one, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"
Seeing Yunli standing dazed in front of his stall after eating the skewer, the boss—who thought she might be uncomfortable somewhere—asked worriedly. After all, the speed at which this little girl had eaten just now… was really too fast.
"Ah? No, I'm fine. I just suddenly remembered something from the past."
Yunli shook her head, indicating she was okay. Recalling the days on the Xianzhou Zhuming when 'Fan' personally made candied hawthorn for her, a complex mix of emotions surged in the girl's heart.
Remembering 'Fan's' gentle smile, Yunli felt her little heart pounding wildly. A wonderful feeling welled up like hot, flowing liquid malt sugar slowly pouring into her heart.
However, at this moment, another figure suddenly appeared in Yunli's mind. It was a girl of similar height to her, with chestnut-colored long hair and a petite, delicate figure… It was Qingque's figure.
Recalling her interactions with Qingque yesterday, the girl felt waves of stinging pain in her heart. It was an indescribable feeling, like her treasured toy had been heartlessly taken away by someone else.
Thinking this, Yunli did not linger in front of the Qiongshi Bird Skewer stall any longer. She stepped forward and began wandering aimlessly through Golden People Alley.
"Little sister, hello. Why are you here alone? Can't you find your mom and dad?"
While Yunli was wandering the streets of Golden People Alley with her head slightly lowered and heavy thoughts, she suddenly felt the light in front of her dim a little. A gentle voice reached the girl's ears.
Hearing the voice, Yunli frowned slightly and raised her head with some displeasure.
Before her, a handsome blond youth had appeared at some point.
The youth had long golden hair that fluttered in the wind. He wore a cyan-blue long robe with a white inner lining. A black belt was tied around his waist, embroidered with a white flying bird. On the youth's chest hung a pure silver-forged silver lock, faintly engraved with the words "Cloud Knight."
Seeing that the little sister before him did not answer and kept staring at him intently, the youth scratched his head in confusion, then looked at himself. It didn't seem like he had worn anything wrong today?
"Little sister, my name is Yanqing. Did you get separated from your mom and dad? How about big brother helps you find them?"
Although puzzled why the little girl in front of him was ignoring him, as a Cloud Knight Lieutenant and a Cloud Knight soldier, Yanqing still patiently continued to ask.
"I don't have a mom."
"Uh…"
Yunli slightly tilted her head and suddenly answered coldly. There was no other emotion visible in her eyes.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know your mother…" After learning that the little girl before him had lost her mother, Yanqing's expression changed slightly. He quickly apologized.
"Then… then little sister, what about your dad? I'll help you find your dad."
"I don't have a dad either."
Yanqing: "...…"
The usually proud youth silently lowered his head. A wave of guilt arose in his heart. Had he done a bad thing with good intentions? This child had lost both parents, yet he kept bringing up her scars…
"It's nothing. You don't need to mind it. I'm already used to it."
Seeing Yanqing's lowered, silent appearance, our Miss Yunli understood what he was thinking. She simply waved her hand lightly, showing a completely unconcerned attitude. Just as she said, she had long grown accustomed to such things.
"You… I'm sorry, it's all my fault!"
However, unlike what the girl had imagined, when our Lieutenant Yanqing saw Yunli like this, he only thought she was comforting him. After all, in his view, losing both parents was one of the greatest pains in human emotions, let alone for a little girl who looked to be only around ten years old.
"…How baffling."
Seeing Yanqing still stubbornly apologizing to her, Yunli's pretty brows furrowed even deeper, and even her small, cute nose twitched slightly.
At this moment, in the girl's heart, Yanqing's image had already begun to slide downhill.
'Strange guy. Whatever, just ignore him.'
Thinking this, our Miss Yunli shook her head and no longer intended to pay any attention to this guy Yanqing.
"Little sister, please wait!"
Yanqing, who had been bowing in apology, saw that Yunli kept ignoring him. He raised his head slightly in confusion and used the corner of his eye to check the girl's movements.
However, what left him dumbfounded was that Yunli had already put ten steps of distance between them, clearly having no intention of paying him any mind.
In his anxiety, Yanqing subconsciously reached his hand toward Yunli's shoulder.
'Whoosh—!'
Just as Yanqing's palm was about to touch Yunli's shoulder, a chilling killing intent suddenly surged over. Yanqing felt his entire body's hairs stand on end. The subconscious honed from years of martial arts and sword practice kicked in.
The youth gripped his sword hilt and placed the blade horizontally in front of his chest.