"Young master… you are not from the Western Frontier?" The old tea-seller frowned slightly, giving Ling Xiao a wary look.
"This is common knowledge in the Western Frontier. Six hundred years ago, our Great Xia Dynasty was merely a minor clan in this very city. It was only after the ancient Emperor Xia Chen ascended to the Upper Realm at the mere age of one hundred that the Xia Clan flourished! Now, after centuries, the ancient Emperor Xia Chen has likely already attained the Supreme Venerable Realm! That vile Marquis Sheng fears his misdeeds being discovered by the ancient emperor, which is why he dares not come here!"
"Heh heh, I understand. Thank you for telling me, uncle." Ling Xiao placed a spirit stone on the table and stood up, heading towards the ancient hall in the city center.
It was likely that the reason the Xia imperial line hadn't been completely exterminated wasn't because Marquis Sheng feared his evil deeds being exposed. After all, descending to the Lower Realm was ten thousand times more difficult for someone from the Upper Realm than ascending was for a Lower Realm native.
If Ling Xiao wasn't mistaken, there was definitely something unusual about that Ninth Prince, born at such an opportune time.
A serpent devouring a true dragon's fortune to claim the imperial throne? How interesting.
However, since he was a Son of Fate, that Ninth Prince probably still had some opportunities here. How could Xia Chen's ascension site not have left behind some protections?
Of course, the people of the Great Xia probably never dreamed that the ancient Emperor Xia Chen, whom they believed had long since attained the Supreme Venerable Realm, had already been killed by Ling Xiao.
Put that way, it seemed... everyone in this city who revered the Xia Clan were his enemies?
"Please, I beg you, please give my grandmother some medicine! She's dying! Boss, please!" Just as Ling Xiao and Ye Qingchan were walking along the ancient street towards the central hall, a small figure was suddenly pushed onto the street from a nearby shop, scraping her hands.
It was already the depths of winter. While such cold was nothing to cultivators, the young girl had not a trace of spiritual power aura around her and wore only a thin, plain cloth garment. It was faded, covered in patches, but clean.
Tears streamed down her face, soaking her clothes, her large eyes filled with helpless fear and pleading. She appeared to be eleven or twelve, her young face bearing a touch of inexplicable resolve. She was clearly... a girl with an unfortunate lot in life.
In front of her, two clerks in blue clothes wore gloomy expressions, their tones vicious. "Get lost, get lost! You little beggar, do you have money for medicine? If your grandmother is dying, you should go to the coffin shop, not come to our pharmacy!"
"Hahaha! Exactly! No spirit stones for medicine? Do you think we're the 'Halls of Mercy'? Look clearly, this is the 'Qian Jin Fang'!!"
"I beg you, please, just give me some medicine for my grandmother. I'll do anything you want." The girl, ignoring the injury on her hand, tightly hugged one man's leg, tears welling in her eyes.
"Anything? If you were a few years older, you might be of some use. But now? Get lost! Come back after you've grown a bit more!" The man raised his leg and kicked the girl aside.
Throughout this, Ling Xiao stood calmly on the street. Even when Ye Qingchan made to move towards the girl, he stopped her with a hand. "Young master... that little girl is so pitiful... I..."
"Don't rush. It's not time yet." Ling Xiao shook his head. Just from this setup, he could predict the next hundred chapters. This girl had 1,200 Luck Points. Not a huge amount, but considering her age, it was astounding.
This was the perfect moment for a Son of Fate to make a glorious entrance, shining the light of righteousness~ Cue the music!
And this Son of Fate was ninety percent certain to be a good-for-nothing. Probably of noble birth but fallen on hard times. He would definitely be mocked, even beaten. Thus, the little lolita would be moved, swearing in her heart to love her gege properly when she grew up.
"Stop—" "He's here!"
A playful smile suddenly lifted the corner of Ling Xiao's mouth as he turned to look at a white-robed youth who had just appeared at the end of the street. But in the next instant, his eyes narrowed slightly.
This youth... he was a good-for-nothing, without a trace of spiritual power, even somewhat weak. But... he didn't have a single point of luck on him? How was that possible? Had his deduction been wrong?
For no reason, a cold glint flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. He directly kicked the youth, who had just run up beside him, sending him flying back. Dammit, how could someone like you think to save a Daughter of Fate?
"Huh?" The white-robed youth, mid-air, looked utterly confused. In Xuyun City, someone actually dared to attack him?
"Stop." Ling Xiao sighed lightly, stepped forward to the little girl, and helped her up from the ground. "Huh? Where did this—" The two clerks' expressions turned stern, but when they looked up and saw Ling Xiao, the fierceness on their faces instantly froze.
His appearance and the Emperor's Robe he wore exuded an incomparably noble aura. Immediately, their faces broke into brilliant smiles. "Heh heh, young master... are you here to purchase medicine as well?"
"Broad daylight, and you lay hands on a young girl? Is there no law in Xuyun City?" Ling Xiao's face darkened. Without any visible movement, the two blue-clad clerks instantly flew backward, crashing into the pharmacy and losing consciousness.
"Little sister, are you alright?" After doing this, Ling Xiao immediately looked down, his gaze gentle as he regarded the stunned girl, wiping the tears from her face with his hand.
"Y-young master! Please, I beg you, please help me get some medicine for my grandmother! She... she's dying..." The girl suddenly hugged Ling Xiao's arm, sobbing and pleading.
If this were a conventional plot, her grandmother might still be saveable. But she had encountered a villain.
Sss. "Medicine? Don't cry first. I happen to be an Alchemist traveling through. First, take me to see your grandmother." Ling Xiao reached out and rubbed the little girl's head. Her large eyes instantly shone with excitement and astonishment.
"Ding! Daughter of Fate feels gratitude. Congratulations, Host, on gaining 200 Luck Points and 2000 Villain Points."
Heh. Children are so easily moved.
"Really?! That's wonderful! Young master, quick... come with me!!" The little girl, whom he learned was named Ning'er, grabbed Ling Xiao's hand and ran with him towards the end of the street.
Along the way, Ling Xiao learned that Ning'er had depended on her grandmother since childhood, doing odd jobs in Xuyun City to get by. A few days ago, however, her grandmother had caught a chill and hadn't been able to leave her bed since.
But... an old woman who could be laid low by a mere chill—how could she have a grandchild blessed with Luck Points? This grandmother had a story.
Ling Xiao smiled and nodded, holding Ning'er's small hand as they entered a dilapidated little courtyard in the northern corner of the city. It was little more a rundown thatched hut surrounded by a fence.
"Young master... grandmother is inside. She's my only family in this world. You must save her!" Ning'er's tears hadn't stopped. Ling Xiao smiled and nodded. "I'll do my best. You wait outside with this sister. I need to examine your grandmother first."
"Oh... okay..." An eleven or twelve-year-old girl, inherently guileless and having finally grasped a lifeline, trusted him completely.
Ling Xiao glanced at Ye Qingchan, then pushed the door open and entered.
A strong, medicinal stench assailed his nostrils. On a cold stone bed lay an elderly woman with a weathered face, covered in tattered clothes and some... straw.
Dammit!
No wonder she caught a chill! The temperature inside was even colder than the yard. If the old woman had gotten out and moved around more, she might have recovered already.
But now... she was indeed beyond help, her vitality exhausted.
Cough, cough, cough... Ning'er... is that you back?
"Heh heh, Granny, I'm the physician Ning'er found. I'm specially here to... see you on your final journey."