Led by Old Jack, Qian Jue followed Uncle Deng through the village. After ten minutes or so, they stopped in front of a modest house.
Deng Sheng set down his load and opened the door.
"Come in. I'll show you the room you'll be staying in."
He didn't even bother with the goods piled at the entrance. Instead, he took Qian Jue's hand and pulled him inside.
The living room was stacked wall to wall with goods—boxes, sacks, jars—leaving only a narrow half-meter passage to walk through. On one side stood a tall wooden cabinet, above which was a small shuttered window. Qian Jue immediately understood: 'Ah, that's his sales window, just like the little kiosks back in my old world.'
They passed through the cluttered room into a small courtyard, no more than fifty square meters. It looked like a miniature Beijing siheyuan.
Deng Sheng led him to a room opposite, unlocked it with a creak, and pushed the door open. Dust rained down, and he quickly waved his hand over Qian Jue's head so none would land on him.
Inside was a child's bedroom. A small bed with a mosquito net, wooden toys scattered across the floor… clearly, a child had once lived here. For some reason, though, the room had been locked and left unused.
"What do you think, Xiao Jue? From now on, this will be your room." Deng Sheng's voice carried a hint of hope.
"Yes! Thank you, Uncle Deng!" Qian Jue answered brightly, though inside he was sighing with relief. 'Finally… a place to stay. I'm really settled in Holy Spirit Village now.'
Old Jack patted Deng Sheng's shoulder, smiling. "It's good to see you stepping forward. I'll leave you two to settle in—I have business with the neighboring village."
"Stay for dinner, Chief!" Deng Sheng tried to persuade him.
"Yes, Grandpa Jack, eat with us!" Qian Jue chimed in.
But Old Jack shook his head firmly. "Not today. I'll come back in a few days to see Xiao Jue. We'll share a meal then."
Seeing his resolve, they escorted him out. The old man waved, burdened by his own thoughts, and left.
Back inside, Deng Sheng scratched his head awkwardly. "Well then, Xiao Jue… mind if I call you that? Come on, let's see what we'll have for dinner tonight."
"Sure! And I'll keep calling you Uncle Deng, if that's okay?" Qian Jue asked. Secretly, he didn't plan on staying too long—once he awakened his martial Spirit, he'd probably head for Nuoding Academy anyway.
"That's fine. Uncle Deng it is. Let's fetch some cured ribs. Tonight we'll eat braised pork ribs!" Deng Sheng said with unusual cheer.
Qian Jue smiled sweetly. "Okay~."
---
Three days later.
At dawn, Qian Jue crouched behind a boulder on a small hill near the village, peeking toward the summit.
A boy about five or six sat there. His skin was wheat-colored, his short black hair neat, his clothes plain.
"So that's Tang San, huh… really ordinary looking." Qian Jue smirked to himself.
Indeed, Tang San's appearance was unremarkable—just another farm boy. But his movements were disciplined, every gesture calm and deliberate, nothing like a carefree child.
He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, waiting for the sunrise. Qian Jue knew immediately: Purple Demon Eye training. He held his breath, not daring to make a sound.
When the first rays of sunlight reached the hilltop, Tang San's eyes snapped open. With practiced breathing, he absorbed the essence of the dawn. Moments later, he exhaled a thin white stream of air like silk before closing his eyes again.
After another stretch of meditation, Tang San finally opened his eyes and muttered something under his breath. Too far to hear, Qian Jue decided it was time to make his move.
He deliberately walked out from behind the boulder, feigning casualness.
"Whoa, didn't expect to see someone up here!"
Tang San rose, dusting off his clothes, preparing to head back. He had already sensed Qian Jue long ago from his footsteps—it was clearly just another child. But rarely did anyone wake this early, let alone climb this hill. For two years, he had trained here undisturbed. Until today.
"Hi there! You're watching the sunrise too? Guess I woke up late." Qian Jue greeted him warmly.
Tang San gave a polite nod. "Hello." He turned to leave.
But Qian Jue blocked his path with an eager grin.
"Don't rush off! Let's go down together. My name's Qian Jue—I just moved into the village a few days ago. Let's be friends! We can watch sunrises together from now on."
Tang San frowned. He'd calculated his schedule carefully—any delay meant his porridge at home might overcook. Rice was precious, every grain counted.
"Sorry. I'm busy. I don't have time to play. Find someone else." Without waiting, he quickened his pace down the hill.
But Qian Jue chased after him.
"Hey, don't go! You haven't even told me your name. You're the first friend I've made here! We both like sunrises—it's fate!"
Tang San's brow furrowed tighter. This clingy boy was annoying. Of course, he could silence him permanently—he had the skills, and disposing of a body wasn't beyond him. But… the boy wasn't a threat, just bothersome. Killing for that reason would make him no better than the demons of his past life.
And Qian Jue knew it. 'A true gentleman doesn't strike without cause. I can stick to him like glue, and he won't dare lay a hand on me.'
At last, Tang San sighed and turned back. "My name is Tang San. But I really must go. We'll talk another time, alright?"
"Ohhh! So you're Tang San, the blacksmith's son! My uncle told me about you. Said you're the most sensible kid in the village and told me to make friends with you. Looks like destiny brought us together already!" Qian Jue clapped his hands, laughing like an innocent child.
Tang San stared, speechless. 'This guy's like dogskin plaster… impossible to shake off.'
With no other choice, he darted off, his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track carrying him swiftly down the hill.
Qian Jue didn't give chase. He just grinned, eyes gleaming.
"Hehe… you won't escape me that easily."
By the time he returned home, Deng Sheng was already preparing breakfast.
"Where did you run off to so early?" Deng Sheng asked, worried. He had panicked when he found Qian Jue's room empty that morning. Only after reasoning that the boy must've gone exploring did he calm down and start cooking.
"Uncle Deng, I went to watch the sunrise on the hill nearby. I even met a boy named Tang San."
"Ah, Tang San… he's a good child too," Deng Sheng nodded, then scolded lightly. "But next time, tell me before you go out. You gave me quite a scare."
"Sorry, Uncle Deng. It was so early, I didn't want to wake you."
"It's fine, as long as you remember. You really are a good boy." He ruffled Qian Jue's hair. "Come on, breakfast is ready."