Blood burst out of his throat while his eyes froze in shock.
His eyes widened, filled with disbelief and unwilling rage. He collapsed forward, lifeless, his body hitting the ground with a dull sound.
Silence.
The courtyard was deathly still.
Those who had fled earlier peeked back, eyes wide, mouths open. They stared at the scene in horror.
Moments ago, she had been a trembling woman crying for mercy.
Now, a corpse lay at her feet.
Before anyone could react, Aurora turned and ran.
After a while;
A thin figure squatted in the shadow of a street corner.
She narrowed her eyes, watching the flow of people passing back and forth, then yawned and fished an apple from her clothes. With a dull knock, she bit into it.
Her shirt was ragged and filthy, sleeves frayed, fabric stiff with old grime. Her face was smeared with dirt, and her hair was bundled messily inside a strip of cloth. She looked like a nameless little beggar, the kind people avoided without a second glance.
No one would ever guess that this very person had thrown the entire town into chaos.
The mayor was furious. Guards were searching everywhere.
And the target of that search was crouching quietly in the corner, chewing an apple.
"So unlucky," Aurora muttered under her breath. "Who would have thought that man was the mayor's only son?"
If she had known, she would have made sure no one ever found the body. At least then, the mayor wouldn't be tearing the town apart looking for her.
She sighed and took another bite.
And then her thoughts drifted back to last night.
That man in black.
The moment she thought of him, her brows furrowed. The pressure he had released when he attacked was nothing like that of an ordinary fighter. It was cold, sharp, and heavy, like something unseen pressing down on her chest.
A killer?
Or worse.
She had believed she was reborn into an ancient dynasty. But now it seemed this world was far more complicated. Cultivators. Immortals. Powers beyond flesh and bone.
Absurd.
Yet when she thought about her own situation, a person from the twenty-first century reborn into another world, none of it seemed that strange anymore.
If cultivation truly existed…
Then right now, she was nothing.
No cultivation. No strength. A completely ordinary mortal.
Aurora finished the apple and tossed the core aside, letting out a lazy sigh.
Just then, a crisp sound rang out.
"Clink."
Something dropped into the broken bowl in front of her.
She blinked and looked down.
Silver.
A small silver ingot lay quietly in the center of the bowl.
Her eyes lit up instantly.
She looked up.
A man in black robes was walking past her. His back was straight, his steps steady, his figure tall and slender. Even from behind, he carried a chilling aura that pushed people away, as if warmth dared not approach him.
Aurora's eyes rolled.
Without hesitation, she sprang up and rushed forward.
"Brother-in-law!" she cried loudly. "Brother-in-law, I finally found you!"
The man reacted instantly, stepping aside with lightning speed.
Aurora lunged at empty air.
"Ah—!"
She stumbled forward from the force and crashed to the ground, scraping her palms. She hissed softly, tears instantly welling up.
The man frowned slightly and glanced down at her.
A dirty little beggar.
No trace of cultivation. Just an ordinary mortal.
He turned away and continued walking.
Aurora's eyes flashed.
"Brother-in-law! Don't leave me!" she wailed, scrambling to her feet and chasing after him. She tripped, fell, got up again, stumbling forward until the man finally stopped.
Now.
Aurora seized the moment.
She threw herself forward and wrapped both arms and legs tightly around his thigh.
"Brother-in-law!" she sobbed pitifully, looking up with tear-filled eyes. "I've finally found you. Please don't abandon me…"
The man stiffened.
He looked down.
Their eyes met.
Aurora's sob caught in her throat.
Her lips twitched uncontrollably.
This face…
She stared at him, mind blank for a heartbeat.
Did she just grab the wrong thigh?
From behind, the man looked tall and broad, his back straight and steady, the kind that inspired distance rather than warmth. But the moment Aurora saw his face clearly, her heart sank.
An uncle.
A proper one.
His face was sharp and rugged, clearly shaped by wind and years. A thick beard covered most of it, hiding whatever original features he might have had. Only his eyes stood out. Deep, dark, and cold, like still water beneath ice.
Thirty, at least.
Aurora wanted to sigh and slap her own forehead. This kind of man… brother-in-law? With her small, dirty beggar body?
But the situation allowed no retreat.
She clung to his thigh with renewed determination and cried even louder. "Brother-in-law! I finally found you!"
Shen Yu frowned deeply.
He was not used to people touching him, let alone someone wrapping around his leg like this. His body stiffened as he tried to shake her off.
"You've got the wrong person," he said coldly. "Let go."
She did not move an inch.
"No, I didn't," Aurora sobbed. "My sister told me you had a beard. I saw you when I was little. I won't make a mistake." Her voice broke. "Brother-in-law, my sister is dead. There's no one at home. My mother wants to sell me. Please don't abandon me…"
"I am not your brother-in-law," Shen Yu said, his voice growing colder. "You really have the wrong person."
The chill around him thickened, pressing outward. Passersby unconsciously stepped away.
But the small figure hugging his leg showed no fear at all.
Shen Yu tried to pry her hands loose. Each time he did, she only clung tighter, burying her head down and crying harder. The unexpected closeness made his expression darken further.
"Let go," he said, his tone edged with warning.
"I won't!" she replied immediately. "Unless you promise to take me with you."
She stuck to him stubbornly, like a burr that refused to be shaken off. Inside, Aurora was calm. This man might be cold, but he was not cruel. He had not struck her, nor had he tried to truly hurt her.
After a long pause, Shen Yu closed his eyes and took a slow breath.
"Fine," he said stiffly. "Let go. You can follow."
Her crying stopped instantly.
"Oh! I knew you wouldn't abandon me, brother-in-law!" Aurora wiped her eyes. Not a single tear remained. She stood up briskly and fell in step behind him.
As she followed, a faint smile flickered in her eyes.
No wonder he agreed so quickly. He wanted to leave town.
Perfect.
With him ahead, no guard would dare stop her.
She deliberately slowed her steps. "Brother-in-law, wait… I can't keep up…"
Shen Yu did not answer. He continued walking straight toward the town gate.
She hurried after him, clearly pleased.
At the gate, Shen Yu's steps paused. He turned his head slightly and saw her small hand tugging at the corner of his robe.
His brow twitched.
He lifted his hand and calmly pulled her fingers away, then resumed walking.
"Brother-in-law, don't be angry," Aurora said quickly, trotting along beside him. "I won't pull your clothes anymore."
The guards at the gate straightened the moment they saw Shen Yu. They lowered their heads respectfully, not daring to stop him.
As Aurora called out "brother-in-law" again, the guards exchanged strange looks, curiosity flashing briefly in their eyes.
But no one spoke.
And just like that, Aurora walked out of Hanlin Town under their watchful gazes, safe and unchallenged.
"Brother-in-law, where are you going?" After leaving the town gate and walking for some distance, Aurora finally spoke, her eyes darting around as she carefully observed the road and the people nearby.
Shen Yu's steps halted.
He turned his head slightly and looked down at the small figure trailing behind him. His voice was low and heavy. "You've already left the town. Don't follow me anymore."
Aurora blinked, then smiled brightly. "Brother-in-law, what are you saying?"