Xiao Mo's Sea of Consciousness was an endless expanse of scarlet.
There was no day or night here—only ceaseless, unending slaughter.
Every time the Xinmo erupted, Xiao Mo would wield his sword in this place, cutting down enemy after enemy until the last one was vanquished.
But this time, something was different.
A drop of water.
A single drop of water brimming with vitality slowly roused him.
He felt something delicate and warm brushing against his lips, again and again.
Each touch brought a sense of ease and calm to his very soul.
He began to unconsciously chase that pleasant sensation, wanting more and more.
Before he knew it, he slowly opened his eyes.
What greeted his sight was the rough stone wall of the cave.
"The Xinmo… has receded?"
He examined the Spiritual Power flowing steadily within him, a strange feeling passing through his heart.
"It actually receded just like that this time?"
He raised his hand and saw that the wound on the back of it had already been treated, wrapped in a strip of white cloth.
Xiao Mo turned his eyes sluggishly.
Then, his gaze came to rest on the little girl beside him—the one who claimed to be his sister.
She was curled up, seemingly sleeping restlessly, occasionally letting out a few muffled murmurs in her sleep.
"Brother… don't die… you promised to take me to eat all the good stuff… you can't go back on your word…"
"Brother?"
Xiao Mo savored this unfamiliar form of address, finding it somewhat amusing.
"Eat all the good stuff? What a mundane and vulgar wish."
His gaze traveled downward, landing on the empty jade bowl beside her,
and the index finger still resting inside it.
He extended his tongue and licked his own lips.
A faint, subtle sweetness lingered there.
"So… it wasn't an illusion."
He watched her in silence, his gaze complicated.
"What nerve," he thought. "Aren't you afraid that the first thing I'd do upon waking is snap your neck?"
"Cold… that old pervert… don't grab me…" Shen Manyi muttered again.
Her body unconsciously shifted closer to Xiao Mo, as if seeking protection and warmth.
"Old pervert?" Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow. "So you're a little runaway."
"Not bad judgment, daring to stake your bet on me."
His gaze finally fell on Tangyuan, who was lying sprawled across Shen Manyi.
A white… kitten?
It looked like… it would feel quite nice to the touch.
"A girl who can purify my Xinmo, and a Lingchong I can't see through…"
How interesting.
"Little one, you've piqued my interest."
"Then… I'll spare your life for now."
A flicker of amusement passed through his icy eyes.
"Let's see how many surprises you can bring me. And if the day comes when I grow tired of you… well, killing you then won't be too late."
Just then, Shen Manyi, still lost in sleep, seemed to feel even colder.
She tilted her head and rested it directly on Xiao Mo's thigh, nuzzling contentedly with a satisfied sigh.
Xiao Mo's body stiffened instantly.
The next morning,
when the first ray of sunlight streamed into the cave entrance, Shen Manyi slowly woke up.
"Mmm…"
She stretched comfortably, feeling that she had slept soundly and peacefully, utterly at ease.
"Awake?"
A cool, clear voice sounded from above her head.
Shen Manyi jolted and sat up abruptly, only then realizing that she had spent the entire night sleeping on Xiao Mo's leg!
"Brother! I—I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to!"
Her little face flushed crimson in an instant. She scrambled off his leg in a fluster, her tongue tying itself in knots from nervousness.
"I was so sleepy last night, I—"
Xiao Mo didn't get up either. He simply shifted into a more casual position against the stone wall.
A hint of teasing flickered in his eyes. "Mm, I could tell. You were even talking in your sleep."
"Talking in my sleep? What did I say?"
Shen Manyi's heart leaped to her throat, terrified she might have let something slip.
Xiao Mo's tone betrayed not a single ripple of emotion: "Nothing much. One moment you were calling out for sweet and sour ribs, the next you were mumbling about candied hawthorn skewers."
"…" Shen Manyi's face grew even redder. She wished she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Pfft. How embarrassing."
Tangyuan's mocking voice came from within her mind. "Dreaming about food even in your sleep—you're something else."
Shen Manyi pretended not to hear it. She cautiously looked at Xiao Mo and asked with concern:
"Brother, your injuries… are they any better?"
The moment the question left her mouth, she noticed that Xiao Mo's breathing had already steadied, and his complexion had returned to normal.
Still a bit pale, perhaps, but anyone with eyes could tell he was on the mend.
"No concern." Xiao Mo's reply was succinct.
"That's good, that's good."
Shen Manyi let out a huge sigh of relief, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
"I knew my Spirit Spring Water would work!"
"Don't worry, Brother! If you ever go into Qi Deviation again, I'll feed it to you every day!"
Xiao Mo looked at her beaming little face, a glint of interest passing through his eyes—one he didn't even notice himself.
Qi Deviation?
This little girl really did take him for some low-tier Demonic Cultivator.
He didn't explain, simply standing up from the ground.
"Brother, where are we going now?"
Shen Manyi tilted her little face up to ask him, her tone full of dependence.
By now, she had completely come to see Xiao Mo as her pillar of support, so naturally, wherever he went, she would follow.
Xiao Mo stepped forward, heading out. "Follow me."
"Got it!"
Shen Manyi immediately leaped up from the ground, trailing behind him like a little sidekick.
"Brother, where are we going? Do you have a place to stay?
If not, let's go buy a big Dongfu—the biggest one there is! I have Spirit Stones!"
She patted her Chuwudai as she spoke, striking the pose of a little rich girl looking to be kept.
Xiao Mo's steps paused slightly. He didn't turn around, but still said, "I have a place. And it's huge!"
"That's great!" Shen Manyi was even happier.
"Brother, walk slower. Wait for me."
She trotted to catch up and started chattering again.
"Brother, are you hungry? I have Bigudan here. They're not high-grade, but they'll fill you up."
"Oh, right, and Lingguo too. I snuck… I mean, picked them from the back mountain of the Shen family. They're super sweet!"
She pulled out a bright red Lingguo from her space like it was a treasured offering and held it out to Xiao Mo.
Xiao Mo lowered his gaze to look at the fruit, then at her sparkling almond-shaped eyes. A trace of amusement he himself hadn't noticed flickered in his own.
"I'm not hungry," he declined.
Having lived for so long, he no longer needed to eat.
"Oh." Shen Manyi looked a little disappointed.
She could only bring it to her own mouth and take a crunchy bite, mumbling, "Then I'll eat it myself."
"So sweet. Brother, are you sure you don't want a taste?"
She asked again, unwilling to give up.
Xiao Mo didn't answer. He simply raised his hand and formed a Fajue.
The next instant, an ancient longsword appeared beneath his feet, its blade radiating a faint, cold gleam.
The sword grew as it caught the wind, instantly expanding to the size of a door panel.
"Get on." Xiao Mo stepped onto the Flying Sword first.
"Wow!" Shen Manyi gasped in admiration.
This sword was clearly worth a fortune—far more impressive than her little broken sword!