Fugitive

【You return home, ready to cultivate, only to find an uninvited guest in your house.】

【It is a severely injured girl of unknown identity.】

【You provide her with basic treatment, stopping the bleeding from her wounds, while also placing her weapon far away as a precaution.】

【Your treatment proves effective, and within half an hour, the girl, who is at the Blood Exchange Realm, awakens from her unconscious state.】

【Her mind is in disarray, still tense from the situation before she passed out. Instinctively, she attempts to attack you, the only other person in the room.】

An attack in her severely injured state.

Too weak and feeble.

Coupled with Xu Xi's preparedness, having already taken her spear away.

The girl's attack upon waking is easily blocked by him.

Confusion, doubt, shock.

Her delicate face cycles through a range of emotions, eventually settling on embarrassment and an awkward smile.

"Uh, well... how about I say sorry?" The girl possesses a stunning beauty, every contour of her face embodying the word "beauty," yet her demeanor is rather rough and unrestrained.

Xu Xi can tell that this rough demeanor is both her true nature and a facade.

Despite her efforts to appear unguarded.

Her wandering eyes betray her lack of trust in Xu Xi, instinctively searching for her spear.

"No need for apologies."

In the room, Xu Xi leisurely sips his tea, saying to the girl under her astonished gaze, "Since you're awake, you can leave on your own now."

In the first simulation, Xu Xi adopted Xu Moli because an infant couldn't survive on its own.

In the second simulation, Xu Xi adopted Krisha because an object without emotions couldn't live like a human.

And this time.

A Blood Exchange Realm girl who fell from who-knows-where clearly has a mature worldview and formidable strength. Xu Xi doesn't see the need to do anything for her.

Silence, a silence so thick it's almost suffocating.

The girl is too stunned to speak, seemingly completely unprepared for Xu Xi to outright dismiss her.

The chirping of insects outside the window filters in, accompanied by the rustling of willow trees, amplifying her bewilderment.

"You..." Her rough demeanor fades, replaced by a serious and earnest expression.

The girl scrutinizes Xu Xi, as if trying to confirm his identity, assess his intentions, and weigh the pros and cons.

Her eyes flicker with confusion and uncertainty.

Finally, she steels herself.

"I am Wu Yingxue, the eldest daughter of the Dingyuan King of Great Qian!"

"The Princess Liang'an, personally enfeoffed by His Majesty the Emperor!"

"I was ambushed by villains and fell here severely injured. Help me return to the capital, and when I see my father, I'll surely grant you a high-ranking official position!"

The girl, or rather, Princess Liang'an, Wu Yingxue.

Suddenly grabs Xu Xi's arm, her eyes wide, speaking in the fastest and most urgent tone.

In that moment.

Xu Xi feels as if he’s hearing: "Send me 50 bucks."

"Let go," Xu Xi says, calmly pulling his arm free.

"You don't believe me?!"

"I do. After all, your clothes and that weapon are strong proof of your identity."

"Then why won't you help me?"

The girl is confused and perplexed.

According to the stories, shouldn't Xu Xi be kneeling and swearing undying loyalty at this point?

In the quiet room.

Sunlight streams through the window, illuminating the dust particles in the air.

Xu Xi shakes his head, delivering a blow to her naive worldview with words she's never heard before: "In this world, there's no rule that says you must help anyone."

"I saved you because I wanted to."

"I won't help you because I don't want to."

"Moreover, there's something I think I should remind you..."

Bang bang bang—

Just as Xu Xi is about to finish his sentence, rapid knocking comes from outside, so he stops.

Leaving the girl to rest on the bed, he goes to open the door.

The person knocking is an acquaintance.

"Niu, what brings you here?" Stepping over the stone threshold, Xu Xi looks at the honest young man before him, somewhat surprised.

Niu's full name is Zhang Tieniu.

He's 20 years old, two years younger than Xu Xi in this simulation.

He's simple-minded, a bit slow but kind-hearted, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, giving off the image of a straightforward, honest man.

"Brother Xu," under the blazing sun, the honest man grins, his clothes soaked with sweat.

He wipes the sweat from his forehead, panting, "I came to tell you something."

Xu Xi is puzzled: "Tell me something?"

Niu nods: "Yeah, Brother Xu, a bunch of officials have come to town, saying they're looking for some fugitive."

Thud!!

As soon as Niu finishes speaking.

A loud crashing sound comes from inside the house.

The honest man scratches his head: "Brother Xu, what's going on in there? Sounds like quite a commotion."

Xu Xi smiles: "It's nothing, just a rat causing trouble."

Niu suddenly understands: "Ah, a black rat. Brother Xu, you're amazing. Even the rats in your house are impressive, making such a ruckus. Must be a big one, huh?"

The noise inside continues, accompanied by the faint sound of teeth grinding.

Niu is curious, but at Xu Xi's urging, he continues talking about the fugitive.

"The officials said the fugitive is a girl from the capital. She looks honest, but she's actually a murderous demoness."

Thud thud, like fists pounding the ground.

"Brother Xu, what do you think a girl from the capital would look like?"

"Hard to say."

"Haha, my mom said girls from the capital must have arms as thick as logs and waists like barrels. They can slap a few people to death in one go. That's why the government's after her."

Niu chuckles foolishly.

Sharing his insights with Xu Xi.

Completely unaware of Xu Xi's strange expression and the increasingly loud thuds from inside.

Bang bang, yet restrained.

"Alright, I got it. Thanks, Niu. You can head back now," Xu Xi says with a smile, sending the man on his way before closing the door.

When he returns to the room.

Wu Yingxue is gritting her teeth, the sound echoing in the room, her fists clenched, wanting to hit someone but not daring to.

Clearly.

The remarks about black rats and barrel-sized waists have deeply wounded her pride.

But the girl's rationality remains, and she soon realizes something else of great importance to her.

"A fugitive?"

"What's going on? I... am a fugitive?"

"This... this can't be..."

Her expression is a mix of shock and disbelief, her fingertips trembling slightly, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

She is utterly unable to comprehend the sudden and drastic change in her circumstances.

"This is what I wanted to tell you earlier," Xu Xi says calmly, closing the door to block any outside view and sitting down leisurely.

"If you weren't lying, it's impossible for someone of your status to be attacked."

"Unless... something has happened to your status."