I made the entire cultivation world cry

Chapter 710 [Side Story: Sworn Sisters (Part 1)]

In early winter, breath turns to frost in Shiqiao Town.

The clanging of iron being hammered echoed early in the morning from Luo's blacksmith shop at the east end of town, with the furnace crackling. A chubby girl of about seven or eight years old sat casually on the threshold, wearing a brand-new indigo cotton jacket. Although it was covered with some furnace ash, you could tell that the material was thick and the stitching was fine.

The chubby little face was flushed red from the fire and sunlight, and the eyes were surprisingly bright. At this moment, it was fiercely dealing with the two big meat buns in its hands.

She bit into the plump, fluffy bun skin, revealing the oily, fragrant meat filling, steaming hot.

She ate with great relish, one bite after another, her cheeks bulging, and a few drops of oil spilling from the corners of her mouth.

At the street corner, a small figure ran briskly with steady steps. He looked to be six or seven years old, wearing a faded old cotton coat full of patches, his little face slightly red from the cold.

When they arrived at the entrance of Luo's blacksmith shop, the little girl stopped and leaned in to look inside.

The aroma of the steamed buns drew the little girl's gaze toward the chubby girl sitting by the door, and she involuntarily swallowed.

The chubby girl noticed the little girl staring at the meat bun in her hand. She immediately hid the hand holding the bun behind her back like a little animal guarding its food, her eyebrows furrowing. "What are you looking at! You stinking beggar! I'll beat you up if you keep looking!"

"Ouch!"

Before she could finish speaking, an iron spoon slammed into the chubby girl's head.

"Luo Danqing, are you asking for a beating? Who taught you to talk like that!"

"Mother! It hurts!"

Luo Danqing clutched her head, nearly dropping the steamed bun, wincing in pain.

A robust woman, wearing a blue apron, stood at the door with her hands on her hips and a shiny iron spatula in her hand. Her eyebrows were raised, and she began to berate Luo Danqing.

Grandma Luo turned to look at the little girl at the door, her face instantly melting into a kind and warm smile. She hurriedly wiped her hands, which were covered in coal ash and oil stains, on her apron.

"Ayu, why are you here today? Where is Master Yan from your village?"

Little Ayu seemed not to have heard the previous "stinking beggar," but quietly stepped forward, held the letter in her arms high, and handed it to Aunt Luo, saying, "Master Yan caught a cold and asked me to deliver this letter to you."

"You've worked so hard, kid. It's so cold outside, you must be freezing! Come on in and warm up inside."

Aunt Luo took the letter, gave Ayu three copper coins, and couldn't help but rub Ayu's dry yellow hair with her rough hands, her eyes full of pity.

"Look at your little hands, they're so cold... You're so young and you already know how to deliver messages and do chores, it's heartbreaking how sensible you are. Unlike our little devil," she said, then glared at Luo Danqing, who was still looking unconvinced, "All you do is eat! All you do is cause trouble!"

Xiao Ayu stood ramrod straight, and after completing her task, she prepared to turn and leave.

"Ayu, wait!" Aunt Luo called out to her quickly, "Qingqing, give your bun to little sister Ayu!"

"I do not!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Danqing reacted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. She quickly took a big bite and then spat several times at the bun.

Seeing this, Aunt Luo flew into a rage, grabbed an iron ladle, and chased after Luo Danqing. "You brat! I'll beat you to death today, you heartless wretch!"

"Ahhh, Daddy—help me, Daddy—"

Luo Danqing screamed and, as agile as a monkey, darted away to the back of the shop.

Grandma Luo cursed angrily, chasing after them relentlessly with an iron spoon in hand. The clanging and banging sounds, along with the shouts of the mother and daughter, instantly filled the small backyard.

At the entrance of the blacksmith's shop, Ayu stood alone, watching the mother and daughter chasing and playing disappear behind the curtain. Listening to the shouts and laughter coming from inside, a barely perceptible ripple finally appeared in her eyes.

After eating a meal of "bamboo shoots stir-fried with pork" from her mother, Luo Danqing stood by the table eating, clutching her bottom, while listening to her mother and father talk about Ayu and their small mountain village, which was known as the "Village of Knights".

"...Ayu and these children are truly pitiful. It's all thanks to the people of Xia Ke Village who took in these orphans and taught them so well. I think we should send Qingqing there too, and let Master Yan and Butcher Guo teach her some manners and martial arts."

Upon hearing this, Luo's father immediately waved his hand, "That won't do! Our Qingqing can't endure that kind of hardship. What Xia Ke Village? It's just a bunch of notorious bandits who did bad things when they were young. Now that they're old and can't do it anymore, they run away to hide in the deep mountains and forests, thinking that raising some orphans can atone for their sins. I think it's all an act!"

Aunt Luo was displeased upon hearing this and slammed her rice bowl on the table. "Our Qingqing has been corrupted by you. She looks down on everyone all day long. You just listen to other people's nonsense and don't even look at how many good deeds they have done for our fellow villagers over the years without expecting anything in return. This matter is settled. I will send Qingqing there tomorrow!"

"I'm not going!" Luo Danqing's eyes reddened with anxiety as she kept glancing at her father.

Father Luo chimed in, "That's right, Qingqing isn't going. Look at Qingqing, she's been so bright since she was little. All the cats, dogs, cows, and sheep in town love to hang around her and even listen to her commands. After the New Year, I'll take her to Jinli City to seek immortality in the spring. Who knows, she might even be able to join a cultivation sect and become an immortal master. That would be much better than following those people!"

Luo Danqing nodded vigorously, "Yes, I want to be a Celestial Master!"

"What kind of immortal master are you? You think being an immortal master is so easy? This winter, we'll be lucky if we can pay back the debts we owe. Luo Danqing, let me tell you, your parents are busy preparing farm tools for spring plowing. Don't wander around outside, or you might run into some flower-picking bastards..."

Aunt Luo kept giving instructions, then put all the few pieces of meat on the plate into Luo Danqing's bowl, watching as Luo Danqing ate with her face covered in oil.

The Luo family lived a simple yet warm life. Luo Danqing looked forward to seeking immortality after the New Year. Every day, she would sit on her own doorstep, eating various farm snacks prepared by her mother, watching people come and go outside, listening to the clanging and banging in the yard, and feeding the big yellow dog from next door that came to freeload.

Occasionally, she would see Xiao Ayu running past her house, heading to someone's house to deliver a letter, but she would ignore her when called "little beggar".

Luo Danqing was so angry that she threw a ball of snow at Ayu, but Ayu seemed to know some kung fu and was able to dodge it every time.

That day, Shiqiao Town was blanketed in heavy snow, and everyone stayed home, leaving the streets much quieter.

Luo Danqing was playing with the neighbor's big yellow dog in front of her house when she saw Ayu braving the heavy snow, passing by her house. Ayu was tightly clutching several medicine packets in her arms, her eyes were red, and her ears and hands were red from the cold. She was running through the heavy snow, her feet sinking deep into the snow.

At first, Luo Danqing didn't pay attention, but not long after Ayu ran over, Luo Danqing noticed two shifty-looking men coming out of the alley and secretly followed them.

The neighbor's big yellow dog growled softly, and Luo Danqing seemed to understand what the dog meant: those two were bad people.

"Father—Mother—"

Luo Danqing called out to her family, but all she heard was the clanging of blacksmiths; no one answered her.

She was usually very bold, so without thinking, she picked up the hand warmer her father had made, put on the cloak her mother had made, and chased after them with her big yellow dog.

(End of this chapter)