He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

Xu Yi was at a loss for what to do. Frustrated, he walked towards the backyard, muttering to himself.

"I'm speechless, what a weird woman."

Shen Yunshu followed half a step behind him, neither too close nor too far.

Her gaze remained steadily fixed on Xu Yi's small figure, and her cool voice drifted over.

"Walk slowly, the ground is slippery."

Upon hearing her words, Xu Yi stumbled, his body swayed, and he almost tripped.

As soon as Xu Yi entered the outhouse, Shen Yunshu stood guard outside the door, silently taking out two books from her storage bag.

The cover prominently displays the titles "How to Raise Children" and "How to Get Along with Children".

She lowered her eyes and flipped through the pages, her fingertips lightly tracing the pages. As she read, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly.

The children described in this book are all well-behaved and sensible, normal children.

But this one in my house is clearly abnormal. Will the methods described here really work?

At night, after three unsuccessful suicide attempts, Xu Yi gave up completely and sat sullenly on his bed.

Just as he was lost in thought, a pungent burnt smell suddenly wafted to his nose, making him choke and get up to go outside.

In the open space of the courtyard, a traditional earthen stove, used by ordinary people, had appeared at some point.

Shen Yunshu was standing in front of the stove, clumsily fiddling with the contents of the pot, her pale fingertips stained with some black ash.

Her simple, understated dress seemed completely out of place against the warm, smoky atmosphere of the stove.

As soon as Xu Yi walked over, he saw Shen Yunshu reach out and lift the pot lid.

He glanced over instinctively.

The dark porridge in the pot was bubbling and crackling.

To be honest, the last time he saw something bubbling so frantically was in a septic tank or swamp by the roadside.

Xu Yi looked up at her and asked very seriously.

Are you brewing poison?

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunshu gently shook her head, her gaze falling on the dark porridge in the pot, her tone also very serious.

"No, I'm cooking for you."

Xu Yi frowned and said in surprise.

"Do you want to help me commit suicide too?"

Looking down at the dark porridge in the pot, his voice lowered, tinged with apology.

"I'm sorry, this... is my first time cooking."

Xu Yi nodded and said without any politeness.

"Yes, I can see that."

Shen Yunshu did not refute. She picked up the spoon, took a bite, and then silently put down the spoon and began rummaging through the storage bag.

This stuff tastes awful.

After rummaging through her storage bag for a moment, she took out a string of bright red candied hawthorns and a few pieces of rice cake wrapped in oil paper.

"This... is edible, it's not burnt."

Shen Yunshu handed the candied hawthorns and rice cakes to Xu Yi, her tone tinged with apology.

This looks like the one you bought; will it burn?

Xu Yi looked at the string of candied hawthorns, his stomach growled, and he silently took it.

Shen Yunshu looked at him and said seriously.

"Tomorrow, I'll find someone to learn how to make it, so you can taste the same flavors that other kids can enjoy."

Looking into her cool yet incredibly serious eyes, Xu Yi suddenly felt somewhat powerless.

He was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.

"You really don't need to do so much for me. It's just cultivation, I'll just cultivate."

Shen Yunshu shook his head.

"No, these are things I should do."

She paused, then, recalling the book's description of how teachers and students should treat each other like family, added...

"Since I have adopted you, I will not only teach you cultivation, but also let you live well, feel the goodness of the world, and no longer feel that living is a bitter thing."

Have I been adopted? Oh my god...

Xu Yi composed himself and changed the subject, asking...

Where will I sleep tonight?

Shen Yunshu pointed in the direction of her room, her tone natural.

"You'll sleep with me tonight."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yi quickly expressed his opinion.

"I will never commit suicide again, really, can't you let me sleep alone?"

Shen Yunshu glanced at him indifferently, her tone carrying a hint of distrust.

"I don't believe you."

Xu Yi: ......

Shen Yunshu seemed oblivious to his helplessness and continued speaking.

"Besides, even if you don't try to kill yourself again, at your age you should be sleeping with your elders so they can take care of you."

Xu Yi asked, unconvinced.

"Who said that?"

Shen Yunshu uttered four words expressionlessly.

"That's what the book says."

Xu Yi was speechless again, completely defeated by her.

Late at night, Xu Yi finally gave in to her and lay down on the inside of the bed.

He turned his back to Shen Yunshu, pressed himself tightly against the wall, and tried to keep his distance from her as much as possible.

Shen Yunshu lay on the outside, looking at Xu's tense back, hesitated for a moment, and slowly reached out her hand.

She wanted to pull him closer so he could sleep more soundly.

But just as her fingertips were about to touch the hem of his clothes, she seemed to remember something, and ultimately withdrew her hand, saying softly...

"Good night."

When Xu Yi was a child, he loved to kick off his blankets.

No matter where I used to sleep, the blanket would always be on the floor when I woke up the next morning, and my body would always be cold.

But when he woke up this time, he was still covered tightly by the blanket, and the warmth enveloped his whole body, making him feel so comfortable that he was in a daze.

Twenty days later, Xu Yi had a basic understanding of Shen Yunshu's identity.

She was actually the sect leader of the Sword Sect, one of the four oldest sects in the world, and a quasi-emperor level cultivator.

Xu Yi was quite shocked upon hearing the news.

A quasi-Emperor realm cultivator is someone who stands at the pinnacle of the world. How could she condescend to care so much about a child of unknown origin like herself?

So, when she says she has high talent, it's probably not just empty talk; her talent is genuinely high.

Moreover, as they spent more time together, Xu Yi gradually discovered that although Shen Yunshu seemed cold, not good at speaking, and even a bit old-fashioned, she was genuinely good to him.

She would clumsily learn to take care of his daily needs, patiently answer his questions, and quietly take him out for walks when he was in a bad mood.

This made Xu Yi feel really embarrassed.

On this day, a light drizzle began to fall from the sky, the raindrops gentle and carrying a touch of coolness.

Shen Yunshu held Xu Yi's small hand, holding an oil-paper umbrella, and led him along the stone path of the Sword Sect.

The umbrella was large enough to shelter both of them.

The Sword Sect disciples who passed by along the way all stopped respectfully when they saw Shen Yunshu, bowed deeply, and called him "Sect Master".

But their gazes held a hint of curiosity as they discreetly observed Xu Yi beside her.

They couldn't understand why this aloof and cold sect leader would be so close to a child.

Xu Yi felt a little uncomfortable under everyone's gaze and couldn't help but ask...

"What are you taking me to do?"

Shen Yunshu glanced down at him and said calmly.

"Didn't you say before that you like to take walks in the forest on rainy days? It just so happens to be drizzling today, so I'll take you for a walk in the forest behind the main peak of the Sword Sect."

If she hadn't mentioned it, Xu Yi would have forgotten that it was just a casual remark he made last time.

Xu Yi felt a little guilty and sighed.

"You're so good to me every day, I'll never be able to repay you."

Shen Yunshu paused, her cool eyes filled with seriousness.

"From now on, as long as you eat well, don't waste your talents, and stop thinking about suicide, that will be the best reward for me."

I can never repay Lord Shen Yunshu's kindness (;´༎ຶД༎ຶ`)