Tian Shu Wu Wang Lu

Lin Ye, carrying Xing Jin, strode confidently toward the Hall of Deacons.

After all, this was a crucial step in crossing the "miscellaneous servant gap," and even his steps were three times lighter than usual. Xingjin in his arms was also full of energy, his sapphire-like eyes looking around, like a little fox going out for the first time.

Just as he turned the corner of a side door next to the deacon's hall, a series of sobbing sounds, like a fine needle, pierced Lin Ye's ears.

The voice was so familiar that Lin Ye instantly remembered himself, the days when he first came to this world and secretly wiped away tears in the servants' quarters.

His heart softened, and he subconsciously slowed his pace, following the sound.

Behind a large stone pillar in the corner, a little girl of about seven or eight years old was huddled.

Her clothes were even more tattered than Lin Ye's, with several patches. Her hair was a mess, like a bird's nest. Her face was covered in dust, and her big eyes were red from crying. She was biting her lip tightly, not daring to cry loudly for fear of attracting more trouble.

Even more outrageous, several teenagers were pointing and whispering around her, uttering all sorts of hurtful things.

"Hey, where did this little beggar come from? He's dressed even worse than my dog!"

"I heard she's a jinx, an orphan, who would want her?"

"Get lost, don't block my way, or I'll beat you up!"

The little girl shrank back into the crack in the stone pillar in fright, her little hands gripping the hem of her clothes tightly. She looked exactly like a kitten surrounded by a pack of wolves.

Lin Ye frowned.

He himself came from a working-class background and understands best the frustration of being "bullied at the bottom".

Once you've been caught in the rain, you always want to hold an umbrella for others.

Moreover, he is now a "potential stock" with the second level of Star Dust Infusion cultivation, so this little thing is a piece of cake for him.

But then he thought that since he had just made a breakthrough, he should keep a low profile and build up his reputation, and not show it off all the time.

So he cleared his throat, deliberately raised his voice a few decibels, and even showed off the "Miscellaneous Servant to Prospective Disciple" token he had just received—although he hadn't been formally assessed yet, this token represented his potential.

The boys turned around and saw it was Lin Ye.

Although they had never seen Lin Ye make a move, the story of "Lin Ye taking down three servants single-handedly" had already spread throughout the servants' quarters a month ago.

Looking at Lin Ye again, although his eyes were gentle, his aura inexplicably exuded a sense of menace. She immediately felt intimidated, glared at the little girl with a curse, and ran away in a sorry state.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

The little girl timidly raised her head, looking at Lin Ye with teary eyes, her small body trembling slightly, just like Lin Ye had looked when he faced the skinny man.

Lin Ye walked over, without putting on airs, and directly pulled out a still-warm multigrain pancake from his pocket—this was an extra one he had specially taken, intending to share it with Xing Jin that evening. He gently handed the pancake to the little girl, his voice softer than cotton:

"Little girl, don't cry. Eat something to fill your stomach. They're leaving."

The little girl paused, blinked her big eyes, and then her tears fell even harder, but this time they were from gratitude. She carefully took the cake, and whispered, sobbing, "Th-thank you, brother..."

"You're welcome." Lin Ye squatted down, looking at her. "What's your name? Why are you here alone?"

The little girl sniffed and whispered, "My name is Su Nianxi... My parents are gone. I want to join a sect to learn skills so that I'll never be bullied again."

Lin Ye's heart softened.

This little girl is practically a carbon copy of myself back then—

Unwilling to remain at the bottom, yet weak and helpless.

He himself crawled out of the mud pit, so he understands all too well the suffering of being "unprotected".

Although he is currently just a prospective servant who has just broken through to the second level of Star Dust Body, and has not even become a formal outer disciple yet, Lin Ye's life motto has always been: even if he only has the power of a grain of rice, he will do his best to protect the safety of those around him!

So, looking into Su Nianxi's eyes, which were filled with both hope and fear, he solemnly extended his hand, his tone carrying the stubbornness and determination unique to working-class people, and said, word by word:

"Su Nianxi, remember this! My name is Lin Ye, and I'm a prospective disciple of the miscellaneous servants' quarters. Although I haven't made a name for myself yet, if anyone dares to bully you in this sect, just say my name!"

He patted his chest, and Xingjin meowed in his arms as if to chime in.

"Although I, Lin Ye, am not some great power, there is a rule for every worker—I will not offend others unless they offend me; if they offend me, I will retaliate! Once I pass the assessment and become a formal outer disciple, or even reach a higher level of cultivation, I will protect you, Su Nianxi, for the rest of your life and never let you suffer the slightest grievance again!"

Su Nianxi suddenly raised her head and looked at the man in front of her, who was dressed in tattered clothes but whose eyes shone like the rising sun.

He didn't make any earth-shattering promises, nor did he have any glamorous status, but in his eyes, there was the same unwillingness as me, the certainty about the future, and an inspirational spirit of "my fate is in my own hands, not in the heavens."

In that instant, Su Nianxi seemed to see another version of herself—

One day, I will be able to stand on high ground, protecting myself and others.

She nodded vigorously, engraving the name "Lin Ye" firmly in her heart. Tears welled up again, this time filled with a warm, burning emotion: "Yes! Brother Lin Ye, I remember! I will work hard too, I will become stronger in the future, and I will protect you, brother!"

Lin Ye was amused by the little girl and reached out to ruffle her messy hair: "Well done! You have ambition! That's the spirit a working person should have!"

He gave her a few more instructions, telling Su Nianxi to find a quiet place to hide and not to run around anymore, before turning around and continuing to walk towards the deacon's hall.

Xingjin in his arms gently rubbed against his fingertips, as if agreeing with his decision.

Lin Ye looked up at the rising sun overhead, its warm rays dispelling some of the chill.

He lowered his head and stroked the little fox in his arms, then murmured softly:

"Star Ember, look, not only do we need to become stronger, but we also need to protect a little sister in the future."

"Our path of cultivation is not just for our own advancement, but also for the peace and well-being of those around us."

The working class believes in the saying, "When one person attains enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs rise to heaven."

Oh wait, it's 'One person becomes stronger, protecting his sister completely!'

His steps became increasingly firm.

He rescued a spirit fox and adopted a sister as his sworn sister.

His path to immortality was no longer lonely.

Even though he's just a lowly laborer at the beginning, he firmly believes that with his worker's resilience, the delivery box's attachment, and the companionship of the spirit fox by his side, one day, Lin Ye will surely become a sharp and powerful figure, protecting his loved ones year after year, and forging his own path to prosperity in the world of cultivation!