The sword gleamed with a cold light, but the chill emanating from Chenxi was even more intimidating than the sword's gleam.
The three beggars hesitated for only a moment before leaving.
Ye Jingchen kept staring at Chenxi's waist.
Having known each other for so long, he only just realized that Chenxi's weapon was actually a soft sword, and that it was tucked into his waistband.
You can't tell at all normally!
Chenxi always wore a tight-fitting corset, and her waist looked already quite slim, but no one expected that she was hiding a sword.
How thin must his waist be?
With such a tiny waist, can she really have such explosive power?
Is this reasonable?
After the three beggars fled, Chenxi simply wrapped the soft sword around her waist, and it fit perfectly without any flaws.
Ye Jingchen then noticed that the soft sword's scabbard was made to resemble a belt, with delicate patterns embroidered on it.
The person who made this belt has such skillful hands!
"Have you seen enough?!" Chenxi looked at Ye Jingchen with disdain, as if he had never seen the world before.
"Can I touch it?" Ye Jingchen asked, his eyes shining.
Of course, what he wanted to touch wasn't her waist, but the soft sword.
“No!” Chenxi said coldly.
"Thank you for saving me." The little girl walked over and thanked Chenxi.
"I'll take you back," Chenxi said coldly.
Ye Jingchen looked at the dawn in surprise. Was the sun rising in the west?
"Thank you for saving me, big brother. My home is nearby, I can go back by myself." A hint of hesitation flashed in the little girl's eyes, then she grinned at Chenxi and said gratefully.
"Let's go." Chenxi's attitude left no room for refusal, and she turned and left first.
When he brought Ye Jingchen over, he climbed over the wall to familiarize himself with the terrain from a high vantage point. He then took the shortest route and led the little girl back to the desolate courtyard they had just met.
Stopping in front of the yard, the little girl's surprised expression had turned into one of full wariness.
"How do you know this is my house? Who are you?" she asked, blocking the doorway.
"It's my eldest sister back!"
"Big sister—" The children in the yard were happy to come out and greet her when they heard the familiar voice coming from the doorway.
"Don't come out—" the girl shouted quickly.
However, some children had already opened the gate.
"Why are there just the two of you?"
"What do you want to do?!" Ono Kosei hurriedly came out and spread his arms to block the little girl.
"Don't be nervous, I won't do anything to you. We just saved your eldest sister!" Ye Jingchen said with a smile.
"You're following us!"
"I stole your things, so come at me if you have a problem with me!" The two little boys became even more agitated.
"You two went to steal again?!" The little girl was handing several steamed buns to another child when she heard this. Finally free, she grabbed one ear with each hand and yanked hard—
"I told you all long ago not to steal anymore! You just ignored me, didn't you—"
"Big sister, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts—" The two children hurriedly tried to pry the little girl's hands apart, hoping to save their ears.
“With so many mouths to feed and such young children, and without a stable income, this can’t go on,” Ye Jingchen said.
The little girl finally let go, walked up to Ye Jingchen and Chenxi, bowed deeply, and said apologetically, "My two younger brothers are ignorant and have done wrong. I apologize to you on their behalf! Please give them a chance to make amends, considering their young age, and don't report them to the authorities!"
"Things are tough for us right now, but once I'm a little older, I'll be able to work, earn wages, and support my younger siblings!" The little girl said this with her back very straight.
"Even if you can work in the future, with your meager wages, can you support eight mouths by yourself? They are still so young, what if one of them gets sick again?" Ye Jingchen asked quietly.
"There's always a way out, so please don't trouble yourself, young master! I will never forget your help today, and I will definitely repay you in the future. Please!" The girl said through gritted teeth, making a 'please' gesture.
"Quite cautious." Ye Jingchen didn't move, but just muttered to himself.
"Young master is joking. If we're not careful, how can we possibly survive?" the girl said with a wry smile.
"What do you have to do with these children?" Ye Jingchen asked her, pointing at the children.
"They are all my younger brothers and sisters!" the little girl said warily, standing in front of the children.
"They're not related by blood, are they?" Ye Jingchen asked.
"From the moment I picked them up, they were family!" the little girl replied.
"You're struggling to survive yourself, why would you bring them back?"
"It's tough now, but at least we've all survived!" the little girl replied, her eyes resolute.
“I’ll bring my sister to meet you sometime when I have the chance,” Ye Jingchen suddenly said.
The little girl was puzzled by his nonsensical words.
"Do you want to study?" Ye Jingchen asked them.
Upon hearing the word "reading," several children's eyes lit up.
The little girl's expression became even more wary.
"What do you want to do?" she asked.
“You are still too young, and it’s not safe for you to live together. I can send an adult to take care of you and teach you to read and write. If you are interested in anything, you can also learn a skill so you won’t have to worry about supporting yourself in the future,” Ye Jingchen said as he pondered.
"Then what do you need us to do for you?" The little girl didn't show any joy, but asked more warily.
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