Chapter 444: Snow on the Mountain, Bright Candles in the South

The father looked to be in his forties, of medium build. His face and hands were rough and dark from years of farm work.

It formed a sharp contrast with the pale little girl.

He grabbed the hair of the girl who looked only three or four years old and pushed her into the water again and again.

The girl cried and screamed, but she never let go of her hands. She clung to the rocks on the shore and struggled to float up.

But her small body was too insignificant in front of the man, and soon she lost her strength and sank into the water without moving.

The father then let go of my hand, stood up and wiped his face. The white breath he exhaled blurred his red eyes as he spoke. He sighed, "Don't blame me for being cruel. I and your mother really can't support you. You should leave as soon as possible and find a good family in your next life. Don't come to me again."

After saying this, he turned around and left without any regrets.

After he was completely gone, Yuan Ying appeared and used her spiritual power as a rope to pull the girl up.

Yuan You was puzzled, "Master, why didn't you stop that person just now?"

He Yunfei was small but insightful. He sneered and said, "If we had shown up just now, would that person have let her go easily if he saw that she still had value?"

Yuan You suddenly realized, "So you want him to think that his daughter is dead, so he won't bother with her anymore in the future?"

Yuan Ying nodded, "Teacher just protected her heart and lungs, she won't die."

"But after this incident, the relationship between them as father and daughter has been completely severed, and they will have no connection with each other in the future."

He squatted down, pressed the little girl hard to make her spit out the water, and fed her a pill. After a few breaths, the little girl woke up slowly.

At first, Yuan You and He Yunfei were afraid that she would cry, but the little girl just glanced at them, sat up blankly and asked, "Daddy doesn't want me anymore?"

Just one sentence made Yuan You's eyes red.

He pinched his sleeves, not knowing what to say.

Although he was also abandoned by his parents, he was too young at that time and didn't understand anything. He didn't have any feelings for his parents. As far as he could remember, he grew up with his master and his fellow disciples were very kind to him, so he never felt that being abandoned was something worth being sad about.

But today, he saw with his own eyes the little girl being pushed into the water by her own father, and he felt indescribably sad.

He Yunfei curled his lips, "What do you mean he doesn't want you? It's you who doesn't want him. Is that kind of scum worthy of being a father? Sooner or later he will regret it!"

The little girl didn't cry or make a fuss. She just lowered her head and looked at the water splashing on the ground. No one knew what she was thinking.

Yuan Ying knelt on one knee in front of her and asked softly, "Do you want to go back and find them?"

The little girl shook her head, "They don't want me anymore, I won't go back."

"Okay, then don't go back. The sky is high and the sea is vast. There will always be a place for you to stay." Yuan Ying touched her head lovingly. "What's your name?"

The little girl looked up at him, her big eyes clear and black and white, "Wang Nan."

"Wang Nan?" He Yunfei laughed angrily, "Do you have a younger brother?"

The little girl nodded, "Mom gave birth to a little brother a few days ago."

Yuan You clenched his fists in anger, "This is too much! How could they do this? Do they not want a daughter when they already have a son?"

The little girl was only three or four years old. She didn't understand the heavy malice behind the name, so she didn't understand why they were so angry and her eyes were full of confusion.

He Yunfei felt sad, and tugged at Yuan Ying's sleeve and said, "Master, please give her another name."

Yuan Ying had the same idea. He pondered for a moment, his eyes passed over the girl and looked at the rolling green hills in the distance. It was almost dawn, and a thin layer of morning light shone through the clouds, illuminating the surroundings.

Suddenly, a snowflake fell from the sky, landing on the girl's wet black hair and disappeared in an instant.

Instantly, an idea flashed in his mind, and Yuan Ying blurted out: "The mountains are covered with snow, and the candles are shining in the south sky. From now on, I will call you Mingnan."

"Ming... Nan?"

Mingnan looked at him in confusion, "Only one word was changed?"

Yuan Ying shook her head, put her hand on her head, and the gentle spiritual power instantly dried her hair and clothes.

Then he leaned over and picked up Mingnan, turned to face the half-lit and half-dark sky and said, "It's the bright Ming, the Nan of the south, not the Nan of the boy."

"From now on, don't bear the reliance of others, and don't look up to men. You are no worse than any other man in the world. You are the one and only Mingnan."

Little Mingnan seemed to understand, and nodded solemnly, "Okay, I'm Mingnan."

Yuan Ying smiled, hugged her and said, "From now on, I will be your master. Once a teacher, always a father. I will do my best to raise and teach you."

Xiao Mingnan put his arm around his neck and whispered, "Master?"

"Why."

"Master!"

She became happy and called again.

Although she was thin, she was fair and cute, as if she were made of dough. Yuan Ying felt so soft-hearted when she saw her, "Hey."

He Yunfei followed her and took out a fox fur scarf from his storage ring. He handed it to her on tiptoe, "Here, this is for you. From now on, I will be your senior sister."

Xiao Mingnan blinked and said obediently, "Senior Sister."

He Yunfei pursed his lips and his face turned red.

Yuan You was not to be outdone, but unfortunately he didn't have anything that little girls would like. After searching in his storage ring for a long time, he only found a ribbon, which was just right for tying Ming Nan's hair.

Then the master and his two disciples surrounded Mingnan and played drums for a while, tied her hair into two small buns, and put a fox fur scarf on her.

Yuan Ying put on a cloak, opened one corner of it and wrapped Mingnan in it, then walked out holding her in her arms.

He Yunfei and Yuan You followed on the left and right.

When they came, there were three masters and apprentices, and when they left, there were four of them as a family.

Xiao Ming nestled in Yuan Ying's arms, feeling warm and comfortable, and fell asleep soon.

The snow grew heavier, but was blocked by an invisible barrier and didn't touch them at all.

Later, Yuan Ying brought Mingnan back to the sect for testing. Unexpectedly, Mingnan had a very rare light spiritual root, which could only be found once in a century.

The sect leader teased Yuan Ying, saying that his skill in picking up children was first-rate, and each one was better than the other. If he could pick up a few more, there would be hope for the revival of Chengtian Sect.

Yuan Ying refused, saying, "These three disciples are enough for me. They support each other and will not let my lineage be cut off. Even if it is perfect, I cannot handle more and I cannot take the responsibility."

"Mingnan is my youngest and last disciple."

From then on, Mingnan officially joined Chengtian Sect and became a disciple of Yuan Ying. He practiced with his fellow senior brothers and sisters and became more cheerful and lively day by day.

The once frail and helpless Wangnan died silently in the river.

Mingnan, who has grown up now, has been nurtured with love and respect.