Her thick lashes fluttered slightly, casting a shadow over her face. Her small, straight nose makes one want to pinch it while her red lips muttered incoherent things.

Qiu Zhi looked at the girl, his brows furrowed with mixed feelings filling his heart. He simply can't figure the girl out.

How can she sleep so peacefully? So defenselessly?

Although he might be her benefactor, he is still a man. Is she not worried that he might do something to her?

Or is it simply because she's so naive and trusting that she doesn't think he'll do anything?

No. That's not true. Since that day he spied on her in the forest, he knew that she wasn't as naive as he thinks. He had seen it in her eye, a calmness and wisdom that was beyond a child of her age.

Back then, he'd lost track of her the moment the purple python attacked her and had a.s.sumed that she was dead since she still hasn't come back to the village for days. Yet seeing her come back so lively and well without a scratch, he immediately knew that something was up.

How did she escape? A non-cultivator like her would have gotten killed in mere minutes in face of such a beast.

Just what secrets are you hiding, Xi Rin? How many of them are there?

Glancing at the girl once more, he silently left her bedroom, still pondering over her motives. He simply doesn't get it. What is the infamous third daughter of the Li family doing here?

"You're not sleeping?" A voice said, shocking him out of his thoughts.

Looking up, he found Xi Rin standing at her bedroom's doorway, her body tiredly leaning against the frame as her eyes fight to stay open. Her eyes looked at him, although a bit unfocused due to sleep clouding her mind.

"Sorry. Did I wake you up?" Was his footsteps too loud? Did she catch him in her bedroom?

"No... Thirsty. Need water," Xi Rin spoke in simple sentences. She couldn't find enough strength in her to talk with him.

"Oh..."

He watched her walk across the living room to the counter and poured herself some water. After letting out a satisfied sigh, she set the cup down before turning her gaze back to him.

"So... how'd come you're still awake?" She said, clearly more awake this time.

"Just couldn't sleep." He shrugged.

s.h.i.+fting on her feet, she stared at the wall absentmindedly before focusing on him again. "Is something on your mind?"

He remained silent.

Seeing this, she sighed, no longer prying and he appreciates this trait of her. She was easy to speak to and fun to hang around. But she never pried into his business. She never forced him to say what he didn't want. And he appreciates this trait of her.

She opened her mouth as if to speak again, but then her eyes suddenly narrowed. Before he could react, she threw the cup in her hand, sending it flying right next to his head. Then as if hitting something, it went "thump" and then fell down.

She quickly ran over to him, jumping over the counter in the process, before grabbing at something behind him. Then with a twist of her body, she sent it cras.h.i.+ng down to the ground, then quickly locking its arm and pressing a knee against its spine.

Looking down at the struggling thing in her arms, he noticed it was a person dressed in black, blending into the night under the cover of the dark. However, the silver dagger in the man's hand shone coldly in the dark. Bending down to get a closer look, he soon recognizes the engraved mark on the dagger.

It belonged to one of the people who want him dead.

His blood ran cold. If it were not for Xi RIn, he was certain that it would be his corpse that lies on the ground instead.

However, the man didn't remain restrained for too long. He broke out of Xi Rin's hold and immediately turned around on her. He stabbed the weapon towards her, wanting to end her life.

However, this time, Qiu Zhi wasn't so oblivious. Pulling Xi Rin close to his body, he sent the man flying a single punch imbued with qi, killing him in one strike.

However, the man didn't turn into a corpse and his body disappeared into a puff of smoke. Immediately covering Xi Rin's mouth and nose with his hand, he held his own breath in fear that it was something dangerous. But soon it cleared away, leaving a piece of paper behind, in the shape of a human with red, illegible writing on its body.

It looks like he can no longer hide in this village.