The monster's roar shook the cave, and it opened its massive jaws wide, as if ready to swallow her whole.
Xiao Yu felt icy fear tear through her soul, stealing her breath. Her face and lips drained of color, as if all the blood had vanished at once—her skin turned pale, like stretched canvas.
«Goodbye… new world… I didn't even get to learn anything…
Goodbye, beautiful new me… Ah, if only I knew it would end like this, I would have at least admired myself a little longer… wuwuwu… »– Xiao Yu thought, tears welling in her eyes.
With these ridiculous thoughts, she closed her eyes and braced for the end.
She could do nothing—her frail arms were nothing compared to this monster. It was like an ant trying to fight an elephant.
Xiao Yu waited for her death with a pounding heart…
She waited…
And waited…
But the pain never came.
Seconds passed, then more. Confused, Xiao Yu cautiously opened one eye. Expecting to see the monster's foul maw ready to devour her, she was prepared to scream… but all she saw was white.
White? What… is this?
Puzzled, she opened her eyes fully and slowly lifted her head.
Then—her breath caught.
A person stood before her.
A tall man in white, standing between her and the monster. His long-sleeved clothes billowed gently in the wind. He had his back to her, but even so, it was clear—he was beautiful. Unusually, dangerously, untouchably beautiful.
Long black hair partially tied with a white ribbon. Delicate facial features, sharp eyes without a trace of fear—only icy calm.
One hand rested behind his back; in the other, a long sword. A simple weapon, unadorned, yet in his hands, it seemed a masterpiece.
He stared directly at the monster—and the creature, once growling menacingly, froze.
"Wow… what a handsome guy…" Xiao Yu muttered softly.
At that moment, the man slightly turned his head, as if he'd heard her. His sidelong glance met hers, but he said nothing—and that was enough to make Xiao Yu panic and drop her gaze.
«Youfool, Xiao Yu! What are you babbling about?! Of course he's handsome, but YOU almost died! The monster is still here! What are you even thinking right now?!»
Distracted by her inner scolding, she didn't notice how the man, with lightning speed impossible for the human eye, had already dealt with the monster. His sword flashed once—and with a dull thud, the beast collapsed.
Xiao Yu only came back to her senses when she felt him step closer. The man now stood right in front of her, silently studying her.
She lifted her eyes… and sank into his gaze.
Eyes deep, dark, shining like a starry night. Just one look felt as if the universe itself was peering into her, enveloping, consuming every drop of her being.
Xiao Yu couldn't look away. She felt enchanted—the longer she stared, the stronger the strange, painful sensation: this man seemed vaguely familiar.
She was certain she'd never met him before—and how could she, having just arrived in this world?
But everything—his features, eyes, cold aura—felt like she had seen him somewhere before. Or… someone very similar?
«Where do I know him from? I need to think… carefully think. Maybe he's the key to understanding this world?» – Xiao Yu hoped.
Grabbing her head, she closed her eyes and feverishly searched her memory.
Meanwhile, the man's gaze grew increasingly puzzled—as if he were watching a creature with obvious issues in its head.
––––––––––
Minutes earlier, while passing by this place, the man had sensed a powerful monster—one that shouldn't have been in these lands. To prevent it from reaching the villages, he rushed here, ready to deal with it.
But he never expected to find a human nearby. A girl.
When he arrived, the monster was about to bite her head off. He saw her curl into a ball, eyes shut, and without hesitation, he moved forward and positioned himself between her and the creature.
With a sidelong glance, he intended to check on her—but then he heard a whisper of admiration:
"Wow… what a handsome guy…"
He froze. Did he hear that? Was he hallucinating?
Turning, he confirmed: no, he wasn't imagining it. The girl, just seconds ago trembling in fear, now looked at him with awe, as if perfection itself had appeared before her.
He couldn't understand how emotions could shift so suddenly.
«Either she's very brave… or very reckless,» — he thought.
Seeing her quickly lower her gaze, realizing the inappropriateness of her words, he stopped paying attention to her and focused on the monster.
The sword was simple, but in his hand, it seemed like an extension of himself—one swift, fluid motion and the creature was no more.
After the battle, he slowly approached the girl to ensure she was unharmed. She looked strange, but could have been injured or in shock.
He stopped, silently studying her. He didn't know how to start a conversation without frightening her.Comforting words were not his forte.
But before he could speak, the girl lifted her head again, staring even more intently. Her eyes sparkled with admiration once more, as if she were witnessing a miracle. He braced himself for another round of odd behavior…
And he wasn't wrong. First, her gaze filled with doubt, then she suddenly grabbed her head, shook it, and muttered to herself.
He watched silently and thought:
«Looks like there really is something wrong with her…»
But seeing she wasn't injured and conscious, he took a step back.
«She'll probably manage on her own. She's… not going to disappear.»
With that, more as reassurance to himself than anything else, the handsome man turned to leave.
Deep down, he knew—he simply didn't want to deal with this… strange girl.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yu, desperately trying to remember where she knew him from, noticed the stranger slowly stepping away.
The sun rose over the horizon, illuminating his silhouette. He looked almost unreal—like a deity descending to earth.
The sight momentarily captivated her, but Xiao Yu quickly pulled herself together.
Looking at him with a clear mind, she realized—he was leaving the cave. Just leaving. And apparently, he planned to leave her here alone.
His posture straight, movements elegant, cold, emotionless.
He was walking away.
Xiao Yu's eyes widened in shock. She hadn't expected the very handsome man who just heroically saved her life to simply… leave her in this godforsaken place.
She watched as he neared the exit—without looking back once.
Surprise gave way to irritation. Then—anger.
«Are you kidding me?» – she thought.
«You're really goingto leave a sweet, defenseless girl like me in a cave where a monster just attacked me? I almost died! And you're just walking away? Damn it, if you're handsome, why does your personality have to be like a block of ice—cold and hard?»
A vein throbbed on her forehead.
But aloud, she said nothing—after all, he saved her life. And more importantly, he was the only one who could get her out of this damn forest.
The man was almost at the exit.
Throwing all thoughts aside, Xiao Yu jumped to her feet and ran after him.
Her body still shook from fear; her legs wobbled, each step was hard. She seemed about to collapse, yet stubbornly continued.
With monsters like the one she had just escaped lurking in the forest, staying behind wasn't an option. Even tenfold courage wouldn't have been enough.
Finally, using her last strength, she reached him and grabbed the edge of his pristine white clothing.
"Master… please… wait…" she gasped, her voice trembling.
The distance was small, but her weakness made her breath ragged and sweat dotted her face.
The man stopped. Slowly turned and looked at her—dark, bottomless eyes fixed on hers.
In the light of the rising sun, he finally saw her clearly.
Face smudged with dirt, traces of dried tears. Long hair tangled, more like a bird's nest. Clothes torn and dusty.
He hadn't noticed this before. But now, seeing her, he realized that, strange as she seemed… she was just a frightened girl who had survived the horror of death.
He shifted his gaze from her clothes to her eyes—and, surprisingly, saw no fear.
Unease? Yes. Determination? Undoubtedly. Even… anger?
It puzzled him. Where did that anger come from? But he quickly dismissed the thought—she was strange, and her emotions hardly followed logic.
Just as he was about to turn away, he noticed her trembling hand gripping his sleeve, and understood: the fear was there, hidden. But poorly.
Something pricked inside him. Guilt. For almost leaving her just because she seemed "different."
He didn't show it. His face remained cold and impenetrable, but his gaze softened slightly.
"What do you want?" he asked calmly, looking directly into her eyes.
Xiao Yu didn't know that in that brief moment, in his mind, she had shifted from "crazy" to "frightened but determined."
But she didn't care. Her only goal now—keep him from leaving.
"Master, first… I want to thank you for saving me. Thank you so much. If it weren't for you, I'd be dead right now," she said, still holding onto his clothes. Her fingers clung to the fabric as if it were a lifeline.
"And… I know this might sound bold… but…" Her voice trembled, growing quieter with each word, "…could you take me with you? Please. Don't leave me here."
Her long lashes quivered; unshed tears shimmered in her eyes. Her grip was tight, desperate. She looked pitiful, unbearably touching.
But inside, a storm raged:
«You won't leave me, right? Look how cute I am! Even tears are about to come! I'm trying, really! Don't be a block of ice, please. Don't leave me here alone! There are those monsters—you saw, didn't you?! If one attacks me again—I'm done! I don't want to die! I don't want to be the unlucky newcomer who dies in the first chapter! Save meeee!»
The man watched her silently. He observed the trembling, pleading girl, the near-tears she tried so hard to hold back. Her persistence stirred a faint sympathy in him. But even so, he remained composed. Cold by nature, he wasn't one to give in immediately, especially to strangers.
"Do you want me to take you with me?" he asked flatly. "But what benefit would it bring me?"
Xiao Yu froze.
Benefit?
What benefit? She hadn't thought of that. According to her plan, she was supposed to look pitiful, touching—and he, like a kind adult, would have agreed without question. But reality reminded her once again that plans were unreliable.
She stared at him, hoping to see even a trace of a joke in his expression, but there was only cold emptiness. Panic surged—if she didn't come up with a reason fast, he might leave. She racked her brain: what could a fourteen-year-old, exhausted and hungry girl do? Her mind blank.
All she could think of was claiming she knew the future like a heroine in a manhwa—but the truth was, she had no clue where she even was. No idea about her future, or his.
When the full weight of her helplessness hit, real tears finally broke through. All the restraint from the moment of the accident, death in her old world, sudden rebirth, isolation, and the fear of monsters poured out. She bit her lip, stifling her sobs, brushing away tears with dirty hands—only smearing the dirt more across her face.
«Why areyou so cruel? Why does one have to give something in return just to be pitied? Can't you just… help? Just be human? I don't want to die again. I don't want to see that monster again.» she thought, silent aloud.
The man watched her and sighed. He realized he had pushed too far—first ignoring her, then asking cold questions… all to a child. He simply couldn't act otherwise: he never agreed to requests in haste, not even from children, not even one like her.
A flicker of hesitation passed through his eyes. The stranger slowly lifted his hand and hesitantly placed it on her head, gently stroking it. He had never done this before. He had only seen others soothe children this way—and decided to try. Unexpectedly, he found it… pleasant. Her hair, though dirty, was soft, almost silky. Something about this small motion was strangely calming. He stroked a bit more confidently, not noticing how absorbed he had become.
Xiao Yu froze. Then, slowly lifting her head, she looked at him. Her eyes reflected confusion. But before she could speak, he quietly said:
"Alright."
"What?" she asked, not fully understanding.
"I said, alright," he repeated. "I will take you with me. Just stop crying. Or I might change my mind."
His voice remained cold, but his hand still softly caressed her head—a strange contrast. Xiao Yu didn't notice. Her attention was fully on the words: he would take her with him.
"Really? You'll really take me? You'll really get me out of here?" she asked excitedly, as if afraid it was only a dream. And once she heard his confirmation, all her tears, pain, and trembling vanished as if they had never existed.
The sudden shift from despair to joy surprised the man once again.
«She's a strange girl, indeed,» he thought.
"Yes. I will get you out of the forest," he confirmed, removing his hand from her head. "But there are conditions. Along the way—no talking unless I ask. Otherwise, I can't guarantee I won't leave you in the middle of the path. And once we reach civilization, I will leave you in the nearest village. Helping here doesn't mean helping further. Understand?"
"Of course! Easy! I'm silent! I can stay quiet all day! Silence is my second name!" Xiao Yu chattered happily, patting her chest and beaming.
«I doubt it…» the handsome man thought, watching her endless chatter.
"If you've finished talking, let's go," he said, turning to leave the cave.
"Wait, Master!" she hurried after him. At that moment, even weakness and exhaustion seemed to vanish—life seemed to awaken in her again.
She ran after him, shining like a little dirty rabbit joyfully following its stern but reliable master.
Anyone witnessing this—seeing a cold, handsome man walking with purpose, while a gleaming, clinging girl scuttled beside him—might have found it odd… yet somehow warm. Amazingly harmonious.
Once Xiao Yu stepped outside the cave, the bright sunlight blinded her. Instinctively, she shielded her eyes with her hand, letting them adjust, then slowly lowered it.
The weather was perfect: clear blue sky, not a cloud in sight, a light cool breeze rustling the leaves, creating a sense of peace. Everything around her breathed life and freshness.
Xiao Yu paused, allowing herself to finally feel the moment.
Looking around at the surrounding nature for the first time, she was stunned.
"Wow… how beautiful," she breathed.
Lost in the view, she didn't notice the man had moved a considerable distance ahead.
"Are you going to stand there all day?" His cold voice snapped her out of her reverie.
She jumped, turned quickly, and seeing him waiting, smiled awkwardly and hurried to catch up.
"Sorry… I just got distracted. The view was so beautiful…" she muttered, scratching her cheek.
The man merely snorted—not irritation, not interest, just his eternal aloofness. Xiao Yu was relieved; at least he wasn't angry and hadn't changed his mind about taking her. Even that brief, cold acknowledgment comforted her.
«Maybe he's not so bad… Just a handsome guy with a nasty temper. But… a little kind,»she thought, smiling softly.
"By the way, Master…" Xiao Yu started cautiously, not wanting to risk his mood, "how long will it take to leave the forest?"
"On foot—about half a month," he replied almost immediately, in the same detached tone.
"Ha… half a month?" she repeated, her voice trembling.
"Yes. And if problems arise, it could stretch to a month. That's if we go on foot."
"A… a month?.. A whole month…" she muttered, growing more desperate. "So long… What kind of forest is this… Endless… Another month here… It's hell…"
She bit her lip. The thought of facing monsters like the one she had escaped earlier made her shiver. Even with him, she didn't feel completely safe.
Her whining calmed her a bit—and only then did she realize: he said "on foot."
"Wait," she lifted her head. "What do you mean 'on foot'? You can… go another way?"
He looked at her but didn't answer with words. Instead, he held up two fingers. The sword on his belt reacted instantly—shuddered, then floated gracefully, hovering beside him.
Xiao Yu's eyes widened. Before she could ask anything, he jumped lightly and stepped onto the sword as if it were solid ground. Every movement was so elegant, so confident, that Xiao Yu's breath caught.
"On foot—long. But we'll fly. Maximum two days," he said calmly, as if discussing the weather.
"Th… this… could it really be… a wuxia world?!" The thought struck her like lightning.
Her eyes lit up, her lips curved into a wide, almost childlike smile. Joy and excitement filled her completely—reading wuxia novels, she had always dreamed of experiencing this. Now, unexpectedly, almost fantastically, her dream became reality.
But as the first wave of joy passed, another emotion surged.
"Wait… If this really is a wuxia world… then…"
A shiver ran down her spine.
«…doesn'tthat mean there are no real rules here? The only law is strength? The strong are right, the weak… don't even have a voice. In these worlds, the weak are trampled, killed, ignored. They are nothing. And I…»
Xiao Yu's face paled; panic filled her eyes.
«I'm weak. Truly weak! My survival here is in question from the very first minute! No, no, no, I'll definitely die the moment I step into this system!»
Her joyful thoughts gave way to desperate wailing.
Meanwhile, the man silently hovered above, watching her. His gaze traced her face as it went from radiant joy to near-tearful terror in moments.
«What's going on in that crazy girl's head now?» he thought lazily.
"If you keep acting strangely, I'll just leave you here," he said aloud, with a hint of cold irritation.
These words instantly snapped Xiao Yu back to reality. She squared her shoulders, shoved all chaotic thoughts aside, and quickly approached him, lowering her gaze in guilt.
"Sorry… I was just thinking," she said, standing in front of him.
After a moment, Xiao Yu began carefully circling the sword, trying to figure out how to actually climb onto it. She found no logic in the structure: no steps, no handrails—just a levitating sword.
The man, watching this "inspection," sighed, losing patience. Then, abruptly, he reached out, grabbed Xiao Yu by the scruff of her collar, and in one motion placed her behind him on the sword.
The girl yelped in surprise, clutching his shoulder to keep balance. He didn't even look back.
Once Xiao Yu managed to stand steadily on the sword, it trembled—then shot into the sky in the next moment.
Startled, she instinctively grabbed the man's clothing in front of her. Her heart raced, panic rising.
A strong gust of wind whipped her face; she squinted. Silky hair fluttered behind her, fingers gripping the fabric almost painfully.
Xiao Yu dared not open her eyes.
The sword climbed higher and higher until it reached the desired altitude. The flight stabilized; speed became steady, the air slightly gentler.
Finally, summoning courage, Xiao Yu slowly opened her eyes.
Her long lashes fluttered like butterfly wings; her sky-blue eyes widened, taking in the world.
The view before her was truly magical.
Beneath them stretched an endless emerald forest—like a green ocean swaying in a gentle breeze. Majestic mountains loomed in the distance, shrouded in light mist. Rivers glinted like silver threads, woven into the tapestry of the vast landscape.
Above all, the endless blue sky, not a cloud in sight, sunlight bathing everything in soft radiance.
Xiao Yu felt she had entered another reality.
«Waaaa… This is amazing… Can the world really be this beautiful?.. It's like a fairy tale…»
She looked again—below, ahead, above. The world was perfect.
A smile touched her lips; her eyes sparkled with life. Nature, fantasy, and wonder blended into one—Xiao Yu felt real magic.
The man, standing in front, glanced back at her.
To his surprise, the girl who had nearly sobbed in fear five minutes ago now silently admired the scenery, speaking no words. No complaints, no questions, no excited chatter.
«Hm… Interesting. Has she run out of words?» he thought with mild confusion, saying nothing.
The sword continued to glide through the sky—swift, smooth, like a bird carrying its passengers toward the unknown.
Thinking the girl had finally kept her promise to be quiet, the stranger relaxed, enjoying the long-awaited silence. It was the first calm moment since meeting this strange, overly lively being.
Alas, his hope was short-lived.
Xiao Yu, having had her fill of the view, suddenly remembered a living person was beside her. That meant speaking wasn't forbidden. Moreover, she had already forgotten their agreement about silence.
"By the way, Master," she suddenly said, lively, turning her curious, shining face to him, "I've wanted to ask for a while… What's your name?"
The man barely exhaled, not even glancing at her.
"Why do you need my name? Once we leave the forest, our paths will part anyway," he cut her off coldly, as if ending the conversation.
But Xiao Yu wasn't about to give up.
"Well, maybe you're right," she agreed lightly, still beaming, "but we have two days together. I can't call you just 'Master' the whole time. And I really want to know the name of my rescuer."
Her eyes sparkled mischievously.
The man remained silent again. It seemed not even a little persistence could melt him.
"Then," she continued enthusiastically, "I'll say my name first, and then you tell yours. Fair?"
Without waiting for approval, Xiao Yu proudly declared:
"My name is Xiao Yu. 'Xiao' means 'gentle,' and 'Yu' means 'rain.' Together, it's 'gentle rain'! Beautiful, right?"
She smiled contentedly at the man, waiting for his response.
"And now it's your turn, Master. What's your name?"