Chapter 2: You Became Her One and Only Hero

“A newborn baby abandoned…”

Xu Xi took another step forward, closely following the starving refugees.

He knew very well.

In this era, it was all too common for babies to be abandoned. After all, parents could barely survive themselves, let alone have the strength to care for an infant.

In times of famine, the best course of action was to pretend nothing had happened.

Xu Xi thought this as he silently lowered his eyelids.

He decided to turn a deaf ear.

He decided to turn a blind eye.

Everyone around him did the same, including Aunt Wang’s family who had earlier provided water.

It wasn’t that they weren’t kind or lacked compassion, but in such a famine, raising a newborn meant reducing their own family’s rations and diminishing their chances of survival.

Faced with this choice, everyone preferred to prioritize their own families.

Thud—

Thud—

The heavy footsteps sounded like repeated moral condemnations.

Knocking on everyone’s hearts.

Suddenly, Xu Xi stopped. He looked up at the sun in the sky, as if finally making a decision. Under the astonished gazes of others, he quickly broke away from the refugee group and ran towards the direction of the sound he had just heard.

“Even though it’s just a fake simulation world, it feels so real. I just can’t let it go…”

“In this time of food scarcity.”

“If I leave it alone, that child’s fate will probably—”

Xu Xi silently quickened his pace.

Searching through the wild grass, running over jagged stones.

Gradually, the wild grass grew taller than Xu Xi’s knees, each step requiring effort to push through the tough branches. The hot wind whistled past his ears, accompanied by the rustling of the grass.

Breaking through thorns and brambles.

Charging forward bravely.

Just like in countless fairy tales.

Small arms pushing through difficulties, tender feet overcoming obstacles, the fearless hero finally reached his destination. Beneath a withered tree, he found a baby girl wrapped in cloth.

Sunlight filtered down from the sky, fragmented by the leafless branches, scattering in patches of light and shadow.

Xu Xi crouched down.

Picked up the obviously newborn baby, shielding her from the scorching sun.

“Finally found you,” he whispered.

The baby girl’s skin was tender and white, like newly bloomed petals, with a faint pink hue. Her eyes blinked, curiously gazing at Xu Xi’s flushed, overheated face.

Her tiny nose twitched slightly, her body curled up in Xu Xi’s arms, becoming incredibly quiet.

It seemed she felt safe in Xu Xi’s embrace.

“Looks like she’s fine.”

Seeing the baby girl sleeping soundly, Xu Xi sighed in relief. Then, with the gentlest movements, he carried the baby back towards the original group.

Although it was a bit difficult.

Xu Xi didn’t want to abandon this child.

At the very least, he wanted to try to let her survive this famine.

…

[Hardship creates heroes]

[You ignored the astonishment of others, and when everyone chose to give up, you resolutely became the hero of one, bringing back the baby girl in peril, treating her as your own sister]

[You used your last bit of food to exchange for some breast milk, so your sister wouldn’t have to endure hunger]

[In return, losing your last bit of rations, you could only endure the cramps in your stomach, feeling weak and frail day and night]

[Fortunately, your luck wasn’t bad]

[Before you truly starved to death, you and your sister followed the refugee group and successfully reached a mortal city, where you received life-saving porridge from the distribution shelter]

[You survived, and your sister survived with you]

[After much inquiry, you learned the city’s name was Blackstone City, belonging to a mortal dynasty. Every five years, immortals would come to test for disciples]

[Your luck seemed a bit off again, as the last disciple recruitment had just passed, and you had to wait another five years]

[You decided to stay in Blackstone City, aiming to participate in the five-year Disciple Recruitment Assembly. To do so, you started finding ways to earn money, striving to support yourself and your sister]

[You named your sister Xu Moli]

…

Time flies, years pass.

Perhaps because of the simulator.

Xu Xi often felt time flew by, as if he had pressed a skip button in a game, jumping several years in an instant.

However.

Xu Xi still retained the memories.

He remembered how he survived in Blackstone City, the memories of his time with his sister Mo Li, and the interactions with neighbors and townsfolk.

“Counting the time, there’s only one year left until the Disciple Recruitment Assembly.”

In the small wooden house.

Furniture was sparse, the floor clean.

Xu Xi pondered, using a piece of black charcoal to make a deep mark on the wall. There were already four such marks, symbolizing the fourth year.

This year, Xu Xi was nearly eleven.

The inner maturity of a transmigrator made him appear more reliable than his peers.

“Elder Brother!!”

A soft, innocent voice came from behind.

Almost simultaneously, a small figure jumped onto Xu Xi’s back, clinging affectionately, revealing a tender, reassured face.

“You, always so mischievous.”

Xu Xi’s tone was helpless.

Skillfully lifting the girl by the back of her neck.

Gently placing her on the ground.

“Not at all, Elder Brother is wronging Mo Li,” the girl protested after landing, pulling at Xu Xi’s robe to straighten the wrinkles caused by her movements.

Her expression was serious, her actions meticulous, as if handling something of utmost importance.

Once everything was settled.

The girl finally showed a satisfied expression.

Her smile was pure, lively, and adorable. At four years old, she was like the most flawless porcelain doll, making Xu Xi unable to resist ruffling her hair.

“Don’t rub Mo Li’s head!”

Hearing the girl’s cute protest, Xu Xi laughed, “Why not?”

The girl earnestly counted on her fingers, “The neighbor grandma said, touching a child’s head will stunt their growth. Elder Brother has done it many times. If this continues, what if Mo Li doesn’t grow tall!”

Xu Xi asked curiously, “Then what does little Mo Li plan to do when she grows tall?”

The girl didn’t hesitate, “Help Elder Brother earn lots and lots of money!!”

“Hahaha, is that so? That’s something to look forward to.”

Xu Xi laughed heartily.

Amid the girl’s pouting expression, he ruffled her shiny black hair again. Then, with a twist of his wrist, before his adorable sister could get angry, he pulled out a large, round watermelon.

“Wow, it’s a huge watermelon!”

Xu Moli exclaimed in surprise.

Her eyes filled with joy and excitement.

Hugging Xu Xi’s leg, she cheered, “I want to eat it, I want to eat it, Elder Brother, cut it for Mo Li!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll do it now,” the boy responded affectionately, letting his sister step back before taking out the kitchen knife and cutting the watermelon into even slices.