The Jade Cliff Training Grounds were quiet this morning, bathed in a soft, pale light. Most disciples were still deep in their dreams, and the cool morning mist curled lazily around the ground like a blanket, muffling the sound of footsteps.
Lin Yuan enjoyed this time—before the hustle and ambitions of the sect woke up, before anyone remembered who he was. It was a chance to be... alone. To breathe.
As he walked through the peaceful grounds, his mind drifted to the memories of his past life. Earth felt like a distant dream, one that he had almost forgotten. But in this new world, one thing remained certain: he would not lose his compassion. He would not become the kind of person who trampled over others for his own gain.
His thoughts were interrupted by a faint sobbing sound.
Frowning, Lin Yuan followed the sound, his steps light as he approached the corner of the alchemy hall. Behind it, he found a young girl—no older than ten—struggling to lift a water jar that was nearly as large as she was. Her face was streaked with tears, and her small hands were scraped and red from the rough stone and dirt beneath her.
Lin Yuan paused for a moment, observing her silently. She was one of the servant children—the ones who ran errands, fetched water, and tended to the needs of the more senior disciples. Most disciples didn't even spare them a second glance. But Lin Yuan wasn't like most.
The girl didn't notice him at first, her focus entirely on trying to lift the jar. When she did see him, her eyes widened in panic.
"I-I'm sorry, Senior Disciple! I wasn't slacking! Please don't tell the quartermaster! I'll work faster, I promise!"
Lin Yuan's lips quirked into a gentle smile. He could see the fear in her eyes, the shame of being caught doing something deemed "unimportant." He shook his head softly and approached her.
"It's alright," he said kindly, his voice warm, "You're not in trouble."
The girl blinked in confusion. Most cultivators would have either ignored her or scolded her for being slow. But Lin Yuan didn't have that kind of heart. He crouched down next to her, studying the jar for a moment. It was heavy, far too heavy for someone of her small stature to carry alone. Yet, the jar needed to be delivered to the elder's herb patch, a task that was important, no matter how mundane it seemed.
Without another word, Lin Yuan reached down and grasped the jar with one hand, easily lifting it from the ground. The girl gasped.
"Y-You're so strong, Senior Lin Yuan!"
He gave her a warm smile. "Not strong. Just... strong enough to help."
The girl's eyes shone in wonder. "You... you don't think I'm weak?"
"Of course not," Lin Yuan replied softly. "You're just young. You have time to grow."
They began walking together toward the herb patch, Lin Yuan carrying the jar with ease. The path was long, winding up the slope toward a small grove where the sect's medicinal herbs were cultivated. The girl walked beside him, her pace slow but steady, and they talked as they walked.
"What's your name?" Lin Yuan asked, glancing down at her.
"Mei," she answered shyly. "I... I want to be a disciple one day. Maybe a healer. I want to help people like the senior disciples."
Lin Yuan smiled, his gaze thoughtful. "I think you can. As long as you don't give up on your dreams."
Mei looked up at him, eyes wide. "You really think so? But I'm just a servant now... I'm not strong enough."
"Strength isn't just in the body," Lin Yuan said quietly. "Strength is in the heart. If you have the will to keep going, you'll find your way."
They reached the herb patch, where Mei eagerly directed him to the correct spot. Lin Yuan carefully placed the jar down. Mei bowed deeply to him, gratitude filling her small frame.
"Thank you, Senior Lin Yuan! Thank you so much!"
He gently ruffled her hair, something he had seen older disciples do to their younger juniors, though with a tenderness that spoke of care. "You don't need to thank me. Just remember to be kind to others when it's your turn."
Mei smiled brightly, wiping a tear from her cheek. "I will! I'll remember!"
As she skipped away, her burden lightened, Lin Yuan stood there for a moment, watching her. The soft morning light bathed the entire patch in a golden glow, and for the briefest instant, he allowed himself to feel peace.
He had helped someone today, just as he had promised himself he would. Even in a world full of power and violence, he would never lose his kindness. He would be a beacon for those who were overlooked.
---
Above, in the Trees
High above the herb patch, hidden by the branches of an ancient tree, a figure stood. Xia Zhi's silver hair fluttered lightly in the wind, and her cold, piercing gaze followed Lin Yuan as he helped the servant girl. She hadn't expected to see this.
She had been watching him for days now, but never had she seen such an unguarded moment. The way he interacted with the girl—gentle, patient, warm—was a stark contrast to the ruthless strength he displayed in the training grounds. It was as though two different people existed within him.
The softness in his eyes was unsettling to her.
Her heart thumped in her chest as she observed the scene below. Lin Yuan had been raised from the depths of despair, yet here he was, showing kindness without hesitation, offering help without expecting anything in return. The servant girl, Mei, skipped away with newfound joy, unaware that someone was watching her savior.
Xia Zhi's thoughts swirled. She wasn't sure what to make of Lin Yuan. In her world, there were only two types of people—those who used others for their own gain, and those who were crushed beneath them. But Lin Yuan didn't seem to belong to either category.
He was something else.
She stayed perched in the trees long after Lin Yuan had gone, her heart colder than the moonlight. But for the first time in years, she didn't feel the chill. There was something about him that made her uneasy—something she couldn't quite grasp.