A Child Appeared Beside Holy Spirit Village

Xiao Xiaoxiao felt a throbbing pain in her skull, as if someone had hammered it with a chisel.

She struggled to open her eyes. Through her blurry vision, she saw rough wooden beams overhead. The air carried a faint smell of hay and earth, along with a... primitive scent she couldn't quite describe.

"Ugh..." She tried to prop herself up, but her whole body was so sore and weak that she couldn't help sucking in a breath. Where was this? Hadn't she been drooling in her soft, comfortable six-foot bed, hugging her life-sized Tang San body pillow while dreaming?

She looked around. This was an extremely shabby little wooden hut. Calling it bare walls would have been giving it too much credit. Beneath her was a hard plank bed covered with hay, and it hurt her bones.

"Creak—"

The old wooden door was pushed open. An elderly woman with graying hair and coarse cloth clothes walked in carrying a rough pottery bowl. When she saw Xiao Xiaoxiao awake, a kindly smile spread across her face. "Oh, girl, you're finally awake! Do you feel any better?"

Xiao Xiaoxiao opened her mouth, but her throat was dry as fire, and her voice came out hoarse and awful. "Water..."

The old woman hurried over, carefully helped her sit up, and brought the bowl to her lips. It was cool well water with a faint sweetness. Xiao Xiaoxiao gulped down several mouthfuls before she finally felt alive again.

"Th-thank you..." She caught her breath. Her mind was a little clearer now, and countless questions began dancing around inside it. "Granny, where is this...? How did I get here?"

The old woman sighed. "This is near Holy Spirit Village. A few days ago, I was gathering firewood in the mountains when I found you unconscious at the edge of the woods. You weren't hurt, but I couldn't wake you up, so I carried you back first. Girl, whose child are you? Why were you out here in the wilderness all alone?"

Holy... Holy Spirit Village?!

Xiao Xiaoxiao's mind buzzed as if she had been struck by a heavenly bolt of lightning!

That name... wasn't this the village where Tang San was born in Douluo Continent, the novel she had stayed up all night rereading eight hundred times?!

She abruptly lowered her head and looked at her hands—they were more than a size smaller! The skin was soft and delicate, but these were clearly a child's hands!

An absurd yet terrifying thought burst forth uncontrollably: she, Xiao Xiaoxiao, a veteran shut-in girl from the twenty-first century and Tang San's most diehard fangirl, seemed to have... transmigrated?! And she had turned into a tiny kid?!

Seeing her expression shift constantly, the old woman thought she had been frightened and quickly comforted her. "Don't be scared, don't be scared. If you can't remember, then don't think about it for now. You must be hungry, right? There's still some porridge in the pot. I'll go get you a bowl."

After the old woman left, Xiao Xiaoxiao gave her thigh a vicious pinch.

"Ow—!" It really hurt! This wasn't a dream!

After the overwhelming shock passed, an indescribable rush of wild joy and excitement surged through her! Douluo Continent! The living, breathing Douluo Continent! Didn't that mean... she could meet the real Tang San?!

Tang San, the man she could only scream "husband" at through a screen, the man whose hair she couldn't even touch in reality! Tang San, who would eventually marry Xiao Wu!

Wait... Xiao Wu?

Half the excitement on Xiao Xiaoxiao's face instantly collapsed. Right, the official couple was right there. So what could she do after coming here? Was she supposed to watch her idol live happily ever after with someone else, then silently give them her blessings from the side while tearfully swallowing all that lovey-dovey nonsense?

Pah! Why should she? She couldn't steal him in reality, but in a dream... no, wait, she had already transmigrated here! How could she still fail to steal him?!

A bold and "immoral" idea grew wildly like spring weeds—since she was already here, why not give it a try? How would she know if she didn't? What if... she successfully intercepted him? The one closest to the water got the moon first. Didn't people understand that feelings grew over time?

A blazing fighting spirit ignited in Xiao Xiaoxiao's eyes, rivaling Flender when he saw Chicken Leg.

She jumped down from the bed, and although her legs went weak and she nearly fell back down, she stubbornly braced herself against the wall. She moved to the only water vat in the room, which had a crack in it, and examined herself in the reflection on the water's surface.

The water reflected the face of a girl around six or seven years old. Her eyes were large, and perhaps because she had just been sick, her complexion was somewhat pale. But her features were excellent: long lashes, a pert nose, and the makings of a beauty. Her hair was just a tangled mess like a bird's nest.

Not bad, not bad. Her looks were still there! Xiao Xiaoxiao let out a small sigh of relief. At least this wasn't a hellish start.

"Granny!" She rushed out of the hut and grabbed the old woman, who was busy at the stove. "Granny, thank you for saving me! I... I seem to have forgotten everything. I only remember that my name is Xiaoxiao..." She decided to pretend she had amnesia. That was an essential skill for transmigrators. "Can you take me in? I can do any kind of work!"

The old woman looked at her eager, pitiful little face, and her heart softened. "Ah, another poor child. All right. If you don't mind this old woman's shabby place, you can stay here for now. It's lonely with just me anyway."

A huge weight lifted from Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart. Step one: she had a place to stay!

Over the next few days, Xiao Xiaoxiao put her outgoing nature to work. While helping the old woman with whatever chores she could manage—chopping firewood and feeding chickens, though she did them rather clumsily—she also subtly asked around for information.

She confirmed it. This really was Holy Spirit Village, and the timeline was roughly... Old Jack, the village chief, had recently been busy urging the children of the right age to prepare for the awakening ceremony!

The timing was perfect!

Xiao Xiaoxiao's heart pounded. The opportunity had arrived! She had to find a way to blend in with the village children so she could legitimately get close to her target—Tang San, who should still be a six-year-old little kid now!

That afternoon, Xiao Xiaoxiao used familiarizing herself with the village as an excuse and wandered over to the eastern end. According to the "guide" in her mind, Tang San's home should be nearby.

She hid behind a large tree and peered around. Sure enough, before long, a little boy in patched gray clothes walked out of a blacksmith shop. He was short and slender, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and bright, carrying a calmness beyond his years.

It was him, it was him, it was really him! Baby Tang San!

Xiao Xiaoxiao was so excited that she nearly scratched off a piece of bark.

Tang San carried a wooden bucket to the well behind the house and skillfully drew water. His movements were swift and practiced; it was obvious he did this often.

Xiao Xiaoxiao took a deep breath and pressed a hand over her wildly pounding heart as her mind raced. She definitely couldn't just rush over and say, "I'm your future wife." He would think she was crazy. She had to create a natural, unforced first meeting!

Seeing Tang San pick up the bucket and prepare to head back, Xiao Xiaoxiao had a flash of inspiration. Her gaze locked onto several half-ripe red wild fruits on a crooked tree nearby.

That was it!

She waited for the right moment, then suddenly sprang out from behind the tree. Pretending she had been so eager to pick fruit that she hadn't watched where she was going, she let out an "Ah!" and precisely fell toward the bucket Tang San was carrying.

Bang!

Splash—!

She didn't actually fall on him, but in her "flustered" scrambling, she knocked over Tang San's bucket. Half a bucket of water splashed perfectly over her, while also soaking one of Tang San's feet.

Sitting on the ground, Xiao Xiaoxiao gave herself a mental thumbs-up. Perfect staged accident! The angle was tricky, and the amount of water was just right. It achieved the effect without looking too deliberate. At least, that was what she thought.

She raised her head, blinked her wet eyes, and forced out a few tears born from her successful plan—and the fact that the fall had genuinely hurt a little. She looked at the little boy, who had clearly frozen for a moment.

"Sorry, sorry!" She struck first, her voice carrying a hint of tears and just the right amount of panic. "I... I wanted to pick that fruit, but I lost my footing... I got your shoes wet, and I spilled your water too..."

Tang San really had been startled. He looked at the little girl who had suddenly appeared before him. A few damp strands of hair clung to her forehead, mist filled her big eyes, and she looked like a startled little rabbit as she sat on the ground, somewhat bedraggled, staring at him.

He set down the empty bucket and shook his head. His voice still carried a child's youthful softness, but his tone was already calm. "It's all right. Did you hurt yourself when you fell?"

As he spoke, he extended a small hand toward her.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves, falling over his clean face and the hand he had offered her.

Xiao Xiaoxiao looked at that hand, while the tiny version of herself in her heart shrieked like mad: My idol is holding my hand! Step one is a success!

She fought down the grin that desperately wanted to spread across her face and placed her hand in his. His hand was small, but strong, and he steadily pulled her to her feet.

"Thank you..." she said softly, continuing to maintain her pitiful little-white-flower image, even though she was a howling wolf inside.

"You?" Tang San seemed a little surprised by the form of address, but he didn't ask further. "Are you new to the village? I haven't seen you before."

"Mm-hm!" Xiao Xiaoxiao hurriedly nodded and followed the story she had prepared. "My name is Xiaoxiao. I live with Granny Wang at the end of the village. I only arrived a few days ago."

"My name is Tang San," he introduced himself. Then he looked at the damp front of her clothes. "It's hot. It'll dry soon. Were you trying to pick fruit? The fruit on that tree is still sour and doesn't taste good. There are several wild fruit trees at the western end of the village. The fruit there is sweeter."

He was pretty kind! Xiao Xiaoxiao was delighted inside and quickly took the opening. "Really? I... I don't know the way..."

Tang San glanced in the direction of his home and seemed to hesitate briefly, but he still said, "I'm free right now. I can take you there."

"That's great! Thank you, Tang San!" Xiao Xiaoxiao immediately beamed, her eyes curving into crescents.

Success! She had smoothly started a conversation and even gained a "tour guide" service!

Xiao Xiaoxiao followed closely behind Tang San, watching his thin but straight back as her little schemes clicked away in her mind. Tang San, Tang San, such an outstanding little sapling—I, Xiao Xiaoxiao, am reserving you! Sorry, Sister Xiao Wu. In this transmigration version of Where Are We Going, Dad? plus We Are in Love, I'm signing up first!

Hehe, the one closest to the water got the moon first. Just watch how I slowly... steal you away!

The road ahead was still long. The first step began with picking fruit!

(End of Chapter One)

Next chapter preview: How would Xiao Xiaoxiao infiltrate the awakening ceremony? What would her martial soul be? How would she further close the distance between herself and Tang San? Stay tuned!