Na'er (Two Chapters Combined)

There was a girl, and she looked even younger than him. She wore old clothes that had been washed until their color faded, the fabric worn thin and a small hole torn in one sleeve.

She was curled up against the wall, her arms wrapped around her knees and her head buried low in the crook of her arms, like a frightened little beast that had folded in on itself. Her hair was silver-white.

Sunlight spilled through a gap above the alley, falling on her silver-white hair and casting a soft, almost translucent sheen over it.

The little girl had her head lowered, as if she were drawing something on the ground. She hadn't noticed anyone watching her from nearby.

Chu Yan stopped. His gaze lingered on her for two or three breaths, then he started toward her.

Pang Shan followed behind him. His gaze also settled on the silver-haired girl, following Chu Yan's line of sight. His eyebrows twitched slightly, but he didn't ask anything.

Chu Yan walked over to the wall and stopped about three paces from the girl.

She seemed to notice someone approaching. Her movements paused, and she raised her head.

In that instant, Chu Yan got a clear look at her.

She seemed even younger than him. Her face was smudged with dirt, but even so, it couldn't conceal features so delicate they seemed almost unreal.

Her eyes were large, their irises a clear purple, like two exquisitely polished amethysts. They gleamed softly in the afternoon light.

When she looked at him, she didn't flinch or appear nervous. She simply stared straight at him, with a hint of surprise that was difficult to detect.

Their eyes met.

Chu Yan saw his own reflection in her purple eyes, so clear it was almost unbelievable.

He paused briefly, then spoke, his voice gentler than usual. "What's your name?"

The silver-haired girl watched him for another two breaths, as if trying to figure something out.

Then she spoke. Her voice was soft and clear, with a hint of natural huskiness. "My name is Na'er."

Na'er.

When Chu Yan heard those two words, he showed no sign of it, but at last, the unease he'd been carrying inside settled.

At last, he'd found her.

Before Tang Wulin, here in an unremarkable corner beneath a wall, in such an ordinary way.

He looked down at the dirty little girl in front of him. She was small and thin, dressed in worn-out clothes, sitting against the wall like a little beast that had lost its den.

Chu Yan was about to say something when an incongruous sound shattered the brief silence.

"Grrr—"

It came from Na'er's stomach, loud enough that it was impossible to ignore.

Na'er's face flushed. The dirt made it hard to see, but she instinctively lowered her head and stared at her dirty shoe tips, as if she'd been caught doing something wrong.

Looking down at her embarrassed little face, Chu Yan couldn't help the corners of his mouth from lifting.

The Silver Dragon King in a moment like this—it really was a little funny.

He said softly, "Looks like my stomach's growling. How about you come eat with me?"

Na'er raised her head from between her knees. Her purple eyes looked at him in surprise, as if she hadn't expected him to say something like that.

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. After hesitating for a moment, she whispered, "I... I don't have any money."

"My treat." Chu Yan held out a hand to her and continued, "Just keep me company and chat with me."

Na'er's gaze lingered on his outstretched hand for a moment, then she looked back up at him, as if making sure he meant it. Slowly, she reached out and placed her dusty little hand in his palm.

Her fingertips were cold, as if she'd been out in the wind for too long.

Chu Yan gently took her hand and pulled her to her feet.

Once Na'er was standing, she seemed even smaller. She only came up to his shoulder, and she was thin and tiny.

"Come on. There's a noodle shop up ahead, I think." Chu Yan let go of her hand and pointed at a small storefront farther down the street. Its sign read "Old Zhou Noodle Shop."

Na'er walked beside him, somewhat stiffly, but she didn't keep far away.

Pang Shan followed a few paces behind in silence, his eyes sweeping over the surroundings. Confusion flickered in his eyes. Why was the young master helping this little beggar? Still, he didn't ask.

The three of them entered the noodle shop. It was small, with five or six tables, and the tables and chairs had clearly been there for years.

Chu Yan picked a table by the window and sat down. Na'er took the chair opposite him, still hunched over with her shoulders drawn in. She rested her hands on her knees and didn't dare touch anything on the table.

The owner was a plump, middle-aged woman with flour on her apron. She came over with a beaming smile. Seeing Na'er, she didn't ask any questions, only greeted them warmly. "What would you two like to eat?"

Chu Yan ordered two large bowls of seafood noodles and added two side dishes.

The woman answered, "Coming right up!" and bustled off to the kitchen.

Na'er sat quietly across from him. She didn't look around, only glanced at the chopsticks in the bamboo holder on the table, then looked down at her dirty hands in her lap, as if she felt a little embarrassed.

Chu Yan noticed her small movements but didn't say anything. These habits wouldn't change all at once, and there was plenty of time.

The noodles arrived quickly. Steam rose from the two fragrant bowls of seafood noodles. The broth was milky white, topped with several fresh shrimp and a few rings of squid, and sprinkled with chopped scallions. They looked appetizing.

Na'er looked at the bowl, which was bigger than her face. Her purple eyes brightened slightly, but she didn't immediately pick up her chopsticks. Instead, she looked up at Chu Yan, as if waiting for something.

"Go ahead. If it's not enough, we can order more." Chu Yan picked up his chopsticks and took the first bite.

Only then did Na'er pick up her chopsticks. Carefully, she lifted some noodles, blew on them, and began to eat in small bites.

After the first mouthful, she started eating noticeably faster. She was clearly starving.

Without drawing attention to it, Chu Yan picked a few shrimp from his bowl and put them in hers. She froze, looked up at him, and moved her lips slightly, as if she wanted to say thank you. In the end, she only lowered her head and continued eating quietly.

Chu Yan said nothing more and lowered his head to eat as well.

The meal was quiet and unhurried. Na'er finished the whole large bowl of noodles and even drank every drop of broth.

Some color finally returned to her cheeks. She no longer looked as pale as before.

She put down her bowl and instinctively wiped her mouth with her sleeve, only to realize the sleeve was dirtier than her mouth. Then she noticed the tissues on the table and pulled out a few to wipe her lips.

Chu Yan didn't laugh at her. He simply stood up, paid the bill, and returned to the table.

"Would you like to come somewhere with me?" Chu Yan asked, looking at her.

At his words, a spark of curiosity appeared in Na'er's purple eyes, though hesitation filled them more strongly.

Looking down at her bare feet, she asked softly, "Where?"

"First, I'll take you to buy a pair of shoes."

Chu Yan headed outside. Na'er hesitated, then followed him.

Chu Yan didn't say much as they walked, simply following the street toward the busier part of town.

Passersby saw two children, one big and one small, with a middle-aged man following behind them. A few curious glances came their way, but that was all.

After about seven or eight minutes, Chu Yan stopped in front of a shop.

It was a small store selling children's clothes, shoes, and hats. A few pairs of children's cloth shoes and sandals were displayed in the window. The styles were simple, but they looked clean.

Chu Yan pushed the door open and went inside. Na'er hesitated at the entrance, then followed him in.

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged woman who looked to be in her forties. She smiled kindly at the two children and asked warmly, "Buying shoes, kids? Who are they for?"

Chu Yan stepped aside, revealing Na'er behind him. "For her. Anything that fits will do."

The shopkeeper glanced down at Na'er's bare feet, then at her dirty little face. Her smile didn't change. She only nodded and took a few small cloth shoes from beneath the counter.

"Come on, little girl. Try these on."

Na'er looked down at the light blue shoes the woman held out. She didn't take them right away, instead looking up at Chu Yan as if to make sure.

Chu Yan nodded.

Only then did Na'er crouch down and put her feet into the shoes.

They fit perfectly. The soles were soft, with neat stitching around the edges, and they hugged her feet comfortably.

"We'll take these," Chu Yan told the shopkeeper.

"Sure thing. That'll be thirty-eight yuan." The shopkeeper smiled until her eyes curved.

Chu Yan took some money from his pocket and handed it over, then pointed to the children's clothes hanging on the other side of the shop. "Do you have any dresses that would fit her?"

The shopkeeper paused. She glanced at Na'er's old, faded clothes with the hole in one sleeve, then at Chu Yan. Understanding dawned, and she nodded, taking two simply styled dresses from the rack.

One was light pink, the other pale blue. Both were made of cotton. They weren't particularly fancy, but they were clean and comfortable.

"These two would both suit her. Want her to try them on?"

Chu Yan nodded, then turned to Na'er and asked gently, "Which one would you like to wear?"

Na'er stood in front of the rack, looking back and forth between the two dresses twice. In the end, she pointed at the pale blue one.

"Then we'll take this one," Chu Yan told the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper took the dress with a smile, then looked at the dirt on Na'er's clothes and face. "How about I take her to the back to wash up and change? There's a restroom back there, and hot water too."

At that, Chu Yan looked at Na'er. She kept her head lowered and didn't say anything, but she didn't refuse either.

"Sorry for the trouble," Chu Yan said.

The shopkeeper took Na'er's hand and led her toward a small room at the back. After a couple of steps, she turned and said to Chu Yan, "You can sit and wait, little one. It won't take long."

Chu Yan sat down on a little stool by the shop entrance and waited quietly.

About ten minutes later, the shopkeeper led Na'er back out.

Na'er had changed into the pale blue dress. The fabric was soft, and the hem fell just to her knees.

The shopkeeper had also wiped her hair with a damp towel. It was still a little wet, but the dirt had been washed from her face and hands, revealing fair, delicate skin.

She wore the new light blue cloth shoes, and looked much more lively than before.

The shopkeeper had even tied a little braid in Na'er's silver-white hair with a thin light blue hair tie. Her handiwork was so-so, but paired with Na'er's exquisite little face, it gave her an indescribably sweet look.

Na'er stopped in front of Chu Yan, fidgeting with her skirt. She lifted her purple eyes slightly, as if waiting for his opinion.

Chu Yan looked her over, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "It suits you."

At those three words, the faintest hint of a smile appeared on Na'er's face, then vanished in an instant.

Chu Yan stood up, thanked the shopkeeper, paid for the clothes, and left the shop with Na'er.

As for why he hadn't bought both dresses, there was no need. He could buy her something better once they got back.

Pang Shan looked at Na'er in her new clothes. A thoughtful expression flickered in his eyes.

The two of them walked down the street for a few minutes. Chu Yan glanced at her and broke the silence.

"Na'er, my name is Chu Yan. I'm visiting from Eastsea City. I think I'm a year or two older than you, so you can call me Brother Yan."

Na'er turned her head slightly to look at him. After a moment, she nodded gently and called to him in that same soft, clear voice, "Brother Yan."

At that, Chu Yan chuckled softly and asked casually, "Where's your family? Why are you here by yourself?"

Na'er fell silent for a moment, her head lowered as she looked at the toes of her new shoes.

"I don't know... It's just me."

Chu Yan seemed to fall quiet for a moment, then said, "Come on. I'll take you to see the sea."

"The sea?" Na'er looked up at him. Her purple eyes lit up, and curiosity crept into her voice. "Is it nearby?"

"It's over there. It'll only take a few minutes to walk."

Chu Yan pointed toward the end of the street. He could smell the sea breeze growing stronger, though it wasn't quite like the sea air in Eastsea City.

Then the two of them headed down the street toward the sea.

Before long, the view opened up before them.

A gray-blue sea stretched out before them, with a few fishing boats anchored in the distance.

Chu Yan stood at the edge of the beach and looked out at the bay. It wasn't especially vast, but it was peaceful enough. The sea breeze stirred the hair on his forehead.

He heard light footsteps beside him. Na'er had come to stand at his side, gazing at the sea, the shifting light reflected in her purple eyes.

"Is it pretty?" Chu Yan asked.

"It's pretty," Na'er said softly.

She watched quietly for a while, then asked, "Brother, is this the sea?"

"Mm. This is the sea."

"I think... I've seen the sea before, too." Na'er's voice was very soft, as if she were talking to herself.

Chu Yan glanced at her but didn't press her. He only said, "If you like it, you can come back whenever you get the chance."

At that, Na'er nodded and quietly watched the sea in the distance. The breeze stirred her silver-white hair and her skirt.

It all seemed natural and relaxed, like a boy out for the day, showing a newly made friend around.

Chu Yan knew very well that what he showed today had to look like a aimless stroll, not a deliberate search. That was important.

Whether it was a Soul Beast powerhouse possibly lurking near Na'er or Tang Hao hidden somewhere nearby, if either side realized he'd come looking for her on purpose, it might trigger unnecessary complications.

With his current strength, he was still far from being able to handle that level of upheaval, so it was better to be careful.

Just then, Na'er spoke. "Brother."

"Mm?"

"Are you going back today?"

At that, Chu Yan fell silent for a moment, then nodded. "...Yeah. I only came out for a day trip. I should be heading back this evening."

Na'er didn't ask any more. She only lowered her head. A little while later, she murmured, "Oh..."

Chu Yan looked at her lowered head but didn't rush to speak. He waited a few more breaths before asking:

"Then would you like to come home with me?"