An Uninvited Guest

Whenever he passed through the streets at night and saw the warm lights shining from countless homes, Xiao Ming had always hoped that somewhere in this vast world, there would be a place for him to call home. Yet even after coming here, that wish had not come true.

In an instant, Xiao Ming's eyes gradually welled with tears.

Seeing the change in Xiao Ming, the little girl's mother hurriedly asked, "Young man, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell somewhere?"

The little girl's mother looked deeply worried, her eyes filled with concern as she gazed at Xiao Ming.

"Uh... I'm fine."

Xiao Ming quickly shook his head and buried those emotions.

"Young man, have some hot porridge. It'll warm your stomach."

Seeing this, the little girl's mother spoke to Xiao Ming. Hearing her words, he nodded and accepted the wild vegetable porridge from her hands.

After a bowl of wild vegetable porridge entered his stomach, Xiao Ming immediately felt warmth spreading through his abdomen.

"Mmm..." Xiao Ming let out a comfortable hum. "It's so delicious!"

As the steaming wild vegetable porridge flowed down his throat and into his body, a warm sensation spread from head to toe.

Seeing Xiao Ming's expression, the little girl's mother revealed a kind smile. But just as Xiao Ming was about to continue eating, he suddenly heard what seemed to be the sound of a ceramic jar shattering outside.

"What's going on?!" Upon hearing the sound of pottery breaking, Xiao Ming sharply noticed that the mother and daughter, who had been so at ease moments ago, were both startled.

The little girl's mother immediately put down her bowl and chopsticks and said to Xiao Ming, "Young man, no matter what sounds you hear outside later, please stay in the room and don't come out. Little Peach, stay home and be good."

After saying that, Little Peach's mother hurried out of the room, remembering to lock the wooden door behind her.

Seeing the mother and daughter's unusual behavior, Xiao Ming keenly sensed that something was wrong. He got out of bed and walked over to Little Peach.

Looking at Little Peach trembling in the corner, Xiao Ming's face showed pity. He reached out, gently lifted her from the ground onto the bed, then bent down and asked softly, "Little Peach, can you tell me what happened?"

Hearing Xiao Ming's voice, Little Peach curled herself tightly into a ball. Her large watery eyes looked cautiously at him as she said, "Waaah... Big Brother, those terrible people from the mountain are here. Whenever they come, they take all the valuable things from our home. Sometimes, they even hit me and Mother."

"What?"

Hearing this, Xiao Ming frowned deeply. He had not expected that this mother and daughter, whose lives were already so impoverished, had to suffer such unfair treatment.

Though Xiao Ming did not know who would do such a thing, he would never tolerate Little Peach and her mother being humiliated before his eyes.

"Be good, Little Peach. Don't be afraid. Big Brother will protect you, so don't worry. I'll go out and save your mother now. Stay hidden in the room and don't come out, okay?" Xiao Ming stroked Little Peach's head as he spoke gently.

At his words, Little Peach slowly raised her head and looked at Xiao Ming, her eyes shimmering with tears.

"Thank you, Big Brother... Little Peach knows you're very strong. You'll definitely defeat those terrible people."

"Don't worry. I'll protect both you and your mother."

With that, Xiao Ming quickly put on his fitted clothes, threw open the door, and strode outside.

The instant Xiao Ming opened the door, he saw several figures in black cloaks surrounding Little Peach's mother at the entrance of her home.

The moment he saw those black-robed men, a cold glint flashed through Xiao Ming's eyes. He immediately grabbed a piece of firewood from beside him and aimed it at them.

These black-robed men were all quite powerful. Xiao Ming could clearly sense an extremely unpleasant aura emanating from each of them.

Bang!

As the firewood in Xiao Ming's hand flew out, a cry of pain came from one of the men in black ahead.

"Ah! Who was that?" The man clutched the top of his head and glared furiously in Xiao Ming's direction.

Seeing him like that, Xiao Ming smiled faintly. Then he casually picked up a wooden stick from beside his feet, weighed it in his hand a few times, and viciously swung it at another man in black.

Bang!

Thud!

After a dull impact, another black-robed man was sent flying backward. After crashing to the ground, he struggled to get back up.

Seeing that Xiao Ming had actually sent one of them flying, the remaining black-robed men were utterly shocked. They immediately unleashed their battle skills and aimed them at Xiao Ming, shouting loudly.

"Get him together! Kill this brat!"

"Young man, be careful!"

Little Peach's mother was so frightened by the scene that she hurriedly shouted a warning.

Bang!

But in the next moment, the black-robed men who had charged at Xiao Ming so aggressively were all sent flying backward. In the blink of an eye, they were sprawled across the ground, crying out in pain.

By now, Xiao Ming had perfectly inherited all the memories of this body. Dealing with a few lackeys whose cultivation had only barely reached the Dou Zhe realm was effortless for him.

Seeing this, Little Peach's mother was utterly stunned. She stood rooted to the spot, completely unable to react.

Xiao Ming slowly walked toward the entrance. Looking at the group of black-robed men groaning on the ground, a trace of killing intent gradually surfaced in his eyes, only to quickly return to calmness.

As Xiao Ming continued approaching, the black-robed men leaped up from the ground in panic, then scrambled to their feet and fled from the courtyard.

Before leaving, one black-robed man who seemed to be their leader turned back and spat out a threat at Xiao Ming.

"Brat, you dare provoke the Black Demon Stockade? You're dead!"

"Black Demon Stockade?!"

Xiao Ming raised an eyebrow slightly. He had not expected to make enemies as soon as he arrived on the Battle Qi Continent. Still, he was quite curious about this so-called Black Demon Sect.

After giving Little Peach's mother a few instructions, he decisively set off and quickly chased after them.

Before long, Xiao Ming followed the fleeing black-robed men to a small hill outside Wu Tan City.