NOVEL NEXT Chapter 1: Ye Xishui
Life had never been kind to me. I worked tirelessly, yet all I had to show for it was a nine-to-five job that barely paid enough to scrape by. Most days, I survived on instant noodles, and now, I couldn't even afford those.
An accident turned my bleak life into a nightmare. My entire savings, along with my home, vanished just to cover the medical bills. With no family to rely on—my parents had passed away when I was just six—I was left completely alone.
Today, I was discharged from the hospital. I had tried to file a complaint against the man who hit me, but the authorities rejected it. Life was never fair; some people had everything handed to them, while others were left with nothing.
"I wish I had such life also."
As I walked back to the remnants of my life, I was suddenly confronted by the very man who had ruined it. His face was cold, emotionless, and before I could react, he pulled out a small revolver.
"This is what you get for causing me so much trouble bitch," he said, pulling the trigger.
I fell to the ground as blood pooled around me. Strangers either ran away in fear or recorded my dying moments on their phones. Not a single person came to help.
Was this the end? I wondered. If I was dead, then why could I still feel my consciousness lingering?
---
I don't know how long I floated, watching my lifeless body left behind like trash. My corpse was eventually handed over to scientists as an unclaimed subject for their experiments. It was horrifying, but there was nothing I could do. I was powerless, a mere observer.
Tired of the sight, I tried to float further away, away from the torment. But just as I moved, an unseen force pulled me back. Darkness enveloped me, and I lost consciousness.
---
When I opened my eyes again, I was in a completely different world. A mature woman with gentle eyes was speaking to me in a language I couldn't understand. Her voice was soft and soothing, her presence radiating warmth.
She held me carefully in her arms, and I realized something strange: her hand looked massive.
Wait… her hand?
I glanced down at my own hands—they were small, impossibly tiny. Like a child's hands. Panic set in as I tried to piece together what was happening. I felt… lighter, as though a massive weight had been lifted from me.
Why do I feel like a child again?
Why did I think I was child again?
Before I could think further, exhaustion overtook me. The woman's embrace felt so peaceful, like the safest place in the world.
Just as I began to drift off, a robotic voice echoed in my mind:
[Congratulations, host, for spreading love for the first time. You have been awarded Martial Spirit - Frozen Sovereign of Ice and Fallen Sovereign of Darkness. You have also received 100 system points. The System Mall is now open.]
[From now on, you will gain system points by leveling up and defeating creatures. You can also earn special rewards by spreading love.]
The words felt distant, almost unreal, as if they were meant for someone else. I dismissed them and let myself relax in the woman's arms, where everything felt calm and right.
Wait… what's a robot?
The thought flitted briefly through my mind before fading. Whatever it was, it could wait. For now, I was content.
•••
Ye Xishui was on her way back to the Holy Spirit Church headquarters from Mingdu City after meeting Kong Deming. Their discussion had been about the intricacies of her latest soul tool project.
As she traveled, a sudden streak of light descended from the heavens, catching her attention. Curious, she followed its trajectory and arrived at the site where the light had landed. There, amidst the glowing embers of the impact, she found a child wrapped in soft, pristine cloth.
The child exuded an aura unlike anything she had ever encountered—divine, pure, and tranquil. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Ye Xishui felt compelled to reach out, to gently touch the child's face. Though she managed to restrain herself initially, when she finally placed her hand on the child, a wave of peace washed over her. All her negative emotions—the hatred, the anger, the darkness that had long consumed her—were momentarily subdued.
A deep sense of serenity filled her, a feeling she hadn't experienced since the tragic event involving Zhong Li. Without hesitation, she pulled the child into her arms, embracing her tightly.
A new and unfamiliar emotion surged within her—a motherly tenderness she thought had been long buried under years of pain and cruelty.
"I don't know where you came from, or why your parents abandoned you here," she whispered softly, gazing at the serene face of the sleeping child. "But from this day forward, I will be your mother."
A rare smile graced her lips as she held the child closer. "Your name will be Ye Xue, my little girl."
Ye Xishui didn't return to the Holy Spirit Church headquarters. Instead, she pulled out a soul tool communication device and made a call.
"Yes, Mother," a raspy voice answered from the other end.
"I want you to send a team of experienced maids to the eastern district mansion in Mingdu City. Ensure there are caretakers skilled in looking after children. I want them there by morning," she instructed. Then, her tone shifted. "Also, I've heard through Kong Deming's spies that Long Shaozhe has taken a disciple with the Evil Fire Phoenix martial spirit. You know what to do. Be cautious—Shrek Academy still has three Limit Douluos, and only Mu En is somewhat injured. The other two are fully capable."
"Understood, Mother," the voice responded before the line went silent.
But Ye Xishui looked at Ye Xue again, "If possible send that girl to me. And if she has family than let her be Shrek Student. We won't need a saintness like that."
"This isn't po-"
"Are you questioning me? Do as I say?"
"I am sorry Mother."
Ye Xishui stored the device and looked down at the child snuggled in her arms. A warm, unfamiliar sensation stirred in her heart. For the first time in decades, she felt genuinely happy. Turning back, she made her way to Mingdu City.
---
Upon entering the city, she was intercepted by a tall, burly man with short, spiky gray hair—Kong Deming himself.
"Ye Xishui," he greeted cautiously. "I trust you're not here to cause trouble?"
She smirked, understanding his wariness. "No, Kong Deming. I have no intention of causing disturbances in your city. You don't need to keep greeting me every time I pass through. I'm here only for peace this time."
Kong Deming's eyes briefly flicked to the child in her arms, and he couldn't help but feel the child was extraordinary. But seeing who held her, he dared not inquire.
"Then I'm relieved," he replied, his tone carefully neutral. "If there's anything you need while in Mingdu, you can contact me directly." After a brief pause, his gaze returned to the child. "Do you need me to send wet nurses for the baby?"
Ye Xishui hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Yes, send one for today. I'll be staying at the mansion in the eastern district."
Kong Deming bowed slightly as Ye Xishui turned and continued her journey toward her estate.
--
As she landed at the eastern district mansion and disappeared into its grand halls, Kong Deming remained where he was, staring after her in confusion.
"Is this truly the Ye Xishui I know?" he muttered to himself. The notorious woman who had slaughtered hundreds of thousands to further her goals seemed almost unrecognizable. Her aura felt less oppressive,
her demeanor strangely softened.
For the first time, Kong Deming wasn't sure what to make of her.
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