Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

"Phew..."

"Finally asleep."

Chen Ye let out a long sigh of relief as he watched the sleeping Xiaofu on the small bed. Although Xiaofu was very mischievous, she was still a toddler with limited energy, spending most of her time sleeping. Only when she was asleep could Chen Ye and Xiao Lian take a breather.

Chen Ye walked around the courtyard, fanning himself with a round fan, noticing that he couldn't see Xiao Lian anywhere.

"Where did that girl go? How can washing clothes take this long?"

Chen Ye rolled up his sleeve to reveal a large Rolex watch and checked the time. Xiao Lian had been gone for more than an hour, which seemed unusual.

"System, find out Xiao Lian's location," he mentally commanded.

A virtual blue screen appeared before Chen Ye's eyes, with a red dot representing Xiao Lian blinking on the system map.

"Hmm?" Chen Ye was puzzled by the location.

Just then, Xiao Lian entered the courtyard with a wooden basin in her arms, seeing Chen Ye standing there lost in thought.

"Headmaster," Xiao Lian called out sweetly.

Chen Ye looked at her, puzzled. "Why did it take you so long to wash the clothes today?"

Based on previous experience, it shouldn't take Xiao Lian more than an hour to wash clothes. But today, it had taken her much longer.

Xiao Lian lowered her head slightly, her expressive eyes avoiding Chen Ye's gaze. She casually explained, "It's hot today, so I stayed by the river a bit longer."

Chen Ye nodded in agreement. The weather was indeed hot, so it was reasonable for Xiao Lian to take some time by the river to cool off.

"Let me help you with the clothes."

"It's just a few pieces."

After helping Xiao Lian hang the clothes, she thanked him and returned to her room. She sat on a chair, absentmindedly looking outside, recalling the recent events.

In her memory, Xiao Lian gripped two throwing darts tightly, her eyes cold and filled with murderous intent as she looked at the paralyzed Qin Yi on the ground.

Sensing the killing intent in Xiao Lian's eyes, Qin Yi spoke weakly, "You want to kill me? Aren't you from Fengyu Tower?"

Xiao Lian remained silent, assuming a stance to throw the dart.

"Mastering Jing Hua Zhi without internal energy, and you're not from Fengyu Tower..." Qin Yi's voice was calm, but tinged with bewilderment and disbelief.

Having witnessed Tang Hao's gruesome death, a fate soon to befall her, Qin Yi showed no fear. Her face was only calm, as if death was an inevitable end she had long accepted.

Xiao Lian paused, the dart still in her hand. She looked at Qin Yi and asked in a clear voice, "Are you an assassin from Fengyu Tower?"

"Yes."

"What is internal energy? What does it mean to use the inner force of the Rain-Inducing Art to cross the San Yin Meridians of the hand to the Taiyin Fei meridian of the hand?" Xiaolian asked, voicing the question that had puzzled her for days.

She had seen Qin Yi fight, the damage both sides caused left her in awe. If she could wield such power, then...

Killing that person would be very easy.

Qin Yi was slightly stunned by Xiao Lian's question. She looked at Xiao Lian for a moment, then explained.

Listening to the answer that had troubled her for days, Xiao Lian fell into deep thought.

"I don't know where you got Jing Hua Zhi, but without an internal energy cultivation method, even with innate talent, you can't fully utilize its power. Moreover, Jing Hua Zhi is divided into three volumes, and what you have is likely just the first volume," Qin Yi said calmly, closing her eyes to regulate her internal energy.

She had used the characteristics of her icy internal energy to suppress the effects of the Soft Tendon Powder earlier and then competed in internal energy with Tang Hao. Now, her icy internal energy was chaotic. If left unchecked, it would flow through the wrong meridians, leading to deviation.

"How can I obtain an internal energy cultivation method? Where are the remaining volumes of Jing Hua Zhi?" Xiao Lian's confusion eased somewhat, but her knowledge of martial arts was still limited.

"Become an assassin of Fengyu Tower and exchange merits for martial arts manuals," Qin Yi opened her eyes and stared at Xiao Lian for a long time. She then said softly, "Or, become my disciple."

Qin Yi looked at Xiao Lian seriously, enunciating each word clearly, "You are a natural-born assassin!"

"Wah wah wah..."

Xiaofu woke up and started crying again. Xiao Lian snapped out of her memories.

'You are a natural-born assassin.'

She repeated it silently in her heart. After a long while, she sighed. The woman's voice seemed to still echo in her ears.

"Tonight at midnight, I'll be waiting for you in the south of the city."

Between killing Qin Yi and killing that person, Xiao Lian ultimately chose the latter.

...

Night quietly fell.

Chen Ye returned to his room with Da Ming. Lying on the bed, he keenly felt that Xiao Lian had been acting strange since she came back in the afternoon.

Although he didn't know what had happened to Xiao Lian, he hoped the daily summary would tell him the reason.

【Ding!】

【Daily settlement begins:】

【Today, you took Da Ming and Xiao Lian to wash up, rewarded with 5 points.】

【After washing up, you and Da Ming did some exercises together, rewarded with 5 points.】

【Xiao Lian prepared breakfast and took care of Xiaofu, rewarded with 5 points.】

【The four of you had breakfast together, rewarded with 10 points.】

【Da Ming followed the "Schwarzenegger Training Method," significantly increasing his strength, rewarded with 10 points.】{ED: I cannot get over that name.}

【Xiao Lian took care of Xiaofu, rewarded with 5 points.】

【You took care of Xiaofu, rewarded with 5 points.】

【Xiaofu cried less today than the previous day, rewarded with 10 points.】

【Da Ming read the illustrated version of "Water Margin" and had some insights, rewarded with 10 points.】

【Xiao Lian made no progress in practicing "Jing Hua Zhi," rewarded with 5 points.】

【Xiao Lian went to buy fabric in the market, rewarded with 5 points.】

【Encountering a thief, Xiao Lian stopped the crime, rewarded with 10 points.】

【Xiao Lian commissioned the blacksmith to make Plum Blossom Needles, rewarded with 5 points.】

【Xiao Lian voluntarily did the laundry, rewarded with 5 points.】

【Xiao Lian was captured by the bandit Tang Feng while on the street and taken to an inn. She remained calm throughout the ordeal, rewarded with 10 points.】

Seeing this, Chen Ye sat up abruptly, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"No way, could Xiao Lian's unusual state be because..."

Chen Ye's heart skipped a beat. He forced down his unease and continued reading.

【Xiao Lian narrowly escaped death from Yu Luo Sha, earning 50 points.】

【Xiao Lian escaped from Tang Feng's grasp, earning 50 points.】

【Xiao Lian remained calm and observed a battle between two second-grade martial artists, earning 200 points.】

【Xiao Lian killed the second-grade martial artist Tang Hao, claiming her first kill, earning 500 points.】

【Xiao Lian apprenticed herself to Yu Luo Sha, earning 100 points.】

【Xiao Lian returned safely to the orphanage, earning 50 points.】

【The four of you had dinner together, earning 5 points.】

【After dinner, you and Da Ming read books, improving your cultural level, earning 10 points.】

【Xiao Lian went back to her room to take care of Xiaofu, earning 5 points.】

【The three of you washed up and went to bed on time, earning 5 points.】

【Total points earned: 1080.】

【Current point balance: 5172.】

'Huh!'

Wait a minute, system.

Chen Ye felt a bit stunned after seeing the summary points. He read the daily summary again, falling into silence.

"So, in just over an hour this afternoon, Xiao Lian was kidnapped by bandits, witnessed a battle, killed a second-grade martial artist, and even found a master?"

"Uhh..."

"Isn't this a bit too outrageous?" Chen Ye couldn't help but mutter.

A sense of absurdity rose within him, as if his calm life had suddenly been disrupted by something unexpected. Immediately after, the system's cold prompt sounded in Chen Ye's ear again.

【Ding!】

【Chen Da Ming's gratitude level has increased. The current gratitude level is: 80%】

【Congratulations, you have earned a chance to draw a Director's Skill!】