Life Simulation: I Caused the Female Sword Immortal to Regret Forever Chapter 2

“An abandoned newborn…”

Xu Xi moved forward, step by step, following the procession of starving individuals. He understood this grim scenario all too well. In an era plagued by famine and the constant threat of doom, infant abandonment wasn't a shocking rarity. Parents struggled for their own survival, making the upbringing of a new child an insurmountable burden. In such dire circumstances, the most common response was to feign ignorance, to pretend one had seen nothing.

With this grim realization, Xu Xi lowered his gaze, intending to turn a deaf ear and a blind eye to the pitiful cries reaching him. The collective mindset of those around him mirrored his own inclination, including Aunt Wang’s family, who had previously offered a moment of kindness with a drink of water. This wasn't a matter of lacking compassion, but rather the brutal calculus of survival. In this desperate famine, dedicating resources to a newborn meant diminishing the already scarce provisions for their own family, thereby reducing everyone's chances of making it through.

When confronted with such a stark choice, the overwhelming majority prioritized their own kin.

Snap—snap—

The resonating thud of heavy footsteps broke the silence, each impact a moral indictment against the conscience of the onlookers. Suddenly, Xu Xi halted. He lifted his head, his gaze fixed upon the scorching sun, as if locked in an internal battle of wills. Under the startled and bewildered stares of those nearby, he abruptly veered away from the line of the hungry and sprinted towards the origin of the desperate cries.

“Even though this is merely a simulated world, the reality of it is so potent that I cannot simply turn away…”

“In these times of profound scarcity, if I do not intervene, this child’s destiny is sealed…”

Xu Xi increased his velocity, navigating through dense undergrowth and stumbling over jagged stones. The weeds quickly ascended to his knees, each stride a laborious effort to part the resilient stalks. A hot wind whistled past his ears, carrying the sibilant rustling of the foliage. Despite the formidable obstacles, Xu Xi pressed onward with unwavering resolve, much like the valiant protagonists depicted in countless cultivation sagas.

At long last, his objective came into view—a withered tree, beneath which the infant lay swaddled in cloth. Sunlight pierced the skeletal branches, dappling the ground with shifting patterns of light and shadow. Xu Xi knelt and gently retrieved the newborn, cradling her protectively from the relentless sun.

“Found you at last,” he whispered tenderly. The infant girl possessed skin of delicate fairness, tinged with a subtle rosy hue, reminiscent of newly unfurled petals. She blinked her innocent eyes, fixing them on Xu Xi’s flushed and sweat-slicked face. Her minuscule nose twitched as her small body instinctively curled into his arms, quieting and settling. She seemed to instinctively recognize the haven of his embrace.

“She appears to be unharmed,” Xu Xi murmured, a wave of relief washing over him as he observed her peaceful slumber. With utmost care, he carried the infant girl back towards the gathered crowd. His decision was firm; he would not forsake her. At the very least, he would endeavor to help her survive this devastating famine.

…

[Suffering Forges Heroes]

[While others faltered, you chose the path of a hero. You rescued the abandoned infant girl and embraced her as your own sister.]

[You bartered your meager remaining sustenance for nourishment, ensuring she would not go wanting.]

[In turn, you endured the relentless pangs of hunger, your physical strength waning with each passing day.]

[Fortuitously, your luck held.]

[Before the grip of starvation could claim you, you and your sister, having joined a migrating group, reached a mortal city. There, you received life-sustaining warm porridge from a charitable distribution point.]

[You endured. You survived alongside your sister.]

[Upon inquiry, you ascertained the city's name: Black Rock City, a prominent settlement within a mortal empire. Every quinquennial cycle, cultivators would descend to assess innate spiritual potential and select new disciples.]

[However, fortune did not favor you entirely. The most recent selection had just concluded, necessitating a wait of five more years.]

[Unyielding in your resolve, you opted to remain in Black Rock City, dedicating yourself to diligent labor to support yourself and your sister while diligently preparing for the subsequent recruitment trials.]

[You bestowed upon your sister the name Xu Moli.]

…

Time, it seemed, flowed with unnatural swiftness.

Perhaps it was the emulator’s unique influence, but Xu Xi frequently experienced time as if it were fast-forwarding, akin to activating a story-skip function within a video game. Despite this peculiar sensation, his recollections of surviving in Black Rock City, his shared moments with Mo Li, and his interactions with the local populace remained vividly intact.

“By my reckoning, only one year remains until the apprenticeship examinations commence,” Xu Xi mused aloud to himself. Within the confines of a modest wooden dwelling sparsely furnished with essentials, Xu Xi meticulously tracked the passage of time by inscribing a deep line upon the wall with a piece of charcoal. Four such marks now adorned the surface, each signifying a year’s elapsed duration.

Xu Xi was nearing his eleventh birthday, yet the maturity of his disposition, sharpened by his previous existence, imbued him with an aura of reliability far exceeding that of his peers. “Brother!!” A melodious and cheerful voice pierced the air, and a small figure playfully leaped onto Xu Xi’s back, clinging to him with evident affection. “You are perpetually so mischievous,” Xu Xi remarked with a gentle sigh, carefully lifting the girl by the nape of her neck and setting her down on the floor. “Nonsense, brother, you are far too stern!” she retorted, meticulously smoothing the minor creases in her robe with an air of great importance, as if handling an item of immense value. Once satisfied with her attire, she beamed, her innocent and endearing features resembling a perfectly crafted porcelain doll.

Xu Xi couldn't help himself and playfully ran his fingers through her hair.

“Don’t mess up Mo Li’s hair!” she protested with a pout.

“And why shouldn’t I?” Xu Xi countered with a grin.

The little girl began counting on her fingers, her expression earnest. “The neighbor grandma warned that touching a child’s head prevents them from growing taller! You’ve done it so many times already—what if I don’t grow anymore?”

Xu Xi let out a laugh. “And what will little Mo Li do when she finally becomes tall?”

“I’ll help my brother earn lots of money!” she announced immediately, without a second thought.

“Hahaha, is that right? I shall eagerly anticipate that day, then.”

Before the girl could voice further complaints, Xu Xi produced a large, perfectly round watermelon from behind his back.

“Wow, it’s so big!” Xu Moli gasped, her eyes sparkling with delight.

“Let’s eat! Let’s eat!” she cheered, her small hand gripping Xu Xi’s leg tightly.

“Okay, okay,” Xu Xi replied, a warm tone in his voice. After ensuring she moved back a safe distance, he retrieved a kitchen knife and commenced to slice the massive fruit into uniform pieces.