The girl gripped the knife tightly with both hands, her only means of defense.
Her oversized dark green trousers dragged on the ground, trembling along with her legs. Though she tried to present herself as a robber, her fear and unease painted her more as a victim—helpless and desperate.
“Stop… give me the bread!” she demanded, her voice shaking with desperation.
She tried to appear fierce, pointing the dull blade at Xu Xi, like a frightened cub showing its barely formed teeth.
Her wide eyes locked onto the half-eaten white bread in Xu Xi’s hand, glistening with hunger.
Her parched throat betrayed her longing as she swallowed hard.
The scene was surreal, almost absurd.
In the heart of Allenson City, amidst the majestic steam engines and the occasional mage flying through the misty air, a half-demon girl was attempting to rob the most famous man in the city.
Xu Xi, an elite mage with unparalleled power, watched the scene unfold without alarm.
“Are you hungry?” Xu Xi asked gently, showing no sign of anger or scorn for her defiance.
The girl hesitated, her body stiffening momentarily before nodding slightly.
“Here.” Xu Xi calmly tore off the piece of bread he had bitten into and handed the remaining loaf to her.
The girl didn’t immediately take it.
She stared at Xu Xi from a distance, confusion flashing in her eyes.
It was as though she couldn’t comprehend why someone would offer her food so freely. Slowly, cautiously, she edged closer, holding the knife in one hand while stretching out the other to grab the bread.
Once she had it, she fled back into the shadows of the alley, crouching on a rotting wooden box and dipping her feet into the muddy water.
Under Xu Xi’s watchful gaze, she nibbled cautiously at the bread, checking for any tricks. When she found none, she devoured it ravenously.
“I’ve heard that pure-blooded demons have an extraordinary ability to endure hunger, surviving up to a year on magic alone,” Xu Xi mused. “Half-demons likely inherit some of that resilience.”
He shook his head, observing the girl’s disheveled appearance and the scars that marred her body. It was hard to imagine what kind of life had driven her to this state.
When the bread was gone, the girl’s hollow eyes fixated on the crumbs still in Xu Xi’s hand—the piece he had bitten off. For the first time, a faint glimmer of hope flickered in her gaze.
“Can… can… give… give it to me…” she stammered, her voice trembling with hesitation. Unlike before, there was no aggression, only a timid plea. Her skinny frame staggered toward him, barefoot and unsteady in the mud, reaching out for the scraps.
But Xu Xi didn’t hand them over. He tossed the crumbs into his mouth and turned to leave the alley without a word, ignoring the girl entirely.
“Why… why…” she murmured, stunned.
Her brief glimmer of hope vanished, leaving her eyes dull and lifeless once more. Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the filthy ground, scraping her forehead on the sharp stones.
Blood trickled down her face, but she didn’t cry.
She simply lay there, unmoving, her body half-submerged in the muck. “Mom… did I do something wrong again?” she whispered weakly. “Why is this happening… I’m so hungry, Mom…”
The pain in her stomach twisted unbearably, far worse than the bleeding on her forehead.
Clutching her abdomen, she writhed in the filth, as though moving might lessen the agony.
Eventually, she stopped moving altogether, her body collapsing in exhaustion. Her lifeless eyes stared at the sky. A single thought crossed her mind: if she died, at least she wouldn’t feel hungry anymore.
But then, footsteps echoed through the alley. A warm, strong hand reached down and lifted her up. Blinking, she realized it was the young man from before. He had returned, holding fresh bread in his hands.
“Eat,” Xu Xi said, his voice calm and steady. “The other bread wasn’t very clean. This is fresh.”
Ignoring the filth on her body and the stench surrounding her, he gently placed the bread in her hands. Summoning his magic, he cast level 5 life magic, healing her wounds instantly. He helped her to a cleaner spot and urged her to eat.
The girl stared at him in disbelief, as though struggling to understand why someone would show her such kindness.
When he handed her the bread, she began eating mechanically, her movements hesitant at first but growing faster with each bite. Before long, she had finished the entire bag of bread.
Xu Xi then used water magic to manifest a large sphere of clean water. He offered her some to drink and used the rest to wash away the dirt and grime from her body.
Finally, he crouched down so their eyes were level, his voice soft and kind. “Come with me,” he said, extending his hand toward her.
The girl, who had remained quiet and unresponsive like a broken doll, looked at him blankly.
Slowly, her trembling hands reached out to grasp his.
“Okay…” she whispered, her voice shaking.