The Hidden Evil: Villainous Cultivator

Two months passed without any significant events, and Ye Feng continued following his routine day in and day out.

One afternoon, as he stepped out of the school gate, a speeding car caught his attention. The car, tearing through the street with reckless abandon, was clearly not slowing down. There was a traffic signal just outside the school designed to prevent accidents, but the car paid no heed to it. It was hurtling toward the school gates at a speed well over 150 km/h.

Ye Feng's sharp eyes followed the movement. A small child, no more than seven years old, darted across the street, unaware of the speeding car heading straight toward her. Time seemed to slow down for Ye Feng as his gaze fixed on the approaching danger. In an instant, his mind raced, and without a second thought, his body was already in motion.

The car's engine roared louder, and its tires screeched against the road. Ye Feng's legs moved like lightning. In a heartbeat, he reached the girl and, with all his strength, yanked her backward by the collar of her jacket. She let out a startled scream as they both tumbled onto the sidewalk, the car speeding by just inches away, its tires grazing the air where they had just been.

For a moment, they lay there, breathless, disoriented by the near miss. The little girl, eyes wide with shock, stared up at Ye Feng.

"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice as calm as ever, betraying no hint of the adrenaline coursing through him.

The child nodded, still too stunned to speak.

From a distance, a frantic voice cried out, "Ying'r, Ying'r!" A woman, pale with fear, rushed toward them. It was the girl's mother.

Ye Feng helped the girl to her feet, and as the mother arrived, she embraced her daughter tightly, her body trembling, her voice a soft murmur of apologies and thanks.

Ye Feng, with no more than a glance at the relieved mother and daughter, turned away. He didn't seek praise or acknowledgment; he just wanted to move on. He walked a few steps, looking for a cab to head home.

As he stood a short distance away, his thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the mother's voice. She called out to him, her footsteps hesitant but driven by gratitude.

"Thank you," she said, her voice a mix of warmth and relief. "I... I don't know how I can ever repay you for what you did."

Ye Feng didn't turn around right away. When he did, his expression was unreadable, cold even. "No need for that," he replied, his tone flat. "It was just... instinct."

The woman studied him for a moment, her brown eyes filled with curiosity and understanding. "Instinct, huh?" she repeated, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's rare to see someone act like that these days. Most people would just freeze, or turn away."

He shrugged slightly, his gaze drifting back to the road where the danger had passed. "I wasn't going to watch a kid get run over."

She smiled softly, a trace of admiration in her eyes. "Well, you certainly saved her. My name's Bai Lian, by the way. This is my daughter, Bai Ying." She extended her hand to him.

Ye Feng hesitated for a brief moment before shaking her hand, his grip impersonal and brief. "Ye Feng."

"Bai Ying... Ye Feng," she repeated, as if trying to absorb the name. "You know, I can't tell you how much this means to me. She's my only daughter. I wouldn't have known what to do if something happened to her." Her voice softened, and there was an unspoken weight in her words. "People don't usually do things like that for strangers."

"I didn't do it for you," Ye Feng muttered, his expression hardening. "I did it for the kid. She's just a kid. No one should lose their life because someone didn't act."

Bai Lian nodded, not offended by his coldness, but rather understanding. "You're right. No one should. But sometimes, people need a reason to care. A reason to take a chance."

Ye Feng said nothing in reply. His words seemed to hang in the air, but there was a long silence between them. Bai Lian seemed to sense that, but wasn't deterred.

"I know this might sound strange," she said, her tone gentle but persistent, "but if you ever need anything—anything at all—you just let me know. I won't forget what you did."

Ye Feng looked at her for a long moment. Her warmth contrasted starkly with his cold, distant nature, and for a split second, he felt something—a faint pull toward kindness, even if it felt foreign to him. But he quickly pushed the thought aside.

"I'm fine," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I don't need any... gratitude."

She smiled again, her gaze unwavering. "I think you're the type of person who believes that, but I also think you might need to hear it. Sometimes, a little kindness doesn't cost a thing."

Ye Feng said nothing further. He didn't know how to respond to her words, nor did he want to. He simply turned, his footsteps echoing softly against the pavement.

"Well, I want to go back home," he said, his voice distant, before walking away.

As he made his way to find a cab, Bai Lian stood there for a moment, watching him leave. She thought to herself, For a schoolboy, such thoughts and words are pretty unusual... There must be a story behind all of this.

Not far from them, a girl who had witnessed the entire exchange stood with a group of classmates. They were gossiping, discussing the incident. The girl walked up to them, curiosity etched on her face.

"What happened?" she asked, eager to know more.

One of the girls, her voice filled with awe, told her the story. "You won't believe it! That boy, he risked his life to save the little girl over there. He didn't hesitate at all. He just... acted."

The girl's eyes widened, her thoughts racing as she processed what she had just heard.