The Reincarnated Villain Can Break the Fourth Wall!-Chapter 57: The Heavenly Spirit tree!

Ling Er glanced at Su Xiaobai from the corner of her eye but said nothing.

The playful spark that usually lit her face was gone. Her steps slowed, her grip on his hand loosening as she absorbed his words. She had never considered where he came from—or what kind of life had shaped him.

Crunch. Crunch.

The sound of their footsteps on the uneven forest floor echoed softly, filling the silence.

Su Xiaobai noticed the shift but didn’t comment, adjusting his pace to match hers.

As they moved, his fingers brushed against the pills hidden in his robes. Rare and irreplaceable, they were his last line of defense. He wouldn’t waste them unless it was life or death—and certainly not on a girl who’d caused more trouble than she was worth.

But Wei Zhong would kill him if something happened to her. With a sigh, he stayed close, his sharp gaze sweeping the forest for any sign of danger.

After ten minutes of walking, the steady rhythm of their steps faltered.

Sweat began to bead on Ling Er’s forehead. Her shallow breaths, though faint, didn’t escape his notice.

"Let’s.... stop there for a while," she murmured, her voice soft, almost embarrassed at her own weakness.

"Mm." Su Xiaobai nodded, leaning against a towering tree.

Thump.

The solid trunk supported his weight easily, its girth almost unnatural—nearly twenty meters wide.

Rustle.

The branches above swayed in the faint wind, their shadows stretching like claws.

"Hah…" He let out a grunt, sliding down to rest his back against the bark.

Ling Er hesitated before settling down a few inches away, using the tree for support.

For a while, silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves and their quiet breathing.

"…?"

Su Xiaobai stared blankly at the moon above, its pale light seeping through the gaps. His body unconsciously absorbed the stellar energy, his thoughts wandering elsewhere.

’Xiao Hei?’

The realization struck him. He still had her. If anyone could carry Ling Er back, it was that little menace.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his wrist, Xiao Hei appeared.

Ling Er instinctively recoiled, her body trembling as thud-thud—two glowing red orbs glared at her from the darkness.

"??"

From the shadows, a figure stepped forward. A girl, no older than twelve, emerged, her curious gaze fixed on Su Xiaobai.

"Xiao Hei, can you fly?" he asked.

"??"

Before she could answer, Su Xiaobai waved a hand dismissively. "Of course you can. I’m being stupid. You almost killed Wei Jun—of course you can fly."

Creak!

The branches above swayed, their movement accompanied by the faint rustling of leaves. It was as if the forest itself mocked him.

He sighed. "Never mind. Can you carry her with you?" He gestured toward Ling Er, who was frozen in place.

Xiao Hei’s crimson eyes flicked to Ling Er. She blinked twice before shaking her head firmly.

"You’re lying," Su Xiaobai said, narrowing his eyes. "You can, can’t you?"

"Uh-huh!" Xiao Hei shook her head even more vehemently, her expression playful yet unyielding.

Tap-tap.

Her small foot tapped against the ground, her protest almost childish.

"Ugh…" He rubbed his temples. This girl was helpful when it came to him, but for anyone else? She acted like they weren’t even worth acknowledging.

Finally giving up, he muttered, "Fine. Just patrol the perimeter and don’t cause trouble."

Whoosh!

Xiao Hei’s mischievous smile widened, and with a burst of speed, she vanished into the trees, her figure darting between the branches like a shadow.

Ling Er, still frozen, stared after her, heart pounding. Her mind flashed back to the image of Xiao Hei chewing on bones, blood smeared across her face. How could that savage creature and this playful child be the same?

She gulped audibly, unable to shake the unease crawling up her spine. There was something about Xiao Hei she couldn’t understand—and that made her all the more terrifying.

But as Xiao Hei flitted farther away, something changed.

The farther she moved from Su Xiaobai, the more radiant she became. Her aura, once subdued near him, seemed to bloom like a flower unfurling at dawn.

Ling Er’s breath caught.

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She wasn’t a demon—not exactly. If anything, she was a lotus blooming in mud, her beauty ethereal and otherworldly, as though she didn’t belong to this mortal plane.

When she stood near Su Xiaobai, her presence dimmed, like a flame tucked behind glass. But as she leapt further away, it was impossible to ignore her radiance.

Rustle~~

The wind picked up, sweeping through the forest and brushing against Ling Er’s arms. She shivered, her instincts drawing her closer to Su Xiaobai for warmth.

Su Xiaobai noticed her subtle movements—the way her grip slackened on his hand, her steps faltering. But he said nothing. The moment felt strangely fragile, like a scene pulled from some celestial script.

For some reason, it struck him: if he pushed this girl even slightly, she wouldn’t resist.

His gaze instinctively flicked to her face, glowing faintly under the silver light of the moon. It wasn’t a deliberate move—just a passing glance. Definitely not because of any improper thoughts.

It wasn’t that he was a monk, abstaining from worldly desires. No, Su Xiaobai knew when to indulge and when to walk away. And Ling Er? She was a walking catastrophe, a bundle of trouble wrapped in a delicate package. He wasn’t stupid enough to take a bite.

After all, his main goal wasn’t to wander the world picking flowers.

But then again, when the food delivered itself to your mouth, how could you not be tempted?

He shook his head, shoving the thought away. ’What’s next? A secret treasure conveniently appearing to help me form my core? Is that the plan, bastards?’ His lips curled in a sadistic smile. It wouldn’t surprise him if the heavens themselves were scheming to test his resolve.

But he wasn’t that easy to manipulate. Iron will wasn’t just a phrase—it was his creed. Even if they dangled a heaven-grade treasure in front of him, he wouldn’t give in.

"This girl," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head again. "Not my responsibility."

As Su Xiaobai wrestled with his thoughts, Ling Er watched him from the corner of her eye. At first, she felt his scrutiny, his gaze brushing her like a faint whisper. But then, he started shaking his head and mumbling to himself.

She bit back a laugh, her lips twitching into a faint smile. Why does he look like he’s fighting some great internal battle?

Just as the quiet of the night began to settle over them, like lovers basking in the moonlight’s tender glow, a sudden disruption tore through the quiet, sharp as a dagger slicing silk.

Thud!

Xiao Hei dropped from above, landing with unsettling grace, her crimson eyes gleaming like twin embers.

"Hm! Hm!" she huffed impatiently, her small figure vibrating with barely contained energy.

Su Xiaobai flinched, his instincts flaring for a moment, before her tiny hand clamped onto his wrist with surprising strength. Ling Er yelped softly, startled out of her thoughts.

"Oi, what’s this now?" Su Xiaobai muttered, frowning as Xiao Hei pulled at him with the determination of a child dragging an unwilling parent.

"You want me to follow you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Xiao Hei nodded twice, her expression as serious as a general commanding an army. She tugged harder, leaving no room for debate.

Ling Er stumbled to her feet, her confusion etched across her face. "Wait! What’s happening? Where are we going?"

Her question went unanswered. Xiao Hei had already dragged Su Xiaobai into motion, her small figure weaving confidently through the thick underbrush. With no other choice, Ling Er hurried after them, her steps clumsy as she struggled to keep pace.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the surroundings grew more surreal. The trees they passed were larger, their trunks wide and ancient, the bark grooved with deep scars that seemed to whisper tales of a bygone era.

Then the air shifted.

It became heavier, filled with an indescribable vitality. It kissed their bodies in turn, each breath tasting faintly of sweetness.

And finally, under the vast expanse of a starry sky, it came into view.

Ling Er froze. "What… is that?"

A single tree, colossal beyond comprehension, towered over them. Its golden trunk glowed faintly, as though bathed in sunlight eternal.

The bark shimmered with a divine warmth, exuding an aura of majesty that made the surrounding forest feel like an afterthought.

Its sprawling branches stretched toward the heavens, their leaves glimmering like fragments of starlight. Each rustle sent ripples through the air, a sound both melodic and alien, as though the tree itself were alive and breathing.

Beneath its grandeur, the forest floor was littered with the forms of wild beasts. They lay scattered, their bodies unnaturally still, their breaths shallow as though they were in a trance—or worse.

Ling Er instinctively clutched Su Xiaobai’s arm, her fingers trembling. "Are they… fainted?" she whispered, warily.