ALL NOVEL Chapter 16: A Little Maid
( PS : Feel free to check My PATREON :
patreon.com/IndifferentVillain
More than 55 Chapter a month .)
————————
"Where… am I? Water… I need water…" Muttering weakly, Xuan tried to open his eyes, his mind in a haze.
"Ah! Lord Xuan, you're awake! Wait, I'll get you some water right away."
He vaguely heard a soft voice near him, nervous yet with a clear, crisp tone—a voice that was quite pleasant to the ears.
Soon, he felt himself gently propped up, resting against someone's small frame. A light scent of cherry blossoms floated in the air, and it was oddly calming.
A cup of water was brought to his lips, and without thinking of who might be serving him, Xuan gulped it down eagerly. After two mouthfuls, his throat felt somewhat soothed.
"I'll get you another cup, my lord."
He felt himself gently laid down again as the person hurried off and soon returned with another cup of water. After three rounds, he finally felt satisfied.
Lying back, he began assessing his physical condition. The stab wound near his heart was bandaged, and all the cuts across his body had been treated. Some of the minor cuts had already scabbed over, indicating they'd been healed with medical jutsu.
In the intense final moments of his battle with the Hyuga Jonin, Xuan had staked everything on a do-or-die maneuver. Right before his enemy's strike landed, he managed to shift just enough to avoid a direct hit to his heart. That adjustment allowed him to finish his opponent with a Rasengan, though the slightest hesitation or misstep would've meant his death.
In his half-awake state, he suddenly felt a cool pair of small hands massaging his temples, moving with gentle care, as if afraid to disturb him.
After a while, Xuan finally opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was a petite face with delicate features. She had long, smooth hair that smelled faintly of cherry blossoms. Her hands, small and gentle, were rubbing his temples. She looked quite young, around his age, wearing a soft pink kimono that gave off a comforting aura.
"Who are you?" Xuan asked hoarsely, even startling himself with his raspy voice.
Seeing him awake, the girl's eyes sparkled with delight. She carefully placed his head back on the pillow and knelt properly beside him.
"Lord Xuan, my name is Senya Ying. I am a maid assigned to you by the clan head."
"A maid?" Xuan turned his head to study her closely, causing her to blush slightly and lower her head shyly. After examining her thoroughly, he thought, Not bad. She'd make a good attendant at my side.
"So, my uncle has returned?" he asked lightly. Although she was young, she had the grace and beauty of someone who would grow into a true beauty someday. Having her by his side as a maid would be quite convenient.
Ying's face lit up with joy, and she answered, "Yes, Lord Xuan. The clan head returned yesterday."
Xuan nodded and continued, "How long was I unconscious?"
"Today marks the third day, my lord."
"What about Madara? How is he?"
"Lord Madara's injuries were slightly less severe than yours. He is resting in his own quarters and is no longer in critical condition."
A slight smile crossed Xuan's lips. He had keenly noticed that Ying called Madara "lord" but addressed him as "master," subtly hinting that she saw him as more important.
"Since my uncle has returned, what is the status of the battlefield?" Xuan pondered for a moment before asking.
"I'm not sure, my lord. Information about the battlefield isn't something we maids are privy to."
Xuan nodded thoughtfully. He continued asking her about a few things, but if it concerned the clan's ninja matters, she mostly didn't know.
As for why his uncle had assigned him a maid, Xuan could make a fair guess. News of him unlocking the three-tomoe Sharingan and fighting a Jonin must've reached his uncle's ears. Assigning him a maid signified an acknowledgment of his strength and rank, a recognition that he was no longer just a member of the younger generation in need of protection, but a capable Uchiha warrior.
This gesture might also mean his uncle expected him to take on missions once he healed—possibly even joining the battlefield, though Xuan doubted it. Given his youth and the dangers of the battlefield, it wouldn't make sense to throw a talent like him into such chaos unless absolutely necessary.
After considering these thoughts, Xuan began to inquire about Ying's background.
"Ying, how old are you?"
"Six, my lord."
"Hm, older than me by a year. I couldn't tell. What about your parents?"
"I don't know. I've never met them. As far back as I can remember, I was living among refugees, struggling for food every day. When I was three, I got a high fever and was abandoned. Luckily, I was found by a ninja from the Uchiha clan, and I've lived here ever since, trained as a maid."
Her tone was calm, as if reciting someone else's story rather than her own.
Xuan frowned slightly. He wanted to say something but held back. This is the Warring States period, he reminded himself. These kinds of stories are all too common. In this world of ceaseless battles between nations and clans, countless people lived and died in poverty and violence. Ying was fortunate to have been taken in by the Uchiha.
The Uchiha had many such people. Men were typically assigned farming or manual labor to produce resources for the clan, while women did lighter work like weaving. Occasionally, attractive women would catch the eye of ninja and marry into the clan.
"Ying, come over and massage my head again."
"Yes, my lord!" Ying quickly knelt beside him again, gently lifting his head onto her lap and massaging him tenderly.
Relishing the sensation, Xuan felt an unexpected sense of warmth toward this world. In his previous life, he'd never experienced the care of a young girl. This situation made him feel as though he was enjoying a unique type of companionship.
"Ying, you mentioned you didn't know your parents, so how did you come by the surname Senya?" Xuan asked casually, eyes still closed.
Her hands paused briefly before she continued, then replied calmly, "Senya was the surname of the person who took me in back then. Since I don't have parents, I simply took his surname."
"And where is he now?"
"When I had that high fever, he was the first to abandon me."
Though her tone was calm, Xuan sensed her fingers press a bit harder. Chuckling, he replied, "I see. Well, what do you think about taking my surname, Uchiha?"
Her hands froze mid-movement. She forced a polite smile, saying, "Lord Xuan, you must be joking."
He looked into her eyes with surprising sincerity. "I'm serious."
Ying fell silent, no longer speaking, but Xuan could sense her hands become even gentler, her touch lighter and more careful. As she continued her gentle massage, a smile appeared on his lips.
I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to those who will support me on this journey. Your contributions make a real difference!
As a patron, you unlock:
• Exclusive Access: Get 35+ advanced chapters ahead of everyone else.
• Exclusive Shout-Out: Receive a special shout every chapter as a thank you for your support!
Your support not only fuels my creativity but also helps me grow this community. If you're not a patron yet, consider joining us!
👉Join now: Patreon.com/IndifferentVillain
Donation: https://www.paypal.me/ILavEer