“You see, now I’m out of the spirit elixir to boost my cultivation, so you should teach me a bit more as compensation,” Luo JinXiao edged closer, pushing her luck.
To her surprise, Qu WeiYin agreed readily this time. She even turned to her bookshelf and took out several old volumes, handing them to Luo JinXiao.
“These are some techniques I worked hard to obtain. Take them,” Qu WeiYin said softly. After a moment’s thought, she pulled out a palm-sized wooden box from somewhere.
“These are spirit stones. Place them beside you while you cultivate to accelerate your progress,” Qu WeiYin added, then noted, “They’re priceless, something I came across by chance.”
Before Luo JinXiao could say a word, Qu WeiYin thrust the box into her hands.
With a sigh, Luo JinXiao put the box into her pouch. Then, she pulled Qu WeiYin, who seemed to be looking for more things to give, over to a chair and made her sit down.
Qu WeiYin looked up at Luo JinXiao, puzzled.
“I’m going to apply some medicine,” Luo JinXiao said, pulling out a small jade bottle from her pouch and shaking it lightly. “Lu FanZhi gave me this. It’s great for injuries inflicted by spiritual energy. It should work quickly.”
She reached to loosen Qu WeiYin’s outer garment, but Qu WeiYin leaned away abruptly, avoiding her touch.
“I can do it myself. You should go back,” Qu WeiYin insisted, pulling her clothes tighter. “I’ll make sure to teach you diligently.”
From where Luo JinXiao stood, she could only see the top of Qu WeiYin’s head and a small part of her delicate nose. Deciding not to push her, Luo JinXiao handed over the bottle and smiled. “Little Martial Aunt must be busy with other things. I’ll leave you to it.”
Qu WeiYin nodded absently. Luo JinXiao sensed something unusual about her demeanor but chalked it up to the exhaustion from her recent advancement to the tribulation stage. She bid farewell and left, closing the door behind her.
Outside, QiongQi had reverted to its small tiger form, its mouth full of feathers. It jumped into Luo JinXiao’s arms, and she petted its head as a reward.
Standing at the door, Luo JinXiao exhaled slowly, spreading her fingers before her eyes, turning them over repeatedly.
She needed to find other ways to advance her cultivation quickly. Although significant progress wasn’t likely in a short time, she couldn’t continue like this. If another situation like today’s arose, she wouldn’t be able to protect those she cared about.
This thought only fueled her urgency.
With Qu WeiYin now the head of the Qu family, many people sent gifts, including old acquaintances. Though Qu WeiYin avoided such events whenever possible, she was nonetheless busy for several days.
Using the spirit stones Qu WeiYin had given her, combined with daily cultivation, Luo JinXiao steadily advanced, reaching the late phase of the Golden Core stage in one night, on the verge of entering the Nascent Soul stage.
Immersed in cultivation, time flew by. Another month passed, and summer faded into the red-leafed autumn.
Halfway up the mountain where WuHui Sect stood, the hills turned fiery red, against a deepening blue sky, with the sky and water reflecting like a mirror, absent of clouds.
From afar, WuHui Palace appeared nestled in a vibrant painting.
During a class, Gui Jiu enthusiastically lectured from a scroll. Luo JinXiao, bored, couldn’t help but let her head droop onto Lu FanZhi’s shoulder, only to be pushed away.
“Luo JinXiao, this is my master’s class. Pay attention!” Lu FanZhi warned her.
Luo JinXiao forced her eyes open, glanced at the passionate Gui Jiu, then buried her head in her arms, muttering, “Give me a break. Why dissect the Water Avoidance Technique?”
Lu FanZhi grabbed her hair, pulling her up. “No way, listen up.”
Wincing in pain, Luo JinXiao finally woke up a bit, yawning widely. Glancing around, she noticed everyone else was sound asleep except Lu FanZhi.
The room was full of bobbing heads, but Yan Ying’s was absent, which explained why Luo JinXiao didn’t feel the usual hostile gaze and felt slightly off.
She turned around and nudged Bai Li Qingzhou, who was snoring loudly, asking, “Where’s Yan Ying? She was behind you earlier.”
Bai Li Qingzhou blinked sleepily, looking around, then shook his head. “Didn’t see her. Why look for her?”
“No reason, sweet dreams,” Luo JinXiao said, pressing his head back onto the desk.
“You care about her?” Lu FanZhi asked, surprised.
“No, just curious. She’s never missed a class,” Luo JinXiao quickly denied.
Right then, Yan Ying slipped back into the room, finding a spot in the corner with a dark expression. She looked up, meeting Luo JinXiao’s gaze briefly before avoiding it, staring blankly at the table.
After the class, Gui Jiu left with satisfaction, and everyone else yawned and stretched as they left. Luo JinXiao stood, packing her things, but couldn’t help glancing at Yan Ying again. She remained seated, staring into the distance, seemingly lost.
She looked like she’d suffered some kind of blow.
“Come on, let’s go. I’m starving,” Lu FanZhi urged, pushing her. Luo JinXiao shook her head, dismissing it from her mind.
Without Qu WeiYin, days were mundane and dull, much like her past life. Not yet able to forego food, she ate with Lu FanZhi before strolling back to Elder Liu’s courtyard.
Elder Liu was also absent, even his puppets gone, leaving no one to supervise her. Luo JinXiao let QiongQi out, allowing it to bask in the sun, belly up.
Autumn sunlight wasn’t hot, and cool breezes occasionally carried fiery leaves into the courtyard. Lounging against a stone table, Luo JinXiao lazily petted QiongQi’s fur.
Both were drowsy.
As her eyelids drooped, likely a lingering effect of Gui Jiu’s lecture, Luo JinXiao yawned, pulling out her hairpin, letting her black hair cascade over her shoulders.
Rubbing her head irritably, she rose to nap inside, the bamboo mat cool against her skin.
QiongQi wagged its tail, following her in, paws ready to hop onto the bed, but Luo JinXiao pushed it down. “No, you’re too furry to sleep with me.”
Hearing this, QiongQi sulked, sprawling on the floor, rolling back and forth.
“Cute won’t work on me. I’m resolute and won’t sway,” Luo JinXiao said firmly, lying back on the bed. Feeling warm in her robe, she removed it, leaving only a plain white undergarment.
Her black hair and white clothing highlighted her snow-like skin.
Luo JinXiao’s hand dropped to QiongQi’s back, murmuring to it, or perhaps herself, “Why hasn’t Little Martial Aunt returned to WuHui Sect? Does she not want to come back?”
“We’re not ready for training trips, stuck here cultivating slowly. When can I match her level?”
“Or maybe a chance to leave would be nice. WuHui Sect is great, but staying too long is boring.”
Muttering on, she drifted off, her hand stilled.
QiongQi, enjoying the petting, nudged her to continue, but she was deeply asleep, unresponsive.
Unhappy, QiongQi leapt onto the bed, nestling beside her, sighing contentedly at the coolness.
Outside, the autumn wind was refreshing. Inside, all was quiet, the wooden window creaking like a lullaby.
The girl lay asleep, serene and sweet, in a white robe on a bamboo bed, her side occupied by a fluffy, plump ball of fur, perfectly at ease.
Time passed, and the furball shifted, disappearing, leaving two girls on the bed. The younger one barely a girl, with brown hair, skin like fine jade, and a fluffy tail swaying unconsciously.
Growing uncomfortable, she snuggled closer to Luo JinXiao, burying her head in her embrace, humming contentedly.
After a while, she took it further, pulling Luo JinXiao’s arm over her, making it seem like they were cuddled together.
In her sleep, Luo JinXiao’s brow furrowed, sensing something amiss. Her vigilance snapped her awake, eyes clear, to see a small, round head.
For a moment, she thought she was dreaming. Blinking again, she realized it was real, staring at the impossibility.
A fair face, rosy lips, a youthful look that invited fondness, followed by a slender neck, veins faintly visible, rounded shoulders, arms, and legs—short, but straight and white, like lotus roots.
Most importantly, she was completely unclothed.
Luo JinXiao couldn’t help but shout, rolling back to fall off the bed, but the girl clung to her waist, surprisingly heavy. Instead of escaping, she was pulled back onto the bed.
“What on earth is this?” Luo JinXiao lamented, too stunned to use her spiritual energy.
Footsteps approached, someone responding to her shout, flinging the door open. Both parties froze, wide-eyed.
“Little Martial Aunt?” Luo JinXiao exclaimed, struggling fiercely, finally pushing the girl aside and leaping barefoot to the floor.
Qu WeiYin stood holding Luo JinXiao’s robe, evidently returning it. Her usually composed face was a mix of emotions.
Without a word, she turned to leave. Luo JinXiao, her mind in turmoil, rushed to stop her. “Little Martial Aunt, it’s not what it looks like, she…”
Who was she, and how to explain? Luo JinXiao was at a loss.
Qu WeiYin gave her a cool glance, then at the still-sleeping girl, speaking indifferently, “No need to explain. I was just returning your things.”
She brushed off Luo JinXiao’s grip, frowning slightly, her narrow, almond-shaped eyes(“phoenix eyes”) shifting away. “Continue.”
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