Continue? Continue with what?” Luo JinXiao’s cheeks turned a fiery red, almost as if she were declaring her intentions with her life.
“I was just taking a nap, and when I woke up, this happened,” Luo JinXiao said, taking Qu WeiYin’s hand and pulling her straight into the room, dragging her to the bed.
The girl was still fast asleep. Luo JinXiao grabbed a nearby blanket, tossed it over the girl from a distance, and then gently shook her shoulder. “Hey, wake up!”
Startled, the girl sprang up, scrambling on all fours, her eyes darting around fiercely. Only after spotting Luo JinXiao did she calm down, kneeling by the bed, trying to crawl into Luo JinXiao’s arms.
“Stop!” Luo JinXiao pointed at her face, retreating to hide behind Qu WeiYin, peeking over her shoulder to scrutinize the girl.
Her expression, her posture, the more she looked, the more familiar it seemed.
At this point, Qu WeiYin also sensed something was off. Tilting her head slightly, she noticed a tuft of yellow fur peeking out from under the blanket. Intrigued, she reached out to the girl’s head, probing with her spiritual energy.
“It’s QiongQi,” she said after a moment.
“QiongQi? It’s just a young beast, how can it take human form?” Luo JinXiao was surprised and delighted, finally relaxing as she stepped out from behind Qu WeiYin, clutching her chest.
Qu WeiYin was momentarily speechless, a bit embarrassed, and replied casually, “Perhaps because she is inherently a fierce beast, her power is strong, and transformation is a minor issue.”
Typically, fierce beasts prioritize their animal nature and rarely desire to become human. In her past life, QiongQi had stayed in beast form by her side for years. It was truly impressive that Luo JinXiao had nurtured such humanity in a fierce beast, Qu WeiYin thought.
She glanced at the bare girl again, feeling her face heat up, and turned away. “Make her change back.”
When she opened the door earlier, the shock in her mind and the sudden sinking of her heart had been almost tangible-absurd and terrifying in retrospect. Absurd that she had overthought, terrifying that she reacted so strongly.
Luckily, she hadn’t shown it, or she would have truly lost face. Now, calmer, she realized how ridiculous her initial thoughts had been.
Beside her, Luo JinXiao couldn’t help but turn to Qu WeiYin. Seeing no change in her expression, she finally relaxed completely. Annoyed, she tapped QiongQi on the head. “Change back, quickly.”
QiongQi wobbled, her long wavy hair swaying, but remained unmoved.
Looking aggrieved, she tried to nuzzle Luo JinXiao, who quickly stepped back and turned to Qu WeiYin for help. “Little Martial Aunt, she seems unable to change back. What should we do?”
Qu WeiYin frowned slightly, folding her arms as she gave QiongQi a cold once-over. It seemed she had learned to transform into a human form on her own but hadn’t mastered reverting to her beast form.
Finally, she shook her head and said, “Find her some clothes first.”
Dressing QiongQi proved troublesome. She disliked having fabric wrapped around her and would bite off anything put on her, throwing tantrums if it persisted. Luo JinXiao, sweating profusely, managed to get her into an undershirt.
QiongQi, still sulking, tried to lick Luo JinXiao’s face, making her leap up in fright and crash into Qu WeiYin. Exhausted and tearful, she clung to Qu WeiYin’s shoulders, hiding behind her.
With Luo JinXiao dodging behind her, Qu WeiYin felt as if she were being embraced. She cleared her throat, her gaze lingering on Luo JinXiao’s slender fingers before forcibly looking away.
Qu WeiYin opened her palm, and the Crescent Moon Star Sword appeared, glowing with fire. She looked at QiongQi with an air of calm, instantly making QiongQi sit upright and still.
Her round eyes lowered, focusing only on her knees.
Finally, Luo JinXiao succeeded in dressing her in a full set of light blue robes that matched her brown hair quite well. However, her tail was more challenging; after some thought, they decided to hide it under the skirt.
After a busy morning, Luo JinXiao finally sat down to rest, sprawling in a chair and fanning herself.
Qu WeiYin sighed, picking up the outer robe she had brought earlier. She stepped forward, spreading it in the air and draping it over Luo JinXiao’s shoulders, her voice firm. “You should dress properly. What does this look like?”
The robe fell with the gentle breeze, carrying Qu WeiYin’s refreshing floral scent despite being washed.
Qu WeiYin bent slightly, adjusting Luo JinXiao’s collar with her jade-like fingers. Luo JinXiao felt her face flush, and she couldn’t help but look up at Qu WeiYin’s face.
Every time she looked, she was struck by her beauty, Luo JinXiao thought, entranced.
“Little Martial Aunt, you’re really beautiful,” she blurted out.
Qu WeiYin paused in her movements, her expression slightly unnatural. She acknowledged with a soft “mm,” stepping back. “Why haven’t I seen you lately?”
“With Little Martial Aunt so busy, I didn’t want to bother you,” Luo JinXiao replied, secretly pleased. Did Qu WeiYin ask because she wanted to see her?
“I had to bring this myself,” Qu WeiYin said coolly.
Hearing this, Luo JinXiao’s delight was instantly doused. She pouted, saying nothing more.
Meanwhile, QiongQi seemed pleased with her new form, tearing at her sleeves with her teeth, her fierce expression amusing Luo JinXiao.
“The delivery is complete. I have other matters to attend to,” Qu WeiYin said, turning to leave. At the door, she seemed to remember something, turning back with a serious look. “Several disciples have disappeared recently. Living here alone, you must be careful.”
“What do you mean by disappeared?” Luo JinXiao’s heart skipped a beat.
“Gone missing,” Qu WeiYin replied.
“Wu Hui Sect has sealed the information to prevent panic and has recalled skilled disciples to strengthen the guard. You should hear more soon.”
“If there’s trouble, break this.” Qu WeiYin produced a clear stone from her sleeve and handed it to Luo JinXiao.
Luo JinXiao took it carefully, feeling its coolness like autumn wind.
“Do all disciples have this?” Luo JinXiao asked.
Qu WeiYin looked at her, then turned away, her figure fading in the soft yellow light as she stepped out.
“Only you,” she replied, her voice floating on the breeze. By the time Luo JinXiao understood, she was gone.
Luo JinXiao smiled, holding the stone in her palm, pondering Qu WeiYin’s words.
Wu Hui Sect was a place of cultivation; if someone went missing, it shouldn’t be the work of demons. Otherwise, with so many skilled people here, how could it go unnoticed?
Unless it was someone as powerful as the Demon Lord from her past life.
The day after Qu WeiYin told Luo JinXiao, the news spread throughout the sect. Disciples with lower cultivation were gathered together, with high-ranking disciples patrolling each night.
At first, people didn’t grasp the severity, gathering to chat and play until two nights later when a new disciple who joined with Luo JinXiao went out to train in the morning and never returned. Only then did panic set in.
Rumors spread of demons infiltrating Wu Hui Sect, but the elders reinforced the barrier and cleansed the sect with spiritual energy, finding nothing.
While Wu Hui Sect was on edge, trouble brewed in the human realm. Perhaps due to the autumn harvest, many demons were drawn, leading to civilians climbing the mountain seeking help.
Wu Hui Sect, dedicated to protecting the living, couldn’t refuse. But in these unusual times, most disciples were on patrol, making it difficult to send someone to exorcise demons.
After much discussion, the elders selected a few idle disciples to form a team and sent them down the mountain. Two days later, word came back that two were dead, one injured, and two missing.
The news hit Wu Hui Sect like a thunderclap, leaving them reeling. In the past, a few disciples could easily handle such matters, but now they were utterly defeated, leaving everyone terrified.
That day, Luo JinXiao had just heard the news and was about to express her surprise when Lu FanZhi added, “Tomorrow, Little Martial Aunt Qu is going to exorcise demons. Her skills are unmatched; maybe she can find the missing disciples.”
“Little Martial Aunt?” Luo JinXiao muttered. “Is there no one else in Wu Hui Sect? Why does everything fall to her?”
“Because she’s the best. Who else matches her skill?” Lu FanZhi replied, full of admiration.
Though true, the words left a bitter taste for Luo JinXiao.
“Is she going alone?” Luo JinXiao asked.
Lu FanZhi nodded, then asked, “Are you visiting Elder Liu today?”
“My master returned and sent word for me to see him this morning,” Luo JinXiao shook her head, said goodbye to Lu FanZhi, and headed to Elder Liu’s small courtyard.
With everyone gathered, the path seemed even more desolate. The sky darkened halfway, tree shadows mingling with the light, creating a misty, shifting scene.
Leaves occasionally drifted down, landing in Luo JinXiao’s hair, then slipping away.
Initially, Luo JinXiao walked briskly, but after weaving through several paths, she sensed something amiss. A faint spiritual energy fluctuated around her, nearly undetectable without close attention.
She tensed, continuing forward as if unaware, her mind focused.
Simultaneously, a gloomy, sticky miasma spread around her, carrying the scent of old blood, neither demon nor ghost, creeping closer with a disorienting effect on the mind.
Luo JinXiao held her breath, wrapping herself in spiritual energy.
A faint whooshing approached from behind, her divine sword appearing automatically, blocking the attack. Luo JinXiao grabbed the sword, twirling it to spread icy air, melding into the darkness.
No one was there. Surprised, Luo JinXiao felt a cold miasma above her. Just as she was about to evade, a powerful spiritual force shattered the miasma, clearing the area instantly.
Elder Liu appeared before her, his expression serious, brows furrowed in concentration. Placing a hand on Luo JinXiao’s head, he whisked her away into the void.
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