Yan Jin, Xuanmo let out a soft sigh, her eyes filled with a complicated emotion as they settled on the tiny wolf cub curled up in front of her.
The pair of water-blue fluffy ears trembled slightly, betraying their owner’s nervousness, which stirred an unusual feeling in her heart.
“This matter of yours…” Xuanmo paused, her voice dropping a few tones, “… besides you and me, is there anyone else who knows about it?”
Lu Qiancha shifted her little head sharply to the side, avoiding Xuanmo’s scrutinizing gaze.
Her eyes flickered anxiously as she replied, “Except for Shigu… hmm… my Shimei, there’s no one else right now.” Her voice was soft and delicate, tinged with undeniable guilt.
“So your trip to Bei Juluzhou this time, are you planning to use this Yaoshen body to seek refuge with one of the Dayao there?” Xuanmo asked thoughtfully, pressing further.
“Not at all. I’m going out to gather herbs.” Lu Qiancha immediately denied it. How could she abandon her Shigu and Shimei to hide away in a place crawling with monsters?
After she spoke, Xuanmo’s gaze swept back and forth over Lu Qiancha’s small form.
And with this expected yet resolute answer, Xuanmo’s eyes did not move away; instead, they lingered on her with an intrigued intensity, as if appraising a rare and exotic treasure.
That excessive focus, mixed with a strange warmth, made Lu Qiancha fidget uneasily.
She nervously swallowed and curled her fluffy paws tighter, meekly uttering, “Shigu… why do you keep staring at me like that?”
“It’s nothing really,” Xuanmo said frankly, a smile blossoming on her face. “I just think you look oddly cute like this—much better than that rough kid you were before.”
She smiled again and continued, “Why don’t you stop bothering with disguises? Just use this true form openly in the Sect.”
“No, no way!” Lu Qiancha’s little head shook like a rattle. Wearing this Yaoshen form openly in the Sect, she felt she’d never have a moment’s peace again.
She definitely didn’t want to be treated like a rare animal.
“What’s there to fear? With me backing you up, no one will dare say a word against you.” Xuanmo patted her chest confidently, making a solemn promise to Lu Qiancha.
“That still won’t do!” Lu Qiancha waved her paws and protested loudly.
Yet against the backdrop of her water-blue fur, her protesting gestures lacked any intimidation; instead, they appeared all the more pitiful and adorable.
Her efforts to resist seemed utterly futile—and endearing—in the face of the absolute size difference and cuteness.
“Alright, alright…” Xuanmo watched her little face puff up in frustration, almost to the point of tears.
She finally withdrew her earlier suggestion but was soon drawn again to those small triangular ears atop Lu Qiancha’s head, still trembling gently with the owner’s lingering shock and fear.
Fluffy, soft, edged with the faint pink fuzz unique to a cub…
Xuanmo’s hand seemed to have a will of its own.
Just moments ago she had been waving it off, but the next instant, her hand reached out to Lu Qiancha’s head!
And naturally began to stroke the wolf cub!
She started by rubbing back and forth over the fluffiest, warmest patch of fur on top of her head… hmm, the feel was truly exquisite!
Even smoother and warmer than the finest mink fur! Then, her fingertips, guided by curiosity, traced the soft curves of the head, gently pinching the fuzzy, warm little triangle ears!
She mischievously flicked the sensitive ear tips with her fingers!
“Ugh…” Lu Qiancha’s entire body twitched violently as if struck by lightning! The ear not yet caught in Xuanmo’s magic claws instantly flattened tightly against the soft fur in instinctive reaction.
Her small face was filled with a mix of shock and indignity at being “mistreated.”
“Don’t move~ be a good girl…” Xuanmo, lost in the perfect sensation, coaxed in the usual comforting tone one uses when stroking a spiritual pet, her eyes narrowing in contentment.
“Ahh, Qiancha, the texture of your ears… it’s incredible! Tsk tsk tsk… so soft, warm, and springy…” It was as if she had opened the door to a whole new world, unable to put her hands down.
“Shigu!” Lu Qiancha finally lost all patience!
Embarrassed and furious, she somehow mustered courage and suddenly lifted her unpinned front paw, pushing with all her might against Xuanmo’s hand that was causing mischief on her head, the pink pads pressing hard.
The tiny paw pushed against Xuanmo’s wrist, smooth as carved white jade, but didn’t budge even a fraction…
Instead, her resisting posture, combined with those “airplane ears” and the puffed-up tail tip, only made her look even cuter.
Xuanmo laughed heartily, the clear, cheerful sound echoing through the tranquil Cloud Realm.
She loosened the paw that had been teasing the ears but looked at Lu Qiancha with even more… affection. Like she had finally had her fill of petting, she patted Lu Qiancha’s head with a satisfied smile.
“All right, all right, Shigu won’t tease you anymore.” She changed tone and tossed out an enticing olive branch, “From now on, come visit Heavenly Pivot Peak more often.
Don’t just hide away on Tianquanfeng. Shigu has plenty of good things here! I guarantee you’ll be treated well and even get some guidance on your cultivation.
Your special body and reconstructed roots might just open a different path from ordinary humans to reach the heavens!
The premise is… I need to… hmm… get to know your new body’s ‘traits’ better first…” Her hand twitched again, itching to reach out.
Lu Qiancha thought: This so-called “guidance” from Shigu was probably mostly an excuse to pet the wolf again!
“Let’s go.” Xuanmo stood up, her sleeve brushing lightly. The vast, pure Cloud Realm beneath their feet shattered and dissipated like a mirror breaking.
Light and shadow shifted.
It felt as if nothing around had changed. Shangguan Yunzhu was still watching her with curious eyes; Xuanmo was still holding her arm.
Only a moment had passed.
Lu Qiancha immediately sensed the Ling Power within her body resume flowing; the Myriad Forms Mirage Technique once again controlled her body’s outward appearance.
She instinctively stiffened her body, suppressing the fleeting blush on her cheeks and the lingering embarrassment deep in her eyes, maintaining a calm demeanor with a touch of forced composure and slight awkwardness.
“No problems with your cultivation, solid foundation. If you work hard from now on and have any questions, you can come to Heavenly Pivot Peak—I can guide you,” Xuanmo said.
After dropping that line, she acted as if nothing had happened, leisurely making her way to the usual bow of the boat and lounging lazily.
Yet when her peripheral vision caught Lu Qiancha, a faint, almost imperceptible smile curved her lips—one filled with satisfaction and amusement.
She whispered a final teasing remark, carried lightly into Lu Qiancha’s spiritual sea:
“Remember, keep that soft, pitiful little puppy face off your face… Qiancha, don’t let any shrewd person find a weakness in you~”
“Ahem!” Lu Qiancha felt the warmth she had just forced down rise up again.
She cleared her throat, quickly averted her gaze, trying to stay composed as if she hadn’t heard anything, then briskly returned to her previous spot, sitting down with somewhat stiff movements.
The other four on the boat cast varying glances at Lu Qiancha.
Baiyan and Zhuangyang looked at her like she was a lucky beneficiary of fate; Qingfeng’s eyes remained gentle and kind; but Shangguan Yunzhu’s gaze was filled with… confusion.
Lu Qiancha ignored their looks, sitting in meditation to regulate her breath, clutching the Mofa Fabao tighter.
“Tsk tsk, you haven’t even mastered the basics of the Myriad Forms Mirage Technique and you’re already causing trouble. You really can’t sit still, can you?” Canxin’s voice whispered in Lu Qiancha’s ear.
“If you ask me, you should find a place to seclude yourself for decades and fully grasp five or six layers of the Myriad Forms Mirage Technique first.”
Lu Qiancha said nothing, continuing to close her eyes and regulate her Ling Power to maintain a dynamic balance, avoiding excessive consumption of the Returning Essence Pill before reaching their destination.
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