“Thank you.”
After saying a word of thanks, Shangguan Yunzhu stared blankly at Lu Qiancha, several scenes flashing through her mind—being surrounded and attacked by thieves, fighting desperately before being captured.
Then seizing a chance during the enemy’s preparation of the poison to tear open the Life-Saving Talisman given by her master and teleporting a thousand miles away.
She looked at Lu Qiancha’s figure and couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Betrayed by her childhood friend, yet saved by the Yao Clan she once regarded as her enemy—how deeply ironic.
“Woo~ Aow~!”
Lu Qiancha lazily stretched out a big yawn, not hiding her exhaustion.
Carrying an injured Shangguan Yunzhu up the mountain cave had truly drained her, and transporting a person with these furry paws was far less convenient than using hands.
Even after activating the Wanshang Shen Ying Jue, Lu Qiancha’s paws could not transform into hands; at most, they were just disguised.
“Um… um…” Shangguan Yunzhu hesitated, watching the other stretch out, then asked, “My name is Shangguan Yunzhu. May I ask your name?”
“Hm?” Lu Qiancha glanced sideways at her and casually blurted, “I’m Qianqian.”
Without waiting for a response, she turned and curled up on a nearby haystack. “I’ll nap here. Don’t move around too much. Call me if you need anything.”
“Alright, Miss Qianqian.”
Shangguan Yunzhu answered softly, then quietly lay down, staring absentmindedly at the cave ceiling.
Gradually, a figure surfaced in her mind—her so-called childhood friend, Qingfeng Senior Brother, who had joined the Tianyuan Sect alongside her and would quickly catch up whenever she appeared.
Long ago, Shangguan Yunzhu had sensed that this overly enthusiastic fellow townsman hid behind an exquisite mask, his words and actions tinged with something unnatural, so she had deliberately kept her distance.
But never did she expect that once he finally tore off that hypocritical mask, the filthy, disgusting face that emerged was so utterly repugnant!
What had happened these past few days?
“Eep!”
A warm, soft little paw suddenly landed on her, breaking her train of thought. Shangguan Yunzhu was startled and instinctively turned her head.
She saw Lu Qiancha’s sleeping posture was anything but peaceful.
Initially lying on her back, she must have felt uncomfortable pressing her tail and rolled onto her side; shortly after, somehow twisting into a strange position with her face down and tail sticking up.
In this awkward posture, that restless paw swung over and pressed firmly against Shangguan Yunzhu’s chest, while her small body sprawled in a star shape on the nearby haystack.
Shangguan Yunzhu blinked and gently reached out to hold the furry little paw on her chest, carefully moving it away.
Throughout the process, she held her breath, eyes fixed intently on Lu Qiancha’s face, afraid of waking her savior.
After finishing, she quietly exhaled and looked up at the cave ceiling again.
But this time, a strange thought surfaced—this paw’s touch… felt oddly familiar, exactly like the palm of Lu Qiancha Senior Brother.
Back on the ship, she had found it odd: Lu Qiancha Senior Brother’s palm looked smooth and fair, but pressing on the fingertips, the firm yet soft texture, with a peculiar granular feel, was unmistakably like touching a small beast’s paw pad.
Could it be…
In her mind, the upright, noble figure of Lu Qiancha Senior Brother began to eerily overlap with the curled-up, snoring little wolf cub beside her.
No! What nonsense was she thinking! How could this be the same person? It was pure fantasy!
Shangguan Yunzhu shook her head hard, forcing those absurd thoughts from her mind. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and calmed her spirit to begin inner meditation and breathing adjustment.
Vital energy flowed within her, the healing power from the talisman combined with Lu Qiancha’s herbs producing incredible effects.
In less than a moment, the sluggish, chaotic internal energy was guided back on track; despite the heavy injuries, her condition stabilized significantly, no longer on the verge of collapse.
When she opened her eyes again, her gaze was clear and calm as before. Feeling much improved, she was about to get up when a gentle yet firm tug came from her arm.
Tilting her head, she saw that the blue figure that should have been sleeping apart had quietly rolled over beside her.
Lu Qiancha was now lying close to her side, small body pressed tightly against hers, one front paw wrapped around her arm like a pillow, sleeping soundly.
Warm, gentle breaths brushed Shangguan Yunzhu’s delicate neck skin, bringing subtle but undeniable tingles.
Seeing this defenseless, utterly dependent posture, Shangguan Yunzhu’s cold and hardened heart seemed to soften a little.
Her guard finally fell away, and her gaze unconsciously softened.
Hesitating, she slowly raised her left hand—still agile—and very gently reached for Lu Qiancha’s fluffy ears, which drooped slightly and trembled with her breathing.
The moment her fingertips touched the fine fur, the soft, warm sensation made her pause, then she carefully stroked as if caressing a newly blossomed flower.
“Purr~”
Lu Qiancha, still asleep, seemed to sense this unfamiliar comfort and let out a soft, satisfied cub-like rumble.
Rather than pulling away, she appeared drawn by the touch, closing her eyes and nuzzling her small nose and cheek into Shangguan Yunzhu’s palm, seeking a more comfortable spot to rest—almost as if saying, “Keep petting.”
But Shangguan Yunzhu had no time to linger. She resolutely decided to return to the sect and make Qingfeng and his companions pay.
This debt of gratitude, if fate allowed repayment, she would spare no effort, without a shred of hesitation.
In her heart, Shangguan Yunzhu solemnly vowed once more, then held her breath, gently withdrawing her arm from Lu Qiancha’s warm yet firm embrace.
Her gaze lingered briefly on the peaceful sleeping face before she took from her Storage Bag a Luminous Jade Disk Magical Tool and carefully placed it beside the slumbering Lu Qiancha.
Standing, she picked up the Duàn Jiàn resting nearby, the last trace of confusion in her eyes scorched away by blazing fire, leaving only resolute determination and tenacity.
“Nine Origin Spirit Nurturing, Thousand Phoenix Heart Mending!”
She murmured softly, and the Duàn Jiàn began to flicker with flames, clear patterns appearing on the blade as the original crack vanished.
Her long hair fluttered as a Fèng Niǎo circled around her, its glow illuminating her flawless skin and the resolute gleam in her eyes.
Stepping outside the cave, the biting cold wind whipped snowflakes against her face.
With the sword crossed before her chest, her aura suddenly surged to its peak. Her clear shout echoed over the snowy plain:
“Sincere heart focused, Golden Eyes Illuminate the Dark. True Fire Burns All Techniques; with this sword, I command Spring and Autumn!”
“Burning Phoenix Sword Box, open!”
Three resounding clangs, the sword’s ringing spread ten miles!
A fiery figure shot forward, dozens of Flying Swords swirling around her.
After dashing dozens of yards, the brilliant flames retracted into her body, the overwhelming sword intent vanishing without a trace.
Shangguan Yunzhu’s figure merged completely into the endless wind and snow, like a drop of red ink sinking into the sea of white, leaving no trace.
“The spiritual energy here is flowing… Intuition tells me the southeast direction is the right path!”
Through the howling wind and snow, her gaze sharpened like a hawk’s as she stared into the distance, her voice resolute and unquestionable, “Once I reach that town and find Xuanmo Shigu… I will surely expose the treacherous poison plot of those villains!”
With that, the Flying Swords at her feet emitted a faint red glow, the spiritual light surging!
Whoosh—!
The sound of breaking the wind, her figure streaked forward like a shooting star, the sword like a swimming dragon, suddenly accelerating!
Her figure pierced through the snowstorm, heading… uh, northwest, disappearing in an instant into the swirling wind and snow.