“My dear Qianqian, how did you become even cuter～” Liu Qingyao beamed with happiness as she pinched Su Qianqian’s cheeks.
“That’s because of cultivation～ Didn’t I just spend a long time in seclusion? Now that I’ve broken through, my cultivation’s improved, and even my skin looks better～”
Su Qianqian explained in a spoiled, playful tone.
“Wow～ Not only did you become cuter after your closed-door cultivation, even your personality became clingier. Come, let your mother give you a hug～”
Looking at the adorable Su Qianqian, Liu Qingyao couldn’t help but pull her daughter into a warm embrace!
Seeing this, Su Lingling also rushed over and joined the fun. “Me too! I want a hug too!”
Soon Su Qianqian was sandwiched between them, both her cheeks pressed by her mother and sister.
It was a little squished, but an overwhelming sense of happiness filled her…
Watching the three embrace, Su Changfeng stepped forward and gave them all a big bear hug, pulling the three together.
Surrounded by her family, Su Qianqian felt overflowing joy and warmth—how wonderful it was to have family by her side…
After a while of affection, Liu Qingyao and Su Changfeng both donned aprons, looking ready and full of enthusiasm!
“Wait for us! Since we’re all together, your father and mother will make you a grand—feast!” Liu Qingyao said playfully, waving a spatula.
Seeing their parents so lively, Su Qianqian and Su Lingling both sighed in admiration.
“Mother and father really are getting younger the older they get…”
“Hey, Sis, let me tell you a secret. I think we might have a little sister or brother on the way…” Su Lingling whispered to her sister.
Hearing this, Su Qianqian’s eyes widened in shock. “Ah, really? When did this happen?”
Su Lingling motioned for Su Qianqian to keep her voice down, then continued in a quiet, secretive tone.
She cherished whispering like this with her sister, so even though using Divine Sense transmission would have been more convenient, Su Lingling still leaned in, faces close, and whispered:
“When you were gone, I spent a lot of time with our parents. For their health, I learned some techniques for reading qi and some medical skills.”
“A few days ago, when I checked their health, Mother’s pulse was very much like a pregnancy pulse. I checked for a long time and I’m pretty sure she’s actually pregnant. There aren’t any obvious signs yet, but I think it won’t be long before it starts to show.”
Hearing Su Lingling’s explanation, Su Qianqian turned to look at Liu Qingyao, her expression grave.
“So, Sis, do you want another little sister or brother?” Su Lingling asked curiously.
“If they’re as cute as you, of course I do～”
“Oh, Sis, you’re too much, praising me like that～”
Liu Qingyao had no idea her daughters were discussing her. Watching them whispering, she covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
After laughter and chatter at the dinner table, the sisters said their contented goodbyes to their parents. As they were just about to take off, they saw Lin Muxue already waiting nearby.
“Master! Have you been here the whole time?” Su Lingling asked curiously.
“Yes, I’ve been watching over you here. Otherwise, I’d worry.” Lin Muxue looked at Su Qianqian as she spoke.
Now that Su Qianqian had been recovered after so much difficulty, Lin Muxue felt uneasy letting her out of sight even for a moment.
“If I’d known Master was waiting, I would have invited you inside with us…” Su Lingling scratched her head in embarrassment.
But Lin Muxue shook her head. “Your family reunion—I shouldn’t intrude.”
“But Master is family to me now～”
“Still, in the end, I’m not. If I were there, your parents would be at least a little restrained.”
“I guess that’s true…” Su Lingling’s eyes dimmed slightly with disappointment.
Su Qianqian flew up a little, then reached over to rub her little sister’s head in comfort.
Then, as if recalling something, she turned to Lin Muxue with a grave look.
“Master, I have some questions about cultivation I’d like to ask you. They’re closely related to the Sword Sect.”
Seeing Su Qianqian’s serious face, Lin Muxue’s expression became serious as well. “We’ll discuss it in detail once we’re back at the cave abode.”
Su Lingling was curious what the problem could be, but seeing her sister’s expression, she knew it was probably something she wouldn’t understand…
Once back at the cave abode, Su Lingling sensibly didn’t cling to her sister further. Lin Muxue brought Su Qianqian into her own room.
Su Qianqian looked at the room’s familiar decor. It felt… comfortable.
“Qianqian, what’s the cultivation problem?”
“It’s hard to explain… I’ll open my Dan Tian. Master, use your Divine Sense to investigate.”
Without further explanation, Su Qianqian directly opened her Dan Tian.
It should be known that the sea of consciousness and Dan Tian are a cultivator’s most important places; if Divine Sense invades the Dan Tian, all sorts of things become possible.
Unless the person is absolutely trusted, no one would ever allow this.
“Come to think of it… Luo Wuhen never asked me to open my Dan Tian…”
Su Qianqian found herself thinking, but quickly dismissed the thought. There was no need to think of her now…
Lin Muxue had Su Qianqian sit on the bed, then carefully probed her Dan Tian with Divine Sense.
The moment she entered, she saw the striking white Lianhua—and then her spirit was shaken! Because she was all too familiar with this thing—!
“This is the Heavenly Medicine you… stole… took away?!” Lin Muxue said, clearly shocked.
Su Qianqian ignored the pause in Lin Muxue’s words and responded gravely,
“It suddenly appeared when I broke through the Golden Core Stage. There was no warning. As soon as it emerged, it shattered my golden core and transformed it into its own Lotus Seed.”
Listening to Su Qianqian’s explanation, Lin Muxue grew even more focused, her Divine Sense carefully examining the entire Lianhua again and again.
The aura was familiar; she could confirm it was indeed the Sword Sect’s Heavenly Medicine. But now it was tightly connected to Su Qianqian…
Lin Muxue withdrew her Divine Sense and let out a breath, then gave Su Qianqian her advice—
“I didn’t find anything wrong. This situation is too unusual—even I have no idea what’s going on… My suggestion is, don’t act rashly. Let things take their course.”
“But just in case, I could place a Divided Soul in your Dan Tian. But…” Lin Muxue hesitated.
Although her intention was to help Su Qianqian, placing a Divided Soul in someone’s Dan Tian… was extremely personal, even dangerous.
In ancient times, powerful cultivators would do this to enslave others: if a cultivator of higher realm placed a Divided Soul in a weaker person’s Dan Tian, it meant they could control their very life and death at will.
Of course, there are many easier ways for a powerful cultivator to control the weak, so this method had mostly been abandoned.
“Divided Soul… Just don’t put too much, or it’ll affect the soul.” Su Qianqian thought for a while, then spoke seriously to Lin Muxue.
This answer surprised Lin Muxue. She had expected Su Qianqian to be torn over whether to allow a Divided Soul. Instead… she was worried about her?
Lin Muxue felt a wave of warmth in her heart… But she still gave a final warning:
“Qianqian, you understand, if I plant a Divided Soul, it means I’ll have complete control over your life and death—”
“I know… But if it’s you, Master… I have no worries.” Su Qianqian smiled softly, her eyes bright.
Her words and smile made Lin Muxue’s breath quicken, and she silently chanted the Qingxin Mantra over and over—more than a dozen times—before finally calming herself.
“Then, Qianqian, I’ll plant one percent of my Divided Soul in your Dan Tian. If anything happens, activate the Divided Soul at once.”
“Mm, thank you, Master!”
No sooner had they finished speaking than Lin Muxue began.
She split off one percent of her soul and planted it as a mark within Su Qianqian’s Dan Tian.
Because the difference in their cultivation was so great, the surge of spiritual energy made Su Qianqian’s body tremble, and her mind was overwhelmed by a sharp, almost intoxicating sensation—
When it was done, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but let out a soft moan, then collapsed backward in exhaustion.
Lin Muxue hurriedly supported Su Qianqian and checked her condition for any problems.
But now, in her unstable state, Su Qianqian instinctively closed her eyes and parted her lips as Lin Muxue’s face came close—almost as if she were waiting for someone’s kiss…
However, Su Qianqian quickly caught herself, opening her eyes and closing her mouth as if nothing had happened. But how could Lin Muxue not notice…?
The light in Lin Muxue’s eyes dimmed. After helping Su Qianqian up and confirming she was fine, she said to her, “Rest for today. I… I’ll go for a walk.”
With that, Lin Muxue left the cave abode. Before long, Su Qianqian heard a sorrowful sound of the flute…
Su Qianqian could only lie silently on the bed, not knowing what to think…
And as for Lin Muxue… her feelings were a tangled mess.
Just now, when Su Qianqian had revealed that open, inviting look, Lin Muxue’s heart had nearly given in to impulse, wanting to lean in for a kiss.
But the very next moment, she realized why Su Qianqian might act that way…
A wave of nameless anger and emptiness surged within her. She could only pour those feelings into the flute’s mournful notes…
But after that, it was a period of peaceful cultivation, as if life had returned to the way it once was. However, this calm didn’t last long, because…
“Darling～ I’ve come to see you～”
“Are you there? Are you there～～Are～ you～ there～?”
That day, a petite girl with a flippant tone stood at the gates of the Sword Sect, loudly calling out.
“Su… Qianqian? That’s what you go by now? What a lovely name～ Youtong has come to see you～”
That’s right—the one blocking the Sword Sect gates and calling out was none other than Chu Youtong, the Saintess of Hehuan Sect!
The battle between Luo Wuhen and Lin Muxue had been earth-shaking, and almost all the high-level members of the major sects knew of it.
Most only knew they had fought over a girl named Su Qianqian, but Chu Youtong immediately recognized that Su Qianqian was the one she’d been searching for…
“Su～ Qian～qian～ Youtong is here～”
A crowd of disciples gathered at the gate, but Chu Youtong didn’t care in the least, continuing her playful shouts.
As for the star of her calls, Su Qianqian had no choice but to come out, flanked by Lin Muxue, who watched coldly with killing intent in her eyes, and Su Lingling, who looked curiously between her sister and Chu Youtong…
“This girl…” Su Qianqian covered her face in exasperation.
She might not be the most troublesome, but she was definitely the biggest headache…