The perspective returns to Lu Qiancha’s room.
At this moment, the little wolf cub was sitting on a chair, meticulously sorting through the local specialties she had brought back from the Northern Domain, preparing to deliver them soon to her Shifu and Shimei.
“This box of Frozen Pear Preserves is for Shifu… This pack of Snow Lotus Pastries is for Shimei… And this tea cake and Air-dried Snow Rabbit Meat are also for Shifu…”
Lu Qiancha muttered softly as she carefully categorized all sorts of pastries, snacks, and other specialties.
She busied herself for quite a while before finally finishing the sorting, packing everything into two different storage pouches.
Satisfied, she patted the bulging little pouches, grabbed one in each hand, and hopped out of her room, heading straight for Shifu Xuanya’s residence.
Knock, knock, knock.
Crisp knocking echoed through the quiet corridor.
Hearing the sound, Xuanya opened the door, her gaze habitually level, only to find no one outside.
“Shifu, your disciple has brought something for you~”
A soft, childish voice came from below.
Xuanya was slightly startled and looked down. There, Lu Qiancha was tilting up her little face, holding up a storage pouch with both hands, her fluffy big tail wagging joyfully behind her.
Those bright blue eyes, clear as the sky, sparkled with the hope for Shifu’s praise.
Xuanya took the storage pouch, her fingertips brushing over the drawstring, a hint of curiosity in her heart. “What is this?”
“Um…” Lu Qiancha instinctively put her finger into her mouth, but as soon as she met Shifu’s calm, unwavering gaze, she gave a start.
Quickly, she balled her little hand into a fist and hid it behind her back, tilting her head as she hurriedly replied, “It’s… it’s something delicious. Local specialties from the Northern Domain.”
Xuanya didn’t immediately look into the pouch, but instead stepped forward and gently took Lu Qiancha’s offending little paw in hers.
Her tone remained even, but carried an undeniable seriousness: “Qiancha, as your Shifu, I recall I have already reminded you twice—not to put your hand to your mouth.”
“Eh?!” Lu Qiancha’s heart jumped suddenly.
She glanced at the Fuchen in Xuanya’s other hand, which seemed ready to descend at any moment, and immediately panicked.
Her blue eyes darted everywhere in a fluster, her little mouth opening and closing as she tried to find an excuse: “I… I, um…”
“Come in with me.” Xuanya said no more, simply taking Lu Qiancha’s slightly trembling little hand and leading her inside, gently closing the door behind them.
“Wuwu… Sh-Shifu…” Lu Qiancha whimpered in fear, her small body trembling.
Like clutching a lifeline, she gripped the wide sleeve of Xuanya’s robe with both little hands and hugged it to her chest, swaying it gently.
The little wolf cub pleaded in a voice thick with sobs, “C-could… could you not spank me? Shifu, I’m sorry… Your disciple won’t dare to do it again! Really, never again! Please…”
Xuanya didn’t respond to her begging, simply picked her up and laid her sideways across her own knees, making her little bottom stick out a bit, the fluffy tail arching up helplessly.
“Wuuwaa—! Shifu! No, please don’t hit me, okay? T-t-tail… I’ll let you pet my tail! As long as you want!”
Lu Qiancha panicked completely, her desperate sobs trembling as she hurriedly shoved the soft, fluffy tip of her tail into Xuanya’s cool palm, hoping to quell her Shifu’s anger.
Xuanya’s expression didn’t change. With her other hand, she lifted the back hem of Lu Qiancha’s robe.
“Wuaa—! B-belly! I’ll let you touch my belly too!” Like a startled little rabbit, Lu Qiancha flipped over, scrambling to lift her shirt and expose her pale, smooth, softly rising belly.
Tilting her small face upward, tears welled in her eyes as she gazed at Xuanya with those pitiable, glistening blue eyes. “Shifu… please… don’t hit me…”
The little wolf cub’s voice was full of helplessness and entreaty.
Xuanya lowered her gaze, looking at the little wolf cub in her arms—trembling and desperate to avoid punishment, pulling out every trick to act cute and pitiful.
A complex and hard-to-name emotion welled up in her heart.
That Yao Xian Xun Xue… just what did she do to her once mature and steady eldest disciple?
Seeing Xuanya fall silent, the little wolf cub assumed her Shifu had softened. She quickly seized the chance, grabbing Xuanya’s free hand and pressing it to her own soft, warm belly.
Then she burrowed her head into Xuanya’s other palm, her fluffy wolf ears rubbing against it in urgent, fawning motions, every movement radiating a desperate will to survive.
Feeling the gentle warmth and softness beneath her palm, and seeing the little head nuzzling restlessly in her arms, Xuanya finally let out a barely audible sigh, then spoke: “Give me your hand.”
“Um?” Lu Qiancha, eyes brimming with tears, looked up hopefully. “N-not spanking anymore?”
“No more spanking.” Xuanya’s voice was calm as ever. “Just your palm.”
“Okay… okay…” Lu Qiancha breathed a sigh of relief, but her little face soon fell as a new fear surged up.
She buried herself deeper into Xuanya’s arms as if seeking shelter, then, with extreme reluctance, slowly extended her left hand.
The little wolf cub squeezed her eyes shut, tears still clinging to her long lashes, unable to watch what would happen next.
“Stand up.” Xuanya gently pushed her from her embrace, helping her to stand.
Then she took Lu Qiancha’s slightly trembling little hand, and with the other hand slowly raised the jade handle of her Fuchen.
Pa!
A crisp, but clearly restrained, sound echoed. The Fuchen’s handle landed squarely in Lu Qiancha’s tender palm, leaving a clear red mark.
“Wu…!” Lu Qiancha let out a short, soft cry, her little nose sniffling. She instantly pulled her hand back to cradle it, lifting her tearful, aggrieved blue eyes to Xuanya in silent protest.
Being stared at by those pure, pitiful eyes, Xuanya felt that helpless feeling surge again, almost as if she were bullying a small child.
But wanting the lesson to last, she steeled her expression and spoke sternly, “I’ve accepted your gift. Remember today’s pain. If I see you bite your hand again…”
She paused, her gaze falling on Lu Qiancha’s still-clutching left hand. “Each time I see it, I’ll strike your palm. Understood?”
“Wu… und-understood…” Lu Qiancha replied with a sob, shrinking her neck like a frightened little quail.
Before Xuanya could say anything more, she grabbed the storage pouch meant for her Shimei and darted off with her short legs, fleeing Xuanya’s room as if escaping disaster, off to find Gantang.
Spanking PTSD