Hearing her master’s secret voice transmission, Gantang immediately nodded like a pecking chick, even blurting out a soft promise, “Master, don’t worry. I’ll keep a close eye on senior brother and won’t leave his side for a single step.”
Xuanya’s mouth twitched again.
This foolish disciple… Is secret voice transmission just for show?! Why does she still have to say it out loud?
Rubbing her forehead in weary resignation, Xuanya’s gaze instinctively drifted toward her own “key person to guard against.”
Lu Qiancha was still struggling to maintain a proper seated posture, but those deep blue eyes had long since lost focus, fogged over and unfocused.
Her small nose twitched repeatedly, her mind clearly having been completely captured by the tray of sugar cakes on the low table, which kept releasing an irresistible temptation.
With a helpless sigh, Xuanya stood up and walked over to Lu Qiancha. She bent her finger and gave a light but firm knock to the girl’s smooth forehead.
“Ow.” Lu Qiancha yelped and jolted awake. She clutched her forehead, her little face scrunching up as she looked up at Xuanya with watery eyes. “Master… that really hurt…”
“Pay attention and stop letting your mind wander,” Xuanya said sternly, her flat tone carrying unquestionable authority.
“Yes, yes, yes, this disciple knows her mistake,” Lu Qiancha replied at once.
She hurriedly dropped her hand, straightened her small waist, forcibly tore her gaze away from the sugar cakes, and refocused on her master’s face with an expression of rapt attention.
Only then did Xuanya nod in satisfaction and continue seriously, “The sect has decided. In three days, at the chen hour, gather at the mountain gate plaza and proceed together to Wanghai City.”
“Over the next few days, the two of you must carefully prepare all necessary supplies and command talismans, and adjust yourselves to your best condition. Do not slack off. Do you understand?”
“Got it, Master,” Lu Qiancha answered, doing her best to sound bright and loud.
“This disciple understands as well,” Gantang replied solemnly.
Xuanya lifted her teacup and took a small sip of clear tea. After a brief moment of thought, feeling that everything that needed to be said had been said, she set the cup down and offered a final reminder.
“Set aside your usual daily cultivation for now and focus on preparing for this trip. Remember, once you reach Wanghai City, act with restraint, keep a low profile, and rein in your edge. Do not cause unnecessary trouble or invite needless complications.”
With that, Xuanya did not linger. She stood, pushed the door open, and headed straight for the main peak to discuss the details of this journey with the other elders.
The moment her master’s figure vanished beyond the door, the taut string in the room seemed to snap loose all at once.
Lu Qiancha instantly looked as if a seal had been lifted. She cheered, jumped down from her chair, and charged straight for the food box on the low table with a clear goal in mind. She had been craving it for ages.
Gantang, however, did not immediately go for a sugar cake. She propped her chin on one hand, her almond eyes sparkling as she stared unblinkingly at Lu Qiancha.
The little one tiptoed to lift the lid, impatiently grabbed a piece of golden, crispy sugar cake still steaming hot, and stuffed it straight into her mouth.
Her small face scrunched from the heat before quickly stretching back out, an expression so adorable it was practically criminal.
“Senior brother…” Gantang couldn’t help calling softly.
“Whass wrong?” Lu Qiancha turned her head at the sound, her mouth full of sweet sugar cake.
Her words came out muffled, a bit of glistening sugar stuck at the corner of her lips, pure confusion shining in her blue eyes.
Watching her carefree 모습, the worry in Gantang’s heart resurfaced. She sighed softly.
“Signs of a great calamity have appeared, demonic energy is spreading… It all feels so unreal. Such a heavy burden, and it’s actually falling on the shoulders of disciples like us…”
Her delicate brows knit together. “Senior brother, do you think… we really can do this?”
“Mm…” Lu Qiancha nearly choked while chewing. She swallowed with effort, waved her little hand dismissively, and said with a completely unconcerned face, “What’s there to be afraid of? If soldiers come, we block them.”
“If water comes, we dam it. Besides, if the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. We’re just going to scout things out, see what’s going on, then hurry back and report. What’s there to worry about?”
The wolf cub’s tone was as relaxed as if she were talking about going on a picnic.
“I hope… it really will go that smoothly…” Gantang sighed again. Her gaze drifted unconsciously toward the window, where several gloomy clouds were slowly gathering.
An inexplicable shadow settled over her heart, making her feel that this trip would not be peaceful.
Soon enough, she shook her head, trying to throw off those distracting thoughts.
Gantang’s eyes returned to the room, but her focus locked precisely onto the tempting sugar cakes inside the food box in front of Lu Qiancha. Fragrant, sweet, crispy, and flaky. They looked delicious.
Almost without thinking, Gantang extended her hand, slender fingers reaching toward the box, palm turned upward and open.
Lu Qiancha caught the movement at once.
With half a sugar cake still in her mouth, she tilted her head and blinked those clear, innocent blue eyes, long lashes fluttering as she seemed to be trying very hard to understand the meaning of Gantang’s outstretched hand.
An outstretched hand…?
Her little brain spun rapidly. A familiar image flashed through her mind. Respected Mother had done this before, holding out her hand and having her place her small chin on it to enjoy gentle petting.
Lu Qiancha felt like she understood.
So, under Gantang’s stunned gaze, Lu Qiancha put down the sugar cake, toddled over on her short legs, pat pat pat.
Then she rose slightly onto her toes and, with perfectly natural obedience and even a hint of professional enthusiasm, gently placed her warm little chin, carrying a faint milky vanilla scent, into Gantang’s open palm.
Those sapphire-like eyes blinked up at her, as if asking, “Like this?”
Gantang froze on the spot. The soft warmth against her palm sent her mind completely blank.
Her body reacted before her thoughts caught up. Her fingertips unconsciously brushed over that delicate, smooth skin.
So soft. So comfortable.
Then, as if bewitched, her index finger lightly scratched under that small, refined chin.
“Prrrr…” Lu Qiancha immediately let out a satisfied, lazy purring sound, just like a kitten being happily petted.
She even rubbed her head lightly against Gantang’s chest, the tip of her tail swaying in small, delighted arcs.
But then—
Wait, something was wrong.
Gantang finally snapped out of the unexpected service.
She had only wanted to ask for a piece of sugar cake to taste.
“Mm?” Lu Qiancha looked up in confusion, gazing at Gantang’s complicated, helpless expression. Her blue eyes were filled with pure bewilderment. ‘Why did it stop? Has junior sister had enough petting?’
“Senior brother…” Gantang opened her mouth, looking at the warm little chin in her palm and those impossibly pure blue eyes. The explanation she had intended rolled around on her tongue.
After hesitating for a moment, she swallowed the words ‘I just wanted to eat a sugar cake.’ She simply shook her head lightly, her voice carrying a trace of softness even she did not notice. “…No, it’s nothing.”
Lu Qiancha tilted her head up, staring at Gantang’s hesitant, conflicted expression. Her clear blue eyes brimmed with confusion.
What was wrong with junior sister? She had been fine just a moment ago.
Her little brain worked hard. Connecting this with Gantang’s earlier talk about a ‘great calamity’ and a ‘heavy burden,’ she quickly reached a conclusion. Junior sister was probably still worrying too much.
With that, the wolf cub promptly withdrew her chin from Gantang’s palm, turned around briskly, and clambered up onto a nearby high-backed chair with a huff and puff.
Standing on the chair, she was finally able to look Gantang, who was seated, roughly in the eye.
Lu Qiancha stretched up on her toes, trying to get a bit closer.
Then she extended the small hand that still carried a faint sweetness from the sugar cake and, with clumsy yet utterly earnest gentleness, placed it lightly on top of Gantang’s head.
Imitating how Xun Xue used to comfort her, she used the softest part of her palm to stroke Gantang’s smooth hair again and again.
Her little face was full of solemn seriousness as she coaxed in a milky voice, “Pat pat. Don’t be scared. Senior brother’s here.”