The moment she stepped into the corridor, she bumped into Xun Xue, who was facing away from them, elegantly stringing up ropes between the pillars with swift movements to hang the last piece of laundry— a white bed sheet washed clean, carrying a fresh scent of soap.
Hearing footsteps, Xun Xue turned around.
Her gaze landed precisely on her newly transformed little wolf cub, and a gentle smile, soft as spring water, spread across her deep blue eyes.
Xun Xue’s lips curved into a teasing, slightly mischievous smile: “Little Qiancha~” Her voice was gentle. “Feeling any better?”
“Mm…” Lu Qiancha’s little face instantly flushed as if ignited, the long-suppressed shyness exploding all at once.
She instinctively lowered her head, her furry little paws clutching the hem of her newly changed jacket tightly, her voice barely a whisper: “Y-yes… I don’t feel bad anymore…”
“That’s good.” Xun Xue pretended not to notice her daughter’s nearly burning face, clipped the last corner of the sheet in place, and lightly clapped her hands.
Her tone was soft: “Mom brewed a small pot of Lingyu Chicken Soup inside.”
“Go inside and rest well first…”
Xun Xue walked over to Lu Qiancha, casually pried open the little paws still clutching the hem, and held them gently in her warm palm.
“Drink a few more sips later, and nourish yourself properly.”
ton ton ton.
A few sips of the warm chicken soup slid down smoothly, and a wave of warmth rose from her stomach, quickly spreading through her limbs and bones.
Lu Qiancha, who had been slightly tired before, suddenly felt a fresh surge of vitality.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
Beside her, Gan Tang also scooted closer to get a few bowls of chicken soup. She contentedly smacked her lips, holding the small bowl as she gulped down several mouthfuls.
Xun Xue put down the celadon bowl, her deep blue eyes shifting to Lu Qiancha, who was sitting upright nearby.
A faint smile played on her lips: “If you have any questions, ask quickly.”
Hearing Xun Xue’s invitation, Lu Qiancha perked up and hurriedly asked, “Mother, what exactly happened to me just now?”
“Little Qiancha, do you want a simple explanation or a complicated one?”
Xun Xue smiled lightly, unconsciously playing with a strand of hair hanging over her chest, her gaze sly.
“Simple one, please.”
Lu Qiancha didn’t hesitate.
“Simply put, it’s a normal physiological reaction. Nothing to worry about.”
Xun Xue said with a gentle smile.
The explanation was indeed simple but gave no useful information at all, as good as saying nothing.
Lu Qiancha pursed her lips, somewhat helpless, and pressed on: “Then what about the complicated explanation?”
“Hmm… the complicated explanation is that this phenomenon is equivalent to a Coming-of-Age Ceremony.”
Xun Xue tilted her head thoughtfully, habitually rubbing the top of Lu Qiancha’s head with her fingertips, causing the little wolf cub to emit a comfortable “mm mm” sound.
“It’s a symbol that Little Qiancha is becoming a big kid now.”
“Coming-of-Age Ceremony…?”
Lu Qiancha looked down in confusion, gazing at her petite figure, falling silent for a moment.
So it means I can grow up after all.
Well, never mind being small. At least when the sky falls, there’s someone tall to hold it up.
Shaking off the jumble of thoughts in her mind, she looked at Xun Xue with her most pressing concern: “So, will this happen again?”
“Kwa.”
Xun Xue’s answer was as firm as a hammer.
Hearing this, Lu Qiancha froze stiff, her ears instantly losing all vitality and drooping among her fur.
That feeling of weakness, loss of control, and burning heat blurring her consciousness… she really didn’t want to experience it a second time.
End of story.
“But,” Xun Xue shifted tone, her eyes filled with warmth, “the ‘springtime’ after this won’t be as intense as the first time. At most, it’ll bring some irritability and restlessness.”
Lu Qiancha’s ears perked up again, trembling slightly.
“Happy?”
“That ‘springtime’ visits about how often?”
Lu Qiancha’s tail tip couldn’t help but wag quietly, a bit of anticipation sparkling in her eyes. If it was once a month, she’d be doomed.
“Hmm… roughly once a year.”
Xun Xue tapped her chin lightly, as if recalling.
“Mm-hmm.”
Lu Qiancha nodded repeatedly, her tail wagging enthusiastically.
Very happy.
Nearby, Gan Tang listened silently, her fingers clutching the small bowl tightening slightly.
Her mood was complicated.
On one hand, she was happy that her senior brother had escaped the pain.
On the other, a flicker of loss passed deep within her heart.
Sigh… To see that weak, helpless, and always needing help senior brother again…
Probably a long, long time from now…..
After understanding the whole situation, Lu Qiancha walked lightly and quickly returned to her room.
She resumed her secluded cultivation, intent on fully digesting the spiritual power within her. The end of the year was approaching, and she needed to hurry.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
The last trace of roaming spiritual energy in her dantian’s energy sea was finally tamed, refined, and absorbed for her own use.
Her mid-refining Void stage cultivation was firmly stabilized, even showing signs of advancing toward the late stage.
It was a fruitful harvest. Lu Qiancha viewed it contentedly through her spiritual sense.
Her eyes lingered on the hovering demonic sword within her spirit sea, and she paused slightly———
The intricate cracks on its surface were now all healed as if brand new, and the sword body radiated a more restrained and dark luster.
It seemed to have absorbed quite a few benefits.
Lu Qiancha pursed her lips, not paying it much mind.
She lifted her eyes toward the window, where a New Moon hung silently in the night sky, scattering cool silver light.
The night was deep.
Forget it, time to sleep. This past month had truly been exhausting.
Lu Qiancha lazily stretched a big wolf-style yawn, took off her clothes, and changed into her nightdress. Then she lay down on her bed, her breathing even and steady as she slipped into a deep slumber.
***
The next morning.
Lu Qiancha woke up groggily to a faint, damp, sticky discomfort.
Why did it feel so wet and cold beneath her?
She blinked in confusion, moved her paws, and gently probed beneath the quilt.
Her fingertips encountered a patch of moist, slightly cool, sticky texture.
What was this?
She abruptly threw back the quilt, and in the faint morning light streaming through the window—
On the snow-white bedding, a glaring dark red stain, half-coagulated, came sharply into view.
At the same time……
A faint metallic smell of blood quietly crept into Lu Qiancha’s nostrils.
“?”
Lu Qiancha’s mind went blank. After five or six long breaths, a delayed, tearing pain began to slowly and densely spread from deep within her lower abdomen.
“W-what’s going on…?”
Lu Qiancha mumbled in a daze, her voice filled with the confusion and bewilderment of just waking.
Could someone have sneaked into my room last night and stabbed me?
The sudden injury left her mind unable to catch up.
No, first I need to apply some medicine.
The thought just crossed her mind as she pushed herself up on the bed, attempting to get down.
“Ugh—ah!!!”
A pain a thousand times more intense than before, as if tearing through her lower abdomen and dantian, instantly crippled her into a curled-up ball.
Cold sweat immediately soaked the strands of hair at her temples.