Su Qianqian was restless and uneasy because of what happened today, tossing and turning in bed.
Although sleep wasn’t a necessity for Su Qianqian, given her long-standing habits and excellent quality of sleep, this was enough to show her inner turmoil and anxiety.
Meanwhile, as usual, Lin Muxue sat in the Breakfast Pavilion outside the Cave Dwelling, quietly watching the tossing and turning Su Qianqian.
“Did I go too far?”
Lin Muxue hadn’t taken her eyes off Su Qianqian since she lay down, and naturally noticed Su Qianqian’s troubled state.
She fell silent for a long time, gazing into the distant sea of clouds.
Between the mountains stretched the vast Bamboo Forest she had personally cultivated.
Quietly, she took out the Bamboo Flute that always brought such Reminiscence, gently caressing it…
Lin Muxue listened intently to the rustle of the wind through the bamboo leaves.
It was as if she had returned to that Bamboo Forest, that Bamboo House, and that person.
Unconsciously, she placed the flute to her lips, and a gentle, flowing melody began to drift on the night air.
Like fireflies gliding through a deep forest, the faint aftertaste twined around the branches, startling a few drops of night dew clinging to the bamboo leaves to fall and shatter on the rocks below.
It was like a cool breeze passing through the Bamboo Forest, the bamboo leaves swaying and tapping, soothing a restless heart…
The tossing Su Qianqian heard the melody drifting in from outside and felt an uncanny sense of familiarity, a feeling called Reminiscence creeping quietly into her heart…
She slowly walked out of the Cave Dwelling.
Outside, the late-night breeze was cool and fresh, carrying the chill of distant mountains as it lifted the hem of Su Qianqian’s nightdress and the stray strands on her forehead…
The night wind that fluttered her hair and clothes also stirred the figure in the small pavilion by the cliff.
Clad in green robes, hair flowing, a melodious, lingering flute song flowed from the Bamboo Flute in her hands.
Lin Muxue didn’t stop when Su Qianqian appeared.
Su Qianqian hesitated, then walked over and slowly sat beside Lin Muxue, quietly listening to the melody she had named Reminiscence…
Not long after, as the song ended, Lin Muxue felt the even breathing of the person leaning beside her and gently drew her into her arms.
Lin Muxue didn’t move her hands or feet, merely held her quietly, entranced as she gazed at Su Qianqian’s sleeping face, feeling her warmth…
“Why won’t you admit your identity to me? Can’t I have a place in your new life too…?” Lin Muxue caressed Su Qianqian’s face and murmured softly, then continued the song from earlier…
In her dreams, Su Qianqian breathed in a familiar scent, her ears filled with the well-known melody.
In her dreams, the memories became even clearer…
“Where… am I…?”
“This is a relic cut off from the outside world.
It seems both you and I, Miss, are trapped here.
When I first saw you, you were covered in blood. Did you run into danger?”
……
“Is this how you play it?”
“Yes, you have a real gift.
This place only allows for making this kind of instrument, though.”
“Let’s leave it for now, want to eat?
I think I’ve done pretty well this time.”
“Okay…”
……
“When we get out, how about I take you as my disciple?
As your Master, I’ll protect you, so you won’t have to worry about cultivation resources anymore.”
“Alright.
But would you like to listen to my new composition?
I named it Reminiscence…”
“Is there someone you miss?”
“No.
Maybe there will be in the future…”
……
Su Qianqian slept peacefully in Lin Muxue’s embrace, her face relaxed and serene, clinging tightly to Lin Muxue’s waist, her cheek pressed to Lin Muxue’s chest, her breathing even.
Lin Muxue thoroughly enjoyed being held so tightly, but as the night wore on, Su Qianqian grew restless, her brows furrowing as if haunted by a nightmare!
Clumsily, Lin Muxue tried to comfort the agitated Su Qianqian, puzzled by this sudden change.
“Is she so uneasy in her dreams because of what I did today…? No, what is going on?”
Suddenly, Lin Muxue sensed a trace of something unusual.
She activated the Divine Eye Secret Technique and saw an invisible connection linking Su Qianqian to something— this disturbance was precisely what was causing Su Qianqian’s discomfort!
Lin Muxue unleashed her vast Divine Sense, following the connection to its source, and suddenly, in disbelief, snapped her gaze to the perfectly round moon on the horizon!
“How could Su Qianqian be connected to the Yin Moon?!”
There was no time to ponder the reason.
Lin Muxue immediately used a secret technique, trying to sever the mysterious link between Su Qianqian and the moon in the sky.
But this was far more difficult than obscuring karmic traces to prevent others from tracing her by fate.
A connection to the Yin Moon was on another level, and even Lin Muxue found herself without a good solution for the moment.
For once, Lin Muxue was truly flustered, trying everything she could think of to no avail.
Luckily, not much time passed before Su Qianqian’s expression gradually eased.
In Lin Muxue’s perception, the connection between her and the Yin Moon was fading, until finally, it could no longer be sensed.
Lin Muxue immediately examined Su Qianqian’s body and soul, inside and out, and found no damage, which let her breathe a sigh of relief.
Looking once more at the moon on the horizon, Lin Muxue carried Su Qianqian back into the house, as gently as if she were holding an irreplaceable Secret Treasure…
Once Su Qianqian was tucked gently back into bed, Lin Muxue was about to leave, only to find her sleeve caught by Su Qianqian’s unconscious grip.
Lin Muxue’s expression shifted subtly.
She sat down by the bed and continued to watch the mumbling, dream-talking Su Qianqian.
Su Qianqian was far more clingy and lacking in security when sleeping than usual.
As Lin Muxue sat quietly by the bed, Su Qianqian immediately latched onto her waist, holding on with surprising strength.
Lin Muxue gently kneaded Su Qianqian’s cheek, gazing at her with soft eyes, then shifted her position slightly to make it more comfortable for Su Qianqian to hold her.
In the end, unable to restrain her own desire, Lin Muxue took off her shoes, carefully climbed into the bed, and gathered her beloved disciple wholly into her arms…
Feeling the warmth of the embrace, Su Qianqian was quick to cooperate, wrapping both legs around one of Lin Muxue’s thighs like an octopus, arms locked tightly around Lin Muxue’s waist, burying her face in her soft chest…
Lin Muxue hugged Su Qianqian’s head and back, loosening the front of her robes so Su Qianqian could nestle even deeper…
Thus, for the rest of the night, Lin Muxue remained on the bed as Su Qianqian’s pillow.
Su Qianqian loved to fidget in her sleep, and even while tossing and turning, she refused to let go of Lin Muxue’s leg and waist, which inevitably caused her to rub against some sensitive places now and then, much to Lin Muxue’s silent frustration.
For some reason, Su Qianqian woke up very early today.
As the first ray of sunlight streamed in, Su Qianqian woke up in a daze.
Her eyes barely open, Su Qianqian was confused—she seemed to be in someone’s arms, but her mind was still foggy.
In a daze, she muttered, “Mother?”
Lin Muxue, who had been resting with her eyes closed, opened them upon hearing Su Qianqian’s words, and pressed her head back into her chest, gently patting her on the back…
Soothed by this comforting gesture, Su Qianqian, still half asleep, felt the drowsiness surge back and rubbed her face against Lin Muxue’s chest again before closing her eyes.
Meanwhile, in another room, Su Lingling was already awake and ready to begin cultivating when she received a voice transmission from her Master:
“Lingling, go cultivate on your own today. I want to guide Su Qianqian’s cultivation.”
Tilting her head, Su Lingling thought it over but didn’t suspect anything.
After all, her older sister was much stronger than she was in combat, so perhaps Master wanted to teach her a more advanced sword technique?
After tidying up, Su Lingling gave herself a cheerful pep talk. “Go for it, Su Lingling!”
On the other side, drool trickled from the corner of Su Qianqian’s mouth and landed on Lin Muxue’s chest……
……