Lu Qiancha’s gaze swept over the prescription deduced by Liu Xiuwen, and she couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: this elder’s mastery of the art of poisons was truly worthy of the title of grandmaster.
Relying solely on the scant remnants of the prepared medicine and the basic Corpse Dissolving Water formula, he had, in just a year, dissected her improvement method with such exquisite precision, even approaching the core principles behind it.
Following the thread of Elder Leng’s deductions, she carefully examined it, and soon found the crucial point where the understanding had deviated.
“Elder Leng, please look here.” Lu Qiancha elegantly pointed her fingertip at a certain ingredient combination on the sheepskin record.
Liu Xiuwen’s eyes immediately focused on that spot. Only to hear Lu Qiancha’s steady analysis: “Longgu Kangjin, as the main medicinal ingredient of the Corpse Dissolving Water, possesses a nature as fierce as raging fire, with a powerful ability to attach and devour…”
A flash of insight shone in Liu Xiuwen’s eyes; he grasped the key point almost instantly.
“Is it your meaning, young friend, that a special complementary medicinal is needed as a ‘catalyst’ to attach to it, redirecting its potent corrosive power—originally targeting the dead—so that it specifically erodes the life essence of the living?”
“Elder, how astute! That is exactly it!” Lu Qiancha nodded in affirmation, her gaze full of admiration for the elder’s sharp discernment.
“The younger generation truly is to be feared…” Liu Xiuwen sighed, the wrinkles on his face stretching into a rather frightening smile.
“Ahem, Elder, let’s look at another spot…”
Lu Qiancha’s heart gave a tiny skip, though nothing showed on her face. She gave a slight cough and smoothly guided the topic elsewhere.
The two used this as their starting point, launching into a vigorous and delightful peak debate on the Dao of Poisons—covering everything from medicinal interactions and alchemical timing, to paradoxes in pharmacology and the marvels of exotic toxins.
Liu Xiuwen felt as though he benefited greatly and regretted not meeting sooner.
If it weren’t for the great gap in age, and Liu Xiuwen’s inability to let go of his elder’s dignity, he would have wanted to swear brotherhood with Lu Qiancha on the spot.
Not until the moon reached its zenith did Liu Xiuwen finally get up, still reluctant to leave.
“Lu Daoist Friend, your talent is extraordinary,” Liu Xiuwen’s form of address had subtly shifted from “young friend” to the equal “Daoist Friend,” his tone sincere as he invited, “Would you be willing to honor Danding Pavilion by serving as the resident poison cultivator? All the Pavilion’s archives and pill rooms would be open to you.”
Lu Qiancha, upon hearing this, gently shook her head. “Elder Leng, you flatter me. What I know is merely a few tricks and clever ideas, lucky inspirations at best—hardly enough for such a great responsibility. I appreciate the offer in my heart.”
A clear look of regret flashed through Liu Xiuwen’s eyes, but he did not insist.
He simply said with gravity, “Since that is so, I will not force you. Just remember, the doors of Danding Pavilion will always be open to talents such as you. This may be your retreat, or perhaps your path forward.”
With that, he flicked his robe sleeve, and two thick, ancient-looking tomes appeared on the table—the exclusive poison arts treatises he’d promised earlier.
He said no more, and departed quietly upon a cloud of blue radiance, vanishing into the deep night.
***
When Liu Xiuwen had left, only Lu Qiancha remained in the courtyard. Her gentle, refined disguise faded away like the tide, and in an instant, she returned to her Wolf Cub form.
Lu Qiancha bent down, struggling to pick up the two heavy stacks of ancient tomes from the table, then carried them toward the small house.
Halfway there, Lu Qiancha suddenly felt the books slip from her hands. A fair, slender hand suddenly reached out, easily lifting the entire stack. The mountain of books blocking her view vanished at once.
“Hmm?” The Wolf Cub instinctively bit her finger and looked up, meeting a pair of beautiful, smiling eyes.
“Niang Qin?” Lu Qiancha’s soft voice was full of surprise and delight.
“Silly little one.” Xun Xue fondly bent her finger and gently tapped Lu Qiancha’s forehead.
“You clearly have a Storage Ring, yet you insist on carrying these books by hand, blocking your whole view. Were you planning to tumble headlong into a pit?”
As she spoke, Xun Xue smoothly stowed the stack of books away in her own storage space.
“Oooh~” Lu Qiancha squinted her eyes in comfort, her little head rubbing against Xun Xue’s cool palm, a satisfied purr rumbling in her throat.
When the gentle hand moved away, Lu Qiancha immediately sidled closer, wrapping her arms around Xun Xue’s waist.
She raised her face, snuggling as she pleaded softly, “Even if I’m silly, I’m still Niang Qin’s little silly one.”
“You and your sweet mouth.”
Xun Xue couldn’t help laughing. She leaned down and easily picked up her little Wolf Cub.
Cradled in Xun Xue’s warm, fragrant embrace, Lu Qiancha contentedly nuzzled against the hollow of her neck, murmuring softly, “Niang Qin… Tonight, I want to sleep with you~”
“Of course, I’d love nothing more.” Xun Xue agreed at once, her eyes full of endless affection.
“You little thing, you’ve really been turned into a good baby by that demon immortal…”
In her mind, Canxin remarked quietly.
“Hmph! Mind your own business!” Lu Qiancha shot back irritably inside, pouting. “Besides, who’s really to blame here? Don’t you have any self-awareness?!”
“Heh, you’re the one with an unsteady heart, and yet you blame me?” Canxin retorted without a hint of mercy.
“Hmph, all you do is put me down, I’m ignoring you.” Lu Qiancha snuggled even harder into Xun Xue’s arms, stubbornly cutting off the conversation with Canxin.
Canxin: “…”
Tsk, if she can’t win the argument, she just throws a tantrum.
Canxin withdrew her external perception, starting to absorb Ling Power and repair herself.
She felt she must be the most pitiful Demonic Sword ever—having to cultivate on her own.
Returning her view to the outside world.
Xun Xue felt the little body squirming restlessly in her arms, and simply assumed Lu Qiancha was getting sleepy. She gently stroked the soft fur atop her head, chuckling, “Impatient to sleep, little sleepyhead?”
With that, Xun Xue carried her, walking lightly back to the room.
***
The moment they entered, Lu Qiancha spotted a certain gray-furred ball.
“Trash Fish Priestess.”
Lu Qiancha puffed up in anger, scolding her. This fellow had tried to mislead her while she was bathing. If she hadn’t figured things out during cultivation, she really would have been tricked.
Faced with the accusation, Ling Wanbai’s expression didn’t shift in the slightest. She calmly extended her hand, offering Lu Qiancha a golden, sweet-smelling pastry from the tray.
“Want some? I just steamed fresh Longan Pastry.”
“Eat.” The scent of food dissolved most of her anger in an instant; Lu Qiancha didn’t even hesitate.
But just as Ling Wanbai’s hand was about to reach Lu Qiancha’s mouth, she pulled it back suddenly.
“Huh?” Lu Qiancha looked up, confused.
“What do you call me?” Ling Wanbai replied calmly, her gray eyes reflecting the Wolf Cub’s eager craving for treats.
“Elder Sister?”
Lu Qiancha tried tentatively.
“Qiancha, my good little sister.”
Satisfied, Ling Wanbai offered the fragrant Longan Pastry to Lu Qiancha’s lips, watching as she bit down with a soft “aah.”
At the same time, her other hand naturally landed atop Lu Qiancha’s fluffy Wolf Ears, gently kneading.
Whenever her fingertips stroked the fur between those two ears, Lu Qiancha’s big ears would instinctively twitch and draw closer together, as if pulled by invisible strings—fuzzy and trembling, irresistibly adorable.