The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.
Lu Qiancha pouted her small mouth and decided to take revenge.
She extended her leg to kick Ling Wanbai but hesitated for a moment after seeing the other girl’s new clothes.
Then, the Wolf Cub kicked off her small, soft boots and slipped out of Xun Xue’s embrace. With her two small feet clad in snow-white short socks, she aimed at Ling Wanbai’s calf and kicked out indignantly.
A rare trace of confusion flashed across Ling Wanbai’s expressionless face, and she took a small step back almost out of instinct.
That single step —
“Eek — !!!”
Having kicked air, Lu Qiancha lost her balance due to the excessive force and lack of support. In a terrified, high-pitched cry, her small body pitched forward uncontrollably.
Ling Wanbai’s gray eyes narrowed sharply. In a flash, her reaction was incredibly fast. Her arm shot forward to catch her —
*Thud.*
The small figure, still carrying lingering panic, crashed firmly into Ling Wanbai’s cool embrace.
Lu Qiancha squeezed her eyes shut, her long eyelashes trembling violently. Her small mouth unconsciously let out a pitiful, fearful whimper. Like an over-startled kitten, she instinctively curled up within her enemy’s protection.
She kept her eyes tightly closed, her small body trembling slightly as she instinctively braced herself for the impact against the hard ground.
However, the expected pain never came.
Instead, a voice so calm it was almost rippleless sounded above her head: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You didn’t fall.”
Lu Qiancha opened her closed eyes blankly, her long eyelashes still carrying a trace of the tremors from her fright.
What met Lu Qiancha’s eyes next was Ling Wanbai’s permanently expressionless face.
A second later, the Wolf Cub’s dull senses returned.
She suddenly realized — she was actually nestled securely in this villainous Priestess’s arms. The other’s cool body temperature seeped through the thick fabric, bringing an unsettling feeling.
“Waaah — !”
Intense shame and annoyance instantly exploded. Like a cat that had its tail stepped on, Lu Qiancha hurriedly struggled back several steps to establish a safe distance.
She tried to lift her small head high, her large tail standing tall like a battle flag, attempting to use a fierce tone to cover up her previous embarrassment.
However, her voice trembled slightly due to the lingering shock and shame: “Who… who’s afraid? So what if I really fell? I’m not afraid of pain at all!”
“Mm, Little Qiancha isn’t afraid. Big Sister will hug you.”
Ling Wanbai nodded. She then took a step forward expressionlessly. Before Lu Qiancha could react, Ling Wanbai’s arms passed through her waving little paws and pulled her entire body into her embrace once more. This time, she held her even tighter.
What made Lu Qiancha freeze even more was —
A gray-white tail, like a vine, suddenly wrapped around her own large, azure-blue tail that was still puffed up in alarm.
The gray-white fur was gentle yet stubborn as it wound around one loop, then another, slowly and firmly tightening. It trapped that flash of bright blue securely by its side.
Lu Qiancha felt a strange, tingling sensation surge from her tailbone all the way to the top of her head. The strength she wanted to use to struggle seemed to be instantly drained by that gentle wrapping.
The Wolf Cub’s face turned completely red in an instant. Her blue eyes went wide as she stared in disbelief at that gray-white tail that had entangled her as if claiming sovereignty.
“Trash Fish Priestess, you… let me go…” Lu Qiancha’s protesting voice carried a soft, sweet note she hadn’t noticed herself, lacking any deterrence.
“I won’t,” Ling Wanbai’s voice remained as calm as a deep pool, without a single ripple, but the arms embracing Lu Qiancha tightened further with an inescapable force.
Her chin rested lightly on Lu Qiancha’s fluffy hair, her cool breath brushing against the sensitive tips of her ears.
She clearly felt the small Wolf Cub’s body trembling slightly due to shame and an indescribable throb of emotion. “Unless… you call me ‘Lady Big Sister’ from now on.”
Ling Wanbai calmly stated her condition.
“I won’t! You villainous Priestess! Trash Fish Priestess!”
Lu Qiancha’s face puffed up like a small steamed bun. She pouted, her blue eyes full of stubborn defiance.
She twisted around trying to escape, only to find that those seemingly slender arms were like chains forged from steel, holding her fast.
In her frustration, she could only indignantly scratch at her small ears, which were itching from the other’s breath.
Then, the Wolf Cub’s azure eyes darted around, flashing with a glint of cunning.
‘Hmph, go ahead and hug me, go ahead and wrap your tail. Take this!’
Lu Qiancha instantly changed her strategy.
She directly reached out her small paws and began to knead.
“Ugh — !”
A visible crimson cloud instantly spread across Ling Wanbai’s expressionless face, like a stone thrown into a still pond, quickly spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
She looked down, her gray eyes quietly gazing at the “wicked” Wolf Cub in her arms. In those large blue eyes, a smug and provocative light was flickering.
Ling Wanbai didn’t stop her immediately; she only remained silent for a few breaths.
Then, her free hand rose naturally and landed on Lu Qiancha’s small head. Her fingertips sank into the soft hair, and with a trace of imperceptible indulgence, she slowly rubbed it.
After symbolically kneading twice, Lu Qiancha stopped.
It was uncomfortable; the other girl was even flatter than she was.
This was the worst kneading experience she had ever had.
Furthermore, there were many hard little ornaments hanging on the clothes, making the tactile sensation terrible.
Even her Junior Sister, Gantang, felt better than this.
*Disgusted Wolf Cub face.jpg*
Lu Qiancha didn’t want to waste any more time. With a thought, the Ling Power within her body circulated, activating the Moon Shadow Escape Art. Her figure instantly transformed into a thin, hazy moon shadow.
Like a drop of water merging into the ocean, she easily slipped out of Ling Wanbai’s seemingly secure embrace. In the blink of an eye, she was once again nestling by Xun Xue’s warm side.
Her arms were suddenly empty, and the soft, small sensation vanished without a trace. The expression on Ling Wanbai’s face remained as calm as a mask, as if nothing had happened. Only in the depths of her gray eyes did a micro-trace of gloom flash and disappear.
“Haaah~”
Fatigue surged like a tide. Lu Qiancha couldn’t help but let out a big yawn, a few tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
For this Nine Peaks Grand Tournament, Lu Qiancha had been on edge all day without closing her eyes. Just now, that villainous Priestess had squeezed her tail until her body went soft. Now, she felt limp all over, unable to muster a single bit of strength.
“Mother…”
The Wolf Cub rubbed her sleepy eyes, trying her best to open those misty azure eyes. She reached out her small hands toward Xun Xue, her voice soft and sweet, filled with deep reliance. “…Hug me.”
“All right.” Xun Xue’s soft voice was like a warm breeze. She smiled and opened her arms, tenderly pulling the sleepy Wolf Cub into her embrace.
Lu Qiancha nuzzled into Xun Xue’s familiar frosty fragrance, quickly finding the most familiar and comfortable position.
Her small head rested on the soft crook of an arm, her cheek pressed against the cool silk fabric. Her tense body relaxed completely.
Within just a few breaths, the sound of even, light breathing could be heard — Lu Qiancha had completely sunk into a sweet dreamland.