“Ugh… Even if you’re the Main Body, you can’t just go around touching someone’s tail without a word!”
The pink-haired ball of fluff shuddered violently, like a startled cat.
She quickly hugged her tail tightly, her round pink eyes filled with annoyance as she puffed out her cheeks and glared at Lu Qiancha.
“Ahem… S-sorry.”
Lu Qiancha awkwardly withdrew her paw, having thought that the Heart Demon, as a Soul Body, wouldn’t feel anything… which is why she’d been so bold to touch it.
“Hmph, you bad Main Body! What good’s an apology now?! You’ve already touched it all!”
The Heart Demon pouted, glaring fiercely at Lu Qiancha like a fluffed-up little kitten.
“So what do you want me to do then?”
Lu Qiancha was defeated by the Heart Demon’s shameless confidence and helplessly massaged her forehead.
“I want to go out and play! I want to eat lots of yummy things!”
At Lu Qiancha’s words, the Heart Demon’s pink eyes instantly lit up with excitement.
She bounced on the spot happily, raising her tiny paws to proclaim her intent.
Lu Qiancha hesitated for a moment as she looked at the little creature before her.
She had heard many stories of cultivators being controlled—or even replaced—by their Heart Demons, leading to mass slaughter…
But this one…
The little thing suddenly pounced, clinging tightly to one of Lu Qiancha’s arms with both tiny hands.
Her pink head rubbed softly against Lu Qiancha’s arm, making soft, wailing sounds like a baby begging for food: “Mmm… let me go out and play… just for a little while… please?”
That look—pure and full of longing—could melt anyone’s heart…
Letting her out to play for a bit… should be fine, right?
Lu Qiancha’s last trace of caution crumbled with a soft “pfft.”
She softened, sighing resignedly. “Fine, I’ll lend you the body, but don’t cause any trouble.”
Lu Qiancha put on a stern face and raised a paw, trying to look authoritative.
“Yay! The Main Body is the best!”
With a loud “bang,” the Heart Demon knocked Lu Qiancha’s Divine Soul to the ground and began rubbing her head wildly against Lu Qiancha’s neck and face.
“Ah… that’s so ticklish… Stop! Don’t rub so much! Your drool’s getting on my face!”
Lu Qiancha was both embarrassed and ticklish, trying to push away the overly energetic pink little wolf—but to her surprise, she couldn’t budge it at all!
She couldn’t help but wonder—does going dark and becoming a Heart Demon boost your strength?
“Oh!”
The Heart Demon immediately stopped, obediently using her hands and feet to get up and stand properly to the side.
But her pink tail’s tip couldn’t help but twitch slightly.
“First, I have to give you a name. I can’t keep calling you ‘Heart Demon,’ can I?”
Lu Qiancha thought for a moment before speaking.
“I’m called Lu Qiancha!”
The Heart Demon immediately raised a paw proudly, as if announcing an established fact.
“No way… that’s my name.”
Lu Qiancha deadpanned in rebuttal.
“Wah~”
The pink-haired fluff’s ears instantly drooped in grievance at Lu Qiancha’s words.
“Then what should I be called…?”
Lu Qiancha furrowed her brow, deeply pondering the naming dilemma.
Minutes ticked by, even the Demonic Sword Remnant Heart nearby began buzzing impatiently.
“Tsk…” Canxin couldn’t stand it any longer, her voice laced with irritation as if saying ‘this is embarrassing’:
“You’re so dumb! Just split your name—call the Heart Demon Qianbao, and this pink one Chabao. Done! Stop dithering!”
“Qianbao, Chabao? What kind of lazy names are those?!” Lu Qiancha protested, those names reminding her too much of a certain Q-Bao ad from her past life.
“Qianbao? Chabao? The Demonic Sword sister’s naming skills sound nice.”
The Heart Demon showed a surprised expression, clapping enthusiastically.
“See? Your Heart Demon has much better taste than you do.”
Canxin gave a smug snicker, as if to say ‘I knew you’d appreciate it.’
Lu Qiancha couldn’t be bothered arguing with the Demonic Sword (mainly because she’d lose), so she decided to skip the name war and turned to Chabao, asking: “Fine, Chabao… what do you want me to do?”
Chabao’s big pink eyes blinked rapidly: “Qianbao doesn’t have to do anything~ Just… relax!”
She opened her arms wide in a “hug me” gesture, her voice sweetly tempting.
Lu Qiancha nodded, letting her Divine Soul’s consciousness return to the Main Body, then slowly relaxed her body and mind.
After a little while, “Lu Qiancha” opened her eyes.
Those once clear lake-blue eyes now shimmered with a dreamy sakura pink hue.
Chabao blinked in amazement, as if it were her first time inhabiting this precious body.
She looked down, carefully lifting a soft, blue-furred paw, opening and closing it, feeling the warm, tangible sensation.
Her curious pink eyes scanned every object in the room—bed frame, table, teacup… even a speck of dust in the corner seemed incredibly fascinating!
She couldn’t help but poke and prod here and there, like a newborn wolf cub exploring the world for the first time.
Now, it was Chabao controlling the body, while Lu Qiancha herself had become a “spectator,” observing everything through first-person perspective.
But unlike an ordinary spectator, she could feel everything the Heart Demon felt—sight, sound, touch, and smell—a full 5D experience.
Soon, Chabao stepped out into the hallway of the side chamber.
“Smells so good!”
Chabao’s tiny nose twitched, her round pink eyes instantly lighting up.
A scent blending caramel from pastries and sweets grabbed her senses precisely.
Following the intoxicating aroma like an invisible leash, she tiptoed along the wooden corridor like a little dog on a scent trail.
Looking left, sniffing right… finally, her footsteps halted outside the door of the west side chamber.
The door was slightly ajar.
Chabao held her breath, quietly peeking through the crack—inside, under warm golden light, Gantang was sitting upright at a low round table.
The table was laden with all kinds of exquisite pastries and sweets—Almond Crisps, Peach Pie, Red Bean Rolls… she was holding a golden Osmanthus Cake, nibbling on it with a look of pure satisfaction.
Because she faced the door directly, Gantang soon noticed the pair of curious and longing pale pink eyes peering from the gap.
“Oh? Senior Brother?” Gantang was a little surprised, swallowing her snack as she tilted her head with a smile.
“What are you sneaking a peek at behind the door? If you want to eat, just come in! I’ve got plenty of treats here!”
“!”
Chabao froze completely, her pink pupils narrowing sharply.
Panic at being discovered made her quickly duck her head back inside, pressing her whole back against the cold wall beside the door.
“Y-you… you’re afraid of my junior sister? Why?”
Lu Qiancha asked in surprise within her consciousness, clearly sharing Chabao’s rapid heartbeat and tense muscles like a frightened little beast.
“Ugh… because… because humans are all bad!” Chabao grumbled inside, her voice filled with firm conviction.
“Qianbao, you must stay far away from them! They’re all big bad guys! They lie to us! They hurt us!”
Before she finished speaking, a tall figure suddenly blocked the sunlight in front of her.
Chabao snapped her head up—it was the source of the sweet fragrance inside the room: that terrifying human!
“Awooo!”
Chabao’s fur instantly bristled, instinctively taking a fighting stance: paws raised in a “ferocious tiger pounce” pose, ears perked alertly.
Her fluffy blue tail wagged nervously behind her, every hair standing on end.
She was trying her best to look fierce.
Gantang was momentarily stunned by the sudden display of cuteness, biting back the urge to rush forward and hug her.
She opened her mouth to ask, “Senior Brother… what’s gotten into you?”
“Uh—! Don’t come closer! If you come any closer… I’ll scratch you!”
Chabao was bluffing, her voice trembling as she gave a panicked warning, her pink eyes screaming, “One more step and I’ll cry!”
Seeing this, Lu Qiancha sighed helplessly at Chabao and said, “This is my junior sister. She’s not a bad person, so don’t worry.”
“Not a bad person?”
Chabao’s tense paws relaxed slightly, and the fear in her eyes faded a bit, replaced by tentative curiosity.
She looked at Gantang’s innocent face, then cautiously inched forward two small steps.
“Hm?”
Gantang blinked with her pink eyes, as if understanding the look on her Senior Brother’s face—a mix of longing and shyness.
With nimble fingers, she brushed her Qiankun Pouch at her waist and produced a string of translucent Ice Sugar Hawthorn Skewers wrapped in perfectly caramelized, crispy shells.
The bright orange-red hawthorn fruits were plump and glossy, the shiny sugar coating sparkling enticingly in the light.
A sweet honey fragrance instantly filled the air.
“Senior Brother, I saw you standing by the door for so long—you must be hungry. Here, I have some food for you. Take it and fill your stomach.”
Gantang generously handed the skewers to Chabao.
That string of glossy, ruby fruits wrapped in glistening sugar emitted an irresistibly sweet scent that breached the last fragile defenses in Chabao’s heart.
Her pink eyes flickered between the Ice Sugar Hawthorn and Gantang’s smiling face… her inner walls gradually crumbled.
Hesitant yet full of yearning, Chabao slowly moved closer to Gantang like a cautious little animal.
She first stuck out her small tongue to quickly lick the glossy sugar coating—“Mmm, so sweet!”
The warm sugary aroma instantly melted on her tongue.
Then, without hesitation, she opened her mouth wide and bravely took a bite of the whole plump fruit, covered in the crunchy, sweet candy shell.
“Mmm… so sweet, so tasty!”
Chabao’s eyes immediately went wide, a heartfelt happiness enveloped her.
She closed her eyes in bliss as her big blue tail wagged wildly, and a contented purring sound like a little kitten escaped her throat.
“Hehe, delicious, right? I had to run across two mountain ridges to get these.”
Gantang looked at her Senior Brother’s pure expression of joy, feeling proud and satisfied.
Her eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled.