Lu Qiancha looked at the wooden spoon lifted to her lips, a trace of helplessness flickering in her eyes. In the end, she obediently parted her small mouth and swallowed the warm meat broth.
The taste was indeed good—the broth rich and perfectly salted, the subtle sweetness of the carrots blending skillfully, and the tender meat chunks melting in her mouth.
On closer tasting, a faint, elusive scent of scallion clung delicately to her tongue.
“Delicious, right?”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s voice held an unmistakable note of hopeful anticipation, her once icy expression having melted away, leaving only a radiant smile like a spring breeze.
“Mm, delicious.”
Lu Qiancha nodded honestly. Compared to the half-raw, blood-dripping roast chicken from before, this bowl of soup was a delicacy.
“Then eat more, don’t be shy.”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s smile grew even brighter, her eyes sparkling.
She carefully fed her spoonful after spoonful, watching the small lips swallow the meat broth, feeling as if her heart was filled with warm sunlight, swelling with endless tenderness and satisfaction.
After the last mouthful of broth was swallowed, Shangguan Yunzhu softly asked, “Xiao Qianqian, want some more? There’s still plenty in the pot.”
Lu Qiancha instinctively rubbed her slightly rounded belly, her delicate brows knitting slightly. “Really… I can’t eat anymore.”
Her body had transformed into this form, and her appetite had shrunk considerably. To avoid wasting food, she forced herself to swallow the last two spoonfuls.
Her stomach warm, Lu Qiancha leaned against the chair back, quietly sorting through the day’s strange events: the eerie depletion of spiritual energy, the guards’ lies, the villagers’ calm, the beast attacks hidden beneath the surface of Peach Blossom Paradise…
The clues were scattered, but the key thread to tie everything together was still missing.
Lost in thought, Shangguan Yunzhu’s lively voice suddenly rang out: “Oh right, Xiao Qianqian! Tonight is the full moon!”
She playfully winked. “I heard that the little wolves howl at the full moon… Won’t you be tempted?”
Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched. She was human, not a wolf—how could she howl at the moon? That would be ridiculous…
Wait!
A thought flashed through her mind like lightning!
She was wearing the unmistakable wolf demon appearance in this Peach Blossom Paradise. Yet, neither the passersby nor Li Qiang and the other guards had shown any suspicion or rejection of her妖族 identity.
It was as if a wolf demon wandering the streets was as natural as a neighbor’s child. This… was far too abnormal!
The mystery in her heart rippled like stones tossed into a lake, the waves growing deeper. Lu Qiancha sighed silently.
“Sigh.”
“What’s wrong, Qianqian? Looking so glum?” Shangguan Yunzhu came closer with concern, her amber eyes reflecting the candlelight. “Is… the soup not tasty?”
Lu Qiancha shook her head, then looked up at the caring face. After a moment’s hesitation, she finally asked, “Yunzhu sister, during the time you’ve been living here… have you noticed anything… unusual?”
“Unusual?” Shangguan Yunzhu tapped her chin thoughtfully. Suddenly she remembered, “Ah! There actually is one thing!”
“Oh? Please tell me, Yunzhu sister!” Lu Qiancha’s spirit lifted, her blue eyes locking onto her.
“The villagers here,” Shangguan Yunzhu lowered her voice, tinged with a bit of petty resentment, “hold a monthly ritual to worship the ‘Shan Shen’! I was curious and wanted to go see, but the old Village Chief said something like ‘outsiders’ presence would disturb the Shan Shen,’ and just turned me away at the gate!”
She paused, her tone both displeased and puzzled. “But isn’t it strange? Later, a few outsiders came in, and the Village Chief actually let them join the worship! Only I’m an outsider? Humph!”
Worshipping the Shan Shen? Unequal treatment?
Alarm bells rang loudly in Lu Qiancha’s mind. Intuition and clues converged instantly—the focal point of all these problems was very likely hidden in that mysterious and unfathomable “Shan Shen.”
“Yunzhu sister,” Lu Qiancha perhaps out of habit, called her gently. Her voice unconsciously carried a touch of obedient affection. “When is the next Shan Shen worship…?”
“Hmm… It should be in the next few days.” Shangguan Yunzhu estimated uncertainly.
“Mm-hmm, thank you for clarifying, Yunzhu sister.”
Lu Qiancha thanked her solemnly.
“You’re welcome~” Shangguan Yunzhu was immediately placated, her smile returning to her eyes. “Alright, bedtime story over—” she said, spreading her arms and scooping up Lu Qiancha lightly, leaving no room for refusal. “It’s—time—to—sleep!”
“Sleep?”
Lu Qiancha looked around the simple wooden cabin in confusion—there was only a single cot with a plain, coarse cloth sheet. “But I’m going to sleep. Yunzhu sister, where will you sleep?”
“Pfft,” Shangguan Yunzhu chuckled at the serious little one in her arms. “Of course, I’ll squeeze in! My bed isn’t small at all!”
“Well, actually, I could just sit and meditate nearby,” Lu Qiancha timidly suggested, a little afraid that if her identity were exposed later, Shangguan Yunzhu might draw her sword and cut her down.
After all, when she had fought Qingfeng, the strikes had been merciless—one slash piercing the soul, another stabbing the heart, not even giving a chance for reincarnation.
“No!”
Shangguan Yunzhu was firm. She gently laid Lu Qiancha on the bed, hands on her hips, amber eyes sternly glaring.
“You’re so young and already want to stay up late? It harms your liver and energy, and your skin will get worse! Plus—”
She dragged out the tone with absolute authority: “You won’t grow tall!”
Won’t grow tall?!
Lu Qiancha’s small ears instantly perked up with alertness, then slowly drooped in disappointment.
Sigh… She almost forgot she was already in the Nascent Soul Stage… this body had long since finished growing…
Lost in thought—
The rustle of fabric!
Lu Qiancha looked up in surprise, only to see Shangguan Yunzhu skillfully untying the outer robe’s sash. The bright red outer garment slowly slid off the smooth shoulder.
“Ah—! W-what are you doing!”
Lu Qiancha instantly flared up, her paws shooting up to cover her eyes, ears pressed tight against her hair as she curled into an ostrich pose. “No peeking! No listening!”
“Of course, I’m changing into pajamas,” Shangguan Yunzhu said matter-of-factly, looking oddly puzzled at the pretty pink short ruqun Lu Qiancha was wearing.
“Xiao Qianqian, aren’t you changing? It’s so uncomfortable to sleep in your outer clothes.”
“I… don’t have pajamas.”
Lu Qiancha lowered her head guiltily, her voice muffled.
“Oh… I see.”
Shangguan Yunzhu suddenly understood. With a flick of her fingers, several Storage Rings floated up.
Her fingers quickly moved as if unlocking a treasure trove, and one by one, various clothes of different styles and sizes drifted out, spreading before her.
Crimson silk, blue cotton-linen, and pale yellow embroidered fine cloth.
Shangguan Yunzhu picked up a few, lightly comparing size and style in front of Lu Qiancha.
“Xiao Qianqian,” she smiled warmly, pushing forward the ones that looked most suitable—among them, a moon-white soft silk nightdress with delicate lace edging stood out. “Which one do you like? Pick any!”
Lu Qiancha stared at the dazzling array of pajamas, momentarily overwhelmed. She couldn’t help but quietly ask, “Yunzhu sister… how do you have so many… clothes that don’t fit you?”
“Because,” Shangguan Yunzhu’s eyes flickered, a soft glow of reminiscence surfacing, “many of these were prepared by my mother for me, from my childhood size all the way to the age of adulthood.”
“She worried about me wandering outside and thought of everything. A few Storage Rings are stuffed full…”
As if afraid Lu Qiancha might think them useless, she quickly added, “But don’t worry, Xiao Qianqian! These are all brand new, brand new, I’ve never worn any of them once!”