“…Master’s Wife…”
Shangguan Yunzhu lowered her head, her gaze fixed on the delicate embroidery at the hem of her skirt, her fingers twisting together unconsciously as her heart waged a battle between heaven and humanity.
The long corridor was silent.
Only the faint rustling of vine leaves brushing against each other in the wind could be heard.
No one knew how much time had passed.
Finally, as if summoning all her strength, she lifted her head to meet the warm and forgiving eyes of her Shiniang.
Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz, tinged with the unique shyness and confusion of a young girl: “Shiniang, I think I might have fallen in love with someone…”
A lump rose in Shangguan Yunzhu’s throat, and with great difficulty, she forced out the word that made her heart burn with heat.
But that person’s eyes seemed only to see those close to her.
“She paused, each word weighed down as if a thousand pounds: “So should I… just watch from afar… not disturb, and let go?”
Qi Lanzhu stared into the amber eyes filled with struggle and timidity.
At first, she was taken aback.
Then—
“Pfft.”
A knowing and somewhat mischievous laugh escaped her lips.
“I thought so!” Qi Lanzhu extended a finger, gently tapping Shangguan Yunzhu’s forehead, her eyes filled with unrestrained teasing.
“You lost your soul! Going in circles, it turns out it’s fallen for that handsome young disciple from Tianquan Peak?”
“Ah?!”
Shangguan Yunzhu’s eyes widened instantly, her cheeks flushing bright red. “Shiniang! How… how did you know?”
Smiling lightly with lips pressed together, Qi Lanzhu’s gaze flickered with amusement. “Your Master… ever since he came back, he’s been reciting like a mantra about that kid.”
“Ahem ahem.”
Clearing her throat, she imitated her husband’s voice: “Lanzhu, that Xuanya boy is really something. He saved our Yuner, a great favor! Must repay with twice the gift list! No, three times!”
Qi Lanzhu exaggeratedly rubbed her ears. “My ears are about to get calluses from all that nagging!”
Jokes aside, Qi Lanzhu’s eyes returned to the girl’s flushed face, her smile warm and genuine with relief: “Shiniang never expected… this silly girl of mine has finally… opened her heart!”
“Shiniang!”
Shangguan Yunzhu was so shy she almost buried her face in her Shiniang’s shoulder. The dark clouds of anxiety lingering in her heart seemed to dissipate amidst this teasing affection.
“All right, all right, I won’t tease you anymore.”
Qi Lanzhu covered her mouth, laughing softly, then composed herself and said seriously: “We cultivators live long lives, and the Dao path is long and arduous.”
“On this endless Path of Immortality, the rarest thing is the Dao; the hardest to maintain is fate; and the most difficult to sever is obsession! Ultimately, what we cultivate—”
“Qi Lanzhu fixed her gaze on Shangguan Yunzhu, speaking each word clearly and powerfully: Is the struggle to seize a glimmer of life against Heaven!”
“The pursuit to ascend against others! The severing of the consequences of defying fate!”
She leaned in slightly, looking straight into the girl’s eyes: “Now… since you have gained this feeling that keeps you tossing and turning, stirring bittersweet emotions, this is that glimmer of life! A fraction of fate!”
“If you have decided on this heart…” Qi Lanzhu’s voice rose sharply, filled with unwavering resolve, “Then go fight for it! With honor!“
“Shiniang…” Shangguan Yunzhu stared blankly at those eyes that seemed capable of burning away all darkness. Those words, like morning bells and evening drums, hammered heavily on her heart.
Finally, she took a deep breath as if unloading a thousand-pound burden. The corners of her lips slowly lifted, tracing a faint yet unshakable smile like the clear sky after rain: “Shiniang… I understand now!”
She no longer hesitated.
Rising, she gave a crisp and respectful bow to Qi Lanzhu.
Then she turned without looking back, striding confidently toward her cultivation chamber.
Her steps were firm, her back straight.
In those clear amber eyes burned a fierce flame called determination.
***
There was no excitement on Tianquan Peak, day after day.
Lu Qiancha spent nearly a week refining the spiritual energy purified from the Demonic Sword.
Her Dan Tian was filled and surging with spiritual power, like a lake at full moon, the barrier to Nascent Soul Stage now within reach.
“Bang—!”
The door of the southern wing room protested with a dull thud.
“Little, did you miss me?”
A swift, wind-like azure figure swept inside, calling out eagerly before enveloping Lu Qiancha in a bear hug as she was calmly meditating.
“Mother,” Lu Qiancha was nearly flustered by the warmth, struggling to lift her face from the overly enthusiastic embrace, her blue eyes tinged with helplessness and a hint of protest, “Could you knock next time?”
“Wooheehee, it’s just that I haven’t seen my precious daughter for too long, I got too excited.”
Xun Xue released her arms with a smile, casually pinching her daughter’s soft cheek.
“Mother…”
Lu Qiancha’s gaze carefully, cautiously flicked toward the bulging Storage Bag at Xun Xue’s waist, “About that Transformation Pill formula…”
“Oh, almost forgot.”
“Oh! Right, right!” Xun Xue slapped her forehead as if suddenly remembering something important and hurriedly dug into the Storage Bag.
“Clatter—!”
A small pile of variously shaped materials, some lustrous, some dense, exuding strong fragrances of rare herbs or mineral earthiness, were dumped onto the small table.
Finally, with a “pat,” a heavy bamboo scroll, gleaming with the sheen of age, was placed atop the ingredients.
“There! Everything complete! The Transformation Pill recipe, plus main and supplementary ingredients!”
Xun Xue had just finished speaking when Lu Qiancha’s eyes lit up instantly, her small hands eager to snatch the bamboo scroll that represented liberation.
“Hey! Don’t be so quick!”
As fast as lightning, Xun Xue caught the itching paws.
A mysterious smile spread across her face as if hiding a peerless treasure: “I have something else great to show you!”
“?”
Lu Qiancha tilted her head, confusion shining in her blue eyes.
“Wait for me to find it!” Xun Xue narrowed her eyes, a smug curve on her lips as she rummaged through the Storage Bag.
“Got it!” Like discovering a rare delicacy, she carefully took out a plain oil-treated cowhide paper package.
With a “snap,” it was placed steadily on the wooden table.
“What is this?”
Lu Qiancha asked, puzzled, looking at Xun Xue.
“Hehe! Forgot?”
Xun Xue blinked, her smile growing brighter, “I sent you a message before… It’s something delicious—just one bite!”
Lu Qiancha suddenly remembered; she still had the message Xun Xue sent earlier.
“So what is this tasty thing?”
“It’s very delicious jerky!”
“Jerky?”
Lu Qiancha’s expectation plummeted instantly.
Jerky.
Her Storage Ring was still stuffed with several large bags—beef, pork, lamb, chicken—stored for years and nearly antiques by now…
“This isn’t ordinary jerky!”
Xun Xue saw through her look and deliberately emphasized her tone.
“Shua la—”
The cowhide paper was skillfully peeled open.
An aggressively intense and overwhelmingly rich aroma erupted.
In an instant, the wild scent shattered the room’s original light herbal fragrance.
The smell was strong, complex, and layered, like roasted pine cones mingled with wild mushrooms on rock walls, accompanied by a rich meaty fat fragrance that surged directly to the heavens.