Time passed quietly. About a quarter of an hour later.
“Pop—!”
A sound like a bubble bursting echoed.
The lake’s pressure that had enveloped her entire body suddenly vanished.
Crisp air, tinged with a salty tang, rushed over her.
Her vision cleared instantly, revealing a dazzling golden, soft, warm beach, endless azure waves, and the blazing sun hanging high overhead.
Xuan Ya’s tense back relaxed imperceptibly upon seeing this peaceful sea and sky merging seamlessly.
The spiritual light gathering on her duster quietly withdrew. It seemed it was just a false alarm.
“Wow—!!! It really is the sea! The big—sea—!!!”
Gan Tang burst out like a bird freed from its cage, her joyous cry piercing the clouds.
She jumped up and down on the spot, nearly ready to sprint toward the golden shore.
If not for the stern presence of their master, she might have already turned into a streak of light diving into the waves.
“This place… really has a secret realm.”
Lu Qiancha gazed at the rapidly changing environment, a hint of understanding stirring in her heart.
She then turned to look at Xun Xue smiling beside her and asked in a voice filled with puzzlement, “Mother, how did you find this place?”
“Hm?”
Xun Xue tilted her head, her deep blue eyes glinting mischievously like a cunning fox.
Then, the corner of her lips curved into a tantalizingly secretive smile, and she lightly pressed a finger against her lips.
“Well… that’s a secret~”
“Little Qiancha~”
Xun Xue’s eyes curved into sly crescent moons as she leaned in slightly, her voice dropping to an alluring whisper, “Don’t you really… want to know?”
She gently waved her finger, the mysterious smile deepening: “As long as… you promise me one tiny, tiny little thing~~ then I’ll tell you, okay?”
“?”
A glint flashed in Lu Qiancha’s blue eyes, and her usually guarded ears perked up.
“First, what is it you want?”
“Hehe… can I borrow your tail for a few minutes, please?”
Xun Xue lifted a sly smile, her finger unabashedly tapping the fluffy, warm tail hidden behind her daughter’s body, transmitting her words telepathically.
Hearing that, Lu Qiancha’s hidden fluffy tail instantly stiffened as if filled with molten iron.
Swish!
It snapped straight.
“Don’t even think about it.”
Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched, and she quietly took two steps aside.
Once bitten, twice shy.
There was no way she was agreeing to Xun Xue’s request.
Since her mother wasn’t going to say more, Lu Qiancha stopped asking.
She turned away, seemingly gazing absentmindedly at the white waves rolling in and retreating nearby, but her tail remained raised alertly, as if guarding against some unseen threat.
Xun Xue watched her daughter’s warily defensive stance, eyes shimmering with a flash of “regret” that was quickly replaced by a deeper, more amused smile.
She softly hummed an unknown tune, but as she hummed…
Her fingertip sneaked out to the tip of Lu Qiancha’s stubborn tail.
With a quick, gentle scrape of her fingernail.
“Eek!”
Lu Qiancha’s whole body jolted as if shocked by electricity, nearly jumping out of her skin.
She whipped around, fur fluffed up, glaring fiercely.
But Xun Xue nonchalantly crossed her hands behind her back and headed toward Xuan Ya and Gan Tang, who were busy setting up the tents farther away.
All that was left in the wind was her happily rising hum.
Lu Qiancha stood frozen, the tip of her tail still tingling with a faint numbness.
…Really.
She shook her head in helplessness, forcing herself to ignore the strange sensation on her tail and quickened her pace toward Xuan Ya.
As she approached, she saw the three of them had already spread out a simple but elegant Yunjin Dibu, erected Qingzhu Zhanggan poles, and set up the framework of the tents, now finishing the final reinforcements.
Without a word, Lu Qiancha joined in.
Her claws hooked onto the heavy ground stakes.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
She picked up a hammer with her spiritual sense and, with a bit of venting force, drove it firmly and accurately into the rough gravel.
The guy ropes tightened, entwined with the sturdy Longjin Suokouhuan, emitting a faint humming sound.
They repeatedly checked positions and tightened every binding.
After a brief but intensive effort…
Three tents—one large and two smaller ones, each with a different style but equally sturdy—finally stood tall at the edge of the beach.
Xuan Ya’s spacious Zhuzhu was a moon-white flowing cloud patterned tent shared between Gan Tang and their master.
The remaining two petite Fushu Zhangpeng embroidered with golden thread were divided between Lu Qiancha and Xun Xue.
As soon as the work finished, Gan Tang, dressed in a light, translucent pale blue Chanyi that clung delicately to her figure, burst forth like a released bird.
“Woohoo—!”
She gave a meaningless but free-spirited cheer, her tender white feet kicking up a spray of flying golden sand, and rushed like the wind toward the enchanting azure waves.
Xuan Ya’s lips curved faintly, a smile as light and gentle as a breeze playing on her face.
Her hands were clasped behind her back, the hem of her skirt fluttering in the slightly salty sea breeze.
Like walking on moonlight and wind, she strolled leisurely along the golden sand meeting the blue sea, savoring the unique rhythm of this world.
Just then, a rich, fragrant scent carrying a frosty chill approached the shore with the sea breeze—the teenage boy drawing near.
Xun Xue, like a stealthy cat, silently slipped to Lu Qiancha’s side and whispered in a low voice, “Little Qiancha, did you bring any nice swimsuits?”
“No.”
Lu Qiancha didn’t look back, her tone calm. “The outfit I disguised myself with is already a spiritual illusion. Whatever style I need, I can change it in a moment.”
With that, a faint glow flickered at her fingertips—
Swish!
Her flowing Baiyi instantly transformed seamlessly into a simple, neat, cool swimsuit.
“That’s just a change of appearance.”
Xun Xue pouted, somewhat displeased. “It’s still made of the same fabric! Soaking it in salty seawater ruins the material! Washing it afterwards is such a pain!”
She tapped heavily on Lu Qiancha’s forehead. “Besides! A beach without changing into a swimsuit has no soul!”
“Getting wet is getting wet. What can I do? I didn’t bring proper swimwear. It’s better than running around naked on the beach.”
Lu Qiancha spoke irritably.
“Hehe, actually, I brought a proper swimsuit.”
Xun Xue grinned slyly, pulling out from her storage pouch a pink-and-white interwoven swimsuit with delicate lace straps.
At the back was a cute big bow tie.
The whole piece was so short it barely reached the thighs, unbelievably dreamy, and even carried a hint of a sinful allure in its exquisite one-piece design.
“This? I refuse.”
The moment Lu Qiancha’s gaze fell on the pink lace, her forcibly maintained composure shattered with a snap, and her voice turned ice-cold.
“Oh dear~ Little Qiancha~~~”
Xun Xue immediately grabbed Lu Qiancha’s arm and shook it, her half-soft, warm body pressing irresistibly against her daughter’s arm.
“This kind of adorable swimsuit is practically tailor-made for you.”
She waved the swimsuit enticingly, her amber eyes filled with unmistakable pleading.
“Just wear it once, just once for Mommy, okay~~~ just once, please~!”
Saying this, Xun Xue pressed her voluptuous softness directly onto Lu Qiancha.
For some reason, this contact with Xun Xue caused an especially strong bloodline resonance this time.
The thick safety and comfort, enough to drown all defenses, crashed over her nerves like a tsunami, forcing Lu Qiancha to drop her guard.
As for the disguise… does one need a disguise in front of their closest kin? Lu Qiancha nearly answered this instinctively.
The spiritual energy supply from Shen Ying Jue instantly halted, revealing her soft, plush azure ears and fur, fully exposed to the warm sunlight and sea breeze.
She even instinctively nudged Xun Xue’s soft inner arm with her small head.
A satisfied “purr” escaped her throat.
Xun Xue looked like a triumphant little fox, her lips curling into a smile as she softly asked, “Little Qiancha, shall Mommy change you into a pretty outfit, hmm?”
“Mm…”
Lu Qiancha was completely lost in this intimacy.
Her blue eyes glazed, and without any thought, she gave a sweet, soft, sticky reply: “Okay~ Mother can do whatever she wants~”
“Hehe! My baby is the best, the best!”
Xun Xue triumphantly planted a loud “Mua!” on the soft, vanilla-scented cheek.
“Mmm~”
The moment she was kissed, a wave of warmth and happiness wrapped around Lu Qiancha’s little head, stirring her senses into a delightful mess.
Her dizzy, fuzzy mind contained only one thought:
Ehehe, I got praised, so happy!
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.