Mu Chenxi’s divine sense receded like the ebbing tide, slowly withdrawing from Bai Yue’s spiritual sea.
Her consciousness returned to her body.
The first thing she felt was a deep sense of peace and warmth.
A gentle, soothing fragrance lingered at the tip of her nose.
This was Master’s scent.
Mu Chenxi slowly opened her eyes.
The hazy moonlight filtered through the window lattice, casting a soft layer of white over everything in the room.
She herself was curled up in Master Bai Yue’s arms like a lazy kitten.
Bai Yue was sound asleep, her breathing steady and long, her exquisitely beautiful profile serene and gentle.
Her long, curled eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes, making one want to reach out and touch them.
Behind Master, Yan Hua was wrapped around Bai Yue’s body, like a giant octopus plushie.
Mu Chenxi checked her own state.
Overnight, the divine soul she had damaged by forcibly breaking through had almost fully recovered.
The icy power within her was even more refined.
She hadn’t continued cultivating.
In fact, the result of painstakingly meditating all night was actually not as effective as peacefully sleeping in Master’s arms like this.
She carefully adjusted her position, burying her face deeper into that soft, warm place.
Mmm.
So fragrant.
And so soft.
So this is what it feels like to depend on someone.
Very reassuring.
And easy to get lost in.
Mu Chenxi gave up thinking, contentedly hugging this warm, fragrant, soft elixir of life, inhaling the scent that calmed her, and soon drifted off into deep sleep.
She slept deeply, satisfied and sweet.
***
“Hungry.”
“Master, I’m hungry. I want something delicious.”
Early the next morning, as soon as Bai Yue woke up, Yan Hua’s voice broke the morning tranquility.
Bai Yue rubbed her eyes helplessly.
She glanced at Mu Chenxi, who had woken up in her arms, then looked at Yan Hua behind her.
“We travel first.”
After thinking for a moment, Bai Yue made a decision.
“When we arrive, I’ll make you something good to eat. Maybe we can catch some wild game on the way.”
“Yay.”
Yan Hua revived on the spot.
“Then I’ll lead the way this time. I’m super fast.”
As she spoke, without waiting for Bai Yue or Mu Chenxi to react, she opened her little cherry mouth.
The next second, a gentle yet irresistible suction force swept over them.
Bai Yue’s vision went black.
When she opened her eyes again, she and the still half-asleep Mu Chenxi had fallen into a warm, soft space.
It was Yan Hua’s Great Stomach.
The interior of this space was surprisingly spacious, with no unpleasant odors—on the contrary, it felt cozy and warm.
The soft stomach walls completely blocked out the cold autumn wind outside and even radiated a gentle heat, like a natural greenhouse.
Bai Yue seemed used to this.
She yawned, found a comfortable corner, leaned against the warm stomach wall, and closed her eyes to sleep again.
“Ma—ster—”
Mu Chenxi felt a little uneasy at first, but when she saw her Master’s sleeping face so close, she sat down next to her, pressing close and resting her head gently on Master’s shoulder.
Yes, it was the familiar scent, the familiar sense of security.
Mu Chenxi closed her eyes, ignoring the outside world.
She immersed her mind, silently circulating her cultivation method to heal the last of her soul’s injuries.
With Master by her side, even cultivation felt twice as effective with half the effort.
Yan Hua’s speed was truly astonishing.
She stepped through the void, her figure moving like lightning.
With each step, a crisp boom echoed through the air.
But inside her Great Stomach, everything remained perfectly stable, with not a hint of turbulence.
“Yan Hua, the Violet Blossom Secret Realm is ahead.”
Mu Chenxi used her divine sense to scout, guiding Yan Hua while tempting her with talk of food.
“Listen, the spiritual fish in that secret realm are delicious. When we get there, let Master cook us some fish.”
“Fish, delicious fish.”
Yan Hua’s mouth almost watered, and her speed increased again.
Boom!
The sound of air exploding grew louder.
Mu Chenxi quickly raised her hand, setting up a Sound-Isolating Barrier for fear of disturbing her peacefully resting Master.
By dusk, before night had fully fallen, Yan Hua had successfully carried everyone to the entrance of the Violet Blossom Secret Realm.
“Whew… We’re here.”
Bai Yue emerged from the warm Great Stomach, instantly awakened by the cool autumn breeze.
She stretched, her curves making her three disciples stare in a daze.
“Let’s go inside. Tonight, we’re having fish hotpot.”
“Okay.”
Mu Chenxi and Yan Hua replied in unison.
Entering the secret realm, everything felt familiar and smooth.
Su Qiuyue’s remnant soul floated out of Bai Yue’s body.
“Leave fishing to me. My Thousand Threads, Myriad Thoughts Secret Art is perfect for catching fish—never misses.”
As soon as she finished speaking, countless near-invisible threads of divine thought penetrated the stream.
In no time, several plump spiritual fish were pulled precisely ashore, flopping about.
“I’ll handle them.”
Mu Chenxi drew her long sword.
Without even letting the blade touch the fish, she used her sharp Sword Qi to cleanly scrape off their scales and gut them.
“Slice them thin.”
Bai Yue instructed from the side, a hint of laughter in her voice.
“So thin you can see light through them.”
“Yes, Master.”
Mu Chenxi’s wrist flicked.
Sword Qi danced like silk over the tender fish meat.
One after another, paper-thin, crystal-clear slices of fish were laid out neatly on a stone slab.
Her movements were fluid and graceful—not like someone preparing food, but more like a beautiful sword dance.
Mu Chenxi moved her Sword Qi again, carving a perfectly round stone pot from a giant rock.
After that, it was Bai Yue’s turn.
She set the pot in place, drew water from the stream, and skillfully pulled various seasonings from her Storage Ring, tossing them into the pot.
Soon, a rich aroma spread through the air.
The three sat around the stone pot, Yan Hua already drooling.
“It’s ready.”
Bai Yue picked up a slice of fish, swished it in the boiling soup, then placed it into Mu Chenxi’s bowl.
“Taste your handiwork.”
Mu Chenxi picked up the fish slice, blew on it, and carefully put it in her mouth.
The fish melted instantly, its delicate flavor exploding on her tongue, blending perfectly with Bai Yue’s secret broth—a true delicacy.
“Delicious.”
Her eyes sparkled.
Nearby, Su Qiuyue watched them feast, full of envy.
She wanted to eat too…
She sighed and floated listlessly to the massive tombstone not far away.
Since she couldn’t eat, she might as well study this Inheritance.
She reached out, tentatively touching the cold tombstone.
Nothing happened.
Su Qiuyue didn’t give up.
She slowly infused her divine sense, carefully sensing the ancient thoughts lingering on the tombstone.
After a while, her eyes lit up as if she’d discovered something.
She floated back to Bai Yue, excitement in her voice.
“Bai Yue, I know the conditions for unlocking this Inheritance.”
“Oh?”
Bai Yue raised an eyebrow.
“It says that two people in love must place their hands on it together, and one of them must have reached a certain level in the sword path to trigger resonance and obtain the Inheritance within.”