The most important thing in life is sticking together

The moment the three of them stepped into the courtyard before the palace gate, they were abruptly greeted by the sight of Ling Muxue, accompanied by a squad of guards standing solemnly at attention, as well as an ice sculpture radiating bone-chilling cold. They had been waiting here for quite some time.

The gentle warmth on Xun Xue’s face faded instantly, as if sealed in ice. Her eye color turned cold, and she owed Ling Muxue not even a shred of perfunctory courtesy.

“What is your business?” Xun Xue’s voice sounded coldly and hard, as if quenched in ice.

Ling Muxue pursed her lips until they were white, speaking with difficulty: “Aunt… Please trouble yourself to inform Lu Qiancha. The person… I have brought him.”

She paused, then lowered her voice: “After the matter is concluded… I am willing to offer all the heavenly treasures and spirit stone veins I have accumulated over the years… every single one of them, as compensation.”

Xun Xue’s gaze swept imperceptibly toward Lu Qiancha by her side, only to see the little wolf cub not even lifting an eyelid, shaking her head ever so slightly.

Lu Qiancha looked down on it.

Ling Muxue’s things… were just like her person—nauseating.

She hadn’t even bothered to pay attention to the previous apology, let alone this belated gratitude that carried the nature of a transaction.

“Take your people and scram immediately.”

Xun Xue’s voice was icy cold, without a trace of warmth. She waved her hand casually, as if shooing away an annoying mosquito or fly.

“Standing here like a post, you’re an eyesore.”

Her words were like knives, showing no mercy.

“…”

Ling Muxue’s body stiffened violently, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.

She fell silent for a few breaths, ultimately saying nothing.

She merely performed a deep, almost wretched bow in Xun Xue’s direction, then turned decisively, leading her guards away with quick steps, leaving only that ice sculpture imprisoning Mufeng in the courtyard.

Once Ling Muxue’s figure had disappeared, Xun Xue looked at Lu Qiancha, her tone returning to gentleness: “How does Little Qiancha intend to dispose of this ‘thing’?”

“Just hand him directly to Ling Ze. The rest is none of my business.”

Lu Qiancha glanced at the ice sculpture, her gaze indifferent and her voice calm and devoid of ripples.

A perfect medicinal catalyst that has consumed the Nirvana Syrup…

The Wolf Clan would have their own ways to make full use of him.

For lifetime after lifetime, extracting his bones and sucking his marrow, he would be reduced to a furnace of flesh and blood to nourish the Wolf Clan’s prosperity… This was the destination his crimes deserved.

Her goal had already been achieved. As for Ling Muxue… Ling Ze would handle her himself.

Lu Qiancha had already said what needed to be said. After witnessing the end of these two people, it was time to leave the Northern Region.

Hearing this, Xun Xue nodded lightly, saying no more, simply rubbing Lu Qiancha’s little head tenderly.

Subsequently, she ordered several attendants to carry the ice sculpture imprisoning Mufeng to Ling Ze’s Hall of Mental Cultivation, while she herself held the small hands of Lu Qiancha and Ling Wanbai, returning to the warm sleeping quarters within Shuixian Palace.

Just as they stepped through the palace doors, Lu Qiancha familiarly pulled out a stalk of Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid emitting a delicate fragrance from her storage pouch, preparing to start today’s desensitization training.

Just then—

Ling Wanbai, who had been following quietly behind, stuck close without a sound.

She stood expressionlessly by Lu Qiancha’s side, those calm grey eyes locking straight onto the alluring plant in Lu Qiancha’s hand.

That overly focused gaze made Lu Qiancha feel a trace of strangeness. She turned her head in confusion, meeting Ling Wanbai’s eyes, which were written full of “I want.”

“Want to eat this.”

Ling Wanbai extended a small hand, gently tugging at the corner of Lu Qiancha’s skirt.

Her voice still held no ripples, yet it carried a trace of an imperceptible pleading tone.

“…Not giving it to you.”

Lu Qiancha immediately twisted her body vigilantly, hugging the Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid, her small face written full of refusal.

She remembered clearly—last time Ling Wanbai ate this thing, it was like she became a different person, full of aggression, nearly bullying her to the point of tears.

Ling Wanbai pursed her lips, not giving up. She extended her small hand again and gently pushed Lu Qiancha’s arm.

Her voice became softer, carrying a rare tone of begging, and Ling Wanbai promised in a low voice: “I promise to hold back and not do weird things this time.”

Lu Qiancha looked at Ling Wanbai’s rarely seen low posture, then stole a glance at Xun Xue, who was watching them with a smile nearby.

Mother is right here, it should be fine…

After struggling for a moment, Lu Qiancha’s heart softened in the end. She carefully took out another stalk of Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid from her storage pouch and handed it to Ling Wanbai.

Lu Qiancha herself opened her small mouth and took a big bite—”Ah-woo”—out of her own stalk.

The faint milky fragrance mixed with the plant’s juices slid down her throat, bringing a wave of comfortable coolness.

“Mmh…” She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, the big tail behind her unconsciously giving a gentle swish.

Then, like a little beast seeking shelter, she naturally pressed herself against Xun Xue’s side, her small head rubbing against her mother’s arm.

“Mother, pets~”

“Alright.”

Xun Xue chuckled lightly, her warm, soft palm immediately covering Lu Qiancha’s little head, her movements gentle as she stroked down along the smooth hair and sensitive wolf ears.

“Hehe, so happy~” Lu Qiancha was so comfortable her eyes curved into little crescents, a satisfied purring sound issuing from her throat as she continued to chew the Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid in her hand with small bites.

Having eaten it for so long, she finally had a bit of resistance to this wolf catnip. At least she wouldn’t be like she was initially, defenselessly arching around everywhere begging for rubs right off the bat.

Although after eating, the top of her head and the base of her tail would still ripple with waves of fine, ticklish numbness that tugged at her heartstrings, at least it was within her controllable range.

Beside her, Ling Wanbai also held her own stalk of Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid, gnawing at it with small bites.

There was still no expression on her face, but that fluffy grey tail began to sway left and right with a brisk rhythm, and her two erect wolf ears also twitched slightly and unconsciously, revealing the joy within their owner’s heart.

However, just a few bites later—

Ling Wanbai seemed to be pulled by an invisible force, involuntarily moving her feet to stick to Lu Qiancha’s side. Then, she used her own cheek to press tightly against Lu Qiancha’s small face, nuzzling back and forth.

“Hey! Don’t stick so close! It’s hot!”

Lu Qiancha was currently enjoying being groomed by Xun Xue comfortably; suddenly “attacked,” her small face immediately scrunched into a ball.

She extended her small hands, struggling to push away Ling Wanbai’s leaning body.

Helplessly, the other party seemed to have identified her as a “treasure land” at this moment; her small body stuck close stubbornly, and her strength was not small.

After pushing and shoving a few times to no avail, Lu Qiancha, who was somewhat dizzy and intoxicated by the Dendrobium and Pearl Orchid, could only admit defeat, enduring the pain of being sandwiched from both sides.

The side sandwiched by Xun Xue’s warm embrace was fine; naturally, it was soft and full of security, making her incomparably at ease and comfortable.

But facing Ling Wanbai was different. Although her body was also soft, it was always somewhat poking and uncomfortable, making Lu Qiancha feel like she was sitting on pins and needles.

Just as Lu Qiancha was silently enduring it.

The next moment—

“Mmh!”

Lu Qiancha’s pupils dilated violently.

She felt a softness on her lips and hurriedly used all her strength to push Ling Wanbai away, then turned to accuse Xun Xue: “Mother, she’s bullying me!”