A Past Embrace, A Future Dilemma

After Mu Xi’s figure completely vanished outside the stone cave, Luo Bingning slowly opened her eyes. She rose, curling her knees, and stared blankly at the spot where Mu Xi had previously sat leaning in the corner.

“Xixi…” she choked, tears silently streaming down her face.

The words, “Wait for me…” still echoed in her ears. As her gaze fell upon Zhang Xiaocha nearby, a complex myriad of emotions filled her shimmering eyes.

Based on Xixi’s intention, she would undoubtedly return here to find her soon.

If Luo Bingning were still here then, all would be well. However, if she were gone, given Zhang Xiaocha’s fervent desire for Disgust Value, she would inevitably provoke Xixi once more. Who knew what further trouble might arise from that?

‘Let Zhang Xiaocha go?’

A thought abruptly surfaced in Luo Bingning’s mind.

She shook her head vehemently.

‘If Zhang Xiaocha were released, wouldn’t it be even easier for her to encounter Xixi?’

‘Not to mention those inexplicable inner thoughts…’

Luo Bingning’s expression clouded with difficulty. Yet, if she didn’t release her, could she truly keep Zhang Xiaocha confined?

She turned her head, her gaze falling upon the Violet Nether Chain beside her, now disconnected from her control and resembling an ordinary chain. She fell silent.

She sat blankly on the stone bed, her knees drawn to her chest.

After a long while,

She finally suppressed the chaotic thoughts swirling within her mind.

Luo Bingning turned onto her side, leaning against the stone bed. She lowered her gaze and gently brushed away the stray hair clinging to Zhang Xiaocha’s cheek with her fingertip.

In that instant, a delicate, porcelain-white face, both obedient and adorable, came into view, captivating Luo Bingning’s shimmering eyes. A tender smile involuntarily graced her lips. “It seems it was like this back then, too…”

Subconsciously, she drew the unconscious Zhang Xiaocha into her embrace. Her palm rested on the child’s delicate back, gently patting it, the rhythm harmonizing with the intermittent drip of water echoing through the stone cave.

Eleven years ago, on Misty Peak.

The night was as thick as ink, and heavy rain poured down, roaring relentlessly.

Inside Huilan Residence,

On the bed,

A small figure nestled in Luo Bingning’s arms. Zhang Xiaocha lowered her head, murmuring, “Mmm…”

“Senior Sister, it’s raining outside, and it’s definitely going to thunder again soon…” The soft, sweet voice paused, as if fearing Senior Sister wouldn’t agree. Zhang Xiaocha blinked her big, dark eyes, pleading pitifully, “Chacha is so scared. Senior Sister, will you sleep with me, please?”

“Chacha promises not to cause trouble ever again…” Her two small hands anxiously clasped together.

Luo Bingning lowered her gaze, her delicate brows furrowing slightly. “But you said the same thing to me last time…”

Before the words of reprimand could fully escape her lips, a dazzling flash of lightning tore through the night sky. It illuminated Zhang Xiaocha’s pale little face in that instant.

As if petrified, her eyes stared blankly out the window. Tears silently traced paths down her cheeks.

It wasn’t until a warm palm gently patted her back that she snapped back to reality. She immediately buried her face in Luo Bingning’s embrace, her small hands clutching desperately at Luo Bingning’s skirt hem, terrified of being cast aside. “Wuwuwu… No, please don’t abandon Chacha…”

“Please, Senior Sister, really… S-Senior Sister…” Her small body trembled incessantly, her sobbing voice filled with broken pleas.

“Mm-hmm… Senior Sister won’t abandon Chacha. Don’t cry, Xiaocha, okay?” Luo Bingning lowered her head, gently rubbing her cheek against Zhang Xiaocha’s tear-streaked face. Her delicate hand softly patted Zhang Xiaocha’s back as she spoke in a tender voice.

At the same time, she cast an apologetic glance toward Mu Xi, who was standing nearby. Mu Xi nodded and quietly departed.

“But Xiaocha must also keep her promise and never cause trouble again, alright?” Luo Bingning embraced Zhang Xiaocha, pulling a nearby quilt to cover her small body.

After a long pause,

A faint “Mm” finally escaped Zhang Xiaocha’s tearful lips.

A hint of helplessness flickered in Luo Bingning’s eyes at this. Feeling the small, trembling body in her arms, she ultimately said nothing more. She simply continued to gently pat the child’s back with her palm.

After a considerable time, the little one in her arms finally fell into a deep sleep. Gazing at the tear-streaked face, Luo Bingning was about to rise and wipe them away when she felt a tug on her clothes.

Lowering her gaze, she saw two small hands tightly gripping the hem of her skirt. A tender smile involuntarily touched her lips as she lay back down. She reached out, meticulously wiping away the tears from the child’s face, one by one.

Back on the stone bed,

Luo Bingning lay on her side, propping her head with one hand. As her gaze fell upon the sleeping face, she irritably extended a fingertip and poked the porcelain-white cheek. With a soft huff, she murmured, “Hmph~ She’s certainly grown up! How long has it been since she last came to sleep with me?”

As if sensing discomfort, the sleeping Zhang Xiaocha pouted and let out a soft “Mmm.” She suddenly turned onto her side, curling her body and nestling against Luo Bingning. Her nose twitched, as if finding a source of comfort, and she snuggled closer, a trickle of clear liquid clinging to the corner of her lips.

Luo Bingning’s lips unconsciously curved upwards. ‘Perhaps, I should find a different way to save Zhang Xiaocha, instead of merely trapping her here!’

‘After all, I can’t keep her confined indefinitely…’

‘Whatever that demonic entity is,’

‘If it wants to entice Zhang Xiaocha into accumulating Disgust Value, then I simply won’t let her earn any!’ Luo Bingning’s eyes were half-closed as she pondered silently.

Simultaneously, spiritual energy circulated through her fingertips, nurturing Zhang Xiaocha’s weary body and accelerating her awakening.

After a moment, she slowly opened her eyes. ‘Perhaps, the Grand Competition of the Five Sects presents an excellent opportunity! As long as Zhang Xiaocha delivers a remarkable performance, it could initially shift how others perceive her! At that point, it would also increase the difficulty for her to acquire Disgust Value!’

“It’s just… Zhang Xiaocha’s inner thoughts remain an unpredictable factor…” Her brows furrowed slightly as she whispered softly.

Just then,

Zhang Xiaocha let out a soft “Mmm” from her lips, showing signs of waking. Luo Bingning quickly imbued her with spiritual energy, returning her to her original spot.

At the same time, she channeled spiritual energy to gently tap her own brow. Then, she lay back on the stone bed, feigning deep slumber, quietly awaiting Zhang Xiaocha’s awakening.

‘Regardless of whether Zhang Xiaocha ultimately leaves or stays, I cannot expose myself at this moment!’

A moment later,

The small figure lying on the ground stirred slightly, her long lashes fluttering. With a faint “Hmph,” her little head swayed as she slowly lifted it. Zhang Xiaocha glanced blankly at herself. “Huh? Chacha is still here!”

“Doesn’t that mean…”

She abruptly turned her head to look at the stone bed. There, Luo Bingning still lay peacefully. Instantly, Zhang Xiaocha performed a carp-flip to sit up, her lips curving into an uncontrollable grin. “Hehe~ This is great! Senior Sister isn’t awake yet!”

“Taking this chance, Chacha can just return to the sect for a bit to thoroughly provoke Second Senior Sister, giving Senior Sister a surprise~ Hehe~” Her big, dark eyes darted around mischievously. With that, she walked towards the entrance of the stone cave.

For a moment, a whirlwind of thoughts assailed Luo Bingning’s mind.

‘Wait, no…’

‘Isn’t Zhang Xiaocha afraid that I’ll find out about her involvement with me?’

‘Then why isn’t she thinking of getting dressed first, or cleaning up the ‘battlefield,’ but instead rushing to leave?’

‘Did she not think of it?’

‘Or is she testing me…?’