Shangguan Yunzhu’s sudden visit

The sun was shining brightly when Gan Tang tiptoed to the entrance of the south wing, like a little cat preparing to steal something.

“Senior Brother?”

She lowered her voice, approaching the crack in the door and calling out softly.

The room was quiet, only the faint, drawn-out sound of breathing could be heard.

There was no response.

Gan Tang held her breath, carefully pushed the door open a crack, and poked half of her head in, looking around furtively.

Her gaze quickly locked onto the stack of Xuan paper on the desk, firmly pressed down by the black jade paperweight.

Found it!

Her heart instantly fell back into her stomach.

Her gaze couldn’t help but drift to the bed.

“It’s already past noon. Why is Senior Brother still sleeping?”

Gan Tang muttered to herself, then tiptoed slowly to the wooden table and nimbly collected the stack of Xuan paper into her storage ring.

Afterward, Gan Tang placed her gaze on Lu Qiancha, who was fast asleep.

Lu Qiancha was sleeping soundly on her side, the entire loli sinking into the soft bedding, her small paws and legs tightly clutching a corner of the blanket, sleeping without any guard.

The familiar blue and white panty trim also peeked out playfully with her movements, looking completely like a defenseless young animal.

“Waah… Sleeping Senior Brother is really so cute!”

Gan Tang let out a silent scream in her heart, her eyes shining with incredible light.

The usual layer of cold, detached pretense was completely gone. In slumber, Lu Qiancha’s face was relaxed, her breathing even, and her demeanor docile and quiet, like a soft, warm piece of jade.

Gan Tang was unable to resist the itch in her heart. She moved to the side of the bed lightly and slowly squatted down.

Her fingers seemed to have a mind of their own, reaching out little by little towards that soft, warm cheek in her sleep…

Poke~

A gentle poke.

The tactile sensation on her fingertip was delicate and warm, very pleasant to touch.

“Ngh…” Lu Qiancha seemed to sense something in her sleep, her brow furrowing almost imperceptibly, grunting in dissatisfaction, then rolling over—

Thwack!

A fluffy, warm, azure tail, carrying the heat of her body, directly struck Gan Tang’s face, slapping her solidly.

“…”

Gan Tang silently held the tail that occupied her entire field of vision in her palms, carefully placed it back on the bedding, propped her chin on her hands, and continued to admire this defenseless sleeping face for a good while.

Confirming that the other was still asleep, she reluctantly got up. Before leaving, Gan Tang didn’t forget to activate the soundproofing array in the room with a flick of her fingertip. Then, she quietly closed the door and left.

Lu Qiancha slept soundly in her room for an entire day. When she awoke again, it was already the next morning.

“Ngh…”

Lu Qiancha’s eyelids fluttered, awakened by the morning light pouring in from outside the window.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she sat up. The pair of furry, pointed ears on top of her head instinctively twitched, with a hint of confusion.

Her gaze unconsciously swept over the desk.

The Xuan paper had been taken, leaving only the lonely black jade paperweight.

Lu Qiancha scratched her head with her paw, then her little paw naturally moved to her mouth, and she stuck out her pink tongue—

“Chomp, chomp“

Very skillfully, she smoothed down a small clump of fur on the back of her paw that had been ruffled out of place.

“…?”

The distinct, furry sensation on her tongue instantly froze Lu Qiancha.

What had she just done?

She seemed to have been… using her tongue to smooth her fur?

Her tail stiffened and stood upright. Her ears also instantly perked up like antennas.

A huge sense of shame washed over her nerves like a tsunami.

She jerked her head around to look around—

“Phew~”

Thank goodness!

The door was tightly closed, and there was no one in sight.

No one had seen her acting like an idiot just now…

Lu Qiancha quickly shook her head, dispelling the embarrassment.

She quickly tidied herself up, cast the Mirage Art to disguise herself as Lu Qiancha, took a deep breath, and pulled open the door.

The moment she stepped into the fresh air of the small courtyard—

A strikingly bright flash of red clothing caught her eye.

It was Shangguan Yunzhu!

She was standing next to the old pine tree in the courtyard, saying something to her master, Xuan Ya, with a smile.

Xuan Ya, with her keen eyes, glimpsed Lu Qiancha’s figure out of the corner of her eye. A hint of relief seemed to flash across her eyes as she said gently, “Qiancha, you’re just in time. Disciple Shangguan has come to see you specifically.”

Lu Qiancha’s steps faltered. She cursed inwardly. She hadn’t planned to join in on the fun, but now she couldn’t avoid it.

Helpless, Lu Qiancha had no choice but to suppress her reluctance and bow in response: “…Yes, Master.”

She walked over with steady, albeit somewhat heavy, steps.

When she approached, Xuan Ya patted her shoulder meaningfully. “Qiancha, have a good chat with Disciple Shangguan. This teacher won’t meddle in the affairs of you younger generation.”

The words had barely been spoken when Xuan Ya telepathically messaged Lu Qiancha: “This teacher sees… that this girl has some thoughts about you. The opportunity is rare, talk to her properly.”

“Master!”

Lu Qiancha almost couldn’t control her expression, and responded telepathically, “Don’t you always teach disciples to be pure of heart and few of desires, and to dedicate ourselves to the path of immortality? Wouldn’t forming a Dao partner be destroying our future?”

“Blockhead!”

Xuan Ya glared at Lu Qiancha, her telepathic message righteous and confident. “If you can find a good partner, the resources in your and your Dao partner’s hands will be like streams flowing into a river, inexhaustible! If there is no desire for ‘resources’ to hinder you, isn’t that precisely… the highest level of ‘purity of heart and few desires’?”

Hearing this, Lu Qiancha inhaled sharply in her heart. She realized that her master was truly a genius when it came to sophistry.

Unable to voice her objections, Lu Qiancha had no choice but to bow to Xuan Ya and say, “Master, take care.”

As soon as Xuan Ya left.

The smile on Shangguan Yunzhu’s lips was tinged with playfulness. She stepped closer. “Senior Brother Qiancha~ You’re already at the door. Won’t you invite your junior sister in to sit for a while?”

Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. With a wooden expression, she stepped aside to show the way. “…Junior Sister Yunzhu, please.”

A moment later.

The room was filled with the fragrance of tea, and green smoke rose from the simple teacups.

Lu Qiancha sat upright on one side of the tea table, trying to maintain a detached aura, her voice flat and without any fluctuations. “I wonder what brings Junior Sister Yunzhu here today?”

“Aiya~ Don’t sit so far away…”

Shangguan Yunzhu dragged out the words, her fingers skillfully moving her stool with a creak along the bluestone floor, firmly placing it next to Lu Qiancha, their knees almost touching. “I’m not going to eat you~”

Lu Qiancha’s eyelids twitched. She was just about to move away when the other pressed closer.

“If Junior Sister Yunzhu has something important to say, please do tell.”

Helpless, Lu Qiancha had no choice but to force a cold expression and say, “If there is nothing… Lu will need to cultivate in seclusion later and will have to close the door to guests.”

“Little Qiancha, don’t be so distant…”

Shangguan Yunzhu coughed lightly, straightened her expression, and said, “I came to Tianquan Peak to express my gratitude at my master’s request.”

“I see…”

Lu Qiancha nodded and said to Shangguan Yunzhu, “I understand your intentions, and I have already received the thank-you gift from your master.

“You also helped me eliminate the great demon of Peach Blossom Spring a few days ago. Now, we are even.”

“Eh, eh, eh?! Little Qiancha, you’re so heartless!”

Shangguan Yunzhu immediately put on a tearful look. She leaned her body, and half of her boneless body almost stuck to Lu Qiancha’s arm, her amber eyes meeting Lu Qiancha’s, with a warm fragrance rushing towards him!

Her amber eyes were shining remarkably, gazing pitifully at him: “Don’t chase me away, I’m about to go into closed-door cultivation to break through to the Void Refining realm. We might not even see each other for a month or two.”