Water Moon Festival

Moonlight poured down, and all was silent.

However, in stark contrast to the sea-like tranquility of the slumber in Lu Qiancha’s tent…

In Xuan Ya’s tent.

She sat cross-legged, attempting to sink into cultivation, but her breath was unsteady, like a lake surface ruffled by the wind.
Several attempts to forcibly circulate her qi were disrupted by a persistent, nagging discomfort that felt like a blunt knife sawing at her flesh.

“Hmph…”

She finally opened her eyes in resignation.

Her cool gaze swept over Gan Tang, who was sprawled out like a starfish beside her, sleeping with a complete lack of decorum.

Then, her line of sight seemed to penetrate the thin tent fabric, landing precisely on the neighboring tent bathed in moonlight.

The subtle sounds coming from within were like fine barbs, constantly plucking at her tense nerves.

“Alas.”

A soft sigh, heavy with an irresolvable stagnation and gloom, echoed faintly in the silent tent.

Xuan Ya rubbed the space between her brows, filled with regret.
Why, before setting out… had she not thought to bring a tent equipped with a sound-insulating formation?!

Yes, that’s right.

The soundproofing of this tent was not particularly good.

Although Xuan Ya had tried her utmost to focus her mind and listen intently with closed eyes, those almost inaudible but continuous, minute sounds, mixed with indescribably vague syllables, still persistently drilled into her ears like annoying mosquitoes!

‘Such indulgence, this is not a good thing at all…’

An even thicker cloud of gloom settled over Xuan Ya’s heart.

Her calm and steady eldest disciple… surely he hadn’t truly been taken by that wanton demon immortal as a cauldron for dual cultivation?

At this thought, a chill mixed with vexation coiled around her heart like vines.

This night, spent in restless tossing and turning and all sorts of ominous speculations, felt exceptionally long.

At the first light of dawn, the group packed their belongings for the return journey.

Passing through the secret realm’s exit in the lake, clouds and mist curled through the mountain forest.

On the way back, Lu Qiancha’s steps were light, her mind constantly planning the route to find the ingredients for the Shapeshifting Pill.
Suddenly, Xuan Ya’s cool, divine-sense voice transmission entered her mind directly: “Do not blame this master for being verbose, but: Qiancha, your immortal path has just begun, your foundation is not yet stable.
Do not waste your youth.
You should prioritize your cultivation; all other matters can be temporarily set aside.”

Xuan Ya’s tone was wrapped in an unshakable worry and fatigue.

“?” Lu Qiancha’s steps faltered almost imperceptibly, her heart filled with confusion.
‘What is Master rambling on about? Why can’t I understand a single word? I’ve been cultivating quite diligently, haven’t I?’

Steeling herself, she sent back a response in her usual respectful manner: “This disciple will remember Master’s teachings.”

After returning to Tianquan Peak, Lu Qiancha plunged herself into the busy task of searching for the ingredients for the Shapeshifting Pill.

Aside from necessary cultivation and the enlightenment of the peach trees, almost all her remaining energy was dedicated to the search for materials.

The spirit stones in her storage pouch flowed out like water.
Fortunately, she had the solid backing of her unique, self-brewed wine, which was highly favored by the Raging Waves Sect.

The clear, sweet wine brought in a steady stream of spirit stones.
With a full purse, she naturally had the confidence to make purchases.

A month flew by.

Lu Qiancha’s footprints covered every corner of the market, the deacons’ hall, and the storehouses of mortal merchant guilds…

Amidst the dust of her travels, her storage pouch gradually filled up.

Most of the supplementary ingredients, rare herbs, and minerals marked on the list had been crossed off.

She had even stockpiled an extra large bundle of Dendrobium and Pearl Orchids, which emitted a peculiar, refreshing fragrance after being dried.

However, Lu Qiancha had sealed this item separately in a storage pouch, because every time her blue eyes glanced at it, a sudden, eager impulse would flash through her mind.

The only remaining regret was the core ingredient on the pill recipe—the Shapeshifting Stone.

It was like a stone dropped into the sea, with not a single piece of news to be found.

But that was to be expected.
This item was a sacred product for the demon clans’ shapeshifting, but to ordinary human cultivators, it was no different from a common rock by the roadside.

Who would deliberately seek it out and treasure it?

Just as she was packing her bags, preparing to set off for a more distant country in her search.

“Little Qiancha~” Xun Xue’s smiling voice came from behind.
“Don’t be in such a hurry to leave.
In a few days, it will be the Water Moon Festival.
Stay and celebrate a reunion festival with Mama, okay?”

Xun Xue leaned against the doorframe, the molten gold light of the setting sun casting a warm outline around her.

The Water Moon Festival, when the moon in the heavens was full, a time shared by all in the mortal world.

Although its meaning and customs were slightly different from the Mid-Autumn Festival of her previous life, the core essence of “reunion” was largely the same.

Lu Qiancha pondered for a moment.
She thought to herself, ‘Indeed, a few days won’t make much difference.’

Then, Lu Qiancha nodded gently.
“…Alright.”

“Good girl~” The smile in Xun Xue’s eyes deepened, carrying a hint of mysterious cunning.
“Do you remember… the ‘fun object’ I mentioned to you before?”

She winked and lowered her voice.
“When the moon is full on the night of the Water Moon Festival, that will be its time to shine!”

“…”

Lu Qiancha’s eyes were instantly filled with vigilance and a deep sense of foreboding.

Anticipation? There wasn’t a shred of it.

She only prayed silently: ‘This unreliable mother of mine… better not have come up with some new trick, like grinding the Dendrobium and Pearl Orchids into powder to use as mooncake filling for me!’

On the day of the Water Moon Festival, the sun had not yet set in the west.

“Senior brother!!”

Gan Tang, who had been forcibly dragged from her afternoon nap by Lu Qiancha, sleepily held a heavy wooden basin, her little mouth pouting enough to hang an oil bottle.
“It’s not time yet! Fetching water now… isn’t it too early?”

Gan Tang’s tone was filled with the resentment of having her sweet dreams disturbed.

“The sooner we finish, the sooner we can have peace and quiet.” Lu Qiancha glanced at her expressionlessly, her eyes holding the unquestionable air of an experienced person.
“Or do you want a repeat of last year’s Water Moon Festival? The moon was already high in the sky before you realized the water vat in the courtyard was empty?”

Gan Tang pouted and muttered under her breath, “Hmph… if there’s really no water… we can just scoop some from the Clear Lotus Lake! The lake is so big, and there’s so much water…”

“Nonsense!” Lu Qiancha raised a paw without hesitation, making a gesture as if to knock Gan Tang on the forehead.
“The water in the lake is mixed with fish and insects.
It is neither clean nor pure.
How can it be used to reflect the moon and receive its essence?”

“Nyeh, nyeh, nyeh!” Gan Tang was prepared.
She leaped away with the agility of a rabbit, dodging the attack, and didn’t forget to turn back and make a triumphant silly face.

“Heh.”

Lu Qiancha let out a helpless, soft laugh and quickened her pace, in a moment arriving before the large, blue stone vat specifically used for receiving the moon’s essence water.

When Gan Tang returned with the first basin of water, huffing and puffing, and poured it into the vat, Lu Qiancha very naturally passed her own full basin to her, signaling for her to continue.

“?”

Gan Tang’s almond-shaped eyes widened.
She pointed at her own nose and said accusingly, “Senior brother! Are you using me as a beast of burden again?!”

“Beast of burden?” Lu Qiancha raised an eyebrow.
“This is called a reasonable division of labor.
Besides, where does the ‘again’ come from? How many times have I made you do the daily chores?”

“I don’t care!” Gan Tang stomped her foot and said aggrievedly, “Senior brother just wants to exploit his lively, cute, witty, and clever little junior sister!”

“…Then why don’t you tell me, how am I exploiting you?”

Hearing this, Lu Qiancha felt her paws begin to itch.
She wanted to dig at something…

“Look, you even need your witty and brave little junior sister to help you fetch water.”

Gan Tang pouted, speaking with some dissatisfaction.