“This is a perverted kind of love, Qinghan…” Little Fox struggled to wiggle her hips. “Humans and demons walk different paths!”
Shen Qinghan tugged hard at Little Fox’s leg.
“What different paths? I’ve always liked beautiful girls and little animals. Put together, isn’t that even better?”
“I’m your dis… Junior Sister!”
Xu Muxue’s front paws clawed at the bedsheet.
“Stop babbling nonsense, transform already!”
Shen Qinghan reached out, pinching sharply at Xu Muxue’s waist and the Yifeng acupoint. With a startled meow, Xu Muxue shifted back into human form, falling into Shen Qinghan’s arms as they stared at each other.
“… I’ve wanted to ask for a while now, how did you forcibly switch my form like that?”
“I saw it in some ancient text. The Yifeng and waist acupoints on shapeshifting beasts are key control centers for Qi flow when transforming. If you use the right technique, you can externally force a form change.”
“Why are you so skilled at this? That’s a difficult technique!”
“I’ve pressed all the cats and dogs in the courtyard. None of them changed…”
Xu Muxue looked utterly resigned.
“… What ancient text? Give me a copy.”
“Suwen, in the Sect’s Cangjingge.”
“Alright, no problem. I’ll go find it now.”
Xu Muxue tried to make a run for it, but Shen Qinghan grabbed her ankle and yanked her back.
“What are you rushing for? Come keep me company.”
“You… do you even know…” Xu Muxue struggled, pushing Shen Qinghan’s face away.
“Men and women don’t touch each other…!”
Shen Qinghan froze, eyeing Xu Muxue suspiciously.
“Where do men come from?”
“Master always says that.”
Xu Muxue had already learned to lie without batting an eye.
“Hmph, that Xu Mu guy,” Shen Qinghan snorted coldly, then grinned mischievously as she lunged at Xu Muxue.
“But the two of us are girls. There’s no such thing as ‘don’t touch.’ Little Junior Sister, I’m coming!”
“Senior Sister, the medicine!”
***
After an intense but wholesome scuffle, Xu Muxue was panting, held tightly in Shen Qinghan’s embrace.
Just kidding—Shen Qinghan was a sword cultivator with excellent physical conditioning. She was only teasing Xu Muxue, playfully wrestling for a bit.
Facing each other under the covers, the faint scent that had arisen from their tussle drifted through the quilt. Xu Muxue’s cheeks flushed as she sniffed the disciple’s scent, feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt.
“Qinghan, l-let me explain, I’m still…”
“From childhood until now, no one has ever held me like this,” Shen Qinghan murmured softly.
Xu Muxue froze.
She had always been strict about the boundaries between men and women, rarely even giving Shen Qinghan a simple reward like a pat on the head.
Shen Qinghan was perceptive and had never asked for such things before.
Shen Qinghan lost her father and mother early and had no friends in the Sword Sect. Xu Muxue never considered that she might also need close human contact.
Now it seemed the cats she picked up one by one might have been an unconscious attempt to fill that gap.
The more Xu Muxue thought about it, the guiltier she felt.
“Little Junior Sister, tomorrow is the Sword Trial Tournament. Do you have confidence?”
Xu Muxue sighed softly.
“Don’t worry. No one can snatch Zuo Wang Peak from us.”
Yet Shen Qinghan shook her head.
“That doesn’t really matter.”
“If you’re confident, that’s good. I know, even though you’ve just begun Qi Refining, as Xu Mu’s disciple, you can’t be weak. But I need a clear answer from you.”
“Xu Muxue, tell me, will you definitely win a prize in the Sword Trial Tournament?”
Shen Qinghan’s eyes blazed as she asked, word by word.
Xu Muxue didn’t know why Shen Qinghan suddenly grew so serious, but she nodded.
“If I want to, none of the Sword Sect’s juniors below the Golden Core stage can block my three sword strikes.”
Shen Qinghan stared at her a moment longer, then suddenly smiled brightly.
“That’s good.”
“Then, Little Junior Sister, don’t participate in tomorrow’s Sword Trial Tournament.”
“?”
Xu Muxue looked up, giving Shen Qinghan a look that said, ‘Are you joking?’
“What about Zuo Wang Peak?”
“No need.” Shen Qinghan said lightly.
“Zuo Wang Peak is just a place. It can’t hold memories. True memories reside in people.”
“Then you also…!”
Xu Muxue tried to break free from Shen Qinghan’s embrace.
“Do you think I’m bragging? Get up, let’s spar and you’ll see!”
“I don’t think you’re bragging. I believe you.”
Shen Qinghan gently stroked Xu Muxue’s smooth forehead.
“The top ten in the Sword Trial Tournament will travel to Fengming Mountain together to observe the Three Sects Alliance Conference, led by me.” Shen Qinghan spoke calmly.
“This conference is likely fraught with undercurrents.”
“Foolish girl, I thought you didn’t know!”
Xu Muxue’s ears twitched anxiously. “Then don’t go!”
“Now that the Demonic Path in Shenzhou is stirring, if we don’t form alliances, each of the three sects will eventually be defeated one by one. There will be bloodshed… At least I have to try.”
Shen Qinghan lowered her gaze, voice resolute.
“As an elder of the Sword Sect, I will protect the ten disciples accompanying me with all my strength. But Little Junior Sister, you don’t have to risk this with me.”
“My special training for you was never so you’d fight for first place. You’re invincible below Golden Core; that means you can protect yourself. Without me, no disciple in the Sect can bully you.”
Xu Muxue hadn’t realized her disciple thought like this. She had foolishly assumed Shen Qinghan was just a simple-minded girl.
“Qinghan, these burdens aren’t yours to bear.” Xu Muxue’s voice was dry.
“But someone has to.”
Shen Qinghan nestled her head closer into Xu Muxue’s embrace. “Xu Mu is gone… I have to rely on myself.”
Xu Muxue’s throat tightened. She wanted to say something but found no words. She could only hug Shen Qinghan tighter.
Shen Qinghan rubbed contentedly against Xu Muxue’s chest, then her tone suddenly brightened with teasing warmth.
“Little Junior Sister, didn’t you say you didn’t want to accompany me in human form to sleep?”
“I’m willing!”
Xu Muxue grumbled, pinching Shen Qinghan’s waist. “Special exception for today.”
Shen Qinghan wasn’t upset, laughing as she wrapped her arms around Xu Muxue’s slender waist and buried her face in Xu Muxue’s chest. She took a deep breath and said, “Little Junior Sister, can I call you ‘Mom’?”
“Stop joking.”
Xu Muxue tapped Shen Qinghan’s head. “Go to sleep. You have to preside over the Sword Trial Tournament tomorrow.”
Shen Qinghan obediently said “Okay,” wiggled a bit, then muttered gloomily, “Little Junior Sister, after the alliance is settled, how about we leave the Sword Sect and focus on finding Xu Mu?”
Xu Muxue didn’t answer, waving her hand to snuff out the candle. Shen Qinghan’s breathing gradually evened out in her arms, and with that steady rhythm, Xu Muxue’s soft sigh slowly faded into the darkness.