Chapter 8: A New Dawn, A New Path

The dawn arrived with the majestic sun rising from the east, once again bringing color to the earth. The morning light encouraged countless industrious birds to take flight early, chirping as they searched for tasty insects, guided by the old wisdom, ‘The early bird catches the worm.’

Amidst the crisp sound of bird songs, a room within the inner disciple dormitory of the Zixia Peak buzzed with a unique energy. Inside, a man with a refined appearance and a hint of aloofness in his gaze sat upright on a hard wooden bed, deep in meditation, undisturbed by the bird songs. His name was Xiao Changgu, who had just been inducted into the Qingluan Sect, becoming an inner disciple of the Zixia Peak.

Normally, Xiao Changgu’s cultivation level, at the late stage of Condensed Qi, wouldn’t qualify him for the position of an inner disciple of the Zixia Peak. However, his acceptance was due to an unexpected event a few days prior, when his fox sister, Xiao Xixi, had inadvertently saved the Peak Master, Su Mei.

Since Xiao Xixi saved Su Mei, Xiao Changgu noticed a strange change in his usually affectionate sister. She seemed to have been bewitched, shifting her devotion from him to Su Mei, constantly clinging to her. Gradually, Xiao Changgu realized that his naive sister had been manipulated by Su Mei and brought to the Zixia Peak. As her brother, he appeared to have benefited from her actions, becoming an inner disciple almost instantly, seemingly a fortunate turn of events. However, Xiao Changgu wasn’t overly concerned with this ‘favor.’

In truth, had it not been for his sister’s attachment to their new master, Su Mei, Xiao Changgu would have preferred to continue their solitary training in the mountains, despite the harsh conditions and lack of sect resources. As a matured fox spirit, he had his own reasons. His plan was to wait for a year or two until his sister could transform into human form, then bring her to the sect for cultivation. The reason was simple: intelligent beast spirits were rare, and while he could pass as human, his sister, still in her beast form, was vulnerable to harm within the sect. Humans could use beast spirits’ ‘yudan’ to enhance their cultivation, and he feared for his sister’s safety.

Now, his plans were disrupted by the sudden appearance of Master Su Mei. Although he sensed Su Mei’s genuine affection for his sister, as a protective brother, Xiao Changgu couldn’t fully trust the situation. Despite spending the night in meditation, his mind was filled with worry and concern for his sister. Finally, as the bird songs filled the air and the warm sunlight streamed through the window, Xiao Changgu opened his almond-shaped, slightly upturned eyes, the color of a pale red peony. He adjusted the creases in his robe and his distinctive silver-white fox hair, then stepped out of his room, heading towards the residence of his senior, Bai Luozhu.

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At the peak of the Zixia Peak, a simple wooden house basked in the morning sunlight filtering through the ancient paper windows. Without modern curtains, the sunlight quickly filled the room, affecting the quality of sleep for anyone inside. This was true for humans and beasts alike. In this quaint room, a beautifully carved wooden bed held a recently transformed young fox, Xiao Xixi, sleeping in an unusual position. Unlike humans, who usually sleep straight, Xiao Xixi curled up like a ball, her petite frame and feminine flexibility allowing her to tuck herself into a tight, comfortable position. Her silvery white hair cascaded loosely around her, shimmering in the morning light, giving her an ethereal, fairy-like appearance.

Early in the morning, Bai Luozhu, concerned for her new junior’s well-being, prepared a medicinal soup for Xiao Xixi. As she entered the room, she smiled at the sight of her junior’s adorable sleeping posture. The door was still open, allowing the sunlight to intensify, causing Xiao Xixi to nestle deeper into her blanket, her lips murmuring softly, ‘Xi… Xi… Xi…’ Bai Luozhu, usually composed, couldn’t help but smile warmly, reminded of the night before when Xiao Xixi had resisted taking her medicine, kicking her small legs like a defiant piglet. Her usually cool features softened, and her smile, framed by the morning light, was as delicate as a pear blossom in autumn.

Since Master Su Mei had returned to her peak for cultivation after the previous night’s medicine session, Bai Luozhu and Xiao Xixi were alone in the room. Bai Luozhu, without her usual restraint, watched her junior snuggle deeper into her blanket, avoiding the sunlight. Seeing her sleep so peacefully, Bai Luozhu decided to let her rest, placing the medicine bowl on the table. Remembering the delightful citrus scent and silky texture of Xiao Xixi’s fur during her transformation, Bai Luozhu made a decision. As the senior of the Zixia Peak, she should find a better sleeping arrangement for her junior. With that thought, she approached the bed, intending to lift Xiao Xixi and shield her from the sunlight. Just as she was about to do so, a knock echoed through the room, accompanied by a cold male voice.

‘White Senior Sister, Master has instructed me to check on Little Sister, fearing she might disturb your cultivation,’

Bai Luozhu’s expression quickly returned to its usual cool demeanor. She glanced at Xiao Xixi, still murmuring ‘Xi… Xi…’ in her sleep, and slowly withdrew her outstretched hand. A fleeting shadow of disappointment crossed her eyes, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. With a graceful motion, she opened the ancient wooden door, and Xiao Changgu, standing outside, apologized softly before entering the room. As he stepped in, he saw a small, curled-up figure on the bed, and his heart skipped a beat. He was certain of the unique sleeping posture—it was his sister. Stepping closer, he caught a glimpse of her delicate face beneath her silvery hair, and a thought flashed through his mind: ‘My sister is so adorable!’