Chapter 14: Discoveries and Reflections

Among the misty peaks of Zixia Peak, a small wooden house stood, where a young girl with a petite figure sat languidly on a mat. She was wearing a wide, flowing skirt and had a pair of delicate, pinkish eyes that sparkled with curiosity. Her gaze was fixed on a sapphire-colored ‘pearl’ that reflected a vivid image. As sunlight streamed through the window, the pearl cast a dazzling light, revealing a figure within. A young fox, recently transformed, couldn’t help but imagine a description. With this beautiful pearl adorning her head and her silver-white hair cascading down, her elegance and talent were so radiant that even the sun seemed to squint in awe. Who could she be?

‘That’s right, it’s me!’

In her heart, Xiao Xixi indulged in a moment of self-importance, savoring the ‘mid2’ feeling that coursed through her like a rush of dopamine. This chemical reaction quickly manifested on her delicate, flawless face. Xiao Xixi gazed at her reflection in the pearl, where a gentle, pure smile bloomed like a narcissus flower. Seeing this smile, Xiao Xixi couldn’t help but lick her lips, not in admiration of her beauty, but because she saw the perfect image of the little sister she had always dreamed of: pure, innocent, and adorable, with a small, upturned nose and dimples that appeared when she smiled. Everything about this image resonated with Xiao Xixi’s fantasy of the ideal little sister. But then, she realized that this perfect image was actually herself!

Quickly, Xiao Xixi furrowed her smooth brow. After all, I wanted a little sister, not to become one myself!

****

Xiao Changgu, who had just resolved to protect his little sister, turned to see Xiao Xixi sitting on the bed, her expression fluctuating between joy and confusion. Watching his little sister, who was both charming and a bit silly, Xiao Changgu wasn’t surprised. After all, girls have their secrets. His focus shifted to the beautiful pearl in Xiao Xixi’s hand. He was both delighted for her and a bit worried. The ‘soul-bound treasure’ was forged from the essence of the cultivator, making it intuitive to use, but also vulnerable to damage. If the treasure was destroyed, the owner would suffer as well. Xiao Changgu worried about the quality of the pearl, which Xiao Xixi had just obtained as she entered the Qi Condensation stage. Although Xiao Changgu had read extensively about ‘soul-bound treasures,’ he decided to seek expert advice. In Zixia Peak, the most knowledgeable person was undoubtedly the Peak Master, Su Mei.

With this in mind, Xiao Changgu prepared to take Xiao Xixi to visit Su Mei. But as he took a step toward Xiao Xixi, he remembered that she had caught a cold after transforming on the peak the previous afternoon. Remembering her pained expression as she took her medicine that morning, Xiao Changgu decided to visit the teacher alone. Just as he was about to leave, Xiao Changgu suddenly remembered something. He walked to the bed and reached into his pocket. To Xiao Xixi’s surprise, he pulled out a well-worn, patched-up cloth bag. Xiao Xixi’s attention was immediately drawn to the bag, and her large, curious eyes followed its movement. Why was Xiao Xixi so fascinated by the ‘cloth bag’? The reason was simple: in the past month of living with her brother, Xiao Xixi had come to know that the bag was filled with large, delicious hazelnuts. In her previous life, Xiao Xixi had loved the crisp, fragrant taste of hazelnuts. To her delight, this world also had these nuts. Before her transformation, Xiao Xixi’s greatest joy was eating the hazelnuts her brother fed her. The nuts here were even larger and more flavorful, thanks to the abundant spiritual energy, making Xiao Xixi even more infatuated with them. The only downside was that her brother seemed to worry she would overeat and only gave her a couple at a time. Seeing the entire bag this time, Xiao Xixi felt both surprised and cherished. Though her expression betrayed her surprise, Xiao Xixi’s hands quickly reached for the bag, clutching it tightly to her chest, as if afraid her brother would take it back. Seeing his little sister’s adorable, protective stance, Xiao Changgu’s eyes narrowed with a mischievous smile, full of villainous charm. Xiao Xixi, however, was used to this ‘smile that could stop a baby’s cry,’ whether from her brother in her past life or the one before her now. After 18 years of family life, she had grown accustomed to it.

****

Xiao Changgu watched as Xiao Xixi opened the bag and tried to sneak a hazelnut through the opening. After gently stroking her soft, white hair, Xiao Changgu instructed, ‘Xixi, I’m going out for a bit. Don’t wander off, and don’t open the door for anyone, okay?’ After getting Xiao Xixi’s assurance, Xiao Changgu gave a few more instructions before leaving the room. As the door closed behind him, Xiao Xixi sighed, feeling a bit like a coddled child. Though she understood her brother’s concern, she couldn’t help but imagine how she would feel if she had a sister just like herself. After ensuring her brother’s footsteps had faded, Xiao Xixi waited a little longer before setting aside the hazelnut in her hand. For Xiao Xixi, there was something more important to do at the moment. This task required a private, undisturbed space. Seizing the perfect opportunity, Xiao Xixi turned her attention to the wide, flowing skirt she was wearing. She had many complaints about this garment, from the excess fabric that hindered movement to the unnecessary layers of cloth over her chest. The skirt was designed with overlapping layers to prevent any ‘accidental exposure’ during intense physical activity. Though Xiao Xixi understood the intention, she found the extra fabric uncomfortable. Whether as a fox or a human, she had never worn such a restrictive garment before. Now, in the privacy of her room, Xiao Xixi decided to examine her skirt closely, hoping to find a way to make it more comfortable. As she studied the skirt, she wondered if she might inadvertently see something she shouldn’t. But in this moment, she decided it was an unavoidable consequence of her exploration.