Chapter 16: A Cozy Evening Soak

The well-fed girl pouted her lips, whining playfully to Qíngyǔ.

“There, there, when we get home later, I’ll heat water for you to soak your feet.”

Master Yang had gotten quite drunk just now, thoroughly scolding the entire Qin family with a string of insults about their ‘blindness.’ For a long while, he had then insisted on helping the mother and daughter renovate their small courtyard.

Qíngyǔ had only with great difficulty managed to decline his persistent offers.

However, aside from Yang Qingqing’s somewhat stubborn temperament, the Yang family as a whole was quite amiable.

Moreover, Mother Yang’s illness was indeed severe; she could barely swallow her food. Having picked at only a few bites, she had lain down immediately after lunch and remained there.

Perhaps an opportunity could be found to treat her condition.

The young woman mused, unaware that the Little Girl beside her had already puffed out her cheeks and pouted in indignation.

“Little Mom—my feet hurt—”

“There, there.”

“Carry me, please!”

“All right, all right.”

Unable to bear the incessant clamor, Qíngyǔ, who had just been contemplating exercising the Little Girl’s resilience, could only reluctantly scoop her up.

She was so tiny, light as a cloud.

“You’re so light, Little Girl needs to eat more.”

“I ate a lot today!”

The Little Girl lifted her clothes, patting her bulging little tummy.

“Didn’t I tell you not to do that outside?”

Feigning anger, Qíngyǔ pulled her clothes back down, then helplessly ruffled the adorable child’s hair.

“So it’s okay at home, then!”

“Not even at home. You’ll be embarrassed if someone sees.”

“Will Little Mom be embarrassed?”

“Why would I be embarrassed?”

Qíngyǔ felt a little bewildered, so she leaned her head forward and gently bumped the Little Girl’s forehead.

“Then why can’t I!”

“I’ve already told you, girls need to mind their image. If you act like this, you’ll definitely never get married later.”

‘Though, the young woman had no intention of marrying her off anyway.’

“Then I’ll marry Little Mom, I’ll marry Little Mom!”

The girl pouted, angrily rubbing her cheek against her Little Mom’s.

“How could you marry me? Really now, so disrespectful.”

Flicking the Little Girl’s forehead, Qíngyǔ felt a sudden chill. She hugged her tighter and hurried home.

[Hey, can I really not marry Little Mom?]

[I’ve told you already, don’t call me ‘hey’…]

[Just tell me quickly.]

[Uh… how should I put this… Theoretically, it’s definitely not possible.]

The Immortal Sword didn’t know how to address the question, so it could only stammer out an answer.

[Then what should I do?]

[Once you grow up a bit, then…]

[Tell me now!]

[Then, then, then…]

By some uncanny inspiration, a mischievous idea suddenly sparked in the Immortal Sword’s ‘mind.’ In its previous life, within its master’s sect, there had been many instances of women becoming Dao Companions.

In the cultivation world, there was truly little difference between a Dao Companion and a husband or wife. Qíngyǔ, moreover, was clearly no mortal at first glance. Perhaps…

[Then you can become her Dao Companion!]

[What’s a Dao Companion?]

[It’s someone who decides to accompany another for life.]

[Then I want to be Little Mom’s Dao Companion.]

[Yes, yes, yes, you can think that for now. You’ll understand once you grow up a bit.]

[Hmm, it seems you’re still somewhat useful after all.]

Ignoring the Immortal Sword’s subsequent resentful grumbling, the Little Girl contentedly snuggled deeper into her Little Mom’s embrace.

“Little Mom!”

“Hmm?”

Qíngyǔ, who had just pushed open the courtyard gate, looked at the Little Girl she had just set down with a puzzled expression.

[You, you, you! Don’t tell her yet! Otherwise, you won’t be able to!]

“Nothing!”

‘I want you to be my Dao Companion.’

“You sly little imp,” Qíngyǔ said, shaking her head and not dwelling on the matter. “I’ll go heat some water. Wait for me by the stone table.”

“Okay!”

Having received her ‘good news,’ the Little Girl sat obediently on the stone stool, swinging her legs, just waiting for her Little Mom to finish heating the water.

The grapevines swayed gently in the breeze. At this moment, the two people and one sword in the courtyard were still unaware just how significant this evening would be.

***

Adding firewood, heating water.

Although she could now use magical arts to do these tasks, she still preferred to do them herself, considering it part of her cultivation.

The mundane essence of human life was an indispensable ingredient on her path of cultivation.

Karma, worldly affairs, the passage of time…

All things in the mortal realm entered her consciousness.

By exhausting her intent, she would achieve the Great Elixir; then, though heaven and earth might wither, she would not, and though space and time might decay, she would not.

Of course, at present, she had only just begun to ‘refine her intent.’ It was unknown when she would reach the later stages of cultivation.

“It’s a pity there are no medicinal herbs.”

In fact, inexpensive herbs like plantain (TL Note: 車前草, a common weed used in traditional medicine) could also be gathered and added to the hot water for the Little Girl’s foot soak, but for now, they would have to make do.

Shaking her head, Qíngyǔ carried a basin of hot water into the courtyard, placing it beside the stone table.

“Take off your shoes, take off your socks.”

The Little Girl quickly and conscientiously extended her tiny feet towards her Little Mom.

Even the girl’s feet were small, white, and tender.

“It’s a bit hot, but it’ll feel more comfortable after soaking.”

Qíngyǔ then took off her own shoes and socks, and pressed her foot against the Little Girl’s tiny feet, submerging them into the basin.

“Little Mom, it’s so hot!”

The girl, scalded by the hot water, indeed pouted with teary eyes and complained to her Little Mom.

“It’ll be fine in a moment.”

Mimicking her mother from her previous, previous life, she pressed down on the Little Girl’s small feet to shield them from some of the heat. Qíngyǔ then reached out and pinched her cheek.

“Little silly.”

“I’m not silly!”

The Little Girl’s tiny feet were quite restless. Even while Qíngyǔ held them down, she still wanted to wiggle them, only to abruptly pull them back after touching the hot water.

This is why people say, ‘Pity the hearts of all parents’.

Although the person who said this wasn’t a good person, the sentiment behind it was still correct.

“It’s not hot now, is it?”

After the Little Girl adapted for a moment, Qíngyǔ immediately moved her foot away.

“It’s really not hot anymore!”

The girl wiggled her tiny feet, stirring the hot water all around for a while until she had splashed all the water out of the basin. Only then, under Qíngyǔ’s chiding, did she reluctantly settle down to soak her feet.

Shaking her head, the young woman took the neatly folded towel, about to dry her own feet.

Just then, two tiny feet hastily draped themselves over hers.

“Little Mom, you too!”

“This basin is too small, and I haven’t walked much today. You just soak by yourself.”

“Little Mom is lying!”

The Little Girl pointed at the basin; in truth, compared to two people, the basin wasn’t all that small.

Qíngyǔ’s embroidered feet were not much larger than the Little Girl’s.

“I’m just worried you won’t be comfortable soaking.”

Seeing her casual fabrication exposed on the spot by the girl, Qíngyǔ felt a little awkward.

“Little Mom’s feet are so smooth! It’s more comfortable if we soak together!”

“Sigh, fine, let’s soak together then.”

Having no other recourse, Qíngyǔ could only accede to her wish.

They continued to soak until the water in the basin grew cold, finally bringing their session to an end.

“Are your feet still sore?”

Massaging the Little Girl’s feet, the young woman used the towel to dry them, then secretly tickled her soles.

“Little Mom is so naughty!”

The girl giggled, curling her little legs and lightly kicking Qíngyǔ, her foot landing precisely on her cheek.

“So disrespectful,” Qíngyǔ said, rubbing her face as she rose to pour out the water. “Quick, get into bed. You’ve just soaked and dried your feet; keeping them warm will be most comfortable.”

“Okay!”

The Little Girl casually slipped on her shoes, then pattered a few steps into the bed, snuggling tightly into a ball, only her eyes peeking out to steal glances at her Little Mom.

‘This child, truly.’

The young woman, of course, saw what she was doing, but only felt a sense of warmth.

A moment later, having poured out the water and closed the door, Qíngyǔ undressed and habitually slipped into bed, reaching out to embrace the girl.

“Little Mom is blowing out the candle now, okay?”

“Good night, Little Mom—”

“Mmm, good night. Sweet dreams.”