Chapter 17: The Master’s Little Fox and a Peculiar Mark

At the cloud-shrouded summit of Purple Haze Peak, spiritual energy swirled in ethereal mists.

A handsome youth, clad in white robes, descended the steps one by one.

A few beads of fine sweat dotted his cheeks, a testament to his morning exertions.

Yet, the young man paid them no mind.

After all, those who cultivated immortality must first temper their will, strengthen their bones, and starve their bodies. Moreover, as a body cultivator, physical training was an essential part of his regimen. Within the spirit-rich Purple Haze Mountain, cultivation yielded twice the results with half the effort.

This youth was none other than Xiao Changgu, who had just visited his Master Su Mei concerning his sister’s ‘Spirit Pearl’.

Speaking of this ‘Spirit Pearl’ matter…

A smile, handsome yet undeniably villainous—one that could halt a baby’s cries at night—soon spread across Xiao Changgu’s face.

According to Master Su Mei, his younger sister refining a ‘Lifebound Artifact’ while still in the Artifact Forging stage was a feat of genius, one in ten thousand.

As for his worries regarding the safety of the ‘Lifebound Artifact’ should it be damaged…

Su Mei’s response was to let actions speak louder than words. She immediately set off for his sister’s room, intending to inspect it in person.

Recalling how Master Su had not prevaricated, but instead, without any pretense of being a ‘Peak Lord’, had directly flown on her sword to check on his sister’s condition, Xiao Changgu felt a sense of relief.

The thought that she, too, seemed concerned, brought a measure of calm to Xiao Changgu’s heart.

After all, ever since he joined Purple Haze Peak, Master Su had always treated his junior sister exceptionally well.

Yet, as Xiao Changgu descended the mountain, he remained oblivious.

The very Master Su he had just praised was, at this moment, ‘bullying’ his sister in her dwelling.

‘Erm, ‘bullying’ might not be the most accurate term here. Master Su Mei, in her role as a teacher, would prefer to call it ‘helping’.’

****

Just moments prior, after misinterpreting Xiao Xixi’s foxy ramblings, Master Su Mei decided it was imperative for the ‘little girl’ to understand her true gender.

As her Master, Su Mei resolved to personally help her change into the cool ‘floral dress’.

In truth, when Xiao Xixi had transformed yesterday, as Su Mei helped her change, she had not only felt the exquisite softness of the little one’s delicate skin but had also subtly formed a suspicion.

However, because her eldest disciple, Bai Luozhu, had been by the little girl’s side when she slept last night, Su Mei had not been able to verify this guess.

To avoid her disciple misunderstanding her as having awakened some bizarre fetish, she had refrained from confirming it then.

Now, observing the dwelling where no one else was present save for the two of them, and considering the distance between Purple Haze Mountain’s summit and its waist—a run that would take Xiao Changgu roughly an hour—Su Mei saw her opportunity.

With all conditions met, Su Mei decided to verify her conjecture once more, and incidentally, to help this newly transformed ‘little one’ truly understand her own gender.

****

Blindfolded by her Master, Xiao Xixi found herself enveloped in darkness.

Deprived of sight, she felt her other senses sharpen and magnify.

Just as she wondered what her Master, who usually seemed like an amiable elder sister, would do next…

The next second, she felt something constricting her waist loosen, as if unfastened.

Unfamiliar with ancient attire, Xiao Xixi didn’t immediately realize it was the waist-cinching ribbon being undone.

However, as Su Mei gently lifted a corner of her now disheveled ruqun’s lapel…

A wave of cool air washed over Xiao Xixi, prompting an immediate reaction.

Instinctively, she wrapped her small hands around the arm that seemed intent on ‘mischief’.

Watching the little one’s steadfast grip, Su Mei gently began to persuade her.

“Little Xixi, do you know why your Master has covered your eyes?”

Xiao Xixi froze at Su Mei’s words.

‘Why *did* Master cover my eyes?’ she wondered.

‘Even if I instinctively chose ‘male attire’ just now, and deserve punishment, surely it shouldn’t involve obscuring my vision?’

As Xiao Xixi pondered deeply, a warm breath brushed against her ear.

The warmth carried a faint hint of orchid fragrance, striking her delicate, jade-white earlobe and quickly painting it with a flush of crimson.

As the warm breath enveloped her, the small body nestled in Su Mei’s embrace couldn’t help but tremble slightly.

Noting the little one’s adorable reaction, Su Mei slowly parted her crimson lips and spoke again.

“Xixi, darling, actually, your Master was at the door just now, and I saw everything clearly from the moment you put down the ‘hazelnuts’.”

At Su Mei’s revelation, Xiao Xixi’s mind went utterly blank.

‘Oh, so Master saw it all from the very beginning? If that’s the case, then my explanation just now…’

Seeing the ‘little one’, Xiao Xixi, display yet another expressive face, Su Mei’s amusement grew.

Xiao Xixi looked like a salted fish that had lost all its dreams.

Su Mei suppressed her laughter, then gently moved the two slender hands clinging to her arm aside.

With her ‘wicked’ right hand, she resumed her battle with the ‘righteous’ ruqun.

To prevent Xiao Xixi, this shy little one, from stopping her again…

Su Mei lectured her while continuing her struggle with the garment.

“Xixi, darling, the reason your Master covered your eyes is because you’ve just transformed into a girl.

And your White Fox clan is naturally lustful. You’re still an underage fox. While this body is yours, there are some things you shouldn’t learn too early. After all, just now, you only touched a…”

Su Mei’s voice was exceedingly gentle, just as it usually was when discussing what to eat that day.

Yet, the content of her words made Xiao Xixi truly unable to lift her head. Her small head sank lower and lower as Su Mei expounded on the topic of ‘girls’ not being ‘lewd’.

During this, the ‘righteous’ ruqun on Xiao Xixi’s body was silently vanquished by the ‘wicked’ right hand.

The entire petite figure, like a shelled egg, was revealed completely before Su Mei.

Gazing at the unclad, glowing white little one in her arms, Su Mei felt the silken softness of their skin-to-skin contact, finding it immensely enjoyable.

However, remembering her primary objective for this visit, Su Mei quickly refocused.

The little one’s brother, Xiao Changgu, would soon return, and time was not abundant. Su Mei didn’t indulge too long in the silken smoothness of the moment.

Instead, her attention first fell upon the Spirit Pearl worn on the little one’s chest.

Observing the pale blue pearl, Su Mei’s brows furrowed slightly.

From her extensive research into ‘heavenly materials and earthly treasures’, this pearl was undoubtedly of superior quality. It seemed utterly unlike a Lifebound Artifact that could be conjured at the Qi Refining stage.

Gently, she lifted the pearl necklace. Being a Lifebound Artifact, even with Su Mei’s high cultivation, she couldn’t activate it.

However, after direct contact with this ‘Soul-Capturing Pearl’, Su Mei felt a measure of reassurance.

At the very least, when she tried to infuse internal energy, she found the pearl surprisingly sturdy, alleviating worries about its potential damage.

Having confirmed the quality of the ‘Lifebound Pearl’, Su Mei instinctively released her grip on it.

For her, this action posed no problem whatsoever.

After all, she possessed two ‘bunnies’ far larger than the pearl itself; if she released it, they would provide a significant cushioning effect.

But she had forgotten that *she* had two soft, large ‘bunnies’ to allow for such a maneuver.

For Xiao Xixi, who only possessed two ‘pitiful bunnies’, such an action was entirely inappropriate.

Once released by Su Mei, the ‘Soul-Capturing Pearl’ quickly dropped back down.

Without the soft cushioning, the pearl collided violently with the flat collarbone, emitting a distinct ‘thud’.

Just as Su Mei prepared to apologize for her lapse to her little disciple, a soft, delicate whimper echoed through the room.

“Nnnnngh~”

Hearing the alluring sound, barely suppressed and escaping through clenched teeth…

Su Mei froze entirely. Then, as if a thought struck her, she looked towards where the pearl had just fallen.

Her gaze then pierced through the blue orb, revealing a peculiar mark.

The mark, previously obscured by the sphere, was a pale pink, five-petaled plum blossom print.

Upon seeing this easily overlooked mark, Su Mei’s deep, peach-blossom eyes narrowed slightly.

For this journey, her most crucial objective was to locate this very mark.

In truth, when the little one had first transformed yesterday, she had vaguely felt that this mark bore a striking resemblance to the ‘Lustful Spirit Root’ described in ancient texts.

However, at the time, she hadn’t dared to confirm it, as it was merely a legendary physique.

But now, witnessing Xiao Xixi’s ‘peculiar’ reaction after the mark was touched…

Su Mei, finally certain of her conjecture, straightened Xiao Xixi—whose eyes were misty and body soft as a cloud—and spoke to her with utmost solemnity.

“Xixi, you truly are a lewd little fox!”

Xiao Xixi, who was still catching her breath, responded with a silent: ‘???’.

Bewildered.JPG

‘Didn’t she just say that…?’