Chapter 8: A Mother’s Dilemma, A Daughter’s Plea

Under a date tree in the courtyard, the red-haired, red-robed maiden sat on a stone stool.

With one hand, she casually flipped through a book, while with the other, she unhurriedly sipped a cup of floral tea. Judging by its color and aroma, it was clearly the glazed floral tea Hua Yuheng treasured.

Undoubtedly, this was “stolen goods.”

“Oh, finished bathing?”

Sensing the girl step out of the wooden building, Hua Yan smiled as she set down her teacup, turning to look.

Hua Xiangrong stood barefoot on the last step of the wooden stairs, her entire body wrapped only in a large bath towel. Her damp, pink hair clung to her back.

Perhaps it was her recent entry into cultivation, or merely the lingering flush from her bath, but her small face appeared exceptionally smooth and fair. Yet, at this moment, it was completely crimson with shame and indignation.

She clutched the bath towel tightly around herself, glaring at Hua Yan.

“You didn’t even prepare any clothes for me to change into!”

‘Oh, right, I forgot about that.’

“Tsk, children who can’t use a storage bag are such a hassle.”

Hua Yan flicked a finger, and a set of girl’s clothes flew out of her storage bag, automatically wrapping around Hua Xiangrong to dress her neatly. In passing, her wet hair was also thoroughly dried.

“Alright, that’s settled. Next, let’s discuss what you should learn during the Qi Condensation stage.”

As Hua Yan spoke, she tossed the book in her hand into Hua Xiangrong’s lap.

“This is the schedule I drafted for you. Read it carefully.”

Hua Xiangrong nodded, opening the thin booklet. Upon it was written:

* Dawn (5-7 AM): Wake up, meditate

* Morning (7-9 AM): Morning run

* Late Morning (9-11 AM): Horse stance

* Noon (11 AM-1 PM): Bathe, meditate

…All were tedious, foundational exercises.

“Don’t accuse me of being harsh. I went through the same regimen back then.” Seeing the other girl silently look up, Hua Yan blinked. “Let’s start practicing today. It’s already mid-afternoon, so you should go practice your horse sta—”

“Grumble, grumble—”

A loud rumble suddenly emanated from the pink-haired girl’s small stomach, causing her cheeks to flush even deeper.

‘Oh, right.’

Hua Yan suddenly realized.

‘Oh, that’s right. She’s only just entered Qi Condensation. To achieve辟谷 (bìgǔ) — the ability to abstain from food — she’ll have to wait until she truly establishes her foundation.’

‘In that case, I’ll have to prepare food for her… How can raising a child be such a bother?’

‘Also, how exactly am I supposed to feed her? I can’t cook…’

She swept her divine sense through her storage bag. It was piled mostly with rare medicinal herbs and high-grade spiritual materials. There was nothing suitable for a child in the Qi Condensation stage.

Moreover, Hua Xiangrong had only just drawn spiritual energy into her body. She needed to digest spiritual power through exercise and meditation.

If Hua Yan were to feed her the spiritual fruits she usually ate as snacks, Hua Xiangrong would likely suffer from an immediate spiritual energy overload and explode.

‘No choice, I can only do this for now…’

Hua Yan reached into her storage bag and pulled out an ancient, rustic bronze alchemy furnace.

“Wait for me for half an incense stick’s time. I’ll refine two batches of辟谷丹 (bìgǔ dān) — cultivation-sustaining pills — for you.”

With that, she casually waved her hand, and several common herbs flew up from the courtyard, automatically entering the alchemy furnace.

Then, she pointed a finger, and a ball of crimson flame ignited out of thin air, steadily enveloping the furnace body.

“Mm, okay.” Hua Xiangrong didn’t ask further. She simply nodded obediently, standing quietly to the side, watching her refine her “lunch.”

“Don’t just stand there watching. Go find a place to sit.”

“Mm, okay.”

“Besides ‘mm’ and ‘okay,’ can’t you say anything else?”

Hua Yan raised an eyebrow, asking casually,

“What flavor of cultivation-sustaining pills would you like? Orange, or apple?”

“Can I have barbecue flavor?”

“You certainly aren’t shy… Very well, one batch barbecue, one batch orange. You can alternate between them later.”

In the small courtyard, surrounded by flowers and plants, the pink-haired child sat obediently on the stone stool under the date tree, resting her chin in her hands, watching her ‘mother’ cast spells to refine pills.

The red-haired, golden-eyed maiden wore a casual smile on her lips. Though situated within a ship’s cave-heaven, a gentle breeze, from an unknown source, stirred her temple hair.

The warm midday sun cast down its light, her silhouette radiantly beautiful, almost dazzling.

***

‘Hmm, not bad. Today, that girl actually completed every single lesson I drafted, meticulously. This temperament of hers is quite similar to how I was back then.’

It was night. In the lavishly decorated bedroom, Hua Yan sat before her dressing mirror, removing her makeup while feeling utterly smug.

She had completely forgotten that in her own childhood, Hua Yuheng had to whip her with a ruler just to make her grudgingly practice the horse stance.

She couldn’t even last half an incense stick’s time before complaining of fatigue and trying to cheat—which, of course, had earned her another good beating.

‘Truly worthy of being my daughter…’

In the mirror, the red-haired maiden’s eyes and brows were alight with pride.

‘—Wait, no.’

‘Why am I happy for that girl? I initially found even teaching her troublesome.’

Hua Yan’s hand, in the midst of removing a pearl flower hairpin, suddenly paused.

‘—Heh, never mind. She is my daughter, after all. If my daughter is impressive, doesn’t that just prove that I, as her mother, am even more impressive?’

The beautiful woman in the mirror’s lips curved upwards once more.

‘—Wait, still not right!’

‘What mother, what mother! This young master is a dignified man! I’ve merely taken on this appearance temporarily!’

Hua Yan slammed her hand, clutching the pearl flower, onto the dressing table with a “bang,” shaking the rouge, powder, hairpins, and other items on the table, sending them askew.

‘Oh, I can’t break these things! I painstakingly hand-picked all of these from Sister Liu and the others. If they broke, where would I find replacements?’

The maiden quickly channeled her spiritual energy, barely stabilizing the bottles, jars, and hair ornaments that were on the verge of shattering.

“Tap, tap, tap.”

A soft knocking sound echoed at that moment.

“…Come in.”

Hua Yan swiftly tidied her appearance, adopting her usual teasing tone.

The wooden door creaked open, and a pink head, clutching an embroidered pillow, timidly peered in.

“Didn’t I say not to bother me unless it’s important?”

The red-haired maiden turned around, her nightgown trailing on the floor. She frowned slightly, her tone carrying a hint of disturbed impatience.

“What, not enough practice during the day? Want to add more lessons?”

“No,” Hua Xiangrong shook her head, her loose pink hair swaying with the movement. “I… I just wanted to ask…”

She lifted her eyes, her voice very soft,

“Tonight… can I sleep with you?”

“Of course no—”

The refusal was already on Hua Yan’s lips, but she suddenly paused.

She saw Hua Xiangrong’s expression—the girl’s eyelids were lowered, her delicate nose twitched slightly, and her demeanor revealed a cautious loneliness, starkly different from her daytime vibrancy.

“…Really not?”

Hua Xiangrong looked up, her gaze filled with a faint plea.

“When I was in the valley… I always slept with Great-Grandmother…”

Hua Yan was startled by her words.

‘This girl… she was quite lively during the day, so why does she seem like a completely different person at night?’

‘Is this her true nature? Or… did Yun Xueshang used to sleep with her even earlier? Is that why she feels lonely?’

She recalled the girl’s embarrassed look during her bath that afternoon, and then thought of Yun Xueshang’s perpetually cold face.

‘No, that’s not right. Given Yun Xueshang’s temperament, let alone sleeping together, even bathing together was probably something that only happened when she was very young.’

Hua Yan suddenly understood, believing she had found the answer.

‘Thrown into this remote demonic sect by her own mother, and facing Yun Xueshang’s cold face since childhood…’

‘…No wonder she was so close to her warm grandmother.’

‘So now… is she seeking a similar warmth from me?’

Upon this thought, Hua Yan felt a touch of helplessness. Such direct, childlike reliance was too sudden for her, this “mother” who had joined the role halfway.

“‘As expected… it’s still not possible…’”

Seeing her silence, the light in Hua Xiangrong’s eyes gradually dimmed. She hugged the pillow in her arms tighter, her steps slowly retreating.

“Then I… won’t disturb Mother’s rest…”

“Wait.”

A voice sounded from behind her, calling her back.

“When did I say you could leave?”

Hua Yan turned around, her eyebrow slightly raised, a helpless yet indulgent curve playing on her lips.

“Come on up. I’m not cultivating tonight, and I happen to be short a body pillow.”

She patted the soft bed, the warm yellow lamplight reflected in her golden eyes.

“—You’re it.”

***

[Host, your acting is truly brilliant! Even a villain like Hua Yan was fooled by you!]

Late at night, 099’s excited voice echoed in Hua Xiangrong’s mind.

[“Mm.”]

In the darkness, Hua Xiangrong gently snuggled into the warm, soft, faintly fragrant embrace beside her, mumbling in response.

[“….”]

[“099.”]

[“Hmm? What’s wrong, Host?”]

The little system’s voice remained cheerful.

[“It’s just, I suddenly feel…”]

Hua Xiangrong whispered in her consciousness,

[“I feel like Hua Yan… isn’t all that bad.”]

With that, she slowly closed her eyes, sinking into a peaceful slumber.

***

However, the red-haired maiden lying beside the girl harbored a completely different plan in her heart:

‘Hahahahaha! Yun Xueshang, you’d never guess!’

‘Today, I not only bathed Hua Xiangrong and made her food, but I also slept with her!’

‘I’m going to make your obedient daughter completely close to me now. By the time I find you in the future, she’ll only stand on my side and speak for me, never again recognizing you as her mother!’

‘Hahahahahahahahaha!’

Lost in these fantasies of revenge against Yun Xueshang, Hua Yan also closed her eyes contentedly, falling into a sweet dream.