Chapter 169 Protagonist 7

The warm breeze blew gently. Qian lay sprawled out on the couch in Qionghua Garden of Zhaoming Palace, basking in the sun and sleeping. Sometimes she lay on her side, sometimes she sprawled on her stomach.

The weather was simply too perfect for sleeping. The child slept with her fingers and toes all splayed out, and her restless sleeping posture pushed the toys on the couch down to the floor, scattering them everywhere.

The wooden couch, crafted by the Venerable Master of Artifact Refining, stayed warm in winter and cool in summer, automatically adjusting its temperature. It came with a protective barrier to prevent the child from falling off, and was surrounded by a faint fragrance that calmed the mind and nourished the spirit—perfect for children. Her grand-uncle Jing Lingzhao had specially prepared it for Qian.

And this wasn’t the only piece of furniture. Jing Lingzhao had already set aside a small courtyard within Zhaoming Palace, ready for Qian to move in. There was a whole set of similar furniture carved with playful patterns of fruits, gourds, and frolicking children.

Unfortunately, Gongxi Yue remained unmoved. She pretended not to understand her master and uncle’s hints and stayed steadfast. Every day she brought the child over to play, but after finishing her daily cultivation, she took the child back to Crane Cauldron Mountain.

The precious little one he wanted to keep had to leave every day, while the two little troublemakers he didn’t want to deal with were forced to stay, making him watch over them.

Every day, Jing Lingzhao watched his disappointing little niece Gongxi Wenxing and his bad-tempered little disciple Lou Yuan, and it left him feeling thoroughly irritated.

While Qian lay sleeping on the couch, radiating a sense of peace and tranquility, under the largest Qionghua Flower tree nearby, Lou Yuan and Gongxi Wenxing were struggling under heavy training.

Gongxi Yue sat cross-legged on the ground covered with fallen white petals, eyes closed in cultivation. Her spiritual sword, Falling Frost Wind, split into two shadows, attacking Gongxi Wenxing and Lou Yuan respectively.

The two of them, left and right, were forcibly confined within the range of sixteen stone tiles by Gongxi Yue, continuously subjected to her “training.”

Gongxi Wenxing had long since broken down crying, calling out to her sister that she couldn’t go on. But no matter how much she cried or screamed for help, Gongxi Yue would always push her exactly to the brink of total exhaustion before stopping.

As for Lou Yuan, his situation was even worse. Gongxi Yue was far more ruthless with him than with Gongxi Wenxing. After all, Gongxi Wenxing would only end up drenched in sweat after a session, but Lou Yuan was always covered in injuries, countless times knocked to the ground by his senior sister and forced to climb back up.

Even the white petals scattered all over the ground were stained with his blood, but Gongxi Yue acted as though she didn’t see it, pressing him down with her life-bound sword.

Lou Yuan remained stubborn, refusing to beg for mercy even once.

Gongxi Wenxing, lying on the ground catching her breath, dared not utter a single complaint. She quietly crawled toward the wooden couch behind her sister, hoping to seek some comfort from her little niece Qianbao.

She didn’t dare make too much noise, fearing she would provoke her sister and end up getting the same treatment as Lou Yuan.

After much effort, she reached the couch and buried her head into the child’s belly, taking a deep breath. Finally, she felt alive again. The breathlessness and restless agitation all faded away, and her mind cleared a little.

Turning back to look at Lou Yuan being “instructed” by their sister, Gongxi Wenxing clutched Qian tightly, thinking miserably: What on earth has gotten into my sister lately? Why has she become so ruthless and heartless?

After sleeping for so long, Qian was finally woken up by her aunt’s affectionate inhaling. She instinctively turned over, wanting to keep sleeping, but was pulled back by a pair of soft, fragrant hands and hugged tightly.

“Qianbao’s finally awake. Auntie hasn’t played with Qianbao all morning. Qianbao must have missed Auntie, right? Auntie’s going to give Qianbao a big kiss!”

Dragged into play, Qian squirmed and reached for the toy at her feet.

It was a round little box with a pearlescent purple sheen, dazzling in the sunlight—the gift Lou Yuan had given her when they first met: the Wish-Granting Treasure Box.

This Wish-Granting Treasure Box was said to be formed from a Deep Sea Treasure Clam, which loved to swallow things rich in spiritual energy. After long years of nurturing treasures within its body, it would open its shell and offer a gift to someone it deemed fated. Hence the name: Wish-Granting Treasure Box.

However, in Qian’s hands, the Wish-Granting Treasure Box had become a curious little “pet.”

Whenever Qian knocked on its lid, making the treasure clam prepare to spit out something valuable, she would grab a nearby “toy” and stuff it right inside.

Her so-called “toys” all came from Jing Lingzhao’s treasury. Though he thought they were suitable playthings for children, each one was a rare treasure in the outside world.

For the first time in its life, the Wish-Granting Treasure Box opened its shell only to fail at producing a treasure—and even got force-fed one instead. From then on, every time Qian knocked it open, she had to feed the little pet something. Luckily, she had plenty of toys, and more were added daily.

After finishing another feeding game with the Wish-Granting Treasure Box, which once again sulked and shut its shell tight in self-isolation upon realizing its treasure wasn’t as good as what it had just been fed, a breeze stirred. The wide courtyard was once again showered with falling white blossoms.

Jing Lingzhao drifted over, carrying a chill with him.

Due to the overflowing spiritual energy, even his clothes fluttered despite no wind. He glided over from the inner hall, feet not touching the ground, radiant and ethereal like a celestial being.

He had originally intended to check on his barely conscious little disciple Lou Yuan first, but halfway there, he was spotted by Qian. The child stretched out her arms, holding onto the couch’s edge and babbling loudly at him as if greeting him. Without hesitation, Jing Lingzhao changed direction and headed straight for Qian.

Though his little disciple was indeed pitiful, surely the senior disciple had her reasons for being so strict. Best not to interfere.

Qian swung her arms and grabbed Jing Lingzhao’s drifting robe hem, then caught hold of his belt with the other hand, stumbling two steps before rushing into his embrace.

Simply to escape another wave of her aunt’s affection.

Jing Lingzhao’s previously solemn and aloof expression gradually softened into kindness and gentleness. Holding Qian in his arms, he picked up a toy to play with her.

Qian bounced on his leg. “Fly, fly!”

“All right, all right. Ancestor Master will take our little Qian flying.”

At first, he’d been concerned about losing face by playing with a child in front of the juniors, but now Jing Lingzhao didn’t care anymore. After that first time when he used baby talk in front of Gongxi Yue and saw her strange expression, Jing Lingzhao had decided never to think about it again.

Cradling Qian, he floated and wandered around the courtyard with her, taking her up to the top of the tallest Qionghua Flower tree, pointing with her toward the distant mountains and palaces.

Old and young, though they couldn’t fully understand each other’s words, chatted happily nonetheless.

Only Gongxi Wenxing, showing withdrawal symptoms like an addict, sat below looking pitifully at the two, scratching at the carvings on the wooden couch with her fingers.

In the past, Jing Lingzhao’s Zhaoming Palace had few visitors, the long days quiet and cold. Now, it had become lively.

Before long, Xue Yingying and two junior sisters from Qixiu Mountain also arrived.

“Freshly picked spiritual fruits, specially brought for Senior Uncle and Qian to taste.” Xue Yingying brought two baskets of plump, juicy fruits.

Mainly for Qian, of course. Their austere and aloof Venerable Master uncle didn’t like such things.

Qixiu Mountain, where Xue Yingying stayed, had many fruit trees yielding fresh spiritual fruits daily. This wasn’t her first time delivering treats for Qian. Dropping off goodies was also an excuse to play with the child for a while.

Qian hugged a big peach and chomped right in, pressing herself into the peach and toppling onto the couch. Yet after all her chewing, when she lifted her head, the peach skin hadn’t even broken.

Everyone burst out laughing, waiting for her to ask for help. Finally, Jing Lingzhao sliced the peach with two fingers, leaving a clean cut.

A dignified sword immortal, manifesting spiritual energy as a sword—just for this.

With three generations present, laughter and joy filled the air, making Lou Yuan’s bleak and miserable figure just a few meters away seem all the more desolate.

Gasping for breath, unable to get up from his sister’s beating, Lou Yuan noticed his senior sister open her eyes and glance toward the child calling out. He too got distracted for a brief moment.

Over there, the master was busy watching the child eat peaches, the junior sister was laughing with her mouth covered, and even senior sister, upon opening her eyes, was looking at the child—not him!

A wave of stifled frustration surged in Lou Yuan’s chest, but just then, the hilt of Falling Frost Wind struck him hard in the stomach.

“Focus,” senior sister said coldly.

Lou Yuan gritted his teeth stubbornly. “…Senior sister, I still don’t think I’m wrong!”

Gongxi Yue: “Less talking. More sword practice.”

When Qian slept, Lou Yuan got beaten.
When Qian played, Lou Yuan got beaten.
When Qian ate, Lou Yuan… was still getting beaten…

When night fell, lights lit up in Zhaoming Palace. Gongxi Yue finally finished today’s lesson for her junior disciple, sheathed her sword at her waist, and left with Qian, under the reluctant gazes of her uncle and younger sister.

As soon as Qian left, Jing Lingzhao resumed his stern and imposing aura, carried his collapsed little disciple inside, tossed him into the spirit pool to recover and restore, so he’d have the energy to continue enduring his senior sister’s teaching tomorrow.

Gongxi Yue’s residence at Crane Cauldron Mountain wasn’t luxurious, just a small mountain home. Here, it was just mother and daughter.

After putting down her sword, Gongxi Yue would accompany Qian to play for a while.

But in Gongxi Yue’s own eyes, this was “training” the child.

“Come on, Qian, walk over to me.” Gongxi Yue opened her arms.

After Qian stumbled into her embrace, Gongxi Yue stood up again and walked to the other side, continuing to train her in walking.

After several rounds, when Qian finally refused to walk anymore, clinging to her leg and sitting on her boot, the training came to an end.

Though she felt this little bit of training was far from enough for the child, her tear-streaked, pitiful little face was hard to ignore.

Gongxi Yue couldn’t treat her tiny daughter like her stubborn junior disciple, tossing her to the ground to toughen her up. The little one clung to her like sticky candy, impossible to pull off.

So she could only pick her up and walk around the courtyard with her, telling her, “Tomorrow you’re not allowed to be this lazy. Tomorrow you must walk a hundred more steps.”

And so, day after day, the training volume never actually increased.

“Senior Sister.”

Visiting was her second junior disciple, Duan Yuanlang.

Holding the child, she welcomed the guest into the hall. The two sat facing each other, brewing tea.

Duan Yuanlang had a refined appearance, and his tea-making gestures were especially graceful. But today he seemed distracted, his gaze repeatedly drifting to Qian lying across Gongxi Yue’s lap.

Qian was busily gnawing on Gongxi Yue’s spirit sword, Falling Frost Wind. Normally protective of her sword, Gongxi Yue allowed it without stopping her.

Duan Yuanlang drifted off for a moment, then pushed a teacup toward Gongxi Yue and came back to himself: “The matter Senior Sister asked me to inquire about has news. The Mortal World Heart Refining Pagoda will open again soon. The Duan Clan can secure a Pagoda Entry Token. I’ll deliver it to you in a few days.”

“No need. The information already troubled you enough. As for the token, I’ll get it myself when the time comes.”

Duan Yuanlang gave a bitter smile. “Why so distant and formal with me, Senior Sister? Even if other junior disciples asked, I’d help.”

The Mortal World Heart Refining Pagoda was a special trial ground, suited for those seeking harsh cultivation. But it opened at irregular times, and the entry tokens were hard to come by.

Since the Duan Clan had merchant networks everywhere and was well-informed, Gongxi Yue had turned to Duan Yuanlang for help.

“This Pagoda Entry Token is for Junior Disciple Lou Yuan, isn’t it? I’ve heard Senior Sister has been very strict with him lately. Isn’t this… a bit too rushed?” Duan Yuanlang gently pleaded.

Having watched her junior disciple grow up, Gongxi Yue naturally felt some heartache. But thinking of his future, falling into demonic obsession for love, she had to harden her heart.

“Lou Yuan has good talent. His cultivation path has never faced real setbacks. Both Master and I used to think there was no need to push him too hard. But I was wrong. The sooner he tempers his Sword Heart, the less likely he’ll stray in the future.”

“Senior Sister’s been suppressing and beating him like this for days. Isn’t it time to ease up? Are you really planning to beat him until the day he enters the Mortal World Heart Refining Pagoda?”

Gongxi Yue let out a light, cold snort. “I’ll beat him until the day his first instinct, whenever he sees me, is how to surpass me in cultivation and swordsmanship—not how to pursue me.”

Duan Yuanlang wanted to laugh but ended up sighing. “Feelings… are hard to change. I fear Senior Sister won’t get her wish.”

Gongxi Yue, recalling that the man before her was also one of those who would “go astray” in the future, fell silent, staring at him without speaking.

She was usually straightforward, never hesitating to say what was on her mind, but now she felt unsure, fumbling with her daughter’s hair in frustration.

Duan Yuanlang noticed her mood and smiled, saying, “Is Senior Sister worrying about how to make me give up? No need. I know I’m bothering you, I’ll do my best to restrain myself.”

Toward this gentle and broad-minded junior disciple, Gongxi Yue’s tone softened. She said, “Wherever you are, take good care of yourself. Don’t sacrifice yourself for others, understood?”

“Yes, thank you, Senior Sister.” Duan Yuanlang lowered his eyes, then pulled out a few things from his storage pouch, changing the subject.

“I brought some toys Qian might like. This colorful ball she can kick around, and this wooden cart she can ride on clouds.” They were toys from his own childhood.

As he brought them closer, Qian, lying on Gongxi Yue’s lap, lifted her head to look at the wooden cart, then looked at him, and suddenly blurted out, shocking words:

“Daddy!”

Duan Yuanlang: “!”