"Indeed, it looks really nice."
Tang San nodded. He didn't expect this Blue Silver Grass to mutate with golden veins. It unexpectedly gave off a hint of nobility. Placed on a tea table, it would definitely look very elegant.
"Can I play with it for a bit?"
Tang San reached out his hand. He couldn't explain it, but he felt an odd sense of familiarity toward this grass—a kind of intuition he had never experienced before.
Ye Qiu's eyes showed a hint of surprise. What did Tang San just say? He wanted to play with it too? That couldn't happen! Ye Qiu was just about to refuse when a pink figure burst into Room Seven, rushing in with urgency.
A cheerful voice followed:
"Ye Qiu~ Sister Xiao Wu is back, and I even bought your favorite pickled bamboo shoots!"
Xiao Wu smiled as she quickly ran toward Ye Qiu. Just as she was about to kick off her shoes and pounce onto him on the bed, she noticed someone at the bedside—a person Ye Qiu clearly didn't welcome much.
Xiao Wu instantly stopped in her tracks, standing beside the bed and looking at Tang San strangely.
"Huh? San-ge, how did you get back so quickly?"
She knew clearly that she had only gone to grab some dishes and hadn't even started eating. So how could Tang San be back faster than her?
"Xiao Wu, I just came back to get something," Tang San explained with a smile, withdrawing his outstretched hand.
"Oh, I see."
Xiao Wu nodded and didn't press further.
Ye Qiu petted Ah Yin and smiled. "San-ge, have you eaten yet? Want to join us?"
"No need, the teacher is still waiting for me! I won't bother you two." Tang San tactfully declined. Staying here wouldn't just make them uncomfortable—he also didn't feel good about it himself.
As Tang San's figure disappeared from view, Xiao Wu immediately kicked off her shoes and dove onto Ye Qiu.
"Ye Qiu~ I missed you so much!"
"You pervy rabbit! Move over, you'll break the stuff!"
…
At the corner of Room Seven.
Listening to the sounds coming from inside, Tang San bitterly smiled and couldn't help but feel another wave of regret.
If, back when Xiao Wu challenged him, he hadn't held back… and if, when she looked at his blanket, he had proactively suggested they share it, maybe things would have turned out differently. Maybe she'd be clinging to him every day now?
Tang San shook his head and stopped overthinking. He had to focus on getting stronger. Otherwise, the gap between him and Ye Qiu would only widen further.
…
Inside Room Seven.
At that moment, Xiao Wu, under Ye Qiu's disapproval, crawled under the covers, blushing and holding her head high, saying coyly, "Hmph! You're always calling me a pervy rabbit, so now your sister Xiao Wu will be pervy just for you!"
She blushed, snuggled Ye Qiu's arm, and sat beside him on the bed.
Ye Qiu chuckled helplessly. "Do as you like. Just don't get my bed dirty."
"I definitely won't! I bathe and wash my clothes every day!" Xiao Wu, seeing that Ye Qiu wasn't pushing her away, wished she could dive straight into his arms.
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, placed Ah Yin on the nightstand, and got out of bed.
"Ye Qiu, where are you going?"
"To wash up."
Smack! Ye Qiu swatted Xiao Wu's hand away, grabbed his toiletries, and headed outside.
"Hmph!" Xiao Wu snorted, flipping open Ye Qiu's blanket. She grabbed her own little foot and sniffed it, muttering, "Ye Qiu is always saying nonsense. It clearly smells nice—better than the pig's feet at the cafeteria! Totally edible level! Hmph!"
Still pouting, Xiao Wu got up to help Ye Qiu tidy up his bed, only to spot the golden little grass plant beside the bed.
It looked... kind of tasty.
More importantly… it looked familiar!
…
When Ye Qiu came back, the dishes were already set out. Xiao Wu was idly playing with Ah Yin.
"Ye Qiu, where did you get this grass?" Xiao Wu turned her head and looked at Ye Qiu curiously. As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, she naturally recognized what this was.
"I can't tell you right now," Ye Qiu shook his head and took the Blue Silver Emperor back.
Xiao Wu frowned slightly, puzzled. "Why not?"
"Why so many questions? If I could tell you, I would've already."
Ye Qiu rolled his eyes, put the Blue Silver Emperor away, and seeing Xiao Wu still looking confused, he suddenly lunged forward and pinned her down.
"Ah! Ye Qiu~!"
Xiao Wu blushed and whimpered softly. She didn't dislike the physical contact. After all, she had crawled into his bed many times—but mostly when Ye Qiu wasn't aware.
Seeing Xiao Wu's flushed face, Ye Qiu smiled, pinched her soft cheeks, and leaned close. The little bunny cooperatively puckered her lips. Under her shy gaze, Ye Qiu lowered his head and gently kissed her.
Xiao Wu's long lashes fluttered, and her breathing became noticeably warmer. Ye Qiu left a bit of glistening moisture on her lips with a light kiss, then raised his head and softly said:
"Just trust me, okay? I won't harm you."
"Mhm… I—I got it."
Xiao Wu bit her lip. Her lips moved as if still savoring the kiss. Her reddened face glowed with beauty, and she looked at Ye Qiu with complete trust and obedience.
Ye Qiu chuckled, then helped her sit up.
Xiao Wu was still giggling sweetly, her rosy eyes full of joy. She didn't even ask where Ye Qiu had gone the night before.
"Oh right." Ye Qiu patted his forehead and reminded, "That grass is my second replication target. Be careful when playing with it."
"Mhm mhm!" Xiao Wu nodded eagerly and obediently hugged Ye Qiu's arm. "Let's eat, Ye Qiu~"
…
In the dead of night.
While everyone else in Room Seven was asleep, Ye Qiu's figure had already vanished. Only the strange Blue Silver Grass on the nightstand remained, glowing faintly.
Xiao Wu, lying beside the bed, opened her eyes and pouted. That plant actually dared to steal her time with Ye Qiu—now she had less cuddling time with him!
Inside a lush green space.
Ye Qiu and Ah Yin stood facing each other. Ah Yin's angry voice rang in his ears.
"Ye Qiu, why won't you let me see my child?!"
Ah Yin's anger—Ye Qiu could totally understand.
Compared to last time, when he only let her watch from afar, not allowing her to meet Tang San now was practically a crime.
To this,
Ye Qiu simply gave a calm smile and sat cross-legged.
They hadn't talked much before, but now—with Tang Hao not standing guard—Ye Qiu could freely "bully" her.
"Ye Qiu! I'm talking to you!"
Ah Yin still hadn't figured out her weakling status and was trying to assert herself.
"So noisy! Are you gonna cultivate or not?"
Ye Qiu said, clearly annoyed.
"You—!"
Ah Yin's breath caught. Feeling Ye Qiu's same irritation from earlier in the day, she softened her tone.
"I just want to see my child…"
Ye Qiu raised an eyebrow and looked at the beautiful woman in front of him with amusement.
"How are you so sure that San-ge is really your child?"