### Chapter 173: Of Course, Puffy White Girls Are The Most Important!
Even though he said so, Yun Zhonghe couldn’t figure out what to say to Mu Jixue.
Since yesterday, Yun Zhonghe had noticed that Mu Jixue was acting quite different—like today, she might make a huge fuss and vent her frustration by biting him a few times. And who knows, maybe she’d scare Su Xiaoxiao again with all this. This Mu Jixue seemed to have some kind of terrifying aura about her lately.
But today, for some reason, she was unusually calm, even making Yun Zhonghe feel a bit uneasy. It was as if he had met Huáng Àotiān, who had suddenly matured overnight.
Yun Zhonghe was worried. He didn’t want Jixue to hold back her feelings. If she had something important on her mind, she could just tell him. Really, it would be much better than biting.
But still, if she bit him, Su Xiaoxiao might get scared again. Xiaoxiao already seemed pretty scared of Jixue now.
Yun Zhonghe racked his brain trying to figure out how to maintain his relationship with Jixue, which felt like a solid and unyielding connection.
Just as he started to feel embarrassed, a flock of ravens appeared in the sky again.
These ravens were like an unending horde, reappearing as soon as they were dispatched. They stared viciously at Yun Zhonghe and Mu Jixue, clearly sensing that these two weren’t pushovers.
At the same time, Su Xiaoxiao’s mood, which had finally calmed down, turned tense again. Her once lovely face now showed fear and deep guilt. She blamed herself for getting them into this mess. If she hadn’t stumbled into the raven nest, alarming the crows, Yun Zhonghe and Mu Jixue wouldn’t have been trapped.
Xiaoxiao’s eyes hardened in determination. She decided she must do something—she couldn’t let her new friends suffer because of her.
Then, Yun Zhonghe’s voice echoed in her ear, “Don’t worry, just stay behind us.”
Jixue, who seemed to be waiting for permission, immediately turned her attention skyward, her eyes locking onto the crows. She raised her right hand slowly.
“Extreme Cold!”
After a brief rest earlier, her spiritual energy had recovered somewhat. With the abundant spiritual power in the forest, a cultivator like Jixue with a premium spiritual root even seemed to heal from breathing alone. As her extreme cold spiritual energy surged, a fierce gale swept across the forest, turning the ravens into lifelike ice sculptures in an instant.
Xiaoxiao’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Ice attribute! And such dominating ice attribute spiritual energy! What kind of outrageous talent did this person have?
Speaking of which, there was supposed to be a student in the Xuantian Sect with an ice spiritual root who was taken under a certain elder’s wing in advance. Could it be her?
As Xiaoxiao pondered, the ice sculptures exploded in a massive bang, scattering shrapnel everywhere like grenade fragments, tearing apart the surrounding ravens.
In seconds, the entire flock had been annihilated without a trace. Xiaoxiao’s brain froze in shock.
Jixue’s control over extreme cold had gotten even better since last time. That move wasn’t even technically a magic technique; it was sheer mastery of spiritual energy.
Yun Zhonghe nodded in admiration. “Not surprising, given who her mother is.” She improved so quickly. He had barely seen her practice and yet…
“See?” Yun Zhonghe said to Xiaoxiao, patting her shoulder, “With Jixue around, we’re safe.”
Though Yun Zhonghe felt pride, Xiaoxiao remained frozen. This little girl seemed incredibly fragile. Fighting her felt like fighting ten people.
Frightened, she could barely stand. Jixue’s stare lingered in her memory. Seeing Jixue’s power, she only thought of one thing: avoid Jixue at all costs.
Could she run? Xiaoxiao felt cornered.
“Hey?” Yun Zhonghe noticed something wrong. Xiaoxiao’s eyes were lifeless, her body swaying. Her soul seemed ready to float away.
“She must be a Yuan Ying expert,” he thought, surprised.
Thankfully, after soothing her, Xiaoxiao regained her composure.
“No need to worry…” her hollow words did little to convince them.
This relationship seemed to grow distant despite the best intentions.
“You’re too sweet,” Yun Zhonghe said, reminding Jixue, “It’s fine to show off your skills. But save it for later. Otherwise, you’ll draw unnecessary attention.”
Jixue replied with a sulky tone, “Others? Aren’t you saying that girl is your friend?”
“Yes… but…” Yun Zhonghe insisted “to me, you’re the most important.”
Seeing her confusion, his green eyes remained steadfast.
“Friends are friends, but you’re special.”
Only Jixue could hear him as he lowered his voice, his sincerity apparent.
Her fair face blushed, those mysterious purple eyes trembling, as if the ice within them was melting. She stepped back, feeling exposed under his gaze.
“Don’t say weird things!” she scoffed, but her sharp little teeth showed no malice.
“Got to keep you grounded,” he chuckled, instinctively reaching for her head.
She pulled away, clearly uncomfortable.
“I thought brothers liked having their heads patted.”
Jixue left, distancing herself quickly.
But her heart lifted slightly; his words lingered.
“She’s saying I’m important.”
Rin Zhongyu observed the exchange between the two.
“Cloud Brother seems to really like big girls…”
The warmth they provided made Rizhongyu feel unwelcome, a large barrier blocking her way inside the circle of affection.
Only Yun Zhonghe greeted her with the same warmth, keeping their bond intact.
…
Though Su Xiaoxiao was healed, her power was inadequate for the fight ahead. Her spiritual root was dual-wood-and-fire, with wood being dominant. Without training in wood-based techniques, her spiritual power was similar to unattributed energy. Only her vitality was higher, enhancing her overall energy levels.
As for other techniques, Xiaoxiao knew only basic ones.
Thus, she served as protection, staying central among the team.
Along the way, Yun Zhonghe tried to smooth things over with Jixue, reassuring Xiaoxiao through his words.
He emphasized that Jixue used to be his childhood companion. Yet, Xiaoxiao fixated solely on Jixoe’s power. Those ravens, ordinary as they may seem individually, formed a formidable swarm. But in Jixue’s presence, they were merely fodder.
Seeing this spectacle only intensified Xiaoxiao’s anxiety.
Zhongyu’s voice cut through the tension.
“Don’t worry. We’ll escort you out safely.”
Zhongyu, ever attentive, picked up on Xiaoxiao’s emotional state. Her soothing voice brought Xiaoxiao comfort, reminding her of her mother.
“Thanks,” Xiaoxiao whispered.
Zhongyu responded warmly, “No problem.”
Zhongyu’s gentle demeanor brought Xiaoxiao back. For the first time, Xiaoxiao felt a genuine smile forming. She felt a strong, supportive presence.
“It’s settled, then.”
Both women seemed to harmonize, with Zhongyu adding a layer of warmth, balancing everything out beautifully.
Yun Zhonghe watched them interact, pleased with how smoothly things were progressing.
