Chapter 225: “Senior Brother Bai, you’re not really an outsider, right?”
Bai Feng let out a sigh and looked at Shui Miao Miao, who was hiding right next to him. He couldn’t help but ask, “Is it really okay for you to tell me such a secret as an outsider?”
“Senior Brother Bai, you’re not really an outsider, right?”
Shui Miao Miao rubbed her cheek thoughtfully, then suddenly realized that what she just said sounded a bit off. She hurried to clarify, “Uh, well, since we do share a really important secret, I think we’re on the same side. Besides, other than Senior Brother Bai, I don’t really have anyone else to discuss this with.”
Bai Feng: “……”
Isn’t royal palace intrique supposed to be brutally cruel? How on earth did Shui Miao Miao survive in such an environment?
He shook his head in despair and said, “Alright, stop overthinking it. If your missing little sister is willing to risk exposure just to warn you, then you should think carefully about what she said. Really ponder on what to do.”
“Mm, Bai Senior Brother, you’re right,” Shui Miao Miao nodded. Then she looked at Bai Feng again and asked, “Um, Bai Senior Brother, do you have any way to keep me from going back to the Northern Region? Like, forever?”
……
Bai Feng side-glanced at Shui Miao Miao and realized she seemed serious. She really didn’t want to return to Eastern Continent.
Thinking about her personality, even if he sent her back, she’d probably be arranged into a proper plan by others. Plus, she probably couldn’t beat them.
But that was before. Now, after Shui Miao Miao’s bloodline reversion, Bai Feng had heard some things from their master—ahem, like how Shui Miao Miao’s bloodline concentration had already made her the next Empress for sure. If he dared to leave her in the Northern Region, that old dragon by her side would probably be so mad he’d want to k*ll him.
“Let it go. Don’t even think about it. Besides—” Bai Feng paused, “—you can still keep training at Heavenly Sword Sect, right?”
He shook his head again, internally adding:
“Really, better to ask your little missing sister instead. When she finishes her training and comes rushing back to Eastern Continent, maybe you won’t have to go back at all.”
*Sigh* “If only I could find my little sister…”
Shui Miao Miao sighed, wishing she could find her sister, then her worries would disappear.
Although the woman who just spoke was probably her little sister, she vanished right after speaking. That meant she didn’t want to show herself.
Thinking of how her little sister’s mother died in a mysterious fire before she went missing, Shui Miao Miao’s mind instantly spiraled into a maze of dirty power struggles.
No wonder she didn’t want to go back.
“Alright, forget it. Just focus on cultivating. Try to breakthrough into the Merging Stage, even the Mahayana Stage—the higher you go, the less anyone can force you to do anything,” Bai Feng said with a smile.
“That’s too difficult!” Shui Miao Miao cried out with a melodramatic wail.
After this little interlude, they continued strolling around. Shui Miao Miao, however, no longer looked lively and energetic; instead, she looked like a shriveled eggplant wilting slowly behind Bai Feng.
All the way, Chu Chu didn’t seem very interested—until they passed by a bookstore. She slowed her steps, gazing into the shop with a longing look.
Bai Feng caught her expression and asked, “Are you interested in books?”
“Yeah,” Chu Chu nodded. “When I was a kid, my mom once brought me a picture book. She’d read it to me at bedtime. So I want to see if I can find that same book.”
“Hmm… but I’d suggest you don’t set your hopes too high,” Bai Feng said, shaking his head. “The Central Continent is way too far from the Northern Region. Picture books don’t really make much profit—no merchant would carry them around. Let’s go in and take a look first.”
The bookstore wasn’t big, but it was packed with books on shelves. Inside, only an old man lay sleeping in a lounge chair.
‘Probably a place where Child of Destiny strikes lucky,’ Bai Feng thought, observing the shop. Usually, the protagonist would find some mysterious martial technique here that no one else could.
He picked up some old, dusty books, flipping through a few pages—mostly novels, it seemed.
“Yu Mo, don’t you want to come take a look?”
He tilted his head to look at Bai Yu Mo beside him.
Every time Bai Yu Mo and others went out, she generally didn’t like to speak much. No wonder some disciples found her difficult to get along with.
Bai Yu Mo shook her head. “Not interested.”
“Wasn’t it true you loved hearing stories before bed when you were younger?”
“That’s because you told interesting stories…”
Bai Yu Mo averted her gaze slightly. In truth, she didn’t really want to hear stories; she was just a little afraid and didn’t dare sleep alone.
While they were talking, Chu Chu hurried over with several picture books, her face bright with a happy smile. “I found them! It’s these few books.”
“Looks like our luck’s pretty good,” Bai Feng said, a little surprised. But he quickly thought, since Chu Chu’s parents trusted Bai Yu Mo’s care, their relationship must be good. Maybe the picture book she was holding was bought from the Northern Region.
Chu Chu quietly pulled out a few more old picture books and asked softly, “Which one? They look pretty interesting. Can I buy all of them?”
“No problem. Just take whatever you want,” Bai Feng waved his hand with a smile. He hadn’t expected Chu Chu would like books like that.
Maybe she’s trying to make up for childhood regrets?
Meanwhile, he secretly pondered—since he started drawing the Spring and Autumn, he’d accumulated quite a few little comics. They were pretty normal, but seeing how much Chu Chu liked picture books, maybe he should compile a batch and give her one?
……
“Quite smooth, actually.”
Bai Feng watched Su Lan Qian quietly mumbling. He’d expected her breakthrough to Yuan Ying to be disturbed by her Heart Demon, and he’d even prepared to make a move. But in the end, she emerged unscathed.
Looks like Su Lan Qian truly let go of her worries.
Now, having successfully reached the Yuan Ying stage, Su Lan Qian slowly opened her eyes, turned to look at Bai Feng waiting nearby, and a smile appeared. “Thanks.”
Bai Feng shook his head. “No need. I didn’t really do much. Even without me, you could have broken through smoothly.”
“It’s still different…”
Su Lan Qian muttered softly. Actually, during her breakthrough, her Heart Demon did show up and cause trouble. But because Bai Feng was by her side, she wasn’t shaken or swayed by the demon’s words and simply ignored it.
Then she seemed to remember something, nervously asking, “Um, can you keep teaching me formations or helping me with training in the future?”
“Hmm… training might be a bit hard,” Bai Feng said, pretending to think it over and shaking his head.
“Is… is that so?”
Su Lan Qian lowered her head, but Bai Feng then reached out and grinned at her, “Because from now on, we need to develop new portable formations. It’ll be busy, so if you want to continue training, you’ll probably have to do it in the research room. You’ll probably come help me, little assistant?”
She instantly lifted her head, a smile gradually appearing. She stretched out her hand, placed it on Bai Feng’s, and nodded firmly. “Mm!”
