Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Tian Ling'er started making desserts.

She wasn't very good at cooking before; at most, she could only cook porridge or stir-fry some vegetables.

But now she's learning. She gets up before dawn, sneaks into the kitchen, and tries each dish from Su Ru's recipes one by one.

Flour, water, sugar, oil. If the proportions are wrong, the dough is too thin, so add more flour. If the dough is too dry, add more water. Your arms ache from kneading, and your hands are covered in sticky dough.

Steamed buns can sometimes be as hard as a rock, and sometimes as soft as mud.

She took a bite, frowned, poured it out, and started over.

Su Ru saw this and asked her what she was doing. Tian Ling'er replied that she was learning to cook.

Su Ru smiled and said it was good to learn to cook, so she wouldn't go hungry in the future. Tian Ling'er nodded without saying anything.

She wasn't thinking about the future, she was thinking about the present. It was about Jiang Xiaochuan squinting his eyes and saying "delicious" when he ate the pastries Lu Xueqi made.

She's going to make something even better. Even better than Lu Xueqi's.

A few days later, she made her first presentable dessert. It was plum blossom-shaped, pink, and dyed with the juice of flower petals. She carefully packed it into a food box and carried it to the back of the mountain. Jiang Xiaochuan was chopping bamboo, and Xiaobai was lying at his feet.

"Senior sister?" Jiang Xiaochuan put down his wood-chopping knife and wiped his sweat.

"Here you go." Tian Ling'er handed over the food box.

"What?"

"Open it and take a look."

Jiang Xiaochuan opened the package and saw the pastries inside. They were slightly crooked in shape and unevenly colored, but it was clear that care had been taken in their preparation. He picked up a piece and took a bite. It was a little hard and a little sweet, but edible.

"How is it?" Tian Ling'er stared at him.

"It's delicious," Jiang Xiaochuan said, taking another bite.

Tian Ling'er's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really?" Jiang Xiaochuan nodded. "Did you make this, Senior Sister?"

"Hmm." Tian Ling'er blushed slightly. "It's my first time doing this, so it might... not look very good."

"It looks good," Jiang Xiaochuan said, stuffing the remaining half into his mouth. "It's delicious."

Tian Ling'er smiled, a very happy smile. She took another piece from the food box and handed it to him. "Eat more. I'll make it for you often in the future."

"That's too much trouble..."

"It's no trouble at all," Tian Ling'er interrupted him, her tone firm. "I enjoy doing it."

Jiang Xiaochuan fell silent. He ate his snacks, looking at Tian Ling'er. Tian Ling'er looked back at him, her eyes bright, like they held stars.

He suddenly felt that Tian Ling'er was a little... different today. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He just felt that the way she looked at him was different from before.

But he didn't think much of it. The snacks were delicious, and he was hungry. He ate several pieces in one go, while Tian Ling'er stood beside him watching and laughing.

"Eat slowly, don't choke."

"Uh-huh."

When Lu Xueqi arrived the next day, she saw Jiang Xiaochuan eating snacks. They weren't made by her; they were a different kind. The shapes were irregular, and the colors were a bit odd. She frowned.

"Who did it?"

"Senior Sister Ling'er," Jiang Xiaochuan said, still chewing, "she gave it to me yesterday, it's delicious. Junior Sister Lu, would you like to try some?"

Lu Xueqi didn't take it. She stared at the plate of pastries for a long time, then looked up at Jiang Xiaochuan.

Do you like desserts?

"I like it," Jiang Xiaochuan said matter-of-factly. "It's sweet, everyone likes that."

"Then I'll make more next time," Lu Xueqi said in a flat voice, "and make it even tastier."

"No need, no need," Jiang Xiaochuan waved his hand. "You've gone to so much trouble making these snacks, I'll just have something simple to eat."

"It's no trouble at all," Lu Xueqi said, looking at Jiang Xiaochuan. "If you like it, then it's no trouble at all."

Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned.

He glanced at Lu Xueqi, then at the pastries in his hand, and suddenly felt something was amiss.

But something felt off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He scratched his head and continued eating.

Lu Xueqi began teaching him cultivation. Today she taught him a minor spell: condensing water into ice.

She raised her hand, and white steam rose from her fingertips, condensing into an ice flower in the air. It was crystal clear and sparkled in the sunlight.

"Give it a try," she said.

Jiang Xiaochuan tried circulating his breath. He raised his hand, and a small wisp of white vapor emerged from his fingertips, very faint and weak. The vapor floated in the air for a while, then dissipated, without condensing into anything.

"Slow down." Lu Xueqi walked to his side, took his wrist, and said, "Start your breath from your dantian, travel along the Taiyin meridian, to the Shaoshang acupoint, and then..."

She held his wrist; her fingers were cool. Jiang Xiaochuan could feel the warmth of her palm and smell her cool, refreshing fragrance. He felt a little uncomfortable and wanted to pull his hand away, but Lu Xueqi held on tightly.

"Focus," Lu Xueqi said, her voice very soft, right next to his ear.

Jiang Xiaochuan steadied himself and began to circulate his energy again. This time, he followed Lu Xueqi's instructions, circulating his energy slowly and steadily.

The white vapor from my fingertips thickened and slowly condensed into a droplet of water in the air. The droplet swayed gently, but didn't freeze.

"Give it your all," Lu Xueqi said, lightly tapping his wrist with her finger.

Jiang Xiaochuan gritted his teeth and suddenly exhaled. The water droplet shattered with a "splat," splashing all over his face.

"..." Jiang Xiaochuan wiped his face, looking a little dejected.

"It's alright." Lu Xueqi released his hand, took out a handkerchief from her sleeve, and handed it to him. "It's already very good that you were able to condense water droplets for the first time."

Jiang Xiaochuan took the handkerchief and wiped his face. The handkerchief was moon-white, very soft, and had a faint fragrance, the same as Lu Xueqi's scent. After wiping his face, he wanted to return it, but Lu Xueqi shook her head.

"Keep it."

"This isn't a good idea..."

"It's not a bad thing," Lu Xueqi said, turning to look into the distance. "We'll continue practicing tomorrow."

She flew away on her sword. Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, looking at the handkerchief in his hand, then at the sky.

My mind is a mess. Lu Xueqi seems a little different today...

Tian Buyi and Su Ru saw it all.

During dinner, Tian Buyi looked at Jiang Xiaochuan for a long time before asking, "Seventh Brother, has that girl Lu Xueqi been coming to teach you lately?"

"Okay." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded. "One hour each day."

"How's the teaching going?"

"Very good," Jiang Xiaochuan said honestly. "She explained things clearly, and I learned quickly."

Tian Buyi fell silent. He picked up his wine glass, took a sip, then put it down. He tapped his fingers on the table. After a while, he suddenly asked, "Do you like her teaching you?"

Jiang Xiaochuan was taken aback. "Of course I like it. With someone teaching me, of course I like it."

"You just like being taught?"

"Otherwise what?" Jiang Xiaochuan blinked.

Tian Buyi looked at him for a long time, then smiled. It was a strange smile, like helplessness mixed with relief. He waved his hand. "Let's eat, let's eat."

Su Ru kicked him under the table. Tian Buyi glared at her, and Su Ru glared back. The two exchanged glances for a while, and finally both sighed.

"Seventh Brother," Su Ru said gently, "Xueqi is truly good to you. But you must remember, she is a disciple of Xiaozhu Peak, and you are a disciple of Dazhu Peak. There are certain boundaries that cannot be crossed."

"What boundary?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked.

Su Ru was stumped. She opened her mouth, then finally said, "Anyway, remember you're from Dazhu Peak. Don't let people gossip."

"Oh." Jiang Xiaochuan nodded, but didn't understand. Gossip? What gossip? Lu Xueqi teaching him cultivation is a good thing, what's there to gossip about?

But he didn't ask. He lowered his head and ate his rice, thinking about the martial arts he would practice tomorrow.

The senior students also noticed this.

Du Bishu and He Dazhi were playing chess in the courtyard, chatting as they played.

"Tell me, which one does that seventh brother like?" Du Bishu asked, placing a piece on the board.

"I like them all," He Dazhi said, placing a piece on the board as well, "but I don't like any of them either."

"How so?"

"Look at the way he looks at Junior Sister Lu, and the way he looks at Junior Sister Ling'er. Is there a difference?" He Dazhi said. "They're the same, silly, like looking at a candied hawthorn."

Du Bishu thought for a moment and nodded. "That's true. This kid hasn't quite figured it out yet."

"It would be troublesome once he figured it out," He Dazhi said. "It's fine as it is now. Both of his junior sisters are good to him; he's lucky despite his foolishness."

"That's true." Du Bishu smiled. "How about we make a bet?"

"What are we betting on?"

"I'll bet on who Seventh Brother will choose in the end," Du Bishu said. "I bet on Junior Sister Lu. A genius with... well, a beauty with... a hero, um... a hero, a perfect match."

"I bet on Junior Sister Ling'er," He Dazhi said. "Being close to her gives her an advantage. Besides, given Junior Sister Ling'er's personality, if things really got serious, Junior Sister Lu might not be a match for her."

"Take action?" Du Bishu raised an eyebrow. "Surely it's not that serious?"

"Who knows?" He Dazhi said, looking at the chessboard. "A woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea."

The two looked at each other and laughed. Their laughter echoed in the courtyard, carried away by the wind.

A year has passed.

Tian Ling'er is eleven years old. She has grown a little taller, her baby fat has faded, and her features have matured, giving her the outline of a young woman.

She started cutting black bamboo when she was ten years old, and it's been a year now.

She took the machete and began to chop, one stroke at a time. The bamboo was very hard, and the blade only left marks of varying sizes on its surface. She gritted her teeth and continued chopping.

Jiang Xiaochuan stayed with her. He had already finished his task of cutting bamboo, but he still came to the back mountain every day.

He would cultivate from time to time, and when he got bored, he would sit beside Tian Ling'er and watch her chop. Sometimes he would give her a few pointers, and sometimes he would hand her a bowl of water.

Tian Ling'er was covered in sweat from exhaustion, so he handed her a handkerchief. It was the one Lu Xueqi had given him, which he had kept all along.

Tian Ling'er took the handkerchief, wiped her sweat, looked at the handkerchief, and then looked at Jiang Xiaochuan.

"This handkerchief...isn't yours, is it?"

"It was given to me by Junior Sister Lu," Jiang Xiaochuan said honestly.

Tian Ling'er paused. She stuffed the handkerchief back into Jiang Xiaochuan's hand and turned back to continue chopping bamboo. She chopped harder, the blade striking the bamboo with dull thuds.

Jiang Xiaochuan looked at her and thought she seemed angry, but he didn't know why. He scratched his head and put the handkerchief away.

Tian Ling'er's cultivation has reached the fourth level of Jade Purity. At eleven years old, reaching the fourth level of Jade Purity is considered a top genius even within the Qingyun Sect.

But she wasn't happy. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, who was ten years old and had reached the third level of the Jade Purity Realm. Although he was one level lower than her, one had to understand that with Jiang Xiaochuan's talent, normally it would be quite good if he could reach the third level of the Jade Purity Realm in ten years. And now, how long had it been?

It was all thanks to Lu Xueqi. Tian Ling'er knew that Lu Xueqi taught him every day, using the most ingenious methods and the most reasonable paths, and she managed to raise his cultivation level significantly.

Tian Buyi and Su Ru were also shocked. They looked at Jiang Xiaochuan as if he were a monster.

"Seventh Brother, how... did you train?" Tian Buyi asked.

"Just... practice normally," Jiang Xiaochuan said. "Junior Sister Lu teaches well."

"Lu Xueqi..." Tian Buyi murmured, turning to look at Su Ru. Su Ru was also looking at him, her eyes filled with complex emotions.

They all knew Lu Xueqi was a genius, but they never imagined she could be this talented. Not only could she cultivate at an astonishing speed herself, but she could also teach others, transforming a rough gem into something truly brilliant.

Their attitude towards Lu Xueqi gradually changed. From wariness, to scrutiny, to...admiration? Tian Buyi couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He just felt that Lu Xueqi was genuinely good to Lao Qi. So good that... even he, as her master, felt a little ashamed of himself.

On Xiaozhu Peak, Master Shuiyue was utterly helpless.

Lu Xueqi's cultivation level is still rising. Jade Purity Level 5, 6, 7... it seems there are no bottlenecks.

Shuiyue gave her a martial arts manual, and she mastered it after just one glance. She gave her swordsmanship, and she became proficient after practicing it once. She explained the Dao to her, and she understood it after listening to it only once.

Sometimes Shuiyue felt that it wasn't her teaching Lu Xueqi, but Lu Xueqi teaching her.

What frustrated her even more was that Lu Xueqi would cultivate for two extra hours every night.

Shuiyue advised her to rest, but Lu Xueqi said she wasn't tired.

Looking into her calm eyes, Shuiyue suddenly realized that this child was hiding something. Something very heavy.

But she couldn't get the answer out of her. What Lu Xueqi didn't want to say, no one could get out of her.

Shuiyue could only watch, guard, and protect. She cherished this disciple like a treasure, the apple of her eye.

She was afraid that Lu Xueqi would go astray, afraid that she would get hurt, afraid that she... would be kidnapped by that boy from Dazhu Peak.

But she knew she couldn't stop her. Lu Xueqi's heart was no longer with Xiaozhu Peak.

Little White lay on Jiang Xiaochuan's lap, eyes closed, tail swaying gently.

She was thinking about things. She was thinking about Lu Xueqi, Tian Ling'er, and Jiang Xiaochuan.

Reflecting on the changes of the past year, Lu Xueqi has become increasingly proactive, Tian Ling'er increasingly anxious, and Jiang Xiaochuan increasingly... bewildered?

She opened her eyes and looked at Jiang Xiaochuan's face. The ten-year-old boy had delicate features and a clear (foolish) gaze.

He was meditating, his breath circulating steadily and slowly within his body. Xiao Bai could sense his cultivation level; it was at the third level of the Jade Purity Realm, indeed a rapid increase. Lu Xueqi had taught him well, and he himself had worked hard.

But that's not enough, Xiao Bai thought. Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er, one a genius, the other infatuated, were both watching him closely. If she didn't make a move soon, it would be too late.

She planned to reveal her identity in six months. She would transform into human form, walk up to him, and tell him that she was Xiaobai, a nine-tailed celestial fox, and... someone who loved him.

But she was also worried. She worried that Jiang Xiaochuan wouldn't be able to accept it, that Lu Xueqi and Tian Ling'er would overreact, and that... she would lose her peaceful life.

She couldn't wait any longer. She couldn't wait any longer. She looked at Jiang Xiaochuan, at his still somewhat childish face, and the hesitation in her heart slowly turned into determination.

Half a year. Just half a year.

She closed her eyes again and snuggled closer to Jiang Xiaochuan. Jiang Xiaochuan sensed the movement, opened his eyes, and patted her head.

"What's wrong?"

Little White nuzzled his hand and then stopped moving.

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled and continued meditating.

Outside the window, the moonlight was beautiful. The bamboo shadows swayed on the window paper, flickering back and forth.

The wind rustles through the bamboo forest, like a whisper, like a sigh.