Zhu Xian: They've all been reborn

Ghost King Sect, Sleeping Palace.

Xiao Chi sat by the window, holding a freshly picked pink flower in her hand, very delicate.

She looked at the flowers with a somewhat vacant gaze, as if she were daydreaming or thinking about something far away.

The door opened, and the Ghost King walked in. His footsteps were very light, but Xiao Chi still heard them. She turned her head, looked at him, and smiled.

"Wanrenwang." She called his name, her voice soft.

"Hmm." The Ghost King walked to her side, sat down, and took her hand. Her hand was cool, like jade.

"Yao'er is back?" Xiao Chi asked.

"You're back," said the Ghost King. "You've been practicing in the secret chamber."

Xiao Chi nodded and remained silent. She turned her head again and looked out the window. Outside the window were mountains, clouds, and an endless sky.

"Wanrenwang," she spoke again, her voice very soft, "...Is it really my sister?"

The Ghost King's hand tightened. He was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Yes," he said. "She is a white fox, a nine-tailed celestial fox. Three hundred years ago, during the great calamity of Fox Ridge Mountain, you sisters were separated. She was captured by Incense Valley and imprisoned under the Xuanhuo Altar. She was only recently freed."

Xiao Chi listened, her eyes blinking, glistening with tears. But she didn't cry; she just softly said "Oh."

"Sister..." she murmured, her fingers tracing the petals, "I thought she had already..."

"She's alive," the Ghost King said, pulling her into his arms. "She's back. She even recognized Yao'er and gave her the Bloodthirsty Bead."

Xiao Chi leaned against him and closed her eyes. Tears finally fell, one drop, two drops, landing on the Ghost King's hand, burning hot.

"That's so good," she said, her voice trembling with tears, "My sister is still alive...that's so good..."

The Ghost King held her, saying nothing. He remembered that rainy night, that white figure, the way she looked at Biyao, and the question she asked—"Is she still the same as before, prone to daydreaming? Watching a flower bloom, a cloud drift by, she can stare blankly for ages?"

He knew that it was Xiao Chi. She was his Xiao Chi, and also Xiao Bai's younger sister.

Blood ties are a strange thing. Three hundred years have passed, separated by life and death, by good and evil, yet they can be recognized at a glance and confirmed with a single sentence.

"Wanrenwang." Xiao Chi looked up at him. "Will my sister... blame me? Blame me for not going to find her back then, blame me... for marrying you?"

The Ghost King looked into her eyes, at the guilt and unease hidden within them. He shook his head.

"No," he said, his voice firm. "If she blamed you, she wouldn't have acknowledged Yao'er, wouldn't have given you the Bloodthirsty Bead, wouldn't... let me take you away."

Xiao Chi paused for a moment, then smiled. It was a faint smile, but very genuine. She leaned back into his arms, burying her face in his chest.

"Yes," she said, "my sister is the best."

Outside the window, the wind blew, carrying the scent of flowers. The sunlight was bright, streaming in and casting the shadows of two people on the ground, overlapping and inseparable.

Dazhu Peak, Jiang Xiaochuan's house.

Lu Xueqi arrived. She landed on her sword, Tianya on her back, her moon-white Daoist robe spotless. But her face was a little pale, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept well.

Jiang Xiaochuan was practicing boxing in the yard when he saw her and stopped.

"Junior Sister Lu," he greeted her, somewhat surprised. Lu Xueqi hadn't come for several days.

"Senior Brother Jiang." Lu Xueqi nodded, her gaze sweeping around the courtyard before finally settling on Xiaobai, who was basking in the sun on the stone table. Xiaobai had its eyes closed, its tail drooping, and remained motionless, as if it were truly asleep.

"Is something the matter?" Jiang Xiaochuan asked.

"Hmm." Lu Xueqi walked to the stone table, looked at Xiaobai for a long time, then reached out and gently stroked Xiaobai's back. The fur was very soft and smooth, and felt very nice to the touch.

Xiao Bai didn't move, not even lifting its eyelids.

"I want to... borrow it for a couple of days," Lu Xueqi said, her voice calm, but her eyes were deep.

"Huh?" Jiang Xiaochuan was stunned. "Borrow Xiaobai?"

"Mm." Lu Xueqi nodded. "Little Bamboo Peak is quiet and suitable for it. I... will take good care of it."

Jiang Xiaochuan hesitated.

He glanced at Xiaobai, who was still asleep. Then he looked at Lu Xueqi, who was also looking at him, her eyes dark and deep, like two wells, revealing no emotion.

"It...is a bit shy around strangers," Jiang Xiaochuan said. "It might not go with you."

"Give it a try," Lu Xueqi said, reaching out to pick up Xiaobai. Her movements were very gentle and careful, as if she were holding some fragile treasure.

Little White was picked up by her and finally opened its eyes. It looked at Lu Xueqi, then at Jiang Xiaochuan, then meowed, snuggled its head into Lu Xueqi's arms, found a comfortable position, and stayed still.

Jiang Xiaochuan: "..."

This fox isn't usually this obedient to him.

"See, it's willing," Lu Xueqi said, hugging Xiaobai and turning to leave.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Jiang Xiaochuan called out to her, "Are you really taking it with you? It needs to stay up all night..."

"I know," Lu Xueqi interrupted him without turning around. "I'll take good care of it. I'll return it to you in two days."

After saying that, she rode her sword into the air, transformed into a streak of blue light, and disappeared into the horizon.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood there, looking at the sky for a long time.

He felt something was off, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Lu Xueqi borrowed Xiaobai? Why? Didn't she dislike small animals? She wouldn't even glance at the spirit birds and rabbits her senior and junior sisters kept. Why is she suddenly interested in Xiaobai?

He couldn't figure it out, shook his head, and went back inside. Oh well, he might as well lend it; he'd return it in two days anyway. Lu Xueqi probably wouldn't do anything to Xiaobai... right?

Xiaozhu Peak, Lu Xueqi's room.

It was very clean and simple. There was a bed, a table, a cushion, and a wardrobe. On the table were the Four Treasures of the Study (writing brush, ink stick, inkstone, and paper) and a small pot of orchids. The window was open, and a breeze blew in, carrying the fresh scent of bamboo leaves.

Lu Xueqi carried Xiaobai into the room and closed the door. She put Xiaobai on the bed, then went to the table, poured a glass of water, and drank it slowly.

Xiao Bai sat on the bed, tilting his head to look at her. His eyes were dark and bright, like two gems.

Lu Xueqi finished her water, put down the cup, turned around, and looked at Xiaobai. She looked at him for a long, long time.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of the wind rustling through the bamboo leaves.

"There's no one else here," Lu Xueqi said, her voice soft and cold, like a frozen lake. "Stop pretending."

Xiao Bai looked at her without moving. She blinked innocently.

Lu Xueqi took two steps forward, walked to the bedside, leaned over, and stared into Xiaobai's eyes. The distance was so close that she could see her own reflection in Xiaobai's pupils, small and taut.

"I know it's you," Lu Xueqi said, her voice even colder. "Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, Xiaobai."

She spoke clearly, word by word.

"That night, in Grass Temple Village, it was you. Silver hair, white clothes, casually handing over the Bloodthirsty Bead, a single sentence that startled the Ghost King and his ten thousand followers."

"At Dazhu Peak, you disguised yourself as a fox and stayed by his side for three or four years. By day you were a fox, but by night... who knew what you really looked like?"

Lu Xueqi's hands were trembling. She clenched her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms, causing her pain. But she didn't stop.

"I don't care what your purpose is, what your relationship is with the Ghost King Sect, or why you approached him." She stared at Xiaobai, her eyes burning with anger, fear, and an indescribable sense of grievance and... jealousy?

"Stay away from him."

She spoke the last four words very slowly and heavily, as if she had used all her strength.

Little White looked at her for a long time. Then, it smiled.

It wasn't a fox's laugh, it was a human laugh. The eyes curved, the corners of the mouth turned up, and on that furry fox face, a very human smile appeared, tinged with a hint of mockery and pity.

Then, a flash of white light.

The fox was gone. Sitting on the bed was a woman in white, with silver hair reaching her waist and an unparalleled beauty. She tilted her head, looking at Lu Xueqi, her eyes curved like crescent moons.

"Lu Xueqi," Xiaobai spoke, her voice cool yet tinged with amusement, "Are you jealous?"

Lu Xueqi's face turned deathly pale instantly.