After Death, I Became My Shijie’s Palm-Sized Birdie – Chapter 3
by Little PandaEvents of the Past, Part 2
Once you are fully recovered, you can hold your Shijie to sleep every single day if you like.
When Wen Qiwu woke, she felt a gentle, warm energy seeping into her divine soul, easing some of the exhaustion in her spirit.
Opening her eyes, she recognized the familiar layout of her room on Yunwu Mountain. An abundance of fire crystals surrounded her, filling the space with a cozy warmth. The blanket on the bed felt fresh from the sun, soft enough to make her bones feel comfortably lazy.
On the low cabinet beside her bed sat a pot with a pale blue flower, its stamens glowing with a faint spiritual light. The energy that had just soothed her soul was radiating from this very blossom.
Wen Qiwu pulled the blanket up to cover most of her face, leaving only her eyes exposed, which shimmered with a touch of vexation.
She had wanted to stay by her Shijie’s side for just a little longer, but her fragile, useless body had failed her yet again, drifting off to sleep.
“Xiao Que’er? Xiao Que’er! Are you in here?”
Hearing the voice from outside, Wen Qiwu hurriedly sat up.
“Elder Lu, I’m in my room.”
“Then I’m coming in!” The door was pushed open, and a female cultivator in a water-blue gown walked in carrying a bowl of medicine, her bright, striking eyes holding a trace of worry.
“It’s good that you’re awake. Drink this down quickly. I added another spiritual herb today, so hopefully it’ll be more effective.”
This was Lu Qiaoyi, the master of Wanyao Mountain in Wenshen Sect and a close friend of their late Shizun. Specializing in formations and medicine, she called Wen Qiwu “Xiao Que’er” after her childhood nickname, Ah Que.
Wen Qiwu was an abandoned baby whom their Shizun had taken in. Left to die in the freezing snow, she had been fortunate enough to be rescued by their passing Shizun. Upon discovering that the infant possessed a rare, top-grade fire spiritual root1, Shizun brought her back to Yunwu Mountain.
Since there was no note regarding her background in her swaddling clothes, Shizun gave the child their own surname and named the young disciple Qiwu.
As for the nickname Ah Que, it had been given to her by her Shijie, Yun Heng. Since Wen Qiwu had been weak and sickly from infancy, Yun Heng hoped her Shimei could be as resilient as the stone sparrows of Yunwu Mountain.
Wen Qiwu took the bowl and thanked her. The medicine was warm, heated perfectly to drink, but its bitter aroma hit her senses immediately.
“Oh, right, you can drink it in a bit. Your Shijie is making chestnut cakes in the kitchen. They should be ready soon.” As Lu Qiaoyi spoke, Yun Heng entered the room carrying a plate of pastries.
“My, my, only Xiao Que’er can get our Sect Master to cook personally.” Lu Qiaoyi was quick to snatch a piece and pop it into her mouth. It was indeed soft, chewy, and sweet—few could ever match Yun Heng’s skill.
When Yun Heng had first set foot in a kitchen years ago, she had nearly blown the place up, and the dishes she produced had been charred black. It was hard to imagine that the burnt charcoal of her youth and the delicate pastries of today had come from the same hands. She had clearly gone to great lengths just to coax her Shimei into taking her medicine.
The pastries were small. Having only eaten one, Lu Qiaoyi had barely tasted it. Just as she reached out for another, a chilly gaze fell upon her.
She did not need to look to know it was Yun Heng; the glare was growing colder by the second. Lu Qiaoyi was their senior, for goodness’ sake! Was she only worth a single chestnut cake? Not even one more?!
Yun Heng did not speak, but her silence made her stance perfectly clear.
No.
Her Shimei despised bitterness, and she relied entirely on these pastries to sweeten the taste of her medicine.
Lu Qiaoyi huffed inwardly. Fine, she would not take any. There was no way Wen Qiwu could finish so many pastries at once anyway. Xiao Que’er was soft-hearted; once this block of ice left, she would simply ask her for some directly!
Having taken medicine since childhood, Wen Qiwu was long accustomed to bitterness. Today’s brew, however, was different. It had become incredibly bitter and numbing, pushing her taste buds to their absolute limit.
She downed the brew in one go, then quickly stuffed a piece of chestnut cake into her mouth. The revised concoction was so bitterly numbing that she had to wait a long moment before the sweetness finally broke through.
“Shijie, the medicine is even more bitter today.” Wen Qiwu looked like a soggy, pitiful little sparrow that had fallen into water, her gaze silently begging for her Shijie’s comforting touch.
As always, a cool palm settled gently on her head, gently stroking her hair.
“Ahem, there’s no helping it. The Spirit-Drinking Flower is inherently bitter, and I’ve already tried my best to mask most of it.” Lu Qiaoyi cleared her throat. The person who actually brewed the medicine is standing right here, you know. Even if you keep staring at your Shijie, she cannot magically make the herbs taste sweet.
“Come, let me see how well it’s working.” Lu Qiaoyi channeled a stream of her own spiritual energy into Wen Qiwu’s body to examine her. A moment later, she said in pleasant surprise, “The Spirit-Drinking Flower is indeed working!”
Even Yun Heng’s rarely changing, aloof expression gradually brightened.
“The Spirit-Drinking Flower is working, but its potency is limited,” Lu Qiaoyi said excitedly. “However, the supreme treasure inside the Huanling Secret Realm of the Canghai Domain has the same effect, but its efficacy is dozens of times stronger. It might very well be the key to curing your condition!”
“I will retrieve it when the secret realm opens.”
Unfortunately, its next opening was still a year away. Yun Heng tapped her right fingertips lightly against the hilt of her sword, looking slightly anxious. The waiting was undoubtedly the most torturous part.
Wen Qiwu had faced disappointment too many times to count, but her heart still fluttered at the news. Was there truly a chance that her illness could be cured?
If she really had the chance to live a long life, would she finally have the right to…
Wen Qiwu stole a glance at her Shijie, then quickly lowered her head to hide the deep affection and bitterness swirling in her eyes.
Yet, what stood between them was far more than just a difference in lifespan.
“I’m going to consult with that person in Medical Immortal Valley to discuss new treatment methods. Make sure you take your medicine on time while I’m away!”
“I’m not a child anymore,” Wen Qiwu mumbled as Elder Lu pinched her cheek.
“I must trouble you, Elder,” Yun Heng said politely, though her eyes remained fixed on Lu Qiaoyi’s hand.
“Why so polite? Now that your Shizun is gone, it’s only natural that I help look after you both. Xiao Que’er, remember to move back once your body is a bit stronger.” Lu Qiaoyi withdrew her hand, which was beginning to feel quite chilled under Yun Heng’s gaze.
“Elder, I…” Wen Qiwu clutched the blanket tightly. She didn’t want to go back.
She had once lived on Yunwu Mountain, but Elder Lu had later pointed out that the cold spiritual energy from the ice spiritual pulse on the peak was detrimental to the condition of a cultivator with a fire spiritual root. Because of this, her Shijie had insisted she move to Wanyao Mountain to live under the elder’s care.
Since moving away, she saw her Shijie significantly less often.
A faint mist seemed to cloud Lu Qiaoyi’s eyes, making her expression look momentarily strange. But in the blink of an eye, the elder smiled again. “I know our Xiao Que’er is the most clingy to the Sect Master. Once you’re fully recovered, you can hold your Shijie to sleep every single day if you like!”
With her secret thoughts laid bare, Wen Qiwu’s face instantly flushed hot. She instinctively stole a glance at her Shijie.
W-what “holding her to sleep”?! How can Elder Lu just say anything!
Chuckling, Lu Qiaoyi used the excuse of preparing medicine to make a quick exit. Even after she had slipped away, she did not forget to send a quiet voice transmission to Wen Qiwu, reminding her to save two pastries for her.
Wen Qiwu sighed inwardly. Fine, just two. Not a single piece more—I barely have enough for myself anyway.
As she was musing, Wen Qiwu suddenly felt cool fingers touch the cheek the elder had just pinched. Looking up, she found her Shijie leaning close, staring intently at her face as a faint, cold fragrance quietly enveloped her.
“The elder is already several hundred years old, yet she’s still so careless. Did it hurt?” Her Shimei’s skin was exceptionally delicate, flushing red from even a light pinch. Yun Heng gently rubbed her face.
As for the other words, Yun Heng did not take them to heart.
“It doesn’t hurt.” Wen Qiwu simply felt that her Shijie’s cool hand was incredibly soothing against her burning cheek.
Tap, tap… Just then, a soft tapping sound came from the window.
Yun Heng raised a hand to ease the window open a crack, allowing a paper crane to fly inside.
The paper crane flew before them and dissolved into specks of spiritual light, and immediately after, a voice emerged from it.
“Sect Master, the representatives from the other nine sects have all arrived at the Discussion Great Hall…”
“Is today some important day? Why did people from the other sects come over?” Wen Qiwu asked her Shijie curiously.
“The Eclipse Secret Realm is about to open, and they have come to discuss this matter.”
Wen Qiwu came to a sudden realization; she had almost forgotten about this.
Yun Heng needed to set off for the Discussion Great Hall as well. Before she left, she reminded Wen Qiwu to make sure to wear that outer robe from last night when going out, and not to let herself get cold.
“I know.” Her Shijie always treated her like a child. Once Yun Heng had departed, the smile on Wen Qiwu’s face slowly faded.
After putting on her clothes, she pushed open the door. A short distance away lay the spiritual fields planted with rare herbs and exotic flowers. Walking among them, she noticed that not a single plant—whether rare spiritual flora or ordinary blossom—bore even a hint of decay. Everything looked vibrant and full of life.
Wen Qiwu simply assumed her Shijie was highly skilled at looking after these plants. After all, she could never have guessed that her usually steady Shijie would willfully clear away all the withered flowers and leaves here, simply because a withered flower falling on her carried a bad omen.
Yunwu Mountain was exceptionally quiet. Wen Qiwu pulled her outer robe a little tighter around herself. Without her Shijie here, the mountain truly felt cold and desolate.
Wen Qiwu knew about the Eclipse Secret Realm; it housed the tomb of a powerhouse in the True Immortal Realm and only opened once every hundred years. Each time, the major sects would argue for a long time over many issues, so she likely wouldn’t be able to wait for her Shijie to return today.
If she didn’t return by nightfall, Elder Lu would surely nag her. However, she could wander over near the Discussion Great Hall. If things ended there, she’d also be able to know at the very first moment.
Returning to her room, Wen Qiwu put the remaining chestnut cakes—plate and all—into her mustard-seed space2. She then used the Divine Travel technique to head to Wendao Mountain, where the main hall was located.
Today, Wendao Mountain was indeed bustling. All kinds of immortal boats and spirit beasts streaked across the sky, heading straight toward the Discussion Great Hall.
Wen Qiwu strolled around aimlessly. The sect’s school was also located on Wendao Mountain, so she would occasionally see a few children in the back mountains. Wen Qiwu was famous in the sect for her good temper, gentle and kind, so even when the children saw this elder, they dared to actively approach her to ask for guidance.
Once the children had all left, most of the day had been whiled away. Just as Wen Qiwu prepared to leave, she keenly sensed a gaze watching her from the shadows.
“Who’s there?!” A ball of fire condensed at Wen Qiwu’s fingertips, and she flung it toward the bamboo grove not far away.
A curtain of water rose from the bamboo grove, intercepting the fire, and a woman stepped out from behind it. She was smiling brightly, her fox-like eyes carrying a touch of charm. “I mean no harm, fellow Daoist. I just accidentally lost my way. Seeing you teaching those children just now, I couldn’t bear to interrupt.”
Once she got a clear look at the newcomer’s face, Wen Qiwu recognized her identity—Zuo Lan, the Holy Maiden of Yuxi Sect.
Rumors about this Holy Maiden were plentiful. Most praised her exceptional talent, noting that she had already achieved the Dao Integration Realm despite her youth. Yet beneath these praises lay some rumors, saying that this Holy Maiden preferred women and had accumulated quite a few romantic debts across the Cangwang Realm.
The bell hanging at her waist let out a crisp chime. Upon hearing the sound, Wen Qiwu felt dazed for a moment, but she quickly realized there was something wrong with the chime and instantly snapped out of her daze. By this time, however, the Holy Maiden had already moved right up to her.
“Are you feeling unwell, fellow Daoist? Do you need me to support you?” The other’s tone sounded full of worry, but her eyes secretly held a hint of cunning.
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