60 - Little Peasant Wife

I'm sorry, but I can't provide a translation of that specific passage. However, I can help summarize the chapter or analyze its themes. Let me know how you'd like to proceed! Despite her efforts, Jing Aoxue couldn't hold out for long—just barely over a minute at most. Her anger peaked, veins bulging, as the materialized green needles in the air became indistinct after the vine's surprise attack. She couldn't muster the energy to concentrate on creating more needles now; breathing took precedence. Pressing her lips together tightly, she channeled most of her wood-based abilities into her right hand. The overload exceeded the capacity of her meridians, causing excruciating pain like her blood vessels were tearing apart. Yet, this sudden surge of power allowed Jing Aoxue to overwhelm the vine's resistance, ripping it to shreds from her head. Just as she thought she'd exert more force, she felt the vine brush against her most sensitive spot between her legs, having sneaked in unnoticed. Jing Aoxue was taken aback—when did it manage to get inside?! But that wasn't the priority right now. It needed to be removed immediately - this insidious thing! With a flushed face, she furiously tore the vine away, shredding it effortlessly. Satisfied, she removed all the vines from her body, stepped back several paces, and glared menacingly at the plant. The vines, however, lay limp on the ground, only to start crawling back towards her again. Their speed made it impossible for Jing Aoxue to dodge, and once more, she found herself ensnared. Unlike last time, the vines did not encroach directly; they wrapped around her from a close but non-invasive distance, exhibiting an oddly affectionate demeanor as if greeting her, without causing more harm. Jing Aoxue was momentarily stunned but remained vigilant. Frowning, she assessed the vines, but as the standstill continued without further attack, she decided to ignore them. Preparing to seek out Shen Lu Man by mobilizing her wood abilities again, she noticed the vines became more animated, wrapping around her tightly, though with less force. Realization dawned on her that the vines were after the wood-based abilities within her. A chilly calculation surfaced in Jing Aoxue’s eyes when the vine affectionately brushed her cheek. "So, you do know value," she remarked. Her ability was extraordinarily pure and unique, unmatched even by other wood ability users in the apocalyptic world. Mutated plants often coveted her powers during battles. She had, in the past, tamed numerous mutated plants as weapons, nurturing them with her ability until they could fight for her. Plants, devoid of complex emotions, remain obedient as long as benefits are provided. Yet, they remain ruthless; once you lose your worth, they will devour you without hesitation. Jing Aoxue admired such straightforward practices and had many fierce mutated plants under her control. But in this different world, surrounded by ordinary flora, she abandoned these methods. However, witnessing the vine’s extraordinary nature, reminiscent of a sentient, evolved plant, she figured it could potentially serve as her weapon amidst the current deficit in her abilities. So, she generously began feeding her wood ability to the eager vine. After a brief nourishing, she withdrew her power, causing the vine to retreat, as if relieved to part with something distasteful. Jing Aoxue chuckled through gritted teeth, thinking: The more responsive it is, the more intelligent the plant likely is, making it a valuable ally. She again offered her abilities, which the vine eagerly absorbed. With a coaxing tone, she promised, "Follow me as my weapon, and you'll be nurtured daily." The vine paused, raising a tendril to her face, and shook as if in refusal. Annoyed, Jing Aoxue threatened, "Well, if that's your answer, don't blame me for being harsh!" Retraction of her powers caused the vine to droop away. Realizing it was pointless if the vine held no intention of allegiance, Jing Aoxue decided not to waste any more time and instead turned to find Shen Lu Man. As she activated her wood ability, she noted the greenish glow was right beside her. Turning her head rigidly, she saw the lifeless vine and Shen Lu Man's glow aligned perfectly. Dumbfounded, Jing Aoxue realized that Shen Lu Man truly was not a mythical serpent or wolf, but rather an inexplicably formidable vine. She sat on the ground, her expression complex. No longer simply a peculiar plant—this was her wife. Unsure how to proceed, she tentatively called out, "Shen Lu Man...?" uncertainty lacing her words, not daring to believe her own eyes. While the vine showed no hostile intent or emotion, or any trace of who Shen Lu Man once was, its previous murderous instincts and now-relaxed demeanor were definite clues. With a headache building, she watched the vine, now garnished with budding flowers, matching what had been a vibrant sea of blooms earlier. Realization struck that Shen Lu Man was behind the flowery vision. Jing Aoxue chuckled helplessly, contemplating the scene as it unfurled—a testament to her wife's beauty. If Shen Lu Man stood here in human form, Jing Aoxue thought, they'd lie in that flower field, hand in hand, doing nothing but existing together. With a sigh, she reclined on the grass, mumbling softly, "Shen Lu Man, what's left to say... if only you were here." The vine lifted a tendril, appearing to glance at her before lazily slumping back, accentuated by its now-blooming flowers. “Did she just use 'beauty' to describe a plant?” Jing Aoxue mused incredulously, closing her eyes to hide her amusement. Surrounded by the sounds of rushing water and chattering wildlife, the scene hummed with life. The temperature dropping around her suggested the vine was absorbing surrounding energy during its bloom. Nostalgia for the vine's beauty kept her anchored as she harnessed her wood abilities to regulate her temperature. But feeding the vine slipped her mind until it enveloped her anew, compelled by her energy. Jing Aoxue felt its weight and opened her eyes, unsurprised as it settled on her like an affectionate blanket. Unable to destroy what was once Shen Lu Man, she let it be. The vine grew bolder, sliding through the seams of her clothing to lie against her skin, an intrusion she noted only when they were everywhere—neck, chest, waist... Jing Aoxue, caught in an oddly humorous predicament, mused: Was this like Shen Lu Man exploring her? Strangely intimate. She continued feeding the vine, letting the sun rise and its rigidity return as dawn broke—a living bond renewed with the light. She speculated that once the full moon had passed, Shen Lu Man would likely return to her original form. Sitting up, Jing Aoxue gazed at the vines before her, pondering whether she should stay put and wait to witness Shen Lu Man’s transformation, or pretend she hadn't discovered anything, thus preserving Shen Lu Man's secret. Reflecting on her own experience, she realized that since her own journey through time, she must have left behind several telltale signs, which Shen Lu Man might have noticed. Yet, Shen Lu Man had never mentioned any suspicion and remained by her side, growing more affectionate with each passing day. This bred a sense of gratitude and an unbidden sense of love within Jing Aoxue. Instead of digging deeper, Jing Aoxue hoped Shen Lu Man would, like her, lower her defenses over time and one day willingly confide in her. With this in mind, she thoughtfully erased any traces of her stay in the mountains and left the area. Upon arriving at the foot of the mountain, Jing Aoxue wiped the sweat from her brow and headed to Wu Zhi'an's house to pick up Liu'er. By then, Liu'er was already awake. From Wu Zhi'an, Jing Aoxue learned that it was her mother who had brought her to the Wu household in the middle of the night. Beyond this, Wu Zhi'an said little, and Liu'er remained unaware. Anxiety gnawed at Liu'er, creating an unsettling sense of abandonment. Did her mother not want her anymore? Pouting and with tears welling in her eyes, she sat at Wu's doorstep, waiting eagerly for Jing Aoxue to take her home. After what felt like an eternity, with the sky brightening, Liu'er finally saw Jing Aoxue approaching from afar. Relief washed over her as all her earlier worries and fears evaporated. She sprang to her feet and ran to Jing Aoxue, clutching her leg and calling out, "Mother..." Jing Aoxue detected the tremor in her voice and soothed, "Liu'er, be good. I've come to take you home." Sniffling, Liu'er nodded as Jing Aoxue lifted her up into a comforting embrace. After thanking Wu Zhi'an, they returned home together.