235 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

Chapter 235: Punishment "Ouch." Qian Wanyu experienced a momentary blankness, feeling as if she suddenly didn't know where she was. If it weren't for the Little Artifact Spirit tugging at her hair like a caterpillar, she might have forgotten her own name entirely. "Toothless is missing." "Little Nine is missing." "Little Fatty is also missing." ... It was amidst this series of childlike voices echoing in her mind that Qian Wanyu remembered her mission. She grasped the Little Artifact Spirit, who was babbling non-stop in her ear, and coldly warned, "Stop it." "Then go find them quickly," the Little Artifact Spirit jumped in her palm, trying to be adorable and blinking its lively eyes at her. Seeing the Little Artifact Spirit with Toothless's face acting cute at her, Qian Wanyu felt particularly annoyed. She grabbed its head, lifting the Longevity Cauldron along, and expressed dissatisfaction, "Change into a different form." The Little Artifact Spirit struggled mid-air, its face puffed up like a bun, asking, "Why?" "Change or not?" Qian Wanyu narrowed her eyes, a small amount of gold spiritual power dancing between her fingers. Seeing the Little Artifact Spirit in a daze, she restrained it once again. "Fine." The Little Artifact Spirit stretched its neck, gazing longingly at her fingertips, and under her dominating aura, it transformed back into the beast shape of Toothless, foolishly wagging its tail at her. Qian Wanyu's brow twitched with frustration. "No good." The Little Artifact Spirit then transformed into various forms of Little Fatty, Little Bean Sprout, and Xiao Miao, before finally, with a puff, turning into a small replica of Dongfang Minghui. It pouted in defiance, as if declaring, if you're not satisfied with this, I'm done. Qian Wanyu paused, looking at the tiny replica of Minghui in her palm, which pouted its face. She suddenly laughed, her smile unusually bright, "Perfect." Being praised, the Little Artifact Spirit's mood lifted instantly, its eyes narrowing into slits with happiness. Qian Wanyu, looking at the face resembling that of Little Nine, couldn't help but poke its cheek, feeling wistful that Little Nine's skin was indeed smoother. The Little Artifact Spirit, drawing from Dongfang Minghui’s daily habits, tried to maintain the facade. But whenever it spoke, the impersonation would shatter, "Go find Little Nine." Qian Wanyu shook her head, sensing she was getting a bit obsessed. However, with this Artifact Spirit resembling Little Nine accompanying her, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up within her. "First priority is to find the legacy left by Qian Ying here." Bound by a blood oath, she was certain the legacy resided in this place. "Look, there's something over there." The Little Artifact Spirit flapped a pair of black wings appearing on its back. "Change them again." The Little Artifact Spirit glanced back and conceded to Qian Wanyu's reason, reshaping them into nearly transparent wings tinged with a touch of green, flapping as it flew towards the house. Qian Wanyu watched with slight satisfaction. The closer she got, the more familiar the surroundings became. As they approached the door, it opened from inside. A plainly dressed woman emerged, her eyes faintly smiling, "Seventh Sister, you've returned." The Little Artifact Spirit tilted its head curiously at the woman. Clearly resembling Little Nine, but something was off. It asked in its childlike voice, "Who are you?" The fake person wasn't surprised by the Little Artifact Spirit's shape at all, simply extending a hand warmly, "Come here, Artifact Spirit." In a flash, the Little Artifact Spirit flew to Qian Wanyu's shoulder, clutching her hair tightly. Qian Wanyu maintained a stiff expression, her reaction deepening her belief that what she saw was an illusion. Her hand subconsciously brushed against the water thunder whip at her waist, but she smiled and said, "Yes." This is an illusion!!! How exactly could she wake herself up? Qian Wanyu followed the counterfeit Dongfang Minghui into the house, carefully recollecting past encounters; it was always Little Nine who breached these illusions, making them vanish without attack. But now, though she was conscious, the illusion persisted. "Seventh Sister, have some tea. I just picked fresh tea buds from elsewhere. It'll refresh your mind." "Alright," Qian Wanyu responded instinctively, picking up the teacup. Observing the drifting leaves inside, she brought it closer, catching a whiff of fresh greenery, a scent that invigorated her. "Seventh Sister, what's wrong? Doesn't it taste good?" "I don't feel like drinking it now." Qian Wanyu refrained, placing the teacup down, and paced around the small room. The place was an exact replica of before, its arrangement matching her expectations. The Little Artifact Spirit remained silent like a background element, minimizing its presence. Once Qian Wanyu turned her back, it quietly peeked over her shoulder. The person who looked like Little Nine lovingly picked up the cup Qian Wanyu had set down, sipping it with satisfaction. Hmm, fake. The Little Artifact Spirit sighed softly, resuming its grip on Qian Wanyu's hair, making soft grunting noises. "Want Little Nine." It crawled feebly into the sleeve of her left hand, repetitively murmuring, "Want Little Nine, want Toothless, want Little Fatty..." Qian Wanyu gently stroked the Artifact Spirit’s soft hair, acknowledging it. To silence it, she released a wisp of golden spiritual power, soothing it for an hour, until her little ancestor finally calmed down. By the time the counterfeit Dongfang Minghui left, she took another look around before stepping out. "Must I destroy it to break this illusion?" "Want Little Nine." The Little Artifact Spirit peeked from her sleeve, seeing the impostor gone, and unabashedly flapped its wings in front of Qian Wanyu, "I want the real Little Nine." Qian Wanyu, her expression grim, was intrigued by how attached this little creature was to Little Nine. Moments ago it clung to her for golden spiritual power, but now it was causing a fuss again. "If you can distinguish between real and fake, find Little Nine yourself." The Artifact Spirit finally understood her, misinterpreting it as if Qian Wanyu intended to live with the fake Little Nine. Its face puffed up angrily like a bun, "Little Nine, Little Nine, Little Nine." It flew around until it spotted the fake Little Nine, who crouched in the herbs patch, doing something unknown. With wings flapping, the Little Artifact Spirit confronted her, "You are fake Little Nine." "Artifact Spirit, stop fooling around." "Little Nine wouldn't call me that." It prided itself on having a name. "Artifact Spirit, stop fooling around. If you want a name, I can give you one." "Fake, you're fake." In a fit of rage, the Little Artifact Spirit removed the Longevity Cauldron from its head, trapping the fake person inside a small black room. Giving the cauldron a shake, it issued a suggestive sound, "Let the fierce beasts play with you." Qian Wanyu watched this without intervening. Later, as she assessed their location, everything was intact. She approached the medicinal field, harvesting a spiritually rich herb, finding traces of spiritual power within. "It doesn’t seem like an illusion." If it were an illusion, everything around would be false. But if it wasn't, then who was the woman from before? Qian Wanyu looked at the gleeful Little Artifact Spirit, "Why do you say Little Nine is fake?" The Little Artifact Spirit frowned and insisted, "That wasn't Little Nine." "Alright, tell me why you think she’s fake." Qian Wanyu rephrased her question. "Fake is fake." The Little Artifact Spirit looked innocently at her, "Little Nine would call me by name." It truly appreciated a name—Artifact Spirit, what kind of name was that? o(￣ヘ￣o#) Qian Wanyu understood now and added, "If tomorrow a Little Nine appears who calls you by name, will you be able to tell?" Confused, the Little Artifact Spirit pondered, wondering if there could be many fake Little Nines. Then, the following day, when the Little Artifact Spirit saw Dongfang Minghui emerging from the door, it instantly understood Qian Wanyu's words. The person approached Qian Wanyu and, noticing her meditating, didn't interrupt. Upon turning around, she noticed the Little Artifact Spirit, beckoning warmly. "Dingding, come here." The Little Artifact Spirit: "!!!" Why didn't this make it feel happy, but instead seemed like a trap? Flapping its wings, it circled this person, then in its cute voice, exploded in anger, "Trash, who are you? Why impersonate Little Nine?" Frustrated, it trapped the person in a backroom once again. Outraged, the Little Artifact Spirit found itself doing this repeatedly. Every so often, a new replica of Little Nine would appear. Eventually, it lost track of how many it sent to the backroom. Exhausted, it allowed one to remain, permitting the counterfeit person to dote on it endlessly. The constant “Dingding” did not stop. Qian Wanyu, absorbed in her cultivation, was completely unaware of the miserable events that had befallen the Little Artifact Spirit recently. Upon awakening, she saw the fake Dongfang Minghui emerging from the house, beckoning incessantly to something perched on her lapel, "Dingding, come over, I’ve prepared something for you to eat." Then, she heard the Little Artifact Spirit’s dismal whimpering, appearing utterly devoid of spirit. She reached out to tease it lightly, noticing it seemed uncomfortable under the likeness of Little Nine's face. Without lifting her head, Qian Wanyu stated, “It doesn’t like those things. I’ll take it for a walk.” “Oh, so Dingding doesn’t eat these. No wonder it’s ignoring me.” Dongfang Minghui lamented, lightly tapping her head with regret. “Seventh Sister, come back soon.” Ignoring her, Qian Wanyu plucked the Little Artifact Spirit from its perch on her lapel into her palm, unleashing a thread of golden spiritual power. Instantly, the Little Artifact Spirit clung affectionately to her hand, its energy remarkably restored, showing none of its prior listlessness. “Now, tell me, why did you release her from the Longevity Cauldron again?” Was it perhaps because this little creature needed a companion? “No.” While absorbing the spiritual power, the Little Artifact Spirit recounted the series of ill-fated events that had transpired over recent days, concluding with, “They’re all fake.” Despite disposing of countless impostors, each day at a certain time, another would emerge. It had tried attacking, fighting, even annihilating them to no avail, and ended with a lament, “I want Little Nine.” Qian Wanyu understood and proceeded to ask a few more questions. “Let’s go, find Little Nine.” “┗｀O′┛ Ow~” Happily, the two strolled through the grassland for a day. Qian Wanyu found it peculiar, as the day never changed, giving her a sense of time being eternally halted. It reminded her of the climate on the ninth peak, where there was only daylight and no night. “There’s one more thing left to do.” “What’s that?” Qian Wanyu teased it, “Let’s head back first.” The Little Artifact Spirit instantly became agitated, swinging from her hair and protesting, “No going back! Find Little Nine! Find Toothless! Find Little Fatty!” Qian Wanyu let it swing back and forth like a pendulum. “After we do this, Little Nine might just show up.” “Really?” “Mhmm.” The Little Artifact Spirit hesitated, then released its hold on her hair and fluttered around in her face, zigzagging left and right. Seeing it act like a diligent little bee, Qian Wanyu couldn't help but imagine how it would look if Little Nine also had a pair of transparent wings. It didn't seem too bad. Both in high spirits, they returned, only to see someone waiting outside the door. The Little Artifact Spirit swiftly zipped back, hiding in her hair and retracting its wings. Despite preparing herself mentally for innumerable times, on seeing the person, a part of her heart softened instinctively. Qian Wanyu's fingers brushed twice over the water thunder whip, then let go. “Little Nine.” “Seventh Sister, you’re back. Come in, I’ve made some food.” “Alright.” The Little Artifact Spirit watched as she entered. The two sat at the table, exchanging affectionate glances, it busily tugged at her hair, making soft noises throughout the room. Strangely, neither seemed to notice the noise, with one holding a bowl and the other helping with the dishes, creating a harmonious atmosphere. “Seventh Sister, has my cooking worsened? Why aren’t you eating?” “No, I just want to look at you more.” If one day they could lead a life away from worldly concerns, she and Little Nine should live simply, with Little Nine tending to plants in the mountain or nurturing some spiritual flora, accompanied by some lively little creatures; it seemed charming. The fake Dongfang Minghui shot her a shy glance, full of unspoken words. Qian Wanyu set down her utensils, suddenly standing with a pained expression, “Little Nine, if Seventh Sister ever wronged you, would you blame me?” The fake Dongfang Minghui shook her head gently, “No—” Abruptly, Qian Wanyu looped the water thunder whip around her neck, applying just enough force to eliminate her entirely. The Little Artifact Spirit was dumbfounded; one moment sweet words were exchanged, the next... The world of humans, it truly didn’t understand. It clapped enthusiastically, “Great, that fake is gone.” Qian Wanyu calmly retrieved the water thunder whip, feeling as if her hands were stained with Little Nine’s blood. In a daze, she looked at her hands, suddenly sensing a surge of energy emanating from the place she was in. “Little Artifact Spirit, let’s go.” “Okay.” The Little Artifact Spirit, puzzled by the fake Dongfang Minghui vanishing without a trace, instinctively flapped its wings and bolted through the door. It then witnessed the astonishing transformation, seeing the power of turning the extraordinary into the mundane. Qian Wanyu watched as their former little house transformed into one draped with vines, completely overrun by greenery. From a distance, it had its charm. The medicinal fields nearby also underwent a radical change overnight; only the spiritual plants remained the same. “Ah,” the Little Artifact Spirit opened its mouth wide in surprise, struggling to articulate its thoughts, but nothing could come out. Qian Wanyu first touched the vine-shrouded house, feeling the life emanating from the greenery. She then checked the spiritual plants and flower patch, which displayed vibrant colors, infusing this small world with vitality, thereby lending it life, “Little Nine must be nearby.” This house, though not exactly what she imagined, fit her previous thoughts. If she and Little Nine hid away in the mountains, they would live such leisurely days. Still marveling at nature’s wonders, the Little Artifact Spirit watched Qian Wanyu sprint away. Though it flapped its wings to fly faster, it somehow never managed to surpass her pace. “Ah, there’s Little Fatty and Toothless.” Qian Wanyu saw Toothless meditating, with Little Fatty earnestly watching over Little Bean Sprout nestled in the Tianyin Helmet, but didn’t see the person she yearned for. “Stay with Toothless.” Upon seeing Little Bean Sprout, the Little Artifact Spirit’s eyes lit up, “Hey.” Little Fatty and Little Bean Sprout were initially startled by the mini Dongfang Minghui, then realized it was the Little Artifact Spirit transformed. The little ones gathered to exchange whispers and communicate in their own unique way. — Pinned to the ground, Dongfang Minghui inhaled the scent of grass unique to the lawn as her arms were restrained behind her, preventing her from struggling. “Little Color, fight back.” Little Color glanced, choosing to turn a blind eye. “Come on, nothing will happen with a few more peeks.” “Yes, it will.” Plants could suffer from verbal mishaps too, especially being a solitary plant. Little Color glared woefully at Pig Immortal Grass, “Go back to cultivating; it'll be troublesome if Xiu Qi comes looking again.” Pig Immortal Grass reluctantly stretched its pig tail, slapping it on Little Color's main body, saying gloomily, “Next time, if Xiu Qi returns—” it would probably have to follow him. More cultivation would be futile. Little Color was unaware of this layer of depth. Struck by Pig Immortal Grass’s tail, it erupted in anger, leading to a fierce battle between the two within the soul sea. Outside, Dongfang Minghui didn’t fare well either. After calling out to Little Color to no avail, she was exasperated by the person pressing closer to her neck. Her struggles intensified until her hand found the cold whip around the other’s waist. She gritted her teeth, “Seventh Sister, haven’t you played enough?” Qian Wanyu chuckled deeply, biting into her neck to draw blood before pulling her from the ground into a tight embrace, “Not enough.” Dongfang Minghui struggled, finding Seventh Sister surprisingly strong, incapable of turning to see her. Resigning since she had found this person, she left herself to her mercy, merely glancing at her disheveled clothing, sighing, “Seventh Sister, let go. My clothes are in a mess because of you.” Qian Wanyu’s eyes darkened, pushing her toward the house while keeping her in her embrace. “Ugh, Seventh Sister, don’t lick.” Dongfang Minghui pushed her hand towards her, only for her finger to end up in Qian Wanyu’s mouth. In her impatience, Qian Wanyu loosened the ties of her emotional restraint, running her tongue along each finger, entwining them and licking, igniting her passion. Dongfang Minghui unconsciously moaned softly; an outer garment was cast outside the house. Qian Wanyu pushed open the door, glancing at the table still set with food. Her gaze darkened further. With a swift motion, she swept the bowls to the floor, “Little Nine, I want you.” Dongfang Minghui was pinned to the table, her spine aching from the hard surface. She wrapped her legs around Seventh Sister, cooing, “Seventh Sister, this table is too hard. Let’s go to the bed.” "Alright." ... The atmosphere inside the room was steeped in intimacy, punctuated by intermittent pleas and moans. By the time the Little Artifact Spirit realized what was going on, it only found a piece of clothing discarded outside by Qian Wanyu, confirming it belonged to Little Nine. "Little Nine." It was about to burst through the door when a strong force repelled it. After several attempts and shouting hoarsely, no one paid it any heed. It could vaguely hear Little Nine’s soft, tearful pleas mingled with other strange noises. "Little Nine!" The Little Artifact Spirit fluttered its wings, inspecting the house from all angles, but could find no entrance, while Little Nine's cries kept echoing in its ears. In frustration, it pulled out the Longevity Cauldron from its head and hurled it towards the vine-covered house. The cauldron grew larger and larger, and the beast trapped inside seized the opportune moment to escape, a chance it couldn’t afford to miss, knowing that its getaway depended on the whims of this great object. Inside, the two entwined bodies continued their passionate entanglement on the creaking wooden bed as the sunlight outside began filtering through the vine strands, lighting the room nicely. "Ah—" An elegant neck arched backward, while the person below remained in a dazed state. Qian Wanyu held her tightly, patiently soothing her with kisses. Realizing the bed was unstable, she quickly grabbed an outer robe, threw it on, and lifted her partner—all executed within two breaths. Accompanied by a loud crash— The small house suddenly collapsed, exposing Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui completely to broad daylight. "Seventh Sister," her voice hoarse beyond recognition, her eyes narrowed in the blinding light. Her legs wobbled, and if not for the supportive arms around her, she might have landed flat on the ground. Cold drafts brushed against her bare legs, prompting full clarity. Seeing herself barely covered, she cried out in surprise, "Ah—" "Little Nine!" The Little Artifact Spirit, upon seeing Little Nine being ‘rescued,’ happily retracted the Longevity Cauldron and scooped up the escaping beast, rushing over with glee. Qian Wanyu's face was as dark as the bottom of a pot. Seeing the little thing that disrupted her intimate moment with Little Nine, she released wind and earth elemental spiritual forces, blasting the Little Artifact Spirit three meters away. “Aw.” Caught off guard, the Little Artifact Spirit was propelled backward by the twin forces. Dongfang Minghui wished for a hole to hide in, relieved that Little Fatty and others weren't present, and grateful that Little Color and Pig Immortal Grass wisely erected barriers within her soul sea. Such an embarrassing incident, if known, would make her want to disappear. Qian Wanyu then erected earth defenses around them, calmly grabbing two sets of clothing and getting dressed under the sun. Dongfang Minghui stood dumbstruck; such a shameless act and subsequent nonchalance, only someone like Seventh Sister could pull it off. Grabbing her clothes, she ran behind Qian Wanyu to change. "Today was an accident, only counts as once, and you still owe me many. Once I deal with Little Artifact Spirit, we shall continue," Qian Wanyu spoke nonchalantly, without any emotional disturbance. However, Dongfang Minghui couldn't help but massage her aching waist, protesting, "You almost broke my waist, and you say it only counts as once?" Clearly, it had been multiple times, too many to count. "Oh." "Seems Little Nine wants me to help you dress." Qian Wanyu pulled her back, affectionately dressing her, finding the love binding that had gone astray. Qian Wanyu pulled her close, kissing the rosy lips gently, “I said once means once. How many times have you still left, Little Nine? Have you counted?” Dongfang Minghui was speechless, clueless about Seventh Sister's reckoning, realizing everything seemed endless in that ledger. "See, you have no idea. I’m the only one who knows those accounts. So, wait here,” Qian Wanyu lovingly tapped her nose, creating a mud stool for her to sit. Drawing the Thunder Water Whip from her waist, she instantly dismantled the earth wall surrounding them. Dongfang Minghui felt the formidable spiritual energy emanating from Seventh Sister, watching her wield the whip against the Little Artifact Spirit, hurriedly calling, “Seventh Sister, don’t break it.” Heh. Leaving behind a mocking laughter, Qian Wanyu mercilessly aimed at the returning Little Artifact Spirit. Not realizing the seriousness, it dodged and even daringly raced towards Dongfang Minghui, intercepted midway by Qian Wanyu, leading to a fierce aerial battle between the two. Dongfang Minghui supported her waist, contemplating as she softly compressed it. Having mingled their energies and practiced dual cultivation numerous times, she acutely sensed a shift in Seventh Sister's state—different, more frantic, savage even. She recalled her elder’s warnings before coming here, not daring to resist at the time. Seeing Seventh Sister relentlessly pursue the Little Artifact Spirit now, a suspicion crept in, "Has Seventh Sister succumbed to a heart demon?" "Little Nine!" Now aware it was no game, the Little Artifact Spirit, after being struck several times by the whip and zapped by lightning, sought rescue from Dongfang Minghui. Jumping down from the earthy mound, Dongfang Minghui almost succumbed to the soreness, painfully exclaiming, “Ouch, Seventh Sister, my back.” Qian Wanyu paused, granting the Little Artifact Spirit a chance to hurriedly seek refuge in Dongfang Minghui’s embrace, ready to complain, showing its small limbs, "Little Nine, look." Startled by the miniature version of herself, Dongfang Minghui felt a nameless fire ignite, akin to when Toothless saw the Little Artifact Spirit impersonating her with cuteness. Yet, faced with its pitiful eyes, her anger dissipated like a moody wisp. Inspecting the Little Artifact Spirit for injuries—scarred and nearly charred from whip and lightning blows. "Seventh Sister!" Qian Wanyu cast a cold glance at the Little Artifact Spirit, pondering further lessons about ‘human’ virtues without Little Nine’s presence, “A small punishment for a big warning. You may not be so lucky next time.” Dongfang Minghui was exasperated, but the serious tone made her angrier. “Dingding, let me put some medicine on you.” “No need.” The Little Artifact Spirit instantly restored itself, recklessly settling on Qian Wanyu’s shoulder, tugging her hair, “Today’s.” Qian Wanyu released a wisp of golden spiritual power. The Little Artifact Spirit contentedly squinted its eyes, its expression mirroring Little Nine, softening Qian Wanyu’s heart, “A spirit body, if truly damaged, would drain one of gold spiritual power. Next time, you can save on pills and juices.” “There’s a next time!!!” Dongfang Minghui, astounded, raised her voice incredulously, though her hoarse throat lacked force. Relenting, she softened her tone, “Seventh Sister, don’t be like this. Dingding doesn’t understand human ways, unaware of those things.” “Thus—" Her plans interrupted, a dissatisfied Qian Wanyu glanced at the little creature blissfully enjoying the golden spiritual power bath, irresistibly adorable, momentarily melting her heart. Yet for a fleeting moment, she genuinely wanted to snuff out the little thing. Just as she previously considered while trapped in the Longevity Cauldron, that same desire to eliminate Lien. “Seventh Sister?” Dongfang Minghui proposed a suggestion, noticing Qian Wanyu was distracted, her brow furrowed with deep thought. She waved her hand, “Seventh Sister, did you hear what I said?” “What?” “Are you feeling unwell?” Dongfang Minghui scrutinized her, trying to discern any signs from her expression. Qian Wanyu shook her head lightly, “Nothing, just pondering where Qian Ying might’ve hidden the legacy.” Dongfang Minghui pondered, nodding, “It won’t leave this place; don't worry, Seventh Sister. We’ll find it eventually.” “Indeed.” After reassuring and persuading, Qian Wanyu gave up thoughts of punishing the Little Artifact Spirit again. After absorbing the spiritual power released by Qian Wanyu, the Little Artifact Spirit quickly became lively again, completely unfazed by the inexplicable beating it just received. Dongfang Minghui, watching her own cheerful mini self brought to life, couldn't help but feel reluctant to bully it. "Dingding, transform into Seventh Sister for me to see." The Little Artifact Spirit glanced at Qian Wanyu with its small eyes, showing a bit of reluctance, "If Little Nine wants to see, then I'll show you." Then, a miniature version of Qian Wanyu appeared in her palm. Dongfang Minghui was overjoyed, lightly poking its tiny belly, face, and small hands and feet, playing to her heart's content. Qian Wanyu let out a light hum, and the Little Artifact Spirit quickly transformed into Dongfang Minghui's form. Dongfang Minghui pouted, placing the Little Artifact Spirit back into her pocket, admitting to herself that, like the Little Artifact Spirit, she was completely at the mercy of Seventh Sister’s power, unsure if they would ever have a chance to stand up again. "Dingding." "Huh?" The Little Artifact Spirit popped its head out, looking quizzically at Qian Wanyu. Qian Wanyu gestured to the spot where the vine-covered house had collapsed due to the Longevity Cauldron, “This is the only place to live here. Since you brought it down, restoring it will be your responsibility from now on.” Little Artifact Spirit: "..." Dongfang Minghui quickly agreed on its behalf, lest Seventh Sister dredge this matter up repeatedly later, rendering her earlier promises meaningless. Once Qian Wanyu entered her cultivation. The Little Artifact Spirit immediately bounced out of Dongfang Minghui's pocket, fluttering its beautiful wings and circling the ruins of the house. "Little Nine, what did she mean by that earlier?" Dongfang Minghui sighed heavily, reaching out to lightly poke its extra wings, which were soft, "Dingding, don’t worry. Let’s get to work. Perhaps if Seventh Sister sees the place restored to its original state after she awakens, her mood will improve." "Huh?" She rubbed her sore back, her body still not fully recovered from the delightful exhaustion. Helplessly, she directed the Little Artifact Spirit to clear away the collapsed wood and vines, sorting them aside. The Little Artifact Spirit flew back and forth, finally retreating into her pocket to sleep soundly from exhaustion. Fortunately, the next day, Toothless and Little Fatty came over to help clean the site. With many hands, the heap of ruins was quickly sorted out. "What happened? How did you end up collapsing the house?" "It’s—" The Little Artifact Spirit was about to speak when Dongfang Minghui covered its mouth. She chuckled awkwardly, explaining to Toothless, "The house here was old and decayed. A small nudge caused it to collapse." Clearing the debris was simple, but reconstructing the house was a larger task. “Is there a way to prop the house back up?” “Not building.” Little Fatty casually found a spot, sunbathing with Little Bean Sprout, the sunlight just right for plant growth. Dongfang Minghui had an idea, “If we support it with spiritual power, how long can the house last?” Toothless threw her a glance, reluctant to acknowledge it as a bad idea. Though spiritual power could support a house, a stronger spiritual presence entering would overload it, causing another collapse. Toothless stepped over to the vacant area, tapping the ground with her foot, “Hmm, actually, we might not need to go through such trouble.” “Huh?” “Toothless, do you have a better solution?” Toothless stomped lightly, causing the ground to tremble and sink slightly. The Little Artifact Spirit yelled appropriately, “The ground’s caving in!!!” Dongfang Minghui jumped in alarm, “Toothless, that’s not how you lay a foundation! You're going to sink the entire area.” Toothless shook her head and didn’t explain. She leaped out of the zone and hurled several fireballs into the center. As the golden flames burned, the surrounding soil dissolved, and soon, a fiery, red glow reflected from the ground. "This—" "This should be where Qian Ying hid the legacy." Qian Wanyu, who had awakened unnoticed, saw the same glow emitted by the Hehuan jade, confirming her thoughts. Dongfang Minghui was stunned for a moment, only reacting belatedly, “If Dingding hadn’t accidentally destroyed this house… we might have never found the legacy, no matter how much we searched.” Though she previously mentioned they could search slowly, she hadn’t really considered spending seven or eight years scouring for it. Qian Wanyu flicked her finger at the Little Artifact Spirit, which was hovering in front of her seeking praise, “Merits cancel faults, I’ll reward you when I return.” She couldn’t help but think there was a guiding hand in the universe.