249 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

# Web Novel Translation ## Chapter 249: The Gamble of Life Ding Ding, that little creature, either doesn't sleep or sleeps for several days on end. Dongfang Minghui was worried, but beyond staying by Ding Ding's side, she felt particularly helpless. Little Color, concerned about her slipping from the mountain top again, set up a 'Heavenly Net' for safety before retreating into her soul sea for cultivation. Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui were so close they seemed even more intimate than siblings, entangled in each other's company, quiet as can be. Occasionally noticing her low spirits, Little Hui would flick its long tail her way, showering her with droplets of water. Yu Chi Shou and Seventh Sister seized the opportunity to cultivate nearby, especially Yu Chi Shou, who appeared to have been severely injured by Ding Ding's actions. Every day, Qian Wanyu would awaken briefly, releasing a stream of gold-system spiritual power for Ding Ding to absorb. Ding Ding lay splayed out like an old man, while everyone else buzzed around it anxiously. “Ding Ding, I never noticed before what a lazybones you are.” When bored, Dongfang Minghui drank some spiritual liquid for energy and nibbled on dry rations to stave off hunger. Protected from the chilling wind by Little Color’s vines, she wasn’t frozen stiff. Little Hui occasionally came for food, but the others required no attention. However, over the past few days, she'd been feeling deeply conflicted, her mind preoccupied with the Mirror of Separation. Separation—could it be that everyone who encountered it had their soul separated, giving it the name 'Separation Mirror'? She both hoped for Ding Ding to awaken soon and feared that once awake, Seventh Sister would take it to the Mirror of Separation. The longer Ding Ding slept, the longer her own anxiety grew. "Ding Ding, you seem to sleep soundly." Qian Wanyu awoke from her meditation to see Ninth Sister sipping spiritual liquid, occasionally murmuring to Ding Ding lying at her feet. Seeing her looking relatively well, Wanyu was relieved that she hadn’t shown signs of drowsiness lately, and resumed her meditation. Dongfang Minghui was unaware Qian Wanyu had awakened. “Ding Ding, you’re allowed to be lazy this once, but sleep too long and you’ll become a little fool.” “Little Nine is a fool.” “Huh?” Ding Ding suddenly opened its eyes, a bit confused but as alert as ever. It somersaulted to its feet and poked at the tangled vines around it. “Tell that little ancestor not to mess things up,” Little Color warned softly in her soul sea. "Ding Ding, come here, don't play with that." Dongfang Minghui was sitting by the archway, cradling Ding Ding. Her anxiety was calmed somewhat by its awakening. Ding Ding rolled in her palm, acting cute and affectionately calling, “Little Nine, Little Nine.” “Ding Ding, do you know how long you’ve been asleep?” “No idea.” “Several days. Does anything not feel right?” Ding Ding had learned from Dongfang Minghui about what “several days” meant, so it tilted its head, thought, and frowned. “The mirror, don’t like it.” Dongfang Minghui had an epiphany, “You mean the mirror Seventh Sister was going to take you to?” “Yes.” “Ding Ding actually doesn’t like it.” “Don’t like.” Ding Ding pouted, shaking its head vehemently. Dongfang Minghui fell into brief contemplation about the Mirror of Separation and Ding Ding... Qian Wanyu and Yu Chi Shou woke up in succession. Ding Ding was back to being lively, swinging from Dongfang Minghui’s hair like a swing, and after a while, declared, “Little Nine, let's leave this place.” Where to...? Dongfang Minghui poked Ding Ding’s belly. It lay there letting her poke, laughing non-stop. Qian Wanyu released a streak of gold-system spiritual power. “Ding Ding, come here.” Ding Ding hesitated, then obediently went to Qian Wanyu to absorb the spiritual energy. Although it felt its spiritual energy was ample, being near that mirror made it uncomfortable. After absorbing for a while, it stopped, looked seriously at Qian Wanyu, and said in a tiny, determined voice, “I don’t like that mirror, we’re not going.” Qian Wanyu gently touched its cheek, moved by the expression that was so similar to Ninth Sister’s, and nodded, “If you don’t want to go, we won’t. But I must.” “Seventh Sister.” Dongfang Minghui frowned, disagreeing. “If I happen to fall off from there, Ding Ding will save me, right?” Qian Wanyu asked softly. “Will do.” Ding Ding nodded without hesitation. Dongfang Minghui covered her face, Ding Ding had again been tricked by Seventh Sister’s retreat-to-advance strategy, one she wielded with great skill. Yu Chi Shou chuckled lightly, “Fetching that mirror is risky. How can it be done without me?” Qian Wanyu was surprised for once. Since they’d met, she neither liked nor hated this blunt man, but found his actions bothersome, and his animosity towards humans perplexing. “Thank you.” “You’re welcome.” Dongfang Minghui watched Yu Chi Shou curiously, puzzled by his change in attitude. Where there had been animosity, now there was willingness to assist, possibly part of Seventh Sister’s scheme. Alternatively, Little Color's vines might allow the transfer across the mountain, but it would be risky. “Yu Chi Shou, are you healed?” she asked, unintentionally dampening the mood. “Don’t worry, I can handle bringing her along.” The cheeky, irritable Yu Chi Shou seemed to return. Qian Wanyu stood, “Yu Chi Shou, prepare yourself. We’ll visit the Separation Mirror shortly.” Dongfang Minghui wanted to protest but swallowed her words when Qian Wanyu reassured, “Ninth Sister, stay here, take care of yourself.” “Seventh Sister.” She wanted to plead her not to go but ended up saying, “Don’t worry about me, I have Little Color and Little Hui here, I’ll be fine.” “Yes.” Ding Ding flew to her shoulder, “I’m here too.” “Ding Ding, stay close to Seventh Sister. From a distance if something feels wrong, lead them back.” “Okay.” Ding Ding took her words to heart. Seeing Yu Chi Shou transform into a massive fiery dragon, Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui retreated into a corner, shivering like cold kittens. Dongfang Minghui felt the searing heat rush over, though it was impressive, it lacked the grandeur of Toothless' imposing aura. "Wow," Ding Ding's eyes sparkled with excitement, wanting to fly onto Yu Chi Shou's dragon back, causing him to dash away unexpectedly, leaving Seventh Sister behind. “Don't run.” "Pfft." Dongfang Minghui couldn’t help laughing. Who would believe that the fearless Yu Chi Shou was afraid of Ding Ding? Yu Chi Shou, slightly embarrassed, spent half the time flying in the air to alleviate the situation before picking up Qian Wanyu. Qian Wanyu opted to secure herself with the Immortal Binding Rope under his claws and held the Water Thunder Whip as they gradually approached the mirror nestled in the mountain wall. “Yu Chi Shou, a bit to the left, higher, so I can see the mirror clearly.” There, in the mountain wall's crevice, stood an ancient mirror lodged between the rocks, bordered with delicate carved patterns. The crevice was narrow, just slightly longer than the mirror, almost as if custom-made for it. "This mirror seems to have been thrown directly from the opposite side," Qian Wanyu quickly concluded, observing the straight alignment of the Soul Separation Mirror. "Whoever threw this mirror has a high level of cultivation; their precision must have been exact. Too much force would shatter the rock face, too little and the mirror wouldn't embed itself properly." "Move a bit closer, I want to see if I can extract it." Yu Chi Shou calculated the safe distance between himself and the rock face. He carefully moved Qian Wanyu closer to the Soul Separation Mirror. Qian Wanyu first released a little earth-system spiritual power to sense the rock's thickness. To her surprise, the rock was extraordinarily hard, and the earth-system power couldn't penetrate past a barrier. She then switched to gold-system spiritual power, alternating between the two to infiltrate the rock inch by inch. However, they only managed to penetrate about twenty to thirty centimeters, while the mirror was longer than that. "Move away from here." Yu Chi Shou flew into the air, puzzled by her meticulous efforts. Why not just grab the mirror directly? Qian Wanyu adjusted her position repeatedly, quickly pinpointing where the mirror's flash was originating. As the sun rose, light hit the mirror at an angle, causing it to reflect into the canyon. "Let's give it a try." She drew her Water Thunder Whip, striking different parts of the rock to measure how deep the marks were at varying strengths. Ding Ding flapped its wings, watching Qian Wanyu strike the rock over and again, confused. Growing impatient after a while, it wanted to go back and play with Little Nine. Just as it was about to flap away, it sensed a familiar and somewhat disliked fluctuation coming from the rock. Though far away, Ding Ding could still feel the fluctuation. It pondered seriously, and without realizing, took a step closer. Then another, inching forward. By the time Ding Ding was aware, it was very close to the Soul Separation Mirror. Qian Wanyu noticed that the whip's impact couldn't dislodge the mirror, so she released her five-system spiritual power, circulating it in her hands as she edged closer to the mirror. The moment her hand touched it, a light flashed from the mirror's surface, causing her soul sea to ripple. Yu Chi Shou had been watching confidently but grew tense at Qian Wanyu's cautious attempts and meticulous actions. Bowing his head for a clearer view, he saw changes occurring around Qian Wanyu. Five colored spiritual powers alternated in her hand, and it seemed as though there were ten or so hands pulling at the mirror. Amazed, Yu Chi Shou inhaled sharply at the spectacle. Five-system spiritual power—an illusion technique. Beads of cold sweat began to form on Qian Wanyu's forehead. She sensed a massive force opposing her. She had to maintain focus; any slight relaxation and the force would tighten its grip. The mirror, gradually revealing more of itself, slowly emerged. "Ding Ding, help me pull it out." Despite its reluctance, Qian Wanyu's urgent call made Ding Ding fly over instinctively. It saw her hands—or rather, ten hands—grasping the mirror, which was now sliding back into place. "Okay." Ding Ding responded, extending its small hand past Qian Wanyu's to touch the mirror's surface, pulling it out two-thirds more with a strong tug. Qian Wanyu's tense expression relaxed slightly, her eyes holding a hint of a smile. "Ding Ding, let's exert a bit more effort and pull this Soul Separation Mirror out." The moment Ding Ding touched the mirror, numerous unfamiliar yet familiar memories flooded into its mind. Stunned, its black pupils reflected countless images. Boom— Just as Qian Wanyu finished speaking, Ding Ding’s hands loosened, and it fell once more, like a rootless willow drifting down an abyss. Qian Wanyu hurriedly wielded the Water Thunder Whip to catch Ding Ding, but its descent was too swift, the whip merely grazing the Longevity Cauldron with a clang. In a moment of distraction, the mirror clicked back into the rock, and the rock shook violently. "Quick, go after Ding Ding." Everything happened within a few short breaths. Knowing she couldn't retrieve the Soul Separation Mirror again, Qian Wanyu urged Yu Chi Shou to dive down to retrieve Ding Ding. With the added weight of Ding Ding, their ascent slowed down. Qian Wanyu noticed the sweat pouring from Yu Chi Shou, urging him, "Yu Chi Shou, we must rise quickly, or none of us will make it out." Yu Chi Shou felt utterly disgruntled, particularly at the treacherous Longevity Cauldron, feeling it had fooled him badly. Dongfang Minghui paced near the archway. A tremor in the mountain nearly threw her and Little Hui off, but Little Color's vines held firm, preventing them from falling. Little Hui even used its long tail to secure her. "Why aren't they back yet?" "They should be soon," Little Color noted the earlier tremor, attributing it to Qian Wanyu's actions and assuming whether they succeeded or not, they’d return soon. Sure enough, Yu Chi Shou came flying back, though the force beneath almost caused another fall. Fortunately, Little Color promptly extended its vine, asking for assistance. Yu Chi Shou held onto Qian Wanyu and Ding Ding below. Dongfang Minghui, directly feeling the immense weight of the Longevity Cauldron for the first time, almost got dragged down too. Everyone worked together, using the archway for leverage, and pulled each other up. Once over the top, they collapsed, panting heavily, feeling a sense of rebirth after a brush with death. Yu Chi Shou transformed back into human form, lying on the ground as the cold mountain waters washed over him. After a long breath, Dongfang Minghui asked, "Seventh Sister, what happened to Ding Ding?" Qian Wanyu shook her head first, then mumbled, "Perhaps it’s related to the Soul Separation Mirror." Although she couldn't be certain, Ding Ding’s repeated unusual behavior with the mirror suggested some connection. Seeing Yu Chi Shou lying there half-dead, she turned care into a query, "Yu Chi Shou, are you alright?" "Cough, I’m not dead yet," he stubbornly retorted, living up to his reputation. Dongfang Minghui helped him up, only to find he couldn't sit upright, and she couldn't support him either. She let him lie back down, "Seventh Sister, what should we do?" Seeing his pale face yet stoic endurance, Qian Wanyu was unfazed, "Probably got hurt by Ding Ding. He needs to recover on his own." "I have a fire-element spring orb for healing, want it?" "Yes." Not standing on ceremony, Yu Chi Shou took the orb and went to cultivate. Dongfang Minghui didn’t need to ask—they clearly hadn’t retrieved the Soul Separation Mirror. She examined Ding Ding; as soon as she touched it, Ding Ding transformed into a mini Longevity Cauldron at her feet. The longevity vine patterns flowed like a living thing, the water-brushed bottom glistening with renewed luster, "Seventh Sister, look at Ding Ding." Qian Wanyu’s brow arched as she released a stream of gold-system spiritual power. Unexpectedly, the Cauldron absorbed her power voraciously, leaving her momentarily defenseless as her power vanished into its depths. Dongfang Minghui saw Qian Wanyu’s face turn pale and quickly placed a hand on her shoulder. Her spiritual power spun rapidly, nearly depleting them both. The sensation was deeply unsettling. "Little Color." "Are you all crazy?" Little Color, exasperated, tried to intervene. The bond between the Longevity Cauldron and Qian Wanyu ran deep, almost as if Ding Ding was acclimated to her energy supply and couldn’t control its absorption. Since Dongfang Minghui often cultivated with Qian Wanyu, their spiritual energies naturally attuned, automatically flowing between them. Qian Wanyu quickly collected herself. Taking control of Dongfang Minghui's spiritual power, she firmly realigned with Ding Ding's energy. "Humm—" A resonant hum echoed, and the Longevity Cauldron calmed down. Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu lay exhausted on the ground, feeling once again like they’d escaped death. Staring at the sky, Dongfang Minghui let the endless blue clouds drift by, her energy utterly drained. Even lifting a finger seemed too much. "Seventh Sister, you scared me to death." "Mm, don’t worry." Qian Wanyu gently transferred spiritual energy back into her body, performing a dual cultivation openly with Dongfang Minghui. The loud noise from before had startled Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui, especially seeing the two women collapse. Little Hui cautiously extended its tail, inching over to poke them tentatively. "Little Hui, don't move," Qian Wanyu warned. Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui shrank back into a corner, observing them. The dual cultivation session between Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu lasted a long time—so long that Yu Chi Shou had nearly fully recovered by the time they finished. “That was really effective, thanks,” Yu Chi Shou acknowledged. After being twice wrecked by Ding Ding, he hadn't expected that a fire-element spring orb could become such a significant aid. Qian Wanyu accepted the orb, noting in surprise that it remained the same size. She stood and looked briefly at Ding Ding, who still maintained the appearance of the Longevity Cauldron, motionless. “Yu Chi Shou, there’s a question that’s been bothering me for a while, and I need you to answer it.” “Yes?” “The first time you saw Ding Ding, you recognized it as the Longevity Cauldron and said something quite peculiar. I want to know how you knew,” Qian Wanyu queried, piquing Dongfang Minghui’s curiosity as well. Yu Chi Shou, straightforward as ever, explained, “Because when Ding Ding appeared, it was holding the Longevity Cauldron. This cauldron appeared in an ancient painting passed down by our ancestors, illustrating the final battle between Lord Dragon God and the cauldron's owner. After that battle, the Dragon Tribe’s land was permanently sealed, and my tribe took on the role of its guardian.” “Painting,” Qian Wanyu repeated to herself. “Do you know what caused that final battle?” “The painting is incomplete. I only know that neither side benefited from the fight. But I'm certain the cauldron's owner is dead.” Faced with such bold claims, even Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui, prepared as they were, were slightly taken aback. “How can you be so sure that Ding Ding’s owner is dead?” “If the owner weren't dead, why would it allow the cauldron to remain in the Frozen Lotus Mountain for hundreds of years?” “So you knew about Ding Ding this whole time—” Dongfang Minghui was astounded. Yu Chi Shou nodded solemnly, “The entire Frozen Lotus Mountain is under my tribe’s protection. Every plant and tree is under my control.” Unless a significant issue arose, he often turned a blind eye. Ding Ding and Lien were significant exceptions in recent years. Qian Wanyu mused, “Do you know anything about the connection between Ding Ding and the Soul Separation Mirror?” “Well..." Yu Chi Shou shook his head, "Everything I know is from the paintings. Their connection remains a mystery to me.” “Seventh Sister, do you think there’s a link between Ding Ding and the mirror?” “Probably.” Qian Wanyu didn’t believe in coincidences, and Ding Ding’s recurring issues must be related to that mirror somehow. She also recalled similar drowsiness in Ninth Sister and Ding Ding when coming from the canyon. Dongfang Minghui, sitting by the Longevity Cauldron, glanced up to see Seventh Sister’s dark, probing eyes on her, as if she were studying something deeply unsettling. “Seventh Sister, why are you staring at me?” Qian Wanyu frowned slightly. “Have you been feeling sleepy or unwell lately?” Dongfang Minghui blinked in confusion, quickly shook her head, and with wide eyes, replied, “I’m fine, not sleepy, no discomfort, why?” “That’s good.” There was relief in Qian Wanyu’s voice, puzzling Dongfang Minghui over the situation. Yu Chi Shou curiously gauged Dongfang Minghui too, pondering briefly before asking, “I wonder when Ding Ding will regain consciousness. If it remains like this, could our young master and Lien be at risk?” Dongfang Minghui felt troubled; she’d experienced the might of the Longevity Cauldron firsthand. Accepting it over time had been settled by the charming presence of Ding Ding. Without that soft spot, the Longevity Cauldron would indeed become the most formidable weapon they'd ever encountered. “For now, we have to wait for Ding Ding to regain its consciousness.” “But that's not a lasting solution,” Yu Chi Shou expressed concern more for the young master inside the cauldron, fearing his fate if the wait prolonged. “In that case, let’s discuss how to retrieve the Soul Separation Mirror.” Qian Wanyu brought up the subject of the mirror again, planning for her third attempt to approach it. Dongfang Minghui held her head, feeling the weight of Seventh Sister's obsession with the Soul Separation Mirror. "Seventh Sister, why is it so necessary to retrieve that mirror? It’s dangerous, just look at Ding Ding—” “Because of the map.” Qian Wanyu’s clear gaze pierced through Dongfang Minghui and Yu Chi Shou. “To find the Dragon Tribe’s land, retrieving the Soul Separation Mirror is essential. The map reveals a hidden path in these mountains, but as you’ve seen, we’ve already reached the peak.” “So, you suspect the mirror is blocking the path?” Yu Chi Shou gasped. “It’s possible.” Qian Wanyu’s initial thought was to destroy the bothersome object, but Ding Ding seemed to have a peculiar connection with it. Regardless of her theories, the mirror needed to be secured. Dongfang Minghui conceded, “I don't have a better solution either. Seventh Sister, why is the Soul Separation Mirror so difficult to retrieve? Is it surrounded by protections or trapped by formations?” “None.” As an expert in formations, Qian Wanyu could discern instantly, “Something’s certainly anchoring it, but I’ve yet to identify what.” “What’s our next step?” As they pondered how to extract the mirror, Little Hui gently slithered up, hissing and gesturing at Yu Chi Shou. His expression grew complex after listening, making Dongfang Minghui’s curiosity peak. “What did Little Hui say?” “It said it’s willing to exchange itself for the mirror…” Dongfang Minghui was startled, only to understand Yu Chi Shou’s words fully moments later. “Little Hui wants to switch places with the mirror? What if it gets stuck there—couldn’t that mean—” Death. “Yes, that’s essentially its proposal.” Qian Wanyu looked at Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui in surprise. The white-haired Little Hui sat quietly, evidently having consented together. “Even if it meant sacrificing itself to retrieve the Soul Separation Mirror, I wasn’t planning on handing the mirror over. Tell it the mirror’s power is too dangerous; I won’t turn it over to the Hui Clan.” Yu Chi Shou served as the go-between. “It says the mirror should be given to you, not its tribe, but there’s a condition.” “Speak.” Yu Chi Shou’s demeanor turned peculiar. “It wants you to keep the white-haired Little Hui by your side.” Qian Wanyu was genuinely surprised by the request. “Why?” Expecting them to ask for help restoring the Hui Clan’s past, she was surprised that the sole request was to accompany the white-haired Little Hui. “Seventh Sister, isn’t Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui the same entity? If they switch with the mirror, what will happen to the white-haired Little Hui…?” “Hiss–hiss—” The white-haired Little Hui shifted closer, childlike, crouching and talking at length to Yu Chi Shou. Throwing up his hands, Yu Chi Shou voiced, “This is too risky. If the Soul Separation Mirror doesn’t fulfill its role, you both could die.” Turning to everyone, he said, “These two little creatures are planning to take a chance. They believe removing the Soul Separation Mirror from the mountain will mitigate or even resolve the soul division problem among the Hui Clan.” Comprehending their line of thought, Qian Wanyu couldn’t help but chuckle, “Yu Chi Shou, still think they’re mere reptiles?” Yu Chi Shou grinned dryly, nearly humbled, “These little beings surprised me. Qian Wanyu, what’s your opinion on their proposal?” “It’s a method of last resort.” “Seventh Sister.” Dongfang Minghui looked sympathetically at Little Hui, but the eyes of both creatures shimmered with hopeful light, a look she had seen in Little Hui before but hadn’t understood then, as they rarely communicated with the group. “Little Hui, I’ll be honest with you. Even with your help, I can’t guarantee we’ll successfully retrieve the mirror. You might lose your life and possibly its life as well. Consider carefully before deciding.” While she didn’t mention this would be her third attempt to obtain the mirror, she vowed to put in her utmost effort, regardless of the outcome. Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui exchanged quiet communication for a moment. Yu Chi Shou, watching them closely for the first time, remarked, "I underestimated them." Dongfang Minghui glanced at him and, without holding back, added, "You tend to underestimate a lot." Yu Chi Shou uncharacteristically didn’t refute, just gave a small shrug, “Seems like it. They actually look quite cute.” Without taking much time, Little Hui communicated their decision to Yu Chi Shou. “They’ve made up their minds—they’re betting on this.” Dongfang Minghui fell silent. These small creatures were gambling their lives. If they won, they’d gain freedom and everything they desired. If they lost, it would be the end for them both. She was encountering such brave little creatures for the first time. At their size, during her own childhood, she'd have been playing carefree in the mud. Yet these were willing to risk their lives for freedom. Qian Wanyu was also deep in thought, contemplating how to retrieve the Soul Separation Mirror without sacrificing Little Hui. After much deliberation, she nodded lightly, “I’ll give you both some time to say your goodbyes.” “Seventh Sister.” “This is their decision, Minghui. We need to respect their choice.” Dongfang Minghui knew this. She regretted not having the resolve back then to send Little Hui back into the canyon. At least... at least... But hindsight is never foresight, and she despised her own weakness, this tendency to reflect on what could have been once it's too late to change anyone’s fate. Qian Wanyu sighed softly, “Everyone rest well today. Tomorrow, we will attempt to retrieve the Soul Separation Mirror.” The atmosphere grew heavy, and Dongfang Minghui stayed beside the Longevity Cauldron, lost in thought. Yu Chi Shou returned to his meditation spot, his gaze occasionally drifting over the group. Qian Wanyu noted that Little Hui and the white-haired Little Hui remained in the corner. She sat down cross-legged, calming her mind for meditation. A few hours later, Little Hui slowly crept over to Dongfang Minghui. This time, it was not just its tail comforting her, but its whole body curling beside her. With its neck craned, it opened its mouth, displaying several white teeth. Dongfang Minghui couldn't resist reaching out to stroke it. “Little Hui’s grown a few teeth.” “Hiss hiss.” “It says it misses your chew sticks.” Yu Chi Shou, having taken on the role of translator, conveyed. “Chew sticks…” She tried hard to remember where she had put them. “Little Hui, I’ll make some for you later.” But realizing the implications, if Little Hui's attempt succeeded, there wouldn’t be a "later." Sensing her somber mood, Little Hui coiled into a ball at her feet, occasionally brushing her wrist with its tail before letting it fall. The white-haired Little Hui also came over, its beady black eyes watching her. “Little Hui, let’s make a deal. If you come back safely, I’ll make you three flavors of chew sticks, and they’ll all taste great. How about that?” Dongfang Minghui suddenly exclaimed with renewed excitement. “It agreed.” “Then it’s a deal.” Dongfang Minghui muttered to herself, “What flavors do you like most? Toothless prefers vegetable flavors. I think Ding Ding probably likes grilled fish…” The night passed silently. The next day, Little Hui was permitted to ride on Yu Chi Shou’s back, proudly curled up like a warrior overlooking the scene. “Little Hui, return safely.” “Seventh Sister, you be careful too.” Qian Wanyu nodded gently towards Dongfang Minghui and glanced at the white-haired Little Hui beside her, “If the Longevity Cauldron shows any movement, prioritize your own safety.” Dongfang Minghui nodded in acknowledgment. Approaching the Soul Separation Mirror for the third time, Qian Wanyu’s gaze was resolute though her expression was slightly complex. “Yu Chi Shou, when I give the signal, transform back and help me extract the mirror.” Yu Chi Shou nodded, slightly puzzled because they hadn’t discussed this part, but soon understood her strategy. “Little Hui, only use your transmutation ability when there is no other option, understood?” Little Hui’s black eyes sparkled with determination, its hiss acknowledging Qian Wanyu’s words. As soon as they arrived, Qian Wanyu released her five-system spiritual powers. The colorful auras immediately filled everyone’s vision, causing the mirror to flicker with light, seemingly affected by the interplay of the five elements. With four pairs of hands pulling, the mirror slowly inched out. Qian Wanyu warned as she used spiritual power at a rapid rate, seeing the mirror slide out by a third, she called, “Yu Chi Shou.” Yu Chi Shou swiftly transformed into human form, grabbing Little Hui’s long tail to yank it into position, pulling at the mirror's frame with all his might. The mirror protruded from the rock two-thirds now. Just as the tip of the mirror’s end was about to appear, Yu Chi Shou saw a figure reflected in its surface, causing his mind to go blank, and his grip slackened slightly. Qian Wanyu suddenly felt the mirror pull her forcefully back into the rock. "Hiss—"