251 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

There's a saying that ideas are wonderful, but reality is harsh. How exactly to use the Soul Separation Mirror is a matter that cannot be ignored. Seeing both Qian Wanyu and Yu Chi Shou deep in thought, Dongfang Minghui softly suggested, "How about I sleep for a bit longer...?" She was dreaming of the Dragon Queen flinging Ding Ding away — perhaps it was at that moment that Ding Ding accidentally entered the Ice Lotus Mountain. However, she vaguely sensed that what came after in the dream was crucially important. "Sleep, sleep." Ding Ding kept urging softly on Dongfang Minghui's shoulder, repeating the word like a parrot, making her head ache. "Ding Ding, come here." To calm Ding Ding down, Qian Wanyu decided to supply it with a bit of spirit energy. Ding Ding obediently clung to Qian Wanyu's forefinger, bathed in the golden aura and turning into a little golden figurine. "You can sleep if you can actually fall asleep, but Ninth Sister, if you can't, don't force it." Yu Chi Shou asked in confusion, "You said earlier that the Soul Separation Mirror was shattered, so why does it still exert such influence? Could the Hui tribe’s information be mistaken? Maybe you, Qian Wanyu, should take out the Soul Separation Mirror, and we could give it a try." Qian Wanyu raised a skeptical eyebrow. "With a tool that dangerous, trying it could lead to only two outcomes. One is you accidentally figuring out the correct use, which is exceedingly unlikely. The other is you won't even know how you died, like that time when you inexplicably saw something in the Soul Separation Mirror. So, do you still want to try it?" Dongfang Minghui instinctively felt this approach was too risky. However, they seemed to have no better options. When everyone assumed Yu Chi Shou would give up, he solemnly nodded. "Qian Wanyu, please let me try." Qian Wanyu cast him a cool glance, noticing his serious demeanor. "Are you sure?" Yu Chi Shou nodded without hesitation. "I'm sure. Even if I try, it may not harm me. Didn't you say the mirror has two sides? If I pick the right side, regardless of the outcome, you can determine the use of the other side. Perhaps then we'll be able to uncover the hidden path on this mountain." Dongfang Minghui understood that Yu Chi Shou was willing to gamble with his life. Whether they struck right or not, they'd discover which side of the Soul Separation Mirror would benefit them. It was like Little Hui's earlier choice, risking life for a gamble. This method was the simplest and most brutal, and it seemed to be the most effective way of identifying as well. "Fine." As she expected, Seventh Sister would calmly accept it to quickly find the hidden path. Dongfang Minghui opened her mouth, yet she didn't know what to say in such a situation, nor did she know what to convey. "Hey, Wizard, I heard that brat Lien call you that." Yu Chi Shou reverted to his previous nonchalant demeanor, speaking with a tone that invited a beating, "I don't particularly like you, but I do have one request." "Who needs your affection? I'm not some currency that everyone loves." Dongfang Minghui fumed thinking about how he had tried to kill her several times and the awful things he had said. Out of respect for Toothless, she couldn't be bothered with someone so self-important. Yu Chi Shou shrugged, speaking matter-of-factly, "If I'm no longer around, please take care of my young mistress and ensure her safe arrival at the Dragon Clan's land." Dongfang Minghui chuckled coldly, "Take care of her yourself. Don't pretend to entrust responsibilities as if you're about to die. I'm so busy; can't you see I have a large family to tend to, right, Ding Ding?" Ding Ding looked adorably at them, quickly nodding in response to Dongfang Minghui's call, supporting her statement, "Little Nine is very busy, dreams to chase, herbs to find, tooth sticks and fish slices to make for Ding Ding..." Qian Wanyu couldn't help but rub her forehead, noticing just how busy Ninth Sister seemed. Dongfang Minghui felt exasperated, glaring at Ding Ding, who murmured innocently, "Little Nine, you told me to say it." Besides, it hadn't finished talking. "You should take care of your young mistress yourself. With Toothless's current condition, you're the most suitable to stay by her side and protect her." "The young mistress is temporarily safe in the ice coffin," Yu Chi Shou acknowledged the meaning behind her words, nodding lightly before turning to Qian Wanyu. "Qian Wanyu, the Soul Separation Mirror." Qian Wanyu straightforwardly handed him the Soul Separation Mirror, wrapped in cloth. "Yu Chi Shou, let me give you a little hint." "What is it?" "Though Little Hui never mentioned saving the Hui people, it did help us acquire the Soul Separation Mirror. Out of fairness and gratitude, we owe it some help." "So, your suggestion is..." "The Hui tribe was influenced by this mirror. The Soul Separation Mirror has one side that separates souls and another that gathers them. If you use the gathering side, the entire mountain will likely react, achieving two goals at once and fulfilling Little Hui's wish. If you use the wrong side, I doubt there will be any change for the Hui tribe." At worst, could the Hui tribe split further? "I understand. Seventh Sister, you want Yu Chi Shou to use the mirror to reflect on the valley where the Hui tribe resides, to observe their condition, correct?" "Yes." Qian Wanyu softly affirmed. Yu Chi Shou, realizing he had been played, felt as if someone had just undermined his bravely resolved decision to risk his life, all prepared and set up for a heroic gesture. Now someone on the side suddenly tells him, "Oh, there's a better way, so you don’t have to die just yet..." Seeing his expression, pale with frustration and his forehead veins throbbing, Qian Wanyu asked, puzzled, "Don't want to? Isn't this method more effective than your previous one?" "Yes." Dongfang Minghui was also puzzled, "Why do you seem displeased?" "Of course, I'm pleased." Yu Chi Shou gritted out a thanks but was about to morph into beast form when Qian Wanyu called him again, reminding him, "The Hui tribe mentioned seeing a light in the mountain. Look at today's weather — overcast, the sky gloomy." Yu Chi Shou glanced up; the weather indeed looked unpromising, just like it was about to rain. "And so?" "Wait for a sunny day. When the sun comes out, find the right angle." "I see. Seventh Sister wants to use the refraction principle of sunlight with the Soul Separation Mirror to extend its effect widely." Dongfang Minghui quickly understood, likely thanks to her dream of seeing the Dragon Queen use the Soul Separation Mirror once, "In the dream, one side of it emitted a pale cyan light. I suppose the soul-separating side must be the negative side of the mirror." "Couldn't you explain this all at once?" Yu Chi Shou glared at them with eyes like brass bells, reluctantly sitting back down again. "Had I known, why hand me the mirror in the first place?" "Naturally, to let you experience it." Qian Wanyu, truthfully, had been toying with the idea, enjoying a small playful moment at his expense because he always seemed intent on bullying Ninth Sister. "The Soul Separation Mirror is something everyone's efforts secured. If I hogged it, that’d be unfair to you all, right, Ninth Sister?" Dongfang Minghui spun her eyes mischievously, laughed foolishly, and gave the discontented Yu Chi Shou a sympathetic glance. "Good for you to experience it, I don't need it." Ding Ding mimicked Dongfang Minghui's dismissive tone, "I don't want it either." "Why didn't you mention sunny days earlier, when we had plenty? Why wait until the weather turns?" Yu Chi Shou grumbled enough for everyone to hear, complaining how they hadn't thought of it sooner when the sun was still shining brightly. "You—" "In truth, we never thought of this approach." The idea had, in fact, crossed Qian Wanyu's mind. It required someone who could control their body mid-air for a significant duration. Given that most had been injured before, she opted to wait, hoping a better method would present itself. Unfortunately, in her dream, Ninth Sister failed to grasp the right way to use the Soul Separation Mirror. Yu Chi Shou stepping up to use it was unexpected, though it did align with her previously considered strategy. In the sky above, dark clouds loomed thick, the wind unsettling, promising rain at any second. As they heard the thunderous roars akin to a storm constantly overhead, Qian Wanyu looked at the sky, noticing the sporadic lightning flashing. A thought swiftly crossed her mind. "Seventh Sister, if it rains, we won't even have a place to take shelter." Dongfang Minghui lamented, already foreseeing a drenched outcome for herself, and likely quite miserably so. "This fierce rain may not abate for several days. You and Yu Chi Shou should stow away in Ding Ding's Longevity Cauldron to avoid it." Ding Ding flapped its wings fearfully, poking its tiny head out to watch the sky. Suddenly, seeing a large bolt of lightning heading straight for it, it took off, darting around as it shrieked, "Lightning, lightning, lightning!" Dongfang Minghui: "..." Everyone watched as Ding Ding frantically dodged the pursuing lightning, which seemed determined to zap its tail, making even its fur stand on end. She observed this with suspicion, softly asking Seventh Sister, "Is Ding Ding scared of lightning?" Qian Wanyu pondered for a moment, "It seems like Ding Ding is indeed a bit afraid." Yu Chi Shou chuckled mischievously beside them, "Who would’ve thought, this little creature fears nothing on earth but is scared of thunder and lightning—how amusing." "What's so funny? If Ding Ding gets struck by lightning, aren't the people inside the Longevity Cauldron all going to suffer?" Dongfang Minghui shot him a glare. Yu Chi Shou's grin froze on his face. "Right, so what do we do now? That lightning seems to be chasing right after its tail." Outside, the rain continued to wash over the steep mountainside. The place they stood already had water flowing out from behind the archway, leaving not a single dry spot. Qian Wanyu stood up and instructed, "In a moment, I'm going to divert the lightning away. Once Ding Ding returns, you both hide inside the Longevity Cauldron. When the weather clears, I'll signal with the sound of the Water Thunder Whip; use three strikes as confirmation." "Seventh Sister, you're going to intercept that lightning?" Dongfang Minghui grabbed her wrist with concern, witnessing how the massive thunderclaps could easily turn them to dust. "No, it's too dangerous. I'll call Ding Ding back here where at least we have this mountain to shield us—" Qian Wanyu understood her thoughts in a glance. "If this spot gets bombarded by lightning, we won't have anywhere left to stand. Besides, have you forgotten that my lightning spirit power has awakened? This is an opportunity for me, so don’t worry about it." Not giving them time to argue further, she waited for her chance. With Ding Ding flitting around like a headless chicken, Qian Wanyu leaped forward, her purple lightning clashing fiercely with the giant lightning bolt from the heavens. Ding Ding seized this chance, darting like a firecracker into Dongfang Minghui's arms. "Thunder's coming, Little Nine, run!" Dongfang Minghui gently soothed Ding Ding, unconsciously wiping the little one's rain-soaked fur with her sleeve until it was nearly smothered. Her anxious gaze was fixed on her Seventh Sister, who bravely faced the lightning head-on. Yu Chi Shou was also deeply concerned. "Is Qian Wanyu really going to be alright? This storm seems to be growing more intense." "She'll be fine," Dongfang Minghui replied with determination, comforting herself. Seventh Sister was originally a lightning spirit master and had now advanced to the Spirit Emperor level, thanks to her five-element spirit body. Surely, this was indeed her opportunity, as she had said. "Look, another bolt is coming. Is it still aiming for Ding Ding?" Another bolt indeed descended, smaller than the last, but no less threatening. She found Ding Ding in her arms silently cowering, realizing, "Even if we hide in the Longevity Cauldron, Ding Ding's body is still exposed to the lightning..." They both exchanged glances, instinctively edging closer to the iron archway, where Dongfang Minghui absentmindedly touched the hollowed-out area. She suddenly had an idea. "Ding Ding, can you hide in this space here?" Ding Ding poked its head out cautiously and took a quick look. "Yes, easy!" Its ability to shrink was one of its strong suits. Glancing around, Dongfang Minghui found nothing else to use as cover except for the restrained body of Little Hui. She mumbled as she approached, "Little Hui, forgive me. To weather this crisis, we need to borrow your protection." "What are you planning?" "Let Little Hui shield Ding Ding." Yu Chi Shou opened his mouth but couldn't find any words to object. In dire situations, one couldn't afford to be choosy. Dongfang Minghui moved Little Hui's body to the space she had been sitting cross-legged before, conveniently covering the hollow portion of the archway. Inside the Longevity Cauldron, it was quiet, with everyone seated cross-legged in meditation. The only one alert was a savage beast, who glanced at them before resuming its disinterested wandering, casting glances from the flames atop the cauldron, to Toothless lying in the ice coffin, and then to the rest of the group. "Little Nine, Little Nine." "Hmm?" Ding Ding’s voice, though small, was massively amplified within the confines of the cauldron, allowing everyone to hear it distinctly. Qian Ziyan, especially, who remained vigilant against the potential chaos from the ferocious beast, had stayed behind to protect everyone while they meditated. With Ding Ding’s call, everyone gradually emerged from their meditative states. The beast's icy spikes bristled at the sound of Ding Ding's voice, and it retreated into a huddle. Dongfang Minghui and Yu Chi Shou looked particularly bedraggled, thoroughly soaked. Especially Dongfang Minghui, whose hair dripped water into her clothes, causing her to shiver. The water on the floor turned to frost, then evaporated. "Little Nine, did something happen outside? Where's Yu’er?" Qian Yiling quickly pulled her close, noticing her soaked state. "Why are you drenched?" "Mother, don't worry. It’s just raining outside, so we came in to avoid it." Dongfang Minghui worried about Ding Ding suddenly falling unconscious and affecting those inside the cauldron negatively, even though it had assured her everyone was fine. Seeing them in person was the only way for her to feel at ease. She hesitated before continuing, "Seventh Sister said the thunderstorm is her opportunity for growth, so she stayed outside." Yu Chi Shou wasted no time in drying himself off and walked over to the ice coffin, ignoring the icy aura, confirmed his young mistress’s safety, and once more took his place beside her as usual. Qian Ziyan and Qian Yiling quickly grasped her meaning. For a lightning spirit master, such opportunities were indeed rare and invaluable. Everyone gathered around, eagerly inquiring about Dongfang Minghui's recent experiences. Dongfang Minghui listened to each one, unsure what to say. She used to speak honestly, but seeing the concern in their eyes, she measured her words carefully, distinguishing what should be said and what shouldn't. "Don't worry, everything's fine." Xiao Miao, sitting nearby, used his palm to dry her clothes swiftly, a considerate action that warmed her heart. "Thank you, Xiao Miao." Xiao Miao returned to his place beside Mu Sheng. Mu Sheng looked around, lowered his voice, and asked, "What about Little Hui, didn’t it come with you?" Mentioning Little Hui even drew the attention of Yu Chi Shou, who was watching over Toothless, making his expression change subtly. Dongfang Minghui blinked, debating whether to fib, for saying Little Hui was gone would contradict her earlier assurances. Before she could decide how to begin, Yu Chi Shou chimed in, "You won't be seeing it again. It chose to return to where it belongs." She nodded slightly. Yu Chi Shou's words weren't entirely untrue. Little Hui had always been stubborn, and had it returned earlier, perhaps the later events wouldn't have transpired. All she could hope for now was that, once the weather cleared, the Soul Separation Mirror could restore the Hui tribe, serving as a tribute to Little Hui’s spirit. Lien glanced thoughtfully between Yu Chi Shou and the tight-lipped wizard, sensing they were withholding something. Qian Yiling and Qian Ziyan exchanged puzzled looks. "That makes sense. It wasn't really suited for walking on land. Returning to its tribe is probably best. Little Nine, you seem tired. Are you worn out? Come here to Mother." "Mother." Qian Yiling kindly let her rest her head on her lap, her delicate hands gently smoothing Dongfang Minghui’s disheveled hair. "Little Nine, get some sleep." Ding Ding didn’t understand why they were lying. After playing with the beast for a while, it hopped over to Dongfang Minghui’s side, tugging on her hair. "Little Nine, Ding Ding wants to sleep too." "Come, Ding Ding." Qian Yiling's heart melted at the sight of the two in similar poses, filling her with warmth. However, the result was that Dongfang Minghui and Ding Ding found themselves facing each other, unable to fall asleep. Dongfang Minghui got up to avoid resting too heavily on Qian Yiling's legs. Ding Ding, with a dramatic look of grievance, locked eyes with her. They both knew without speaking; if they couldn’t sleep, they couldn’t dream, and thus couldn’t see what they wished to witness. "Ding Ding, come spar with me." "Okay, okay." Ding Ding was excited by the novelty. Qian Yiling watched them with surprise, though she respected their choice and softly added, "Ding Ding, go easy on Little Nine, don't hurt her." Dongfang Minghui: "..." Everyone quickly cleared a space for them, and even the beast moved over to give them more room, complying silently. Dongfang Minghui intended the sparring as a means to expend her spirit energy, hoping the tiredness would lead to sleep. As she exhausted her energy, fatigue inevitably followed, helping her achieve her goal of getting some rest. When countless leaves spontaneously floated in mid-air, everyone held their breath, except perhaps for Ding Ding, who fluttered its wings and weaved through the floating leaves. It would occasionally poke and prod them out of curiosity. "Little Nine, Little Nine, what are they for?" "They can cut people." After saying this, Dongfang Minghui channeled her spirit energy, causing the leaves to spin rapidly in mid-air. Ding Ding became encircled by them, forming a whirlpool as the leaves spun faster and more densely. Ding Ding continued to flap its wings, matching the spinning speed of the leaves. It seemed to merge with the leaves, occasionally making noises to get her attention. "This is so much fun." Dongfang Minghui quickly realized her decision might have been a mistake; perhaps she should've chosen another opponent, and the match would have been decided already. But the thought dissipated quickly as she noticed something strange—she could no longer see Ding Ding. "Ding Ding, where are you?" "Little Nine, I'm here." Ding Ding's voice came from every direction—left, right, high, low. Not only Dongfang Minghui, but even Qian Ziyan and the others couldn't pin down where the little creature was hiding. She felt the rapid drain of her spirit energy and was satisfied with the result. She deployed her energy to scatter the leaves, breaking the formation. Ding Ding, holding onto a leaf roughly its own size, became exposed. "Ah, so you were hiding here, Ding Ding." Though cradled by a leaf, once exposed, countless leaves darted toward Ding Ding like projectiles. "Ah, darts," Ding Ding exclaimed, remembering how Dongfang Minghui had used leaves to attack the giant Hui creatures in the ravine. Excited, it darted left and right and then rushed towards her. Dongfang Minghui stepped back, suddenly finding a few plum blossom nails in her hands, blinking in confusion. "Little Nine, Little Nine," Ding Ding had zoomed in front of her. Upon seeing the nails, it shrieked, "That big guy still has some." It had almost forgotten. The beast mentioned shrank back, feeling a phantom pain where the nails might have struck. Dongfang Minghui gracefully recalled the scattered leaves into her Qi Strand, approached the beast, and said, "Could you return those plum blossom nails to me?" Ding Ding, perched on her shoulder, commanded, "You have to give them back to Little Nine." The beast raised an eyelid, heaved a resigned sigh, and spat out several items encased in frozen lumps. A thick layer of frost obscured their original appearance. A soft 'ding-dong' resonated in the air. Everyone gathered around curiously, watching the beast eject the plum blossom nails. Qian Yiling wanted to reach out and touch them but was hastily stopped by Dongfang Minghui. "Mother, the poison on these nails is lethal. It’s better not to touch them." "So dangerous." "Yes." Surprisingly, the beast had encased them perfectly in ice spirit energy, which explained why the nails hadn't harmed it. Dongfang Minghui tossed the nails back into her storage space, waiting for them to thaw. She counted the plum blossom nails from her Qi Strand’s compartment and her spatial ring; they totaled precisely thirty-six, not one less, not one more. "Little Nine, let's play some more?" Dongfang Minghui shook her head and instead walked slowly towards the ice coffin, standing half a meter away, quietly observing the one inside. "Has there been any change with Toothless lately?" "All is well." "That's good." --- For seven days, Qian Wanyu endured the relentless onslaught of lightning without rest. Wave after wave of lightning, transitioning from weak to strong and back, consumed her focus. She immersed herself in the spirit of the lightning, attempting to absorb its essence. She was so absorbed that she failed to notice the changes in her surroundings. The entire mountain had been drenched by the persistent rain, bringing the trees and grass back to life. The streams overflowed their banks, submerging paths and bridges. The landscape had transformed dramatically, washed clean by the waters. A resonant bird's cry echoed from afar, followed by a chorus of calls that filled the air with joy. Qian Wanyu found herself struck by lightning onto a lower peak. When she awoke, she was surrounded by dense forest, lush greenery, and grasses bowed by the weight of raindrops. A few emboldened weeds whispered about her. "This human is so strange." "So scary." "Astonishing she survived being constantly struck by lightning..." Unfortunately, she couldn't comprehend the chatter, oblivious to the trembling caused by the fierce aura she exuded. The earth beneath her emitted a rich smell of soil, suffused with the freshness of a post-rain world. Everything seemed renewed, teeming with life. Qian Wanyu relished this feeling; compared to their journey through the ravine, this environment felt truly vibrant. Suddenly, she stood, drawing a fresh change of clothes from her spatial ring, unabashedly changing her outfit, sparking further discussions among nearby creatures. "Where is this place?" Realizing she had been struck to the base of the mountain while her companions were at the peak, she looked up, seeing how far apart they had become. Hastening back, she studied the terrain as she went. Her path became a tempest as she raced day and night, her pace unrelenting, resting only to meditate atop Little White Ball's back as needed. After half a month, she finally returned to the ravine—now submerged and unrecognizable. Standing in this familiar yet altered place, she doubted her direction for the first time. She walked on, searching for familiar landmarks, and after three days, she found one: a struggling Hui, stranded half in and half out of a riverbank. The creature clung desperately with its single claw to the shoreline. "Little White Ball, should I save it?" "Ooowoo." The rains had erased all traces of their previous activities, leaving not a hint for even Little White Ball to detect. Qian Wanyu thought of Ninth Sister, guessing she would have saved the Hui without hesitation. Then she recalled Little Hui, a creature with whom they had a complex history but one that had ultimately left a deep impression on her. "Very well, in honor of Little Hui, I'll spare you." She examined the Hui, finding it unharmed apart from exhaustion. After checking its pulse, she left a vial of hemostatic pills by it and continued onward, her steps now unhesitating, reaffirmed that she was on the right path. What Qian Wanyu did not know was that after she left, the Hui transformed into a human form—the same single-armed, white-haired Hui who had previously guided them. Having lost an arm and been washed ashore, it found a path forward thanks to her. Picking up the ceramic vial, he bowed in the direction Qian Wanyu had left, "Thank you." --- With the rain finally clearing, Ding Ding, tired of the confines of the Longevity Cauldron, occasionally ventured out. Poking its head through the grates of the archway, it noticed the sunlight and promptly used Little Hui’s hair to slide down. No lightning, no thunder—nothing left to fear. Ding Ding swiftly brought this good news to Dongfang Minghui. "Little Nine, let's go out and play." After a brief hesitation, faced with the group's curious gazes, she quickly agreed, almost as if fearing they'd regret it. "Let's go." Yu Chi Shou suddenly stood up, "I'll go with you." "Sure." A flood of people sluggishly rose to join them. "Little Nine, I haven't seen Yu'er in a while." "That's right, Minghui, I've been here long enough; it's time to stretch my legs as well." "Wizard, take me along." Dongfang Minghui: "..." If she took them out, they'd be exposed. Seeing her hesitation, Yu Chi Shou frankly commented, "Where we are now is the mountain peak, a small and slippery area. With so many people stepping out, it could lead to an accident. Wait for us to confirm a path, then everyone can go out together." "Yes, yes." Dongfang Minghui cast a grateful glance at Yu Chi Shou. "Alright, Seventh Sister must be getting anxious waiting for us outside. Let's head out." With that, she quickly exited the Longevity Cauldron. Once outside, Dongfang Minghui glanced around but didn't see the familiar figure. Her anxiety spiked, "Seventh Sister isn't here, how could she be gone? Unless she's injured?" Ding Ding fluttered about, zipping through the air but also failing to spot Qian Wanyu. "Not here, can't find." Seeing her agitation, Yu Chi Shou attempted to calm her, "Qian Wanyu is a master of five elemental spirit laws; she’ll be fine." "Yes, Seventh Sister is so powerful, nothing could happen to her." Dongfang Minghui comforted herself, quickly adopting a self-assured tone. "Seventh Sister is probably just caught up with something important; she’ll return. How about we go look for her, Yu Chi Shou?" Yu Chi Shou's earlier words were purely for her reassurance; he wasn't entirely sure Qian Wanyu could withstand the lightning tribulations. "It's better to wait a bit longer. Perhaps Qian Wanyu is experiencing a significant opportunity, retreating somewhere to process it. If we leave now, she might not find us on her return." Gradually, Dongfang Minghui calmed down, nodding in agreement, "Right, she might not find us if she comes back." Seeing she dismissed the idea of searching for Qian Wanyu, Yu Chi Shou settled down at his earlier spot. Lost in their own thoughts, neither noticed when the vines binding Little Hui twitched slightly. "Wizard." "Huh?" Dongfang Minghui found it odd for Yu Chi Shou to call her that, "What is it?" Yu Chi Shou retrieved the Soul Separation Mirror wrapped in cloth. "It's not about entrusting you with my young mistress. I wanted to thank you." Dongfang Minghui: "..." She looked at him, puzzled. "Stop saying weird things." "The weather has cleared; I'm planning to use the Soul Separation Mirror when the sun is at its peak. There may be significant changes. If it becomes dangerous, you and Ding Ding should leave first. I'll come find you later." "No way, you should wait for Seventh Sister before using the Soul Separation Mirror." He had just mentioned waiting here for Seventh Sister, and now he wants her to leave with Ding Ding. What nonsense. Dongfang Minghui felt exasperated by Yu Chi Shou's incoherence and lacked the patience for more of his convoluted logic. Suddenly, Yu Chi Shou transformed into a fiery dragon and flew to a previous spot on the mountainside, attempting to find the perfect spot. The sun, however, was not in the right position, making his search fruitless. "Yu Chi Shou, don't act recklessly." "Relax." Yu Chi Shou wasn't impulsive by nature. Reverting to his human form, he sheathed the Soul Separation Mirror at his waist again. "I was looking for the best location. I'll find the optimal moment to use the mirror." Everything must align perfectly: time, location, people. Ding Ding wiggled around on Dongfang Minghui's shoulder, constantly rearranging itself as if something was bothering it. "Little Nine, Little Nine." "Hmm? Ding Ding, what's going on?" Ding Ding fluttered its wings, doing a small circle beside her, "Something's biting me." "What?" Dongfang Minghui was alarmed, placing Ding Ding on her palm to inspect it thoroughly. "Ding Ding, where's it biting you?" "My bum." Ding Ding turned its face towards her palm, raising its rear for her to check. Dongfang Minghui felt awkward seeing it in this position... Although Ding Ding was technically a spirit, with no gender distinction, it still bore her face. She lightly poked Ding Ding's back with a finger, nudging it forward. Surprised, it tumbled over, giggling uncontrollably as if they were playing a game, rolling around in her palm. Then, an icy touch met her back... Dongfang Minghui shivered, slightly turning her head to see Yu Chi Shou sitting cross-legged, eyes closed.