After a brief moment of reflection, Xiao Jietian finally grasped the true meaning behind her words.
This was no gentle invitation to escort a child to the gates of learning.
He lowered his head, resting his chin lightly upon the Little Fairy Doctor's fragrant shoulder. Teeth grazed her delicate earlobe in a playful nip as he murmured, voice low and teasing:
"So from now on… you'll take Fei Yan's place?"
The Little Fairy Doctor shook her head frantically, eyes wide with alarm.
What a jest! She had merely been poking fun at him and Medusa. As for bearing the brunt of his "firepower" — more or less made no difference to her; in truth, she secretly wished for far less. Otherwise she would spend half her days fainting from sheer exhaustion.
Medusa was the true frontline warrior, willingly — or perhaps helplessly — occupying the most fiercely bombarded position. Who in their right mind would vie to replace her?
Xiao Jietian could not suppress a burst of laughter at the genuine fright that flashed across her face.
Seeing him mock her so openly, the Little Fairy Doctor rolled her beautiful eyes in exasperation and decided the topic had run its course. She could already sense the stirring heat against her back; if they truly began "sparring" here and now, even with her Eight-Star Dou Zun cultivation she stood no chance of victory. At best, she might endure one additional wave before collapsing.
Most of the palace's main forces were presently in seclusion. Ya Fei and Medusa — the primary pillars of resistance — were unavailable. No reinforcements would arrive in time.
The only one recently emerged, Han Yue, was occupied wrangling the two mischievous little princesses. As for the reserves… the Little Fairy Doctor did not even consider them viable. A single concentrated barrage would likely render them hors de combat, leaving her to shoulder the full onslaught alone.
Hastily changing the subject, she asked:
"How long until Sister Fei Yan emerges from seclusion?"
"I cannot say precisely," Xiao Jietian replied after briefly extending his soul sense to probe Medusa's condition. "Judging by her current rate of refinement… three or four days at most."
"Three or four days to awaken such heaven-defying talent — truly enviable." A flicker of genuine admiration and quiet joy passed through the Little Fairy Doctor's eyes, utterly devoid of jealousy.
Yet a trace of worry lingered beneath the surface.
If Medusa's strength surged far ahead of theirs, her already bold and reckless nature would only grow more unrestrained. In certain… intimate matters, the Queen had long served as Xiao Jietian's foremost accomplice — the undisputed number one instigator of chaos within the inner palace.
And yet, without fail, she always ended up the most pitiful one — bearing the full consequences alone in the end.
The thought caused the Little Fairy Doctor to suddenly let out a soft "pfft," her shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth.
"What are you laughing at now?" Xiao Jietian asked, curiosity piqued by her abrupt amusement.
"Vibrant!" she managed between giggles, covering her mouth as she recalled one of the absurd tales he had once spun for her amusement.
Xiao Jietian's forehead darkened with black lines. Truly… she never learned the proper things, yet somehow never missed the improper ones either.
"Tian… tell me more stories~ It's been so long since I last heard one." The Little Fairy Doctor nudged him gently with her head, voice turning sweet and coaxing like spring honey.
"Very well." How could Xiao Jietian refuse such a tender request?
He gathered his thoughts and began to weave tales.
"Lin Daiyu Battles the Tiger," "The Seven Smurfs Plunder the Wicked Queen and Birth Seven Little Dwarfs," "The Little Match Girl Who Peddled Nuclear Bombs" — each more outrageous than the last, delivered with perfect deadpan seriousness.
While narrating, his hands were far from idle; they wandered with familiar ease, "assessing" the Little Fairy Doctor's delicate weight and proportions under the pretext of holding her steady.
Memes and absurd asides peppered the stories, turning them into riotous comedies that left her trembling with laughter. Only his steady arms kept her from collapsing entirely.
In time her laughter softened into contented sighs. Eventually she drifted into peaceful slumber, cradled securely in his embrace.
Xiao Jietian drew forth a soft beast-fur blanket, draping it over them both. Beneath the silver moonlight and scattered starlight, they slept entwined — guardian and beloved, serene and complete.
Of course, a fine thread of his soul power remained vigilant, ceaselessly monitoring Medusa's evolution within the sealed chamber below.
…
Come morning, the Little Fairy Doctor stirred from deep, dreamless rest.
"Awake?" Xiao Jietian's gentle voice brushed against her ear like warm spring wind.
She hummed lazily in reply, burrowing deeper into his chest to find the most comfortable hollow before slowly composing herself.
Five minutes passed in tranquil silence before she finally disentangled herself.
Last night had been perfection itself: beneath blooming flowers and a canopy of stars, her beloved companion had watched the heavens with her, their hearts aligned in quiet joy. Then, wrapped in each other's warmth, they had slept bathed in moonlight.
Tenderness and deep affection shimmered in her grey-purple eyes. She leaned close, orchid breath fanning his skin, and murmured:
"How about… we go back for breakfast first? I suddenly crave some fried dough sticks."
Her cheeks flushed a delicate pink the moment the words left her lips. This was the first time she had ever taken the initiative to suggest such a thing. In that instant she felt like a greedy little girl, bashful yet unrepentant.
"I'm hungry as well." Xiao Jietian smiled, drawing her into his arms. With a flicker of spatial light, they vanished from the palace spire and reappeared within his private chambers, ready to indulge in a long, leisurely breakfast.
More than an hour later, the Little Fairy Doctor emerged from the palace gates — sated, refreshed, a satisfied smile curving her lips.
She had originally intended to eat only a single fried dough stick. Yet Xiao Jietian had pressed two tea eggs into her hands as well, and she had not refused.
Both foods were dry and hearty; the dough sticks especially substantial. Midway through, she had begun to gag faintly from the dryness clinging to her throat.
Fortunately, he had prepared a tall cup of warm soy milk. After finishing, she took a deep, relieving gulp — the smooth liquid washing away the discomfort at last.
Xiao Jietian, for his part, had devoured two enormous meat buns and a large cup of pearl milk tea. Bubble tea made an excellent morning beverage, though admittedly quite filling.
…
As the Little Fairy Doctor stepped fully into the morning light, her gaze fell upon a furtive figure lurking in the nearby flowerbed — clad in a golden-red skirt robe, peeking and craning toward the palace like a curious cat.
Dong!
A crisp, resounding tap echoed.
The hidden figure yelped, clutching her head with an aggrieved pout.
"Sister Xian'er! You're too cruel… hitting so hard! There's definitely going to be a huge bump now!"
"Who told you to skulk around here first thing in the morning like a little thief?" The Little Fairy Doctor narrowed her smiling eyes at Hu Jia.
Of course, the strike had been deliberate. She had often watched Xiao Jietian tease Hu Jia with head-pats and light knocks, secretly envying the satisfying sound it made. Today she had finally tried it herself — and truly, the resonance was excellent. She almost wanted to do it again.
Hu Jia shivered instinctively under that smiling gaze, a sudden bad premonition crawling up her spine.
She shrank back, retreating several steps deeper into the flower bushes, looking small, pitiful, and utterly harmless.
There was no helping it — she could not win. A single meaningful glance from the Little Fairy Doctor could leave her weak and bedridden for days.
"A Seven-Star Dou Huang… not bad at all." The Little Fairy Doctor saw through Hu Jia's cultivation with a single glance and offered soft praise.
"Hehe, it's all thanks to the abundant resources here and the guidance of all the sisters." Hu Jia scratched her head with a foolish grin.
Ever since encountering Xiao Jietian, she had felt as though fortune itself had taken her by the hand. How fortunate that she had stubbornly refused to remain at the academy back then and instead followed him to Boundless Heaven Hall.
Otherwise, with her original talent and the Jia Nan Academy's limited resources, who knew how many years it would have taken to reach her present realm?
"Enough — I already know what's on your mind." The Little Fairy Doctor's smile turned knowing. "He's inside. Go on in."
Hu Jia's eyes lit up instantly. After a quick, grateful bob of her head, she darted toward the palace gates like a small golden-red bird taking flight.