"I wasn't showing off! It changed on its own—it has nothing to do with me, hehe~~" Xuan Yi couldn't help giggling before she even finished the sentence.
Seeing her like this, a mischievous glint flashed through Xiao Jietian's eyes. He reached out to tickle her.
Xiao Ling squealed and darted away. "You can't catch me!"
"Just wait till I do—you're done for."
The two of them immediately started chasing each other around the cave. Before long, even Xiao Meng couldn't resist joining in, turning the quiet stone chamber into a playground filled with laughter.
Xiao Jietian sat on the stone bed, watching one grown woman and two little girls run around like children. A soft smile tugged at his lips as he shook his head.
Still, he noticed something important: the lingering melancholy that used to shadow Xuan Yi's eyes had faded considerably. Right now she looked brighter, more alive, and far more captivating.
What made his gaze linger even longer was the sight of her slender, fair legs flashing into view whenever she chased after the girls—her movements free, graceful, and unintentionally alluring.
…
Two days later.
Xuan Yi's soul injury had completely healed. Her aura returned to its peak—sharp, powerful, and unmistakably at the pinnacle of Nine Revolutions Dou Zun.
"Congratulations on your full recovery," Xiao Jietian said with a smile as he looked at her.
Xuan Yi slowly opened her eyes and met his gaze. In the next instant, her peak Nine Revolutions Dou Zun pressure erupted like a sudden storm—then just as quickly withdrew.
But the residual shockwave, whether intentional or not, swept straight toward Xiao Jietian.
He casually waved a hand. The aftershock shattered into nothing. There hadn't been much force behind it anyway; he could even sense a strand of her thought lingering inside, ready to disperse the energy at any moment if he wished.
Xiao Jietian gave her a playful look. "What's this? Crossing the river and burning the bridge already? You're too heartless. I'm hurt."
"As expected—your words really can't be trusted. You even claimed you were just an ordinary person."
Xuan Yi's lips curved into a faint smile as she spoke.
"I am an ordinary person," Xiao Jietian replied seriously. "An ordinary person whose strength reaches the heavens."
Xuan Yi nearly stumbled. It was the first time she'd heard someone twist logic so shamelessly yet so concisely.
"You…" She opened her mouth to retort, but the words refused to come. When he phrased it like that… there really wasn't much she could say.
She suddenly felt she could never look at the phrase "ordinary person" the same way again.
Just as she was about to speak again, two adorable little faces popped up right in front of her.
Xuan Yi flinched in surprise.
"You two always appear out of nowhere like that." She gently patted their heads, a mix of fondness and mock-annoyance on her face, then pulled them both into a warm hug.
"It was Aunt Xuan who was distracted," Xiao Meng said happily, snuggling deeper into the embrace. Then she looked up seriously. "Aunt Xuan, your injury is healed… are you leaving?"
Xuan Yi looked down at the two little girls, whose eyes were already turning misty with sadness. Her breath caught.
In less than three days together, these two had brought her more genuine joy and warmth than she could remember feeling in years. The thought of parting actually hurt.
But she had no choice. She had to leave. The Hall of Souls was still hunting her. Staying—or worse, taking them along—would only drag danger straight to their door.
Xiao Ling's eyes darted around. "Aunt Xuan, are you going back to Holy Pill City?"
"Yes." That had indeed been her plan—to return and draw the Hall of Souls' attention away from this place.
"That's great! We're going to Holy Pill City too!"
Xuan Yi immediately turned to look at Xiao Jietian.
He gave a small nod.
A deep, complicated joy flickered through Xuan Yi's eyes, but it was quickly overshadowed by worry.
She was afraid—afraid that if they ran into the Hall of Souls, she wouldn't be strong enough to protect the two girls… and that she would end up getting them hurt. That was something she absolutely could not allow.
Xiao Jietian read her expression instantly. "Let them go with you. As for the Hall of Souls… don't worry about them."
He truly didn't place much importance on a mere Third Celestial Venerable at the peak of Nine Revolutions Dou Zun.
If he really wanted to, just one or two of his signature Dou Techniques would be enough to half-kill the man.
And he wouldn't even be fighting alone. At worst, he could simply shut the door and release the snakes.
Xuan Yi stared steadily at the man whose face radiated unshakable confidence. For some inexplicable reason, a powerful sense of security rose in her chest.
His words carried a strange magic. She found herself believing him—trusting him—almost without question.
She also knew how deeply Xiao Jietian loved his daughters. If he didn't have absolute certainty, he would never let them take even the slightest risk.
"Alright then," she said softly. "We'll head to Holy Pill City together. Aunt Xuan will take you two to have lots of fun there."
"Yay! Yay!" Both girls clapped their hands in delight at the mention of playing.
Xiao Meng suddenly remembered something. She had a prospective mother waiting in Holy Pill City. Maybe she would finally meet her. She didn't know whether this mother would be as gentle as her other mothers or as kind as Aunt Xuan… but anyone her daddy liked surely wouldn't be bad.
Her mothers had told her many times: Daddy's standards were extremely high. Not just anyone could catch his eye.
In the entire Eternal Heaven World, countless women had dreamed of climbing into his bed—yet none had succeeded.
Even in Eternal Heaven Palace, two prospective mothers were still quietly thinking about her daddy.
…
The next morning.
Xuan Yi slowly woke from sleep.
In the past she had always replaced sleep with cultivation. But these last few days, Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng had dragged her into sleeping together every night. With her soul still weak, actual rest had indeed helped her recover faster.
She glanced at the two little girls curled up beside her, a gentle smile curving her lips.
Rising quietly, she looked toward Xiao Jietian, who was leaning against the wall asleep not far away.
With a casual flick of her hand, red Dou Qi flowed out and formed a thin protective screen around her body.
When the light faded, her blue robe was gone—replaced by a form-fitting white-and-purple cheongsam.
She stretched lazily.
The already close-fitting dress immediately highlighted every perfect curve: full bust, slim waist that could be encircled by a single arm, rounded hips, and long, shapely legs visible through the high slit—powerful yet graceful, alluring without trying.
"Isn't this a little too stimulating first thing in the morning?" a teasing voice floated over. "You do remember I'm a vigorous young man, right…?"
Xuan Yi's face flushed crimson.
She followed the voice and saw Xiao Jietian already sitting up, leaning against the wall, watching her with a smirk.
She glared at him and hurriedly adjusted her clothes. "Then just don't look."
"I opened my eyes and there you were, posing like that. Wouldn't it be rude of me not to appreciate the view?"
"You always have so many crooked excuses. You could talk black into white." Xuan Yi rolled her eyes.
These past few days she had grown very familiar with his thick skin.
When he was serious, he was reliable and meticulous. But the moment he relaxed, that mouth of his never failed to make her itch with both annoyance and—secretly—amusement.
Xuan Yi gave up arguing with him and turned to gently wake the two little girls.
Today was the day they would finally leave the mountain cave.