Chapter 26: A Family of Four

"It can actually grow larger!"

Sitting on Yin Xue's back, Yun Zhao buried herself in its fluffy fur. On Yin Xue's back, she could roll around without any fear of falling off.

"What else did you expect?" Qi Yan tugged at her sleeve to keep her from tumbling off. "Did you think we could make it up here relying on its previous size?"

Yun Zhao: "Hmm, that’s not entirely impossible, though."

Qi Yan remained silent. This girl was truly a living Yama!

"By the way, A-Yan," Yun Zhao tugged at his sleeve again, "how does Yin Xue grow larger? I want to teach Fu Guang to do it too!" This way, she wouldn't have to rely on walking or flying on her sword for her daily commute, she thought.

The other four people chimed in eagerly, "We want to learn too..."

Qi Yan said bluntly, "First of all, you need to have a sword spirit."

Mu Qianqian and the others: "..."

"Secondly, the master's cultivation must reach the Golden Core stage."

The remaining fifth of the group also lost their smiles.

"Finally," Qi Yan patted the Yin Xue sword, "the sword spirit needs to master five cultivation techniques. Zhao-Zhao, if you want Fu Guang to learn, I can give you the techniques first. Once it learns them and you reach the Golden Core stage, it will be able to change its size."

Fu Guang, who had been standing on top of Yin Xue’s head enjoying the breeze, let out a "meow" and dove into the sword to hide from the trouble. It didn't want to study!

Yun Zhao tried to pull it out for a long time but failed. "Forget it, having Yin Xue is enough. Right, Yin Xue?"

Yin Xue let out a happy cry.

Watching her interact with Yin Xue, Qi Yan didn't even realize how incredibly soft his gaze had become.

Mu Qianqian huddled with her two junior sisters, whispering, "It's so sweet. Watching them together, why does it feel even sweeter than eating honey?"

Shuang Yue’s eyes sparkled, and she tried hard to suppress her inner excitement. "Senior Sister, I feel the same way!"

Shuang Xue didn't speak; she had a hobby of writing scripts, and she was already... scribbling away furiously!

Lin Shu wanted to say something but hesitated. Could he... join them? He felt rather lonely on his own. He decisively joined the three sisters, saying, "I think our junior brother, junior sister, and the Yin Xue sword spirit look a bit like a family of three!"

Given Qi Yan’s sharp hearing, he could hear everything Mu Qianqian and the others said.

"A family of three..."

Qi Yan muttered to himself, letting the words roll over his tongue twice.

"A-Yan, what are you saying?" Yun Zhao was busy petting the fur and hadn't paid attention to him.

Qi Yan moved his fingers slightly. "Nothing. We’re almost at the mountain top."

Yun Zhao’s attention was diverted, but Fu Guang suddenly emerged from the sword and jumped into her arms. It rubbed against her and shot a provocative look at Qi Yan. Its master might not have heard it, but it had. *What family of three? It’s a family of two—me and my master. Go play with your sword spirit!*

Qi Yan’s expression remained unchanged. "Zhao-Zhao, Fu Guang seems to have put on some weight recently. Let me hold it."

"Really?" Yun Zhao weighed Fu Guang in her arms. "It does feel a bit heavier. I’ll leave this big fat cat to you then."

Hearing its master call it a "big fat cat" and hand it over to someone else, Fu Guang was on the verge of tears. But when Qi Yan scratched its chin just right, Fu Guang melted into a puddle of feline bliss.

Behind Yun Zhao’s back, Qi Yan whispered, "A family of four, how about that?"

As Fu Guang enjoyed the attention, it cast him a cold, noble look of condescension. *Fine. I’ll reluctantly accept both of you.*

Upon reaching the summit, Yin Xue shrank to the size of a palm, nesting on Yun Zhao’s shoulder like a small ornament. Fu Guang wanted to do the same, but after checking its own size, it decided it was better to stay honestly in Qi Yan’s arms.

There were seven days left before the secret realm exit opened. They were lucky to have found the Dragon Saliva Grass the day before the exit opened. The grass grew on steep cliffs where even sword spirits couldn't fly, and it was guarded by demonic beasts; they had gone to great lengths to obtain it.

"Since the start of the sect competition, no disciple has lost their teleportation jade token, so not many people have come here. The Dragon Saliva Grass hasn't been picked, so it’s already a thousand years old..."

Just as Mu Qianqian finished speaking, voices drifted up from the mountain path.

"Brother Bai, is there really Dragon Saliva Grass up here?"

"I'm not certain. Song Zhiyuan said there was, so there should be."

Mu Qianqian tilted her head to listen. "Zhao-Zhao, judging by the voices, it’s the people from the Heavenly Sword Sect."

Yun Zhao frowned. "They’re also after the Dragon Saliva Grass."

By the time they finished speaking, the group had already arrived. They included not only the lead senior disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Bai Lingxiao, but also Gu Dinghan, the leader of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect, and Meng Wenchang of the Spirit Talisman Sect.

Seeing people on the summit, they were surprised. "Are you... disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect?"

As the leader of the six-person team, Yun Zhao exchanged pleasantries with the three of them. "I am Yun Zhao of the Azure Cloud Sect..."

Gu Dinghan of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect seemed like an easygoing person. He glanced at the Dragon Saliva Grass in Yun Zhao’s hand and introduced himself with a smile. "Junior Sister Yun, it seems you are also here for the Dragon Saliva Grass."

Yun Zhao nodded. "Naturally."

"We are the same. Junior Sister Yun, the Dragon Saliva Grass in your hand must be a thousand years old. Would you be willing to sell us half of it?"

Yun Zhao said apologetically, "Senior Brother Gu, the mountain top is so vast, there must be other Dragon Saliva Grass. Why don't you... go look elsewhere?"

Her words were polite, but the refusal was absolute. One stalk of Dragon Saliva Grass was only enough to refine one Body Tempering Pill, and that was assuming Lu Mingdao succeeded on his first attempt.

"Junior Sister Yun," Gu Dinghan sighed, "you have a point; there is more than one stalk, but the realm exit opens tomorrow, and we don't have enough time to search."

"How about we split it? Even if the resulting pill is less potent, it will still have some effect. We can pay you as many spirit stones as you want."

This time, Yun Zhao was not subtle. "Sorry, not for sale."

Gu Dinghan’s eyes flickered. "Junior Sister Yun, you should think about it carefully. After all, there are only a few of us here..."

Yun Zhao interrupted him. "Are you threatening me?"

Gu Dinghan chuckled. "How could that be a threat? I’m just offering you some advice."

"I don't take advice," Yun Zhao said mercilessly. "You all should leave."

A look of displeasure flashed across Gu Dinghan’s eyes. He took a step forward and exerted his spiritual pressure. "Junior Sister Yun..."

Qi Yan, who had been standing behind Yun Zhao, stepped forward in front of her. Yun Zhao patted his arm, and Qi Yan promptly unleashed his own pressure in response.

Cold sweat broke out on Gu Dinghan’s forehead, and his expression shifted. "Golden Core stage!"

How could he be at the Golden Core stage? He hadn't sensed it at all just a moment ago.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Meng Wenchang of the Spirit Talisman Sect pulled Gu Dinghan back. "Dinghan, since Junior Sister Yun is unwilling, let it be. The three of us can start looking now; we should be able to find some."

"Brother Bai, don't you agree..."

His voice trailed off. Bai Lingxiao was no longer behind them.

Mu Qianqian poked her head out from behind Yun Zhao and kindly reminded them, "The two of you, Brother Bai has already left."