After stopping and starting along the way and watching several live broadcasts of unlucky fools, Qian Mo and his group finally returned to Spirit City.
The horse carriage drove straight into the rear hall of the Papal Palace. This was the residential area of Bibi Dong and Qian Mo, and ordinary people were strictly forbidden from approaching.
The moment he got out of the carriage, Qian Mo stretched lazily.
Home was still more comfortable.
"Holy Son, you're back!"
"Greetings, Holy Son!"
The maids and guards along the way all bowed, their eyes filled with fervent worship.
Qian Mo waved his hand, signaling that they did not need to stand on ceremony.
Holding Zhu Zhuqing's hand, he said to Yue Guan and Gui Mei, "All right, you two can get lost. Don't come bother me."
"As you command, Your Highness!" Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged a glance, bowed, and vanished from where they stood.
They did not dare defy this little ancestor's orders.
Qian Mo led Zhu Zhuqing into his ridiculously huge palace.
Ever since getting off the horse carriage, Zhu Zhuqing had remained utterly bewildered.
Her little head was completely unable to process all the information she had received over the past few days.
First, a boy as divine as an immortal had saved her from that broken courtyard. Then, she had watched her fiancé suffer all manner of misfortune, and after that, she had ridden in a luxurious horse carriage beyond anything she could have imagined in her life.
And now, she had been brought into a palace even grander and more magnificent than the Star Luo Imperial Palace.
Was this heaven?
She looked at the mirror-like floors, the Crystal Chandeliers, and the beautifully dressed maids who treated Qian Mo with utmost respect. She felt like Cinderella from a fairy tale who had wandered into a castle by mistake.
She instinctively lowered her head and looked at herself.
Her clothes were old and ragged, and her little face and small hands were filthy. She did not fit in with anything here.
Feeling inferior, she shrank back slightly and tried to pull her hand from Qian Mo's grasp.
Qian Mo sensed her movement. Rather than letting go, he tightened his grip.
He stopped, crouched down, and looked at Zhu Zhuqing's nervous little face.
"What's wrong?"
"I... I'm dirty." Zhu Zhuqing lowered her head, her voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Only then did Qian Mo notice that this little kitty had not seemed to wash since he had brought her out.
After being on the road all this time, she really did need a proper cleanup.
"If you're dirty, wash up. What's the big deal?"
Qian Mo led her straight into the bathroom inside the palace.
This bathroom was larger than the entire courtyard Zhu Zhuqing had lived in before. At its center was a huge bath built from white jade, already filled with steaming warm water, with countless unknown flower petals floating on the surface.
"Wow..." Zhu Zhuqing could not help letting out a small gasp.
"Go on. Wash yourself. Do you know how?" Qian Mo pointed at the bath.
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, then shook her head.
Of course she knew how to bathe, but in such a luxurious place, using such fine things, she did not really dare.
Qian Mo saw her unease and sighed.
What a troublesome little thing.
He walked over to the wardrobe and opened it.
It was filled with all sorts of little dresses, all of them... women's clothes that Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong had ordered prepared for him.
Qian Mo's face instantly darkened.
What kind of twisted hobby did those people have?!
He quickly rummaged through them, trying to find something normal.
Fortunately, he found a relatively simple dress in the farthest corner.
It was a crimson flowing-cloud dress embroidered with auspicious cloud patterns in gold thread. It looked both elegant and playful.
[Crimson Cloud Skirt] [Quality: Soul Tool (Fine)] [Effect: Self-cleaning, temperature regulation, slightly increases Soul Power recovery speed.]
Qian Mo: "..."
Even clothes were Soul Tools. Spirit Hall really was rich.
He took out the dress and tossed it to Zhu Zhuqing.
"Wear this after you finish washing."
Then he pointed at the nearby maids. "You lot, help her wash up."
"Yes, Your Highness." The maids bowed in acknowledgment.
Qian Mo turned to leave. The maids could handle the rest.
But after taking only two steps, someone lightly tugged at the hem of his clothes.
When he turned around, Zhu Zhuqing was looking at him pitifully, her large eyes full of unease and dependence.
She was not used to strangers touching her.
Qian Mo sighed inwardly.
Fine. Since he had decided to be a good person, he might as well see it through.
"You can all leave." He waved at the maids.
"Yes." The maids withdrew.
Only he and Zhu Zhuqing remained in the bathroom.
Qian Mo moved a small stool over and sat by the bath. He picked up a clean towel and dampened it with warm water.
"Come here. Hold your face out."
Zhu Zhuqing hesitated for a moment before obediently moving closer.
Holding the towel, Qian Mo began wiping her face.
His movements were gentle. Bit by bit, he wiped away the dust and tear stains from her face.
Zhu Zhuqing did not move at all, allowing him to do as he pleased.
She could smell a pleasant scent coming from him, like sunshine.
Her heart beat rapidly, and her little face began to grow hot.
No one... no one had ever treated her this well before.
Soon, a clean and delicate little face was revealed.
Her skin was fair, her Facial Features exquisite, and especially those upturned Cat Pupils, which carried a natural allure.
Though she still had a little baby fat, it was already clear that she would grow into a great beauty.
"All right, take off your clothes and get in to wash yourself." Qian Mo tossed aside the towel.
Zhu Zhuqing's face turned red in an instant, as red as a ripe apple.
She looked at Qian Mo, then at the bath, clutching the hem of her clothes in her small hands without moving for a long time.
Qian Mo: "..."
He suddenly realized something.
Wocao, I forgot I'm a guy now too.
Even though he was only six, boys and girls still needed to keep their distance!
He coughed awkwardly and turned around.
"Um... I've turned around. Hurry up and wash."
Behind him came the rustling sounds of clothes being removed, followed by a splash as she entered the water.
With his back to the bath, Qian Mo felt like he could barely show his face.
What am I even doing?! I'm an uncle with the mental age of several decades, helping a little girl... This scene is way too criminal!
It was all because of that damned Auspicious Physique, making him inexplicably want to treat this little kitty well.
After quite a while, Zhu Zhuqing's timid voice came from behind him.
"I... I'm done washing."
Qian Mo let out a sigh of relief and turned around.
Zhu Zhuqing had already put on the [Crimson Cloud Skirt] and was standing there awkwardly.
After getting cleaned up, she looked like an entirely different person.
Her long black hair hung wet over her shoulders, making her little face appear even fairer. The crimson dress looked like the rosy evening clouds upon her, so beautiful that it was impossible to look away.
Qian Mo looked at the doll-like little girl before him and nodded in satisfaction.
Not bad. The little kitty he had picked up looked quite pretty after being washed.
He walked over and naturally took her hand.
"Come on. From now on, you're my cat."
"I... am your cat?" Zhu Zhuqing lifted her little face and looked at him in confusion.
"Of course." Qian Mo spoke as though it were only natural. "I picked you up, so you're mine. Got a problem with that?"
Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment, then seriously shook her head.
"No problem."
Although she did not know why she had become a cat, as long as she could stay by this person's side, it was fine no matter what she became.
Qian Mo took her small hand and led her out of the bathroom.
He had decided that from now on, this little kitty would be under his protection.
Whoever dared bully her would first have to ask whether Chrysanthemum Guan and Old Ghost behind him agreed!
Then they would have to ask whether his damned, utterly unreasonable luck agreed!
Before you continue