This Slumber May Be a Lifetime

The noon of the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

In the courtyard of Shiqiao Village, a pair of sisters were eating.

Perhaps because Xiao Mo had left, leaving only the two sisters, the dining table felt a bit desolate.

Normally, Bai Ruxue would often think of different recipes, considering that Xiao Mo's studies were tiring.

But after Xiao Mo left, the sisters' meals became simpler, usually just one meat and one vegetable dish.

"Sister, I'll wash the dishes," Xiao Qing said to her sister after finishing lunch.

"It's okay, I'll do it. I don't have anything else to do anyway," Bai Ruxue smiled and shook her head, carrying her rice bowl into the kitchen.

But after a moment, the sound of a rice bowl shattering came from the kitchen.

Xiao Qing quickly went inside.

In the kitchen, the clay bowl was broken all over the floor, and her sister was leaning against the counter, looking as if she could collapse at any moment.

"Sister, are you alright?" Xiao Qing supported her sister, her eyes full of worry.

"I'm fine," Bai Ruxue shook her head.

"Sister, you don't look fine at all," Xiao Qing sighed. "I'll handle this, you go sit down first."

Bai Ruxue wanted to clean up the broken clay bowl herself, but Xiao Qing pulled her out and made her sit in the courtyard.

After Xiao Qing finished cleaning and came out of the kitchen, she saw her sister sitting in the courtyard, staring at the path leading to the yard.

For some time now, whenever she had free time, her sister would sit on the stone bench in the courtyard and gaze into the distance, just like last time.

But the difference was that last time, Brother Xiao had only been gone for two or three days.

This time, Brother Xiao wouldn't be back until at least April.

Xiao Qing watched her sister's head nod, her eyelids half-closed, as if she would fall asleep at any moment.

But whenever her sister was about to fall asleep, she would suddenly wake up, shake her head, and continue to look at the path.

Xiao Qing walked to her sister's side, squatted down, and held her sister's small hand. "Sister, go get some sleep. By the time Brother Xiao returns, it will be spring, and you'll be awake then."

Bai Ruxue smiled and said, "Xiao Qing, I want to wait a little longer. Besides, I feel like this hibernation might be different."

"How is it different?" Xiao Qing asked curiously.

Bai Ruxue shook her head. "I'm not sure either. I just feel like this hibernation will be very, very long. I don't know when I'll wake up."

"Oh, Sister, you're overthinking it. When do we Yao hibernate until? At the latest, we'll wake up in May," Xiao Qing tried to persuade her.

But Bai Ruxue just smiled gently. "It's okay. I can endure not sleeping for one winter. But Xiao Qing, you should hibernate. You've been feeling very sleepy lately too."

"But Sister isn't sleeping..."

"I'm waiting for him to come back."

"Sister!" Xiao Qing was speechless.

In the following days, Bai Ruxue would sit in the courtyard after finishing her chores each day.

Xiao Qing also noticed that her sister was getting more and more sleepy.

But her sister just wouldn't hibernate.

Even by the tenth day, her sister, fearing she would hibernate if she fell asleep, stayed up all night.

Since Bai Ruxue wouldn't sleep, Xiao Qing couldn't rest easy and forced herself to stay awake.

One day, while Bai Ruxue was washing clothes.

A woman in a Daoist robe arrived outside the courtyard.

"Who are you looking for, Daoist Priest?" Xiao Qing asked, looking at the female Daoist warily, worried that her and her sister's identities would be exposed and the woman was here to hunt Yao.

Fu Chen smiled and said, "Miss, there's no need to be so nervous. I know Miss Bai and Young Master Xiao. I'm here to see her about something. Is Miss Bai here? Also, it's already deep winter, haven't you hibernated yet, Miss?"

"!"

As Fu Chen's words fell, Xiao Qing's heart leaped. Her eyes instantly turned into vertical green pupils, and she was about to strike first!

Fu Chen's fingertip merely probed gently, and a stream of spiritual energy shot into Xiao Qing's forehead.

In an instant, Xiao Qing felt unable to move.

"What do you want?" Fear arose in Xiao Qing's heart, but she didn't back down at all.

"This humble Daoist comes from the Tian Xuan Sect, my name is Fu Chen. I have no ill intentions in coming here. I visited once before, wanting to take Miss Bai as my disciple, but Miss Bai refused that time. I knew the affinity wasn't right, so I didn't force it. If you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Bai yourself when she returns."

With that, Fu Chen flicked her slender jade finger again, and another bright light shot into Xiao Qing's forehead.

Xiao Qing's immobilization spell was broken.

Looking at the female Daoist in front of her, although Xiao Qing's eyes still held wariness, she felt that the other party likely had no ill intentions. Otherwise, with the other party's cultivation level, she could do anything to her and her sister without needing so many words.

"What do you need my sister for?" Xiao Qing asked.

"Some days ago, I had a sudden inspiration and happened to divine that Miss Bai's cultivation has reached the point where she needs to enter seclusion to transform into a boa. After exiting seclusion, Miss Bai can directly enter the water and become a flood dragon.

However, Miss Bai's vital fire is strange, and she seems reluctant to hibernate. This time, I came to ask the reason. Is there anything troubling Miss Bai?"

The Whisk asked.

Xiao Qing glanced at the female Daoist priest, biting her thin lips lightly. "Brother Xiao has gone to the capital. He won't be back until after the Metropolitan Examination and the Palace Examination. My sister is waiting for him and says if she hibernates, she might not wake up, so she's been reluctant to hibernate."

"So that's how it is," the Whisk nodded. "This must be Miss Bai's tribulation."

"Daoist Priest, what did you mean by tribulation just now?" Xiao Qing asked worriedly.

How could her own sister have a tribulation?

The Whisk explained, "When the snake race reaches a certain realm, they transform from pythons into boas. They will undergo a metamorphosis, becoming larger and tougher. This is preparation for becoming a flood dragon. The entire process takes several years.

If your sister doesn't hibernate, she won't be able to shed her skin and transform into a boa. And your sister's current body cannot withstand the gradually reverting ancestral bloodline within her, nor can it withstand her current realm.

So, if your sister doesn't hibernate soon, it will not only ruin the foundation of her Great Dao but could even put her life in danger."

Listening to the other's words, Xiao Qing angrily retorted, "You female Daoist priest are talking nonsense!"

The Whisk wasn't angered. "This humble Daoist is not speaking nonsense. May I ask if Miss Bai's complexion has been worsening recently, becoming as pale as thin paper?"

Recalling her sister's recent appearance, Xiao Qing's mouth parted slightly, her eyes trembling. She lowered her head, murmuring as if to herself, "What... what can be done about this?"

"It is fate, it is destiny."

The Whisk sighed and took out a pill.

"If Miss Xiao Qing trusts me, have your sister take this pill, and she will fall asleep and transform into a boa."

"However, Miss Xiao Qing, you must be aware of your sister's obsession."

"Because this sleep might be for a lifetime."

"Your sister may never wait for him to return."