Fang Mo, Come Up Too

Fang Mo opened his eyes and looked at Qian Renxue.

"She agreed."

Qian Renxue abruptly lifted her head, and her brilliant golden eyes lit up at once.

"Really?"

"Really."

Qian Renxue's lips curved upward. It was a pure smile, one that came from the bottom of her heart.

She quickly rose to her feet, but seemingly recalling something, she stopped where she was.

"Um... Little Brother Fang Mo."

"Mm?"

"You wouldn't mind, would you?" Qian Renxue's ears reddened again. "I mean... you'll sleep with us too."

Fang Mo hesitated.

His first instinct was to refuse.

"If Sister Xue'er changes her mind, I can sleep on the floor."

"No."

Qian Renxue's tone suddenly became firm.

"The floor is too cold. You're only six, and you've only just recovered. You mustn't catch a chill."

Qian Renxue spoke with complete conviction, as though she had entirely forgotten that she was only three years older than Fang Mo.

"And besides..."

Qian Renxue lowered her voice.

"This bed is big enough."

Fang Mo opened his mouth, only to find that he had no reason to argue.

He turned and glanced at the bed.

It really was large.

The bed had been furnished to the highest standard. Let alone three children, even five adults could lie on it comfortably.

"Alright."

Fang Mo finally nodded.

Qian Renxue's lips curved up, but she quickly suppressed the smile and resumed her reserved expression.

"Then I'll go back and wash up first. I'll sneak over later."

Qian Renxue hurried toward the door, her steps far lighter than when she had arrived.

When she reached the door, she suddenly stopped and looked back at Fang Mo.

"Little Brother Fang Mo."

"Mm?"

"Thank you."

Then she pulled open the door and quietly disappeared into the corridor.

Fang Mo watched her departing figure and let out a soft sigh.

Within the Spirit Sea, Dong'er's voice drifted out, carrying a trace of exhaustion.

"She left?"

"Mm."

"..."

Silence.

Another long silence.

After waiting for a while, Fang Mo could not help asking.

"What exactly did you and Teacher talk about?"

Dong'er's voice suddenly turned dangerous.

"None of your business."

Fang Mo raised an eyebrow.

"I'm both your disciple and your host. How is it none of my business?"

"Some things can only be said between women."

Dong'er's tone was cold.

"...Fine."

Fang Mo did not press further.

Judging by Dong'er's reaction, the contents of that conversation were probably even more mysterious than he had imagined.

At three quarters past the Hour of the Boar.

A knock sounded right on time.

Fang Mo opened the door. Qian Renxue stood outside, already changed into plain sleepwear. Her golden hair draped over her shoulders, tied with a simple silk ribbon.

Her cheeks were faintly flushed, though it was unclear whether it was from the hot bath or nervousness over what was about to happen.

"Come in."

Qian Renxue entered the room, swept her gaze around it, then settled on the large bed.

Her breathing hitched for a moment.

"Ready?"

Fang Mo asked.

Qian Renxue nodded forcefully.

Then Fang Mo closed his eyes and sank his spiritual power into the Spirit Sea.

In the darkness, Dong'er's phantom was already prepared.

Her soul body was more solid than before. Her features were clear, her long hair cascaded like a waterfall, and there was a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

"You can come out now."

Fang Mo said in his mind.

"Cut the nonsense."

Dong'er sounded somewhat impatient. Fang Mo could sense that her emotions were highly unstable.

"You're nervous?"

"Shut up."

The corner of Fang Mo's lips lifted, and then he slowly opened his eyes.

He slowly raised his right hand. Dark purple Soul Power surged from his palm, gradually gathering before Qian Renxue.

Darkness spread through the room like a flower in bloom.

A humanoid outline emerged from the darkness.

Her figure was tall and slender, her curves exquisite and full, her bearing utterly captivating, her long hair cascading to her waist like a waterfall.

Her features were no longer blurred.

A high nose bridge, thin lips, a sharp jawline—every detail was clearly visible.

Dark red eyes slowly opened.

The instant those eyes looked upon Qian Renxue, their coldness and pride melted away.

In their place was a tenderness suppressed for far too long, one that seemed almost ready to overflow.

Qian Renxue's eyes instantly reddened.

But she did not cry.

This was not the first time she had seen her mother.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, forcibly holding back the tears.

"Mother."

Dong'er's phantom trembled slightly.

"Xue'er."

The two words were hoarse and weak, yet they carried the warmth Qian Renxue had waited nine years for.

Qian Renxue took a deep breath, then quickly walked to the bed, lifted the blanket, and sat down.

She patted the spot beside her.

"Mother, come."

Spirit Dong'er slowly walked to the bedside.

Her body was still half-transparent and gave off a faint dark glow, but she could now touch physical objects.

The miraculous effects of the Azure Soul-Condensing Orchid had given her soul body a sense of touch.

Watching the phantom drift down beside her, Qian Renxue stretched out her hand and tentatively touched Dong'er's arm.

A chilly sensation reached her fingertips.

It was not an illusion.

It was real.

Qian Renxue's tears finally fell.

She did not wipe them away.

"Little Brother Fang Mo." Qian Renxue turned her head, her eyes blurred by tears as she looked at Fang Mo standing to the side. "Come over too."

Fang Mo hesitated.

"I..."

"Get up here."

Qian Renxue's tone allowed no argument. It was so forceful that Fang Mo was momentarily dazed.

"Your bed is big enough. You sleep on the outside, I'll sleep in the middle, and Mother will sleep on the inside."

Fang Mo glanced at Dong'er.

Dong'er's dark red eyes narrowed slightly, the emotions in them exceedingly complicated.

Nervousness, awkwardness, helplessness, and an extremely well-hidden... concession.

"Since Xue'er has asked you to come up, then come up with us."

Dong'er's tone returned to its usual coldness. She shifted slightly inward, leaving room for Fang Mo.

Fang Mo took a deep breath, then removed his outer robe. Wearing only a thin inner garment, he lay down on the outer side of the bed.

Qian Renxue lay in the middle.

To her left was Spirit Dong'er: a half-transparent soul body, emitting a faint dark glow, cold yet real.

To her right was Fang Mo: warm, alive, a living person with body heat.

Two entirely different temperatures enveloped her at the same time in that moment.

Qian Renxue's body trembled slightly.

Not because she was cold.

But because she had yearned for this moment too deeply.

She slowly closed her eyes and curled up, like a kitten that had finally found its nest.

"Mother."

"Mm?"

Qian Renxue spoke softly, her voice carrying a cautious note of probing.

"Could you... put your hand on me?"

Dong'er fell silent for a moment.

Then a half-transparent arm slowly came to rest over Qian Renxue's shoulder.

Cold, tangible, real—the sensation of her mother's hand gently patting her.

Qian Renxue's body suddenly shuddered.

Then she reached out and gently held the hand Dong'er had placed on her shoulder.

Their fingers intertwined softly.

Qian Renxue did not dare exert any force, afraid her fingers would pass through the surface of the soul body.

This was already wonderful enough. The sensation remained, as if she were holding a piece of smooth, cool jade.

Qian Renxue extended her other hand and gently grasped Fang Mo's wrist.

Fang Mo did not move.

He could feel Qian Renxue's fingers trembling slightly.

The room was so quiet that only the breathing of the three of them remained.

Qian Renxue lay in the middle, holding Dong'er's hand with her left and grasping Fang Mo with her right.

She said nothing.

But her tears kept flowing.

Silently, slowly, slipping from the corners of her eyes and soaking the pillow.