That thought was—
"Good child."
Su Wanwan's tears finally fell, sliding silently down her cheeks and dripping onto the cushion beneath her. They spread into a small dark stain on the fabric.
She did not open her eyes. She did not stop cultivating, nor did she even slow her breathing.
She simply wept for a while, then continued guiding Moon Qi, continued cultivating, continued overflowing, continued filling the seal that an ancient Fox had left behind many years ago at the cost of her life.
Her tears had dried up, but Moon Qi was still pouring in.
Her eyes remained closed, yet the corners of her lips slowly curved upward.
Outside the light circle, Chu Yang and Sun Wukong took turns. When Chu Yang tired, he fell back and Sun Wukong took over; when Sun Wukong grew bored, he withdrew and Chu Yang stepped back in. Neither spoke, but their coordination was flawless, like old partners who had worked together for years.
The three Mist Wolves were scattered again and again, reborn, scattered again, and reborn again. No one knew how many rounds they had gone through, but each rebirth took longer than the last. It was not because Chu Yang and Sun Wukong had become stronger—though the nourishment of Moon Qi had indeed left them in better and better condition—but because Su Wanwan was cultivating.
As she cultivated, the seal strengthened.
For every fraction the seal strengthened, the Wolf Clan could seep through that much less power.
One rose as the other fell.
Bai Xi's voice finally came from the Void. "Time's up. Come out."
The sound of the stone door reopening came from above, like a heavy sigh.
Su Wanwan opened her eyes and discovered that her vision had changed. It was not that she could see farther,