Meng Ping's heart skipped a beat. Martial Uncle Mingxiao was famously cold and unfeeling, with no tolerance for even a grain of sand in his eyes. He must have disliked Song Zhizhi sleeping here.
What should he do? Would Martial Uncle Mingxiao form a bad impression of Song Zhizhi? Should he wake her up?
Just as Meng Ping moved, Sword Venerable Mingxiao raised a hand to stop him.
"Let her sleep."
He looked at Song Zhizhi's sleeping face, thought for a moment, then took a light, soft Cloud Quilt from his storage pouch and covered her with it.
Song Zhizhi instinctively tugged at the quilt, curling herself into a silkworm cocoon. Her little face rubbed against the soft Cloud Quilt, and she slept even more deeply.
Sword Venerable Mingxiao's gaze unconsciously softened, and a nearly imperceptible smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
Beside him, Meng Ping lowered his head, wearing an expression of utter disbelief. What the hell? Martial Uncle Mingxiao could actually smile so gently?
When Song Zhizhi woke again, daylight was already blazing. She groggily opened her eyes, raised a hand to shield herself from the overly brilliant sunlight above, then burrowed into the soft bedding, reluctant to get up.
Hm? Wait a minute, why was there a quilt over her? She remembered not taking out her bedding last night.
Song Zhizhi sprang upright and lowered her head to stare blankly at the quilt covering her.
This quilt was not hers. It felt smooth and soft to the touch; the pure cotton bedding Song Zhizhi had brought was utterly outclassed by it. It was even more comfortable than the silk four-piece bedding set she had slept on in her previous life.
The quilt seemed to carry a faint, elusive cold fragrance of ice and snow.
Song Zhizhi was a little dazed. Who had covered her with it?
"You're awake?" Song Miaomiao spoke from behind her. She could not help glancing at Song Zhizhi. The few foolish hairs sticking straight up from her sleep, paired with her bewildered just-awakened expression, made her unexpectedly adorable.
Song Zhizhi jumped in fright and turned around. Song Miaomiao was seated not far behind her, looking at her with an expression too complicated for words. For no reason, Song Zhizhi thought of her homeroom teacher from her previous life, wearing that look of frustration at a student who had been caught daydreaming in class.
Could Song Miaomiao have covered her with the quilt? The fragrance in the carriage did smell rather like Song Miaomiao's Ice Spirit Root—cool and clear, yet carrying a comfortable sense of safety.
"Thank you for the quilt," Song Zhizhi said sincerely.
Song Miaomiao frowned, her face full of bafflement. "What are you talking about? What quilt?"
Song Zhizhi: Hm?
"This quilt on me—wasn't it you who covered me with it?"
Song Miaomiao glanced at the Cloud Quilt in Song Zhizhi's hands. She knew good goods better than Song Zhizhi did. "The satin surface of your Cloud Quilt is woven from Merfolk Silk. It is impervious to water and fire, unafraid of cold or heat. That Merfolk Silk alone is worth over ten thousand high-grade Spirit Stones. I can't afford it."
Song Miaomiao had not seen clearly who had covered Song Zhizhi with the quilt, but she disdained claiming credit that was not hers.
Song Zhizhi froze. It was not Song Miaomiao? Then who could it have been?
She could not help recalling that familiar cold fragrance she had smelled while half asleep.
She shook her head. What am I thinking? Xie Xiuji is from the Heavenly Feather Sect. How could he possibly be in the Sword Sect?
Author's note:
The male lead's mouth said no, but his body was honest. Hehe.
She's Pregnant
Song Zhizhi instinctively ruled out the right answer. After putting away the Cloud Quilt, she planned to find out whose it was and return it to its rightful owner someday.
Not long after, the Heart-Trial Stone test officially ended. Seven people had earned the qualifications to enter the inner sect. Song Zhizhi had already seen most of their names in the book, though this was her first time seeing the real people.
The elder presiding over this selection glanced at the list and read aloud, "In this selection assembly, those who successfully passed the Heart-Trial Stone test and earned the qualifications to enter the inner sect are: Song Miaomiao, Song Zhizhi, Feng Yulong, Fang Zheng, Kong Xing, Zhong Jing, and Pei Yuqing."
"All remaining disciples shall be assigned to the outer sect."
Song Zhizhi was not surprised upon hearing the list, because aside from herself, the others' names were the same as in the original novel.
The plot had not changed. What she did could only alter the small matters around her; anything more was beyond her power.
Liu Changfei walked toward Song Zhizhi with reddened eyes. Song Zhizhi assumed she was upset about failing to enter the inner sect and was about to offer some comfort when Liu Changfei suddenly wrapped her in a hug and said excitedly, "Zhizhi, you really are my lucky star!"
Song Zhizhi: ?
Looking again at Liu Changfei's expression, where was the loss or sorrow? Her eyes were red only because she was too excited.
Holding Song Zhizhi, Liu Changfei said, "Luckily, you woke me up back then. Otherwise, if I had gone back with Zhang Xing at the time, I might not have been able to enter the Sword Sect."
"Now I'm a Sword Sect disciple. Once I complete my studies, I can support my Household..."
Liu Changfei chattered on and on, and Song Zhizhi pieced together the Liu Household's situation in Medicine King City from her scattered words.
Though the Liu Household had produced a city lord, their entire family consisted of alchemists and lacked the ability to protect themselves. Ten years ago, the Liu Household's sole Spirit Transformation Stage ancestor passed away. Without the protection of a Spirit Transformation Stage powerhouse, they became the target of several forces and were on the verge of being eaten away bit by bit. At the critical moment, the Zhang Household proposed a marriage alliance. The Zhang Household still had a living Spirit Transformation ancestor, and the alliance between the two families intimidated those who had been ready to make a move.
But the Zhang Household's motives were not pure either. Over the years, they had been gradually eating away at the Liu Household—using the Liu Household's people and money, while coveting the Liu Household's pill formulas. They were no different from those others.
Liu Changfei had entered the Sword Sect. Though she was merely an Outer Sect Disciple with ordinary Triple Spirit Roots, there was no telling whether she might find a powerful patron in the Sword Sect. Those coveting the Liu Household would have more concerns before making a move.
Song Zhizhi stroked Liu Changfei's head, her lips curving slightly. In truth, it was not as though nothing had changed. Before this, she had changed the latter half of a girl's life. That was enough.
"Still, that hateful Feng Yulong also entered the inner sect. He originally had Water-Earth Dual Spiritual Roots, but a while ago I heard that his family spent a huge sum to buy him a Spirit-Washing Pill and washed his Spiritual Roots into a Single Spirit Root. He's incredibly petty, so you need to be careful around him."
Song Zhizhi nodded. Liu Changfei was rather talkative, but she was not annoying.