Within half the time it took to drink a cup of tea, a flurry of footsteps sounded outside the Council Chamber, drawing steadily closer.
Guang Ling entered first, followed by the two Enshrinements, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo. The Ice Empress, who had only recently awakened, came close behind. Dressed in an ice-blue gown, she had shed some of her initial cold arrogance and gained a measure of composure.
Next, Qian Meimei stepped softly inside with the sleeping Qian Renxue in her arms. The little girl's face was buried against her chest, a faint smile still lingering on her lips, her tiny fist clutching a lock of Qian Meimei's hair. Clearly, she had played to her heart's content on the mountaintop and was now sleeping soundly.
The last to enter were Yue Guan, Dugu Bo, and Lou Gao. Yue Guan wore his usual flamboyant pink robe, toying with a chrysanthemum formed from soul power. Dugu Bo was much as always, dressed in a dark green robe with a green Soul Tool containing poisonous herbs hanging at his waist, a languid look on his face. Fine beads of sweat still dotted Lou Gao's forehead. He had clearly rushed straight over from the forging furnaces at the Soul Tool Institute without even having time to tidy himself up.
"Big Brother!"
"Great Enshrined!"
Guang Ling, Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, and the Ice Empress saluted in unison, their voices respectful.
Carrying Qian Renxue, Qian Meimei tiptoed over to the resting area at the side of the Council Chamber, where Xiao Wu's Mother was already waiting with the equally sound-asleep Xiao Wu in her arms. The two exquisitely delicate babies lay side by side on a soft cushion, breathing evenly, looking especially adorable.
Qian Meimei could not help lowering her voice to tell Xiao Wu's