When the first ray of morning sunlight pierced the bamboo grove and fell on Xiao Wu's Mother's shoulder, Qian Xunji withdrew the last wisp of pale golden soul power from his fingertips.
Humm-
As a faint hum rippled through the morning light, the final trace of dark blue evil energy was drawn out of Xiao Wu's Mother's body. Like icy mist meeting sunlight, it turned into flecks of stardust and dissolved completely into the air.
She slowly opened her eyes, feeling a long-absent lightness throughout her body. The icy chill that had plagued her for so long was gone, and even her soul power flowed several times more smoothly, as though her meridians had been washed clean by a clear spring.
"Thank you, Your Holiness..." Xiao Wu's Mother rose and bowed, her voice trembling with irrepressible excitement, her eyes slightly reddened-the gloom that had weighed on her heart all this time had finally scattered completely.
"All right. The evil energy is gone. You need only rest and recuperate properly from now on."
Qian Xunji withdrew his hand, the gold threads on his papal robes shimmering in the morning light.
"Have Xiao Wu accompany you on a few more walks over the next several days. It will help your recovery."
Xiao Wu poked her head out of her mother's embrace, her furry ears twitching. She hugged Qian Xunji's arm and shook it.
"Big Brother Pope, you're amazing! Mom feels warm now. She isn't cold at all!"
A faint smile touched Qian Xunji's lips, and he patted Xiao Wu's head.
"Go on. Take your mother to see Spirit Hall in the morning."
Watching the mother and daughter leave together, Qian Xunji gradually tucked away the warmth in his eyes and turned toward the Pope's Hall-more important matters still awaited him.
On