Bai Shengyi always felt that the woman in front of her was very familiar, but for a moment she couldn't recall where she had seen her.
It wasn't until her gaze fell on the woman's wild tiger-skin dress that a scene flashed in her mind: a pond halfway up the mountain, silver fish, a big beauty with golden cat eyes and tiger stripes…
"It's you!"
"Don't misunderstand!"
Bai Shengyi and Chuan Ming spoke at the same time.
Chuan Ming, standing at the door, was so embarrassed her toes felt like they were digging into the ground. What kind of bad luck was this, that the first time she, in thirty years, had entered Qin Si's place alone, she was caught by Qin Si's little girlfriend?
What if she was misunderstood?
Wouldn't that damn owner go crazy?
The more Chuan Ming thought about it, the more she felt she couldn't just stand there. She recalled her previous interactions with Bai Shengyi and how the latter seemed to like her beast form, and instantly had an idea.
So, amidst the awkward silence, Bai Shengyi blinked, and the beautiful woman from before vanished, replaced by a familiar big cat!
"Huh?"
Bai Shengyi was shocked!
What just happened? Why did the beauty turn into a ferocious beast?
"Little girl, don't misunderstand. I am a dog... Qin Si's contracted partner. Let's reintroduce ourselves. My name is Chuan Ming, and I am also Chui Yu's mother. I haven't thanked you enough for saving Chui Yu half a year ago. Chui Yu and I have always wanted to invite you to the Xuanjing Tiger tribe's territory as a guest."
Chuan Ming flicked her tail, her tiger head slightly tilted, her tiger eyes gazing at Bai Shengyi meekly.
She thought proudly: I'm so smart!
What I just said not only showed my goodwill and identity but also subtly told the little girl that I already have a partner. And by bringing up that brat Chui Yu, I've gotten closer. Oh my, I'm too clever. The damn owner isn't here right now, I wonder if I can take this opportunity to ask the little girl to help me groom my fur…
To be honest, Chuan Ming quite missed Bai Shengyi's grooming skills.
Bai Shengyi was still caught in the midst of these ups and downs. She didn't know whether to be shocked that there were demonic beasts capable of shapeshifting in the Divine启 Continent, or to be shocked by Chuan Ming's identity.
After a while, Bai Shengyi said blankly, "You are Xiao Yu'er's mother?"
"Yes."
"The world is really small," Bai Shengyi said subconsciously. The Xuanjing Tigers had appeared so many times before, always in their original form, so she had never realized that they were capable of shapeshifting.
"Um, Chuan Ming... Senior, I didn't know you were a demonic beast before, and I may have been a bit presumptuous. Please don't mind." So forget about stroking tiger heads and smoothing fur.
A tiger capable of shapeshifting, Bai Shengyi knew without even thinking that they were at least a hundred years old. If they had a bad temper, those actions would be considered disrespectful.
"Old... No, I don't mind. Just call me Chuan Ming, don't be so formal." Chuan Ming's ears twitched.
Bai Shengyi's heart skipped a beat.
Help! She should have brought the crescent moon cat with her. These little ears, these round cat eyes, this glossy, sleek fur…
This is killing me!
"Master, you already have a cat, how can you be mesmerized by a tiger! Don't forget about the important business!" The Reincarnation Brush couldn't stand its master's obsession with fur, and kept reminding Bai Shengyi in her sea of consciousness.
"Ah, uh… that, Chuan Ming, is Qin Si here?"
Chuan Ming was puzzled. Bai Shengyi's gaze towards her was clearly filled with affection, so why wasn't she making a move!
Not getting what she wanted, she became restless. She flicked her tail, stood up, and said, "He's not here. You can go inside and wait for him. I... I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."
As Chuan Ming finished speaking, she instantly disappeared.
Bai Shengyi only sensed an unusual ripple in the air.
"It's spatial fluctuation. The Xuanjing Tiger clan has a great talent for manipulating space," the Reincarnation Brush said.
Bai Shengyi thought of Xiao Yu'er, "Is it because they have their innate cave dwellings?"
"You could say that." The Reincarnation Brush asked, "Master, what are you going to do?"
"What do you mean, what to do? Of course, I'll wait here for Qin Si to explain to me."
Bai Shengyi wasn't stupid. She could tell that Chuan Ming was desperately trying to avoid her misunderstanding, and that her relationship with Qin Si was indeed purely platonic. Therefore, her previous discomfort about this matter had already dissipated.
However, she wanted to hear Qin Si explain why he had been avoiding her for the past two days.
As Bai Shengyi thought, wood spiritual power surged from her hands, and in a short while, she constructed a vine-made rocking chair inside the cave and lay down on it.
On the other side, Chuan Ming was also frantically contacting Qin Si through their contract.
"Master, master… Qin Si, Qin Si! Damn it! You damn master, why did you block the contract connection again at a crucial moment? So unreliable! Since you're courting death yourself, don't blame me for not warning you…" Chuan Ming grumbled.
At this moment, Qin Si, who was being talked about by the two, arrived alone at the very end of the vast, boundless platform on the peak of Qianxiao Peak, which was the sheer cliff on the back.
Here, the wind was as sharp as a knife, and every gust could carve a cut on a person's face.
Even though Bai Shengyi was already in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, she wouldn't dare to casually approach this area, but Qin Si walked as if he were in an ordinary place, casual and simple. Only when a figure appeared in front of him did his expression change.
"Martial Uncle Qinglan." Qin Si looked up, his phoenix eyes deep.
Qinglan was still as ethereal as clouds and mist, his clear gaze seeming to see through everything. He said softly, "Qin Si, are you looking for me regarding Shengyi's apprenticeship?"
"Yes." Qin Si asked, "According to what Martial Uncle said before, I chose A'yi. Is Martial Uncle dissatisfied with A'yi, or was Martial Uncle's divination wrong?"
Qin Si had not told anyone that taking disciples for Venerable Qinglan in the great hall was not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
It was before Venerable Qinglan went into seclusion that he performed a divination for himself and found that his destined closed-door disciple was Qin Si. Afterward, Venerable Qinglan calculated the timing and instructed Qin Si to select a disciple for him from the current batch of examinees.
Even Qian Ying did not know about this.
It was said that the Xun family's divination techniques were unparalleled in the world, but few knew that Venerable Qinglan, the foremost of the Three Venerables, was also a master of calculation, precise and proficient.
Qin Si did not worry that Venerable Qinglan's divination was wrong. Instead, he was using it to estimate the recovery of Venerable Qinglan's cultivation.
Venerable Song Sheng had been in seclusion for many years, and had clearly resolved the problems of the past, even advancing his cultivation further. Now, his master, Venerable Qingyun, was still unknown whether he was alive or dead. If Venerable Qinglan could not suppress Venerable Song Sheng, it might even affect the current Divine启 Grand Gathering…
"Neither. It's because it's not suitable."
Venerable Qinglan's voice was as clear as water, gentle and pure. He looked at the frowning young man before him, and a ripple appeared on his calm face, making him frown imperceptibly.
"Qin Si, do you... like Shengyi?"
Qin Si didn't notice that Qinglan's hand behind his back moved uncomfortably.
He thought this was just the concern of Venerable Qinglan as an elder and said without any reservation, "Yes, I like her very much. She will be my Dao companion."
Qinglan subconsciously said, "But she..."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Qinglan realized the time was not right and fell silent for a moment.
As a vinegar jar, and a seasoned one at that, Qin Si keenly sensed that something was amiss.
"Martial Uncle, did you know A'yi before?"
His address to Bai Shengyi suddenly became the extremely intimate "A'yi," and the words "Martial Uncle" were emphasized with his voice.