"Gulp…"
Standing at the city gate, Qian Renjue watched Qian Renxue leave.
Only after a long struggle did he finally manage to swallow the last sticky candy.
Retracting his gaze, he looked at Bibi Dong beside him and complained, "Mom, why didn't you help me just now? I almost choked to death."
"Hmm?"
Bibi Dong turned around, looked at Qian Renjue, and gently rubbed his head, saying helplessly, "I did say something, but your sister doesn't listen to her mom."
"Is that so~"
Qian Renjue frowned, deep in thought.
"Pfft."
Bibi Dong smiled and gently poked Qian Renjue's forehead.
"Alright, there will be more opportunities to talk in the future."
"Okay."
Qian Renjue nodded slightly, bringing his tilted head back, then crouched down and picked up the Soft-Boned Rabbit, holding it in his arms.
Smiling, he said, "Mom, let's go back now."
"Do you remember what I told you before?"
Bibi Dong gently stroked Qian Renjue's face, pulling him into her arms.
"Ugh!"
A strong sense of pressure enveloped him, surrounded by fragrance and tenderness, almost suffocating Qian Renjue.
In his ears was Bibi Dong's incomparably soft voice, "Your sister has left, so from now on, you'll live with mom."
"Mom, I remember."
Qian Renjue struggled to lift his head, breathing in the fragrant, fresh air.
"Good that you remember."
Bibi Dong's face flushed slightly, but she didn't mind.
If time could start over, she would have wanted to fulfill her duties as a mother, personally raising Qian Renjue.
"My Jue is getting more and more handsome, no wonder your sister always nibbles on you and even reminded me to keep an eye on you."
Bibi Dong stroked Qian Renjue's head, then, unable to resist, lowered her head and lightly bit him.
"Ugh."
Qian Renjue, unable to struggle, could only roll his eyes helplessly.
Before he could say more, Bibi Dong pinched his cheek and scolded, "Don't give mom that kind of look."
"Got it, but mom, let go of the rabbit—it's about to stop breathing."
Qian Renjue couldn't help but laugh.
The Soft-Boned Rabbit, stuck between the two of them, had already begun stretching its legs straight.
Hearing this, Bibi Dong noticed the poor rabbit getting squished, its red eyes starting to bulge. She quickly let go of Qian Renjue, not wanting to harm the rabbit and upset him.
"Whimper~"
The Soft-Boned Rabbit stretched its body, dazed, as if oxygen-drunk.
(So big! Xiao Wu is nearly suffocated to death)
"Tsk, this rabbit sure is very livelu."
Bibi Dong chuckled and playfully pinched the rabbit's tail. Then, she took Qian Renjue's arm.
"Alright, let's go back."
"Mom's going back to the Pope's Hall. You go pack your things."
"Mm."
Qian Renjue nodded slightly, obediently following Bibi Dong out, looking back toward the city gate.
Out there, Qian Renxue had already boarded the carriage heading to the Heaven Dou Empire.
…
When he returned to his residence, Qian Renjue held the Soft-Boned Rabbit in one hand and a sugar-coated hawthorn stick in the other, feeling a bit dazed.
In the empty room, he seemed to see glimpses of Qian Renxue's smiling face.
"Why did Sis have to leave?"
Qian Renjue absentmindedly tossed the rabbit aside.
"Squeak, squeak!"
The Soft-Boned Rabbit stood up like a human, its front paws moving frantically as if asking for something.
Qian Renjue waved his hand and took out the carrots Bibi Dong had bought to make up for the rabbit.
"Yippee!"
The Soft-Boned Rabbit excitedly screeched and dove into the bag.
(So great! I almost saw my deceased mom! And now there are so many carrots!)
"Stupid rabbit."
Qian Renjue shook his head, amused. He walked over to the window, picked up a watering can, and poured the red cultivation liquid over the Blue Silver Emperor that had grown to a foot high.
By now, the Blue Silver Emperor had started getting close to Qian Renjue.
Whenever he stretched his fingers toward it, the slender leaves would curl around them, as if sucking on them.
"As expected of the Blue Silver Emperor. Even with this cultivation liquid, it wouldn't have grown this fast without its inherent potential."
Qian Renjue gently stroked it, feeling full of admiration.
"I'll have to take you with me when I leave."
Half an hour passed.
Qian Renjue finished packing his things early and lay down on the bed.
He didn't have much to pack. After all, Bibi Dong had already prepared clothes and toiletries for both him and his sister.
Lying on the bed, Qian Renjue began to examine the items he had recently obtained from the system.
First, he naturally took out the two used **Soul Absorbing Pearls**.
One was a reddish pink, containing the soul of the Soft-Boned Rabbit, its silhouette faintly visible inside.
The other was white, and inside it seemed to be a flower, its petals a mix of white and pink—possibly a begonia.
Qian Renjue couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen this flower somewhere before.
"Squeak!"
Suddenly, as Qian Renjue was inspecting the two Soul Absorbing Pearls in his hand, the Soft-Boned Rabbit popped its head out of the sack, looking anxious and squeaking sharply.
(Mom! That's mom's aura! Where? Where?!)
The Soft-Boned Rabbit abandoned the carrots, leaped out of the sack, and began frantically searching, finally locking its gaze on the bed—or rather, on Qian Renjue's hand.
"Whimper!"
The Soft-Boned Rabbit's expression turned fierce, grinding its teeth.
(Ah—stupid human!)
(Don't play with Xiao Wu's mom! Give her back to Xiao Wu!)
"Squeak!"
The rabbit let out a sharp cry, perfectly demonstrating the phrase "as swift as a leopard," as it leaped into the air, aiming for Qian Renjue's face with a back kick.
It intended to use his face as a springboard to snatch the Soul Absorbing Pearl from his hand.
However, the Soft-Boned Rabbit clearly overestimated its strength at this moment. Before it could land the kick, Qian Renjue easily grabbed it with one hand, holding it tightly.
"What's with you, stupid rabbit? Why are you causing a scene again?"
"Squeak, squeak!"
(Ah—let go of Xiao Wu! Human! Let go Xiao Wu!)
Qian Renjue pressed the rabbit onto the bed, puzzled by its continuous struggle and sharp squeals.
"Whimper!"
(Give mom back to Xiao Wu, please, I'm begging you!)
Tears began to well up in the Soft-Boned Rabbit's pink eyes as it kicked its legs, pinned under Qian Renjue's hand.
(Whimper~! Stupid human, let go of Xiao Wu, give mom back to me.)
The wet sensation in his hand made Qian Renjue pause.
The rabbit had been struggling non-stop, and its efforts were only growing stronger.
"Why is it suddenly so… hmm?"
A sudden realization dawned on Qian Renjue. He raised an eyebrow and looked at the object of the rabbit's focus—it was the Soul Absorbing Pearl in his hand.
"You want this?"
Qian Renjue raised the pearl in his hand and asked.
"Whimper!"
(Yes, yes!)
(Mom… Mom is in there! It's Xiao Wu's mom! Whimper—)
The Soft-Boned Rabbit nodded repeatedly, all four of its short legs pointing toward the pearl, even its ears twitching with urgency.
"Alright, take it."
Qian Renjue pondered for a moment before tossing the pink Soul Absorbing Pearl onto the bed and letting go of the rabbit.
"Whimper!"
The Soft-Boned Rabbit excitedly grabbed the pearl.
(Mom, mom, it's me, Xiao Wu! Sob~Xiao Wu misses you so much.)