TSFLIP Chapter 371

“Alright, alright. So, you’re bringing me medicine because you don’t want to owe me a favor,” Feng Guang responded, following the young girl’s reasoning. “But it’s already so late. Are you going to struggle back down the mountain? What if a mischievous monkey jumps out at you along the way?”

“I…” Xiaoxiao pursed her lips, and the starlight in her eyes flickered with unease.

She wasn’t afraid of the dark, nor of this wild forest—so why was she suddenly scared of monkeys?

Feng Guang pretended to think deeply, looking troubled. “How about… you stay here for the night?”

“Can I!?” Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up with excitement, but then she quickly tried to suppress it, forcing down her enthusiasm—though the bright sparkle in her gaze still betrayed her.

“There are plenty of empty rooms on Haomiao Peak. But honestly, it’s late, and I don’t feel like preparing one. If you don’t mind, you can sleep with me.”

Xiaoxiao crossed her arms and lifted her little face. “Well, since you’re at least somewhat good-looking, I suppose I’ll be merciful enough to agree.”

“What an honor for me,” Feng Guang said with a chuckle, standing up. “But… can you still walk? My arm is injured, so I can’t carry you.”

Xiaoxiao glanced down at her now-dirty white shoes, then looked back up at Feng Guang with determination. “Of course, I can walk on my own! I don’t need you to carry me.”

“Good girl.” Feng Guang bent down slightly and smiled. “Once I’ve healed, I’ll carry you properly next time.”

Xiaoxiao’s face lit up with delight for a moment, but she quickly masked it with a cool response. “I’m not looking forward to it.”

Feng Guang let out a soft laugh and extended a hand. “Come on, I’ll take you to where I live.”

Xiaoxiao stared at that fair hand for a long moment before she finally reached out and took it.

As she looked up at Feng Guang’s profile, a memory surfaced—her father had once told her that her mother was a warm person.

But in the place where she grew up, aside from herself, no one else had warmth.

Yet, as this woman held her hand, Xiaoxiao felt something new—something comforting.

Was this… the warmth her father had spoken of?

Unconsciously, she tightened her grip on Feng Guang’s hand.

—

Atop Haomiao Peak stood a bamboo house, a structure that had been there for centuries. No one knew which disciple of Xuan Sect had built it, but it had proven useful for generations to come.

While Xiaoxiao was still busy curiously taking in her surroundings, Feng Guang pulled out some old clothes from her childhood. She had Xiaoxiao step onto the bed after taking off her shoes and personally helped her change into a clean outfit—a fiery red dress.

The moment Xiaoxiao put it on, the vibrant color made her delicate, snow-white face look even more bright and full of life.

“Not bad! I knew you’d look great in red.”

Xiaoxiao anxiously tugged at the ribbon on her dress. “It’s… red.”

“Yep! You don’t like red?” Feng Guang asked. She had loved wearing red as a child, but since it didn’t match the cool and distant persona she had to maintain in the sect, she eventually switched to white like everyone else.

“It’s not that I don’t like it…” Xiaoxiao bit her lip, hesitation in her voice. “It’s just… my father doesn’t let me wear red.”

“Why not? You look amazing in it.”

“I don’t know… One time, an uncle gave me a red dress, and when I wore it, my father’s expression changed. He stopped smiling at me… and then didn’t see me for months.”

“Hmm… sounds like your dad just doesn’t like the color red.” Feng Guang gently patted her head. “But it’s fine—your dad isn’t here, so he won’t know. Besides, the only clothes I have for kids are red. I doubt you want me to trek down the mountain in the middle of the night just to buy you something else, right?”