I Am Just a Spirit Pet
As everyone prepared to depart, the Sheng family held a proper farewell banquet in their honor. The table was laden with all their favorite dishes, and Sheng's Mother and Sheng Wuyou took turns embracing Xu Shulou, stuffing her with all the clothes and jewelry they had made for her to change into along the way.
"Miss Xu, remember to send us a letter once you've recovered," Sheng's Mother said softly.
Xu Shulou nodded. "Mr. Dan is a renowned alchemist in this world. He will surely have a solution. Please don’t worry about me."
Sheng's Father and Sheng's Mother both felt a pang of melancholy. They knew all too well that this parting might mean they would never meet again. In the world of cultivators, a single adventure or a period of secluded cultivation could mean years passing in the blink of an eye.
Xu Shulou raised a toast to them. "When the two of you visit Dustless Island in the future, have Song Ping send me a message. There will surely be another chance to meet."
"Of course," they replied with smiles.
Everyone drank a little wine, and Xu Shulou noticed Sheng's Mother pat Song Ping’s shoulder. Before the wedding, she had only worried about her mortal daughter, but now she had come to understand what this cultivator, Song Ping, would have to face.
Song Ping sensed her goodwill and smiled at Sheng's Mother. "Wuyou and I plan to leave Sheng Mansion to explore the wonders of the cultivation world. Would the two of you like to join us for a trip?"
They hesitated. Of course, they wanted to go, but Song Ping alone couldn’t possibly fly with three people. Traveling by mortal carriages would be too bumpy, and though they were still in good health, they couldn’t endure such a long journey.
Song Ping, however, had already thought it through. "I’ve rented some flying deer from the Immortal Mist Sect. They should arrive in a couple of days. These spirit beasts pull carriages smoothly—no jostling at all."
Only then did Sheng's Father and Sheng's Mother agree with delighted expressions.
Thus, the farewell was not as sorrowful as it might have been.
After the banquet, the junior brothers returned to Profound Azure Academy, while Xu Shulou bid farewell to the Sheng family and set off on a new journey with her junior sister.
———
Endless Sea.
It was merely a lake, yet it insisted on calling itself the Endless Sea.
At this moment, Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang were drifting across its waters in a small boat. An ancient formation here prevented cultivators from flying over the lake. Those who tried would find themselves circling endlessly above, unable to escape—likely the origin of its "endless" name.
Yet this formation had no effect on the nearby villagers, who lived by the lake and made their living fishing its waters, completely unaware of its mystical properties.
Mr. Dan resided on the other side of the Endless Sea. Bai Roushuang had spent the journey constantly managing Xu Shulou, who had a habit of disappearing at a moment’s notice. Along the way, they had been sidetracked by interesting sights, coaxed by her senior sister into playful detours, and even found time to uphold justice once or twice. As a result, it had taken them longer than expected to arrive.
The moment Bai Roushuang landed near the Endless Sea, someone approached her. "Miss, would you like to hire a boat?"
Bai Roushuang studied him. "You’re a cultivator too?"
"Indeed. Almost every cultivator who comes here is visiting Mr. Dan on the other side of the lake," the man said, pointing across the water. "I just run a little business here to earn some spirit stones."
Bai Roushuang was curious. "Can’t I just fly around the edge of the lake? It might take longer, but it’s doable, right?"
The man wasn’t in a hurry to secure her business. Instead, he gestured politely. "Go ahead and try, and you’ll see."
"…" Bai Roushuang decided not to test it. She was always one to heed advice, which was why she now found herself floating on the lake.
The lake was vast, and as they reached the center, the surroundings grew quiet and undisturbed. The mountains on either shore were painted red by maple leaves, creating a breathtaking view.
Xu Shulou lay quietly in Bai Roushuang’s lapel, and the junior sister thought it rather pleasant to let her senior sister enjoy the breeze and scenery. But then, the boatman suddenly turned to her, baring his teeth in a grin. "Miss, would you like wontons or knife-cut noodles?"
Bai Roushuang froze. She quickly sent a mental message to her senior sister: What does that mean? Some kind of underworld code?
No idea. Is it food? Get one of each, Xu Shulou replied nonchalantly.
Bai Roushuang studied the boatman’s expression—it didn’t seem like he was offering a meal. Still, she steeled herself and said, "One of each, please."
The boatman was momentarily stunned before clarifying, "These are two different ways to kill someone. I’m asking you… Never mind. What I mean is—your money or your life?"
A robber? Bai Roushuang finally understood. Xu Shulou sighed in disappointment. So no wontons?
"…"
Seeing Bai Roushuang silent, the boatman stowed his oar and pulled out a knife, impatiently tapping the side of the boat. "Hurry up and decide! Hand over five hundred top-grade spirit stones, and I’ll take you across the lake safely and respectfully. If not, don’t blame me for being rude!"
With her senior sister by her side, Bai Roushuang had no fear. She adopted an even fiercer tone than the boatman. "This young lady wants both her money and her life!"
"You sure about that? Don’t forget—you can’t fly away or escape here," the boatman hesitated, trying to reason with her. "Five hundred top-grade spirit stones for your life is a bargain. Everyone visiting Mr. Dan carries a fortune. Why be stingy over this?"
"Enough nonsense," Bai Roushuang tapped her sword against the boat. "Show me what you’ve got!"
Further persuasion would only undermine his dignity as a robber. The boatman spat into his palm. "Fine! Today, I’ll teach you a lesson!"
Bai Roushuang immediately shouted, "Senior Sister!"
Xu Shulou peeked at the boatman’s attack stance, then pulled the rabbit-eared hat Bai Roushuang had painstakingly sewn for her (though she had never worn it before) over her head. "Don’t look at me. I’m just a spirit pet."
Bai Roushuang: "…Huh?"
She was momentarily stunned—though she was undeniably charmed by her senior sister’s cuteness—but this was a fight! In her daze, she barely managed to raise her sword to block the boatman’s blade. "Senior Sister, help me!"
Xu Shulou’s voice drifted lazily into her ears. "You can take him."
Bai Roushuang faltered. She had sparred with many people on pleasure boats before, but those were only friendly exchanges. Now, facing a cultivator who lived by the blade, she felt a twinge of fear. The boatman’s heavy saber swung with terrifying force, forcing her to dodge repeatedly—but there wasn’t much room to maneuver on the small boat.
Through gritted teeth, she muttered, "You sure?"
Xu Shulou’s amused voice replied, "What’s there to fear? Fight all out. I’ve got your back."
Right—what was there to fear? Bai Roushuang clenched her jaw. With her senior sister’s reassurance, she had nothing to worry about. She shifted tactics, abandoning defense and charging forward instead.
The boatman was taken aback when she stopped dodging. In that moment of hesitation, he left an opening—and Bai Roushuang seized it, launching a fierce counterattack.
Having worked in this trade for years and encountered countless cultivators, the boatman had developed a keen eye for judging people. Even before Bai Roushuang landed by the Endless Sea, he had already observed her sword-flying speed and roughly gauged her cultivation level. She didn’t seem like someone with much experience in the martial world, so it was likely she hadn’t engaged in many real battles either.
Add to that her unfamiliarity with the Endless Sea’s environment—hesitant to fly recklessly over the water, cautious and restrained—she would probably retreat easily if a fight broke out. Confident in his assessment, the boatman decided to strike.
Yet, to his surprise, the young woman dodged his attacks and suddenly launched a fierce counteroffensive, nearly wounding him. Enraged, the boatman abandoned any thought of letting her go in exchange for payment and resolved to cut her down with his blade.
But Bai Roushuang, gritting her teeth, refused to back down. The two clashed with escalating ferocity—the boatman relying on his ruthless techniques, while she fought with sheer determination.
Bai Roushuang had always trained in swift, graceful swordplay, but this was her first time fighting with such unrestrained force. As the battle raged on, she found herself exhilarated—no wonder her senior sister Xu Shulou loved fighting like this. It was truly exhilarating. Her attacks grew sharper, no longer just precise jabs and thrusts, but full-powered slashes infused with spiritual energy.
The boatman inwardly cursed—he had misjudged her. Instead of faltering, she only grew fiercer the longer they fought. Pushed to the edge of the boat, he activated a treasure that conjured illusory duplicates of himself, while his true form flashed behind Bai Roushuang.
She reacted swiftly, barely blocking his descending blade. Seizing the momentary advantage, the boatman pressed her relentlessly, forcing her toward the water. She had seen mortals fishing earlier but wasn’t sure if the lake held any traps specifically designed for cultivators. Nor did she know whether treading on the water’s surface would be considered "flying" under the Endless Sea’s rules. Hesitation flickered in her movements.
"Swallow’s Return." A voice whispered in her ear.
Bai Roushuang’s eyes widened—she had learned this technique on Dustless Island. As the boatman swung again, she leaned back as if finally yielding to the force of his strike. A smug grin flashed across his face—until she suspended herself midair over the lake, anchoring only with her footwork to the boat’s edge. Then, like a swallow skimming the water, she spun gracefully and hurled her sword from an impossible angle. The boatman couldn’t evade in time—the blade pierced his abdomen.
Wounded, he abandoned the fight, plunging into the water to escape. Whether he survived remained unknown.
Bai Roushuang stared at the blood on her sword tip, momentarily dazed, before excitement surged through her. "I did it! I really did it!"
"Yes," Xu Shulou crawled out from her collar, "you were amazing."
Bai Roushuang scooped her senior sister up, lifting her high and spinning in joy. "This is wonderful! I can do it!"
Indulging her junior’s excitement, Xu Shulou tolerated this brief act of "insubordination."
Bai Roushuang soon regained her composure, gently setting her down. "Senior Sister..."
Xu Shulou stood on her palm and gave her a tiny high-five. "You should believe in yourself more."
A wave of emotion tightened Bai Roushuang’s chest. She sat down, legs folded, and placed Xu Shulou on her knee. Softly, she confessed, "When I parted ways with Lu Beichen, part of me wanted to walk this path alone, to prove I could do it myself. But when trouble comes, I still instinctively rely on you."
"I’m your senior sister—of course you can rely on me," Xu Shulou smiled. "Just remember, your own growth matters most."
"I know."
"You’ve done brilliantly," Xu Shulou looked up at her. "From now on, I won’t interfere in battles you can handle alone."
"Alright!"
Brimming with newfound confidence, Bai Roushuang was abruptly brought back to reality by Xu Shulou’s next question: "By the way, do you know how to row this boat?"
"N-no..."
"Should we push it with spiritual energy then?"
"Sure..."
And so, across the vast blue expanse, a small boat set off in a rather clumsy manner.
