Cangshu Jiao had a good sleep and a wonderful dream.
In her dream, her mother filled the entire room with delicious sweets for her, while her father didn't get a single bite. In the end, out of pity for her father, she generously gifted him a skewer of candied hawthorns.
Her father was moved to tears. Such a grown man actually had red eyes and shed tears.
"Jiaojiao, Dad has wronged you in the past. It's my fault. I shouldn't have bullied you or stolen your food. I was such a jerk."
Cangshu Jiao put her hands on her hips, puffed out her chest, and laughed heartily. "It's good that you know! I, Cangshu Jiao, am magnanimous and won't hold your past mistreatment against you. Just remember, from now on in this house, my mother comes first, I come second, and you will obediently take third place!"
"What third place?"
A cold, indifferent voice of a young man sounded by her ear. Cangshu Jiao was still immersed in the joy of bossing him around in her dream. Her small body was resting on a broad, warm shoulder. Her crisp laughter came to an abrupt halt, the lingering sound still floating in the air, as she suddenly opened her eyes.
She blinked in confusion, only to realize she wasn't standing in a room full of sweets at all, but was being held securely in her father's arms.
They were flying in the air, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist.
And her father, who had just spoken, swept his dark eyes over her with an aloof and indifferent expression.
Cangshu Jiao's cheeks instantly flushed red, the color spreading from the roots of her ears all the way to her neck. Her arrogant and bossy little-adult demeanor from the dream completely vanished. Feeling utterly embarrassed and awkward, she wished she could bury her head in the crook of her father's neck to hide.
Her small hands clutched her father's lapels tightly. With a voice still hoarse from sleep, she stammered, "N-nothing... I-I was just dreaming..."
Cangshu Bai's tone was quite intriguing. "Laughing so happily, it must have been a good dream."
Cangshu Jiao mumbled a few times, too embarrassed to answer. The next moment, she aggressively changed the subject, "Dad, you went too far! You drugged me!"
Cangshu Bai replied calmly, "If it were someone else who drugged you, you would probably have been skinned, your tendons pulled out, and not even your bones would be left by now."
Recalling the panic when her vision went black, Cangshu Jiao hugged her father's neck tightly in lingering fear, her little face pale, unable to speak for quite a while.
Han Yu quietly popped out, wanting to tell her that with it around, it would never let anyone skin her and pull out her tendons.
However, Cangshu Bai shot a glance over, and Han Yu trembled all over before shrinking back.
Mu Ran and Cangshu Bai had somewhat different educational philosophies.
She was gentler and more patient with children. She wanted to leave more joy in her child's childhood, so even when she had to tell Cangshu Jiao that the outside world was dangerous, she would use a milder approach.
But Cangshu Bai was different.
True, he had endless patience for Mu Ran, but he didn't have much for his own daughter.
Regarding the bloodbaths of the outside world, he didn't care if her young age could handle it. He would bluntly say things like leaving no bones behind.
Of course, this was already quite restrained for Cangshu Bai. But every time Cangshu Jiao heard those bloody and terrifying words from her father, she would have nightmares at night. Following that, she would behave for a while, no longer thinking about jumping around and causing trouble for him.
Cangshu Jiao leaned listlessly against her father's shoulder. This time, she couldn't hold back and called out softly, "Dad."
Cangshu Bai responded, "Mhm."
"If... if I get caught by bad guys and they really want to skin me and pull my tendons, will you come save me?"
No matter how much she defied her father on a daily basis, she was still just a six-year-old child with a natural dependence on him. When afraid, she would also want his comfort.
Cangshu Bai lowered his eyes. The girl before him looked exquisite and adorable, her features already bearing some resemblance to his wife. Like ice and snow melting under the warm sun, his gaze softened.
This little girl was the result of two hundred years of hard work between him and his wife.
Cangshu Bai said, "I will."
Cangshu Jiao suddenly regained her spirits. Her eyes curved into crescents, and her smile was radiant, making her look even more cute and lively. "Dad, I won't call you a bad dad anymore!"
The corners of Cangshu Bai's lips lifted slightly, as if he chuckled.
Cangshu Jiao looked at the surrounding sea of clouds again. "This isn't the way home. Dad, where are we going?"
"Mount Cuiluo."
"Isn't that where Great-Aunt lives?" Cangshu Jiao quickly realized. "Mom said you should take good care of me at home, and she would be back in three days. You promised Mom. You went back on your word! When we get to Mount Cuiluo, they're going to make fun of you again."
Where else could you find a couple who had been married for hundreds of years and still wished to be inseparable day and night like Cangshu Bai and Mu Ran?
Having already had a child and still being so clingy would always draw teasing from others.
Mu Ran really didn't want to face the teasing, so she left word for the father and daughter to stay properly at home.
Cangshu Bai said, "You miss your mother."
Cangshu Jiao straightened her little body. "It's obviously you who misses my mother!"
Suddenly, a golden bracelet inlaid with rubies hovered in mid-air. It sparkled brightly, exactly the kind of thing little girls loved the most.
Cangshu Jiao reached out to grab it, but the bracelet floated further away, just out of reach of her short little arms.
Cangshu Jiao scrunched up her face.
Cangshu Bai remained expressionless.
She said, "Fine, I miss my mother!"
The beautiful bracelet flew into her hands. Beaming with joy, she put it on, and the bracelet automatically shrank to fit the size of her wrist.
Mount Cuiluo was just an inconspicuous little mountain peak, yet it was covered in high-level arrays and hid several sword formations originating from the Zhenyue Mountain City. If anyone with malicious intent approached, they would be ground into minced meat before even setting foot on the mountain.
Resting in her father's arms, Cangshu Jiao noticed a figure in the woods below.
"Dad, there's someone down there!"
The figure in white holding a sword also noticed them, looked up, and raised an eyebrow slightly.
In the blink of an eye, Cangshu Bai appeared in the woods holding Cangshu Jiao.
Cangshu Linfeng looked at the father and daughter before him and said sarcastically, "I wondered who it was, but it turns out to be that great demon from the rumors again. What, is it because you can't bear to be apart from your wife, so you have to rush over here like a three-year-old child seeking comfort?"
Completely oblivious to the fact that Cangshu Linfeng was mocking her father, Cangshu Jiao greeted him enthusiastically, "Great-Uncle, are you here to see my Great-Aunt?"
Cangshu Linfeng choked on his words. A moment later, he stiffened his neck and said, "How many times have I told you? Your father and I are of the same generation. You are not allowed to call me that."
Cangshu Jiao looked completely innocent and naive. "But I think you and my Great-Aunt look really good together! I want you to be my Great-Uncle, is that not okay?"
