Chapter 854: with translation of chapter title

This is completely different from what Xiao Jiu imagined.

When Xiao Lao San was born, he was already in human form; yet the more he cultivates, the more it seems he is regressing.

"The semi-mature form is the weakest stage in the ao's evolution." Xiaoye explained, "At this point, he is constantly evolving; his true form has not yet fully solidified, and he needs to gather all his strength to break through every possibility—in other words, the ao's true form is stronger than the human form."

So that's how it is.

No wonder Xiaoye had Xiao Lao San stay in the Linghai Forbidden Ground—he was protecting him.

More importantly, they had personally witnessed that a Dragon Vein runs through the Linghai Forbidden Ground.

Xiaoye wanted Xiao Lao San to constantly break through himself by drawing on the Dragon Vein's Dragon Qi and Spiritual Qi.

He really meant well.

The only regret is that, from birth to now, Liu Junyan has never seen Xiao Lao San's human form, nor has he been able to hold him.

Now Xiao Lao San is in the semi-mature form; his turtle-dragon body is huge, so he cannot be brought home, nor can he be held.

Liu Junyan can only enter the Linghai Forbidden Ground, look around, touch things, sit beside Xiao Lao San and chat with him.

Xiao Jiu did not disturb their father-son time, turned around and went to find Zhong Susu to chat.

She knew that Liu Junyan, as a father, was a very different presence for Xiao Lao San, and perhaps he could give Xiao Lao San some guidance and encouragement.

But what Xiao Jiu never expected was that, after a short while, Liu Junyan still hadn't come to find her, and she guessed what he was up to.

When Xiao Jiu went to the Linghai Forbidden Ground, she happened to run into Liu Junyan just as he was coming out.

Although he smiled when he saw her, Xiao Jiu could tell at a glance that he was exhausted.

This fatigue was not from lack of sleep or physical discomfort, but from a massive depletion of cultivation or spiritual power.

Xiao Jiu immediately stepped forward and questioned, "Liu Junyan, are you giving Xiao Lao San true qi or cultivation? Forcing growth isn't necessarily good for a child!"

Liu Junyan did not deny it, nor did he think it wrong: "Xiao Jiu, please calm down, listen to my explanation."

"Chuanchuan is different from other kids; his veins carry half my blood, and to some extent his turtle-dragon body is inherited from me. Giving him a little extra boost is fine—he can handle it."

Xiao Jiu knew it! This man really did give true qi or cultivation to Xiao Lao San!

For a moment, Xiao Jiu didn't know whether to be angry at Liu Junyan or feel sorry for him.

Liu Junyan, however, embraced Xiao Jiu, leaned close to her ear, and whispered softly, "What I give our son is little; we can make it up with a couple of nights of dual cultivation."

Fine, Xiao Jiu now feels no pity for Liu Junyan at all.

She even wanted to raise her hand and slap his mouth.

She felt that this man had been pent up for ten years, and now that he's back, his mind is full of trashy thoughts.

If this continues, Xiao Jiu fears they might accidentally make another Xiao Lao Si.

However, as Liu Junyan said, fate for offspring is fate; having a child also depends on destiny.

Since they have no fate for a Xiao Lao Si, no amount of effort will bring an unexpected one.

Xiao Jiu complained a few sentences to Liu Junyan, and then the matter passed.

Who would have thought, this was just the beginning.

Thereafter, after a while, Liu Junyan would go to the Linghai Forbidden Ground to see Xiao Lao San.

Each time he returned from the Linghai Forbidden Ground, he felt very fatigued and needed to sit cross-legged in meditation for two days to recover.

Yet even so, he never tired of it.

Xiao Jiu stopped trying to dissuade Liu Junyan, because she knew Xiao Lao San truly needed it.

After all, there is still an ancient great demon waiting for him in the waters of Suedi.

That ancient great demon is Xiao Lao San's karma.

Karma is like the arm cannot twist the thigh—a simple truth.

Even if Xiao Jiu and Liu Junyan, out of love for their child, struck first to eliminate that ancient great demon, there would only be two possible outcomes.

One is that, at the crucial moment, the ancient great demon escapes.

The other is that they slay that ancient great demon, but afterward something even more formidable will await Xiao Lao San.

Either way, it's not worth the loss.

Xiao Lao San's fate must be forged by himself; each obstacle must be overcome by his own steps.

After experiencing much, especially after becoming parents, many things Xiao Jiu previously couldn't understand she now can empathize with.

Not to mention oneself; take for example Liu Junyan and Xiaoye, as well as his several uncles—why could those uncles of Liu Junyan watch him struggle in a mire for years without lending a hand?

Clearly, many things would only take a little effort.

Now Xiao Jiu understands: it's not that they don't want to help, but that they cannot.

Because Liu Junyan is not a flower in a greenhouse; he cannot forever live under someone's wings—he needs tempering and growth.

However, Xiao Lao San will surely be far happier than Liu Junyan and Xiao Jiu, after all, so many people love and teach him wholeheartedly.

Of course, there is suspicion of forcing growth; we only hope Xiao Lao San can quickly adapt to this fast-paced life.

In the first two months after Liu Junyan returned, everything was in a state of prosperous peace.

Xiao Jiu loved this plain, orderly life immensely.

In the blink of an eye, it was one month before the New Year.

Jiangcheng is a city that sees snow.

Every year before the New Year, it gets one or two snowfalls.

That morning, Xiao Jiu opened the door of Yin Dang Hang and saw the opposite rear roof covered in white snow; only then did she realize that Bai Shulan had left Wufu Town over two months ago!

Although Xiao Jiu had sent people to inquire about the situation, the feedback was that Bai Shulan had always been staying with Guyun Que, so she wasn't worried at all.

But… the New Year is coming soon!

At year's end, Yin Dang Hang will have a year-end summary, and the Bai Family Medical Clinic also needs a full inventory; it's busy, and Bai Shulan could set aside anything, but these definitely cannot be neglected.

Xiao Jiu specially made a trip to the Bai Family Medical Clinic to chat with Bai Qiong.

Bai Qiong and Bái Sōnglán indeed have a connection; she told Xiao Jiu: "My little immortal Xian'er probably won't be coming back for the New Year; if everything goes smoothly, she should be in seclusion during that period."

"Seclusion?" Xiao Jiu was a bit dazed, "What's wrong with Sister Shulan?"

Bai Qiong explained: "I'm not entirely clear on the specifics, but basically, Young Master Gu and my little immortal Xian'er hunted a great demon together in the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, took its inner alchemy, Young Master Gu refined it and gave it to Xian'er to swallow; if nothing goes wrong, during her seclusion, all the white spines on her body will fall off, and the new spines that grow back will be completely different..."

This is a good thing.

But Xiao Jiu, hearing this, felt it was somewhat dangerous: "Why not go into seclusion in Wufu Town? Staying in Wufu Town would be somewhat safer than the Ten Thousand Great Mountains…"