Watching the Mountain

Chapter 25: Chapter 20: Phoenix Transformation

Xu Ran watched Little Xiyue. Though she was clearly anxious, she kept her face straight, pretending to be calm. He sighed to himself.

’Is she so sensitive at such a young age because she’s been abandoned before?’

He then smiled and asked, ”How would you take care of me?”

”I’ll cook for you, wash your clothes, serve tea, and pour water.”

”I’m a Cultivator. None of that is necessary.”

Little Xiyue fell silent for a moment. Then, she lifted her head to look him straight in the eye and said:

”Then there’s nothing I can do for you right now. First, take me as your disciple and teach me. When I’m older, just tell me whatever you need me to do, and I will definitely be able to do it.”

’She’s truly strong-willed and resilient,’ Xu Ran thought. ’For someone so small to say something so brave... it’s really remarkable.’

So, he smiled and nodded. ”In that case, I agree. I hope you remember the words you spoke today.”

The moment he finished speaking, he could clearly feel the tension leave Little Xiyue’s rigid body. She took a breath and gave him a formal bow, her little face exceptionally serious as she said:

”I will. Thank you.”

Xu Ran gave a small wave of his hand but didn’t say much more. ’For a child this proud, an excessive display of emotion would only make her feel flustered.’

Seeing that they had finished their conversation, Ning Caique, who was lying in bed, beckoned to Little Xiyue. She watched her with a kindly expression and said:

”Xiyue, go outside for a bit. Mother needs to catch up with this old brother of mine whom I haven’t seen in years.”

Little Xiyue hesitated for a second but then gave a firm nod. After a small bow to them both, she quickly ran out.

Hearing her call him ”old brother,” Xu Ran was taken aback. Ever since they parted ways in Xu Family Village a hundred years ago, he had never heard Que’Er use that term again.

Moreover, Que’Er had said it so naturally, and it had sounded just as natural to his ears, as if things were always meant to be this way.

Ning Caique didn’t notice Xu Ran’s expression. Her gaze, full of affection, followed the direction Little Xiyue had run. Then, in an incredibly gentle voice, she said with a chuckle:

”Heh. What do you think? She’s a lot like me when I was little, isn’t she? The moment I found her, I just took a liking to her. It feels as if she’s a part of me, sprung from my own body. She even has my temper and personality. When I look at her, I feel like my own life is continuing on through her. It’s truly a magical feeling.”

Xu Ran listened quietly to her story. It truly was magical, he thought. This was the first time he’d ever heard such a gentle tone from Que’Er.

Whether back in Xu Family Village during their childhood or in their encounters later in life, Que’Er had never had a good temper. She was a handful as a child, and she always wore a stern expression as an adult.

So, seeing this gentle side of Que’Er left him genuinely stunned. ’Perhaps Little Xiyue is the one who changed her.’

Xu Ran reflected on this for a moment, then shook his head at Que’Er, replying to her previous question.

”No, there’s a difference. You were hot-tempered and boisterous as a child. She is proud, resilient, and brave.”

Que’Er was momentarily stunned by his words, but then she broke into a wide smile, her eyes crinkling with pride and adoration as she nodded.

”You’re right. Xiyue is sensitive about being abandoned, which makes her so determined to be strong. She never shows her vulnerable side, not even to me. No matter how heartbroken she is, she forces herself to keep a straight face, as if she’s afraid that crying will get her abandoned all over again.”

Xu Ran gave her a surprised look. It wasn’t because of what she said—even from his brief interaction with Little Xiyue, he could sense her personality was just as Que’Er had described.

What surprised him was that she hadn’t gotten angry when he called her boisterous and hot-tempered. In the past, even lying in bed like this, he figured she would have leaped up and furiously chewed him out.

But now, she was laughing heartily, and she looked genuinely happy.

But when he saw the bright, love-filled light in Que’Er’s eyes, he instantly understood.

’She probably didn’t even register that I said something negative about her. Right now, the only thing on her mind is Little Xiyue.’

’It’s true. A woman really does change completely after she has a child.’

’Even if Que’Er only found Little Xiyue, the love she gives her is in no way less than the love for a child of her own blood.’

After she finished speaking, Ning Caique took out a Jade Scroll and handed it to Xu Ran.

”This contains a Divine Technique... no, a Magic Technique that I comprehended after my Dao Foundation was destroyed. It’s not particularly powerful, but it’s the culmination of my life’s insights. You can do what you want with it—learn it or not, it’s up to you. But I hope that you will teach it to Little Xiyue in the future.”

She paused for a moment before continuing, ”It’s the only thing I can give her for her cultivation path. For the rest... I’m entrusting her to you.”

Xu Ran took the Jade Scroll and put it away safely. He nodded at her and said, ”Rest assured.”

Que’Er smiled. ”I won’t say more. After all, I’m a dying woman. As my brother, you’ll surely let your little sister be willful this one time, right, Brother Xu?”

As she finished, she winked at Xu Ran. Despite her white hair and wrinkled face, she still had a spark of her old playfulness.

Without waiting for his reaction, she added, ”I also notified Senior Sister Yue. I’d like to spend my remaining time with her. Is that okay?”

Xu Ran was surprised. ”You actually told Senior Sister Yue?”

’I remember she never told Yue Qingyu when her Dao Foundation was crippled and she was on the verge of death.’

Hearing his question, Que’Er’s gaze softened, tinged with nostalgia as she began to speak.

”Of course I had to tell Senior Sister Yue. I hid my injuries from her before because I felt I had let her down and couldn’t bear to face her.”

”But to her, I’ve always been the junior sister she adores. Now that her beloved junior sister is about to die, it would be too cruel not to let her know, not to let her see me one last time. Imagine how heartbroken she would be if she found out later.”

Xu Ran listened, staring at Que’Er for a long moment. Finally, he nodded, bid her farewell, and turned to leave.

He felt a wave of emotion. ’I never expected to hear her say something like that. They say people grow wiser with age, that they can finally let go of all the things they used to obsess over and could never see clearly.’

’Now, Que’Er was the perfect embodiment of that.’

’The little girl from all those years ago... it seems she has truly grown up.’

As soon as Xu Ran stepped out of the room, he saw Yue Qingyu waiting. He gave her a slight nod and moved out of her way.

Yue Qingyu said nothing to him in return and simply walked inside in silence.

Xu Ran went into the courtyard and stood with Little Xiyue. The tall man and the small girl stood in silence, neither one speaking.

He then remembered the Jade Scroll Que’Er had given him. Curious, he took it out, placed it against his forehead, and looked inside.

Instantly, a scorching Mental Realm flooded his senses.

It was a Fire Magic... no, a Divine Technique.

Xu Ran could feel a powerful emotion contained within it: a refusal to accept mediocrity, a yearning to spread one’s wings and soar, to become a Phoenix and roam the heavens.

Que’Er’s innate talent wasn’t good; she had only managed to reach Foundation Establishment with Yue Qingyu’s help. And after that, her Dao Foundation was crippled.

But from this Divine Technique, Xu Ran could sense that even after her Dao Foundation was crippled, she had never given up. She had always held on to the dream of a common sparrow transforming into a Phoenix.

For a Phoenix can achieve Nirvana Rebirth, while a sparrow can only grow old and fade away.

”Phoenix Transformation, hmm?” Sensing Que’Er’s heart, Xu Ran lowered his gaze to Little Xiyue, who stood ramrod straight beside him. A small smile touched his lips, and he gave a firm nod, whispering softly, ”She will.”