Chapter 83: Side Story: A Wonderful Journey (Shu Rong)

During the second week of kindergarten summer vacation, Shu Rong should have been a carefree, happy child, but her moms never closed the door.

This caused her great distress, with no one to confide in, and since she wasn’t good with words, she could only bottle up her uncivil thoughts.

Under the coercion and enticement from Mommy coming at her from all sides, Shu Rong ended up sleeping alone in her own room from then on, rolling around on her massive three-meter bed each morning upon waking.

On the first day, she couldn’t sleep. Her dark, round eyes stared wider than copper bells. She flipped out of bed and tiptoed over to the Dragon Cat’s nest.

She poked the soundly sleeping Dragon Cat, which reflexively opened its mouth, its sharp teeth biting down on her fingertip.

Accompanied by a sharp sting, blood beads instantly welled up on her tender skin.

Shu Rong stood there dumbfounded, her eyelashes trembling, her mouth opening and closing slowly as she glared death at her bullying pet.

Bad pet.

She wanted to cry and sniffled twice, but then bit her lower lip, forcing back the tears.

Feeling wronged and stumbling, she made her way to Mommy’s room, her other hand clutching the injured fingertip.

Skipping the knocking, she gently pushed the door open with her arm.

A gentle breeze rustled the curtains, and the glow of moonlight slowly poured in, illuminating a woman’s soft waist swaying irregularly, at varying speeds. Black hair cascaded down her back, encircled tightly at the waist by a smooth arm.

The woman’s hands braced on the other’s shoulder for support.

Shu Rong stood in place, her eyes sparkling. This time, she would wait for Mommy to notice her on her own.

She listened to Mommy’s strange sounds. After who knew how long, the light in Shu Rong’s eyes gradually faded, her patience worn thin.

Her little short legs pattered as she ran forward.

“Mommy.”

She called out weakly.

Shu Qingyou whipped her head around. Her daughter’s face looked off, so she deftly slipped into her pajamas. After a silent moment, the corners of her eyes were tinged with an unnatural flush.

She then scolded in a low voice, “Lin Xu, you didn’t close the door again!”

Lin Xu had certainly noticed but had been too lazy to bother. She quibbled, “Don’t sweat the small stuff. Rongrong’s five years old already. It’s time for some sex ed, right?”

“I’ve told you how many times,” Shu Qingyou’s fingertip jabbed at Lin Xu’s forehead, “it’s gender education, not sex ed. She’s still a child—one letter makes all the difference.”

“I was just joking.” Lin Xu didn’t know where to put her hands. She turned to grab some tissues. There was too much fluid; she wiped it up and muttered under her breath as she looked down, “Why do you always nitpick?”

When the topic came up, Shu Qingyou’s face immediately turned cold.

“I’m the one being unreasonable? Who was it last time who wouldn’t give my client any face right in front of me?”

Lin Xu touched her nose, explaining uncomfortably, “I know it was your client, but you two had physical contact, so I had solid grounds.”

“But it was just a handshake.”

“Handshakes can’t exceed five seconds.”

One after the other, their back-and-forth left Shu Rong torn. She awkwardly interjected, “Mom, I…”

Shu Qingyou immediately softened her voice, “Rongrong, what’s wrong?”

Only then did Lin Xu remember her daughter and chimed in.

There’s no place like Mommy. Shu Rong consciously ignored Lin Xu, locking eyes with Mommy. She happily raised her hand.

Shu Qingyou thought her daughter was hurt and looked her over left and right, puzzled. “Where does it hurt?”

Huh?

Shu Rong stared blankly at her perfectly fine skin and mumbled in confusion, “Hand… blood?”

Shu Qingyou checked her daughter’s forehead—no fever. “Did Rongrong have a nightmare?”

Shu Rong shook her head in a daze. Something felt off. She bolted back to her own room, ignoring her moms’ calls.

At the Dragon Cat’s nest, she saw nothing. She flipped under the bed. That thing that slept all day was indeed gone.

Just then, a fleeting light flashed past the corner of Shu Rong’s eye. Sensing something, she dashed to the wardrobe.

The wardrobe doors were shut tight, but strange noises came from within. And that light had definitely emerged from here. She pulled open the doors, and rows of clothes swayed gently.

Curiosity piqued, she plunged in without hesitation through the gaps in the fabric. There were so many clothes, all colorful—thanks to Mommy stuffing her wardrobe with little dresses.

The wardrobe seemed bigger than usual. Her eyes fixed ahead on a distant spark of light.

Shu Rong was small but brimming with curiosity. Sounds came from the flashing spot, growing louder, and her steps quickened.

After who knew how long, the twinkling starlight was right before her. Her heart suddenly pounded. She placed her hand on the starlight.

Everything around her instantly dimmed. Shu Rong felt silence envelop her. The next second, fierce winds scraped her cheeks.

Weightlessness hit, pitch black all around, her throat choked by something unknown—she couldn’t cry out.

She simply closed her eyes. Suddenly, a startled yelp rang out.

“Who’s that! So rude!”

The voice was crisp and lively.

Shu Rong’s eyes flew open. A dark red sky loomed, with a blood moon hanging in the center—eerie, filling her with inexplicable fear.

Her butt landed on something soft. She instinctively stomped down.

“Sis, where are you stepping!”

Terrified, Shu Rong’s legs went soft, and she stayed sprawled on the human cushion.

Shu Rong looked down. “…Who?”

“You don’t recognize me?”

The speaking child was delicately pretty, with exquisite features, glaring fiercely at her.

Shu Rong thought she looked familiar and tilted her head.

Su Jin didn’t find her heavy. Having transmigrated to a world where relationships were forged by biting, things were already absurd beyond measure.

For Shu Rong to come through the passage—bold move. Su Jin admired her a bit, if only she weren’t still sitting on her.

“Fine, whatever,” Su Jin’s neck was nearly twisted. She flipped over, shoving Shu Rong aside. “You’re not that important anyway.”

In this strange place, with this bad-tempered child, Shu Rong felt panic. She looked around, unable to orient herself. She’d barely taken a step when she recoiled.

There was no door—just endless crimson black, with a massive palace standing far off, flickering with abnormal glows.

Sometimes red, sometimes blue. Shu Rong froze, her nose tingling. Tears plopped down, her hand frantically wiping them.

“Mommy…”

A normal kid’s reaction. Su Jin hadn’t expected much. She patted the dust from her clothes and pulled a handkerchief from her Sumeru Ring.

She held it out to the little tear-streaked face. “What’re you crying for? It’s not like you can’t go back.”

Shu Rong sniffled. She lifted her sticky chin, eyes blurry. For some reason, this child a whole head taller felt oddly familiar.

Shu Rong: “Want… Mommy.”

Su Jin: “Got it. I’m not your mom.”

Shu Rong: “What?”

Su Jin wasn’t surprised but baffled. This kid was extremely clingy to her mom—at five years old, not some nursing toddler.

Unlike her: at one, already scampering about. Child of Destiny—at one, Foundation Establishment; at five, Golden Core; at eight, Nascent Soul. Sects, Demon Domain—she came and went freely.

The Demon Domain wasn’t for mortals like Shu Rong. With a wave of her little hand, “Don’t move. I’ll take you somewhere else.”

Shu Rong could only rely on this strange kid for now, sweating as she obeyed.

The child performed magic, drawing something in the air with her fingers. Each stroke turned into solid golden lines.

Then, an arched gate rippled like water waves. Shu Rong’s eyes and mouth gaped.

Her already limited vocabulary failed her completely. She could only let out an “ah.”

“Such a fuss,” Su Jin proudly took Shu Rong’s soft hand. “Close your eyes.”

Without needing to be told, Shu Rong instinctively shut her eyes.

A clear breeze passed, the weird sensation vanished. Her body felt warm and toasty. She hesitated on opening her eyes.

The strange kid pinched her palm and spoke.

Only then did Shu Rong slowly peek. Wow—completely different. Sky so blue, trees green, flowers colorful. She thought she’d come home.

“Mommy?”

Su Jin looked helpless, unable to stand the constant “Mommy this, Mommy that.” For the sake of how Rongrong usually hugged her true form, she decided to explain simply.

She pointed to the nearest Sword Hall ahead. “This is Tianxuan Sect, one of my homes. That scary place just now… is also my home…”

Shu Rong didn’t understand—cultivators, spirit artifacts, pills. Not wanting to interrupt the torrent, she nodded vigorously, brows furrowed tight.

Suddenly, her peripheral vision caught a black-and-white flash overhead, bigger than any bird she’d seen, wings spreading with crisp, beautiful cries.

“Wow!”

Su Jin was pleased by her wide-eyed awe, thinking, Not bad for me—knowledgeable at such a young age, even stumbling through the Space-Time Gate.

“Just average,” she clasped her hands behind her back and smirked proudly. “My moms say I’m a once-in-a-generation genius too.”

Shu Rong craned her neck upward. “Amazing.”

Hm? Su Jin followed her gaze—a few Spirit Cranes glided gracefully. So she was praising them. Su Jin scoffed, “Just transportation. Nothing special—like cars at your house.”

Shu Rong watched with fascination, momentarily forgetting where she was.

Su Jin had no choice. This quiet, silly kid—she magnanimously watched the immortal cranes with Shu Rong.

It was so peaceful here, no roaring traffic. After a while, Shu Rong came to and nudged the strange kid.

“Okay.”

Su Jin: “You’re incomprehensible. Hungry?”

Shu Rong patted her tummy. “Hungry.”

Easy kid to handle—hungry, feed, adapt quick.

Su Jin habitually summoned her food Storage Bag with her intent—only to find it missing.

Must be in her room.

She took Shu Rong’s hand again. “Eyes closed.”

Shu Rong felt nothing, no time to count—it was instant, whoosh.

Eyes open: solid ground, grand hall ahead lit brilliantly, clouds swirling behind. Shu Rong turned and crouched in fright.

Su Jin hoisted her up. “Stick close. Don’t get spotted. Taking you for food.”

Hope Mom’s not here today.

Shu Rong’s legs wobbled. She clutched the strange kid’s clothes tight and followed her inside.

All sides enclosed, Shu Rong relaxed a bit.

Su Jin rummaged shamelessly—from one end of the bed, head under, cabinets a mess—unbearable to look at.

Such a sloppy strange kid. Pretty face, clean clothes, but treats her sleeping area like this?

Shu Rong: “You… dirty.”

Su Jin was scratching around when she heard the insult and paused, amused. “This? I can make it tidy in a snap.”

She raised two fingers, intent stirring. Unfortunately, her divine sense quivered faintly.

As Shu Rong pondered helping clean, a shadow loomed. A figure materialized.

A cold voice sounded nearby: “Little Jin, you finally remembered home?”

Su Jin dragged her feet reluctantly to her mother. “It’s only been a few days.”

“A few days, and you brought an even smaller modern kid here. Impressive.”

Su Jin: “Mom, how’d you know?!”

She had to admire her mom’s vast powers—actually encountering a modern person.

“Feed her something, send her back soon. Come home for dinner tonight.”

Su Jin pouted. “Okay, got it.”

Shu Rong was utterly confused. The ethereal woman vanished in a flash. “She…”

Su Jin: “My mom. None of your business.”

She opened the food box, pulling out exquisite preserved pastries, handing one to Shu Rong.

Shu Rong didn’t care—she missed Mommy—but took the green pastry and popped it in her mouth unhappily.

The instant it touched her tongue, flavors exploded like fireworks. Her eyes widened, chewing faster.

Su Jin: “Little glutton…”

Shu Rong devoured everything like a whirlwind, eyes gleaming. She tugged Su Jin’s sleeve and whined.

The kid was acting spoiled at her. Su Jin’s ears heated. She awkwardly hooked Shu Rong’s finger. “Fine, but promise not to tell. Or else.”

Shu Rong shrank back, nodding frantically.

Back home, daylight streamed in. Shu Rong woke on her familiar bed, dazed. Her face itched.

The Dragon Cat nestled properly, its fur rubbing against her.

Shu Rong petted it, climbed down, went to her little desk, took paper and pen, and drew everything she’d seen.

Can’t say it, but can draw.

“Rongrong, breakfast time.”

Hearing Mommy knock, she turned. It was Mommy!

She threw down the pen and happily rushed toward her mom, hugging her tightly and refusing to let go.

Su Jin watched the heartwarming scene of mother and daughter, her gaze then falling on Shu Rong’s crooked handwriting. She was speechless.

This little brat…

…is actually pretty cute.