The Art of Subduing Dragons

Chapter 88

Lu Qingci didn't know what exactly Ruan Li had encountered to make her afraid of the dark. She found it inconvenient and uncomfortable to ask at that moment, but not knowing didn't stop her from feeling concerned.

Knowing that Ruan Li didn't want to tell her about her fear of the dark, Lu Qingci pretended to be unaware and instead chatted with her about trivial matters.

"How do you eat there?" she suddenly thought about the environment of the Thoughtful Cliff, a place where ordinary disciples rarely went. Since Thoughtful Cliff was forbidden to others, it meant Ruan Li might not have anything to eat.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Li looked at the fasting pills in her arms. She initially wanted to say that she had something to eat, but for some reason, she couldn't help but feel a bit wronged, "There's no food, only fasting pills."

Lu Qingci frowned immediately, "Just eating fasting pills won't do. They taste terrible. What should we do? Should I sneak in and bring you some food?"

She muttered with a genuinely worried expression. Ruan Li, though happy, didn't want to make her worry, so she couldn't help but laugh, "Actually, I've already fasted, so I don't need to eat."

Lu Qingci then realized that Ruan Li had already reached the Golden Core stage and pretended to be annoyed, "Oh~ So you're deliberately acting pitiful to make me worry about you, aren't you?"

When exposed, Ruan Li's gaze immediately faltered. Luckily, Lu Qingci couldn't see her reaction. Ruan Li still tried to maintain her composure, but her voice was noticeably quieter, "No, I just... just forgot."

Lu Qingci, hearing this, laughed softly. Her voice, as Qi Qing, was gentle and smooth, like spring water flowing, making her laugh even more charming.

Ruan Li felt her heart tremble with the sound of that laughter. Even though she was the one being laughed at, she felt happy and blushed as she laughed along, then shyly said, "Why are you laughing? I just wanted you to care about me, is that not okay?"

Her voice was soft and delicate, carrying an involuntary charm that was both endearing and heartwarming. Lu Qingci couldn't help but soften her heart, "Of course, it's fine. Our A Li is especially deserving of care. I'm laughing because you're so cute."

Ruan Li's cheeks were burning. Despite the darkness and biting cold around her, she felt as if she was floating in a paradise. She pressed the whistle to her chest, her smile growing wider.

At that moment, Lu Qingci herself didn't realize that she hadn't put her lips down since they had lifted, and the system, watching silently, said nothing more. Some things needed to be felt by herself; this was also a form of love.

Lu Qingci immersed herself in the joy of comforting the young girl, and her thoughts became particularly active. Knowing Ruan Li was scared and not wanting the conversation to end so soon, she said, "A Li, don't be afraid. Run your spiritual energy, and it won't be cold. Focus on your cultivation, and don't let the environment affect you. If you feel lonely, I'll talk with you here. Hmm, let me tell you a story. How about the story of 'The Ugly Duckling'?"

Perhaps too happy, her thoughts became somewhat uncontrolled, and she randomly chose a story. She then seriously recalled the story to tell Ruan Li.

"What is 'The Ugly Duckling'?"

"It's a very ugly bird."

"What is a swan?"

"A very beautiful bird, like a crane."

"So the ugly duckling is a swan, right?"

"Yes..."

"So it didn't become a swan; it would always have been one regardless of its efforts. This story seems a bit illogical, don't you think?"