Chapter 23: Forgetting One’s Roots Is Human Nature

“How big does someone have to be to be called a ‘great person’?”
Young as she was, Hou Congmeng didn’t grasp what a “great person” meant. She only knew that people came to their home to see her father, bringing heaps of gifts.
Now, traveling thousands of miles to meet a “great person” was a first.

Her father gave a bitter smile, his gaze drifting to the scenery flashing by outside the carriage window, his voice distant:
“Far too big—an existence even our Hou family must look up to.”

She didn’t fully understand, only recalling her father muttering incomprehensible things to himself throughout the ride.
The carriage finally stopped before a wide, grand street in Anyang. The city bustled, but this street was eerily quiet, not a soul in sight.
Her father carried her down, adjusting his robes several times before taking a deep breath and approaching the closed vermilion gate.

It was her first time here. Excited, she nestled in his arms, her eyes boldly peeking out.
She saw him pause before the gate, announcing something with utmost respect.
After a long wait, the gate silently cracked open.

No one stood behind it, no sound came, and she wondered how it opened. But her father’s expression grew humbler as he carefully carried her inside.
The interior was hazy in her memory, like walking through clouds and mist. Eventually, they stopped before a beautiful pavilion.
Her father set her down, holding her hand tightly as they knelt on the cold jade floor.

Curious, she stole a glance upward. On a cushioned couch ahead, a figure reclined.
Clad in dark robes, with cascading black hair loosely tied, a few strands falling by her neck.
What etched deepest in her memory was a pair of molten gold eyes, glancing over with faint boredom, lingering briefly on her and her father.

Young Hou Congmeng didn’t know spiritual pressure, but when those eyes met hers, the constant discomfort in her body seemed to ease, replaced by an inexplicable calm.
She heard her father speak in a reverent tone she’d never heard, but she forgot the words. The pretty lady was studying her, and her father faded into the background.

“Little sister, are you Hou Congmeng?”
Hearing her name, she nodded instinctively. Then, she saw a beautiful hand rise, pointing lightly at her. A faint, warm thread of spiritual energy flowed into her small body, sweeping away the sluggishness and chill of her frailty, wrapping her in unprecedented ease and warmth.

She let out a soft hum of comfort, instinctively chasing that warm aura. The energy didn’t linger, circling her body once before dissipating.
Then, a pleasant yet emotionless voice spoke:
“Come to my side. I’ll give you a full checkup for free.”

At the pretty lady’s call, she broke habit, not waiting for her father’s nod, and stood, walking toward the couch.
The lady sat up. Just as Hou Congmeng reached the couch, perhaps tripping over her own feet, she stumbled into a cool, fragrant embrace.

She heard her father’s near-panicked voice behind her, but as before, he wasn’t important now. Something far greater consumed her senses.
The lady’s hand rested lightly on her back, the touch clear through her thin clothes, sparking an odd nervousness. It was strange—her mother had done similar things, but this felt entirely different.

Looking up, so close, she finally saw those molten gold eyes clearly. They held something dangerous yet captivating, their probing depths locking onto her.
So beautiful… so stunning… I want to keep looking…

She didn’t know why she felt this way. The next moment, she fainted. When she awoke, she faced two towering, majestic peaks and her father’s beaming face nearby.
“Ugh… Pretty Lady, why did I fall asleep?”

Her first thought wasn’t of her father but the lady. She still recalled his colorful expression.
“Maybe you were too tired.”
The lady replied, then spoke to her father:
“Next time we meet, no need to kneel before me. It’ll shorten my lifespan.”

Her father agreed eagerly. She was staring at those grand peaks when the lady’s mischievous voice rang out:
“I’ve noticed you staring, little pervert. Since you’re so curious, want to give them a touch?”

She froze, tentatively reaching out, but caught her father’s near-murderous glare and chickened out.
How her father bade farewell and took her home blurred, but she remembered the lady’s parting words:
“Go back and strive hard. Your future surpasses your imagination. Stay patient, avoid arrogance like spoiled nobles, and build a good reputation among commoners. It might not always help, but if it pays off, it’s a jackpot.”

The entire journey back, and for a long time after, her mind replayed those molten gold eyes, that cool yet inviting embrace, and those insurmountable peaks.
She didn’t grasp what “jackpot” meant, but she took the lady’s words to heart. Back in Baihe City, she began befriending kids her age.
Her father, surprisingly, didn’t object—he even supported it, a shock since he rarely let her out before, let alone make friends.

That time was joyful, all thanks to the pretty lady.
“…”

The memory faded. Hou Congmeng’s eyes snapped open, wide, staring at the veiled figure before her, at the finger channeling vast spiritual energy. This aura matched the languid figure’s energy from her memory perfectly.
It was her…
The pretty lady?!

The shock briefly overpowered her physical pain. Her lips parted, but Bai Zhou had no intention of letting her speak before finishing. Before she could make a sound, the finger channeling energy pressed ever so slightly harder.
A stronger spiritual current surged into her consciousness sea—not harmful, but carrying a soothing intent. Her mind couldn’t resist the profound force, her eyelids drooping as she slipped back into sleep.

Bai Zhou withdrew her finger, her gaze sweeping over Hou Congmeng’s serene face. The girl, likely fifteen or sixteen, was graceful, though her chest was a bit modest—still better than the “extra fat” on her own.
Centuries ago, it wasn’t like this. Bai Zhou didn’t understand why her “white rabbits” grew with her cultivation. It was unscientific, leading her to abandon spiritual swords in combat.

After her usual grumbling, her eyes drifted from Hou Congmeng’s face to her abdomen. With a light flick of her finger, the fabric parted, revealing a smooth belly.
Her fingers traced the skin, soon pinpointing the蛊 bug’s location, though its position posed a challenge.
“This蛊 bug’s interesting, feeding on emotions. The Blood Soul Sect must’ve invested heavily in such a unique specimen.”

Bai Zhou had put Hou Congmeng back to sleep to suppress emotional fluctuations, preventing the蛊 bug from feeding further.
On reflection, she had no intention of settling scores with the Blood Soul Sect. In fact, she owed them thanks for delivering such a useful puppet, allowing her to leave the Imperial Master’s residence.
But that was separate. If the Blood Soul Sect dared target Ling Qingli, and Ling Qingli wanted to take them down, Bai Zhou wouldn’t stand in her way.

Cultivation was never smooth. A genius’s growth required blood, so she’d leave it to her.
Returning to the蛊 bug, its tricky location forced Bai Zhou to induce dormancy. The priority was extracting it before it woke.
As for the method, Bai Zhou decided to leave the choice to Hou Congmeng.

Hou Congmeng was awakened once more…