Chapter 196 Renshen Reappears
On the vast snow-covered slope, several sleds lined up in a row and broke through the thick snow, carving out a faint white snow track on the cold and beautiful snow mountain.
Su Yuyao wore a colorful long robe, a bearskin cloak, and a deer-head hat. Her waist-length braided hair was adorned with strings of animal bone beads that jingled softly. She stood atop a high sled, solemnly observing the sled caravan clearing the path.
"The snow here is so deep?!" Su Yuyao frowned and asked, turning to the side, "Shubu, how many times is this?"
Shubu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Commander, this is the thirteenth time already. The snow on both sides is already higher than a person's waist, and we still haven't been able to make a path through the stone!"
Su Yuyao shook her head and said, "This isn't a solution. Let Ruixue bring the brothers back! I'll think of something else!"
"Yes, Commander!" With that, Rat Bu leaped up, transformed into a wolf, and ran towards the snow slope.
Su Yuyao held her breath and focused her mind, slowly releasing her Qi field and probing into the snow slope...
It wasn't until Shubu and Ruixue returned with the wolf pack that Su Yuyao opened her eyes, sighed softly, and said to Ruixue and Shubu, "It seems that this way of traversing the road won't work! The snow here is at least three zhang thick, and below that is a layer of rock, and below that rock is a cavity! If we encounter unusual weather, even the slightest vibration in the snow layer will cause the rock layer below to collapse! To be on the safe side, we need to make other plans... Shubu!"
"Present, Commander!"
"Take some men and explore the surrounding area again. Find a road that leads directly to the ridge and avoids this snow slope as much as possible."
"Yes!" Rat Bu accepted the order and led his men away.
Ruixue looked at Su Yuyao, who had a somewhat worried expression, wagged her tail and walked over. She sniffed Su Yuyao's head and was about to open her mouth to suck on Su Yuyao's head when Su Yuyao held her chin.
"Ruixue!" Su Yuyao looked up, put on a smile, and said, "Bai Er is still angry, we need to appease her quickly!"
Ruixue licked Su Yuyao's warm hat, then looked at the tents not far away. In front of the largest warm yellow round tent, Bai Er, wearing a white fur-trimmed cloak, was squatting by the campfire preparing food.
"Bai Er! I'm hungry!" Su Yuyao ran towards Bai Er, pulling her cloak tighter around her neck, and asked with a smile, "What did you make that's delicious?"
Bai Er stood up, curtsied respectfully to Su Yuyao, and said with her head bowed, "The venison soup that this servant has been making will be ready soon..."
Looking at Bai Er, who had been distant from her these past few days, Su Yuyao guiltily helped Bai Er up. Glancing at Bai Er's face, which was seven parts dejection and three parts anger, she said with a grin, "Bai Er, I've been back for so many days! Are you still angry?"
"How dare I..."
"Look at you! Okay! I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have taken Miao'er away secretly. But if I told you I was going to take Miao'er to Xunyin Valley, would you agree?"
Bai Er rolled her eyes and said unhappily, "Miss! You know perfectly well that Xunyin Valley is fraught with danger, yet you still insist on taking Miao'er there?!"
"Look, look! I knew you wouldn't agree, that's why I secretly took Miao'er away!" Su Yuyao grabbed Bai'er's hand and said sadly, "Bai'er, I know Xunyin Valley is dangerous, but Xuanfeng is there. What if... I mean, what if something happens? Xuanfeng might not even have a chance to see Miao'er, so..."
"So you're taking Miao'er on this adventure?!" Bai Er looked up, her eyes red, and said, "Do you know how worried Madam was about you and Miao'er?!"
"And what about you?" Su Yuyao cupped Bai Er's face in her hands, tilted her head to look into Bai Er's eyes, and asked, "Are you worried?"
Bai Er looked at the spirited Su Yuyao in front of her, her eyes red-rimmed, and pouted, saying, "Me? How can I not worry? What if something happens to you and Miao'er? How am I supposed to live?!"
"Are you only worried about us?" Su Yuyao turned Bai Er's face towards Rui Xue behind her. "Aren't you worried about him?"
"Aww!" Ruixue hummed softly, wagged her tail, and came closer, carefully sniffing Bai Er's face.
White Ear's face immediately turned red, and the white ear on the top of its head popped out with a bang! The soft downy fur fell on Ruixue's nose, tickling Ruixue's heart and making Ruixue suddenly show her animal instincts.
Su Yuyao smiled and pushed Bai Er under Ruixue, saying, "I'll watch the soup! You two haven't seen each other for so long, have a good chat!"
Ruixue cautiously cupped her equally cautious white ears with her front paws, nervously licking her nose repeatedly.
But Bai'er had already seen the animal instincts beneath Ruixue's thick belly fur. Blushing, she said, "Whatever you want to say, it's the same here..."
"How can that be the same?!" Su Yuyao turned around and went into the tent, picked up Xuanmiao who was playing with dried fish, and said, "You two go into the tent and talk! Remember, rules are rules, but people are flexible! Fight for yourself, don't leave regrets!"
Bai Er lowered her head, fiddling with her sleeve, her heart pounding. She understood Su Yuyao's meaning, but... what if Her Majesty got angry...?
Ruixue was also hesitant. He was afraid of hurting Bai'er, and even more afraid of putting Su Yuyao in a difficult position, but... he couldn't hold back any longer...
Su Yuyao noticed their awkwardness and winked at Ruixue, saying, "Ruixue, don't overthink it! Bai'er is my person, and you are mine too! I've made the decision!"
Upon hearing this, Ruixue finally made up her mind and nudged Bai'er into the tent with her nose...
Bai Er lay on the couch, her face flushed, looking at Rui Xue and asking shyly, "Rui Xue... is this all...?"
Ruixue sniffed the bright, dazzling ruby on Baier's chest with deep affection, finally unable to contain her excitement, and gently licked her beloved rabbit...
...
Xuanmiao, dressed in a tiger-skin padded jacket and a tiger-skin hat, with her chubby cheeks and big, round eyes, curiously watched the swaying tent. She didn't understand what Aunt Bai'er and Uncle Ruixue were doing, and quickly lost interest in the shaking tent. After playing with the dried fish for a while, she started tugging at Su Yuyao's clothes again.
"Miao'er, are you hungry?" Su Yuyao glanced at the meat soup in the pot, which seemed a little undercooked, so she turned her back, unbuttoned her clothes, and stuffed the broth into Xuanmiao's mouth.
Xuanmiao immediately picked up the bulging nipple and began to suckle. After only a short while, she spat it out, and suspiciously pinched it with her hand—no milk? She poked it with the dried fish in her hand, still no milk!
This time, Xuanmiao wouldn't stand for it. She closed her eyes, opened her mouth wide, straightened her body, and howled, "Ah—! Ah—!"
"Miao'er! What's wrong?" Su Yuyao gently shook Xuanmiao in her arms, put the medicine back into Xuanmiao's mouth, and Xuanmiao ate a few bites with tears in her eyes, then started crying again.
Su Yuyao pinched her breasts. Huh? No milk left?
She moved Xuanmiao to the other side, and Xuanmiao quickly took it in her mouth and sucked on it a few times before starting to cry again.
Su Yuyao pinched both breasts in surprise, only to find that there was no milk left!
"Oh my! You little chubby boy, you can really eat! You ate everything!"
Su Yuyao reluctantly straightened her clothes, picked up Xuanmiao, and tenderly stroked Xuanmiao's face, coaxing her softly, "Miao'er has really grown up, and Mother's milk isn't enough for her anymore! Don't worry, the venison soup will be ready in a little while, and we'll eat the venison and drink the soup..."
As she spoke, a strange sadness welled up in Su Yuyao's heart. She couldn't quite put her finger on it—a feeling of reluctance and loss, as if Miao'er in her arms had completely detached herself from her and was no longer connected to her in any way...
She sighed softly. Miao'er has grown up; she doesn't need me anymore...
"Miss! Why is Miao'er crying? Let me see!" Bai Er rushed out of the tent, tucking in her clothes as she spoke.
Looking at Bai Er's flushed cheeks, Su Yuyao smiled and asked, "Are you done?"
Bai Er's face turned even redder. She touched her damp face, pulled Xuan Miao into her arms, and said, seemingly unrelated to the question, "Miao'er is perfectly fine, why are you crying?"
Su Yuyao suppressed a laugh and glanced at the shy Bai Er, then looked back at the tent. She saw Rui Xue use her wolf head to lift the curtain and wag her tail as she walked out.
"Huh?!" Su Yuyao stared wide-eyed at Ruixue, who was grinning foolishly, then looked at the wet downy hair on Ruixue's abdomen. "You guys are like this...?"
White Ears couldn't hide her ears anymore. This time, her white ears covered her blushing cheeks. She teased Xuanmiao with dried fish, glanced at the silly Ruixue, and said in a coquettish voice, "You're so weak. You can't control your human form when you get excited..."
Ruixue was still drooling and grinning foolishly. He walked to the campfire and slowly lay down, staring at Bai'er and recalling the sweetness of his first taste of forbidden fruit.
"Ah! Ah!" Xuanmiao didn't understand the shyness of adults. Her only instinct was to fill her stomach. She knew that her mother's milk would not be enough to satisfy her hunger. It seemed that she could only eat meat! Xuanmiao, with her little belly sticking out, was restlessly pushing against the soup pot in Bai'er's arms.
Bai Er was still engrossed in exchanging flirtatious glances with Rui Xue, completely oblivious to Xuan Miao, who was starving, in his arms.
Xuanmiao pointed at the soup pot on the campfire while holding up the dried fish, humming, "Mmm! Mmm! Again! Again!"
"Huh? Miao'er! What did you say?" Su Yuyao took Xuanmiao in surprise, touched Xuanmiao's drooling little mouth, and asked with a smile, "What do you want to eat?"
"Ah! Again! I'm so angry!" Xuanmiao twisted her body in frustration and cried out, "Ah! I'm so angry—again!"
The gluttonous Xuanmiao actually spoke up in her eagerness to eat...
Bai Er filled the charcoal stove in the tent with charcoal and said softly, "Miss, it's snowing again outside. We'll have to stay another night!"
"Okay, I understand! Even without wind and snow, we can't go anywhere. The route here will probably have to be changed; we can't follow Xuanfeng's plan!" After saying that, she picked out a piece of meat and put it in her mouth, chewing it carefully.
Xuanmiao sat obediently in Su Yuyao's lap, clutching the dried fish, and quietly watched Su Yuyao's mouth.
Su Yuyao chewed the venison into a paste, and just as she lowered her head to bring her mouth close to Xuanmiao, Xuanmiao eagerly opened his mouth to receive it.
Watching Xuanmiao devour the minced meat, Su Yuyao couldn't help but feel guilty. "Miao'er, I'm so sorry. You've been following me all over the country since you were so young, enduring all kinds of hardships, and now you can't even have a drop of milk..."
"Miss, although our Miao'er has suffered a bit following you, she's gained a strong physique!" Bai'er comforted Su Yuyao, holding a piece of venison to her lips. "When Weiming was Miao'er's age, although he was tall, he wasn't nearly as robust as Miao'er! Besides, Madam doesn't work as hard as you, so her milk supply is naturally better..."
"Hey... Bai Er, I really don't have any breast milk left..." Su Yuyao chewed another bite of minced meat and fed it to Xuan Miao, "There's no goat milk here for Miao'er to drink..."
Suddenly, Bai Er remembered something and grabbed Su Yuyao's arm, saying nervously, "Miss... I heard Aunt Hu say that if you suddenly run out of milk while breastfeeding, it's very likely that... you've had milk again!"
Su Yuyao was stunned. She's pregnant again? No way? How could I...?
Xuanmiao finished smacking her lips with the meat paste, then tilted her head back to wait. Seeing Su Yuyao standing there blankly without any reaction, she called out, "Mom! Again!"
Su Yuyao completely ignored the mystery in her arms, muttering, "No way! How could that be?"
Bai Er was very excited, and holding Su Yuyao's hand, she said with a smile, "How could that not be?! You can't say for sure! When was your last period?"
Su Yuyao frowned and said, "I don't have my period! That's why I said I wouldn't..."
"Oh dear! You'll see when you look!" Bai Er took Xuan Miao out of Su Yu Yao's arms and placed her on a soft cushion to the side. She reached out and pulled open Su Yu Yao's clothes, lifted Su Yu Yao's round breasts, and looked at them for a long time. "Miss, can't you tell from this?"
Su Yuyao pulled her clothes together and said, "I told you I couldn't tell! I've been breastfeeding! It's just that my milk suddenly stopped these past few days... Hey? Bai Er! Stop!"
Bai Er was still not giving up. She untied Su Yuyao's belt and touched Su Yuyao's round and plump belly.
Bai Er stared wide-eyed in surprise, then exclaimed with a mixture of shock and delight, "Miss! Your belly is round and firm! You must really be pregnant!"
Su Yuyao said in surprise, "Maybe... I've gained weight!"
Bai Er laughed and said, "Whether you're pregnant or just gained weight, we'll find out in a few days! But just in case, please, please don't overexert yourself these days!"
Xuanmiao sat on the cushion, impatiently watching the meat in the pot. She tossed the dried fish around and shouted angrily, "Mom! I'm angry again!"
Bai Er helped Su Yuyao straighten her clothes and said softly, "Miss, we had no experience before and didn't know anything. Now we have to be extra careful with this pregnancy!"
"Ah! Again! Again!" Xuanmiao cried out as she climbed to the edge of the pot, clutching the dried fish.
"Bai Er! Don't talk nonsense! I just gave birth to Miao'er, and I don't want to have another child so soon!" Su Yuyao was very resistant to having children.
"Miss, this is wonderful!" Bai Er exclaimed, eager for the new life to begin. "Although you and the Lord weren't formally married in the Heavenly Palace, you were engaged in the Wolf Clan! In that case, what's wrong with having more children?"
"What's so good about it... it's not good at all!" Su Yuyao said in frustration.
Seeing Su Yuyao's embarrassed and annoyed expression, Bai Er covered her mouth and chuckled, "Miss! You and the master are always right..."
"White Ear! Don't talk nonsense..."
Xuanmiao looked up at Bai Er, who was teasing Su Yuyao, and Su Yuyao being teased by Bai Er. Then she looked at the pot of venison. She couldn't wait any longer, so she clumsily reached the dried fish in her hand into the pot.
"Again! I'm so angry!"
Xuanmiao used her instinct for eating to unleash amazing wisdom. She stirred the steaming venison in the pot with dried fish, occasionally prying it up. In just a few moments, she scooped out a small piece of venison, which bounced onto her clothes. Xuanmiao quickly let go of the dried fish, grabbed the venison, and stuffed it into her mouth.
"Oh dear! Miao'er, why did you put dried fish in the pot?!" A fishy smell wafted over, and Bai'er noticed the dried fish floating in the soup pot. She quickly picked it out and threw it aside. She tasted the venison soup that had been tainted by the dried fish with a spoon. Strange? Why does it smell so fishy, but taste nothing strange?
Su Yuyao picked up Xuanmiao, wiping her wet little hands with a handkerchief as she said with a blush, "Bai'er, don't tell anyone this time, because it's not certain yet..."
"Please rest assured, Miss! I won't say anything carelessly. Everyone will see the truth in time! However," Bai Er narrowed his eyes in thought, "I need to tell Rui Xue first and ask him to be careful and make sure nothing goes wrong!"
"Bai Er! Don't tell Rui Xue!" Su Yuyao quickly stopped her. "You silly girl! If you tell him, it's the same as telling everyone!"
"Miss, I was just worried!" Bai Er stammered, her head bowed. "Before... that one didn't stay... I'm afraid..."
Seeing Bai Er's guilty expression, Su Yuyao knew that Bai Er was still feeling guilty about her first miscarriage, so she smiled and said, "Bai Er, you're like this again. I've already said that child is not meant for me and is destined not to stay! What's meant to be mine will be mine! Look at Miao'er... eh?"
Su Yuyao looked at Xuanmiao in her arms in surprise, "Miao'er... what's wrong?"
She gently tugged at Xuanmiao's limp body, pulled at Xuanmiao's weak little chubby hand, and then lifted Xuanmiao's little face, only to find in horror that Xuanmiao's lips were parted in a dark purple and her eyes were rolling back!
"Ah! What's wrong with Miao'er?!" Bai Er cried out in alarm.
Su Yuyao panicked when she saw Xuanmiao's face gradually turning pale!
She tried to calm her panicked mind, hugged the limp Xuanmiao tightly, opened her palms to concentrate her energy, and tried to use her Qi to probe in, just like Xuanfeng. However, Su Yuyao was too flustered to calm down, let alone release her Qi.
Su Yuyao clenched her trembling hands, closed her eyes to stabilize her Qi field, what to do... what should I do... Xuan Feng...
"Help! Help!" Bai Er exclaimed in fright, his eyes wide as he ran out in a panic to seek help.
Boom! A plume of black smoke exploded behind Su Yuyao, transforming into a tall, slender man dressed in black night clothes, with his black hair tied up high and a cold, fair complexion.
Su Yuyao looked at the man, her expression a mixture of fear, astonishment, shock, anger, and relief! She grasped at this lifeline, choking back tears as she pleaded, "Renshen, save Miao'er..."
Ren Shen knelt on one knee, solemnly taking Xuan Miao from him. He turned Xuan Miao over and placed him on his arm, supporting Xuan Miao's chin with his palm. He frowned and pressed Xuan Miao's shoulder blades repeatedly. Xuan Miao gagged twice, but it did not help at all.
Ren Shen thought for a moment, then opened his palm. A thin wisp of pale gray Qi flowed from his palm and slowly seeped into Xuan Miao's body.
Su Yuyao stared blankly, devoid of any emotion. She couldn't describe her feelings; it was as if everything had stopped, and everything before her was a dream—unreal, too illusory, too terrifying!
Ren Shen carefully controlled the flow of Qi, gathering it towards Xuanmiao's throat, gently and slowly searching for the direction, pushing it outward little by little.
Suddenly, Xuanmiao's throat moved, and a piece of venison mixed with meat paste and gastric juices spurted out of Xuanmiao's mouth.
Ren Shen finally breathed a sigh of relief, and then carefully used his fingers to clean the remaining food from Xuan Miao's mouth.
After a while, Xuanmiao stretched out her little hands and made some humming and chirping sounds.
Ren Shen then straightened Xuan Miao, lifted his robe, and carefully wiped Xuan Miao's mouth and the soiled front of his shirt.
Su Yuyao's mind went blank. She slumped to the ground, staring blankly at Xuanmiao, who was gradually waking up in Renshen's arms.
Xuanmiao shook her head slightly, slowly opened her eyes, her grape-like black pupils unfocused, darting aimlessly around in their sockets. Her pale purple lips parted and closed, uttering a weak sound, "Mmm...Ah...Mom..."
Su Yuyao was still in shock, but upon hearing the mysterious voice, her maternal instincts instantly awakened her.
"Miao'er!" She reached out and took Xuanmiao from Renshen's arms, stroking Xuanmiao's face as it gradually regained its color. The weight that had been pressing on her chest finally lifted, and tears streamed down her face...
"Miss! Miss! Rat Bu is here!" Bai Er's anxious voice rushed into the tent. "Where's Miao'er? How is she...?"
...
Inside the tent, the fireplace sparked, and Su Yuyao sat cross-legged on the cushion with a solemn expression, holding the sleeping Xuanmiao in her arms.
She lowered her eyes slightly, her voice clear and cold, her aura chilling, "Bai Er, don't worry, Miao'er is fine."
Ruixue rushed to Su Yuyao's side, following behind Bai'er, and asked anxiously, "Ningbao! What's wrong with Ling'er?"
Shubu followed closely behind Ruixue, frowning as he craned his neck to look at Xuanmiao, who was fast asleep in Su Yuyao's arms. "Commander! Is Ling'er in any danger?"
Su Yuyao did not respond, but Xuanmiao's soft snoring gradually relaxed everyone's tense nerves.
Su Yuyao gently patted Xuanmiao, slowly raised her eyelids, and her sharp, sword-like gaze bypassed the anxious and confused Ruixue, bypassed the relieved Bai'er, and bypassed the worried but still calm Shubu, finally fixing on the tall and thin figure by the tent.
Ruixue, Baier, and Shubu all noticed Su Yuyao's unusual gaze. They all followed Su Yuyao's gaze to Renshen, who was standing obediently against the tent with his hands down and his eyebrows lowered.
"Awooo—!" Without hesitation, Ruixue immediately transformed into wolf form, protecting Su Yuyao in front of her, glaring at Renshen, and issuing a warning with a low growl.
When Shu Bu saw Ren Shen, he was startled. He immediately drew his bamboo sword and held it to Ren Shen's chest, shouting, "Guards!"
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