The Aloof Immortal Venerable is Pregnant with My Fox Cub - Chapter 78

Chapter 78

A single door separated them, and the knock sounded unusually crisp in their ears. Cang Ran, who was currently pressing against Tan Qingxuan and kissing her, felt her heart leap nervously.

Her hand caressed Tan Qingxuan’s cool cheek. Her soft tongue was still sucking on Tan Qingxuan’s tongue tip but was gently pushed away by Tan Qingxuan.

Tan Qingxuan’s eyes motioned for Cang Ran to respond. Cang Ran’s breathing was ragged. She rubbed her hot forehead against Tan Qingxuan’s cheek and pointed to her own moist lips.

The air was filled with the sweet, seductive scent that Cang Ran emitted. Cultivators’ senses are stronger than ordinary people’s, and Tan Qingxuan didn’t want anyone else to smell it.

Her eyes fixed on Cang Ran. She extended a cool, slender fingertip and gently stroked Cang Ran’s lips a couple of times, silently urging Cang Ran to speak.

Cang Ran’s heart tickled from the caress. She lightly kissed Tan Qingxuan’s fingertip and then spoke towards the door, “Got it, we’ll be right there.”

Hearing the footsteps retreat, Cang Ran rested her head against Tan Qingxuan’s forehead, rubbing her gently, and whispered, “Just a little longer.”

Tan Qingxuan’s fingertip felt slightly numb from the cool kiss. The little fox seemed to have learned this trick from somewhere, and she found it a little hard to resist.

Tan Qingxuan’s hand stroked Cang Ran’s nape and found that her neck was sweaty. Her cool fingertip lightly traced it, causing Cang Ran to shiver slightly.

Cang Ran locked her arms around Tan Qingxuan’s waist. Tan Qingxuan lowered her eyes and lightly kissed Cang Ran, considering it a form of appeasement.

Cang Ran’s lips curled up from the kiss, and she happily returned the embrace.

Only when she was satisfied with the kissing did she take Tan Qingxuan’s hand and leave the room with her.

Everyone was already standing on the deck, and the nearest coast was only a few dozen miles away.

Standing on the deck and looking out, there was an extremely long strait in the middle of Quick-sand Island, as if it had been carved by a knife and an axe, but not completely severed. The rocks along the shore were jagged, and the two sides of the island looked like the cracked shells of a large crab.

They moored the ship on the shore. The area was lush and full of life with abundant aquatic plants. Not far away, a row of fluffy gray-brown capybaras (shui tún) was passing by.

Every single one was short-limbed, thick-furred, and plump, looking robust yet foolish. They lined up, noses pointed to the sky, each with a small, orange tangerine perched on its head.

The moment they stepped onto the ground, everyone felt a chill rise up from the soles of their feet, as if they were stepping on cold ice. Upon landing, a pattern of ice cracks seemed to spread outwards.

It was early autumn when they arrived, and everyone was lightly dressed without warm clothing. Although cultivators have spiritual energy for protection, the cold here was different; it could directly penetrate spiritual energy, making people shiver involuntarily.

The climate here was dry, similar to the damp cold of the Cold Moon Mountain they had visited before. Cang Ran, having a fire spirit root, was naturally not afraid of the severe cold. She held Tan Qingxuan’s hand and asked, “Are you cold?”

Tan Qingxuan’s cultivation was already profound, and she was carrying a small fire fox cub in her belly, “It was a little cold at first, but the little cub, even in its dormant state, knows its mother is cold and radiates heat. Now, it’s actually a bit too warm.”

The little fox cub’s fire spirit root was even stronger than her mother’s. Tan Qingxuan felt as if she were carrying a permanently warm hot water bottle. Her palms were sweating—an experience she hadn’t had in many years.

Cang Ran touched Tan Qingxuan’s hand and realized Tan Qingxuan’s hand was indeed warmer than hers. Her eyes smiled, and she said softly, “What a good cub. Mother will kiss it properly tonight.”

Tan Qingxuan couldn’t help but give her a reproving look. Over here, Lin Mingyue and Shen Yunyan were hugging tightly, and they pulled the shivering Yun Muyu into their embrace as well. Shui Shaoyi stood alone, looking down and rubbing her cold, numb hands.

Shen Yunyan noticed Shui Shaoyi’s pitiful state and was considering whether to offer her one of the extra clothes she had brought when Elder Qu, having taken a few gulps of hot wine, handed her wine gourd to Shui Shaoyi.

The hot, spicy wine burned Shui Shaoyi’s cheeks red. She immediately felt no coldness at all. Her exposed skin was scorched red, like a fully cooked large shrimp.

“Let them drink some too. This spirit wine can ward off the cold. I even added a thousand-year-old ginseng root, guaranteed to replenish your vital energy, young people. You won’t feel cold after drinking it,” Elder Qu said happily from the side.

Shui Shaoyi was clearly not good with alcohol. After two sips, she felt dizzy. She braced her hands on her knees, bowed her head for a moment, and then handed the wine gourd to Shen Yunyan.

Shen Yunyan took the wine gourd and couldn’t help but whisper, “Are you alright? You can’t handle just two sips?”

Shui Shaoyi’s eyes were misty, and her beautiful, clear face looked blurry. She shook her head, “I’m fine. I can manage.”

Shen Yunyan felt awkward. Seeing Shui Shaoyi still trying to act tough, she couldn’t reach out to support her, but her words were sharp, “Serves you right, who told you to drink so much.”

She hastily drank two sips to warm herself up and passed the wine gourd to Lin Mingyue, secretly observing Shui Shaoyi, afraid she would really pass out on the ground.

Lin Mingyue and Yun Muyu also drank the wine. After three sips, their bodies warmed up, and they all turned into a row of little red people, making Elder Qu laugh heartily from the side.

After drinking the spirit wine, everyone’s condition significantly improved, and they stopped huddling together.

Cang Ran looked around and took out the jade slip she brought, saying, “I read the jade slip given by Sect Master Zuo when I came. Everyone who came here a hundred years ago said this place was scorching hot with yellow sand everywhere. Why has it changed so much now, and why are there animals living here?”

Elder Qu nodded slightly and said delightedly, “The environment on the island has changed so much. It’s highly likely that this island is special and the flowing secret realm has never left. The probability of us finding the secret realm this time is very high.

Let’s all hurry and search before dark. We’ve already lost five days on the way, and we don’t have much time left. We need to hurry.”

Tan Qingxuan said, “Let’s split into two teams to look out for each other. Elder Qu has refined a special communication jade token for everyone. Wear it, and send a message immediately if you encounter any trouble.”

Cang Ran nodded, “Then can the Venerable and I be one team, and Elder Qu and the others be the second team?”

Elder Qu agreed, “Yes, that works well. If anyone has any issues, contact the others immediately.”

Everyone received a white jade token. Elder Qu also poured several large bowls of her freshly brewed ginseng spirit wine for everyone to store in their storage artifacts. If their body felt frozen, they could drink a mouthful to dispel the cold.

Not long after they separated, Yun Muyu’s team collectively stepped into a patch of quicksand.

The sinking quicksand sucked all five of them in. Even Elder Qu, a Great Vehicle stage cultivator, stumbled and fell into the trap.

The quicksand’s flow rate instantly accelerated. All their spiritual energy and techniques in the quicksand were like clay oxen entering the sea—completely ineffective.

Elder Qu used a special technique to instantly move, but could only pull her body out. She lay prone on the sand to slow her descent. With both hands, she grabbed the collars of Yun Muyu and Lin Mingyue. Seeing Shen Yunyan and Shui Shaoyi also about to sink, she hooked them with her long legs around their waists.

Shen Yunyan and Shui Shaoyi were startled at first and struggled violently, finding that they were sinking deeper and deeper. They were about to be submerged up to their noses when the Elder Qu’s long legs hooked their belts and lifted them slightly. They quickly hugged Elder Qu’s thighs and calmed down.

Poor Elder Qu, at her advanced age, had to be used as a life-saving raft by four young girls. Fortunately, her limbs were long enough to drag four people at once.

She tried to use her technique again to pull the four girls out together, but the resistance was too great. After great effort, she managed to lift everyone slightly and quickly sent a message to Cang Ran and Tan Qingxuan using the communication artifact.

Just then, a group of capybaras walked over Elder Qu, stepping on her head one by one, nearly causing Elder Qu to sink further.

The quicksand flow became faster and faster. Even Elder Qu was beginning to sink. Seeing that she was about to lose her grip on the other four people, Elder Qu grit her teeth.

Cang Ran and Tan Qingxuan rushed over after receiving the distress call and found the usually dashing Elder Qu covered in dirt, lying prone in the sand. She struggled to lift her head to prevent sand from entering her nose and mouth. Her dark green robe was stained with many gray, starfish-shaped paw prints.

Shui Shaoyi and the other three looked like radishes planted in the sand, with only their heads exposed. Their faces were pale, and they seemed on the verge of collapsing.

Cang Ran quickly pulled them up. She pulled Yun Muyu and Lin Mingyue, while Tan Qingxuan pulled Shui Shaoyi and Shen Yunyan. After great effort, they finally managed to pull these people out of the sand.

After being pulled out of the quicksand, everyone was still terrified, like silly radishes. Under Cang Ran’s sheer brute force, Lin Mingyue, whose cultivation was higher and body was tougher, was fine. However, Yun Muyu’s arm was pulled out of its socket.

Yun Muyu was on the verge of tears. She endured the pain for a long time but couldn’t bear it anymore. She said to Tan Qingxuan, “Master, Shimu seems to have dislocated my arm. It hurts so much.”

Cang Ran was startled, “It dislocated that easily?”

Tan Qingxuan glanced at Cang Ran and reset Yun Muyu’s joint, “Use less force next time. She is only at the Foundation Establishment stage and only sixteen years old. She cannot handle your rough behavior.”

Cang Ran was full of apologies. She handed a spirit elixir to Yun Muyu, “I’m sorry. Shimu will be careful next time. This is a Vital Energy Pill; take it to nourish your body.”

After being treated, Yun Muyu’s arm could move again. She did not accept Cang Ran’s elixir, “I’m fine. It doesn’t hurt anymore. Thank you, Shimu, for saving me just now.”

Cang Ran had no choice but to take back the elixir. Looking at Yun Muyu’s fragile physique, she couldn’t help but wonder how she became the invincible protagonist of the book in the later stages. Could it really be entirely due to relying on Tan Qingxuan, the Grand Master?

Cang Ran looked at Tan Qingxuan. Tan Qingxuan looked back at her. Her cool gaze was deep, carrying a hint of reproach.

Cang Ran couldn’t help but wonder if she was too rough when she and Tan Qingxuan were intimate, making Tan Qingxuan constantly call her crude. But Tan Qingxuan seemed to enjoy it! Why was she looking at her like that?

Elder Qu climbed out of the quicksand pit herself and dusted off her clothes, “It seems we must stick together from now on. This place is too dangerous. There may be more than one quicksand trap, and cultivators can’t use their techniques inside. If no one finds us, we might end up as nourishment for this island.”

Shen Yunyan stepped forward and said, “I just saw that group of capybaras could pass through. The quicksand has no effect on them. How about I try to persuade them to carry us?”

Everyone looked at Shen Yunyan with surprise. Shen Yunyan was a little embarrassed, “My ancestors included beast tamers, and some taming methods have been passed down. Therefore, I can communicate with simple-minded beasts. Wait for me here; I will try. I should be able to do it.”

Having received everyone’s agreement, Shen Yunyan quickly ran off to catch up with the team of capybaras that had just passed by.

Cang Ran, watching from afar, only saw Shen Yunyan talking to the capybaras. Then she took out a small square box from her storage artifact, pulled out some bait-like substance from inside, and fed it to the capybaras.

After eating the bait together, the capybaras’ round little ears kept twitching, and their eyes became hazy. Shen Yunyan spoke to the capybaras for a while in their chirping language. The capybaras gathered around her, also making chirping sounds.

Before long, the group of capybaras left. Shen Yunyan smiled and quickly walked back.

Under everyone’s expectant gaze, Shen Yunyan said happily, “They have agreed to help! Since they are only the juveniles of the tribe, they need to find the adult capybaras from their tribe to carry us. So, we have to wait a moment. We also need to help them solve a problem.”

Lin Mingyue asked curiously, “What problem?”

Shen Yunyan said, “Their tribe accidentally came out of a place full of trees and can’t go back. They inexplicably landed on this island and have been living here. There was originally a group of vicious marmots (chá) on the island. The capybaras couldn’t defeat the marmots, and their cold-jade watermelon field was stolen by the marmots a while ago. We need to help them get it back.

I see that they aren’t very intelligent, so I figure the marmots can’t be very strong, so I accepted the job.”

Yun Muyu said admiringly, “I saw you feed them something just now. Is that a special secret recipe for your beast tamers?”

Shen Yunyan showed everyone the contents of the small square box in her hand, “We have a special kind of grass in my hometown, commonly known as Beast Grass. Many animals love to eat it. My ancestors added this Beast Grass to the bait, combined with the beast-taming technique, which allows these beasts to be willing to talk with us for a while.”

Cang Ran and Tan Qingxuan exchanged glances. The flowing secret realm was most likely right here.

These capybaras were very likely to have accidentally strayed into the flowing secret realm from somewhere else. They stayed inside for a period, were expelled by the secret realm, and ended up on the current Quick-sand Island.

The reason they could walk freely on the quicksand was likely because they had eaten some spirit fruits inside the secret realm, gaining a special ability to survive on Quick-sand Island.

Before long, seven large capybaras, led by a small one, arrived with great fanfare. Well, it wasn’t that grand, given their cute appearance and calm, unconcerned expressions as they slowly waddled over.

The adult capybaras were enlarged versions of the juveniles, about the size of a teenage wild pig. The small capybara and Shen Yunyan communicated in chirps again. Shen Yunyan took out the bait and fed some to each pig—ahem, each adult capybara.

The large capybaras all made chirping sounds, their round little ears twitching constantly. They rubbed against Shen Yunyan’s arm, nearly knocking her over.

Shen Yunyan stood straight and was the first to ride one of the large capybaras. She waved to the crowd, “We’re all set. Let’s ride the capybaras and first help them get justice. They will serve as our mounts for the duration of our time on the island.”

After saying this, she couldn’t help but laugh. After being a sword cultivator for so many years, this was the first time she was doing justice for capybaras.

The capybaras squatted there, waiting for them to mount. Cang Ran helped Tan Qingxuan onto one large capybara. The capybara was very docile and didn’t shake at all. Cang Ran mounted another large capybara, protecting Tan Qingxuan by riding beside her.

The capybara’s fur felt a bit coarse to the touch, but it was comfortable to ride. Even when passing over obvious quicksand traps, it felt like walking on solid ground, stable and secure.

The feeling was like riding a baby’s rocking car—the speed was neither fast nor slow, but extremely reassuring.

The group rode the large capybaras towards the cold-jade melon field. A group of large, fat marmots was lying on watermelons, shamelessly resting and eating the melons in the field.

In the early evening, as the sky darkened and the moon rose, the shadows of their group descended, long and cold, falling mercilessly upon the plump bodies of the fat marmots.

One large marmot alertedly straightened up, turned its head, and saw two terrifying, blazing balls of strange fire appear in a woman’s palm.

The terrifying woman had fox ears and five large, dancing fox tails, accompanied by six cold-looking guards.

He, the large fat marmot, had never seen such a terrifying sight in his life.

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