Chapter 560: Chapter 535: Bright Candle Kunlun

The drizzle fell softly, the west wind swept the road.

As night deepened, guests within the small inn dispersed one by one, leaving the not-so-bustling hall somewhat desolate.

Songs come to an end, as must all meetings of chance.

Not to mention mere fleeting encounters with strangers on the road.

Baili An’s supper had ended, and as the woman got up to leave, she glanced indifferently at the dark Ancient Sword behind Baili An and casually remarked,

“Young man, that sword of yours seems quite fine.”

The little White Tiger gnawing on a bone in Baili An’s embrace lifted its gaze thoughtfully.

The woman’s two guards also turned with curiosity, their expressions subtly changed as they looked at the Ancient Sword behind Baili An before quickly bowing their heads again.

Before Baili An could respond, the woman had already crossed the yellow wooden threshold and climbed into the carriage that had been waiting quietly outside.

The night breeze blew as the carriage slowly made its way along the streets of the border city, the clear sound of horse hooves gradually disappearing into the tranquility of the night.

With a light rain beginning, the carriage curtains fluttered lightly; beyond the thin gauze, one could vaguely see the shadow of the person inside, lighting a lamp to fend off the cold night.

From ancient towns to distant mountains, all remained unchanged.

Yet everything seemed incredibly distant under the night sky to the carriage riding the night, with years of dust and the Mortal World’s fireworks all drifting away beneath the sparse window and cold curtains.

The light curtain, filled with the dim moonlight, rustled suddenly, and a small tiger with fur as white as snow tinged with faint ink stains pushed open the curtain and jumped onto the woman’s lap.

Its paws, still greasy, left several oily prints on her clean, green clothes.

The woman brushed away the grease from its little paws and her clothes with a graceful touch, then lightly flicked the little tiger’s head with her fingers.

Her voice was indifferent, betraying no emotion, “Had enough fun?”

The little mountain lord’s tail hung by the woman’s leg, neither shaking nor swinging; she said softly with a hint of coquettishness, “Mother~”

Cang Nanyi glanced at the tip of her tail, which wasn’t shaped like a heart nor curled anymore; she casually tied a knot in the little mountain lord’s tail and raised an eyebrow, “You usually play alone, so what made you become so fond of that young man?”

The little mountain lord turned to look at her own tail, her eyes filled with grievance, then she immediately transformed back into human form and leaned against the window sill, the breeze touching her youthful face as she said, “Mother, do you intend to take him back to Kunlun?”

Cang Nanyi pondered, “It’s not a bad idea.”

After a pause filled with subtle silence, the little mountain lord spoke again, her tone carrying a hint of caution, “Mother, he is a corpse demon. Why would you want to bring him back to the Kunlun Ruins?”

The girl leaned against the window, her clothing notably thin, making her appearance seem lonelier.

Cang Nanyi looked at her and said, “I thought you’d like him a lot, but it turns out, do you not wish for him to be your brother?”

The little mountain lord turned back with a smile, erasing the loneliness from just a moment ago as if it were merely an illusion, “Mother already has a daughter, and I fear you wouldn’t be good at raising a son.”

Cang Nanyi feigned a peculiar expression and chuckled, lightly pinching the little mountain lord’s nose, “I’ve read Qing Xuan’s storybooks and thought only children in the Mortal World would be jealous when their parents brought home new siblings, fearing a loss of affection. Could it be that my Jun’er is also bound by such commonality?”

The little mountain lord squinted her eyes like a lazy cat and rubbed her nose against her fingertip, “Mother is mine alone. If you were to dote on him, to love him, Jun’er would be so sad she may want to kill.”

Cang Nanyi raised her eyebrows with a smile, “Since when have you become so domineering?”

In Kunlun as a deity, she was accustomed to living in her elegant, solitary green years; she never pondered deeply about how to be a good wife or mother.

Perhaps it was her carefree and spontaneous nature that influenced the little mountain lord she raised, who over time became detached and estranged, losing the vivacity and willfulness of youth.

Compared to the other children her age in the mountains, she inevitably seemed much more isolative and difficult to deal with.

There wasn’t much time for her to accompany her, and taking disciples on a whim was just an attempt to find someone to grow up with her.

It wasn’t as if the little one clung to her too much on usual days, so this sudden possessiveness was rather inexplicable.

Cang Nanyi pondered deeply and felt it was her negligence towards her daughter that led her to miss how sensitive her heart had become.

Indeed, every little tiger has a strong sense of territory, and hers… after all, was born with Tusk.

The little mountain lord momentarily withdrew the smile at the corner of her lips and looked into Cang Nanyi’s eyes, saying, “Mother wants to bring him back to Kunlun for a profound reason, but do you think, truly, that he suits Kunlun?”

Cang Nanyi’s eyes darkened for a moment, silently looking at her.

The fine, mist-like rain drifted into the carriage, and delicate droplets gathered on the slender eyelashes of the girl, making her features even more distinct.

“At least, he isn’t suited to be the Son of Kunlun.”

The curtains fluttered in the night rain, and Cang Nanyi looked out of the carriage at the city engulfed by wind and rain, her voice as light and fleeting as the rain, “You’re right, before seeing this young man, indeed, I had the intention to bring him back to Kunlun, but after the meal just now, I’ve changed my mind.”

The little mountain lord’s eyes flickered, and she fell silent.

Cang Nanyi sighed lightly, with a touch of regret, “He’s different from those children of the past. This young man’s eyes are too pure, not what a corpse demon could possess. Since he could choose the Heavenly Strategy Jun Mountain, it means that he is vastly unalike from everyone else.”