Transmigrating into the world of Jade Dynasty, I was targeted by the female lead in a reverse romanc

Xiaozhufeng.

I don't need to bring much: a few changes of clothes, some pills, a few handy magical artifacts, and some odds and ends.

With a touch of his hand, Jiang Xiaochuan caused the objects to disappear into thin air and be stored in a storage space that only he could sense. From the outside, the two of them were still traveling light, with Lu Xueqi still carrying Tianya on her back and Mo Xue hanging at her waist.

In the courtyard, Xiaobai held a child in each arm, with Yunzhou on her left and Yueyao on her right.

The two little children seemed to know that their parents were going on a long trip, and they were especially clingy. Their little hands tightly gripped Xiaobai's clothes, and their big, dark eyes looked longingly at Jiang Xiaochuan and Lu Xueqi. They didn't cry or make a fuss, but their little faces were enough to melt anyone's heart.

Lu Xueqi walked up to Xiaobai, squatted down, and first gently touched Yunzhou's face, then touched Yueyao. Her movements were a little clumsy, but very gentle. The two children babbled and stretched out their little hands, trying to grab her fingers.

"Thank you for your hard work, Xiaobai." Lu Xueqi looked up at Xiaobai and said very seriously.

Xiao Bai smiled faintly, a smile that carried a hint of laziness and an indescribable meaning.

She hefted the child in her arms and said, "Don't worry, leave the child to me, after all..."

She paused, her gaze sweeping lightly across Jiang Xiaochuan's face before returning to Lu Xueqi's. Her tone was casual as she said, "I'm still their godmother."

Lu Xueqi hummed in agreement, said nothing more, stood up, and turned to leave.

Xiao Bai's voice came from behind, very soft, with a hint of nonchalance, yet it was like a needle hidden in its throat:

"Xueqi".

Lu Xueqi turned around and looked at her.

Xiao Bai was still holding the child, gently patting Yue Yao's back with one hand, but her gaze was fixed on Lu Xueqi's face, with a faint, elusive smile on her lips.

"Is it dangerous to go this time?" she asked casually.

"Unknown," Lu Xueqi replied briefly.

"Oh." Xiaobai nodded, lowered her head and rubbed her chin against Yunzhou's soft hair, her voice even softer, "Then... you'll protect him, right?"

This is not a question, but a statement, yet it carries an invisible pressure.

Lu Xueqi looked at her for two seconds before slowly speaking, her voice calm and even: "He is my husband."

"I know."

Xiao Bai smiled, and a hint of genuine bitterness finally appeared in that smile.

"That's why I asked. After all, you're quite fierce when it comes to protecting your food."

She raised her head, looking directly into Lu Xueqi's eyes, no longer concealing the complex emotions in them.

There was concern, worry, resentment, and a very faint hint of provocation that even she herself might not have noticed.

"But sometimes, protecting too much can actually cause injury."

Xiao Bai spoke slowly, her fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of Yue Yao's baby hair.

"It's like holding sand; the tighter you grip it, the faster it slips away."

Lu Xueqi's gaze turned almost imperceptibly cold for a moment. She didn't speak, but just quietly looked at Xiaobai, and the icy aura around her seemed to solidify even more.

The courtyard was eerily quiet, with only the rustling of bamboo leaves in the wind and the soft humming of the two children.

Jiang Xiaochuan stood to the side, feeling a chill run down his spine. He could sense the silent, tense atmosphere between the two women.

He tried to smooth things over, opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

After a long pause, Lu Xueqi finally spoke, her voice still calm, yet each word as clear as an ice bead falling to the ground:

"My sand, I hold it in my hand. Whether it flows or not, and how it flows, is up to me."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over the two children in Xiaobai's arms before returning to Xiaobai's face, and added:

"I trust you with the child, but I will bring the person back myself, safely and unharmed."

Xiao Bai's smile faded. She looked at Lu Xueqi for a long time before finally managing a weak, resigned smile, something else entirely.

"That would be best," she whispered, then lowered her head, no longer looking at Lu Xueqi, focusing only on playing with the child in her arms, as if the brief but fierce exchange had never happened.

Lu Xueqi didn't linger. Jiang Xiaochuan glanced at Xiaobai, then at Lu Xueqi's back, and finally quickly followed after her.

Before stepping onto the flying sword, he couldn't help but turn back and glance at Xiaobai one last time.

Xiao Bai stood under the eaves, holding the child. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, casting dappled shadows on her. She lowered her head slightly, her profile soft, her gaze tenderly fixed on the infant's face, as if the sharp-tongued woman from before was merely an illusion.

But Jiang Xiaochuan knew that it wasn't an illusion.

That was Xiaobai, the one who waited for him for many years, and in the end could only remain in his life as his "godmother." She was the fire in his heart that had never been extinguished, silently burning in a corner where no one could see.

His heart ached, and he dared not look any longer. He turned around and hugged Lu Xueqi tightly around the waist.

The light of the Tianya Sword shot into the sky.

Xiao Bai raised her head and looked at the azure streak of light that quickly disappeared into the horizon. The gentleness on her face gradually faded, turning into a blank silence.

In her arms, Yueyao stretched out her hand, trying to grab a strand of her hair that had fallen down.

Xiao Bai lowered her head, looked at her daughter's eyebrows and eyes, which resembled Jiang Xiaochuan's, and sighed very softly.

"Come back safely..." she whispered, seemingly to no one in particular.

"Otherwise, what should I do?"

The last sentence was so faint it was blown away by the wind, and no one heard it.

……

The two went to bid farewell to Shuiyue. Shuiyue was meditating in the quiet room. When she saw them arrive, she opened her eyes.

"Master," Lu Xueqi bowed.

Jiang Xiaochuan also bowed.

Shuiyue's gaze swept over the two faces before landing on Jiang Xiaochuan: "This journey is dangerous. Your cultivation is decent, but you lack experience in combat. Always stay behind Xueqi and don't be reckless."

Jiang Xiaochuan chirped, "I'm not weak either..."

Shuiyue glanced at him: "The ninth level of Jade Purity is not weak, but how many times have you actually fought? The last time you went down the mountain was three years ago."

Jiang Xiaochuan fell silent.

Lu Xueqi smiled and took his hand, saying to Shuiyue, "Master, don't worry, I will protect him."

Shuiyue nodded, glanced at Jiang Xiaochuan again, and waved her hand: "Go on, come back soon, the child is still young."

"Yes."

The two left the quiet room. Lu Xueqi rode Tianya, and Jiang Xiaochuan leaped onto it, stood in front of her, turned around, and hugged her waist.

The Tianya Sword shone with a deep blue light, soaring into the sky. Jiang Xiaochuan buried his face in the crook of her neck and took a deep breath; it was her pleasant scent.

"Yes, it's not weak." Lu Xueqi suddenly spoke, her voice carrying a hint of amusement.

"Who was crying and begging me for forgiveness in bed last night?"

Jiang Xiaochuan's face flushed red, and he buried his head even deeper, muttering, "...Shut up."

Lu Xueqi chuckled softly, her chest vibrating, the sound reaching him. He tightened his arms around her, his face pressed against her clothes, the fabric soft, her skin warm beneath, his heartbeat steady.

The wind whistled in his ears, and the clouds churned beneath his feet. He closed his eyes and suddenly felt that this was good too.