Chapter 16

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Looking at that eager little face, so filial and devoted.
Those unaware might think it was an offering of the rarest delicacies—dragon liver and phoenix marrow... Dragon liver aside, more phoenix marrow, please.
A transcendent cultivator’s keen sense of smell caught the sweet, innocent scent of milk, and glancing at the little one saturated in that milky fragrance, Ao Qing struggled to maintain an air of dignity in front of his sect peers, sternly scolding, “Nonsense.”
After all, presenting milk cakes to such a venerable elder was a bit too childish.
Yet, seeing Yu Youyou’s utterly affectionate demeanor, the elder in the blue robe bent down and took the milk cake in his hand.
“It’s hot,” the little one urged him to eat it while warm.
Though Ao Qing harbored some concern about seeking someone in the western realm of the cultivation world, witnessing this scene brought smiles to everyone present.
The blue-robed man remained silent.
The elder’s dignity was clearly on the line.
“Be good, wait for me to come back, and I’ll take you out for a walk,” Ao Qing said, swallowing the milk cake laden with fragrance in one bite. He hummed to himself, finding the sect kitchen’s pastry unexpectedly delicious, then sternly rubbed Yu Youyou’s little head.
If he said he’d take her out when he returned, that meant he liked her.
The little one’s eyes sparkled as she quickly nodded and extended her pinky finger. “Promise.”
Sect Leader Yu lowered his head, harboring no thought of scolding his daughter for her antics; he simply found her adorable, though inwardly a bit anxious.
Why hadn’t the elder yet made a pinky promise with his Youyou...
At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall softened noticeably.
Ao Qing examined the little cub’s tiny paws and also extended his hand, shyly making a pinky promise.
“Be safe,” he said as he prepared to leave, the little one clinging to him, wishing him well.
Usually so quick to depart without a second thought, Ao Qing turned, caught off guard by the sticky affection from such a cub.
High above, standing on the clouds, he looked down at the child gazing up at him with longing eyes and murmured softly, “A cub... quite interesting.”
Finding the little Yu Youyou somewhat amusing, Ao Qing leisurely recalled that there were still some young dragons of the Azure Dragon Clan yet to hatch.
Intrigued by the cub’s innocence, he resolved to visit the Azure Dragon Clan’s younglings after completing his quest.
But savoring the lingering milky fragrance of the pastry in his mouth, the Azure Dragon elder silently decided to return to the Dragon Clan only when the milk scent had faded from his body.
He could not become the first dragon in their history to bear the scent of milk.
Otherwise, he feared he might leave his name in the clan’s annals for this very reason.
Thinking of these somewhat anticipated matters, Ao Qing’s speed surged; in the blink of an eye, a flash of azure light swept across, and he vanished from sight.
Yu Youyou stood on tiptoe at the edge of the hall, waving her tiny hand in a polite cub’s farewell.
When the elder’s figure disappeared, she slowly turned back, drooling with longing, and shared the remaining milk cake with everyone.
Her adorable, eager-to-share demeanor, despite her love for the treat, drew laughter from those present.
Milk cake was no dragon liver or phoenix marrow... a commonplace delicacy, ordinarily overlooked by those in high positions.
Yet today, they all accepted Yu Youyou’s offering with great courtesy.
The leftover milk cake was all hers now.
Yu Youyou happily leaned against her father’s leg, savoring the sweetness.

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She nestled affectionately beside Sect Leader Yu, who bent down to hold her gently. Seeing she was not overexerting herself, he did not impose restrictions.
He had matters to discuss with the elders concerning the sect’s affairs, so he entrusted the beloved child to Chu Xingyun and went on to attend to his duties.
When Chu Xingyun returned to the Sect Leader’s main hall cradling the soft little one, he noticed milk cake crumbs around her mouth. Smiling, he wiped her face with a clean, pure white cloth—unadorned, so as not to irritate his little junior sister’s delicate cheeks—and asked, “Is it truly that delicious?”
Yu Youyou eagerly fed him a piece of the cake.
Chu Xingyun chuckled, shaking his head. “Junior sister, eat more.”
Thinking of the cub’s generosity today, he spoke gently, “You love milk cake so much, junior sister, and you’re willing to share it with everyone?”
Her tremendous generosity stirred affection in all. No wonder even the elder showed her extra warmth.
Tilting her little head, she munched on the cake and honestly replied, “Good... love.”
She was a well-behaved cub, sensible and sweet, which surely made the elders favor Youyou more.
Such an answer was a child’s most instinctive response.
It was so obedient and endearing.
Yet Chu Xingyun paused, glancing sideways at the little junior sister contentedly resting against his neck.
Such obedience might comfort the elders and earn their affection, but he...
He exchanged a look with Zhu Changshu, who scowled and muttered, “Damn the Scarlet Flame Demon Lord.”
Though Yu Youyou’s generosity, openness, and unselfishness were inherently admirable traits,
her desire for everyone’s affection and determination to be a “good child” likely stemmed from early teachings.
Only by being more obedient and sensible would she gain elders’ approval and love. If not, they would dislike her.
Such lessons were undoubtedly tied to the Scarlet Flame Demon Lord couple.
Though such a child was naturally lovable and trustworthy to the elders, Chu Xingyun fully agreed with Zhu Changshu’s harsh words.
Yet on the surface, he remained calm and warmly said to the little cub, who lay contentedly exposing her soft belly, “Junior sister, you are sincerely adorable, so naturally, everyone loves you. To earn more of junior sister’s love, shouldn’t we cherish you and strive to win your favor more, right?”
Yu Youyou, having never heard such reasoning, looked curious.
Handsome and aloof, the senior brother furrowed his brow, troubled, and said, “So many people like junior sister; what should we do to please her more?”
He seemed genuinely vexed, anxious to claim a larger place in her heart and favor.
The cub’s eyes widened, looking around cluelessly, then hurriedly gestured with her tiny hand, “Heart!”
The senior brother was already in her heart.
She always liked both the senior brother and the second senior sister.
“Looks like we have to please junior sister even more,” Chu Xingyun said, not wishing his little junior sister to be a flawless perfect child.
Such perfect obedience, even if innate, could also be heartbreaking to witness.
He hoped she would love herself more.
As for others’ love... whether she was obedient or not, he would always like her.
Smiling, he asked, “Junior sister, did you enjoy today’s milk cake?”
It was a way of flattering her in advance. Yu Youyou looked up at him, then turned to her beautiful second senior sister.
Zhu Changshu nodded slightly and said, “Make more demands; we will all...”
Not skilled in sweet talk, Zhu Changshu’s heart softened as she met the cub’s eyes full of admiration.
She said words she rarely uttered, “We all love you very much. Junior sister, it’s we who should do more, work harder to win your favor, and hope you love us back.”

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This sounded like a mutual affection, yet the cub felt something quite different, her little heart pounding loudly.
That soft, joyful feeling was beyond words for her now.
When words failed, actions spoke.
With her milk-crumbed mouth, she kissed Chu Xingyun’s cheek, then turned to kiss her second senior sister.
Zhu Changshu cleared her throat twice.
“Save it for tomorrow.”
She wanted to be the only one tomorrow, not just half of the senior brother’s affection today.
After a moment’s thought, Zhu Changshu gave some guidance to the overly innocent junior sister, “If you meet someone you dislike, you don’t have to be obedient. Junior sister,” she looked at her seriously and said slowly, “You are the daughter of the Grand Sect Leader, the sect stands behind you, so being willful... even a bit domineering is fine.”
She had intended to teach her to fight back if bullied or mocked, but with children, lessons must be gentle to avoid overwhelming her.
Too much talk might give her a headache.
For now, it was enough for her to know she had backing and support.
As for those who harmed her—like the Scarlet Flame Demon Lord and others from the Demon City—Zhu Changshu believed they could settle scores slowly in the future.
She was no match for the Scarlet Flame Demon Lord, but there were many demons in the Demon City, and not all were as powerful.
They could start by crushing the weak.
Though stern and serious, Zhu Changshu’s words, like Chu Xingyun’s, warmed Yu Youyou’s heart.
Staring at them for a moment, the little one covered her chest with her hands and nestled into her senior brother’s clothing, which carried a faint elegant fragrance.
She felt overwhelmingly happy.
Was it because they all liked her?
No.
It was because while they loved her, they also longed for her love in return.
They wanted to be important to her.
Such a wonderful ancient sect, such a good father, senior brother, and second senior sister.
And it seemed they were not the only ones.
After today’s conversation—though it was only between the three of them—others naturally did not know. Still, they shared a tacit understanding: each day, when the cub climbed out of her little bed, she always found small gifts beside her.
There were peach blossoms in full bloom, finely carved stones, not always magical artifacts or treasures, but Yu Youyou treasured these gifts immensely.
She carefully stored them as her little treasures.
“Today’s milk cake was made by Senior Sister Zhu herself in the kitchen,” Ruan Ling, who had come to look after the cub in the hall, said with a smile.
Seeing the little one awake, she handed over a plate of still-warm milk cakes and a pot of spirit water, tidying up Yu Youyou’s precious keepsakes into a storage bracelet specially for her.
When everything was set, she cheerfully said, “Today, I’ll style your hair nicely, junior sister. I hear Elder Wen from the Wen Clan is coming to visit you.”
Zhu Changshu, skilled in alchemy, had no trouble making milk cakes in the kitchen and feeding the cub personally to win her affection—far beyond the aloof Chu senior brother who never touched worldly matters.
It was said that Chu Daojun, commanding great respect within the sect, was considering crafting a flower basket-style swing for the little junior sister, to compete with the second senior sister.