Meng Po Gave Her a Bowl of Soup (GL) - Chapter 21

“Ahhhh—”

Qin Xiao endured a painful morning. As the 170th-generation descendant of her family, invulnerable to gods and spirits, she had actually been bullied by a seemingly delicate teacher. If word got out, she would definitely be scolded to death by her elders.

She clutched her thumb, trembling as she curled up in a corner, pitifully watching Teacher Song in the distance, who was carefully, almost reverently, sealing a drop of blood into a small bottle.

Looking at the blood drop, Song Wanyue couldn’t help but ask, “Is there a user manual?”

Her mind was racing. Since the previous blood didn’t work, it was likely that she had encountered some kind of taboo. This time, it was better to ask clearly.

Qin Xiao: “…”

Hmph.

Did she really think Qin Xiao was a pushover? She wasn’t going to tell her so easily.

Song Wanyue sighed faintly. “What if it doesn’t work again?” As she spoke, she picked up her silver needle, which gleamed ominously in the sunlight.

Qin Xiao shrank back, her voice timid, “It just can’t come into contact with the blood of someone from the same lineage; that would cancel out the effects.”

Song Wanyue nodded. She inexplicably recalled the blood that had seeped from Xu Ruying’s lips the previous day, wondering if it was related.

That smear of red was the last image imprinted in her mind.

“Let’s go.”

Song Wanyue picked up her bag and smiled at Qin Xiao. Qin Xiao shrank back. “What now?”

“Sister is taking you out for a good meal.”

After all, having taken her blood, Miss Song thought it only right to show some gratitude.

At least she still had a bit of conscience.

Qin Xiao was brought to a very upscale venue, one of those purely Chinese-style buildings with crimson pillars, a gilded signboard, and nine majestic golden dragons carved into the ceiling.

As they dined below, a performance of classical music on the erhu, pipa, and guzheng was taking place on the stage above.

Song Wanyue generously ordered a full table of dishes for Qin Xiao, including qi-nourishing blood tonic soup, pig liver porridge, lotus root meat cakes, ginseng chicken stew, and ginseng pigeon…

Qin Xiao scanned the table. Wow, not bad—everything was for blood nourishment.

“Eat up.”

Song Wanyue’s smile was gentle. Noticing Qin Xiao’s tension, she reached out and ruffled her hair. “Don’t worry, it’s not to fatten you up for more bloodletting.”

Qin Xiao: “…”

Could it be that this sister had mind-reading powers?

Just a moment ago, while glancing at the menu, Qin Xiao had seen the prices—astronomical. But the food tasted good, definitely worth the price. Still, as she ate, she couldn’t help but ask softly, “Sister, are you very rich?”

Song Wanyue didn’t eat much, just a few light bites. “I’m not rich, but my lover is.”

Oh.

Qin Xiao seemed to understand a bit. She noticed that Song Wanyue’s appetite was poor, a stark contrast to the gluttonous display at the barbecue last night. She assumed she had touched a sore spot, causing Song Wanyue to lose her appetite. Feeling a bit guilty, she picked up the public chopsticks and offered Song Wanyue a tender piece of pigeon: “Sister, this is delicious.”

Taking from others and eating their food, Qin Xiao’s dark eyes were filled with sincerity. Song Wanyue stared at her for a moment and then smiled—a sweet smile that felt like a breeze blowing into Qin Xiao’s heart.

Just as Qin Xiao was being captivated, Song Wanyue suddenly clasped her hands together. “Since meeting you yesterday, I’ve realized that alternative dimensions truly exist in this world. So, I’m preparing to go vegetarian and pray for blessings.” She then glanced at Qin Xiao. “As the 170th-generation descendant, don’t you need to go vegetarian too?”

Qin Xiao: “…”

After a long silence, Qin Xiao withdrew her hand. “It’s rare for me to come to the human world, so of course, I need to indulge in the world’s finest cuisine. Hmph, pray for blessings?”

From her perspective, Song Wanyue already had everything.

By her standards, Song Wanyue had looks, a great figure, and today, she had shown Qin Xiao just how wealthy she was. Isn’t this what people would call the pinnacle of human life? What more could she possibly want to pray for?

Song Wanyue took a sip of light tea, smiled slightly, and didn’t explain.

Long ago.

When Mingyu was around, she had tried every possible way to get her to eat more vegetables and less spicy food.

But in Song Wanyue’s view, that was worse than death. Nothing could be more unbearable.

But now.

She realized that losing Mingyu was the most unbearable of all.

Who was she praying for?

For her.

What was she praying for?

If they truly had to be separated… then in the next life, she hoped her Mingyu would live without disaster or hardship, and have a peaceful life.

••••

On the way back, Wanyue bought Qin Xiao some more supplements, making Qin Xiao feel a bit embarrassed. She could tell that Song Wanyue wasn’t as indifferent about using her blood as she seemed; in fact, she felt quite guilty deep down.

“Sister, when you get back, make sure to cherish that drop of blood. Observe carefully before using it. If it’s really like you suspect, and the problem arose because of Miss Xu’s blood, try to check her entire body to make sure there aren’t any injuries.”

Qin Xiao spoke with a seriousness that made her seem very competent, and Song Wanyue listened attentively. “Check her entire body?”

Qin Xiao nodded. Although she didn’t want to admit it, she couldn’t deny it: “Actually… about what I said before, how two strong forces cancel each other out… well, the truth is, I…”

Seeing her hesitant expression, Song Wanyue understood. Her eyes were clear and perceptive. “The other person is much stronger than you, right?”

It was strange.

She had heard Mingyu mention Xu Ruying so many times before but had never actually met her.

However, from Xiao He and Lawyer Zhao’s behavior, she could imagine how powerful her presence must have been.

In fact, from the first moment Qin Xiao saw Xu Ruying, she sensed the aura of an ancient ancestor—though hidden beneath the surface, it was still too powerful to ignore.

At that moment, she was so terrified her heart was trembling. In a panic, she pointed to the white-clad girl beside her to ease the tension, almost being mistaken for a swindler.

Her family line was quite unique. Saying she was the 170th-generation descendant didn’t mean that various sects had passed down their teachings to countless people until they reached her. Instead, from the beginning, only three extraordinary individuals had emerged from their lineage.

One was the ancient ancestor… another was the one behind Xu Ruying, and the third was her.

Three individuals over 170 generations.

So Qin Xiao wasn’t some soul catcher; she was a legitimate, truly remarkable descendant.

Perhaps because of her identity, the elders who knew this secret guarded her like a treasure. Before she turned 18, she had never left her hometown, living under the watchful eyes of many people, with every aspect of her life meticulously arranged.

To others, she might have been born with a silver spoon, but to Qin Xiao, she felt more like a caged canary.

She was terrifyingly naïve, terrifyingly innocent.

After she left, the mundane world viewed her as “abnormal.” The kind ones said she was carefree but low in emotional intelligence, while most people called her crazy behind her back, which Qin Xiao was well aware of.

She had a natural ability to sense people’s auras.

When she met Song Wanyue, it was like someone who had been walking in darkness for a long time suddenly saw a beam of pure white light.

She smiled at her, told her to call her sister—that pure and beautiful smile made Qin Xiao’s heart tremble. Otherwise, with her abilities, no one could have taken even a drop of her blood.

“Just a little bit stronger.”

Qin Xiao looked at Song Wanyue, who had reverted to her previous silly demeanor. She scratched her head and smiled. “But I believe that as time goes on, I’ll become the head of our family, the NO.1!”

“You will.”

Song Wanyue’s smile was sincere and radiant, making Qin Xiao feel a bit dazed. She quickly turned her head away, her face reddening. “Oh, right, Sister, there’s something else I absolutely must tell you.”

Song Wanyue looked at her. “Go ahead.”

Qin Xiao said, “To avoid revealing too many heavenly secrets, my ancestor once told me that with my current abilities, I can only draw three drops of this kind of blood per year.”

Song Wanyue’s smile faded. “So…”

Qin Xiao’s eyes flickered as she continued, “You wasted one drop before, and then I gave one to prove my ability. Now, this drop I’ve given you is the last one for this year.”

Song Wanyue stiffened. “What if I try to draw more?”

Qin Xiao smiled calmly, speaking in a tone that was both resolute and final, “My human soul would scatter, and my earthly soul would fall into hell for punishment.”

Song Wanyue: “………”

••••

This truly was precious blood.

When she got home, Wanyue was so careful with the little bottle of blood that she almost wanted to place it on an altar.

When Huang Lan saw her return, she smiled and asked, “Did you sleep well last night?”

Song Wanyue was busy thinking about how to carefully check Xu Ruying’s entire body for any injuries and absentmindedly replied, “It was fine. I didn’t feel much afterward.”

Huang Lan’s eyes widened. No feeling at all? Was it really that intense?

“Then… should I make myself scarce tonight?”

Huang Lan asked tentatively. Song Wanyue hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at Huang Lan, a mix of amusement and exasperation on her face. “Auntie, what are you thinking?”

What was she thinking?

What could a simple rural old lady like her be thinking?

No matter how Wanyue explained, Huang Lan wasn’t entirely convinced. She insisted on joining her old friends for a three-day no-shopping tour she had privately arranged.

Song Wanyue tried to stop her for a long time, but Huang Lan simply pulled out the suitcase she had already packed. “Hey, Wanyue, you should rest well at home. Don’t keep a tight rein on me, I’m under so much pressure I can hardly breathe.”

Song Wanyue was silent for a while, her dark eyes sincerely looking at Huang Lan. “Auntie, promise me you’ll watch fewer Qiong Yao dramas in the future, okay?”

Huang Lan: “…”

She really wasn’t imagining things.

Huang Lan realized that her Wanyue was indeed one of the rare smart and wise people in the world.

Of course, she herself wasn’t to be underestimated either.

Before leaving, Huang Lan knocked on Xu Ruying’s door. When Xu Ruying opened the door, she was stunned.

The old lady who once loved black, formal attire was now dressed head-to-toe in pink. From a distance, you might have mistaken her for a radish standing at the door.

Huang Lan said, “Xiao Xu, Auntie is going on a group tour for a few days. To prevent Wanyue from practicing her cooking and ruining my pots, could you keep an eye on her?”

Xu Ruying glanced at her outfit and smiled slightly, “Don’t worry, Auntie. You go have fun, and if anything gets ruined, I’ll just buy you a new one.”

Huang Lan: “…”

This child has really become not the least bit adorable.

“I saw the weather forecast, and it’s going to rain heavily tonight. Wanyue is really scared of thunder, so please, be kind and keep her company? Auntie is worried.”

Huang Lan’s smile was gentle, and her tone was full of sincerity.

Xu Ruying was silent for a moment.

Song Wanyue, afraid of thunder? Are old ladies now lying without even batting an eye?

In some ways, Wanyue was much more assertive than Mingyu ever was.

Every time there was a storm, with strong winds and loud thunder, Mingyu would sometimes get startled, feeling uneasy. Whenever that happened, Song Wanyue would always open her arms and say, “Come here, let me protect you.”

••••

Xu Ruying understood something from Huang Lan’s expression.

She realized that whether she wanted to go or not, she had no choice but to go.

That evening.

She reluctantly went to knock on Wanyue’s door. She knocked for quite a while before she heard hurried footsteps, and the door suddenly swung open. She didn’t see anyone, just a cloud of smoke.

Song Wanyue was holding a spatula, rushing around. “You sit down first, I’m cooking for you.”

Cooking?

Xu Ruying’s face darkened. She didn’t even have time to change into slippers and quickly went into the kitchen. Sure enough, the pot was burnt.

Xu Ruying: “………”

She had just promised Huang Lan to buy a new pot.

She quickly turned on the range hood and opened the windows, frowning as she shooed Wanyue out. “Get out, get out. Isn’t it choking? How do you still manage to burn a pot?”

Song Wanyue stood at the door with the spatula, looking aggrieved. “I accidentally fell asleep.”

Xu Ruying rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning up the mess. Looking at the scorched bottom of the pot, she felt a wave of fear. “If you can’t handle it, then don’t cook by yourself. Can’t you just order takeout?”

“Ugh, no way. I need to go buy a fire alarm to install here.”

“You’ve been cooking for so long, how can you still be so careless? It’s a good thing I came over. What if I hadn’t?”

••••

After a moment of complaining, she received no response. Xu Ruying paused, realizing that maybe her tone had been too harsh. She turned around to look at Song Wanyue.

Song Wanyue was standing with her head slightly lowered, still wearing a cute Crayon Shin-chan apron. She softly murmured, “I just can’t seem to learn it. You’ll have to teach me a few more times.”

She didn’t want to learn.

Maybe, if she learned, she would lose her.

The unease in her heart had driven Song Wanyue to repeatedly break her own boundaries and do foolish things.

The old her would never have intentionally burned a pot just to deceive someone.

The old her would never have believed in some small-time soul catcher.

The old her could never have turned into a big fool.

But she had done it anyway.

For what?

She just didn’t want her Mingyu to leave so soon.

She was scared, very, very scared.