Chapter 50: This Sleep Might Last a Lifetime
It was noon on the sixth day of the New Year.
Inside the courtyard of Shiqiao Village, a pair of sisters were eating.
Perhaps because Xiao Mo had left, and it was just the two sisters, the dining table seemed a bit desolate.
Moreover, in the past, Bai Ruxue often thought of different recipes, considering that Xiao Mo would be tired from studying.
But after Xiao Mo left, the sisters ate more simply, usually just one meat and one vegetable dish.
"Sister, I'll wash the dishes," Xiao Qing said to her sister after lunch.
"It's fine, I'll do it. I don't have anything else to do anyway," Bai Ruxue smiled and shook her head, carrying the bowls into the kitchen.
But not long after, the sound of bowls breaking came from the kitchen.
Xiao Qing rushed in.
In the kitchen, broken clay bowls were scattered everywhere, and her sister was propped against the counter, looking as if she could collapse at any moment.
"Sister, are you alright?" Xiao Qing helped her sister, her eyes full of worry.
"I'm fine," Bai Ruxue shook her head.
"Sister, you don't look fine at all..." Xiao Qing sighed. "Sister, I'll handle this. You go sit down first."
Bai Ruxue still wanted to clean up the broken clay bowls herself, but Xiao Qing pulled her out and made her sit down in the courtyard.
After Xiao Qing finished cleaning, she walked out of the kitchen and saw her sister sitting in the courtyard, continuously looking at the small path leading to the courtyard.
For some time now, whenever her sister had a moment, she would sit on the stone bench in the courtyard and gaze into the distance, just like last time.
But the difference was that last time, Xiao Da ge had only been gone for two or three days.
This time, Xiao Da ge would not return until at least April.
Xiao Qing watched her sister's head nod, her eyelids already half-closed, as if she would fall asleep at any moment.
But whenever her sister was about to fall asleep, she would suddenly wake up, shake her head, and continue looking at the path.
Xiao Qing walked to her sister's side, squatted down, and held her small hand: "Sister, why don't you go to sleep? Xiao Da ge will return in the spring, and you'll be awake by then."
Bai Ruxue smiled and said, "Xiao Qing, I want to wait a bit longer, and I feel like this winter sleep might be different."
"How is it different?" Xiao Qing asked curiously.
Bai Ruxue shook her head: "Sister doesn't know either, I just feel like this winter sleep, I will sleep for a very, very long time... I don't know how long it will take to wake up."
"Oh, sister, you're overthinking it! How long can we snake folk sleep? At most, we'll wake up by May," Xiao Qing persuaded.
But Bai Ruxue just gave a gentle smile: "It's fine, it's just one winter without sleep. Sister can hold on. But Xiao Qing, you should go into winter sleep. You've been very sleepy lately."
"But sister hasn't slept yet..."
"I'll wait for him to return."
"Sister!" Xiao Qing was speechless.
Over the next few days, Bai Ruxue would sit in the courtyard every day after finishing her chores.
Xiao Qing also noticed that her sister was getting sleepier and sleepier.
But her sister just wouldn't go into winter sleep.
Even by the tenth day, her sister was so worried that she would go into winter sleep if she fell asleep, so she simply didn't sleep at night.
Bai Ruxue didn't sleep, and Xiao Qing, feeling uneasy, also forced herself to stay awake.
One day, just as Bai Ruxue went to wash clothes.
A woman dressed in Daoist robes arrived outside the courtyard.
"May I ask who Daoist Priestess is looking for?" Xiao Qing watched the female Daoist priestess warily, worried that her and her sister's identities had been exposed and that the other party was there to eliminate demons.
Fuchen smiled and said, "There's no need for the young lady to be so nervous. I know Bai Guniang and Young Master Xiao. I have something to discuss with her this time. Is Bai Guniang here? Also, it's already deep winter, haven't you gone into winter sleep yet, young lady?"
"!"
As Fuchen's words fell, Xiao Qing's heart jolted, her eyes instantly turning into green vertical pupils, about to strike first!
Fuchen's fingertip simply probed lightly, and a spiritual energy shot into Xiao Qing's glabella.
In just an instant, Xiao Qing felt herself unable to move.
"What do you want to do?" Fear arose in Xiao Qing's heart, but she did not retreat at all.
"This humble Daoist comes from Tianxuan Sect, named Fuchen. I bear no ill will in coming here. I have been here once before, wanting to take Bai Guniangas a disciple, but Bai Guniang refused that time. This humble Daoist knew the fate (fate/karma) was not yet ripe and did not force it. If the young lady does not believe me, when Bai Guniang returns, you can ask her personally."
As she spoke, Fuchen's slender fingers flicked again, and another ray of light shot into Xiao Qing's glabella.
Xiao Qing's immobilization spell was lifted.
Looking at the female Daoist priestess in front of her, Xiao Qing's eyes still held vigilance, but she felt that the other party should have no ill intentions. Otherwise, given the other party's Realm, she could do whatever she wanted to her and her sister without needing to waste words.
"What do you want with my sister?" Xiao Qing asked.
"This humble Daoist had a sudden premonition a few days ago and happened to perform a divination, learning that Bai Guniang's Realm has arrived and she needs to enter seclusion to transform into a python. After emerging from seclusion, Bai Guniang can directly enter the water and transform into a flood dragon.
However, Bai Guniang's Life Qi is strange; she seems unwilling to go into winter sleep for a long time. This humble Daoist wants to come and ask the reason. Does Bai Guniang have something on her mind?"
Fuchen asked.
Xiao Qing glanced at the female Daoist priestess, biting her thin lips lightly: "Xiao Da ge has gone to the capital and won't return until after the imperial examinations and palace examination are over. My sister is waiting for him, saying that if she goes into winter sleep, she fears she might never wake up, so she has been reluctant to go into winter sleep."
"So that's how it is," Fuchen nodded. "This is Bai Guniang's tribulation."
"Daoist Priestess, what do you mean by 'tribulation' just now?" Xiao Qing asked worriedly.
How could her sister have a tribulation?
Fuchen explained: "When a snake's Realm is reached, it will transform from a python into a constrictor, undergoing a metamorphosis. Its body will become even larger and tougher, preparing for its transformation into a flood dragon. This entire process takes several years.
If your sister does not sleep, she will not be able to shed her skin and transform into a constrictor. And your sister's current body cannot withstand the gradually atavistic Bloodline within her, nor can it withstand her current Realm.
Therefore, if your sister does not go into winter sleep soon, it will not only damage her Dao foundation but also very likely endanger her life."
Listening to the other party's words, Xiao Qing said angrily, "You female Daoist priestess are talking nonsense!"
Fuchen was not angry: "This humble Daoist is not speaking nonsense. May I ask if Bai Guniang's complexion has been getting worse recently, like thin paper?"
Recalling her sister's appearance in recent days, Xiao Qing's mouth slightly opened, her eyes trembled, and she lowered her head as if muttering to herself: "This... what should I do..."
"Fate, destiny."
Fuchen sighed and took out a Medicinal Pill.
"If young lady Xiao Qing trusts me, let your sister take this Medicinal Pill, and she will fall into winter sleep and transform into a constrictor."
"However, young lady Xiao Qing, you must be aware of your sister's obsession."
"Because this sleep might last a lifetime."
"Your sister might never wait for him to return..."