Battle Through the Heavens: Starting with Cao Ying as an apprentice

Cai Lin and Cai Die, these two sisters, are fast asleep. Their long hair is spread out on the pillow like splashed ink, intertwined and indistinguishable from one another.

Cai Die's sleeping face still retained a touch of childish innocence, with the corners of her mouth slightly downturned, as if she were still complaining about something in her dream; while Cai Lin appeared much calmer, only her long, thick eyelashes would occasionally tremble slightly, revealing a trace of barely perceptible fatigue.

The brocade quilt covering the two of them slipped down slightly, revealing rounded shoulders and a few faint red marks on their collarbones, like plum petals falling in the snow, silently telling the story of the fierce "battle" of the previous night.

My gaze shifted again, sweeping over the slightly messy bed, where traces of yesterday's "battlefield" were still faintly discernible.

Su Baichen's lips unconsciously curved into a smile, a complex emotion that mixed satisfaction, helplessness, and a touch of self-satisfaction.

He sighed silently, muttering to himself, "Alas, I wanted to keep a low profile and proceed slowly... but my cultivation level and physique simply don't allow it."

The scene from last night was still vivid in his mind. After the intense battle, he felt completely relaxed, so he embraced her on both sides and fell into a deep sleep, sleeping soundly through the night without any dreams until dawn.

He gently propped himself up and placed a soft kiss on her smooth forehead.

In her sleep, the butterfly unconsciously rubbed against his touch, while the rainbow scale seemed to pause slightly in its breathing.

Su Baichen's smile deepened. No longer lingering, he quietly got up and carefully straightened his slightly wrinkled clothes.

His long hair was simply tied up with a jade hairpin, and his dark robes made his figure appear even more upright. After everything was in place, he glanced back one last time at his sisters who were leaning against each other on the bed, before gently pushing open the door and leaving.

The moment the door clicked shut, the previously "sleeping" Butterfly on the bed immediately opened her eyes.

She let out a long sigh of relief, patted her chest, and muttered softly, "Phew... finally gone. My brother-in-law's fighting power... is just too inhuman."

Her voice carried the relief of surviving a disaster, as well as a hint of barely concealed shyness and... lingering reminiscence?

She turned her head to look at her sister, who still had her eyes closed, and smiled slyly. She then gently poked Cai Lin's arm with her fingertip: "Sister, stop pretending. I know you're awake. Your breathing rate has changed."

As soon as Cai Die finished speaking, Cai Lin's beautiful eyes suddenly opened, clear and bright, without any trace of the drowsiness of waking up.

She rolled her eyes at her sister, her voice slightly hoarse from the aftermath, yet still carrying a queen-like aura: "You brat, what are you up to now?"

Upon hearing this, Cai Die's cheeks immediately puffed up, like an angry little pufferfish. Supporting her still slightly sore body, she tried her best to strike a defiant pose: "Sister! How dare you ask me what I want to do?"

“You were clearly in the wrong yesterday! I was just trying to help you share the burden, and not only did you not appreciate it, you even went so far as to sabotage things and steer the attack towards me! Look at me now, and here…”

She grew angrier as she spoke, her slender fingers pointing lightly to several of the most aching spots on her body, her face scrunched up: "It still hurts! This is my first time! My first time! Sister, put your hand on your heart and tell me, am I really your sister? Are you really my older sister?"

Cai Die became more and more agitated as she spoke, as if she wanted to pour out all the grievances she had suffered from being "bullied" the night before. Her almond-shaped eyes were wide open as she glared angrily at her older sister. She looked exactly like a pitiful little girl who had been "betrayed" by her closest relative.

Despite her sister's barrage of accusations and condemnations, Cai Lin remained unmoved and calm.

She sat up gracefully, the brocade quilt slipped down, revealing her beautifully shaped back, which also had some ambiguous marks, and the rest of her body was obviously less "injured" than Cai Die's.

She slowly picked up the clothes scattered to the side and put them on one by one, her movements unhurried, as if last night's "battle" was nothing more than a routine exercise for her.

As she dressed, she retorted in her usual slightly disdainful tone, "Oh ho, is this all you've got? Is it worth making a fuss about here so early in the morning?"

"First of all, did I ask you for help? I don't think so. You were just curious, or maybe you had some other motive, and you took the initiative to come to me. Well..."

Cai Lin fastened the silk sash around her waist, turned around, and looked down at her younger sister who was still lazing in bed. Her red lips curled into a half-smile: "I thought you were young and strong, and could at least give me a chance to catch my breath and rest for a while. But look what happened."

She paused deliberately, looked Cai Die up and down, and that look made Cai Die inexplicably feel like a defeated soldier who had abandoned his armor and weapons on the battlefield.

"Hehe." Cai Lin let out a short chuckle and shook her head: "You turned out to be so useless. You were defeated in just a few rounds, raised your hands to surrender, and cried so miserably."

"At the last moment, didn't it all come down to me, your older sister, turning the tide and barely managing to keep you from losing even more miserably? Tell me, aren't you a typical example of someone who's bad at the game but loves to play? You're really... embarrassing me."

"╭(╯^╰)╮"

Cai Lin gave a soft snort, raised her chin slightly, and with the arrogance of a victor, walked off the bed, her bare feet stepping on the cool, smooth floor, and headed towards the dressing table.

Cai Die blushed after her sister's words. She wanted to refute them but felt that every word hit the nail on the head. She realized that she was indeed... somewhat incompetent in the post-production last night.

Seeing her sister move with a different gait, though not as brisk as usual, she was also far from the hesitant, "seriously injured" woman she was in. She felt a mix of curiosity and grievance, and couldn't help but ask, "I...I was a first time! How could I have imagined my brother-in-law...he'd be so ridiculously strong! And...sister, you seem pretty alright? Aren't you...aren't you in pain?"

Cai Lin, who was tidying her hair in front of the mirror, glanced at her younger sister through the bright bronze mirror. Her sister's face in the mirror was still stunningly beautiful, but there was a very faint bluish tinge under her eyes.

She chuckled again at herself in the mirror and at her younger sister behind her, her tone carrying a hint of seasoned veteran's nonchalance and... smugness.

"Hehe, it hurts? Little girl, can you compare to my 'cultivation' and 'endurance'?"

He said this with such composure.

Of course, she wouldn't admit it herself, but when she woke up this morning, her whole body felt like it had been trampled by an ancient dragon and elephant. Every part of her body ached and felt weak, especially her waist and legs, which felt like they didn't belong to her at all.

But as she said, she had already experienced more than one "storm" before, and her body had long since developed "resistance" and "tenacity," and her recovery ability was far superior to that of Cai Die, a "new recruit" who was just entering the battlefield.

This discomfort is still within a tolerable range; at least, it's not a problem to force myself to get out of bed and walk around and maintain a calm demeanor.

(The spirit Xiao Cai looked disdainful: "Heh, you're so high and mighty! You enjoyed yourself and were comfortable back then, and now you're making me suffer this 'newcomer's torment'!")

Chapter 158 A sudden appearance of blue scales!

"I'm going to the front hall to see if there's anything to eat. You..." Cai Lin tidied herself up, turned around, and regained her aura as a beautiful queen, but her steps were slightly slower than usual.

She looked at Cai Die, who was still nestled in the quilt with only her head peeking out, and raised an eyebrow: "Are you going?"

When Cai Die saw that her sister was really going to have a meal, she tried to move her body and immediately gasped, her little face scrunching up even more.

She looked pitifully at Cai Lin, her big eyes instantly welling up with tears, and her voice softened, filled with a pitiful and coquettish tone: "Sister... I'm in pain... really, my whole body feels like it's falling apart, especially... down there... it's burning hot, I... I'm afraid I won't be able to get out of bed..."

She pulled the blanket tighter around herself, leaving only her eyes showing as she pleaded with Cai Lin: "Good sister, please bring some back for me, please."

Seeing her younger sister's pitiful and pitiful appearance, Cai Lin's slight displeasure from being "dragged down" last night and the quarrel just now dissipated in an instant.

After all, this was her only younger sister, whom she had doted on since childhood. Her heart softened, but she still maintained her indifferent expression. After a moment's thought, she nodded: "Alright then, you lie still, I'll go get you something to eat."

"Hehe!" Butterfly's mood instantly brightened, and a radiant smile bloomed on her face, as if she hadn't been the one crying out in pain and acting spoiled just moments before.

"I knew my sister was the best to me! The best sister in the whole world!"

"Stop flattering me," Cai Lin scolded, but a hint of a smile flashed in her eyes.

"What do you want to eat? Besides your usual favorites?"

Butterfly blinked and quickly rattled off several dish names, all of them light, nourishing, and easy to digest. Finally, she added, "...Um, make me some more soup and broth. I feel like my throat is on fire, I'm seriously dehydrated! No, I'm severely dehydrated!"

"Okay, I've got it. Is there anything else?" Cai Lin asked patiently, already walking to the door.

"No more, no more!" Cai Die shook her head hurriedly, then shrank back into the blanket, only her fluffy hair peeking out, her voice muffled.

"Sis, you go ahead, I'll just take a little nap and wait for you to come back..."

"Go to sleep." Cai Lin took one last look at the small bulge in the blanket, shook her head, and gently pushed the door open to leave.

The door closed, shutting out the light from the inner room and taking away the lingering, intense scent of last night, leaving only the gradually brightening morning light and the colorful butterfly on the bed, who had once again fallen into a light sleep.

On the other side, Su Baichen strolled along the corridor. The morning breeze caressed his face, carrying the unique fragrance of grass and trees from the valley, which invigorated him.

He had planned to go straight to the kitchen and cook some breakfast himself. Usually, Yun Yun and Cai Lin were in charge of cooking; Yun Yun was skilled in exquisite dishes, while Cai Lin was adept at preparing unique snake-people cuisine.

But now Yunyun is left in the capital to handle some necessary matters, and Cailin... after last night, she probably won't have the energy to cook for a while.

However, when he passed by the spacious and bright front hall, he was surprised to find that the large pear wood dining table was already filled with all kinds of breakfasts.

The steaming hot spirit rice porridge shimmered with a crystal-clear jade color, several delicate side dishes were presented in a refreshing manner, and there was a basket of freshly steamed crystal buns shaped like flower petals, the color of the tender filling inside faintly visible. There was even a small pot of warm spirit dew, exuding a faint fruity fragrance.

What surprised him even more was that a small figure was sitting upright at the dining table.

It was a little girl who looked about three or four years old, wearing a light green dress, with her hair styled into two neat buns tied with ribbons of the same color.

She placed her hands neatly on her knees, her back straight, her small face delicately sculpted, her large, dark eyes fixed on Su Baichen as he walked in, her gaze filled with curiosity and a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.

Looking at the unfamiliar and somewhat timid little girl in front of him, Su Baichen's eyes revealed a gentle questioning look.

"Little sister, I don't think I've seen you before. Who are you? What brings you here to prepare food?" He spoke very softly, as if afraid of startling the little girl who looked like a frightened deer.

Upon hearing this, the little girl, who was already somewhat reserved, shrank back even further. Her small hands unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes, her face flushed slightly, and her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz, filled with obvious shyness: "Reporting to young master... I, my name is Qinglin."

She paused, seemingly struggling to find the right words, her long eyelashes trembling uneasily: "It's...it's the mistress, her new maid, responsible for...responsible for some simple cleaning and kitchen help."

Blue Scales!

These two words, upon reaching his ears, were like a silent thunderclap exploding deep within Su Baichen's mind!

[The owner of the Azure Serpent's Three-Flower Pupils! The extraordinary girl Qing Lin from the original story, who possessed boundless talent, could control all the serpents in the world, and later had limitless potential?!]

In an instant, countless thoughts churned in his mind. [Damn! I did briefly think of this character back in the Tagor Desert. But based on the approximate timeline and events at that time, Qinglin... shouldn't have been born yet, or at least hadn't reached a certain point in the plot!]

Although he has been in this world for a long time, many details have become blurred, not to mention that the trajectory of the world has already changed because of his intervention.

[After that, so many things happened around me: my entanglements with Yun Yun and Cai Lin, building my power, dealing with various parties... all of these things made me completely forget about this incredibly promising 'fish that slipped through the net' from the corner of my memory.]

Su Baichen secretly regretted his actions, a mixture of annoyance and relief passing through his heart.

At this moment, listening to the little girl's timid self-introduction, I was absolutely certain.

I had almost forgotten about it, but fate has taken a strange turn, and Cai Lin has unexpectedly brought her back to me! Is this what they call destiny?

[Hahaha! This is truly a stroke of luck! The Azure Serpent's Three-Flower Pupil... such a uniquely gifted talent, if carefully nurtured, will undoubtedly be an invaluable asset in the future! What's even more rare is her simple and honest nature, and her deep sense of loyalty and righteousness.]

An irrepressible surge of excitement and burning anticipation welled up in his chest like magma. He could almost see the future, and how dazzlingly this still timid little maid would shine under his command.

This inner turmoil was unconsciously reflected in his eyes.

Su Baichen's gaze towards Qinglin instantly became incredibly focused and intense, a gleam of light as if he had discovered a rare treasure or an unparalleled gem, filled with scrutiny, assessment, and an air of determination to possess it.

This sudden, penetrating, and aggressive gaze made the already timid Qinglin tremble all over.

Like a startled rabbit, she instinctively shrank back, shifting her small body further into the chair, almost trying to hide herself. A layer of moisture quickly welled up in her beautiful eyes, which had a faint emerald sheen, as she stared at Su Baichen with fear and unease.

"Young...Young Master...What's wrong?" Her voice trembled noticeably, so weak that it was almost inaudible.

"Is...is there something dirty on Qinglin's face? Or...did Qinglin do something wrong?" Every word was filled with helplessness and fear. She subconsciously raised her hand to touch her face, wondering if she had done something wrong that displeased the handsome young man whose eyes were frightening at the moment.

[Waaaaah... Young Master is so handsome, like someone who stepped out of a painting...]

The little girl was also thinking frantically.

But, but his eyes... they're so scary... it's like he can see right through Qinglin... Mistress, Mistress, where are you? Please come and save Qinglin... Qinglin is scared...

At this moment, she missed the beautiful mistress who had rescued her from her desperate situation and given her a safe haven.

Chapter 159 An Unexpected Gain!

The fear that almost overflowed in Qinglin's voice, and her shrinking movements, were like a bucket of cold water, instantly waking Su Baichen from his immersion in the blueprint for the future.

He suddenly realized how offensive and terrifying his gaze and expression were to a child who had suffered so much, was sensitive and timid.

"Cough cough cough...!"

He quickly coughed a few times, swiftly concealing all the heat and inquiry in his eyes, and replacing them with the gentle, even somewhat apologetic, expression he had shown before.