Boom— 

Accompanied by the muffled sound of thunder, Bai Zhizhi felt as if she had turned back into a little hedgehog, enduring a heavenly tribulation once again.  

She knew clearly that this couldn’t be real, but facing the ferocious lightning strikes, she charged forward without hesitation.  

A moment later, the tribulation dissipated like smoke, and Bai Zhizhi stood unharmed in place as a figure gradually materialized before her.  

“Ancestor?”  

The figure wore a flowing white robe, its sleeves fluttering gently, with a kind smile on its face—exactly like the immortal, transcendent ancestor Bai Zhizhi remembered.  

“Ancestor!” Overjoyed, Bai Zhizhi rushed toward her forebear.  

Just as she was within a step of reaching the ancestor, the elder suddenly raised a hand and pressed a fingertip lightly against her forehead. A blinding white light flashed.  

Dizzied by the glare, Bai Zhizhi faintly heard the ancestor sigh, “Foolish child.”  

She didn’t understand, but there was no time to ask—because suddenly, frame after frame of images flashed through her mind, all of them scenes of healing and saving lives.  

At first, she merely watched, but soon she became immersed, unconsciously beginning to learn and follow along.  

…

The next day.  

Sunlight streamed through the window into the room as Bai Zhizhi slowly woke from her dream.  

She still wasn’t used to her human body.  

Curled up in a corner of the bed like a little hedgehog, her body had stiffened overnight.  

She shifted slightly, clumsily relaxing her limbs before slowly stretching out flat, staring blankly at the ceiling.  

Bai Zhizhi felt… a little feverish.  

Creak—

The door opened, and Liao Guizhi walked in carrying a washbasin, calling out to Bai Zhizhi as usual to wake her. But the moment she entered, she saw the girl lying stiffly on the bed.  

Liao Guizhi didn’t find it strange. She set the basin down on the nearby table, walked to the bedside, and leaned over.  

Before Bai Zhizhi could react, a hand slid behind her back, and with a single firm tug, she was yanked upright.  

Suddenly sitting up, Bai Zhizhi’s eyes widened in shock.  

Liao Guizhi didn’t notice. In a gentle tone, she said, “Zhizhi, time to get up. Mama will wipe your face for you.”  

As she spoke, she took a damp cloth from the basin, wrung it out, and pressed it firmly onto Bai Zhizhi’s face.  

Cold.  

Soothing.  

Bai Zhizhi wanted more.  

When Liao Guizhi tried to pull the towel away, Bai Zhizhi stubbornly held it in place.  

“Zhizhi?” Liao Guizhi was puzzled. Why such a strong reaction all of a sudden?  

Trembling slightly, Bai Zhizhi uttered the unfamiliar address: “Mama… more.”  

It was her first time speaking, and her words were unclear, slightly slurred.  

Liao Guizhi froze. When she pulled the towel away, she immediately noticed the difference.  

Her daughter’s eyes were bright and alert today, no longer as vacant as before, and her whole demeanor seemed much more lively.  

A hope she had clung to for years flashed through her mind.  

“My girl?” Liao Guizhi’s voice trembled as she reached out to touch Bai Zhizhi’s cheek, but her hand shook uncontrollably.  

Seeing her like this, Bai Zhizhi called out again, “Mama, I’m better now.”  

This time, her words were much clearer.  

Tears instantly spilled from Liao Guizhi’s eyes. In her fluster, she threw the towel back into the washbasin—but with too much force, knocking the basin to the ground.  

Clang!  

Water splashed everywhere, soaking Liao Guizhi’s shoes and the hem of her pants. But she paid it no mind, her gaze fixed unblinkingly on Bai Zhizhi.  

Startled, Bai Zhizhi instinctively curled into herself, burying half her face in the crook of her arm, leaving only a pair of wary eyes watching Liao Guizhi.  

“What’s wrong? What happened?” Hurried footsteps approached from outside.  

…

“My girl, you’re finally better.” Bai Fumin gazed at his daughter, now so different from before, with tears in his eyes.  

Not just Bai Fumin—the entire Bai family had gathered, crowding around the bed to stare at Bai Zhizhi.  

Though she knew they meant no harm, being watched so intently by so many people made Bai Zhizhi shrink further into the corner.  

“Zhizhi,” Liao Guizhi called out expectantly.  

Bai Zhizhi looked at each of them in turn: “Papa, Mama, Second Brother, Second Sister-in-law.”  

They were all her family.  

Each one called out loudly in response, their voices growing louder as if competing to be heard.

Bai Zhizhi couldn’t help but laugh, her voice as clear and sweet as a silver bell.  

Huang Xiuyun stared at her in amazement. “Good heavens, little sister really is better! How did this happen?”  

Before, Bai Zhizhi had been dull and vacant all day, nothing like this lively.  

“Of course, our little sister is blessed,” Bai Junwu said matter-of-factly.  

Blessed?  

Huang Xiuyun secretly rolled her eyes. If she were blessed, would she have been born slow-witted?  

But still…  

Their little sister really was pretty.  

She had always been good-looking, but her vacant stare had dulled her beauty, like a pearl covered in dust.  

Now that the pearl had been polished, she shone brilliantly.  

Especially those big, sparkling eyes—when she smiled, they curved like crescent moons, and when she didn’t, they were round and innocent, making anyone who met her gaze soften instantly.  

Add to that her fair cheeks, which were growing increasingly flushed.  

Wait—increasingly flushed?  

“Mama, is little sister running a fever?” Huang Xiuyun blurted out.  

Liao Guizhi rushed to Bai Zhizhi’s side, pressing the girl’s forehead against her own to check her temperature. Then she felt her back—drenched in sweat.  

Sure enough, she had a fever.  

“Zhizhi’s father!” Liao Guizhi called to Bai Fumin. “Go brew the medicine, quick!”  

Bai Fumin hurried out with an “Aye!” to prepare the herbal decoction.  

Liao Guizhi pulled Bai Zhizhi into her arms.  

This was Bai Zhizhi’s first time being so close to someone, and she stiffened awkwardly.  

Misinterpreting her discomfort, Liao Guizhi cooed soothingly, her voice dripping with tenderness. Then she glanced at Bai Junwu and the others still standing there like fools and snapped, “What, none of you have anything better to do?”  

She even covered Bai Zhizhi’s ears as she scolded them.  

Though reluctant to leave, none dared defy Liao Guizhi. Bai Junwu could only drag his wife away, looking back every few steps.  

Bai Zhizhi blinked as she watched them go—then suddenly burst into laughter.  

Because just as Bai Junwu turned his head, Huang Xiuyun pinched him hard. He yelped, his face twisting comically.  

It was hilarious.  

Seeing Bai Zhizhi laugh, Bai Junwu didn’t take offense. Instead, he scratched the back of his head and grinned foolishly before being yanked away by Huang Xiuyun.  

Liao Guizhi rolled her eyes.  

Hopeless fool.

Then she turned to Bai Zhizhi and said, “Sweetheart, learn more from your second sister-in-law in the future. A girl ought to be a little fierce.”  

As a mother-in-law, she might grumble about her son being henpecked. But as a mother? She absolutely wanted her daughter to be the one calling the shots in her marriage.  

A girl couldn’t afford to be too meek—men would walk all over her, and she’d never have a good life.  

Back when Bai Zhizhi was still slow, there’d been no way to teach her, and she’d suffered dearly for it. Now that she was better, it was time to start guiding her properly.  

Bai Zhizhi nodded obediently. “Second sister-in-law is amazing.”  

Her voice was soft and sweet, melting Liao Guizhi’s heart into a puddle.  

Hearing her praise Huang Xiuyun, Liao Guizhi pretended to pout. “And what about Mama? Isn’t Mama amazing too?”  

Bai Zhizhi: “Mama is also amazing. Mama is the most amazing.”  

Her eyes shone with admiration, making her words utterly convincing.  

Liao Guizhi was thoroughly convinced, grinning from ear to ear.  

Truly, a daughter was the best. Her four blockhead sons had never praised her like this.  

As a hedgehog spirit, Bai Zhizhi was highly sensitive to human emotions.  

Right now, she could feel Liao Guizhi’s mood—joy, and… affection for her.  

Since gaining sentience, Bai Zhizhi had cultivated alone. This was the first time she’d ever felt truly liked.  

It felt…  

Really nice.  

Without thinking, she nestled deeper into Liao Guizhi’s embrace, nuzzling against her like a spoiled child.