As discussed in the previous family meeting, Qin Deming exchanged the family’s ancestor’s sword for a bunch of herbs to make the Marrow Cleansing Elixir.

He then respectfully asked the ancestor to make the elixir.

The ancestor was naturally talented in alchemy.

At her peak, she could make sixth-grade pills.

Even though her cultivation level had dropped, her alchemy skills remained.

This was fortunate because if they had to rely on auctions for the Marrow Cleansing Elixir, the Qin family couldn’t afford it.

The ancestor spent three days and successfully made four bottles of the Marrow Cleansing Elixir.

Just as she had estimated, there wasn’t any extra.

This disappointed Qin Deming a bit.

He wasn’t disappointed in the ancestor, but he had hoped that if she could make one extra bottle, Qingqing could last an additional month.

The precious Marrow Cleansing Elixir was used up quickly as Qingqing needed to take a drop daily.

Regardless, with four bottles of the elixir, Qingqing received the majority.

Qin Deming didn’t dare ask for more.

After thanking the ancestor, he handed three bottles to Luo Xian.

“Ah, only three bottles. This should last about three months. During this time, we need to find a way to gather more spirit stones,” Luo Xian said, frowning deeply.

She had been worried when Qingqing hadn’t tested her talent.

Now, knowing Qingqing had a rare physique, she was even more worried.

Leaving aside Qin Deming and his wife’s worries, that night, Qin Ruqing used the precious Marrow Cleansing Elixir.

Honestly, using the Spirit Awakening Pearl had no side effects; one just needed to sleep.

When Qin Ruqing drank the Divine Elixir from the system, she felt refreshed and enlightened.

But the Marrow Cleansing Elixir wasn’t taken orally.

It had to be diluted and mixed with other herbs before soaking in it.

The elixir’s potency was intense.

Even when diluted, it felt like thousands of needles piercing her body.

The pain was indescribable.

Thinking about enduring this daily made Qin Ruqing feel hopeless.

She could only comfort herself by thinking, “This must be the trouble of being a genius.”

According to the Qin family’s rules, children were sent to the family school at eight years old after their talents were tested and evaluated.

At eight, they were still in the spirit-nurturing stage and couldn’t start formal cultivation.

They only learned basic knowledge.

Qin Ruqing thought she still had some happy childhood days left, but her mother sent her to school the day after the talent test.

Qin Ruqing ran into Qiurong, who was also sent to school by her third aunt.

The chubby boy greeted her warmly, “Little Sister!”

Qin Ruqing weakly replied, “It’s Qingqing.”

The chubby boy said, “Qingqing, sister!”

… Fine then 🙂

Nearby, Qin Dexin and Luo Xian exchanged brief greetings and then turned away silently, clearly still at odds.

Qin Ruqing sensed the tension between them.

Right, yesterday in the ancestral hall, her mother and third aunt had clashed.

It seemed the conflict hadn’t subsided.

Thinking about her side quest, Qin Ruqing shouted in her heart, “Being obsessed with infighting leads nowhere!”

“We need to stick together!”

With that thought, she held the chubby boy’s hand right in front of her third aunt.

Ignoring the chubby boy’s surprised look, Qin Ruqing looked up at Qin Dexin and said sweetly, “Third Aunt, I’ll take care of Qirong in school.”

Qin Dexin was momentarily surprised.

She saw the child with bright almond-shaped eyes and pupils as clear as black and white mercury.

She couldn’t help but think: “Big Brother is mediocre, Luo Xian is smart, but their daughter doesn’t take after either of them.”

This was good.

With such a brilliant talent, if she were like her big brother, she would be mediocre, and if she were like Luo Xian, she would lack grandeur.

Better to be like she is now—smart, cute, with her own mind, but still pure.

Compared to Qingqing, Qirong was too straightforward.

Maybe having Qingqing, this clever girl, guide Qirong would be perfect.

Thinking this, Qin Dexin couldn’t help but smile and let go of her hand, saying softly, “Then I’ll trouble you, Qingqing.” Her voice was softer than she realized.

She then added, “Your class will be taught by the Second Elder. He has a good temper, but if you misbehave, he won’t go easy on you. So, be good, okay?”

Both children replied in unison, “Okay!”

Luo Xian, seeing Qin Dexin’s gentle reminder, was a bit puzzled.

Wasn’t she always cold and aloof? Why was she so nice today?

Luo Xian rolled her eyes inwardly.

She knew Qin Dexin always looked down on her, and she felt the same about Qin Dexin.

Thankfully, Qirong was different from his mother.

He was sweet and bright-eyed, like an open book.

Luo Xian was happy that her daughter got along well with Qirong.

In a good mood, she shared half of the spirit milk candy she had prepared for her daughter with Qirong.

“Here, you two can share. Don’t eat it all in one day, and don’t sneak any during class.”

Qin Qirong, who was always strictly managed by Qin Dexin, was overjoyed to receive the candy. “Thank you, Auntie!”

Luo Xian responded warmly, “You’re welcome! Let me put it in your pocket.”

After sharing the candy, it was time for the children to go to school.

They said goodbye to their mothers and headed towards the school.

From behind, one was chubby and the other was slim.

The chubby one had a small topknot tied with a red ribbon.

The slim one had two little buns also tied with red ribbons.

The red ribbons swayed slightly as they walked, making their backs look like a pair of heavenly children.

Luo Xian and Qin Dexin smiled in satisfaction at this scene.

After a while, they both looked away and their eyes met.

There was surprise, awkwardness, and a hint of unnoticeable shyness in their eyes.

Usually like fire and water, they suddenly softened their attitudes and didn’t know how to arrange their facial expressions.

Fortunately, Qin Dexin’s expression was always minimal.

As Luo Xian would say, she had a wooden face.

Qin Dexin looked at Luo Xian and said blandly, “Thank you for Qingqing taking care of Qirong.”

Luo Xian laughed, “It’s the right thing to do!”

Walking ahead, Qin Ruqing suddenly heard the system prompt.

[Family Unity +5, Side Quest 2 progress updated. View now?]

Qin Ruqing: “Huh?”

Family Unity Value? What is that? And what is the Side Quest 2 progress bar?

She immediately said, “View.”