The moon hung high in the sky, a silent sentinel over the sleeping city.
A faint gust of wind blew through the open window of the twins' private residence, stirring the elegant curtains like a ghost.
Just as the moonlight touched the faces of the two children, who were peacefully asleep in their separate beds, a silent shimmer appeared in the corner of the room.
Bibi Dong, weary from her long day of hunting, coalesced from a swirl of shadows, her body re-forming as her clone, which had been sitting motionless in the corner, merged with her.
The act of merging was a familiar, intimate process. Memories and emotions from her clone flooded her mind.
It was a chaotic symphony of thoughts, a rapid-fire playback of the twins' day—their cheerful conversations with her clone, their playful antics, their dedicated study of a book that had a powerful, ancient aura.
It was this aura that had caught her attention. Her clone, a silent extension of herself, had been filled with a bubbling excitement, an unspoken promise of a great discovery.
Her mind absorbed the clone's memories, and she felt a surge of elation.
The Ancient Tome! She had completely forgotten about it in her rush to get out of Spirit Hall.
The twins, with their innocent hearts, had been entrusted with a treasure of unimaginable value.
A book that Bibi Dong, with all of her power and influence, had been unable to study it from her previous self. A book that held the secrets of immortal herbs.
A trembling sensation ran through her. Finally, she thought, her mind a whirlwind of possibilities.
Finally, I can know. I can know what those strange plants are in that sanctuary. I can know what they are, what they do, and how I can use them to become stronger.
Her heart, which had been a heavy, aching void just moments ago, now felt a profound sense of hope. This book was a gift from the heavens, a key to her future.
She did not want to disturb her children from their peaceful sleep, so she moved with the silent grace of a shadow, her footsteps making no sound.
The book, a large, heavy tome, was on the bottom shelf of the twins' bookshelf. As she reached for it, her hands trembled with excitement.
The leather of the book felt ancient and powerful, a testament to the wisdom it held. She gently took it and went to the study table, pulling up a chair and sitting down with a sigh of profound satisfaction.
Before she opened it, a flicker of guilt, a familiar, unwelcome feeling, washed over her.
She is a mother, and she is reading her children's book without their permission. She knew they would happily let her read it, but still, she felt a small pang of guilt.
Bibi Dong, she thought, her internal voice a stern, quiet whisper, it is for our better future. This is not for me; this is for us. I can tell them later. When the time is right.
She reasoned with herself, a small, sad smile on her face.
She opened the book, and the first page explained the history of the tome. It was a family legacy, passed down from generation to generation in Yue Guan's clan, a testament to their deep knowledge of flora and fauna.
The next few pages were filled with fascinating stories—tales of ancient legends and of people who had achieved godhood through the use of a single, powerful herb.
These stories were not just legends; they were a roadmap to her own destiny. She read with a profound sense of awe, her mind absorbing every detail.
Next, the book delved into the intricacies of cultivation. There was a detailed explanation of the different soul levels, from Titled Douluo to Super Douluo and even the almost-mythical Limited Douluo, and the methods to achieve them.
It was a wealth of information that was both fascinating and invaluable.
The book then moved on to the most important part—the path to godhood. It was explained that to achieve godhood, a person needs to have either an inheritance or a natural treasure, which includes immortal herbs.
The book then went into a large description of immortal herbs and their rarity. It was written that these herbs are so rare that they are believed to be extinct, their existence a myth, a legend.
As she read this, a bold, dangerous thought occurred to her: What if those plants beside the fountain in Dugu Bo's sanctuary are the immortal ones?
She felt a surge of hope, a powerful, exhilarating sense of possibility.
She was about to turn the page, to delve deeper into the categories of plants—the special ones and the immortal herbs—when she felt a subtle shift in the air.
An hour had passed, and her children were beginning to stir. She sighed inwardly. She had to stop. She still had time. There was no need to rush.
She quickly closed the book, her hands gentle as she placed it back on the shelf, her mind already planning for tomorrow. She then took a more mundane book and pretended to read it.
Just then, she heard a soft rustle, and a small figure appeared beside her, its movements silent.
It was Renxue, her eyes bright and filled with a mischievous twinkle. She tiptoed toward her mother, her little body trembling with suppressed laughter.
When she reached her mother, she immediately threw her arms around her neck and buried her face in her chest.
"Mama," she said, her voice a small, happy whisper. "Let's play!"
Bibi Dong's heart melted. She put the book down and hugged her daughter. "Renxue," she said, her voice filled with a loving warmth.
"You are so sneaky! You almost gave me a heart attack." She then gently played with her daughter, a happy, playful banter flowing between them.
"So, tell me," she said, her voice a soft, loving melody. "How was your day with Teacher Yue Guan? You didn't tell me earlier."
Renxue, a proud huff escaping her lips, began to chatter happily with her mother about the new things she learned in this day.
Yorrichi, seeing his mother's loving face and his sister's excitement, walked toward them, a calm, serene smile on his face. He joined in their conversation, his voice a low, thoughtful murmur.
He added details about the book, about the plants, about the things he had learned. Bibi Dong listened to them, her heart overflowing with a profound sense of love and pride.
They also informed her that their teacher wouldn't be present for next some days due to an important mission which Bibi Dong noted in her mind silently.
After a while, the head maid informed them that dinner was ready. As they walked to the dining hall, a familiar wave of unease washed over Bibi Dong.
The head of the table was, once again, empty. Qian Xunji was not there. This was the fifth day in a row. This was not a coincidence. This was an anomaly, and a dangerous one.
She thought and making wild guess, Is Yue Guan mission related to all this also? Or is there something I need to know?
A sense of cold determination filled her. She could no longer ignore this. She had to know what he was doing.
She had to know what he was planning. She decided right there and then that she would halt her outing plan for tomorrow.
She would not be reckless. She would be cautious. She would investigate. She would find out his secret.
After dinner, they all went to their beds. Bibi Dong, with a profound sense of love and purpose, lay down with her children in her arms.
Yorrichi on her left, Renxue on her right. She held them tightly, her heart filled with a silent vow. No one, she thought, her mind a fortress of determination, will ever hurt my children.
She closed her eyes, and a new dream began, a dream of her and her children, happy and safe, in a world that she had created for them. A world where they were free.
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Author's Note:
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