Don't Mess with that Turtle

Such petty family pride, even a black turtle warrants caution.

Su He carried the two of them to the water's surface. Feng Yaya excitedly showed off to Su Huanian the results of her Big Turtle's talent test.

Surprise flickered through the usually still waters of Su Huanian's eyes.

A green stone pendant at her waist lit up, Su Huanian flicked her finger, and the green stone floated before them, its light flashing and casting the shadow of a figure.

It was a refined middle-aged man with a strong scholarly aura.

Su He guessed this was a technique similar to the Water Mirror Technique, allowing for long-distance communication.

When the middle-aged projection appeared and saw Ya Ya, his gaze turned stern, "You've run out from the Prison again, who lifted your confinement?"

Feng Yaya pulled a face and hid behind Su Huanian.

It was that annoying daddy again, who she hardly saw once a year, and all he did was scold Ya Ya when he did.

Hmph!

No one lifted my confinement; I was let out early because Ya Ya behaved well.

This middle-aged man was the Sect Leader of Qingyuan Gate, Feng Yi Ju.

Watching Ya Ya hide, disappointment flickered in his eyes, "Mrs. Su, Elder He just came to see me, suggesting that our daughter starts attending the lectures at Li Nan Yuan with the new disciples tomorrow, I've agreed."

The little girl hiding behind her mother suddenly widened her eyes, glaring fiercely at her father: You should go to school, your whole family should go!

She leapt up, intending to bite the green stone with her little tiger teeth to disrupt the communication but was pressed back by Su Nianhua's jade-green finger.

Su Huanian's brow slightly furrowed as she looked at her husband, whom she hadn't seen for a long time and now felt somewhat estranged from, "Why?"

Feng Yi Ju sighed, "This chaos in Beast Valley wasn't significant if it was merely her causing trouble, a punishment would suffice. But she was manipulated by Lu Ming. If Lu Ming can use her to upheave Beast Valley, someone else might manipulate her to shake the entire Qingyuan Gate."

Feng Yi Ju would not allow such a thing to happen. The thing that disappointed Feng Yi Ju the most in this incident was not that Beast Valley's leading true disciple had schemed against a naïve child.

It was that Ya Ya couldn't even see through this bit of scheming!

It was merely two Miscellaneous Duties disciples passing by her saying: Ya Ya is just waiting in vain, there are too many Beast Pets in Beast Valley, those waiting are too scared to come.

Then this unfilial daughter erupted Beast Valley, releasing most of the Beast Pets.

A chill flashed in Su Huanian's eyes. As the Sect Leader's wife, she rarely intervened in the Sects' disciples matters, only fighting externally to ensure a peaceful environment for the disciples to develop safely.

But to dare scheme against Ya Ya touched her Reverse Scale.

Feng Yaya shrank her neck, hiding behind her mother. She was young but not dumb, Aunt Lin had already informed her that she was exploited. But Lu Ming, the schemer, had his Life Bound Beast killed by the Big Turtle.

This prompted Feng Yaya to seek Gu Lin's help in searching for Su He.

Su He was confused but could guess it had something to do with herself.

Feng Yi Ju looked at his wife and daughter, "We all have moments of negligence, and her case is special; a hundred years pass in the blink of an eye.

Better she face calculated strife among the new disciples now than to be manipulated by thieves later. Among the new disciples, there is no enormity, but plenty of scheming. It's about time she suffers a few setbacks to gain some wisdom."

In terms of age, Ya Ya was already decades old. But her growth was slow and her nature free-spirited. She had been protected so well by her mother that she hadn't made any friends over the years. That's why she treasured the company of a turtle as if it were a precious gem.

Feng Yaya bared her teeth, whispering in protest, "Mother, no, I don't want to! With Big Turtle, no one can bully me!"

Su Huanian paid no attention to her daughter, remaining silent for quite a while, her erratic breathing indicating the turmoil within.

Feng Yi Ju did not rush her. After a long while, Su Huanian softly exhaled one word, "Fine!"

The muttering Feng Yaya instantly fell silent, staring with her beautiful large eyes, incredulously at her mother. At that moment, she felt the whole world had betrayed her, leaving her with only Big Turtle...

She clung to Su He's Turtle/Head, her spirits sinking.

...

A day passed without incident, Su He rested in the pond. Feng Yaya, disheartened about having to attend lectures at Li Nan Yuan starting tomorrow, forgot to ask Su Huanian for guidance on Su He's cultivation.

It happened for a reason; Su He was forgiving and let it go for one day.

Su He lay by the pool at night, observing the mother and daughter in the Grass Residence. Feng Yaya complained of being tired and fell asleep early. Su Huanian sat cross-legged in meditation, her chest rising and falling slightly, her impressive figure causing the white clothes to sway, inviting fanciful thoughts.

The Turtle also indulged in those thoughts.

This further solidified Su He's determination to transform from demon to human.

Unwittingly, the moon reached its zenith, and a gentle autumn breeze blew. At some point, Su He also fell asleep.

Then he felt a pair of small hands plucking at his scales.

When he opened his eyes, there was Feng Yaya with her finger to her lips, signaling for silence.

"Let's go, Big Turtle! While it's still dark, let's skip class! I'll take you to Jing'an Hall to steal some nourishing porridge. Once we're full, you can take me to catch fish. We'll be self-sufficient and never come back."

Do kids hate school so much these days that they're ready to run away from home?

He carried Feng Yaya and snuck out of the Formation. Following the little girl's directions, they crashed through the mountainside, all the way into Jing'an Hall.

A group of Disciples inside Jing'an Hall glanced sideways at the two of them.

Feng Yaya, with a handkerchief covering her face, shouted at a Qingyuan Disciple, "What are you looking at? Haven't you seen a girl steal things before? Speak! What kind of medicinal meal was cooked today?!"

The Disciple, looking helpless yet feigning terror, responded, "We, we made Mixed Deer Antler Soup."

"Excellent!" Feng Yaya nodded in satisfaction, then whispered to Su He, "Big Turtle, we'll go through that window over there where there are fewer people. We won't be afraid of getting caught stealing!"

Su He rolled his eyes and, pushing through the crowd, headed toward the direction indicated by Feng Yaya.

In no time, a giant turtle carrying a large pot, followed by a tiny figure, bolted out, with a canteen aunty waving an iron spoon in hot pursuit.

The aunty was quite valiant, her iron spoon landing on the Turtle Shell so forcefully that Su He could even feel the pain in his Inner House. Finally escaping to the foot of the mountain, they came upon a large river. With Feng Yaya in his mouth, he plunged into the river and floated downstream.

Feng Yaya yelled out loud, laughing joyfully.

The aunty, having failed in her chase, returned to Jing'an Hall only to find the Hall Master leisurely lying in the sun. This ignited her fury, and with a single swing of her spoon, she knocked him off his sunbed, shouting, "That little girl and her turtle stole a pot of medicinal meal, are you blind?!"

The Hall Master looked bewildered, "Mrs. Su sent the Spirit Stones by Flying Sword before dawn, and the meal was paid for. Why should I care? Can't stand losing a single pot, can you?"

The aunty was speechless...

Now you make sense! Why didn't you say it was paid for earlier?

Bang! Bang! Bang!

...

On a small island in the center of the lake, Feng Yaya laughed heartily as she lay on the grass, her mouth covered in medicinal food. Her eyes sparkled with delight.

Stolen medicinal food tastes wonderful, much better than what they usually had. After finishing it, her stomach felt toasty warm.

Su He devoured the medicinal food, yet his eyes held a hint of concern.

He had been so caught up in playing with the child that he nearly forgot about the die. Fortunately, the heist this time resulted in improvement in quality by three points. If it had been an increase in quantity by three points, hauling a pot of medicinal food that suddenly turned into three pots...

He probably would have been dissected for research by Qingyuan Gate.

No, he couldn't do things like this anymore.

Raiding was only acceptable amongst beasts!

Feng Yaya rolled over and patted Su He's Turtle Shell, "Big Turtle, let's not run away from home today. Let's go to Heavenly Secret Pavilion and find Grandpa Hu to help you create a Qiankun Ring. You eat too much, carrying you to steal things is too much, and we'll get caught."

Su He's eyes lit up.

Then a voice came from nearby, "What do you need a Qiankun Ring for? If you know Formations, just carve one on the Turtle Shell, and you could fit the sky in it if you wanted to!"

Feng Yaya and Su He turned their heads simultaneously.

They saw a middle-aged man, accompanied by seven or eight young men, just walking up from under the lake.

"You, are you Feng Yaya?" The middle-aged man sized her up and nodded, "I received a message from the Sect Leader yesterday that you would be attending the lecture — not bad, knowing to scout out the location in advance."

Feng Yaya: "???"