The night had already reached its deepest hour, and snow once again blanketed the ground where Su Wen had been seated, quietly marking the spot of his breakthrough.
He stood up and stretched lazily, then gave his body a quick, exaggerated shake, sending snow flying in all directions.
As a cultivator… and a Yang-oriented one at that… he felt little more than a mild chill.
His body had long since adapted, naturally regulating its temperature without conscious effort.
He could have circulated spiritual qi to block the cold entirely, but he didn't bother.
Why interfere when the body could handle it on its own?
Walking to the main door, he pushed it open and stepped inside, his gaze instinctively searching for Du Yue.
She wasn't there.
'She must still be cultivating…
I shouldn't disturb her. Cultivation is more important than being lovey-dovey all the time.'
Hardening his heart just a little, he headed straight for the bed.
'Time is precious… but sleep is more important… Cough... If I can cultivate while sleeping, why waste it?' he thought to himself.
He lay down on his back, staring at the ceiling.
"I can cultivate both soul and spirit while sleeping," he murmured softly. "And my body still gets the rest it needs."
"Even though I've reached the Peak of the Soul Awakening Realm, nurturing the Pure Soul within my consciousness is always beneficial."
"More purity… more sharpness."
He slowly closed his eyes and activated both his soul cultivation technique, Heaven's Will Mantra, and his spirit cultivation technique, Dao of the Nine Heavens, at the same time.
His breathing gradually slowed, settling into a steady rhythm.
Spiritual qi circulated smoothly within him… one stream refining the liquid qi in his dantian, while another flowed upward, gently nurturing his consciousness.
Side by side, the two cultivation paths advanced in perfect harmony.
Wrapped in this balanced cycle, Su Wen's mind relaxed, and his awareness slowly drifted away… sinking into quiet dreams as cultivation continued without pause.
The next morning, the sun rose from the east, its gentle light spilling over the snow-covered land and making it sparkle like scattered crystals.
Along the snowy path walked two humans… a man and a woman… with a small bird perched proudly atop the man's head.
The man in white robes looked as refreshing as ever, a gentle smile resting on his face.
His eyes unconsciously radiated confidence and quiet pride as he walked forward.
Beside him, the beautiful woman wore elegant robes of pale blue, clinging to his left arm with relaxed intimacy.
Today, no celestial bodies revolved above her head, nor did she wear any training weights.
After the young man's approval, her training had been temporarily halted… and thanks to that, a cheerful smile bloomed on her face, her clear blue eyes sparkling beneath the morning sky.
Perched atop the young man's head was a tiny sparrow, wearing the unmistakable expression of an emperor as if seated upon the highest throne.
Her round, bright brown eyes casually swept over the surroundings below, as though the entire world existed merely for her inspection.
The little bird's light-brown feathers were traced with fine golden lines, giving her an appearance that was both adorable and striking.
Winter winds brushed gently against their faces as snowflakes drifted lazily through the air.
Surrounded by this quiet serenity, the harmonious family of three began their journey toward Sky Way City.
As they continued forward, the snow-covered path widened, and before them, a massive city finally came into full view.
A vast city sprawled across rolling white hills, encircled by towering stone walls etched with faintly glowing spiritual formations.
Tall pagodas rose in the distance, lending the city both a traditional charm and an air of commerce.
Above the city, cultivators flew back and forth on swords and artifacts, streaking past like comets.
At the enormous city gates, merchant caravans lined up alongside sentinel beasts pulling heavy carts, while wandering cultivators came and went, forming a lively, bustling scene.
Suzume suddenly gasped, her fluffy little body trembling with excitement.
"-Chiiirp!! Dumb Su Wen! I can smell sweets from all the way over there!"
Su Wen's eye twitched.
"Little Suzume," he said dryly, "with that tiny nose of yours, how could you possibly smell sweets from this far away?"
Suzume puffed out her chest proudly, feathers flaring as she struck a heroic pose.
"-Chirp! Being born this amazing, it's nothing special! Even with my eyes closed, my nose can find sweets across mountains!"
"Hm," Su Wen replied thoughtfully. "Then you can enjoy their fragrance first. Once we finish shopping, I'll buy you whatever you want."
Her response was immediate.
With her feathers forming tiny fists, Suzume began pounding furiously on his head.
Du Yue burst into soft laughter at the sight.
A mischievous smile curved her lips as she said,
"Alright, alright… Husband, let's buy sweets for little Suzume first. Otherwise…" she paused teasingly, "…don't blame her if she starts pulling your hair out."
Suzume slowly turned her gaze to Su Wen's hair… then glanced at Du Yue.
Their eyes met.
A shared, wicked grin appeared.
Her feathers shifted, forming tiny hands that reached up and grasped a few strands of his hair… hovering just a breath away from pulling.
Su Wen felt a chill run down his spine.
Sensing imminent baldness, he surrendered on the spot, both hands raised.
"Alright… alright. We'll get the sweets first. Just… don't pull them out like weeds."
Then he turned to Du Yue, looking deeply aggrieved as he deliberately rubbed his palm in her direction.
"Wife… stop teaming up with Suzume to bully me," he said solemnly.
"It seems it's been a long time since I last disciplined you… hasn't it?"
Du Yue froze.
A deep blush spread across her cheeks as she immediately turned her face away, not daring to meet his eyes.
Finally, they stepped past the city gate, Suzume practically vibrating with excitement… she had only ever seen the tiny Yellow Town before.
Her bright eyes scanned the bustling streets, taking in the colourful stalls, shops, and the crowd of people moving about.
After a few moments, she fluttered her wings, her tail feathers quivering like a spiritual compass pointing straight toward sugar.
"There! There! There! -Chirp" she chirped, hopping onto Su Wen's head and tugging at his hair with urgency.
"Sweets! I can smell them! Charge that way, my subordinates!"
"We're your what?" Su Wen muttered helplessly as the tiny bird yanked his hair like reins.
Du Yue giggled into her sleeve, her eyes curving like crescent moons.
"Husband, we should hurry before our little Empress punishes us lowly subordinates."
"What a troublemaker…" Su Wen muttered, his hand hovering just inches from Suzume's fluffy head, torn between the desire to discipline and the urge to adore her.
Still, he let Suzume lead the way.
Soon, they arrived at a charming storefront adorned with lanterns shaped like candied fruits.
A warm, sugary fragrance drifted from the open windows… honey, caramelized spirit fruit, and roasted qi-nuts blending into a heavenly aroma.
"-CHIIIIIRP!"
Suzume shot forward like a fluffy arrow, rolling straight into a pile of crystallized peach slices.
Her tiny head poked out like a sugar-dusted mole, chirping in pure bliss.
"A-A sentinel bird?! So cute!" a shop attendant exclaimed.
"Look, she's heading straight for the candied peach display!"
"Quick! Stop her… Wait, no, let her be, she's adorable…"
"–Chiirp! Dumb Su Wen, buy this mountain for me, pleeease~" Suzume's eyes sparkled.
Su Wen crossed his arms like an exasperated father.
"No. That's too many. You can only buy a few."
Before Suzume could protest, Du Yue leaned forward, her voice soft and coaxing, like a gentle mother,
"Husband! Buy her the mountain. Don't be stingy… look how happy she is!"
Su Wen's eye twitched violently.
'You dumb wife… do you want to empty my pockets just for candies?!' he groaned inwardly.
Meanwhile, Suzume looked up at Du Yue from inside the candy pile and gave her a tiny thumbs-up with her fluffy wing, making Du Yue chuckle.
Su Wen let out a long sigh.
"…We'll be on a long journey anyway. Fine. Take it all."
Completely defeated by the two little troublemakers, he watched as Suzume snatched two peach candies, handing one to Du Yue and keeping one for herself before fluttering triumphantly back onto his head.
The shop attendants quickly packed the entire pile with bright smiles, utterly charmed by the adorable family.
Du Yue nibbled on the peach candy, then looked at Suzume perched proudly atop Su Wen's head and smiled softly.
'If I could shrink to that size… I'd sit on my husband's head all day long…' she thought, a small, dreamy sigh escaping her lips.