Chapter 381: Chapter 377: A Beautiful Woman? Great-Grandmother

"How could my brother be injured? What on earth happened?" Bai Chuyan had been at a party with her friends, but she floored it home in her sports car the moment she heard her younger brother was hurt.

’Her younger brother was the Young Master of the Bai Family, an exceptionally talented Martial Cultivator on the verge of attaining his Dao. Who would dare to harm him? Who *could* harm him?’

’Besides, wasn’t her brother at the Ancient Academy?’

The old butler said, "I heard the Young Master had a duel at the Ancient Academy today and lost. He suffered a minor injury, but it’s nothing serious. There’s no need to worry, Second Miss."

At these words, Bai Chuyan, who had been walking briskly, froze mid-stride. She stared at the old butler in disbelief, as if suspecting he was joking with her.

’Someone at the Ancient Academy who could defeat her brother? What kind of cosmic joke is this?’

"Take me to my brother. Right now. Immediately."

Bai Chuyan entered the manor and went to a spacious bedroom. There, she quickly saw a tall, powerfully built young man with bronze skin kneeling on the floor.

"Brother..." Bai Chuyan murmured to herself.

She saw her brother kneeling, and when she saw who he was kneeling before, she was stunned. It was a beautiful, graceful woman in a cheongsam. She looked regal and elegant, a kind smile on her face as she rested a hand on Bai Junran’s head.

Bai Chuyan froze, at a complete loss. Meanwhile, inside her pocket, a small snake head poked out to survey its surroundings. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Tu Xiao’an was astonished to see a beautiful young woman stroking Bai Junran’s head. Bai Junran was so proud and untamable, always acting superior to others. Yet here he was, kneeling on the floor with his arrogant head bowed, docilely allowing the woman to caress him.

’This must be Bai Junran’s mother,’ Tu Xiao’an thought.

’Bai Junran was defeated by my Thunder. He probably lost too much face to stay at the Ancient Academy, so he came back to the Bai Family.’

"Jun’er, lift your head," the beautiful woman said, still stroking his head. Her voice was as calm and still as water in an ancient well.

Bai Junran didn’t raise his head, his eyes filled with shame. "I’ve brought shame upon the Bai Family."

That one defeat at the Ancient Academy had completely destroyed the Young Master Bai’s pride. It was a devastating blow to him. Tu Xiao’an might not have thought it was a big deal, but for the Young Master of the Bai Family, it was like a bolt from the blue.

It was the first defeat of his life, a stark, naked loss in front of every student at the Ancient Academy.

"Heh heh... Jun’er, don’t mind it. This is a good thing, a wonderful thing." The beautiful woman actually seemed pleased. Bai Junran looked up at her, astonished. She said, "You may be exceptionally talented, but you are ultimately a flower raised in a greenhouse. Your life has been too smooth from the very beginning. An easy path is not necessarily a good thing. You are on the verge of attaining your Dao; experiencing a setback now will only benefit you."

"Once you have attained your Dao, go and reclaim the pride you lost with your own hands." The beautiful woman continued to stroke Bai Junran’s head, her movements slow and deliberate, her eyes as gentle as water.

Bai Junran gritted his teeth and clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white. A fire ignited in his eyes. ’That’s right,’ he thought. ’Defeat isn’t frightening. I just have to get back up where I fell.’

"Very good, very good. Just like that. Hold on to that drive, that anger. With it, you have a hope of attaining your Dao," the beautiful woman said with a smile.

Just then, she glanced at the dazed figure not far away and smiled. "Ah, Chu’er is back as well."

Bai Chuyan shuddered and hurried over, kneeling before the beautiful woman. "Chu Yan greets Ancestor Grandma."

Her tone was filled with reverence, and even a hint of terrified apprehension.

’Ancestor Grandma?’

Tu Xiao’an stared at the beautiful woman in surprise. ’So this is the Ancestor Grandma Bai that Yu Zitong mentioned. She’s so young.’

’Ancestor Grandma... how many generations older than them is she?’

’Four generations? Five?’

’Did the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake come from her? Judging by her appearance—the cheongsam, her regal and elegant bearing, the noble grace in her every move—she doesn’t seem like a modern person.’

But Tu Xiao’an noticed something: both Bai Junran and Bai Chuyan were reverent toward this Ancestor Grandma, and even a little afraid of her.

That went without saying for Bai Chuyan, but it was true for Bai Junran as well.

’This woman is no simple character.’

’Use Conscious Insight on her.’

"DING... Insight failed. Host Level is too low."

Tu Xiao’an accepted it without any surprise. Ancestor Grandma Bai was another expert whose data he couldn’t read.

"Chu’er, accompany Ancestor Grandma for a walk. Let your brother have some quiet time to himself."

The beautiful woman glided out of the room with graceful, lotus-like steps. Bai Chuyan didn’t dare to disobey. She glanced at her brother before dutifully following.

Hidden on Bai Chuyan’s person, Tu Xiao’an completely sealed his own aura, not letting the slightest trace escape.

In the presence of an absolute expert, even the tiniest wisp of his snake-like Qi would expose him instantly.

Besides, according to what Dr. Snake had once told Tu Xiao’an, the Bai Family had made their fortune in Bai Town and were once Snake Catchers. They were exceptionally sensitive to snakes.

So, Tu Xiao’an wasn’t too surprised that the Golden Silkworm Gu Snake came from the Bai Family.

Now, the goal was clear. By following this beautiful woman, he might not only find the Golden Pupils but also see a mature Golden Silkworm Gu Snake.

The beautiful woman walked in silence. Bai Chuyan was very well-behaved, following along dutifully. As long as the other woman didn’t speak, she didn’t dare utter a single word.

They walked straight down a long, deep corridor and arrived in a courtyard. The courtyard was exceptionally quiet and serene. In it grew a fruit tree, its branches laden with vibrant, luscious cherries that glittered like countless sparkling red agates.

"I’m a little thirsty. Chu’er, why don’t you pick a few cherries," the beautiful woman said with a smile.

"Yes."

Bai Chuyan was tall, so she easily picked five or six cherries. The cherries were a brilliant red and contained a rich aura that whetted one’s appetite.

Tu Xiao’an snuck a peek at the cherry tree and wondered, ’Why are there cherries this time of year? And they look so perfect.’

Cherries start out green, then turn pale yellow, and finally ripen in mid-April to early May. But it was almost October now.

’Besides, these are no ordinary cherries. They have a dense Spiritual Qi, so they must be Spirit Fruits. They might not even be inferior to my Snakeberries.’

’I’d have to eat one to know for sure.’

"Ancestor Grandma, for you."

Bai Chuyan carefully cupped the cherries in her hands. The beautiful woman took one and placed it in her mouth. As she bit into the flesh, the bright red juice trickled down the corner of her lips, looking just like an overflow of fresh blood.

"Ancestor Grandma..." Bai Chuyan pointed at the red stain on the corner of her lips.

The beautiful woman chuckled and licked it away with her tongue. "Heh heh... This old one has been eating these cherries for so many years, and I still make a mess."

"You have one too, Chu’er."

Bai Chuyan’s face went deathly pale. She had no intention of eating the cherry filled with Spiritual Qi and shook her head repeatedly. "It’s fine, Ancestor Grandma. You enjoy them. Chu’er doesn’t need any."

"Silly child. After so many years, you’re still afraid to eat these cherries? If you ate more of them, you wouldn’t be so weak that you’d have to go be a mere police officer."