Murim's Weakest Princess-Chapter 214: Baby Tooth

The next morning, Anji woke up feeling well-rested. However, the last memory she had was hugging her father in the study after gaining his approval. When did she get into a bed three times bigger than the one in the hut? Then again, her father might have carried her here, seeing how he was still sleeping in front of her

"Our Anji is finally awake," Zhao Wanting spoke up, startling Anji. She was not expecting anyone in this close proximity. Turning around, she spotted her mother on the bed. At the same time, she recognised the room now.

"Mother!" she greeted with surprise as the woman cuddled with Anji, almost smothering Anji in her chest.

Struggling in the suffocating hold, Anji remembered how this used to be a common occurrence when she was younger. If she had to sleep in her room, Lizi would always be there to accompany her or linger where Anji could still see or hear her until she fell asleep. Similarly, Gu Ying’s silent presence standing guard was something Anji took for granted until she entered the Mystical Qilin Sect alone. Despite getting used to sleeping alone, Anji still missed this togetherness.

Finally prying herself free, Anji gasped for air with a red face but a wide smile, showing off her pearly whites. Some of her baby teeth had become loose. Any of them could fall out at any time, but Anji wasn’t concerned. They would soon grow back. If anything, Doctor Yun told her that most children would lose their front teeth at six. Anji was almost eight, and they had only become wobbly recently.

"Shall we have breakfast here?" Zhao Mingfeng asked in a sleepy voice. "I’m too lazy to go back to the hut for it."

It had to be a rare day because Zhao Wanting agreed to it. Normally, Anji’s mother would be the prim and proper person to nag everyone about discipline. However, she seemed more relaxed today. Was it because Zhao Mingfeng finally gave his consent for Anji’s operation?

After Zhao Wanting got out of bed to call for Lizi to prepare breakfast, it was Zhao Mingfeng’s turn to cuddle with his daughter. Neither parent needed sleep with their cultivation level. However, watching Anji sleep and discussing the future in low tones at night became their ritual. It had been a while since they last spoke. But when Zhao Mingfeng came in carrying Anji, who slept in his arms, Zhao Wanting welcomed them both openly. She had faith that Zhao Mingfeng’s love for their daughter would turn him around eventually. Their family was not fragile enough to fall apart over one difficult decision. They had been making decisions all their lives. This was no different.

From the bed, breakfast smelled divine. Anji’s stomach growled loudly, and ZHao Mingfeng reluctantly let Anji get up. Last night’s events felt hazy, and the morning after seemed so surreal. It almost felt like a good dream he never wanted to wake up from. However, they had to send a reply to the Mystical Qilin Sect as soon as breakfast was over. There was no way he would let his daughter go so easily. Even if the risk of the operation is controlled, nobody knows what variables will arise during it.

Anji washed up quickly and bounced joyfully at the favourite dishes piled on the table. Although Lizi had been bringing food to the private hut daily, it was usually cold when they arrived. Having a bowl of piping hot congee in the morning was not the same as having it cooled, even if they tasted the same.

"Eat slowly," Zhao Wanting frowned as Anji shovelled steaming grains from the bowl. "Be careful of scalding yourself."

Anji chewed hard and nodded. Nobody was expecting to hear a loud crunching sound. It did not sound like congee, and everyone froze when Anji turned pale at once.

"Spit it out!’ Zhao Wanting leapt across the table. "Someone get Doctor He!"

Gu Ying wasted no time and left to fetch the doctor. Lizi immediately prepared a cup of cool water and a towel as Anji covered her mouth with both hands. Her eyes were teary, and Zhao Mingfeng, who had been lazing in bed earlier, got up.

"What’s wrong?" he asked, and his wife shook her head, clueless.

"Anji, are you ok?"

Of all the times it could happen, Anji did not expect it to happen while she was eating. Then again, it made sense that a loose tooth would fall out during action. She had no idea if it was meant to hurt or what she should do with it.

With Gu Ying carrying the ashen doctor on her back, the duo burst into the room at record speed.

"What happened?" Doctor He demanded, immediately rushing over to check Anji’s vitals as he took her pulse.

Nobody breathed, not even Anji. She dared not even swallow, and the mush in her mouth, mixing with accumulated saliva, started to feel uncomfortable. However, she let the doctor do his job.

"Nothing seems out of the ordinary," Doctor He reported, feeling calmer after determining it was not a life-threatening condition. "What’s wrong?"

Quickly, Zhao Wanting relayed what occurred during breakfast as Anji tugged at the towel Lizi was holding onto to spit out the disgusting mixture in her mouth. The gap left by the baby tooth felt odd, and there was a faint aftertaste of blood.

Seeing how calm Anji was while Lizi helped her clean up, the doctor wondered what could be wrong. The crunching sound was an indicator, and Anji’s reluctance to speak was another sign.

"Could it be that you lost a tooth?" he asked.

Anji froze. She did not want to answer because it was embarrassing, but she nodded because she was concerned that if she did not treat the gaping hole in her mouth, it might be dangerous.

Hearing how Anji has lost her first tooth, her parents looked at each other with excitement behind her while Lizi quickly went back to the towel Anji spat in earlier to see if she could recover the baby tooth.

"Did you swallow it?" Doctor He followed up immediately. "Does it hurt? Can you open your mouth to show me which tooth it was? Any other teeth?"

His professional attitude gave Anji a little reassurance as she complied. Judging from his calm and unhurried reactions, Anji had a feeling losing a teeth mid-meal was more common than she first thought.

After a quick inspection, Doctor He concluded the check-up with a warm smile.

"Although there are a few more loose teeth, they do not seem to be at immediate risk of falling. However, to ensure the wound does not get infected, gargle your mouth with salt water three times a day until you no longer taste the blood in your mouth."

Giving Anji more advice if she happened to have fallen teeth in future meals or accidentally swallow one, Doctor He reassured his patient and her parents that nothing else was wrong.

"Congratulations," he smiled. "You’re one step closer to becoming an adult now. Do you want to keep your first fallen tooth as a lucky charm?"

Anji thought about it and made a face. Why would anyone do that? She shook her head, but Lizi was much quicker. The maid snatched the towel and quickly excused herself the moment Anji claimed she did not want it. There were hundreds of others who would kill to have it as their lucky charm if Anji did not want it. And the first in line would be her parents.

"Does it mean I can still eat as usual?" Anji asked. "Won’t it be difficult to chew or drink with a hole in my mouth?"

Laughing, Doctor He shook his head. "It would only feel weird for a while. Biting food and drinking might feel a little strange, and you might have difficulties speaking, but the teeth will start growing out in a few days. You’ll see. There’s nothing to be concerned about. However, you should find me immediately if there is any pain. Sometimes the new teeth growing out could cut into the gum or grow in the wrong places."

Wincing at the thought, Anji thanked Doctor He and requested to prepare for a prayer ceremony.

"Why all of a sudden?" Lizi asked, not that she minded.

Anji returned her the most serious look after her parents left to speak with Doctor He about her baby tooth phase.

"I’m going to pray for straight teeth. There are no dentists in the Mystical Qilin Sect, and I don’t think all my teeth are scheduled to fall out by my eighth birthday. It would be inconvenient not to have any teeth by the time I have to return."

Her serious answer only made Lizi smile awkwardly. She wanted to support her young lady’s wise decision. However, it was such a strange, child-like concern that she could not help but burst into laughter.

Anji huffed with a blush. The adults might think it was a needless concern. After all, how could this ever compare to the danger of an unknown spiritual operation? However, Anji had more faith in the rewriting of her seals than in growing a set of healthy and beautiful teeth. After all, the progress of the operation can be controlled, but not her pearly whites, who seem to think it was the most convenient time to fall out during breakfast.