Daily Survival After Inheriting a Harem (GL) - Chapter 16

Being the hero who saves the beauty feels really cool, but Qiu Qi declared that behind that dazzling coolness was unbearable agony.

The assassination incident at the entrance of Ruyi Workshop didn’t end the moment she selflessly took the hit.

The black mist released by the Demonic race’s attack caught the attention of Yan Wan, who was purchasing goods at other stalls. She immediately dropped her large and small bags and rushed towards Qiu Qi and Pei Yuqing’s location.

With a loud shout, her lower body swelled, and Yan Wan transformed into a half-human, half-beast form. She held a goat’s hooves, elegantly and calmly striking an attacking pose on the ground, seemingly not putting the small fry before her in her eyes at all.

After all, she was once a hot candidate for the Beast God title. Her moves were fierce and decisive, without cumbersome casting wind-ups. By the time they reacted, Yan Wan had already leaped from the ground with lightning speed, flying above the Demonic envoy. With a powerful strike descending from mid-air, her beast-shaped goat legs, with their tightly bound muscles, inspired awe with just a glance. With this kick, the Demonic creature was utterly disintegrated without any power to resist.

Yan Wan’s movements were fluid and decisive, far more shocking than the clumsy martial arts Qiu Qi had learned from her coach.

“My apologies, My Lord, I’m late. Are you alright?” Yan Wan walked over and knelt, but first reached out to support Pei Yuqing, who was still bleeding profusely.

One was once the daughter of the Elf War God, the other was the widely renowned current Beast God. If not for the heavy shackles on their bodies, how could they have been single-handedly brought to such a miserable state by a small Demonic creature?

Yan Wan shook her head and sighed, while taking out the trauma medicine she carried with her and applying it. “Look at the state you’re in.”

Extensive use of spiritual arts caused a large gash to open in Pei Yuqing’s back. The profound ice ring embedded in her body continuously sucked away her meager warmth and spiritual energy. But even though her lips were transparent from bl00d loss, she still hadn’t loosened her grip on Qiu Qi.

“Butler Yan, check on her.”

Yan Wan responded, using her hand to part Qiu Qi’s torn clothes and briefly glance. Her gaze fell upon the gleaming soft thorn armor, and she said, “No worries, it’s just a waste of a hundred-gold soft thorn armor, truly a pity.”

A money-grubber, indeed. Her first reaction was to care about the soft thorn armor.

If Qiu Qi hadn’t already fallen unconscious, she would surely have seized this opportunity to jump up and put on a pitiful act. Unfortunately, Yan Wan always spoke frankly. Seeing her prioritize the armor over Qiu Qi’s safety, Pei Yuqing knew that she had indeed worried too much.

“That’s good then. Let’s go back.”

“Yes, Madam Pei.” Yan Wan helped Pei Yuqing up, then grabbed Qiu Qi by the collar and swung her onto her back. She sped up her pace, hopping a few times along the wall. When passing the previous shop, she didn’t forget to pick up the items that had fallen to the ground and bring them home.

A perfect butler, you deserve to have one.

••••

After returning, Pei Yuqing was settled by Yan Wan in a bath filled with Cobalt-Rhodium Holy Water to recover her strength. Since some “sucker” paid for the water, Yan Wan felt no pain at all when pouring it.

The sisters in the courtyard first visited Pei Yuqing one by one. After a round of meaningless greetings, they were coldly dismissed by the mistress.

—Indeed, no one would be in a good mood when being surrounded by a crowd while taking a bath.

These noise-loving people were noisily shooed out, and in a turn, they all headed towards Qiu Qi’s bedchambers.

What for?

To watch the excitement and laugh at her, of course.

The number of times Qiu Qi had been assassinated outside was countless to the people in the courtyard, but this was the first time she had been beaten back to her beast form in such a miserable state.

When Butler Yan reported, nine out of ten people were roaring with laughter, and the remaining one, Yin Ci, was stoic.

“By the way, what’s her beast form?”

“I don’t know.” Zu Mianmian turned to ask Yin Ci, “Sister Yin Ci, do you know?”

Yin Ci shook her head.

“Butler Yan must know, right?”

“She told us to see for ourselves.”

“Then hurry, hurry, I’m too curious!” This matter was so big that even Xu Zishe came out to join the fun.

She stepped forward and knocked on the door. Yan Wan opened it from inside, placing a finger to her lips. “Still sleeping, don’t wake her.”

“Okay, got it.”

The few of them tiptoed to the bedside. Yin Ci stepped forward and pulled back the covers. After clearly seeing the fluffy object on the bed, her expression visibly stiffened.

Qiu Qi’s beast form had never been seen before, but her name, Qiongqi, had long spread throughout the land.

Only one such creature appeared every thousand years, and like two tigers unable to share one mountain, when multiple existed, they would fight each other until only one remained.

Because so few people had seen its true form, there were at least four or five versions of its depiction in books. Some said it resembled a tiger, others a cow, and there were even combined versions. However, due to the original owner’s cruel and bloodthirsty conduct, everyone had equated it with hideousness and ugliness in their minds.

But who could tell them what that round-headed, round-bodied little creature was, curled up on the bed with four fleshy paws, its chubby bottom jiggling with each breath, furiously igniting their maternal instincts?

Not only was it not hideous in the slightest, but it was actually quite similar to the cats that humans liked to keep as pets, only its tiger stripes were more prominent, and it had a pair of small wings on its back that seemed overly frail compared to its body.

“Hoo-woo…” The cat-beast on the bed wagged its tail, rolled over onto its back, and comfortably revealed its soft white belly, eyes narrowed.

Xu Zishe, standing by the bed, suddenly felt her hands itching. So, she obediently reached out and kneaded that good-feeling belly. “So docile.”

“Itchy… No, don’t bully me… Annoying…” A soft, sweet tone emanated from the tiny voice, scratching at one’s heart.

Xu Zishe silently withdrew her “devil’s claws,” and indeed, didn’t touch her again.

“The legendary ancient fierce beast, looks like this?”

“Hehehehe…” Zu Mianmian gave a dry laugh.

Everyone’s feelings at this moment: Honestly, this thing… is actually quite cute?

Only Yin Ci maintained her composure. She pulled out the Demon Slaying Blade from her bosom. “Why don’t we take her life now?”

“Wait,” Zu Mianmian hesitated. “Didn’t Sister Pei order us not to harm her life?”

“If not to take her life, surely playing with her to vent our anger is fine?” Xiao Chu’er chuckled. “I know some minor poisons. How about it, want to feed her some now to play with?”

“Chirp… But, she became like this to save master…” Lan Tang chirped, fluttering her wings, and interjected softly.

Lin Yujin’s face showed worry. “Indeed, and last time, she also managed not to lose control and attack me.”

Xu Zishe: “No, why are you all so soft-hearted?”

Zu Mianmian retorted: “You’re the least firm in your stance, aren’t you!”

“Cough cough… I was just…” She found she couldn’t explain herself.

“Alright, let’s go back and discuss a good plan. Once it turns back into human form, we’ll implement it. If we also take advantage of her weakness, wouldn’t that make us no different from this demon?”

Everyone eagerly nodded in agreement, seizing the opportunity. “Yes, that’s a good idea.”

After watching (and petting) the excitement (cat), everyone dispersed. Qiu Qi slept soundly on her exposed belly until evening. When she opened her eyes, she found herself in a soft, fragrant embrace.

The ears on top of her head twitched, and Qiu Qi burrowed deeper, a few contented purrs naturally escaping her throat the moment she was enveloped by the fragrant scent. Half-asleep, she murmured about her earlier daydream, “Sigh, even beauties won’t let me sleep even once before planning my demise… So unethical…”

The gentle stroking motion on Qiu Qi’s back paused, then pinched her ear.

“My Lord, it’s time for dinner.” The voice was entirely different from her dream, stern and with a hint of cool threat.

“Ah ah ah, it hurts!” Qiu Qi practically jumped up.

Someone above her chuckled, and even the chest she was leaning against vibrated.

Qiu Qi looked up with a tiger-like head, only to realize her perspective was entirely wrong…

She hurriedly looked down, but was bewildered by the fluffy “little bamboo shoots.”

“What am I?”

“A side effect of being attacked by the Demonic race. Although Butler Yan arrived in time to save your life, it couldn’t stop you from being beaten back into your beast form,” Pei Yuqing explained. “With a little care, you’ll recover in about three days. My Lord, no need to panic.”

Qiu Qi admitted she was a bit flustered. She had just gotten a pleasing new skin and was about to use it to charm people, and then suddenly she was turned into this.

No br3asts, no butt, who would still be interested in her!

“Ow!” Qiu Qi howled, and the little creature looked quite intimidating.

Pei Yuqing looked at her wilted appearance, but the smile on her lips never faded.

“Oh, right.” Qiu Qi remembered. “Madam, how are your injuries?”

Pei Yuqing shook her head. “After soaking in the holy water for two hours, most of it has recovered.”

“That’s good.”

In this position, Qiu Qi had to crane her neck to see Pei Yuqing’s face. She stomped her feet in dissatisfaction, her paws stepping on Pei Yuqing’s arm, trying to climb up. Unfortunately, as a 21st-century human, it was her first time walking on four legs, and she couldn’t find any balance. After much struggling, not only did she fail to climb up, but she also accidentally hooked her claws on the other’s clothes, sending herself tumbling.

The cat-beast hung from Pei Yuqing’s body, stretched out long. Its paws were stuck and it couldn’t move, only dangling from Pei Yuqing’s thigh like a cat-shaped ornament bought from a dollar store.

“Madam…” Qiu Qi whined pitifully, her chubby bottom wiggling as she tried to wriggle closer. “Help me.”

“Mm.”

Having had enough of the show, Pei Yuqing hid her upturned lips. She took Qiu Qi’s meaty paw, rescued her from her clothes, then lifted her onto her shoulder.

Qiu Qi swayed. Her two hind legs stepped on Pei Yuqing’s shoulder, and her front paws fearfully hugged her neck. “Madam, I’m not a bird; I don’t like standing on people’s shoulders.”

“Then where would My Lord like to be?”

Qiu Qi gave an embarrassed “heh,” and patted Pei Yuqing’s chest with her paw. “Here, I want a hug.”

“Then let go first.” Pei Yuqing’s patience was unusually good today, which made Qiu Qi feel unaccustomed.

She stared with wide, round eyes, then was happily picked up by Pei Yuqing and cradled in her arms.

What kind of dumb luck was this, to suddenly be so gentle? Qiu Qi thought, wagging her tail.

Why did she feel like Pei Yuqing was much more interested in her beast form than her human form?

Her gaze was gentle, her words were patient, and she even didn’t refuse hugs!

Then… could she push her luck and ask for a kiss?