The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 12

Jian Li shook her head, her paw tapping the Spirit Mirror. “I want this, and this looks good too. Hmm, never seen this pastry before—it’s so pretty!”

Her order was enough for ten people. Chang Chi’s jaw nearly dropped. “You’re so small! How can you two possibly eat all this?”

Jian Li glanced at Yan Qingshuang. Her dark hair cascaded like a waterfall, her skin was pale and cool, and her profile was breathtaking. Even without saying a word, her ethereal aura made her seem like a celestial being.

As Jian Li stared, she nearly drooled.

Probably just hungry, she thought.

Jian Li let out a firm meow, which only Yan Qingshuang understood: “We’ll definitely finish it! I’m turning my anger into appetite!”

Even after this feast, Yan Qingshuang still had five Spirit Stones left for Chang Chi.

Chang Chi exited the ordering page and opened the Sect Mission Board. A mission she had posted ten days ago remained unclaimed.

She sighed, and Jian Li followed her gaze.

The Spirit Mirror displayed: Chi Xin Alchemy: Mission Posted.

The comments below were brutally honest:

1000 Spirit Stones to collect 100 Jade Spirit Orchids? They’re treating us like mules!

These things grow on the border between Xuanzhou and Youzhou. They’re not even that useful, and it’s dangerous there. I wouldn’t recommend it.

Stop hogging the mission board with this garbage. Take it down already!

Jian Li’s eyes lit up at the sight of money and missions.

1000 Spirit Stones?

What kind of donkey do they think I am?

I was born with the Heavenly Chosen Workhorse Physique!

A fluffy leopard cub suddenly poked its head out from Yan Qingshuang’s arm.

She cupped Jian Li’s head and asked softly, “Are you still angry?”

“Still mad, but it’s your money, so I have no right to decide,” Jian Li replied.

“Xiao Li, I’ll earn enough to take good care of you.”

“Who asked you to take care of me? I never said that.”

Little Spiritual Beasts have short memories.

Yan Qingshuang smoothed Jian Li’s fur, trying to appease her. “Mm, it’s just that I want to take care of you.”

Jian Li purred contentedly as she was stroked, wrapping her arms around her thick tail and squinting with a smile. “Wrong. I’m the one taking care of you.”

Yan Qingshuang took it as comfort and played along. “Then I’ll wait for Xiao Li to take care of me.”

“Exactly! I’ll take excellent care of you.”

“Mm.”

Just then, birdsong erupted outside, scattering leaves into the air.

Almost a moment of perfect tranquility.

Jian Li quickly said, “I just saw Chang Chi post a Sect mission. Can I go?”

Yan Qingshuang asked, “What color is the mission?”

“White.”

“Go ahead. It’s perfect for playing around.”

White missions were suitable for disciples who hadn’t yet cultivated Qi into their bodies. They were simple and easy to handle, such as guarding Spiritual Fields, offering a leisurely pace and earning one Spirit Stone per day.

Play?

Jian Li couldn’t quite grasp Yan Qingshuang’s logic. Judging by other people’s reviews, these missions didn’t sound particularly fun.

Yan Qingshuang noted the mission number for Jian Li.

After the beast and its companion finished their meal, Yan Qingshuang prepared a takeout box, packing the pastries and large chicken leg that Jian Li couldn’t possibly finish.

Chang Chi summoned a Celestial Crane included in the meal set. The crane gently opened the window with its beak, signaling the customers to depart.

Yan Qingshuang softly called to Jian Li, “It’s time to go.”

Jian Li lay sprawled on her back, her belly swollen like a woman six months pregnant from the chicken wing rice.

Chang Chi, munching on a Spirit Fruit, gave Jian Li a thumbs-up, sincerely praising, “I’ve never seen a Spiritual Beast with such an appetite!”

Ordinary human food, when overeaten, would only cause discomfort or a stomachache at worst. But consuming too much Spirit Food could be far more dangerous. If one’s Spiritual Meridians were narrow, overeating could cause not just the stomach, but the entire system to rupture.

This Spiritual Beast’s appetite and strength were truly unfathomable.

Jian Li rolled over, feeling nauseous. Regret washed over her as she pleaded pitifully, “Little Shuang, please help me up.”

“Alright.”

As Yan Qingshuang lifted Jian Li off the ground, the heavy weight pressed down on her arms, causing her to sway momentarily.

Seeing this, Chang Chi quickly offered her assistance, her medical instincts kicking in. “Senior Sister Yan, according to the doctor’s orders, you should be resting in bed for at least ten days to two weeks to fully recover. Why aren’t you following medical advice?”

Yan Qingshuang cradled Jian Li in her arms like a baby. “Junior Sister Chang, I’ll take my medicine on time.”

“But the doctor specifically instructed you to avoid lifting heavy objects,” Chang Chi pointed out.

Jian Li’s little leopard ears perked up. ???

When did I become a heavy object?

“She’s not heavy,” Yan Qingshuang replied. “Lighter than a bucket of water.”

Jian Li purred contentedly.

As a leopard, the only reward she could offer was a soft, wet lick to Yan Qingshuang’s fingers.

Chang Chi scratched her head, watching them board the Celestial Crane in perfect harmony. Senior Sister Yan is truly capable of lying through her teeth—no, wait, lying through her blind eyes.

But comparing Jian Li to a bucket of water… I have to admit, Senior Sister Yan knows her weights.

It wasn’t until Jian Li had digested most of the carbohydrates in her stomach that she finally realized the insult. “Ah, Little Shuang! How could you compare me to a bucket of water?!”

Yan Qingshuang guiltily produced a wrapped pastry and offered it to Jian Li’s mouth. “Your belly felt… a bit similar. I didn’t realize you’d mind. I’m sorry.”

Jian Li swallowed the pastry in one gulp. “Forget it. I’m generous. My stomach can hold a ship.”

“Thank you.”

“Oh, right. Chang Chi told you to rest. I can handle the missions myself. Don’t follow me anymore.”

“You’re new here. What if someone bullies you?”

The Little Leopard, thinking she was being considerate, earnestly advised, “Even if someone bullies me, you can’t help anyway. Your priority now is to recover. As long as you’re healthy, you can always find work later.”

Yan Qingshuang remained silent for a moment before replying, “Understood.”

As evening approached, the mist thickened. Celestial Cranes carrying passengers and disciples flying on swords filled the sky. Jian Li gazed down at the hazy landscape below.

“Where are we going?”

“The gathering at Bailian Peak,” Yan Qingshuang replied.

“Oh, right. You need to buy a Bamboo Staff. Those girls are so nasty, deliberately breaking your things.”

“It’s fine. It wasn’t anything rare.”

If Jian Li had endured such humiliation, she couldn’t have remained so calm, silently bearing the bitterness alone.

Jian Li couldn’t fault Yan Qingshuang’s approach. In her opinion, Qingshuang should have slapped those girls’ faces. But Yan Qingshuang herself seemed indifferent to the matter.

It was almost certain that the entire Sect’s disciples held Yan Qingshuang in contempt and showered her with insults, though the reason remained a mystery.

Jian Li couldn’t fathom how such an honest and unassuming person like Yan Qingshuang could have become a major villain.

Yan Qingshuang reached out and tapped Jian Li’s ear with her index finger. “What are you thinking about?”

“I was thinking… um, I want to buy a Spirit Mirror.”

“Good. It’ll make taking Physician Chang’s missions easier too.”

After dismounting the Celestial Crane, they found themselves on a bustling street, a cacophony of hawkers’ cries, haggling, and idle chatter assaulting their ears.

Jian Li wrapped her arm around Yan Qingshuang’s shoulders and leaned close to her cheek. “Tell me where you want to go, and I’ll lead the way.”

The warm breath tickled Yan Qingshuang’s ear, sending a shiver down her spine. She paused before replying, “The stall isn’t fixed. She has a sign with a dragon painted on it.”

The street was packed with people, making it impossible to spot the sign even if it were there.

Jian Li had no choice but to say, “Stay here. I’ll be right back.”

“Okay, I’ll wait for you.”

Jian Li leaped to the ground, grabbed her tail in her mouth, and darted forward a few steps. As if sensing something, she instinctively turned her head.