The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 21

When Jian Li arrived at their spot, she was stunned. A vast expanse of lush greenery stretched before her, dotted with vibrant, edible flowers.

 

Seeing her standing motionless, Xiao He offered her a stack of fruits and vegetables with a friendly smile. “It’s delicious.”

 

Jian Li, unable to refuse the gesture from her friend, buried herself in the pile of produce and devoured it in no time.

 

When she looked up, she found all the Celestial Cranes staring at her. Embarrassed, she scratched her cheek and cautiously asked, “Is there something on my face?”

 

Xiao He replied, “Nothing at all. Would you like more?”

 

Jian Li lied, “I’m good, thanks. I’m quite full.”

 

Hearing this, the Celestial Cranes finally averted their gazes, resuming their elegant, deliberate chewing of their own lunches.

 

Jian Li’s ears were filled with the ASMR-like crunching of fruits and vegetables, while her nose was assaulted by the rich, savory aromas wafting from the neighboring tables.

 

For a hungry Little Leopard, this stark contrast was almost unbearable.

 

After finishing their meal, Xiao He and the others gracefully sipped from bottles of Spiritual Dew. Jian Li took a sip herself—refreshingly sweet.

 

After inquiring about the dew vendor, Jian Li went to buy her own lunch.

 

Money spoke volumes. Though she couldn’t speak, ten Spirit Stones served as her voice.

 

She ordered dozens of dishes, ensuring a balanced diet, and carried a bag of newly released Spirit Milk Pudding in her paw.

 

She peeled open the Spirit Milk Pudding wrapper, tossed the pudding into the air, and leaped in the direction of its descent.

 

The soft, springy pudding landed perfectly in her mouth.

 

She then executed a flawless, agile landing.

 

The spectacle drew a crowd of Cultivators, who erupted in cheers and applause.

 

I’m a social anxiety sufferer, Jian Li thought. Did transmigrating to a new world and getting a new body also change my personality to be so outgoing and lively?

 

That’s more effective than traditional Chinese medicine!

 

Someone beside her urged, “Perform it again!”

 

“Yeah, yeah! It’s so fun! I want to see it again!” a Cultivator chimed in excitedly, a steamed bun dangling from his mouth.

 

“Whose Little Spiritual Beast is this? I want to pet it!”

 

Jian Li pondered for a moment, then sat in the center of the crowd and swiped at her Spirit Mirror.

 

Soon, she held up the Spirit Mirror: One Spirit Sand per performance.

 

One Spirit Sand was equivalent to 0.1 Spirit Stone.

 

Everyone agreed to the price, and coins began raining down on her. The Little Snow Leopard opened its Storage Pouch, accepting all donations without hesitation.

 

After ten performances, Jian Li had earned eleven Spirit Stones. She was ecstatic—she’d already made back her lunch money!

 

She offered to give one final free performance.

 

But this time, her landing went awry. She stumbled backward several steps, only to be caught by a pair of strong arms.

 

Jian Li turned her head. The man’s forehead radiated a bright light, his thick eyebrows framing piercing, spirited eyes.

 

The woman’s appearance was rugged and imposing. Below her face, Jian Li’s gaze fell upon the arms that had caught her—bronze-toned muscles coiled like ropes, a display of raw, ferocious power that Jian Li had never before witnessed.

 

She couldn’t resist touching the woman’s muscles, which felt as hard as granite. Startled, she quickly withdrew her paw and stared in awe at this formidable woman.

 

Wu Yun’s voice, deep and resonant, boomed, “Which family’s Spiritual Beast are you?”

 

Snapping out of her daze, Jian Li hurriedly typed Yan Qingshuang’s name.

 

“Is she the one?” Wu Yun asked.

 

Wu Yun led Jian Li out of the crowd. As a Body Cultivator, she stood tall and imposing, rarely facing challenges from the short-sighted.

 

Jian Li found herself inexplicably in the back kitchen. Wu Yun abandoned her there, turning to leave for another room.

 

The air was thick with the aroma of food and steaming vapor. The cooks, stripped to the waist and wearing only loincloths, glanced at her.

 

Noticing their stares, Jian Li frantically typed:

 

Don’t eat me!

 

One of the cooks chuckled, “But you look so plump.”

 

Just fluffy! Jian Li retorted.

 

“I don’t believe you,” the cook replied. “Unless you let me test it myself.”

 

Jian Li curled up in distress. Why does everyone have ulterior motives?

 

“Leave it alone,” Wu Yun said, emerging from the side with a basket of meat. “These are for Yan Qingshuang.”

 

Jian Li stared at the fresh meat, then raised her Spirit Mirror.

 

I have no money.

 

“It’s a gift,” Wu Yun replied.

 

A gift? How generous.

 

Does she know Little Shuang?

 

Why would anyone in the Sect be so kind to Little Shuang? Given Yan Qingshuang’s background and status, even tolerating her would be considered an act of great mercy, let alone showing her affection.

 

Could this person be secretly or openly in love with Little Shuang?!

 

The more Jian Li thought about it, the more suffocated she felt. She feigned composure for a long moment before finally storing the meat in her Storage Space.

 

As she turned to leave, Wu Yun’s deep voice echoed from behind her: “The Dining Hall prohibits Spiritual Beasts from performing tricks or begging.”

 

Jian Li flinched. “…”

 

Oh, she’s targeting me. But I wasn’t forced to perform tricks.

 

When Jian Li returned to Xiao He, the Celestial Cranes who were scheduled to work had already left to greet guests and prepare for the afternoon’s duties.

 

She asked Xiao He about Wu Yun’s background.

 

Xiao Li, who had been wandering around, seemed to have gained weight around the waist. Xiao He concluded that her new friend had an extraordinary appetite.

 

“Her name is Wu Yun. She’s a Body Cultivator and the head chef of the Dining Hall. She has a good personality and is skilled at cooking.”

 

Jian Li wasn’t interested in these details and cut straight to the point: “Apart from that, does she have a Dao Companion?”

 

Xiao He hesitated before answering no. Sensing her unease, Jian Li persisted with her questions. After some deliberation, Xiao He revealed that she had seen Wu Yun and Yan Qingshuang being quite close when they were younger.

 

The two girls used to play together, but something happened, and soon only Yan Qingshuang remained, solitary and withdrawn.

 

Xiao He immediately poured out everything she knew.

 

“Xiao Li, Xiao Li, are you listening? We’re having a Side Peak gathering in a few days. Will you come?”

 

The conversation had long since shifted from Wu Yun and Yan Qingshuang to their Celestial Crane party. Jian Li absentmindedly hummed in response.

 

From the Celestial Crane’s perch to her doorstep, Jian Li’s mind raced with speculation. Were they really that close? Together for classes, meals, and everything else—they were practically inseparable. Why did they suddenly part ways? If they had simply stopped contacting each other, that would have been one thing.

 

But the act of sending meat suggested they were still communicating. As for what else might be involved beyond the food deliveries, she couldn’t be sure.

 

Earlier, Yan Qingshuang had only been able to listen. She had overheard Jian Li chatting animatedly with a Celestial Crane.

 

Jian Li was like a lively little rabbit, running and then suddenly leaping into the air.

 

She hopped onto the crane’s back, her voice ringing with exhilaration as she chatted with the bird, completely lost in the moment.

 

Yan Qingshuang leaned against the wall, listening to the crane’s piercing cry pierce the clouds.

 

After resting for a while, she slowly rose, channeling spiritual power through her Bamboo Cane to reach the back mountain.

 

The forest, perpetually shrouded in shadow, was even colder than usual. Vines twisted through the sparse Spiritual Energy, their once vibrant green leaves now yellowed, and a layer of withered foliage carpeted the ground.

 

This rare desolate corner of Jianxing Peak was originally pathless, overgrown with thorns. But Yan Qingshuang’s frequent visits had naturally carved out a narrow trail.

 

Yesterday, her Master had entrusted her with the Bl00d-Rending Needle, imbued with a powerful formation, instructing her to cultivate diligently and avoid negligence.

 

Today, she came here to employ a mind-taxing method.

 

Yan Qingshuang reached a mountain cave, completed her preparations, and used her own bl00d as a catalyst to fill the seemingly slender Bl00d-Rending Needle, which actually contained a vast Storage Space.

 

As the bl00d merged with the silver needle, it erupted in a blinding radiance, illuminating the pitch-black cave and causing her long hair to billow.

 

The single needle multiplied into twelve, then twenty-four, continuously dividing around the central needle.

 

Yan Qingshuang sacrificed her bl00d, the silver needles relentlessly drawing it from her body. As the bl00d spread, countless fine needles filled the air.

 

A terrifying bl00d mist formation materialized around her, casting her usually serene face into a sinister, bewitching glow. Even her Violet Smoke Pupils brimmed with crimson droplets.

 

Yan Qingshuang’s lips parted slightly as she chanted an incantation.

 

With a sharp glint in her eyes, she commanded in a low voice, “Open!”

 

Like a torrential downpour, countless needles pierced her flesh, each one precisely striking a vital meridian point. The silver needles twisted relentlessly within her muscles and bones, inflicting a pain beyond description.

 

Yan Qingshuang knelt on the ground, occasionally coughing up bl00d, her mouth filled with the metallic tang of iron. Sweat dripped in heavy beads as her slender fingers clawed into the rocky crevices of the mountain wall. Simultaneously, her Sword Bone relentlessly absorbed the purest True Qi.

 

In just ten breaths, she teetered on the brink of unconsciousness, unable to continue without risking bone fractures. Gasping for air, she withdrew the primary needle, and the remaining needles retreated into her body.

 

The puncture wounds on her skin healed with astonishing speed, leaving her skin smooth as before in moments.

 

Long-dormant Spiritual Power coiled within her Dantian, forming intricate, hollow strands. She spat out the stagnant bl00d and sat in meditation, absorbing the newly awakened energy.

 

This torturous process of body refinement and Spiritual Energy absorption would need to be repeated a hundred times. Even after a hundred cycles, she would have to start anew, only then would her Sword Bone and Dantian be capable of absorbing normal Spiritual Energy.

 

Yan Qingshuang calculated the time, struggled to her feet, and returned home before Jian Li. She changed into fresh clothes, washed the bloodstained white robes, and hung them in the rarely visited rear courtyard.

 

Outside, stillness reigned, punctuated by the familiar cry of cranes, the chirping chatter of Spiritual Beasts, and the creak of a door opening.

 

Yan Qingshuang spoke softly, “Xiao Li.”

 

At Yan Qingshuang’s call, Jian Li’s mind snapped back to attention. Still pondering the relationship between Yan Qingshuang and Wu Yun, she slowly approached Yan Qingshuang’s side.

 

“I met Zhang Yuan. I traded some fruit for a Form Transformation Pill.”

 

Yan Qingshuang lifted her onto the chair and gently rubbed her ear. “Do you enjoy playing with her?”

 

Jian Li sensed something amiss. “I wasn’t playing. I was asking her about Sect rules and customs.”

 

Yan Qingshuang hummed in acknowledgment.

 

Jian Li caught a faint, almost imperceptible metallic scent in the air, but dismissed it without further thought.

 

She removed her Storage Pouch and began emptying its bountiful contents one by one.

 

Instantly, the aroma of various foods filled the small cottage.

 

Yan Qingshuang smiled. “You went to so much trouble bringing all this back.”

 

Jian Li grinned. “It didn’t cost me anything anyway.”

 

Yan Qingshuang raised an eyebrow. “Who gave it to you?”

 

Jian Li smirked mischievously. “I’m not telling. It’s a secret.”

 

“Zhang Yuan is really loyal. She’s someone worth keeping around.”

 

“Do you like her?” Yan Qingshuang asked, arranging the bowls, chopsticks, and food.

 

Jian Li: “Why does everyone keep asking me if I like someone? I don’t know. But when she touches me like you do, I don’t push her away.”

 

Yan Qingshuang leaned forward, pulling Jian Li onto her lap. Jian Li sniffled, detecting a faint metallic scent of bl00d mingling with the fragrant aromas of the meal.

 

Having gone a whole day without Yan Qingshuang’s embrace, Jian Li relished the familiar softness and warmth. Ignoring the unsettling bloody undertone, she simply wanted to relax in Yan Qingshuang’s arms and prepare to eat.

 

Yan Qingshuang: “Everyone?”

 

Jian Li, her mind elsewhere, answered distractedly, “Yeah, Chang Chi asked me if I liked you too, last time.”

 

Yan Qingshuang: “And what did you tell her?”

 

Jian Li said casually, “Of course I like you. Why else would I stick around? I’m not bored enough to do that.”

 

Yan Qingshuang: “What about Senior Sister Zhang?”