The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 31

Murong Zheng called out to Jian Li, “What are you spacing out for?!”

Jian Li’s unfocused gaze snapped back into focus. “Oh, no, I wasn’t spacing out. Um, you go ahead and plan how to kill Steward Zhang. I have something I need to take care of.”

Murong Zheng cackled loudly. “Alright, you do your thing. Give me all your pastries—they’re so magical! I’m suddenly starving.”

Of course you’re hungry after all that exertion, you bear, Jian Li thought. Without a second thought, she tossed all the pastries to Murong Zheng.

Jian Li retreated to a corner, cradling the Spirit Mirror. Her paw pads were sweating as she silently chanted, One thing at a time. Set Little Shuang aside for now. Right, first ask Xiao He.

Xiao He, are you busy?

No, just playing.

Jian Li breathed a sigh of relief. What are you playing?

Playing with the Celestial Crane.

??? I don’t understand.

That’s okay. The fruit was delicious, thank you, Xiao Li.

Jian Li’s hands trembled. You can’t eat that! It’ll put Spiritual Beasts into heat prematurely!

I know. We’re having so much fun. Do you have any more?

So, what do you mean by “having so much fun”?

Mating.

Good heavens! Jian Li didn’t know what to say. The Little Raccoon kept bringing up the matter, and she had assumed it was vehemently protesting unfair treatment.

How could the Celestial Crane blurt out the word “heat” without considering Jian Li was still just a young cub?

Was being in heat really such a commonplace occurrence?

Suddenly, Jian Li had an idea: After eating the fruit, did you feel sleepy?

No, I didn’t want to sleep, Xiao He replied.

Jian Li pondered this, offered respectful blessings, and closed the Spirit Mirror.

At least things shouldn’t escalate into a major disaster on Xiao He’s end.

Just as she was about to breathe a sigh of relief, Hua Feiyi called via voice transmission. The ringing echoed through the empty dungeon, and Murong Zheng cast her an inquiring glance.

“It’s nothing, just eat. I’m busy with official matters,” Jian Li said quickly, answering the Spirit Mirror and moving further away. “What is it, Huahua? I’m really busy.”

Hua Feiyi: “Did you know? Some of the Spiritual Beasts on Spirit Taming Peak are in heat.”

Jian Li felt like she’d been struck by lightning. No way! This can’t be because of my fruit, right? She stammered, “Ah? Why would that happen?”

Hua Feiyi: “I don’t know either. Why don’t you come take a look?”

Jian Li sensed something was wrong. If they’re all in heat, that’s a disaster! She said cautiously, “I’m a Spiritual Beast too. It’s probably safer if I don’t come.”

Hua Feiyi: “Alright, Xiao He told me everything. You gave her the fruit, so I’ll clean up the mess.”

“Xiao Li, you need to settle the bill for the Lust-Stopping Pills—the pills that suppress their heat cycles. Each pill costs 50 Spirit Stones, and a total of 200 Low-Tier Spiritual Beasts were affected. Just give me 9,999 Spirit Stones.”

Jian Li was bewildered but shrieked, “I only gave Xiao He three fruits! How did 200 beasts get affected?!”

Hua Feiyi chuckled. “You probably don’t realize, Xiao He is a Low-Tier Spiritual Beast. During their heat cycles, they’re supposed to be isolated to prevent spreading it to other Low-Tier Spiritual Beasts.”

“They need to report in advance before suppressing their heat cycles, and they’re not allowed to do it on Spirit Taming Peak. Yet this time, they actually started it here! Come, listen to this.”

Jian Li was still reeling from the earth-shattering news of having to pay 9,999 Spirit Stones when Hua Feiyi abruptly pointed the Spirit Mirror at the Spiritual Beasts.

The beasts’ unrestrained, lewd cries pierced Jian Li’s delicate ears without the slightest modification.

How could Little Peony withstand such a shocking assault? Jian Li’s entire body radiated rejection. “Ahhh! I don’t want to hear this! Hurry and isolate them!”

Hua Feiyi sipped tea on the other side of the Spirit Mirror. “What else can I do? I’ll separate them again in a while.”

Jian Li imagined a group of Spiritual Beasts engaged in vulgar, unrestrained activities while Hua Feiyi watched nearby. Her perception of this world shattered.

Too vulgar!

Were there no normal people or Spiritual Beasts?

Oh, wait, there are.

She and Yan Qingshuang were perfectly normal, their friendship pure and innocent.

Regaining her composure, Jian Li asked Hua Feiyi, “Could you give me a discount on the 9,999 Spirit Stones?”

Even if she scraped together every last Spirit Stone, Jian Li only had a little over 10,000 in savings. But she needed to reserve some to buy Great Tonic Pills. How could she just hand it all over?

Hua Feiyi raised an eyebrow. “A discount?”

Jian Li lied, “Yeah, I’m broke, and Little Shuang’s poor too. What are we supposed to do?”

Hua Feiyi sighed. “The money is the least of your worries. Thank goodness I discovered them in time and set up a temporary Isolation Barrier. If anyone else had found out and reported it, you, me, and Senior Sister Yan would all be in serious trouble.”

Guilt washed over Jian Li. She took responsibility for her own reckless actions, but how could she have dragged Yan Qingshuang into this?

“I’ll write you an IOU,” Jian Li said. “I’ll pay you back later. And thank you, Huahua, for covering for me.”

Hua Feiyi said, “Enough about covering for me. It sounds nice, but don’t mention it again. I don’t need an IOU. On the third day of next month, the Sect Competition will be held. Winning first place earns 30,000 Spirit Stones and a Mystic Realm Key.”

Jian Li nearly burst into tears. She was just a Little Snow Leopard—how could she possibly win first place by performing tricks or being cute?

She said dejectedly, “I can’t win first place.”

Hua Feiyi replied, “But you have Senior Sister Yan, right? She’s willing to go through fire and water for you.”

Jian Li seized on the key phrase “go through fire and water.” “Really?”

Hua Feiyi shrugged. “Why don’t you ask her yourself?”

Unsure of Hua Feiyi’s motives but knowing she genuinely owed the money, Jian Li negotiated a repayment plan with her and then slumped dejectedly into a corner.

The clatter of chains echoed through the room. Jian Li turned her head to see a nonconformist woman with long gray hair and bloodshot eyes staring at her. She jumped back in fright.

Realizing it was Murong Zheng, Jian Li patted her startled heart. “Why did you turn back into a human again?”

Murong Zheng retorted, “Do I need to give you advance notice every time I transform?”

Jian Li insisted, “Yes! I told you I’m not used to interacting with humans. If you keep doing this, I won’t talk to you anymore.”

Murong Zheng sighed helplessly and transformed back into a Little Raccoon, her size now similar to Jian Li’s. Her eyes reverted to their natural brown. “Is this better?”

Jian Li looked her over, finding the Little Raccoon more approachable. “Much better. But why were you staring at me like that earlier?”

Murong Zheng: “I think you could help me escape.”

Absolutely not, Jian Li thought, instantly alert. Zhang Yuan might be shameless for stripping the Little Raccoon of her clothes, but this creature was clearly no pushover.

Jian Li immediately declared, “I refuse! I won’t do anything underhanded or immoral, including helping you escape. I’m a law-abiding Little Spiritual Beast of the Sect.”

Murong Zheng: “How is letting me out immoral? You just said you’d help me kill them!”

That was just a slip of the tongue, Jian Li thought. “I didn’t hear you clearly then. You can’t just go around killing people! There are still good people in the Sect.”

Murong Zheng: “Hmph. Like who? Dog Zhang?”

Jian Li scratched her head. “Well, she used to be okay, but now… Anyway, you can’t kill her right now. She’s the steward and has too many responsibilities. She’s very busy.”

Murong Zheng: “Then when can I kill her?”

Jian Li: “I don’t know, but I’m also very busy and don’t have time to save you.”

The Little Raccoon visibly lost her last shred of hope, letting out a series of desperate, continuous cries.

Her wails echoed throughout the dungeon, agitating the other Demonic Cultivators and Monster Beasts imprisoned there.

Worried about attracting more trouble, Jian Li quickly unlocked the chains and released an electric shock. “Sister, stop howling! I already said I’d help you fulfill your wishes, like delivering a message to your family.”

Murong Zheng, momentarily stunned by the electric shock, couldn’t utter a word and had to pause to recover. “What did you say? I can’t hear you.”

Staring at Murong Zheng, whose fur was standing on end from the shock, Jian Li shouted, “I said, do you have any final words for your family?”

Murong Zheng’s eyes darted around before she replied, “You mean my kin? They’re in Lingzhou. Go find them and tell them I will never be a slave.”

Jian Li: “……”

She seriously doubted the Little Raccoon’s intelligence. “Say something more heartfelt,” Jian Li instructed. “Like, ‘I miss you all. I’ll be a good monster, confess everything, and try to get out early.'”

Murong Zheng: “We Monster Bears don’t put on airs. Getting caught stealing and killed by these cultivators is just part of life.”

Jian Li protested indignantly, “It’s just a little theft! A scolding would have been enough. These cultivators have no compassion.”

Murong Zheng: “Exactly! Killing a few people and stealing a Forbidden Text—it’s not like we’re harming heaven or earth.”

This… killing people is a bit much, Jian Li thought. People aren’t chickens. She remembered Zhang Yuan’s earlier lecture about stealing books.

“Why did you steal the Forbidden Text?” Jian Li asked.

“To sell it to the Demon Race, what else? One hundred thousand Spirit Stones per book.”

One hundred thousand! Jian Li gasped silently, her heart racing. No, no, stealing is wrong.

But… stealing is wrong, not copying! Besides, cultivators and demons—they’re all the same to me.

“Who’s the demon you’re dealing with?” Jian Li asked. “Could I meet her?”

Murong Zheng shot her a sidelong glance. “Dream on.”

Realizing she had disappointed Little Raccoon, Jian Li tried to make amends. “How about this? You’re stuck here without food or drink, right? I’ll try to bring you meals every day.”

Murong Zheng considered it. Since she had no hope of leaving anyway, she agreed and told Jian Li her Demon Race Spirit Mirror Imprint.

Jian Li immediately tried to add her, but Murong Zheng stopped her. “Not here. The Sect Grand Array blocks Demon Race Spiritual Imprints. Wait until you’re off the mountain.”

“Thank you, Zhengzheng,” Jian Li said sincerely. “I’ll never give Steward Zhang another Red Fruit.”

Murong Zheng’s eyes widened. “You were giving them to her?!”

Jian Li quickly backtracked. “Of course not! She asked me for them. She’s just obsessed with you—she wants you.”

Murong Zheng nodded in agreement. “Indeed. As Murong Zheng, I possess unparalleled beauty. She must have been coveting me for ages.”

Jian Li chimed in, “Exactly! Your silver hair is absolutely stunning—so cool and captivating. Who wouldn’t be smitten?”

Seeing Murong Zheng’s compliant demeanor, Jian Li felt relieved. Good thing I didn’t slip up. She resolved to never give Red Fruits indiscriminately again. Now, the only person she still needed to contact was Chang Chi.

However, Chang Chi seemed hopelessly immersed in dual cultivation, enjoying it so much that Jian Li hesitated to interrupt her.

Jian Li was even more afraid that Chang Chi might go back on her word one day, accuse Jian Li of selling aphrodisiacs, and demand 12,000 Spirit Stones plus compensation for emotional distress.

Forget it, she thought. I don’t want to dwell on complicated matters. I still owe Hua Feiyi 9,999 Spirit Stones!

Fortunately, Hua Feiyi hadn’t asked for interest.

Jian Li sent Chang Chi a message: Sister Chang, does the fruit make you drowsy?

Chang Chi: No.

Jian Li: After eating the fruit, do you feel as light as a feather? Does it alleviate any pain you might have?

Chang Chi: What exactly are you trying to ask?!

Chang Chi’s anxious state was evident in her messages. Jian Li didn’t reply, instead focusing on analyzing the fruit’s effects.