The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 37

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. Yan Qingshuang gripped Jian Li’s arm, her fingertips unconsciously digging into Jian Li’s skin. Jian Li let out a soft “eh,” but stifled any louder sound.

Despite her pain, Jian Li restrained herself from scratching Yan Qingshuang or crying out. Her sympathy for Yan Qingshuang surged to unprecedented heights.

To outsiders, what they were doing would seem shameful, like the intimate acts of a married couple in their bedroom.

But these were extraordinary circumstances, demanding extraordinary measures. Jian Li focused on massaging Yan Qingshuang, hoping to alleviate her emotional distress.

Feeling like a righteous savior, Jian Li lifted her head from Yan Qingshuang’s neck and stroked her hair, murmuring soothingly, “There, there. I’m here. If it gets too much, you can bite me.”

Hearing this, Yan Qingshuang finally calmed down. She immediately withdrew her hand. “Did I hurt you when I grabbed you earlier?”

Jian Li shook her head. “With that grip? It’s nothing compared to when you…”

She trailed off, too embarrassed to finish the sentence, but Yan Qingshuang likely understood her meaning. When Yan Qingshuang had kneaded her earlier, she had truly exerted considerable force.

Yan Qingshuang raised her hand to caress Jian Li’s face, her voice tender. “Xiao Li…”

That single word sent Jian Li’s heart racing. Knowing Yan Qingshuang needed companionship, she mustered all her strength to remain composed.

Following Yan Qingshuang’s movements, Jian Li moved closer, their noses almost touching. “I’m here. Is there anything else I can do?”

The soft touch lingered on Jian Li’s fingertips. She wanted to continue massaging, hoping Yan Qingshuang would ask her to. She didn’t want Yan Qingshuang to think she was being awkward.

After all, this was just a friendly gesture between family and friends.

Yan Qingshuang asked, “Are you still afraid of me, Xiao Li?”

Why is she asking me this now? Jian Li wondered, confused. Following her heart, she replied, “I’m not afraid anymore, Little Shuang. You haven’t changed. You wouldn’t kill me.”

Jian Li’s voice carried a hint of hurt. Yan Qingshuang looked bewildered. “Kill?”

It was impossible to explain things to Yan Qingshuang. She couldn’t tell her about the game. Instead, Jian Li smiled and said, “Just kidding! You’re allowed to tease me, but I’m not allowed to be upset?”

After Jian Li’s gentle reassurance, Yan Qingshuang found it hard to face her. She had used a clumsy excuse to get Xiao Li to do that for her.

Having tasted the sweetness, she knew one time could only provide temporary relief. Yan Qingshuang understood Jian Li wouldn’t do more.

She simply murmured in acknowledgment.

Jian Li disliked her attitude, as if she were being treated like a tool—used and discarded. She stared intently at Yan Qingshuang. “Little Shuang, what do you mean? Are you trying to get rid of me?”

Yan Qingshuang replied, “No…”

Why are you being so hot and cold? Jian Li frowned. Then don’t be so distant with me. Just tell me what you need help with. I hate beating around the bush.

“Is that… alright?” Yan Qingshuang asked.

“Yes, it’s alright,” Jian Li replied sincerely. “Anything at all.”

“Then…” Yan Qingshuang’s heart pounded like a drum. She leaned forward slowly, pressing her lips against Jian Li’s.

The kiss was gentle, soft, and carried a faint metallic tang of bl00d.

Boom! Countless fireworks seemed to explode in Jian Li’s mind.

Her pupils dilated, her thoughts momentarily severed by the soft, pliant lips. For several seconds, her mind went blank.

By the time Jian Li regained her senses, Yan Qingshuang’s tongue had tentatively darted out, brushed against Jian Li’s lips, and, receiving no response, retreated like a timid antenna, shrinking back in disappointment.

Now fully aware of the kiss, Jian Li’s heart hammered against her ribs. She stared at Yan Qingshuang through the satin ribbons, then abruptly shoved her away.

Clutching her mouth, Jian Li remained speechless for a long moment, her gaze fixed on Yan Qingshuang in shock.

In the pitch-black room, Yan Qingshuang could feel Jian Li’s rejection in her eyes.

“I’m sorry, I…” Yan Qingshuang began.

Jian Li shook her head, signaling her to stop. She didn’t want to hear any explanations.

Scrambling off the bed, Jian Li pushed open the door barefoot and stumbled away, fleeing into the darkness.

Yan Qingshuang’s eyelids drooped, her fingers clenched tightly around the bedding. Her disheveled black hair spilled across her chest as she bit her lip, still using her Spiritual Power to suppress the agonizing pain of her illness.

She collapsed back onto the bed, enduring the familiar, bone-deep pain.

Jian Li’s affection for her was nothing more than a false comfort she had despicably sought.

Meanwhile, Jian Li hadn’t actually stormed out. Without shoes, she couldn’t run far.

She huddled on the other side of the door, arms wrapped around herself. How did this happen?

The wind cooled her flushed cheeks, sending a shiver through her.

Despite the chill, she couldn’t resist touching her lips, replaying the sensation of Yan Qingshuang’s kiss.

So that’s what kissing feels like. Yan Qingshuang’s lips usually looked pale, giving off a cool, almost cold impression.

But during her episode, Yan Qingshuang’s lips had been warm, soft, fragrant, and sweet—utterly delicious, beyond any food she could describe.

But how could they kiss? This is wrong. Yan Qingshuang often said they were friends, family.

Jian Li’s thoughts tangled into a mess. She couldn’t make sense of their relationship. Never one for deep thinking, she decided to set the problem aside.

This was her first transformation. She should dress up properly. She fastened the Red Watch Band around her pale wrist, and the bracelet on her right hand automatically adjusted to fit her larger form.

More than anything, she wanted to see her new appearance. Her limbs were just as she expected—a bit more muscular than Yan Qingshuang’s slender frame. All that food she’d been eating hadn’t gone to waste.

Jian Li went to the kitchen, gulped down a large amount of water, and steadied her mind before summoning the System.

The System’s voice, addressing her as “Host,” echoed in her mind. Jian Li felt a twinge of embarrassment, but quickly reminded herself that she had done nothing wrong.

“I’ve just transformed,” she said calmly. “I need suitable clothing and a mirror.”

“Congratulations on your first transformation, Host,” the System replied. “If you’re referring to purchasing the Appearance Gift Package, we have a body perfectly suited for you.”

Jian Li felt utterly bewildered. “Wait, wait, wait! What nonsense is this? Isn’t this body mine?”

“Of course not,” the System replied. “This Beast Body has a limited lifespan of only three years.”

“And what happens after three years?” Jian Li asked.

“If you haven’t completed your mission within three years, you’ll need to find a new body yourself to continue.”

This statement left Jian Li even more confused. “But System, didn’t you say there was no time limit on the mission?”

The System’s response was matter-of-fact: “The mission has no time limit, but the Beast Body does. These two facts do not contradict each other.”

That makes sense, but this explanation comes far too late. Jian Li quickly analyzed the pros and cons. She was still 60,000 Spirit Stones short of completing the task.

Even if she could sell Red Fruits to Chang Chi for 1,000 Spirit Stones each, she couldn’t keep exploiting her indefinitely. If she pushed Chang Chi too far, she wouldn’t be able to afford the compensation if Chang Chi demanded a refund.

The missions she completed only paid a few hundred Spirit Stones each, and she needed incredible luck just to snag these simple jobs.

The first-place prize in the Sect Competition was 30,000 Spirit Stones.

But what did that have to do with her? Even if Yan Qingshuang won first place, according to the System’s mission rules, she wouldn’t be able to claim the reward.

Jian Li nervously picked at her fingers. “If I don’t complete the mission within three years, how am I supposed to keep doing missions?”

The Host needs to figure that out herself, the System replied.

If the System had a physical form, Jian Li would have pounced on it and fought it tooth and nail. She pressed on, “If I complete the mission but don’t have a body, can I take the cash reward back to the modern world?”

Yes, so the Host needs to work hard!

The System’s tone was unsettlingly sarcastic, offering no genuine encouragement and instead seeming to relish the prospect of her failure.

Jian Li hadn’t forgotten the crucial question: “How much does a human body cost?”

“Just a moment, let me check… What a coincidence, Host! It’s exactly 100,000 Spirit Stones.”

Still 100,000?!

Jian Li nearly fainted on the spot, barely managing to stay upright by leaning against the wall.

Three years—neither long nor short—felt like an eternity to Jian Li. She needed to amass 160,000 Spirit Stones, not even counting the 9,999 she already owed.

This was a task more daunting than any fairy tale.

Jian Li’s hands were digging into her palms, the pain unnoticed.

At that moment, the System chimed in, stirring up trouble: “Host, would you still like the Appearance Gift Package? If you don’t need a human body, we have affordable trendy clothing sets available.”

Jian Li ignored the System and shut it down. Buy more? Where would I get the money for extra expenses? Trendy clothes, vanity mirrors—I’m splitting every Spirit Stone in half just to survive!

She hadn’t even sorted out Yan Qingshuang’s feelings toward her yet, making her too embarrassed to ask for a pair of shoes.

Squatting outside like this wasn’t sustainable. It felt like begging for scraps—no, that was exactly what she was doing, going around asking for food.

She desperately missed her leopard form. Back then, she could simply act cute anywhere and people would praise her as adorable. Now, in this human guise, she was probably universally disliked.

The Spirit Mirror was still inside. Just go in, she thought. At worst, I’ll avoid looking at Yan Qingshuang.

After agonizing for ages, Jian Li cautiously pushed the door open a crack and peeked inside, holding her breath.

She glanced at Yan Qingshuang, who was curled up in the bedding like a chrysalis, her chest rising and falling rhythmically.

Is she still in pain? Or is she asleep?

Jian Li slipped quietly through the doorway, found the fever-reducing medicine and the Spirit Mirror on the desk, then hunched over and skulked back outside.

As she gently closed the door, she exhaled in relief. Yan Qingshuang hadn’t noticed her.

In the darkness, Yan Qingshuang rose, the satin ribbon falling away to reveal eyes as deep and fathomless as black pools.

Suppressing her pain, she walked to the door and stared at the wooden panel, her gaze lingering for an eternity.

Jian Li was carefully considering who she could temporarily rely on. She didn’t know many people, but she quickly narrowed down the list to a few lucky candidates.

Hua Feiyi spent the entire night helping her fellow disciples capture two hundred Spiritual Beasts. Spells never ceased on Spirit Taming Peak, their golden light shining even brighter than the daytime sun.

Before she could even close her eyes to rest, she received a text message from Jian Li’s Little Spiritual Beast: Can you take me in?

Hua Feiyi: What’s wrong? Has Senior Sister Yan finally realized you eat too much and can’t afford to keep you anymore?

Jian Li didn’t reply immediately. Hua Feiyi worried she’d gone too far with her joke, remembering that young beasts were sensitive to harsh words, especially when it came to food.

“Good morning, Huahua!”

Hearing a stranger call her by her nickname, Hua Feiyi looked up to find the source of the voice. Only Little Spiritual Beasts used such an affectionate term.

Jian Li had just tumbled out of her ball with a thud. She brushed off the dust, spotted Hua Feiyi nearby, and clumsily ran toward her on her still-unfamiliar two legs.

Reaching Hua Feiyi, she beamed brightly, her face radiant with joy. “Huahua, are you staring?”

Hua Feiyi was utterly bewildered. “Sister, who are you?”