The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 38

Jian Li wore an “I knew it!” expression, pointing at herself. “Me! Cute little Li.”

Hua Feiyi wondered if her lack of sleep and excessive use of Spiritual Power were causing hallucinations.

Jian Li mimed swimming with her hands. “Remember? Last time we met, I was dog-paddling underwater.”

It really was Jian Li. Hua Feiyi felt she had seen it all in this lifetime—she had witnessed Spiritual Beasts transform into humans, but never a two-month-old Spiritual Beast morphing into a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl.

Live long enough, and you’ll see everything.

Hua Feiyi’s first reaction was, “Who gave you the Form Transformation Pill?”

Hearing this, Jian Li looked a bit helpless. Zhang Yuan had bought it from Chang Chi, but it turned out to be a delayed-effect Form Transformation Pill.

Hua Feiyi nodded in agreement as she listened. “Indeed, I heard Junior Sister Chang’s furnace exploded several times. She’s a regular among Long Qianmeng’s clients.”

Jian Li waved her hand dismissively. “That’s not the point. I’m busy this afternoon—Chang Chi and Murong Zheng are waiting for me to treat them.”

“Murong Zheng…” Hua Feiyi vaguely recalled the name. “Isn’t she that Bear Demon?”

Jian Li ran to the lakeside. “So you know her too? I quite like her.”

Staring at her reflection, Jian Li exclaimed, “Huahua, my appearance!”

Hua Feiyi was about to ask what Jian Li found so appealing about that Monster Beast when she saw Jian Li waving her over from the lake’s edge.

“What’s wrong with your appearance?” Hua Feiyi asked.

Jian Li grinned mischievously and turned her head. “Nothing’s wrong. I just find it quite pleasing to the eye.”

Apart from her slightly blue eyes, her features were remarkably similar to her previous life’s. It felt as if they had been cleansed by Spiritual Energy, radiating a newfound vitality. She felt reassured.

Hua Feiyi agreed. Her eyes were beautifully shaped, like stars twinkling in the night sky, and her nose was delicate and refined. The only flaw was her mouth, which never seemed to stop chattering.

Suddenly remembering the reason for Jian Li’s visit, Hua Feiyi asked curiously, “Did Senior Sister Yan really run out of resources to support you, or did you two have a falling out?”

The latter question was the real point. Hua Feiyi had always seen them as a couple.

But Jian Li couldn’t bring herself to tell the truth. She mumbled vaguely, “Something like that. Anyway, I have nowhere else to go. This is Spirit Taming Peak, right? It’s so vast, there must be a place for me to stay.”

Hua Feiyi raised an eyebrow. “Just a place to stay?”

Jian Li grinned. “And food, of course.”

Hua Feiyi sized up Jian Li, noting she wasn’t carrying the swollen belly of a Spiritual Beast, yet still ate so much. She nodded. “Appearances can be deceiving. Food is essential, and free meals are fine, but you’ll have to work for it. I’m not as indulgent as Senior Sister Yan.”

“Who wants your indulgence anyway? Besides, she never indulged me either! What are you even talking about?” Jian Li retorted, bristling.

Hua Feiyi was about to say, “Both my eyes saw it,” but Jian Li, sensing she was about to be called out on her bluff, quickly cut her off.

“And what’s this about appearances being deceiving? Don’t I look clever?”

Not just clever, Hua Feiyi thought, but still as talkative as ever. Remembering Jian Li’s two-month-old true form, she relented. “You are quite clever. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have tricked all 200 Spiritual Beasts on my mountain.”

Jian Li hadn’t forgotten the 9,999 Spirit Stones, and Hua Feiyi insisted on rubbing salt in the wound. “Why do you keep bringing that up?” she whined. “The Sect Competition is still ages away!”

Hua Feiyi chuckled. “You expect me to rely on you to win first place at the Sect Competition?”

Jian Li waved her hand dismissively. “Who knows? Didn’t you just say appearances can be deceiving?”

On this mountain peak, every Spiritual Beast diligently cultivated. Even the least talented ones diligently attended all the Spiritual Beast classes, big and small.

Jian Li, who even needed a Form Transformation Pill to assume human form, was clearly lacking in talent. For now, it was best to let her rest and do some simple tasks to avoid Senior Sister Yan’s wrath later. After all, how could they possibly neglect her precious Little Darling?

Hua Feiyi pulled out a Storage Pouch filled with Beast Rations. “Even if you’re the prettiest creature here, you can’t eat looks. Go feed the Spiritual Beasts for now.”

This was something Jian Li was familiar with. She readily agreed, but before setting out, she asked Hua Feiyi for a pair of boots. Her first act wasn’t to follow protocol; she took advantage of her human form to seek revenge on the Great Goose.

Arriving at the Great Goose’s territory, she planted her hands on her hips and shouted, “Goosey, goosey, goosey!”

The Great Goose wasn’t stupid. Though Jian Li had transformed, the lingering scent of the Little Snow Leopard remained. The goose immediately recognized her. “Food?”

Jian Li held out a handful of Spirit Rice. “That’s right! Come, come, I’ll feed you first today. You’re number one!”

The Great Goose, puzzled, waddled forward a few steps. But Jian Li was just teasing it, holding the rice high above her head. “Ha! Can’t reach it! Can’t reach it!”

Seeing the Great Goose getting agitated, Jian Li spun around, kicked the goose’s rear, stuck out her tongue, and made a silly face. “Come and get me!”

The kick sent the Great Goose flying a meter away, its fury erupting. “Fine, you want to play like that, huh?”

Jian Li shook her head proudly. “Serves you right for staring at my butt all the time, you smelly goose.”

Retribution came swiftly. Before Jian Li could bask in her triumph, the Great Goose’s form swelled explosively. In an instant, a mountain loomed before her—let’s call it Goose Mountain.

Goose Mountain towered like Mount Tai, its massive form dwarfing Jian Li, who looked no bigger than one of its legs. Her jaw nearly dropped in shock.

Wait, why didn’t Hua Feiyi warn me? The Great Goose’s cultivation is this high?!

Oblivious to the goose’s true power, Jian Li was chased relentlessly across the grounds, the earth trembling under the Great Goose’s stomping feet like an earthquake. Hua Feiyi sensed the abnormal surge of spiritual power.

By the time she arrived, Jian Li was dangling from the Great Goose’s beak, limbs flailing wildly as she screamed for help. Her cries intensified when she spotted Hua Feiyi.

Hua Feiyi sighed, already feeling a headache coming on. This little troublemaker really knows how to cause problems.

She tossed a Spirit Stone to the goose. “Great Goose, just let her go. She’s still young and doesn’t know any better.”

The Great Goose tucked the Spirit Stone into its feathers and snorted. “Overestimating yourself.”

With that, the Great Goose reverted to its original form. Jian Li collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down her face, and pointed at the goose. “You bullied me! I’m going to get someone to deal with you!”

“Suit yourself,” the Great Goose said, flapping its wings and waddling away.

Seeing this, Jian Li felt overwhelming shame and cried even harder. Her tears reminded her of Yan Qingshuang, and she scrambled to her feet, telling Hua Feiyi, “I want to go home.”

Hua Feiyi handed her a handkerchief. “It’s not that bad. If you don’t want to feed the Spiritual Beast, just don’t. Crying like this will make Senior Sister Yan come after me.”

“What’s the deal with that goose?” Jian Li asked. “Why is it so strong?”

“Don’t underestimate her,” Hua Feiyi replied. “About two hundred years ago, her entire family was captured by the Demon Realm to be made into braised goose. The Great Goose fought her way through five checkpoints and defeated six generals, emerging as the sole survivor. She swore revenge, cultivating for a century until she could snap the necks of those demons. Afterward, she was tricked out of her money and nearly turned into steamed goose by a villain. Ever since, this goose has had a peculiar temperament…”

The story sounded tragic, but when Jian Li heard “braised goose” and “steamed goose,” her stomach rumbled loudly.

Hua Feiyi glanced at her. This child thinks of nothing but food all day! Jian Li scratched her head sheepishly.

In short, it was a tragic tale. The Great Goose had been deceived by someone she loved, leading her to seal her heart and abandon love. Jian Li, her stomach rumbling, asked, “Did she kill the one who betrayed her?”

Hua Feiyi replied, “No, the deceiver was a Demon Goose. It vanished long ago.”

“The Demon Race is truly wicked,” Jian Li remarked.

Hua Feiyi suggested that since feeding the Great Goose was impossible, they should accompany her fishing. Jian Li eagerly agreed to be her little sidekick, hoping to clear her mind and consider her future career plans.

As they fished, Hua Feiyi lived up to her reputation by summoning a feast of delicious food. Jian Li indulged in a rare moment of leisure, her stomach finally full.

But shortly after noon, a message arrived from Zhang Yuan.

I’m human, with no cultivation, Jian Li thought. Going to meet Zhang Yuan empty-handed could be dangerous. I need to bring backup.

Zhang Yuan paced anxiously outside the Disciplinary Hall, a food box in her hand and dark circles under her eyes. Jian Li greeted her from afar.

As expected, Zhang Yuan was surprised by Jian Li’s transformed appearance. Jian Li proudly declared, “Naturally gifted, naturally gifted!”

If Jian Li’s theory was correct, this form was likely connected to the soul that had transmigrated with her, explaining why she hadn’t transformed into a child.

Zhang Yuan’s face darkened as she pulled Jian Li aside and lowered her voice. “Why is Hua Feiyi here?”

Jian Li feigned innocence. “She was just passing by. She asked where I was going, and I said I was going to play with you. Since she had nothing better to do, she came along.”

With that, she flashed a wide smile at her “backer,” Hua Feiyi.

Hua Feiyi, never one to shy away from drama, stepped forward to add fuel to the fire. “Steward Zhang, Xiao Li is newly transformed. To ensure the Spiritual Beast adapts to her human form, she needs a Beast Tamer’s supervision. Please disregard me; just pretend I’m invisible.”

Zhang Yuan felt an overwhelming urge to flee. Adaptation? Invisible? This is utter nonsense!

She should never have let Jian Li associate with the Bear Demon. When those two get together, they’ll drive her to the brink of collapse. Clutching the food box tightly, she knew her dignity had already been completely shattered.

“Let’s go,” Zhang Yuan said, at a loss for words. At this point, she could only take things one step at a time.

Jian Li and Hua Feiyi maintained a facade of silence, but their eyes exchanged frequent, knowing glances, their faces betraying a shared understanding with conspiratorial smiles.

Unseen by the trio, a slender figure leaned against a bamboo staff beneath the trees, her presence flickering between visibility and invisibility.

After giving Jian Li some time to leave, Yan Qingshuang found the stone slab in the corner of the room, marked with Jian Li’s numerical scribbles. She studied it briefly before carefully covering it with the cloth, leaving it exactly as she found it.

After her usual morning cultivation, Yan Qingshuang coughed up a mouthful of bl00d. She knelt motionless for an hour to recover before descending the mountain to buy groceries.

Lately, she had spent all her Spirit Stones on Jian Li’s food and drink. Glancing at her dwindling supply, Yan Qingshuang resumed cultivating. Perhaps she had overexerted herself, as her Spiritual Sense grew hazy.

By noon, she picked up her Bamboo Staff and went out to find Jian Li. The Spirit Mirror bore Jian Li’s Spiritual Imprint, allowing Yan Qingshuang to see her location from the other mirror, no matter where she was.

Jian Li had spent the morning at Spirit Taming Peak and was now in the Disciplinary Hall.

Yan Qingshuang stood rooted to the spot, activating her Spiritual Sense to observe the three figures from behind. White veils fluttered before her eyes as fallen leaves rustled onto her shoulders.

The Dungeon.

Jian Li charged forward, confronting Murong Zheng. “Zhengzheng, I’ve come to see you! And I brought along this irresponsible, heartless person too.”

Zhang Yuan hissed, “This is the dungeon! Shouting like that will attract attention!”

Jian Li giggled, unfazed, and swung the iron chains binding Murong Zheng back and forth. “If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it in the first place, right, Zhengzheng?”

Murong Zheng was in her human form, but she knew Jian Li had transformed. She gave a thumbs-up. “Good leopard!”