The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 43

Yan Qingshuang prepared three meals for Jian Li every day. If Jian Li was too busy to eat right away, the food would be kept warm until the next meal. If she had time, she could enjoy it hot and fresh.

After a hard day of gathering fruits and herbs, Jian Li devoured her meals. Bored, she spent an hour searching the Spirit Mirror for tasks she could undertake, but found nothing suitable.

Clutching 2,535 Spirit Stones, she hurried back to her room, lifted the cloth covering the Spirit Mirror, and wrote down the remaining debt: 160,000.

The sight of this number made her heart clench with anxiety and frustration. She quickly covered the mirror again, preferring not to dwell on it.

Today, she hadn’t delivered food to Murong Zheng, the Little Raccoon. The Teleportation Watch had exhausted its energy traveling between the Minor Mystic Realm and home. She also needed to consider Xiao He, who must be feeling particularly troubled lately.

Curious about Murong Zheng and Zhang Yuan’s situation from yesterday, she searched for Zhang Yuan’s name and sent a message: Did you two make up yesterday?

Zhang Yuan replied: So-so.

Such an ambiguous answer! Jian Li scratched her head, confused. Since I promised to deliver food to Murong Zheng every day, I’ll hand this task over to you.

Zhang Yuan responded with a single period: .

She understood—it meant “understood.” Still bursting with curiosity, Jian Li immediately contacted Hua Feiyi through the Spirit Mirror.

Hua Feiyi’s lazy voice drifted through the spiritual mirror: “Xiao Li, what’s up?”

Jian Li: “I picked some Red Fruits. When are you free? I’ll bring them over.”

Hua Feiyi: “I’m heading down the mountain early tomorrow. I’ll come get them now.”

Before Yan Qingshuang returned, Jian Li and Hua Feiyi had a friendly chat and gossiped. It turned out Zhang Yuan and Murong Zheng hadn’t reconciled at all; they still wanted to kill each other.

For now, Murong Zheng’s health was poor, and Zhang Yuan had promised not to let her starve.

Hua Feiyi suggested a terrible idea: have the two women each eat half a Red Fruit, record it with a Recording Stone, and then no one could deny the outcome.

Yan Qingshuang leaned her Bamboo Staff against the courtyard wall, hearing Jian Li and Hua Feiyi’s laughter from inside the house.

After waiting a moment, she entered, bringing with her a fragrance Jian Li had smelled before, masking her usual scent of bl00d and sweat.

“Xiao Li, I’m back.”

Jian Li turned, her large tail swishing as she ran to hug Yan Qingshuang’s leg. “Little Shuang, Huahua and I were just chatting.”

Yan Qingshuang nodded politely to Hua Feiyi behind Jian Li. “Junior Sister Hua, good day.”

Hua Feiyi, sensing the situation, didn’t linger. After exchanging greetings, she pocketed Jian Li’s Red Fruits and left.

Another day passed without Jian Li knowing where Yan Qingshuang went to cultivate.

Jian Li understood that Yan Qingshuang might keep some things to herself. Regardless of their relationship, everyone needed their personal space.

Before Jian Li could speak, Yan Qingshuang lifted her up and buried her face in Jian Li’s fluffy belly. She didn’t inhale deeply, but she remained there without lifting her head.

Jian Li patted Yan Qingshuang’s head. “Little Shuang, is cultivation very tiring?”

“It’s manageable,” Yan Qingshuang replied. “Almost done.”

Not understanding what “almost done” meant, Jian Li nuzzled her nose against Yan Qingshuang’s hair. “Huahua and I were just talking about Zhang Yuan and the others. I gave her four Red Fruits.”

“Where did you gather those fruits?” Yan Qingshuang asked.

Reacting swiftly, Jian Li blurted out, “Then where were you cultivating?”

Moreover, she suspected the pleasant scent clinging to Yan Qingshuang’s clothes came from her cultivation method. What kind of practice could produce such a lovely fragrance?

The only thing that came to mind was the Joyful Union Sect, with their shameless Dual Cultivation cauldrons. Yan Qingshuang wouldn’t do that, she silently reassured herself.

Seeing Yan Qingshuang’s reluctance to answer, Jian Li suppressed her curiosity. Yan Qingshuang held her for a while, then began telling her stories about Hua Feiyi.

Jian Li, unaware that Hua Feiyi had a hidden backstory, perked up her ears.

Yan Qingshuang said, “Hua Feiyi was born with memories of her past life. As a child in class, she excelled in everything, outwardly flamboyant and drawing the envy of many disciples.”

“Yet her good nature and excellent interpersonal skills, combined with her mastery of magical arts, earned her the favor of the Elders. They vied to take her as their Direct Disciple, leaving no one daring to challenge her.”

Jian Li, who only knew Hua Feiyi as a popular figure, hadn’t realized they were classmates. From Yan Qingshuang’s description, Hua Feiyi seemed almost like a foil to her.

Jian Li gently patted Yan Qingshuang’s cheek with her paw, concerned by her lack of color. She at least ate a bowl of Spirit Rice yesterday.

Yan Qingshuang cupped Jian Li’s paw in her palm. “After graduating from the junior classes, she ultimately chose the arduous and thankless Spirit Taming Peak, astonishing everyone.”

“Once, while on a mission down the mountain, I encountered her. She asked me to keep an eye out for Spiritual Beasts with a distinctive birthmark on their backs, claiming it marked her Dao Companion from her past life.”

Jian Li had initially assumed this was just another “Phoenix Ascending to Heaven” type of story, but this hidden detail intrigued her. She nuzzled against Yan Qingshuang’s chest. “Then what happened? Why ‘past life’? Was Hua Feiyi a Spiritual Beast in her past life? And what’s a Dao Companion?”

Yan Qingshuang kissed Jian Li’s beastly face. “You’re so eager, Xiao Li. You really care about her.”

“Aiya, stop being so mysterious!” Jian Li protested. “I love gossip the most. It’s in the nature of all living things to crave gossip!”

Yan Qingshuang’s lips curved into a smile. “Alright, I’ll tell you. Hua Feiyi was born with memories of her past life. She was human, and her Dao Companion was a Serpent Demon. They were killed by the Righteous Path, so they vowed to meet again in this life.”

“But Hua Feiyi searched for her for years, relying only on her Dao Companion’s birthmark—a small wing. She even drew it for me once.”

As she spoke, Yan Qingshuang dipped her finger in water and sketched a rough outline on the table. Jian Li stared at the familiar shape and exclaimed, “That wing is Long Qianmeng’s signature!”

“No,” Yan Qingshuang corrected. “Long Qianmeng knew Hua Feiyi was searching for her Dao Companion’s birthmark. She just drew it for fun.”

“Oh,” Jian Li said, disappointed. “I knew it! They always seemed so hostile to each other. It couldn’t possibly be that they were Dao Companions in a past life.”

A metallic tang rose in Yan Qingshuang’s throat. She coughed a few times, and Jian Li hugged her arm tightly, her gaze fixed on Yan Qingshuang’s pale face.

“Little Shuang, you should rest. I’ll make you something to eat,” Jian Li said, her voice filled with concern.

Yan Qingshuang retorted, “With those tiny paws of yours, are you planning to stew yourself for me?”

Even at a time like this, Yan Qingshuang couldn’t resist teasing her instead of focusing on her own well-being. Jian Li wanted to argue, but then she noticed a bead of bl00d trickling from the corner of Yan Qingshuang’s mouth.

Jian Li immediately summoned the System and spent 100 Spirit Stones on a Hemostasis Pill. Yan Qingshuang, sensing Jian Li’s Spiritual Sense, noticed the pill materialize out of thin air.

Yan Qingshuang said nothing, swallowed the pill, and murmured a thank you. The pill Jian Li had given her was far more potent than anything she could buy outside, brimming with Spiritual Energy that stopped the bleeding and eased the pain.

“How do you feel now?” Jian Li asked.

Yan Qingshuang kneaded Jian Li’s paw pads. “Much better. No need for Xiao Li to stew herself.”

She must be delirious from cultivation, Jian Li thought, scolding her, “Say that again about stewing me and see what happens!”

Yan Qingshuang lifted Jian Li and pressed her face against the snow leopard’s fluffy chest. “If I say it, will you hate me?”

Jian Li found Yan Qingshuang’s behavior strange. Why was she being so affectionate all of a sudden? I’m just a little Snow Leopard, she thought, turning her head away. “I won’t hate you, but you’re doing the cooking tonight.”

“Mm, not just tonight,” Yan Qingshuang replied. “I’ll make it for you every day from now on.”

Overwhelmed by the sweetness, Jian Li bit her large tail in embarrassment and leaped out of Yan Qingshuang’s arms, hiding under the bed. “I don’t want to talk to you right now.”

Despite her words, when Yan Qingshuang finished preparing dinner, Jian Li obediently let herself be fed. As expected, Yan Qingshuang coaxed her into sharing the bed that night.

This routine continued for two days. One morning during breakfast, Jian Li picked up her vibrating Spirit Mirror. Glancing at the screen, she jumped up and cheered, half-eaten steamed bun still in her mouth.

“Little Shuang! Big Orange is coming to play with me!”

Yan Qingshuang calmly sipped her porridge. “Mm, I know.”

Jian Li put down the Spirit Mirror and her bun. “When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Yan Qingshuang smiled. “Someone was still dreaming sweetly. I didn’t want to disturb them.”

The “someone” she referred to was Jian Li, who often found herself teased by Yan Qingshuang’s words. Determined to get the upper hand, Jian Li picked up the remaining meat bun. “You don’t eat meat, right? If you eat this, it means you care about me, and I’ll give you a kiss.”

This half-eaten bun was stuffed with meat. Jian Li doubted Yan Qingshuang would actually eat it for her sake.

Yan Qingshuang: “Alright.”

Reality slapped Jian Li in the face. She watched Yan Qingshuang eat the meat bun without a change in expression. When she finished, Yan Qingshuang said, “It’s time for Xiao Li to fulfill her promise.”

Jian Li playfully punched Yan Qingshuang’s shoulder. “You tricked me! You can clearly eat meat!”

Yan Qingshuang: “I didn’t trick you.”

Just as she had coughed up bl00d during cultivation a few days prior, staining her inner robes, slaughtering chickens had similarly splattered bl00d on her clothes. The difference was negligible.

Jian Li felt resentful, but she couldn’t back out of the kiss she had promised Yan Qingshuang. She pecked Yan Qingshuang’s cheek, the touch fleeting. Yan Qingshuang’s aloof demeanor left Jian Li puzzled, making her think Yan Qingshuang’s moods were impossible to gauge.

It wasn’t until Yan Qingshuang brought her to meet Zhao Yu that Jian Li realized it was indeed unnecessary for her to know the insults Zhao Yu had hurled at her—calling her a “little beast.” She still remembered every word.

Zhao Yu was dressed impeccably, wearing a white robe with golden embroidery and a neatly arranged hair crown, presenting the image of a virtuous gentleman.

Jian Li hissed at her, “All show, no substance!”

After scolding, she turned to play with Big Orange. Zhao Yu noticed that Yan Qingshuang’s gaze toward the spiritual beast went beyond the usual master-servant relationship, suppressing her displeasure.

Yan Qingshuang walked ahead with Zhao Yu. “Aunt Zhao, I’ve already informed Master.”

The sky was clear and vast. Within the barrier of the martial arts arena, disciples sparred and cultivated. Zhao Yu nodded with her hands clasped behind her back. “You didn’t need to inform her. Nothing has changed here.”

Yan Qingshuang replied, “Jianxing Peak has always been this way. Whether there’s one more or one fewer person, not a single blade of grass or tree will change.”

A sense of melancholy permeated her words. Zhao Yu frowned and rebuked, “Why are you still so downcast? You’re not going to die. What’s wrong? Is that little thing behind us still making you unhappy?”

Jian Li, mimicking Big Orange’s meows, darted forward, her claws reaching for Zhao Yu’s robe. Unfortunately, her sharp claws snagged on the fabric.

Before Big Orange could intervene with a meow, the talisman on the robe flashed. Jian Li’s paw, caught in the fabric, burned, causing her to yowl in pain.

Seeing this, Yan Qingshuang immediately cast a spell to rescue Jian Li. The spiritual beast’s charred claws were brittle and broke at the slightest touch, even her paw pads were scorched red.

Jian Li clung to Yan Qingshuang, sobbing with utter grievance. “Zhao Yu tried to kill me, Little Shuang, Little Shuang!”

Yan Qingshuang patted her back, channeling Spiritual Power into her paw pads to soothe them. “It wasn’t intentional,” she murmured. “It was the talismans on her robes.”

With Yan Qingshuang’s comfort, Jian Li’s paw pads stopped hurting, but her resentment lingered. She glared at Zhao Yu. “She’s just trying to keep me away. Little Shuang, you never wear these weird clothes. She’s turning a simple robe into some kind of weapon!”

Yan Qingshuang wore a moon-white outer robe embroidered with ink-black patterns, the talismans subtly woven into the seams. She remained silent, gently carrying Jian Li as they walked.

Zhao Yu casually remarked, “Did that cheap Master of yours find the healing medicine for you?”

Yan Qingshuang hummed in acknowledgment, ceasing to channel Spiritual Power. Jian Li smirked inwardly, hugging Yan Qingshuang tighter. What did her Master He Guhua have to do with it?

It was her Little Snow Leopard who had tirelessly used Great Tonic Pills to restore Yan Qingshuang’s frail body.

Zhao Yu continued, “Qingshuang, have you heard any news about Meng Ruoyi?”

Meng Ruoyi was Yan Qingshuang’s betrothed. Jian Li’s attention sharpened instantly.