The Sickly Beauty and Her Guide Leopard - Chapter 7

Jian Li was so exhausted she couldn’t even think about her stomach, but she still managed to say, “I’ll finish the leftover roast chicken.”

“Alright. There’s also braised fish. Do you want some?”

Today had been utterly draining, leaving Jian Li physically and mentally drained.

But the moment she heard “braised fish,” she perked up and leaped onto the table. “Yes, yes!”

Yan Qingshuang set out the bowls and chopsticks.

Jian Li remained motionless, only her eyes darting around.

Yan Qingshuang: “Do you want to be fed?”

Jian Li: “Of course! You’re the one who said I haven’t been weaned yet.”

“…Alright. Do you want milk?”

“Do you have any?”

Yan Qingshuang instinctively glanced down at her chest and shook her head regretfully. “No.”

Jian Li: “……”

Great Villain, your comprehension skills are truly extraordinary.

Who would want to drink yours?!

Jian Li rested her paw on the table, speaking with an air of maturity: “I’ve been weaned for ages. Don’t overthink it. I have a mature mind and a fully developed digestive system.”

“Alright,” Yan Qingshuang said, picking up a succulent piece of fish belly. “Want me to feed you?”

“Sure, thanks.”

She felt a surge of relief.

Such an understanding villain.

After finishing their meal, Jian Li sprawled out, her belly round and full, too lazy to bathe. “A Cleansing Talisman will do,” she declared.

But Yan Qingshuang insisted on drawing water for her bath.

Unable to argue, Jian Li waved her hand, telling her to hurry back.

Neither of them mentioned Du Xiaqing again.

Meanwhile, Du Xiaqing cursed under her breath.

That little beast had left a gaping wound on her left leg with its Demonic Bat bite, bleeding profusely until she finally managed to cleanse it.

Du Xiaqing retrieved her Spirit Mirror, ready to summon reinforcements to settle the score with Yan Qingshuang.

Just then, a cold, ethereal figure descended.

Her ink-black hair cascaded past her waist, moonlight weaving through the white veil veiling her face, making her appear as beautiful as a banished immortal.

“Junior Sister, are you alright?” she asked softly.

Du Xiaqing frowned. Yan Qingshuang? Daring to show her face with such feigned concern?!

Her anger flared. “I told you that beast was a Monster Beast, using those underhanded tricks from the Nine Netherworlds!” she spat. “Now you come crawling back to apologize? Too late!”

Yan Qingshuang’s voice was icy. “I’m not here to apologize.”

Du Xiaqing narrowed her eyes, scrutinizing Yan Qingshuang cautiously. Could it be that she hadn’t lost her cultivation after all?!

The unbearable pressure from the Chosen One once again bore down on her.

Du Xiaqing was born a commoner, her parents lacking power or influence. Fortunately, the Heavenly Dao took pity on her, granting her an Immortal Bone and allowing her to join the prestigious Tianyan Sect.

Everyone doubted her potential, yet she proved them wrong.

She toiled tirelessly, never daring to slacken her cultivation efforts. By the age of thirty, she had ascended to the Golden Core stage, achieved a resounding victory in the Sect Trials, and earned the favor of her Master, He Guhua.

She could have risen to fame in the cultivation world.

But at every Sect Trials, Yan Qingshuang effortlessly claimed first place, earning lavish praise from the Sect Master and their Master.

Even Young Mistress Meng Ruoyi of Yuheng Palace was rumored to be betrothed to her.

Under Yan Qingshuang’s radiant aura, Du Xiaqing could only fade into the background.

Recalling this, Du Xiaqing’s arrogance surged anew, though she still clung to the hope that Yan Qingshuang hadn’t fully recovered her cultivation. “Senior Sister, listen to me,” she said. “I was only acting in the Sect’s best interest earlier.”

Yan Qingshuang ignored her words and produced a medicinal pill. “Here,” she said, offering it to Du Xiaqing.

Du Xiaqing glanced at the pill’s quality—a Middle-Grade Spirit Healing Pill. She laughed bitterly. “So stingy! Didn’t Master give you countless rare treasures? Are you trying to fob me off with scraps?”

Yan Qingshuang’s delicate brows furrowed. She turned and walked away.

Du Xiaqing stumbled to her feet, probing Yan Qingshuang’s limits. “If I go to the Disciplinary Hall now, you’re all finished!”

Yan Qingshuang paused, sighing softly. “Why bother?”

Du Xiaqing refused to back down, throwing caution to the wind. “Senior Sister, where’s your Canglan Sword?”

The Canglan Sword was Yan Qingshuang’s natal sword.

Seeing Yan Qingshuang remain silent for a long moment, Du Xiaqing’s suspicions hardened. Her expression shifted to arrogance. “Senior Sister, if you’ve lost your natal sword, aren’t you afraid I’ll kill that little beast?”

Yan Qingshuang didn’t engage further, simply tossing out a casual “Whatever” before departing.

It was this nonchalant attitude that infuriated Du Xiaqing. Though she hesitated to draw her sword, she couldn’t be sure what other trump cards Yan Qingshuang might be holding.

Meanwhile, Jian Li was drifting into a drowsy state.

Hey, villain, did you drop the water bucket down the well or something?

Bored, she struck up a conversation with the System.

“System, what’s the interest rate on this debt?”

“That talisman was worth 50 Spirit Stones, so you now owe us 100 Spirit Stones.”

Jian Li: “No problem. As long as it leaves her half-dead, it’s worth it.”

System: “That’s not going to happen. Du Xiaqing has a Golden Core cultivation base. This talisman can only inflict minor external injuries.”

Jian Li’s eyelids twitched violently, her mind suddenly clear as never before. She leaped up, pointing an accusing paw. “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?!”

“The Host never asked,” the System replied flippantly.

Jian Li’s chest tightened, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She frantically patted her chest to calm herself. “So… let’s say I don’t repay this debt and refuse to do the missions?”

“Then the Host can look forward to having her soul scattered to the winds,” the System answered lightly.

Jian Li’s heart pounded in terror. The System wielded such immense authority?

She was just a little snow leopard, left with no choice but to obediently complete her missions.

“Xiao Li, come take a bath,” Yan Qingshuang called from the doorway.

When there was no response, she stepped into the room, feeling around for Jian Li’s likely hiding spots.

Staggered by the double blow of the debt and the threat of soul annihilation, Jian Li only wanted to collapse and sleep. She lay dejectedly under the bed, noting that the villain hadn’t brought her bamboo cane.

Yan Qingshuang first searched the desk, stool, and cabinets, then began feeling along the floor. Her flawless palm gathered a thin layer of dust.

Jian Li was slightly surprised. Why did the villain care so much about her?

“Little Shuang, I’m over here,” Jian Li called out.

Yan Qingshuang followed the sound, her knees sliding across the floor toward the bed. She crouched down, scooped Jian Li out, and set her beside her.

“How did you end up under the bed?” Yan Qingshuang asked.

“You were gone for so long,” Jian Li replied, “I was scared.”

Yan Qingshuang gently ruffled her hair. “I’m going to see Master tomorrow. It’s not a good idea to bring you along.”

“Oh. Will you bring me breakfast?”

“I’ll try my best.”

Afterward, Yan Qingshuang placed Jian Li in a wooden tub for a bath, adding hot water several times to keep it warm.

Jian Li found the bath incredibly relaxing, her body and mind feeling light and refreshed.

One thing bothered her: Yan Qingshuang actually used the same water she had bathed in to wash herself.

Jian Li offered to sleep on the floor, and Yan Qingshuang didn’t object, helping her set up a makeshift bed on the floor.

The moment Jian Li’s head hit the pillow, she was snoring soundly.

Yan Qingshuang, who rarely slept deeply, waited until Jian Li was fast asleep before gently lifting the Little Leopard onto the bed and tucking her under the covers.

The next day, Jian Li woke up late again, well after sunrise.

Her neck still felt constricted, even though she wasn’t wearing a collar.

Then she realized her bottom was resting on a soft mattress.

She looked down. How had she ended up sleeping in Yan Qingshuang’s bed?

Yan Qingshuang wasn’t there, but she had left breakfast for her: five steaming meat buns.

Jian Li took a bite, her eyes widening in delight. This is delicious!

She eagerly asked the System, “Is there a time limit for completing tasks?”

“No,” the System replied.

Then I can eat well every day! Jian Li’s vitality visibly surged.

She immediately wanted to find Yan Qingshuang and have her take her on a mission.

But a massive problem loomed: she was broke.

After much deliberation, she chose a Teleportation Watch from the System’s shop. Using her existing navigation map, it could transport her to any destination with pinpoint accuracy.

So expensive! 500 Spirit Stones, plus 1000 in interest.

She gritted her teeth, deciding to throw caution to the wind. A barefoot person fears no one wearing shoes.

Before seeking out Yan Qingshuang, she grabbed a stone and found a flat rock. Using both paws, she carved into it: Assets: -101,100 Spirit Stones.

She tapped the Teleportation Watch, setting the destination to Yan Qingshuang’s Master, He Guhua’s office.

The watch unfolded like butterfly wings, transforming into a vibrant, multicolored orb that enveloped her.

During the day on Jianxing Peak, Outer Sect disciples had opportunities to attend classes here.

In the courtyard, a gray-robed disciple suddenly pointed skyward. “A ball is flying!”

Everyone craned their necks to look.

A glowing orb streaked across the sky like a shooting star, paused briefly, then plummeted straight down.

“Ouch!”

The light sphere transformed back into the Teleportation Watch, and Jian Li plummeted from mid-air, landing squarely on her rear. She rolled several times across the ground before finally scrambling to her feet.

Narrowing her eyes, she found herself facing the majestic Council Hall. A Celestial Crane strolled near the entrance, its beady eyes staring curiously at Jian Li.

Brushing the dust off her backside, Jian Li struck up a conversation with her usual familiarity. “Excuse me, Crane Friend, is Yan Qingshuang here?”

“Yes,” the crane replied.

“Thank you! I’ll treat you to candy next time.”

With that, she dashed into the Council Hall, making no attempt to conceal her entrance.

The crane paused, pondering for a long moment, before finally muttering to itself, “Who was that?”

Inside the Council Hall, four figures were present. Seated on the main dais was He Guhua, the elder of Jianxing Peak, a middle-aged man in purple robes and a golden crown. His expression was one of weary resignation.

To his lower left sat Meng Ze, the Palace Master of Yuheng Palace, who had come to demand justice. She was adorned in gold and silver, her expensive robes glittering so brightly they hurt the eyes.

Zhang Yuan, as the head of the Disciplinary Hall, stood to the side, merely listening. After all, the final decision wouldn’t be hers to make.

It was a pity about Yan Qingshuang, kneeling before them. The Tianyan Sect could count its Nascent Soul cultivators on one hand, and now they were losing another.

“Qingshuang,” He Guhua said, “is it really so difficult to admit your mistake?”

He regretted not sending Yan Qingshuang alone to retrieve the Lotus Heart Marrow. Why had she brought a Dao companion?

Now, to make matters worse, she had to deal with this mess.

Yan Qingshuang stood as straight as a pine or bamboo, her voice clear and cold.

“My disciple did nothing wrong. That day, Young Mistress Meng was critically injured, her life hanging by a thread. She begged me for a Golden Core to save her. I waited five days for her return. Before the Mystic Realm closed, a Spiritual Beast rescued my disciple.”

Meng Ze’s expression turned solemn as she twirled a string of prayer beads in her hand. “Are you suggesting, Yan Xiaoyou, that my daughter went to great lengths to help you in the Mystic Realm, then deliberately put herself in mortal danger, only to beg you for a Golden Core as she lay dying?”

Yan Qingshuang pressed her lips together, refusing to answer.

This taciturn response enraged Meng Ze. She slammed the prayer beads onto the table, the sharp clatter echoing through the room.

“Elder He,” Meng Ze sneered, “look at the fine disciple you’ve raised! Was my daughter the Tianxuan Dao Palace’s Divine Prognosticator, able to predict that your disciple would freely give her a Golden Core?”

“Your disciple coveted the Lotus Heart Marrow, and despite knowing it was guarded by a Thousand-Year Monster Beast, she encouraged my daughter to risk her life alongside her! Her motives are as clear as day!”

With that, Meng Ze abruptly stood, her eyes burning with grief and fury.