NOVEL NEXT 28. Leaving the Sect
The system’s scan results were slightly off, but it couldn’t pinpoint exactly what was wrong due to lack of samples. The two little ones huddled together, whispering for a long time, but couldn’t come to a conclusion. In the end, they had to let it go.
After all this fuss, Jiang Mo’s treatment was complete.
Yun Qingyu lifted the little white tiger out of the medicinal pool and cleaned off the remaining ointment, revealing that fur had regrown in the previously bald areas. The pills of the cultivation world were indeed miraculous; despite only applying the medicine for a short while, the new fur had not only grown back but was the same length as the original coat, leaving no trace of previous baldness.
Jiang Mo gazed at her reflection in the water, seeing a lively little tiger staring back. She was overjoyed, not only at the prospect of accompanying Yun Qingyu outside tomorrow but also at being able to boast to the system, “Look, look, and I didn’t even spend 1 point!”
The system looked at her glumly, reminding her, “Host, remember, I’m on your side.”
True enough, the system was in debt and had spent its last 10 points to buy her milk candy. It certainly wasn’t colluding with the mall to cheat her. Jiang Mo’s eyes darted around as she asked the system, “System, you’ve seen how effective this hair growth powder is. It would definitely sell well in the mall… Is there any way you could pull some strings and open a shop? We could split the profits 50-50.”
What could the system do? It was just a newly minted baby. Apart from the little systems that came off the same production line, it didn’t know anyone and had no connections. And how much better off could its fellow newly-minted systems be?
At best, they weren’t in debt. Opening a shop? Dreaming would be faster!
The system told Jiang Mo the truth. Although she was a bit disappointed, she wasn’t surprised. Before leaving, she cast a lingering glance at the medicinal pool—actually, compared to the hair growth powder, this auxiliary medicinal pool was clearly superior, but unfortunately, it didn’t belong to her. She couldn’t take it with her or exchange it for points.
Perhaps due to Yun Qingyu’s presence, the Spirit Beast Garden was deeply wary of them. Jiang Mo didn’t see a single other spirit beast during her entire time in the medicinal pool. When the human and tiger emerged from the pool, there were no spirit beasts outside either, and even the Spirit Beast Garden disciples were scarce. Only the senior brother who had given them the hair growth powder was still waiting. Seeing them come out, he approached and asked, “How was it? Did it work?”
By now, Jiang Mo had put her little clothes back on, at her own insistence. She didn’t want the story of her being pecked bald by a goose and coming to the Spirit Beast Garden for treatment to spread, so she planned to quietly get the medicine and quietly return.
Yun Qingyu guessed the little white tiger’s thoughts and nodded slightly, “It’s all better now. Thank you, Senior Brother Qu.”
This “Senior Brother” was a courtesy, as Yun Qingyu used to address him this way before. But hearing it now made Senior Brother Qu a bit embarrassed. Despite his embarrassment, he couldn’t help but say as he looked at the small spirit beast in Yun Qingyu’s arms, “Is Senior Sister planning to continue raising this little spirit beast? I notice its aura seems a bit weak. If it’s difficult to raise, perhaps you could send it to the Spirit Beast Garden.”
Senior Brother Qu was being polite, as Yun Qingyu’s reputation for having everything she raised die was deeply ingrained in the Spirit Beast Garden. Even though this time she had sought medicine because the spirit beast lost fur in a fight, and she had already raised this little spirit beast for over a month, breaking the curse of spirit beasts not surviving more than a month in her care. But seeing such a spirit beast being raised by her, Senior Brother Qu was still worried, concerned for the little creature’s life.
How could Yun Qingyu not understand his meaning? Her arms tightened around the little white tiger, and her previously softened expression grew three degrees colder: “That won’t be necessary for now. This little one is growing quite well at present. If any problems arise in the future, I’ll trouble Senior Brother Qu then.”
Senior Brother Qu didn’t move aside, blocking the way and seeming to want to say more.
Perhaps he had good intentions and truly cared for spirit beasts, but Jiang Mo could already sense Yun Qingyu’s displeasure. Human hearts are always biased; Jiang Mo didn’t know if tiger hearts were biased, but she still considered herself human, so naturally, she was partial. Feeling annoyed, she let out an impolite roar at Senior Brother Qu, milk-toothed yet full of anger: “Awoo…”
Senior Brother Qu was startled by the cry. He was naturally attuned to spirit beasts, and after practicing the Spirit Beast Garden’s beast taming techniques, ordinary spirit beasts would usually feel some affinity towards him. Especially young beasts, which always clung to him tightly.
Being roared at and disliked by a small spirit beast was a first for Senior Brother Qu. What surprised him even more was that the cry sounded like a tiger—Yun Qingyu had shown him the little white tiger’s pecked-bald fur earlier, and he had naturally seen that this small spirit beast had white fur with black markings. At the time, he had thought it was some kind of feline spirit beast, but if it was a white tiger…
“Jianbing?!” Senior Brother Qu’s eyes widened in disbelief as he muttered.
Seeing this, Yun Qingyu knew she couldn’t hide it anymore. She reluctantly removed the tiger head cap, revealing the little white tiger’s true appearance: “Yes, it’s Jianbing. But she’s still young. The Sect Leader ordered me to take care of her, so Jianbing can’t stay in the Spirit Beast Garden.”
Hearing this, Senior Brother Qu seemed to nod in a daze. No wonder this little one had survived in Yun Qingyu’s care.
Then he looked from Yun Qingyu to the little white tiger, showing a pained expression—what a fine divine beast! Although still small, what were the Sect Leader and Divine Lord Zhiming thinking, actually entrusting her to Senior Sister Yun’s care?
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The entire Spirit Beast Garden was not very friendly towards Yun Qingyu, so even though Jiang Mo was very interested in the spirit beasts there, she didn’t linger long with Yun Qingyu. The human and tiger left the medicinal pool and soon departed on the flying sword.
On the way back, Jiang Mo had no time to admire the scenery, as she keenly sensed Yun Qingyu’s low spirits.
With the information the system had overheard as a foundation, Jiang Mo easily guessed why Yun Qingyu was feeling down. Although she couldn’t understand what exactly was wrong with Yun Qingyu’s constitution, at least she was there to accompany her now—the little white tiger’s tail once again wrapped around Yun Qingyu’s wrist, and her furry little head, still wearing the tiger head cap, nuzzled against Yun Qingyu’s neck repeatedly. This coquettish gesture undoubtedly represented affection.
Warmth once again tinged the cool glass-like eyes as Yun Qingyu held the playful little white tiger tightly while continuing to fly her sword towards Mingxia Peak. By now, the melancholy in her heart had dissipated, and a faint smile graced her usually cool lips.
The observing system took all this in but decided not to tell its host. Instead, it teased her with some mischief: “Host, don’t keep nuzzling people’s necks. If you take advantage at a time like this, be careful you don’t get thrown off.”
Hearing this, Jiang Mo’s movements paused briefly. She spared a glance at the system, feeling somewhat regretful that it was too far away to swat at the moment.
The journey passed quickly with their banter, and soon Yun Qingyu landed on Mingxia Peak with the little white tiger in her arms. The peak was still deserted, but the barriers around the small courtyards next to Yun Qingyu’s had changed, indicating that their owners had either returned or come out of seclusion, clearly also very attentive to the upcoming three-sect martial arts competition.
Jiang Mo didn’t understand barriers and had no interest in paying attention to others. She obediently let Yun Qingyu carry her back to the courtyard.
Back in familiar territory, the little white tiger leaped from Yun Qingyu’s arms, shaking her fur after landing and not forgetting to rub against Yun Qingyu’s legs. The latter’s eyes crinkled with a smile as she crouched down to scratch under the little milk tiger’s chin: “Alright, go play now.”
Hearing this, Jiang Mo didn’t linger. She turned around and, before the system could react, pounced like a hungry tiger, pinning the weak and pitiful light orb under her paw. The system’s muffled voice came from between her paw pads, both teasing and pleading for mercy. Its dramatic nature hadn’t diminished; if anything, it had become even more refined… It wasn’t just playing along with its host; it was clearly enjoying itself too.
After a while of frolicking, the system’s light orb finally squeezed out from between Jiang Mo’s paw pads and asked, “Host, now that your fur has grown back, shouldn’t we find some time to farm more points?”
Jiang Mo glanced at it upon hearing this. Don’t think she didn’t know who had released that red-crowned goose back then. It was only because of its subsequent careful behavior and help with braising the goose that she hadn’t held it against the system. However, she wasn’t planning to go back to the Hall of Inquiry’s kitchen anytime soon. After all, Yun Qingyu already knew about this incident, and it wouldn’t be good to cause more trouble. Besides, they were leaving the sect tomorrow.
The system sounded a bit disappointed after hearing her explanation but said, “I see. Well, after we go out tomorrow, I’ll scan the area again to see if there are any opportunities to farm points down the mountain.” Then it suddenly remembered something: “Oh, right, host, with your current status, will you really be allowed to leave?”
Although the little white tiger seemed to be ignored after arriving on Mingxia Peak, with the Sect Leader and Divine Lord Zhiming paying her no attention, no one could overlook the value of a divine beast to the sect. Even if this divine beast was still a cub, even if her constitution was weak, as long as pouring resources into her showed results, the sect wouldn’t give up on her. Not to mention that the pills given to Jiang Mo had more than just an effect; the results were instantaneous!
Hearing this, Jiang Mo was also taken aback. After thinking for a moment, she said, “It should be fine, right? Otherwise, why would they have taken me to the Spirit Beast Garden?”
Her reasoning wasn’t wrong. The next day, Yun Qingyu prepared and then left Xuanqing Sect with the little white tiger in tow. They departed openly, without any concealment, and neither Sect Leader Qingxiao nor Divine Lord Zhiming appeared to stop them.