When Golden Finger Meets Salted Fish

The spirit spring’s effects were generally for strengthening the body, and its benefits were gentler than pills.

After a few days of bathing, the little tiger grew to love the feeling, no longer minding her wet fur. She had hoped the spring’s effects would add experience points, like taking pills. But in reality, it didn’t. She observed for days and saw no increase in experience. Only through the system’s reminder did she notice her combat power had increased by 1-2 points.

It was likely just from pure physical improvement, but compared to the combat power gained from leveling up, these 1-2 points seemed insignificant. So, bathing in the spirit spring became purely for enjoyment.

But that’s a matter for later. For now, as the busy day finally ended, the bathed little tiger felt completely relaxed. Carried back to her small bed by Yun Qingyu and tucked in, she slept sweetly.

The next morning, not long after waking, Qinglan sent someone with newly refined Spirit Nurturing Pills.

The superior Spirit Nurturing Pills made by an eighth-grade pill master were indeed different from those casually refined by disciples. As soon as the jade bottle was opened, a unique fragrance of medicinal pills wafted out.

The little tiger’s spirits lifted at the scent. She tried one, and immediately heard the system prompt:

“Ding! Congratulations, host. Experience +5000.”

Jiang Mo was shocked. She ate another, instantly leveling up, finally believing that the same pill made by different people could have such a tenfold difference in effect. This was certainly good news for her. With a pill master like Qinglan, she could take 90% fewer pills, saving both her teeth and money!

The little white tiger immediately discarded her previous Spirit Nurturing Pills, placing a paw on the newly arrived superior ones. She raised her head, puffed out her chest, and “aowed” a few times, indicating that from now on, Qinglan would be responsible for all her pills.

This was naturally no problem. The white tiger was still small, and a few batches of pills casually refined by Qinglan would last her a long time.

With a stable supply of “food,” the little white tiger’s days on Mingxia Peak settled into a routine. Each day, besides taking pills, bathing, and watching Yun Qingyu cultivate, she would complete daily quests, though the system’s quests were truly frustrating…

Day one’s daily quest: Give Senior Sister a peach.

Day two’s daily quest: Give Senior Sister a peach.

Day three’s daily quest: Give Senior Sister a peach.

…

After nine consecutive days of peach-giving, regardless of Yun Qingyu’s feelings, the little white tiger herself was sick of peaches. Fortunately, though Yun Qingyu seemed aloof, her temperament wasn’t bad, and she properly accepted the peach each day with thanks.

On the tenth day, Jiang Mo finally addressed the system before the daily quest was issued: “Don’t say my caretaker wants to eat peaches anymore. Even I’m tired of them. Can’t your system quests be more thoughtful?!”

The system stuttered for a moment, feeling a bit wronged. It was about to argue when Yun Qingyu approached with her sword. When others were around, the tiger and system always minimized their communication. Though others couldn’t understand the little white tiger’s calls, randomly howling at the air still looked odd.

So both fell silent. The little white tiger proactively approached, giving an “aow” as a greeting.

Seeing this, Yun Qingyu bent down and scooped up the little white tiger, cradling her chest and belly. Her cool, glass-like beautiful eyes met the little tiger’s golden ones as she asked, “Will you come out with me today?”

Jiang Mo suspected Yun Qingyu didn’t want to receive any more peaches from her, but what did that matter? She nodded eagerly in agreement.

◆◇◆◇◆

It was early morning. The sun rose above the clouds, painting the sky with dawn’s glow, casting a beautiful light over Mingxia Peak.

On a precipitous cliff to the left, a figure stood facing the wind. The morning breeze lifted the hem of her cyan robe, carrying away the dew clinging to her clothes. The owner of the garments paid no heed to this. Her gaze was focused, her long sword in hand, slashing, chopping, and thrusting. With each move, sword energy pulsed, gleaming brightly. Her footwork coordinated with her sword techniques, spinning and leaping, her clothes fluttering.

The little white tiger lay on a nearby rock, watching intently. Yun Qingyu had often gone out alone these days, but she hadn’t realized it was to practice swordsmanship, and that the beauty’s sword dance could be so captivating.

This didn’t quite match Jiang Mo’s understanding of cultivation. She had thought cultivation prioritized realms, with cultivators often secluding themselves, geniuses occasionally having epiphanies, as if knowing how to form hand seals was enough for combat. But that was for spell casters, while Yun Qingyu was a sword cultivator. She had been practicing swordsmanship diligently for over twenty years since starting at age five.

Jiang Mo couldn’t comprehend concepts like sword intent or sword domains. She simply found Yun Qingyu’s movements, balancing strength and grace, very beautiful. She became so engrossed that her early morning drowsiness faded without notice.

As the morning light shone, the system’s glow was even softer than the dawn. It flickered before Jiang Mo, seeking attention: “Host, host, I’ve updated the daily quest. Do you want to take a look?”

The little white tiger lazily spared it half a glance, and the system took the initiative to announce:

“Ding! Daily quest update complete: Time stands still, a beauty paired with fresh flowers. Mingxia Peak’s Senior Sister Yun Qingyu is peerlessly beautiful and fond of peach blossoms. There happens to be a blooming peach tree at the mountaintop. Please pick some to gift to the beauty.

Current progress: (0/1).”

After hearing the quest description, Jiang Mo’s expression turned somewhat peculiar. She couldn’t help but criticize: “I believe my caretaker likes peach blossoms, but system, are your scanning and memory functions broken? There’s such a big peach tree in her courtyard. You’ve had me pick peaches for her every day, and now the peaches are ripe enough to eat. Where would peach blossoms come from now?!”

In fact, there were peach blossoms, and the system’s scanning function wasn’t broken.

Due to the dense spiritual energy within Xuanqing Sect, the growth of various flowers, plants, and fruits no longer followed the four seasons. They bloomed and bore fruit as they pleased, quite willfully.

As such, peach blossoms and peaches could certainly coexist, and even a single tree simultaneously blooming and bearing fruit wasn’t unusual.

After the system’s repeated assurances, Jiang Mo reluctantly believed it. Having given peaches for nine consecutive days, she would finally have enough to activate the 100-point mall today, so she naturally wouldn’t delay further. She glanced up at Yun Qingyu, still practicing her sword, then stood up, shook out her fur, and turned to run across the rocks. Yun Qingyu continued her sword practice without seeming to notice her departure.

The system’s daily quests weren’t difficult. Like picking peaches—the first day, the little white tiger climbed up the tree but couldn’t get down, but gradually got used to it. Today, the system didn’t make things difficult for her. Following its directions to the mountaintop, Jiang Mo immediately spotted the peach tree in full bloom.

Under the dawn’s glow and morning breeze, the delicate flowers swayed gently, a beautiful sight.

Unfortunately, the little white tiger wasn’t one to cherish flowers. She bounded up the peach tree in a few steps, quickly selecting the fullest branch of blossoms. She crept along the branch and, without hesitation, swiped with her paw. The little tiger’s “sharp” claws might not be good for much else, but breaking off a flower branch wasn’t a problem. She soon succeeded.

A few petals drifted down as the little white tiger gripped the branch in her mouth, turning to jump down from the tree.

By now, she had learned to descend trees and wasn’t afraid of the height. But she hadn’t expected to turn and see a cyan figure standing beneath the tree, sword in hand, looking up at her.

A surge of guilt at being caught red-handed startled her, causing her to lose her grip. The peach blossoms fell from her mouth.

Yun Qingyu reached out and caught them. Holding the flowers, she looked up, a beauty as picturesque as a painting.