Chapter 90: You Too
Ever since transforming back into a dog, Lü Qingyan had refused to become human again. Being a dog meant being carried by Bai Jingxue, so she had been clinging to Bai Jingxue for days.
Bai Jingxue didn’t force her. She wondered if she was spoiling Lü Qingyan too much, but seeing the dog’s happy, wagging tail, she decided to let it go.
Spoiling her a little wouldn’t hurt. Besides, holding Lü Qingyan was rather enjoyable. She was soft and warm.
Life at the Ejian Sect had been a monotonous cycle of cultivation and meals. Now, they didn’t even need to eat, making their days even more boring.
The mortal realm, however, was far more lively. They were currently in a town with a lake at its center. Walkways and pavilions extended over the water, and a platform had been built near the shore. According to the locals, it was a stage.
It wasn’t the right season, but during festivals, the area would be decorated with lanterns, and there would be performances on the stage.
Bai Jingxue walked along the walkway, her gaze fixed on the fish swimming in the lake. Red and white fish jostled for food, their movements creating ripples on the surface of the water.
She was mesmerized. She had often gone to the park with Lü Qingyan in her past life, feeding the fish in the lake.
Life at the Ejian Sect had been so different from her past life. Now, in the mortal realm, she found herself surrounded by familiar sights and sounds, triggering memories, each one tinged with a bittersweet nostalgia.
She gripped the railing, Lü Qingyan, nestled in her arms, also excited as she recounted their past experiences, comparing them to their current situation. “These fish aren’t as fat as the water pigs we used to feed,” she said.
“Water pigs” was Lü Qingyan’s nickname for the goldfish in the park. They had been overfed by countless visitors, their bodies plump and round.
Lü Qingyan, despite her complaints about their size, had always bought a bag of fish food, scattering it into the water, her laughter echoing through the air as she watched the “water pigs” compete for food. She had been a regular visitor. Their obesity was partially her fault.
Now, presented with another opportunity to feed fish, she was eager to participate, but they were surrounded by people. Transforming here would cause a panic.
She nudged Bai Jingxue’s chest with her nose, her voice a playful whine. “Jingxue, I want to feed the fish.”
Bai Jingxue, staring at the adorable dog, couldn’t deny her weakness for Lü Qingyan’s cuteness. She hated how easily she caved, but she resigned herself to her fate, purchasing a bag of fish food.
Lü Qingyan, her paws unable to grasp the bag, struggled for a while, then sighed, her ears drooping, her gaze fixed on her paws, her frustration evident.
Bai Jingxue wanted to laugh, but she spared the dog’s pride. She poured some fish food into her palm, holding it out so that Lü Qingyan could reach it with her paw.
“Push it into the water with your paw,” she said.
Lü Qingyan’s eyes lit up. She did as she was told, pushing a portion of the fish food into the water, then watched with delight as the fish swarmed, their movements creating a frenzy of ripples.
Bai Jingxue, staring at Lü Qingyan’s wagging tail, its speed resembling a miniature tornado, thought that if Lü Qingyan were any larger, her tail would be hitting Bai Jingxue in the face.
Lü Qingyan, pushing more fish food into the water, her tail wagging even faster, was clearly enjoying herself.
“She understands you,” a voice said, its tone curious. “What a smart dog.”
Bai Jingxue turned to see a young woman, her clothes expensive, her hair adorned with numerous hairpins and flowers, a servant girl by her side. She was probably a noblewoman.
Sensing no malice, simply curiosity, Bai Jingxue nodded curtly.
She usually maintained an aloof demeanor around strangers. It helped to avoid unnecessary interactions. She hated socializing.
The young woman, intimidated by Bai Jingxue’s cold demeanor, hesitated. She had noticed Bai Jingxue’s elegant attire and refined aura. This woman was clearly of high status.
But she couldn’t resist the dog’s cuteness. She had been observing them for a while.
After some deliberation, she decided to try her luck. “Would you be willing to part with your dog, miss?” she asked. “I would be happy to purchase her.”
Lü Qingyan, hearing this, her fur bristling, glared at the woman, barking furiously. The woman couldn’t understand her, but Bai Jingxue could.
Those were some rather creative insults.
Bai Jingxue had no intention of selling her beloved. “My dog doesn’t want to leave,” she said, her voice firm.
The woman, startled by the dog’s aggressive barking, took a step back, abandoning her attempt. “My apologies,” she said, then, her gaze lingering on the dog, she turned and left.
Bai Jingxue, however, noticed something as the woman walked away. A faint ghostly aura clung to her.
Lü Qingyan, seeing that Bai Jingxue was staring at the woman, her ears drooping, nudged Bai Jingxue’s palm with her nose, her voice a low whine. “She’s not even as pretty as me.”
“Aw, the puppy is jealous,” Bai Jingxue thought, her lips curving into a small smile.
She decided to tease Lü Qingyan.
She thought for a moment, then said, her voice serious, “You can’t say that.”
Lü Qingyan’s eyes widened, and she frantically pawed at Bai Jingxue’s palm, her movements frantic, until Bai Jingxue, grabbing her by the scruff of her neck, lifted her, silencing her.
She had gone too far. Bai Jingxue, despite her occasional mischievous tendencies, still cared about Lü Qingyan’s feelings.
She pulled Lü Qingyan into her arms, petting her gently, her voice soothing. “Don’t be silly,” she said. “How could she possibly compare to you? I was just teasing.”
Lü Qingyan instantly perked up, her tail wagging, her body wriggling as she rolled around in Bai Jingxue’s arms, nearly falling into the lake. Bai Jingxue quickly grabbed her tail, stopping her.
The fish, seeing that the dog hadn’t fallen in, dispersed.
Bai Jingxue pulled Lü Qingyan back into her arms, chuckling as she squeezed the dog’s ear. She was in a good mood.
Ying, carrying the fox, approached them, and Bai Jingxue mentioned what she had noticed about the woman.
Ying’s eyes lit up. “Ooh, I’ve never seen a ghost before!” she exclaimed.
Thankfully, Bai Jingxue had anticipated this and had cast a soundproofing spell. Otherwise, Ying’s loud voice would have attracted unwanted attention.
But what was so interesting about ghosts? Bai Jingxue had already encountered a ghost. Fang Xin’s ghost had been rather friendly. She hadn’t met any malevolent ghosts yet.
And if that book was accurate, Ying herself could be considered a “lecherous ghost.”
She mentally scoffed, then her thoughts returned to the woman.
The ghostly aura clinging to her had been cold and unsettling, suggesting a malevolent presence. If they ignored it, it could endanger the woman’s life.
Lü Qingyan, realizing that Bai Jingxue’s interest wasn’t romantic, her mood improving, her jealousy fading, transformed back into her usual helpful self.
They discussed the situation, then decided to investigate.
Finding someone was a simple task for Lü Qingyan. She had managed to locate the male lead amidst a chaotic battle, her nose guiding her through the stench of blood. She simply sniffed the air, then pointed them in the right direction.
They soon arrived at the Xiao family manor. Bai Jingxue, closing her eyes, her body enveloped in white light, transformed into a cat, landing gracefully on the ground.
Lü Qingyan, delighted to see Bai Jingxue’s cat form again, circled her excitedly. Bai Jingxue, annoyed, placed a paw on the dog’s head, silencing her.
Lü Qingyan, as if frozen, stopped circling, settling down to stare at Bai Jingxue.
Bai Jingxue glanced at the tall wall, then, with a powerful leap, she scaled it.
Lü Qingyan was about to teleport when she felt herself lifted into the air, then thrown. She sailed through the air, her body forming a perfect arc.
She turned to glare at the culprit, but Ying simply grinned at her, her voice a cheerful, “You’re welcome!”
Lü Qingyan stared at her, her mind conjuring up images of roasted dragon meat.
She quickly looked away, afraid she might lose control and attack. She leaped over the wall, landing inside the manor.
Lü Qingyan landed on her backside, yelping in pain. She tried to rub her bruised bottom, but her legs were too short. She mentally cursed that stupid dragon.
“Does it hurt?” Bai Jingxue asked, her voice echoing in Lü Qingyan’s mind.
Lü Qingyan’s pain instantly vanished, but she maintained her pitiful expression, whimpering, “It hurts. I can’t reach it.”
She then presented her backside to Bai Jingxue, her voice a playful whine. “Jingxue, help me~”
Bai Jingxue, staring at the shameless dog, wanted to roll her eyes. Lü Qingyan, in her dog form, seemed to have abandoned all sense of human decency.
She chuckled, then swatted Lü Qingyan on the head with her paw.
“Ow! I’m sorry! I’m sorry!” Lü Qingyan cried, her voice echoing in Bai Jingxue’s mind.
Seeing Lü Qingyan cowering on the ground, Bai Jingxue withdrew her paw.
The moment she did, Lü Qingyan jumped to her feet, her voice filled with a dramatic sigh. “Being human is better,” she said. “You wouldn’t hit me if I was human.”
Bai Jingxue ignored her, melting into the shadows, heading towards the young woman’s room.
The manor was brightly lit, its courtyards filled with servants and guards. It was a wealthy household.
But the people here seemed listless, their energy drained.
The cat and dog moved silently through the shadows.
They passed a well, and Bai Jingxue paused, leaping onto its edge. She peered down, sensing a thick, cloying aura of resentment emanating from its depths.
She thought for a moment, then jumped into the well. It was a trap. There was no ghost, only resentment.
Lü Qingyan, unable to contain her excitement, said, “Jingxue, we’re going ghost-hunting!”
Bai Jingxue, hearing her voice in her mind, was grateful that Lü Qingyan hadn’t spoken aloud. Otherwise, the ghost, if there was one, would have fled.
But what was so exciting about ghost-hunting?
She closed her eyes, then opened them, her vision enhanced, scanning the area. There was no sign of a ghost.
But the ghostly aura was stronger now. It seemed the ghost had left the well and was heading towards a small building.
Bai Jingxue had read some books. Unmarried women in mortal families often resided in small, separate buildings. This was probably a young woman’s room.
A lamp was lit on the second floor, its warm glow a beacon in the darkness. The shadow of a woman, her movements suggesting she was embroidering, was visible on the paper window.
Bai Jingxue, her target confirmed, exchanged a look with Lü Qingyan, then the dog dashed towards the building.
They didn’t use any techniques, afraid of alerting the ghost.
The door to the building was slightly ajar. The cat and dog, their bodies small, easily slipped through the gap.
The young woman’s room was on the second floor. Bai Jingxue climbed the stairs.
The door to the room was also slightly ajar. They could see the woman’s back. Her clothes seemed to match those of the woman they had encountered earlier.
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