The Failed Female Supporting Character [Transmigration] - Chapter 18

Chapter 18

The middle entrance was pitch-black, with the faint sound of wind whistling through. Previously, the entrances Yu Qi and Ji Manqiu had mistakenly entered were riddled with traps the moment they stepped inside, but this time, nothing happened even after they had walked a considerable distance.

“It seems we chose correctly.” Ji Manqiu patted the little fox’s head soothingly, then placed it on the ground to let it scout the way ahead.

Yu Qi walked beside Ji Manqiu without speaking, but her brow was furrowed.

With the little fox scouting ahead, Ji Manqiu’s mental tension relaxed slightly. She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear and, noticing how unusually quiet the person beside her was, couldn’t help but glance sideways at her. Her eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s wrong with you?”

“…Do you not smell a strange fragrance?” Yu Qi rubbed her nose and asked in a low voice.

A fragrance? Ji Manqiu sniffed a few times and frowned. “No.” She couldn’t smell anything.

Yu Qi raised a hand to her forehead, her footsteps becoming sluggish. “I feel a bit dizzy.” In truth, it wasn’t just dizziness; since smelling that fragrance, her mind had become hazy. Images flashed before her eyes constantly, but they moved too fast for her to see clearly.

Seeing Yu Qi stagger, Ji Manqiu reached out to steady her by the shoulder. When her fingertips brushed against the side of Yu Qi’s neck, she realized the girl’s body temperature was alarmingly high.

The warmth transmitted through her clothes made Yu Qi tremble slightly. She pursed her lips, and a murmur escaped her uncontrollably: “If something happens later… just leave me behind.”

Ji Manqiu’s expression turned subtle. “I won’t leave you.” If she left Yu Qi here and made it out alone, Feng Qi would likely fly into a rage upon finding out.

Unaware of Ji Manqiu’s thoughts, Yu Qi silently reached out and grabbed Ji Manqiu’s arm upon hearing this promise-like statement. Stealing her nerves, she took her light sword in hand and whispered, “I won’t let you save me a second time.”

“Then don’t beg me to leave you behind.”

Yu Qi frowned, her previous frailty vanishing instantly as she said displeasurably, “I didn’t beg you.”

Ji Manqiu let out a light chuckle but said nothing.

Yu Qi’s trance lasted only a moment. Although the scent still lingered in her nose, her mind gradually cleared, and the flashing images became distinct.

“…We’re going back.” Yu Qi’s footsteps halted abruptly when she realized whose figure was in those flashes. She was initially surprised, but then, as if realizing something, her face flushed deep red.

Yu Qi’s behavior was so strange that Ji Manqiu frowned. Just as she was about to speak, the little fox ahead gave a cry. She grabbed Yu Qi, who was trying to turn and leave, and said indisputably, “The exit is right ahead.”

After being made so miserable by the other caves, she had to see what was in here—and Yu Qi’s bizarre behavior made her curious about the reason.

“Do you already know what’s inside?” Ji Manqiu asked, raising an eyebrow at Yu Qi’s resistance.

Yu Qi lowered her head, her voice sounding faint. “N-no, I don’t.”

The distance to the little fox wasn’t far. Before long, they reached it. The darkness vanished abruptly as they crossed a threshold, replaced by a blinding white light. It was as if they had stumbled into a hidden paradise; the scenery before them caused even Ji Manqiu’s eyes to flash with surprise.

They seemed to have been transported into a valley of green mountains and clear waters. The gentle slopes were covered in patches of flowers and grass; because the stems were short, the clustered blossoms looked like fallen petals.

While Ji Manqiu surveyed the surroundings, Yu Qi stared intently at the patch of flora, the corners of her eyes reddening slightly, her hand gripping her light sword trembling.

“This is…” Ji Manqiu followed Yu Qi’s gaze. She stared at the flora for a moment, then raised an eyebrow. “Consonance Grass (Lingxi Cao).”

Consonance Grass wasn’t exactly a medicinal herb; in fact, it contained a mild toxin. It wasn’t fatal, but it caused hallucinations and amplified a person’s specific emotions to the maximum. Though it was technically a poisonous plant, it was very popular in the cultivation world and was given the poetic name “Consonance Grass.”

Lingxi—an idiom for a spiritual connection or being “in sync.”

This was a plant righteous cultivators would give to confirm each other’s feelings before becoming Dao companions. Although its fragrance was toxic, the conditions for being affected were quite specific: humans have many desires, but its scent primarily influences lust/affection.

“Whose face flashed before your eyes?” Seeing Yu Qi’s head bowed, Ji Manqiu reached out to hook her chin, forcing her to look up. She teased, “It couldn’t possibly be mine, could it?”

The emotions of cultivators are much more stable than those of mortals. With Yu Qi’s cultivation level, if she hadn’t shown a vulnerability, she wouldn’t have smelled the fragrance at all. For instance, Ji Manqiu smelled nothing.

Yu Qi could smell it because her emotional fluctuations were too great—she had too many “cracks” in her heart. For a cultivator, unless the person affecting their emotions is right beside them, they wouldn’t be influenced. Since only Ji Manqiu was by her side, there was no doubt who the source was.

Slapping Ji Manqiu’s hand away, Yu Qi averted her gaze and denied coldly, “It’s not you.”

“Better if it isn’t.”

“You…” Yu Qi gritted her teeth, her eyes red as she said, “How could I possibly like you?”

Stubborn, Ji Manqiu thought, shaking her head slightly. She bent down to pick up the little fox squatting at her feet and stopped teasing her. Scanning the area, she pointed to a nearby stream. “Go there and clear your head. I’ll handle these Consonance Grasses.”

Yu Qi snorted coldly, turned, and strode toward the stream, walking until the water reached her waist before stopping.

The Consonance Grass had no effect on the “flawless” Ji Manqiu. After clearing the slope, she walked to the stream. Looking at Yu Qi’s back, she asked nonchalantly, “Are you alright?”

Yu Qi turned in silence. She walked out of the water, her wet dress clinging tightly to her body. Her damp hair hung in strands down her back, unable to fully hide her graceful curves.

Such a version of Yu Qi looked quite pitiful. When those dark eyes, reflecting the water’s light, gazed at her, even Ji Manqiu felt a flicker of an unusual thought.

Under Ji Manqiu’s scrutinizing gaze, Yu Qi walked to her side. Although the grass had been cleared, the fragrance hadn’t completely dissipated from the air. Scene after scene of Ji Manqiu continued to flash before Yu Qi’s eyes.

Even reciting the Heart-Cleansing Incantation was useless; the more she tried to calm down, the more anxious and restless she became. Yu Qi knew she harbored unusual feelings for Ji Manqiu, but she had never intended to speak about them. Having them exposed so directly left her both flustered and furious.

“I have no thoughts about you.” Yu Qi grabbed Ji Manqiu’s arm and said coldly with her head down, “I don’t like you at all.”

“Liar.” Ji Manqiu reached out to wrap an arm around Yu Qi’s waist, curling her lips into a smile. “You’ve already been moved, haven’t you?”

Yu Qi’s body stiffened. She looked up into Ji Manqiu’s eyes and found nothing but playfulness, which sent her into a fit of shame and anger. She lunged forward and bit Ji Manqiu’s neck hard.

Given the physical strength of the Demon Race, a few bites wouldn’t normally matter, but Yu Qi bit hard enough to break the skin, showing her sheer force.

Yu Qi shoved Ji Manqiu away and stomped off with her sword. The little fox followed for a few steps before stopping to look at Ji Manqiu in confusion.

She had actually been bitten… a rare experience. Touching the teeth marks on her neck, Ji Manqiu dried the moisture on her body with her energy and stretched. She picked up the fox and slowly followed behind Yu Qi at a distance, returning the way they came.

While clearing the grass, she had searched the area and found nothing else—no other exit—so they had to go back.

The way out was much faster than the way in. Yu Qi walked quickly; the closer they got to the entrance, the fainter the scent became. When they finally emerged, she braced her hands on her knees, breathing heavily until the illusions finally shattered and vanished.

“…Junior Aunt?” Feng Qi’s voice came from ahead. Yu Qi looked dazed, her voice a bit husky. “Where is my Senior Sister?”

Feng Qi turned and pointed toward the cave. “She’ll be out in a moment.” She paused, then asked tentatively, “Why do you look so disheveled? Where is Ji Manqiu?” As she spoke, she looked toward the cave entrance they had entered, her mouth slowly hanging open.

They had actually picked that cave. Feng Qi was surprised for a second, then confused. There was nothing in that cave but Consonance Grass; how did Yu Qi end up looking so wretched?

“She’s coming.” Having realized her current state, Yu Qi frowned and used her energy to dry her clothes, then used a hairpin to fix her loose hair. Her expression returned to its usual cold pride.

Feng Qi kept glancing at the now-composed Yu Qi, sensing that her previous state was very strange.

Her stares were too obvious. After enduring it for a while, Yu Qi turned to glare at her. “Want to play with snakes? My Senior Sister told me to give you a few.”

Feng Qi’s expression froze. She gave a dry laugh. “No, thank you.” She looked away, waiting obediently for Ruan Lan.

Previously, because there was catnip in the chest, Feng Qi didn’t want to be controlled by her instincts, so she had Ruan Lan knock her unconscious. She assumed Ruan Lan would gather the immortal stones and items and then wake her, but to her surprise, Ruan Lan had just sat beside her meditating.

They had already lost time due to her sleeping, and then they spent more time dividing the stones and sorting the items. Anxious about the hidden array here, Feng Qi had come out ahead while Ruan Lan was still packing. She hadn’t expected to run right into Yu Qi.

“What did you and your Senior Sister… encounter?” Yu Qi stared at the cave entrance, her expression complicated as she heard footsteps approaching.

Standing on the wooden bridge looking down at the cold pool, Feng Qi replied absentmindedly, “Master and I had good luck. We found lots of immortal stones.” She didn’t mention the Qingyun Sword for now.

Immortal stones, huh? Good luck indeed. Yu Qi dithered for a moment, and by the time she snapped out of it, Ji Manqiu had emerged holding the little fox. They locked eyes; Yu Qi was the first to look away and walk to the side.

“You guys made it in too?” Ji Manqiu patted the fox and looked at Feng Qi. “What exactly is this place?”

“It was left by an immortal who ascended and then came back down.” Feng Qi pointed to the cave she and Ruan Lan had used. “Master and I saw a stone tablet inside; that’s what it said.”

Ji Manqiu nodded thoughtfully. She brushed her hair aside, momentarily revealing a reddish bite mark on her white neck. Feng Qi thought she misread it at first, then looked again. “Your neck…” she said in surprise.

“Hmm?”

Feng Qi blinked. Surely the fox didn’t do that? She met Ji Manqiu’s eyes, seeing the playful glint within. Just as her curiosity was about to burst into a question, she was interrupted by Yu Qi’s cold voice: “Why hasn’t Senior Sister come out yet?”

“It should be soon.” Feng Qi looked at the entrance. Shortly after, Ruan Lan emerged. Seeing Yu Qi and Ji Manqiu, she wasn’t surprised. She nodded slightly and walked to Feng Qi’s side.

As she passed Ji Manqiu, she paused. A faint, strange fragrance hit her nose, causing her to frown. She glanced at Ji Manqiu, then reached out and plucked a flower petal from the little fox’s fur. Looking at it, she asked, “You encountered Consonance Grass?”

Yu Qi’s heart skipped a beat, her back stiffening instinctively. She turned to look at the petal in Ruan Lan’s hand, her lips pressed tight and her eyes nervous, fearing Ji Manqiu would spill the beans.

“Yes, we did.” Ji Manqiu took the petal from Ruan Lan and destroyed it. She smiled lightly. “Why? Did you smell something?”

Ruan Lan’s brow furrowed, but she said nothing. She had indeed smelled a lingering trace of the scent.

“Master.” Feng Qi, who hadn’t paid any attention to their dialogue because she was staring at the cold pool, grabbed Ruan Lan’s sleeve and stood on her tiptoes. She whispered, “The spiritual energy down there is very heavy.”

The warm breath against her ear caused Ruan Lan a momentary lapse in focus, but her mental fortitude was strong, and she returned to normal in the next second. Putting the scent of Consonance Grass aside, she looked in the direction Feng Qi pointed. “That might be the Spiritual Spring of Nanshan.”

The reason Nanshan was called a “Little Immortal Realm” was largely due to its spiritual spring. In the old days before the three realms changed, areas near spiritual springs were where sect leaders and elders secluded themselves for cultivation. Cultivating here was twice as effective.

Places like Misty Valley (Piaomiao Gu) used to have such spots, but they had long since lost their efficacy.

“Shall we take a look?” Feng Qi suggested. “I feel like there’s something down there.”

Ruan Lan looked at her and nodded. “Alright.” Since the two of them had decided, Yu Qi and Ji Manqiu had no objections. They stood behind the pair, though there seemed to be a chasm of distance between them.

The water of the cold pool wasn’t deep. Though it looked dark, it was actually crystal clear. As the four of them jumped from the wooden bridge, the water automatically parted to reveal a deep set of stone stairs leading underground. Ruan Lan grabbed Feng Qi’s wrist and led her down.

The stairs were long and steep. Every so often, embedded spirit stones illuminated the area. As they descended, the previously sparse spiritual energy became more abundant, eventually reaching a point that surprised Ruan Lan and made Feng Qi frown.

The overly dense energy felt oppressive to Feng Qi. She instinctively looked at Ji Manqiu and found her also frowning, while the little fox in her arms was trembling slightly.

Fortunately, they reached the bottom. The spiritual energy was so thick it had begun to solidify; immortal stones condensed from the energy could be seen hanging all over the cavern walls.

“Senior Sister, this place…” Yu Qi reached out to pluck an immortal stone, examining it. “This doesn’t seem like a normal spiritual spring.” The density was abnormal. Given the current state of the cultivation world, even a spiritual spring shouldn’t produce this many stones.

For instance, the spring in Misty Valley might produce fewer than a hundred stones in several decades.

At the bottom of the stairs was an open space. It wasn’t very large, making the four of them feel a bit crowded. Using the light from the immortal stones, a high platform at the far end appeared hazy.

This is it, Feng Qi thought, staring at the platform. Her heart was a bit tense; the source of the sudden spiritual energy depletion in the Three Realms was right there. Now it depended on whether Ruan Lan’s current insight could see through it.

This was something that shouldn’t have been discovered for several years. Feng Qi wondered if exposing it early would cause problems. As these thoughts swirled, she glanced at Ruan Lan and saw her solemn expression, knowing she was already suspicious.

The first to speak was Ji Manqiu. Staring at the platform, her phoenix-like eyes narrowed to hide the dark light within. “Is it an array again?” she whispered.

On the high platform, an Eight Trigrams diagram was drawn. Five crystals of different attributes were placed in their respective positions, with a pillar of light in the center leading somewhere unknown.

“Five-Elements Spirit-Gathering Array.” Ruan Lan walked toward the platform, stopping only when she hit a barrier. She looked up at the light pillar. “This was not set up by a cultivator.” The Five-Elements Spirit-Gathering Array was a common one that anyone with a basic understanding of arrays could set up.

Its primary purpose was to gather surrounding energy for one’s own cultivation. But this one looked more like it was gathering the energy of Nanshan and transmitting it elsewhere via the light pillar.

“Then what kind of person was it?” Feng Qi guessed casually. “Could it be an immortal?”

Ruan Lan was silent for a while before nodding. “Possibly.” The Qingyun and烈阳 (Liyang) swords they found were immortal treasures, proving that immortals had once descended.

But why set up an array to destroy Nanshan’s spiritual energy? Ruan Lan frowned. She drew her light sword and struck the barrier with a blade of qi to test its strength, but the attack was neutralized instantly.

“It seems it really was someone from the Immortal Realm.” Ji Manqiu, interested in the array, smirked. “Who knows how long this has existed? If it appeared right when the cultivation world’s energy began to plummet, that would be interesting.”

As a demon, Ji Manqiu usually didn’t care about the affairs of the cultivation world. But if the reason for its decline was the Immortal Realm, she found it quite hilarious.

Both the cultivation world and the immortals always called themselves the “Righteous Path.” But ever since the energy depletion, the actions of righteous cultivators were enough to make even a demon like Ji Manqiu gasp in amazement. Now, with the Immortal Realm added to the mix, Ji Manqiu felt there was no real boundary between the Demon and Immortal realms. The labels “Righteous” and “Demonic” were laughable.

Yu Qi protested, “Those who ascended were once cultivators of this world. They wouldn’t do something like this.”

“But the evidence is right before us, isn’t it?”

“This array must have some other purpose.” Yu Qi looked at Ruan Lan for validation. “Senior Sister, what do you think?”

Feng Qi also looked at Ruan Lan. Ruan Lan had been staring at the barrier in thought. Hearing Yu Qi, she withdrew her gaze and sheathed her sword. “Ji Manqiu has a point,” she said softly.

“Senior Sister!”

“I am only stating facts.” The barrier couldn’t be broken by their current cultivation, so they couldn’t destroy the array inside. “When the energy in the cultivation world plummeted, all Four Little Immortal Realms had problems. Since Nanshan has this array, the others likely do too.”

Ruan Lan suddenly turned to Feng Qi. “Of the remaining three Little Immortal Realms, which do you think we should go to next?”

Ask her? Feng Qi’s face showed clear surprise. She hesitated. “Me?”

Ruan Lan nodded. “You decide.”

Why let her decide? Feng Qi’s heart hammered. Even though she was the one who led them here, she hadn’t said a word during their deductions, trying to keep a low profile.

“…Maybe Linghai?” Seeing Ruan Lan watching her, Feng Qi explained, “It’s closest to Nanshan.” Linghai was to the west of Nanshan, the territory of the Lingyun Sect.

Actually, Feng Qi wanted to suggest going back to Misty Valley, but the array there was hidden too deeply; it would be hard to lead Ruan Lan to it. Better to go to Linghai nearby.

“Alright, we’ll do as you say.” Ruan Lan made the final call. She took one last look at the platform before turning to leave.

It took nearly an hour for the four to cross the bridge and find the teleportation array to get out. It was completely dark outside. On the other side of the mountain, faint sounds of fighting could be heard. The Wanyao Sect’s protective array was on the verge of collapse, with oppressive demonic energy bearing down on it, waiting to devour everything inside once it broke.

“We leave tonight.” Ruan Lan held Feng Qi’s arm as they hovered on a sword in mid-air. While she hesitated on which direction to break through, Feng Qi whispered, “Let’s go West.”

Since the demonic energy was the same everywhere to Ruan Lan, she headed West as suggested. Feng Qi stood in front of Ruan Lan, hugging her arm, her eyes crinkling. It was a good thing she had left herself a way out.

There were many demon cultivators to the West as well, but unlike the other directions where a high-ranking demon sat in command, this side was quite disorganized. When they saw them emerge, they only offered symbolic resistance, focusing instead on breaking the sect’s array.

After the four left, a crack appeared at the top of the Wanyao Sect’s array, spreading rapidly until it shattered completely. Demons cheered and flooded in, only to find the sect empty save for some outer disciples who hadn’t escaped in time.

The fall of the Wanyao Sect was expected. Ruan Lan and the others didn’t go back to check on Nanshan’s fate. Instead, they went to a nearby city and found an inn to rest.

Having gathered many immortal stones in Nanshan, Ruan Lan distributed some to Yu Qi and Ji Manqiu. She then recorded everything about Nanshan on a jade slip to send back to Misty Valley. Afterward, she stayed in her room to cultivate.

Even with more stones and treasures, Ruan Lan didn’t slack off. Her cultivation speed was several times faster than before, which left Feng Qi amazed.

Without realizing when the habit formed, Feng Qi noticed that whether at an inn or back at Wanyao Sect, she was always staying in the same room as Ruan Lan.

While the lack of rooms at the inn was an excuse this time, Feng Qi suspected Ruan Lan would have shared a room with her even if there were many vacancies.

Are we really this close? Feng Qi sat on a soft couch, watching Ruan Lan focus on her cultivation. She stroked her chin. Remembering how Ruan Lan would pet her cat form every night before bed, she suddenly thought: Maybe Ruan Lan is a closet cat-lover. The kind who “huffs” cats with a serious face.

Feng Qi’s gaze was too intense. Halfway through her cultivation, Ruan Lan opened her eyes and met her gaze. “Is something wrong?”

“…No.” Startled by Ruan Lan’s sudden wakefulness, Feng Qi stood up. Her eyes darted around. “I won’t disturb you.” With that, she slipped out.

After Feng Qi left, Ruan Lan closed her eyes again. She recited the Heart-Cleansing Incantation. It took several recitations for her heart—unsettled by Feng Qi’s gaze—to finally find peace.

Not daring to go back and disturb Ruan Lan, Feng Qi wandered around and eventually went to Ji Manqiu’s room. Since returning from Nanshan, Feng Qi noticed the atmosphere between Ji Manqiu and Yu Qi had changed, though she couldn’t put her finger on how.

“Did you and Junior Aunt have a fight?” Feng Qi sat across from Ji Manqiu, taking a sip of water, her eyes full of curiosity.

The inn had few rooms, only two available initially. But Yu Qi had somehow managed to get another one by throwing gold at the problem, appearing desperate not to stay with Ji Manqiu.

“I wouldn’t call it a fight.” Ji Manqiu rested her chin on one hand, seemingly thinking of something amusing. The corners of her mouth curled up. “She’s probably just embarrassed.”

Feng Qi licked her lips. “Embarrassed? Why?”

Ji Manqiu smiled but didn’t speak. She picked up the kettle and refilled Feng Qi’s cup. “Are you sure you want me to tell you? I won’t step in if she takes her anger out on you.”

Thinking of the snakes Yu Qi kept, Feng Qi shivered and tucked away her curiosity. “Did my Master give you a storage stone?”

Ji Manqiu nodded. “Why?”

“Let me see.”

Ji Manqiu handed it over.

Feng Qi checked the contents carefully and clicked her tongue in admiration. “So generous.” The number of immortal stones Ruan Lan gave Ji Manqiu was substantial.

Immortal stones were mostly decorations to demons, but Ruan Lan was indeed generous. Ji Manqiu shrugged. “She is indeed.”

Feng Qi sighed again and then casually pocketed the storage stone.

“Hmm?” Noticing the move, Ji Manqiu raised an eyebrow. “You really look out for her.”

“You don’t need them anyway.”

“Fine, whatever makes you happy.” Ji Manqiu watched Feng Qi’s face for a while before looking away. She had known for a long time that this demon liked to favor outsiders.

By the time Feng Qi left Ji Manqiu’s room, it was nearly dark. She crept back to the room. Seeing Ruan Lan still cultivating, she shifted into her original form. The black cat jumped onto the bed, found a corner to curl up in, and started licking its paws.

A hand gently stroked the black cat’s head. Ruan Lan pinched the cat’s ear and smoothed its fur. Hearing a comfortable purr, a faint smile flashed in her eyes.

After tilting her head to let Ruan Lan scratch her chin, the black cat suddenly flipped over, grabbed Ruan Lan’s hand, and bit it playfully. “Master, are you done cultivating?”

Ruan Lan hummed in response, her fingers brushing the cat’s sharp teeth. She looked down at the tiny tongue with an unreadable expression.

“Is it a bottleneck?” Feng Qi guessed curiously. It was rare for a cultivation fanatic like Ruan Lan to just stop and rest.

“No.” Ruan Lan paused, then whispered, “I just can’t settle my mind.”

Feng Qi was stunned. She let go of Ruan Lan’s finger and hopped onto her lap, her paws kneading instinctively. “Are you thinking about Linghai?”

They were near Linghai now, but it was different from Nanshan. The Lingyun Sect was quite large; they wouldn’t just let outsiders into an important place like a spiritual spring.

Ruan Lan looked into the cat’s emerald eyes and shook her head. “No.” She stroked the cat’s forehead and asked suddenly, “Why aren’t your eyes green in human form?”

The sudden shift in topic left Feng Qi dazed. “Because humans don’t have eyes like that,” she answered instinctively. After a thought, she added, “But they turn green in semi-beast form.” A demon’s strongest state wasn’t their original or human form, but a semi-demon state.

It kept the sharp claws and agility of the beast form while allowing for complex human-like attacks.

Semi-beast form… Ruan Lan vaguely remembered Feng Qi was in that state when she was first exposed, with her ears showing. She pinched the tip of the cat’s tail and said seriously, “Show me.”

The black cat was dumbfounded. “Huh?”

“The semi-beast form.”

Feng Qi hesitated. “There’s nothing much to see.” She was fine with her cat form, but the semi-beast form always felt awkward.

Ruan Lan didn’t speak; she just stared silently. Under that gaze, Feng Qi felt like she was sitting on needles. Her paws kneaded Ruan Lan several times before she finally gave in and hopped onto the bed.

“Cover your eyes, don’t watch me put on clothes,” Feng Qi said from under the blankets. “I’ll be embarrassed.” Then, she transformed.

Even though Feng Qi’s back was turned and the clothes were on in an instant, Ruan Lan still saw the tail—it was longer than in cat form, and the fur looked very soft.

“The semi-beast form looks weird.” Feng Qi touched her ears, then turned around to lean toward Ruan Lan, staring straight into her eyes. “Do I look very different from a human?”

Her eyes were emerald green, the pupils shifting with the light. It should have felt strange, but Ruan Lan found her look exotic and couldn’t bring herself to dislike it.

“Very different.” Ruan Lan held Feng Qi’s chin. While Feng Qi was confused, Ruan Lan’s other hand reached around her back and grabbed the tail hidden beneath her dress. “But just as cute as your cat form,” she whispered.

The tail, which had been swishing lazily, stiffened. Hearing Ruan Lan’s words, Feng Qi’s face slowly turned red. “Master, you…”

Ruan Lan’s eyes flickered, and she watched her in silence.

“You really do like cats, don’t you?” Feng Qi tried to pull Ruan Lan’s hand away but failed. She eventually gave up.

Ruan Lan is definitely a cat-lover.

Feng Qi lowered her head, avoiding Ruan Lan’s gaze. Feeling a strange sense of shame being held by the tail in this form, she shifted back into a cat.

Ruan Lan pulled the clothes aside, looking at the tiny black ball curled up (perhaps in a huff). Her thumb gently stroked one of the twitching ears.

Do I like cats? Maybe, Ruan Lan thought. A flash of confusion crossed her face, but in the next second, she regained her usual cool composure.