“Stinky, come back quickly!”
In the pitch-black night, the glowing green egg paused, turned around, and nodded toward Jiang Bingbing.
“Huh? What’s going on?”
Stinky seemed to be telling her not to worry.
“Chirp~”
Stinky chirped as it hopped toward the creature.
There, the Black Smoke Monster knelt on both knees, its right hand placed over its chest. A hoarse voice emerged from the swirling smoke.
“Young… master, I’ve… finally found you…”
Jiang Bingbing froze, her brain short-circuiting.
Did her stinky egg have some powerful background?
Meanwhile, Stinky floated steadily into the air.
Dark green light emanated from its shell, streaming strand by strand into the Black Smoke Monster’s head.
The monster turned its head toward Jiang Bingbing. “I… understand, young master…”
The green light continued to flow into the Black Smoke Monster until the glow covering the eggshell dimmed by two layers before finally stopping.
Stinky wobbled unsteadily as it floated back into Jiang Bingbing’s arms, looking much more exhausted than before.
At the center of the Black Smoke Monster’s chest, a green crystal glowed, and its smoke grew denser.
Slowly, it approached Jiang Bingbing.
“You… are kind. Thank… you…”
“Young master, I… entrust you…”
With those words, it dissolved into a wisp of smoke and vanished into the night sky.
Jiang Bingbing was utterly baffled. Had this demon kidnapped her in such a hurry just for Stinky?
“Stinky, what’s your story?”
She poked the egg in her arms unceremoniously. Stinky retreated into a corner, needing rest after expending so much energy.
“Little Junior Sister!”
Liu Zheng rushed over, his eyes filled with anxiety. Seeing that his junior sister was unharmed, he quickly took her back to Jade Immortal Peak via Sword Flight.
Along the way, he asked her what had happened.
Jiang Bingbing told him everything truthfully.
As they neared the Sword Sect, they happened to run into Immortal Lord Qingxue, Wen Yuzhao, and Xie Yingnan, who were on their way out.
After escorting her back to her residence and hearing Liu Zheng’s account, Immortal Lord Qingxue pondered, “Black smoke is often associated with demonic creatures. If not a demon, there is a type of monster that can also transform into smoke.”
“Could it be that kind of monster?”
Jiang Qingxue’s noble face showed a hint of disdain.
Liu Zheng asked, “What kind of monster?”
Jiang Qingxue’s tone was less than pleasant. “The kind that won’t kill you but will disgust you to death.”
Liu Zheng, Wen Yuzhao, and Xie Yingnan: “…”
It sounded indescribably unpleasant.
The four of them glanced toward the room, marveling at Jiang Bingbing’s peculiar constitution—always attracting strange and unusual things.
Fortunately, it was a close call without real danger.
Liu Zheng reported the outcome of his heart-to-heart talk with his junior sister to Immortal Lord Qingxue, who was moved to tears.
The next day.
Jiang Bingbing slept until the sun was high in the sky before waking up.
“Oh no, I’m late!”
She hastily threw on her clothes and rushed out of her room. Mei Lian flapped her wings and greeted her.
“Little Mei, why didn’t you wake me up? I won’t feed you any more spirit herbs.”
“Screech—” Mei Lian pouted and pecked Jiang Bingbing’s bottom, giving her a resentful look.
“Don’t blame Mei Lian,” Xie Yingnan said with a laugh as he entered. “Master has asked Sect Leader Zhang for three days off for you, saying you encountered a monster last night and need to rest properly.”
Oh, really?
That’s good, that’s good. She breathed a sigh of relief. As a student, she was always terrified of being late.
Who could understand?
Since she didn’t have to go to the Heavenly Virtue Hall, Jiang Bingbing relaxed, bending down to comfort the offended Mei Lian.
Xie Yingnan sauntered around lazily. “Junior Sister, I’m heading to the Spiritual Artifact Peak to buy something. Want to come along?”
Spiritual Artifact Peak?
The place where weapons and magical artifacts were made.
“Go, go, go!” Jiang Bingbing eagerly ran back to change her clothes. When she came out, she was stunned by the scene before her.
In front of her small fenced yard gate.
A one-zhang-tall blue peacock proudly shook its feathers, and even spread its tail in a full display!
“…”
Truly, the mount reflects its master.
Third Senior Brother, like a flamboyant peacock in heat, flirted with female disciples everywhere, and his mount was even more ostentatious than him.
“What are you daydreaming about?” Xie Yingnan narrowed his long, slender eyes. “Hurry up and get on!”
As he spoke, already growing impatient, he used a spell to lift Jiang Bingbing onto the peacock’s back.
Xie Yingnan wasn’t as considerate as Liu Zheng, who would have used a Wind-Stabilizing Pearl for her.
By the time Jiang Bingbing arrived at Spiritual Artifact Peak, her straight bangs had been blown upward by the wind, standing upright on her forehead like a broom.
“…”
That guy Xie Yingnan not only laughed at her but also recorded her current appearance with an Image-Retaining Pearl.
Such a black mark on her history!
“Senior Brother Xie is here!”
A female cultivator emerged from Spiritual Artifact Peak, radiant and beautiful, wearing robes that looked expensive and extraordinary.
“Huh?” She spotted Jiang Bingbing. “Is this Junior Sister Bingbing?”
“Hello, pretty Senior Sister!” Jiang Bingbing shyly wriggled.
Xie Yingnan rolled his eyes. “Little flatterer!”
The female cultivator laughed heartily, pulling a square box from her sleeve and handing it to her.
“Bingbing is so sweet. This is a little trinket Senior Sister made for you! It’s engraved with three small Ice Spike Talismans. Any food or liquid placed inside will become cool and refreshing to drink, but won’t freeze completely. It’s perfect for drinking juice or chilled watermelon on hot days!”
Whoa!
Wasn’t this a portable mini-fridge?
“Thank you, pretty Senior Sister!”
She wasn’t just flattering anyone!
It was said that Spiritual Artifact Peak was the wealthiest branch of the Sword Sect.
After all, all cultivators were willing to spend generously on their weapons and treasures.
This female cultivator was named Wang Rong Rong, the most favored disciple of the Spiritual Artifact Peak Master.
The way she looked at Third Senior Brother was shy and bashful.
She was probably smitten by that flamboyant peacock.
“Alright, just reinforce the formation array on it a bit more.” Xie Yingnan drew a soft sword from his waist, thanking her with a dazzling smile. “Thank you, Junior Sister Rong!”
“You’re too kind, Senior Brother!”
Wang Rong Rong hugged the sword and ran off.
Her little face flushed red.
Jiang Bingbing shook her head with a tsk-tsk. Another naive girl was about to be deceived!
“Little fool, what are you tsk-tsking about!” Xie Yingnan flicked her forehead with his finger. “I’m going out for a bit. Wait for me here.”
“Hmph!” She nodded, rubbing her forehead.
Who knew where this flamboyant peacock was off to flirt and stir up trouble again.
Jiang Bingbing sat in the front hall, yawning out of boredom, then went for a stroll in the garden.
Tired from walking, she sat down to rest behind a rockery.
Then she heard voices inside.
“Senior Brother, if you engrave this formation array, it will harm Junior Sister Rong.”
“If she doesn’t make a mistake, how will there be a place for us on Spiritual Artifact Peak?”
“What if this formation array causes major problems?”
“Don’t worry, Junior Sister. It will only make her commit a small mistake. It definitely won’t endanger her life.”
“Well… alright then…”
Jiang Bingbing: “…”
Had she installed some kind of Melon-Eating Radar or something?