Chapter 5: The Cat Doesn't Know
This was Yue Ji's third kick at Jiang Li today.
Prepared, Jiang Li caught her ankle, gently massaging her delicate foot. His massage skills were top-notch—after all, his talents for charming women were fully mastered.
In the martial world, the more skills, the better.
Yue Ji's ankles were her most sensitive spot, something Jiang Li had known for years. She didn't mind his touch; in fact, it worked like a charm on her.
Her eyes grew slightly hazy as she watched him focus, head lowered. She opened her mouth but stayed silent, choosing restraint.
"Lately, Blazing Fire Spirit Beads are getting harder to source. We might need to procure Blazing Fire Spirit Herbs from outer domains soon, and prices will double."
Jiang Li glanced up. "Got it."
"Your Praying Moon Pavilion earnings should cover her cultivation for another half-year. No need to worry," Yue Ji said softly, referring to their mutual friend.
At six, Jiang Li was brought to Xuantian Daoji Sect alongside that friend. Living in the same courtyard, their shared hardship bonded them. Jiang Li claimed her as a sister, vowing lifelong protection.
But after her spiritual vein test at six, she was found to have a rare Extreme Yin Mysterious Vein. It should've been a boon, but her poor talent for absorbing spiritual energy made it near useless, relegating her to the outer sect.
Extreme Yin Mysterious Vein cultivation was bearable if slow, but without external aids, it was agonizing. For years, Jiang Li sought Blazing Fire Spirit Beads to ease her pain. These Earth-tier treasures, mined in mere thousands per vein, were exorbitantly rare.
He'd spent countless spirit stones on her—his main reason for being broke.
Her name, Jiang Jinbie, was one he'd given her.
With Blazing Fire Spirit Beads rising in price, even his stockpile would last only half a year. Jiang Li sighed softly.
"Jinbie's been wanting to see you lately."
"Too busy. No time."
"Busy, or scared?" Yue Ji sneered. "You keep her in the outer sect so she won't hear about your inner sect flirting. Think that news won't reach her someday?"
"So what? I've never mistreated her."
"You don't mistreat her—you're too good to her."
"Enough. I don't need a lecture." Jiang Li showed rare irritation, and Yue Ji just glared, falling silent.
They exchanged a look, wordless, until a knock came. A Praying Moon Pavilion maid delivered the spirit sword.
Jiang Li eyed the rusty blade, glancing at Yue Ji. "This is really sixth-grade?"
"Try it and see," Yue Ji teased, retracting her foot. She'd kept her legs tightly closed, signaling no more massages. Arms crossed, legs folded, she watched him playfully.
Sadly, Jiang Li missed the anticipation in her eyes, pocketing the sword. "As long as it works, doesn't matter."
"Your cultivation hasn't budged in a year. Not afraid you'll get kicked to the outer sect at the Hidden Sword Peak competition?"
"If I'm sent to the outer sect, I'll keep Jinbie company. Then climb back up."
"Not for inner sect resources, but for your inner sect sweethearts, right?"
"You get me." Sword in hand, Jiang Li stood to leave.
Yue Ji watched him reach the door, her lips parting. "It's been ages, and you won't stay to chat?"
"Didn't you want me gone?"
"When did I say that?"
"You didn't pour me tea."
"Didn't I feed you tea earlier?" she quipped, referring to splashing it on his face.
"Fine, fine. But I've got stuff to do, and you're busy. Next time."
"Who said I'm—"
Her words cut off as he opened the door. He glanced back; she fell silent. After a pause, she gave him a cold look. "Your sister's busy. Scram."
"Take care, don't overwork."
"Scram!"
She hurled a porcelain cup at him. Jiang Li caught it deftly, setting it aside. "I'm really going?"
Yue Ji ignored him, so he walked out.
Yue Ji stared at the empty doorway for a long time. Subtly, she wiped tears from her eyes with the back of her hand, muttering curses at the jerk.
After ranting for nearly an incense stick's time, she felt better. Moments later, she hissed "liar" under her breath.
When she'd thrown that cup, she'd used her full cultivation and a Heavenly Mechanism Sect hidden weapon technique. Yet he caught it effortlessly, the cup intact, his expression unchanged.
As she'd suspected.
Jiang Li flew back to Hidden Sword Peak.
He'd used a scrap iron sword before; now, with a new one, the old could be tossed.
A cultivator's life was monotonous—sword practice, absorbing spiritual energy, and contemplating the dao, cycling endlessly. Monthly sect missions earned contribution points for resources.
He'd completed his mission early, leaving the month free. Next was meeting Bai Sheng in three days. Until then, he'd practice swordplay, draw talismans, and sketch arrays to boost proficiency. It's how he'd spent idle years.
He'd never truly slacked. Everyone thought he did, but he was secretly diligent.
Why wait three days to see Bai Sheng?
With cautious girls, acting too eager was a fatal flaw. Jiang Li knew that well.
He wondered… was Big White working hard?
He couldn't help but ponder, knowing that lazy, chubby cat.
In Bai Sheng's courtyard.
As Extreme Sword Mountain's fifth-ranked female cultivator, Bai Sheng had her own spacious, spotless courtyard. Big White lounged in her arms, basking in the sun.
She didn't dare let it roam, fearing her misfortune might affect it.
Whether the Calamity Dao Body brought bad luck was unproven, but Bai Sheng's life was undeniably unlucky. She didn't know her father. Her mother, pregnant after a sect mission, never revealed who he was, no matter who asked.
At eight, her mother joined sect elders to hunt evil cultivators. Only she died, poisoned by their foe.
Her mother's dying wish was to be buried in Extreme Sword Mountain's peach blossom grove, so Bai Sheng often lingered there, regardless of season.
As a former elder, her mother ensured the sect treated Bai Sheng kindly. Yet peers whispered that her bad luck caused her mother's death—why else did only she perish?
Rumors spread, belief grew, and Bai Sheng wondered: without her Calamity Dao Body, would her mother still live?
No answer existed.
She'd been alone most of her life, instinctively rejecting closeness to avoid cursing others. Only Mu Bingning broke through, becoming her sole friend.
Mu Bingning scoffed at bad luck, proving through action that friendship with Bai Sheng brought no harm. Bai Sheng was deeply grateful.
But she recalled Mu Bingning's intense dislike for Jiang Li.
Yet here she was, holding his cat, curled in her arms, lazily sunbathing. No matter how she petted it, it stayed docile—utterly adorable.
She'd prepared heaps of fresh fish, explaining Big White's chubbiness. It ate tons but was so well-behaved. Last night, it climbed onto her bed, snuggling into her arms to sleep.
If only she were free of bad luck, she'd love a cat like Big White, quietly listening to her ramble.
"Big White… why did Senior Brother Jiang Li name you that?"
Big White meowed, clueless.
"Oh, you're a girl!" Bai Sheng noticed, surprised. Big White meowed again—roughly, "Yup, yup."
"Big White, what kind of person is Senior Brother Jiang Li?"
Big White licked its paw lazily, silent.
"I heard from Sister Bingning he's tangled with lots of sisters, toying with their hearts…"
"But other sisters say he's kind, gentle to everyone…"
"Big White, what's he really like?" Bai Sheng stroked its back. Big White meowed softly, unable to answer.
Cats only lick paws—they know nothing.