**82 Bai Li**
At the foot of Tian Xuan Mountain, in Ziyun Inn.
Jiang Huai had checked into the best room, costing ten Spirit Stones per night. In recent years, he had indeed been spending quite extravagantly. The room was spacious and bright, with bedding made of Northern Region Snow Silkworm Silk, and the bed was especially large.
He waited for his friend to send a message, but as time passed, he found himself alone in the room, so he decided to lie down for a little rest.
It wasn’t until the Sound Transmission Spirit Jade vibrated, waking him up, that he hastily grabbed it and informed the other party of his room number. Jiang Huai then got up, and soon, there was a knocking sound at the door. He hurriedly opened it.
Standing outside was a Black Skirt Girl.
Although she was called a girl, her figure seemed even younger, her head barely reaching just below Jiang Huai’s chest. She appeared to be no more than fifteen or sixteen years old. In this world, where most women wore long hair, her silver-white hair only reached her shoulders. Before Jiang Huai could say anything, she rushed into his room, locked the door behind her, and began to twist her body.
Yes, twist.
Jiang Huai watched as white light surged around her. In an instant, the girl transformed into a half-meter long white snake. Jiang Huai felt like crying, “No way! We just met and you’re already scaring me. Do you know I’m afraid of snakes?”
“I can’t hold on any longer.” Bai Li transmitted a message directly into his mind.
Transformed into a white snake, Bai Li’s body twisted together. Although Jiang Huai’s legs felt a bit weak, he forced his gaze away and noticed a deep wound on her back that oozed blood. His brows furrowed as he quickly bent down. “Who did this to you?”
While asking, he took out his best Healing Pill and brought it to Bai Li’s mouth. She bit it down in one gulp. Despite knowing that Bai Li wouldn’t hurt him, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but retract his fingers in fear.
After consuming the pill, the white snake’s body twisted again, and with a flash of white light, she reverted back to the girl lying on the floor. Jiang Huai hurriedly picked her up and placed her on the bed. Bai Li continued to furrow her brows, her face pale.
The injury was severe, and since she had rushed here, it had aggravated the wound and required more medicine.
“I’ve applied the medicine for you.”
“Do it.” Bai Li’s voice was crisp.
“Sit up.”
Bai Li sat cross-legged on the bed. Jiang Huai unfastened her dress from behind, tossing the straps aside, and gently pulled her clothes apart. The girl’s skin was porcelain white and tender, with the injury on her back shocking to behold.
He took out the best Healing Medicine liquid and carefully poured it onto her wound. Bai Li gasped in pain, unable to suppress a quiet complaint, “Be gentle.”
“I’ve been gentle, sister. This injury is serious; it will still hurt no matter how careful I am.”
“Oh.” Bai Li answered, immediately biting her lip and falling silent.
Jiang Huai quickly applied the medicine but didn’t put her dress back properly; it was best to let the wound heal a bit more. Bai Li turned around, and he hurriedly closed his eyes. The next moment, her delicate little leg kicked against his chest.
“Pretending.”
“You wouldn’t understand; we Humans are particular about etiquette.”
“I’m from the Snake Clan.” Bai Li shot him a disdainful glance. “Open your eyes.”
“I won’t.”
“If you don’t open your eyes, when you fall asleep, I’ll transform back into my original form and crawl into your quilt, licking your face with my tongue to wake you up.”
“Dammit!” Jiang Huai opened his eyes to see the girl with her arms crossed, looking at him with clear disdain.
The main issue was her figure, which was quite petite. Although her cheeks were pretty and cute, they also looked too young, and Jiang Huai felt an inexplicable sense of guilt, even though she was a year older than him.
What she said might be true; Jiang Huai wasn’t sure, but it seemed genuine. Bai Li had a straightforward personality and usually wouldn’t lie.
Jiang Huai couldn’t help but take a glance. Despite her arms holding him tight, a small patch of her white skin was still visible. She was not tall but quite curvy.
“So how did you end up like this? Such a deep sword wound.”
“In the Fiery Demon realm, the Saint Son of the Moon Wheel Sect wanted to capture me as a pet. He was accompanied by a Fifth Level Trans cultivator who could suppress his cultivation aura to the Nascent Soul stage. Luckily, I had your sword with me, or you wouldn’t have seen me again.”
“Didn’t you report that you belong to Jiang Huai of the Tian Xuan Sect?”
“I did. I said I’m your spirit pet. They said you were trash and even wanted to steal your sword. Fortunately, I escaped and carved out a bloody path.”
“Dammit, what’s that Saint Son’s name?”
“How would I know? Next time I see him in the secret realm, I’ll chew his head off.”
“Count me in; I want to twist his head off and use it as a ball to kick around.” Jiang Huai nodded angrily, gazing at the girl sitting cross-legged on the bed. She reached out her hand to him. “Sister has no clothes to wear.”
“Alright, have you grown taller lately?”
“No, just my chest got a bit bigger. I need a bigger bra.”
“How much bigger?”
“I haven’t measured; will you measure it for me?”
“No way.”
“Hah! How have we known each other for so long and you still haven’t progressed? You have the desire but not the courage!”
“… Even if I had the courage, I’d still shrink back at the sight of your tongue.”
The two had known each other for over two years now, so Jiang Huai didn’t need to pretend to be a gentleman around her. Their interactions were easygoing, but whenever Jiang Huai saw her speak and the way her lips moved, revealing the forked pink tongue, he still felt a twinge of fear.
His fear of snakes seemed to be instinctively ingrained in his genes.
“Let me have a look,” Jiang Huai said as he opened his System Mall, checking the dresses for sale today. A black qipao caught his eye, and he purchased it, adjusting the size around the chest a bit more. He had known Bai Li’s measurements for a long time. She had once saved him from a ferocious beast and damaged her clothes in the process; he had to compensate her then. Once he discovered that she could easily conjure up different outfits, Bai Li had hit him up for many pretty dresses since.
They had first met over two years ago while he was grilling fish in a secret realm lake. Attracted by the aroma, Bai Li had approached him to ask if the fish were for sale. He had given her a fish, and their friendship had begun. Because their strengths were similar, they explored the secret realms together, mutual support ensured. Since then, they had left Sound Transmission marks with each other and frequently partnered in secret realm dungeons. Over the years, they had tackled nearly ten secret realms, completely trusting each other’s backs.
As for Jiang Huai, he had broken his sword just a few months ago while doing a sect mission. He hadn’t gone to the Fiery Demon realm that day. The situation for the demon clans in the Eastern Region was quite precarious; demons and humans usually kept to themselves. However, it was seen as prestigious for cultivators in the Eastern Region to keep a demon girl as a pet, considering those who could make it to the Eastern Region were evidently unable to remain in the Western Region, which would not intervene.
Jiang Huai retrieved the black qipao, surprised to see it also came with a pair of black sheer tights. “Well, this System can be generous at times.”
“I also want underwear.”
“Alright, alright.” Jiang Huai picked a set of black lace underwear suitable for a girl.
“Go draw me a bath. I need to wash.”
“Of course, your wish is my command.” Jiang Huai got up and filled the bath barrel with water. Bai Li then stood up, peeling off her black skirt. Her delicate white body walked directly down from the bed. Jiang Huai turned his gaze towards the ceiling, not looking.
They had known each other for over two years and had established a purely platonic relationship. Bai Li really didn’t have any thoughts in that regard, and neither did Jiang Huai.
But etiquette still mattered.
The petite girl quickly sank into the bathtub, exposing only her adorable little head. Jiang Huai sat beside the bed, keeping an eye on her while collecting the underwear she had discarded on the floor. He heard her ask, “I heard you’ve become useless?”
“Yeah, a few months ago I encountered an evil cultivator at the Nascent Divinity Stage. I slashed him into pieces with a few strikes, but he self-destructed, causing my Qi Sea to be destroyed, and I fell back to the First Level of Qi Refinement.”
“Liar. Keep lying. You cut a Nascent Divinity but couldn’t cut a Void Refinement one?”
“Believe it or not.” Jiang Huai shrugged.
“Then are you going to the Dragon Burial Valley this time?”
“Of course. After all, the worst case is just the Nascent Soul stage; there’s still hope.” Jiang Huai chuckled.
Bai Li’s expression showed no signs of pity for Jiang Huai’s wasted cultivation level, and he felt no gloom over it. Bai Li had always been so carefree, and he had long gotten used to it.
“What will you do afterward?” Bai Li looked at his face.
“Isn’t it just about finding medicinal materials in various secret realms? Once I gather them all, I can rebuild my Qi Sea and be a good fighter again.”
“What do you still need?”
“I still need Snow Lotus and Biluoteng. I have enough time to find them.” Jiang Huai got up to fetch a bath towel for Bai Li, who was lazily reclining in the bathtub, her delicate, snow-white legs moving gently. “I’ll soak a bit longer.”
“Take your time.” Jiang Huai lay back on the bed. Outside, the rain was pouring. To go to the Dragon Burial Valley, they needed to rent a spirit horse, although Bai Li’s sword-riding skills were terrible—just like his.
When Jiang Huai heard splashing sounds in the bathtub, he instinctively looked up to see Bai Li climbing out. His view was met with the sight of her snowy buttocks, and Bai Li turned her head casually, their eyes meeting.
It was a bit awkward.
“You don’t have feelings for me, do you?” Bai Li blinked innocently at him.
“Show me your tongue.”
“Ah.”
Bai Li opened her lips, and her forked pink tongue stuck out. Jiang Huai immediately felt flustered. “Alright, I definitely don’t now.”
Bai Li stepped out of the bathtub, hands on her hips, laughing gleefully.
Jiang Huai helplessly turned his face away. Once the girl had put on her underwear, he turned back. At that moment, Bai Li was carefully putting on the black sheer tights Jiang Huai had bought for her. She wore them surprisingly well and seemed to enjoy them. The ultra-thin transparent stockings glided up her slender legs delicately. After donning them, she gently pointed her toes to the ground and pulled the tights up to her waist, enveloping her long legs entirely, before starting to put on the qipao.
Once the qipao was on, Jiang Huai couldn’t help but stare at the curve between her waist and chest, the dress strained against her figure. He could not help but raise an eyebrow, “This isn’t just a little large, is it?”
“Because sister has reached the peak of the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Once I reach the Fifth Level Trans, I’ll be as tall as you.”
“Wow, a loli becoming a big sister; that sounds nice.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing, I just think long legs look great.” Jiang Huai chuckled, and Bai Li didn’t blush. She tugged at the hem of her qipao, ensuring it was perfectly in place. Then she lay down naturally beside him, letting her black-stocked legs drape over his waist, coiling around him like a snake tail. “I’m tired. Hold me for a while.”
Jiang Huai gently wrapped his arms around her waist, hearing her murmur, “If you want to touch my butt, do it now. Don’t sneakily touch me while I’m asleep and wake me up.”
“I’ve told you it’s your dream misinterpreting things; that never happened!”
“I don’t care; I say it happened, so it did.” Bai Li nestled her head against his chest, closing her eyes. Her long eyelashes fluttered slightly, and soon she fell asleep.
