Chapter 24: No Fierce Tigers in the Mountains (Part 3): A Light Tap of the Toes on the Shoulder Part 2

The unused petal was tossed into the pit. Mu Qian Tan glanced at her. “If there’s danger, you gonna handle it? Not every time do you get three chances to fumble your way through.”

Shang Shan pondered seriously, then said, “Then can I ask Master to protect me? I’m scared there might be more gorillas on the mountain.”

Rustling sounds came from underfoot. Mu Qian Tan looked down to see a pile of snowy white fluffballs crowding her feet, offering her carrots, purple cabbages, and big white radishes. More small animals cheered and hopped on the outer edge, approaching cautiously. Claw Claw clutched food, seemingly wanting to give it to her.

Mu Qian Tan looked away and said coldly, “Scared now, huh? Won’t cry till you see the coffin.”

She strode away from the spot, toward a small path in the woods. “Follow.”

Shang Shan said, “Okay!”

She walked up the mountain path. The evening breeze was still the same evening breeze, the night the same night, but Shang Shan felt much more relaxed. She spun the mask in her hand and looked up at the tall, slender figure walking ahead. The moonlight stretched her shadow very long, long enough to envelop Shang Shan, and even longer down to her feet.

Her heart filled with an inexplicable joy that seemed ready to overflow. She wanted to shout and cheer, but that would definitely earn her disdain, so she held back. She focused solely on that back view, but as she watched, she noticed some problems.

She tilted her head and leaned sideways until her head nearly touched the ground. The Weasel said, “What is the Great King doing?”

Shang Shan said, “My master’s feet seem…”

If she wasn’t mistaken, the woman walked on the stone steps with a slight hesitation in each step, as if uncomfortable. But the feeling was so subtle that Shang Shan wasn’t entirely sure.

She decided to ask later.

After walking for nearly an hour, they finally reached the mountaintop. The wind grew a bit fiercer, and the starry sky stretched out unobstructed, vast and boundless.

The place resembled the foot of the mountain with its dense forests, but the leaves appeared even greener. Shrubs interspersed with tiny flowers, and an enticing fragrance wafted from the woods, drawing people in.

Stepping over tree roots and pushing aside thick leaves toward the source of the scent, the aroma grew stronger until a spring came into view. Pale pebbles clustered around the spring eye. Clear spring water bubbled out, flowed over the smooth stones, seeped into the soil, and nourished countless lives.

The fragrance was so alluring that Shang Shan couldn’t resist scooping up some water to drink. She exclaimed in delight. While bending down, she spotted an unusual pebble by the spring eye, emitting faint wisps of light.

She reached out and picked up the stone. The light spots shattered instantly, and the heavens and earth shook. The animals looked up at the sky. The Weasel twitched her nose and said, “The formation is broken.”

“Hm?” Shang Shan toyed with the stone. “Just like that?”

“Just like that!” The Weasel stripped off her gold and jade ornaments, then laughed heartily as she rolled on the muddy ground. “Exactly like that, exactly like that!!!”

With her shout, all the animals began jumping and cheering. The curse and prison that had bound them overhead for years had shattered. From then on, the distant horizon was no longer out of reach. Their feet could tread every inch of soil or plunge into larger, freer, more dangerous worlds.

Shang Shan tossed the stone aside and plunged into the water with a splash. She sank down, landed among the pebbles, and blended in seamlessly.

“See, you still have to give it a try,” she said as she patted her hands and raised her chin. “Sometimes things that seem really difficult aren’t actually that hard to do.”

Mu Qian Tan found a large rock to lean against and sit down. “Count yourself lucky.”

Shang Shan said, “I don’t think one failure means total failure. I think it’s all about that first burst of energy, the second makes you stronger, and the third guarantees victory!”

Mu Qian Tan glanced at her. “Digging up graves and mangling quotes—the ancients would be pissed off at you.”

Shang Shan startled and quickly knelt to bow toward the spring. “I didn’t mean to…”

After bowing, she sat down smoothly, propped her hands behind her on the ground, and swung her feet toward the woman. “Are your feet okay?”

Mu Qian Tan’s gaze slid downward. She said speechlessly, “You’re limping around on a sprained ankle, and you’re asking about my feet.”

She had clearly been limping badly with plenty of injuries before leaving, but upon her return, she was leaping about and had kicked the Big Gorilla into a pit. There wasn’t a single sign of it—not for nothing was this the most energetic and resilient age.

“That time, I saw the Big Gorilla charging at you. I was scared to death and couldn’t feel the pain anymore…” But now the pain crept in gradually. Shang Shan belatedly remembered her sprained ankle and hugged it while grimacing. “But mine will heal soon. Yours, though, doesn’t seem like it.”

Mu Qian Tan’s tone cooled. “I’m no good at it. How could I compare to you?”

Shang Shan waved her hands. “I didn’t mean it like that! Why do you always twist my words? I just meant the Weasel knows herbs. I can have her get some for you.”

“No need. I have some.”

The injury on her foot did need tending. Tomorrow’s messenger run would involve more mountain climbing, and letting it fester would be trouble.

Mu Qian Tan settled on the slanted large stone, lifted her foot to rest it nearby on the ground below, and used one hand to lift her skirt. She draped the layers of cool, smooth fabric over her arm bend. With her other hand, she slowly removed her boot and sock, then pulled up the inner lining.

Lowering her gaze, she saw smooth, even, slender lines from calf to heel. Her skin, rarely exposed to sunlight, gleamed pale as jade. The meridians at her ankle were thin, and the protruding bone was small and lustrous. Tilting her head to check behind the ankle, she confirmed the skin was indeed rubbed raw—spots of blood dotted the white sock.

She didn’t understand why these boots chafed her, but she was used to ill-fitting shoes anyway. She lowered her long lashes and skillfully applied the medicine.

She finished one side, then removed and treated the other. Once done, Mu Qian Tan dropped her skirt, smoothed it out, and placed her foot on a small stone to let the medicine take effect.

The girl across from her stayed silent for a long while before stammering, “That… you can handle that one, but the one on your shoulder…”

Mu Qian Tan pressed the Small Porcelain Bottle against the back of her finger and flicked it flying, hitting the girl right on the forehead. “You have the nerve to bring that up?”

Truth be told, on any normal day, she’d have yanked out this Brain-Damaged Dragon’s teeth for biting her like that. But after everything that had happened today—beating, scolding, lecturing—she had no energy left to vent. It actually made her seem more even-tempered.

The Small Porcelain Bottle hit and bounced back. Shang Shan rubbed her forehead. “That… wasn’t on purpose. Sorry… But you always lie to me. Won’t you apologize?”

Mu Qian Tan said, “I’ll apologize in your dreams.”

“And…” Shang Shan racked her brain. “You said what right I had to fuss with you. Of course I do—I’m your disciple now, your only disciple. And you’re the first master I’ve ever had in my life.”

Mu Qian Tan said nothing. Shang Shan pressed on. “And also, about what you said tonight, I figured out what’s different. I think hunting is instinct, survival is instinct, but cruelty isn’t. The Big Gorilla gained spiritual awareness but no humanity.”

“Mm… and…”

Mu Qian Tan cut her off. “You have to rebut every single thing I say. Great memory you’ve got for a time like this.”

Shang Shan dropped her hand. “Then I won’t rebut you.”

After thinking, she added, “I still have to say sorry for biting you. If you’re still mad, you can bite me back.”

Mu Qian Tan glanced at her. “Skin thicker than a city wall. I’m afraid I’d break my teeth.”

Shang Shan squatted down, rubbed her cheeks, and hopped over to the woman like a frog. “It’s not thick.”

“Scram.”

Mu Qian Tan kicked out habitually, then realized midway that she wasn’t wearing shoes. She pulled back the force, turning the kick into a light tap of her toes on the girl’s shoulder.

That touch was lighter than any injury Shang Shan had ever endured, yet it shook her to the core. Her mind blanked, and she froze in place.

Feeling the medicine starting to work, Mu Qian Tan slipped her boots and socks back on. She noticed the girl staring and frowned. “Did your eyeballs grow on me or something?”

Truthfully, those big, bright eyes made this Brain-Damaged Dragon’s gaze always seem pure and untainted. No one would suspect bad intentions.

But perhaps influenced by the original story’s ending, Mu Qian Tan always felt like she was being eyed by a predatory beast. Eye contact lessened the feeling a bit, but it still made her uncomfortable.

“No…” Shang Shan protested softly. She rubbed her shoulder. Her neck felt rusty as she struggled to turn her head aside.

A streak of red suddenly entered her view. She reacted and pinched it out of her hair. “Right, what do you want this snake for?”

Mu Qian Tan said, “No use for it right now. Keep it with you for the time being.”

Shang Shan said, “Okay. Then I’ll tie up my hair with it.”

Mu Qian Tan said, “…Do whatever.”

The Red Satin wound back into the girl’s hair, circled once, and settled at her forehead. It coiled up a small lock of black hair, wound it a few times, yawned, and fell asleep.

From afar, it looked like Shang Shan had tied a thin strand of hair to the side of her face with a red ribbon.

Mu Qian Tan thought to herself: Bloodline suppression is real. This ill-tempered beast was actually being so docile.

Birdsong suddenly sounded from the horizon. Unknowingly, the night had passed, and dawn was approaching.

They would set off for the next stop once it fully brightened. Mu Qian Tan made use of the remaining time to rub her calves, relax her body, and rest her mind.

Reflecting on the dangers from moments ago, she critiqued herself in her heart. She lacked a clear battle awareness, and her use of spiritual power was far from proficient.

In the end, it was her mortal mindset. She had merely grasped power but hadn’t grown accustomed to wielding it. What she possessed now differed vastly from her life over the past twenty-seven years.

The victory at Prosperous Joy Workshop might have been pure luck. When facing truly powerful opponents that required direct confrontation, she might struggle or even suffer severe injuries. And the Big Gorilla was nothing—stronger enemies lay ahead.

Lately, whenever she had free time, she extracted segments of the Female Protagonist’s cultivation from the original story and adapted them for herself. But fundamentally, her physical condition differed greatly from the Female Protagonist’s. What suited the Female Protagonist didn’t necessarily suit her.

She still needed to find opportunities to practice and grow stronger.

Li Biyuan picked up on her thoughts. ‘After this next plot point passes, doesn’t the Cat Dragon have a trial arc? You can go in with her then, but change your identity. Can’t go as her master.’

In a short while, the sect would hold a trial exam for the younger generation. The Female Protagonist endured much grinding there and made great progress. Since it targeted mostly beginners, it would be perfect for Mu Qian Tan to sneak in and practice.

After a moment of silence, Mu Qian Tan said, ‘We’ll talk about it when the time comes.’

Dawn gradually broke. Mist filled the forest, and the temperature dropped.

“Let’s go.” Mu Qian Tan came down from the large rock and followed the path back down the mountain.

Shang Shan hurried to catch up. After a few steps, she looked back and saw countless hazy figures in the mist—on trees, on the ground, everywhere—as if seeing them off.

Shang Shan waved her hand and called out, “Goodbye!”

Her shout echoed through the serene mountain valley. The shadows waved back before vanishing into the mist.

They were probably all heading to faraway places.

Shang Shan silently withdrew her hand, stood there watching for a bit, then turned to continue down the mountain.

She hadn’t properly treated her sprain, so it had probably swollen by now. She limped along, trying to keep up with the woman ahead, but the distance only widened. Unable to help herself, she called out, “Master, wait for me!”

The woman’s voice drifted back, ethereal and real. “Useless thing.”

Shang Shan said, “I sprained my ankle.”

The ice-blue back continued receding. Shang Shan called after her repeatedly, “Master! Master! Master!”

She called tirelessly. The person didn’t stop, and her foot still hurt, but Shang Shan smiled radiantly, as if shouting those two words filled something in her heart.

“Good master! Wait for me!”

As the first ray of sunlight pierced the mist, Mu Qian Tan looked toward the horizon. The vast forest gradually awoke. The mist floated like a sea between the mountains, gradually gilded with a thin layer of gold by the daylight.

The scenery was truly beautiful. She suddenly felt it would be a shame not to savor it.

Thus, she slowed her steps.

————————