The best places have been occupied already. Xue Qilin and them can only settle for second-best. With great difficulty, they found a relatively flat place near the edge of the forest where they can camp.

  “It can’t be helped, let’s stay here. This here is no man’s land. First come, first served.”


  Xia Xue sighed unhappily and kicked away weeds that wrapped around her feet.

  As she said, this place is hard to be satisfied with — as evidenced by the fact that there are no tents near the place they chose.

  What they are most dissatisfied with are the clumps of weeds randomly growing here. By walking just a little, you will get easily entangled by the stems.

  However, if you clear away the weeds, it will be fine. In fact, this isn’t hard for Xue Qilin. Therefore, under her appeasement, Xia Xue soon stopped fussing over it. After all, if they move to another place, it will be too much hassle.

  “I’ll go collect some firewood.”


  Li Wanting pointed to the forest just a few steps away and volunteered. She has always been diligent, so it’s natural that she would be the first one to offer to do some work.

  “Oh, then we’ll leave it to you, Senior Disciple Sister Li.”


  Xia Xue answered quickly.

  Judging by the lack of hesitation in her voice, rather than saying that she expected as much, it is more appropriate to say that she is happy that someone volunteered to do the work she doesn’t want to do.

  Thinking this, Xue Qilin cast Xia Xue a queer look, and then turned to Li Wanting.

  “Little Ting, why don’t we have Little Phecda go?”


  Suddenly remembering Phecda, who either sleeps or strolls around all day long; even if she does leave the temple, she just stays on other people’s bodies, not even willing to walk herself, Xue Qilin became a little mad.

  There’s no one more idle than her! Feeling indignant regarding this and having planed to arrange some work for Phecda to do anyway, she proposed for her to replace Li Wanting.

  “Oh, I don’t want to! Qilin, how could you let me go? The forest is very dangerous at night! What if I get lost or caught by some bad guys?”


  Phecda protested.

  Probably afraid that Xue Qilin would catch her, she held onto Xue Qilin’s buns and even inserted her front claws inside, displaying an “I’m staying here, I won’t go” attitude.

  Xue Qilin grabbed her tail and pulled. She discovered that if he really pulls her down, her hair will be messed up. Although she secretly clenched her pearl white teeth from anger, but in order to avoid the trouble of doing he hair again, she could only drop it.

  “Can’t bear this! Xue Qilin, even if Phecda really wanted to go, you would let her go?”


  Faced with Xia Xue’s question tinged with helplessness, Xue Qilin made a sound of doubt and asked back why she is asking this.

  “Humph!”


  Xia Xue snorted. Instead of answering Xue Qilin’s question, she smiled at Phecda and threw her a question, “Phecda, I bought sanshoku dango on the way. Do you want to eat?”


  When did she buy them? Xue Qilin was surprised.

  “I want! Older Sister Xia, you have sanshoku dango?

  As Phecda answered, a drop of saliva swept past in front of Xue Qilin’s eyes.

  “Hey, Little Phecda! Will you stop drooling on my head?”


  Xue Qilin immediately protested and yanked Phecda’s tail. But Phecda didn’t budge, as if a mountain. Who knows if her butt isn’t glued to her head.

  While ignoring the fight between the human and the cat, Xia Xue’s smile inexplicably became profound.

  “If I give you dango and ask you to hit Xue Qilin, will you do it?”


  “Eh, that’s not really okay……”


  Phecda hesitated, looking like she’s in a dilemma.

  “Hey, Little Phecda, why do you appear hesitant? You should refuse — ah!”


  Xue Qilin’s voice stopped abruptly after an exclamation.

  Phecda suddenly slapped her forehead. Thereupon, she assumed a stunned expression as if she received a great blow. She didn’t expect that Phecda would betray her because she couldn’t resist the temptation of sanshoku dango.

  Likely because she was afraid that Xue Qilin would quibble with her, Phecda jumped down from Xue Qilin’s head.

  All of a sudden, a strong wind blew around Phecda, lifting Xue Qilin’s two ponytails like ribbons.

  “Little Phecda, you’re so infuriating — gurk!”


  Strong wind poured into Xue Qilin’s mouth, blocking it.

  At this time, Phecda radiates dazzling light, and her outline began to change, rapidly changing into the form of a lass.

  After the light dispersed, Phecda appeared as a lass. Skin as fair as snow, cheeks tinged with pink, irises the color of jadeite, pale blond hair, lips replete with bright red, they set off each other and make her more charming.

  She looks like a lovely lass from the Western Regions — if only she wasn’t just 6 cun [1] tall.

  In order to save spiritual qi, Xue Qilin doesn’t allow her to transform into a creature the size of a normal human, let alone the dragon form. Therefore, she assumes the form of a black cat most of the time. But occasionally she will use the pocket-sized lass form like right now.

  Due to this, Xia Xue and Li Wanting weren’t startled by her transformation. They’ve become inured to the unusual.

  “You’re maddening, maddening! People will be scared if they see you like this!”


  Xue Qilin immediately extended her hand in an attempt to catch the pocket-sized lass floating in the air.

  Scared by the other party’s action, Phecda screamed, flew to Xia Xue, and cried for help, feeling wronged, “Older Sister Xia, Qilin wants to bully me!”


  Xia Xue smiled, hugged Phecda who flew into her arms to take refuge, and gently stroked her head. Phecda withdrew her head and peeped furtively at Xue Qilin, who is glaring at her.

  “Phecda, don’t be afraid. She won’t do anything to you.” Xia Xue calmly comforted Phecda.

  Phecda made a weak “oh” sound, and then showed an expression of expectation.

  “Hey, Older Sister Xia, what about the dango?”


  With her head below Xia Xue’s ample bosom, the pocket-sized lass raised her head to look at the other party.

  As long as she stays in Xia Xue’s arms like this, she won’t be able to see her face. Xue Qilin, who momentarily doesn’t know whether to laugh or cry, forgot all about Phecda’s betrayal.

  “Phecda, well done. I’ll buy you dango later.”


  Xia Xue cast a gaze brimming with derision and tinged with schadenfreude upon Xue Qilin and said so leisurely.

  “Eh, didn’t Older Sister Xia just say she already bought them?”


  Faced with Phecda’s question, Xia Xue smiled silently. Judging by the pleased arc on her lips, it clearly shows that she just succeeded in her treacherous scheme.

  “Damn it!”


  She captured the white wolf empty handed [2]! While making grating sounds, Xue Qilin ground her teeth and stamped her feet. Xia Xue cast her a standoffish “what can you do about it” look.

  [1] – 1 cun = 3,33 cm / 1.31 inches

  [2] – captured the white wolf empty handed is a Chinese idiom that means to gain something without putting in any investment