Chapter Fifteen: Xiao Bai’s New Friend

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Time flows gently, and within the formation barrier of the Return Ruins Cottage—seemingly forgotten by time—three years have quietly passed.

For the mortal world, three years are enough to turn oceans into mulberry fields, to see a newborn infant grow into a youth pursuing knowledge. But for the Jiang sisters, wrapped in dense spiritual energy, these three years marked a profound transformation.

The elder sister, Jiang Yiyi, inherited her father Jiang Xiuyuan’s innate calmness. Her appearance was refined and elegant, like a secluded orchid in a quiet valley—gentle and untainted by worldly dust. She disliked strife and worldly distractions; her greatest pleasure was tending to the medicinal garden her father had cultivated.

Over these three years, under her careful care, the garden had changed greatly. Each spiritual plant was arranged according to the Five Elements and growth habits, orderly and graceful, forming miniature spirit-gathering arrays that complemented each other, brimming with vitality. She also enjoyed using the plants’ flowers and leaves to decorate every corner of the cave dwelling, filling the cold stone abode with warmth and grace. To her, this small world was her entire universe—peaceful and content.

Her younger sister, Jiang Xiaobai, was entirely different. Her brows and eyes lacked her sister’s tranquility but shimmered with liveliness and unpredictability. Her bright eyes always sparkled with endless curiosity for the outside world. Her personality was cheerful and spirited, like a flame that never extinguished, bringing boundless energy to the serene Return Ruins Cottage.

Unlike her sister, who could sit quietly all day tending plants, she preferred clinging to their father, listening to stories about unseen mountains, rivers, and strange tales. Countless times, she stood at the edge of the formation, tiptoed, and strained to gaze at the real mountain forest shrouded in mist outside, imagining what wonders lay beyond.

Jiang Xiuyuan looked at his two daughters—so different yet both sources of pride—and felt the deep satisfaction and joy of a father. He knew he could not confine Xiaobai forever within this small space; it would stifle her nature.

As his daughters’ cultivation had both stabilized in the late Nascent Soul stage, granting what he deemed “self-preserving power,” Jiang Xiuyuan finally eased some restrictions. He designated a completely safe activity zone for Jiang Xiaobai—within ten miles centered on the Return Ruins Cottage. Though outside the main protective formation, this area remained under several alert and defense sub-arrays he had set up. Should any danger beyond the Qi Refining stage approach, he could detect and intervene immediately.

With her father’s permission, Jiang Xiaobai was overjoyed, like a lark finally freed from its cage.

One day, the sky was clear, the air gentle and mild.

Jiang Xiaobai skipped through the forest as usual, chasing colorful spirit butterflies, listening to the rustling bamboo in the wind, picking unknown wild fruits, and experiencing a vividness and reality that books and her father’s tales had never conveyed.

Suddenly, a faint and agonizing whimper drifted to her ears on the breeze.

The sound was filled with helplessness and fear, like a wounded little beast.

“Huh? What’s that?” Jiang Xiaobai stopped, listening carefully.

The intermittent whimpers tugged at her kind heart. She followed the sound’s direction, cautiously parting bushes and venturing deeper into the woods.

Behind a dense clump of grass, she found the source.

It was a peculiar young leopard about half a meter long, covered in silvery-gray fur with blue markings. Its sleek, graceful body and long limbs, even curled on the ground, revealed its extraordinary nature. Most remarkable were the faint blue currents of wind-aligned spiritual energy swirling around it.

“Wind-Chasing Leopard!” Jiang Xiaobai’s mind flashed with memories of the “Compendium of Ten Thousand Beasts” her father once taught her.

The Wind-Chasing Leopard was an extremely rare wind-attribute spirit beast, able to ride the wind with incredible speed upon reaching maturity—a coveted mount and companion for cultivators.

At this moment, the precious cub lay in agony. One of its hind legs was clamped in a metallic trap gleaming with a golden sheen. Runes designed to suppress spiritual power were engraved on the device, preventing escape. Sharp serrated teeth had deeply embedded into flesh, blood staining the surrounding grass vividly.

Seeing this cruel scene, Jiang Xiaobai’s heart clenched tightly. She could feel the cub’s eyes filled with pain, fear, and wary life instinct.

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. I’m not here to harm you—I’m here to save you.” Jiang Xiaobai lowered herself, soothing the creature with the gentlest voice she could muster.

Slowly, she reached out her hand.

The cub sensed her approach, struggled to retreat, growling threateningly, but the pain in its wound turned the growl into a pained whimper.

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Jiang Xiaobai stopped, her clear eyes full of compassion and sincerity. She did not force her approach but took a jade bottle from her storage pouch and poured out a healing pill her father had crafted. She placed the pill on a clean leaf and gently pushed it toward the cub.

“Eat this, your wound will heal better.”

The pill emitted a pure, mild medicinal fragrance, free of any fire or impurities. This scent seemed to calm the cub’s restless spirit somewhat. It eyed Jiang Xiaobai warily, then sniffed the pill. Finally, survival instinct overcame fear, and it licked the pill into its mouth.

The pill dissolved instantly, releasing a gentle healing power that swiftly flowed into its wound. The intense pain eased greatly, and the cub’s alertness faded considerably.

Seeing this, Jiang Xiaobai’s heart lifted. She tried approaching again. This time, the cub did not growl.

Carefully, Jiang Xiaobai examined the trap and found its structure intricate, the runes complex.

“Wait here—I’ll go get Dad to help! He’ll know what to do!”

She spoke to the cub before dashing swiftly back to the Return Ruins Cottage.

Soon, Jiang Xiuyuan followed her to the scene. Upon seeing the Wind-Chasing Leopard cub and the trap, his brow furrowed slightly.

“This is a ‘Spirit Lock Trap’,” he recognized it instantly. “Specifically designed to capture spirit beasts—once clamped, it suppresses their spiritual power. Quite a professional technique.”

Without further words, he flicked his finger. A beam of spiritual light struck a hidden node on the trap precisely. With a faint click, the seemingly solid trap snapped open.

The cub’s hind leg was finally freed, but the deep, bone-exposing wound remained shocking.

“Dad!” Jiang Xiaobai looked at her father with hopeful eyes.

Jiang Xiuyuan smiled faintly, a soft greenish-blue light blooming in his palm—purest Wood-element spiritual energy. He hovered his hand above the cub’s wound as the energy seeped in like spring rain.

Nourished by the Wood energy, the wound’s flesh visibly writhed and healed. Within the time it takes incense to burn, the gruesome gash crusted over and fell away, leaving fresh, tender pink skin.

The cub tentatively stood. Though still limping slightly, it was no longer in serious danger. It approached Jiang Xiaobai’s feet, nuzzling her pants affectionately, emitting satisfied “purrs” to express gratitude.

“It’s so adorable!” Jiang Xiaobai happily squatted, gently stroking the cub’s sleek fur.

“Bring it back to the cave dwelling to rest for a few days,” Jiang Xiuyuan said kindly, seeing his daughter’s joy.

Thus, the cub named “Wind-Chasing” became the first “guest” of the Return Ruins Cottage. Under Jiang Xiaobai’s attentive care, it quickly regained vitality, following her everywhere, inseparable, filling the quiet cave with laughter and cheer.

However, this peace did not last long.

Three days later, the Return Ruins Cottage’s alert formation detected a slight disturbance.

Jiang Xiuyuan scanned with his divine sense and found several figures lingering at the formation’s edge, seemingly tracking something. Leading them was a middle-aged cultivator in the Mid Foundation Establishment stage, his expression anxious.

“Looks like the owner has come looking,” Jiang Xiuyuan understood.

He did not appear but sent a message through sound transmission to Chen Laodao, who was visiting the town’s garrison mansion.

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Before long, Chen Laodao arrived outside the Return Ruins Cottage, accompanied by several cultivators.

“Senior Chen, our family’s tracking technique shows that the young master’s contracted beast ‘Wind-Chasing’ last disappeared in this area,” said Lin De, a Mid Foundation Establishment steward of the Lin family, the garrison town’s most powerful cultivator clan besides the official garrison, with a reputation for beast-taming techniques and every family member bonded to a contracted beast.

This missing Wind-Chasing Leopard was the contracted beast of their prodigy Lin Zi’ang, who lost it during a field trial while diverting a powerful demon beast to protect the young master.

In recent days, the Lin family had scoured the area around the town, desperate to find the cub to explain to their young master.

Chen Laodao cleared his throat and loudly addressed the mist ahead: “Venerable gentleman, the Lin family cultivators have come seeking their beast here. May I ask if we have disturbed you?”

After a moment, the mist slowly parted on both sides, revealing a path to the cave. Jiang Xiaobai emerged, holding the now fully recovered cub, reluctant to part with it.

When Lin De and the others saw the lively, spirited cub in her arms, they were first stunned, then overjoyed.

“Wind-Chasing! It’s really Wind-Chasing!” Lin De exclaimed excitedly.

The cub recognized Lin De as clan kin, affectionately calling out twice, but still clung to Jiang Xiaobai.

Lin De hurried forward. Seeing the fresh new flesh on the cub’s hind leg, his eyes widened sharply. Having witnessed the ‘Spirit Lock Trap’s’ power, he knew such wounds usually left lasting disability, if the beast survived at all. Yet this cub appeared untouched by injury!

He immediately realized that the young lady before him, and her powerful companion behind her, had saved the cub.

“Thank you, fairy, for saving its life!” Lin De bowed deeply to Jiang Xiaobai, sincere and respectful. “I am Lin De, steward of the Lin family. May I ask your honorable name? The entire Lin family is deeply grateful to you and your senior!”

Jiang Xiaobai, embarrassed by the grand gesture, softly said while holding the cub, “My name is Jiang Xiaobai. It was pitiful; I only did what I should.”

The simple exchange and her clear gaze won the Lin family’s warm goodwill toward this mysterious girl.

They presented a heavy reward to thank her, but Jiang Xiuyuan declined through Chen Laodao, saying, “A mere trifle, nothing worthy of mention. The young master risked danger to protect his lord, and his beast is loyal. Saving it was only natural.”

These words earned even greater respect from the Lin family.

Finally, Jiang Xiaobai reluctantly returned the Wind-Chasing Leopard to the Lin family. The cub glanced back repeatedly, eyes full of reluctance.

Afterward, the Lin family regarded the “Return Ruins Recluse” family as their highest benefactors and friends. Though unaware of the recluse’s true identity, they often sent mountain specialties and spirit beast tales to the garrison mansion, forwarded by Chen Laodao, maintaining this bond of goodwill.

Thus, the Return Ruins Cottage established a friendly relationship with the first cultivator clan in the garrison town.

And Jiang Xiaobai, through this experience, developed a faint interest in the path of beast-taming.