Chapter Twenty-Five: She Had Never Been So Disgraced!

However, the giant eagle seemed to understand her intentions. It swiftly swooped over her head, blocking her way. Shen Qingli was just about to dive into the cave, head lowered, bracing herself as she dashed for the entrance. Yet in the next instant, she slammed into something soft.

The impact bounced her back several steps, sending her sprawling onto the ground.

"Host! Get down!"

The system’s urgent prompt echoed in her mind. Shen Qingli had no time to nurse her bruised backside; she immediately flattened herself against the earth.

Still, the acrid smell of burning hair reached her nostrils. She stared wide-eyed at her singed hair ends, silently exclaiming, Good heavens! If she hadn't thrown herself down in time, that fire would have left her bald and blistered!

The giant eagle blocked the cave entrance, head reared, preparing to breathe fire again. Shen Qingli shuddered, scrambling up and darting into the forest to confuse the eagle’s line of sight.

"Cai Cai, don't you have anything to deal with this thing?"

She grit her teeth, growling in a low voice, and the system’s unhurried reply sounded in her mind.

"There is, but you don’t have enough points, Host. The weapon for the giant eagle is Guanyin Water, and it costs one thousand Face-Slapping Points."

Shen Qingli rolled her eyes in exasperation at that.

"Then find us a way out of here."

She scanned the surroundings, but all around were thickets—no path in sight.

Suddenly, a cold wind whipped straight at her. Without hesitation, she instinctively ducked. To her shock, the tree behind her crashed to the side.

"Host..."

Even the system shivered, never having expected the giant eagle to be so formidable.

Shen Qingli peeked out from behind the half-destroyed tree stump, only to lock eyes with the eagle’s razor-sharp gaze.

"Brother Eagle, let’s talk about this... Ah!"

Before she could finish, the giant eagle spat another tongue of flame at her. Shen Qingli dropped flat and dashed headlong into the tangled grass for cover.

The giant eagle shrieked and immediately gave chase.

"Left... right... left... jump!"

Shen Qingli scrambled as the system directed her, barely watching her step. Only when she leapt did she realize she was over a waterfall.

"Cai Cai, I’m going to kill you!"

She howled, tumbling down with the rushing water. Just as she thought her end had come, a faint glow shimmered around her, cushioning her fall and lessening the water’s impact.

Still, she choked on a mouthful and scrambled ashore, soaked through, flopping down to catch her breath.

"Heavens... I nearly drowned."

She swore this was the most humiliating day of her life. Once she regained her true form, she’d make sure to give that eagle a proper beating to avenge her disgrace!

Steeling herself, Shen Qingli crept behind a rock, scanning the area warily.

"Cai Cai, scan the area—see if the giant eagle is still here!"

"Host, the giant eagle has left. It probably thinks you’re dead for sure."

The system replied in earnest. Sensing the murderous aura radiating from its host, it shrank back.

"I’ll deal with you once I’m out of here," Shen Qingli muttered, tiptoeing out of the medicine mountain. Seeing the eagle didn’t return, she hurried to the car.

"Home, please," she gasped, and the butler, who’d nearly dozed off waiting, glanced in the rearview mirror at her disheveled state. He considered asking about it but, seeing her urgency, started the car without a word and left the medicine mountain behind.

Not long after Shen Qingli’s departure, another figure appeared near the cliff. An Yan gazed at the spirit fruit before him, which would not ripen for another three days, and frowned in irritation.

Ever since suffering at Xie Jinchuan’s hands, he’d only just begun to recover but still needed much spiritual energy to heal fully. He’d sensed the presence of spiritual herbs here but hadn’t expected to wait another three days.

"What a nuisance," he muttered coldly, turning to find a place to wait. But then, his nose twitched—he caught a familiar scent.

He narrowed his eyes, inhaling deeply.

"Isn’t this Shen Qingli’s scent? How intoxicating," he murmured, lost in reverie. Thoughts of Xie Jinchuan’s recent attack flickered through his mind, and a shadow passed through his eyes.

"Seems the Lu family’s situation isn’t good—otherwise, why would Shen Qingli covet the spirit herbs?"

His lips curled into a sly smile.

"Shen Qingli won’t let go of this spirit herb. She’s bound to return in three days. And with Xie Jinchuan gravely wounded, I’ll have the chance to deal with him and finally restore myself!"

An Yan plotted in a low voice, studying the cracks around the spirit herb. He raised his hand, and a ball of fire slipped into the fissure. Sensing the nearby presence of the giant eagle, he frowned and vanished from sight, taking care to mask his tracks and the crack’s aura before seeking a nearby spot rich in spiritual energy. There, he transformed into a fox and began to recuperate, clearly intent on lying in wait.

And Shen Qingli was the rabbit he planned to catch.

Shen Qingli returned to the Lu household in utter disarray. When Old Master Lu saw her bedraggled appearance, he frowned.

"Pear Girl, where have you been?"

"Sir, I went to gather some herbs for Jinchuan," Shen Qingli replied with a smile, heading straight for the kitchen. Anxiety gnawed at her—she wondered if the herbs had survived the ordeal. If not, today’s effort would have been wholly in vain.

Old Master Lu watched her retreating figure, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He followed her to the kitchen, where her ease in handling the herbs left him somewhat puzzled.

"Sir, is there something you need?"

Noticing him at the door, Shen Qingli paused, a glint of sly amusement in her eyes as she regarded the old man’s secretive expression.

"No, no, go ahead," Old Master Lu chuckled, waving his hand, though his curiosity only deepened.

"Are you hungry, sir?" Shen Qingli asked with a gentle smile, her tone considerate.

The unspoken meaning: Are you so idle that you have nothing better to do?