When Golden Finger Meets Salted Fish

When the system finally caught up, it found its host nestled quietly in Yun Qingyu’s arms.

Jiang Mo’s unusual stillness instinctively alerted the system. It quickly checked the data panel and discovered that its host’s calm was merely superficial. In fact, her heart was racing far beyond its normal rate—something unknown must have just occurred!

The system’s assessment wasn’t wrong.

Moments ago, Jiang Mo had leaped down from the peach tree, and Yun Qingyu caught her as promised. This was fine, except Jiang Mo’s landing spot was a bit… soft. Following feline instinct, she had even kneaded it a couple times.

Jiang Mo didn’t realize at first, only becoming aware after the instinctive kneading that she may have touched somewhere inappropriate. As an adult in a cub’s body, she felt utterly embarrassed upon realizing this. She instantly became docile, and if the system looked closely, it would notice not just her accelerated heartbeat, but also her burning cheeks beneath her fur.

The little white tiger curled her paws, as if hiding evidence, and nestled obediently in Yun Qingyu’s arms. At this point, forget about the 2,000 experience point daily quest—even if the system offered a 20,000 point quest, she wouldn’t budge.

Fortunately, Yun Qingyu didn’t think much of it. She had no wariness towards this newborn, frail little white tiger. Seeing the tiger suddenly curl up quietly in her arms, she grew concerned. After carefully checking for injuries, she asked, “What’s wrong? Were you frightened earlier?”

Jiang Mo tucked her tail and didn’t respond, just hiding her head under her paws, allowing Yun Qingyu to misunderstand.

Seeing this, Yun Qingyu did indeed misinterpret, finding the little white tiger’s timidity both amusing and exasperating. After a moment’s thought, she took out the two peaches from earlier and offered the one she had picked: “Here’s your peach. Do you still want to eat it?”

The peaches in the cultivation world differed from those in the mortal realm. Though they merely looked more beautiful, their unique fragrance was more enticing than any peach Jiang Mo had ever eaten. Even a little tiger that should eat meat couldn’t resist the temptation. She surreptitiously moved her paws to peek, and ultimately couldn’t help but pounce and grab the peach.

With an “aow,” the little tiger bared her milk teeth and bit into the peach. Sweet juice immediately filled her mouth.

Jiang Mo squinted in satisfaction, momentarily forgetting her earlier embarrassment. Heaven knows, in the half-month since her transmigration, this was the only normal food she’d eaten besides milk.

She was an adult after all—how could she be accustomed to milk as a meal? And pill-popping was even worse.

In the quiet courtyard, a faint laugh seemed to sound, but when Jiang Mo opened her eyes to look, Yun Qingyu’s expression was as cool as ever. The earlier laughter seemed like an illusion.

Then the cool beauty did move. She extended a jade-like finger, gently scratching under the little tiger’s chin, as if petting a cat. Caught off guard, Jiang Mo again fell prey to her body’s instincts. The little white tiger, still clutching the peach, squinted her eyes and began to purr, clearly enjoying the sensation.

When Jiang Mo realized what she was doing, her face, which had just cooled, flushed anew. Mortified, she lowered her head and bit Yun Qingyu’s finger, but couldn’t bring herself to bite hard, so she just gently gnawed it.

Of course, as a little tiger, she probably couldn’t break through a Golden Core cultivator’s defenses even if she tried.

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After a “friendly” exchange with her caretaker in the courtyard, the little white tiger finished her peach, and Yun Qingyu, not disappointing the tiger’s intentions, ate the one picked for her.

After this delay, the pair finally entered the room.

Yun Qingyu’s room was simple, even spartan—a table, chairs, a bed, a kettle and cups, and a screen set up on one side of the room were almost all that could be seen at a glance. Though cultivators usually kept personal items like clothes in their storage equipment, such a bare living space was rare.

Jiang Mo jumped down and circled the room, finally concluding: everything here was probably original furnishing. Either Senior Sister was a minimalist, or she was always ready to move.

Of course, this didn’t matter much to Jiang Mo, being just a little tiger seeking care.

After inspecting her territory with tiger-like steps, she saw Yun Qingyu casually take out a small bed from her storage space. After making it thick and soft, she asked, “Will you sleep here? Is this alright?”

Jiang Mo was stunned, not by the treatment, but surprised that someone as aloof as Yun Qingyu would have a crib hidden in her storage ring… Senior Sister, are you serious? And how big is that storage ring anyway? Others store precious materials, but you keep such odd things?

The little white tiger was shocked for a moment, but having a bed was certainly better than a makeshift nest on the ground. She approached and leaped onto it, but before she could test its softness, the system’s prompt sounded:

“Ding! Congratulations, host has gained a cultivation boost. Cultivation speed will increase by 20% here.”

Jiang Mo immediately realized this “crib” was actually a treasure. But before she could rejoice, she asked the system, “Cultivation? Does our game have a cultivation system? I’ve only seen daily quests and monster-killing for leveling up?”

The system, sensing the odd atmosphere since its return, had remained silent until now. It finally replied, “The system doesn’t, but divine beasts themselves can cultivate. It’s just that your level is too low now, host. You can’t even activate your bloodline inheritance, so you can’t access the White Tiger’s cultivation methods…”

Jiang Mo interrupted at this point: “Alright, stop. You’re going to advise me to kill monsters and level up again, aren’t you?”

The system denied this and continued, “Don’t be discouraged, host. Though you can’t cultivate, you have racial talents. Before, sleeping for a day gave you 1 experience point. Now, sleeping on this bed will give you 1.2 points a day. Isn’t that exciting?”

Jiang Mo: “…”

She felt the system was mocking her. At her current experience requirements for leveling up, she’d probably need to sleep for eight to ten years to gain one level. But she wasn’t angry at all. She took out a Spirit Nurturing Pill and popped it, instantly gaining +500 experience points.

System: “…”

Now it was the system’s turn to fall silent. Then it lamented, “Host, can’t you just turn over a new leaf?!”