CHAPTER 24
— Peach Blossoms Bloom —
After finally shaking off the large crowd of common folk who kept calling them "Immortal Master," and breaking through the blockade of cultivators who tried to flatter them with phrases like "Master Su's reputation is truly admirable, I've long been an admirer," "May Master Su enjoy eternal blessings and longevity as vast as the heavens," and "Master Su, could you give me a handwritten inscription [autograph]?"—all hoping to climb the high branch of Chonghua—the four of them managed to carve a path through the chaos. They released Jiya from the beast-taming pouch, whose pent-up resentment sent several persistent troublemakers flying, and finally slipped into another teahouse. There, they exchanged a gleaming gold ingot for a quiet, private room.
"So, what is this little thing actually good for? Is it worth us making such a minor yet troublesome enemy of the Qianyu Sect?" Ding Ding took a sip of fragrant tea, fanning himself and He Gu with his wide sleeves to cool down and catch his breath.
Su Yan casually snapped her fingers, conjuring a few ice cubes. She tossed some into her own teacup and, under Tong Tong's eager gaze, threw a few into hers as well. Then, meeting the golden eyes of the little creature perched on Tong Tong's shoulder, she curved her beautiful eyes into a smile and fed the remaining ice cubes into its wide-open mouth.
"Crunch, crunch..." The little guy chewed happily, its long tail swishing back and forth behind it. With a sharp "thwack," it slapped Jiya's rump as it leaned against the table to cool off, startling everyone in the room.
"..." Jiya's golden eyes widened, then narrowed slowly, shifting from shock to anger. It rose to its feet, baring its gleaming white teeth as it glared down at the Zouyu, who lay innocently on Tong Tong's shoulder.
"Awoo～" The little creature seemed to think it wasn't enough and let out a playful, coquettish roar. Its golden eyes curved adorably, but Jiya sensed a hint of mischief in them.
"Awoo～" The proud Zhubo felt its dignity had been challenged and roared back fiercely. The gust of wind it unleashed not only sent the little creature flying several meters away but also gave Tong Tong, who was caught in the crossfire, a classic "Mei Feng" hairstyle.
T/N: [The term 梅风 (Mei Feng) refers to Mei Chaofeng (梅超风), a famous character from Jin Yong's The Legend of the Condor Heroes. She is iconic for having wild, messy, long black hair that flies everywhere because of her dark cultivation style. By saying Tong Tong has a "Mei Feng classic look," the author means the beast's roar was so strong that her hair is now completely blown back and sticking out in a crazy, bird's-nest fashion. It's a very funny way to describe "messy hair" to a Chinese reader.]
"Hey!" Tong Tong wiped the saliva off her face and slammed the table as she stood up.
"Stay calm," Su Yan said unhurriedly, taking a sip of her iced tea. A faint smile touched her lips as she gestured for Tong Tong to look back.
—The Zouyu, blown away by Jiya's breath, steadied itself mid-air as if supported by clouds, hovering in place. Its golden eyes sparkled with excitement as it let out an eager roar and spat a stream of greenish air toward Jiya.
Tong Tong watched nervously, silently praying: 'Little guy, you have to be stronger than Jiya! That way, I can finally one-up Su Yan and give him a hard time!'
But Jiya, struck head-on by the greenish air, remained as steady as a mountain, as if only a gentle breeze had brushed past it. Only the tuft of silly red hair on its head drooped limply, losing its usual spirited flair.
"!" Jiya's half-closed golden eyes widened again, trembling with disbelief: My style... is gone? Aaah, I'll k!ll you—
Just as the furious Zhubo raised its head to the sky with a fierce roar and was about to lunge forward with its bl0ody maw wide open, the little creature let out a low growl. Suddenly, a circle of intricate, densely packed golden patterns appeared beneath Jiya's feet, trapping it perfectly within it. With a gentle flick of Zouyu's long tail, Jiya felt as though its four legs had taken root in the ground, completely immobilized.
At that moment, Su Yan said leisurely, "Legend has it that Zouyu carries the bl0odline of the White Tiger, one of the Four Guardians, granting it the ability to control the wind. However, the innate power of the Zouyu clan lies in formations."
"Formations? Are they powerful?" Tong Tong murmured, staring at the pattern on the ground that looked just like the magic circles from Cardcaptor Sakura when she releases her Clow Cards.
"The eyes that shatter all laws, the tail that weaves all formations—in the Dao of Arrays, they are invincible. Would you say that's powerful?" Su Yan patted Jiya's head, soothing its agitated and frustrated mood.
"Oh my goodness, this is amazing!" Ding Ding exclaimed from the side before Tong Tong could even respond.
"Of course, but only after reaching the sixth level." All three of them were certain they saw a fleeting, teasing glint in Su Yan's calm eyes.
"So, what level is it at now?" Curious Tong Tong, holding the little Zouyu that was sniffing eagerly at the pastries on the table with its big round eyes, asked hopefully.
"At most, around level two." Su Yan called over the Xiao'er and ordered a few more plates of pastries, her cold tone mercilessly shattering Tong Tong's hopes.
—In the cultivation world, demon beasts are divided into ten levels. Those below level five are considered weak.
Upon reaching level five, they undergo the Lightning Tribulation Body-tempering. Level six marks them as formidable beings who dominate their territories. At level seven, they must endure the Transformation Tribulation, equivalent to a human cultivator's Tribulation Transcendence. Since the Great War of the Demonic Path back then, it has been a very long time since a beast above level six has appeared. Even the Qianyu Sect's guardian spirit beast, which had once reached the transformation stage, was forced back to level six.
"So, you still have a long way to go before becoming strong, huh?" Tong Tong shook the little creature gently, feeling a bit frustrated but also relieved. "That's fine! We'll cultivate together and grow stronger together! Then, we'll travel the world, see all its wonders, and taste all its delicacies. What a joyful life! Hahaha..." To match the passionate atmosphere of her grand declaration, Tong Tong lifted the little creature high above her head and laughed heartily three times.
The little creature in her arms also raised its head and let out a series of "awoo" cries, the two of them displaying remarkable synergy.
"..." Su Yan averted her gaze and silently sipped her tea.
"..." He Gu lowered her head and remained quiet.
"..." Ding Ding felt he couldn't just follow the crowd and mock her—after all, they were fellow townsfolk, and it wouldn't be right to be unsupportive!
Clearing his throat, he changed the subject and suggested, "Well, Tong Tong, since you two are bound together and it can't be changed, why don't you give it a name?"
"Hmm... That's true! What should we call it?" Tong Tong stared into its golden, gleaming eyes and hesitantly asked, "Little Gold?"
Jiya snorted disdainfully and rolled its golden eyes.
"Then... Little White or Little Black?" Stroking its glossy white fur with black stripes, Tong Tong tentatively suggested.
"Not appropriate." He Gu glanced at Su Yan's black robe, then at the white brocade robes worn by Ding Ding and Tong Tong, shaking her head gently as she vetoed the idea.
"How about... Little Flower?" Tong Tong mustered her courage and asked.
"What? Little beggar? Are you kidding me?" Ding Ding looked at her with an expression of exasperation.
T/N: [In Chinese, 'Little Flower' is Xiao Hua (小花), while 'Little Beggar' is Xiao Jiaohua (小叫花). Ding Ding thinks Tong Tong is naming a legendary, high-level beast—a descendant of the White Tiger—a "Little Beggar," which he finds insulting to the beast's dignity.]
"..." Tong Tong's little face puffed up like a steamed bun.
"Alright, I've decided!" After a moment, Tong Tong clenched her left fist and struck her right palm, smiling as she scooped up the bored Zouyu, who was lazily flicking its tail. With sparkling eyes, she declared loudly, "From now on, you'll be called Cookie!"
"Pfft—" Ding Ding spat out a mouthful of water.
Years later, when the transformed high-level Zouyu finally understood what a "cookie" was, the beast—who had been mocked by Jiya for three days and three nights—nearly developed the urge to perish together with its master.
But for now, it happily twitched its ears, clearly quite satisfied with the name. At least it was better than something like "Little Gold" or "Little Flower," right?
"Coming up with a name is so exhausting... I'm starving! Cookie, you must be hungry too, right?" Ignoring the varied expressions of the others, Tong Tong was determined to name her spirit beast this, and no one could stop her. "Xiao'er, where are the pastries I ordered earlier? Why haven't they been served yet? My Cookie is about to faint from hunger!"
—'Clearly, it's you who's the one drooling, isn't it?'
Ding Ding sighed, having long given up on his little junior sister. The word "foodie" was no longer enough to describe her!
"Coming... esteemed guests, I'm terribly sorry. I did say not to disturb, but these two insisted on coming in, and I couldn't stop them..." The Xiao'er, carrying a tray, entered with an apologetic smile, stepping aside to reveal two young women following behind.
Both were dressed in layers of sheer white satin, their faces veiled with light gauze. Their eyes sparkled with a charm that was less aloof than Jin Yong's Little Dragon Maiden, yet carried an ethereal grace—though one of them gazed with an overly eager intensity, lacking restraint and shattering that elusive, untouchable aura.
"Brother Su, have you been well? I heard Jiya's cry just now and knew you were here. I hope you don't mind the intrusion?" The one who spoke was the same eager woman, her moist eyes gleaming with a flirtatious charm.
Frowning slightly, Su Yan remained cold and aloof, yet bound by courtesy, she couldn't simply shoo them away. She merely waved her hand, signaling the Xiao'er—whose smile had frozen on his face—to leave. Then, she nodded briefly at the woman.
—'So, you actually do mind her intrusion, don't you?'
Feeling she had deciphered Su Yan's thoughts, Tong Tong covered her mouth to stifle a giggle. She reached out, picked up a pastry, and brought it to Cookie's mouth. Just as Cookie happily opened its jaws, she swiftly withdrew her hand, popped the pastry into her own mouth, and grinned mischievously at the beast, her cheeks bulging.
"Awoo~" Cookie let out a pitiful whine, not angry but simply staring at her with its round, unblinking eyes until her heart softened, and she promptly fed it a piece as well.
Both human and beast half-closed their eyes in unison, savoring the pastry melting on their tongues, their lips curling upward in identical smiles.
"I am Meng Qianyao from the Nichang [Rainbow Raiment] Valley, and this is my junior sister, Qiu Si. Might I ask how this little sister should be addressed?" Her voice was as melodious as a nightingale's, sweet and captivating, yet Tong Tong felt an inexplicable chill. And so, she tragically choked.
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