Chapter 14
Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW
This chapter is edited by Farouq Omileye. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 14: Haw Haw
Under the silvery glow of moonlight, the medicine garden of Qiongming Peak transformed into an otherworldly sanctuary, a dreamscape for anyone fortunate enough to glimpse it. Among the verdant flora, a four-petaled flower shimmered faintly, its glow akin to fireflies dancing in the night. This was the Lucky Grass, renowned for its ability to enhance eyesight. Nearby, delicate flowers resembling snowflakes stood encased in an icy veil, their frosty petals emitting a chill that seemed to crystallize the very air around them. To pluck one required more than courage—it demanded fire to melt its icy armor.
On a small slope near the cold pool, Bai Lian crouched low, her silhouette blending into the shadows. Her breath slowed to a whisper as she covered her head with several lotus leaves. Bit by bit, the luminescence in her eyes dimmed, like a screen’s brightness dialed to its lowest setting. Her movements were deliberate, her focus unwavering. Camouflaged by moonlight and shadow, she inched closer toward the peculiar sound that had piqued her curiosity.
And then she saw it.
Underneath a pepper-like plant sat a small, round figure—a white rabbit, oblivious to the world, feasting with unrestrained joy. Its velvety fur clung close to its body, gleaming like a snug layer of white silk in the pale light. Its short tail flickered like a tiny flame, quivering with every bite it took.
For a moment, Bai Lian’s thoughts wandered. Why does its fur look like tight pantyhose?
She snapped herself back with a sharp pinch to her cheek. Focus!
The rabbit, utterly unaware of its impending doom, continued nibbling on a sprout of century-old rice, its chewing sounds masking the faint rustles of Bai Lian’s stealthy advance.
Whoosh—
In a flash, Bai Lian sprang forward, her hands outstretched. The rabbit froze, its big, floppy blue-and-white ears twitching in alarm. But before it could react, Bai Lian’s fingers closed around them, lifting it off the ground.
Victory!
“Haw, haw, haw!” The rabbit squirmed and growled, its tiny voice full of indignation.
Bai Lian laughed, her triumph as sweet as a warm bath on a winter night. It had taken her four failed attempts to catch this petty thief—four times too many. But now, finally, she had it.
“What to do with you now, hmm?” she mused aloud, her mind drifting toward culinary possibilities.
Rabbit hotpot… stir-fried rabbit… braised rabbit’s head… spicy diced rabbit…
The rabbit froze mid-struggle. Its big blue eyes widened, and the growling ceased.
Bai Lian chuckled, her voice laced with mockery. “Oh, now you understand the gravity of your situation, don’t you?”
The rabbit, in a desperate bid for freedom, opened its tiny mouth and bit down on Bai Lian’s finger. Startled, she loosened her grip just enough for the rabbit’s ears to shrink to toothpick-like proportions. With a nimbleness that defied belief, it slipped free and darted away.
“WHAT?!” Bai Lian’s mind flooded with disbelief as she watched the furry escapee sprint into the distance.
Not willing to let it go so easily, she gave chase. “How dare you!” she shouted, her Cloud Boots propelling her forward with blinding speed. In mere moments, she overtook the rabbit, sliding gracefully to block its path.
The rabbit skidded to a halt, its eyes darting around in search of another escape route. Realizing it was cornered, it lowered its head and charged at Bai Lian like a tiny battering ram.
Ding!
The collision rang out like metal striking metal. The rabbit recoiled, bouncing back onto the ground, its head now sporting a conspicuous bump.
“Haw haw!” it cried, hopping in circles, both in pain and frustration.
Bai Lian grinned, an air of menace in her expression. Slowly, she advanced, her every step exuding the authority of a Demon King. “Naïve,” she muttered.
Her Hard Skills had been honed to perfection in recent days. With a skill level of 131, her body was as resilient as forged iron—a fact the rabbit had painfully underestimated.
This time, she grabbed its ears and tail simultaneously, ensuring no chance of escape. “Water Dragon Dance!” she declared.
A crystalline stream of water erupted from her fingertips, forming a shimmering shackle around the rabbit. The droplets glinted like liquid diamonds in the moonlight, binding her captive securely.
“Are you still going to run?” Bai Lian asked, her voice laced with smug satisfaction. “You’ve been sneaking into the medicine garden, stealing herbs like a shameless thief. But this time, I’ve got you!”
The rabbit looked up at her, its blue eyes brimming with tears. It trembled, as though fully aware of the dire consequences it now faced.
But its pitiful display did not sway Bai Lian. She pondered her options. Perhaps a firm punch to its little head would make it more obedient.
At that moment, a glowing set of task options appeared before her eyes.
[Task 1: Strike the rabbit on the head with the Iron Fist of Justice. (Reward: Top-Grade Magic Tool – Jade Emperor Seal)]
[Task 2: “You can use your body to pay all your debts!” (Reward: Tai Xuan Zhen Yuan Pill)]
[Task 3: Release the rabbit as if nothing happened. (Reward: Taoist Magic Circle +3)]
“Ah?” Bai Lian’s brow furrowed. “What is this rabbit, exactly?”
Her gaze flicked between the tasks. The rabbit was clearly more than it seemed. Could it be some kind of demon beast?
Pointing at the bound creature, she demanded, “Transform into a human! Now!”
“Haw,” it replied innocently.
Her frustration mounted. “I said transform!”
“Haw?”
The stalemate dragged on. Bai Lian sighed, her attention returning to the task options. Task 1 promised a magical tool, but Task 2’s pill could help her achieve a Golden Core breakthrough. Task 3, however, felt like a letdown. Letting the rabbit go without repercussions? Unthinkable.
As she deliberated, the rabbit began struggling again, more violently this time.
“Stop it!” Bai Lian snapped. “If you keep this up, I’ll really eat you!”
But her threat only seemed to agitate the creature further. Before she could chastise it again, her eyes caught a flicker of movement on a distant hill.
The rabbit folded its ears into the shape of a pair of [7], pointing them toward the disturbance.
“Are you trying to tell me there’s something over there?” Bai Lian asked.
The rabbit nodded vigorously.
Her instincts tingled. Drawing her Dirt Free Sword, she took a cautious step forward, its blade casting a faint glow beneath the stars.
Then she saw them—two bald heads rising over the hill, their outlines unmistakable.
Tiger demons.
