The kindhearted red hedgehog had once helped Nan Zhi during her fight with Ma San, and Nan Zhi hadn't forgotten to bring it along during her escape.
The little hedgehog had been recuperating inside the gourd, oblivious to the passage of time. When it was suddenly released in a daze, it didn't see its savior, Nan Zhi. Instead, it saw a beautiful woman in green robes holding the gourd. It instinctively assumed Nan Zhi had met with misfortune and began to sob.
“Whimper, whimper... whimper... whimper...”
Spiritual energy was scarce in reality, so the hedgehog couldn't use its glamour to transform into a human. Its cries were weak and breathless, like a child's.
“Hey, hey, don't cry!”
Nan Zhi realized the misunderstanding was huge and quickly knelt down, coaxing it like a child.
“Don't be scared, it's me, Nan Zhi. I'm the one who treated your wounds before. I just had to change my appearance to escape my enemies.”
“Back then, Wanniang and I rested at Ma San's tavern, and I asked you to deliver hot noodle soup and hot water upstairs. I even gave you a dozen copper coins as a reward. Have you forgotten?”
Hearing this, the red little hedgehog stopped its tears, staring at Nan Zhi with a mix of doubt and belief, letting out a few faint squeaks.
“Whimper, whimper, whimper, whimper?”
Nan Zhi quickly took out a ghost incense stick and placed it under her tongue, then recounted many incidents that had occurred between her and the beast. Only then did the little hedgehog relax, familiar with the routine, it burrowed into her sleeve, its small quills trembling uncontrollably.
—It must have been terrified.
“Squeak squeak?”
Corn was curious about the new friend, but the putrid smell in the air was unbearable for it. It tugged at Nan Zhi's hair, wanting to hide back inside the large gourd.
“Squeak squeak squeak! Squeak squeak squeak!”
“Hold on, this red-skinned gourd is troublesome. I'll see if I can form a contract with you. Then you can stay inside this Spirit Beast Talisman.”
Nan Zhi took out a Spirit Beast Talisman and placed it in her palm, drawing out a wisp of spiritual energy to form a contract with Corn. Corn daintily extended its paw, allowing Nan Zhi to take a drop of its essence blood.
The talisman paper grew slightly warm, then with a “poof,” it spontaneously combusted, turning into a pile of black ash in the blink of an eye.
【Target Spirit Beast quality too high, contract failed.】
【Recommended to use a Spirit Beast Talisman of corresponding quality.】
Only then did Nan Zhi remember that even though Corn spent its days eating, drinking, playing, and acting cute to beg for pills and snacks, appearing to have no real abilities, this little thing was actually purple quality!
Corn didn't understand why it hadn't worked, but it still playfully nudged Nan Zhi's face, charmingly squeaking twice.
“Squeak squeak? Squeak!”
“Alright, your part is done. Go back to the gourd and nibble on your snacks, but don't eat them all.”
Nan Zhi helplessly took out a new spirit beast pill and gave it to Corn, then put the treasure-seeking mouse back into the large red-skinned gourd before putting the gourd away.
As for the remaining two Spirit Beast Talismans...
She looked at her sleeve, meeting the red hedgehog's dark, round eyes. The latter froze for a moment, then realized something, nodding frantically like crazy, its short limbs flailing.
“Whimper whimper whimper! Whimper whimper! Whimper whimper!”
Naturally, it was a hundred, a thousand, ten thousand times willing!
Its name was White 49. It had a poor background, born ugly among its litter of hedgehog pups. Unlike ordinary hedgehog spirits, its back had a striking reddish-brown base color, making it very easy to be caught.
To cultivate successfully as soon as possible, it had believed its kin, Mao San, and followed the Taoist Ma San.
Ma San was an evil cultivator who committed all sorts of evil deeds. He treated these little demons as disposable, summoning them at will and dismissing them just as easily. He didn't care if they were injured or died.
There were so many little demons eager to become spirits; one more White 49 made no difference, and one less made no difference either.
If Nan Zhi hadn't rescued it this time, after turning on and biting its own kind, it would most likely have been bitten to death upon its return.
Originally, it had worried its savior would despise it as useless and abandon it somewhere, so White 49 had even hoped its wounds would heal slowly.
Unexpectedly, Nan Zhi actually offered to form a contract with it!
Although it couldn't discern the depth of Nan Zhi's cultivation, the fact that she could easily kill Ma San showed she was capable.
If she succeeded in her cultivation and ascended to the immortal realm in the future, it, a little demon serving by her side and always following her, might also attain enlightenment.
Demons admired strength and cared little for dignity or face. As long as there were benefits, and it could pass its heavenly tribulation to become an immortal, even if it had to serve as a mount for an immortal, White 49 would be delighted and willing.
“So eager?”
Nan Zhi found it a little amusing. She flicked the little creature's nose and said softly.
“Although I've already reached Foundation Establishment, I've been framed and am wanted by the Demon Suppression Division. If you're still willing to follow me, I can't promise you heavenly treasures or miraculous elixirs, but during the trial of heavenly lightning, I will wholeheartedly protect you and aid your cultivation.”
Such a young Foundation Establishment cultivator?!
She couldn't be older than thirty, could she?!
White 49's eyes widened. It stood up almost impatiently, mimicking Corn's earlier actions, tugging at Nan Zhi's sleeve, and tentatively whining.
“Whimper, whimper, whimper?”
A fist-sized cute creature, using all its strength, its soft paws warm, its round black eyes fixed firmly on you—
Nan Zhi simply couldn't refuse.
She tentatively took out a Spirit Beast Talisman. The red little beast eagerly bit its own paw, letting a drop of essence blood fall onto it. A moment later, the talisman glowed, and something new appeared in the minds of both Nan Zhi and the beast.
【Spirit Beast System activated】
【Spirit Beast Name: Corn (treasure-seeking mouse) (purple quality)
Spirit Beast Status: Uncontracted
Spirit Beast Mood: Joyful
Spirit Beast Talent: Treasure Seeking
Spirit Beast Skill: Cannot view】
【Spirit Beast Name: White 49 (hedgehog) (green quality)
Spirit Beast Status: Contracted
Spirit Beast Mood: Excited
Spirit Beast Talent: None
Spirit Beast Skills: Glamour, Errands】
With the contract formed, Nan Zhi could even sense White 49's mood, and a faint sensation arose in her mind.
If she wished, she could even crush that drop of essence blood, taking White 49's life at any moment.
This thing is really useful.
I wonder if it could be used on humans.
Logically, humans are also a type of animal.
Nan Zhi stroked her chin.
Fortunately, before Nan Zhi's thoughts strayed too far, White 49 rolled once and transformed into a young boy of thirteen or fourteen, still wearing its tattered servant's uniform.
In Nan Zhi's eyes, the young boy standing there was illusory, like a blurry, distorted human figure, but behind it was still the red little hedgehog's true form.
It wasn't like a fully transformed great demon that truly changed its appearance.
“Is this glamour? What else can you transform into?”
Nan Zhi stared at it with interest for a while before realizing something was off.
“Hmm? You're a girl? Why are you dressed as a boy? And your parents gave you such a strange nickname, White 49.”
The young boy transformed by the hedgehog was handsome, but upon closer inspection, it was actually a clever and delicate little girl.
“My mother gave birth to seven or eight hedgehogs in that litter. When it came to me, I was given the lowly name '49.' Others found it cumbersome to call, and I can't read...”
White 49 said shyly, stammering.
“My true form's color is strange and ugly, and I always lose when trying to snatch food. Transforming into a girl is also inconvenient, so I...”
“Please don't be upset, Master. I'll definitely eat well from now on and make myself strong! I can do many chores! I'm very capable!”
“I'm not upset with you. From now on, when you're with me, you can take whatever form you wish. I'm just annoyed that I left in such a hurry and didn't bring any clothes that would fit you.”
“Right now, we're inside a fish's belly, and there are many demon beasts outside. Once I cut them down, I'll take their fish skin and sinews to make clothes for you.”
Nan Zhi patted White 49's head and said softly.
“White 49 isn't a good name either. There are so many '49s' in the world; if I call out, how will you know it's me calling you?”
“Your body is red, like a red conch. How about I call you Hongluo from now on?”
The little hedgehog froze, its eyes welling up with tears. It buried its head in Nan Zhi's embrace, and after a long moment, shyly peeked out half its face.
“Okay! Hongluo thanks Master for the name! From now on, I'll be called Hongluo!”
“You don't need to call me Master, just call me 'Guniang'.”
Nan Zhi then carefully instructed, “When you travel with me in the future, don't reveal my true name to others. For now, I'm Ma Jiu, so you can just call me 'Ma Guniang'.”
Hongluo replied crisply, her eyes filled with adoration.
Rate on N.U.
