Chapter 143: Is It an Illusion?

Several days passed in succession, and every day Bai Xi would come down from the treehouse to stroll around the village. One reason was to reassure the villagers, and another was that her spirit had indeed improved considerably.

After consuming the ox heart, she woke the next day to find that the capacity of her cosmic pouch had increased quite a bit. Though it still couldn't compare to the peak of her immortal power, it was a notable improvement. Most importantly, inside the pouch, there was suddenly a spirit-nourishing pill. It seemed she had casually placed it there before; Bai Xi didn’t give it much thought and took it without hesitation, since the pill appeared to be intact.

Though the pill couldn’t be immediately refined, it gradually nurtured Bai Xi’s mind and body, repairing the deficiencies caused by her premature cultivation. She felt that using her divine might now wouldn’t be as exhausting.

Indeed, Bai Xi had sensed from the start that this body was flawed. The flower essence dissipated quickly, but with a slight awareness and by extracting information from Chen Rui and others, it was hard not to realize. The mistake in her cultivation stemmed from her impatience to accelerate progress, which, combined with the body’s inadequate foundation, led to damage.

While Bai Xi took the pill, Xiao Hei hesitated to speak. The previous night, when the master was sound asleep, it seemed to sense an intrusion, but before it could trace the source, the energy vanished. Now, seeing the master consume the spirit-nourishing pill, Xiao Hei wondered if that energy was connected to delivering the pill. Could it have been a servant from before the master’s reincarnation?

From the inheritance it had absorbed, pills like these were reserved for ancient powerful beings, but some memories were lost, and it couldn’t immediately discern the differences among various pills.

This thought jolted Xiao Hei’s spirit—did this mean it would have to compete with others for the master’s favor? That would never do. Regardless of the past, the master belonged to it alone now. It must cling tightly to the master’s side and not be pushed aside.

Seeing Bai Xi come down from the treehouse every day with such good spirits, the people of Niuluo Village were happier than during the New Year, cheerfully greeting her. Bai Xi, as usual, kept her hands behind her back, walking with small steps and nodding haughtily. If she passed by a home and saw a child being beaten, she would speak up.

Sure enough, she came across such a scene again—this time at the home of Bai An’an’s cousin.

“Idle hands beating children again? Why can’t you just talk things out properly? Why don’t you hit yourself with the stick? Don’t you know pain?” Bai Xi scolded.

“Auntie, you don’t know—this kid just won’t stay away from the chicken coop. When he was roughhousing with his brother, he knocked it over. Not only did it scare the hen sitting on eggs, but several eggs got broken,” came the explanation.

Bai Xi immediately understood. Every household treasured their eggs, and losing several to such mischief, not to mention frightening the mother hen, deserved a beating.

She waved her hand, saying, “A beating is justified, but don’t be too harsh.” Some boys were indeed mischievous and slow to learn.

“Oh!” Bai Dashu laughed heartily and readily continued the punishment without restraint.

It was already November, and the weather was growing colder. It had rained a couple of days prior, making the nights chillier.

That night, Xiao Hei was lying by the stove when it suddenly opened its eyes and lifted its head. It stood up, opened the door, and hurried toward the village pigpen.

Zhou Dajin had no idea that his actions were being observed in full by Xiao Hei.

Thanks to Xiao Hei’s presence, the village dogs neither barked by day nor by night, allowing Zhou Dajin to sneak into the village unnoticed.

He tossed some items into the pigpen and spat in satisfaction before turning to leave.

To exact revenge, he had wasted several cornbread buns.

These cornbreads were thoroughly laced with rat poison, and after the pigs ate them, Zhou Dajin was certain the people of Niuluo Village would be devastated the next day.

Imagining the villagers snotting and crying, pounding their chests in fury, almost made Zhou Dajin laugh out loud.

After stifling his laughter and turning away, he paused, then quickly looked back. Had he just seen a white shadow?

Normally, he wouldn’t care, but he knew there was a great white tiger in Niuluo Village.

He scanned again with wide eyes but saw nothing—probably just a trick of his vision.

Deciding to leave quickly after poisoning the pigs, he didn’t want to be caught by the white tiger.

Glancing once more at the seemingly sleeping pigs in the pen, he cursed under his breath and hurried away.

After walking about ten meters, a chill ran down his spine. A cold wind blew, and he wrapped his cotton jacket tighter, cursing the foul weather as he quickened his pace.

Xiao Hei watched his retreating figure from atop the roof beside the pigpen, the fierce light in its eyes dimming.

It decided to wait until morning to tell the master, giving her the chance to vent her anger.

When Zhou Dajin first approached the pigpen, the pigs grunted a few times, but after the poisoned cornbread was thrown in, they fell silent, motionless as if asleep.

If the villagers had been there, they would have been amazed to see Xiao Hei jump into the pen, deftly using its paws to roll the poisoned cornbreads out—an act so intelligent it was hard not to be stunned.

Fortunately, Zhou Dajin had thrown the cornbreads whole; had he crushed them, Xiao Hei would have had no choice but to wake the entire village.

Once Xiao Hei left, the pigs seemed to awaken from a dream, softly grunting.

That morning, Bai Xi noticed Xiao Hei staring at her intently, as if wanting to say something but holding back.

After breakfast, wiping her mouth with a small handkerchief, she asked, “What is it? Did something happen last night?”

Though faint, Bai Xi smelled the odor from the pigpen. Like her, Xiao Hei disliked the stench and rarely ventured near it, so it must have gone there during the middle of the night.

Xiao Hei nodded quickly and softly said, “Master, you’re amazing. Someone did enter the village last night.”

“Stealing pigs?” Bai Xi asked calmly. With Xiao Hei around, if a pig was stolen, Xiao Hei deserved a beating.

“No,” Xiao Hei shook its head. “It was someone from Xiaxin Village, here to poison.”

Bai Xi raised an eyebrow. “Poison?”

Just then, Li Jiagang, who had just finished hanging Bai Xi’s clothes, overheard her words and was momentarily stunned before foolishly asking, “Auntie, poison? What poison?”

“Someone came to poison the pigs in our village’s pen,” Bai Xi said, standing up and preparing to head there.

(Just stepped out for a bit earlier. Originally planned to update two chapters, but can only update this one for now. Sorry to keep all the dear readers waiting!)