Hearing this, I immediately understood. Today, the flow of spiritual energy within Ling Shuang's body was probably different from usual. For an ancient exotic beast with senses as sensitive as his, even those tiny deviations became intolerable flaws. To put it simply, he was the kind of customer who would return a dish just because this slice of meat isn't symmetrical enough.
"It was this disciple's negligence." I did not argue at all. I simply calmly admitted fault before continuing. "May Lord Ling Shuang grant this disciple a chance to make amends. Recently, this disciple happened to learn a technique for regulating meridians, guiding spiritual energy, and calming the mind."
Ling Shuang opened his eyes and stared at me for a moment. That icy gaze seemed to be evaluating whether I was trustworthy or not. After a while, he slowly lay down again. He turned his back toward me, which counted as silent approval.
I took a deep breath. Gentle blue spiritual light quickly appeared around both my hands.
This was the fur care skill the system had granted me back then. It was not simply brushing fur through contact. The technique could regulate stagnant spiritual energy and soothe the target's emotions.
To be honest, during my second year after entering the sect, after resolving an enormous internal conflict, I originally thought the system would reward me with some heaven-defying secret art or peerless divine weapon. The result was that it threw an entire complete fur care manual at me. Inside were detailed records covering everything from the skin and fur characteristics of spirit beasts, soul nurturing techniques, and spiritual energy circulation, all the way to calming massage methods.
At that moment, I genuinely started doubting whether the system had assigned me the wrong profession. Other cultivators learn sword arts. As for me, I unlocked the profession of an advanced groomer. If this kept developing any further, I suspected I might even open an ancient mythical beast spa right inside the sect.
But reality proved this skill was terrifyingly useful later on. I once used it to help Tailai calm down when he nearly destroyed the Spirit Beast Garden. I even soothed the bristling brown fur of a ferocious beast that had once rampaged around plundering everywhere. I even used a special massage technique to calm Lord Difang after he lost his temper and burned down half of the spiritual land.
At this moment, the spiritual energy in my hands slowly merged into Ling Shuang's body. At first, his body stiffened instinctively. But very quickly, he gradually relaxed. His ice-blue eyes half closed, and the tail that had been swishing irritably also stopped moving. In its place came a rare state of relaxation.
The atmosphere inside the cave dwelling became quiet and harmonious. Only the faint sound of spiritual energy flowing and Ling Shuang's steady breathing remained. By the very end, several low growls filled with enjoyment even escaped from his throat.
Just as I was about to withdraw my hands, a deep voice carrying a hint of dissatisfaction suddenly rang out from outside.
"Ling Shuang, why are you covering the place with a water curtain? Why is there someone inside?"
The water curtain parted. A gigantic tiger-shaped spirit beast stepped into the cave dwelling. His entire body was covered in crimson-gold fur mixed with pitch black. His aura was incomparably domineering. The one who arrived was none other than Tailai.
His golden eyes swept across the cave dwelling. When he saw me, they brightened slightly. Then he looked toward Ling Shuang, who was lying there enjoying himself, and burst into laughter.
"No wonder you didn't open the door earlier. So you were enjoying service here. Your treatment is pretty good, Ling Shuang."
Ling Shuang could not even be bothered to open his eyes. He merely transmitted his voice lazily. "If there's nothing important, then don't disturb me."
Tailai was not angry at all. Instead, he turned to look at me and spoke extremely bluntly. "Do you still have the tea you brewed at Cloud Cliff Peak last time? Brew this old man a pot. The weather is hot today. I need something to clear the inner heat."
I immediately replied respectfully. "That tea was a mission reward, and there wasn't much of it. Even this disciple could hardly bear to drink it. But reporting to Lord Tailai, there is still a little left. After this disciple finishes taking care of Lord Ling Shuang, I will immediately brew some for you."
Hearing that, Tailai laughed loudly. "Good, hurry up."
After saying that, he actually found a corner inside the cave dwelling and lay down to wait, like a regular customer at an afternoon tea house.
Only then did Ling Shuang slightly lift his eyelids. His ice-blue eyes glanced sideways. "Get in line. Can't you see I'm busy right now?"
Tailai merely chuckled shamelessly. "All right, all right, all right. You're the priority. I'll wait."
After saying that, he truly lay there quietly without moving anymore.
Looking at the scene before me, I could only laugh helplessly. Who could have imagined that the two guardian spirit beasts, whom even the sect elders treated with utmost respect, now looked exactly like two VIP customers waiting their turn at a fur care spa and afternoon tea service? One was lying there enjoying a massage. The other was sitting nearby waiting for his turn. They even casually argued over who should be served first. If this scene were spread outside, their majestic images would probably shatter on the spot.
After completing the final massage, I softly asked, "Lord Ling Shuang, how do you feel?"
Ling Shuang slowly stood up. The spiritual energy around his body was circulating far more smoothly than before. Under the glow of spiritual light, his silver-white fur became even more glossy and radiant, as though covered in a layer of cold frost. It looked so soft that anyone who saw it would want to reach out and stroke it at least once.
He lightly shook his body. Every strand of fur was soft enough to almost reflect light. After a moment of silence, this famously picky spirit beast lord finally nodded in satisfaction. Within his ice-blue eyes, a faint trace of approval rarely appeared.
"Not bad."
Immediately afterward, his tail lightly swayed. A pearl the size of an egg, dark brown like a betel nut, slowly floated toward me.
"This is your reward."