Meanwhile, at the Long Mansion...
A young man with an aura of a scholar, simultaneously, he can have a powerful aura like that of a warrior. He has golden eyes and red hair. And can be regarded as a master of pen and sword. He is sitting opposite a younger boy with red hair and provocative red eyes.
Long Shun, the older brother at eighteen years old, and Long Hao, the mischievous child at thirteen years old, are called the Long duo. They are in a staring match. And the reason for it is that...
>>> One hour ago...
"Today it's her time to go out for her routine walk. And it's my turn to escort her." Long Shun spoke with impetus.
Long Hao couldn't get past her attitude.
"No, it's my turn to go with her. Last time, you were the one who escorted her." He said indignantly.
"Don't think I don't know what they did at Xu Tian Pavilion the last time you went out with her. Xiao Ling had to be criticized by the Manager. Father got complaints about your antics every time you go out." Long Shun replied.
Long Hao listened to what his Elder Brother said. He just shrugged and said nothing about it, but that doesn't mean he would give up.
"Never mind. It's my turn to escort her. Besides, you take her to boring places. She'll never have fun with you."
Long Hao muttered, seeing that indeed his Elder Brother always takes Xiao Ling to libraries to read, or to some scenery that is warm and with good lighting and environment for readings. Or he also takes her to the cleanest part of the barracks, where the Clan subordinates train.
Now, the staring contest continued until a maid came running up.
"... What's going on? Is it the end of the world for you to appear like that?" Long Hao asked wryly, seeing the maid's distressed face.
Long Shun frowned at the sight of her.
Both brothers felt annoyed by her attitude. But what the maid says next makes them see that it is something worse than the end of the world, and they will behave the same way, or worse.
"... The... The... The... Young Miss... Miss Mei Ling... She… She…" the maid stammered.
The expression of the brothers changed.
"What's wrong with Xiao Ling?" Long Shun lost his composure.
The usual mischievous Long Hao changed. His serious expression can make others feel fear.
None of them wanted to wait until the maid took a breath and ordered her words....
Long Hao rushed out to look for his little sister.
Long Shun looked coldly at the maid, his expression impatient.
The maid became frightened, and with apparent fear in her eyes.
"Young Miss disappeared. After the routine study with the Old Master, no one saw her." She said in one breath.
Long Shun ran to inform his grandfather and parents.
'Then... It has been two hours since she disappeared...' Long Shun thinks, while running.
***
"Hey, Xin, go faster... Come on! Go!!!" Shouted a rampaging toddler as she rode an immense beast.
"Hey, I don't think I can survive if you go any faster. At least grab me, because I'll bury my 'claws' in the little tiger's back." A rodent complained as it struggled to keep its balance on the gigantic beast's back, making emphasis on his 'claws'.
Xiao Ling was smiling and enjoying how the air gently hit her face, refreshing it. As her hair dances to the rhythm of every step the beast takes.
As Jin struggles ardently to stay on top of the beast and not fall, he cannot hide the panic in his eyes.
Bai Xin, the beast, is the white tiger that is addicted to cute and small things. It got its name from Xiao Ling, who followed the little toddler when she saw it. Xiao Ling gave her several warnings, not wanting to be seen weirder by the beast, forbade him to touch her, but did not forbid him to be touched by her little hands.
When she was leaving, the White tiger followed her, and it exasperated her. She wanted to make him leave, not knowing why he follows her, forgetting that he was asleep, and it was Jin who woke him up. In view of what happened, she took him under her command. Giving him several conditions.
Like, not to see her strangely, not to touch her, not to get excited when he sees her, and to behave himself. Among other conditions, such as to listen to her in everything, and to let her ride on his back.
The white tiger accepted without hesitation, knowing that he would have an adorable toddler on his back, filled him with pride and excitement.
Jin, who was complaining during the whole ride, regretted having approached the sleeping beast since all he wanted was to tame it and make it to carry them on its back, but it never occurred to him that the beast would have such preferences... And even worse, he couldn't even show his skills. Leaving him feeling wronged.
***
The speed with which the beast runs makes the surrounding view blurry. Xiao Ling does not know exactly the distance between the first mountain and the second. But that doesn't stop her from venturing deeper into Mount Hulu.
But making use of the dimension she has, which she can use without cultivation, she collected various herbs, even the ones she couldn't identify. She just knew they would be valuable, even poisonous herbs. Which she could tell at a glance, she didn't pay attention and just thought it was a reincarnation ability, nothing more.
As she collected more and more herbs, fruits, and anything else that looked cute, cool, or strange, she didn't realize how long it had been since she rode the back of the White tiger, she just enjoyed the ride and the exhilaration of collecting herbs, not caring what Jin said.
On the way, none of the beasts they saw from afar came close, because due to the level that Xin possesses, the White tiger could be called the King of Mount Hulu, being the strongest beast on the first mountain.
But at that moment, when she's enjoying the feelings, Xiao Ling heard the voice she has been looking for since she went on the mountain.
"... Come... This way..."