Si Yan and the two little wolf cubs returned to White Eagle City, their baskets laden with herbs.
After a whole day, their gains were considerable. Si Yan was very happy, already imagining her tree hollow filled with these herbs once they were dried.
Feeling good, she relaxed and turned to chat and laugh with the two wolf cubs.
However, in an unguarded moment, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old female suddenly crashed into her, knocking her to the ground.
Little Si Yan fell, her basket flung into the air and toppling to the ground. Most of its contents spilled out. Then, a line of Beastmen walked past, crushing many of the herbs.
Before Si Yan could get up, she cried out, "Don’t step on them! Don’t step on them! Don’t step on my herbs!"
Tai Seng and Yin Hong rushed to help Si Yan up. "Si Yan, are you hurt?" they asked anxiously.
Si Yan had no time to respond to the wolf cubs. The small, six-year-old female rushed forward to protect her herbs, exceptionally stubborn.
"Don’t step on my herbs!"
"AH!!" The fifteen or sixteen-year-old female who had just bumped into her suddenly fell, landing right on Si Yan’s herb basket and crushing it completely.
The remaining herbs inside the basket were also badly damaged.
Si Yan scrambled up and hurried over, on the verge of tears.
"Don’t crush my basket!"
Si Yan quickly picked up the ruined basket. More herbs had been trampled and ruined, and she tried to gather the damaged ones back into it.
As she did, her tears fell pitter-patter.
"Si Yan," Tai Seng and Yin Hong cried out, terribly anxious.
Little Si Yan stood up and pointed at the fifteen or sixteen-year-old White Eagle female, Bai Kui. "Why did you bump into me? Why did you ruin my herb basket and my herbs?" she demanded.
Bai Kui feigned innocence. "I didn’t! I fell by accident. I really didn’t mean to. I’m sorry."
Si Yan retorted angrily, "Is saying sorry enough? My basket and my herbs are ruined!"
Bai Kui replied, "I really didn’t do it on purpose. Si Yan, I know you’re the High Priest’s apprentice. You know more than I do; you’re more capable. I don’t recognize these herbs, nor do I know anything about baskets. I’m just an ordinary White Eagle female."
With that, Bai Kui knelt on the street, looking utterly pitiable.
"I really didn’t mean to! Look, I’ve knelt down. I’m kneeling! Can we please just forget about this?"
Passing Beastmen shook their heads.
"What’s going on? She’s kneeling."
"Yes, isn’t the High Priest’s apprentice going too far? Why make another female kneel to her?"
"She’s relying on the High Priest as her backer, acting rather lawless, isn’t she?"
"It seems Bai Kui damaged Si Yan’s things, so Si Yan is making her kneel."
"Just for damaging something? Isn’t that too much? Why make the other female kneel?"
"That’s going too far."
This was the first time Si Yan had encountered such a situation. Her basket was broken, her herbs trampled. She had argued with the one at fault, so why was everyone accusing her?
She remembered weaving the basket with excitement that morning. She had endured insect bites while gathering herbs with the two wolf cubs and had joyfully returned home, thinking about drying the herbs for everyone to use during an epidemic. She had been filled with such enthusiasm. Yet she couldn’t understand why she was now being treated this way, her efforts seemingly trampled underfoot.
She was being accused by everyone.
"Why did you destroy my things? How can you say it’s not a big deal? I don’t want you to kneel! You have to compensate me! Compensate me for my basket and my herbs!!"
Bai Kui immediately knelt down and started to kowtow.
"Si Yan, I’m sorry. I’m just a nobody; I’ve never studied with the High Priest. I don’t know how to replace this basket, nor do I recognize the herbs. I have no way to compensate you..."
Si Yan tried to pull her up. "Compensate me for my things! I don’t want you to kowtow!"
The Beastmen of White Eagle City couldn’t watch any longer. "Si Yan, don’t be so petty. It’s just a few herbs."
"Exactly. Making Bai Kui kowtow over such a trivial matter. Good heavens."
"It’s nothing serious. Besides, you’re the High Priest’s apprentice; you should be mindful of his reputation."
"That’s right. Just let it go. It’s such a trifle."
Si Yan felt terrible. Why was everyone saying these things about her?
She hadn’t done anything wrong. Why was everyone urging her to be magnanimous?
Is it because I’m associated with Bai Feng that I’m being treated this way?
Although she hadn’t clearly seen Bai Kui bump into her at first, Si Yan now saw it clearly. Bai Kui had done it on purpose, intentionally falling on the basket to crush it.
Why can’t they distinguish right from wrong? Why do they expect me to be generous and endure this injustice?
Tai Seng and Yin Hong had never witnessed such a scene. The two cubs moved to shield Si Yan, hiding her distress from the onlookers and protecting her as best they could.
Little Tai Seng shouted anxiously, "Si Yan spent all day picking these herbs! She’s covered in insect bites! Now that the herbs are ruined, shouldn’t you compensate her?"
A male Beastman scoffed, "Medicinal herbs? What would a six-year-old cub know about medicinal herbs?"
"Aren’t these just weeds from the back mountain? There are fields of them up there."
"Just a child picking some weeds and calling them herbs."
"Hey, Si Yan! If you won’t think of yourself, at least consider the High Priest. Behaving , how will it reflect on him?"
Bai Kui kowtowed forcefully, her head hitting the ground.
No one had seen clearly what happened, but Bai Kui knew she had done it intentionally.
The Beastman she admired most was High Priest Bai Feng. Even a distant glimpse of Bai Feng would make her joyful all day long. Yet, as a female of White Eagle City, she herself had no chance to become his disciple. And this little female from who knows where—she actually became the High Priest’s apprentice! After becoming the High Priest’s apprentice, this girl doesn’t even seem to cherish the opportunity! She’s exploiting the High Priest’s kindness, even moving all her belongings into his residence! Even worse, she hung big buckets all over the great tree where the High Priest lives! She’s the High Priest’s apprentice; I can’t confront her directly to teach her a lesson. So I’ll use this method to teach this little female cub a lesson.
Bai Kui watched Si Yan struggle to defend herself, watched her cry in frustration and injustice.
A sharp thrill of satisfaction coursed through Bai Kui.
However, at that very moment,
A figure, as white and pure as snow, suddenly appeared behind the little cub, Si Yan.
He glided over, feathers fluttering, his slender, well-defined hand gently resting on her head.
Feeling the warmth on her head, Si Yan slowly lifted her gaze.
The surrounding Beastmen instantly fell silent. Some, who held him in particular reverence, even knelt.
Bai Kui’s mouth fell open in surprise. She stared at the breathtakingly handsome male before her, who seemed like a deity.
This was the first time she had ever seen him so close.
Bai Kui’s heart pounded. The rightful source is NoveI-Fire.ɴet
He will, won’t he? He didn’t see what happened, and I’ve been kneeling here, kowtowing until my scalp is almost broken. He’ll definitely help me.