Everyone had already prepared to attack, but only Jian Dan could sense that the creature held no hostility. The raccoon beast leapt from her lower leg to her shoulder in a blink.
"So fast!" Wei Zhengrong whispered in surprise.
The raccoon tugged at Jian Dan's hair, signaling her to head deeper into the bamboo grove. After thinking for a moment, she nodded and sent a voice transmission to Cao Chenfeng:
"I'll go see what it wants. You all stay at the edge of the grove and maintain a defensive stance until I return."
Cao Chenfeng nodded in acknowledgment and held back Jin Liuli and the others, indicating they should remain in place.
With a third-rank raccoon beast, equivalent to a Nascent Soul-stage human cultivator, perched on her shoulder, Jian Dan followed it through winding bamboo paths until they reached a shelter made entirely of green bamboo.
On the way, other raccoon beasts peeked out curiously at the outsider. A few looked like they wanted to attack, but the one on Jian Dan's shoulder bared its tiny teeth and let out sharp chattering sounds, sending the others scattering.
"It has been a long time since a human cultivator visited us. Welcome."
An aged raccoon beast stepped out of the bamboo hut, walking upright with the aid of a bamboo cane. Though his fur had whitened with age, his black eyes gleamed with wisdom.
Jian Dan immediately recognized that he was at least sixth rank, likely above the Divine Transformation stage, and respectfully saluted.
"Greetings, Senior. I am a disciple of Tianjian Sect. I came to this mountain to gather herbs and participate in a competition. I apologize for disturbing you."
She glanced at the little raccoon on her shoulder, who now resembled a child caught in mischief, hiding behind her hair.
"His name is Xingxing. He is the future successor of our raccoon beast clan. He invited you here without my permission."
"Then—" Jian Dan was about to suggest she take her leave.
"But since you're already here, let us hear what Xingxing has to say."
The elder waved his cane, and Xingxing jumped down from Jian Dan's shoulder. Upon landing, he transformed into a small boy with a furry tail.
"Ancestor, Xingxing knows he was wrong. But I saw them eat the pills from the porcelain bottle, and their wounds healed. I wanted to ask her to help save Mother and Xiao Yue."
"So, they're asking for help." Jian Dan thought to herself. That was fine—she didn't mind doing a good deed and possibly completing their second objective.
She stood quietly, observing the surroundings in case things went wrong and she had to fight her way out.
The elder raccoon explained:
"When Xingxing's mother gave birth to Yue Liang, she suffered serious damage to her life force and her cultivation fell. She lacked the strength to care for Yue Liang properly. Back then, Xingxing was just a child. He stole a Vitality Fruit from the Medicine Peak and fed it to Yue Liang. The fruit's power nearly made her body explode. I intervened in time, but since that incident, Yue Liang's growth has halted. For the past thousand years, we've tried many remedies, but none have worked."
"With the thousand-year mark reached and Medicine Peak opened again, Xingxing wanted to find a human cultivator to help."
Jian Dan nodded. "If you don't mind, may I see his mother and Xiao Yue?"
"This way, little friend."
The elder led her to a smaller bamboo house. Inside, Jian Dan saw a raccoon beast lying weakly on a bed of bamboo leaves, with a much smaller raccoon beside her.
Jian Dan crouched down and sent a trace of wood-element spiritual energy into the raccoon's body. After a moment, she shook her head.
"Her life force is nearly exhausted. To have survived this long with your support is already a miracle. I'm afraid I cannot help. I do have a Life Extension Pill that can add three hundred years to a lifespan, but for your kind, that is not much."
She took out a pill bottle from her storage and sent it to the elder with a wave of spiritual energy.
"You are kind, little friend, but this is not what she wishes for. I thank you on her behalf, but please take it back."
The elder pushed the bottle back with a gentle force.
At this point, Xingxing's tears streamed down silently.
Jian Dan knew that, as a mother, what she cared about most wasn't herself. Jian Dan walked to the smaller raccoon. Before her spiritual sense even touched the little one, she instinctively pulled back and swiftly stepped outside with Shadowstep.
"That was close."
Now outside the hut, Jian Dan's expression was completely blank. Xingxing growled at her, fur bristling, ready to strike.
Jian Dan narrowed her eyes. Her Obsidian Bracelet lit up with purple glow, and the pendant on her chest activated, flooding her with power. Her white robes transformed into a silver-grey battle gown, and Cotton Candy above her head flickered with energy.
Raccoon beasts surrounded her. The atmosphere was on the verge of erupting into battle.
"Stand down, all of you."
The elder's voice cut through the tension. His wise gaze fell on Jian Dan.
"You are perceptive. You saw the issue immediately."
"So?"
"I hope you will form a contract with Yue Liang and take her out of Medicine Peak. It is the only way she will survive."
===
(月亮, Yuèliang) is "Moonlight" or "Moon" in English. So if you ever read this novel in other sites, whether it's on official site and you use 'Google Translate' or in any MTL's sites. Maybe you will find the name will change into "Moon" on it.