Chapter 36 Part 1

With one successful move immobilizing the snake demon, Li Jiangying lowered the hand covering her eyes, took the Snow Thistle Flowers she was holding, and calmly, stiffly, walked towards Jiang Sujin.

Behind her, the snake demon stood with her mouth agape, dumbly staring at her retreating figure. She raised her own claw as if still immersed in some beautiful dream from which she couldn’t awaken, occasionally touching her forehead with it, lowering it, touching again, lowering—as if needing to confirm many, many times to distinguish the boundary between reality and illusion.

Jiang Sujin had just climbed down from the cliff. Looking up, she asked in puzzlement, “How did Senior Li end up in a tree?”

Li Jiangying handed her the Snow Thistle Flowers and said calmly, “She likes high places. Don’t mind her.”

After resting, they prepared to continue their journey. Jiang Sujin made a miraculous discovery: Li Xiangshui was no longer being difficult and had started eating like a mortal; A Yue had suddenly become much more docile, sticking honestly to Sister Ying Suanli’s back and no longer clamoring for her to play. But every so often, an eerie giggle would escape her.

When the snake demon occasionally lifted her face, the smile she revealed nearly made Jiang Sujin break out in goosebumps.

Two major problems lay before Li Jiangying and the others: first, how to make money (now Li Jiangying finally understood why the Moon Shadow Devil Palace was perpetually broke); second, how to deal with the Devil Cultivators hunting them because of the wanted notices.

Li Jiangying thought it over and realized the two problems could be combined into one. She decided to engage in some “fishing law enforcement” and thus ordered Li Xiangshui and Li Yueying to team up.

Li Yueying rolled around, holding her face. “No, no! I’m not going with the bad woman!”

Li Xiangshui: “Heh. I don’t want to be with an idiot either.”

Li Jiangying looked meaningfully at Li Xiangshui. “Wow. Such backbone.”

Li Xiangshui: “…”

The little madwoman, who had been rolling on the ground, sensed the dangerous aura. She scrambled up at once, hesitantly hugging Li Jiangying’s arm to make a demand. “Well… if I go with the bad woman, will Yingying give me a reward?”

Li Jiangying patted her head. “Depends on your performance.”

After plotting their course of action, the group shifted their strategy from avoiding crowds to secretly selecting targets. The targets were Devil Cultivators Li Yueying could easily handle. They would let Li Xiangshui and the black snake demon show themselves together, lure the pursuers to a deserted area, and then rob them.

Every time they succeeded, Li Yueying would impatiently throw herself before Li Jiangying, leaning her head forward with her hands behind her back, the tip of her tail scraping back and forth on the ground, her expression bashful as she asked for a reward.

Li Jiangying would extend her hand and rub her head: “You were amazing!” Then she’d turn and leave.

The little madwoman would freeze in place, staring dumbfounded after her, then whoosh right up against her: “No, no! I want that kind of reward!”

Li Jiangying sat cross-legged before the campfire, toasting dry rations, looking like a wizened master. “What kind is that kind?”

At this moment, Li Yueying would lower her body and forcibly burrow into Li Jiangying’s arms, her tail slapping the ground rapidly, pap pap pap, kicking up a cloud of dust. She would purse her lips and coquettishly whisper: “I want a kiss!”

Li Jiangying couldn’t help but darken her face: “Put those lips away! What kiss? You’re pushing it!”

She raised her hand and slapped it over Li Yueying’s face, pushing outward. Li Yueying locked her arms around her waist, refusing to leave for anything. In the end, the crafty mortal settled for a compromise, kneading the little madwoman’s cheek flesh with both hands. Under the squishing and kneading, the demon in her arms would close her eyes and fall asleep with a peaceful expression.

But this compromise didn’t always work. The little madwoman was getting smarter and smarter. Another time, when Li Jiangying tried to gloss things over, the snake demon lay pillowed on her knees, gazing up at her, her body outside, her tail wagging slowly.

“Yingying is so mean.”

Li Jiangying said expressionlessly, “Then don’t say that while you’re using my lap as a pillow.”

Li Yueying’s smile then faded, her expression growing more and more serious. Just as Li Jiangying’s heart began to pound, suspecting she’d been triggered into switching states again, the snake tail suddenly whipped with force. Her waist and upper body shot upward. An exceptionally loud smack and a certain plant-like yelp of surprise rang out simultaneously.

Li Yueying, seizing an unguarded moment, had forcibly stolen a kiss—leaving a small teeth mark on Li Jiangying’s chin. Then, like a fierce dragon emerging from the sea, using both claws and a madly thrashing tail, she fled into the distance.

Li Jiangying covered her chin, her face dark: “You… just… you… wait!”

That evening, the black-tailed snake demon lay on a tree branch playing dead, while Li Jiangying held a torch, seemingly roasting snake meat.

But suitable targets were few. By the time they arrived near Flying Swallow Capital, counting up all their assets, they only had enough for half a pill.

Li Jiangying wasn’t completely discouraged. They would reach Flying Swallow Capital tomorrow. Perhaps Cui Yu had already prepared everything, and they could successfully buy the medicine as soon as they met. But that was the best-case scenario.

The worst case was probably that Cui Yu had already died a heroic death. At this thought, Li Jiangying quickly shook her head and prayed that she was alright.

When night fell, the four found a sheltered spot to rest. Li Yueying coiled herself into a circle around Li Jiangying. Li Xiangshui and Jiang Sujin leaned together.

Deep in the night, Li Jiangying woke up rubbing her stomach. Lately, for some unknown reason, her stomach had been continuously uncomfortable, as if she’d caught a chill. But the Devil Domain’s weather was scorching, and the further south they went towards Flying Swallow Capital, the hotter it got. How could she catch a chill?

Baffled, Li Jiangying yawned and got up, planning to go relieve herself.

The wind had picked up without her noticing. The campfire jumped violently, flickering between bright and dim. Li Jiangying faintly sensed a cold chill. She shrank her shoulders, pulled up her pants, and as she stood and turned around, she came face-to-face with a skull.

Li Jiangying mentally collapsed: “Is there no peace for me?!”

The skull was clad in a black robe, two clusters of eerie blue ghost fire burning in its dark eye sockets. A surge of familiarity hit her in that instant. Li Jiangying quickly fastened her pants, drew her short sword backhand, and while defending, sprinted toward the campfire.

“Jiang… ying…” An ethereal, airy voice, so faint it seemed like an illusion, drifted from behind her.

Li Jiangying was shocked. How did this thing know who she was?

Seeing that the others had already been woken by the commotion, Li Jiangying leaped to Li Yueying’s side and loudly declared: “This one never changes her name or surname! She is Ying Suanli! Sir, don’t make a mistake in identifying me!”

Li Yueying’s eyes narrowed, half-crouched, her sharp claws ready to strike at any moment, a threatening growl rumbling in her throat.

The skeleton person—more accurately, the Tomb Guardian—kept her distance, staying far away in the darkness without approaching. “Is… that so… but I’m a woman.”

Li Jiangying: “Sister, then.”

She poked the little madwoman’s waist. “Can you handle this one?”

Li Yueying squeezed her hand back and nodded. She then faced the Tomb Guardian and said darkly, “Who allowed you to come out? Who allowed you to approach her?! Get lost!”

The Tomb Guardian was silent for a moment, then said, “I’m worried about you.”

This time, the snake demon didn’t retort verbally. Instead, her tail hooked backwards and flicked. Pieces of burning wood flew towards the Tomb Guardian like a goddess scattering blossoms. The Tomb Guardian retreated in fluster. A skeleton that looked utterly terrifying actually displayed a panicked demeanor in the face of such common fire.

Taking advantage of her dodging the torches, Li Yueying scooped up Li Jiangying and sprinted away. Jiang Sujin and Li Xiangshui hurriedly chased after them. Li Xiangshui occasionally glanced back in surprise, as if exceptionally curious about this figure.

Li Jiangying lay on the snake demon’s back, bowed her head, and leaned close to her ear. “You know that person?”

Li Yueying kept her mouth tightly sealed, refusing to speak.

Li Jiangying reached out, grabbed her ear, and tugged. “Hey, not talking means you agree.”

“Yingying.” Li Yueying called her name, aggrieved. “She’s very bad. Just ignore her, okay?”

“Alright, alright.” Li Jiangying wasn’t actually determined to get to the bottom of it. She had just suddenly realized where that feeling of familiarity came from. When she first arrived at the Moon Shadow Devil Palace and fled in the night, she had stumbled into a strange building. It was pitch black inside, and in the deepest part, she had seen white bones hidden under a black robe.

This must be the skeleton person she had glimpsed that night.

It was dangerous in the wild. Thinking further, since Flying Swallow Capital was anyway very close, they traveled through the night. At the first rays of sunlight, they arrived at the city gate.

The city gate was majestic, the walls towering. Stone statues carved into the shapes of swallows stood atop the ramparts in various poses—some wings spread ready to fly, others gracefully preening their feathers. It looked even larger than Chasing Moon City.

However, Chasing Moon City had a more peaceful and secure aura, while this place was filled with the bustling prosperity of commerce.

“We’ve finally arrived!”

Jiang Sujin said, full of enthusiasm: “Sister Ying Suanli, quickly follow me. Accommodation outside is too expensive. I’ll take you to stay at my master’s place!”

“Will we be disturbing you?” Li Jiangying held her hand, so moved her eyes grew hot with tears.

“Not at all. My master’s house is huge.” Jiang Sujin smiled. “A Yue is injured, isn’t she? Perfect timing for my master to take a look.”

This idea suited Li Jiangying perfectly. Just as they were about to let Jiang Sujin lead the way to her master’s house, an excited voice rang out from behind them. “My Lord! Lady Ying!”

Li Jiangying spun around swiftly, her clothes flaring like a butterfly. Excited, she took a few steps forward, but the person who appeared before her was a short, unfamiliar man.

The man smiled and whispered, “I’m wearing a mask.”

Only then did Li Jiangying excitedly grasp Cui Yu’s hand. “Little Cui! Your timing couldn’t be more perfect!” Li Yueying draped herself over her arm, eyeing the hand Yingying was holding with a menacing glare.

Cui Yu was equally excited. She first saluted Li Yueying, then asked after Li Jiangying, still remembering her alias: “Miss Ying, how are you and Your Excellency faring?”

Li Jiangying shook her head. “I’m fine. A Yue’s injuries are growing more severe. Also, I lost your horse. I’m sorry. Right, I heard the Yin Wood Water Essence Pill will be auctioned. Is our money enough to bid for it?”

Cui Yu smiled bitterly. “I’m afraid it will be difficult. I originally intended to buy it directly from the alchemist, but too much time was wasted. By the time I got here, the pills had already been snatched up.”

Li Jiangying nodded and said, “We’ll discuss this later. I managed to scrape together some funds on my end as well. Combined, it might be enough.”

Cui Yu looked behind her and saw Li Xiangshui in a black robe and Jiang Sujin. Puzzled, she asked, “And these two are…?”

Li Xiangshui’s identity and background couldn’t be explained in a few words, especially with Jiang Sujin present. Li Jiangying cleared her throat lightly and said, “It’s a long story. We’ll talk about it later. This is Li Xiangshui. Going forward, she’s part of the Moon Shadow Devil Palace. And this is Jiang Sujin; our meeting was fateful. Her master is a doctor, perfect for helping A Yue.”

After speaking, Li Jiangying briefly introduced Cui Yu to them under the alias Xiao Cui.

Cui Yu had no other objections. She had been waiting here for several days. Seeing Li Yueying and the other safe and sound set her mind at ease, and so she followed along to Jiang Sujin’s master’s place.

In truth, after spending so many days together, Li Jiangying could basically conclude that Jiang Sujin herself was trustworthy. But having started with deception, explaining now would be somewhat awkward. Besides, not knowing her master’s character, Li Jiangying held back, deciding not to reveal their true backgrounds to her just yet.

Jiang Sujin’s master lived in a somewhat remote area, but it was very clean—and large. It was an enormous estate, filled inside with every manner of flower and plant, the air heavy with a subtle medicinal fragrance.

The gate guard let them through as soon as he saw Jiang Sujin. As Jiang Sujin led them in, she reminded them not to touch the flowers growing in the courtyard.

Li Xiangshui raised her head, surveying the area. “They’re medicinal herbs.”

“Correct.” Jiang Sujin said. “Some are harmless, but touching others will poison you.”

They crossed long corridors and front courtyards. The deeper they walked, the richer the medicinal scent in the air became. Jiang Sujin brought them to a place resembling a small valley. Upon entering, the surroundings suddenly became much cooler. Hovering in the center of this space was a bronze alchemical furnace, beneath which intense flames blazed.

A lean woman who looked to be in her thirties or forties stood before shelves laden with bottles and jars, counting something. Only when Jiang Sujin joyfully called out “Master” did she turn around.

“Jiang Sujin.” Jiang Sujin’s master looked fierce and exceedingly unapproachable. She watched coldly as her disciple happily bounded towards her and, with a flick of her hand, swept her to the side. “Jiang Sujin, you’ve brought random people back again!”

Jiang Sujin picked herself up from the ground, her face the picture of innocence. “Master, they’re not random people!”

Seeing the master and disciple pair about to launch into their own squabble, Li Jiangying hurriedly interjected: “Senior, this junior is Ying Suanli, a friend of Sujin’s. May I ask how I should address you?”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Sujin’s master finally deigned to look directly at Li Jiangying. She narrowed her eyes and scrutinized her carefully, then suddenly let out a mocking laugh. “You don’t recognize me?”

Of course, Li Jiangying didn’t recognize her. “Sujin hasn’t introduced you to me yet. For any discourtesy, please forgive me.”