After finishing her porridge, Li Jiangying wiped her mouth, closed her eyes, and focused inward for a moment. Indeed, her body was perfectly fine.
She jumped to the floor and stretched her stiff, sleep-numbed limbs. “What about the others?”
“No one was seriously hurt.”
According to Sister Jiang, Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable had captured them and locked them up separately. He hadn’t done anything else to them. It wasn’t until Li Yueying and the others came to rescue them that Solitary Mountain threw them into the array.
But this made Liang Yiman’s anomaly all the more noteworthy.
“I’ll go see Her Highness.”
“Very well.”
Leaving the bedchamber, Li Jiangying realized she was not staying in her previous quarters—Li Yueying’s palace. It was likely because she was lucid now, so distance was being maintained.
The small palace she was using to recuperate was newly tidied up, a bit shabby but very clean. As soon as she stepped out, the door opposite hers swung open, revealing Li Xiangshui’s scowling face.
“You’re alright?”
“Thanks for your concern, I’m perfectly fine.”
Bang! The door was slammed shut. Li Xiangshui snorted from behind it. “Who’s concerned about you? Just don’t drag me down!”
Li Jiangying shook her head and walked outside. Cui Yu led the way, chatting as they went. “After her Highness brought you back, she went out again.”
“What did she go to do?”
Cui Yu smiled. “To settle accounts with Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable.” As she spoke, she deliberately watched Li Jiangying to gauge her reaction.
As expected, Li Jiangying scratched her head, a hint of worry in her eyes. “Charging off alone? Why the rush? Couldn’t she wait for me?”
Cui Yu reassured her. “Her Highness has profound cultivation. Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable is no match for her in a one-on-one fight. Don’t fret, Jiangying.”
Li Jiangying beat her chest in regret. “How could I not fret? Just one person, how much loot could she possibly haul back? She should have at least brought a few more storage bags!”
Cui Yu: “???”
They arrived at the dungeon. Liang Yiman was being held in solitary confinement, unchained. She sat on the stone bed, a faint melancholy on her face.
“Your Highness,” Li Jiangying called through the bars. “Are you alright?”
Hearing her, Liang Yiman looked up, peering through the gaps of the railing. She forced a smile. “I’m fine, naturally. It’s just, Jiangying, I can’t remember anything after being taken away.”
Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable must have done something to her, but it was hard to guess. It would be ideal if Li Yueying could capture him and interrogate him.
Li Jiangying consoled her. “Don’t fret too much. I’m fine too. Perhaps in a few days, Yueying will release you.”
Liang Yiman nodded, smiling. “That her Highness didn’t kill me outright, only ordered me to reflect here, is an act of great mercy. Don’t worry, I won’t do anything rash.”
Ultimately, neither of them remembered what happened before they lost consciousness, so mutual consolation was futile. Li Jiangying figured her presence might only make Liang Yiman feel worse. After exchanging a few more words and briefly discussing the recent state of Moon Shadow Devil Palace, she left.
She was about to head back when Cui Yu stopped her, saying Jiang Xiaohong and the others had prepared something to thank her.
Li Jiangying followed Cui Yu towards the back. Suddenly, a muffled boom echoed from the distance, like a thunderclap tearing through the sky. The ground trembled slightly. Startled, Li Jiangying scrambled to the rooftop and gazed towards the source of the sound.
In the distance, a massive plume of gray smoke, like a mushroom cloud, was rising. That was Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable’s territory. Wait… where had that tall, pointed mountain gone?!
The dust lingered, refusing to settle, but Li Jiangying already had a guess.
Damn. Li Yueying, you’re ruthless…
Li Jiangying jumped down from the roof. Cui Yu asked what was wrong. She raised a finger and wagged it mysteriously. “Nothing. Just demolishing a house, that’s all.”
The act of demolition was something Li Yueying was all too practiced at. The only difference was whether she demolished her own house or someone else’s…
They reached a rear courtyard. From a distance, Li Jiangying spotted the tall, sturdy figure of Jiang Xiaohong. She had her hair in two braids today, each tied with a flower made of red silk cloth. In her arms, she cradled an enormous basin too big for Li Jiangying to wrap both arms around.
Seeing Li Jiangying, her expression remained unchanged. She walked over with heavy, clanging steps, basin in hand.
Li Jiangying felt an oppressive pressure, like Mount Tai bearing down. She slowly raised a hand and smiled stiffly. “Xiaohong, how’s your mother? What’s all this?”
Thud!
Jiang Xiaohong set the large basin on the ground with a muffled boom. Li Jiangying looked down. It was filled to the brim with rice and a variety of fragrant, abundant meat dishes.
Jiang Xiaohong pulled out a spoon the size of a palm and shoved it towards Li Jiangying. “For you. Eat.”
Li Jiangying: “I appreciate the gesture, but that’s not necessary. I can’t eat this much.”
“Xiaohong, eat your own.” A gentle female voice came from behind Jiang Xiaohong. Li Jiangying looked up to see a woman carrying a tray, smiling warmly.
The woman appeared to be around thirty, beautiful, with a gentle, graceful demeanor. She wore her hair in a matron’s style, gentle as water. Beside her stood the silent, shrinking A’gou. A’gou smiled at her and stammered, “J-J-Jiangying, Miss Jiangying, th-th-thank you!”
“No need for thanks. Saving you was my duty.” Li Jiangying smiled and waved at him.
The gentle woman placed her tray on the stone table inside a nearby pavilion, wiped her hands, and turned back to Li Jiangying. “Miss Jiangying, to be precise, this is the first time we’ve properly met. This humble one is Jiang Chunhua, Xiaohong’s mother.”
Li Jiangying was a little surprised. She hadn’t expected Jiang Chunhua to be such a lovely woman. She hurriedly stood and thanked her for all her hard work cooking, which had kept her from starving.
Jiang Chunhua invited her to sit in the pavilion. “Why stand on ceremony? I cook for Xiaohong every day anyway. Cui Yu told us it was you, Miss Jiangying, who convinced her Highness to rescue us. I’m grateful, unsure how to repay you, so I could only prepare a few of my best dishes for you to try.”
The moment Li Jiangying sat down, the fragrant aroma hit her nostrils, and saliva immediately flooded her mouth. She eagerly picked up her chopsticks. “Sister Jiang, you flatter me. We’re all members of Moon Shadow Devil Palace, family doesn’t speak like strangers. No need to thank me, and I won’t stand on ceremony with you. This food is simply too delicious… Mmm, excellent cooking!”
Seeing her eat so happily, Jiang Chunhua’s eyes crinkled with a smile. Just then, Jiang Xiaohong arrived, hugging her colossal basin and spoon. She sat down at the edge of the pavilion and, from that giant basin, took a mouthful equivalent to Li Jiangying’s entire bowl.
“Miss Xiaohong’s appetite is truly astonishing!” Li Jiangying couldn’t help but stare. Jiang Chunhua noticed her gaze and explained with a smile, “This child suffered from hunger when she was young. After that, she just ate more and more. As her mother, I don’t hope for her to be exceptionally powerful; I only wish that she never goes hungry again.”
Li Jiangying smiled. “Having a good appetite is a blessing.”
“Yes, a good appetite is a blessing.”
The meal was thoroughly enjoyed by both host and guest. Li Jiangying polished off all the dishes on the tray. She sighed, patting her round, swollen belly. “I’ve heard the higher one’s cultivation, the less one needs to eat. How come my appetite is growing instead?”
Cui Yu said, “Only upon reaching the Innate Stage can one practice Inedia and abstain from food. You are still at the Postnatal Realm now, Jiangying. The stronger your body becomes, the more nourishment it requires, or it will weaken.”
“That’s true.” Li Jiangying clenched her fist, resolving to cultivate diligently and break through to the Innate Realm as soon as possible. That way, she could save on food expenses!
Speaking of cultivation, Li Jiangying’s knowledge base was now quite extensive. She asked curiously what kind of cultivation methods the others practiced.
Cui Yu said she was considered half a Sword Cultivator, aligned with the Metal Element, but not proficient, having never studied any particularly good sword techniques. Li Jiangying made a mental note, planning to see if she could trade for some sword arts from the Tao Clan.
Jiang Chunhua and Jiang Xiaohong were both ordinary Magic Cultivators. One was of the Water Element, the other Earth. The initial techniques they cultivated were very low-level. After arriving at Moon Shadow Devil Palace, they had visited the Scripture Pavilion once, but the techniques accessible at their authority level weren’t very impressive.
Chai A’gou, however, gave Li Jiangying a surprise. He said he had cultivated Demonic Arts, and later realized it wasn’t quite right, but by then he was used to it and didn’t want to change.
Li Jiangying thought for a moment and decided that to improve the overall strength of Moon Shadow Devil Palace, she needed to start from the basics. She would find a way to help everyone advance their abilities!
She made a promise to them. Jiang Chunhua, Jiang Xiaohong, and Cui Yu were expectant, knowing Li Jiangying could retrieve the highest-level techniques from the Scripture Pavilion. But Chai A’gou was somewhat indifferent, clearly doubting she could do much for him. Still, he was polite enough to express anticipation.
They were chatting happily when, suddenly, a cold wind blew past. Before Li Jiangying could react, she saw the others suddenly stand up in unison and bow towards someone behind her. “Your Highness!”
Startled, Li Jiangying whipped her head around and saw Li Yueying, her small face pale as snow.
“How did you get back so fast?” Li Jiangying asked in surprise.
Li Yueying casually dusted off her hands. “This Venerable One took that old man Solitary Mountain’s flying magic treasure. We’re both Devil Venerables, but the wealth disparity is vast. His flying treasure is much faster than those Demonic Beasts.”
Li Jiangying was overjoyed. This meant Moon Shadow Devil Palace’s assets had increased! “Where’s the treasure?”
Li Yueying’s hand paused, then slowly lowered. “Threw it away.”
“Why did you throw it away?!” Li Jiangying’s head was full of question marks.
“It broke.” Li Yue Ying tilted her head slightly, chin raised, looking at the clouds in the sky, refusing to look at Li Jiangying.
“Why would it break?!” Li Jiangying refused to believe it.
“Because…” Li Yueying shot her a quick, furtive glance, then suddenly snorted coldly. “It broke, so it broke. The treasure was too fragile, that’s all. Why is that any of your business?!”
Li Jiangying nearly choked with anger. A magic treasure that could bring Li Yueying back this fast was on the level of a Ferrari or Rolls-Royce! A luxury car, obtained and then just gone… You spendthrift Devil Venerable!
Unable to help herself, she rolled up her sleeve and said coldly, “Too fragile? Broke? Were you in such a rush to get back and see if I’d run away that you pushed the treasure beyond its limits?”
“No!”
“No?” Li Jiangying pouted, disbelief written all over her face.
Li Yueying couldn’t help but retort, “This Venerable One did not want to see if you’d run away!”
“Hmph.” Li Jiangying didn’t want to listen to more excuses. “What about Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable?”
“He ran.” Speaking of this, Li Yueying furrowed her brow. “He fled too quickly. Otherwise, this Venerable One would have torn him to pieces!” As she uttered the last four words, she glanced subtly at Li Jiangying.
“Ran?” Li Jiangying stroked her chin thoughtfully. Strange. Why did Solitary Mountain Devil Venerable go through all this trouble?
Logically, if he had the power to forcibly break through the Palace Protection Grand Array, why hadn’t he come to capture them sooner? They had been away for so long; anyone with ill intent should have guessed Li Yueying wasn’t in the palace. Why did Solitary Mountain just happen to capture everyone two days before their return?
And why insist he wanted to use her as an exchange? After making his threats, why didn’t he come into the array to seize her? Was he really that afraid of Li Yueying?
And none of the captured were harmed. Except for Liang Yiman. What had happened back then that caused both of them to lose their memories? Strange… this was all too strange…
Suddenly, a strange ripple came from her Sea of Consciousness. Li Jiangying paused, then lowered her hand and smiled. “Ah, well, since everything is fine now, I’ll head back first.”
What was she going to do? Right! Improve the others’ strength!
