Chapter 31: Showing Weakness: Acting Anytime, Anywhere

The Half-Mountain Spirit Garden was a space jointly built by the Eleven Clans using their demon power. Like the General Bureau, it had channels connecting to all eleven clans simultaneously. Each clan’s channel was only for demons of that clan to use, and the channels relied on clan members’ ID cards to verify identities and take them to different places.

Of course, a General Bureau work permit could open all channels and take them to any clan.

Unfortunately, Ye Xi didn’t have a work permit right now and could only borrow Qiao Yan’s.

Qiao Yan stood at the entrance of the complex and pulled out her work permit. Before it could even be scanned by the identity recognizer, she put it away. She turned back to Ye Xi with an apologetic smile. “Physician Ye, a single work permit can only allow two people to pass through at the same time.”

As expected.

Qiao Yan was treating her like a fool.

Ye Xi didn’t call her out on it. She handed both suitcases to Shen Mingjin and hugged her Pink Fur Rabbit Doll tightly as she followed behind Shen Mingjin, doing her best to play the fragile role.

Qiao Yan’s words gave Ye Xi plenty of room to perform. She took two steps forward and pressed her body against Shen Mingjin’s.

Ye Xi looked up at Shen Mingjin with feigned panic and helplessness. “Sister, what are we going to do?”

Her thick, soft black lashes trembled fragilely with tiny water droplets. Her reddened nose tip and the corners of her eyes made her look utterly pitiful.

Her fair, delicate neck drooped low, the curved line resembling the stem of a flower too weak to support its bloom.

The voice squeezed from her throat was full of anxiety, faintly hiding a soft, helpless sob.

She truly seemed like a girl without her own opinions, one who couldn’t survive without clinging to others—a fragile flower that couldn’t withstand the slightest wind or wave.

A flash of disdain passed through Qiao Yan’s eyes, and the tips of her fingers gripping the work permit turned white.

She focused all her attention on Ye Xi, not noticing Shen Mingjin’s surprise or You Nian’s shock.

Faced with Ye Xi’s image, which was worlds apart from before, You Nian twisted the hem of her clothes to shreds but still couldn’t figure out which was the real Ye Xi. Her intact memories reminded her of how Ye Xi had coerced and bullied her the night before.

Shen Mingjin had the most contact with Ye Xi and adapted better than You Nian.

She convinced herself to accept Ye Xi’s new persona and freed up one hand to gently pat the back of Ye Xi’s hand. “It’s okay.”

After soothing Ye Xi, Shen Mingjin turned to Qiao Yan. “Miss Qiao, since it’s inconvenient for you to take them, you can go ahead. I’ll take them to Wanghe Village.”

Qiao Yan cast a sinister glance at Shen Mingjin and forcefully pressed her work permit against the identity recognizer. “Set destination: Embracing Snow Clan, Wanghe Village.”

As Qiao Yan’s voice fell, the recognizer spewed out clusters of red light like blazing flames. The light clusters gathered and condensed on the tightly shut gate of the Half-Mountain Spirit Garden, forming a vortex—the channel connecting to another place.

Qiao Yan withdrew her work permit, her nails scraping across the hard card with a sharp, grating sound.

She glared unwillingly at Shen Mingjin before stepping into the vortex alone.

That blatant malice didn’t just treat Ye Xi like she was blind; it completely disregarded Shen Mingjin as well.

An arrogant and conceited wolf demon.

Ye Xi silently noted Qiao Yan’s contempt for Shen Mingjin. The hand hugging the Pink Fur Rabbit Doll’s belly tightened, the pressure in her waist and abdomen deepening her memory of the moment.

As soon as Qiao Yan entered the channel, the vortex vanished.

Once the wolf demon’s aura completely disappeared, Ye Xi dropped her fragile act. “Sister, is she very powerful? How can she be so arrogant?”

Shen Mingjin looked at the completely changed Ye Xi but didn’t question her reasons. She calmly stated a fact. “The General Bureau has regulatory responsibilities over the Demon Clan. The real demons who can enter the General Bureau are no weaklings. A Demon Bone Physician’s contract beast must have enough demon power to share with the physician, convert it into power the physician can use to treat other demons, and protect the Demon Bone Physician. Their demon power is all very strong.”

You Nian wasn’t as silent as Shen Mingjin. She stared at the face-changing Ye Xi, her round eyes spinning. “Ah, I get it now. You’re a liar.”

“I get it too—you’re a silly rabbit.” Ye Xi bent down slightly, one hand hugging the Pink Fur Rabbit while the other pinched You Nian’s cheek red. “You already knew that wolf wasn’t some good sort, so why did you believe everything she said? You got manipulated so easily.”

You Nian struggled a couple of times, baring her rabbit teeth. “You’re just biased!”

Pink-and-white fur rapidly grew on the sides of her face, quickly covering her little face entirely, turning the spot Ye Xi pinched into a thick layer of rabbit fur.

The soft rabbit fur grew damp. Ye Xi rummaged through it and found You Nian’s reddened eyes.

You Nian couldn’t understand why Ye Xi sided with a snake over her own contract beast. It made her feel a bit wronged.

The oppressive environment hadn’t fully turned You Nian into a prematurely mature rabbit. She still had some childish innocence, proving she had a few close, trustworthy rabbits in the Moon Perch Clan.

She hadn’t been completely crushed by her surroundings.

Ye Xi wasn’t in the habit of coaxing children, but You Nian hadn’t blurted out anything to ruin her new facade just now, so she deserved some praise.

“You Nian, if you obediently listen to me and stick with me and Sister, I’ll have my grandma vote for your Sixth Sister too.”

“Really?”

After Ye Xi nodded, You Nian immediately patted her chest. “Physician Ye, Snake Sister, the three of us are the fourth best in the world!”

Ye Xi nodded in satisfaction. “Now you can repeat what you said earlier.”

“Physician Ye, what are you talking about? I don’t quite understand.”

“I’m not a liar.”

“Physician Ye, you’re nothing like what Vice Director Qin described.” You Nian counted on her slender fingers. “You’re clearly not easy to bully, hard to talk to, and very…”

Ye Xi’s smile stiffened slightly before quickly returning to normal.

She grabbed the Pink Fur Rabbit’s two paws and used them to cover Shen Mingjin’s ears. “Sister, the little rabbit is badmouthing me. You didn’t hear anything.”

The rabbit paws were lifted by Ye Xi to cover Shen Mingjin’s ears.

The Pink Fur Rabbit’s body dangled in the air. As its paws moved toward Shen Mingjin, its body tilted accordingly. Its plump chest bumped against her back, and its swinging rabbit legs brushed against Shen Mingjin’s thigh.

The doll was differentiated from Ye Xi’s body. It seemed to have no temperature at first, but the moment it touched skin, it felt alive.

It didn’t know the meaning of “distance” like a real person would; it only followed the pull of the hand lifting it, swinging along.

“Sister!”

Shen Mingjin ignored Ye Xi, so Ye Xi instinctively pressed closer.

With the Pink Fur Rabbit sandwiched between them, Ye Xi bumped it fully against Shen Mingjin’s back. The soft chest pressed tightly against her slender spine. The swinging rabbit legs parted slightly, lightly hooking around Shen Mingjin’s thigh before dangling at her side.

They were heading to the Demon Clan, not the Human Clan.

Shen Mingjin had already changed out of her thick clothes and back into a thin, light skirt. The Pink Fur Rabbit Doll was covered in soft, dense fur—each strand fine and dry—gently brushing against her skin.

An itchy sensation crawled up her body along each hair. Shen Mingjin didn’t dare move.

She tried her best to avoid struggling, which would create even more friction, but Ye Xi’s body heat still transmitted through the doll, spreading from the points of contact.

It was getting hot.

Such contact was a bit too much.

Shen Mingjin hadn’t even noticed that the most excessive part wasn’t the proximity, but her indulgence toward Ye Xi.

Because Shen Mingjin didn’t make a sound, Ye Xi’s reaction was slow.

Though the Pink Fur Rabbit shared senses with Ye Xi, the sensations were greatly weakened when transmitted to her. By the time Ye Xi realized something was off, Shen Mingjin was already flushed red, her whole body burning.

Shen Mingjin’s physical defects were severe; she couldn’t withstand any teasing at all.

She had always kept distance from everyone, but Ye Xi crossed that safe boundary time and again.

These transgressions didn’t breed disgust; what Shen Mingjin felt most was not anger, but embarrassment.

Ye Xi saw Shen Mingjin’s ears red enough to drip blood and hurriedly pulled the Pink Fur Rabbit back into her arms.

She coughed lightly twice to cover her own embarrassment. “Sister, shouldn’t we get going?”

Shen Mingjin turned her face slightly away from Ye Xi and bit her lip as she nodded slowly.

You Nian noticed nothing amiss. She retracted her rabbit fur and teeth, hiding all her rabbit demon traits.

She nervously rubbed her little palms and stared at the identity recognizer. “Physician Ye, I haven’t been to the Embracing Snow Clan before. Sixth Sister says they’re all fierce demons. They won’t eat rabbits, will they?”

You Nian’s voice perfectly diverted Ye Xi and Shen Mingjin’s attention. Ye Xi thought back seriously and recalled the demons Shen Mingjin had mentioned in Wanghe Village—bears, crocodiles, lions… None that didn’t eat rabbits, it seemed.

Ye Xi didn’t tell You Nian this cruel truth.

Shen Mingjin took out a red token and pressed it against the identity recognizer. Her gentle gaze swept over You Nian. “With me here, no demon will eye you for a meal.”

You Nian didn’t believe Shen Mingjin.

She had promised Ye Xi to get along with Shen Mingjin, but trusting a natural predator would take time.

Ye Xi believed You Nian would eventually overcome racial repulsion and become friends with Shen Mingjin. She not only believed everything Shen Mingjin said but also trusted her charm deeply.

The red token elicited a beep from the identity recognizer. Soon, the red vortex reappeared before them—this one wider and larger than the one Qiao Yan had summoned, faintly shimmering with golden light, looking far more luxurious.

Ye Xi only thought the channel seemed different from Qiao Yan’s, but You Nian’s feelings were more complicated. She looked at Shen Mingjin’s token. “Snake Sister, is this the Imperial Token?”

“Sister, what’s an Imperial Token?”

“An Imperial Token is a token only held by the blood kin of each clan’s leader.” Shen Mingjin paused unconsciously at “blood kin.” “Mediators handle grassroots work for the clans, so a work permit only lets me pass alone. Only the Imperial Token can take you all with me.”

Ye Xi didn’t ask why Shen Mingjin was using the Imperial Token, but Shen Mingjin explained anyway.

Shen Mingjin was always awkward and conflicted about blood kin. Ye Xi wisely said nothing more and hugged her Pink Fur Rabbit tighter. “Sister, let’s go quickly.”

As they stepped into the channel opened by the Imperial Token, a damp aura immediately enveloped them.

The sticky, humid sensation made Ye Xi want to break free. Suddenly, the dampness vanished, replaced by a warm current wrapping around her.

As the warm current seeped into her body, Ye Xi let out a comfortable sigh.

You Nian reacted even more strongly, exclaiming in surprise. “So it’s true that imperial channels have Spirit-Gathering Trees, and that they convert energy into suitable demon power to nourish the body.”

“No wonder Sixth Sister and the others are all fighting over Imperial Tokens.” You Nian looked enviously at the token in Shen Mingjin’s hand. “Snake Sister, can I touch your Imperial Token?”

Shen Mingjin saw You Nian’s longing and handed over the token she had been about to pocket. “Here.”

You Nian raised her eyelids in delight, afraid Shen Mingjin would change her mind. She hurriedly reached out with her rabbit paws to take it. “Snake Sister, I’ll just play with it a bit and give it back.”

Shen Mingjin didn’t mind You Nian’s earlier attitude toward her and was very tolerant of the young rabbit demon.

She smiled gently. “You can play with it longer if you want.”

“Thank you.”

You Nian’s retracted rabbit ears and tail popped out again, her fluffy tail swaying gently in a small arc.

Ye Xi took in You Nian’s joyful excitement. “You probably can’t even use an Embracing Snow Clan Imperial Token, right? Do you need to be this happy about it?”

“Physician Ye, you wouldn’t understand.” You Nian cradled the token, stroking it fondly over and over. “Having such a token means being acknowledged by your father, your family, and all the clan members. My Sixth Sister became a leader candidate as a half-demon but still doesn’t have an Imperial Token.”

Shen Mingjin was a bit surprised. “You Nian, if your Sixth Sister became a leader candidate, doesn’t that mean your father recognizes her as an heir? She still can’t get an Imperial Token?”

You Nian pouted her rabbit mouth. “The Moon Perch Clan has eight candidates for the next leader, all his children, all recognized heirs by him.”

Ye Xi was about to comfort You Nian when she suddenly looked up at her. “Physician Ye, do you know what it means for You Xi Shan to have so many heirs?”

“Endless infighting.”

“Wrong!” You Nian pressed against the Imperial Token, letting out a satisfied laugh. “It means you’ll become the strongest physician! Following you has great prospects!”

You Nian’s words seemed to be coaxing both herself and Ye Xi.

Of course, this was also the truth. Ordinary Demon Bone Physicians formed a contract link with a single demon, but the Ye Clan’s Demon Bone Physicians linked with the entire family behind the Contract Beast. From the perspective of You Xi Shan’s children, You Xi Shan had a few too many kids. From Ye Xi’s perspective, the more children You Xi Shan had, the more advantageous it was for her.

Ye Xi couldn’t help but smile as she looked at You Nian, who had been given an unused Imperial Token and had immediately learned to comfort herself while saying sweet words: “Alright, once I get stronger, I’ll go rob one for you.”

You Nian’s rabbit eyes sparkled brightly: “Really?”

Shen Mingjin looked at Ye Xi with clear disapproval, her brows furrowing tightly.

Shen Mingjin hadn’t said anything, but Ye Xi acted as if she had heard a bunch of worried, gentle reminders. She took back her joking words that had unsettled Shen Mingjin: “Sister, I was kidding.”

Before the little rabbit could protest, Ye Xi reached out and pinched her little mouth: “Once we vote for your Sixth Sister to become Clan Leader, she’ll definitely give you an Imperial Token.”

“That’s for sure.” You Nian cradled Shen Mingjin’s Imperial Token as if it were already her own, letting out a delighted laugh: “Physician Ye, I’ll be very obedient. You have to make sure Vice Director Qin casts her vote for Sixth Sister.”

Before Ye Xi could respond to You Nian, the teleportation channel pushed them out, and the warm flow enveloping their bodies vanished along with it.

They were sent to a stone stele, upon which the characters for “Wanghe” were clearly engraved.

They had arrived at Wanghe Village.

Ye Xi lifted her gaze and looked around, immediately spotting Qiao Yan waiting for them at the village entrance.

There was also a woman in her thirties standing beside Qiao Yan. The woman’s skin tone was similar to Qiao Yan’s—both a pallid white—but the same paleness looked unnatural on Qiao Yan, while on the woman, it merely seemed sickly.

The woman spotted Ye Xi and the others before Qiao Yan did. She approached with Qiao Yan in tow, a polite smile on her face.

She extended her hand to Ye Xi, her tone warm and friendly: “You must be little Ye, Vice Director Qin’s granddaughter.”

“Who else could it be?” Qiao Yan snorted coldly. “Besides Vice Director Qin’s granddaughter, who else could bring the Clan Leader’s own sister as a bodyguard for the assessment?”

Having gotten a benefit from Shen Mingjin, You Nian straightened her back and stepped forward: “Who’s the bodyguard you’re talking about?!”

“Of course, Shen Second Miss.” Qiao Yan crossed her arms behind the woman, disdainfully scanning Shen Mingjin. “Though that’s normal too. Shen Second Miss now has no demon power, and her body will only get weaker year by year. Of course she’d want to build a relationship with a physician in advance. What’s being a bodyguard compared to that?”

“Shut up.” The woman glared at Qiao Yan, who was speaking in that sarcastic tone, then turned back to Ye Xi: “Little Ye, my Contract Beast has a bit of a temper. Don’t take it to heart. I’m Bian Rong, your instructor for the assessment phase.”

…

Bian Rong seemed much more approachable than Qiao Yan, and her smile felt more genuine too. The problem was, if she thought Qiao Yan’s words were harsh, why hadn’t she stopped her earlier? Why wait until Qiao Yan finished speaking?

The Ye Clan and their Contract Beasts, due to linking with entire clans, had no dependency on the Contract Beasts. Having one around was fine, not having one was also fine—it was a mutually beneficial relationship.

Other Demon Bone Physicians and their Contract Beasts were, in a strict sense, more like boss and employee. As the master, Bian Rong should have some control over her Contract Beast, but she stood right beside Qiao Yan, and Qiao Yan’s attitude toward them hadn’t improved—in fact, it had worsened.

It was even worse than back at Half-Mountain Spirit Garden. It was very likely that Bian Rong had signaled it.

Bian Rong’s acting was much better than Qiao Yan’s, but Ye Xi wasn’t so easily fooled.

Looking at the mild and friendly Bian Rong before her, Ye Xi suddenly reached out with both hands and gripped Bian Rong’s tightly: “Instructor Bian, I’ve finally met you. You have no idea how scared I was. I have zero treatment experience. My grandmother arranged a kid as my Contract Beast. If my neighbor sister hadn’t come with me, I wouldn’t have dared to come for the assessment.”

In her panic and nervousness, Ye Xi gripped Bian Rong with considerable force. Her nails, which she hadn’t had time to trim recently, were a bit long, and the tips scratched the skin on Bian Rong’s wrist.

Bian Rong’s brows furrowed tightly, her smile gradually becoming strained.

Ye Xi continued to squeeze Bian Rong’s wrist, urgently sharing her anxieties with her: “Instructor Bian, I’ll have to trouble you to teach me a lot from now on. Please don’t think I’m stupid. I’ve always had a bit of a fragile heart— the more I’m scolded, the slower I learn. My grandmother never bears to scold me. I…”

Bian Rong matched her enthusiasm, so Ye Xi was even more enthusiastic.

Every word detailed her own situation, while her nails dug deeper into Bian Rong’s wrist.

Bian Rong looked at the cat-scratch-like marks on her wrist and couldn’t help but glance sideways at Qiao Yan, silently inquiring about Ye Xi’s situation.

A cold blade seemed to emerge from Qiao Yan’s throat, sharply stabbing toward Ye Xi: “As expected of Vice Director Qin’s one and only granddaughter. You can’t do anything, yet you act so entitled, demanding others tolerate you. And you can’t even be scolded or hit.”

Ye Xi showed no sign of being hurt by the words or any impulse to prove herself.

She withdrew her hands from Bian Rong’s wrist and pitifully nestled into Shen Mingjin’s embrace: “Sister, was she being mean to me?”