After breakfast, the two immediately switched to a new residence.
They had no choice—the place was littered with dead and wounded bodies, and they had no clue how to explain it to the officers…
Once they revealed their backgrounds, many things could be discussed openly, and their relationship grew a little closer as a result.
Little Snake recounted her experiences.
Ren Tan wasn’t part of the Demon Subduing Division, and Yin Luan didn’t need to hold back too much.
Of course, her identity as a snake demon still had to remain a secret.
“Amnesia, huh?”
The young maiden with the braided hair listened along without much suspicion.
It was mainly because Little Snake clearly wasn’t like ordinary people. Without some extraordinary backstory, there was no way to explain how she’d developed such a personality.
What she hadn’t expected was that Little Snake would spin a fresh tale for every person she met. Last time, she’d claimed her family had been destroyed, leaving her all alone and destitute…
“I’ll keep an eye out for that jade pendant,” she said. “But even if we track down its origin, it might not reveal much.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” the little snake demon replied with considerable optimism. “I’m in no rush.”
This matter wasn’t urgent. What needed haste was locating the treasure.
The assassination attempt had failed once, but that didn’t mean they’d give up. When Ren Tan’s brothers learned that a peerless expert had appeared at their little sister’s side, they would undoubtedly grow restless.
Fortunately, progress came quickly.
By throwing money at the problem, Ren Tan located an informant who was said to provide reliable information.
The man insisted on meeting at a location of his choosing, with no outsiders present—a setup that reeked of an ambush.
In the past, the eldest young lady might have hesitated, but now that she had a dependable expert watching her back, she agreed without a second thought.
Was the little snake demon some outsider? She was a companion to whom she’d entrusted her very life!
Even the grandest cities had their share of shadowy corners. In Nine Li City’s black market, after consulting maps, hiring guides, and threading through secret passages, they finally reached the “underground world.”
Beneath the thriving city lay an entirely hidden realm.
“These tunnels date back to before the Great Zhou Kingdom was even founded,” Ren Tan explained. “It’s not just Nine Li City—other counties have similar spots too. Luo City has one, and they say it’s about as expansive as the surface above.”
They had likely been constructed for wartime purposes long ago, but now they lay abandoned, a favorite haunt for outlaws and ne’er-do-wells.
The underground was dim and stifling, with an underground river running through that left everything damp. Before long, Ren Tan was drenched in sweat, her clothes clinging to her skin.
It was a good thing visibility was so poor; otherwise, how could a proper young lady let herself be seen in such a state?
Others might not notice, but Little Snake saw it all crystal clear.
To be honest, after spending so much time around Du Xuan’s flat chest, she’d nearly forgotten what a normal girl’s figure looked like…
Someone like Ren Tan was far more representative.
Not so flat that you could mistake her for a boy, nor as enormous as Senior Sister Zou’s melons.
Perky and taut, just a handful— like fresh bamboo shoots pushing through the spring soil, tempting and full of vitality.
Hiss, hiss.
The flavor of youth.
“So damp and stuffy,” Ren Tan grumbled, tugging at her collar to fan in some cool air. “Most of the vents haven’t been maintained in ages… You okay? Feeling it too?”
“Nope,” the little snake demon replied, pulling her gaze away and feigning nonchalance. “I actually find it pretty comfortable… I only hate the cold; humidity doesn’t bother me at all.”
Strange. What was going on with her these past few days, constantly eyeing girls’ bodies like that? She was a pure and innocent snake, after all!
Must be hunger… She should talk to Ren Tan about switching to five meals a day.
They followed the underground river for quite a distance before arriving at the spot the informant had specified.
A shop with a sign reading “Mountain Ghost Workshop” hanging over the door.
If Du Xuan caught sight of that, she’d probably charge in sword-first.
Daring to flaunt a name like that in the mighty Great Zhou Kingdom? A sound thrashing would be the least of their worries!
“Bold choice,” Ren Tan said with a smile. “Putting ‘demon, devil, ghost, and monster’ right in the name is a serious taboo here in Great Zhou. I hope there’s no actual ‘mountain ghost’ inside.”
A bell hung by the entrance, apparently for visitors to ring.
Ren Tan stepped forward and gave it a couple of shakes.
Whoosh—
A gust of warm, humid air swept past, igniting the candles placed on either side of the doorway. The flames flickered uncertainly, neither fully alight nor quite extinguished, casting an especially eerie glow in the murky underground.
“Come in.”
A raspy, aged voice drifted from within—an old woman’s croak that, paired with the atmosphere, set the nerves on edge.
Ren Tan glanced back at Yin Luan, who gave a slow nod.
The eldest young lady pressed on, and just as she reached out for the door, it swung open on its own.
The interior was just as dim.
A screen woven from finger bones divided the inner room from the outside. Glancing left and right, Ren Tan saw that the walls were hung with bones, and the cabinets were laden with them—every sort imaginable.
Leg bones, ribs, spines, skulls. Some from livestock, some from wild beasts, and others from who-knew-where.
A few remained whole, but most had been polished smooth and repurposed into oil lamps, bowls and basins, or elaborate crafts.
Ren Tan considered herself worldly and experienced, but even she felt a chill crawl across her scalp at the sight.
Was the shopkeeper trying to summon evil spirits? If anyone from the Demon Subduing Division showed up here, they would tear this place apart.
“Hello,” the Eldest Young Lady said, forcing down her unease. “I’m the one who contacted you earlier. We agreed—money up front, goods on delivery…”
“I’ve changed my mind,” came the old woman’s flat voice from behind the screen. “The price is going up.”
“What?”
Ren Tan’s brows shot up as a sense of foreboding settled over her.
“More money,” the woman repeated. “The price you offered isn’t enough for a clue to a supreme treasure.”
“This… this doesn’t exactly follow the rules of doing business, does it?”
She hesitated.
“My word is the rule here,” the old woman replied. “Little girl, you’re too young to understand the ways of this trade.”
“But…”
Ren Tan frowned, weighing her options for a moment before saying,
“Fine then, Senior. What price are you asking?”
“Not much,” the old woman said. “Just that bracelet of yours.”
“No deal,” Ren Tan shot back the instant she heard the demand. “It’s the only thing my father left me, and he warned me never to take it off. Senior, please ask for something else.”
“Is there anything else on you more valuable than a bracelet that can store Innate Qi?” the woman sneered. “Come on, little girl—did you really think no one would recognize it?”
“Sorry, but this deal is off,” Ren Tan said. She shot a meaningful glance at her companion and added quickly, “We’re leaving!”
Click!
The door slammed shut on its own, sealing tight without so much as a breeze.
“You’ll do it whether you like it or not. Hand over the bracelet, and I’ll let you live!”
The finger-bone screen rattled with a clatter, and a ghostly green glow emanated from the bones scattered throughout the room. Faint, chilling laughter echoed in their ears, as if ghost souls were slithering around them.
Ren Tan’s legs buckled in terror, and she nearly collapsed—only for Yin Luan to catch her just in time.
The Little Snake Demon paused for a moment, then spoke up in her childish, milky voice.
“You’ve got three seconds to come out from behind that screen, or I’m making my move!”
