AUOF - 47

“You’ve affected me.”

Affected?

Sang Li suddenly realized. “My lord, rest assured. The Demon Lord won’t kill me. When we meet again in Huashan City, I’ll find an opportunity to draw blood. At that time, it’ll be up to you to help me lift the curse.”

She smiled sweetly, her dimples enchanting.

Then confusion clouded her face. “But... why did the Demon Lord send me to Huashan City?” Sang Li scratched her head, unable to understand.

Ji Hengyu gently swayed his fan. “We’ve received intelligence that Fu Tianhou is active in Huashan City. If he’s sending you there, it’s likely also related to Fu Tianhou.” Ji Hengyu paused. “You should go along with his plan for now. Do whatever he tells you to do, and I’ll protect you from the shadows.”

A sound came from behind him. Ji Hengyu closed his jade-bone fan and vanished without a word.

Not long after, Situ appeared by Sang Li’s side, covered in dirt and holding a large bundle of herbs. She was fuming. “That woman is definitely up to no good! That herb called ‘Luoluo Grass’ turned out to be the egg of a venomous insect. It took me a lot of effort to get it! Tell me, isn’t this deliberate torment?”

After finishing, she wiped her face. “What about you? Did you finish gathering?”

“...” Sang Li hesitated, “...I didn’t manage to pick even one.”

The two stared at each other wide-eyed, and finally, Situ said nothing. She shoved the herbs into Sang Li’s hands and turned to leave again.

Situ quickly gathered the last batch of herbs, whistled to summon her water qilin, and flew toward Cloud Heaven City.

Sang Li couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Aren’t you going to ask me what I was doing?”

“Hmm...” Situ pondered. “Everyone has their secrets. There’s no need to ask.”

Sang Li was surprised. “Aren’t you afraid I might harm you?”

“Me? Harm you?” Situ gave Sang Li a once-over and sneered dismissively. “With your meager spiritual energy, I could crush you with just one finger.”

“...”

It wasn’t particularly hurtful, but it was highly insulting.

Sang Li felt a bit disheartened, though... it was indeed the truth.

Seeing her spirits dampen, Situ patted her shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry. There are countless treasures in the world, and immortals have long lifespans. If one year doesn’t work, then ten years; if ten years don’t work, then a hundred. Eventually, you’ll rise above the mortal realm. Weakness isn’t scary; what’s scary is lacking ambition. In the higher realms, those without ambition are like mayflies, destined to be devoured sooner or later.”

This statement from Situ caught Sang Li off guard.

In the original story, the Divine Maiden was portrayed as an unambitious, temperamental, and malicious supporting character. When they first met, Sang Li didn’t have a good impression of her either. However, as they spent more time together, Sang Li increasingly found Situ intriguing.

She was arrogant, yet not excessively so. Seemingly empty-headed, she was actually profoundly wise.

Sang Li didn’t know much about Situ, but from snippets of conversation, she sensed that this “Divine Maiden” wasn’t as noble and carefree as she appeared on the surface.

Sang Li asked, “Does Atu have ambition?”

“Of course,” Situ replied without hesitation. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be thinking of reti—”

Halfway through, Situ abruptly swallowed the rest of her words.

She turned her head and glared fiercely at Sang Li. “Let me tell you, I still don’t fully trust you. Don’t think you can pry information out of me.”

Her guarded demeanor made Sang Li burst into laughter. “Alright, alright. Everyone has secrets. I understand.” She said, “I’m just curious—if you didn’t want to be the Divine Maiden, what would you rather do?”

Rather do what?

This was the first time in five hundred years that someone had asked Situ this question.

The water qilin soared through the clouds, offering a panoramic view of the world below. Situ lowered her gaze, her expression solemn as she spoke of her wish to an outsider for the first time. “To return to Huangshui and protect the land my mother wanted to safeguard.”

She pressed her lips together. “You should know—I am special, and my bloodline... it has brought me a lot of trouble.”

Situ’s mother was originally named Xiao.

The character “Xiao” signified freedom, yet her mother had been imprisoned in Huangshui since birth. Her only departure from the wilderness marked her death.

Her mother and father’s meeting was like an old-fashioned tale.

A fallen deity was saved by an untainted holy maiden, and they fell in love and formed a blessed union.

Situ resented her father but never blamed her mother.

Her mother had devoted her entire life to all living beings, and her one act of selfishness was for Diqi. After her mother perished, her physical body nourished marine life for thousands of years, while her spirit pearl transformed into a treasure that continued to protect fishermen at sea.

Yet her people hated her.

They burned her temples, shattered her statues, and hung her spirit tablet at their gates, spitting on it every time they passed.

The hatred they harbored for Diqi was transferred onto her, and even the blessings she once provided were forgotten. It was as if everything she had done and sacrificed disappeared overnight.

They only remembered—

She was the wife of a sinner.

“Don’t you think it’s strange?” Situ mused. “Even though my mother protected them for eight thousand years and did nothing wrong, she became known as the root of all calamities.”

Their hatred for the holy maiden surpassed their hatred for Diqi.

While enjoying her protection, they destroyed her statues.

Situ hugged her knees. “Even so, I still want to return, to go back to Huangshui.” She looked at Sang Li. “Do you think I’m foolish? The people of Huangshui treated my mother so poorly, yet I still want to return and protect them.”

Sang Li shook her head. “You’re not foolish.”

Situ’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Mm-hmm.” Sang Li nodded emphatically. “On the contrary, I think... you’re amazing and brave.”

No one could forgive and forget like that—not even the gods.

If it were Sang Li, she wouldn’t be able to speak so calmly about these things like Situ did.

Situ smiled, her expression visibly lighter. “That’s good. If one day I can achieve my wish, even if I’m despised by ten thousand people, it won’t matter because I know there’s at least one person who understands me.”

Her mother spent three thousand years birthing her.

From then on, her mother’s wishes became her own. Even though the land held hatred for her mother, she firmly believed that someday, someone would understand.

The land remembers.

Kindness doesn’t fade; hatred will eventually pass.

One day, her mother’s spirit tablet would be restored cleanly in that temple.

“Then let’s make a pinky promise.” Sang Li grinned, extending her little finger toward Situ. “In the future, when I grow stronger, you’ll be the Holy Maiden.”

“Pinky promise?” Situ blinked and thought for a moment. She vaguely remembered that in folk customs, linking pinkies was a way to seal a promise. However, she had never made such a promise with anyone before.

Situ hesitantly extended her little finger as well.

Both girls’ fingers were soft and delicate. As the sun dipped below the horizon, they solemnly hooked their pinkies together.

After letting go, Situ’s eyes darted around, and she nudged Sang Li’s shoulder. “Alright, tell me honestly—did you fail to gather herbs earlier because Ji Hengyu showed up?”

Sang Li sighed exasperatedly. “...Didn’t we agree that everyone has their secrets?”

“Actually, Ji Hengyu isn’t so bad,” Situ persisted, not forgetting her goal. “Have you considered it?”

Sang Li: “...What’s so good about him?”

Situ struggled for a while before finally blurting out four dry words: “He’s... easy on the eyes.”

“...”

Well, being shallow had its limits.

________________________________________

Sang Li and Situ returned to the inn just before nightfall.

Sang Li handed the herbs to Cui Wanning, who carefully counted them. “Yes, these are the correct herbs. Thank you both for your hard work.”

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll take our leave...”

Before Sang Li could finish speaking, Cui Wanning smiled and said, “Preparing these herbs will take some time. Would you mind assisting me?”

Sang Li realized she had something to say and nodded slowly.

Situ frowned, clearly dissatisfied.

“It’s fine, I’ll be back soon.”

After reassuring Situ, Sang Li followed Cui Wanning to the small kitchen.

Cui Wanning rolled up her sleeves and began skillfully grinding the herbs.

The little fox spirit rarely interacted directly with Cui Wanning during her missions.

She had only heard that Cui Wanning was the daughter of a prestigious medicinal family. After her family fell into ruin, she became displaced until Yan Jinglou found her and brought her to the demon realm, where she became Lady Ningyue, second only to him.

“I heard about A Li’s mishap and felt deeply saddened,” Cui Wanning said with a smile. “Could you help me boil some water?”

Sang Li silently turned to heat the water.

“Did you happen to see A Yan?”

A Yan...

Such an intimate name.

It seemed familiar from the memories.

Every time Cui Wanning saw the little fox spirit, she would mention “A Yan did this” or “A Yan did that,” emphasizing their close bond.

Though the little fox spirit seethed with jealousy, she never dared to harm the woman Yan Jinglou cherished. Even when he ordered her to invade the Tian Mountains, she risked her life without hesitation.

Thinking of the pitiful little fox spirit, Sang Li sighed inwardly again and turned to light the fire under the kettle.

“I met His Excellency briefly.”

Cui Wanning’s expression flickered.

“But we didn’t speak much,” Sang Li added. “He simply instructed me to escort Lady Cui to Huashan City.”

Cui Wanning’s ears reddened slightly as she smiled. “A Yan is too considerate. You’re already enduring hardships on your journey; there’s no need for him to trouble you further.” She continued, “It was my whim to come out since Cloud Heaven City is celebrating the Joy God Festival. I didn’t expect our paths to cross like this.”

Cui Wanning’s voice was gentle and soothing, like flowing water.

Listening to her tone alone was enough to calm one’s heart. Sang Li yawned, feeling drowsy.

Suddenly, a cool sensation touched her face.

She opened her eyes wide to see Cui Wanning carefully wiping the dust off her face with a damp cloth, her gaze filled with affection like that of an elder sister toward a younger one.

After cleaning her face, Cui Wanning put away the cloth and casually handed her a bottle of rare pills to increase cultivation. “Chunling is a poisonous plant I saved a hundred years ago. She came to serve me out of gratitude, but since her intelligence is still developing, her personality can be difficult to manage. If she offended you, I hope you’ll bear with her.”

Sang Li furrowed her brows and gave a dry laugh. “Lady Cui, with all due respect, I’ve been serving His Excellency far from home for centuries, rarely returning to Yin Prefecture. Even if forgiveness were needed, it wouldn’t fall to me. Besides, it’s not my place to interfere, but I suggest you discipline your servants better. This time it was me, but if one day they offend someone influential, it might bring trouble upon you.”

She glanced at the boiling water. “The water’s ready. Please continue, Lady Cui. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I won’t stay.”

With that, Sang Li handed the bottle of pills back to her and left decisively.

Her figure quickly disappeared through the door. In the small kitchen, the lingering scent of herbs filled the air. Cui Wanning toyed with the returned bottle of pills, uncapped it, and poured its precious contents into the medicinal pot, her actions tinged with frustration.

After taking the medicine, Chunling’s fever had completely subsided by late night.

The candlelight flickered in the room as Cui Wanning sat by the bedside, occasionally wiping the sweat from Chunling’s forehead.

She stifled a yawn behind her hand when suddenly she noticed the candlelight wavering. Looking up, she saw Yan Jinglou standing in the room.

He casually glanced at the maid lying on the bed. “A servant—is she really worth your care?”

Cui Wanning masked her surprise and replied, “There aren’t many people in Yin Prefecture whose words carry weight. After you ruined Liu Liu’s throat, she grew distant from me. Now that Chunling has come to me and regards me as everything, it’s only natural that I take good care of her.”

After so many years, Yan Jinglou had long forgotten who Liu Liu was.

He narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment before faint memories resurfaced.

“In that case, dispose of her once we return,” he said nonchalantly.

Cui Wanning shook her head and smiled wryly. “Liu Liu and Chunling were both saved by me. If I truly disposed of Liu Liu, A Li would blame me. She has followed you for five hundred years, and while you treat her as a subordinate, I see her as a younger sister. I don’t want her to harbor hatred toward me.”

Yan Jinglou raised an eyebrow and stepped closer, gently stroking her hair.

“I thought after multiple reincarnations, you might have changed, but it seems you’re still the same.” Lost in reminiscence, his expression softened momentarily before turning cold again. “Don’t worry. Since you want Liu Liu, I have ways to make her obey you unconditionally.”

Cui Wanning hesitated. “I told you—I don’t want—”

“I won’t harm her life, and Sang Li won’t dare hate you.”

Yan Jinglou came and went like a shadow. Still lost in thought, Cui Wanning suddenly heard a faint groan.

“Miss...”

Cui Wanning quickly helped Chunling drink some water.

Chunling leaned against her, both moved and angry. “Was it really that Sang Li who hit me today?”

Cui Wanning softly hummed in affirmation.

Chunling grew furious. “They say even dogs deserve respect based on their masters. Clearly, she was trying to kill the chicken to scare the monkey...” Overwhelmed by anger, Chunling broke into a fit of coughing.

Cui Wanning gently patted her back. “Don’t worry. If she made things difficult for you, I’ll make things difficult for her too.”

Chunling looked at her in surprise.

As the candlelight dimmed, her face became shrouded in shadows. Unlike the warm glow illuminating her profile, her eyes were flat and cold.

“Chunling, have you ever heard of puppets or corpses?”

Chunling shook her head.

Cui Wanning embraced her as she explained, “Sealing a living person in a venomous jar for forty-nine days allows the corpse worms inside to slowly devour their flesh, leaving only the head and internal organs. The worms then weave a new, more durable body for them. They become like marionettes—immortal, unfeeling, and forever controlled by the master of the worms.” Cui Wanning smiled. “Unable to speak, unable to hear, devoid of will, yet clinging to life.”

She asked, “Do you think she’s a puppet—or a corpse?”