So it turns out I'm the demon!

Half an hour later.

Jiang Mu pushed open the door of the bamboo house and walked out feeling refreshed.

A lingering smile still played on his lips.

My wish has finally come true.

"Bang!"

He had just stepped out of the threshold when the bamboo door behind him was slammed shut.

Jiang Mu glanced back at the closed door, pursed her lips, and muttered:

"This girl, she just helped wash it, what's the big deal... so stingy."

He shook his head and went down the wooden stairs to the attic.

Stepping outside, a gentle breeze was blowing.

The peach blossoms on the tree fell like pink snowflakes.

Petals fall in profusion.

Standing in the rain of peach blossoms, Jiang Mu gazed at this familiar yet beautiful scene, momentarily lost in thought.

In a daze, he remembered the aloof and noble Lady Peach Blossom who had pulled him into a divine state.

of course,

And then there's their exquisite "Stream Water," a dish so enchanting it can make one forget the mundane world.

Speaking of which, ever since that "Daoist Discussion" in the Divine Realm came to a successful conclusion, that woman has never contacted him again.

Not to mention pulling him into the realm of gods.

"They really do turn their backs on you after you've done your bidding; how heartless..."

Jiang Mu sighed inwardly, feeling somewhat disappointed.

He collected his thoughts and strolled to the peach tree.

Before the shimmering blue lake, Ling Ye sat quietly on a piece of jade, gazing at the calm lake surface in a daze.

A few peach petals fell onto her ink-black hair.

Reflected in the falling blossoms and clear water, her serene and exquisite beauty was accentuated, like a breathtakingly beautiful painting with a profound and distant artistic conception.

Jiang Mu tiptoed over and sat down next to her.

"This place is so beautiful."

Ling Ye continued to gaze at the lake, murmuring to himself.

Jiang Mu followed her gaze and nodded in agreement:

"It really is beautiful. If you like it, I'll bring you here often to relax. Anyway, Yue'er won't mind." "She's actually... not suitable for you."

Ling Ye suddenly looked away and said something out of the blue.

"What?"

Jiang Mu was slightly taken aback and turned to look at the woman's beautiful profile.

A peach petal drifted down and landed right at her temple, adding a touch of gentle charm.

Ling Ye gently brushed away the petals and whispered:

"After thinking it over and over, it seems that it is really difficult to find a woman in this world who is a perfect match for you."

You say you like me now, but it's just a temporary infatuation. Ultimately... I'm too much older than you; I can't accompany you to the very end.

Qiu Yuexin, on the other hand, is a demon, the eldest daughter of the Qingqiu clan.

"Humans and demons are different. If you really get together with her, it will inevitably bring endless trouble in the future. This will not be good for your future, and she is not suitable for you." Hearing this analysis, Jiang Mu smiled.

He leaned back slightly, his hands resting on the grass behind him, gazing at the fluttering peach blossoms, and said frankly:

"Actually, I wasn't very interested in women before."

All I could think about was how to cultivate diligently, how to become stronger, and how to quickly attain immortality.

I believe that once I reach the peak of my strength, I can have whatever I want.

However…”

Jiang Mu turned her head and winked at Ling Ye.

"Due to certain unforeseen circumstances, I suddenly realized that deep down, I'm actually quite lewd."

"Now that I've seen my true self, why should I pretend to be an ascetic anymore?"

In any case, life is only a few tens of thousands of days long.

Forget about being a good match or not, forget about the differences between humans and demons, the vast chasm of time. First, follow your heart and be true to yourself.

You weren't interested in women before?!

Upon hearing this, Ling Ye's gaze towards Jiang Mu became strange.

Do you want to listen to the nonsense you're spouting?

You used to be a notorious playboy and spoiled brat in Huzhou City.

He frequented brothels and never returned home at night.

Who doesn't know this?

You're telling me now that you weren't interested in women before?

You're kidding me!

She sighed softly and suddenly changed the subject:

"Little Jiang, do you know that the garrison commander Shangguan Luoxue is my apprentice?"

"Yes, I know. Ran Qingshan mentioned it."

Jiang Mu nodded.

"However, he also said that you two seemed to have had some misunderstanding before, and then you broke off your master-disciple relationship."

"Sister Ling, is it because you were seriously injured and fell from your cultivation level that she felt you were no longer worthy of being her master, so she turned her back on you and refused to acknowledge you?"

"How could that be?"

Ling Ye smiled slightly, a smile tinged with self-deprecation and relief.

"Luoxue is not the kind of person who forgets kindness. We've only had a few arguments because of differing opinions, nothing more than deep-seated hatred."

To be honest, I bear most of the responsibility for how things have turned out this way.

As she gazed at the cloud reflections on the lake, her thoughts seemed to drift back to a long time ago.

"Back then, because of my master's tragic fate, I developed a great hostility towards men."

I always felt that my master's tragic end was all caused by that man.

Therefore, after I took Luoxue as my disciple, I wanted to instill this extreme ideology in her.

I strictly instructed her to keep her distance from romantic relationships.

Perhaps I talked too much and was too controlling; after a while, she got annoyed.

At this point, Ling Ye suddenly turned his head to Zhen.

His cool eyes softened like a pool of autumn water, gazing quietly at Jiang Mu:

"But, after meeting you, looking back now, I suddenly understand my master's persistence back then."

"The feelings between men and women cannot be simply abandoned or severed at will."

Feeling unacceptable, going deeper.

My master and I are actually no different at heart.

They are the type who, once they fall in love, will never regret it, even at the cost of their lives.

The only difference between us is... the man she met was awful, heartless, and deserved to die.

The man I met was a bit of a scoundrel... but he was a good person.

Ling Ye's features were gentle, and her voice was soft as a dream.

"Sometimes I even think that if my master had met you instead, the ending might have been different."

In this respect, I am happier and luckier than my master.

Jiang Mu reached out and tucked another stray strand of hair behind her ear, teasingly saying:

"If your master were still alive, and possessed a beauty as stunning as you, Sister Ling, I would be very willing to discuss life with her and perhaps help her improve her views on love."

"Hmph, you're dreaming."

Ling Ye was amused by his shameless words and gave him a playful glare.

"My master's appearance and demeanor are naturally unparalleled in the world. However, her temperament is also extremely fiery."

If she falls in love with someone, she will love them forever.

Even if nothing comes of it in the end, she will never change her mind.

"And what about you?"

Jiang Mu suddenly asked, her gaze intense.

The smile on Ling Ye's face gradually faded.

She turned her gaze back to the lake, looking at the reflections of the two people in the water, her eyes somewhat unfocused, and murmured:

"My master and I are the same."

Even if... even if, for various reasons, we cannot ultimately have a perfect ending in this life.

My heart probably can't hold another man.

Jiang Chen grasped the woman's hand, holding it tightly in his palm, and smiled:

"Don't worry, there will definitely be a result."

"Sister Ling, you just think too much and get too caught up in those worldly rules and regulations. You can't let go of the hurdle you've set for yourself. But it's okay, my greatest strength is that I'm shameless."

As long as I pester you every day and every night.

I firmly believe that one day, Sister Ling, you will become Mrs. Jiang.

Feeling the warmth from the man's palm and hearing his sincere words of love, Ling Ye's heart beat a little faster.

But she still deliberately put on a stern face and sighed softly:

"Don't make it sound so nice. You're clinging to me now just because you're lusting after my body."

Men are naturally fickle and won't stay together for long.

"After a while, you'll get tired of me and naturally stop liking me, then you'll go looking for other new lovers."

Jiang Mu corrected:

"I admit it, I'm lusting after your body, Sister Ling."

However, with Sister Ling's charm, even if I, Jiang, were to crave you for a hundred or a thousand years, I would never be able to get enough.

Putting everything else aside, just take Sister Ling's two "ones" for example.

"Shut up!"

Ling Ye blushed and glared at him.

This kid is getting more and more outrageous.

She calmed her racing heart, then suddenly changed the subject, casually asking:

Have you seen my apprentice?

"I've met him once."

Jiang Mu nodded honestly, "But she had her back to me at the time, so I didn't see her face."

But she has a really bad temper; after a few arguments, she almost got angry with me.

"She is very beautiful."

Ling Ye's eyes darted around, as if he was carefully choosing his words.

"Moreover, he is extremely talented and has become a guardian of the twelfth realm at a young age, making him one of the top talents in Daqing."

Actually, I've had this idea in my mind for the past two days.

Xiao Jiang, with your talent, you will definitely be able to reach the twelfth realm in the future, and even reach the peak of the Great Dao.

By then, the number of women in the world who are worthy of you will be as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.

Luo Xue's age is actually not much older than yours.

In terms of talent and status, the two of you standing together would truly be a perfect match, a match made in heaven…

Jiang Mu said:

"Sister Ling...you wouldn't be planning to bring your apprentice with you when you marry into my family, would you?"

üの」

Ling Ye looked completely bewildered.

Immediately, she got so angry that she pinched the other person's arm and said irritably:

"What nonsense are you spouting? Who do you take me for? Do you think I'm that shameless?"

Jiang Mu looked completely innocent:

"So what exactly did you mean by what you just said? If you weren't giving me a treat, then what were you doing?"

Ling Ye glared at him, and after a long while, she gritted her teeth and said:

"What I mean is, if you'd like, I can act as a go-between and introduce you two!"

With your combined talents, if you were to become a couple, you would surely support each other and create a beautiful story in the future.

As for me...

Stop wasting your time on me, and don't bother me anymore, understand?!

"don't know."

Jiang Mu shook her head decisively.

"I haven't even seen what your apprentice looks like, how do I know if she's round or flat? Whether it will work out is still a long shot. Besides..."

Even if I do fall for your apprentice in the future, it won't conflict with my liking for you, right?

Jiang Mu smiled and moved a little closer.

"At worst, for the sake of the bigger picture, I'll just compromise myself, be more altruistic, and marry both of you, master and disciple. I'm not picky anyway."

"Do you really think so?"

Ling Ye narrowed his long, narrow phoenix eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in them.

"..."

Feeling the sudden drop in temperature around him, Jiang Muqian chuckled twice.

"Just kidding, actually I only like you, Sister Ling."

Besides, your apprentice is a high-ranking garrison commander, with his eyes on the top of his head. How could he possibly look down on a notorious playboy like me, right?

Ling Ye snorted coldly and withdrew his dagger-like gaze.

However, Jiang Mu's self-deprecating remark did somewhat dispel the thoughts in her mind.

Right.

Given Luo Xue's aloof and arrogant nature, she would never look down on a dissolute young man like Jiang Mu.

Even setting aside their social status and position...

Given Luo Xue's personality, even if she were truly forced into bed, she would probably remain as cold as ice, like a wooden doll, completely devoid of any feeling for such matters between men and women.

"Forget it, let's just leave these things to fate."

Ling Ye sighed inwardly.

Just then, a light footstep came from the attic.

Qiu Yuexin came out of the room.

As she walked down the stairs, the pink hem of her skirt fluttered lightly in the air like a peach blossom.

The exquisite boots with small silver bells hanging from their feet made a crisp "ding-ding-ding" sound when they stepped on the wooden planks.

Crisp and pleasant to the ear.

They managed to turn the monotonous sound of people going downstairs into a cheerful and lively little tune.

She walked to the lakeside and saw the two people nestled side by side. Her alluring, watery eyes flickered slightly, and she said in a sweet voice:

"Looks like I've come at a really bad time."

Jiang Mu extended her hand and smiled, "No, you've come at just the right time."

Qiu Yuexin pursed her pink lips.

She walked to the man's left and obediently sat down with her legs together.

She rested her chin on her hands, gazing at the gently rippling lake, and after a moment of silence, spoke:

"I'm going back. This time when I return to Qingqiu, I plan to go into seclusion for a while and further improve my cultivation."

Then, he tried his best to find the Mist Demon and take revenge.

It might be several months before we meet again.

"Oh?"

Jiang Mu smacked her lips with a look of regret.

"I thought you were going to invite me to your Qingqiu clan as a guest, to properly show me hospitality."

"Visiting as a guest?"

Qiu Yue hummed twice.

"Don't think that just because you've beaten Elder Jiu into submission, the other fox demons will treat you well."

The people already harbored deep hostility towards the human race.

Not to mention you're a member of the Demon Slayer Division.

Over the years, your Demon Slayer Division has killed quite a few fox demons from Qingqiu who were traveling outside.

If you actually dare to go to our place, I guarantee you'll be torn to pieces and devoured alive.

"Is it really that ruthless?" Jiang Mu clicked his tongue.

The girl turned to look at Ling Ye, who was sitting on the other side of Jiang Mu, and gave him a sweet and obedient smile.

"Sister Ling~"

Ling Ye was taken aback, his gaze questioning.

"Now that we're friends, could you do me a small favor?"

Qiu Yuexin blinked her big, bright eyes.

"If your Demon Slayer Division ever has any secret missions targeting Qingqiu, or if you're going to send any powerful experts to hunt us down, could you... give me a heads-up beforehand?"

Ling Ye pursed her red lips and remained silent.

Jiang Mu glared at the girl and began to lecture her sternly:

"What are you thinking, girl? Your thoughts are dangerous!"

"Sister Ling is a dignified Eighth-Rank Inspector of the Great Qing Dynasty, possessing unwavering righteousness, an incorruptible and impartial demon slayer. You want her to tip off a demon princess like yourself? Isn't that deliberately making her a traitor to humanity? Nonsense!"

"it is good."

A light, airy voice escaped from Ling Ye's lips.

Upon hearing the reply, Qiu Yuexin smiled, two shallow dimples appearing on her cheeks, and sweetly called out:

"Thank you, Sister Ling!"

As she spoke, she took out a jade flute that was entirely green from her waist and handed it to Ling Ye.

"Sister Ling, this has our Qingqiu clan's contact information on it. If there's any news, we can use it to find our people." Ling Ye reached out and took the flute.

He gently stroked the smooth body of the flute with his fingertips, then tucked it into his sleeve.

She looked at Qiu Yuexin and said earnestly:

"I'm only helping you out of consideration for Xiao Jiang."

But there's one thing I must make clear beforehand: you Qingqiu demons must not wantonly harm innocent people; this is my bottom line.

"Don't worry about that."

Qiu Yuexin's smile faded, and her expression became serious as well.

"My grandfather was always very strict in governing the clan and never allowed any clan members to kill innocent people indiscriminately."

Apart from a few traitors who have turned to evil, I will strictly control the rest of my clansmen.

If anyone truly violates clan rules or harms the people, you don't need to lift a finger; the Qingqiu Punishment Hall will handle it on its own!

Ling Ye nodded and said no more.

At the same time.

In a dense forest outside the Fallen Soul Swamp.

As dusk approached, the last rays of sunlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, bathing the forest in a dark gold hue.

Bai Xiang was standing under an old locust tree.

She was still wearing an elegant light-colored long dress, with a faint, ethereal glow surrounding her.

Her stunning beauty was obscured, making it difficult to discern.

At this moment, she was flipping through a booklet in her hand, her phoenix eyes shimmering.

Her personal female bodyguard stood beside her, bowing her head respectfully.

"So, the information you brought this time has been repeatedly verified and is absolutely correct?"

Bai Xiang snapped the booklet shut and looked at the female guard.

"Is the secret cave where the great demon Jiang Chaoxi once secluded himself for cultivation really located within the territory of Yunzhou City?"

"Your Majesty, this news is absolutely true."

The female guard answered respectfully.

"Although that great demon was punished by the Heavenly Dao back then, and his body was wiped out without a trace."

However, someone of his extraordinary cultivation seemed to have foreseen that something bad was going to happen to him, so he took measures in advance to hide his core cave.

this……"

The female guard lowered her voice.

"I also learned that not long ago someone spent a lot of money to have that elusive blind fortune teller perform a divination."

The divination indicates that the "Double Fish Jade Pendant" will appear in Yunzhou City.

Upon hearing this, Bai Xiang was first taken aback, then flew into a rage:

"So this old bastard was playing tricks on me before?!"

He had previously sworn that the clue to the Pisces Jade Pendant was in Huzhou City. Good! I believe him.

After waiting for a year, I didn't even see a trace of a jade pendant!

Now he's spouting nonsense again, saying the jade pendant is in France?

Does he think that jade pendant with the two fish is his pet dog, running off to the west tomorrow?!

The woman grew angrier as she spoke, her eyes practically spitting fire.

Seeing her master throwing such a tantrum, the female guard shrank back and said cautiously:

"My lord, please calm down... Perhaps, that jade pendant with the twin fish design isn't an inanimate object. Maybe... it really did have some special destiny that led it to Fazhou City on its own?"

"Hehe."

Bai Xiang laughed in exasperation.

The female guard dared not speak again.

Bai Xiang took two deep breaths of the fresh air from the forest, trying to calm her surging anger, and said coldly:

"The fortune-telling of those charlatans like the old blind man is half true and half false, and cannot be completely believed."

However, now that you've confirmed Jiang Chaoxi's cave is indeed hidden in Fazhou City, we should still go and investigate. "Your Excellency is wise."

The female guard's eyes darted around, and she suddenly said:

"In my humble opinion, why don't you just move to Fazhou City? Don't stay in the Jiang family anymore."