So it turns out I'm the demon!

Jiang Mu found a small steamed bun shop on the street and sat down at an old table at the very back.

The seat was right by the window, and you could see the pedestrians coming and going on the street with just a glance.

Bai Xiang sat upright opposite him.

The woman turned her head, her gaze falling on the bamboo steamers steaming by the door. She raised her hand slightly and gestured softly in sign language, "Actually, I can make it for you."

"Forget it, I'm afraid it might be poisoned."

Jiang Mu picked up the vinegar pot on the table, poured half a bowl into her own bowl, and then pushed it in front of her.

Bai Xiang was taken aback by these words, her rosy lips pursed in dissatisfaction, and she secretly grumbled to herself:

This petty man still holds grudges.

Soon, steaming hot xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) were served on the table.

The bun skin is translucent and thin, revealing the meat filling inside, which is filled with a rich aroma.

"This steamed bun shop is pretty good; I've eaten there before."

Jiang Mu handed the bamboo chopsticks to the woman.

Bai Xiang took the chopsticks.

Jiang Mu picked up a steamed bun, dipped it in the vinegar dish, and suddenly laughed:

"I knew it! That vegetable garden looked so familiar. Turns out, it really was you who planted it."

Ok?

Bai Xiang paused, her hand about to grab a steamed bun.

She raised her head, and a hint of interrogation appeared in her clear, autumn-water-like eyes.

How did this guy know I had vegetables growing in my yard?

He had already gone in before?

In a flash, she remembered the vegetable patch that had been trampled on.

The woman's almond-shaped eyes widened suddenly, and she gestured in sign language, "So, you're the one who ruined my vegetable garden?"

Jiang Mu had just taken a bite of the bun, her cheeks still bulging, when she froze.

Holy crap, I forgot about that.

Jiang Mu swallowed the bun without changing her expression, feigning a blank and innocent look:

"What? What did you mean, 'stepped on'? Why would I bother stepping on your vegetable garden? It was the guy who sold the house who told me this in private gossip. He said there's a woman of unknown origin living in the opposite yard, who never leaves her house, and it seems she's being secretly kept as a concubine by some rich man."

Her only hobby is growing vegetables in her yard.

He spun more and more smoothly, and at the end he even shook his head seriously and clicked his tongue twice:

"I was wondering at the time, what kind of rich person is so blind that he keeps a mistress but doesn't even provide her with a maid to serve her, and she has to grow her own vegetables to eat."

Being kept by a sugar daddy?

Bai Xiang's face darkened.

Jiang Mu picked up a steamed bun, blew on it to warm it up, and held it to the woman's lips, smiling as he said, "Come on, tell me, which nouveau riche family dares to keep you as their mistress?"

Bai Xiang stared at the steamed bun that was brought to her mouth, and suddenly smiled.

She held up her hand and gestured two words: "Guess."

After gesturing, she opened her rosy lips and took a bite of the xiaolongbao with Jiang Mu's chopsticks.

He chewed a couple of times, then frowned.

The minced meat was dry and the broth was too greasy; it was far worse than what she made.

Jiang Mu revealed a look of sudden realization:

"I almost forgot, back in Huzhou City, I gave you a large sum of travel money. Later, I checked the family accounts, and the amounts didn't add up. Someone had secretly transferred a lot of it away."

So, all the money you spent on buying this house came from my, Jiang's, pocket.

So it turns out you're the one I'm keeping.

"Alright, starting today, I'm officially confiscating that yard. If you want to continue living there, you'll have to pay extra rent."

Bai Xiang gritted her teeth.

I live in my own house, why do I have to pay rent?

Having lived for so many years, I've seen countless shameless people, but this guy is absolutely unique in embodying the word "shameless" in such a refreshing and unconventional way.

However, the mention of the word "sugar baby" suddenly reminded her of something else.

These days, there are those unbearable noises coming from the courtyard across the street.

In the evening, late at night, and sometimes even in broad daylight.

Unexpectedly, the protagonist is Jiang Mu.

Thinking of this, the woman's mood, which had brightened slightly due to the reunion, turned gloomy again.

Bai Xiang put down her chopsticks, her face cold as she gestured, "That's right, you do have quite a few sugar daddies, it's quite lively both day and night."

Jiang Mu was taken aback and immediately realized that the woman had heard the commotion in the courtyard.

He was silent for a moment, then sighed and said, "I have so many mistresses to support, it's all your fault."

Blame me?

Bai Xiang looked on with amusement.

Jiang Mu put down her chopsticks, crossed her hands on the table, and adopted a sincere and open-hearted posture:

"Think carefully, when you were in Huzhou City, did I ever do anything reckless?"

He goes home for dinner on time every day, doesn't go out at night, and doesn't even exchange more than a few words with other women. He's so honest and dutiful.

Why? Because you're in charge.

Later, you just packed your bags and left. With no one to keep an eye on me, I could only indulge myself a little more.

You need to understand your responsibilities as a butler. If a butler doesn't take care of this household and your master, how can I expect him not to be blinded by other women?

To put it bluntly, you bear half the responsibility for everything I did afterward.

Bai Xiang was speechless.

Even though she knew this man was spouting nonsense and his arguments were all fallacies, she inexplicably felt a strange sense of agreement with him.

She silently picked up the bowl of aged vinegar on the table, which was used to dip steamed buns, and drank it all in one gulp.

My gaze drifted leisurely to the bustling street outside the window.

The sour, astringent, and pungent taste spread throughout my mouth, sour all the way to my heart.

Yes, it's a fallacy, but if he hadn't chosen to leave for the sake of restoring the country, wouldn't all those women around him have had no chance to take advantage of him?

Thinking of this, Bai Xiang felt a pang of regret.

He simply picked up the vinegar pot, poured three more bowls of vinegar, and drank them all in one go.

Jiang Mu grimaced.

This woman is really jealous.

Seeing the atmosphere getting increasingly sour, Jiang Mu timely changed the subject:

"You're probably going to stay in Yunzhou City for a while now, right? I'm now the Deputy Director of Yunzhou City, appointed by the imperial court, and I'll most likely settle down here from now on."

"Your master is very powerful now. From now on, in this Tanzhou City, I'll protect you and absolutely ensure your safety."

Just as Bai Xiang was about to continue drinking her vinegar, her eyes suddenly lit up.

She rested her chin on her hand, her elbow propped on the wooden table, and gazed casually out the window.

A gleaming kitchen knife hangs on a wooden pillar outside the shop.

The kitchen knife is so shiny it can reflect your image.

The shadows of passersby occasionally flickered and reflected on the blade.

Among these flowing shadows, a figure in black and white remained frozen in place for a long time.

Mo Huaisu stood quietly in front of the restaurant diagonally behind the steamed bun shop.

She was surrounded by wisps of black and white energy, as if she had merged with the great Dao of this world.

Strangely, the vendors carrying their wares, the hurried pedestrians, and even the waiters at the restaurant entrance all seemed to ignore this stunningly beautiful female Taoist priest.

It was like a wisp of transparent air.

Mo Huaisu was staring intently at Jiang Mu by the window of the steamed bun shop.

She slowly raised the whisk and gently waved it.

"Buzz"

The void behind him cracked open, and a Tai Chi diagram slowly rotated.

Two fish, one black and one white, swam gracefully out of the Tai Chi diagram, trailing long, shimmering tails, and quietly swam towards the steamed bun shop. Inside the steamed bun shop.

Bai Xiang rested her chin on her hand, and gently tapped the wooden table with her slender, jade-like index finger.

"Yes."

The kitchen knife outside the window suddenly moved on its own without any wind, swaying slightly.

A chilling killing intent instantly spread out as it was reflected off the blade.

The two black and white fish had just swum to the center of the street when they were enveloped by this murderous aura and then dissipated in mid-air, turning into nothingness.

Mo Huaisu grunted and took two steps back, his face showing surprise.

She looked around warily, trying to find the source of that terrifying murderous intent she had just felt.

There was nothing there.

Finally, her gaze fell on the woman by the window of the steamed bun shop, whose back was only partially visible.

Mo Huaisu closed his eyes and examined the area carefully.

However, after observing for a long time, she could not detect any aura that a cultivator should have on the other party.

Mo Huaisu put the whisk back into his arm and murmured softly:

"This city of Fazhou is truly a place where dragons and tigers hide. It seems that Jiang Chaoxi's place of inheritance has already attracted many experts."

She gave Jiang Mu a deep look, then with a flick of her whisk, her figure vanished into the hustle and bustle of the street like ink merging into rice paper.

"Hello!"

Jiang Mu waved her hand in front of Bai Xiang, interrupting her gaze.

"What are you daydreaming about? Can't you listen to your master properly? What's so interesting on the street that can compare to me?" Bai Xiang withdrew her gaze, the cold glint in her eyes disappeared, and she picked up the vinegar pot, poured a small dish of aged vinegar, and drank it politely.

Seeing her like this, Jiang Mu sighed helplessly.

Clearly, having too many concubines in his own courtyard had angered this woman.

He didn't explain further, quickly stuffed the remaining buns into his mouth, clapped his hands, stood up, and said, "Let's go, I'll show you around and help you get familiar with this new place. Oh, and pay the bill for me."

With that, the man walked out of the shop with a flourish.

Bai Xiang pouted her red lips, took out a few copper coins from the sachet at her waist, placed them on the table, and left with Jiang Mu.

The sun had risen fully, and the streets were bathed in a warm glow.

Not far from the shop, Bai Xiang paused, pointing to an old man carrying a bundle of straw and selling candied hawthorns. "Your Aunt Bai Xiang likes this stuff?"

Jiang Mu strode over and plucked a string of candied hawthorns from the bundle of straw. He said to Bai Xiang, "One string is enough for the two of us. We can't waste it. This one's on me... You pay."

Bai Xiang took a deep breath, took out two coins from the sachet, and tossed them over.

Jiang Mu first bit off the largest hawthorn on top, then handed the rest to the woman: "Here, for you."

Bai Xiang rolled her eyes playfully and gently bit off a candied hawthorn.

The thin layer of rock sugar cracked between my teeth with a crisp sound, followed by the tart yet slightly sweet taste of hawthorn that quickly spread across my taste buds.

It was sweet and sour, just like her complex and subtle feelings at that moment.

"What a pity you weren't there when the demon army besieged the city a few days ago. You have no idea how powerful your master was back then. The people of the whole city now regard me as their savior."

I reckon that they'll definitely erect a statue of me in this city someday.

"If you can curry favor with me in the future, I'll have a smaller butler statue erected next to my idol for you..." Jiang Mu boasted and joked the whole way, while Bai Xiang listened quietly.

Occasionally, when passing by stalls selling rouge, face powder, or exquisite jewelry, Bai Xiang would stop and take a second look.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Mu immediately and generously bought several trinkets and gave them to the woman.

Of course, the woman paid for everything.

Before they knew it, the two had strolled to a scenic lake.

A gentle breeze rippled across the lake, and willows swayed gracefully along the shore.

Jiang Mu found a flat, wide rock, wiped the dust off it with her sleeve, and plopped down on it.

Then, he opened his arms and raised an eyebrow at Bai Xiang, who was standing in front of him.

Bai Xiang's cheeks felt slightly warm.

She glanced at the few pedestrians passing by in the distance out of the corner of her eye, hesitated, and was reluctant to go forward.

"What are you afraid of? I've hugged you before in Huzhou. Hurry up, don't dawdle."

Jiang Mu urged impatiently, stretching her arm forward again.

Bai Xiang bit her lip, but finally sat on the man's lap.

Jiang Mu closed his arms around the woman's slender waist and rested his chin on her shoulder.

He frowned and said softly:

"You look like you've lost a lot of weight. Your waist is even thinner. It seems that without my support, you can't even afford a decent meal outside, right?"

Bai Xiang leaned against him, gradually relaxing, and gestured in sign language:

"You've lost weight too."

"That's natural."

Jiang Mu lowered his head and buried his face in the woman's hair, taking a deep, greedy breath.

"After all, someone's cooking skills are truly amazing. These past few months, nothing I've eaten has tasted good. I reckon I'll never find another woman in my life who can cook for me so deliciously."

Bai Xiang's lips curled up slightly.

Just as the atmosphere was getting lively, Jiang Mu suddenly spoke up and suggested:

"Since we've already run into each other, why don't you move in tonight and stay at my big house? What do you say?"

Bai Xiang paused for a moment, then gently shook her head.

Are you kidding me?

She's afraid that if she moved in, she'd hear them making a racket in the house every night!

Jiang Mu was not surprised.

He could roughly guess what the woman was thinking, and said softly:

"The people living in this house are all people you used to know. Ah Qing, Ah Li, Ling Zhu, and Xiao Rou. Aunt Shui comes over occasionally, that's all." Bai Xiang pondered for a moment, then gestured in sign language:

"Move A-Qing and A-Li to my yard, and I'll take care of them."

She didn't want those two girls to stay in that polluted environment for long, listening to those unclean sounds.

"no problem."

Jiang Mu readily agreed.

Bai Xiang was taken aback, then suddenly realized.

This guy was just testing her on purpose.

Since he took the initiative to offer to let A-Qing and the other woman move in with him, it was tantamount to indirectly admitting that he would not leave Yunzhou City in the short term, but would stay here for a long time.

Having figured this out, Bai Xiang pinched Jiang Mu's arm in anger.

She'd been tricked by this man in a series of schemes.

Then, she put on a stern face and gestured seriously, saying, "How many women you marry is none of my business. I'm just your housekeeper."

"That's what I've been waiting to hear."

Jiang Mu grinned.

Looking at the man's smug expression, Bai Xiang clenched her fists.

That bastard, she was just saying it casually, but she actually took it seriously.

Just then, a tiny ripple appeared on the lake.

Bai Xiang narrowed her phoenix eyes.

He then returned to normal, as if he hadn't seen anything.

The next instant, a graceful and tall figure appeared in front of the two.

The newcomer wore a long black and red dress with a high slit on the side, revealing two long, straight legs tightly wrapped in semi-transparent black silk.

She was wearing a pair of high heels.

She was aloof and alluring, exuding an aura of captivating beauty.

It was none other than the Zombie Queen, Ji Hongyuan.

Jiang Mu was taken aback when he saw the woman suddenly appear, and subconsciously looked at Bai Xiang sitting in his lap.

Don't worry.

Ji Hongyuan covered her mouth and chuckled, her eyes sparkling. "I am currently in a state of emptiness where my soul is separated from my body. She is just an ordinary mortal without any cultivation, so she cannot see or hear me."

Sure enough, Bai Xiang continued to gaze at the lake, her expression unchanged.

Jiang Mu opened her mouth, then closed it again, and simply condensed a wisp of her divine sense into a single line, transmitting her voice:

"Why did you suddenly come here? Can't you see I'm busy right now?"

"Busy flirting with women, huh? But little brother Jiang, your taste doesn't seem to be very good."

Ji Hongyuan gracefully approached Bai Xiang.

She extended her jade-like fingers, painted with dark red nail polish, and with a hint of discernment, gently brushed a stray hair from Bai Xiang's temple, smiling as she spoke.

"It doesn't look like she's wearing any disguise; her looks are just average, nothing special. But her overall aura is quite good, and her eyes are exceptionally beautiful... Oh dear!"

Ji Hongyuan's gaze fell on Bai Xiang's slender waist.

"This little sister's waist is amazing, even more beautiful than mine. Come here, let me hug you and check it out."

Seeing that the female hooligan was really about to touch her, Jiang Mu's face darkened, and she quickly sent a telepathic rebuke:

"Stop fooling around! We can talk about it tonight."

"Oh? Where shall we talk tonight?"

Ji Hongyuan leaned down, her alluring face almost touching Jiang Mu's nose, her breath sweet and fragrant as she gazed at him with seductive eyes.

"Say it in bed? I'm not happy about that."

Seeing that Jiang Mu's face had darkened, Ji Hongyuan stopped teasing him, her playful expression vanished, and her tone became more serious.

"Brother Jiang, Yunzhou City is about to get quite lively. Do you know what's hidden here?"

"What?"

Jiang Mu asked.

Ji Hongyuan said, "It is said that the great demon Jiang Chaoxi's cave where he cultivated was located in this city."

Jiang Mu's eyes suddenly flashed.

He remembered the blessed land he had entered before.

At the time, the Ginseng King said it was the place where Jiang Chaoxi's cave was passed down, but it was later confirmed that it was not a place of inheritance, but a cage used to imprison a great demon.

It seems that the true place of supreme inheritance is indeed elsewhere.

Jiang Mu asked telepathically:

"Have you found the exact location of that cave dwelling's inheritance?"

"We haven't found it yet, but we have indeed come across some crucial clues," Ji Hongyuan replied.

Jiang Mu said:

"You came all this way to tell me this, are you planning to have me go with you to look for it?"

"So smart, no wonder he's the little man I've set my sights on."

Ji Hongyuan winked.

Jiang Mu decisively refused: "I don't have time right now. Go find it yourself first, and come find me when you have a definite location."

"You heartless ingrate."

Ji Hongyuan glared at him resentfully, then her gaze returned to Bai Xiang, who was quietly leaning against Jiang Mu's chest, and her smile became somewhat playful and meaningful:

"I've noticed you're really into this woman. Your attitude towards her is different from the others you've been flirting with. You wouldn't be planning to marry her as your wife, would you?"

"Wouldn't it seem incredibly shameless of me to flirt with you right in front of her?"

As she spoke, she leaned lazily against the rock beside her, crossed her legs, and started to sit up.

A long leg wrapped in black stockings slipped out from under the skirt.

Her high heels, hooked at the toes, dangled loosely from her toes, swaying gently with the rhythm of her calves, seemingly about to fall but not quite.

It must be admitted that this woman's long legs are truly exceptional.

Jiang Mu glanced at her, then looked away.

That horny zombie woman really has no sense of propriety at all.

A hint of coldness flickered in Bai Xiang's eyes.

A mere zombie dares to act arrogantly in front of her; it seems she needs to be taught a lesson.