So it turns out I'm the demon!

The group settled in a fairly clean inn in town.

Jiang Mu specifically requested two superior rooms.

While waiting for the hot water, Jiang Mu said to Bai Xiang, who was making the bed:

"Let's rest here for the night. I should be able to resolve Yan Zixiao's matter by tomorrow night. Once it's settled, I'll send you to the city to properly pay respects to your father-in-law and mother-in-law."

Ok?

Father-in-law?

Bai Xiang paused, turned around, and glanced at the man with a half-smile.

Jiang Mu coughed lightly and shamelessly explained:

"I'm just lying to your parents. Otherwise, if they knew you sold yourself into the Jiang family as a cook, wouldn't they be so angry they'd jump out of their coffins?"

"What if they appear in my dreams at night, pointing their fingers at me and accusing me of abusing their precious daughter? Then I'll have nowhere to cry out for justice."

Bai Xiang rolled her eyes playfully.

That bastard, he can even make taking advantage of others sound so elegant and refined.

After the waiter brought in buckets of hot water and filled the bathtubs, Bai Xiang pointed to the door and gestured in sign language:

"Get out of here, Ah Qing and I need to take a bath."

Jiang Mu grabbed Yuan Aqing, who was still standing there in a daze, and pushed her out the door: "Aqing, go to the next room to wash. I'm staying here so your Aunt Baixiang can help me scrub my back."

Yuan Aqing paused for a moment, then obediently responded and turned to leave.

Bai Xiang raised her eyebrows, her face cold:

"Wash it yourself. I'm not some maid you bought to serve you."

"Sir, I can do it!"

Yuan Aqing suddenly turned back, quickly peeking her little head out from the door frame, and said in a clear voice, "Master, I can help you scrub your back." "Get out of the way."

Jiang Mu ruthlessly pressed the girl's head back down and slammed the door shut.

Turning around, Jiang Mu met Bai Xiang's wary gaze and smiled.

"Don't overthink it, it's just a back massage to relieve fatigue. Your husband has been running around all day, my bones are about to fall apart."

As he spoke, he began to undress on his own.

Bai Xiang turned around instinctively.

That bastard is getting more and more shameless.

With a "splash," water splashed.

Jiang Mu stepped into the bathtub, let out a comfortable sigh, and urged:

"What are you waiting for? Come on! By the way, I've been so bored on the way here that I suddenly got a burst of poetic inspiration and wrote a love poem for you. Would you like to hear it?"

Bai Xiang smiled, a gentle smile playing on her lips.

Love poems?

What can he accomplish with the few drops of ink in his belly?

Despite her inner grumbling, she still walked over and picked up the white towel draped over the screen.

Let's just wipe it.

Anyway, she does all the cooking and laundry on weekdays, so one more thing won't make a difference.

Consider it repaying the favor he did for washing her feet in the car earlier. At worst, she'll make him wash her feet more often in the future, or lick them clean if he doesn't—that'll be his punishment. Standing before the bathtub, Bai Xiang gazed at the broad, chiseled back shrouded in steam in the tub, and her cheeks inexplicably flushed.

It's said that a woman's beautiful body easily arouses a man, but the reverse is also true.

She forced herself to calm her slightly flustered emotions and soaked and wrung out the towel.

She covered the man's back and began to wash it.

"Ouch...that feels good. Our butler's skills are truly exceptional; the pressure is just right."

Jiang Mu squinted her eyes and leaned against the edge of the bathtub with a look of enjoyment on her face.

He suddenly turned to the woman behind him and suggested, "Ah Xiang, why don't we wash together? This tub is quite big."

"Snapped!"

Before he could finish speaking, he was slapped on the back.

Jiang Mu hissed and complained, pouting.

"You woman, we've slept in the same bed, washed each other's feet, it's just a matter of rubbing each other's backs, what's the big deal? It's not like I'm going to devour you alive."

Bai Xiang ignored him.

The man's eyes darted around, and he threw out the bait:

"How about this, I'll read that poem to you. If you like it, I win, and you can come down and wash with me. How about that?" Bai Xiang ignored him and continued to scrub his back expressionlessly.

Jiang Mu grabbed her slender white wrist with his other hand, forcefully hooking his little finger around hers, and said in a serious tone:

"Come on, pinky promise. You've been such a terrible housekeeper. If you think I've done a bad job, I'll listen to you on everything from now on, no matter what suggestions you have, and I'll never talk back."

Bai Xiang was speechless at his childish behavior, but her curiosity was also piqued.

She wanted to see what this guy could come up with.

So she gestured and said, "Okay, it's a deal."

Jiang Mu chuckled, closed his eyes, and pretended to ponder deeply for a moment.

Then, he opened his eyes and stared intently at the woman, and in a deep, magnetic voice, he murmured:

"Frost covers the ten-mile-long lake, and every inch of my black hair is tinged with sorrow for my fleeting youth. I stand alone under the moon, longing for companionship, envying not the immortals, but the mandarin ducks."

A poem pieced together from the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story" was borrowed by Jiang Murong.

Bai Xiang was stunned after hearing this.

She stared at the man strangely for a long while before finally asking in sign language, "Where did you copy it from?"

Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow, looking completely innocent:

"What do you mean by plagiarism? I'm a scholar. How can a scholar be accused of plagiarism? I racked my brains to write this especially for you."

Bai Xiang wrinkled her nose slightly, her face clearly saying, "I don't believe you."

Jiang Mu held onto her wrist tightly and wouldn't let go:

"How's this poem? Not bad, right? Come in and wash up, the water's getting cold."

Bai Xiang shook off his hand and gestured:

"Even if you really did it, it's still not good. It looks like it was cobbled together from various sources, so you lost."

Jiang Mu's eyes widened: "Are you cheating?"

Bai Xiang curled the corners of her lips, revealing an expression that said, "So what if I cheat? What can you do about it?"

"Fine, you win."

Jiang Mu shook his head helplessly and sighed.

"All that hard work I put into thinking about this has been for nothing. I was even thinking that if you kept your promise, I would write you a love poem every day. But now it seems like I should just forget about it."

Bai Xiang pursed her lips and did not respond.

After a while, a wet towel was suddenly placed over Jiang Mu's face, obscuring his vision.

"Are you trying to smother your husband to death?"

Jiang Mu subconsciously reached out to grab the towel, but a slightly cool hand pressed her down, preventing her from moving.

He paused for a moment, as if he understood something, swallowed hard, and slowly put his hand back on the edge of the bucket.

really.

Soon after, I heard the rustling sound of clothes slipping off.

Immediately afterwards, the sound of rippling water arose.

Jiang Mu felt the water level rise, and a delicate calf slid across the water before gently resting against his leg.

As the towel was removed from her face, Jiang Mu's vision cleared.

What came into view was Bai Xiang, who was already sitting in the bathtub, facing him.

The water level just reached the woman's collarbone.

A section of her smooth, alabaster-like shoulder emerged from the water, with a shallow dimple on each side. A few strands of hair, damp with moisture, clung to her neck, and the winding ink-like lines made her skin below appear even whiter.

Jiang Mu's breath hitched for a second.

He instinctively looked down along his collarbone, and then... he was stunned.

Beneath the water's surface, the woman was wearing a tight-fitting strapless top!

Jiang Mu was speechless.

"No, what kind of decent person would wear a strapless bra while taking a bath? Besides, it's not like I haven't touched them before."

Bai Xiang raised her phoenix eyebrows slightly and gestured confidently:

"I always bathe like this. Anyway, I've kept my promise. From now on, you have to write me a poem every day. If you miss one, I'll hold you accountable."

As she spoke, she ignored Jiang Mu's resentful gaze and scooped up a handful of water, pouring it down her neck.

Water droplets rolled down her neck, past her collarbone, and were parted by the straps of her strapless top. Even though the most beautiful scenery was hidden by her clothes, it still exuded an alluring charm.

Jiang Mu looked at the smug woman in front of him, nudged her jade-like leg with his own underwater with annoyance, and then laughed, "Not bad, at least you're not wearing pants down there."

Bai Xiang sneered inwardly.

Visibility is already blurred in the water, so she naturally focused on protecting the area above that was most prone to being exposed.

Just then, the man on the other side suddenly broke through the water and came close to her.

Bai Xiang felt a warm sensation on her side as an arm reached under her waist from underwater and pulled her over, then turned her around.

The next moment, the water rippled outwards in a circle.

Before she could react, a burning hot chest pressed against her back.

"Take your time with the back scrubbing and everything else. How about we sit in the water for a bit, wash, and chat?"

Jiang Mu whispered in the woman's ear.

Bai Xiang's body suddenly stiffened, and she instinctively tried to break free.

But then she thought about it again. The two of them had already hugged each other countless times in the same bed, and she was wearing a strapless top right now, so this hug wasn't too much of a stretch.

If you really try to push him away, there will inevitably be another tug-of-war.

This guy is ridiculously shameless; no matter how much he tries to deny it, he'll probably still end up like this.

So she obediently let down her guard and sat against his lap.

But as soon as it was confirmed, Bai Xiang regretted it.

She was wearing a strapless top, but no pants.

Sitting on the man's lap like this, even through the flowing water, made her feel strange.

Jiang Mu did not notice anything unusual about the woman.

As he scooped up hot water and sprinkled it on the woman's rounded shoulders, he picked up a towel and gently rubbed her arms, casually saying, "Speaking of which, your father and mother's graves should be outside the city, right? Should we wait until things are settled and then find a feng shui master to take a look and move their remains to Tanzhou City?"

After all, Yancheng is too far away, and it won't be very convenient for you to come and pay your respects during festivals."

Relocating graves...

Hearing the man's words, Bai Xiang felt a pang of sadness and sorrow in her heart.

The remains of my parents are still buried deep beneath the Mirror Kingdom, a land now corrupted by demonic poison.

How can they move a tomb without even a decent tombstone?

She suppressed the stinging sensation in her nose, gently shook her head, and casually removed the hairpin that was tied behind her head.

Her long hair, now free of its restraints, was half draped over the man's chest, half floating on the gently rippling water, like a waterfall of ink scattered by the wind.

Jiang Mu lowered his head and inhaled the faint fragrance emanating from the woman's hair, then said sadly:

"Actually, I'm pretty much the same as you. My memories of my parents have long been blurred."

Back in Huzhou City, when I awoke from the demonic poison, my parents were already gone. I couldn't even be there to see them one last time. My memory was hazy then; looking at their coffins was like looking at two complete strangers. I felt no sadness at their burial, let alone cried.

Many people are calling me a heartless beast behind my back…

Jiang Mu's words were half true and half false.

Having stayed in this world for so long, he sometimes genuinely forgets his identity as a transmigrator.

Looking back, when my parents from the previous life were buried, because I had just taken over their place and had no emotional connection with them, the process was indeed too casual and hasty.

In addition, Jiang Mu occasionally heard snippets about the original owner's family from the demon sister Qiu Yuexin, so deep down, Jiang Mu still felt a little guilty towards those parents.

The emotion he expressed at that moment came from the bottom of his heart.

Sensing the man's low spirits behind her, Bai Xiang remained silent for a moment.

She reached down underwater and grasped Jiang Mu's hand, squeezing her knuckles little by little between his fingers, their fingers intertwined tightly.

Her body, which had been slightly stiff with shyness, completely softened under this silent comfort, and she entrusted her entire weight to the man's embrace.

However, the moment she settled down, Bai Xiang's body tensed up again.

No.

You really can't just sit on this guy's lap.

She bit her lower lip, wanting to stand up and escape this horrible bathtub.

But reason told her that if she reacted so strongly now, it would only make things worse and be too obvious.

Left with no other choice, she could only force herself to remain calm.

"Forget it, let's not talk about these sad things so late at night."

Jiang Mu composed herself and said softly,

"I have an important matter to attend to tomorrow night. You and A-Qing should stay in the inn and not go anywhere. That girl is now a fifth-level expert, and her abilities are not weak. I can only feel at ease with her by your side protecting you."

Bai Xiang nodded stiffly.

Of course, she won't stay obediently in the inn tomorrow.

She had previously used her divine sense to secretly explore this place, and it exuded an eerie aura.

Moreover, she vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a hidden master in this town.

Just then, Jiang Mu, whose legs were a little numb, gently moved her body in the water, causing a ripple.

Bai Xiang decisively broke free from the man's embrace.

She turned around and glared at him fiercely.

Her usually clear and cool eyes now held a hint of something that was hard to tell—whether it was anger or embarrassment—and she picked up a towel floating on the water and began to wipe herself.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Mu asked, looking bewildered.

Bai Xiang gestured in sign language: "Hurry up and wash, I still want to sleep, I'm so sleepy."

"Oh, then I'll help you wash up, and we'll sleep together afterward."

Jiang Mu snatched the towel from her hand and, without saying a word, pressed down on her shoulders to wipe the water droplets off her neck.

As he was wiping, he suddenly suggested:

"Let me wipe your legs. You can't reach them down there, lift them up a bit."

As he spoke, Jiang Mu pulled one of the woman's long legs out of the water and casually draped it over his shoulder.

Water droplets rolled down the curve of her thighs one after another.

Like a piece of top-quality lotus root that has just been taken out of the water.

Bai Xiang subconsciously sank her body into the water.

Her body was extremely flexible, so the movement wasn't strenuous; it was just that being bathed made her feel very awkward.

I'm not washing anymore!

Suddenly, Bai Xiang twitched her toes, moved her foot forward, and stepped directly on Jiang Mu's face, even with a hint of venting her anger, she ground her foot down with a little force.

"Hmm... what's gotten into you again?"

Jiang Mu's nose stung from being stepped on, and she complained in a muffled voice.

Bai Xiang snatched the towel from his hand and threw it at his face, covering his eyes just like she had done at the beginning.

Then gently step on it with your feet to secure the towel to his face.

After doing all this, she quickly got up, took a long stride out of the bathtub, and grabbed the dry towel draped over the screen.

Then he quickly hid behind the screen and began wiping the water droplets off his body.

Jiang Mu pulled the towel off her face, stared at the graceful silhouette behind the screen, and said speechlessly, "No, I really didn't do anything. I was just trying to be kind by washing your legs, and you're repaying kindness with enmity, you know that?"

Bai Xiang ignored him and quickly changed into a long dress.

She emerged from behind the screen, her pretty face cold, and gestured a word in sign language towards Jiang Mu in the bathtub:

"I'm going to sleep in Ah Qing's room. You're not allowed to come over tonight."

After gesturing, she pushed open the door and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut with a loud "bang".

Jiang Mu scratched his head: "This is inexplicable."

After a moment, he looked down and belatedly realized what had happened.

"Depend on……"

Jiang Mu covered her face, both amused and exasperated, and sighed, "They really don't give me any face at all."

Late the next night.

The inn's rooms were dimly lit by candlelight.

Jiang Mu sat alone at the table, gazing at the yellow lantern on it, quietly awaiting the invitation from the Demon-Slaying Gathering.

Just after midnight, the lanterns suddenly became a little brighter.

The character "安" (peace/safety) on the lantern paper changed from dark red to a golden color and began to gradually blur.

Immediately afterwards, the lantern floated up from the table and drifted leisurely towards the outside.

"They're here."

Jiang Mu stood up.

He had already transferred his star position to the Demon Shadow in advance, and at this moment his aura was completely concealed, making him look like an ordinary person without cultivation. The lantern floated towards the door, and he followed and stepped out of the threshold.

As soon as Jiang Mu stepped out of the room, she sensed that something was wrong.

A thin layer of grayish-white smoke filled the corridor, and the surroundings were quiet, exuding an eerie stillness.

He first pushed the door of the house where Bai Xiang and Yuan Aqing lived next door.

The door was unlocked, and the house was empty.

He was clearly already in another dimension.

Jiang Mu composed herself and continued following behind her lantern as she walked out of the inn.

The world outside the door has changed.

A thin layer of pale gray mist, knee-high, drifted slowly across the street.

Countless townspeople walked along the streets.

A yellow lantern floats in front of each person.

At the highest point of the night sky, a huge sky lantern with the character "安" (An) floats, resembling a hot air balloon.

Like a dark yellow moon, it guides everyone's direction.

Jiang Mu blended into the crowd without making a sound, and soon arrived at the center of the town.

There is a wide and tall area here.

The area around Gao was filled with members of the Demon Slayer Society, all clad in black cloaks.

And directly above the high place, a dozen huge iron cages were lined up in a row.

Each cage was covered with a black cloth.

Jiang Mu remained hidden in the crowd, refraining from making any rash moves.

He didn't want to reveal himself too early before confirming whether Yan Zixiao was imprisoned in these cages.