So it turns out I'm the demon!

Jiang Mu was filled with doubt and unease.

The Supreme Commander of the Daqing Imperial Guard, who was arguably the sharpest blade in the emperor's hand, was actually thinking about rebellion.

Has this guy been kicked in the head by a donkey?

But upon closer examination, Jiang Mu realized it wasn't impossible.

Since the current emperor ascended the throne, Quan Shanhai's position in the court has been gradually marginalized.

Real power has been divided up.

Perhaps over the years, he had accumulated resentment and planned to secretly overturn this game.

But he actually dared to openly tell me about this treasonous thought that would lead to the extermination of nine generations of his family.

Does this mean he has absolute trust in himself, or is he certain that he would never betray someone?

Jiang Mu couldn't understand the fox's thought process.

He glanced out of the corner of his eye at the still-attractive proprietress behind the counter.

This woman is most likely a spy planted by Quan Shanhai in Yancheng; otherwise, Quan Shanhai wouldn't have bothered bringing her here. Forget it, I really shouldn't get involved in this mess.

Take care of your own business first.

Jiang Mu finished the remaining wine in the bowl in one gulp, stood up, and led Yuan Aqing out of the tavern.

On the way back to the inn, a gentle breeze caressed my face, and the sun shone brightly.

Yuan Aqing followed closely behind Jiang Mu like a little tail.

Perhaps because the aftereffects of that small bowl of strong liquor hadn't worn off yet, the girl's fair cheeks were flushed, and even her clear eyes were filled with a watery, dreamy look.

"master·……"

The girl suddenly stopped and called out in a soft, sweet voice.

Jiang Mu, who was deep in thought, snapped out of it and turned to look at the girl: "What's wrong?"

Sunlight filtered through the willow branches lining the street, dappling the girl's body.

At this moment, Yuan Aqing's cheeks were flushed and her hair was slightly disheveled, like a peach blossom that had just been bathed in the morning dew.

Although it is so delicate that it seems as if it would break with a gust of wind, it stubbornly blooms in the sunlight, exuding a lovely vitality.

Before Jiang Mu could react...

Yuan Aqing suddenly took a step forward and hugged Jiang Mu's waist.

She buried her burning face in the man's chest, completely ignoring the strange looks from passersby on the street, and said in a muffled voice, tinged with drunkenness and aggrieved sobs:

"Master... Ah Qing swears, Ah Qing will never, ever hurt you."

The fear she had felt from being controlled by that murderous will still lingered in her heart like a thorn.

Including those sounds that keep ringing in my ears.

She was terrified that one day she would point the tip of her sword at the master who loved her the most.

Jiang Mu was taken aback at first, but feeling the soft, trembling body in his arms, he smiled and reached out to ruffle her hair.

"Silly girl, what are you thinking? I know you won't, and I assure you that no one in this world can hurt you, and I certainly won't." After saying goodbye to Tian Wenjing at the Demon Slayer Division with Ah Qing, Jiang Mu returned to the carriage and quietly waited for Bai Xiang and Mo Huaisu to return from their pilgrimage.

Under the influence of alcohol, Yuan Aqing could no longer hold on and fell into a deep sleep as soon as she got into the car.

Her small body was curled up in a ball, her little head resting in Jiang Mu's arms, her breathing long and even.

The carriage was completely silent.

Jiang Mu protected A Qing with one hand, and with the other hand, he took out a small notebook and charcoal pencil that he always carried with him.

He wrote down what happened that day and began to mentally review the various forces that had come into contact with him.

The Imperial Observatory, the Imperial Guard, the Demon Slayer Bureau, the Red Umbrella Cult, the Demon Slayer Society, and even Prince Sheng…

Every person and every faction carries its own dirty thoughts.

Jiang Mu looked at the dense network of power structures on the notebook and rubbed his temples.

"This pond in Daqing looks shallow, but there are so many damn turtles in it, a bunch of man-eating bastards." He circled the people who were currently to his advantage.

After analyzing the situation, Jiang Mu reluctantly discovered a fact.

Now, the allies I can truly trust, the ones I can entrust my back to in critical moments, are mostly women with whom I've had ambiguous relationships.

"Indeed, the ancients were right. In this treacherous world of cultivation, only cannons can forge the most sincere and enduring emotions." Jiang Mu thought to himself with a self-deprecating smile, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"From now on, I might as well focus on developing my 'bedroom' business. Make friends with cannons, know each other inside and out, be honest with each other, and at least I won't have to be on edge every day to guard against being betrayed."

But the thought of the word "backstabbing" reminded Jiang Mu of Yu Xiaoqian.

I wonder where that little ghost girl went.

Strictly speaking, Yu Xiaoqian was his first "bedmate" in this world.

He thought she was a well-behaved and obedient little companion, but instead, she turned into a super villain who wanted to strangle him.

Who can I complain to about this?

Jiang Mu put away the notebook and looked down at Yuan Aqing, who was sleeping soundly in her arms.

To be honest, after what happened in Xiahe Town, he felt a little regretful for bringing this girl along to try and find a chance.

Although we didn't see Ah Qing truly go berserk and terrifying today, the way she suddenly slaughtered her enemies suggests that there is indeed some dangerous will or legacy remaining within her that is influencing her.

I hope this girl doesn't become the next one to turn to the dark side.

Jiang Mu reached out and gently stroked the girl's smooth and delicate face with his fingertips.

His fingers slid down her cheek and lingered on her pink lips.

He pressed his fingertips lightly, and the girl's warm breath brushed against his fingers, carrying a faint, tingling sensation.

As if sensing something in her sleep, Yuan Aqing let out a tiny clove between her teeth and unconsciously brushed her lips.

It just so happened to touch his fingertip, like a small fish gently nibbling at it.

After gently stroking it for a while, Jiang Mu withdrew his hand and took out the brocade pouch that Xun Xiaomo had given him earlier from his bosom.

Untie the drawstring, pour out a secret report folded paper, unfold it and examine it closely.

This intelligence report details the specific background of the holder of the Zhewei star position within the Kang Jinlong system.

According to intelligence, the holder's name is Zhou Yao.

He was once a member of the Daqing Demon Slayer Division, but later left the division and joined some unknown force.

Since then, this person's cultivation level has advanced by leaps and bounds, and he has now entered the ranks of the seventh-level great power.

However, Zhou Yao has a unique characteristic: he likes to travel around and is rarely seen, with no fixed abode.

Trying to find him deliberately in the vast sea of ​​people is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

However, the intelligence report specifically mentioned at the end that this person would most likely appear wherever a great opportunity arises.

In other words, he doesn't need to deliberately look for it.

The Purple Emperor Star above Tanzhou City will fully manifest in less than a month, at which time clouds will gather from all directions, and experts from all walks of life will converge. This guy named Zhou Yao will most likely be drawn here by the scent of the star.

He only needs to go back to the city of Fazhou and wait.

If you're lucky, you can easily scoop this fish up from the crowd.

Just as Jiang Mu was planning how to make arrangements after returning to Fazhou, a chill suddenly swept through the carriage.

Jiang Mu felt a chill run down her spine and abruptly looked up.

There, in the seat opposite him, stood a graceful and petite figure.

The newcomer wore a long black dress with gold trim, the hem of which resembled a mandala.

The hem of her black dress just covered her knees, revealing a section of her translucent calves that were so white they almost glowed in the carriage.

At this moment, she was staring intently at Jiang Mu.

It was Yu Xiaoqian, whom Jiang Muxin had been thinking about earlier!

Jiang Mu was taken aback, then a look of joy appeared on her face: "Girl! You remembered the later memories?"

"What memories come after that?"

Yu Xiaoqian frowned her slender eyebrows and coldly retorted.

"..."

Jiang Mu was suddenly doused with a bucket of cold water.

Well, all that excitement for nothing.

The progress bar of this girl's memory is clearly still stuck at fifty percent.

She's still that ruthless, blackened female demon who doesn't recognize her own family.

Before Jiang Mu could even figure out how to start a conversation with this ruthless woman, Yu Xiaoqian had already coldly cut to the chase:

"I found something. But I can't take it with me right now, and I need your help."

"What is it?" Jiang Mu asked.

Don't ask questions you shouldn't ask.

Yu Xiaoqian's curt tone killed the conversation.

Jiang Mu's lips twitched twice, and she pouted,

"Is that even a question? They probably have their eye on some incredible treasure, but realizing they can't beat the monster guarding it, they're planning to drag me along as a laborer to steal it?"

"I'm not taking you there."

Yu Xiaoqian shook her head expressionlessly. "I came to find you to help me improve my cultivation."

I didn't know what you did to me before, but my cultivation level did indeed increase dramatically in a short period of time.

Unfortunately, I expended too much energy while vying for that sword path opportunity, and my cultivation level dropped back down.

Now, I need your help to improve one more time.

"Once my strength improves, I'm absolutely confident I can get my hands on that item. Do you understand?"

Jiang Mu opened her mouth, but for a moment she didn't know what to say.

He understood perfectly.

In order to awaken her memory, he secretly engaged in some fellow cultivation with her while she was in a meditative state and unaware of her surroundings.

The girl woke up halfway through and caught them red-handed.

He punched him into the wall.

However, at the same time, because she absorbed his pure Yang star power and demonic energy, this girl's cultivation level did indeed experience a surge.

The cause and effect are connected...

In other words, this aloof and domineering blackened female ghost suddenly ran into his carriage to actively seek him out for sex.

Jiang Mu stared at the girl's stunningly beautiful yet icy face, and tentatively asked, "Xiao Qian, you really don't know what we were doing before?" "What were we doing?"

The girl's eyes showed a hint of impatience, as if she was very dissatisfied with Jiang Mu's dawdling attitude.

Jiang Mu was at her wit's end and desperately put her hand to her forehead.

It seems this girl not only lost her memories of his feelings for her, but also damaged her brain.

The most basic things between men and women are now a blank slate for her.

No, it's not blank paper.

This piece of paper never existed at all.

but……

Jiang Mu's gaze lingered on Yu Xiaoqian's figure for a moment, and a thought suddenly welled up in his mind.

Whether she understands or not, she's come to us of her own accord.

This is a great opportunity!

Perhaps through deep communication and the fusion of souls, we can try to awaken the missing part of her memory again.

Thinking of this, Jiang Mu felt a gentle surge of star power rise in his palm and gently press it against Yuan Aqing's back in his arms.

With the star power entering her body, Yuan Aqing fell into a deep sleep.

Jiang Mu didn't want the girl to suddenly wake up and see the live stream during the next spellcasting process.

After settling Ah Qing in, Jiang Mu put on a serious expression and nodded to Yu Xiaoqian:

"Alright, since you've asked, I'll reluctantly continue helping you improve your cultivation. But let's get this straight: during the process, you absolutely cannot lay a hand on me."

Yu Xiaoqian nodded coldly and said:

"As long as you obediently help me, I naturally won't hurt you. But if you dare to try any tricks in the middle..."

A chilling, ghostly light flickered in her eyes, and sharp black nails were faintly visible at the tips of her ten slender, white fingers.

"I will definitely kill you!"

"Okay, no problem."

Jiang Mu readily agreed.

Jiang Mu gently moved A Qing to the innermost part of the carriage and used his own coat as a makeshift pillow for her.

Then he turned around and approached Yu Xiaoqian.

Jiang Mu originally planned to find an inn first, but the girl's emotions were extremely unstable and her temper was volatile.

What if she changes her mind halfway through because she finds it troublesome, or just runs away? Wouldn't I be at a huge loss?

Furthermore, considering the time involved, Bai Xiang and Mo Huaisu probably won't be back for a while.

In that case, let's begin right here.

"Ahem... Well, I'm about to begin."

Jiang Mu reached out his hands to unbutton Yu Xiaoqian's collar.

However, the moment his hand touched the girl's collar, Yu Xiaoqian shrank back, glaring at him warily.

"What are you doing?!"

Jiang Mu's hand froze in mid-air, looking helpless. "I'll help you improve your cultivation level. That's what I did last time too."

Yu Xiaoqian glanced down at her dress, then looked up at Jiang Mu and said coldly, "I won't take it off. It's too much trouble to wear."

Jiang Mu was speechless after hearing that.

"Uh... whatever you want, do whatever makes things easier for you, even lift your skirt."

Jiang Mu added one last, worried reminder.

"But I must solemnly remind you again, when I am about to exert my power to improve my cultivation, please do not hit me!" Yu Xiaoqian remained silent.

Seeing that the other party had tacitly agreed, Jiang Mu mustered up his courage, reached out, and grabbed the girl's slender ankle that was exposed outside her skirt.

The hem of his black dress slid across the back of his hand; the fabric was as cold as water.

After all, it's a ghost, so it's understandable that it's cold.

After waiting two seconds and seeing that Yu Xiaoqian showed no signs of making a move, Jiang Mu finally mustered her courage and lifted her skirt by her ankle... to be honest.

Jiang Mu's mood at this moment was quite mixed, with a touch of absurd dark humor.

She used to be that gentle, clingy, and considerate little ghost who would blush with embarrassment if he got even a little close, and who would obey him no matter what he asked for.

But now?

Now he is very compliant.

The only difference is that my previous compliance stemmed from deep affection.

Your compliance at this moment is because they are treating you like a human power bank.

He even put a knife to his neck.

Fine, I'll just charge it then.