Chapter 62

Seeing that Jiufang Shaogeng was so angry that his face turned red, Liuyu finally turned her gaze to Jiufang Zhanghua, who was standing beside him.

As half-brothers from the same father, the two shared strikingly similar facial features, yet the aura between their brows was entirely different.

One was a rebellious youth, languidly leaving the jade towers and golden palaces behind, while the other was an exotic figure, like a celestial tree on a dusty platform.

The celestial families revered composure and tranquility in all things, and Jiufang Zhanghua had upheld this path since childhood. Those who had met him in the celestial capital, Yujing, would rarely criticize his appearance or demeanor, even if they were opposed to the Jiufang family’s stance.

Liuyu looked at him, and a faint smile slowly spread across her otherwise indifferent face.

“Still, your brother is more handsome. No wonder everyone says that Yujing is a beautiful place—such a beauty, we rarely see in our small border town.”

The evening wind was strong, causing the glass lantern held by Jiufang Zhanghua to flicker erratically.

His eyes, as still as a cold pond, seemed to flicker for a moment.

No wonder Shaogeng and Lingzhao both said that this person resembled Liuyu quite a bit. Even when he first saw her, the figure and silhouette of Jiumo Shi’s head of the family made him feel a moment of confusion.

He replied in a calm and indifferent tone:

“Appearance is irrelevant, you flatter me. Miss Jiumo, your recent battle in Taiping City, where you killed an eighth-level master with your seventh-level power, truly displayed your outstanding grace and elegance, far surpassing mine.”

Liuyu chuckled slightly. Her cool tassels swayed as she tilted her head, and the sound of pearls and jade accompanied her voice.

“Lord Zhanghua is too humble. I’ve heard that Lord Zhanghua inherited the elegant swordsmanship from the Yinshan family, and his ‘Jade Strike’ style is truly sublime. If I get the chance, I would love to see it in action.”

Jiufang Zhanghua gazed deeply at her as she spoke.

“If you wish to experience my sword intent, we can discuss it tomorrow, but a real duel with blades could easily injure both parties. However, since Miss Jiumo is a guest, I will accommodate whatever you choose. Regardless, I will gladly accompany you.”

The two exchanged words, subtly sparring verbally, even though it was their first encounter.

And yet, this seemingly composed and quiet nobleman was even more aggressive in his approach.

Liuyu studied his appearance carefully, feeling a quiet sense of amazement in her heart.

People can sometimes be strange.

Though it was the same person, Liuyu from her past life sometimes found it hard to reconcile the Jiufang Zhanghua she knew with the actions he had taken.

In her mind, this person was split into two halves.

One half was the Jiufang Zhanghua of her childhood memories, while the other half was the Jiufang Zhanghua with whom she had a deep, bloody enmity.

The last time, during the Ghost Play Immortal Festival, she had faced him as Yinshan Liuyu, but now, she was observing him from the perspective of a lower status.

When facing someone in a higher position, people instinctively disguise themselves, but when facing someone of lower status, they often reveal their true nature.

This was the real Jiufang Zhanghua.

This was the same Jiufang Zhanghua who had once “killed his master in the name of righteousness,” seized the position of the Jiufang family’s young master from his brother, and took advantage of the situation.

He was no longer the childhood companion who always seemed gentle, responding to all her unreasonable demands.

Turning to look at the demon girl standing behind them, she asked:

“Aren’t we here to fight? Why does it feel like the atmosphere is so friendly?”

The demon girl smiled and replied, “If you’re dumb, just stay quiet. Don’t embarrass the lady.”

By the banks of the Luoshui River, where reeds grew thick, the night wind swept across the plains. Liuyu casually gathered a bunch of reeds in her hand, crushed them between her fingers, and then looked up at Jiufang Zhanghua with a smile.

“I’m hungry. Can you send some supper?”

The topic shifted so quickly that even Jiufang Zhanghua was a little surprised.

However, his face showed no change, and he responded gently, “Of course. Miss Jiumo, if you have any preferences, I will send someone to prepare it.”

Liuyu turned to ask the demon girl what she wanted to eat, as she had been saying she was hungry during the journey.

The demon girl thought carefully about the strange, ghostly dishes that Chaoming often spoke of, but before she could decide, Liuyu said:

“Forget it. Just bring something simple, like braised pork knuckle, crispy roasted goose, and meat sandwiches.”

The demon girl blinked her eyes.

“Yay! Those are all my favorites!”

Liuyu looked towards Xiangli Ju, who was behind Jiufang Zhanghua, and took him to be a servant in this place.

“Where is the guesthouse we are staying in? Lead the way.”

Xiang Li Ju stared in shock at this noblewoman who was about to eat a braised pig’s trotter, but her body was subconsciously moving under the pressure of her aura.

“That… over here.”

“Mm, let’s go.”

Liuyu lifted her foot and walked a few steps, then suddenly turned back.

Through the vast night, she smiled faintly, looking at Jiu Fang Zhanghua.

“I heard from Miss Zhongli that I resemble the eldest miss of the Yinshan family. What do you think, Young Master Chang, do we look alike?”

She asked the question straightforwardly, causing those in the know, like Fang Fucang, to feel uneasy.

“…There are many people in the world who look alike,” Jiu Fang Zhanghua’s dark lashes swept lightly, his gaze calm and unwavering, “The eldest miss of the Yinshan family is as radiant as a peony, while Miss Jiemo is like a nerium oleander, delicate and beautiful. Two flowers, each with its own charm.”

His answer was flawless.

Liuyu withdrew her gaze and turned into the darkness.

Jiu Fang Shao Geng, watching her figure, thought his brother’s description was indeed accurate.

Nerium oleander.

The color of the flowers was vibrant… yet very poisonous.

—-

The late-night meal arrived half an hour later.

Liuyu had just finished bathing when Xiang Li Hualian entered. When she came out, she saw everyone gathering in the main hall eating their late-night meal. She walked over and took a quick look, unable to suppress a smile.

“Late at night, they really managed to find a cook who can make these dishes.”

Lan Zhu and Gui Nu were eating heartily. Yue Niang, with her big eyes and small stomach, was about to take a whole piece of meat wrapped in flatbread when Fang Fucang grabbed it first, breaking it into two halves before giving it to her.

Mu Cang Shui didn’t touch the food on the table, only drinking a cup of tea and saying, “The eldest son of the Jiu Fang family is impressive. If he weren’t incapable of practicing their martial arts, he would probably be the next family head.”

“Too bad he can’t even keep up,” Liuyu said lightly, sitting down and picking up a piece of roast goose.

“Even so, he should not be underestimated,” Mu Cang Shui continued slowly. “Aside from the demons in Jiu You, they won’t carefully investigate, but the others from Jiemo’s family probably have already been thoroughly assessed after the battle in Taiping City. Jiu Fang Zhanghua will certainly do everything in his power to defeat us.”

Liuyu rested her hand on her forehead, “We’ll take the initiative, not react. Don’t worry, I’ll prepare countermeasures in advance.”

Mu Cang Shui smiled with a hint of approval, “Miss is good at taking advice, with the demeanor of a wise ruler—but I wonder, how far has Miss gotten with the national strategy I gave you?”

Liuyu paused, holding her chopsticks.

“…I’m a little tired suddenly, so let’s call it a night. I’ll rest and gather strength to read it tomorrow…”

“Too much food makes one sleepy, which is why I said two meals a day is the best for health. Since Miss had time for late-night snacks, you should’ve already finished a section of the strategy.”

Under Mu Cang Shui’s watchful gaze, Liuyu reluctantly put down her chopsticks and took out the national strategy he had presented, continuing from where she left off last time.

To be fair, this strategy was very well-written.

The volume Liuyu had received outlined the governance strategies for Taiping City and Longque City, including the conflicts that might arise when demons and humans coexist, as well as the conflicts of interest with local gentry.

The organization was clear, pinpointing current issues, and, more importantly, offered solutions.

These ideas weren’t developed overnight.

They required years or even decades of experience and insight to arrive at such profound conclusions.

—Though it was a bit too profound, making it difficult to digest.

Liuyu forced herself to read a section about how demons would integrate into human culture, managing to understand about 70-80% of it. Only after answering Mu Cang Shui’s questions—almost like an interrogation—did she finally receive permission to sleep.

A maid was organizing her luggage while Liuyu lay on the couch, her hair down. She picked up a jade slip from the side and found a series of messages.

Mo Lin: [Did you meet that person?]
Mo Lin: [Did they recognize you? What did you talk about?]
Mo Lin: [Just asking, not that I mind you talking, but if you don’t want to say, it’s fine]
Mo Lin: […It’s almost the Zi hour, still talking?]
Mo Lin: [It’s the Zi hour, it’s the Zi hour, it’s the Zi hour]

Liuyu looked at the repeated emphasis on the “Zi hour” and couldn’t help but smile.

Liuyu: [I saw them, they didn’t recognize me, we just exchanged a few words, the main event is tomorrow.]

On the other side, Mo Lin and his team had set up camp, already familiar with the surroundings and the Shentu family’s forces. One group was on night watch, while the others slept.

Mo Lin lay on his arm, waiting for news in the tent.

The jade slip’s light still flickered when he finished reading the message from Liuyu.

Mo Lin suddenly realized that before receiving Liuyu’s reply, he had been frowning, his expression solemn.

Mo Lin: [Why aren’t you asleep yet?]

Liuyu: [I was held up by Grandma Mu to read books. After I finished, she quizzed me, stricter than the academy teachers. It was awful.]

He stroked the words.

He could almost imagine the image of the girl resting her chin on the pillow, sending him a message with a bitter face, her brow lightly furrowed yet still with a slight smile.

Mo Lin: [Sleep early.]

If it had been anyone else, she might have felt that it was dismissive, but coming from Mo Lin, she felt he was probably just concerned that saying too much would disturb her rest, so he kept it short and direct.

She had stopped expecting sweet words from him at night.

But Liuyu still turned over and wrote on the jade slip.

Liuyu: [Remember to miss me.]

The four words glowed on the jade slip, and Mo Lin stared at them for a long time. The slip was silent, but in his mind, he could almost hear her saying those words, the tone crisp, but with a slight playful rise at the end.

…How could he not miss her?

His gaze fell on a corner of the mustard seed pouch, where a faint pink ribbon peeked out.

He gently tugged it, and Liuyu’s scent slowly filled the tent. His sharp senses easily caught the lingering fragrance—so faint, yet it felt as though she was right beside him.

The delicate, expensive silk felt like her soft fingers.

His breath gradually grew heavy and labored.

With his head tilted back, the muscles in his neck rippled, and damp sweat slid down his jawline. He closed his eyes, and countless fragments of the immortal capital, Yujing, flashed through his mind, each scene distant and blurry.

He wanted to grasp something, but the space beside him was empty, and the only thing he could hold onto was this faint fragrance.

At the critical point, he called her name, letting out a soft sigh.

On the other side, Liuyu, who had been waiting for his response, was about to fall asleep when a maid outside gently voiced a question.

Liuyu lifted the gauze curtain. “What’s wrong?”

The maid, looking apologetic, said, “It seems that when I was packing your clothes, I missed one small garment. Strange, I clearly checked everything…”

This maid was originally from the Xiangli family and was less attentive than Liuyu’s own maid, so Liuyu didn’t take it to heart.

“It’s fine, I can just wash it and wear it again later.”

But after the maid blew out the candle and left, Liuyu, almost asleep, suddenly opened her eyes.

Liuyu: [You didn’t take anything from my luggage, did you?]

Liuyu: [You should stop thinking about me!]

—-

At the third quarter of the morning, the sky was just beginning to lighten.

The first thing Liuyu did when she woke up was reach for the jade slip beside her pillow.

As expected, she saw a message glowing on the slip.

She had initially planned to send a message saying she no longer needed the small garment, but when she opened the message, she saw:

Mo Lin: [It’s torn.]

Mo Lin: [I’ll buy you a new one when I return.]

“…Do you think the room is hot, Miss?” The maid lifted the curtain and looked at her face, puzzled by the flush on her cheeks. “Should I ask for a cooling pearl to help with the heat?”

Liuyu set down the jade slip, dispersing the images in her mind.

“No need, we won’t be staying here for long.”

The immortal family gathering was usually scheduled after the fourth hour, but today, the various families that had gathered in Luoshui had already begun to prepare early. They were adjusting their headwear and robes and were gathering in courtyards or corridors, discussing the newly emerging head of the Jimo family.

“Have you heard? That person named Jimo Gui arrived last night, and sure enough, she brought demons and ghosts with her. She doesn’t even try to hide it.”

The patriarch speaking had a serious expression, looking like he had weathered many storms.

“As a family of the immortal world, to associate with demons and ghosts, living under the same roof—where is the respect for ritual? It’s a stain on the family name.”

Beside him, another patriarch stood with his hands behind his back, his face full of concern.

“Not only that, my lodging is not far from the dining hall. I heard that last night she even ordered supper. The eldest son of the Jiufang family specifically called in a chef from outside to prepare… braised pork knuckle! A dish fit only for the common folk has been brought into the dining hall of an immortal family. How vulgar!”

When he mentioned the braised pork knuckle, his tone rose a few notes.

The surrounding families looked pale at this news, as though the sky had fallen.

Pork knuckle.

How could anyone eat pork knuckle!

“—They can eat what they want, why do you look like that?”

The voice came from a woman who smiled gently, her round cheeks giving her a very approachable beauty.

Though unfamiliar with her, no one could recall which small family from the Demon-Ghost Long Wall she was from. One of the men replied:

“Who said they don’t want us to eat? If they marry into the Jimo family, won’t we have to share a table with demons and ghosts under the same roof?”

The woman smiled and said, “Then just don’t marry into the Jimo family.”

“The Jimo family controls the two cities of Taiping and Longque, and holds the ‘Immortal Farming Encyclopedia.’ They are second only to the Shentu family in the Demon-Ghost Long Wall. If they press us with their power, how can we small families resist?”

The families gathered in Luoshui were pillars of the immortal families in the Demon-Ghost Long Wall. There were even some young and handsome individuals who were already beginning to worry about being forced into marriage by the Jimo family.

She looked around and smiled gently:

“Don’t worry, with your looks, there’s no need to worry. I’m not so desperate.”

For a moment, there was silence in the courtyard.

Among the crowd, Jiufang Shaogeng, who was walking through the corridor, caught sight of Liuyu and paused in his steps.

“When did you come in? I didn’t see you outside.”

His gaze scanned Liuyu, who had changed into a new dress, black and white silk interlacing. The wind in the courtyard made the fabric flutter, accentuating her graceful figure, like a painting in ink.

“…Since everyone is here, please come inside.”

Jiufang Shaogeng spoke with a hint of mockery:

“Miss Jimo, I hope you won’t mind showing us the strength of your seven realms by instantly killing an eight-realm practitioner.”

…She’s Jimo Gui?

The faces of those who had been discussing her earlier turned pale. In an instant, their eyes shifted to Jiufang Zhanghua behind them for help.

However, Jiufang Zhanghua looked toward the two servants who had accompanied Liuyu—Lan Zhu and the Ghost Maiden.

“Miss Jimo, are you bringing these two servants inside?”

Originally, they thought Liuyu would bring either Fang Fucang or Yue Niang, but they hadn’t expected Liuyu to bring these two, not even allowing them to conceal their demonic energy. It was easy for the surrounding families to recognize their demon and ghost identities.

Liuyu calmly looked at him:

“Does Young Master mind?”

Although Jiufang Zhanghua disliked demons and ghosts, he was pragmatic and wouldn’t say he minded.

Liuyu then asked, “Second Young Master, do you mind?”

“I mind…”

“Forget it,” Liuyu said as she lifted her skirt and slowly walked into the inner room. “You’ve been defeated; your opinions don’t matter.”

Jiufang Shaogeng stood frozen as he watched Liuyu pass by him.

When she said “defeated,” her peripheral gaze swept across his face, like a steel blade scraping bone, cutting away his dignity as a member of a first-rate immortal family, ruthlessly and disdainfully trampling it underfoot.

Just one glance.

She quickly withdrew her gaze, too disdainful to look any longer.

Behind Nine Fang Shao Geng stood the entire courtyard full of people, all of whom seemed to be watching him, causing his face to burn with embarrassment.

“The two noble sons of the Nine Fang family have no objections, so no one should think themselves more distinguished than them, right?”

Liuyu looked at the silent courtyard with satisfaction and smiled.

“Since no one has any objections, don’t just stand there, come in and sit.”

Seeing Liuyu calmly walking toward the inner room, Zhan Zhu and Gui Nv followed her in, somewhat at a loss in front of the gazes of the assembled families, feeling out of place as they entered the inner room.

They really came in.

Zhan Zhu surveyed the elegant room, noting that it had cost a lot to decorate, but the paintings on the walls, the teacups on the tables, and the meticulously arranged orchids in the vases were entirely different from what they were used to in Jiuyou.

It was just beautiful.

Indescribably beautiful.

At this moment, Zhan Zhu fully understood Liuyu’s previous selectiveness when she first arrived in Jiuyou.

“Wow, this cup has fish painted on it that move when you pour water in—what is this, so amazing—”

Gui Nv quickly covered Zhan Zhu’s mouth.

She looked up, and the nobles in the room glanced at them with faintly contemptuous eyes, but more so with a sense of gloom and pain, as if they were wondering whether they would really have to share a room with these uncouth demons in the future.

Gui Nv met their gaze and forced a wide smile.

Then, in secret, she curled her toes in embarrassment.

So embarrassing. She should have asked the Lord to send the mountain demon along instead.

Liuyu, who had just sat down, glanced back and chuckled lightly.

“That cup is made by the Spring Mountain Kiln in the Eastern Extreme Yang Valley. It’s only famous for this little clever design, but in terms of glaze and painting skills, it can’t compare to the Southern Kiln. If you like it, we can buy a few on our way back.”

Gui Nv blinked.

How strange. Once the Empress Dowager spoke, that feeling of awkwardness seemed to vanish in an instant.

It felt as if the cup they had never seen before was no big deal.

Right.

They couldn’t possibly not afford it.

It was just a cup.

They were inexperienced, but the Empress Dowager was experienced, and now that they’d seen it, they’d know for next time, right?

Gui Nv silently sat up straighter.

Seeing this, Liuyu finally withdrew her gaze and met the scrutiny of Nine Fang Zhanghua.

“Miss Ji Mo really does know how to attract talent in unconventional ways.”

Liuyu could hear the sarcasm in his words and smiled.

“Speaking of which, it was during the attack on Taiping City by the demons. That day, when I saw the demons of Lu Ming Mountain being so powerful, daring to kill even the people of the Yin Mountain clan, I don’t know if it was their own idea or if they were being manipulated. If they were instructed, then these demons really are skilled hands.”

After a pause, she continued with a cheerful smile, as if unaware of the subtle atmosphere in the room.

“Since they can be used as henchmen, I might as well recruit a few for my own use. You see, they’re quite useful.”

The head of the Shentu family, sitting at the top, looked at the young woman to his right.

This speech… he couldn’t tell if she was truly unaware, or if she was pretending to be ignorant.

The matter of Yin Mountain Qi’s death in Taiping City had been swept under the rug because the demons from Lu Ming Mountain were all recruited by the demon Mo Lin. Even the Yin Mountain clan couldn’t find concrete evidence.

Many in the immortal families suspected the Nine Fang family had a hand in it, but no one dared to bring it up openly.

And this sudden appearance of Ji Mo Gui, not only recruiting demons but also mentioning the death of Yin Mountain Qi in front of Nine Fang Zhanghua, if it wasn’t an accidental slip, it almost sounded like an outright threat.

At the right moment, Shentu Xiang spoke up:

“I’ve heard that Miss Ji Mo once instantly killed an eighth-stage cultivator with her seventh-stage power, and defeated both Miss Zhongli and Young Master Nine Fang. Today, everyone is here to witness the talents of Miss Ji Mo. I wonder if Miss Ji Mo would be willing to show us?”

Liuyu looked at Nine Fang Zhanghua across from her.

“Then please, Young Master Zhanghua, do me the honor.”

After saying this, the two of them sat face to face, unmoving, but their energy fields surged, releasing streams of energy that materialized into figures resembling soldiers formed from their respective energy, representing them in a combat exchange.

This was how the immortal families conducted their “discussions.”

It was neither a simple conversation nor a real battle. Instead, they used their energy to manifest these warriors, who would engage in combat in place of the person.

The immortals considered physical martial arts to be inferior.

Only through such serene discussions and silent victories in battle could one be considered to have mastered the highest path of immortality.

“Before your younger brother left Taiping City, he used the Blood Boundary to try to trap and kill my husband. Although my husband was unharmed, it can only be said that he was lucky, and not that your brother showed mercy.”

Nine Fang Zhanghua gazed at her coldly.

Liuyu smiled and glanced at Nine Fang Shao Geng, who instinctively stiffened and dared not move.

“Since Young Master Zhanghua invited me for this discussion, it must be for peace, to handle this matter for your younger brother. If that’s the case, then today, you as the older brother should take the punishment for him. Let him know what happens to anyone who dares to harm someone from my Ji Mo Gui family in the future.”

As their energy surged, Nine Fang Zhanghua momentarily lost focus.

This sentence—he felt as though he had heard it before.

—”So what if your brother was the one I defeated? He deserved it for attacking Zhanghua first!”

—”You come to stand up for your brother? I’ll deal with you, the older brother, as well! Let everyone know what happens to anyone who dares to harm my people from Yin Mountain Liuyu!”