I pushed open the door to see Jiě jie stepping on one of the rats' faces while the other two sat obediently in the corner of the room. After staring for a moment, I shrugged before stepping into the room and closing the door behind me.
I took out the hourglass on the table, showing a quarter of the time I checked last. After I sat in one of the chairs at the still-broken table, leaning back as I stared at the other rats in the room. They flinched at my gaze, fear in their eyes as they looked at each other.
"W-we ran into some Xīngyún disciples," one of them explained.
"Y-yeah! T-they gave us some trouble but we killed them," the other chimed in.
I nodded absent-mindedly, instantly forgetting what they said as I rolled my head over to Jiě jie, still stepping on Feng Èr. Jiě jie stared at the hourglass on the table, sighing as she took her foot off the whining rat on the floor. She untied the red string of my mask, tossing it to me. I caught it, sitting up as I placed the white mask on my face before standing up.
I grumbled under my breath, snatching the hourglass into my storage bag. Jiě jie turned to the rats pathetically quaking in the corner before sternly speaking.
"Get up, we're leaving for Yuèchūn mountain."
The rats stopped shaking, straightening up immediately before scrambling from the floor and following after us.
I rolled my eyes under my mask, walking beside Jiě jie. Extending my demonic qi as I connected to Jiě jie's spiritual consciousness.
Jiě jie, why bring them along?
If we don't, Elder Shen will definitely be angry. After that, it'll be a miracle if they'll come back in pieces.
Why should we care though?
I noticed Jiě jie's eyes narrow, slight disappointment in her gaze as she answered.
They're still our juniors whether you like it or not. You can be heartless with our enemies, but not with our fellow disciples.
I tensed up, evading her glare as I retracted from her spiritual sea. My brows knitted together, lips pursed as a slight pout showed up on my face. A second later, I heard a sigh before I felt a hand on my head, ruffling through my hair. My face relaxed, turning my gaze ahead as we left the inn, roaming through the streets towards the eastern exit of the Yuèchūn mountain town. We quickly arrived at the foot of Yuèchūn mountain, Jiě jie leading the way to the mountain top.
I followed after, yawning as we passed the various brothels with women showing off their bodies to the tourists traveling through. I felt a slight weight in my chest I couldn't name, and subconsciously started picking up the pace. Jiě jie looked back at me, eyes softening as she matched my pace. I met her eyes, a brow raised as a new feeling emerging. Could it be confusion? I shook my head, pushing the feeling away as I returned my attention to the path.
How annoying. At this rate, I'll develop a heart demon with all these new emotions.
Maybe I could ask the old fox for some medicine to suppress them. Although, I'll have to owe him a favor.
... Never mind, I'll figure it out on my own.
We arrived at the top of the mountain, a single tree with red flowers growing from its branches, and a stone table sitting below. I walked forward, checking the hourglass in my storage bag.
The old Letcher should be arriving soon.
And right on time, a figure descended from the sky, landing on one of the branches. The moonlight shone onto them, revealing their appearance. A woman with braided black hair sat on one of the tree branches, wearing a light purple robe, its sleeves flowing in the wind. From afar, she could be described as a heavenly beauty, but for those who look closer, you can see patches of rot and decay on her body.
Jiě jie stepped forward, cupping her hands in a bow.
"This disciple greets Elder Shen."
I did the same, followed by the rats, no longer shaking as much as before.
I let out a silent sigh, staring at the old Letcher sitting on the branch, kicking his feet like a child. The Letcher's glance swept between us, his stare landing on Jiě jie with a smile on his face. I glared, stepping in front of her, blocking her from his view. The old Letcher's smile faltered for a moment before dropping completely. With a sigh, he jumped down from the tree, brushing off his light purple robes as he crossed his arms.
"Aiyah, Sì'er, you really are a little guard dog. If only I had a junior brother like you in my youth," the Letcher said, a murderous glint in his eyes before it disappeared into a smile that sent a chill down my back.
"Oh well, if Sì'er is unwilling, I suppose it can't be helped," he shrugged, sitting himself down at the stone table.
He waved us over, that smile still on his face as he placed a jug of wine on the table with six cups next to it.
"Now then, sit, sit, give this elder some face can you?"
My body tensed, sticking closer to Jiě jie the longer the Letcher stared at me. Jiě jie placed her hand on my shoulder, giving me a slight pat. I stayed where I was, watching the three rats stupidly walk towards the stone table, sitting down as the Letcher poured them a cup of clear wine. Jiě jie sighed, staying next to me as we watched the scene together.
On the surface, it looked like four disciples having wine together under the moonlight, a warm scene. But to me, it was just three rats trying to flatter an old Letcher that was old enough to be their ancestor. Just because he's wearing a woman's skin, it doesn't change the fact that he's a Letcher who steals the skin of the women he sleeps with.
The longer I watched them, the thinner my patience became. My eye twitched slightly, the last strand of my patience withering away. A moment later, I opened my mouth to speak but was cut off by Jiě jie.
"Elder Shen, there's been a situation."
The old Letcher's eyes narrowed, putting down the cup as a frown appeared on his face.
"Is that so? Report."
Jiě jie stepped forward, hands behind her back as she started recalling the events of the past few days.
"I see."
The old Letcher nodded, tapping the table as he muttered to himself.
"If that's so, then I'll have to inform the sect leader of this."
He turned to Jiě jie, his expression finally turning serious.
"For now, stay in Nánbù province. The major sects have most likely caught onto our trail by now. Lay low and wait for further orders from the sect leader."
"Understood."
Jiě jie nodded, her gaze turning to me. She motioned towards the stairs down the mountain. Meeting her eyes, I nodded, bowing slightly.
"Elder, we'll be leaving first."
Then, I turned to leave down the mountain, Jiě jie following behind. It seems the rats are staying.
Once I was far enough away, I let myself relax a bit. That Letcherous fossil is never going to let Jiě jie go, isn't he? A frown etched on my face, demonic qi stirring in my body. Suddenly, a hand was placed on my head, patting my head. I turned to Jiě jie walking next to me, smiling at me for some reason.
I raised a brow, meeting her eyes as I asked, "What?"
Her brows knitted together, shaking her head as she sighed, taking her hand back. For some reason, I felt like I lost something, my head feeling uncomfortably light. I stared at her hand, then at her face, my brows furrowing in confusion. Jiě jie met my eyes, still smiling but not as brightly.
"You know, you don't have to protect me anymore," she sighed, looking up at the night sky above.
When I heard that, I felt a pang in my chest and a squeeze in my stomach. I pursed my lips, clicking my tongue as I looked ahead.
"Hmph, that old Letcher is nothing but trouble. If you're not careful, he'll end up taking advantage of you and wear your skin like a trophy," I warned.
"If I'm not here, then who would keep that Letcherous skinbag from taking advantage of you."
Jiě jie let out a small laugh, elbowing my arm, her smile becoming brighter now. I pouted a little, taking a step away from her.
"Hey, don't be mad Yā'er, I'm not mocking you," she quickly explained, taking a step closer to me.
"I'm serious, even if you're more talented than me, I can hold my own. And besides," She took in the night air, moonlight shining in her eyes as her smile became even brighter.
"We're in the same realm now, you don't need to worry about me!"
I stared at Jiě jie, the tightness in my chest lifting at her confidence. Before I realized it, I nodded, the corners of my mouth curling up in a faint smile. But then in the next moment, it faltered, the words from Jiě jie repeating in my head.
Same realm...
So she hasn't noticed. A part of me is relieved, but the other feels guilty. Why does hiding secrets from Jiě jie feel so horrible? I don't have a problem when I do it to other people. Why does my body never do what I want it to?
I sighed, my expression turning darker as I sunk deeper into my thoughts.
"What's wrong?"
I snapped out of it, turning to Jiě jie in a daze. I stayed silent for a moment before reassuring her.
"I'm fine, just thinking about something annoying."
"Oh?"
Her head tilted slightly, a brow raised as her eyes narrowed, staring intently at me. After searching my gaze for a few moments, her face turned into an oh expression, before asking.
"Is it about that Boshài sect prodigy?"
At the question, my brow twitched, hands clenching behind my back at the mention of the brat I was forced to remember.
Jiě jie smiled, letting out a chuckle.
"Well, I don't blame you. For a foundation establishment cultivator, he was surprisingly powerful. When I first heard of your battle with him, I was surprised he could match you in swordsmanship, even if you were holding back from killing him."
I hmphed, grumbling under my breath, "If I wasn't holding back he wouldn't have lasted even my casual strikes."
Even if I'm hiding it for now, I'm still at the fifth layer of the nascent soul realm. If I wasn't held back by my mission, I could've easily killed that cocky little brat without a second thought. Yes, I'll definitely kill him next time I see him. Little brat, you better be counting your days because not even the heavens will be able to save you.
Jiě jie whistled, cutting through my thoughts.
"It's been a long time since I've seen you so angry," she laughed.
"That poor Boshài prodigy. I wonder, what did he do to make you hold such a grudge?"
I frowned, remembering the shameless dog that dared to mock me after single-handedly beating him. He couldn't even put up half a fight, retreated, and then dared to mock me like he was the one who won the fight?! Even if I don't care about face, there is always a bottom line!
I rolled my eyes, scowled, "Just another arrogant child with a little bit of talent."
"Oh really?" Jiě jie mused, leaning towards me in interest.
"From our informants, he's only four years younger than you. Though you're older, you two are still in the same generation."
I scoffed, "So what? He's still a little brat in my eyes."
Jiě jie raised a brow, nodding, "Yes yes, the Boshài prodigy is nothing more than a brat with a little bit of talent."
"Exactly," I nodded, straightening my posture as I saw the brothel town not too far away.
Jiě jie looked ahead, exhaling as she gave my head a few pats.
"Say, why not look around? Even if there's just brothels built here, there should be a few restaurants. If not, then we'll get food at the brothels," she suggested, taking my hand as she led me towards the pleasure town down the mountain.
I didn't fight it, staring at the lantern-lit town below, the lights shimmering in the night. I gripped Jiě jie's hand, matching her pace as we entered the town.
Even if it's a brothel town, at least I'm with Jiě jie.