Du City Shopping Trip

The world is a terrifying place, not just because of demons, but because human hearts can be more terrifying than demons.

On their return journey, they passed through a village where the constables forcibly took grain from a farmer's home, calling it tax grain. An old man knelt and cried, his hair withered, while a young child hid behind him, fearfully staring at the grain...

Conscripting men left poor villages devoid of young adults, and requisitioning grain left women and children with gaunt faces. The lives of the poor at the bottom were truly bitter.

The old man's calloused hands, full of thick calluses, clutched the grain bag, unwilling to let go. The little girl wailed. The constable raised his whip and brutally struck, tearing the coarse cloth of her clothes and leaving red bloody marks on her back. The child, heartbroken for her grandfather, rushed forward to shield him with her small body, trying to block the whip. The villagers stepped forward to plead, explaining that the old man's son had been conscripted three years ago and never returned, and his daughter-in-law had died from exhaustion. That meager amount of grain was all the grandfather and granddaughter had to live on.

Xu Ling wanted to intervene, but Yang Mu stopped her. As disciples of Chunyang, they had to avoid any suspicion of currying favor with the populace, lest they clash with the secular imperial power. Bai Yujun, however, didn't have so many reservations.

The horse whinnied and reared up.

The constables, startled, quickly retreated. They saw two Chunyang cultivators seated on the horse nearby and realized that the one who had scared them was a young girl.

"Exempt them from grain tax," Bai Yujun said indifferently.

Originally, this matter had nothing to do with the snake, she just found it displeasing to the eye.

"Immortal? We are collecting taxes according to the law. If we fail to collect, the officials will punish us. We beg for the immortal's understanding," replied a minor clerk among the constables.

It was not strange that the clerk dared to directly retort to Bai Yujun, who appeared to be a Chunyang Palace cultivator. It was widely known that Chunyang cultivators detached themselves from worldly affairs and focused on their cultivation. As long as they did not practice evil arts or commit wicked deeds, they would not interfere too much. For the sake of their reputation, even if you occasionally spoke back a few words, it was fine. Unlike cultivators from other sects who would kill at the slightest disagreement, they were essentially spoiled.

Bai Yujun stared at the clerk with curiosity, only to find that the clerk not only wasn't afraid but was also looking at her with lewd eyes.

"You have two choices: First, I kill you all. Second, you get lost immediately."

The constables were stunned. They suddenly remembered that cultivators killing people did not have to pay with their lives. Realizing this, they immediately stumbled away. Bai Yujun pouted, thinking that the law of the jungle was indeed more effective.

The common people stepped forward to express their gratitude. Bai Yujun said nothing and rode away directly.

She glanced at Yang Mu and Xu Ling, who looked somewhat hesitant.

"If anyone brings this up later, tell them it was me."

She paused and added, "True demons are not in their appearance, but in their hearts."

Bai Yujun knew history well; the number of people truly killed by demons was very small. Conversely, the deaths caused by human persecution, or even so-called world domination, numbered in the millions and tens of millions, or even the extermination of entire races. The demons in human hearts were more terrifying than spirits.

However, these things had nothing to do with the snake; they were all human affairs.

That evening, back at their temporary lodging, their senior brothers and others who had gone out to subdue demons had not yet returned. Xu Ling yawned and went back to her room to sleep, while Yang Mu, as usual, seized the time to cultivate.

Sometimes, Bai Yujun felt that Xu Ling must be a heavenly gifted genius. She was lazy and clumsy every day, yet her cultivation was not much worse than the diligent Yang Mu.

As a snake, Bai Yujun did not need to sleep every day. She sat alone in the backyard under the moonlight, practicing the flute. Unfortunately, this elegant pursuit was driving the White Snake, who was skilled in hunting and fighting, to the brink of madness. She swung the flute again and smashed it fiercely...

Crack~

In the room, Yang Mu shook his head.

"Only three left."

The next day, those who had gone out still had not returned.

After discussing it, the two and the snake decided to visit Du City, buy some snacks, and watch street performers. They set off without delay. After informing the temple keeper, they ambled down the mountain.

"Fragrant pears~ Sweet and fragrant pears~"

"Biscuits~ Freshly baked biscuits~ Delicious and cures illness~"

Of course, amidst the leisure, there were also voices of people unable to get enough to eat.

"Elder... please give me some money for food..."

Du City was very lively, with caravans coming and going incessantly. The bustling commerce had created a prosperous city. To avoid being noticed, Bai Yujun and Xu Ling bought gauze masks to cover their mouths and noses, which at least reduced the attention from those who mistakenly thought they were elegant young gentlemen.

Bai Yujun, Yang Mu, and Xu Ling looked no older than fifteen. Bai Yujun, in particular, was petite, standing only about 1.5 meters tall. The two beauties held candied hawthorns, eating them while chattering. Most of the time, Xu Ling was talking to herself.

In ancient times, fifteen-year-olds might already have one or two children. Not many people would be out wandering around.

Wandering around, Bai Yujun had no intention of straying far from Yang Mu and Xu Ling. There were too many cultivators nowadays who were always thinking about subduing demons. Setting aside the authenticity of their motives, if she were left unattended, how could she, with her cultivation as a mere snake spirit, face those cultivators? It would be awkward to be killed and made into dried snake for sale as traditional Chinese medicine to patients for dispelling wind, expelling evil, and treating rheumatism.

Just as she thought of it, it happened.

A young man carrying a black staff on the street was hurrying along, holding a compass and constantly turning left and right.

As he walked, he found the needle stopped moving. He looked up and saw that the needle was pointing at a girl in a white dress. Then, he perfectly executed a set of actions and slogans expected of a demon hunter.

"Halt! You demon, how dare you enter the city in broad daylight! Do not harm people! Surrender quickly!"

With a swish, he drew his black iron staff and pointed it directly at Bai Yujun.

"..."

Bai Yujun, holding a candied hawthorn, was speechless.

She hadn't expected someone to come looking for her to subdue a demon so soon. Didn't most people have trouble discerning her aura? Looking closer at the compass, she understood. Magic tools were incredibly diverse, and some were quite peculiar.

Seeing that the young man's cultivation was not high, Bai Yujun stopped Yang Mu and Xu Ling. A mischievous idea popped into her head.

The candied hawthorn dropped to the ground. She crossed her arms and put on a frightened expression, whimpering and sobbing, acting like a delicate and weak woman who was terrified...

Yang Mu's mouth twitched, and he took two steps back, afraid of being mistaken for an accomplice. Xu Ling was stunned. In her eyes, a fierce snake would never be able to produce such a terrified expression.

The young man was taken aback, somewhat confused.

In the past, whenever they encountered a demon, it was always a fierce battle. How could this one be so timid?

Instantly, the demon subjugation turned into a strong man bullying an innocent young maiden in the street.

The world has never lacked righteous people, especially when the one being bullied was a delicate young lady. Immediately, many men, even scholars, with their sense of justice overflowing, surrounded them. Even the older women stood at a distance, pointing and gossiping about the young man.

"What's this? You want to bully her just because she's pretty? Try bullying me!" a certain strong man said, unable to stand it.

"Don't you know it's broad daylight? I'm acquainted with Magistrate Zhang from the yamen. I'll definitely drag you, you ruffian, to see the officials!" a certain scholar declared righteously.

"Too much! Too much! I've seen plenty of people like you! Lustful scoundrels!" a certain merchant shouted.

The situation changed too quickly. The demon hunter, who thought he would receive everyone's support, had clearly never experienced such a scene. Surrounded by a crowd, he was pelted with cabbage and stones, looking utterly miserable.

"Listen to me... Ow... That's a demon..."

The onlookers weren't buying it.

"What demon! You're clearly the one who took a fancy to her beauty and wanted to harass her. Get him!"

In the chaotic scene, no one noticed Bai Yujun and the other two disappear without a trace. Running to a distance, Bai Yujun and Xu Ling laughed heartily, while Yang Mu's thousand-year-old icy face twitched.