Pianxian

Although she was quite different from the gigantic butterfly he had expected, Luo Qiu could accept the fact that what finally emerged from the cocoon was a woman fluttering butterfly wings.

Of course, the Butterfly Demon had not completely emerged from the cocoon. A golden-powder-like mist swirled within it, concealing the beautiful creature that had just arrived in this wonderful world.

Seeing that the Butterfly Demon intended to leave the cocoon, Luo Qiu thought for a moment, then took off his windbreaker and tossed it toward her, saying frankly, "It would be best if nothing unpleasant or embarrassing happened."

The windbreaker landed in the Butterfly Demon's hands.

The Butterfly Demon only smiled before slowly saying, "You humans are truly strange."

Luo Qiu rubbed his nose and smiled as well, choosing not to continue that topic. Because of the butterfly wings growing from her back, the Butterfly Demon naturally could not put on the windbreaker. Instead, she draped it over her front and held it with both hands.

The butterfly wings behind the Butterfly Demon suddenly spread open. She drifted out of the cocoon, bathing in the hazy gray light. It was breathtakingly beautiful. She finally descended slowly in front of Luo Qiu and said gratefully, "Thank you. If not for you, I probably wouldn't have been able to come out."

It was a beautiful smile, and her crystalline skin made her seem even more flawless. Thinking of the ugliness she had possessed before breaking out of the cocoon, her current beauty seemed all the more precious.

The sky was growing pale, and the red sun was about to rise, which meant that a night's protection was about to end. Luo Qiu had learned a little about transformed demons from You Ye.

Most demons capable of concealing their true forms would blend into society and among the people, living like ordinary humans. Of course, quite a few demons were unwilling to interact with humans and chose instead to hide in remote or rarely visited places.

If the Butterfly Demon could conceal the wings on her body, then even without dressing up, she would already possess rare beauty. Moreover, the Butterfly Demon had an ethereal air about her.

Whether one focused mainly on her appearance or her bearing, she was already flawless.

"You're already speaking so fluently." Luo Qiu chose not to respond to the Butterfly Demon's thanks, becoming curious about her ability to speak instead.

The Butterfly Demon said, "Before I broke out of the cocoon, my bodily structure wasn't complete. Now that my vocal cords have been properly formed, speaking is no longer a problem."

Luo Qiu nodded. "You've successfully transformed. What do you plan to do next? Reenter human society, or remain in the mountains and forests as a carefree demon?"

The Butterfly Demon thought for a while. "I want to see this world... Do you have any suggestions?"

Luo Qiu froze. In truth, he was still a student officially enrolled at school and could hardly claim to fully understand this so-called society. Yet he felt embarrassed to be unable to answer when asked, so he spoke like an old monk telling a story: "I think you need a name first."

"A name?"

Luo Qi smiled. "For humans, coming into this world begins with having a name."

"I... don't have a name." The Butterfly Demon shook her head, then suddenly looked up. A strange light flickered in her eyes. "Can you... give me a name?"

It was like framing a painting by The Painter. Giving the Butterfly Demon a pleasant name would make something already beautiful even more beautiful, and Luo Qiu instantly felt eager to try.

He lowered his head and gazed across the riverbank, looking at the sky and the distance, at the gradually rising sun. The magnificent river water glowing with phosphorescence under the moonlight from not long before still lingered in his mind. In the end, his thoughts stopped at the sight of the Butterfly Demon flying lightly out, and he unconsciously murmured, "Amid the pale silk's hues, fluttering beside the wine vessels..."

Luo Qiu suddenly turned around and looked at the Butterfly Demon like a child displaying a painting. "Pianxian! It's a little strange, but if you think it's acceptable, what do you think of the name Pianxian?"

"Pianxian..." The Butterfly Demon lowered her head and silently repeated it several times before looking up and nodding with a smile.

After a night of rebirth, the Butterfly Demon now had a name.

The beautiful Golden Swallowtail Butterfly spread its wings, and the Butterfly Demon flew into the air. A Light Orb slowly drifted down from her hand and finally landed in Luo Qiu's palm. It was unmistakably the jade tablet used as payment in the transaction.

"Thank you! If we get the chance, I hope we'll meet again."

The Butterfly Demon spread her wings and flew toward the direction where the sun was rising.

Luo Qiu held the jade tablet and gazed after her for a long while before turning around to look at You Ye. He said softly, "I know a steamed-bun shop whose buns are delicious, and its soy milk is freshly ground and pressed."

As he gnawed on the steamed buns he had just bought, Luo Qiu examined the white jade tablet he had obtained from Pianxian.

It felt like condensed fat beneath his fingers, and he couldn't bear to put it down. But in the end, he had to make a choice.

Should he sacrifice it to gain seventy days of life, or spend twenty days of life on a deeper appraisal?

On the way back, Luo Qiu had eagerly asked You Ye for her opinion about this. Then the utterly loyal puppet had given him a familiar, intensely déjà vu-inducing stock response.

Master, do as you please...

"Let's keep it for now, shall we? Spending twenty days to appraise it clearly isn't worthwhile right now... and I don't have that much to spare. But sacrificing it immediately would be too wasteful." Luo Qiu muttered to himself.

If he kept this thing until his remaining lifespan reached its end, and he was unlucky enough not to complete even a single transaction, he could use this jade tablet to extend his life for a while.

But if he continued earning indefinitely... after reaching this point, wouldn't he naturally learn the secret of this jade tablet?

"Luo Qiu, what are you grinning foolishly about? You're up so early today?"

Ren Ziling emerged from her room with her hair tousled, looking as if she had not yet woken up. Luo Qiu pointed at the steamed buns and soy milk on the coffee table and said softly, "You're up pretty early too."

Ren Ziling yawned and sat directly beside Luo Qiu. She draped an arm over his shoulder and said with a beaming smile, "Kid, haven't you been a little strange these past two days? You can tell me about it, you know. I'll gladly fulfill my duty as a life mentor!"

Luo Qiu shifted away a little, picked up the remote, and turned on the television. Ren Ziling did not mind and immediately reached into the bag for a steamed bun.

Luo Qiu could not help frowning. "Have you... brushed your teeth?"

Ren Ziling blinked. "Wouldn't washing up after eating be a little cleaner?"

"Truly a life mentor." Luo Qiu mocked her in an indifferent tone.

Ren Ziling shrugged and put the bun down, but then noticed the jade tablet Luo Qiu had casually placed on the coffee table. She reached out and picked it up. "Was this thing already in the house?"

"It is now."

Ren Ziling weighed it in her hand and frowned. "I feel like I've seen it somewhere before... Where was it?"

Luo Qiu's heart stirred, but he calmly snatched the jade tablet back and stood up. "Tell me when you remember. But before that, you really should wash up properly. Do you know how bad a long-term smoker's breath is when she wakes up in the morning?"

Ren Ziling immediately clasped her hands together and breathed into them, saying quite naturally, "It isn't, is it?"

"So are you going to brush your teeth or not?" Luo Qiu picked up the bag of steamed buns from the coffee table.

Ren Ziling rushed toward the bathroom with a look of utter defeat.

Luo Qiu once again examined the jade tablet in his hand, lost in thought.

The morning news began reporting some of the latest updates. The dignified female anchor spoke clearly and precisely: "Today, Hengxin Group will announce its latest development project. According to reports, this development will be carried out in cooperation with the city's longstanding industrial company, Golden Eagle Manufacturing..."

Luo Qiu took a look. This should be the project Cao Ziqian was developing with the real estate company.

However, there was no mention of Jin Zifu, the chairman of Golden Eagle Manufacturing. Still, Luo Qiu knew that Cao Ziqian had later sent Jin Zifu to a fairly decent sanatorium.

At that moment, Ren Ziling suddenly rushed out, a toothbrush still in her mouth. "I remember where I've seen this jade tablet!"