Ning Xuan had the "Ghost Shadow Horse Monkey's blood" and the "Mysterious Buddha Statue" tucked in his pocket, small tokens of what he'd gained from this trip.
But his real gains were a complete understanding of "Heavenly Demon Scroll Refinement" and "demons."
Whether it was the "Heavenly Demon's coming" and "Heavenly Demon's arrival" mentioned in the Heavenly Demon Scroll, the "locals" Ghost Shadow Horse Monkey had spoken of, or the "This is Black Wind Mountain, too" the bear demon had said, they all led Ning Xuan to reach the same terrifying conclusion.
Everything might only just be beginning.
Many demons had already appeared.
But this wasn't the end. It was the beginning.
The world he'd lived in for sixteen years was going to become more and more unfamiliar.
A wave of exhaustion and tension swept over him. The wound on his lower back burned and throbbed, and he couldn't wait to lie in his maids' arms, one tucked under each arm, and catch a nap while they cooed, "Young Master, Young Master."
Still, he glanced toward the sounds of fighting.
The Yellow Robe Daoist stood on golden light, soaring through the air and suspended above the ground. His eyes were tightly shut, his expression solemn as he formed hand seals. Five invisible golden snakes burst from the earth, each tightly coiling around one of the black bear demon's limbs or its neck.
But they only restrained it.
They did little harm.
The black bear was powerfully built, yet still bound fast and unable to move. It could only bellow, "Help me! Help me!"
Han Ba and the others gripped repeating crossbows and shot at the bear demon from a distance, their faces grave.
Sweat trickled down their foreheads.
The black bear demon struggled harder and harder.
The Yellow Robe Daoist's body trembled, but he kept his eyes closed and murmured incantations. An air of calm detachment seemed to grow around him, as if he stood apart from the world.
The two Daoist Boys beside him tensed, gripping their swords as they guarded the perimeter, clearly on the lookout for other demons.
The chains clanked without pause, but as the bear demon's wounds grew worse, it gradually stopped struggling and collapsed in a pool of blood.
So this is supernatural power?
It was the first time Ning Xuan had learned that his world held power like this.
And from the looks of it, his father probably possessed it, too.
He grew more and more curious. Why hadn't his father taught him?
He was his father's own son, after all.
But there was little reason to stay any longer. He turned and sped away.
He could hardly wait.
After quickly washing up in a mountain spring and changing back into his clothes, he arrived at Star River County and climbed into the carriage waiting outside the county gates.
Xiao Jie saw that he'd returned safely and finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Young Master, I was worried sick."
Xiao Jie patted her chest.
Ning Xuan said, "Back to the manor."
That evening
Beneath the peach tree in Ning Manor's rear courtyard, Ning Xuan sat in a wooden tub, wearing nothing but white underpants and soaking in pleasantly warm water.
He stretched out his arms as a maid on either side gently kneaded his taut muscles, easing away the day's fatigue.
He leaned his head back, but instead of resting it on the hard rim of the tub and hurting himself, he let it sink onto a pair of pale, shapely legs.
Through the silk robe, he caught the scent of their owner. He recognized it as Peach Blossom Dew, the latest fragrance from Die Ji, but thankfully not Rose Dew—the scent that would have brought back memories of that half a corpse.
A peach blossom drifted down from the tree and landed on the steaming water, sending ripples across its surface.
Then it fell into the hair of the long-legged woman perched on a tall chair.
Ning Xuan raised a hand and plucked the flower from her hair.
Just then, a sturdy maid came over with hot water and respectfully announced, "Young Master, I'm adding more water."
"Go ahead."
With permission granted, the maid slowly poured the hot water into the tub.
But the tub was already full, and the water spilled over, soaking all the maids' skirts.
The silk skirt around the long-legged woman's hips grew wet, leaving everything beneath it faintly visible.
She suddenly wiggled and giggled.
Her laughter was soft and sweet.
Ning Xuan felt as if he'd been plunged into raging waves, struck by an indescribable sensation. He laughed and said, "You always find some new trick to play on me."
The owner of the bosom was Xiao Jie.
Xiao Jie giggled and murmured, "I told you that during the day."
Ning Xuan said, "I remember."
Xiao Jie leaned down and nipped his ear. "Tomorrow, I'll make sure you can't get out of bed."
While waiting anxiously in the carriage that day, she'd made up her mind. She couldn't let the Young Master risk himself again. She would go all in and stake everything.
The maids kneading Ning Xuan's hands beside them seethed with jealousy.
To them, that shameless vixen was putting on an act to seduce their Young Master. She was disgracing the Ning Family's good name. It was revolting.
But no matter how much they despised Xiao Jie, they couldn't deny that the shameless vixen really was shameless. She could probably seduce any man with ease; the slightest frown or smile from her could make a man's heart pound and stay in his memory for the rest of his life.
Night deepened.
Ning Xuan finally found some relief in Xiao Jie's arms.
That relief pulled him back from the nightmares and slaughter of before.
He was still himself, a vulgar young master, not that ruthless, cunning monster who thought only of how to kill his enemies.
Comfortably holding petite Xiao Jie in his arms, he drifted off to sleep.
As dawn approached, Ning Xuan suddenly sensed something was off. When he opened his eyes, he saw that Xiao Jie had gotten up at some point.
Not only was Xiao Jie up, she was quickly tying his limbs with silk ribbons.
The other ends were fastened to the bedposts with tight knots. There was no way the delicate Ning Xuan could break free.
Ning Xuan's eyes opening made Xiao Jie panic.
Her eyes darted around. Then she leaned over him again and said sweetly, "Young Master, let's play an even more fun game. I'll make sure you're happy."
Ning Xuan said, "I'm not going out today."
Xiao Jie's eyes lit up. "Really?"
Ning Xuan said, "Really."
The matter was settled. He was injured, and the Yellow Robe Daoist and Han Ba were handling things outside. Naturally, he wouldn't be going out again anytime soon.
Xiao Jie glanced at the ribbons binding his hands and feet, then swiftly untied them. Like a deflated ball, she went "plop" and nestled back into Ning Xuan's arms.
She'd tied him up because she was afraid he'd go out again.
And once he was tied up, she'd have to do everything she could to soothe his anger.
But if the Young Master wasn't going out, then there was no need.
Ning Xuan said, "Didn't you say we'd play an even more fun game?"
Xiao Jie said, "I'm so tired."
With that, she promptly fell asleep, like a helpless, harmless little bird anyone could crush with a finger, nestled in Ning Xuan's arms.
Any man holding a woman like that would feel a sense of accomplishment.
Especially when she knew her limits and had endless tricks up her sleeve. If fox spirits truly existed, even they would pale in comparison.
Ning Xuan slept until midmorning.
But Xiao Jie's legs and waist were aching.
She looked astonished as she repeatedly squeezed the Young Master's thigh, feeling its firm strength, then gave a wry smile.
Ning Xuan reminded her, "I already gave you a raise. You're getting a full fifteen taels more each month. That's no small amount."
Xiao Jie said, "I was just wondering if you'd had some kind of fortuitous encounter."
But as soon as she said it, she hurriedly covered her mouth and went, "Ptooey, ptooey!" Then she said, "I'm not curious."
She'd blurted it out because the Young Master had been incredible last night.
Incredible as a giant bear.
It had worn her out.
She'd slept until now, but the longer she slept, the more her body ached.
Ning Xuan, meanwhile, stretched with a fresh, invigorated air.
Xiao Jie took a deep breath, gritted her teeth, and hissed through them as she got up to dress him and comb his hair.
When he went out after breakfast, he waved his wide sleeves and ran off, shouting, "Where's my Golden Winged Thunder Duke? Where is my Golden Winged Thunder Duke?! Golden Winged Thunder Duke!!"
Before long, a household guard carefully brought over a large iron cage.
Inside stood a proud, vigorous rooster. Its wing feathers gleamed gold at the edges, its short tail feathers were stiff as iron, and its tall comb blazed like a flame.
"Young Master, here it is, here it is," the guard said with an ingratiating smile.
Ning Xuan waved his hand. "To battle! Today, I'm taking my Golden Winged Thunder Duke with me to leave not a single enemy standing!"
"Good!"
"Good!"
"Good!"
A bunch of lackeys hurriedly joined in, then followed their Young Master out in high spirits.
Come to think of it, the Young Master hadn't had a cockfight in nearly a month.
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