Eight Rules

Fang Huai led the way, Li Sirou followed behind.

The two walked one after the other toward their lodgings.

Aside from the Slave Curse binding her mind, Li Sirou was also under the Spirit Binding Curse.

This curse sealed her spiritual root and qi sea, reducing her cultivation to that of a mortal.

Red Leaf Market was far from Skinning Peak, and without spiritual power to aid her, Li Sirou could only grit her teeth and trudge along on foot.

Fang Huai glanced at Li Sirou.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she was holding back tears, and she stumbled as she walked.

When their eyes met, her gaze still carried a stubborn refusal to bow.

Cultivators of the Mystic Sword Sect neglected body refinement; once cut off from spiritual energy, their physical condition was barely better than a mortal's.

This woman had walked for several hours straight, her shoes worn through, her feet bleeding, yet she still refused to yield.

As dusk fell, disciples of the Corpse Sha Sect released their nurtured Sha Corpses and demonic heads.

In moments, the sounds of ghostly wails and fiendish howls echoed throughout the sect.

Bound by sect rules, those demonic beasts dared not target Fang Huai, but Li Sirou was in trouble—a pack of them trailed behind her.

Though her aura was that of a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, her cultivation was no stronger than a mortal's. Such a delicious and easy-to-grasp body drew the covetous attention of the demonic beasts.

Sensing the danger, Li Sirou could only stick close to Fang Huai's heels.

When she followed closely, the demonic beasts retreated warily; when she lagged a bit, they immediately crept closer with sinister grins.

Fang Huai's steps suddenly halted.

Li Sirou, who had been trudging along with her head down, crashed into his back without warning and fell to the ground.

"What are you doing!" she cried, both in pain and anger.

"Shut up!"

Fang Huai's voice was extremely low. He crouched down, his wide robe draping over her to shield her.

At the same time, one hand covered her mouth.

Li Sirou's heart was in turmoil.

Was this demonic cultivator going to defile her here?

Her mind roared as she recalled the teachings of her sect elders.

Demonic cultivators were lecherous and cruel—was this bastard about to take her chastity?

"Beast... I won't submit..."

Shame and rage surged to her head, and she bit down hard on the hand covering her mouth.

"Slap!"

A crisp slap rang out, stunning her.

"Hold your breath and don't make a sound!" Fang Huai warned. "If you make a single noise, I'll leave you behind and go on my own."

A massive shadow loomed overhead.

Before Li Sirou could recover from the slap, her heart tightened, as if an invisible mountain was crushing her, making it hard to breathe.

She looked up and saw a giant centipede above.

The centipede caught her scent, its head craning down to search, venom dripping and corroding deep pits into the ground.

A Black Sha Centipede?

Li Sirou was horrified, her body trembling.

This Foundation Establishment Realm beast was enormous, wreathed in miasmic poison. Just one glance made her soul quake.

Being so close to the beast, Li Sirou's heart pounded wildly. She couldn't help but press closer to Fang Huai, burying her head against him, shivering.

The Black Sha Centipede searched for a while, only seeing Fang Huai, a sect disciple. After a moment of confusion, it stopped lingering and gradually moved away.

"Let's go." Fang Huai stood up, expressionless.

Li Sirou let out a soft sigh and tried to rise, only to find her legs had gone weak.

She thought about asking Fang Huai for help, but when she opened her mouth, she swallowed the words.

Watching Fang Huai walk farther and farther away without a backward glance, and the demonic beasts closing in behind her, she gritted her teeth, forced her body straight, and hurried after him in small steps.

They didn't reach their lodgings until just after the Hour of the Ox.

Fang Huai was fine—his body was tempered to the third layer, and spiritual energy cleansed his body, so he wasn't tired.

But Li Sirou was different. She hadn't slept for three days and two nights, had walked for a full day, and suffered many frights. Her eyelids were heavy, and she was on the verge of collapse.

Seeing Fang Huai lying on the bed, she quietly closed her eyes. Half-asleep, she heard Fang Huai's voice.

"Wild vegetables and millet rice are in the northeast corner. When you cook, add three stalks of Poison Heart Grass."

I wake at the beginning of the Mao hour. If I don't see one dish, one soup, and one serving of rice, I'll send you back to Red Leaf Market.

Also, until I'm awake, you're not allowed to sleep!"

"Villain, demon cultivator, eating poisonous weeds—hope they poison you to death!" Li Sirou muttered under her breath, reluctantly starting to wash vegetables and cook.

What did she know about one dish, one soup, and one serving of rice?

After toiling for a long time, dumping several failed batches, she finally produced a pot of unrecognizable wild vegetable porridge, a plate of blackened greens, and a few half-raw Potato Rice Dumplings.

Pinching herself with her nails over and over, Li Sirou forced herself to stay awake through the drowsiness, until a ringing filled her ears. Only then did Fang Huai show signs of waking.

Stretching lazily, Fang Huai got up: "Bring a basin of water and attend to my washing."

"Wash, wash, wash—stinking to high heaven, you really need a wash."

Li Sirou muttered as she scooped a basin of cold water from the jar and reluctantly set it before Fang Huai.

She was a proper mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, with looks that were absolutely stunning.

Back at Mystic Sword Sect, male cultivators vied to flatter her, yet here she was reduced to a serving girl fetching water and cooking.

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but seethe with frustration.

A few days ago, to prove herself, she'd snuck out of the sect, planning to bring back a few demon cultivator heads. Instead of killing any demon cultivators, she'd ended up captured herself.

If only she could turn back time!

"Corpse Sha Sect cultivators shed their mortal skin during cultivation and replace it with new skin generated by spiritual energy—we don't stink.

On the contrary, you Mystic Sword Sect cultivators, still stuck with your mortal skin, are truly reeking beyond belief."

Fang Huai rubbed the soles of his feet without looking up: "The water's too cold. Remember to warm it in advance next time."

With that, he walked to the table and picked up chopsticks.

Li Sirou suddenly grew tense. Would this demon cultivator, upon seeing her dark culinary creations, kill her in a fit of rage?

But Fang Huai ate with relish, finishing every bite under Li Sirou's astonished gaze:

"Thousand Silk Jade Hand—what's the incantation?"

Li Sirou's eyes darted around, wondering if she should make something up to fool him.

Before she could fabricate a lie, Fang Huai spoke again: "This technique is of great use to me. If you dare deceive me, I swear by my Dao heart that I'll strip you naked and throw you out."

Despicable demon cultivator!

Li Sirou had no choice but to teach him through her exhaustion.

Fang Huai memorized the incantation, then swapped away her [Thousand Silk Jade Hand Proficiency (White)], and said:

"A sect has sect rules, a household has household rules. Since you belong to me now, you must follow my regulations. Here are eight rules—listen carefully.

First: Every day at the beginning of the Mao hour and the end of the Shen hour, prepare meals and hot water. Do not sleep before I do, and do not still be asleep when I wake.

Second: Sweep the house three times daily—once after the Mao hour, once at the middle of the Wei hour, and once before the Hai hour. Leave no dust or cobwebs in corners or crevices.

Third: When teaching Mystic Sword Sect techniques or secret arts, report them truthfully. Do not conceal or fabricate.

Fourth: When I go into seclusion, you must wait outside the door. If a sect disciple visits, report to me first. Without my permission, do not respond privately, and never reveal anything about what's inside.

Fifth: Use Thousand Silk Jade Hand to massage my meridians daily for no less than half an hour. Do not half-heartedly go through the motions.

Sixth: When going out, stay within one zhang of me. Do not interact privately with sect disciples. If we encounter spirit beasts or enemy attacks, follow my orders. Do not act on your own, and do not shrink back or flee.

Seventh: Recite the Corpse Sha Sect rules and precepts daily. I will quiz you on three each night before sleep. Not a single pause allowed. Do not privately complain about Corpse Sha Sect or slander me. If I hear it, you'll be punished by staying awake that night.

Eighth: At all times and in all places, obey me without question. Do not lie, and do not offer any defiance or disobedience. If I suddenly decide to add a rule, you must comply unconditionally.

Violate any rule—for a minor offense, I'll cut your daily rations; for a major one, I'll send you back to Red Leaf Market!"

Fang Huai finished speaking, his gaze sweeping over Li Sirou:

"Have you memorized these eight rules clearly? Now recite them back. If you miss a single one, don't even think about sleeping today."