Catching a Demon

"Do you know me?"

Su Che looked into Qi Qin-shi's eyes.

"Alas, there are only so many notable figures in Shanyin County. Though you've only just arrived, your reputation has already crushed Old Jiang and Old Tian beneath it."

The demon's voice was sweet and seductive, utterly unlike the stern righteousness she had displayed while interpreting fortunes for others.

"I don't even know what I did to earn such regard from all of you."

"Sir's methods are extraordinary. That bastard One-Eye was raised by Withered Forest Chan Temple, and no one could see through his origins. Yet the moment you arrived, you cleaved apart his true form with a single sword stroke. If we didn't hold you in high regard, then when you decided to crush flowers with ruthless hands and your sword followed where your feet stepped, this humble woman would have no choice but to close her eyes and enjoy it—she probably wouldn't even be able to run."

The demon's coy humming and murmuring were utterly indecent, leaving the commoners waiting to have their fortunes told staring wide-eyed at one another, speechless.

"Leaving other matters aside, since I'm here, calculate a fortune for me." Su Che looked at the demon. "I wonder if you're willing, miss?"

"My lord bears the duty of slaying demons and catching ghosts, yet upon seeing such a frail willow as this humble woman, you can still think of treating me so tenderly. I am overwhelmed with gratitude."

Qi Household's lady, who had always been cold and aloof toward others, cast Su Che a flirtatious glance.

"But what does my lord wish to ask?"

"My future."

"Since it is my lord asking about his future, this turtle divination cannot be used." The demon shook her head. "We must examine a character."

Controlling Qi Qin-shi's body, the demon laid out paper and brush.

"Please leave behind a sample of your calligraphy, my lord."

After hesitating for a moment, Su Che wrote the character Chang on the paper.

Since you are Qi Qin-shi, then I'll use Young Master Chang Wei to suppress you.

"Your calligraphy is quite fine, Young Master."

The demon's eyes lit up at the sight of the character. They all say this fellow is some Su family dandy, but this handwriting carries real skill. He conceals his weapon within himself and waits for the right moment to move. I underestimated him before.

Calligraphy existed in this world as well, much like it had in ancient China. It was a family learning passed down within clans, just as the Wang family after Wang Xizhi had all been skilled in calligraphy.

Su Che's calligraphy was much the same. This upright Yan-style script had been drilled into him stroke by stroke by his grandfather and father.

"Late Tang, Left Street Sangha Registrar, Inner Court Attendant, Great Virtuous One Who Discussed the Three Teachings Before the Emperor, Senior Seat of Anguo Temple..." That passage of text was practically carved into his bones.

After all, every art required both talent and bitter labor.

"The Chang character written by Young Master can be interpreted in two ways when used to divine your future." The demon casually tapped the paper, and the character Chang immediately transformed into another character.

Hall.

"Young Master's fate rests upon the character hall. This hall is the Bright Hall from which the Son of Heaven commands the realm and exerts his might over the four quarters. You possess official fortune."

Then the character changed once more.

Grave.

"Shanyin County lies in the east, in the territory of the Eastern Azure Dragon, where the element of wood passes through. When hall encounters wood energy, it transforms into the character grave. You are seeking your own death."

As she spoke, the demon pinched her fingers in calculation.

"Young Master's fate was originally merely one of wealth and honor. Yet something strange should have happened three or four months ago, causing your fortune to change drastically. The heavenly secrets are difficult to discern; it should be the result of some expert concealing them. Indeed, what happened to you in the capital before was likely the result of someone plotting against you."

Three months ago?

Are all the demons in this world so skilled at calculation? Could some little thing that crawled out from who-knows-where casually see that I'm a transmigrator?

"Young Master's original fate was the so-called Canopy Fate. You would enjoy all the wealth and glory of life in the first half of your years, then your household would undergo upheaval in the latter half, and you would enter the empty gate. If you became a Buddhist, you could attain arhatship; if you cultivated the Dao, you could ascend as a True Person. You were born a seed of the Dao, a son of Buddha."

"Yet three months ago, it changed. Your fate answered the Eastern Azure Dragon, carrying the momentum to sweep across heaven, earth, and the six directions—the so-called Sixfold Azure Dragon, the bearing of an overlord of an age. From withdrawing from the world to entering it—marvelous, truly marvelous."

As she spoke, Qi Qin-shi actually placed one hand on Su Che's wrist.

"Young Master, you have recently faced a calamity of killing, but you have also encountered an extraordinary opportunity. Fortune is where misfortune lies concealed; misfortune is where fortune rests."

Su Che fell silent.

What nonsense is this demon spouting?

What Canopy Fate, what Sixfold Azure Dragon.

Could it really be this convincing?

Su Che drew a strip of Huang cloth from his right sleeve and tied his own left hand to Qi Qin-shi's right hand.

"Cultivators in this world are divided into nine ranks, ascending step by step from the ninth to the first. I recall that the ninth rank of Demon Cultivators is called Bone Refinement. It refers to how demons seeking the Dao must first refine the transverse bone in their throats, after which they can learn to speak like humans. Is that true?"

The demon glanced at the Huang strip in Su Che's hand, and a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.

What are those old fossils in the sect doing? How could they even give him this thing?

Just as she tried to send her Yin Spirit out to flee, the Edict of Supreme Clarity Sealing Spirits pinned her down so thoroughly that she could not move.

"Young Master is indeed learned. That is why humans are the spirits of heaven and earth—we begin one step ahead of demons the moment we raise our heads."

"I have heard that demons who reach the Ninth Grade of Bone Refinement, though they have not shed their beastly bodies, can speak eloquently, their words sharper than those of many old scholars in this world. I did not believe it before, but seeing you today, I find your reputation fully deserved. You nearly bluffed your way past me."

Su Che slowly pulled the Huang scarf from his sleeve and bound Qi Qin-shi in a tortoise-shell tie.

This Edict of Supreme Clarity Sealing Spirits from the Yellow Heaven Sect was indeed formidable. It suppressed the demon woman so completely that she could not move at all.

"The eighth rank of Demon Cultivators is called Spirit Possession. Upon reaching this realm, they can send their Yin Spirits out of their bodies and attach them to other objects to cause mischief. Thus, the Daoist sects possess arts such as spirit sealing and soul locking."

After Su Che finished tying up Qi Qin-shi, she lay limply across the table, unable to move.

"Official business. Tell them all to get out of here."

Su Che directed Zhang San to drive away all the onlookers gathered around them.

"Madam Qi, let me ask again. Was I correct?"

"My lord sees every detail as clearly as autumn down. But if you are a seventh-rank sword cultivator, my lord, then to subdue a little woman like me, all you needed was a single sword stroke. Why make me look so shameful? If my lord enjoys this sort of thing, would it not be wonderful for this humble woman to find a lovely body to serve you with?"

Su Che blushed slightly, too embarrassed to tell the demon that he had tied her up this way because this was the only way he knew how to tie someone.

"I have also heard that once a Demon Cultivator reaches the realm of Spirit Possession, she cannot remain away from her physical body for too long. If thirty-six double-hours pass—exceeding the number of a heavenly cycle—she will die with her breath cut off, her soul scattered and spirit dispersed, years of bitter cultivation turned to nothing. Is that correct?"

Qi Qin-shi looked at Su Che pitifully with her pair of watery eyes.

"My lord already knows so clearly. Why ask this humble woman at all?"

"My original intention was only to come take a look and, while I was here, have you pass along a message. But after hearing your divination, I feel the message need not be delivered."

The demon's eyes shifted, but inwardly she wailed in misery. When she had left home, her elders had warned her that sooner or later, she would come to grief because of this mouth of hers that loved to show off. Who could have expected it to happen at the hands of this nemesis?

Misfortune, misfortune. I have disgraced Qingqiu's entire lineage for nothing.

"Oh, my dear, dear elder brother, do whatever you wish."

"I think I'll trap you for three days first and see exactly what realm of demon you are, miss."