Before the County Magistrate Died, He Entrusted You to Me

The setting sun sank in the west. Inside the two-story house, incense curled through the air.

On a square carved sandalwood table, the Glazed Glass Lamp cast a hazy glow.

The sisters had just returned from bathing when they ran into Luo Fanchen carrying snake stew out of the kitchen. Ling Qiuyun froze, then stepped aside. A moment later, she reached out to help him take the bowl.

"Uncle Luo, let me."

"Careful, it's hot. This stuff is hard to come by. It'd be a shame to spill it."

Luo Fanchen shook his head, freed a hand to gently rub Ling Qiuyun's head, then nodded toward Moxue, whose bright eyes were fixed on the stew.

"Go set out the bowls and chopsticks."

"Oh! Right!"

Ling Moxue hurried off, though the ointment on her body made her clumsy. Fortunately, Ling Qiuyun was quick with her hands. Soon everything was ready, and she stood with her hands folded before her chest, waiting quietly beside her elder sister for Luo Fanchen to sit.

"Sit, sit. No need to be so formal."

Luo Fanchen shook his head and gave Ling Moxue's head a careless rub. The girl pouted.

She lifted her chin with a little huff, yet rubbed her head against his palm as naturally as could be. It tickled. She seemed to like it.

"Moxue's blood and vitality are depleted, and Qiuyun isn't well. This will do you both good."

Smiling, Luo Fanchen lifted the lid from the jade platter. The aroma of Demon Beast meat, until then sealed in by his True Essence, rushed out—sweet and savory. For a moment, it made both girls dizzy. Even the saliva filling their mouths seemed delicious.

Demon Beast meat was a rare find in the mortal world, and most of it went into pills that increased blood and vitality. Only disciples of great clans could afford the extravagance of eating it outright.

"A Demon Beast?"

Ling Qiuyun pressed her lips together. Her throat visibly bobbed.

She had cultivated beside her father for years and knew what she was looking at. From the spiritual energy and vitality in the flesh alone, she could tell the stew came from a mid-grade First Tier Snake Demon—and from the choicest section, seven inches below its head. It was likely worth more than one Spirit Stone.

For any Rogue Cultivator, that was a staggering expense.

"Yes. This snake brought havoc to the Four Elements Mountains. After I killed it, I used a Spirit Gathering Formation to disperse some of the spiritual energy in its flesh. Even someone at the Qi Refinement First Layer can eat it."

Luo Fanchen's own mouth was watering furiously. Though the Demon Serpent had fallen in cultivation, its flesh still held mid-grade vitality.

Even for him, at the Fourth Level of Qi Refining, it was an excellent tonic.

"Sorry to put you to so much trouble, Uncle Luo. This is far too precious."

Ling Qiuyun lowered her gaze. She was wary, but her stomach churned and rumbled like a drum. Her pretty face flushed with embarrassment.

Ling Moxue fared even worse. She licked her lips and kept swallowing, her bright eyes fixed on Luo Fanchen like a puppy begging for food.

Luo Fanchen smiled and was about to serve Moxue when Ling Qiuyun filled a jade bowl first. She stood and offered it to him with both hands, every inch respectful.

"Please, Uncle Luo. You first."

Luo Fanchen instinctively moved to pass it to Moxue, then noticed Qiuyun's intent gaze. His smile faded a little.

This girl was too cautious for her own good.

He accepted the bowl without a word and gave a slight nod before taking a small sip. Only then did Ling Qiuyun serve Moxue a little bowl. She did not serve herself.

She lowered her eyes and went to stand beside Luo Fanchen, attending him respectfully.

Candlelight flickered. The air grew heavy, and the girl's nervous breathing was plainly audible.

"There's no need for rules like that in my home."

After a while, Luo Fanchen's expression softened. He filled a bowl with snake stew for Ling Qiuyun himself, then tapped the table lightly, signaling her to sit.

Ling Qiuyun bowed and sat with composed grace, her pretty face serene. Beneath her sleeves, her hands could not help trembling.

"It'll get cold if you don't eat."

Luo Fanchen sipped his stew. Sweet, savory flavor filled his mouth, and that small trace of displeasure vanished like smoke.

Ling Moxue's mouth kept watering. She restrained herself and wiped her lips several times. Only after Qiuyun had taken a few sips did she lift her jade bowl and gulp down the stew, nearly burying her face in it.

The plump grains of spirit rice remained distinct, while the stew was salty-sweet and fragrant. With a single mouthful, warmth flowed down their throats and spread through every limb and bone.

Their tongues rejoiced. After just two small mouthfuls, fine beads of sweat appeared on the sisters' foreheads. Warmth filled their organs, and vitality surged through their three main meridians.

By the time the two girls came to their senses, even the reserved Ling Qiuyun's bowl was empty, without a single grain of rice left.

"Burp—"

Ling Qiuyun covered her mouth in embarrassment. A faint blush colored her cheeks, and even her sickly pale skin showed a little more life.

The snake stew was precious, and even mixed into Spirit Porridge, there was only a small bowl for each of them. Luo Fanchen took just a few sips before dividing the rest between the sisters' bowls.

Moxue mumbled her thanks and swept up every grain of rice. Qiuyun was rather shy. She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear with a show of restraint before continuing to sip her porridge. Even the stagnant turbid energy in her organs eased somewhat.

Perhaps this Uncle Luo was easier to get along with than she had imagined?

"Qiuyun, I killed your father. Do you hate me?"

Resting his chin on one hand, Luo Fanchen watched the girl's uneasy face.

Ling Qiuyun's lashes trembled. She slowly shook her head, bitterness on her pretty face. Beneath her hair, her earlobes were pink and translucent.

"I only hate my own helplessness. If not for this broken body of mine, Father would never have fallen to the demonic path. By acting, Uncle Luo upheld heaven's justice."

"Is that so?"

Luo Fanchen narrowed his eyes. He noticed how tightly Ling Qiuyun's fingers were clenched, their tips white. With a soft sigh, he said,

"The County Magistrate meant well. Though he fell to the demonic path, before he died, he did rid Cloudmist City of a scourge. I've gathered his remains. You should bury him."

With that, Luo Fanchen took out a handkerchief and wiped Ling Moxue's mouth after she had licked her bowl clean.

He had given Moxue the right to decide what happened to Ling Youdao's remains, so he naturally needed her consent.

"Moxue, what do you think?"

"I'll do as you say, Master Luo."

Ling Moxue rubbed a thumb against her canine tooth, struggling to hold back her anger.

She wanted nothing more than to drag Ling Youdao out and desecrate his corpse, but she was afraid it would hurt Qiuyun.

"On behalf of Father and the people of Cloudmist City, thank you, Uncle Luo."

Ling Qiuyun covered her face with one hand, her voice trembling. At the same time, her opinion of Luo Fanchen shifted slightly.

Her father had fallen to the demonic path while serving as County Magistrate. Luo Fanchen could have taken his corpse to the Clear River Sect for a reward of at least two Spirit Stones.

Yet he was willing to return the remains to her. Even if he had something else in mind, his willingness to pay such a price, along with his judgment and boldness, set him far apart from an ordinary Demonic Cultivator.

"Also, before the County Magistrate died, he entrusted you to me."

"Entrusted me?"

Ling Qiuyun froze. Focus returned to her dim eyes, which widened in disbelief.

After falling to the demonic path, her father had become suspicious and brutal. He trusted no one. How could he have entrusted her to his sworn enemy?

"That's right. If you're willing, you can cultivate with me alongside Moxue from now on."

With that, Luo Fanchen took Ling Youdao's Storage Bag from his robes. He opened it in front of Qiuyun, confirmed that nothing inside had been touched, and handed it to her.

Ling Qiuyun's nose twitched. She reached for it with a trembling hand, only to draw her fingers back.

"Since it came into your possession, Uncle Luo, it should rightfully be yours. How could I take it back?"

"Think it over. Give me your answer tonight."

Luo Fanchen did not put the Storage Bag away. After telling Moxue to clear the table, he rose and returned to his side room.

Ling Qiuyun could not escape his grasp anyway. It mattered little who held the Storage Bag, and giving it to her might win her trust.

Ling Qiuyun stood dazed for a long while before clutching the Storage Bag tightly to her chest.

How strange. Ten Spirit Stones, handed over just like that. And Father entrusting her to him? It sounded like a wild fantasy.

Yet Luo Fanchen had opened the seal on the Storage Bag. Aside from her father granting him permission, she could think of no other way.

She couldn't see through this Uncle Luo.