Chapter 57: Shooting Stars
Zhu Chi set down her wine cup, her intuition screaming. She was well aware of the deceitful nature of demon cultivators.
Remembering that the Sword Saint’s disciple was also present, she sent a discreet message. “Don’t drink the wine.”
A moment later, a reply arrived. “I already drank it, Senior.”
Zhu Chi’s heart sank. “Didn’t your master ever tell you that demon cultivators are not to be trusted?!” she exclaimed, her voice laced with panic and frustration.
The Demon Lord, leaning against the wall, recalled Luo Nianshang’s warnings about demon cultivators, particularly the Demon Lord herself.
But she hadn’t taken those words to heart. After all, she was the Demon Lord.
Seeing that the Demon Lord remained silent, Zhu Chi’s anxiety intensified. She stood up, her blurry vision guiding her as she approached the Demon Lord. “Let me see your hand,” she said.
The Demon Lord obediently extended her hand, and Zhu Chi took her pulse.
She frowned. She had never encountered such a pulse before. She checked again, her face paling as she realized what it meant.
“You’re still alive?” she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
What a dreadful thing to say. How inauspicious.
The Demon Lord chuckled, glancing at her wrist, her expression nonchalant. “I encountered a fortunate opportunity,” she said. “That’s why my pulse is unusual. Don’t be afraid, Senior.”
Ouyang Ba, seeing that neither of them had touched their wine, and the one who had drank it seemed perfectly fine, grew impatient.
He subtly gestured to Su Yunluo, who understood and left the room.
She returned a moment later, carrying a crystal platter piled high with delicate pastries. They were shaped like plum blossoms, drizzled with honey syrup, their appearance tempting.
She placed the platter on the table, smiling at Zhu Chi. “There’s no need to rush,” she said. “I know you’re wary of us, honored immortal, but we’re not just demon cultivators. We’re also businesspeople.”
Zhu Chi frowned. “Businesspeople?”
Su Yunluo smiled. “Yes,” she said. “You must be aware of the current turmoil in the Demon Realm. The Demon Lord is a cruel and tyrannical ruler, obsessed with pleasure. The people of the Demon Realm have suffered under her reign.”
“She is currently injured, and we have risen up to challenge her authority. But she is cunning. She might be feigning her injuries. We need to secure our escape route.”
Her eyes welled up, and she dabbed at them with a handkerchief, her voice trembling. “My husband and I might be demon cultivators, but we have never committed any evil deeds. Que City is the most peaceful city in the Demon Realm. It is fate that we have met you here, honored immortal.”
She wiped her eyes again, her cheeks reddened. “If we fail, that wicked Demon Lord will surely punish us. We wish to make a deal with you. We will offer you valuable information in exchange for sanctuary.”
Ouyang Ba, watching her, his jaw slack, was stunned. He had assumed she was simply trying to satisfy his desires. He hadn’t realized she had such grand ambitions.
The Demon Lord, observing Su Yunluo’s fake tears, couldn’t help but admire her acting skills. But why was the Demon Lord being portrayed as wicked and cunning?
As for Zhu Chi, she was blind. She couldn’t see Su Yunluo’s crocodile tears.
But there was a ring of truth to Su Yunluo’s words. Zhu Chi sat back down. “The Spring Snow Sect is but a small sect,” she said. “We cannot protect you from someone as powerful as the Demon Lord.”
Su Yunluo, her expression filled with adoration, said, “But you are close friends with the Sword Saint.”
Zhu Chi’s suspicions grew. Su Yunluo seemed to know a lot about her. She had clearly done her research.
She was ready to leave. “Your offer is too risky,” she said, rising to her feet. “I cannot accept it. Come, Hong Ying.”
Su Yunluo knew it wouldn’t be easy to gain her trust. “Fang Mountain is near,” she said, her voice soft. “The setting sun is round.”
Zhu Chi froze.
***
Bai Jingxue had recently developed a habit of visiting She Yuwei’s room. Initially, She Yuwei had been afraid, worried that the Sword Saint would follow and her efforts would be wasted.
She wasn’t particularly talented, her only skill writing scandalous stories. But those stories had become surprisingly profitable, and she had grown reluctant to work for merit points.
She was currently writing, taking advantage of the fact that everyone else was gone.
Lü Qingyan played with a crumpled ball of paper, while Bai Jingxue, perched on the desk, watched She Yuwei write.
This woman was truly remarkable. She was writing five different stories simultaneously. Yesterday’s tales had been replaced by new ones today.
Bai Jingxue peeked at the page, her heart sinking. This one seemed to be a tragedy.
The beloved I sought for years had become nothing but bones. But my love never faded.
Fang Mountain is near, the setting sun is round.
Life is short, our love will continue in the next life.
Bai Jingxue’s ears drooped. She preferred happy endings. Her heart couldn’t handle too much angst.
But she should still pay attention to She Yuwei’s stories. They might prove useful someday.
She Yuwei finished writing, then reread and revised her work. She then proceeded to admire her own genius.
“This is such a tragic love story,” she sighed. “Why isn’t it selling?”
She sighed again, her voice filled with despair. “Don’t people like heartbreaking stories?”
Bai Jingxue couldn’t take it anymore. She leaped onto She Yuwei’s shoulder, then repeatedly swatted the girl’s head with her paw.
She Yuwei, caught off guard by the usually docile cat’s sudden attack, ducked, covering her head with her arms. “Stop it! Stop it!” she cried.
Her manuscript slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor. Bai Jingxue’s eyes lit up. She leaped from She Yuwei’s shoulder, then swiped at the page containing the ending, tearing it to shreds.
“My precious story!”
She Yuwei shrieked, lunging for the manuscript, but she was weak, her cultivation only at the middle stage of Qi Gathering. Bai Jingxue might be a cat, but she was a Golden Core demon.
She swatted She Yuwei aside, sending her flying.
She Yuwei, landing on the floor with a thud, stared at Bai Jingxue, her eyes wide with disbelief. Her disbelief gradually transformed into admiration for Luo Nianshang.
As expected of the Sword Saint. Even her cat was extraordinary.
This mix of resentment and admiration was rather amusing. “Please, Cat Master,” she whimpered. “Give me back my manuscript.”
Bai Jingxue shook her head, her paw resting on the shredded ending. She then mimed slicing her neck, hoping She Yuwei would understand.
She Yuwei seemed to get it. “You don’t like the ending?” she asked cautiously.
Bai Jingxue nodded.
This was a problem. “But the person is already dead,” she protested. “All that’s left are bones. I can’t just resurrect her! It’s impossible.”
Bai Jingxue licked her paw, then casually swatted a nearby stool. It instantly disintegrated into dust.
She Yuwei imagined her own ashes scattering in the wind.
She grimaced. She had no idea how she had offended this feline overlord.
She sat back down, her brush hovering over a fresh sheet of paper. She thought for a long time, then, with a sigh of resignation, incorporated the tragic short story into one of her comedic novels.
Bai Jingxue, jumping onto the desk, inspected the revised ending.
She wagged her tail, but she was still uneasy. The change hadn’t been She Yuwei’s idea.
The male lead in the original story had also attempted to influence She Yuwei’s writing. He had succeeded, but only because he was the Child of Destiny.
If anyone else had tried to persuade She Yuwei to change her stories, it wouldn’t have worked. Reality would have followed the original script.
But she had done her best. She would worry about saving the world when she was human again.
It was almost time for dinner. If Fu Yuan didn’t see them, she would be worried.
Bai Jingxue jumped down from the desk, her gaze falling upon Lü Qingyan, who was happily playing with the crumpled ball of paper. She sighed, then stepped on Lü Qingyan’s tail.
The spinning propeller stalled, and Lü Qingyan turned to look at her.
Bai Jingxue removed her paw, her voice flat. “It’s dinnertime.”
Lü Qingyan’s eyes lit up. She expanded her body, tossing Bai Jingxue onto her back, then dashed off, her four legs a blur.
The wind generated by her movements scattered the papers around the room.
She Yuwei rubbed her eyes, a stray sheet of paper landing on her head. She picked it up, recognizing her notes for a new story.
She stared at the doorway, watching as Lü Qingyan disappeared, then, after a moment of thought, she picked up her brush, adding a few lines to her notes.
Humans have both good and evil within them. The world has both light and darkness.
She blew on the ink, waiting for it to dry, then carefully stored her manuscript.
***
After enjoying their meal, courtesy of Fu Yuan, Lü Qingyan rolled around on the floor, her belly exposed, her voice filled with contentment. “Isn’t our transmigration a bit too peaceful?” she asked.
Before Bai Jingxue could reply, she continued, “But peaceful isn’t bad.”
Bai Jingxue glanced at her, but remained silent.
She had to admit, her current life was rather pleasant. The burdens of her past life had vanished. She didn’t have to worry about survival or endure any hardships.
Sometimes, she felt like she was dreaming, as if the world had suddenly decided to favor her.
But a child who had grown up walking on eggshells was always wary, always afraid that her happiness was an illusion, that the moment she let her guard down, the world would reject her once more, reminding her that she wasn’t worthy.
She was still that same timid, insecure girl, lacking the courage to love.
In her past life, her attempt to reach out to Lü Qingyan had cost Lü Qingyan dearly. She had tried to make amends, but her efforts had been futile.
The judgment of others, the financial disparity, the burden of a self-conscious lover…
Lü Qingyan hadn’t deserved any of that. She deserved to be happy, to shine brightly.
If the price of being with Lü Qingyan was Bai Jingxue’s suffering, then she would gladly pay it. But it hadn’t been that simple.
A shooting star streaked across the sky, and Lü Qingyan, her eyes widening, exclaimed, “A meteor shower! Make a wish!”
Bai Jingxue, snapping out of her thoughts, closed her eyes, her wish a silent plea.
Lü Qingyan opened her eyes, settling beside Bai Jingxue, her voice curious. “What did you wish for, Jingxue?”
Bai Jingxue glanced at her, her voice flat. “I wished for you to find a new girlfriend.”
Lü Qingyan froze, and Bai Jingxue, unable to bear the sight of her disappointment, quickly looked away. But a moment later, she heard Lü Qingyan chuckle. “You’re not supposed to say your wish out loud! Hehehe, I’m not getting a new girlfriend. My girlfriend will always be that grumpy little black cat named Bai Jingxue.”
Bai Jingxue turned back, her gaze meeting Lü Qingyan’s, her heart melting at the sincerity in her eyes.
It was another confession.
She quickly looked away, her cheeks burning.
She was a liar. Her wish had been different.
She had wished for Lü Qingyan’s happiness.
She hadn’t said it out loud, so it would surely come true.
Leave a Reply