Chapter 6p2: How Does One Get Eaten in the Future?
Shang Shang finished her farewell and turned back, her voice clear, “I just remembered, I haven’t said goodbye to everyone yet.”
Mu Qiandan was about to lose her temper again when the girl changed her mind. “Forget it, I don’t like goodbyes. Let’s just go, let’s take the main road.”
Mu Qiandan said irritably, “You want to walk? Do you know how far Tianyu Gate is?”
She was able to arrive quickly yesterday because she had used a special talisman that shortened distances, allowing her to intercept the protagonist.
Such a valuable, life-saving treasure, she only had one, meant to be used in a later plot point. But Li Biyuan had been frantic about missing the plot, so she used it prematurely.
Now, without the talisman, the distance to Tianyu Gate was daunting.
Shang Shang shook her head dismissively, “I don’t know where the sect is, but as long as it’s in this world, there’s nowhere my feet can’t reach.”
“Would you swim across the ocean with your legs? What about flying in the sky? Try flying with your legs. Use your brain,” Mu Qiandan retorted, glancing around, pulling Shang Shang to a secluded corner. She placed two fingers on her forehead, chanting softly.
Soon, faint blue spiritual energy flowed along her skin, surging through her meridians, gathering in her neck, making the skin glow brightly.
Then, a clear crane’s cry pierced the sky. Large, pure white feathers sprouted from her neck, quickly forming a pair of beautiful wings. Her body was enveloped in a white whirlwind, rapidly solidifying, the wind scattering the surrounding dust and stones.
When the dust settled, a red-crowned crane, twice the height of a person, stood before them, elegant and pure white.
Seeing such magic for the first time, Shang Shang was stunned, “What kind of immortal technique is this?!”
It wasn’t an immortal technique, but Mu Qiandan’s unique ability: transforming into a demon form.
There were humans and demons in this world, their lives usually separate. Occasionally, humans and demons fell in love, and their offspring were called half-demons.
These children were often born with disabilities, prone to premature death, and those who survived usually had short lifespans and various ailments. Mu Qiandan was a rare exception, a healthy half-demon who had lived to her twenties.
She was supposed to be a twin, but her sister, severely deformed and lacking a human form, survived within her as an undeveloped demon fetus, resulting in her unique half-demon constitution.
This parasitic separation allowed Mu Qiandan to separate from her sister and live independently, healthier than most half-demons who died young.
But this health was relative. Compared to ordinary people, she was still frail, prone to illness, and lacking physical strength. If she hadn’t cultivated, she probably wouldn’t have been able to even support herself.
For years, she had hidden among cultivators, concealing her true nature, secretly refining her sister’s form. She kept her sister hidden within the enchanted vertebrae of her neck, summoning her when needed, telling others it was her spirit beast.
Tianyu Gate’s totem was a crane, and the sect raised many of them, so no one suspected anything.
The crane cried towards the sky, its call clear and distant. Its posture was graceful, its white feathers like snow, its black feathers like a raven’s, and the red crown on its head a perfect finishing touch. Unfortunately, its eyes were completely white, seemingly blind.
This was her “sister’s” disability: blindness.
“Bai Tong,” Mu Qiandan called, “Take us back.”
Bai Tong spread her wings, flapped them twice, and her body expanded several times, large enough to carry a small house. She bent her legs, presenting her broad, soft back.
The original master doted on her sister and rarely summoned her for tasks, preferring to ride a horse back to the sect, which gave the protagonist an opportunity. Mu Qiandan, however, couldn’t ride a horse and didn’t want to exhaust herself, so she made full use of the original body’s resources.
“This is incredible!” Shang Shang rolled up her sleeves, about to climb onto the crane. “I’ve never seen anything like this… hey!”
Before she even touched a feather, she was pulled back by the collar, looking up to see the woman’s cold, indifferent face. “Change out of those beggar’s clothes.”
Shang Shang protested, “These aren’t beggar’s clothes! They’re also a family heirloom!”
Despite their short acquaintance, Mu Qiandan felt this boisterous behavior suited her better. The overly calm demeanor of the girl after being beaten last night felt strange and unnatural, as if she had been possessed by a different soul.
“You’ve rolled around in dirt and grime in those clothes, they reek. If you stain my spirit beast’s feathers, I’ll have your hide.”
“I…” Shang Shang wanted to argue, but she knew it was true. She sniffed her sleeve and insisted, “They don’t stink!”
Mu Qiandan climbed onto the crane, “Either change your clothes, or walk back yourself. Your choice.”
Shang Shang snorted, tilted her head in thought, then exclaimed, “I have a solution!”
She carefully set down the table as if it were made of glass, then untied her red jade belt, pulled off her robe, revealing her naked body, and bundled the clothes together with the table, securing them to her back.
She patted her chest, “No problem now!”
The protagonist cleverly chose a third option: wearing nothing.
Mu Qiandan looked down at her for a moment. The model-like figure that Li Biyuan had praised so highly, even if she was reluctant to admit it, was undeniably beautiful. But she said, “Do you have no sense of shame?”
Shang Shang climbed onto the crane’s back, burying her face in the soft feathers. “No.”
Mu Qiandan rolled her eyes, urging Bai Tong to fly, lest this girl continue her indecent display.
Even on the back of a crane, the journey would still take half a month.
During this time, after finishing the food they had brought, they would land in the forest, hunt for game, and drink from springs when hungry. When tired, they would rest briefly in the trees. Time passed quickly, and in about three days, they would reach the sect.
The sky was overcast, dusk approaching, light rain starting to fall, soon to turn into a thunderstorm.
Mu Qiandan, estimating her remaining spiritual energy, calculated that she couldn’t fly back in one go, so she landed early. Fortunately, there was a cave nearby for shelter.
They gathered some dry branches before the rain intensified. By the time thunder rumbled outside, a fire was crackling inside the cave, radiating warmth.
Because Bai Tong was blind, she couldn’t fly alone, requiring Mu Qiandan to constantly monitor their direction. So, she still hadn’t rested well and was now exhausted, almost falling asleep against the cold, hard wall.
Shang Shang sat by the fire, hugging her knees, listening to the rain, chewing on gold nuggets. Swallowing the last one, she breathed out a stream of fire, making the fire burn brighter, then closed the gold pouch.
Mu Qiandan was startled awake by the sound of the flames, then realized she couldn’t sleep too deeply in the mountains. If someone else sought shelter or a wild beast entered the cave, it would be dangerous.
This wasn’t a modern city, but the wilderness.
She forced herself to stay alert, staring blankly at the fire.
Shang Shang put away the gold pouch, yawned, and lay down on the ground. Within a few breaths, she was fast asleep.
Mu Qiandan: “…”
So, only she was worried about safety.
During their journey, the lazy dragon had slept whenever she had the chance, while Mu Qiandan controlled Bai Tong. Now, exhausted, she couldn’t even rest. And this idiot had no awareness of guarding the cave entrance, simply falling asleep. How could she endure this?
Mu Qiandan was very good at redirecting her frustration. She extended her leg and kicked Shang Shang, sending her rolling. The girl looked up, sleepy-eyed, “What?”
Mu Qiandan replied, “Nothing.”
Shang Shang, thinking she had just rolled over in her sleep, mumbled and curled up again, continuing to sleep. Mu Qiandan, adding some spiritual energy this time, kicked her harder, sending her rolling three times, her face hitting the stone wall.
“What are you doing?!” Shang Shang sat up abruptly, fully awake, realizing who was responsible. “Why won’t you let me sleep?!”
Mu Qiandan looked at her coldly, “Go guard the cave entrance, watch out for wild beasts and passersby.”
Shang Shang retorted, “Why me?”
Mu Qiandan said, “Not you, then me? If I don’t rest well tonight, are you going to control Bai Tong tomorrow?”
That made sense, but her bruised backside and the bump on her nose from hitting the wall still hurt. Shang Shang rubbed the sore spots, stood up angrily, and sat down by the fire instead of going outside. “I’ll watch from here, it’s the same difference.”
Mu Qiandan said, “Whatever.”
Having this idiot dragon watch, although not very reliable, was better than nothing. At least she could raise the alarm in case of danger, allowing Mu Qiandan to relax slightly.
Exhaustion washed over her, her bones aching. She leaned against the wall, the firelight blurring in her eyes, bringing darkness as she drifted off to sleep.
She didn’t know how long she slept, but a sharp pain in her hand jolted her awake.
Stifling a groan, she opened her eyes, seeing the cold ground. She sat up, realizing she had somehow fallen asleep on the ground and had rolled onto her wound, causing it to bleed again.
Quickly bandaging it, Mu Qiandan pressed her temples, clicking her tongue.
This didn’t feel good; a slight dizziness lingered, and the pain was persistent. She closed her eyes, lay back down, and rummaged through her storage pouch, still finding no medicine.
Now, she finally sensed something was wrong.
The original master, although powerful, mainly in terms of spiritual energy reserves and a vast collection of artifacts, had a frail half-demon body. For someone so physically weak, aware of her vulnerability, to bring all sorts of weapons but no medicine, didn’t make sense.
She used spiritual energy to stop the bleeding, fuming inwardly. Opening her eyes again, she wanted to kick the culprit. But she found the girl also looking at her.
The moment their eyes met, Shang Shang quickly looked away, pretending nothing had happened.
The fire had died down, the smell of embers lingering in the air. The girl sat hugging her knees, facing the cave entrance, her mask removed, her face bathed in the cold moonlight.
Mu Qiandan thought: This girl must have been plotting something while I was asleep.
She lowered her hand, her voice slightly tired, “What are you thinking about?”
Shang Shang cleared her throat, wiggling her toes, “I was thinking… thinking… why could Liu He do such a thing? They’re family.”
Still dwelling on that pointless question, Mu Qiandan snorted, “Blood ties aren’t always reliable.”
“Oh, really?” Shang Shang pondered, “Then what is reliable?”
“Yourself.”
Mu Qiandan added, “Only yourself.”
Shang Shang nodded, “Oh.”
The wood crackled in the fire. She rambled on about random things, her thoughts jumping from one topic to another, without any logic. Mu Qiandan didn’t understand a word and simply ignored her.
Shang Shang didn’t mind, but finally, she suddenly asked, “Does your wound hurt a lot?”
Mu Qiandan, afraid of losing control and beating her again, continued to ignore her.
Shang Shang added, “Without my help, your wound won’t heal.”
Blood rushed to Mu Qiandan’s head, and she sat up abruptly, her face darkening. So that was why this damn bite mark hadn’t healed.
It made sense; a dragon’s bite was a form of curse. To heal it, the one who inflicted it had to lift the curse, though she didn’t know how.
Her eyes narrowed, “How can you help?”
Shang Shang’s eyes were clear as she pointed to her lips, “I need to lick it.”
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