Ch 53: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

Huaiyin felt a mixture of emotions.

On one hand, she was excited to see what would happen next, but on the other hand, she was worried that she might be overthinking things. While she didn’t like Qin Ling, if the person in question was Little Lord Zong, Huaiyin felt there wouldn’t be any issue at all.

The demon race naturally admired strength, and with Little Lord Zong being both attractive and powerful, he seemed like a perfect match for their master. What was even rarer was that Little Lord Zong had somehow managed to find their master across different worlds. If their master was destined to find a partner, Little Lord Zong was, in Huaiyin’s mind, the best candidate.

Of course, if the master didn’t want that…

Then nothing needed to change.

Based on Huaiyin’s observations, it seemed that their master didn’t have much interest in this kind of relationship.

The cold beauty with snow-white skin propped her chin on her hand and let out a soft sigh.

“Huaiyin, why are you sighing?” Qingluo, who had transformed into her true form and was squatting in a flower pot, looked at Huaiyin with a puzzled expression.

By now, she had developed a good relationship with Huaiyin.

Huaiyin glanced at her and said, “You’re just a kid; you wouldn’t understand.”

The green branches of Qingluo’s plant form swayed slightly as her clear voice rang out, “You grown-ups always say that whenever you have a secret.”

Huaiyin was curious, “Who else has said that to you?”

Qingluo huffed, “I’m not telling you. You grown-ups think you know everything, don’t you?”

Huaiyin chuckled. Looking at Qingluo, full of life and spirit, she understood why the master was so fond of her.

Qingluo was indeed lovable.

Sometimes, Huaiyin reflected on her time as the Tree Demon Elder. Though she had been renowned and commanded many ghosts, when she thought back, all her subordinates had been respectful and fearful of her, with none she could speak to honestly.

Back then, she had thought that was the way a great demon should live, that it was truly glorious.

But now, after spending so much time with the master, she found that having a small courtyard, planting flowers, vegetables, and fruits, and brewing her own wine wasn’t a bad life at all.

That night, after drinking a little, she sat in the evening breeze, feeling a bit tipsy. She decided to transform into her true form, found a fertile spot, rooted herself, and fell asleep.

Madam Jiang who came out for a walk because she couldn’t sleep: “…”

She stared wide-eyed as the beautiful woman turned into a tree. It took her a while before she could finally let out a long breath.

It was nothing major, just someone turning from a ghost into a tree. She tried to comfort herself with this thought, but whatever she had come out to do was now forgotten. She turned around and, a bit disoriented, went back to her room.

Huaiyin, half asleep, didn’t notice, but a clear-headed Qingluo did. She wanted to salvage the situation but feared that if she spoke again, it might just scare Madam Jiang even more.

Madam Jiang clearly didn’t sleep well, and the next day she looked a bit haggard.

Jiang Lin asked after her well-being, and Madam Jiang looked at Huaiyin, hesitating to speak, but in the end, she said nothing.

A few ghosts, a few demons, and two people—the strange combination lived a peculiar life in this courtyard, and in the blink of an eye, ten years passed.

Madam Jiang had aged a bit but not significantly. Over the past ten years, she had been eating the spiritual fruits that Jiang Jin grew, which greatly benefited her health. In fact, she was healthier than she had been ten years earlier.

Jiang Jin no longer looked like a vengeful ghost. All her enemies were dead, and after death, she had tortured them for several years. Two years ago, Jiang Jin had returned the soul-gathering pearls to Jiang Lin.

Now, she lived a life similar to that of an ordinary person—eating three meals a day, living with her close family, going out to see lanterns and visit markets during festivals. Even though she was a ghost, her life was no different from when she was alive.

She didn’t have to worry about aging, nor did she suffer from illness.

She had let go of everything from the past.

The only thing that surprised Jiang Lin was Qin Ling. After ten years of living together, even if he were slow, Jiang Lin had started to realize that the Taoist might have feelings for him that were more than just friendly.

Jiang Lin understood that although Qin Ling had feelings for him, the other party never voiced them, and Jiang Lin didn’t feel it was appropriate to confront him about it. Jiang Lin had already decided to leave soon, so there was no need to create any awkwardness.

Thanks to Huaiyin’s reminder, Jiang Lin had reflected on his past actions and decided to take her advice.

“Is Brother leaving? Where are you going?” Jiang Jin asked when she heard the news, though she didn’t seem too surprised.

Jiang Lin replied, “A place far, far away. You probably can’t go there.”

“Will you come back?” she asked.

Jiang Lin hesitated before finally shaking his head. “It’s unlikely.”

Jiang Jin looked a bit sad but still smiled and said, “As long as it’s where Brother wants to go, I’ll support you.”

“Can Brother hug me?” she asked.

Jiang Lin opened his arms, and Jiang Jin leaned into his embrace, closing her eyes. “Thank you, Brother.”

“Actually, I know that you’re not really my brother,” she admitted.

Jiang Lin had revealed too many inconsistencies in front of her, making it hard for Jiang Jin not to notice. She had selfishly clung to the warmth he provided, pretending not to know the truth.

Taking a deep breath, Jiang Jin stepped back from Jiang Lin’s embrace. “Brother has already done so much for me. If I keep holding on to you, I’d feel too guilty.”

Jiang Lin smiled. “There’s nothing to feel guilty about. I’ve always thought of you as my sister. Isn’t it a brother’s duty to take care of his sister?”

The two of them sat in the courtyard, talking for a long time.

As Jiang Lin was about to return to his room, Jiang Jin couldn’t help but ask, “Is my brother…?”

She wasn’t sure what she was asking. Was she asking if her brother was okay? Or where he had gone? Or maybe something else?

Jiang Lin understood her question. He turned back, gently patted her head, and said, “He’s gone to be reincarnated. By now, he should have already been reborn as a human. Before he left, he couldn’t stop worrying about you and asked me to take good care of you.”

He lied, but if the real Jiang Lin had met him, he surely would have said something similar. The real Jiang Lin couldn’t stop worrying about his sister either.

Hearing this, Jiang Jin finally smiled. But as she smiled, tears welled up in her eyes. Her tears were no longer blood; they were now clear and left no trace as they fell to the ground.

She wiped away her tears and said with a smile, “Then Brother can rest easy. Jiang Lin has taken good care of me, and I will be fine.”

Now she understood that living well was the only thing those who truly cared about her would wish for. Whether it was her brother, Jiang Lin, or her aunt, she would not disappoint them again.

When Qin Ling heard that Jiang Lin was leaving, he came to find him.

He asked where Jiang Lin was going.

Jiang Lin replied, “A faraway place.”

“Can I go with you?” Qin Ling asked, his eyes full of hope.

Jiang Lin shook his head.

The light in Qin Ling’s eyes dimmed.

Jiang Lin offered, “As friends, I might be able to help you deal with the demon sealed within you.”

But Qin Ling didn’t agree.

He said, “After all these years, I’ve forgotten what it’s like to live a normal life. With him in my body, at least I still have someone to talk to.”

From the moment he became aware of his situation, the old Taoist had burdened him with the task of sealing the demon within him for over two hundred years. Qin Ling had never expected any kind of future.

Jiang Lin frowned, not quite understanding his reasoning. “But you know you can’t keep him sealed for much longer. When that time comes…”

Qin Ling casually plucked a blade of grass and put it in his mouth, smiling as carefree as he had the first time they met. “We’ll deal with it when the time comes.”

When the time came, he might just find a good burial spot before he lost control, taking the demon down with him.

He had lived long enough, so it didn’t really matter.

Qin Ling was an adult with his own thoughts and decisions, and Jiang Lin was only a friend. Since Qin Ling had made his choice, Jiang Lin didn’t want to interfere.

He simply said, “Take care of yourself.”

Qin Ling also said, “I wish you a smooth journey.”

As Jiang Lin turned to leave, Qin Ling watched his departing figure. The man inside him suddenly spoke, “You’re not going to tell him?”

Qin Ling smiled, resigned, “He has no feelings for me. Now that he’s leaving, there’s no need to say anything and create unnecessary sadness.”

The man inside him retorted sharply, “You underestimate him. Do you think he doesn’t know you like him? He’s not the kind of man to get emotional over something like this. But if you don’t speak up, you’ll remember this moment, him, and this regret for the rest of your life.”

Qin Ling remained silent.

Seeing this, the man sneered, “Coward. Since you don’t dare, let me help you.”

Qin Ling was startled and quickly said, “Don’t—”

But he had already lost control of his body.

In that moment, the bright and cheerful look in the man’s eyes was replaced by something deeper. He straightened up, smiled slyly, and called out loudly to Jiang Lin, who was not far away, “Jiang Lin, did you know that Qin Ling has admired you for a long time?”

Huaiyin stopped in her tracks, Qingluo’s eyes widened, and Zong Yu’s hair practically stood on end with anger. They were all waiting for Jiang Lin’s reaction.

Jiang Lin didn’t turn around. He simply waved his hand behind him and replied in a calm voice, “Thank you for the affection, but the mountains are high and the rivers long. Farewell.”

The man suddenly laughed, speaking maliciously, “Did you hear that? People like him, they seem gentle and easygoing, but they don’t really have a heart.”

Qin Ling countered, “How can he not have a heart? If he didn’t, he wouldn’t have avenged the Jiang siblings or helped Jiang Jin dispel her resentment. You must have noticed by now that he’s not really Jiang Lin, right?”

“As for me…”

He smiled, not saying more, “Still, thank you. You were right. It would have been regretful if I hadn’t spoken up and been clearly rejected. Now, I feel much better.”

Before the demon inside him could say more, Qin Ling’s tone grew cold and stern, “That being said, if you try to take control of my body again, I’ll make sure we both suffer.”

The man teased, “Little Taoist, we have no personal grudge. Why are you so uptight?”

Qin Ling responded coldly, “Evil must be eradicated by everyone. Don’t try to deceive me.”

The man suddenly sighed softly, “Evil, huh? I can’t remember anything anymore. Maybe someone lied to you.”

But Qin Ling had already placed a talisman on himself, blocking out the man’s voice.

Jiang Lin and Huaiyin had left, and only Jiang Jin and Madam Jiang remained in the small courtyard.

Jiang Lin had once asked Jiang Jin if she wanted to be reincarnated. He could help her cheat a bit and pick an auspicious time.

Jiang Jin shook her head. “I’ll wait and go with Auntie.”

Chen Huan and Chen Ying visited them regularly. At first, they were both pale with fear when they saw Jiang Jin, but after realizing that she wasn’t all that different from a living person, they gradually became more comfortable around her.

Madam Jiang remained healthy, living to the age of over eighty without any illness.

One evening, after dinner, she seemed to sense something, and she took Jiang Jin’s hand. “A-Jin, am I…”

Jiang Jin held her hand and smiled, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Auntie. I’ll stay with you.”

Madam Jiang smiled and nodded, passing away peacefully in her sleep.