Author Archives: Thandar

However, this technique was quite ruthless, requiring a process of breaking down and then rebuilding. Jiang Lin would need to completely destroy his own bloodline and then, step by step, use the technique to transform his demonic power into the wood-based spiritual power he practiced from the Nine Spirits Art. This process of breaking down and rebuilding, with his own body as the battlefield, would be excruciatingly painful, to say the least.

More importantly, according to the system, this technique was not without risks. For someone like Jiang Lin, whose original body’s life had already ended in his original world, if this method failed, his soul would be severely damaged, possibly leading to his soul being completely destroyed.

In his current situation, Jiang Lin had a demonic identity in every world he visited, and his strength was considerable. With his knowledge of the storylines, he could protect himself and live quite comfortably. Many in his position might choose not to take such a risk.

But as soon as the system proposed the idea, Jiang Lin barely hesitated before agreeing.

While he was indeed powerful now, most of that strength came from the original White Bone Spirit. If he completed his task in this world and moved on to the next, the demonic power he had here would no longer exist. All he would retain was the slow growth of his soul from his time in this world.

Jiang Lin was not satisfied with this; he was desperate to have his own power.

Once he made up his mind, Jiang Lin began preparing for it. Over the years, he quietly searched for spiritual herbs and used his frequent seclusion to gauge the reactions of the other demons.

—Yes, even though the demons of White Tiger Ridge were quite naive and simple, Jiang Lin didn’t fully trust them. He couldn’t be sure that if he successfully rebuilt his spiritual power, during that vulnerable period, these demons who revered strength wouldn’t turn on him.

Now, the time for Sun Wukong’s battle with the White Bone Spirit was drawing near. According to the system, once the White Bone Spirit’s destined calamity passed and Jiang Lin completed his mission, he would soon leave this world.

He couldn’t wait any longer.

In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed.

The once serene valley had now become a forbidden area in White Tiger Ridge. The demons tread carefully when passing by, afraid of disturbing their king’s seclusion.

Qingluo seemed to have grown a little taller but was still a tender, white-skinned little girl. As for Zong Yu, he remained exactly the same, showing no signs of aging.

The demons of White Tiger Ridge privately speculated about Little Lord Zong’s true form, guessing that with such a long and powerful childhood, he might possess the bloodline of a divine beast. But none of them had ever seen Zong Yu in his original form, and the two small, delicate black horns on his head didn’t offer any clues.

No one dared to ask Zong Yu directly.

In truth, Zong Yu himself didn’t know. Great demons typically had inherited memories, but he had none.

He didn’t even have memories of a long period after his birth.

One day, as usual, Zong Yu sat on a tree, idly swinging his legs.

On the mountain where the Old Ape resided, a peach blossom spirit had recently been born. She was stunningly beautiful, with a graceful figure and a gentle temperament. Qingluo adored this pretty elder sister and went to play with her every day.

Zong Yu hadn’t had a decent meal in twenty years, and even teasing Qingluo had lost its appeal. Every day, he just sat on a tree in the valley, staring forlornly at the courtyard gate that hadn’t opened in twenty years.

How long was Jiang Lin going to be in seclusion this time? He was starving.

Zong Yu, frustrated, started banging his head against the tree trunk but suddenly stopped.

He sensed something and straightened up, his eyes fixed on the small courtyard.

The place, which had been quiet for twenty years, suddenly began to surge with spiritual energy.

Was Jiang Lin’s seclusion coming to an end?

Zong Yu’s emotions were no longer calm. He jumped down from the tree and rushed towards the small courtyard.

At the same moment, the accumulated spiritual energy seemed to reach its limit and exploded with a roar.

It was as if an invisible wave of spiritual energy spread out, and within a radius of several miles around the valley, wherever the energy spread, plants grew wildly. Every flower in White Tiger Ridge bloomed all at once, and even out-of-season fruit trees were laden with heavy fruits.

The commotion was so great that the demons couldn’t help but notice.

A brief moment of perception made all the demons turn their attention to the source of the spiritual energy—the small courtyard where their king was in seclusion.

So, this was the work of their king?

The true form of the White Bone Spirit wasn’t a secret in White Tiger Ridge. Some demons scratched their heads in confusion: wasn’t the king a millennium-old bone demon? Why was there such a strong wood-element aura mixed into the spiritual energy?

With their simple minds, the demons couldn’t figure it out.

Since they couldn’t figure it out, they simply stopped thinking about it.

They only knew that their king had finally come out of seclusion!

Judging by the commotion, their king had made significant progress. The stronger their king became, the more stable White Tiger Ridge would be. All in all, this was a great cause for celebration!

Perhaps Little Lord Zong’s bad mood would finally come to an end too.

The demons happily put down their work and rushed to the small courtyard, ready to congratulate Jiang Lin.

So, when Jiang Lin finally came out of seclusion and dispelled the barrier, he was met with the sight of a large group of demons.

Their gazes were warm, joyful, and full of admiration…

He was taken aback. “You all knew I finished my seclusion?”

An old white-haired demon bowed to Jiang Lin and was the first to speak, “My lord, many years ago, you granted me the favor of awakening my intelligence. This time, thanks to your infusion of spiritual energy, I have been able to take human form. I, Yunmu (the old tree that Jiang Lin transplanted in his courtyard), will never forget your grace.”

In that instant when Jiang Lin’s spiritual energy burst out, the grass and wood spirits on White Tiger Ridge benefited the most.

Some, like Yunmu, even gained the opportunity to take on human form.

Jiang Lin looked closely at the old demon before smiling and saying, “So, you are Yunmu. Congratulations on taking human form. But this spiritual infusion… what do you mean?”

He was completely unaware of the commotion he had caused.

And at this critical moment, the system was nowhere to be found.

The demons, seeing that he didn’t know, all began speaking at once, trying to explain. After a while, Jiang Lin finally understood what had happened.

He now scanned the surroundings with his spiritual sense and saw flowers in full bloom and trees heavy with fruit—a magnificent sight.

After a moment, he realized something was wrong—two very familiar people were missing.

Jiang Lin couldn’t help but ask, “Where are Qingluo and Zong Yu?”

Zong Yu slowly walked out from behind the group of demons and looked at Jiang Lin. “I’m right here.”

Jiang Lin looked at him, who was still the same as when he had gone into seclusion, and smiled, “You’re unusually quiet today.”

Zong Yu carefully studied him, clearly wanting to say something but seeming hesitant.

Jiang Lin sent the other demons away, leaving only himself and Zong Yu.

He asked, “What do you want to ask?”

Zong Yu looked up at this demon who, though unchanged in appearance, felt entirely different.

“You’ve changed a lot,” he said.

Jiang Lin remained calm. “How have I changed?”

Zong Yu furrowed his brow, clearly puzzled. “Your aura. The demonic energy around you is completely different from before. Can seclusion change you this much? It’s like you’ve become a completely different demon.”

Jiang Lin thought he had noticed something significant and was about to respond when Zong Yu suddenly relaxed and smiled. “I always felt that the sinister aura around you didn’t match who you are. Now, you seem much more agreeable.”

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the window covered with a thin layer of oiled paper, spilling onto the bed.

Qin Zhao frowned, groggily opening his eyes, and for a moment, he thought he saw a shadow flash by the bed.

His eyes instantly cleared. “Who’s there?”

There was no response.

The room was silent, not even the slightest noise. Qin Zhao sat up, threw off the curtain, and quickly walked out of the bedroom. The outer room was empty, with the small wooden bucket holding the koi still on the table, the water surface gently rippling.

The little koi floated on the surface, its eyes looking up at him obediently.

Qin Zhao’s tense nerves relaxed. He leaned against the wall, pressing his aching forehead.

How… did he get home?

Qin Zhao’s memory was a bit hazy.

He could only recall going up the mountain to gather herbs yesterday. After he finished, the rain began to fall just as he was about to head back. Then, he found a small hut to take shelter.

But the rain didn’t stop, and he caught a chill, didn’t take his medicine in time, and eventually passed out from the discomfort.

Everything after that was a blur.

It wasn’t the first time he had been to that small hut.

In the past, he had experienced similar situations, usually spending the entire night there, only managing to return the next day when the weather cleared.

Such an ordeal would typically leave him bedridden for at least half a month.

But today was different.

He didn’t feel particularly unwell; there was no pain, no lingering fever, and he actually felt quite refreshed.

Did he drink the medicine last night?

Qin Zhao walked to the stove and lifted the lid. The bowl of medicine remained untouched, just as it had been when he left the day before.

A hint of confusion appeared in his eyes as he returned to the table and sat down.

Jing Li secretly sighed in relief.

Luckily, he wasn’t discovered.

He had been exhausted last night, and after Qin Zhao fell asleep, he had turned back into his original form and slept in the water. It wasn’t until dawn that he remembered he hadn’t cleaned up the mess.

Early that morning, still feeling drained, Jing Li had transformed back into human form to put away the rain gear, the medicine, and everything else they had used the night before.

He had made a bit too much noise in the process and nearly got caught by Qin Zhao.

Jing Li wearily blew a bubble in the water.

This fish is exhausted.

“What’s wrong with you?” Qin Zhao noticed his unusual state and reached out to touch the little koi’s back.

The warm touch inevitably reminded Jing Li of the previous night, when Qin Zhao had held him close, with his scorching hands slowly moving over his scales.

Jing Li shuddered instinctively and turned his head away to avoid Qin Zhao’s touch.

“You don’t want me to touch you?” Qin Zhao asked, “Are you upset?”

Not upset…

Jing Li didn’t know what he was avoiding, nor how to explain it.

Qin Zhao was sick last night; he didn’t mean to take advantage of him. Besides, in the end, it was Jing Li who voluntarily snuggled into Qin Zhao’s arms to help cool him down.

It was just for treatment, after all. Qin Zhao had treated his injured scales before.

So why couldn’t he let him touch him now?

Jing Li looked at Qin Zhao for a moment before obediently swimming back under Qin Zhao’s hand.

The other’s fingertip touched his dorsal fin.

The touch was as smooth and cool as before, and although the little koi seemed a bit nervous, trembling slightly, he still stayed obediently in place, allowing Qin Zhao to pet him.

Qin Zhao’s eyes flickered, and he felt a strange sensation deep in his heart.

This feeling…

Some unfamiliar images flashed through his mind.

In the darkness, those clear and bright eyes looked at him, filled with a bit of fear and a touch of grievance.

The voice said, “…I was just passing by…”

The sensation under his palm was cool and smooth, the body slightly trembling, and a soft voice whispered in his ear.

The voice said, “I’m here…”

Qin Zhao was momentarily lost in thought, his fingers paused on Jing Li’s dorsal fin. Just as Jing Li was about to relax, he heard Qin Zhao speak again.

“Yesterday…” Qin Zhao frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, “Did I return home alone?”

Jing Li: “…”

Without thinking, he quickly nodded.

Qin Zhao was skeptical.

He tried to recall more, but his mind was blank. His memories during his episodes were always hazy, and now he couldn’t even remember the face of the boy.

Besides, if someone had indeed saved him last night, why weren’t they around this morning?

…Maybe it was just a hallucination during his episode.

Qin Zhao sighed and decided not to dwell on it further.

Despite the difficulties last night, he had managed to collect all the herbs. Qin Zhao took the herbs out of the backpack, processed them briefly, and tied them up with vines, wrapping them in cloth.

There were sixteen intact herbs, and a few others with slight imperfections, which Qin Zhao wrapped separately.

The flawed ones could still be used for medicine, though their appearance, weight, and potency might be somewhat compromised. However, private buyers weren’t as strict as clinics and might agree to a discounted purchase.

If they didn’t want them, he could keep them for emergencies.

After sorting out the herbs, Qin Zhao went to the bedroom to change clothes, preparing to deliver them to Doctor Ge.

He opened the wardrobe, but then he paused.

Jing Li held his breath, anxiously watching the situation in the bedroom, so nervous that he forgot to breathe.

He hadn’t put Qin Zhao’s clothes back.

The clothes he wore to the mountain yesterday got splattered with mud. If Qin Zhao found out, he would definitely suspect something. Jing Li didn’t dare put the clothes back and had to hide them in a corner instead.

Losing the clothes would be better than having Qin Zhao find out they were dirty.

Jing Li had already made up his mind; if Qin Zhao asked about them, he would just pretend not to know.

After all, he’s just a fish right now; Qin Zhao surely can’t do anything to him.

But to Jing Li’s surprise, Qin Zhao didn’t ask about the missing clothing. Instead, he simply changed into another clean robe and came out.

Jing Li: “?”

Did this person not even notice he was missing a piece of clothing???

Qin Zhao’s expression didn’t reveal anything unusual. He placed the bundled herbs into his backpack and asked Jing Li, “Do you want to stay home today or come with me?”

Naturally, Jing Li chose the latter.

The sickly Qin Zhao had gone up the mountain alone yesterday and returned in such a bad state. How could Jing Li feel at ease letting him go out alone again?

Moments later, Qin Zhao left the house with the fish basket in hand.

Today, Qin Zhao needed to go to town to buy medicine, so he planned to drop off the herbs at Doctor Ge’s place first and then hire a cart to take him to town. When Doctor Ge heard this, he offered to go with him, suggesting they deliver the herbs directly to the buyer.

Doctor Ge also wanted to settle this matter quickly to avoid any unexpected complications.

In the end, Qin Zhao ended up hitching a ride on Doctor Ge’s ox cart.

They set out early, and by the time they reached the town, the morning market was still bustling with people, making the streets lively and crowded.

Since returning to the village with Qin Zhao, Jing Li had been cooped up there every day and had never been this far. He excitedly peeked his head out of the fish basket.

But the ox cart was bumpy, and the fish basket was light, so it almost tipped over as Jing Li moved around inside.

Qin Zhao quickly pressed the fish back into the basket, saying in a low voice, “Behave.”

Doctor Ge, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them and asked, “Were you talking to me?”

Qin Zhao: “…”

Jing Li: “…”

Soon, the ox cart stopped outside an imposing mansion with a plaque above the entrance bearing two large characters: “Fang Residence.”

Doctor Ge got off the cart to knock on the door.

The Fang family was one of the wealthiest in town, and although Qin Zhao had lived here for a few years, he had heard a little about them.

Despite their wealth and status, these large, influential families weren’t as arrogant as some might imagine. After Doctor Ge explained their purpose, a maid quickly came to escort them inside.

They were greeted by the housekeeper of the Fang residence.

The housekeeper had a kind appearance and was very polite. He smiled and said, “We were planning to send someone to pick up the herbs tomorrow, but you’ve kindly brought them here yourselves.”

Doctor Ge waved it off, saying, “It’s no trouble at all.”

While they were busy checking the herbs, the little koi, having nothing else to do, quietly peeked out of the fish basket.

These ancient mansions were always exquisitely designed. They entered a reception hall, and in the courtyard in front of it were rockeries and flower beds, with covered walkways and side chambers on either side, all arranged in a grand layout.

Jing Li, who had never seen a genuine ancient mansion before, couldn’t help but take a few more glances.

Suddenly, a blood-curdling scream came from behind the house.

The little koi was so startled that he quickly shrank back into the fish basket.

The screams grew louder and more intense, filled with agony, but the housekeeper remained calm and said, “Don’t be alarmed, that’s just our young master being punished again.”

Jing Li: “…”

That kind of beating could kill someone, right?

Unfortunately, as outsiders, there was nothing they could do, so they pretended not to hear.

After the herbs were counted, the housekeeper said, “Including the one from before, there are a total of seventeen whole herbs, which comes to thirty-four strings of cash. We’ll also take the imperfect ones; all together, let’s say thirty-five strings and five hundred coins, how about that?”

Doctor Ge exchanged a glance with Qin Zhao, who nodded. “Agreed.”

The housekeeper was straightforward and quickly sent someone to settle the account and pay the money.

When Qin Zhao had entrusted Doctor Ge with selling the herbs, he agreed to a 30-70 split. After deducting the 800 coins that had been given as a deposit earlier, Qin Zhao ended up with 24 strings and 50 coins.

Doctor Ge made a handsome profit on this deal and joked, “Mr. Qin, don’t forget about this old man if you come across any good opportunities in the future.”

Qin Zhao bowed slightly to him. “Of course.”

Doctor Ge needed to hurry back to the village to tend to his patients, while Qin Zhao still had to visit the medical hall to get his medicine. So, the two parted ways. Qin Zhao didn’t rush to the medical hall but instead went to the market with the little koi.

He had promised to buy him some meat yesterday.

Qin Zhao arrived just in time to catch the end of the morning market and bought some pork, rice, and seasonings.

In this era, the main staples were rice and millet, but since millet was much cheaper than rice, most families in the village relied on millet as their primary food.

Qin Zhao had been the same before.

But now that he had a bit of money, he didn’t need to be so frugal anymore.

All the little things added up to nearly 200 coins. Qin Zhao packed everything into his backpack and was about to head to the medical hall on East Street to get his herbs.

Suddenly, something tugged on his sleeve.

Qin Zhao looked down to see the little koi biting his sleeve, hanging in mid-air and swaying with his movements.

Qin Zhao: “…”

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but laugh. “What is it this time?”

The little koi let go of his sleeve and nodded toward something nearby.

Qin Zhao followed his gaze and saw a shop selling pastries. At the entrance, freshly baked white pastries were displayed, cut into neat little squares, steaming hot, and filling the air with a sweet, enticing aroma.

“Want some?” Qin Zhao asked.

The little koi quickly nodded.

This fish loved not only meat but also sweets.

Qin Zhao hid a smile in his eyes as he lifted the fish basket to meet the little koi’s gaze.

Qin Zhao slowly said, “You can have some if you tell me where that freshly washed, unworn shirt of mine from the other day went.”

Jing Li: “…………….”

The rain was getting heavier as Jing Li hurried along the mountain path.

Of course, he wasn’t afraid of the rain; he wore the raincoat and bamboo hat because he didn’t want the villagers to see him. This small, isolated village wasn’t used to strangers, and a newcomer would definitely stand out.

Besides, the fish scales on his face hadn’t disappeared yet.

Fortunately, it had been raining for a while now, so there were hardly any people on the road.

He had rushed out and only grabbed a robe to wear. The robe was so long that it almost reached his ankles, hiding the fact that he wasn’t wearing anything underneath.

Even though there was no one around, Jing Li still felt a bit self-conscious and tightened the raincoat around him.

But soon, he ran into a new problem.

He didn’t know where Qin Zhao had gone to collect the herbs.

Jing Li didn’t consider himself directionally challenged, but the last time he had been to that place, it was because that stupid cat had carried him there. He had been so scared out of his wits that he fainted on the way back and had no idea how to retrace his steps.

The sky was a murky gray, and the rain further obscured his view, making it even harder to find the right path.

Rain mixed with mountain wind, and the boy, barefoot on the mountain path, trudged through the mud, his body soon shivering from the cold.

Without the protection of his fish scales, it turned out he was still afraid of the cold.

Where on earth was Qin Zhao…

The sky had fully darkened, but luckily, Jing Li’s night vision seemed to have improved quite a bit since before. Even in the pitch-black forest, he could still see clearly.

At least navigating through the forest wasn’t an issue.

Jing Li didn’t know how long he had been walking through the mountains before he finally spotted a small, dilapidated thatched hut.

His eyes lit up, and he hurried over.

The small hut had been abandoned for a long time; it had no windows or door and seemed to have been used by villagers to store miscellaneous items. It was so small that even lying down inside would feel cramped.

As Jing Li approached the entrance, he indeed saw the familiar figure sitting against a corner of the hut.

He didn’t dare enter immediately and instead hid outside, peeking in.

Qin Zhao wasn’t too wet, likely finding the hut to take shelter as soon as the rain started. He might have planned to wait for the rain to stop before heading back, but he hadn’t expected the rain to last this long, keeping him there until nightfall.

The hut was drafty, which might have been tolerable for others, but it was no good for someone like Qin Zhao, who was already frail and sickly.

His eyes were closed, and it wasn’t clear if he was sleeping or resting, but his face was exceptionally pale.

Suddenly, Qin Zhao’s body tilted and collapsed to the ground without warning.

!!!

Jing Li couldn’t wait any longer and rushed inside.

Qin Zhao was lying on the ground, his arms tightly wrapped around his body, shivering uncontrollably. It was cold outside, but Qin Zhao’s body was burning hot, so much so that it almost scalded Jing Li.

Jing Li gently pushed his body. “Qin Zhao?”

There was no response.

Qin Zhao’s brows were tightly furrowed, as if he was deep in some kind of torment. Despite his body being so hot, there wasn’t a trace of color on his face.

“What… what should I do…”

Jing Li had never encountered a situation like this before and was so anxious that he didn’t know what to do. He removed his soaked raincoat and bent down to hold Qin Zhao in his arms.

His own body was already cold, having been outside for so long, and now he felt like an ice block. Jing Li placed his cold palms on Qin Zhao’s face. The touch of something cool made Qin Zhao’s furrowed brows relax a little.

…But he still didn’t wake up.

Jing Li held him tightly. “Qin Zhao, wake up. How about we go home and sleep?”

The rain had unknowingly stopped, but the sky was still overcast with clouds, with no sign of light. The scorching body in his arms suddenly moved, and Jing Li’s wrist was grabbed tightly.

“…Who?” Qin Zhao’s voice was hoarse, cold as if it belonged to another person.

The searing heat from his wrist made Jing Li tremble, and when he spoke, his voice was shaking. “I… I was just passing by and saw you fainted here, so I…”

In the darkness, Jing Li could clearly see Qin Zhao open his eyes and look at him with a cold, unfamiliar gaze.

At that moment, Jing Li could even hear his own heart pounding rapidly.

Qin Zhao didn’t respond for a long time. The two of them remained in a standoff until the grip on Jing Li’s wrist loosened slightly.

Jing Li looked at him, but Qin Zhao had already turned his head away and closed his eyes.

The hut was very dim, and Qin Zhao was so ill that he likely couldn’t see Jing Li’s appearance clearly.

Jing Li felt a bit more at ease and said, “You can’t keep going like this. Can you still stand? Let me take you home, alright?”

After another moment of silence, Qin Zhao softly replied, “…Thank you.”

Jing Li packed the raincoat into his backpack, shouldered it, and then helped Qin Zhao up, letting him lean on his shoulder as they walked out.

Qin Zhao’s consciousness was still very muddled, and he didn’t even realize that the person beside him didn’t ask where he lived but directly took him back to the village.

In his daze, he only felt that the body holding him was small, soft, and cool to the touch, with an exceptionally pleasant feel.

Instinctively, Qin Zhao leaned closer.

Jing Li was still not fully accustomed to his newly regained human form, and with Qin Zhao being almost a head taller than him, supporting him was quite a struggle. The two of them walked unsteadily, taking twice as long as usual to return to the village.

The village of Linxi was silent at night, and with the rain earlier, most villagers had gone to bed early.

Li Dali stepped out with an oil lamp to relieve himself and happened to see two figures slowly walking past his house, supporting each other.

He looked at the familiar figure and rubbed his eyes.

Was that Qin Zhao?

It shouldn’t be; Qin Zhao was all alone, with no one in his house.

Li Dali didn’t think much of it and turned back into his house.

Jing Li helped Qin Zhao back to the bed.

He had been in human form for too long this time, and he could feel his energy depleting rapidly. The fish scales on his skin were more prominent than before, making it hard to maintain his human form any longer.

But he gritted his teeth and held on.

Worried that Qin Zhao might see him, Jing Li didn’t dare light a lamp. He fumbled in the dark, fetching a basin of water and wringing out a cloth to wipe Qin Zhao’s body, trying to bring his fever down.

But Qin Zhao’s body remained scorching hot. Jing Li wiped him down several times, but the fever showed no signs of reducing.

He must be feeling awful; his brows were tightly furrowed, and every now and then, a low groan of pain escaped through his clenched teeth.

This situation seemed far worse than a typical fever.

What exactly was wrong with Qin Zhao?

Jing Li wanted to ask but couldn’t find the right moment. After wiping Qin Zhao down one last time, he pulled the blanket over him and went to the outer room.

Qin Zhao needed to drink his medicine every morning and evening, but since he had returned late today, he hadn’t had a chance to take it yet.

Perhaps that’s why he had suddenly fallen so ill.

Fortunately, Qin Zhao would always prepare a dose of medicine in the morning, which only needed reheating at night. This saved Jing Li the trouble of brewing it from scratch. However, he had never done this before, and it took him a while just to get the fire started.

After some time, he finally returned to the bedroom with the warmed-up medicine.

Qin Zhao’s condition had worsened even more.

He lay restlessly, his body trembling, the blanket already kicked to the side, and his collar had come loose in his struggle.

“Stop moving around!” Jing Li quickly put the medicine aside and rushed to hold Qin Zhao’s shoulders. “You’ll catch a cold like this…”

The loosened collar revealed Qin Zhao’s pale skin, with his delicately shaped collarbones standing out due to his thinness. Further down, the faint lines of his chest muscles were visible.

Jing Li nervously averted his gaze, feeling his ears heat up.

He didn’t dare look any longer and reached out to grab the blanket at the foot of the bed.

But before he could touch it, his wrist was suddenly grabbed, and with a strong pull, he was yanked down.

The room spun, and Jing Li found himself falling into a scorching embrace.

!!!

In that instant, Jing Li felt as if his heart had skipped a beat. The scent of medicine unique to Qin Zhao filled his nose, leaving his mind in a dazed, hazy state.

Jing Li struggled to regain his composure and gently pushed against Qin Zhao, his voice soft and tender. “Qin Zhao, let me go…”

But it seemed Qin Zhao was completely unconscious.

He held Jing Li tightly between his arms, clinging to him as if drawing in his coolness.

“I’ve heated up the medicine. How about drinking it first?” Jing Li was starting to feel uncomfortable from the heat radiating from Qin Zhao, and he pushed a little harder. “You… you shouldn’t—mmph—”

A burning hand had slipped directly onto his waist.

Jing Li’s eyes widened in surprise.

He was wearing Qin Zhao’s clothes, which didn’t quite fit him. He had put them on hastily, so the ties weren’t secured properly. After all the tossing and turning that night, the ties had somehow come loose.

When Qin Zhao pulled on Jing Li earlier, the tie on his robe came completely undone, causing the clothing to slip off his shoulders, revealing his smooth, bare skin.

And that was only the beginning of the mess.

Jing Li realized how he had put on the clothes and immediately flushed red from his neck to his ears.

Those hands seemed quite satisfied with the coolness of his skin, especially the fragile fish scales on his waist, lingering there without moving away.

The heat from those hands against his skin made Jing Li tremble uncontrollably, his eyes filling with tears out of fear. “Qin… Qin Zhao…”

A heavy silence filled the room, like thick ink slowly spreading. Jing Li could hear his heart pounding frantically, his entire body trembling as if he had become a fish pinned down on a chopping board, awaiting its fate.

He was terrified but had nowhere to run.

Suddenly, a low, hoarse, and pained voice whispered in his ear, “Don’t go…”

Jing Li froze and looked up at him.

Qin Zhao had opened his eyes.

They were bloodshot, devoid of their usual vitality.

He seemed to be looking at Jing Li, yet it was as if he saw nothing at all, only mindlessly repeating those two words.

“Don’t go…”

It was the first time Jing Li had seen him so helpless, and it tugged at something in his chest, leaving a bitter feeling.

“I’m here,” he said, no longer resisting. He endured the discomfort and buried his head in Qin Zhao’s chest, staying still. “I’m right here.”

He curled up against Qin Zhao, feeling like he was embracing a burning fire.

In the darkness, the sound of their rapid heartbeats echoed back and forth.

Finally, Qin Zhao calmed down.

After some time had passed, the grip on Jing Li loosened completely.

Jing Li gently pushed him away, and the moment he fell off the bed, there was a flash of red light, and he turned back into a small koi fish that landed on the floor.

The little koi had used up all his energy, and even his fins drooped weakly.

He wobbled his tail and slowly returned to the wooden bucket, sinking to the bottom of the water.

Exhausted, he let out two small bubbles.

xxx

Thandar: 😍😍😍😍🫠🫠🫠🤤🤤

For the next two days, Qin Zhao rarely had the opportunity to rest at home.

But he didn’t idle away his time. That afternoon, Qin Zhao sat at his desk, not writing, but sketching on a piece of xuan paper.

Jing Li poked his head out to watch.

Qin Zhao’s brush strokes were smooth and fluid, sketching and drawing. At first, Jing Li couldn’t make out what he was drawing, but gradually, a rough sketch of a courtyard began to take shape on the paper.

Jing Li: “…”

Is there anything this man can’t do???

Farm courtyards usually had a low fence around them, but the downside was the lack of privacy—people could easily see into the yard from the outside. However, building a brick and stone wall like the Chen family’s would cost much more.

Qin Zhao decided on a compromise.

There was a bamboo grove halfway up the mountain, along the stream that flowed outside the village. Qin Zhao planned to hire someone to cut some bamboo. Bamboo was tall and, when used to enclose the courtyard, would serve as a natural, attractive, and practical wall.

After solving the privacy issue, there would be two small rooms—one for a bedroom and the other for a kitchen.

In the village, houses were typically built by the farmers themselves or hired workers, but before construction, one needed to pay for the land based on the area. Since Qin Zhao lived alone, there was no need for a large courtyard, though he did leave space for an additional room in the future.

With better conditions later on, he could perhaps add a study.

Finally, there was the pool for the little koi fish.

If he was going to build it, Qin Zhao didn’t want it to be too simple—it should be large, deep, and have a steady flow of fresh water. Digging a pool wasn’t difficult, but ensuring clean, flowing water, and figuring out how to drain the water from the courtyard, would be a challenge.

The village had no shortage of water; the remaining concerns were the location and the design of the drainage system.

After finishing the pool’s design, Qin Zhao noticed that Jing Li was watching intently and asked, “What do you think? Are you satisfied?”

Jing Li was already stunned by the plans and quickly wagged his tail in approval.

But Qin Zhao seemed still unsatisfied. After studying the drawing for a moment, he made a few adjustments.

Huh, why change that part? He liked it as it was!

The little koi protested by slapping the side of the wooden bucket.

Qin Zhao explained, “By simplifying it, we’ll use fewer materials.”

These were just preliminary layouts and designs, but completing them as envisioned would require a lot of money.

Previously, Doctor Ge had roughly mentioned the prices offered by several clinics in town—they were all similar, with little room for negotiation. Completing this entire project might require spending all the money earned from selling the Wushan ginseng.

Qin Zhao didn’t want to use up all his savings just to build a house.

Jing Li understood his reasoning and felt a bit disappointed.

There was nothing to be done—Qin Zhao was perfect in many ways, except that he was broke.

Such a shame.

Outside, the sky was overcast, and a gentle breeze made the windows creak.

Qin Zhao pushed open the window, looking at the gloomy sky with a slight frown. Then, he put away the drawings and took a coat from the wardrobe.

Was he going out?

Jing Li watched him from the water.

Just as Qin Zhao finished dressing, there was a knock on the door.

It was Doctor Ge.

Doctor Ge stepped inside, beaming with a smile. “It’s done! The buyer has been finalized!”

Qin Zhao welcomed him in and poured him a cup of water.

But Doctor Ge was too excited to even think about drinking it. He exclaimed, “Didn’t I tell you before that the prices offered by several clinics in town were more or less the same? Well, guess what? This morning, a wealthy family from town suddenly contacted me and agreed to increase the price of each Wushan ginseng by 400 wen!”

The initial estimated price was around 1,600 wen per plant, but with the additional 400 wen, it would now be 2,000 wen.

Even Qin Zhao couldn’t help but be a bit surprised.

Two thousand wen—that’s a price you’d only get by selling it in a major city.

Doctor Ge was thrilled and said, “They’ll send someone the day after tomorrow to collect the herbs, Qin Zhao. You need to go and gather the herbs as soon as possible.”

Qin Zhao replied, “I was just about to head out to gather them.”

“Yes, it’s best to do it quickly,” Doctor Ge said. “Around Qingming, there’s more rain, which isn’t good for gathering herbs. That plant is valuable, and if it’s exposed to wind and rain for a few days, it could lose half its potency.”

“I understand.”

After sending Doctor Ge off, Qin Zhao said to the little koi, “You heard that, right? I need to go up the mountain to gather the herbs. Be good and stay at home.”

The little koi obediently wagged its tail.

Qin Zhao thought for a moment and then took out two egg pancakes from the stove, placing them on a plate on the table. “If you’re hungry, you can eat these.”

The little fish had already managed to steal a chicken leg, so helping itself to a pancake shouldn’t be a problem.

Jing Li’s eyes lit up at the sight of food, but Qin Zhao gently tapped him on the head. “But don’t eat too much, or you’ll make yourself sick.”

Got it!

Jing Li lightly nibbled on his finger.

Qin Zhao raised an eyebrow, gazing down at him. They locked eyes for a moment, and the little koi, who had initially retreated, nervously swam back and gently rubbed its fin against the spot where it had bitten him.

Qin Zhao couldn’t help but smile.

“Tomorrow, I’ll be heading to town to buy some medicine. I’ll get some meat too and make braised pork for you.”

Jing Li’s mouth watered at the thought, and he wagged his tail eagerly in the water.

There was no sunshine today, so it would get darker earlier than usual. Without wasting any more time, Qin Zhao quickly shouldered his pack and left.

Jing Li listened quietly as the footsteps faded away, then with a splash, he jumped out of the water.

It’s been three days since the last time Jing Li transformed into a human. During these days, his body occasionally experienced that same scorching heat he felt on the day he transformed. However, since Qin Zhao had been with him the entire time, he would quickly submerge himself in the water to suppress the sensation whenever it arose.

He had a feeling that this sensation was related to his ability to transform into a human.

Unfortunately, with Qin Zhao constantly by his side these past few days, he hadn’t had a chance to test it out.

Today, he finally had the opportunity.

Jing Li lay on the table, quietly waiting for a moment.

But the scorching sensation didn’t come.

Come on, change.

Jing Li flicked his tail and fins, even hopped around on the ground for a while, but nothing happened.

“Gurgle~”

The little koi paused in its movements and turned its gaze towards the plate of egg pancakes on the table.

Hopping around had made him hungry.

Moments later, the little koi lay on his back on the water’s surface, his fins gently patting his round belly as he let out a small burp.

These days, Qin Zhao had spoiled him so much that he always felt sleepy after a full meal.

Jing Li floated on the water, drowsy and about to fall asleep when his body gradually started to heat up.

He instantly woke up and flipped over in the water.

This time, the sensation was even clearer, like a warm current emerging from within him, flowing through every part of his body. The temperature gradually rose, spreading out, and each of his scales began to emit a red glow.

The light became increasingly dazzling, and Jing Li felt something changing. He leaped out of the water and landed on the ground.

The moment he hit the ground, the light suddenly faded.

A young boy was now kneeling on the ground, his expression still somewhat dazed.

Jing Li first looked down at his lower half.

This time, below his waist, there was no fish tail; instead, it had turned into a pair of legs. The legs were long and well-proportioned, with skin that was extremely pale. Some parts of his skin were adorned with small, translucent red scales, which were still damp and glistening, almost transparent.

Jing Li wiggled his round toes, but before he could feel any joy, he realized something important.

He quickly raised his hands to touch his face.

Nose, eyes—everything was in place, a normal human face.

… Thank goodness.

Jing Li let out a sigh of relief.

He had been worried that since he only transformed the upper half last time, this time he might only transform the lower half. That would have been terrifying.

Still not quite used to his human form, Jing Li moved his limbs a bit, using the table for support as he slowly stood up.

Last time, he didn’t have a chance to see what he looked like after transforming into a human. Today, he finally had the opportunity to take a good look.

Jing Li walked barefoot across the floor, leaving a trail of water behind him.

In the entire house, only Qin Zhao’s bedroom had a bronze mirror.

He walked up to the mirror, where his reflection—a handsome, delicate young boy—appeared in the blurry surface.

The boy had large, round eyes that were bright and clear, with the ends of his eyes slightly upturned, giving him an innocent and gentle appearance. He smiled lightly at his reflection, revealing a pair of shallow dimples.

He looked just the same as before.

The only difference was that there were also a few fish scales around the corners of his eyes.

The scales were cool to the touch, bright red in color, adding a bit of charm to his face.

Jing Li wasn’t very pleased with these scales. He touched them with his fingers, frowning slightly.

He didn’t know when he would be able to turn back completely.

His hair was still wet, and after standing in front of the mirror for a while, a small puddle of water had already formed on the ground. But being in human form felt too good, so he didn’t want to change back just yet.

After all, he often got the floor wet before, so Qin Zhao probably wouldn’t suspect anything.

He grabbed the cloth that Qin Zhao had left nearby and used it to dry his long hair. Just then, a gust of wind blew the window open.

Qin Zhao’s house didn’t even have a courtyard, so anyone passing by on the road could easily see what was going on inside through the window. Jing Li had no clothes on when he transformed into human form, and he was now standing completely naked in the room.

He couldn’t let anyone see him like this.

Jing Li quickly grabbed a blanket to wrap himself up and wobbled over to close the window.

He reached the window and nervously peeked out, looking around to make sure no one was nearby before he reached out to pull the window shut.

At that moment, a bolt of lightning flashed across the sky.

The sky had grown even darker than before, with thick clouds gathering overhead, as if rain could start falling at any moment.

Boom—

A deep rumble of thunder followed, and Jing Li looked worriedly towards the sky.

Qin Zhao still hadn’t come back. Would he get caught in the rain?

With his poor health, if he got wet in the rain, he’d definitely end up with a fever again.

Just as Jing Li was thinking this, another loud clap of thunder sounded, and the rain started pouring down.

Jing Li: “…”

Why did his worst fears have to come true???

Spring rain wasn’t too heavy, but it was persistent and once it started, it wouldn’t stop easily.

Jing Li sat on Qin Zhao’s bed, wrapping himself tightly in the blanket, curling up into a small ball.

Why isn’t he back yet…

After the rain started, the sky darkened quickly. Jing Li stared out the window, growing more and more uneasy.

The rain wasn’t heavy. Even if Qin Zhao had turned back as soon as he saw the rain, he should have been home by now.

They say that in the mountains, rain can easily cause landslides… could something have happened to him?

The more Jing Li thought about it, the more anxious he became. Finally, he couldn’t sit still any longer and got out of bed.

He opened the wardrobe and randomly grabbed one of Qin Zhao’s outfits to put on.

Ancient clothing was complicated to wear, and Qin Zhao was much taller than Jing Li, so the clothes didn’t fit him at all. But Jing Li didn’t care about any of that; he quickly tied the belt tightly, grabbed the raincoat and bamboo hat from beside the stove, and slipped out of the house through the window.

Zong Yu was stunned.

He watched helplessly as Jiang Lin turned and left, instinctively wanting to chase after him. But earlier, to appease Jiang Lin’s anger, he had obediently sealed most of his own demon power while being hung on the tree, and now he couldn’t break free from Jiang Lin’s spell.

By the time night fell and Zong Yu finally managed to get down from the tree, Jiang Lin had already entered seclusion.

Even as mischievous as he was, Zong Yu knew better than to disturb someone during their seclusion.

Zong Yu squatted in the courtyard, pulling out weeds while calculating in his mind. Based on Jiang Lin’s history, his seclusions could last anywhere from half a month to a full year.

Wouldn’t that mean he’d be starving for at least six months?

Zong Yu suddenly felt despairing about his demon life.

Just then, the bull demon Han Dong hurried over. Seeing Zong Yu, he asked, “Little Lord Zong, where is the Lord?”

Zong Yu replied, “He’s in seclusion.”

Han Dong acknowledged this with a simple “Oh,” not surprised at all. He then looked at Zong Yu and said, “Little Lord, a group of demons has come to White Tiger Ridge. One of them is quite strong; I can only fight him to a draw. Can you help me out?”

As one of the combat forces of White Tiger Ridge, Han Dong held a position similar to that of a security captain, leading a group of demons on daily patrols around White Tiger Ridge. In his spare time, he was also responsible for beating—oh, training—the subordinate demons.

Zong Yu, already in a foul mood, immediately stood up. “Let’s go!”

Right now, he was itching for a fight. If someone was offering themselves up as a target, why not take it?

Han Dong scratched his head. “I don’t know what’s going on lately, but more and more demons have been coming here.”

Han Dong had lived in White Tiger Ridge for many years and wasn’t aware of the situation outside, but Zong Yu and Jiang Lin kept a regular watch on the outside world.

Hearing this, Zong Yu said, “The human dynasty outside has collapsed. Now, various warlords are fighting over territories, and the land is in chaos.”

“In chaotic times, all kinds of demons and evil spirits arise. They find causing trouble among humans isn’t enough. White Tiger Ridge is a blessed land, so it’s only natural that it attracts envy,” Zong Yu said coldly.

He had lived in White Tiger Ridge for hundreds of years and felt that this place was different from anywhere he had been before.

The demons here retained their wild nature but were pure-hearted. The strong didn’t exploit the weak, and the weak didn’t have to worry about their safety, as they could sustain themselves through honest work.

Even though this was a land of demons, it was more orderly and beautiful than the human world.

And all of this wasn’t because the demons of White Tiger Ridge were different from those elsewhere, but because… of Jiang Lin.

He was a remarkable leader.

When Zong Yu first followed Jiang Lin, it was simply to get free meals. But after living here for so long, he actually started to feel like this place was home.

If that was the case, then Zong Yu didn’t mind teaching a harsh lesson to anyone who tried to disrupt the peace of White Tiger Ridge.

When Zong Yu arrived, he saw two demons with a single horn on their heads, laughing wildly.

Zong Yu took one look and felt his hands itching. The sight of them was truly unpleasant—these two demons hadn’t fully transformed, with sharp horns on their heads and black, bumpy skin covered in small warts.

It seemed that in the outside world, especially among powerful demons, it was considered an honor to display some demonic traits.

There were a few demons in White Tiger Ridge who used to think the same way, but Jiang Lin didn’t like it.

Following their lord’s example, the demons of White Tiger Ridge gradually started fully transforming into human form and came to appreciate the beauty of it.

When demons take human form, unless they have very unique tastes, they usually look quite appealing.

As a result, White Tiger Ridge was filled with handsome men and beautiful women, and every time Jiang Lin saw them, he felt a sense of satisfaction.

Zong Yu had gotten used to this over the years, so when he suddenly saw these two oddly shaped black rhinoceros demons, his desire to fight grew even stronger.

The two black rhinoceros demons were clearly skilled, having already injured several demons. They were feeling quite smug. When they saw Zong Yu approach and noticed he looked like a mere six- or seven-year-old child, they immediately mocked him:

“I thought you were getting reinforcements, but it’s just a little brat.”

“Hahaha, this White Tiger Ridge is destined to become our brothers’ domain today.”

The lesser demons under their command also chimed in:

“Our lord is wise!”

“Congratulations, my lord, on claiming this blessed land!”

“…”

The arrogant demons didn’t notice the look of pity in the eyes of the demons from White Tiger Ridge as they watched them.

Zong Yu also smiled, but it was out of anger.

He had never been the type to keep a low profile; wherever he went, he walked with his head held high, never bothering to conceal his powerful demonic aura. But after coming to White Tiger Ridge, he found that his overwhelming presence just made the young demons tremble in fear, preventing anything from getting done. Jiang Lin, seeing this, told him to tone down his aura.

And now, as a result, he was being looked down upon by two blind and ugly creatures.

He gestured to the demons of White Tiger Ridge, who immediately understood and backed away. Then, with a kick, Zong Yu sent a crack running through the ground from his feet, and before the two demons could react, he launched himself at them like a cannonball.

Unlike Jiang Lin, who preferred to conserve energy and focus on honing his magical abilities, Zong Yu relied on his powerful bloodline and terrifying strength—his true form remained a mystery—and fought with a straightforward, brute force approach.

In less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, the two black rhinoceros demons were lying on the ground like sandbags.

Zong Yu gave each of them a swift kick, feeling refreshed after the fight. He nodded at Han Dong and said, “Tie them up, seal their demonic power, and decide whether to send them to the mines or to clear land.”

Han Dong, a well-built, upright young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes, greatly admired strength, and Little Lord Zong was his lifelong idol. When he watched Zong Yu fight, his eyes practically sparkled with admiration.

Hearing Zong Yu’s instructions, Han Dong eagerly nodded. “Sure, these two look strong—let’s send them to clear land.”

They also tied up the frightened small fry and sent them to the Old Ape clan to tend to the fruit trees.

As he walked, Han Dong pondered: White Tiger Ridge was expanding rapidly, and there was always a shortage of labor. If it weren’t for the frequent arrivals of demons either too clueless or attracted by the delicacies made by the head chef, the land wouldn’t get cleared fast enough.

He thought about finding time to ask Little Lord Zong for some pointers and also wondered when the Lord would come out of seclusion this time.

Every time the Lord emerged from seclusion, his aura became even more unfathomable.

It was strange, really. Despite Zong Yu’s fiery temperament and his habit of bullying other demons, they seemed much more at ease around him and could even joke with him occasionally. But with Jiang Lin, it was the opposite—although he was always gentle and rarely punished anyone, the demons instinctively felt fear in his presence.

Except for the young, naive demons and those like the cat demon and pheasant who worshiped Jiang Lin blindly, the other demons didn’t dare to breathe loudly in front of him.

Meanwhile, the very Jiang Lin whom Han Dong was thinking about was at a crucial moment.

Two hundred years ago, the system, which had been sporadically going offline, suddenly reconnected and asked Jiang Lin if he wanted to try a different cultivation method.

He had been using other demons’ bodies to do tasks, and while he gained some benefits from cultivating, it was ultimately limited.

The system, however, had a technique that could transform the demonic power he cultivated into his own strength.

Jiang Lin quickly cast a spell to bring Qingluo down. The little girl, like a small candy ball, threw herself into Jiang Lin’s arms, wailing.

Qingluo had taken human form two hundred years ago and had appeared just like this: wearing green clothes, her hair in twin buns, with fair skin and a sweet, childish voice calling Jiang Lin “Master.” She was both obedient and adorable.

Jiang Lin was immediately charmed by her and felt that “Master” was too cold and distant, so he had Qingluo call him “Daddy.” Over the past two hundred years, he indeed treated Qingluo like a daughter.

Qingluo, a spirit born from plants, had a pure aura and a gentle personality. She was well-loved by all the demons of White Tiger Ridge, who had watched her grow up.

—Except for Zong Yu.

When Zong Yu first arrived at White Tiger Ridge, he was domineering and taciturn. Despite his young appearance, his immense strength and fierce demeanor—marked by furrowed brows and a cold gaze—intimidated the other demons, who were afraid to approach him.

But after following Jiang Lin, with good food, drink, and rest, Zong Yu’s temper improved significantly. As his temper mellowed, his true nature began to show.

He turned into a little troublemaker, perfectly fitting the description of a mischievous child. Almost every demon in White Tiger Ridge had been bullied by him at some point.

As White Tiger Ridge developed rapidly over the years, the adult demons became busy with their own affairs. Whenever Zong Yu disrupted their work, Jiang Lin would give him a good scolding, so Zong Yu started targeting the younger, less mature demons.

Though young demons could work, Jiang Lin, who had a soft spot for children—especially young demons still in the process of transforming, with their fluffy tails and furry ears—preferred to let them play happily. He even gave them designs and had Pheasant oversee the construction of various toys.

Zong Yu enjoyed teasing these young demons, not causing any real harm but making them cry nonetheless. However, he was too powerful for their parents to challenge, so they would complain to Jiang Lin.

As a result, over the past three hundred years, Jiang Lin had spent two hundred years cultivating and the remaining hundred years disciplining Zong Yu.

After Qingluo took on her human form, Zong Yu shifted his focus—going from bullying young demons to bullying Qingluo.

Every few days, he would make her cry.

Just like now—

Jiang Lin spent a long time comforting the little girl, using his wood-based magic to create many flowers and weave a garland for Qingluo. Only then did she smile through her tears.

Jiang Lin set Qingluo on a swing to play by herself and then went off to find Zong Yu.

He found him on the mountain managed by the Old Ape clan.

The eight mountains of White Tiger Ridge had been divided into different responsibilities. This particular mountain, overseen by the Old Ape clan, was dedicated to growing various fruit trees.

Zong Yu was sitting on a peach tree, swinging his legs.

Three hundred years had passed, and many of the young demons at White Tiger Ridge had grown from small animals into adolescent figures. But Zong Yu still looked the same as the first time they met.

He was still that six- or seven-year-old, pretty little boy, with delicate, almost sculpted features, who seemed harmless. His big, dark eyes sparkled as if they could see right through you.

In the past, his heavy aura made him seem unapproachable, but now he was like a sweet treat, soft and white on the outside, with a dark, hidden center.

Jiang Lin had completely seen through this little troublemaker.

Jiang Lin’s anger flared up. “Qingluo is still a child. Why are you bullying her?”

Zong Yu puffed out his cheeks like a little bun. “I’m also a child. Why are you yelling at me?”

Jiang Lin wasn’t buying it. He sneered, “A child that’s over a thousand years old?”

Zong Yu retorted confidently, “What’s wrong with being over a thousand years old? I’m still in my juvenile phase. You’re so kind to those other young ones, so why are you so harsh with me?”

As he spoke, he felt a bit wronged. “They’re not even as good-looking as I am. Every time you see them, you’re so gentle and patient, but with me, you’re cold and indifferent.”

He was indeed very handsome, and when he put on a pitiful, aggrieved expression, it could easily soften anyone’s heart.

But the person standing in front of him was Jiang Lin.

After three hundred years, Jiang Lin had seen through this little troublemaker’s true nature.

Jiang Lin let out a cold laugh. “Because you deserve a beating!”

Zong Yu glanced at him and then turned and ran.

Half an hour later.

At the entrance of the valley, on a large wutong tree, a delicate and pretty boy in black clothes was hanging upside down.

The boy was puffed up with anger, hanging from the tree while continuously talking. “Are you still mad, Jiang Lin?”

No one responded.

Zong Yu thought for a moment. “Brother Jiang Lin?”

Still no response.

After a while, Zong Yu became indignant. “Don’t think I really can’t beat you. I’m just letting you win!”

If I didn’t let you vent your anger, I wouldn’t have anything to eat for the next half month!

“Brother Zong Yu, Daddy said that since you hung me up for a night, you have to hang on this tree for a whole day before you can come down.” Sitting beneath the tree was a fair-skinned little girl, holding a bowl of osmanthus candy that the cat demon had made for her. Her cheeks puffed out as she spoke.

This was Qingluo. Jiang Lin had told her to watch over Zong Yu and make sure he stayed on the tree as a way to make Qingluo feel better.

It could be said that Jiang Lin was a very indulgent father.

Zong Yu felt a surge of irritation as he looked at Qingluo. This little girl was the reason he was hanging from the tree in the first place.

He rolled his eyes and emphasized, “Who’s your brother? You should call me Uncle Zong Yu.”

Qingluo blinked in confusion. “But you look…”

She gestured to his height and said earnestly, “Just a little bit older than Qingluo.”

Zong Yu declared proudly, “That’s because I have powerful bloodlines. My juvenile phase lasts longer than that of ordinary demons. In fact, I’m older than any of the demons in White Tiger Ridge.”

Qingluo thought it over, then finally nodded, her tassels swinging with the movement. “Alright then, Little Uncle Zong.”

Zong Yu felt satisfied. Hanging upside down didn’t seem so bad anymore, but when he remembered that this little girl was the reason he was up here in the first place, he felt less satisfied.

He took a good look at the well-behaved Qingluo sitting under the tree and said mischievously, “When I get down from this tree, I’m going to pluck all your leaves off until you’re bald.”

Qingluo froze, then frantically hugged her head. After a moment, she said, “But Little Uncle Zong, if you pluck all my leaves, Daddy will beat you to death.”

“I’ll beat you to death, you little brat!” was one of Jiang Lin’s frequently used phrases.

Of course, Jiang Lin had never actually followed through on that threat, but if Zong Yu really did pluck all of Qingluo’s leaves, that phrase might just become a reality.

Zong Yu thought about it and then huffed, “Hmph, I just let him win every time. Otherwise, he wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Oh, really?” A calm voice sounded from nearby.

Zong Yu was startled. When did Jiang Lin get here?

Jiang Lin had initially worried that this little troublemaker might feel humiliated being hung up in the valley and become enraged, but instead, Zong Yu didn’t seem to care at all and had even started chatting with Qingluo.

What a waste of worry.

Jiang Lin chuckled. “Since Little Zong is so powerful, I’m really frightened. I think I need to go into seclusion for a while to improve my skills.”

He turned on his heel with a flourish. “During that time, I’m afraid Little Zong will have to fend for himself when it comes to food.”

In a small mountain village, secrets don’t stay hidden for long. By last night, word had already spread throughout the village about the unpleasant situation between Qin Zhao and the Chen family.

It was clear that the Chen family no longer intended to rent their house to Qin Zhao, leading many villagers to quietly speculate about what Qin Zhao would do next.

Li Dali, who had received a favor from Qin Zhao, wanted to help him out. However, when he merely mentioned to his wife the idea of tidying up the small house in the backyard to rent it to Qin Zhao, she scolded him thoroughly. After that, he didn’t dare bring up the subject again.

Now, hearing what Qin Zhao wanted, Li Dali asked in surprise, “You want to rent a field?”

Qin Zhao replied, “Yes.”

Li Dali was taken aback. Everyone knew that Qin Zhao was infamous in the village for being sickly. Just gathering herbs in the mountains would nearly cost him his life; he was not someone who could handle even the slightest farm work.

So why the sudden change, wanting to rent land?

Thinking back to yesterday’s events, Li Dali suddenly thought of a possibility: “You’re not planning to build a house in the village, are you?”

Linxi Village had its own rules. Outsiders were allowed to live in the village, but they couldn’t simply build private houses—they could only do so through leasing.

Unless they had a land contract or rental agreement.

With a land contract, they would have to pay land taxes, which would make them almost like a local villager.

Therefore, the first thing outsiders looking to settle permanently in the village did was to either buy or rent a piece of land from a local.

After all, for these farming households who relied on agriculture, even considering the land tax, renting land was much more economical than renting a house.

This was how Li Dali’s wife’s family had moved to Linxi Village.

Qin Zhao didn’t hide anything and nodded. “Yes.”

Li Dali looked at Qin Zhao, feeling a bit curious.

Renting land to build a house involved significant expenses, and it was said that this man spent all his money on medicine and could barely afford to eat.

So where did he get the money to do this?

Half-jokingly, Li Dali asked, “Have you been lucky lately and found some money?”

Qin Zhao shook his head. “No.”

Though he said that, he couldn’t help but glance at the fish basket in his hand.

Since they had left the Chen family, the little fish had remained at the bottom of the water, refusing to interact. From Qin Zhao’s angle, all he could see was the bright red dorsal fin.

… Still sulking.

However, it did seem that ever since the fish came into his life, his luck had improved significantly.

And if it weren’t for this little fish helping him find rare herbs, he wouldn’t even have been able to afford the deposit to rent the land.

So maybe saying he’d gotten lucky wasn’t entirely wrong, Qin Zhao thought to himself.

Li Dali had only been joking, so he didn’t press the matter further. Instead, he said, “But I’d still advise you to think it over for a few more days.”

Being an honest man, he explained, “To tell you the truth, those two acres of mine aren’t that good. The yield has been low for years; otherwise, I wouldn’t be renting them out as idle land, would I?”

Qin Zhao replied, “But right now, yours is the only idle land in the village.”

Land is always in high demand, especially in a village that relies on farming. As long as there are enough hands to work it, the more land, the better.

As for whether the land is fertile or the yield high, those things are important, but they don’t matter as much as having no land to farm at all.

Moreover, as long as one is diligent, planting half the land with grains and the other half with vegetables can not only solve the problem of feeding oneself but also provide surplus produce to sell in town.

After a few years of this, the rent wouldn’t be a big deal anymore.

Li Dali naturally understood this. If someone else had come to him to rent the land, he might not have hesitated so much.

But this was Qin Zhao.

… Could this sickly man really work the fields?

Li Dali didn’t ask further but said, “I rent my land annually. Including taxes, the rent for each acre is three dou of wheat, due in late June of the following year.”

Linxi Village primarily grows wheat. The winters here aren’t too harsh, so wheat is usually sown in the fall and matures by late June of the following year.

The land tax is also due around that time.

Li Dali continued, “It’s only mid-March now, so considering that you saved my life before, I won’t charge you extra rent for these three months. Take a few days to think it over, and if you decide to rent, we can go to the village head and sign the contract.”

Qin Zhao bowed slightly. “Thank you.”

“No need.” Li Dali waved his hand. “I just don’t get what you’re planning. Are you really going to work the fields?”

It wasn’t just Li Dali who didn’t understand—Jing Li couldn’t figure it out either.

Qin Zhao working in the fields was a scene he couldn’t even imagine.

Could this man even lift a hoe?

Moreover, Jing Li had initially thought that Qin Zhao was staying here only because his health was poor and he couldn’t leave temporarily.

He figured Qin Zhao was renting a house here to recuperate, planning to leave and investigate his past once he recovered. So why was he now looking to rent land and build a house?

Could it be that Qin Zhao had decided to settle down in this village and wasn’t planning to continue searching for his identity?

Jing Li looked up at Qin Zhao from the bottom of the water, unable to guess what the man was thinking.

Sensing Jing Li’s gaze, Qin Zhao lowered his head to look at him.

Jing Li hadn’t expected him to suddenly lower his head and, startled, quickly swam to the bottom of the bucket, hiding in a corner without saying a word.

He still wasn’t over his anger!

His little movements didn’t escape Qin Zhao’s notice, who quietly smiled to himself.

Li Dali happened to see Qin Zhao’s smile and was puzzled: “…”

What exactly was so funny?

“I’ll figure out the farming situation myself,” Qin Zhao said. “Three days from now, I’ll come to sign the rental contract.”

Seeing how determined Qin Zhao was, Li Dali didn’t push further and agreed with a nod.

After all, his land was currently idle anyway, and he was already too busy with the land he was actively farming.

Just as Qin Zhao was about to leave, he noticed some green onions growing in Li Dali’s yard. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Are these green onions for sale?”

Li Dali continued chopping wood and casually waved him off. “It’s just a few green onions. They grow back after being cut; we can’t even finish them all ourselves. If you want some, just cut a few—no charge.”

Qin Zhao thanked him, bent down, and cut a handful of green onions.

When he got home, Qin Zhao placed the green onions on the stove, then took out and stored the medical supplies he had used. Finally, he emptied the fish basket and gently placed the little koi back into the wooden bucket.

The little koi swam to the bottom of the bucket, curled up in a corner, and remained silent, clearly still upset.

Stupid Qin Zhao hadn’t even made up with him before coming home.

He was definitely running away from home tonight!

Qin Zhao lightly tapped the water’s surface and asked, “Still not willing to talk to me?”

Jing Li didn’t respond.

“What exactly is the matter? Are you upset because I didn’t come back in time to save you?” Qin Zhao paused, then softly asked, “Or are you unhappy because you saw that little cat getting close to me?”

Jing Li was startled.

The little koi fish visibly trembled, its fins twitching uneasily.

Qin Zhao understood. “So, you’re jealous.”

Not jealous!

Jing Li shook his fins in protest.

Qin Zhao might not have meant much by those words, but Jing Li was human in spirit—he knew full well what being jealous implied. Right now, he just couldn’t change back into human form, so he was staying with Qin Zhao, which was technically a landlord-tenant relationship. What tenant gets jealous of their landlord? Especially over a cat?

Why would he be jealous of a cat? How embarrassing!

“Alright, I understand.” Qin Zhao reached into the water, gently stroking his head to comfort him. “I didn’t realize my little fish cared so much about these things. I’ll be more mindful and won’t get close to other animals. How does that sound?”

My little fish.

Jing Li’s heart fluttered.

Qin Zhao spoke with such warmth and sincerity, as if he was making a genuine promise, not just saying it because Jing Li was a fish.

This was too unfair…

Jing Li stared at Qin Zhao’s face, feeling a bit breathless.

Qin Zhao had a natural talent for soothing others. His voice was soft as he continued, “Don’t be mad anymore. How about I make you some scallion pancakes?”

Scallion pancakes!

Jing Li had already felt tempted when he saw Qin Zhao picking the scallions earlier. Now, hearing him mention scallion pancakes, Jing Li’s stomach growled in response.

The little koi had an appetite that outpaced any other fish and got hungry quickly. Even though he didn’t move around much, he was always thinking about food. The village’s two meals a day couldn’t satisfy his needs.

With both beauty and food on offer, Jing Li couldn’t stay angry any longer.

“Not angry anymore?” Qin Zhao stroked him for a while and, seeing no resistance, withdrew his hand slightly, letting his pale fingers rest on the edge of the wooden bucket. “If you’re not mad, show me.”

The little koi hesitated for a moment before swishing his tail and gracefully leaping out of the water, giving Qin Zhao’s fingertips a gentle kiss.

Smack

With a gentle sound, the little koi fish landed back in the water.

This gesture had become a familiar routine between them. Since the little koi couldn’t speak, it had to rely on these actions to express its feelings.

For example, when Qin Zhao reached out his hand, if Jing Li was in a good mood, he would swim over and give it a kiss, showing affection.

But if he was in a bad mood or didn’t want to, he would lightly nibble at Qin Zhao’s finger.

Jing Li did this just to show that he wasn’t angry anymore, nothing more.

The little koi fish’s face felt a bit warm as he hid in the water, silently thinking.

He didn’t notice that Qin Zhao was also a bit lost in thought.

His fingertips still tingled with the damp, tingling sensation left by the kiss, and Qin Zhao gazed down at the tiny glistening droplets of water that remained, unsure why his heart had fluttered a moment ago.

But… the feeling was rather pleasant.

Qin Zhao didn’t dwell on it further. He gently patted Jing Li’s head, then stood up and walked to the stove to start kneading the dough.

He finely chopped the scallions, mixed them into the dough, and then placed the dough in a pan to fry over low heat.

A plate of scallion pancakes was soon ready, and Qin Zhao brought it to the table, only to find the little koi fish already asleep in the water.

…It made sense. After all, he had been chased by that stray cat across half the village today and must be exhausted.

But even in his sleep, the little koi fish couldn’t resist the smell of the scallion pancakes, his tail unconsciously swaying as if he were about to wake up.

Qin Zhao chuckled to himself and turned to place the scallion pancakes back on the stove to keep them warm.

He decided to let it eat when it woke up.

Yesterday, to help diagnose Chen Family’s grandmother, Qin Zhao had made a special trip to see Doctor Ge. In addition to discussing her medical history, he also inquired about the sale of Wushan ginseng.

Doctor Ge worked quickly, and by yesterday morning, he had already spread the word that the Wushan ginseng was for sale. Several medical clinics in town were interested in buying it.

Although the final buyer hadn’t been decided yet, the deal was practically sealed.

This was why Qin Zhao felt confident enough to discuss renting land with Li Dali.

In reality, both Jing Li and Li Dali were overcomplicating the issue of building a house. Qin Zhao had only two reasons for doing so.

First, he no longer wanted to rely on others for shelter. Second, now that he had some money, it was natural to improve his living conditions. Why continue living in a cramped little house?

And…

If this little fish truly brought him good luck, it wouldn’t be fair to keep it in a small wooden bucket.

He needed to build a courtyard with a pond for his little fish.

Qin Zhao gently poked the little koi fish, who was now floating belly-up on the water’s surface, asleep, as he thought to himself.

The cat demon was completely focused on food. She tried planting all the seeds that Jiang Lin had given her. Within a few months, thanks to the fertile soil and abundant spiritual energy of White Tiger Ridge, even some fruits and vegetables that weren’t typically suited for summer and autumn managed to thrive. Now, White Tiger Ridge had several new types of vegetables, making the dining table more varied and the food more plentiful.

The pheasant demon was even more impressive. The houses outside the valley that Jiang Lin had seen were all built under her direction. Jiang Lin had already noticed that she had an excellent sense of aesthetics, but it turned out she also had a bit of a perfectionist streak.

The monsters had originally planned to build their own houses, but the pheasant demon noticed that White Tiger Ridge was so vast, and everyone living too far apart made it difficult to communicate and cooperate. Moreover, some of the weaker little demons preferred to have a neighbor close by.

After thinking it over and consulting with the other demons, she decided to set aside a specific area for them to build houses together. Of course, those who preferred solitude, like Qing Huan, could still choose a place they liked to live on their own.

Once that decision was made, the demons were ready to build their houses. However, the pheasant soon had another idea: houses that were neatly arranged looked better, adding some flowers and trees would make them even more beautiful, and having a small river nearby would be more convenient…

Thus, the first monster community in White Tiger Ridge was born.

After hearing all this, Jiang Lin looked at the pheasant with admiration: what a talent, living in White Tiger Ridge was practically a waste of her potential.

“Oh, right, my lord,” the cat demon remembered something else, “While you were away, many more demons came to pledge their allegiance to you.”

One of them was a powerful ox demon named Han Dong, who was also referred to as “Mad Bull” by the snake demon Qing Huan. This guy was won over purely by the cat demon’s cooking.

One day, while the cat demon was hosting a barbecue for the other demons, they suddenly heard heavy footsteps approaching. Before they knew it, the massive figure of Han Dong, wielding a giant hammer, charged over with an imposing aura.

The demons were all startled and prepared for battle, but the burly ox demon’s voice boomed like thunder: “What’s that smell? Give me some!”

The cat demon nervously handed over a freshly grilled piece of venison…

And so, apart from Jiang Lin, two of the most powerful demons in White Tiger Ridge were drawn in by the allure of good food.

Jiang Lin: “…” What an unexpected gain.

That evening, White Tiger Ridge hosted a grand banquet. The cat demon showcased all her culinary skills, preparing a feast to welcome Jiang Lin back. When Jiang Lin took a bite, he couldn’t help but marvel at the sheer talent the cat demon had for cooking. The food was so delicious that it felt like his taste buds might melt from the flavor.

He seriously said, “From now on, you’ll be in charge of the kitchen in White Tiger Ridge.”

The cat demon was overjoyed and solemnly promised, “I will not let you down, my lord.”

Jiang Lin turned to Zong Yu, who was sitting nearby, and said, “You should try this. It’s way better than what I make.”

Zong Yu picked up a slice of fish in spicy broth, ate it without showing any emotion, and then shook his head, “It’s not as good as what you make.”

Jiang Lin: “???”

He picked up a piece of fish with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. The texture was tender and smooth, with a perfect balance of spicy and savory flavors—something he could never achieve himself. Was this kid’s sense of taste broken?

He didn’t believe it. “Try it again.”

Zong Yu obediently took another bite but still shook his head stubbornly. “Yours tastes better.”

Jiang Lin suddenly felt conflicted. He thought he’d misunderstood this little tyrant. Now it seemed that Zong Yu not only had a bad temper but also had a flawed sense of taste—he couldn’t even tell the difference between good and bad food.

With this in mind, as he looked at Zong Yu’s delicate, pretty face, a surge of affection welled up in his heart.

Zong Yu, who suddenly met Jiang Lin’s affectionate gaze: “???”

Jiang Lin soon realized that Zong Yu truly didn’t like the food the cat demon made. While everyone else at the table was eating heartily, Zong Yu picked at his food, taking only a few bites before putting down his chopsticks.

Feeling concerned, Jiang Lin took Zong Yu for a walk after the meal.

He asked, “Is there something wrong with your sense of taste?”

Zong Yu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. “It’s not a problem with taste.”

Jiang Lin: “?”

Zong Yu glanced at him and explained, “I was born with a diminished ability to appreciate the flavors of food. No matter how great the chef is, the food tastes the same to me.” It didn’t really have much flavor.

Jiang Lin frowned. “Isn’t that still a taste issue?”

He asked, “Have you seen a doctor about this?”

Zong Yu nodded. “I have.”

“What did the doctor say?”

Zong Yu replied, “They said it can’t be cured.”

Jiang Lin’s eyes filled with sympathy. “That’s really tough.”

But Zong Yu suddenly looked up at him with bright, shining eyes. “But you’re different. I can taste the flavors in the food you make.”

His voice was full of excitement. “That bowl of noodles that night was the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life.”

Jiang Lin: “…”

“Sigh.” He suddenly let out a sigh.

Zong Yu was puzzled. “Why are you sighing?”

Out of nowhere, Jiang Lin said, “I’m sighing because my heart isn’t soft enough.”

Zong Yu: “?”

He was about to ask what that meant when Jiang Lin suddenly asked, “Did you get enough to eat tonight?”

Zong Yu shook his head honestly.

Jiang Lin then took him to the riverbank, caught two plump fish, and grilled them for him.

Grilling was something Jiang Lin had become quite skilled at by now.

Zong Yu ate happily, and even the little horns on his head seemed to shine brighter.

Jiang Lin rested his chin in his hand, watching lazily. “Is it good?”

Zong Yu, too busy eating to talk, just nodded.

Jiang Lin murmured, “But if you can only eat the food I make, what will you do if I’m not around?”

Zong Yu, though focused on his food, still caught that remark. He looked a bit puzzled, a piece of fish still in his mouth, and mumbled, “But we can live for a very, very long time.”

As for what to do after a long, long time, Zong Yu hadn’t thought that far ahead.

Jiang Lin clicked his tongue but didn’t explain further.

Three hundred years later…

Early morning.

A quiet valley suddenly echoed with a roar: “Zong Yu, you little brat! You’re bullying Qingluo again!”

Most of the other demons were still asleep, but the roar startled them awake. After realizing what it was about, they just twitched their ears or tails and went back to sleep.

Ah, the king and the little king, they do this every now and then.

In the valley…

Jiang Lin, freshly awake, stepped outside and immediately saw a small girl in green clothing hanging upside down from a tree. Her demonic power had been sealed, and her feet were tied by her own vines. Her small body swayed pitifully in the cold winter wind.

The moment she saw Jiang Lin, Qingluo’s eyes quickly filled with tears. “Waaah… Daddy!”

The next morning, Jiang Lin cooked another bowl of noodles. After having breakfast with Zong Yu, he started to leisurely stroll around the city.

The Surveillance Division had been secretly keeping an eye on them, and when they observed the harmonious interaction between Jiang Lin and Zong Yu, they were shocked.

“What did you say? He’s getting along well with that little tyrant?” Chen Yu was astonished.

The person reporting the situation to Chen Yu mentioned how Jiang Lin even bought Zong Yu a candied hawthorn like he was really taking care of a child while they were out in the streets. And surprisingly, the little tyrant obediently accepted it.

Chen Yu: “…”

His expression flickered between anger and resignation before he finally let out a frustrated breath: “Forget it.”

It’s just a bit of humiliation. Given how strong the other party is, being bullied by such a demon isn’t too disgraceful.

Jiang Lin was aware that the Surveillance Division had sent people to secretly follow him. But since he had no hidden agenda, openly trading with merchants for things like pepper and rice seeds, he didn’t mind.

The people from the Surveillance Division saw him buying a bit of everything and merely assumed that this great demon was inexperienced and unfamiliar with the human world, so they didn’t pay much attention to it.

Huaiyang City wasn’t large, and Jiang Lin had explored it in just a few days. He decided to move on to another place. When he informed the Surveillance Division of his plans, they were more than happy to send this mighty presence on his way.

However, what Jiang Lin didn’t expect was to discover a small tail following him outside Huaiyang City.

“Zong Yu?” Jiang Lin looked at the black-clad boy with small horns on his forehead, puzzled.

Zong Yu said, “Aren’t you going to visit other cities?”

Jiang Lin nodded.

Zong Yu, with a serious expression, said, “I’ve traveled every inch of Dazheng’s land. I think I can be your guide.”

Jiang Lin looked at him suspiciously, “You’re being this kind?”

Zong Yu didn’t hide his true intentions at all: “In exchange, you have to cook for me every day.”

He had previously found a top chef and asked him to make noodles the same way Jiang Lin did. The chef had specially prepared a bowl of chicken soup noodles with a rich broth, exquisite in both flavor and appearance.

But Zong Yu couldn’t bring himself to eat it.

He even had others try some of the other dishes Jiang Lin had made, finally confirming: He liked Jiang Lin’s cooking not because it was new or novel, but because it was made by Jiang Lin himself.

Zong Yu couldn’t understand the reasoning behind this, but it didn’t stop him from deciding to follow Jiang Lin.

However, Jiang Lin rejected him without hesitation: “No way, I’m not here just to cook.”

Zong Yu, annoyed, said, “Everyone else spoils me. Why don’t you?”

Jiang Lin retorted, “Why should I?”

Zong Yu was stunned and replied, “Because I’m very powerful.”

Jiang Lin laughed, “You just said it yourself—others spoil you because they want something from you. But I don’t need anything from you.”

Zong Yu frowned, troubled.

He suddenly recalled the previous day when Jiang Lin was pulled by a three- or four-year-old girl in front of a sweet soup stall.

The little girl, with chubby cheeks and pigtails, sucked on her finger while holding onto Jiang Lin’s robe and calling him ‘dad.’

—She had probably mistaken him for someone else.

Zong Yu thought it looked silly, but Jiang Lin had smiled happily, even bought the girl a bowl of sweet soup, and sat with her until her family came to find her.

Zong Yu thought he might have figured out something about Jiang Lin’s preferences.

With this in mind, he pondered seriously for a moment, then suddenly reached out and grabbed a corner of Jiang Lin’s robe.

Jiang Lin: ?

He looked down in surprise. The black-clad boy tilted his head up, looking at him with big, pleading eyes: “…Brother Jiang Lin.”

Jiang Lin: ???

He stared at Zong Yu, expressionless.

Zong Yu looked up at Jiang Lin for a few moments, expecting a different reaction. When he realized that Jiang Lin’s response wasn’t what he anticipated, he let go of Jiang Lin’s clothes and frowned in confusion, “Don’t you usually like this kind of thing?”

In truth, Jiang Lin was briefly charmed. Despite Zong Yu’s quirky personality, his appearance was undeniably adorable, like a little jade statue. Having such a cute child call him “big brother” made Jiang Lin feel that not being moved would be inhuman.

But he was also very clear-minded. He knew that Zong Yu, this little devil, wasn’t genuinely like this; he was only acting this way to achieve a certain goal and make Jiang Lin give in.

With a stern face, Jiang Lin replied, “Others are genuinely cute; you’re just trying to act cute. It’s not the same.”

Zong Yu didn’t quite understand what it meant to “act cute.” Feeling a bit dejected, he asked, “Then what do I need to do for you to take me along?”

His expression grew somber, and his eyes lowered, casting long, feather-like eyelashes over his pale face, creating a small shadow.

Jiang Lin sighed, “Fine, let’s go.”

Zong Yu, surprised, asked, “Huh?”

He quickly raised his head, only to see Jiang Lin’s back as he walked ahead.

Joy surged in his heart as he hurried to catch up. “Jiang Lin?”

Jiang Lin replied, “…Call me brother.”

Zong Yu hesitated, but Jiang Lin had already spoken again, “No food if you don’t call me that.”

Zong Yu quickly said, “Brother Jiang Lin!”

By the time Jiang Lin returned to White Tiger Ridge, it was already late autumn. Although he initially planned to stay away for only a month, he ended up visiting dozens of cities with Zong Yu, who acted as his little guide. They experienced the local customs and bought a lot of things.

Zong Yu noticed that Jiang Lin was always buying things, yet he never seemed to carry any baggage, and he never asked about it either.

Jiang Lin also realized that while Zong Yu seemed difficult and temperamental, he was actually straightforward and had no hidden agendas. Jiang Lin suspected that Zong Yu had figured out he had some kind of spatial artifact, but Zong Yu never showed any greed.

Moreover, Zong Yu’s bad temper was largely due to his inability to find satisfying food. Since traveling with Jiang Lin, although Jiang Lin couldn’t cook for him three times a day, he didn’t mind cooking to satisfy their cravings whenever they had some free time.

With access to delicious food every few days, Zong Yu’s temper had improved considerably. Originally a beautiful little child, without his previous bad temper, he became even more likable.

So, when Zong Yu proposed to visit White Tiger Ridge with him, Jiang Lin didn’t refuse.

Before leaving, Jiang Lin gave the pheasant and cat demons seeds and taught them a few more recipes. The demons had also learned how to build houses, so Jiang Lin knew that White Tiger Ridge might not be the same as it was before he left.

But thinking about it was one thing, and seeing it was another. When Jiang Lin returned to White Tiger Ridge, he was still taken aback.

From a distance, he could see that many small houses had been built outside the valley where his courtyard was located. The houses had different styles but were all neatly separated by flowering plants, arranged in an orderly fashion. A small river had even been dug, with a row of evergreen trees growing on both banks.

It looked like a cluster of modern villas.

He had only been gone for a few months—had some architectural master arrived at White Tiger Ridge?

Zong Yu was also stunned. “Brother Jiang Lin, your White Tiger Ridge is nothing like the other demon territories I’ve seen.”

Zong Yu had encountered many demons before, some newly emerged from the forests and others who had lived among humans for a long time. It was easy to tell the difference between the two.

Having interacted with them, Zong Yu had a fixed impression of the places where demons and monsters gathered: primitive, closed off, and beastly, without any signs of civilization.

But this White Tiger Ridge was completely different from what he had expected. If he hadn’t known beforehand that it was a place where demons lived, he might have thought it was a noble’s vacation estate.

No, a human estate could never have such rich spiritual energy—places where groups of demons were born were often blessed lands, far superior to ordinary regions.

As they talked, they got closer and heard the voices of children.

Jiang Lin looked over and saw that there were many swings hanging from the trees near the houses, with some unshaped little demons playing on them.

Finally, some of the demons noticed Jiang Lin’s arrival.

Immediately, several flashes of light darted over, with the cat leading the way.

The slender girl’s eyes sparkled. “My lord, you’re finally back!”

The pheasant was also there, more reserved in her demeanor, but her expression showed excitement.

Other demons also came over to greet Jiang Lin. Most of them weren’t very familiar with him and were a bit reserved and awed in his presence.

Suddenly, Zong Yu, who had been silent, stepped forward.

He had been hiding behind a tree, observing these White Tiger Ridge demons. Now, as he stepped out, his aura burst forth without restraint.

The demons of White Tiger Ridge immediately felt a terrifying pressure emanating from this great demon and retreated several steps, looking at him in fear.

Seeing this, Zong Yu felt satisfied. This was the normal reaction—other demons used to react to him the same way.

Only Jiang Lin, this weirdo, seemed completely unaffected by his bloodline’s suppression.

Zong Yu was feeling proud when, out of nowhere, his head was lightly tapped. “You’re getting bold, bullying little demons?”

Zong Yu covered his head, glaring at Jiang Lin.

Jiang Lin casually said, “What did you promise when you asked to come to White Tiger Ridge?”

Zong Yu thought back: to be obedient, not to cause trouble, not to bully the little demons, and to help out when necessary.

He suddenly doubted himself—why had he agreed to such unreasonable conditions?

But he was a demon who kept his word, so since he had agreed, he had to follow through.

Reluctantly, Zong Yu withdrew his pressure and obediently stood to the side.

With Zong Yu dealt with, Jiang Lin turned back to see the adoring eyes of the demons.

They didn’t care about the deal between Jiang Lin and Zong Yu. They only saw that with one word from their lord, the terrifying demon had obediently complied.

What did this mean?

It meant their lord was even more powerful than that great demon!

In the world of demons, power commanded respect.

Jiang Lin didn’t even realize that Zong Yu’s first visit to White Tiger Ridge had solidified his status among the demons.

Jiang Lin dismissed the other demons to go about their business, keeping the raccoon and the pheasant to inquire about some things.

As he listened to their explanations, Jiang Lin marveled at how White Tiger Ridge was truly filled with talented individuals.

The next morning, Qin Zhao set out for the Chen family as promised.

Jing Li, for the first time ever, didn’t go with him.

Actually, Qin Zhao was willing to take him along. The little fish wasn’t heavy, and since this time he only needed to go from the west side of the village to the east, carrying Jing Li in the basket wouldn’t be much trouble.

But Jing Li was adamant about staying behind.

He still didn’t understand why he had suddenly turned into a human the previous day. If it happened again in front of others, he was sure they’d think he was a monster and kill him.

Moreover, everything had happened so quickly yesterday that he didn’t even have a chance to see what he looked like. A person with scales couldn’t be that attractive.

He didn’t want Qin Zhao to see him in that form.

“Last chance,” Qin Zhao said softly from the door, “Are you sure you don’t want to go?”

The little koi fish lay at the edge of the wooden bucket, his clear red eyes filled with hesitation. They stared at each other for a long time before Jing Li firmly shook his tail.

No.

He was a fish with principles. If he said no, then no it was.

Qin Zhao had no choice and gently said, “Alright, then stay here and be good. I’ll be back soon.”

With that, he locked the door and left.

Jing Li stared at the closed door, suddenly feeling a bit down.

If only he could turn into a normal human.

He really wanted to go with Qin Zhao.

Qin Zhao was gone for almost the entire morning. Jing Li waited and waited, even dozing off a few times, but Qin Zhao still hadn’t returned.

He had been quite confident in Qin Zhao’s medical skills.

This man brewed all his medicinal soups himself, carefully selecting and preparing the herbs. He clearly had a deep understanding of medicine.

But the elderly woman Qin Zhao had gone to treat wasn’t suffering from an ordinary illness.

The Chen family had consulted numerous doctors, all of whom were helpless. Could Qin Zhao really succeed?

If he couldn’t, he’d be driven out of the village.

The more Jing Li thought about it, the more anxious he became. He gave a small flick of his tail on the water’s surface and leapt out of the bucket.

The little koi landed on the ground, shook off the water from his tail, and prepared to sneak through the village’s drainage channel to the east side, just as he had done before.

He just wanted to quietly take a look, to make sure Qin Zhao was okay, and then he’d come back.

Surely, he wouldn’t be noticed.

The door had been locked from the outside by Qin Zhao, but Jing Li’s body was small enough to slip through the tiny gap at the bottom. He slowly inched forward and had just reached the door.

“Meow—”

!!!

Wh-what was that sound?

The little koi was so frightened that his dorsal fins stood up straight. He lay flat on the ground, staring unblinkingly at the gap under the door.

Suddenly, a fluffy white cat’s paw stretched through the gap.

“Meow!”

Ahhhh—!

Jing Li jumped up from where he was and quickly retreated until he dove into the wooden bucket on the table.

He cautiously poked his head out to look outside. The cat’s paw was still scratching at the door. The cat’s fur wasn’t very long, with white at the front of the paw and orange at the back, like it was wearing a white glove.

It was the same cat that tried to eat him last time!

The cat’s paw scratched at the old wooden door, making a sharp sound that sent shivers down Jing Li’s spine.

No need to worry.

Qin Zhao had locked the door today; it couldn’t get in.

There’s no way he could be this unlucky—

Just as Jing Li was thinking this, he heard a loud crack. The old, decaying wooden door had been clawed open by the cat, leaving a small hole. The cat’s round eyes scanned the room for a moment, and its sharp gaze locked onto Jing Li.

Then, the orange cat nudged aside the splintered wood with its head and squeezed through the hole, which was much smaller than its body.

Ahhh—!

As the orange cat leaped onto the table, Jing Li sprang into action. He used his tail to deliver a powerful slap, flipping the entire wooden bucket onto the cat’s head.

The orange cat was instantly soaked, and its movements slowed down.

Jing Li dropped to the floor and desperately flopped toward the door.

He quickly squeezed through the small hole the cat had clawed out, and with a splash, he jumped into the drainage ditch not far from the door.

Meanwhile, at the Chen residence in the east of the village:

The Chen family estate was one of the wealthiest in the nearby villages. The front yard was filled with piles of rice and vegetables, and there were some flowers and plants growing as well. From the front hall, three small courtyards branched off, with a total of six or seven rooms.

Inside the main house, Qin Zhao carefully removed the silver needles from the old woman’s acupuncture points.

The elderly woman, leaning against the headboard, frowned deeply and suddenly coughed up a mouthful of black blood before slumping over in a faint.

The entire Chen family, who had been waiting in the outer room, rushed in upon hearing the commotion.

“Mother!”

“She—she’s not moving!”

“What did you do? What’s going on here?”

The room was in chaos, but Qin Zhao calmly wiped the silver needles with a soft cloth and placed them back in his bag.

Qin Zhao spoke evenly, “Don’t worry. The reason Old Madam Chen has been bedridden is due to qi stagnation and blood stasis. Daily acupuncture to expel the stasis, combined with blood-activating and stasis-dissolving decoctions, will soon have her on the mend.”

“Blood-activating and stasis-dissolving?” A voice from the back of the crowd spoke up, “We’ve been giving her blood-activating and stasis-dissolving medicines for months now, and they haven’t helped at all.”

The speaker was the Chen family’s third son, a tall, slender man with dark skin.

“That’s because the medicine lacked a crucial ingredient.” Qin Zhao took out a packet of herbs from his backpack and handed it to Chen Yanan. “This is Wushan ginseng. Add this to the decoction and administer it twice daily. I’ve written the recipe inside.”

“Give her the decoction morning and night. You should see results in three days.”

Chen Yanan replied, “Alright, I understand.”

“Do you really believe him?” Chen Laosan said, “Wushan ginseng is an extremely rare herb. How could he possibly have it?”

Chen Yanan hesitated.

Chen Laosan continued, “Wushan ginseng isn’t just any herb. One plant is worth several years of rent. If he really had it, wouldn’t he just sell it for money? Why bring it to our family?”

Qin Zhao’s eyes gleamed slightly, and he even smiled a little. “So, you’re saying you’re aware that Wushan ginseng is particularly effective for Old Madam Chen’s condition?”

Chen Laosan’s expression changed.

“I found it strange before,” Qin Zhao said calmly. “Although a stroke is difficult to treat, it’s impossible that after months of seeking medical advice, no one could find a solution. That’s why I specifically went to see Doctor Ge yesterday to confirm that Old Madam Chen’s illness was due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, and that Wushan ginseng could be used in the treatment.”

He looked up at Chen Laosan and added, “And he told me that he had already informed the Chen family about this prescription.”

Chen Dasao picked up on something in his words and turned to Chen Laosan. “Laosan, you were the one who found the doctors before. Did they mention this prescription?”

“They… they did,” Chen Laosan’s face turned pale.

Chen Dasao pressed, “Then why didn’t you—”

“How could I mention it!” Chen Laosan snapped, “Dasao, do you want me to waste Wushan ginseng on this old hag? Do you know how much that medicine costs? Why don’t you spend that money instead?”

The room fell into dead silence. Everyone exchanged glances, but no one spoke.

Qin Zhao, uninterested in meddling in other people’s family affairs, quietly finished packing his things and stood up. “I’ll take my leave now. I’ll return tomorrow morning to continue the acupuncture treatment for the old lady.”

With that, he turned and walked toward the courtyard gate.

Just as he reached the gate, Chen Dasao called out, “Wait a moment!”

Qin Zhao stopped in his tracks.

Chen Dasao asked, “After everything I did to you, why would you still give us such a precious herb?”

“Don’t misunderstand,” Qin Zhao replied calmly. “It’s just to repay a life-saving debt.”

Moreover, he had just recently harvested the Wushan ginseng, and today it happened to be exactly what could save Old Madam Chen.

This wasn’t just a coincidence; it was fate.

Qin Zhao continued, “Once the old lady recovers, I’ll come by to settle the debt, and I’ll return the house as agreed.”

“You…”

Chen Dasao looked at the young man before her. His face was pale, and his expression calm, as if he was always in control, effortlessly commanding respect and trust with every gesture.

He reminded her of the high officials and wealthy merchants she had seen from afar in the town, but even they didn’t compare to the man standing before her.

At that moment, an unexpected sound came from beside them.

A bright red koi fish leapt out of the drainage ditch and, without caring that it was dripping wet, jumped straight into Qin Zhao’s arms.

“You…”

Qin Zhao was momentarily stunned, but the little fish, unsatisfied with just being in his hands, wriggled its way into his collar, leaving only a soft fish tail visible, trembling slightly.

Chen Dasao was perplexed. “Where did this fish come from?”

The composed young man seemed to vanish instantly. He carefully cradled the koi fish, speaking to it in a gentle, soothing tone. “What’s wrong?”

Chen Dasao was completely bewildered. “???”

Is he talking to the fish?

Jing Li, who had wriggled into Qin Zhao’s clothes, didn’t hear a word of what Qin Zhao was saying. He burrowed deeper into Qin Zhao’s clothing, creating a small bulge in his robes, with his exposed tail still trembling uncontrollably.

Qin Zhao looked up and saw a cat jumping at his feet, letting out a soft “meow.”

The fish in his arms trembled even more violently.

Qin Zhao sighed and said to the orange cat, “Go away, you’re scaring it.”

The orange cat looked up, its round eyes quietly gazing at Qin Zhao.

Jing Li, not hearing any sounds from outside for a while, assumed that Qin Zhao had already shooed the cat away and began to relax. He shifted inside Qin Zhao’s clothes, poking his head out from the edge of the collar to peek outside.

To his surprise, the orange cat was sitting right at Qin Zhao’s feet, its furry head nuzzling against his leg affectionately.

Jing Li: “…”

Jing Li: “???”

This cat, how shameless! That spot belongs to him!

Jing Li’s tail flicked as he prepared to leap out and confront the cat, but Qin Zhao caught him just in time.

“Don’t move.” Qin Zhao cradled him in his palm and turned to ask Mrs. Chen, “Could I trouble you to lend me a wooden bucket?”

Mrs. Chen had been watching the scene in a daze and took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Of course, of course.”

She was about to go fetch one when she paused, considering something. “Actually, I have a fish basket that can hold water. It’s lighter to carry than a bucket. Would you prefer that?”

A moment later, Qin Zhao was walking along the village path with a fish basket.

The basket was smaller than the wooden bucket he had previously used to carry Jing Li, but it was more than spacious enough for the little koi. The basket was double-layered with bamboo weaving, and the inside was coated with a layer of waterproof wax. It had originally been used by Old Master Chen for fishing.

The little koi lay at the bottom of the basket, motionless.

“What are you sulking about now?” Qin Zhao, having spent so much time with him, could easily read the fish’s moods and asked with some helplessness.

Strangely enough, though it was just a fish, it seemed to have rich emotions, understanding human speech and even throwing little tantrums.

It was almost as if… it were human.

Qin Zhao suddenly recalled the figure he had glimpsed yesterday, and his steps faltered briefly.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

Even though he had read many Buddhist scriptures, he didn’t actually believe in those supernatural tales. Even if this fish did have some spirit, it was still just a fish.

No need to overthink it.

Jing Li himself didn’t quite know why he was upset.

He knew that some humans naturally attracted animals, and when he was human, cats often approached him, licking him whenever he walked by.

But he had always been inexplicably afraid of cats, avoiding them whenever he saw one.

Clearly, Qin Zhao also had that kind of affinity for pets.

But still… it made him angry.

And what made him even angrier was that Qin Zhao, knowing he was upset, wasn’t trying to comfort him.

That made him even more furious.

If Qin Zhao didn’t properly console him before they got home, he’d run away tonight!

But as it turned out, Qin Zhao didn’t say another word to him the entire way. Jing Li peeked out, noticing that they were almost at the doorstep.

A strange anxiety crept over him. Just as they reached the final turn, Qin Zhao took a different path, heading in another direction.

Isn’t that… the way to Li Dali’s house?

Qin Zhao walked up to the gate of Li Dali’s yard and knocked. Li Dali, who was in the yard chopping wood, looked up.

Seeing Qin Zhao, he greeted him, “Qin Zhao, what brings you here?”

Qin Zhao replied, “I wanted to ask if those two acres of idle land you have are still available for rent?”