Evil Spirit - chapter 18

Chapter 18

Duan Qinglian had vanished again. After only two days in Qingyang, Li Jiaojiao had already searched for him three times.

She simply decided to give up-let him go wherever he wanted.

After chatting idly with Fang Zhiyi for a while, Shen Yunlan hurried back carrying a bundle of medicine.

Just moments ago, Fang Zhiyi had been animatedly recounting his heroic exploits capturing thieves in the Capital, but now he immediately collapsed onto the bed like a corpse.

Li Jiaojiao: “…”

“Has Fang Siwei not woken up yet?” Shen Yunlan glanced at Fang Zhiyi lying on the bed, her eyes full of exhaustion.

“Not… not yet,” Li Jiaojiao replied dryly, Shen Yunlan’s haggard face striking a pang of guilt in her heart.

“Alright, I’ll go downstairs to decoct the medicine first.” Shen Yunlan nodded and turned to leave the guest room.

After a pause, Li Jiaojiao followed her out.

“Yunlan Sister, let me help you!”

–

She said she’d help, but Li Jiaojiao only watched from the side. Compared to her own clumsy hands, Shen Yunlan’s movements were deft and efficient-lighting the stove, setting up the medicine pot, adding water and herbs-Li Jiaojiao couldn’t get a word in edgewise.

Luckily, she was quick-eyed and managed to snatch up the palm fan at the last moment, crouching by the stove to gently fan the flames.

The firewood, split into thin sticks, slowly began to burn under Li Jiaojiao’s efforts, crackling and popping.

It had been nearly half a year since Li Jiaojiao arrived here, living in the Junwang Mansion with everything provided for her, spending her leisure time playing with dogs and enjoying herself. She’d never done chores like tending a fire or boiling medicine. Now, she found a strange sense of novelty in fanning the flames, her hand waving the fan with even more enthusiasm.

“Young Princess.”

“Ah?” Li Jiaojiao paused and turned to Shen Yunlan, surprised that someone usually so aloof would take the initiative to speak to her.

The firelight danced in the stove, casting a warm glow on Shen Yunlan’s usually cold and sharp features, making her seem a bit more approachable.

“Could you persuade Duan Qinglian to help me capture the Fox Demon?”

“Ah?”

The second “ah” was noticeably higher in pitch-Li Jiaojiao truly hadn’t expected Shen Yunlan, with her proud and solitary nature, to come asking her for help, and especially to ask her to get Duan Qinglian involved.

Seeing Li Jiaojiao gaping in shock, Shen Yunlan sighed softly and spoke slowly.

“Actually, the third young lady of the Prefectural Mansion isn’t just bewitched by the Fox Demon-her vital essence has nearly been drained, and she’s only hanging on by a thread.”

“Moreover, I’ve discovered that the Saprophytic Flower has already sprouted inside her.”

“What?!”

This news was even more surprising than Shen Yunlan’s request.

In the original story, the events in Qingyang only took up a chapter or two. In that plot, Duan Qinglian had already developed feelings for Shen Yunlan, and with his help, she easily killed the Fox Demon. There was never any mention of the third young lady of the Prefectural Mansion being fed a Saprophytic Flower seed.

So was it because she’d led Duan Qinglian away that all these events had been triggered?

“That Fox Demon, though a rare seven-tailed type, isn’t very powerful. Normally, I could handle it alone. But I’ve discovered someone seems to be helping it from the shadows.”

Li Jiaojiao’s hand slowed as she fanned the flames. “Do you know who it is?”

“Young Princess, when we were in Guilin Town, you told me about their strange funeral customs. It’s not surprising that Earthbound Spirits would arise there, but I’ve never heard of an Earthbound Spirit turning into a demon.”

Shen Yunlan paused. “The black-clad person you saw that night might be the true culprit.”

“Yunlan Sister, you mean…”

“Yes. When I was pursuing the Fox Demon, both times those black-clad people interfered. Ever since the Capital, wherever they appear, there’s always Saprophytic Flower.”

Now, the fun of tending the fire was completely gone. The palm fan she’d been so fond of was set aside, and Li Jiaojiao tugged at the ribbon in her hair, saying, “I can try to ask Ah Qing for help, but I don’t know if he’ll agree.”

She remembered in Guilin Town, she’d braved the plot alone. If the System hadn’t shown mercy, she’d probably have ended up tormented by Duan Qinglian, lying among those corpses wrapped in straw mats.

*

Finding Duan Qinglian was something Li Jiaojiao couldn’t avoid. Two days, four attempts-just enough for an even number.

Guest room-not there.

Teahouse-not there.

Stork Tower-not there.

Where could he have gone?

Under the blazing sun, Li Jiaojiao stood with her hands on her hips, fanning her cheek with the other hand. She was truly running out of places to search.
Coincidentally, there was a Teahouse behind her, and Li Jiaojiao turned around and went in.

There weren’t many people inside, but one table was particularly lively. Two or three young women surrounded a square yellow wooden table, and through the gaps between them, a glimpse of a white garment could be seen.

Li Jiaojiao couldn’t help but frown.

“Young master, you don’t look like a local from Qingyang. Where are you from?”

“Luo River.”

“Luo River? Isn’t that where a terrifying Evil Spirit is sealed? There’s hardly a soul for a hundred miles around-it’s so desolate. Where do you live in Luo River, young master?”

“Probably below ten feet. I don’t really know how deep the Luo River is.”

“Hehe… Young master, you do know how to joke.”

…

There was no mistaking it-it was Duan Qinglian.

“Don’t say such nonsense,” another young woman gently nudged the one who had just spoken, then said, “Young master, it’s spring, the best season for boating on the lake. My pleasure boat is not far from here. Would you like to join us?”

Brave girl…

Li Jiaojiao wondered if this young lady would still have the courage to say such a thing if she had seen Shen Yunshu boating on the lake with Duan Qinglian.

“You’re so sneaky! Didn’t you say you were here to help me?”

“So what? Why should you be the only one allowed to like this young master?”

With just a few words, the three young women were quarreling. Duan Qinglian, just by sitting there, already attracted many glances, and now, all the tea-drinking patrons turned to watch the commotion.

From where Li Jiaojiao stood, she couldn’t see Duan Qinglian’s expression clearly. She only saw his slightly pale fingertips tapping the table, producing a soft, rhythmic thumping that seemed completely out of place with the current noisy scene.

“You say you like me, is that so?”

The tapping stopped.

The three young women paused, then nodded in unison.

“I see.” Duan Qinglian tilted his head slightly, his ink-black hair falling to cover the side of his face, revealing a straight nose bridge. “Then, have you all met a profound Daoist before?”

“Uh?…”

“No? Then do you like sweets? The kind that’s so sweet it’s almost cloying.”

Li Jiaojiao’s face instantly darkened. What did he mean by ‘so sweet it’s almost cloying’?

“Young master, eating too many sweets makes you gain weight. We don’t really like them.”

The tapping rhythm resumed quietly, but this time it seemed tinged with a hint of irritation.

“Can any of you climb trees?”

“No…”

The young women’s expressions gradually turned puzzled. They looked at each other, wondering if all handsome young masters had such peculiar tastes.

To prevent things from getting any stranger, Li Jiaojiao hurried over.

“What are you doing here?”

Duan Qinglian glanced at the girl who sat down beside him. The sweet, candy-like fragrance on her instantly soothed some of the irritation that had flared in his heart.

“They said they like me.”

Li Jiaojiao’s brow twitched. Of course, she knew he was attracting admirers again.

She felt it was necessary to explain the true meaning of love to Duan Qinglian, or else he would continue to treat others’ feelings as playthings beneath his feet.

Ignoring the burning gazes of the three young women, she asked, “Then do you like them?”

Li Jiaojiao’s question took Duan Qinglian by surprise; even his ethereal pupils widened a little. “Have you forgotten? I have no heart. How could I like anyone?”

“Then why do you tease them if you don’t like them? You should put yourself in their shoes. If someone toyed with your feelings, wouldn’t you be upset?”

“If someone could truly toy with me, that would be her skill. Why should I be upset?”

Please, put some feeling into it! Thank you!

Li Jiaojiao pressed her forehead, feeling a headache. Did he not realize how harsh his words sounded?

“That’s not what liking someone is…”

“Then what is it?” Duan Qinglian asked sincerely, like a student seeking answers from a teacher.

Li Jiaojiao thought for a moment, organizing all the passionate lines she had ever read.

“I can’t really put into words what liking someone feels like, but it’s sincere, passionate, and unique.”

Duan Qinglian nodded thoughtfully, his lowered lashes casting a faint shadow beneath his eyes. After a moment’s contemplation, he said, “I understand.”

Li Jiaojiao was pleasantly surprised. She had barely said anything, and Duan Qinglian already understood. Was this what they called a teachable child?