Evil Spirit - chapter 20

Chapter 20

It was midday, and the streets of Qingyang were bustling with traffic and noise.

A young gentleman in white stepped out from the Teahouse by the street. His demeanor was gentle, like clouds drifting lazily, even seeming to slow down the busy air of Qingyang.

Passersby frequently stopped to look back, gazing at him, and at the spot of crimson among his snow-white robes.

Li Jiaojiao also looked, her eyes fixed longingly on the candy pouch swaying lightly at his waist.

Her candy pouch…!

Duan Qinglian seemed to be in a good mood, even taking the initiative to eat a piece of candy, the round sweet bulging his right cheek into a small mound.

At first glance, he actually looked a bit… cute?

The sudden emergence of this strange thought startled Li Jiaojiao. How could she find a pervert cute?

Shaking her head to dispel the odd notion, Li Jiaojiao decided to take this chance to sound him out.

“Ah Qing, was the Earthbound Spirit in Guilin Town last time powerful?”

“Very boring.”

These three words came out almost instantly.

She silently looked up at Duan Qinglian, who still wore an air of leisure.

Well, for Duan Qinglian, whether killing people or slaying demons, it was only a matter of whether it was interesting or not-never about difficulty.

“What about the Fox Demon? Are you interested?”

Duan Qinglian paused in his steps. “You want me to help Shen Yunlan?”

He saw right through her.

Li Jiaojiao sighed inwardly. This man was just too perceptive…

“So, are you willing to help?”

Having her little scheme exposed, she instead became more forthright.

Duan Qinglian was silent. He leaned down, his loose black hair falling to surround Li Jiaojiao.

“Then show me a happy expression, like when you see Shen Yunlan.”

He spoke softly, his breath warm and sweetly fragrant.

The words were cryptic, and Li Jiaojiao was a bit confused, but she still forced a smile.

“Not quite.”

…

After a pause, Li Jiaojiao curved her lips into a bigger smile.

“Does this look like it?”

…

“How about this?”

She simply pressed her fingers to the corners of her mouth, pulling them hard toward her ears.

With a snort, Duan Qinglian laughed. “Mm, you look like the Little Yellow Dog at the inn.”

“…”

The black hair fell away from her cheeks, and sunlight shone on Li Jiaojiao’s face again, warm and gentle.

“There’s still some time before we head back. If you can smile like that, I’ll help you kill the Fox Demon.”

*

The next day.

Prefectural Mansion.

Li Jiaojiao rubbed her sore cheeks as she stood with Shen Yunlan and the others in front of the Prefectural Mansion’s gate.

She wasn’t sure if Duan Qinglian had done it on purpose, but yesterday he had dawdled all afternoon on the road, and she had spent the whole time grinning at him like a fool. Now, she felt as if the corners of her mouth had split all the way to her ears.

She probably wouldn’t want to smile again for at least three to five days…

But the result was good-Duan Qinglian had agreed to help.

Before they could knock, the vermillion-painted doors slowly opened, and the mansion’s steward welcomed them inside.

The Prefectural Mansion truly lived up to its name.

Pavilions and Waterside Pavilions, green shadows swaying on branches, stone bridges connecting to winding paths over the water, and red-and-black koi swimming in the pond-all of it dazzled Li Jiaojiao.

“What’s so interesting about this? Doesn’t the Junwang Mansion have all this?”

Beside her, Fang Zhiyi wore a dark face, his injured right hand still in a cast slung across his chest. He was probably still angry about being dragged out of bed that morning; he had wanted to feign illness for a few more days to get more attention from his beloved.

“Mind your own business.” Li Jiaojiao stuck out her tongue and made a face.

After leading them into the courtyard, the steward withdrew.

Everyone in the Prefectural Mansion knew Shen Yunlan and Fang Zhiyi were here to catch the Fox Demon-they’d come more than once-so there was no need for formalities.

The pear trees in the Prefectural Mansion’s courtyard were even more numerous and lush than those at the inn, petals carpeting the ground while the branches remained thick with snowy blossoms.
But Shen Yunlan had no mind to admire the flowers. “Duan-Duan Gongzi, is there anything I need to prepare?”

It was clear that Shen Yunlan was trying hard to control her tone, though it still sounded rather stiff.

“No need.”

Duan Qinglian raised his hand to shield the morning light filtering through the pear tree branches, looking absent-minded.

“The Fox Demon is difficult to track and appears without a sound. Should I leave the Demon Detection Bell…”

“No need, wait until nightfall.”

Before she could finish, she was refused again. Shen Yunlan silently put the Golden Thread Bell, which she had half removed from her wrist, back on.

Always a demon hunter, she already felt embarrassed enough having to ask Duan Qinglian for help. Now, her face grew even more awkward.

Li Jiaojiao, of course, noticed this. She quietly took Shen Yunlan’s arm. “It’s alright, Yunlan Sister. There’s still a long time until nightfall. The Prefectural Mansion’s courtyard is so big-why don’t we go for a walk?”

Shen Yunlan turned her head and saw the girl half a head shorter than herself, affectionately holding her arm, her face bright and cheerful.

Li Jiaojiao pulled Shen Yunlan out of the courtyard, turned a corner, and came to the corridor.

Strangely, Shen Yunlan actually followed her out without saying a word.

Li Jiaojiao looked up at Shen Yunlan; her face still didn’t look too good.

She let go of her hand, tugged at her skirt, and began to organize her words.

She knew Duan Qinglian’s way of speaking could get under one’s skin. Not to mention someone as thin-skinned as Shen Yunlan-even she herself sometimes wanted to give Duan Qinglian a headbutt or two.

“Yunlan Sister, actually, um, Ah Qing, he…”

“Young Princess, thank you.”

“Uh… huh?” Li Jiaojiao blinked in confusion. “I haven’t finished yet…”

“I know, thank you.” Shen Yunlan repeated, just a few simple words, but very sincere.

Her tone was different from usual-still polite, but less distant.

Li Jiaojiao felt as if the barrier between her and Shen Yunlan had thinned a little.

So she asked tentatively, “Then, will Yunlan Sister use my handkerchief in the future?”

Hearing this, Shen Yunlan was stunned for a moment.

Thinking back to yesterday, when the young Princess had so carefully handed her the handkerchief, she suddenly regretted being so cold.

Reserved and introverted, she rarely communicated much with others. Even her own younger sister had never been this close to her. She didn’t know how to express her feelings, so she just gave a light “Mm.”

But that simple sound was enough to make Li Jiaojiao happy.

Shen Yunlan couldn’t help but smile as well. She removed the Golden Thread Bell from her wrist and handed it over. “This is the Demon Detection Bell. Wear it. If the Fox Demon appears tonight, it will give you a warning.”

Li Jiaojiao had seen this bell before on the lake in the Capital; it had chimed crisply when the Living Dead appeared.

It was her first time coming so close to a Yin-Yang Master’s talisman, and Li Jiaojiao was quite interested, happily taking it and examining it from all sides. “Yunlan Sister, aren’t you going to use it?”

Shen Yunlan shook her head. “When I was young, my Yin-Yang techniques weren’t fully developed, so I had to rely on talismans. Now, it doesn’t serve much purpose for me.”

Hearing this, Li Jiaojiao was reassured and accepted it. “Then I’ll borrow it for one night and return it to you tomorrow.”

Shen Yunlan smiled, “Mm, be careful. I’ll go check on Third Miss first.”

Li Jiaojiao nodded. She knew Shen Yunlan was never one to relax and enjoy leisure, so she didn’t stop her.

After Shen Yunlan left, only Li Jiaojiao remained in the corridor. She played with the Demon Detection Bell for a while but soon grew bored again.

She sat by the corridor, propping her chin with one hand, shaking the bell with the other, and looked out toward the courtyard.

Outside the corridor was a lake. A Waterside Pavilion had been built on the lake, and from its platform, faint sounds of laughter and conversation could be heard.

Li Jiaojiao’s eyes suddenly lit up. Lifting her skirt, she ran tip-tap toward the Waterside Pavilion.