Chapter 139 "He's right here, inside my belly, you..."

"Are you tired? Do you want to stop and rest for a while?"

The questioning voice from ahead pulled Lu Yuanyuan's attention back to reality from her previous conversation with Xiao Ruo.

She paused, looked up, and met a pair of eyes that reflected the color of clouds.

They walked along a sloping mountain path, dappled sunlight dancing on the tips of the grass and trees. Duan Lansheng stopped a little ahead of her, turned around, and looked at her. Today he was wearing a simple, light-colored robe, clearly an old garment, his hair tied back with a ribbon, his black hair cascading like a waterfall, his lips red and teeth white, and he was carrying a wicker basket on his back.

If you ignore the magnificent flame pattern between his eyebrows, he looks no different from a scholar who lives in seclusion in the mountains.

However, the basket on his back did not contain writing implements or mountain herbs, but rather a rather heavy little fox.

Perhaps it was the occasional chirping of birds from the mountain that made me feel relaxed, and the swaying of the wicker basket had a strong hypnotic effect. Before I knew it, a rhythmic little snore was coming from the basket.

The little fox was fast asleep, lying on its back with its pink belly facing upwards. Its nine fluffy tails were spread out, like a fluffy flower bursting open, one covering its belly and the other blocking the light from its eyes.

Lu Yuanyuan raised her sleeve, wiped the sweat from her chin, and shook her head: "I'm not tired, let's keep going."

A few hours ago, she had just finished exchanging information with Xiao Ruo. A few hours later, she and Duan Lansheng were already on their way to Mangshan.

Mangshan is located in the far suburbs of Xuanzhao City, a place rarely visited by people. Its terrain is steep and primitive, like two giant axes standing on the earth, with ancient trees reaching the sky and lush vegetation.

Ordinary people who arrive at the foot of the mountain will likely only be able to sigh in despair. For cultivators, climbing the mountain is not a problem; they can simply fly up on their swords. However, Duan Lansheng said that since she would be staying in Mangshan for the next two months, it would be better to familiarize herself with the environment on foot.

The deal was proposed by Duan Lansheng, and Mangshan was also his territory. Lu Yuanyuan had a "go with the flow" mentality, so she naturally had no objections, treating it as a hike to stretch her muscles.

Mangshan has beautiful scenery, and perhaps because the mountain is shrouded in the aura of the nine-tailed fox, monsters within a hundred miles avoid its sharp edge. Along the way, apart from ordinary birds, squirrels and other small animals, there are hardly any living creatures to be seen.

With nothing to be wary of, Lu Yuanyuan was able to climb the mountain while pondering what Xiao Ruo had told her.

She died once in this world and was reborn once. It sounds like a long time, but in reality, she had no memories of the modern world in her first life.

It has only been a little over ten years since she regained her memory.

In other words, in her perception, only a short ten years separated her from the civilized world where she was born and raised.

Does she want to go back?

think.

She had no choice before, so she never even dared to hope for anything, fearing disappointment. Now, the opportunity was right in front of her, like a spark popping out of burnt-out, cold ashes, and of course she wanted to seize it.

She never belonged to this strange world; she was just a passerby who had wandered in by mistake.

However, their meeting today was far too brief. Xiao Ruo only revealed the secrets of the Ghost Emperor's right eye. She didn't have time to ask about many details. For example, what would happen to her body in the cultivation world after returning to the modern world—would it die or disappear?

Furthermore, figuring out what reason to use to get Duan Lansheng to take her to see the Ghost Emperor is also a problem.

On Jin'ao Island, she was a civil official, handling duties such as envoyship, diplomacy, negotiation, and record-keeping. But when it came to actual combat, the warriors were the ones who took the lead. Especially the battle against the final boss—it was no child's play or a game.

In particular, her relationship with Duan Lansheng is far from good, leaving little room for negotiation. The truth is absolutely out of the question.

She had been pondering Xiao Ruo's words, so she hadn't said much on the way up the mountain. Until Duan Lansheng called her over.

Compared to her absent-mindedness and apparent daydreaming, Duan Lansheng seemed to be in a rather good mood today, as if this was not a transaction, but a spring outing he had been looking forward to for a long time.

His attire suggested he was on a family outing, as he had no entourage.

Duan Lansheng's gaze lingered briefly on her cheek before he said, "You've sweated a lot. Why don't you rest and have some water?"

He took down a water bag hanging on the wicker basket, unscrewed the lid, and handed the water bag to her, his jade-like fingers resting on the water bottle.

This action inexplicably reminded Lu Yuanyuan of her memories in the Spirit Treasure Secret Realm.

Back then, she used the trick of sharing a pot of water with Duan Lansheng to test his tolerance for her and to lay the groundwork for her later plan to frame him.

Lu Yuanyuan's eyelids twitched slightly. She didn't reach for the water bottle, but turned her face away and said, "I'm not thirsty, no need. How much further do we have to go?"

Seeing that she didn't answer or look at him, Duan Lansheng's hand hovered in mid-air for a moment before he withdrew it. However, his voice didn't sound angry: "We've already passed more than halfway. Keep going up this road, we'll be there soon."

"Let's go then, let's not waste any more time here."

Lu Yuanyuan took a deep breath, took the first step, brushed past him, and walked upstairs. She could feel Duan Lansheng's gaze fixed on her.

Lu Yuanyuan deliberately quickened her pace, and Duan Lansheng remained silent.

Now, it's November, and the weather is getting cooler. The vegetation in the mountains hasn't yet turned a somber yellow, but darkness is falling earlier and earlier. The bright afternoon sun is only occasional; in the early afternoon, the light in the forest quickly dims, the sun sets, and dark clouds gather in the sky.

Fortunately, we finally arrived at our destination before dark.

Lu Yuanyuan looked at the house standing in front of her, surrounded by flowers, with some surprise.

She had known all along that Duan Lansheng had a residence in Mangshan. However, the rumor at the time was that Duan Lansheng's wife was in poor health and had been living in Mangshan to recuperate. To be with her, Duan Lansheng also often stayed on the mountain for extended periods. After his wife passed away, he moved back to the city, but afterwards, he would still come to live in Mangshan every now and then.

But on that day, Duan Lansheng said in person that he had always been single, and the rumors about him getting married were probably just rumors. The mansion on Mangshan should also belong to him alone.

Speaking of this, she was also a little confused. It seemed that Duan Lansheng already knew what people were saying about him. Why did he never publicly refute the rumors, but instead let others talk about him, and even make such detailed and convincing claims?

...That's a bit of a tangent.

Lu Yuanyuan originally thought that, given Duan Lansheng's current status in the Southern Territory, she would see a luxurious mansion.

However, upon arriving, she found an ordinary, simply laid-out house. There were no high brick or stone walls, but a flowerbed enclosed by a wooden fence. The flowerbed contained no rare or expensive varieties, only some easy-to-grow plants. With its blue tiles, white walls, and U-shaped structure, it had one room and two bedrooms, resembling the dwelling of an ordinary family of three—almost excessively simple.

"We've arrived, please come in."

Duan Lansheng walked past her, who was still stunned, pushed open the wooden gate, and stepped into the courtyard. As if he had spotted something, he quickly walked over, picked up a broom, leaned against the wall, and led her into the house.

The little fox in the wicker basket had woken up, jumped out of the basket, and stretched lazily.

Lu Yuanyuan walked up the wooden corridor and looked around. The house was decorated simply and elegantly, but not crudely. It was clean and well-lit.

It looks... pretty normal.

The unease and vigilance that had been lingering in Lu Yuanyuan's heart ever since Duan Lansheng proposed the deal lessened slightly.

Perhaps she was overthinking it; Duan Lansheng really did invite her to keep his child company.

Suddenly, she subtly sensed a gaze from behind. She turned around, but Duan Lansheng didn't look at her. He was opening the window as he said, "There are only three rooms here. One is a study, and the other is my room. Let me show you where you're staying."

“Okay.” Lu Yuanyuan paused, then, remembering that she was the one asking for her help, added cautiously, “Thank you for your trouble.”

Duan Lansheng didn't say anything, just glanced at her calmly, and walked towards the backyard. Lu Yuanyuan waited until he had passed before following him, and saw his hair ribbon fluttering in the wind.

Compared to Duan Lansheng's indifferent demeanor, Tangyuan was noticeably more cheerful and excited, as if her being able to move in was such a joyous occasion. She bounced around, whimpering and circling Lu Yuanyuan's legs. Lu Yuanyuan became cautious, afraid that she might accidentally step on him.

When Duan Lansheng noticed, he glanced at them and scolded, "Stop fooling around and walk properly."

Tangyuan seemed mischievous, but she was quite obedient to Duan Lansheng. After being scolded, she immediately became obedient, walking in a straight line and following beside him.

Looking at their shadows, Lu Yuanyuan recalled the scar she found in Duan Lansheng's palm that day and asked thoughtfully, "Does Tangyuan usually sleep in the same room as you?"

Duan Lansheng paused slightly and made a soft "hmm".

"I remember you said last time that you had never been married, so Tangyuan is your adopted child?"

The courtyard wasn't large, and as they spoke, they had already reached the room's door. Duan Lansheng's hand had barely touched the doorframe when his knuckles seemed to tighten for a moment. He turned around, staring at her, his eyes darkening as if trying to find something in her face: "Why are you so concerned about his background?"

Lu Yuanyuan couldn't explain why she subconsciously sought this answer.

She chose an official reason and calmly said, "Since you're willing to help me this time, I'll try my best to meet your request. You said Tangyuan likes me and wants me to be his playmate. I just think that if I can understand him a little more, we'll get along better, that's all."

Whether it was my imagination or not, he seemed somewhat disappointed, and his gaze turned cold.

“You don’t need to do anything special, he will like you anyway.” Duan Lansheng said softly, then turned his head slightly and pushed open the door. The room in front seemed to have been tidied up in advance, and the lighting was very good: “Take a look and tell me if there is anything else that needs to be added.”

Lu Yuanyuan was captivated by his previous statement before belatedly realizing that Duan Lansheng was using a question to evade her question.

Why?

Is it because she doesn't want Tangyuan to know that she's not her biological child?

Or perhaps, Tangyuan's background cannot be explained simply by the word "adoption"?

Deep in Lu Yuanyuan's memory, the wound on Duan Lansheng's palm, as if cut by a shard of porcelain, flashed again. A faint doubt lingered in the shadows, like dark clouds obscuring the daylight.

However, it seems that Duan Lansheng has no intention of telling her the truth.

Even if you dig deep enough, you won't get the answer. It's better to wait for the opportunity to observe it yourself later.

Lu Yuanyuan resisted the urge to press for more information and changed the subject: "I moved in as promised, so when do you plan to help Yue Hong solve his problem?"

“Tonight, I’ll have someone bring him up.” Duan Lansheng paused, then said something very casual: “It’s getting dark, I’ll go cook dinner first.”

"Cook?"

Half an hour later, Lu Yuanyuan sat at the dining table and was greeted with a table full of dishes. Back when they were on missions together in Shu Mountain, and sometimes had to camp in the wilderness, Duan Lansheng would sometimes prepare some simple meals, like roasted rabbit or roasted pheasant. But those were merely "edible," completely incomparable to this table of delicious-looking, fragrant, and beautifully presented dishes.

Besides, weren't there only two of them eating? Why did he cook six dishes and a soup?

Duan Lansheng wiped his hands as if it were nothing serious, sat down in front of her, and said, "Won't you try some?"

Lu Yuanyuan asked with some surprise and doubt, "You did all of this?"

Duan Lansheng nodded.

Next to him was Tangyuan. The little guy was sitting in a specially made stool, like a baby chair, and had his own special bowl.

Now that things have come to this, Duan Lansheng probably wouldn't stoop so low as to put laxatives in her food. Lu Yuanyuan hesitated for a moment, then picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of bamboo shoot, and put it in her mouth. The aroma melted on her taste buds.

"How about it?"

Lu Yuanyuan looked up and noticed that the two people across the table, one big and one small, hadn't started eating. Instead, they were staring intently at her expression, as if they were nervous about what kind of evaluation she would give, as if she were a judge in some kind of cooking competition.

It has a human face and a fox head, yet their expressions are surprisingly similar.

Lu Yuanyuan swallowed the bamboo shoot and said, "It's fine, I'm not picky about food."

Duan Lansheng gripped his knees, his expression immediately turning serious: "Do you think... my cooking is bad?"

Under that gaze, Lu Yuanyuan told the truth: "...No, it's quite delicious."

Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt that after she gave a positive evaluation, Duan Lansheng's expression softened a lot, as if the gloom had dissipated.

Lu Yuanyuan: "..."

She felt a chill run down her spine, as if she were sitting on pins and needles. But the food was indeed delicious, and she ate until her stomach was bloated before returning to her room.

Their deal officially began with this meal.

Lu Yuanyuan initially thought Duan Lansheng was simply being hospitable, hence the lavish meal he prepared for the first time. But she was wrong. From then on, Duan Lansheng personally washed the rice and cooked every single day.

He seemed to take this matter very seriously, almost like a stay-at-home dad.

There are no servants here; Duan Lansheng does everything himself, from cleaning and gardening to cooking. He has no airs of being in a high position and takes everything for granted.

Tangyuan loves to stick close to her, and the task of grooming the baby has unknowingly fallen to her.

Her living space was invaded by this large and small creature. Under the same roof, they intertwined, neither too close nor too far.

Just as Lu Yuanyuan had estimated, this was not a difficult task at all. She even felt that she hadn't done anything, just changed locations, lived her daily life, and worked part-time as a fox keeper.

Meanwhile, the cooperation between the two realms was finally formally agreed upon, and a cooperation agreement was signed. The delegation completed its mission and gradually returned to their respective places. The Demon King even held a banquet to bid them farewell, but we won't go into details here.

Lu Yuanyuan sent a message to Xuan Gui, informing him of Yue Hong's situation and her deal with Duan Lansheng. After understanding the whole story, Xuan Gui agreed to let her remain in the Southern Territory, nominally as a dispatched civil official, to continue coordinating cooperation between the two realms, mediating disputes, and providing regular reports. She essentially served as a lubricant in a machine.

Of course, compared to before, Lu Yuanyuan is much more free now. In theory, she only needs to go down the mountain when she has important business to attend to. The rest of the time she can cultivate, read books, or pet foxes on Mount Mang.

For a cultivator who can travel a thousand miles a day, there is no inconvenience in where she stays at night. In fact, there are no outrageous rumors circulating that she has moved to Mangshan.

Mount Mang is vast, and Lu Yuanyuan has visited almost the entire area. There is only one place that Duan Lansheng never allows her to go.

That place is higher up in Mangshan. You can go up through a path behind this small courtyard; it seems to be a naturally carved cave.

Duan Lansheng kept his promise and took Yue Hong to the upper realm to cleanse him of the remaining vengeful spirits within him. However, he didn't let Lu Yuanyuan know how he did it, only promising her that he would let her check on Yue Hong's condition once every two weeks.

Even though she was very curious about what was inside that natural cave, she never once considered trespassing. She wasn't the kind of NPC in movies or TV shows who would deliberately walk into the line of fire when told not to go somewhere. Maintaining the current delicate balance was enough.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Yuanyuan had been in Mangshan for almost half a month. This was the first time she had spent the transitional season with the weather turning cold in the southern region. One night, the wind picked up without warning.

A sudden gust of wind swept in. The mountain wind was far more frightening than the plains wind, howling and howling. She could even hear the grass blades pattering against the eaves.

That night, Duan Lansheng wasn't on the mountain, and the room was pitch black. Tangyuan, who was always clingy, didn't want to leave at night, pitifully scratching at her sleeve. Lu Yuanyuan ultimately didn't chase him away and let him stay in her room for the night.

It's said that small animals are afraid of the sounds of nature, but Tangyuan seemed quite at ease sleeping beside her pillow. He rolled over, nuzzled his nose against her clothes, and slept soundly. Lu Yuanyuan heard the wind was so loud in the middle of the night and wanted to go out and check, but her sleeves and hair were all pinned down by the fluffy ball. Although she could easily shake him off and have him roll to the wall, she ultimately didn't do so.

But when she woke up the next day, she was annoyed to find that the wind was too strong the night before, and the clothes she had hung out to dry under the eaves in the backyard were also affected. The slightly heavier clothes were still there, but she couldn't find her own undergarments anywhere she looked, probably because they had been blown down the cliff.

That night, Duan Lansheng returned.

It was naturally inappropriate to tell Duan Lansheng about Xiao Yi being blown away, so Lu Yuanyuan acted as if nothing had happened and sat down to eat quietly.

Duan Lansheng always ate very elegantly. Before clearing away the dishes, he put down his bowl and suddenly said, "The day after tomorrow is the winter solstice. It's too quiet up in the mountain. I want to take some glutinous rice balls down the mountain to celebrate the festival."

Lu Yuanyuan raised her eyelids.

Duan Lansheng gently pressed his fingers against the side of the cup and said, "Tangyuan... I hope to have some with you. Come on, too."

Lu Yuanyuan wasn't surprised that he would make this request, asking her to stay with the child.

She doesn't like owing people favors. She will do her best to fulfill her promises during these two months.

.

The wind and moon are the same, and the winter solstice in the Southern Territory is no different from that in the cultivation world.

On the winter solstice, after dark, the streets are brightly lit, shimmering with colorful lights, creating a festive atmosphere. Vendors' calls fill the air, and pedestrians come and go in an endless stream. Pots of boiling water steam, with white glutinous rice balls floating in the broth.

Monsters are inherently carnivorous, but before the establishment of the Southern Territory, they were scattered throughout the human realm and were somewhat influenced by human customs. Many of them enjoyed joining in the fun and celebrating human festivals. In recent months, influenced by the cooperation between the two realms and the impact of foreign cultures, interesting human festival customs have also become popular in this land.

Standing on Xuanzhao Street, Lu Yuanyuan looked at the bustling crowds, laughing and chatting. The riddles, the lanterns, the rich atmosphere—for a moment, she felt as if she had returned to the human world. However, upon closer inspection, she could see the differences in appearance between these passersby and real humans. Some had horns on their heads, others were burly, with blue skin and bare feet. The vendor at the riddle stall, hawking his wares, resembled a thousand-armed Guanyin, with several arms, each with its own function, not interfering with the others… Bizarre yet seemingly natural, all of this added a touch of eeriness to the bustling street scene.

Duan Lansheng did not disguise himself, which attracted a lot of attention.

But it wasn't because they recognized him. In fact, many demons in the demon realm didn't know what the High Priest looked like, and the sculpture still under construction in the palace was far from lifelike. Even if they thought he looked familiar, they probably wouldn't believe that such an important figure would be walking down the street.

The demon realm is busier as the night goes on, especially during festivals. As the night deepened, the crowds on the streets grew ever larger. Such worldly liveliness was rare on Jin'ao Island, and she hadn't experienced it in a long time.

Duan Lansheng was half a step behind her. There were many people on the road, and in this spot, he could easily reach out to shield her from anyone who might bump into her. His gaze fell directly down, and he could see her earlobes, hidden beneath her black hair, glowing a pale pink in the lamplight. As she turned her face slightly, the lines from her eyebrows to her chin were soft and captivating.

This silhouette, this scene, is like something out of a dream.

That year, in the Valley of the Floating Pagoda, he left her far behind, never looking back to see if she had caught up. Now, he's uncontrollably gone to the other extreme, preferring to follow behind her, unwilling to experience the anxiety of perhaps turning around to find her swept away by the crowd. Only by keeping her in his sight for a long, long time can his heart feel full and at peace.

Walking onto the main street by the river, the crowds thinned out a bit. The stoves at the food stalls churned and sizzled, filling the air with the aroma of cooking. Every now and then, vendors carrying their wares would stroll by in the crowd.

At this moment, Lu Yuanyuan suddenly felt Tangyuan in her arms struggle a little. She didn't know what it saw, but it moved and climbed onto her shoulder, staring longingly at a receding figure.

Lu Yuanyuan sensed his movement, and following his gaze, she turned around, only to see a dense crowd of people: "Tangyuan, what's wrong?"

Duan Lansheng stopped, squinted at it for a moment, and said, "It looks like a vendor selling winter hats and gloves. I'll go buy some."

Lu Yuanyuan understood and said, "There are too many people, so I won't squeeze through. Tangyuan and I will wait for you at the bridgehead ahead."

Duan Lansheng remained silent. Lu Yuanyuan, seeing him still standing there, was somewhat puzzled: "Aren't you going? You won't be able to find it later."

Duan Lansheng lowered his eyes and said, "Then you wait for me by the bridge and don't go away."

Watching him disappear into the crowd, Lu Yuanyuan bounced the little fox in her arms and walked forward, waiting by the bridge as instructed. Duan Lansheng returned quickly, much faster than she had expected, carrying a cloth bag.

Lu Yuanyuan looked at them curiously. They were all handmade knitted trinkets, including woolen hats, scarves, and gloves. Although the craftsmanship wasn't very sophisticated, they looked very warm to the touch.

Sure enough, kids love these colorful things.

We don't need gloves now, but we'll probably be able to use them when we take human form later.

"Put the hat on him."

Duan Lansheng nodded and put the hat on the little fox's head. The hat was indeed characteristic of the demon realm; it had two openings that allowed the little demon in its original form to let its ears out. However, Duan Lansheng was already carrying something, so he struggled to put the hat on properly. After a few clumsy adjustments, the hat was still crooked.

Lu Yuanyuan couldn't stand it anymore: "You hold him, I'll adjust him."

She placed the glutinous rice ball into Duan Lansheng's arms, bent down slightly, her expression focused and gentle, and gently pulled the little fox's hat straight with both hands.

Duan Lansheng stared at her eyelashes, which were warm and glowing in the lamplight, as if he were in a daze.

At this moment, it seemed as if all the cracks had disappeared; they were just an ordinary couple in the world, clumsily working together to take care of their child.

"That's good..."

Before Lu Yuanyuan could finish speaking, she was suddenly bumped into by a passing monster. Although the flow of people in this place was less dense than in other places, there were still many people passing by. She was already bent over, and her center of gravity shifted forward. Caught off guard, she was pushed forward half a step and bumped into the person in front of her. Tangyuan was pressed between the two of them.

Lu Yuanyuan steadied herself, looked up, and found Duan Lansheng staring at her. Her heart skipped a beat, she pursed her lips, and quickly took a step back to create some distance: "There are too many people, don't stand here, let's keep moving forward."

Duan Lansheng lowered his eyes, hummed in agreement, and looked at the cloth bag he was holding in his arms. Suddenly, as if he had noticed something amiss, he let out a soft "Eh" and furrowed his long, dark eyebrows.

Lu Yuanyuan asked, puzzled, "What's wrong?"

Duan Lansheng seemed puzzled and muttered to himself, "Why...why does it seem like there's an extra pair of gloves here?"

"More?" Lu Yuanyuan was stunned. Looking at his hand, she noticed that there were more things in the pile of soft fabric—Duan Lansheng had not only bought small gloves for Tangyuan, but also adult gloves. Judging from the size, they should have been for him, but there was a smaller pair among the large gloves, which looked like women's gloves. The pattern was exactly the same, and at first glance, one could easily miss them.

Before she could speak, Duan Lansheng seemed to have figured out the reason and said, "I thought it was quite interesting, so I bought an extra pair. It's probably because the colors are too similar and there were too many people to handle, so they gave me the wrong one."

What a coincidence!

Lu Yuanyuan picked up the gloves, squeezed them, and said, "These were crocheted stitch by stitch by someone, it's not good to take them for free. The vendor is behind us, right? I'll take them and return them to him."

Just as she was about to squeeze into the crowd, her wrist was suddenly grabbed urgently: "Wait a minute!"

Meeting her surprised gaze as she turned around, Duan Lansheng pursed his red lips, a slight glint in the depths of his eyes, and whispered, "I paid."

"What do you mean, you were paid?"

“I already paid double when I paid. Even if she accidentally gave me an extra one, it's not like I lost money. Besides, there are so many people, and it's so crowded, you might not even be able to find her if you go back to look for her.”

Hearing him say that, Lu Yuanyuan thought about it and gave up the idea of ​​going back to look for him.

Duan Lansheng's eyes flickered slightly: "These gloves seem to be about the same size as your hands. Since you've already bought them, why don't you try them on?"

Lu Yuanyuan slipped the gloves onto her hands; they weren't just about the same size, they were practically tailor-made for her. She hesitated for a moment, then said, "They fit perfectly..."

As if sensing her thoughts, Duan Lansheng's voice rang out: "They're just small things. If you don't like them, don't force yourself, just throw them away."

After he said that, it would seem petty for her to still throw it away. So Lu Yuanyuan accepted it anyway.

But deep down I felt awkward. Although it all started with a misunderstanding, I didn't want to feel obligated to do him a favor. Returning the gift felt like exchanging presents with him.

Fortunately, after crossing an intersection, Lu Yuanyuan saw a sugar figurine stall.

I've got it! Since it's inconvenient to return the gift to the person in question, why not give it to his child instead?

Sugar figurine stalls, commonplace in the mortal realm, are a rare sight in the demon realm. Many uniquely shaped small animals, including cats, dogs, and rabbits, are stuck onto bamboo skewers. The vendor seemed to be packing up his candy boxes as he was about to close up shop… Lu Yuanyuan quickly walked over, squatted down, and said, “Boss, I want one of these sugar figurines, just like that little fox.”

The vendor stopped packing up and readily agreed. His technique was fairly skillful, but as he kneaded, Lu Yuanyuan realized that what he was kneading didn't seem to be what she wanted. Seeing her confusion, the vendor chuckled and said, "I'm about to pack up. You're the last customers for today. Since you're a family of three, I'll give you two extra foxes for free, and you'll only pay for one."

Lu Yuanyuan's fingers tightened: "We're not..."

A voice came from behind, interrupting her: "It wasn't three foxes, it was two foxes and a bird."

Duan Lansheng stood behind her, not looking at her, and spoke to the shopkeeper.

Noticing her gaze, he turned his eyes and looked over. The warm light shone on his hair, and his complexion was no longer so pale, as if it had been touched by the warmth of human life.

No, the eyes of mortals cannot be so vivid and captivating, so full of divine light.

The shopkeeper listened and readily made the changes. Finally, he presented three sugar figurines: two adorable foxes with big tails and a spirited little bird.

Lu Yuanyuan: "..."

This stall seemed to have set a precedent; walking from one end of the street to the other, Duan Lansheng bought something from almost everything he saw. Finally, they came across a riddle-solving stall and joined in the fun, though they didn't guess a single one correctly. But perhaps because Duan Lansheng was handsome, the stall, which had been deserted before, attracted more and more customers after his arrival. As they were leaving, the shopkeeper insisted on giving them a prize—a small token—for those who solved the riddles correctly.

The prize was a sapling, very thin and with sparse leaves, looking like it might die at any moment. Duan Lansheng, however, still carried it back to Mangshan Mountain.

It was clear that the crooked tree was heading towards death; it seemed that a frost or snowfall would leave it half-dead, and it was doubtful whether it could survive the winter. Mangshan was lush with vegetation and didn't need another tree, but Duan Lansheng seemed to care about it and transplanted it to a small flowerbed, giving it a new home.

After the winter solstice, Mangshan grew colder day by day. Life on the mountain was tranquil and quiet, time flowing gently like still water. But soon after, an accident shattered their peace.

Duan Lansheng would visit the cave above almost every two or three days, staying for half a day before returning.

The day after the winter solstice, he went up the mountain as usual. However, this time was strange; three days passed, and he still hadn't appeared.

Lu Yuanyuan wondered if he had encountered some trouble, but then thought she might be overthinking things. However, on the evening of the third day, she witnessed something that completely dispelled her last bit of hesitation.

With Duan Lansheng absent, Tangyuan naturally stayed by her side. The little guy was easy to take care of; it was just a matter of convenience. Perhaps because Duan Lansheng hadn't come out, Tangyuan seemed a bit listless. That night, she prepared to cook some chicken for him.

She picked out the tenderest parts of the chicken, cooked them, drained the water, and placed them on a plate.

The dim, slanting sunlight streamed through the windowpane. She put down her things and was about to pick up the little white fox from the bed to feed him. But as she pulled her arms together, she suddenly felt an emptiness in her embrace; the little bundle of flesh in her palms had vanished.

Lu Yuanyuan froze instantly, staring at her palm in disbelief.

She was certain she wasn't dreaming, but in the blink of an eye, the warm, heavy little fox vanished, disappearing more cleanly than if it had evaporated from the face of the earth.

Looking back, this has happened more than once.

She remembered it clearly. The first time was when she realized she was being watched and pretended to faint to lure Tangyuan out. She had grabbed nothing but air. She could clearly feel the fox fur tickling her palm, but she had only grasped a wisp of air.

The second time was when she didn't know Duan Lansheng was the High Priest and was planning to take his son to him to curry favor. Tangyuan had suddenly disappeared from her arms before.

Once is an illusion, twice is a trick of the eye, three times... once or twice, but never a third time.

The weather turned cold, but the setting sun still seemed to carry a piercing heat, shining on her back. A strong and strange unease seized Lu Yuanyuan's heart; her heart pounded like a drum, and she gripped the edge of the table for support. She knew she could no longer deceive herself, telling herself it was just an illusion.

Intuition told her that all the secrets pointed to one person; the jumbled clues and evasive words all converged on him. If she took just one step forward, she could unveil the truth.

Lu Yuanyuan had never considered trespassing into the forbidden area above. But at this point, she had no choice. She had to go and see.

The path leading to the top of Mangshan Mountain was narrow and long. When Lu Yuanyuan reached the top, she saw a dark cave ahead.

A barrier had been erected outside the door, but as she approached, she found it had weakened considerably; she could break it without much effort. The reason no other demons were near was probably because the aura of the nine-tailed fox was too strong. She couldn't sense it, but other demons could perceive the threat.

Lu Yuanyuan quickly broke through the barrier. A chilly current emanated from the cave, and a breeze blew in from behind her, as if an invisible hand was pushing her deeper into the cave.

The cave was dark yet spacious, a hidden world unto itself. The path was smooth. Lu Yuanyuan looked around, clenched her fists, and cautiously followed the path, unable to see or understand anything. Suddenly, she glimpsed a white figure flashing ahead. It landed on all fours, darting past like a fox, but the shadow seemed slightly transparent.

sweet dumpling?

Lu Yuanyuan was startled and immediately gave chase, but quickly lost track of him. Instead, a stone archway appeared ahead. Lu Yuanyuan walked over and looked inside, where she saw a person lying on a stone bed in the corner.

Duan Lansheng... no, that's not right. Duan Lansheng isn't that short, and he's definitely not Yue Hong.

She had a vague feeling that the outline was somewhat familiar. She slowly approached, and when the whole thing came into view, her blood seemed to freeze.

This is a puppet.

However, it was not a doll like Yue Hong, who had been reborn and had delicate facial features and a figure; it was more like a rough and simple lump of clay.

If Duan Lansheng knew puppetry, then it wouldn't be surprising to find a puppet here. But the problem is that this puppet still bears her mark; the bloodstain from when she bit her fingertip has darkened slightly, and its location is exactly the same as in her memory.

Seven years ago, she buried two dolls in an unnamed cave in Langya Mountain. Later, hers disappeared. She thought she would never find it again... Why did it reappear in this place?

Could it have been stolen by Duan Lansheng?

But how could he know that her doll was hidden in that location?

The blood seemed to be sizzling and washing over her eardrums. Lu Yuanyuan felt a strong dizziness. She took a step back, then went back up to check on herself.

There's no mistake, this is the puppet she made for herself back then.

Just then, she suddenly felt a faint gust of wind behind her. Turning around abruptly, she saw the white figure flash past in her peripheral vision, this time heading towards the other side of the cave. Lu Yuanyuan abruptly released the puppet in her arms and chased after it.

Outside the stone archway was a long stone corridor leading to a room at the end. She rushed inside, only to be stunned by what she saw.

There was a pool in the room, not a regular pool dug by man, but one that emitted a faint mist like a hot spring, and the water was not transparent, but blood red.

Duan Lansheng sat in the pool, eyes closed, back against the edge, motionless.

His arms were dangling over the edge of the pool, the water reaching his chest. As if he heard her approaching, his eyelids twitched slightly and slowly lifted.

His face was as pale as rice paper, revealing only his beautiful, fragile features. His brow bone was red, as if there was a cut that hadn't healed.

The moment their eyes met, Lu Yuanyuan's heart tightened, and she felt something was strange—Duan Lansheng seemed to see her, yet he also seemed not to see her; his gaze was unfocused.

Coming to her senses, she quickly walked over: "Duan Lansheng!"

Duan Lansheng was shirtless and his hair was loose. Lu Yuanyuan wanted to grab him by the collar and pull him out of the water, but she didn't know where to start. She didn't want to put her hand in the water either. Her hand paused in mid-air, then she grabbed his hair, forced him to tilt his head back, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Why is my puppet here with you? Did you already know something? Did you steal my puppet back then?"

If you get close, you'll inevitably touch his body. His skin is so cold, like it came from an ice cave.

Duan Lansheng's eyelashes twitched slowly. He remained silent for a while, and surprisingly did not resist her. He even said softly, "I didn't do anything."

Lu Yuanyuan said, "Liar! If this has nothing to do with you, why is my puppet here with you?"

“It came to me on its own.”

"What do you mean? Explain yourself clearly!"

Just then, as if in response to her request, something in her clothes emitted a faint, dim light, drawing her attention back. Lu Yuanyuan looked down and found that it was the Sky-Gazing Mirror in her bosom that was shining.

Since Yin Xiaozhu's death, except when she deliberately made it glow while pretending to be a ghost, she had hardly seen it make any movement. And now, on the mirror that had been cracked once, there was a drop of blood that had fallen from Duan Lansheng's brow bone.

Like ripples spreading across water, the dark cave turned to dust, swirling and reforming. Looking up again, Lu Yuanyuan found herself in a familiar, low-ceilinged cave.

She recognized this place; this was... that unknown cave in Langya Mountain!

The illusion created by the Sky-Gazing Mirror was so real that she almost thought she had returned to that cave.

She stumbled to her feet and walked towards the spot where she had dug the hole to bury the doll. She found that the soil was intact, without the slightest sign of damage.

What does it mean that the Sky-Gazing Mirror brought her back here?

Is the goal to let her see who took the doll?

Just as Lu Yuanyuan was thinking this, she sensed some strange noises coming from outside the cave, and a light shone through. She turned around and froze.

Outside the cave, it was pitch black. A string of fragmented, pure white lights floated in the howling night wind, like the purest and most vulnerable creatures in the world, driven from their mother's embrace, wandering aimlessly in the air, weeping, trembling, and gradually weakening. It seemed as if even a strong gust of wind could tear them to dust. If they didn't find a place to be sheltered, they would disappear completely from the world.

This is……

Lu Yuanyuan realized something, her mouth went dry, and she could only watch helplessly as the points of light, as if smelling a familiar, comforting scent, swam into the cave and seeped deep into the soil. It was as if a wanderer had finally found his home.

Inside the dark cave, as if an eternity had passed, waves began to surge beneath the tightly packed soil.

As if something was trying to break through the soil, finally, a head emerged with difficulty and weakness.

Pure white light spots, clinging to the puppet that wasn't created for itself, couldn't fully activate the doll's functions, but they bought it a meager amount of time to survive. As if driven by the instinct for survival, it crawled step by step out of the cave.

...

As the illusion dissipated like sunlight, the mirror also fell into the water.

In that instant, as if many misty clues had been connected into a single thread, Lu Yuanyuan felt dizzy and trembled like a leaf.

Those pure white specks of light were the fetal spirits she had personally crushed in front of Duan Lansheng on the day she left Lihe Mountain.

They should have dissipated in the wind, but for some unknown reason, as if protected by a force, they stubbornly and weakly persisted until nightfall. It was because their survival time was extended that they were able to wander through the vast world and find their mother's presence—even though it was just a puppet that resembled her. Like a hermit crab with its shell crushed, they instinctively clung to the puppet.

She finally understood why only one of the two dolls had disappeared.

Because no one ever discovered the cave from beginning to end, and no third party ever dug it away. It simply "grew legs" and crawled out on its own.

It didn't even open its eyes, and was probably in a daze, completely unaware of where it had been sleeping.

The fact that this puppet is now in Duan Lansheng's hands suggests that Duan Lansheng, who has survived a great calamity, likely found it and brought it back to the demon realm.

But the puppet she touched earlier was like a dead object, completely motionless.

So, where is the pure white spirit that once resided within it now?

Lu Yuanyuan stared down at him, her throat like a wind-up toy that had gone hoarse, squeezing out each word one by one: "...Where, where?"

She asked about the primordial spirit, but it could also refer to another being.

Duan Lansheng had closed his eyes, but then opened them again. He didn't say anything.

Lu Yuanyuan's breathing quickened. She understood something from his silence. Her hand trembled and began to weaken, slipping down from his long hair. But unexpectedly, he grabbed it and pulled it back to her.

Do you really want to know?

"I didn't want you to find out. But since you've barged in..."

Duan Lansheng turned his head to the side, resting his head on her shoulder. His voice was cold and deep. He spread her palm flat and guided her hand down his chin, from the throbbing pulse on the side of his neck, slowly caressing his heart, and then gently placing it into the water.

"He's right here, he's always been here."

Despite being very weak, his hand was surprisingly strong, managing to pull her upper body over as well. Fortunately, there was still some depth in the pool, so she didn't sink. She knelt on the ground, right on either side of where he was sitting, and when she looked down, she saw his face.

Her hand was grabbed by Duan Lansheng and slid down until it finally pressed against his flat stomach.

His abs were firm and toned, yet as cold as ice. His breath on her neck was damp and cold. Then, she felt something kick her palm through her stomach, a kick that was neither too hard nor too soft, clear enough to be mistaken.

So shocked was Lu Yuanyuan's mind blank.

Duan Lansheng nuzzled her neck affectionately with the tip of his nose. The movement of the thing in his stomach seemed to bring him immense pain, as if his internal organs were churning. His lips turned pale, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. Yet he buried his face even more deeply in the crook of her shoulder, like a boneless snake, his fox-like eyes slanted upwards.

“He’s right here, inside my belly, feel it.”