Strange and unusual events (Part 1)

Lin Shi and Jiang Huilan stared at each other in silence for a while before Lin Shi took out a storage ring containing some spirit stones and cultivation resources and handed it to Jiang Huilan. After watching Jiang Huilan take it, she turned to look around at the environment besides Mount Daming.

Jiang Huilan held the exquisite storage ring Lin Shi had given her, looking quite delighted. However, once she saw the spirit stones, spiritual plants, and spiritual ores inside—equivalent to the value of her rescue efforts—she became somewhat conflicted. She stroked the storage ring, glancing at Lin Shi with a hesitant expression, while Lin Shi waited silently for her to speak first.

After considering for a while, Jiang Huilan tentatively said to Lin Shi, "Lin Shi, could you please not leave Jiang Family Village so soon?"

Lin Shi was a little curious, so she asked, "Why?"

Jiang Huilan took a deep breath before looking into Lin Shi's eyes and slowly said, "You are a human cultivator from the Upper Realm who came down to the Lie Tian Small World, right? There are many demon cultivators in the Lie Tian Small World, but most of them are independent and don't like to establish sects or recruit disciples. A few sects and cultivation families prioritize recruiting disciples with good aptitude, or simply recruit only their own kind. For us half-demons with average aptitude and ordinary backgrounds, whether we are demons or humans, it is very difficult to obtain a high level of cultivation in the Lie Tian Small World, and it is also very difficult to improve our cultivation on our own. Can you guide us in cultivation? In exchange, we will provide you with the information you want about the Lie Tian Small World to help you return to the Upper Realm, how about it?"

Lin Shi thought about it carefully, then nodded and said, "Okay!" So she settled down in Jiangjia Village.

For the next five years, Lin Shi stayed in Jiangjia Village, helping and guiding the demon, half-demon, and human cultivators there. In return, he acquired a wealth of information about the Lie Tian Small World and bartered with them for a large number of rare demon treasures, spiritual plants, and spiritual minerals. Lin Shi also got to know Jiang Ru, the cat demon mountain god of Daming Mountain.

On this day, at Jiang Ru's residence in Daming Mountain, Lin Shi stroked her smooth back fur while listening to her complain once again about the villagers' tedious rituals and unchanging food.

As the cat demon Jiang Ru purred softly from being stroked on the back, she spoke in a little girl's voice, "When my cultivation was lower, the villagers of Jiang Family Village were mostly human. Every year, they would offer sacrifices of cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, and geese—the three sacrificial animals and three poultry. Their tastes were always the same, and I got tired of it after a few years. However, their sacrifices were relatively acceptable. A long, long time ago, they went so far as to offer me young boys and girls. I refused, but they still killed them and sent them to me, which was incredibly annoying. Fortunately, I taught them a few lessons, and they stopped doing such foolish things. After that, they continued to offer sacrifices of the three sacrificial animals and three poultry every year. In recent years, there have been more and more half-demons in the village, and the pure human villagers have gradually become less afraid of mountain gods, monsters, and demons. It's just that the food they offer is still just as unpalatable!"

Lin Shi smiled and asked, "Then why don't you just have them change the food for the sacrifice?"

Jiang Ru sighed: "We asked them to change the sacrificial food before, but the new food was even worse. Anyway, I've already stopped eating grains. The sacrificial food is still for the villagers to eat, so let them do as they please."

Lin Shi then asked, "Then why not ask them to cancel the sacrificial ceremony?"

Jiang Ru sighed again: "They've gotten used to it. They want to form a bond with me and have our paths cross again, so they hold elaborate sacrificial ceremonies every year and even have young girls come to clean my residence."

Lin Shi replied knowingly, "No wonder!"

Afterwards, Lin Shi and Jiang Ru talked about other miscellaneous things. Jiang Ru would sometimes tell Lin Shi about the grudges and affections among the cultivators of the Lie Tian Small World. After chatting for several hours, Lin Shi went down the mountain and returned to her residence in Jiang Family Village.

As Lin Shi descended the mountain, she walked slowly along the mountain path. She would pass by mountain streams and pools. Each time she passed by a stream or pool, she would see various demons and half-demons bathing freely in the streams and pools. It was one thing for demon cultivators to be in their original forms, but those half-demons often only showed a little bit of their half-demon features, such as ears or tails, and then covered only their sensitive areas as they played in the water.

"Lin Shi! You've come down the mountain!"

"right!"

Each time, Lin Shi would pass by the bathing demons and half-demons without glancing at them or showing any surprise. She would then give them a perfunctory greeting before heading straight back to her residence in Jiangjia Village.

Lin Shi's residence in Jiangjia Village was the largest brick and tile house in the village. She paused as soon as she arrived in front of the osmanthus tree in front of her house. The rich fragrance of osmanthus immediately wafted over her nose.

Lin Shi paused for a moment, then entered the house with a normal expression. As soon as she entered, she saw a tall and handsome young demon standing in the courtyard.

Upon seeing Lin Shi enter the house, the demon youth's eyes immediately lit up. He stepped from the courtyard onto the floor and strode towards Lin Shi. He said with a beaming smile, "Lin Shi, you're back!"

Lin Shi glanced at the other person with a hint of helplessness: "Yes. Jiang Huinan, why are you in my room again?"

Jiang Huinan was quite straightforward, staring intently at Lin Shi's face. He said, "I wanted to see you, so I came to see you. Sister Huilan said that you are expected to leave Jiangjia Village soon."

“I do plan to leave Jiangjia Village and travel around!” Lin Shi replied, then looked away, no longer meeting Jiang Huinan's gaze. She turned to look at the table in her room, but in that instant, she clearly heard some faint sounds. Lin Shi couldn't help but turn her head back. Her eyes were immediately met with a blinding white light. When she looked closely, she saw a completely naked body standing in front of her.

"Jiang Huinan, hurry up and put on your clothes!" Lin Shi said, speechless at the scene before her eyes, while meeting Jiang Huinan's aggrieved and hurt gaze with a calm expression.

"I won't wear it."

"Then you don't have to wear it, I don't care."

Jiang Huinan's eyes immediately reddened. He stood in front of Lin Shi, looking directly into her eyes with intense emotion, and said loudly and aggrievedly, "Lin Shi, humans have always been reserved and respectful, and they value the separation of men and women. I've smelled your scent, and you haven't had any Daoist partners yet. You've seen my body, so why are you reacting so calmly? Am I so worthless that I don't even deserve a little bit of your affection?"

Lin Shi was speechless: "You're talking about humans in the mortal realm, but I'm a cultivator. Besides, I've seen the people of your Jiang Family Village bathing and playing in the mountain streams and pools countless times. What kind of reaction do you want me to have? Cover my face shyly and run away?"

That's not what I meant.

"That's fine then."

Jiang Huinan couldn't help but accuse, "...Lin Shi, you are so heartless and cruel! There are so many demon cultivators and half-demons in Jiang Family Village, regardless of gender, who like you, but you have never given a second glance to any of us demons or humans."

Lin Shi said helplessly, "I am a human cultivator who has lived for nearly two hundred years, not a mortal woman who is indulging in love!"

"Even if you're much older than me, can't you try liking me? I can be your permanent or temporary Daoist partner. When you go on your travels, can you take me with you?"

"Jiang Huinan, I don't like you, and I have no intention of becoming your Daoist partner. We are not suitable for each other."

Jiang Huinan became even more agitated. His eyes reddened, and he asked loudly, sounding wronged, "In the Lie Tian Small World, humans and demons are not different. I like you very much, can't you try with me?"

Lin Shi remained completely unmoved. She calmly and directly stated, "But I don't like you, and your cultivation level is too low. If I were to become your Daoist partner, I would become a furnace, my cultivation drained by your yin-yang cultivation. I'm not from the Lie Tian Small World, and I can't stay here forever for you or any other person or demon. As for ascension, the ascension path for demons is different from that for humans. Jiang Huinan, we are not suitable, and there is no future for us!"

No sooner had Lin Shi finished speaking than Jiang Huinan, his face flushed and tears streaming down his face, ran out of her house. Lin Shi wanted to remind him to put on some clothes, but after thinking about it, she gave up the idea.

Afterwards, a number of female demons, male demons, and half-demons came to Lin Shi's residence. They all spoke and acted similarly to Jiang Huinan, and each of them ran out crying after only exchanging a few words with Lin Shi.

When Jiang Huilan arrived at Lin Shi's residence, she happened to witness a female half-demon running out of her room crying.

Seeing this, Jiang Huilan entered Lin Shi's house with an apologetic expression. She said to Lin Shi apologetically, "Lin Shi, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told the villagers of Jiang Family Village in advance that you were leaving to go on a training trip. It caused you to be harassed by them!"

Lin Shi, however, seemed unconcerned. She simply smiled and replied, "It's alright. It's okay that you know I'm leaving. We might not even have the chance to meet again in the future."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Huilan stepped forward and grabbed Lin Shi's arm. She rested her head lightly on Lin Shi's shoulder and said with undisguised sadness, "Sigh. I really hate to see you go. If you are willing to stay in Jiang Family Village, find a demon cultivator or half-demon to marry, and when your cultivation level is higher, you can directly compete for the Heavenly Dao position in the Lie Tian Small World."

Lin Shi didn't take those words seriously. She waited until Jiang Huilan released her arm, stood up straight again, and they looked at each other before she said earnestly, "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts! The next Heavenly Dao of the Lie Tian Small World will only emerge from among pure demon cultivators. Human cultivators cannot become the Heavenly Dao of the Lie Tian Small World."

Jiang Huilan's expression stiffened for a moment, but quickly returned to normal. She thought for a moment, then readily admitted, "Sigh. You're so smart and insightful! You understand everything!"

Lin Shi smiled, her eyes showing understanding: "It's alright, you don't need to worry about it too much. Let's part ways here, and we'll meet again if fate allows!"

Seeing that Lin Shi understood perfectly, Jiang Huilan finally put aside her own thoughts and solemnly said, "Okay. Take care!"

Afterwards, Lin Shi nodded, her figure transforming into a wisp of white mist almost invisible to the naked eye, disappearing into the brick and tile house. When she reappeared, she was already at least a hundred miles away from Jiangjia Village and Daming Mountain.