Chapter 5: Sang Biao Meow Meow Meow

Jingxi smiled gently and stirred the medicine with a spoon.

“Every time Madam has her period, her face turns pale, and she looks listless and lacks energy. I saw this when I came back yesterday, so I prepared it in advance.”

Sang Ying was taken aback. Hearing this address made her ears itch. She buried her face halfway in the pillow and said, "Don't call me that. And... thanks."

Unlike Lengmian, Jingxi was brought into the household by Xie Lingyu after their marriage, and for the past three years, she has stayed by her side taking care of her daily life.

When Jingxi first called her "Madam," she nearly fell off her chair. For the past three years, Sang Ying's most frequent instruction to her was "Don't call me that," but Jingxi never changed her form of address.

Seeing the girl's awkward expression, Jingxi's smile deepened. "But since you are already married to the Sword Lord and are the head of the family, you should address me that way. Why won't you allow it, Madam?"

The girl's eyes, like crescent moons, glanced at her sideways and said, "...Looks old."

"While that makes sense, don't you think that the first impression this title gives is of a woman who looks to be in her thirties or forties?"

Sang Ying rested her chin on her hand and said quietly, "That's one thing, but with my reputation over the years, the rumors about me now are that I'm a greedy, petty, ruthless, mean, and vicious old woman."

Jingxi couldn't help but chuckle softly, "But Madam, I don't think these are derogatory terms at all."

Sang Ying looked up at her.

Jingxi: "They say you are greedy and stingy, but that's just because they haven't gotten anything out of you. As for saying you are ruthless, mean, and vicious, it's because you are not as easy to manipulate as they think. They lost to you and were powerless to turn the tables, so they can only resort to slander."

“I know all of that.”

Sang Ying hugged the pillow, buried her face in it, and lowered her eyelashes to hide her emotions.

But that person was like a high mountain and a bright moon, clear and flawless, and sometimes she thought... that they could be a good match.

Seeing that she was in low spirits, Jingxi was about to speak when the girl suddenly looked up, revealing her wrinkled little face, "Where is that old woman?"

Jingxi paused for a moment, then said, "How about I address you as Young Madam from now on?"

Sang Ying pondered for a few seconds and nodded: "Great idea, it makes me feel ten years younger just by hearing it."

Sang Ying tilted her head back and drank the warm medicine in one gulp. She sat up and took out a small square table from her storage ring. "Jingxi, give me the account books from the Chamber of Commerce branch where the incident happened these past few days, as well as the transaction receipts and contracts from those three transactions. Also, what did the branch say? Have they found the traders who fled?"

Jingxi frowned slightly: "Young Madam, it's not too late to deal with these things when you're feeling better."

Sang Ying waved her hand: "It doesn't hurt anymore. Anyway, there's nothing else to do now, so I might as well take a look at the account book."

Seeing that she couldn't persuade her otherwise, Jingxi sighed, went to the study to fetch the account books and vouchers, and adjusted the light of the Spirit Pearl. "Young Madam stayed up all night because of this the other day. If you feel unwell, please rest and don't push yourself."

"Um."

Sang Ying flipped through the papers; the Chamber of Commerce branch involved in this incident was implicated in a case.

The three transactions involved several batches of rare spiritual fruits being transported by the merchant guild. These fruits lost their spiritual energy after being picked, and would lose their spiritual energy if placed in a storage ring.

So it was sealed in a cargo box and entrusted to a security escort agency for transport. To avoid damaging the spiritual energy, it could not be opened midway.

One batch of goods was intercepted by the Immortal Alliance during transport. The Immortal Alliance envoys disregarded the Merchant Guild's objections and forcibly opened the boxes. In full view of everyone, the boxes did not contain spiritual fruits, but rather several young fairies who had disappeared from Yaochi.

The Yunshui Chamber of Commerce branch was shut down by the Immortal Alliance the day before yesterday when the incident occurred, and all transactions came to a standstill.

The Immortal Alliance sent people to thoroughly investigate the matter, but the other two batches of goods had already been delivered and the buyers could not be found. The person in charge of the merchant guild that traded spirit fruits had also long since fled.

The Immortal Alliance located the spirit fruit supplier, whose testimony stated that he was threatened with his life and family by the Yunshui Merchant Guild, leaving him no choice but to help the guild commit evil deeds.

These words sparked a flurry of public opinion. Not only the branch office, but the entire Yunshui Chamber of Commerce was implicated, and its reputation suffered.

Today, people have spontaneously organized a boycott of the unscrupulous Yunshui Chamber of Commerce, ceasing to purchase goods sold by the chamber, resulting in a slump in the chamber's revenue. Several suppliers have also come to the chamber to discuss terminating their contracts.

Jingxi said softly, "The branch office found the person in charge last night, and they should be able to find him soon."

"Hmm. Jingxi, I'm a little sleepy, I want to take a nap."

Sang Ying tossed her things aside and tucked herself into the blankets. Jing Xi watched for a while, then excused herself and closed the door behind her.

Sang Ying got out of bed and knocked on the window frame.

No response.

After knocking a second time, the back window was opened, revealing a cold, expressionless face. "Young Miss."

Sang Ying asked curiously, "What have you been doing?"

"Preparing the medicine."

With a cold expression, she deftly placed the several doses of medicine she had prepared into her storage ring, summoned her sword, and said in a calm tone, "Since I can't stop you from going out anyway, I was afraid I wouldn't have time when I was on business, so I prepared these medicines in advance to take with me."

...How come he remembers the daily bowl of medicine even more clearly than Jingxi?

Sang Ying put away her storage ring, stepped onto his sword light, and applied disguise talismans to the two of them. "Keep a low profile and go to the nearest teleportation array."

Cold-faced: "Has the young lady made any progress on this matter?"

“A little, but not much.” Sang Ying rubbed her temples. “After all, there are just too many scoundrels who can’t stand me.”

Upon landing, Sang Ying and her companion lined up to pay and enter the teleportation array. The two male cultivators in front of them, dressed in the uniforms of the Wantong Chamber of Commerce, were chatting and laughing.

“A friend who works within the Immortal Alliance told me that this case is quite significant, involving not only Yaochi but also multiple factions. To investigate the case, the Immortal Alliance has even enlisted the help of a prominent figure from the Wuwen Sect.”

"Haha, isn't that old woman so arrogant? I'm going to go to Beiyuan to see how she's going to turn things around this time."

Sang Ying laughed: "See? They came by the scent."

The teleportation array is for single users, so Lengmian went first, followed by Sang Ying.

The formation was activated, and the surrounding environment was filled with white light.

The teleportation array has a distance limit, and it takes several teleportations to reach Beiyuan. Cultivators with low cultivation levels will experience slight discomfort when using the teleportation array. Sang Ying closed her eyes and suddenly sensed fluctuations in the array.

She quickly opened her eyes and just then saw a fluffy ball of gray, brown and white fluff crash into the teleportation array.

……cat?

It seems to still be a cat that has condensed a demon core.

Sang Ying was taken aback for a moment, and the fluffy ball of fur nimbly leaped onto her shoulder. The tabby cat, its rear end facing outwards, turned its head to look at the figures outside the formation, its bright yellow eyes filled with contempt and provocation.

The next instant, the formation flashed, the distorted formation deviated from its course, and teleported Sang Ying to another location.

Sang Ying looked at the unfamiliar room: "..."

"Hmph, a few mere humans think they can capture me as a spirit pet? What a pipe dream." The tabby cat elegantly licked its paws, but its voice was completely different from its cute appearance, which was quite rough. "Set up your teleportation array, thanks. I'll treat you to some rats later."

After saying that, he jumped off Sang Ying's shoulder and was about to go out when a male voice suddenly sounded outside the door: "Fairy, will Mimi stay here to rest for the next few days?"

The tabby cat said "I'll cook it," then slammed on the brakes, its tail standing on end. Looking around but unable to find an exit, it returned to Sang Ying's side.

"Quick! Little girl, let me hide under your skirt!"

As Sang Ying looked at the tabby cat, a thought arose in her mind: in the group she had accidentally joined last night, the White Cat Swordsman was searching everywhere for a talking tabby cat.

Humans are divided into realms, and demons are divided into ranks. A demon that has condensed a demon core is at least at the level of a great demon.

She squatted down. "I know the White Cat Swordsman."

The tabby cat's eyes widened instantly, and it crouched defensively, ready to make a desperate escape at any moment.

Sang Ying spoke up at the right moment: "But I'm not here to take you back."

She pointed to the teleportation array she had just passed by, "I was just an innocent passerby on my way to Beiyuan. You bumped into the teleportation array and caused a malfunction. Based on your aura, I was teleported to Yaochi, where you've been these past few days, and I can't go back."

The tabby cat blushed, looking embarrassed, and flicked its tail. "I didn't mean to. Who knew this teleportation array was so bad? I'll compensate you."

Hearing the footsteps outside the door getting closer, Sang Ying said slowly, "I can help you hide, but in return, you have to promise to do something for me."

"I smell something! Hide and seek is over, come out, Mimi!"

White Cat Swordsman rubbed his hands together, then suddenly pushed open the door, only to see a girl in white sitting at the table, holding a rabbit in her arms.

The girl looked up at the sound, her eyes cold and clear.

"What brings you here, Immortal Lord?"

The white cat swordsman was taken aback. Under her gaze, his carefree posture suddenly became restrained, and he stood up straight with his sword on his back.

"Excuse me, miss, I'm looking for a white, no... grayish-brown cat. Have you seen it?"

The girl frowned slightly, as if recalling something: "I did see it the day before yesterday. It took over my rabbit's burrow and fell asleep. After waking up, it went in that direction."

It was something Mimi was capable of doing, and the white cat swordsman believed it without a doubt. After thanking her, he ran wildly in the direction she pointed, quickly becoming a small black dot on the horizon.

"Hahaha, Wang Dashan, you didn't expect me to be right in front of you, did you! You can't even catch me right in front of you, hahahaha..."

The quiet rabbit suddenly jumped up, beaming with pride, its short tail held high. "Little girl, what's your name?"

"Sang Ying".

"Okay, I'll be your friend. You can just call me Sang Biao."

The rabbit licked its paws. "What do you want me to do for you?"

A dull ache throbbed in her lower abdomen. Sang Ying placed the tea on the fire to boil. "Tell me first, you were in Yaochi a few days ago. How come you're in another place today, and being chased by someone?"

Sang Biao clicked his tongue. "They've got their eye on me. They're up to no good. After all, I'm so dashing and handsome, it's not surprising they want me."

"What exactly happened?"

"Well, I slept here the night before last, and when I woke up today, I found myself on the road."

"I could tell those guys were no good, and they stank horribly, so I ran away when they weren't looking. When I was being chased, I happened to see your teleportation array and jumped in."

Sang Ying seemed to be deep in thought. Yaochi... the fairy who disappeared in the case involved was from Yaochi.

Calculating the time again, it turned out to be the same time when Sang Biao was taken away; it was the same case.

Sang Ying poured herself a cup of hot tea, looked at the tea soup, took out a pill, crushed it, and sprinkled it into the water. Sure enough, the tea changed color.

Since no fairy lived in this room, the Immortal Alliance did not inspect it carefully.

Sang Biao was shocked: "They even poisoned me to get me. They went to such lengths. Luckily, I didn't drink the tea yesterday."

"It's just some sleeping potion. Their target isn't you, it's the fairy of Yaochi."

Sang Ying recounted the cases from the past two days, then suddenly paused, asking curiously, "You didn't drink tea, so how come you didn't notice you were taken away? And you only woke up today."

Sang Biao froze, then slowly turned his head away.

Sang Ying: "..." Is this the alertness of a cat when it's sleeping?

Judging that Leng Mian had already arrived in Bei Yuan, Sang Ying took out the glass mirror and explained the unexpected situation on her side to him.

No reply.

Sang Ying frowned, and Sang Biao stretched lazily. "Didn't you say something happened over there? It's probably been sealed off. The Immortal Alliance often uses this tactic, only allowing entry but not exit, not even a bird can fly out."

...It seems those two from the Wantong Chamber of Commerce were right; this matter is indeed very serious.

Sang Ying checked the teleportation array route and found that the previous stop was in the middle of nowhere, a very remote place, with a small town only 400 miles away.

Those people's target wasn't Sang Biao, but the Fairy Yaochi who lived in those rooms. Sang Biao was just an unexpected bonus, which they took with them.

Sang Ying quickly made a decision and stood up.

"Can you still find the place you escaped from?"

Sang Biao: "What do you want to do? Oh, I get it, you want to go find the enemy's lair yourself, right? But those people are pretty tough, it took me a lot of effort to escape, do you think you can do it with your weakness?"

Sang Ying glanced at it: "Why should I go over there?"

Sang Biao turned his head, "Meow meow meow?"

A sliver of light streamed through the window, illuminating the girl's slightly curved eyebrows and gentle smile.

Despite the bright smile, Sang Biao felt a chill run down his spine for no reason and twitched his cat ears.

"There are plenty of people who want this great job."