Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two days have passed since she woke up that day, and Baozhu has been listless ever since.
Perhaps it was because the climate of Jiangbei Prefecture was really unsuitable for foxes with thick fur, and in addition, Baozhu was in pain all over with the slightest movement, so she could only stay in bed and could not move freely.
When Ying Ji died, she took with her the demonic power she had left in the worker ants and the trainee worker ants in various ways.
The queen ant has absolute control over her power.
Therefore, when Ying Ji's demonic power was withdrawn from Baozhu, it did not disappear in a normal way. Instead, in accordance with the ant queen's last wish, it violently exploded within Baozhu's body.
The demonic power had already silently seeped into Baozhu's bloodline, causing her severe injury.
If it were an ordinary person, after suffering such harm, they would probably have already perished along with Ying Ji.
Fortunately, she was a fox spirit.
Baozhu recalled the events and secretly rejoiced.
However, since the meridians are full of blood stasis, it will take a long time to fully recover.
The demonic power that the pearl slowly regained was all used to repair its body, leaving it with no other strength to transform into human form.
The fluffy fox shape requires less effort.
However, while it saved effort, it brought other troubles.
These past two days, Baozhu has been acting like a fox. Li Zhi, for reasons unknown, has completely abandoned the traditional separation between men and women, and has been taking meticulous care of her every day.
Not only did he comb her fur, but he also gently massaged her muscles and bones. He even slept under her bed at night, claiming that he could immediately notice if Baozhu was unwell.
Baozhu is having a very hard time!
Even though she was injured, she was still a vigorous adult fox, and the scholar's actions made her restless and itchy every day.
Unfortunately, she had the will but not the ability.
Baozhu impatiently bared her teeth and extended her claws at him, but this move no longer frightened him. Li Zhi seemed certain that she wouldn't really hurt him, and continued to act without changing his expression.
This is it.
Li Zhi somehow acquired a comb with perfectly rounded teeth and the right length, making it just right for grooming a fox.
Baozhu lay on the bed, the cool air from the ice tray spreading throughout the room, while Li Zhi gently combed her back hair beside her.
Baozhu, feeling content as her hair was combed, raised her head, her eyes narrowing into slits.
Seeing that she was satisfied, Li Zhi changed his posture and began to comb her long, full scarf.
This is intolerable!
Baozhu kept craning her neck, changing the angle for Li Zhi to comb her hair.
This was the first time a fox demon, who had lived two lives, had been served like this.
What a waste of my life.
Baozhu was enjoying herself immensely. Because she was so relaxed, she couldn't help but slowly turn over, lying on her back and revealing her soft belly.
Li Zhi stopped holding the comb.
Baozhu also suddenly regained consciousness.
She remained in the position of her belly turned up, staring wide-eyed at Li Zhi.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became awkward.
Baozhu quickly turned back, grimacing, racking her brains to find some words to explain her behavior just now.
She thought for a moment, then abruptly asked, "Do you think Sai Xue and Xiao Man are doing well?"
"It should be alright."
Baozhu had discussed this topic with Li Zhi many times since she woke up. Each time, Li Zhi patiently told her how he had personally witnessed Xiaoman carrying Saixue away from the ant nest, and how, for some reason, Ji Ren had not sent the Celestial Master to chase after them.
"Xiaoman is strong and Saixue is not too stupid either. They are two monsters. If they don't do evil and attract the attention of the Celestial Master, who can do anything to them?"
Li Zhi patiently explained to Baozhu.
Li Zhi had said this to Baozhu many times. It wasn't that Baozhu didn't believe him, but she only felt at ease when she heard him say it.
"What if they run into Madam Ge and that squinty-eyed man again? Sai Xue and Xiao Man escaped from Ge Family Fort unscathed, and the Celestial Masters didn't arrest them. Won't Madam Ge take her anger out on them because of this?"
This is a new worry that arose after Tianbaozhu had pondered repeatedly these past few days.
Li Zhi also believed that her idea was not without reason.
He couldn't say it aloud, but he still had to soothe Baozhu's feelings. Li Zhi couldn't help but reach out and gently stroke Baozhu's soft, fluffy fur, and said softly, "What kind of coincidence is that? The world is so vast, why would Sai Xue and Xiao Man run into Madam Ge's hands?"
"That's true."
Li Zhi's words persuaded Baozhu once again.
“I saved Sai Xue from danger the first time she was in trouble. Later, in Gejiabao, Xiaoman rescued her again. It seems that this cat demon has nine lives and will surely be able to turn bad luck into good.”
Baozhu found the argument increasingly reasonable, and she stretched out her limbs contentedly, sprawling on the bed like a fox biscuit.
To an outsider, the fox's posture might seem rather inelegant, but to Li Zhi, Baozhu appeared adorable and pitiful.
He smiled and was about to say something when he heard Zhang He's voice coming from the courtyard gate.
"Young Master Li, is this a convenient time?"
Upon hearing this, Baozhu propped her head up and nervously looked out of the courtyard.
She had heard Li Zhi say that although Zhang He was a celestial master, he was willing to cover for her, but by nature, she still couldn't help but feel nervous.
Li Zhi patted her head and said softly, "It's alright, just stay here."
Having said that, he got up and went to open the courtyard gate.
Zhang He stood at the door, looking at the sky with boredom. He thought Li Zhi wouldn't answer the door so quickly, and asked in surprise, "Why so fast?"
"It's only a few dozen steps from inside the house to the door," Li Zhi said, puzzled.
Zhang He covered his mouth and coughed lightly a few times, glancing at Li Zhi's courtyard. It wouldn't take long to walk from the inner room to the courtyard gate, but if there was a fox spirit inside, it would be strange that Li Zhi could appear so quickly.
His dark little fetish stirred again, and Zhang He's eyes were full of interest as he lowered his voice and asked Li Zhi, "How is Miss Fox Demon?"
There is a tacit understanding between men. Before Zhang He finished speaking, Li Zhi instantly knew what the Celestial Master was thinking. He immediately frowned and said unhappily, "Thank you for your trouble, Celestial Master Zhang. She is not fully recovered yet and is still in fox form."
"Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I offended you." Seeing Li Zhi's unpleasant expression, Zhang He realized he was in the wrong and quickly suppressed his inappropriate voyeuristic desires. He apologized repeatedly and then changed the subject seriously, saying, "I came to find you because Xiao Pei was just summoned away by Ji Ren."
Upon hearing this, Li Zhi frowned and asked, "Why was only Master Pei summoned?"
"What else could it be?" Zhang He smiled wryly. "Am I easy to fool, or are you easy to fool?"
These two men are both unfathomable and not easily fooled, so the young and naive Pei Xuanji is naturally the most innocent.
"Ji Ren may have discovered something, but it's not convenient to tell others."
After returning from Gejiabao, the three of them stayed in the Ji residence, rarely venturing out and avoiding outsiders. Ji Ren seemed to have forgotten about them as well, and had not contacted them at all.
Several times, Pei Xuanji couldn't help but want to go to Ji Ren's door to find out what was going on, but Zhang He stopped her.
"Could there be something sinister about this branch of the Strange People's Temple in Jiangbei Prefecture?" Zhang He asked doubtfully.
"Whether there's something fishy going on is hard to say, but it's possible that Ji Ren wants to gain the most from this matter."
When Ji Ren returned to the city from Gejiabao, he looked thoughtful. Li Zhi's mind was entirely on Baozhu at the time, but now, looking back, he realized something was amiss.
Zhang He pondered for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses and said, "You mean, Ji Ren might recognize who Madam Ge is, and that person is somewhat troublesome for him, and he doesn't know how to profit from it?"
"This is just my imagination. We'll only know for sure once Master Pei returns," Li Zhi said.
Yes.
Their wild thoughts at the Ji residence could not compare to the face-to-face conversation between Master Pei and Ji Ren.
Li Zhi exchanged a few more words with Zhang He, agreeing to go find Pei Xuanji together after she returned. Then, in front of Zhang He, he coldly closed the courtyard gate.
They didn't even offer to invite him in for a seat or some tea.
Zhang He scratched his head, realizing he had said the wrong thing, offended the fox demon lady, and seriously offended Li Zhi.
"What are you thinking about all day long? My mouth is always so loose."
Zhang He lightly slapped himself in the face, sighed, and returned to his courtyard.
Li Zhi closed the door and turned around to see the fox peeking out of the window.
When it comes to curiosity, Zhang He is no match for the fox. Even though there was a celestial master outside and he couldn't move, Baozhu still struggled to prop up her head and strain her ears to listen to what the two people at the door were saying.
She's so kind and gentle; I don't know what to do with her.
Li Zhi suppressed the stirrings in his heart and returned to Baozhu's side with a smile.
"Who is this Ji Ren you were talking about? And what's with the ghost in Yiren Temple?" Baozhu was incredibly curious, forgetting all about being reserved, and stared wide-eyed at Li Zhi.
With a smile, Li Zhi slowly sat down beside Baozhu and began to tell her about his chance encounter with the two Celestial Masters, Zhang and Pei, in Xiandu Prefecture. He then explained to Baozhu in detail who Ji Ren was and why there were problems in the branch office of the Strange People's Temple in Xiandu Prefecture.
Baozhu listened with a mixture of understanding and confusion, feeling that even among the most ethereal celestial masters, there existed such intricate and complex relationships, which was truly perplexing to the demon. She said with a sigh, "You mortals are truly terrifying."
Li Zhi did not refute, but raised his eyebrows meaningfully at Baozhu.
Baozhu suddenly realized that her current tattered body was thanks to a few evil monsters.
"Just pretend I didn't say anything," Baozhu quickly added.
After saying that, a thought suddenly came to her mind.
In this world, there are good and bad demons, and there are good and bad humans. So what exactly is the difference between mortals and demons?
Why build a temple for strange people in the human world to take away the demons they believe have done evil and judge their actions according to human laws?
"Why should you decide the order of this world?" Baozhu asked, puzzled.
She stumped Li Zhi.
As a mortal, Li Zhi naturally believed from childhood that mortals were the masters of the world and that the laws of mortals were the only rules in the world. When a demon asked him why he did this, he suddenly could not find a completely legitimate reason.
Li Zhi pondered for a moment and said, "Perhaps everything shouldn't be decided by mortals."
Upon hearing this, Baozhu unconsciously smiled.
From the moment she met Li Zhi in her previous life, she knew that this mortal scholar was intelligent and quick-witted. He was well-versed in the Four Books and Five Classics, and could write exquisite articles as soon as he had a pen and paper. He could always easily handle relationships with others and rise rapidly in the officialdom.
He knows so much, he's so smart.
Baozhu was just a wild fox spirit who liked to sunbathe on the mountaintop; she was neither particularly powerful nor particularly intelligent.
His only skill in life was hunting in the mountains.
The resentment that Baozhu had suppressed in her heart while spending time with Li Zhi eventually evolved into self-doubt.
Perhaps as the wife of a high-ranking official, she could only obediently stay in the inner quarters.
Perhaps receiving Li Zhi's wholehearted love is already the best reward for her, and she shouldn't ask for too much more.
Li Zhi is in the clouds, while Baozhu is in the mud.
She could only look up at him, quietly remaining in the cage built by countless mortals in the world with rules.
Baozhu always believed that everything was her fault.
Even now, she has heard Li Zhi admit with her own ears that the problem that had troubled her all her life was not her fault.
This is the first time that, setting aside romantic entanglements and the identities of men and women, there is a dialogue between the fox demon T Baozhu and the mortal Li Zhi.
She saw Li Zhi frown slightly and say to her with a solemn expression, "We are all creations of heaven and earth, so why should mortals regard themselves as the masters of the world? I think that matters in the world should be judged on their own merits, and should not be judged by the status of a monster or a mortal."
Li Zhi thought about many things. Even if we only consider the matter at hand, we might be able to draw different conclusions from the perspectives of different beings. To be more specific, we also need to know how monsters view things, and so on.
He closed his eyes and mentally reviewed the article, feeling that it was quite well written. Just as he was about to explain it to Baozhu in detail, he realized that perhaps because he was tired, the fox had fallen asleep.
Li Zhi's words caught in his throat.
He chuckled softly and gently stroked Baozhu's back again and again.
Baozhu slept until the sun was about to set.
She unconsciously stretched out in bed, then woke up grimacing in pain.
The room was already somewhat dim. Li Zhi lit an oil lamp on the table, where a food box brought by a servant was placed, but he was nowhere to be seen.
Baozhu struggled to sit up and looked out the window at the small courtyard.
Li Zhi was afraid that she would feel bored, so he always kept the window in the room open, so that Baozhu could get some fresh air and could see what was happening in the courtyard.
It turned out that Zhang He had come looking for Li Zhi again, and they were talking at the courtyard gate.
After saying that, Li Zhi closed the courtyard gate without ceremony and turned to walk into the house.
When his gaze met Baozhu's, he subconsciously raised the corners of his mouth and said, "You're awake. Are you hungry? The food is on the table."
Baozhu had eaten too much at noon and wasn't hungry at the moment. Since she looked like a fox anyway, she lazily shook her head and yawned.
"Is Zhang He looking for you?" Baozhu asked vaguely.
"Yes, Pei Xuanji is back. Zhang He and I are going to find her."
"Then hurry up and go." Baozhu tilted her head in confusion.
"I'll go back to the room to check on you, in case you wake up and I'm not there."
After Li Zhi finished explaining, fearing that Baozhu would find the room too dark, he added some oil to the lamp and trimmed the wick with scissors. Only then did he feel relieved and walked with Zhang He, who was waiting at the door, toward the small courtyard where Pei Xuanji was temporarily staying.
Zhang He was locked out of the door and waited for a long time. He remained good-natured and didn't say a word, only smiling at Li Zhi and saying, "I saw that Xiao Pei didn't look very good when she came back."
Li Zhi shook his head: "She's been gone for so long, I suppose Ji Ren did something that displeased her."
As the two were talking, they arrived at the entrance of Pei Xuanji's courtyard and bumped into Pei Tianshi, who was walking out with a sullen face.
"I was just about to look for you." Pei Xuanji quickly returned to the courtyard and gestured for them to come in and talk.
As she walked, she kept looking towards the gate, as if worried that someone might be spying on her.
“We didn’t see anyone when we came here,” Zhang He said.
"Always be careful." The exhausting experience of the past few days had made Pei Xuanji seem a little overly nervous.
She led Li and Zhang into the dark main room, lit an oil lamp, took out a file from her bosom, placed it on the table, and gestured for the two to open it.
Zhang He was taken aback and asked, "I thought you would come back and complain to us about how annoying Ji Ren is."
Even though the sun was no longer in the sky, the night in Jiangbei Prefecture was still unbearably hot. There was no ice in the room, so Pei Xuanji wiped the sweat from her forehead and gulped down some cool tea. Hearing this, she gave Zhang He a strange look.
Pei Xuanji asked curiously, "Would he really tell me the truth? Before I went there, I knew he would just give me a perfunctory answer, so I said a few words to him and asked him to find someone to take me to the place where the files are stored. I stayed there until dark and actually found something."
Pei Xuanji put down her teacup, still feeling thirsty, so she simply picked up the teapot and poured the tea into her mouth.
"Xiao Pei." Zhang He stared dumbfounded at Pei Xuanji, who was always overly particular, and stammered, "Drink slowly, why are you..."
Pei Xuanji reluctantly put down the teapot, pointed to the files on the table, and said to Zhang He, "Senior, why don't you take a look with Li Zhi?"
"Oh, okay." Zhang He turned his head blankly, looking at the dossier in Li Zhi's hand.
Pei Xuanji finished a pot of tea and finally felt a little better. Then, as if she remembered something, she went into the inner room and started fiddling around.
“Xiao Pei is different now.” With the dossier right in front of him, Zhang He’s attention was still on Pei Xuanji. He whispered to Li Zhi.
"With more experience, you'll naturally improve," Li Zhi replied dismissively.
He calmly and carefully studied the case file, his brows furrowing more and more as he read.
At this moment, Pei Xuanji rushed out of the inner room. It turned out that she felt hot, so she went inside and tied her hair into a tight bun. With the bun on her round face, she looked like two candied hawthorns.
Zhang He looked at her and found it increasingly amusing, laughing so hard his eyes disappeared.
Pei Xuanji ignored him and, after sitting down, said to Li Zhi, "Young Master Li, have you noticed anything?"
"Hmm," Li Zhi responded, still holding the file and examining it closely.
The two of them were speaking in cryptic language, leaving Zhang He completely bewildered. He asked, "What's wrong?"
Pei Xuanji sighed and patiently explained to Zhang He, "After you told me about the situation in Gejiabao, I felt that something was wrong. The ant queen was so strong and yet so weak. It's really strange. Who exactly is that mortal who is with the ant queen? Is he the Celestial Master from the Immortal Crossing Palace? And who is that monster that broke out of the formation? So I went to investigate."
She pointed to the dossier in Li Zhi's hand and recalled, "I remember the records about Gejiabao in Xiandu Prefecture were like this."
Pei Xuanji tried hard to recall.
Li Zhi put down the case file in his hand and calmly replied, "We received a report from the farmers that they went to Gejiabao to exorcise the demon, but found that the fortified village had already sunk underground, leaving only ruins on the ground. They did not discover any demon causing trouble. This was on the tenth day of the twelfth month of the second year of Longqing."
“Yes, yes, that’s it.” Pei Xuanji exclaimed, “The scholar’s memory is definitely much better than ours.”
Li Zhi picked up the Jiangbei Prefecture dossier and handed it to Zhang He, pointing to one of the entries and reading aloud: "According to a merchant's report, the group went to Gejiabao to exorcise a demon, fought a great battle with a snake demon, and drove it out of the Jiangbei Prefecture territory. This occurred on the first day of the twelfth month of the second year of the Longqing reign."
Longqing was an era name from nearly a hundred years ago. These two volumes show that in the twelfth month of Longqing, within just ten days, the huge Gejiabao fortress experienced some unknown change and sank underground.
“A snake demon.” Zhang He grasped the key point. “There was once a snake demon in Gejiabao.”
“Yes.” Pei Xuanji said, and then took out another book from her bosom.
Li Zhi took it and saw that it was the local gazetteer of Jiangbei Prefecture.
Pei Xuanji told him to turn to the page she had marked and gestured for them to read it.
Zhang He focused his attention and read: "In the second year of Longqing, Ruan Tianzheng led two hundred soldiers to break through Gejiabao and beheaded one hundred and fifty-one bandit leaders. From then on, there were no more bandits in Jiangbei Prefecture."
“Ruan Tianzheng,” Zhang He murmured to himself, “such a familiar name, it seems I’ve heard it somewhere before.”
“Ruan Tianzheng, a native of Xiandu Prefecture, once served as Minister of War.” Li Zhi frowned and reminded Zhang He, “Ruan Garden was the residence that Ruan Tianzheng purchased before his death.”
"Ah! It's him!" Zhang He exclaimed in realization.
Minister Ruan, who died many years ago, seems to have become involved in the current case again, shrouding the already suspicious Gejiabao in an even deeper fog of mystery.
“None of you saw it, but I saw Ji Ren fight that monster.” Pei Xuanji boldly guessed, “That monster was extremely fast, ruthless, and had a hard body, as if it were wearing a layer of armor.”
"I suspect that he is the snake demon from a hundred years ago."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com