Chapter 4 "You have to be on my side."...
Several months have passed, and Miao Lian still hasn't gotten tired of this interspecies friendship game, while Jiang Huai Su hasn't found an opportunity to slit his throat.
Feeling the bitterness of living under the devil's rule, Jiang Huaisu cursed Miaolian countless times in her heart, but she still had to maintain a gentle and pleasant appearance on her face, lest she be put into the pot one day and turned into a fried magpie.
She felt like Finley the puppet in a thriller comedy, having attempted to assassinate her master eight hundred times, succeeding zero times. Forget assassinations, she'd never even managed a successful prank.
Every time he tried to trip up Miaolian, he always saw through her tricks and turned the tables on her, making fun of her instead.
She deliberately flew very high, circling around Miaolian, trying to talk to him and attract his attention. Her real intention was to make him ignore the road ahead, step into a mud puddle, and ideally fall and get a belly full of mud.
As it turned out, Miaolian didn't fall into the trap. Instead, because all her attention was focused on him, she was caught off guard and bumped into a tree trunk, falling flat on her face.
Miaolian was overjoyed: "The saying 'harming others will ultimately harm oneself' is indeed true."
...So he figured it out. Jiang Huaisu was extremely frustrated, remaining motionless in the position she had fallen to the ground, facing the earth and with her back to the sky.
Miao Lian picked her up and shook her, brushing the dust off her feathers. "No good, you're like this. You need to use some offensive magic to make me suffer, right?"
"You're supposed to be a demon, how come you're so weak? In folk tales, demons kill people like cutting vegetables." He made a throat-slitting gesture.
She said sullenly, "I haven't cultivated to that level yet."
"Then you should focus on your training, so we can do some exciting things later."
"What's so exciting?" Jiang Huaisu was shocked. Would Miaolian want to play a knife-fighting game with her in the future? Is she now thinking that she is too weak and can't be her opponent?
Sure enough, after thinking for a moment, Miaolian said cheerfully, "How about we spar a bit? Demons are much tougher than humans, they won't break easily, don't worry."
Jiang Huaisu immediately reminded him, "I haven't even taken human form yet, so I can't wield swords or knives, and I don't have fists."
"So you need to focus on your cultivation." The topic shifted again, "Have you read the books I gave you last month?"
"...I've read them." But she had some doubts about the authority of those books.
The titles of "The Qi-Inducing Longevity Technique," "The Moonlit Body Tempering Record," and "The Return of All Laws to Their Origin" sound impressive, but these are all old books that Miaolian has picked up from a wandering Taoist priest. They have been through many hands, and the covers are missing edges and corners, and the ink on the inner pages is blurred.
She asked tactfully, "Have you practiced according to those books?"
"I practiced with it and found it useful before giving it to you."
"...Then have you mastered the art of immortality?" Jiang Huaisu was a little dumbfounded. She had been thinking that one day she could outlive Miaolian, but in the end, she was the one who achieved immortality and left behind a black-haired man who had become a white-feathered bird.
“I can’t master it.” Miao Lian shook her head. “That old Taoist said this book is only sold to those with a destined connection, which shows that I have no affinity with immortal techniques.”
"But he sold the book to you."
“That’s because I paid more.” Miao Lian’s face was gloomy. “I raised the price to ten times the original price, and then he changed his tune and said that I have exceptional talent and a deep affinity for immortality. Even if the Daoist arts are difficult to master, it’s okay to give it a try.”
Jiang Huaisu suppressed a laugh and put on a serious face: "Oh, I see. Don't be discouraged, maybe that book is useless. I'll try practicing it and tell you what I've learned."
What she was really thinking was, if Miaolian failed but she succeeded, wouldn't she be able to thoroughly humiliate this top student? She'd finally get her revenge!
My motivation instantly doubled!
The book mentions that clean water sources can gather spiritual energy and enhance cultivation results. There happens to be a sea nearby, which can be utilized.
Miaolian didn't mind the trouble and took her to the seaside to meditate and cultivate her mind, where they sat for a whole day.
The salty sea breeze blowing on your face has a wonderfully calming effect.
Jiang Huaisu sat on the reef, practicing breathing exercises and regulating her breathing. Following the instructions in the book, she forgot her own existence, merged into this world, and used her heart to perceive all things and gather spiritual energy.
Mountains are mountains, seas are seas, clouds are clouds. Everything in the world slows down, and she seems to become some kind of flowing substance, stretching towards the horizon, hearing sounds from afar, and seeing landscapes from afar.
After a day of cultivation, she was often exhausted. At such times, Miaolian would carry her on her head and take her back to the manor.
Miaolian is right, those books are indeed useful, they teach real skills.
She was puzzled. Miao Lian was clearly one of the exceptionally gifted individuals, possessing all nine orifices and four limbs. How could she practice it while Miao Lian couldn't?
"Why don't you give it a try?" she asked Miaolian.
"There's no need. If you can't train, you can't train. It's just a pity that you got something for nothing, even though we spent a lot of money on it."
"Don't be so stingy. You've kept her locked up for so long, consider these books as compensation for her emotional distress." Of course, she didn't dare say this aloud, fearing that Miaolian would change her mind and take the books back.
Another winter has arrived, and with Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, red lanterns have been hung up early in the mansion as preparations for the festival begin.
But if you remove these brightly colored decorations, everything seems no different from usual.
The mansion did not become lively with the arrival of the Spring Festival; in fact, it was even more deserted because several old women had taken leave to go back to their hometowns to visit relatives.
Today, after leaving home, Miaolian managed to get rid of his personal attendants. However, he did not take this opportunity to go to the outskirts of the city for some fun. Instead, he carried Jiang Huaisu and walked aimlessly for a while before finally sitting down on a stone step not far from home.
Jiang Huaisu was used to this; Miaolian often acted on a whim, doing inexplicable things. Perhaps she had excess energy and, lacking playmates her own age, had to find ways to pass the time.
Fine snowflakes fell on his eyelashes and hair, obscuring his already sparse color and making him look even paler, as if they were about to melt away with his breath.
“Five hundred and thirty-two legs.” He leaned back. “I’m not counting anymore, it’s so boring.”
"There are 531. There's an old man whose right leg is made of wood, so he doesn't count."
Why are you counting too?
“…Aren’t we in a competition?” Jiang Huaisu jumped out of his arms. “I thought you were competing with me to see who could last the longest.”
"Alright, let's start the competition again from now on, counting only the real legs." Miaolian perked up, pulled her back, and hugged her in her arms like a hand warmer.
When they reached the 274th count, someone stopped in front of them.
The person and the bird had their view blocked, and both looked up at the same time.
The first thing that came into view was a richly dressed child, wearing a tiger-head hat, about eight or nine years old, with a malicious smile on his face, his dark, grape-like eyes staring at Miaolian. Behind him stood two slightly older boys, whose clothes were not so elaborate, their cheeks red from the cold.
At this age, they haven't learned to disguise their malice in more subtle ways; their eyes clearly say, "We're here to cause you trouble."
The boy in the lead, wearing a tiger-head hat, raised his chin and stepped onto the stone steps next to Miaolian: "Hey."
Miaolian: "Huh?"
"What?! Why didn't you greet us when you saw us?"
"I didn't see it just now."
"Now you see." Tiger-headed hat threw down the candied hawthorn in his hand. "Zhen Miaolian, enough nonsense, do you dare to come with us somewhere?"
"I'm not going."
"You!" the tiger-headed hat choked, "you coward!"
Jiang Huaisu hadn't figured out the situation yet, but she could tell that these children and Zhen Miaolian knew each other, and perhaps they had some past grievances.
Miaolian spoke again, but not to the tiger-headed hat, but to her, saying, "Help me deal with them."
“Chirp chirp.” She chirped like a bird.
Tiger-headed Hat mocked mercilessly: "Zhen Miaolian, talking to birds? Are you out of your mind?"
Miaolian said good-naturedly, "She's not an ordinary bird; she can understand what I'm saying."
"So what? It's protecting its master, so I'll stew it along with the whole thing."
The man in the tiger-head hat was extremely arrogant, clearly having come prepared. He turned around and gave a look, and the two children behind him immediately moved to snatch the bird.
Jiang Huaisu broke free from Miaolian's embrace, spread her wings, and flew to a height beyond their reach. The delicate gold chain was stretched out, making a crisp clattering sound.
Miaolian rested her chin on her knees and said lazily, "She's very capable, don't underestimate her."
Jiang Huaisu: "Chatter."
“No matter how powerful it is, it’s still just a bird.” Tiger-headed Hat said impatiently. “Forget about the flying one for now.” He pointed at Zhen Miaolian. “Take him away first.”
The two children changed their target and tried to pull Zhen Miaolian away again.
“I’m not finished yet,” he said slowly. “My bird can not only understand human speech, but also speak human speech.”
The two children tugged at his clothes, chattering excitedly, "Don't brag! Birds that can talk? That's a demon..."
Jiang Huaisu swooped down, swept past the two heads below, and plucked a few strands of hair from their heads.
The two children released Miaolian, clutching their heads and dodging left and right, howling in pain.
"Boss, the birds won't let us catch this kid!"
Tiger-headed Hat shouted angrily, "You stinky bird, I'll kill you and drink the soup!"
Jiang Huaisu turned a corner and charged at him, her sharp beak just inches from his eyes, startling the tiger-headed hat-wielder into quickly closing his eyes. However, she merely snatched his hat and tossed it high into the tree branch, out of his reach.
Dealing with a few brats is a piece of cake. She just couldn't understand why Miaolian didn't do it herself.
He sat there motionless, spouting nonsense like "My bird can talk" or "My bird is amazing," like a primary school student bragging about "My dad can fly a plane."
"Never mind then." Jiang Huaisu thought, "This is a good opportunity to test my cultivation progress. Zhen Miaolian can just sit in the audience and watch. After all, he has talent but no destiny for immortality; he can't even learn magic."
She flapped her wings, and her spiritual energy, carrying the air, created a gust of wind. The three children were caught off guard by the sudden gust and could not open their eyes, so they retreated one after another.
The shortest one tripped and fell while backing up, landing hard on his bottom in horse manure, his face turning red with anger.
"...Let him go this time!" The boy, now without his tiger-head hat, was crying. But out of pride, he had to find an excuse before running away. "My mother said that a strong wind means it's going to rain. Let's get out of here first. I don't want to get my clothes wet."
The other two, who were completely subservient to him, lost all will to fight upon hearing this. They uttered harmless but harmless threats to Zhen Miaolian while running away with great speed and shoving.
Miaolian shaded her eyes with her hand, watching the three figures disappear into the distance, and smiled with narrowed eyes: "Well done, little bird, extra treat tonight."
Jiang Huaisu stepped on his head: "Actually, you don't need magic to teach them a lesson."
"We've learned our lesson."
"ah?"
"Otherwise, why do you think they came looking for trouble with me? It's because I beat them up before, and they want revenge."
So it turns out they were the ones in the wrong? Jiang Huaisu was dumbfounded.
“I attended a private school for a while before,” Miaolian continued. “The one wearing the tiger-head hat was my classmate. He couldn’t stand that I was always one step ahead of him, so he tried to cause trouble for me after class, and I beat him up.”
Jiang Huaisu was a little surprised. This was the first time she had heard Miaolian talk about his past. She had always thought that he had never been to school.
“After that, my father dropped out of school for me.”
"Why?"
“He was afraid I would cause trouble at the private school in the future, so he simply let me stay at home, which made him feel more at ease. After all, he knew very well that those little brats combined were no match for me.”
"Am I not just a kid myself..." Jiang Huaisu muttered to herself.
“He’s young and forgetful. So much time has passed, he’s forgotten his old injuries and thinks he’s good again,” Miaolian pointed out sarcastically. “He hired two thugs to provoke me, probably because he felt he couldn’t perform well near my house and wanted to take me somewhere else to have a match.”
"What a bunch of idiots! It would be much easier for them to gang up on me in front of my house, because my dad would join them in beating me up."
He paused for a moment, then added, "But you have to be on my side, Jiang Huaisu. Because we're bound together."
Miaolian proudly swung the bracelet on her wrist.
"..." Jiang Huaisu had no way to refute it.
So far, they are indeed bound by fate. Unless the enemy has overwhelming strength that can defeat Miaolian 100%, she will choose to defect and take the opportunity to run away.
Otherwise, if Miaolian settles the score later, how could she bear his revenge... at least not now.
However, once she cultivates into a powerful demon, the situation will turn around! Jiang Huaisu thought happily.
A note from the author:
----------------------
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
