Chapter Fifty: The Silent Struggle
As the ruler of the Underworld, Rong Jiang oversees the life and death of countless souls, and her mastery of the arts of tracing bloodlines and understanding karmic connections has reached unparalleled heights. Just as Jiu Ya approached her, earnestly mentioning her search for her family, Rong Jiang had already subtly cast her spell. With a mere thought, a wisp of extremely subtle underworld power wrapped around a single strand of Jiu Ya's hair that was slightly fluttering as she moved.
For her, tracing her bloodline back was as natural as breathing.
The results of the spell were clear and accurate—the smiling demon lord before him did indeed have a portion of human blood flowing through his veins. Although it had become thin and weak due to the dominance of demon blood, the mortal mark originating from his maternal lineage was real and undeniable.
This dispelled some of Rong Jiang's initial doubts. At least, the Demon Lord's pretext of "searching for relatives" in Linzi wasn't entirely baseless.
"Huh? Really? But nobody can say for sure." Jiu Ya blinked her clear, innocent eyes. "They might have been one family hundreds of years ago, right, Ranran?"
However, at the very moment Rong Jiang completed her spell, Jiu Ya's exceptionally sharp spiritual senses, honed by her cultivation of the "Secret Sense of Shadows" technique, flickered slightly. The sensation was fleeting, so faint as to be almost an illusion, vanishing without a trace before any concrete information could be grasped.
Jiu Ya was slightly taken aback, instinctively focusing her attention to investigate, but she could no longer sense anything unusual. The surrounding energy flowed smoothly as usual, and Rong Jiang's aura remained cool and peaceful, as if the slight fluctuation just now was merely a hallucination caused by her excessive tension. Was it an illusion? She wondered to herself, or was the aura of the human realm simply different from that of the demon realm, occasionally causing such inexplicable fluctuations? She ultimately attributed it to the difference in environment and did not delve deeper into it. After all, she would never have imagined that this "delicate" girl beside her could perform such profound magic without her noticing.
Bai Yu and Li Yue, standing behind her, were completely oblivious to this. Their strength and spiritual perception were far inferior to Jiu Ya's. Rong Jiang's magic was to them like a mountain stream to an ant—they were not even on the same level, and it didn't even cause a ripple.
Rong Jiang noticed Jiu Ya's extremely subtle moment of surprise, realizing that the other's extraordinary demonic senses seemed to have caught something, yet she was powerless to delve deeper. Her face remained impassive, and she said gently, "What A-Jiu said makes sense, but my parents are deceased, and I am now all alone. The events of our ancestors are indeed difficult to explain without detailed records in the family genealogy."
However, Jiu Ya's unusually enthusiastic and persistent inquiries about the Rong family still made Rong Jiang wary. What exactly was this Demon Lord's intention? His obsession with the Rong surname—could it be… that his true goal was to investigate her background?
The thought almost made Rong Jiang chuckle. She had already removed all the spies the Demon Realm had planted after unifying the Underworld; presumably, the lack of intelligence had forced this Demon Lord to personally search for clues from her homeland in the mortal realm? But if that were the case, the Demon Realm's methods were far too... childish? Sending the ruler of a realm to act as a spy?
Moreover, according to the information gathered in the Underworld about this new Demon Lord, he is described as "calm and wise, composed and decisive, and meticulous." But the one before them... has a smile that is almost foolish, and his words and actions reveal an inappropriate innocence and enthusiasm, which is completely different from the image in the rumors.
The contrast is just too great.
At this moment, Jiu Ya was grinning from ear to ear, as if she had encountered a great joy, which was completely unrelated to the words "calm and wise".
"It doesn't matter whether it's true or not!" Jiu Ya waved her hand, looking completely unconcerned, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Rong Jiang. "The important thing is that we met! That's fate!"
'Fate? What kind of ill-fated fate?' Bai Yu, following behind, couldn't bear to watch, internally ranting. What's wrong with Your Majesty today? Are you possessed? Why are you so attentive to this mortal woman? This enthusiastic demeanor is like that of a completely different person! A bold thought uncontrollably popped into her head—Your Majesty…could it be that she has taken a liking to this Miss Rong? The Demon Realm is known for its open-mindedness; intermarriage between races and even same-sex unions are not uncommon, but for this to happen to Your Majesty…Bai Yu felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.
If Jiu Ya could hear Bai Yu's thoughts, she would probably perform a scene of a demon lord banging his head against a wall on the spot.
“Meeting is fate, Ah Jiu is absolutely right,” Rong Jiang replied, wanting to see what tricks this Demon Lord was up to.
"They say it takes five hundred glances in a past life to earn a single brush in this one." Jiu Ya mustered her courage and quoted a line from her past life, trying her best to make her eyes appear incredibly sincere. "The moment I saw Ran Ran, I felt an extraordinary sense of closeness, like we were old friends I'd known for ages." She even got goosebumps saying it herself, but she was determined to curry favor with Ran Ran!
Bai Yu, listening from the side, was so disgusted she wanted to dig her toes into the ground and cover her eyes. Your Majesty! Do you realize that your tone is exactly like those spoiled brats in those folk tales who harass respectable women—the lowest level, the kind who only knows how to talk a good game!
Upon hearing this, Rong Jiang's face revealed a perfectly timed hint of doubt: "Hmm?" Her voice rose slightly at the end, carrying a questioning tone, but inwardly she found it increasingly amusing. This Demon Lord didn't seem to be very committed to his acting; his flirting skills were truly clumsy.
Seeing that the other party did not immediately refuse with a cold face, Jiu Ya became bolder and spoke faster: "I just heard from Ranran that your uncle and aunt have passed away and you are all alone now... If Ranran doesn't mind, you can stay at my inn while you are in Linzi, so that we can look after each other?"
Rong Jiang's doubts deepened, but she showed no sign on her face. Instead, she smiled slightly and said, "Wouldn't that be too much of a bother for A-Jiu?" She was just worried about not finding a suitable reason to observe this strangely behaving Demon Lord up close, and the other party had taken the initiative to invite her. It was like a pillow for someone who was sleepy.
Of the six realms of heaven and earth, the human realm is the weakest, yet also the one with the most delicate balance. If the power of immortals, demons, monsters, and ghosts were to descend unchecked, it would inevitably trigger a catastrophe. Having once been human, she knew the suffering deeply and would never allow any force to treat the human realm as a chessboard to be manipulated at will.
"Not at all! Not at all!" Jiu Ya was overjoyed to see that Rong Jiang didn't refuse. "I'm happier than ever!" In her eyes, this was undoubtedly a major step forward in her plan to curry favor with Rong Jiang! The first step in building a closer relationship had been a success!
Thus, each with their own thoughts, they reached an agreement and continued traveling together in a seemingly harmonious atmosphere. Bai Yu and Li Yue exchanged glances, and could only follow silently.
They had already crossed the stone bridge and arrived at the other side of Peach Blossom Creek. Compared to the solemnity and reverence on the other side of the creek, this side was much more lively and bustling. By the creek, some people murmured to the flowing water, entrusting their wishes to the water; children ran and laughed, flying all kinds of kites; the cries of vendors rose and fell, mixed with the sweet fragrance of peach blossoms.
Friends in twos and threes sat on the ground under the lush peach trees, with wine jugs and cups in the middle, chatting and laughing, very content. Under several other trees, clean white cloths were spread out, allowing pink and white petals to fall and accumulate in a thick layer.
Jiuya pointed curiously at the peach trees covered with white cloth: "Ranran, what are they doing?"
"Today is the Peach Blossom Festival, so naturally we're collecting peach petals to make wine," Rong Jiang explained softly, her gaze sweeping over the busy figures. "People in Linzi believe that the peach blossoms on this day are imbued with auspicious blessings, and the peach blossom wine made from them not only has a unique flavor but is also beneficial to health."
"Peach blossom wine?" Jiu Ya's eyes lit up immediately. She sniffed hard, and the air seemed to be filled with a fragrance that was clearer and sweeter than ordinary wine, completely different from the wine she had drunk in the Demon Palace before, which was made from the spiritual flowers and fruits of the Demon Realm. "Is this the taste? It smells so good! It feels completely different from the peach blossom wine I've drunk before!"
Seeing her gluttonous expression, Rong Jiang smiled slightly and explained, "It is said that there is a fairy mountain near Linzi City, where a fairy named Shuangcheng once lived in seclusion. The fairy planted peach trees all over the mountain, forming a forest that stretched for miles. One day, seeing the peach blossoms in full bloom, the fairy was moved and picked the freshest petals, soaking them in wine using a secret method. The resulting wine was clear, sweet, and fragrant, with an aroma that could be smelled for miles, making it unforgettable. The ancient recipe for peach blossom wine in Linzi is said to have been passed down from that fairy Shuangcheng, which is why it is different from other places."
"Is this the legendary peach blossom wine sold on the street?" Jiu Ya asked, pointing to a tavern not far away that had a banner that read "Aged Peach Blossom Wine".
Rong Jiang gently shook her head: "Although the peach blossom wine sold on the streets and alleys is also called peach blossom wine, it is mostly a seasonal item, and the process and ingredients are ordinary. If you want to taste the truly excellent aged peach blossom wine made according to the ancient method, you will have to wait for some time, or go to a few specific time-honored brands."
"Why?" Jiu Ya asked, puzzled. "Aren't there peach blossoms right now? And I see people are already drinking there." She pointed to the people drinking under the trees.
"Drinking peach blossom wine during the Peach Blossom Festival is a refined pleasure in keeping with the season. However, to achieve the best flavor, one must wait until the peach blossoms are in full bloom in March, when they are harvested, carefully brewed, and aged in cellars for a period of time. Usually, the best time to enjoy the newly brewed wine is around the end of March, or even around Qingming Festival. And truly good wine requires years of aging," Rong Jiang patiently explained.
"I never knew there were so many intricacies! Ranran, you know so much! I've really learned something new today!" Jiu Ya exclaimed sincerely, feeling like a country bumpkin who had just arrived in the city. She had originally thought that picking peach blossoms in the spring to make wine was all it took.
Rong Jiang smiled calmly: "These are just some local customs and common sense, nothing special."
"Then... how exactly is this fine peach blossom wine made? Ranran, do you know?" Jiu Ya's curiosity was completely piqued, turning her into a walking encyclopedia of questions.
This was no secret to Rong Jiang, so she readily replied, "The ancient method is roughly as follows: Take five ounces of fresh peach blossoms with morning dew, three mace of wolfberries, and two mace of angelica root, pound them together into flakes, mix them evenly with six mace of high-quality peach blossom honey, then pour in one pound and eight ounces of carefully steamed 'Sanbai wine,' seal it, and place it in a cool place. After twenty-five days, open the seal, filter out the dregs, and it is ready to drink. If you want an even better flavor, it is even better to cellar it for a year or two."
"Oh! I see!" Jiu Ya nodded repeatedly, looking as if she had just understood. In reality, her mind was a complete mess: 'How many grams is five liang? How many is three qian? What kind of wine is Sanbaijiu? Why is it such a specific number as one jin and eight liang?' This former modern office worker, now the supreme ruler of the demon realm, was completely ignorant of these traditional units of measurement and brewing techniques, a typical case of "lazy and ignorant." Although she had drunk many fine wines and could distinguish between good and bad, she was utterly incapable of explaining them clearly.
But she still tried her best to maintain an "I understand" expression, afraid of exposing her "ignorance" and ruining the "good" impression that Rong Jiang had just established in her mind.
Rong Jiang took in her feigned composure but actually bewildered gaze, finding it amusing but not pointing it out. Instead, she turned her gaze slightly to the distant peach grove, which resembled a hazy, rosy cloud, a faint smile playing on her lips.
This demon lord seems to be much more interesting than she imagined.
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