Chapter Sixty-Six: Traveling with My Daughter
Regarding the matter of whether or not to acknowledge her relatives, Jiu Ya had never really planned to do so. She wasn't Ziwei, who insisted on presenting a token to acknowledge her father, feeling that not acknowledging him would betray her mother's dying wish. Even Ziwei had a folding fan and paintings; what did she have? Nothing at all. Just being able to find out which family she belonged to was already quite an achievement. Standing before the former site of the Li family mansion, gazing at the unfamiliar plaque, Jiu Ya felt a complex mix of emotions.
Moreover, there was another reality that had to be considered. Jiu Ya pursed her lips, her gaze sweeping over the pedestrians on the street. These mortals were so fragile, their lifespans as short as mayflies; if she rashly acknowledged them, she feared it would only bring them unnecessary disaster.
It's said that her maternal grandmother was born two hundred years ago, roughly the great-grandfather of the last head of the Shenyan Lane family. Now, a century has passed since that head of the family. Judging by Jiu Ya's current appearance, she's probably the same age as the younger generation of the Li family (whose surname is unknown after the name change). How would she explain recognizing them? "Hello, my maternal grandmother is the younger sister of one of your family heads, Li Boyi. If you don't mind, you can call me 'Grandma,' I don't mind calling you a younger generation." Saying it like that, people would think she'd encountered a lunatic. Jiu Ya laughed self-deprecatingly; the thought of it was absurd.
Having found her former home and arrived in Linzi, Jiu Ya felt she had fulfilled her duty. Gazing at the vermilion gate, she seemed to see, through time, her grandmother's figure playing there as a child. At that moment, she suddenly understood the origin of her mother's obsession before her death—it was a longing for roots, a pursuit of belonging.
The family reunion could be considered over, and Rong Jiang thought Jiu Ya was going to say goodbye. However, to her surprise, Jiu Ya earnestly invited her to travel together, using some high-sounding reason. Rong Jiang looked at Jiu Ya's feigned pitiful appearance, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes. This Demon Lord was far more interesting than she had imagined.
She claimed that her family had been very strict with her since childhood, and since she had finally gotten a chance to come out, of course she wanted to have some fun. She said that out of pity for her, Rong Jiang had to agree to accompany her, otherwise she would throw a tantrum. Jiu Ya tugged at Rong Jiang's sleeve, blinking her eyes like a child begging for candy. If the people of the Demon Realm saw this, they would probably be utterly astonished.
Arriving in Linzi, having passed the Peach Blossom Festival and acquired the Cheng Guang Sword, Rong Jiang, who originally had nothing left to do in the mortal realm, was forced by Jiu Ya's shamelessness to agree to play with her. Rong Jiang sighed softly, but did not shake off Jiu Ya's hand. Perhaps it was because she had not felt such vibrant life force for so long that she could not bear to refuse.
After leaving Linzi, the group of four traveled and enjoyed the scenery along the way. They arrived at their next city, which, though not as bustling as Linzi, had its own unique charm. Shops lined both sides of the cobblestone streets, their signs swaying gently in the wind. However, for some reason, everyone in this city seemed uneasy. Pedestrians hurried along, their eyes darting around, as if they were avoiding some unseen danger.
After entering the city, Jiu Ya happily pulled Rong Jiang to look around, but she noticed that every shop owner seemed to be forcing a smile, which dampened Jiu Ya's spirits. She had originally wanted to buy some local specialty snacks for Rong Jiang, but seeing the shopkeepers' trembling appearance, she immediately lost interest.
Jiu Ya complained, "What's wrong with the people in this city? Why do they all have that expression? Like someone owes them a fortune!"
"Yes! Ordinary shopkeepers would be overjoyed to see customers, not looking so glum, it's such a downer," Bai Yu chimed in. She keenly sensed the tense atmosphere in the air and subconsciously moved half a step closer to Jiu Ya, adopting a protective stance.
Doing business like this is truly disappointing. Jiu Ya isn't usually short-tempered, but as a customer, she doesn't expect to be treated like royalty, but at least she shouldn't have such a sour face. How can anyone stay here with that kind of attitude?
After they left the shop, they overheard the shopkeeper whispering to the vendors at the next stall, "Are they from out of town? How dare they come here at this hour? Don't they want to die?" Although their voices were soft, they could still hear them.
"Who knows who they are! They look unfamiliar. Maybe they're some kind of ruthless monster! It's the right thing to not talk to them!" Another vendor's voice was filled with obvious fear.
"You're right! I didn't dare talk to them! Bro, I think we should pack up and go home! It's too scary outside! Who knows if that monster will suddenly jump out and kill us!"
"Doesn't that monster always kill silently? We're safer staying in a more visible place. It would be terrible if we ran into it on our way home!"
"Indeed! What on earth is this monster?! Why doesn't the official hurry up and invite a high-ranking monk to perform a ritual to subdue it? These past few months have caused widespread panic."
"Who knows? I heard from Da Hu's mother that there's some kind of temple a hundred miles outside our city, and the head monk there is incredibly efficacious. If the officials had invited them here sooner, wouldn't this monster have been gone?"
"Sigh, what a mess this has become. If things weren't so unstable right now, we might as well have gone and invited a high-ranking monk ourselves!"
They were just talking; everyone knew that hiring someone to perform a ritual would cost a lot of money. They were just making a living with their small business, so where would they get the extra money to hire a monk to rid the people of evil? Their voices gradually lowered, filled with helplessness and despair.
It's said that one shouldn't speak ill of others behind their backs, especially since Jiu Ya and her group are all sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, having overheard the entire conversation between the two vendors. Jiu Ya and Rong Jiang exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.
Jiu Ya was both amused and exasperated. "What do they mean by this? Do they think we're monsters? Are you kidding me?" She, the Demon Lord, was being treated like a monster by mortals—it was outrageous! But then she thought that if she revealed her identity, it would only solidify her reputation as a "monster."
"Could it be that there have been a lot of bloodshed in this city recently? Is that why the people in the city are so wary of unfamiliar faces?" Rong Jiang said. Her gaze swept across the street, noticing several people hiding behind windows and peeking. As soon as her gaze swept over them, they immediately shrank back.
Jiu Ya was very puzzled. "A serial killer? But that doesn't mean he has to be called a monster, does it?" She frowned. As the Demon Lord, she was particularly sensitive to the word "monster." In the human world, this word was often associated with demons and monsters.
As they walked, they noticed that there were very few pedestrians on the road. Occasionally, they could see government officials with swords patrolling the streets, their faces filled with caution. Ordinary pedestrians looked suspicious, all with expressions of impending doom. An invisible tension permeated the air, and even the wind seemed to have become cautious.
Given this situation, Jiu Ya was almost certain that something terrible had happened. She instinctively moved closer to Rong Jiang, not out of fear, but out of a protective instinct. Although she knew Rong Jiang's strength far surpassed hers, this action was almost subconscious.
"Perhaps the gruesome manner of the death made it seem like something no ordinary person could have done," Rong Jiang speculated. Her tone was calm, but her eyes sharpened. As the ruler of the underworld, she was intimately familiar with death. Any murder that could be called an object by mortals rather than a person must be extraordinary.
Jiu Ya said helplessly, "What kind of luck do we have! We can't even run into trouble when we're out having fun!" She sighed dramatically, trying to ease the tense atmosphere. But her grip on Rong Jiang's hand tightened unconsciously.
Jiu Ya secretly grumbled, "Is this the treatment of a novel's protagonist? You have to encounter something as soon as you step out the door! Otherwise, who would read about your bland, uneventful daily life? Everyone needs dramatic plots to make things more exciting!" She even began to wonder if Rong Jiang's "protagonist" aura was too strong, triggering plots wherever she went.
"Everything in this world happens all the time; we just happened to be there," Rong Jiang chuckled. She was quite calm, as if she were already used to such unexpected situations. As the Lord of the Underworld who had lived for countless years, what storms hadn't she seen?
"Sigh! Yeah!" Jiu Ya said dejectedly, "We originally wanted to come out and have some fun, but let's find a place to stay first and then make plans!" She rubbed her temples, suddenly feeling a bit tired. This tiredness wasn't physical, but mental—why was it so difficult when all she wanted was a nice trip?
These days, every shopkeeper looks hostile when I go shopping, which really ruins my mood. It's better to find a place to stay and eat something good to cheer myself up. Jiuya is already starting to miss the soft, big bed in the inn.
As for whether it's a serial killer or a monster causing harm, that can be dealt with later. Even the most powerful serial killer or monster, how many moves could they possibly last against them? There's absolutely no need to worry. Thinking this, Jiu Ya regained her usual confidence. She wanted to see what dared to disturb her vacation.
Rong Jiang nodded, "That's fine too." She didn't really care; after all, the mortal realm was just a temporary place for her. But seeing Jiu Ya's eager expression, she couldn't bear to spoil the mood.
Unfortunately, the guesthouse owner and the roadside vendor shared the same idea: they couldn't accept strangers for accommodation right now. They approached three guesthouses, but were refused entry with various excuses. Some said they were full, some said they were under renovation, and one was even closed down.
They found a decent-looking inn nearby, but when they asked to stay there, the innkeeper refused with a troubled expression. Bai Yu took out a silver ingot, "Innkeeper, are you not satisfied with the price? We can pay more!" She tried to persuade him with money.
"Miss, I'm so sorry, it's not that we can't accommodate you, but our inn is simply full. Please try another place!" The innkeeper's forced smile was barely holding on. In these dangerous times, he absolutely couldn't let strangers into his inn; what if they were really bad people? His whole family lived in the backyard. If they were harmed, where would he go to complain? Losing a day's money was losing him; his life was more important. His fingers trembled slightly under the counter, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
When the innkeeper said, "The shop is full," Rong Jiang glanced at the second floor. There were hardly any people breathing up there. Was this what they meant by "full"? But seeing the innkeeper's slightly trembling body, she understood that he considered them people to be wary of. Rong Jiang gently shook her head. The fear of mortals was always so obvious.
Rong Jiang said gently, "In that case, let's go to another place." She pulled Bai Yu back, who still wanted to argue, and shook her head slightly. Forcing the issue would be useless and would only deepen the other person's fear.
"All rooms are full, so we'll have to find another one." Jiu Ya shrugged. "You, the innkeeper with the thick eyebrows and big eyes, are actually lying through your teeth! Don't think I didn't hear it; there wasn't a single human breathing sound on the second floor. Fully occupied? You're kidding me!" Jiu Ya rolled her eyes inwardly, but maintained a polite smile on her face. After all, she still had to maintain her image in front of Rong Jiang.
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