Side Story 5: The Demon-Catching Adventure of the Deer Fairy (Final)
Lu Yixin and Shen Qiexing looked at each other in silence for a long time before Lu Yixin slowly spoke: "Weasel, if that Young Master Tingshan were still alive, and knew that you had committed so many evils and killed countless lives, he would also be disappointed in you."
“You’ve been by his side for so long, but you haven’t learned his way of treating people, you haven’t learned his compassion, and you’ve instead learned this crooked way of doing things. Tell me, do you think you deserve to die?”
Upon hearing Shen Qiexing's words, the weasel changed from its previous trembling demeanor to a kind of reckless frankness: "Now that things have come to this, even killing me won't bring back the lives of so many black dogs. I, the weasel, will take responsibility for my actions. Please, King Sen, execute me so that I can go to the underworld to join Young Master Tingshan as soon as possible."
It was right. Lu Yixin immediately deflated, her face full of worry: "How are we going to explain this to Xuesong?"
If the old emperor were to die of anger because of this, wouldn't they become sinners for all time?
I should have known better than to have taken on this mess so readily.
Shen Qiexing smiled at Lu Yixin and said softly, "The deadline hasn't come yet, we can always find a way."
Then, he crossed his arms, glanced sideways at the feigningly composed weasel, and said in a cold voice, "You wish! After Tingshan died, his soul entered the Spirit Clan, allowing him to live again underground. As for you..."
The weasel turned its face away from him, but secretly pricked up its ears.
"And you, after death, will only suffer the fate of having your soul scattered and not being able to reincarnate."
Shen Qiexing bent down and suddenly approached, grinning sinisterly. The weasel, startled by the sudden turn of its head, cried out, "You, you, you, stop trying to scare me!"
"I don't have time to scare you. If you don't believe me, go ask the Spirit Clan and see if what I said is true."
"Alright, Brother Qiexing," Lu Yixin picked up the little black dog that had been used as bait and was now fast asleep, and pondered for a moment, "It's late at night and the frost is heavy here. We don't know if there are any monsters lurking outside. Let's go back to the courtyard first and then make a plan."
After saying that, she grabbed the weasel that was trying to sneak away, and sneered, "Where do you think you're going? Come with us."
—
Lu Yixin, Shen Qiexing, the little black dog, and the weasel each stood on one side, guarding the square Eight Immortals table. The first two were deep in thought, their faces full of gloom; the little black dog was sleeping on its back, occasionally smacking its lips; the weasel's eyes darted around, thinking of a way to escape.
“I said, Lord Sen.”
It trotted a couple of steps ingratiatingly, "I have an idea."
Lu Yixin said, "You tell me."
"Even though the cedar is gone, there's still... a black dog left here, isn't there?"
It quickly climbed onto the head of the sleeping little black dog, leaning forward like it was presenting a treasure, "I think this little black dog is just as good as a cedar tree. I have a way to turn it into the shape of a cedar tree and send it to that old emperor."
"That old emperor is blind and dim-witted, while my magical powers are superb. He certainly won't be able to see any flaws no matter how hard he tries."
Lu Yixin hesitated: "But Xuesong is his beloved pet that has been with him for fourteen years, like a second family member. How could he not recognize his own family?"
"Who cares? As long as his appearance is good and there are no flaws, he can't find fault with him."
"This little brat is really lucky. Now that he's in the palace, he'll never have to worry about food or drink for the rest of his life."
But why does she find this so unreliable...?
“But lifespan is something that can’t be changed. This little brat still has more than ten years to live,” the weasel slapped the little black dog awake with its paw. After being glared at by Lu Yixin, it shrank back. “I just hope that the old emperor gets Alzheimer’s soon. Otherwise, if he gets suspicious, there’s nothing I can do.”
But she still felt something was off.
"Brother Qiexing, what do you think?"
"Very good."
Shen Qiexing replied without hesitation, and Lu Yixin pursed her lips: "Actually, you didn't even think about it!"
"Yes, you're all I can think about."
He chuckled softly, ignoring the weasel's presence, and pulled Lu Yixin into his arms. "I think this method is good. We have no other choice right now, so let's try it as a last resort."
The weasel, oblivious to the danger, approached and said, "Lord Forest King, would you say that I've made amends for my sins?"
Lu Yixin picked up Shen Qiexing's long hair with one hand, her smile more terrifying than a ghost's. "Weasel, you just said you wanted me to give you a proper end, and now you want to atone for your sins?"
"Times change..." The weasel was extremely guilty, and its voice became even softer.
“In my opinion, this death sentence can be avoided, but punishment is hard to escape,” Lu Yixin snorted, nestled against Shen Qiexing’s chest, her expression somber. “As for how to deal with you, I already have an answer in my heart. First, turn the little black dog into a cedar tree as you just said, and then I will tell you.”
—
"Your Majesty, the Fairy Deer has arrived."
The palace servants on both sides lifted the curtains, and the imperial physician whispered, "There are indeed countless hidden talents among the common people. Fairy Deer is leading your Xuesong to pay homage outside the palace. You should go and take a look."
An aged yet delighted voice came from behind the curtain. The old emperor coughed twice and shakily stretched out his withered, wood-like hand, "Is it really my Cedar? Quickly... quickly help me to welcome Fairy Deer."
"Oh, you should take care of your health."
Lu Yixin knelt in the main hall, secretly glancing at the unconscious weasel, then at "Cedar," her heart filled with unease.
Isn't this really a crime of deceiving the emperor...?
"His Majesty has arrived!"
The eunuch announced in a loud voice, and Lu Yixin hurriedly bowed and kowtowed: "This commoner, Lu, greets Your Majesty."
"Please rise, Fairy Deer!"
The old emperor's cloudy eyes cleared instantly upon seeing Xuesong, and his ashen face regained some color. He quickly descended the jade steps, helped Lu Yixin up, half-squatted down, and hugged "Xuesong," repeatedly saying, "Xuesong, it's my Xuesong, you've finally returned."
He was so excited that tears streamed down his face as he carefully examined the "cedar tree." Lu Yixin, standing to the side, nervously swallowed her saliva, afraid that he would discover something amiss.
"Reward her! Issue my decree: Fairy Deer will be richly rewarded!"
The old emperor ordered the palace servants to carry the "cedar" to the side hall and personally poured a cup of tea for Lu Yixin. "Fairy Lu, please tell me quickly, what exactly happened?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty, but there's no need for any reward. This is what I should do."
Lu Yixin finally breathed a sigh of relief. She recounted the whole story in half-truths, omitting the part about the existence of the spirit, and only saying that a weasel that ate dog meat had taken the cedar tree away when the guards were not paying attention.
“Now that this weasel that has committed countless evils has been killed by this humble woman, Your Majesty can rest assured.”
After she finished speaking, she kicked the seemingly stiff weasel hard, and a large clump of its dry and messy fur fell out.
Lu Yixin stayed in the palace for a long time, until evening when the old emperor finally released her.
She paused, looked around for a long time, and after confirming that no one was around, she flicked green spiritual energy with her fingertips and smeared it on the eyelids of the unconscious weasel. The weasel miraculously came back to life and slowly woke up.
However, upon closer inspection, one will find that it is no different from an ordinary weasel, and all its cultivation and spiritual power have been dissipated.
This was Lu Yixin's final punishment for it.
For it, forgetting itself is a crueler thing than death.
"Did the emperor discover anything?"
The god appeared out of thin air behind her, embraced her from behind, and gazed down at the weasel that had lost its mind and was running around in circles.
"No."
Lu Yixin covered the hand that was wrapped around her waist, her voice low: "Brother Qiexing, this weasel is a bloodthirsty creature. I was afraid that if I let it go this time, it would revert to its old ways in a few days and start stealing dogs and skinning them again. So I took it upon myself to deprive it of its intelligence... Don't you think I'm too cruel?"
“No,” Shen Qiexing kissed her hair. “I believe that if Tingshan Gongzi were still alive, he would not want his former beloved pet to have fallen into such a state because of him. Retiring to the mountains and living or dying on its own would be the best ending for it.”
The full moon shone brightly, and the clouds drifted lazily. Suddenly, the weasel took three steps at a time and stepped onto the jade steps outside the palace. He stood up and bowed three times to the enormous moon.
"Today... is a full moon."
After worshipping the moon, the weasel lingered, then vanished like a wisp of yellow smoke, disappearing outside the palace walls.
Lu Yixin looked away, a light smile on her face, and took Shen Qiexing's hand: "Brother Qiexing, let's go back. I'll make you some mooncakes."
"good."
The two figures, one tall and one short, were stretched infinitely long by the moonlight, and their conversation gradually dissipated in the wind until it could no longer be heard.
"Your Majesty, it's chilly outside, you should go back inside."
On the city wall, an old eunuch holding a lantern tried to drape an outer robe over the emperor, but the emperor silently stopped him: "No need, I want to stay a little longer, you may all leave."
"yes."
......
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