“Well done, Ninth Miss!”
An arrow shimmering with flowing spiritual light tore across the spring wilderness, carrying unstoppable force as it struck its prey dead center.
The deer, its body adorned with nine-colored markings, let out one final mournful cry. The arrow pierced straight through its heart. Its slender legs gave way, and its still-warm body collapsed to the ground, twitching weakly.
Perched atop a white-furred spirit beast, the young girl, Shen Ji, lifted her chin with a radiant smile on her bright face. Amid the chorus of praise surrounding her, she cocked her chin toward Mingming.
“Second Sister, go fetch my prey for me. I got a good look at it. It’s a nine-colored deer. It’s only early spring, and the mornings and evenings are still bitterly cold. Its hide will make a fine set of clothes.”
Mingming had been leaning against a tree, basking in the sunlight with her eyes half-closed, drowsy enough to drift off at any moment. Only upon hearing those words did she rouse herself and jog toward the dead deer.
“Hurry up. If it’s been dead too long, the venison won’t taste as good. I’m still waiting for Father to praise me!” Shen Ji urged, apparently dissatisfied with her sluggish pace.
Mingming’s eyelids were still drooping. She raised a shoulder and rubbed her sleepy eyes before finally waking herself up. The nine-colored deer lying on the ground had already breathed its last, though when she pressed a palm against its chest, she could still feel the lingering warmth of its life.
She drew the dagger hanging from her waist and pressed it against the deer’s neck. Thick, viscous blood streamed out, all of which Mingming caught in the water flask she carried with her. Every part of a nine-colored deer was a treasure. Not even a single drop could be wasted.
Then, with a deft turn of her wrist, she neatly slit open the hide. Using exquisite technique, she peeled off the entire pelt in one smooth sequence of movements, fluid and practiced, without the slightest trace of mercy.
Such composure might have seemed excessively cold-blooded for a nineteen-year-old girl.
But Mingming was, without question, a snake demon.
Besides, the deer was already dead, so she felt no hesitation in processing its carcass.
When Mingming returned carrying the dead deer on her shoulder, Shen Ji covered her mouth and whispered to the maid behind her, “This sort of thing still has to be left to Second Sister. I simply can’t bear to do something like this.”
Mingming had excellent hearing and caught every word. She pressed her lips together, her tongue sweeping once across the edge of her teeth. Venison was an excellent ingredient, and the delicious prey resting on her shoulder had her mouth watering.
“Thank you, Second Sister. Will you be coming to the banquet tonight?” Shen Ji asked from atop the towering spirit beast, looking down at Mingming from above.
Mingming silently shook her head. Her face remained expressionless as she hefted a chunk of venison and replied, “I’ll eat it myself.”
After she turned and left, she still caught snippets of the ensuing gossip.
Comments such as how strange she was, and that it was no surprise considering she was the daughter of that madwoman, her biological mother.
Mingming actually thought those remarks made perfect sense.
She was a snake. The fact that she had managed to disguise herself as a human all these years without being discovered was already no small feat.
As for how a snake had ended up living among humans, that story began with the system she had encountered.
Mingming had been born in the primordial era, before the great war between the gods and demons.
After so many years had passed, no matter how lazy she had been with her cultivation, she should have reached the point of ascending to godhood and immortality.
Like countless other cultivators, Mingming’s goal was naturally to become an immortal deity. Yet she had never been able to grasp the key to breaking through the final bottleneck in her cultivation.
So she traveled far and wide in search of the immortal abodes left behind by ascended immortals, hoping to discover her own path to ascension through the experiences of those who had gone before her.
Eventually, she obtained a spirit jade pendant from one such immortal’s abode.
The jade pendant spoke in a human voice and told her that the path to ascension was to sever one’s emotions and extinguish one’s desires.
She was a snake demon, cold-blooded by nature. She had never undergone the love tribulation, and thus could not ascend.
Without a love tribulation, she would simply have to create one.
The system instructed her to win over the person destined for her, fall in love with him, and once she had passed through the love tribulation, she would naturally ascend to godhood.
For the sake of her cultivation, Mingming readily agreed.
In her earlier years, however, the system had provided incomplete information. Relying solely on the destined person’s appearance, she had mistaken someone else for him, resulting in an unfortunate misunderstanding.
Fortunately, that was no great problem.
After confirming that the timing was correct, Mingming came to this cultivation clan, assumed the alias Shen Ming, and waited to meet the true target of her conquest.
The Shen Clan was one of the most prestigious families in the Immortal Realm. They strictly observed ancient rites and traditions and were notoriously conservative.
She was the clan’s Second Miss, born of a concubine. Her mother had lost her sanity, and because of that, Mingming herself was looked down upon throughout the clan.
A love tribulation truly lived up to its name as a trial.
Her circumstances would have been unbearable for most humans, but Mingming was never particularly sensitive to the rules and etiquette of human society. She had muddled through like this for years.
She repeatedly asked the system when she would finally meet the man destined for her so she could complete her mission as soon as possible.
The system merely replied with vague remarks about fate and destiny.
After that, it fell silent once more.
Silence was fine.
Having lived for so many years, the one thing Mingming lacked least was time.
So she simply continued living as she always had.
For example, now that dusk was settling in, it was time for her to enjoy her dinner.
The Shen Clan held a grand hunting competition once every ten years to commemorate an ancestor who, during the war between the gods and demons, had felled countless evil demons with his peerless archery.
Not only were all the younger members of the clan required to participate, but descendants of renowned immortal sects and prestigious families were also invited, making the event especially lively.
Mingming held little status within the clan, so no one noticed when she skipped the banquet after the hunt.
In the distance, camps stretched for dozens of li[1]Li (里): A traditional Chinese unit of distance, approximately 500 meters (1,640 feet) in modern usage. jQuery('#footnote_plugin_tooltip_3200072_1_1').tooltip({ tip: '#footnote_plugin_tooltip_text_3200072_1_1', tipClass: 'footnote_tooltip', effect: 'fade', predelay: 0, fadeInSpeed: 200, delay: 400, fadeOutSpeed: 200, position: 'top center', relative: true, offset: [-7, 0], });, brilliantly illuminated with countless lights.
Meanwhile, she hid away in the forest and lit a campfire.
She took out the venison she had managed to get from Shen Ji, cut it into bite-sized pieces with her dagger, and skewered them onto branches.
Holding several skewers over the fire, she slowly roasted the meat. A rich aroma gradually filled the air. Every inch of the surface was grilled to crisp perfection, sealing the flavorful juices beneath the browned exterior.
The roasted venison Mingming prepared was more delicious than any dish served at the banquet.
She loved to eat and was, above all else, an exceptional gourmet.
Holding a skewer of roasted venison, Mingming lowered her head and ate at an unhurried pace, savoring every bite with slow, careful chews. Her expression remained as placid as ever while she ate, showing no sign of satisfaction despite the exquisite food before her.
Just as she had become absorbed in her meal, the rustling of leaves suddenly came from beyond the forest.
Mingming slowly looked up, assuming someone had come to call her back to the banquet again. She disliked dealing with the Shen Clan, so she was in no hurry.
But only a tall figure emerged from among the trees.
One hand rested against a tree trunk, while his face was obscured behind the shrubs, making his features impossible to discern.
“Have you come to call me back to the banquet?” Mingming asked.
She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, extinguished the campfire, rose to her feet, and walked toward the figure.
The moment she drew near, her footsteps halted.
Her eyes narrowed, instantly filling with vigilance.
She realized something.
The person standing opposite her possessed none of the aura of a living creature.
To a snake, every living being around her, humans included, fell within the scope of potential prey.
And she happened to be interested in every kind of food.
Yet when this person appeared, she had sensed none of the enticing scent that living prey normally carried.
He was more like a lifeless stone.
Yet she could clearly hear his breathing and the faint sound of blood flowing through his veins.
Something was missing.
He alone had no heartbeat.
In Mingming’s eyes, he was already a dead man.
She parted the dense bushes and, under the moonlight, finally got a clear look at the man standing within the forest.
Silver fireflies danced behind him, casting his figure into beautiful, graceful lines. Mingming found his breathtakingly handsome face very familiar. She had already seen his portrait countless times through the system.
Indeed… indeed… He resembled the man in the portrait far more than the unfortunate fellow from the Wilderness of Eternal Night a hundred years ago.
His pale, thin lips were pressed into a straight line. Though he possessed a pair of naturally captivating peach blossom eyes, his pitch-black pupils were utterly indifferent, devoid of any light.
The moment he saw Mingming, his brows lifted slightly, a trace of surprise appearing in his eyes.
In the next instant, his tall body collapsed like a crumbling mountain.
He lost consciousness right in front of her and fell forward.
Mingming took several steps backward, allowing him to collapse onto the ground. She tightened her grip on the jade pendant in which the system resided. It emitted a faint warmth, reminding her that this was indeed her conquest target.
“I wasn’t the one who knocked him out,” Mingming said innocently, raising both hands.
She crouched beside him and pressed two fingers against his neck, checking his pulse.
His breathing was normal.
His blood flowed normally.
Even his spiritual energy circulated normally.
The only abnormality was that he had no heartbeat, yet he remained alive.
How fascinating.
Mingming sniffed lightly.
This was the first time she had encountered a “living creature” that stirred absolutely no appetite in her.
To her, the man before her was bland and utterly flavorless.
‘So this is what it means to sever desire and abandon emotion in order to ascend to godhood?’
If that was the case, then perhaps the system was right in saying he was the person destined for her.
He was important.
Mingming would not let him die.
Nor would she allow him to leave her sight again.
A hundred years ago, she had rescued an unfortunate fellow in the Wilderness of Eternal Night who had looked even worse off than this man.
So, when it came to saving people, Mingming considered herself somewhat experienced.
She removed the fur cloak draped over her shoulders and wrapped the man in it. It was still early spring, and the nights remained chilly. Hoisting him onto one shoulder with ease, she carried him away in a posture that looked remarkably like a hunter returning home with freshly caught game.
On the way back, when questioned by the Shen Clan guards, that was exactly how she explained it.
The Shen Clan maintained strict rules, and outsiders were generally forbidden from entering.
“I took a walk deeper into the mountains just now and happened upon a piece of prey that was on the verge of dying. It was probably one that escaped one of our clansmen during today’s hunt, so I brought it back.”
Mingming poked her head out from behind the fur cloak and calmly explained herself to the guards stationed at Mount Jia.
The guards nodded and allowed her to pass.
After all, today was the Shen Clan’s hunting festival. Bringing back prey was hardly unusual.
Mount Jia was the Shen Clan’s territory. Magnificent buildings had been constructed along the mountainside to serve as residences whenever members of the clan stayed there during their travels.
Mingming also lived there, though her quarters were rather secluded.
She followed the mountain path upward. Looking into the night sky, she saw streaks of light cutting across the heavens as cultivators who had attended the banquet departed on their flying treasures.
Mingming quickened her pace.
Her conquest target had suddenly fallen unconscious, and she still had no idea what was wrong with him. She needed to return as quickly as possible and examine his condition more carefully.
Suddenly, the sharp whistle of something slicing through the air rang out from the dense forest.
Mingming immediately twisted aside in alertness.
A tiny crimson mechanical bird circled rapidly around her before turning and flying back into the hand of a young woman.
“The magical treasure Father rewarded me with really is remarkable. Second Sister, if you hadn’t dodged just now, you might have been hurt.”
A laugh accompanied the words.
Shen Ji curled her fingers, and the crimson bird transformed into a spirit pearl, which she collected into the palm of her hand.
Mingming tightened her hold on the person slung over her shoulder, her eyes narrowing.
She always looked as though she had just woken up, her gaze hazy and half-lidded. Only now did she finally show a trace of seriousness, which surprised Shen Ji.
Shen Ji’s gaze shifted to the large bundle resting on Mingming’s shoulder.
It was wrapped up so tightly that she could not make out what it was. She wondered what sort of treasure her concubine-born elder sister had secretly hidden away.
The Shen Clan had many descendants, and rivalry among the younger generation was inevitable.
Today, Shen Ji had won the Crimson Bird magical treasure by hunting the rarest prey, the nine-colored deer.
Looking at Mingming suspiciously, Shen Ji thought to herself that the spirit beasts and demons roaming Mount Jia were anything but ordinary. Successfully subduing one would certainly be proof of one’s strength.
‘She skipped the banquet earlier… Could it be that she secretly went off to hunt this thing so she could claim a reward?’
“What are you carrying?” Shen Ji strode over and demanded loudly.
Her attendants hurried after her, and the secluded corner of the mountain residence suddenly became lively.
“My prey from the mountains,” Mingming replied, remaining rooted where she stood without lowering the man from her shoulder.
If the Shen Clan discovered that she had secretly brought a living person inside, dealing with the aftermath would be troublesome.
It would also mean having to interact with humans even more than necessary.
“Something that big? What kind of spirit beast is it? Or is it just a demon that hasn’t gained sentience yet?” Shen Ji fired off one question after another.
Without changing her expression, Mingming answered, “A demon.”
“You’re planning to ask Father for a reward? It’s too late for that now,” Shen Ji reminded her.
“To eat,” Mingming replied.
The Shen Clan’s Second Miss was an unremarkable figure. The only impression most people had of her was her love of good food, so her answer did not seem particularly strange.
“If it’s food, then let me have a look. You’re acting so suspiciously. Don’t tell me you’ve brought back something you shouldn’t have?” Seeing that Mingming was behaving oddly, Shen Ji stepped forward anyway.
“Second Sister, I’m only taking a look,” Shen Ji said.
Hidden within her sleeve, Mingming’s fingertips quietly gathered magical power.
A spell that transformed a person into another animal was extremely dangerous and could very well injure the man. She would rather not use it.
Shen Ji drew close enough that the faint fragrance of peach blossoms drifted from her body.
Mingming turned her face slightly away.
Shen Ji was a cultivator with profound spiritual power, which also made her delicious prey in Mingming’s eyes.
She swallowed unconsciously.
Greedily, she licked her lips.
But that brief distraction allowed Shen Ji to seize the corner of the fur cloak.
Before Mingming could cast a spell to conceal him, Shen Ji had already yanked away the cloak wrapped around the man.
The moon hung high overhead, its light filtering through the gaps between the trees and illuminating everything with startling clarity.
“Ah!”
The instant Shen Ji saw what lay beneath the fur cloak, she let out a shrill scream.
The attendants surrounding them were equally horrified. They hastily retreated several steps, unleashing several offensive spells toward the figure beneath the cloak.
In an instant, Mingming threw herself over her conquest target, shielding him with her own body.
The spells struck her arm, tearing through her sleeve and leaving streaks of bloody wounds.
Mingming was baffled.
Even if they had discovered that she was hiding a person beneath the cloak, there was no reason to attack so ferociously without a word.
Just what had they seen?
She lowered her head.
In the bright moonlight, she saw that the man wrapped beneath the fur cloak had indeed changed.
This was…?
Mingming’s pupils contracted sharply. Even she was taken aback.
References[+]