“Then I will be direct: you help me absorb the demonic energy in my body.”
Mo Xiaoxing put her hands on her hips: “I knew you were going to say that! Big Brother Peacock, you really are shameless! You said yourself that I almost died last night, do you really think I’d help you again? No way, absolutely not! Ask for something else!”
“So easily frightened?”
Mo Xiaoxing: “Anyone would be scared!”
The white peacock laughed for a while. His voice was cold and clear, yet he remained slumped on the ground, eyes closed, hardly moving at all.
“Rest assured, I have no intention of letting you die. Last night was an emergency, and fortunately, you turned misfortune into good luck. There is too much demonic energy in me for you to digest all at once; it only needs to be done in parts. I can guarantee your safety.”
Mo Xiaoxing’s eyes darted around. “Then that’s not helping you once; it’s many times!”
“You certainly know how to calculate your benefits… What do you want in exchange? Speak.”
This was a promise from a demonic beast in human form! Mo Xiaoxing felt a bit tempted.
“…Fine, I’ll help you, but I’ll need to think about my conditions.”
The white peacock laughed again: “You certainly don’t like to lose out.”
Just then, there was some movement at the edge of the cliff! Mo Xiaoxing’s eyes lit up, and she bolted toward the entrance!
“It must be Senior Brother! They finally remembered me!”
Suddenly, a rope made of solidified spiritual energy coiled around Mo Xiaoxing’s waist! She turned back instantly.
“Big Brother Peacock! Why are you pulling me back?”
The white peacock lifted his eyelids slightly, his thick white lashes sweeping upward as he glanced at Mo Xiaoxing.
“Do not mention my presence here to anyone, otherwise…”
Mo Xiaoxing interrupted him: “I know, I know! I’m not stupid!”
Although this white peacock was injured, dealing with her would be effortless. The fact remained that because the white peacock needed her, she was absolutely safe! If her Senior Brother remembered her, she could just ask him to let her back—wouldn’t that be even safer?
The white peacock retracted his spiritual power.
Mo Xiaoxing sprinted out and saw a rope hooked to the edge of the cliff, with a bamboo basket sliding over from the other side. She took the basket down; it was filled with food—vegetables, fruits, rice, oil, and other necessities.
Inside was a letter written by her Eldest Senior Brother, Nanshan Lü.
“Junior Sister, how have you been lately? You caused a massive disaster, attracting the Demon Sect and causing chaos in the city. The disciples of the Changtian Sect have all gone down the mountain to eliminate the demons, and I, too, have been tied up with tasks. Being delayed for several days, I failed to send you food, and I am very uneasy about it.
The Sect Leader, our Master, came out of seclusion the day before yesterday and has already repelled the Demon Sect, but Master was also injured and his whereabouts are currently unknown. With so many post-disaster matters to attend to, I have been unable to step away to check on you.
Reflect carefully while you are in the back mountain; do not feel wronged. Many lives were lost because of your actions this time. Were it not for the royal family protecting you, the elders would not have been so lenient. It is better for you to stay hidden for now; after some time, I will let you return to the sect.”
After reading it, Mo Xiaoxing, who had originally wanted to beg her Eldest Senior Brother to let her return, dared not do so anymore!
Qin Yu had actually caused such a huge disaster! The entire sect must be furious right now. If she went back, it would likely provoke public outrage; it was better to just lie low here…
Her Eldest Senior Brother had done all he could for this “Junior Sister” Qin Yu. He was right; it was better to wait until the storm passed before returning. She quickly wrote a reply, but when she compared her own messy, ink-blotted handwriting to her Senior Brother’s clean, graceful script, it was truly tragic.
Unable to feel embarrassed about it, she quickly sent the letter off.
Nanshan Lü stood by the cliff, waiting for a long time. Nanshan Lie, however, was already impatient, crossing his arms and urging: “Pull the rope back! Are you really expecting a reply from that princess? Even if she replies, she’ll definitely be screaming to come back. She’s incapable of reflection. Just let her come back—the whole sect is dying to tear her limb from limb!”
Nanshan Lü and Nanshan Lie were brothers of the same mother, but they looked different and their personalities were even more so! Nanshan Lü was steady and mature, while Nanshan Lie was temperamental and hot-headed.
Nanshan Lü: “Qin Yu is, after all, our Junior Sister. If we let people tear her limb from limb, wouldn’t that be a slap in the face to Master? She committed a wrong, but she will be dealt with when Master returns. Do not stir up trouble with the others.”
Nanshan Lie snorted: “With how useless she is and how she causes trouble everywhere, if it weren’t for Master’s name, she would have died a thousand times over! When Master returns, he will surely expel her from the sect!”
At that moment, the basket slid back across the cliff, carrying only a letter.
Nanshan Lü unfolded the letter; the handwriting was crooked, but barely legible.
“Eldest Senior Brother! I’m sorry! I was wrong! I will definitely reflect, start over, and become a person useful to the sect! It’s been hard on you, Senior Brother! Please take care of your health no matter how busy you are! Don’t worry about me, just send me some food when you have time! Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother!”
Below it was a crude stick figure drawing, depicting the person bowing deeply and knocking her head on the floor.
Nanshan Lü suddenly laughed out loud, finding the little figure quite amusing.
Nanshan Lie: “What are you laughing at?”
Nanshan Lü folded the letter and smiled, “You guessed wrong. Junior Sister is bowing and admitting her mistake in the letter, saying she wants to reflect.”
Nanshan Lie frowned fiercely: “I don’t believe it!”
Nanshan Lü didn’t explain. Walking toward the front of the mountain, he said with some worry: “The Demon Sect’s actions this time were strange. Although they took advantage of Junior Sister’s situation, their maneuvers suggest long-term planning. The seal of the Demon Realm has been destroyed, and the seven great sects are coming to the Changtian Sect for an alliance. This matter requires Master to preside over it. But I don’t know what happened inside the seal that day—Master seems to have been injured and is now missing. I am truly worried.”
Nanshan Lie: “I think you’re worrying for nothing. Master is such a powerhouse! How could a mere minor injury affect him? Master will definitely appear during the alliance meeting!”
Nanshan Lü: “I hope so.”
Mo Xiaoxing happily took back the food, fetched water from the waterfall, and even caught a fish. She cooked a pot of tofu and fresh fish soup, prepared two cold side dishes, and steamed a bowl of rice.
As she cooked, her mouth watered uncontrollably. The food in this place was different—perhaps because the world was filled with spiritual energy, the ingredients themselves were exceptionally sweet.
After graduating from university, she had survived a six-month internship and had just become a permanent employee when she transmigrated… As a worker, her favorite moment was always coming home after work and making a delicious meal to reward herself.
Full and satisfied, she felt her entire being was healed. Just as she picked up her chopsticks, she suddenly heard the white peacock’s voice: “Child, is there none for me?”
Mo Xiaoxing: “Ah? Aren’t you supposed to be above worldly needs?”
“Whether I eat or not is my business. Whether you offer it or not is yours.”
Mo Xiaoxing muttered: “You—are you implying I’m impolite in a roundabout way? With a belly as big as yours, this little bit of food wouldn’t even be enough to pick your teeth!”
“Enough. I’ll count it as you not knowing better today, but remember it for next time.”
Mo Xiaoxing: “…”
This Big Brother Peacock was so bossy! She hadn’t even agreed to share!
Fortunately, the good food comforted her. Once she was full, Mo Xiaoxing found the vine from the day before and held one end out toward the white peacock’s beak.
“Big Brother Peacock, open up!”