After a Fake Death, the Emotionless Dao Senior Sister Became Obsessed - Chapter 24.1

Tao Miao flapped its wings, flying frantically above Shen Susu’s head. “Roast fish! Barbecue fish!”

Shen Susu had already frozen solid.

Clutching the hastily drawn “Fire-Starting Talisman“ she couldn’t guarantee what would happen in the water jar next.

Yuan Ling heard the happy flapping of the two birds’ wings and peered toward the back row.

Seeing the small red fish in the jar, she immediately bit her lip, ran over, and shielded the jar with her body, softly pleading:

“S-senior sister, don’t…”

While Si Jing was still unconscious, Yuan Ling had once gone to visit secretly, carrying a lotus flower plucked from the back mountain and some fish food.

The little fish had been listless for the past few days, but after gobbling down the food she brought, it became lively.

It allowed her to stroke its head, and even when she dared to touch its belly, it would roll over and let her pet it.

Yuan Ling’s heart thumped, and for the first time, she experienced the delight of keeping a spirit pet.

Hearing that this crimson fish brought good fortune, she took the opportunity to make a wish—nothing more than hoping to “achieve Foundation Establishment soon” and “have the cook from the neighboring peak be abducted to cook again.”

The first one hadn’t come true yet, but the latter wish had been fulfilled right after she spoke it.

In the following days, the cook was indeed abducted, his hands shaking as he tossed the wok, while everyone on Emerald Peak feasted.

Thinking of this, she carefully tugged on Si Jing’s sleeve. “…Can you spare her? This is a koi, she’s very, very good.”

Si Jing didn’t pull away, merely lowering her eyes to examine the little fish wagging its tail in the water. “Just a monster, skilled only at bewitching people.”

Shen Susu held the talisman, unable to decide whether to proceed or retreat.

She kept feeling that this little red fish looked familiar—its demeanor and actions resembled someone in her memory—making it difficult to strike.

The little fish, as if just waking up, spotted Yuan Ling and swiftly swam over, poking its head out of the water, happily begging for food.

“Hungry, hungry!” Its mouth opened and closed, making a sound as clear as rolling jade.

This instantly drew the attention of all the inner disciples. Some craned their necks in curiosity, some were startled and fearful, treating the little fish like a terrible beast.

Even the superstitious ones clapped their hands together and immediately made a wish.

“Money come… money come!”

“Punch the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, kick the Completion of Foundation Establishment, Little Fish Immortal, bless me to win the championship at the Kyushu Sword Trial!”

Shen Susu took advantage of the chaos to steal a glance at Si Jing.

Finally, sighing, she pinched the Fire-Starting Talisman. “Sorry, Little Fish Immortal, please have a good reincarnation then.”

A chill ran down her spine; she truly couldn’t withstand the silent pressure from the Senior Sister at this moment.

Closing her eyes, Shen Susu’s lips moved slightly, and a wisp of blue smoke curled up as the talisman burned to ash between her fingers.

She opened her eyes, hopeful yet guilty, and looked toward the water jar.

The water surface was completely calm. The little red fish was clinging to the edge of the jar, looking back at her with curiosity.

After a long while, plop, plop, only two smoky bubbles rose to the surface.

The weak, almost imperceptible water vapor was evaporated. The little fish was submerged in the warm water, swimming contentedly in several circles.

“Are you heating my bathwater?” she spoke crisply, splashing water with her tail tip. “Thank you, silly child!”

Shen Susu’s face flushed crimson. She buried her head in Yuan Ling’s comforting embrace. “Little Senior Sister, I, I… sob.”

To be mocked by a fish the size of her palm—her Dao heart was shattered.

Everyone chattered excitedly, and the inner room was filled with cheerful air.

Si Jing placed her palm over the water jar, using spiritual power to cleanse the water contaminated by the soot.

The little fish leaped out of the water, nudging her palm. “A-Zhuo doesn’t want to go to class! Hungry… are there any plum blossom pastries left?”

The woman silently wiped away the dampness in her palm, then softly replied, “Tonight.”

She scanned the inner disciples, her voice cool and clear. “Be quiet. Today, you must all attempt a trial using the water.”

“I will demonstrate first. Afterward, those who succeed may leave on their own. Those who fail will remain here to copy twenty Fire-Starting Talismans. A-Qing will supervise.”

“Oh no, Senior Sister,” someone wailed.

Chu Zhao listened, half-understanding, and was about to ask when she saw Si Jing’s slender fingers gripping a talisman. She lowered her eyes and suddenly looked at Chu Zhao blandly.

The woman didn’t even speak; she merely used her mind to activate the incantation, and the talisman swiftly caught fire between her fingers.

The jar, previously full of clear water, instantly dried up, letting out a white mist.

Chu Zhao struggled in discomfort.

While she could survive without water… it was so hot!

The flame gently licked the jar’s edge. The narrow water jar she had previously disdained now seemed like a ceramic pot for stewing fish, and a sizzling sound suddenly rang in her ears.

Yuan Ling couldn’t bear to watch, covering her face, her shoulders trembling slightly;

Shen Susu sighed, clasped her hands, and silently wished “Little Fish Immortal a safe journey.”

Only Xiao Wan nearby reacted quickly, hastily activating a Water-Drawing Talisman to extinguish the fire.

The water jar smoked faintly with ash. The little fish, which had been sparkling like a gemstone, now looked like it had rolled in the mud, half-dead.

Si Jing looked at Xiao Wan, a rare hint of appreciation in her usually cold eyes.

Chu Zhao’s tail flopped weakly a few times, choked by the talisman ash and spitting bubbles.

She didn’t care about her current miserable appearance; her anger flared. Mustering her strength, she managed to leap out of the water jar and bit Si Jing’s unsullied sleeve. “Mm mm!”

Caught by the woman, she opened and closed her soft mouth, complaining in grievance, “Bad beauty, are you going to eat me?!”

Sure enough, a Xuan Gate cultivator—their insidious cunning is obvious! If she hadn’t reacted quickly, even the beautiful scales on her belly would have been scorched.

Si Jing did not answer. She raised her hand, cast a Dust Removal spell, and instantly purified the murky water jar.

She put the little fish back in, sprinkled a handful of water over her, and lowering her gaze, replied, “I don’t like eating fish.”

Chu Zhao, having gone through this sudden heat and cold, immediately became dispirited.

She had never endured such humiliation and swam back and forth in the water anxiously.

Suddenly, her round eyes brightened. She spotted the woman’s spotless, snow-white robe.

If I want to escape, wouldn’t possessing this bad beauty be perfect?

However, the moment the thought arose, a fine hand brushed over the wide-mouthed porcelain jar, as if an invisible barrier blocked her.

She mustered all her strength for a leap, but clang, she not only failed to get out but was also knocked dizzy.

“Stay here obediently,” a bland female voice came from above. “I’ll come to pick you up before evening.”

Chu Zhao spun dizzily to the bottom of the water, watching with open eyes as the back of the snow-colored Daoist robe departed.

The edge of the water jar was gradually surrounded by heads.

Yuan Ling’s eyes were red with anxiety, and she hurriedly brought a plate of pastries; Shen Susu pushed the Wood-Spirited Xiao Wan over, begging her to use medical skills to save the fish.

Chu Zhao recovered a bit of life but remained listless, angry and vexed, using her tail to fan away the pastry crumbs.

She was truly angry! From now on, she refuses charity!

“Senior Sister was still holding back,” Xiao Wan sighed.

“During the last trial, she used a Fire-Starting Talisman to burn away the demonic energy in an entire small village. Three Gold Core realm demons didn’t even have their souls left.”

“How terrifying!” Shen Susu clicked her tongue. “I thought it could only roast crispy potatoes.”

“S-so…” Yuan Ling looked at the sulky, food-rejecting little fish in the jar and suggested softly, “Can we… can we stop roasting this little fish?”

A fellow disciple, who spotted the grey-blue bird perched and surveying on the ceiling beam, cleared his throat to remind her. “Ahem!”

Sure enough, A-Qing, ever dedicated, opened her beak with a listless female voice that lacked any authority: “Coo? Let me see, which child doesn’t want to study…”

Before she could finish, Tao Miao instantly puffed up, plucked several feathers from A-Qing, and used both wings and claws to drive the sadly huddling pigeon out.

“Chirp, don’t imitate Master!”

It flew to Shen Susu’s shoulder and pecked the girl’s hair. “Want crispy potatoes, crispy potatoes!”

“Alrighty.” Shen Susu responded cheerfully and stealthily skirted behind the inner room screen.

Before long, she brought out a basket of potatoes.

She motioned for everyone to take their Fire-Starting Talismans, raised an eyebrow, and smiled. “Let’s start roasting!”

A-Qing, who had been driven out, clutched the door seam, her fluffy feathers already somewhat disheveled.

Yet, she still gazed wistfully at the bright yellow little bird inside, fluttering its wings and pecking at a potato.

Her expression was melancholic, and after a moment, she finally flew away in solitude.

Never mind. As long as Miao Miao is happy, what does it matter if she disobeys Senior Sister?

Outside, it was already early spring. Grass and trees were budding, full of vitality.

Today’s Talisman class, however, had turned the tables and become a cooking showcase. Everyone was so enthusiastic that they almost considered abducting the cook again to stir-fry a few dishes.

Tao Miao’s belly was round from being fed by everyone. It held a piece of crispy potato and flew to the porcelain jar where Chu Zhao was.

Tilting its head, its watery eyes looked at her, seemingly intending to share.

Chu Zhao glanced haughtily at Tao Miao, swam over, and opened her mouth wide.

For the first time, she thought this silly bird—which was useless besides being beautiful—was quite pleasing to the eye.

Unexpectedly, Tao Miao’s cheeks puffed up, crunch, crunch, and in a flash, it completely devoured the crispy potato.

“Silly fish, I’d rather throw it away than give it to you!” It chirped frantically.

The unprovoked fury in Chu Zhao’s heart immediately flared up.

How could she, the esteemed mistress of the Great Puddle, a powerful great demon who has roamed the wilderness for a hundred years, be mocked by an ignorant bird?

Tao Miao finished its meal and was about to fly away smugly, but the down on its body was dampened by water splashing out of the small porcelain jar.

It looked back in confusion.

Water splashed everywhere. The barrier Si Jing had placed on the porcelain jar was actually broken. The small red fish, whose scales were bright, was enraged and had leaped out.

It plunged suddenly into the cinnabar ink bowl used for drawing talismans, its body twisting flexibly. It then leaped out, coated in crimson ink, landing on a stack of talismans, its soft, cloudy tail flicking and drawing carelessly.

A somewhat clumsy Fire-Starting Talisman immediately appeared on the paper.

Shen Susu was happily eating when she suddenly felt heat behind her.

She looked back hesitantly, then rubbed her eyes in disbelief.

Crimson demonic power surged around the little red fish. The talisman beneath her seemed to come alive, the cinnabar ink markings connecting and winding, gradually blurring into the shape of licking flames.

In a flash, faster than a clap of thunder, the flames suddenly spread toward the surroundings.

Tao Miao shrieked, its feathers puffing up, and it quickly flew away, but a few peach-colored feathers on its chest were still scorched.

“No demon virtue! No demon virtue!” It chirped helplessly from the ceiling beam.

“A mere ghost-drawn Fire-Starting Talisman, anyone can learn it with a glance,” Chu Zhao snorted lightly.

“I can even roast you, you silly bird, without a talisman!”

Shen Susu wrapped her arms around the anxiously hiding Yuan Ling, her face reflecting the shadow of the licking flames, trying to mediate. “Little Fish Immortal, you can roast the bird, but don’t roast us!”

Unfortunately, it was already too late.

The formerly peaceful and relaxed inner room was now choked with thick smoke, hot wind swept their faces, and everywhere their eyes could see, rampant flames spread.

Everyone coughed violently from the smoke and fled in a panic.

“Cough, cough… fire!”

Chu Zhao tilted her head.

She was a great demon, but when… did she become so powerful?

The flames recognized their master and spontaneously moved around her. She wagged her tail excitedly and rolled on the table. “Burn! Burn fiercer!”

This fire originated from a talisman and could not be extinguished by ordinary water.

Xiao Wan’s speed in drawing Water-Drawing Talismans was not even three or four-tenths the speed of the raging fire.

She put out the fire while wiping the sweat from her forehead, grabbing Shen Susu. “Susu, is there anyone with a Water Spirit Root among our fellow disciples?”

Shen Susu’s face crumpled. “…No, I remember, everyone is either Earth or Wood.”

Chu Zhao leaped back into the small porcelain jar and swam around happily a few times.

Far away in the sky, yet close at hand—she herself was a Water Spirit Root.

Just as she was eagerly anticipating the people in the room, who were like ants on a hot pan, to plead with her tearfully, she suddenly heard a sigh.

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