Reborn as a Human Cauldron, But I'm the Top - Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Climbing into Bed

The scent of demonic and ghostly energy was still very strong. Although Li Xiu’s smile was warm, the demons and ghosts covering the ground were not as terrifying as Li Xiu alone.

She didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, smiling and waving to Shen Yirong, “Where did Mistress go?”

Shen Yirong gave an awkward smile, “Nowhere. Just went out for a casual look.”

Li Xiu smiled meaningfully.

Ling Yingzhi was standing on another rooftop. She drew her bow and notched an arrow. Each shot precisely hit the center of a demon’s forehead. She was focused on the killing and only looked up when she heard Shen Yirong’s voice.

Seeing Shen Yirong riding on the flying sword with Song Yin, the contempt in her eyes was unconcealed. She pursed her lips and shot her arrows faster.

Song Yin placed Shen Yirong near Ling Yingzhi. Seeing Shen Yirong’s worried look, she comforted her, “Don’t worry. At worst, we’ll just say this matter has nothing to do with you, and that I was meddling by breaking the vessel mark.”

Shen Yirong smiled bitterly and nodded.

Song Yin hesitated for a moment, reached out to pat Shen Yirong’s shoulder, and then went to kill demons with lightning.

Shen Yirong was completely helpless. She turned her head and saw Li Xiu looking at her from a distance. Feeling guilty, she turned her head away and started manipulating some wind blades to help.

Ordinary arrows were still limited in their damage. From the cracks, demons with cultivation levels close to Foundation Establishment continued to surge out. These demons could use their demonic power to protect their vital spots, and Ling Yingzhi’s arrows quickly became useless.

She drew an arrow and shot it. When the arrow hit the rabbit demon’s forehead, it was blocked again by the barrier of demonic power.

She clenched her fists in fury, cursing under her breath, “D*mn beast!”

The moonlight illuminated her expression, allowing Shen Yirong to clearly see the dejection and sadness on her face.

Shen Yirong watched the wind dancing in her palm. The wind, shaped into a sharp blade, severed the rabbit demon’s neck.

Ling Yingzhi didn’t wallow in sadness for long. She gritted her teeth and raised her bow again, shooting at another rabbit demon as if refusing to accept fate. This demon was larger than the previous one and had stronger demonic power.

Ling Yingzhi hadn’t held much hope, but the arrow she shot suddenly accelerated, becoming a mere blur.

The arrow pierced through the rabbit demon’s demonic defense. When the rabbit demon collapsed, the fletching of the arrow was still trembling.

Ling Yingzhi jumped up and shouted happily, “Yes!”

But when she calmed down, she turned and looked at Shen Yirong beside her.

Shen Yirong was seated at the moment. Seeing her look, Shen Yirong looked up and smiled at her.

Ling Yingzhi heard the whistling sound of wind in Shen Yirong’s palm and understood that she was only able to succeed just now because this person had helped her.

She glared at Shen Yirong with annoyance, “I don’t need help from someone like you.”

Although her words were harsh, her tone was calm, and by the end, it was barely audible.

Ling Yingzhi awkwardly turned her head, and from then on, every arrow she shot was assisted by the wind.

The demonic and ghostly energy slowly dissipated. The spatial cracks everywhere began to close. All that remained were piles of corpses and the thick, nauseating smell of blood.

The ground was soaked with the demons’ blood. Shen Yirong wanted to land but found nowhere to step; the ground was too dirty.

The quiver on Ling Yingzhi’s back was empty. She slightly raised her head, “Hmph, looks like you are just a little bit stronger than me.”

No matter what, Shen Yirong was a cultivator, so she was definitely stronger than Ling Yingzhi. However, Ling Yingzhi’s archery was truly accurate. Shen Yirong had watched; every arrow hit the forehead, without deviation.

This archery skill made Shen Yirong praise her, “Miss Ling’s archery is exquisite. May I ask who your master is?”

Suddenly praised, a hint of shyness appeared on Ling Yingzhi’s face. She said proudly, “My sister taught me. When I was little, I kept pestering her to help, so she taught me archery. I wanted to learn the spear, though. So stingy.”

Whenever she mentioned her sister, Ling Yingzhi always smiled.

In her current life, Shen Yirong was an only child, so she was quite envious of this kind of sibling relationship.

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but sigh, “Your sisters’ bond is truly wonderful.”

“Of course! My sister is the best person in the whole world.”

Shen Yirong smiled, and took the opportunity to compliment her, “Then Miss Ling must be the second best in the world.”

Ling Yingzhi shook her head, “The second best is the Grand Ruler. If it weren’t for her, my sister and I would have died long ago.”

It seemed to bring up a painful memory. Shen Yirong apologized, “I’m sorry.”

Ling Yingzhi waved her hand dismissively, “A legendary life always has some setbacks. You don’t need to apologize.”

Ling Yingzhi stopped wasting words with her. She climbed down the rooftop using the ladder. She didn’t mind the mess, sifting through the demon corpses to retrieve any usable arrows.

Everyone was busy, making Shen Yirong look somewhat idle. She pondered what she could do.

“Has Mistress been injured?”

Li Xiu’s voice made Shen Yirong tremble all over. She turned around to see the other person already standing beside her, looking down at her.

Shen Yirong, whose escape had failed, felt her scalp prickle. She had a feeling Li Xiu knew everything.

A crimson demonic core appeared before her eyes.

Li Xiu bent down, extending her hand towards Shen Yirong, “One of the demons just now, a bat demon, had already formed a demonic core. I saw that the color was nice, and I thought Mistress might like it.”

The demonic core shimmered beautifully, and it was indeed pleasing to the eye. But Shen Yirong felt that the other person was warning her: that disobeying her would lead to the same fate as the bat demon.

She nervously accepted the demonic core, “Thank you.”

Song Yin was cleaning up the corpses below. She summoned a bolt of lightning. After the lightning struck, the untreated demon bones turned to ash.

Ling Yingzhi, who was picking up arrows, watched as the usable arrows and the demons simultaneously turned to ash right before her eyes. She couldn’t help but become frantic, “Immortal! Wait until I’ve collected the arrows before dealing with them!”

Song Yin had stayed in the Great Peace Sect for a long time. Although the Great Peace Sect was poor, they still wouldn’t care about these mortal items. So, she didn’t pay attention and cleaved them all as rubbish.

She stood still, then awkwardly rummaged through her spatial ring. Finally, she found refined iron usable for mortals among a pile of worthless items. After forging it with lightning, a row of arrows wrapped in lightning quietly hovered in the air.

Song Yin swept her long sleeve, and the arrows obediently flew into Ling Yingzhi’s quiver.

“These are compensation for you. They are much better than arrows cast from mortal iron.”

Ling Yingzhi first felt a tingle on her back, then a burst of excitement, “Thank you, Immortal!”

She eagerly took the quiver off her back. Her hand was zapped when she reached out, but she continued to look at the newly forged arrows without minding.

Shen Yirong couldn’t help but smile, seeing Ling Yingzhi’s hair almost standing on end.

Li Xiu also chuckled softly, “Mistress is very happy?”

Shen Yirong’s smile froze. She silently shuffled her butt away. She only felt a bit calmer after distancing herself from Li Xiu.

But Li Xiu was still watching her. Shen Yirong felt a chill, “The demon scourge is solved, so naturally I’m happy.”

Song Yin heard the sound on the rooftop. She looked up and saw Shen Yirong and Li Xiu together.

Seeing Shen Yirong’s restrained demeanor, Song Yin’s eyes darkened.

Everything today was too strange. They should have been able to fly out, but they inexplicably returned to the starting point. Song Yin guessed this was due to some technique of Li Xiu’s.

This person was more dangerous than she had imagined.

Song Yin stared intently at Li Xiu. Li Xiu seemed to sense this and slowly averted her gaze from Shen Yirong, turning to meet Song Yin’s eyes.

The look seemed to pierce through her.

A sudden sound of clashing armor was heard. Song Yin looked back and saw Ling Minzhi. Her white hair was even more conspicuous in the moonlight, and a fresh, distinct scar marked her right cheek.

Ling Yingzhi’s expression changed. She stopped looking at the arrows and ran a few steps to her sister, reaching out to cup her face.

Ling Minzhi turned her head away, “It’s a small injury. It’s nothing.”

Ling Yingzhi bit her lip, but ultimately said nothing.

Ling Minzhi looked at everyone. The General’s Residence buildings were not damaged, and there were no casualties. This outcome gave her a renewed sense of hope.

Shen Yirong saw that she was about to kneel and quickly summoned a gentle wind to support her knees.

Shen Yirong: “General, there is no need for such a grand gesture.”

Ling Minzhi was not being coy. She handed the bloodstained spear in her hand to her sister nearby.

The heavy snow covered everything in the courtyard, but the lights were bright inside the house.

The main hall of the General’s Residence was a place specifically dedicated to worshipping the divine statue. After a great battle, Ling Minzhi would always bathe, burn incense, and then kneel and pray before the statue.

Shen Yirong watched from the side. However, with Li Xiu standing on her left and Song Yin on her right, the atmosphere felt strange and a bit cramped.

Fortunately, Mei Xin and Zhai Wenxu hadn’t returned from the Yuexi Kingdom yet, or the atmosphere would surely be even more awkward.

To divert her attention, Shen Yirong looked at the statue on the high platform. It was said to be a god but looked more like a sovereign, as the stone carving was of a woman dressed in the Emperor’s court robes.

Ling Yingzhi had explained to her that they always worshipped the founding ruler of Central Yue.

Shen Yirong looked at the black robe covering the statue. After examining the Xuanwu bird patterns on the robe, her eyes traveled upwards. Through the red beaded veil, she looked into the statue’s eyes. The statue’s eyes were lifeless; they looked straight ahead, not focused on the devout worshippers.

Looking for a long time, Shen Yirong felt uneasy again. She suddenly remembered what Li Xiu had told her.

Ling Yingzhi was standing across from her. Shen Yirong didn’t dare to call out to her, fearing she might disturb Ling Minzhi.

She winked at Ling Yingzhi and then jerked her chin towards the door.

Ling Yingzhi suddenly understood and moved towards the doorway.

Shen Yirong quickly followed. But as soon as she took a step, the other two followed her, one on the left and one on the right again.

Li Xiu was dressed in black, and Song Yin in white. Shen Yirong felt like she was being claimed by the envoys of the underworld.

Only when they were outside did Shen Yirong dare to speak, “Do you both really have to follow me?”

Song Yin still had a bit of shame, but Li Xiu only chuckled softly, “To ensure your safety, I will remain by your side every step of the way.”

Seeing this, Song Yin lost her slight shyness. She stared intently at Li Xiu, “Me too.”

Shen Yirong felt her temple throbbing, but as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, how could she defeat these two Great Divinities? She resigned herself and walked forward.

Ling Yingzhi watched the three of them approach, the expression on her face truly something to behold.

Shen Yirong was afraid she would say something, so she quickly spoke, “Do the statues here move by themselves?”

Ling Yingzhi was confused, “What nonsense? How can a statue move?”

Shen Yirong breathed a sigh of relief. She was now certain that the rumors about the Central Yue Kingdom’s god-sending were false. Perhaps someone lied in the past, and later generations took it as truth and passed it down.

Ling Yingzhi looked at Shen Yirong’s face. She seemed to have something she wanted to say.

Shen Yirong noticed her hesitation, “What do you want to ask?”

Ling Yingzhi pursed her lips, “What is the world of Immortals like?”

Since Ling Yingzhi could remember, this country had been shrouded in all sorts of disasters. The disasters paid no mind to time or place. She and her sister were unlucky and always on the run.

In despair, people always seek a spiritual pillar to give them the courage to face the next day.

Ling Minzhi was like that.

Ling Yingzhi watched her sister pray to the divine over and over, yet they were still wandering the next day.

Later, they were forced by demons into a turbulent river. The demons were afraid to go into the water, and they couldn’t come ashore.

Just as they were about to drown, the divine did not appear to save them. The one who rescued them was the Grand Ruler holding the bronze mirror.

Ling Yingzhi had believed Immortals didn’t exist, but just as she lost faith, a group of powerful people suddenly appeared before her, effortlessly solving the problems that plagued them.

Shen Yirong heard another meaning in her words, “You want to cultivate?”

Ling Yingzhi nodded vigorously, “If I could be like you, perhaps this country, and my sister and the Grand Ruler, would suffer less.”

Shen Yirong looked at Song Yin. Her current identity did not belong to this era, and saying too much might cause suspicion.

Song Yin took a clear, round orb from her spatial ring, “Miss Ling, please hold this.”

Ling Yingzhi took the transparent orb. The orb slowly turned pale red.

Ling Yingzhi was curious about the change in the orb, “What is this?”

Song Yin retrieved the orb, “It’s used to test spiritual roots. Single Fire Spirit Root. Below average aptitude.”

Such aptitude was very ordinary, but the spiritual energy here was depleted, so having a spiritual root at all was a surprise.

Song Yin thought carefully and decided to let the person choose for herself.

“You have the potential to become an Immortal. The cultivation world is divided into four territories: East, West, North, and South. The Great Peace Sect in the East, the Nine Heavens Sect in the West, the Medical Immortal Valley in the North, and the Demonic Palace in the South. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion is in the heavens. These are the major sects, but you can disregard the Demonic Palace.”

“The Great Peace Sect mainly focuses on Sword Cultivation. The Nine Heavens Sect is a Sound Cultivation sect. The Medical Immortal Valley refines pills, poisons, and artifacts. The Heavenly Secret Pavilion is not skilled in combat; they focus on observing the heavenly mandate.”

“If you don’t like those, you can go to smaller sects. If you don’t like restrictions, you can be a rogue cultivator, but the path of a rogue cultivator is difficult.”

Song Yin spoke earnestly, showing Ling Yingzhi a corner of the cultivation world.

Actually, Ling Yingzhi didn’t understand many things, such as what is Sound Cultivation? What is pill refinement and artifact refinement?

Ling Yingzhi suddenly felt her own lack of knowledge. She looked at Li Xiu. When fighting the demons just now, this Immortal’s strength was the greatest.

Ling Yingzhi asked, “Which sect does this Immortal belong to?”

“The Demonic Palace of the Southern Territory.”

Ling Yingzhi’s eyes lit up, “Then can I join the Demonic Palace?”

“Absolutely not!”

Song Yin and Shen Yirong spoke simultaneously, then looked at each other in tacit understanding.

Ling Yingzhi was startled. She took a step back, looking at Shen Yirong and Song Yin with the eyes of someone watching a lesbian couple.

“Yingzhi.” Ling Minzhi called softly from inside the hall.

Ling Yingzhi responded with an “Ayyy,” temporarily putting aside the matter of seeking the Immortal Dao, and quickly ran behind Ling Minzhi.

“It is late. All you Immortals have worked hard killing the demons tonight. Please go rest now.”

Shen Yirong nodded, “General, please don’t overwork yourself either.”

“Thank you for your concern, Immortal.”

Ling Minzhi always spoke so formally. Shen Yirong didn’t particularly like it. She turned and walked towards her room.

But after only two steps, she noticed the problem. It was one thing for Li Xiu to follow her, but why was Song Yin following too?

Shen Yirong walked two more steps. These two Black and White Specters were still closely following her, and they continued to follow all the way to the room door.

She helplessly turned and looked at Song Yin, “It’s late. Immortal Song, please return to your room.”

Song Yin felt slightly displeased that Shen Yirong was treating her so politely.

When she took the person out of the border just now, this person’s attitude was much warmer, even touching her head!

She was following out of concern, otherwise, she wouldn’t do such a strange thing.

The room door was open. Song Yin’s face turned cold. She stepped over both of them and entered the room. She sat on the bed and looked at the two people outside, “I’m afraid of the dark. I’ll squeeze in with you two tonight.”

There was no intention of discussing this with anyone.

Shen Yirong’s heart jumped up, but then immediately dropped. This was Li Xiu’s superior, albeit the youthful version. Li Xiu should tolerate her, right?

“Heh.” Li Xiu chuckled softly.

Shen Yirong felt that the laughter was filled with anger. Her feeling proved correct.

In the next second, Li Xiu acted. With lightning speed, she grabbed Song Yin’s collar. While Song Yin was still stunned, she smoothly tossed her out.

Song Yin was thrown out of the room, landing on her butt right at Shen Yirong’s feet.

Shen Yirong stared blankly at the Song Yin who had been thrown at her, her mind still processing.

The young person was thin-skinned. Seeing Shen Yirong still watching, her voice trembled, “Don’t look!”

Shen Yirong woke up. She had never seen Song Yin like this, nor had she expected Li Xiu to commit such an act of insubordination.

She turned around, pretending not to have seen anything.

Song Yin, having lost face, scrambled to her feet. Her long sword was unsheathed, and she attacked Li Xiu again.

A second later, she was thrown out in a perfect parabola, landing on her butt once more.

Song Yin hammered the ground in frustration, but her morale remained high.

She yelled and charged in again, and was thrown out again.

Shen Yirong couldn’t see, but she could hear the sounds. If this continued, would the child’s butt still be intact?

Shen Yirong quickly ran over and grabbed Li Xiu. She quietly advised, “Are you crazy! Aren’t you afraid she’ll hold a grudge?”

She thought this would persuade Li Xiu, but instead, the other person’s smile deepened, “It’s fine. She won’t hold a grudge.”

Song Yin rushed in again. Seeing Li Xiu about to strike, Shen Yirong simply grabbed her hands.

“I order you not to move!”

The anxiety on Shen Yirong’s face surprised Li Xiu. She gave up on provoking her past self and instead greedily admired Shen Yirong’s expression at that moment.

“Heh heh, Mistress is angry.” Li Xiu’s voice held pleasure.

Shen Yirong was completely bewildered. Her tone was clearly displeased, so why did this person look so satisfied?

Could she have some sort of special fetish?

Having lived in the information-developed modern world, Shen Yirong quickly let her thoughts run wild. She immediately released Li Xiu’s wrists.

At the same time, Song Yin rushed in from outside. Li Xiu was in a good mood and didn’t throw her out this time. Instead, she mercilessly used a hand chop to knock her unconscious.

Shen Yirong was startled, “Song Yin!”

She knelt beside Song Yin and eagerly scooped her into her arms to check her breathing.

The room door suddenly closed automatically, and the bolt locked itself.

The dim candlelight in the room outlined an intimacy for only two people.

Shen Yirong suddenly snapped back to reality. A chill ran through her. She looked up at the approaching Li Xiu.

The other person looked down at her, seemingly trying to discern something from her eyes.

“You are very nervous about her? Why?”

Shen Yirong suddenly calmed down. Li Xiu had no authority to punish her. She didn’t need to be so afraid.

And this question was truly strange…

Shen Yirong looked at Li Xiu with scrutiny, “Why do you ask that? Isn’t this the young Venerable One? Is it not normal for me to be nervous about the Venerable One?”

Li Xiu was stumped. She chuckled, “It seems you genuinely like the Venerable One.”

Shen Yirong felt her whole body lighten, “Why would you think I don’t like the Venerable One?”

Li Xiu fell silent.

Because she always thought this person might be Master, and Master would never worry about her injuries.

Li Xiu gave a light laugh, then turned to tease the person sleeping soundly in Shen Yirong’s arms, “The Venerable One at this time is still too young. She knows her opponent is dangerous yet still thinks of protecting you.”

Shen Yirong already felt guilty, and this shocked her, “You know everything?”

Li Xiu pretended not to understand, “Know what?”

Shen Yirong realized she had slipped up and quickly denied it, “Nothing.”

She was terrified. She thought the other person knew about the vessel mark.

The Song Yin in her arms suddenly let out a soft moan. She woke up and realized someone was holding her. Her face immediately flushed, and she struggled to get free.

Shen Yirong let her go, then guarded her behind her, her eyes alert, “You cannot hurt her.”

She expected Li Xiu to argue, but the other person agreed readily, “Alright. It’s very late now. Mistress, sleep.”

Shen Yirong breathed a sigh of relief, but suddenly realized there was only one bed in the room.

However, these two didn’t need to sleep.

Shen Yirong lay down, leaving Song Yin and Li Xiu to stare at each other.

Li Xiu looked at her past self as if looking at a walking piece of dark history. She was indeed naive back then.

She sighed and suddenly began to take off her clothes.

Song Yin was shocked, “What are you doing!”

“Sleeping.” Li Xiu said, and was about to climb into bed, but her sleeve was pulled by Song Yin.

Song Yin’s face was even redder, “How dare you climb into your Master’s bed!”

Li Xiu’s expression darkened, “There is only one bed here.”

Song Yin stubbornly refused to let go, “No! You sleep on the floor.”

“Heh, no. Let go. I’m not that depraved.”

“I won’t! You! Sleep! On! The! Floor!”

Li Xiu had never found her past self so annoying. Her eyes became increasingly dangerous, “Right now, I’d rather beat you than sleep on the floor.”

Song Yin felt the pain in her butt return, but the purity of Shen Yirong was at stake. She stuck out her neck and refused to back down, “This is insubordination!”

Li Xiu laughed out of anger, and then she gave her past self another painful hand chop.

With a thud, Song Yin fell to the floor, and the world became quiet again.

Li Xiu chuckled softly, “She brought it on herself.”

She climbed into the inner side of the bed and gently hugged the sleeping Shen Yirong. Listening to the other person’s breathing so close, the inner turmoil was gradually smoothed away.

After a while, Song Yin on the floor slowly woke up. She stumbled to her feet, opened her eyes, saw Shen Yirong’s face, and called out, “Master.”

She vaguely thought she was dreaming, so she climbed onto the bed and squeezed herself into Shen Yirong’s arms. Before falling back asleep, she thoughtfully pulled the quilt over them.

So, on this snowy winter night, Shen Yirong was woken up by the heat from two people!

She uncomfortably opened her eyes. The first thing she felt was something nestled in her arms. She looked down and saw what seemed to be Song Yin’s head.

She instinctively stopped the hand that was about to push the person away. Seeing Song Yin sleeping soundly, she finally reached out and touched Song Yin’s head.

Shen Yirong smiled but then suddenly restrained her expression.

She frowned and lightened her breathing. Then she heard a scratching sound of something being dragged outside the room.

The sound moved from far to near, becoming very clear from an initial blur.

Then the sound disappeared.

Shen Yirong held her breath. She slowly looked up and saw a gap in the originally intact window.

A pair of lifeless eyes was looking back at her through the slit.