When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 30.2

Zhu Ning swept her sleeve and strode out, her boots sinking into the snow with each step, leaving deep and shallow tracks. She paused, standing tall and elegant in the snow, her icy gaze sweeping over the women. Mimicking their scornful sneers, she said, “This Venerable One thought it was someone important. Turns out it’s just a group of newly initiated disciples.”

Since mastering her magical power, Zhu Ning had grown confident in her abilities. The pride befitting an Immortal Venerable now radiated from her, allowing her to maintain her dignity while remaining humble and courteous.

Seeing this, Lin Xiayan didn’t back down. Instead, she chimed in, “This is Yun Cang Mountain, not your little backwater town. Don’t embarrass yourselves out here…” Though her words carried a hint of sarcasm, her voice was still childlike, and no one would take offense from a little girl. Zhu Ning became the target of their collective scorn.

“The Sect Leader of Yun Cang Mountain is naturally a master of cultivation. Would she really deign to discuss cultivation with us juniors?!” the lead woman sneered, her tone as sharp as Fan Mo’s. Zhu Ning remained calm, adjusting the sleeve embroidered with koi fish. Her composure was both graceful and dignified. “Since you know This Venerable One is the Sect Leader of Yun Cang Mountain and your senior, is this how Zhenju Mountain teaches you to address your elders?”

The tension in the air crackled like gunpowder. Su Mi stood behind Zhu Ning, observing the situation.

The women hesitated to confront Zhu Ning directly. They glared at her group for a long moment, their teeth clenched, before stomping away, muttering curses under their breath.

The junior disciple guarding Mùdōng Courtyard couldn’t stand it any longer. His face flushed crimson with anger, and he volunteered to chase after them. But Zhu Ning waved him off, radiating an aura of detached serenity. She didn’t want to escalate the conflict before the competition. Grabbing Lin Xiayan’s hand, she turned and walked back toward the courtyard.

Mùdōng Courtyard remained as quiet as ever. Su Mi had gone down to prepare for the competition, leaving only Lin Xiayan and Zhu Ning in the room.

Lin Xiayan set down the steamed bun in her hand, showing little interest in such things. Though she had cultivated her human form as a young girl, she couldn’t entirely avoid eating grains and vegetables. Zhu Ning, who had been sitting moodily on the bed, soon saw Lin Xiayan scampering over, putting on a pitiful act. “Honored Master, Honored Master~ I’m hungry…”

Zhu Ning froze, her face flushing crimson when she met Lin Xiayan’s smiling eyes. She’s clearly a big fox, so why is she pretending to be a cute kitten?

“Isn’t there a steamed bun?” Zhu Ning pointed to the bun on the table, only then noticing the one that had been bitten once and abandoned.

“You don’t like it?”

Lin Xiayan nodded.

Zhu Ning’s face immediately showed her dilemma. It was impossible to ask the kitchen to prepare a meal now; they were already busy with banquets scheduled for noon and evening, leaving no spare hands.

Remembering that she had learned a few cooking skills herself, Zhu Ning recalled the small shed behind Mùdōng Courtyard. The pots inside were dusty, likely originally intended for brewing medicine and only symbolically equipped with cooking utensils.

“What can I make for you?” Zhu Ning asked, her sleeves rolled up high, a bright smile on her face as she entered the small kitchen. The room was fully equipped for cooking, but it was dark and looked like it hadn’t been used in ages.

Zhu Ning started by cleaning up, timing herself as she washed the pots, pans, and utensils.

“Is this a fairy descending to the mortal realm?” Lin Xiayan, still radiant in her red robes, leaned against the doorframe, watching Zhu Ning’s movements. Her tone was teasing, but there was a hint of sincerity in her words.

Zhu Ning blushed crimson, mistaking Lin Xiayan’s words for mere teasing. Her nervousness made her wet her sleeves with water. The damp white fabric became slightly transparent, but thankfully it was only a small patch at the cuffs.

The wet fabric clung to Zhu Ning’s arms, creating a faintly suggestive silhouette. She straightened her expression, rolled up her sleeves again, and suddenly looked quite like a proper cook.

Lin Xiayan wasn’t particularly picky; she just didn’t like buns with certain fillings. Zhu Ning grabbed a few eggs, knowing that scrambled eggs were her specialty.

While Zhu Ning bustled around, Lin Xiayan stood lazily in the doorway, neither offering to help nor leaving. She had changed into a sky-blue dress that mirrored the color of the sky outside. Zhu Ning focused intently on lighting the fire, but the damp matches refused to ignite no matter how hard she struck them.

Just as Zhu Ning was frowning in frustration, Lin Xiayan simply flicked her finger. A bright flame instantly sprang up between the firewood, illuminating half of Zhu Ning’s face with a warm glow.

“This magic is actually pretty good…” Zhu Ning chuckled awkwardly, then resumed her focused expression, carefully ladling a spoonful of oil into the wok and waiting patiently.

The girl’s earnest demeanor was more suited to a classroom than to a blackened wok. Amused, Lin Xiayan shifted her stance to continue watching.

Lin Xiayan had initially expected Zhu Ning, who had never cooked before, to fail miserably. But to her surprise, Zhu Ning actually knew how to cook, her movements practiced and efficient. This made Lin Xiayan wonder what Zhu Ning had experienced during her travels.

As Lin Xiayan pondered this, an image flashed through her mind: Zhu Ning, dressed in a dirt-stained white dress, earnestly asking a steamed bun shop owner for buns on credit.

The thought made her laugh out loud. Zhu Ning glanced over, her peach blossom eyes filled with confusion. Lin Xiayan shook her head with a smile and stepped forward. Only then did Zhu Ning notice the pair of bell-shaped hairpins adorning Lin Xiayan’s loose hair.

“I was just wondering why you even know how to cook,” Lin Xiayan finally said, her conscience pricking her. She helped Zhu Ning scoop the eggs out of the pan, not forgetting to gossip a little.

Zhu Ning had been about to add that she knew more than just scrambled eggs, but to maintain her aloof Immortal Venerable persona, she could only smile shyly. “When I was traveling long ago, I passed by a family. The wife was sick, and her husband had gone hunting and hadn’t returned. So I had to learn to cook. I even burned myself back then.”

What Zhu Ning said wasn’t entirely false. When she first learned to cook, she had indeed burned her arms and hands, and tears had streamed down her face.

Lin Xiayan had been smiling, but when she heard the last sentence, the smile vanished from her eyes. She set down the plate of eggs and examined Zhu Ning’s hands thoroughly. Only when she saw no burn scars did she breathe a sigh of relief, though he himself didn’t understand why he had been so worried.

“From now on, let the servants handle such things. Your hands are meant for wielding swords and drawing talismans,” Lin Xiayan said, thinking he had phrased it delicately. But Zhu Ning tilted her head and grinned. “I know, I know. You’re just worried about me.”

Zhu Ning had only meant to tease her, but when she saw Lin Xiayan’s cheeks flush slightly and her head drop in confusion, Zhu Ning froze. “Really?”

Lin Xiayan shook her head repeatedly, gently removing Zhu Ning’s hand. She picked up the plate of scrambled eggs and walked back into the house. Zhu Ning didn’t rush after her. Instead, she stood in the kitchen, looking around with growing fondness. She decided she would practice cooking here more often.

Once they went down the mountain in a few days, she probably wouldn’t have such freedom to eat whatever she wanted.

Having made up her mind, Zhu Ning tidied up the kitchen until her hands were covered in dust. Only then did she step outside. The house felt dim compared to the sunlight. As she emerged, she realized just how dark it was inside.

While she was pondering adding a window to the little kitchen, she heard footsteps. Looking up, she saw Lin Xiayan approaching.

Lin Xiayan’s blue robes softened the harsh sunlight, making her appearance remarkably soothing. Zhu Ning waited for her to come closer, a faint smile playing on her delicate features. She must have come back because she was worried about me, Zhu Ning thought.

After thinking about it, Zhu Ning realized she might be overthinking things. What if Lin Xiayan hadn’t meant anything by her words? She lowered her head and followed Lin Xiayan back into the room. Usually, the room had no lingering food smells, but today, a plate of eggs filled the air with a savory aroma. Lin Xiayan, feeling a bit hungry, sat down and began to eat. Though she hadn’t used chopsticks much before, she was determined to learn properly this time, and she picked it up quickly.

In no time, she was holding the chopsticks with perfect form, even becoming mindful of her posture.

Zhu Ning watched her, resting her chin in her hand, worried the eggs might not taste good. Lin Xiayan’s eyes lit up, and she graciously finished every last bite. Though it was just one dish, much less than usual, it was exactly what Lin Xiayan had been craving.

With the meal finished, Lin Xiayan refused to change back. Having such a stunningly beautiful woman standing before her, even though Zhu Ning knew her own looks were just as striking, still made her feel dazzled and unable to focus.

Lin Xiayan didn’t care about all that. As long as she was happy, that was all that mattered. She grabbed the book she’d been studying lately, which contained basic sword techniques and stances. Zhu Ning, though unfamiliar with these techniques, knew Yun Cang Mountain inside and out. Seeing Lin Xiayan’s earnest focus, she concentrated and began explaining.

“Yun Cang Mountain primarily suppresses demons and monsters by using yang energy and other substances that are their natural enemies. Think of the Maoshan Sect disciples from years ago, with their peachwood swords and talismans. It’s essentially the same principle,” Zhu Ning said, trying to sound professional as she pulled up a chair and sat beside Lin Xiayan.

Hearing the name “Maoshan,” Lin Xiayan’s interest piqued. She set down the book and looked at Zhu Ning’s peach blossom eyes, asking a few questions.

This topic really got Zhu Ning talking. She’d been fascinated by it herself and had even read about it in historical texts. “Now the Maoshan Sect has declined, its disciples scattered across the mortal realm, working as Yin-Yang Masters. Basically, they deal with ghostly creatures. If the Maoshan Sect disciples from back then had seen the ghostly creature at the banquet that night, they probably would have considered it as easy to handle as a light drizzle. Yet it still managed to beat me so badly.”

As Zhu Ning finished speaking, her wound seemed to throb faintly.

Lin Xiayan nodded knowingly, continuing to flip through the books. She discovered many things she hadn’t known before. Today was for the disciples to get to know each other and chat; the formal competition would begin tomorrow.

“The Immortal Venerable’s beloved disciple seems quite nervous,” Lin Xiayan remarked casually, her fingers still turning pages as if she were merely gossiping.

The oblivious Zhu Ning, still mulling over details from the books, suddenly realized something was off. Su Mi had indeed seemed unusually tense that morning.

“You’re right. I’ll go check on her right away,” Zhu Ning declared, already moving before Lin Xiayan could react. Her swiftness left Lin Xiayan dumbfounded, making her briefly wonder if she should have brought it up at all.

When Zhu Ning arrived, she found Su Mi sitting motionless in her small room, neither reading nor cultivating, a stark contrast to her usual self.

Zhu Ning’s heart skipped a beat. She crept inside, racking her brain to understand why Su Mi might be turning dark again. Hadn’t Lin Xiayan done nothing to provoke her?

Su Mi had rarely taken off her green silk dress, instead wearing the Daoist robes of Yun Cang Mountain. Her room, though sparsely furnished, felt clean and well-kept, a testament to the care its occupant took.

Hearing the door open, Su Mi looked up, a faint light flickering in her colorless eyes. She rose to greet her visitor with a flawless bow, the curve of her waist perfectly executed.

Zhu Ning’s expression remained stern as she entered, her piercing gaze fixed on Su Mi’s face. Those intense eyes made Su Mi blush slightly. “Honored Master? Is there something you need?”

Her words seemed to snap Zhu Ning out of her thoughts. She didn’t smile, not even a forced one.

Su Mi’s confusion deepened, but when she recalled what she had witnessed in the Grand Hall earlier, she found herself reluctant to speak.

Why had Lin Xiayan, who came later, taken my place?

Noticing Su Mi’s worsening complexion, Zhu Ning frowned in concern. To win Su Mi over, she picked up a scroll. “You seemed anxious this morning. Is something troubling you?”

Zhu Ning spoke softly, carefully crafting the image of a model teacher, striving to appear gentle and kind.

Su Mi had never seen Zhu Ning so gentle. In her memories, the Immortal Venerable Zhu Ning was nothing but a cold, aloof figure, utterly impartial even to her own disciples. She was a strange paradox: heartless yet foolishly kind.

That was Su Mi’s first impression of her.

Now, Su Mi felt that her initial impression of Zhu Ning had crumbled almost completely.

Su Mi nodded and handed Zhu Ning the passage she had been struggling with. Having thoroughly digested the entire booklet, Zhu Ning was no longer completely clueless about cultivation matters. She confidently followed Su Mi’s finger.

It turned out to be alchemy. The girl’s confusion stemmed from alchemy.

“The Honored Master didn’t teach us alchemy,” Su Mi explained, “but I’m worried they might try to force a sudden alchemy competition. Yun Cang Mountain only has a few disciples who specialize in medicinal pills…” Su Mi’s foresight was commendable. The disciples of Zhenju Mountain were notorious for their underhanded tactics, so a sudden alchemy challenge mid-competition wasn’t entirely out of the question.

Zhu Ning raised her gaze, revealing a pale arm, and gestured for Su Mi to take her hand.

Su Mi’s expression turned serious as she slowly reached out and grasped Zhu Ning’s fingers, not her palm.

Following her memory, Zhu Ning led the way to the Alchemy Chamber of Yun Cang Mountain. Though close to the Grand Hall, it had been long abandoned. Disciples who practiced alchemy typically had their own Pill Refinement Cauldrons and rarely came here.

Su Mi, a beginner, had no cauldron of her own and had to borrow one from the chamber. A thick layer of dust covered the plaque. Zhu Ning stood at the entrance, unsure where to start. Just as she was about to push open the door with her bracelet-clad hand, Su Mi stopped her. She pulled a pale yellow square of cloth from her sleeve, wrapped it around the door handle, and easily pushed the door open.

A cloud of dust billowed out, choking Zhu Ning into a fit of coughing that aggravated the pain in her chest. She forced herself to endure it.

Su Mi quickly stepped in front of Zhu Ning as the dust slowly settled. Zhu Ning finally caught her breath, her voice still weak. “This place really needs cleaning.”

Zhu Ning lit the Liuli Square Lamp, a unique lamp found only on Yun Cang Mountain. It cast a dreamlike pale blue light that didn’t hinder vision at all. Zhu Ning had long cherished this lamp like a precious gem.

“The room rarely sees sunlight, so it’s bound to be dark sometimes,” Zhu Ning explained, trying to smooth things over. But Su Mi paid no attention to the dimness, her eyes shining with delight as she carefully ran her fingers over the smooth jade bricks of the Alchemy Furnace. This ancient artifact had stood since the founding of Yun Cang Mountain, having weathered countless seasons. Now, after being rediscovered, it truly bore the marks of age.

“Why is the Immortal Venerable being so partial? Are you giving Su-jiejie special treatment?” Lin Xiayan’s voice rang out from the doorway of the Alchemy Chamber, her childish voice dripping with sarcasm. Su Mi frowned in displeasure, but when she saw Zhu Ning immediately set down her scrolls and abandon her study, her expression instantly turned blank. She stood frozen, her hands falling limply to her sides, the scrolls slipping from her grasp.

Zhu Ning felt a headache coming on. Dealing with one person was already exhausting enough, and now this major villain had arrived. Might as well just tell me to die already.

Zhu Ning thought this, but she didn’t dare do it. She gripped Lin Xiayan’s white Daoist robe and watched as the wide, flowing garment shrunk into a miniature version. Zhu Ning was utterly delighted, her eyes glued to Lin Xiayan’s tiny skirt the entire way.

The two had only wasted a moment before Su Mi had already mastered the alchemy furnace. Her magical power, however, proved insufficient to ignite the flames.

Noticing Su Mi’s frustration, Zhu Ning said nothing. Following the instructions in the booklet, she channeled her qi to her fingertips, chanted a few incantations, and a faint crimson glow bloomed from her fingertips. Unlike Lin Xiayan’s still-developing technique, this was a vibrant, flower-like beauty, rather than a seductive red.

Sensing the warmth, the alchemy furnace began to heat up. Su Mi carefully added medicinal herbs and other ingredients, one by one. She was attempting the most basic formula; success would depend on the final size and shape of the pills.

With Su Mi already immersed in the process, Lin Xiayan refused to be left behind. She tugged secretly at Zhu Ning’s sleeve and settled herself before another alchemy furnace.

“Lord Immortal Venerable,” Xiayan said with an innocent smile, “Why doesn’t Xiayan dare to compete with Su-jie? It would be a good opportunity for us to hone our skills.”

Anyone would underestimate Lin Xiayan, but Su Mi grew so nervous she forgot to add a crucial ingredient.

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