When the Immortal Venerable Picked-Up the Demon Cub - Chapter 6

Back at the dilapidated temple, both women looked uneasy. Zhu Ning, particularly, returned battered and disheveled. To avoid the awkwardness, she pretended to be asleep. Lin Xiayan scoffed coldly, sitting down beside her as if afraid she might flee.

“Rest now, my master,” Lin Xiayan murmured into Zhu Ning’s ear, her voice dripping with seductive charm. This drove Zhu Ning to frantically recite the Heart-Clearing Incantation in her mind.

******

The next morning, Zhu Ning opened her eyes, thinking it was still dark. Only when she became fully awake did she realize it was still snowing, and everything that had happened the previous night felt like a dream.

Zhu Ning’s clothes were thin, and the sight of the heavy snowfall instantly made her feel disheartened.

How are we going to get back to Yun Cang Mountain? Zhu Ning frowned, her delicate brows drawing together as she turned around. She saw Lin Xiayan rubbing her eyes, and suddenly didn’t know whether to be cautious or concerned.

Deciding to keep up the act, Zhu Ning sat back down next to Lin Xiayan, watching her play with the cat. In as gentle a voice as she could muster, she said, “Awake now? Look at this snow. I don’t know when it’ll stop. If it keeps falling like this, we might not be able to get up the mountain. Are you hungry? Should I go buy you something to eat?”

As she spoke, Zhu Ning was relieved that she still had a small pouch of coins at her waist. At least she could buy some food for this major villain.

Lin Xiayan shook her head, cradling the kitten. She wasn’t hungry; she hadn’t slept all night, and her eyes were bloodshot. She looked up at Zhu Ning. Her white robes seemed permanently pristine, like the divine being Zhu Ning herself appeared to be.

Outside the dilapidated window, the snow reflected a pale white light. Zhu Ning stood by the window, facing away from the light, her expression difficult for Lin Xiayan to see. The faint glow outlined Zhu Ning’s figure, her usually immaculate long hair now loose and disheveled, adding a raw, untamed beauty to her appearance.

Lin Xiayan stared, mesmerized, her hand tightening slightly on the kitten she was stroking, forgetting to let go.

Gurgle~ At that precise moment, an abrupt sound echoed through the dilapidated temple. Lin Xiayan silently released her grip, her eyes sparkling with amusement as she looked at Zhu Ning.

“It seems our Lord Immortal Venerable is hungry,” Lin Xiayan teased, her childlike demeanor and raised eyebrow making her words impossible to ignore.

Stunned, Zhu Ning hadn’t expected to be the one feeling hungry. Though I’m a cultivator, I haven’t reached the stage of transcending hunger yet, she realized. But why now, of all times?

Lin Xiayan’s small frame moved with surprising agility. As if struck by a sudden idea, she picked up an old, worn-out broom from the corner of the temple and began sweeping the accumulated snow from the doorway.

Lin Xiayan’s industriousness left Zhu Ning, standing inside the dilapidated temple, feeling unsettled. She hurried outside into the swirling snow, watching the small red figure sweeping the ground with a broom taller than she was. A mix of confusion and fear filled her heart.

So what if I know she’s the villain? Zhu Ning thought. Something still feels wrong. Her white robes billowed as she braved the snow to reach Lin Xiayan, took the broom from her, and gazed at her hands, now bright red from the cold. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

Action spoke louder than words. Without thinking, Zhu Ning crouched down, the snow still falling relentlessly. Both of them had forgotten to go back inside. She grasped Lin Xiayan’s wrist, only then realizing that her usually soft and warm hands were now stiff with cold. Snowflakes slid down the back of Lin Xiayan’s hands, the bone-chilling cold seeping into both of them.

Lin Xiayan hadn’t minded the cold before, but when Zhu Ning’s hand closed around her wrist, she instinctively flinched, then felt a flicker of surprise and pleasure.

Human hands are so warm, she thought. Warmer than last night’s… Lin Xiayan looked up at Zhu Ning, her earnest expression blurred by the snowflakes clinging to her eyelashes. She felt that the person standing before her was utterly trustworthy, someone who could dispel even the coldest darkness.

The daze lasted only a moment. By the time Zhu Ning led Lin Xiayan back to the dilapidated temple, the girl had already regained her composure. Her eyes, now smiling, discreetly observed Zhu Ning’s every move, genuinely intrigued by this Immortal Venerable.

“Lord Immortal Venerable, please don’t be angry… I just wanted to clear a path through the snow. That way, we can get to town and buy you something to eat.” Lin Xiayan looked innocent, her soft, childlike voice warm and sincere. Zhu Ning was initially puzzled by her words, but when she turned around, she saw the beggar standing behind them.

Understanding the situation, Zhu Ning dismissed her doubts. She walked over, pulled a money pouch from her waist, and casually took Lin Xiayan’s hand, leading her out. “I’ll take you to get something delicious to eat,” she said.

And so, in a bewildered state, Lin Xiayan followed Zhu Ning to the only teahouse open in town.

Though the streets were nearly deserted, the teahouse bustled with activity. The first floor housed tables for customers to eat and drink, with a storyteller seated in the center. Occasionally, the sound of pipa music drifted down from the private rooms on the second floor. The moment they entered, they were enveloped in warm air, instantly dispelling the cold.

“What would you like to order, honored guests?” The shopkeeper was a newcomer from out of town, and his staff had followed him here. The waiter naturally didn’t recognize Zhu Ning, but he could tell from her distinctive Daoist robes that she was someone important, so he spoke with more restraint than he would with other customers, avoiding his usual banter.

Zhu Ning took the menu and noticed that the dish names were simple and straightforward. She casually ordered a few meat and vegetable dishes in balanced proportions before handing the menu back to the waiter.

Just then, the storyteller on the stage clapped his bamboo clappers, and the teahouse fell silent. All eyes turned to him, waiting for him to begin.

After a moment’s thought, the storyteller launched into his tale, recounting the heroic exploits of ancient generals. Zhu Ning wasn’t in the mood to listen, and Lin Xiayan was even less interested. She simply picked up the kitten she’d rescued the night before and began to play with it in her palm.

Zhu Ning didn’t dwell on where Lin Xiayan had hidden the kitten earlier. For now, it was enough to play along. Resting her chin in her hand, she watched Lin Xiayan stroke the kitten’s fur repeatedly before finally asking, “Do you really like this kitten that much?”

Lin Xiayan paused, pursed her lips, and looked at Zhu Ning with a smile in her eyes. “Not as much as my own dumb beast.”

Zhu Ning clicked her tongue, shook her head, and held out her hand. The kitten immediately jumped into her palm. Meeting Lin Xiayan’s probing gaze, Zhu Ning didn’t know what to say. After all, she hadn’t fully figured out Lin Xiayan yet, and it was best to keep everything about the original owner under wraps for now.

Just as the storyteller reached the climax of his tale, the crowd erupted in applause. Distracted by the commotion, Zhu Ning overheard the patrons beside her whispering.

“These days aren’t peaceful at all,” one of them said, shaking his head as if a great calamity were imminent. “I heard the Ancient Battlefield is once again plagued by the Array of Vengeful Spirits. Those Demonic Creatures feed on resentment, and it’s only a matter of time before something major happens.”

Zhu Ning froze. She only remembered that this setup in the original book was meant to showcase the female lead’s badass aura later on—her ability to slay both men and ghosts. The book hadn’t detailed the widespread panic, leaving her puzzled. Just as she was about to ask how dire the situation had become, a waiter arrived with steaming dishes, smiling as he said, “Enjoy your meal.”

“Waiter,” Zhu Ning asked, adopting an inquisitive expression, “do you know where this Ancient Battlefield they’re talking about is located?”

The waiter’s floodgates opened.

“You’re not from around here, are you, sir?” the waiter asked. “The Ancient Battlefield is north of Yun Cang Mountain. It’s said to be easily defended but difficult to attack, making it a favored battleground throughout history. Naturally, countless lives have been lost there. To appease the vengeful spirits, the ancestors of Yun Cang Mountain built their stronghold here, ensuring a century of peace.”

Zhu Ning immediately latched onto the words “Yun Cang Mountain.” Suddenly, she smacked her forehead, retrieving fragmented memories from her original host’s mind.

She smiled at the waiter, her peach-blossom eyes curving into crescents. Lin Xiayan, seated at the table, noticed the smile wasn’t directed at her.

Instantly irritated, Lin Xiayan slammed her chopsticks onto the table, throwing a childish tantrum. “Get me a new pair! Stop standing there chatting!” Lin Xiayan rarely acted like this, but now she was ordering the waiter around. Zhu Ning initially felt this was inappropriate and opened her mouth to say something, but the commotion at the door drowned out her words.

Turning toward the noise, she saw a group of people dressed in Daoist robes standing at the teahouse entrance. Each held a longsword, their expressions stern and unsmiling. Their leader had sent someone to question the teahouse owner.

Could these be people from Yun Cang Mountain?! Zhu Ning thought, startled by the sudden appearance of these “relatives.” Why do they seem even more intimidating than the main villain?

Though they wore robes similar to Zhu Ning’s, their icy expressions made them seem unapproachable. She swore that if she ever taught these people, her first lesson would be how to smile.

“Are you talking about this woman?” the shopkeeper asked, pointing in Zhu Ning’s direction. Zhu Ning didn’t bother hiding; she stood openly, her presence instantly dispelling the disciples’ cold aura.

Some even knelt and bowed to her in formal disciple greeting.

“Disciples pay respects to the Immortal Venerable.”

Fortunately, they spoke only after approaching Zhu Ning, sparing the tea house patrons from hearing. Zhu Ning, feeling a headache coming on, gestured for them to rise. A quick count revealed there were over twenty of them.

“You’re here… to find this venerable one?” Zhu Ning asked awkwardly, realizing the question was rather pointless.

Even so, someone answered. The same disciple who had led them earlier stepped forward again. “Elder Yue, concerned by your prolonged absence, sent us to welcome you back.”

Elder Yue? Zhu Ning fell into deep thought once more.

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