Chapter 36: Unexpected Encounters and Mysterious Garments

“No, didn’t I say? I’m currently poisoned and can’t use my powers. Besides, the plan didn’t include erasing Zhang Feng’s memory.”

“But the plan also said you should stay out of the Demon Suppression Bureau’s affairs. Wasn’t it you who broke the plan first?”

Tong Qiu sighed lightly, knowing she had only herself to blame.

Last night, when she saw Zhang Feng collapse unconscious but still alive, she assumed that as a powerful demon from the Demon Realm, Bai Jiujiu wouldn’t erase his memory at the very least.

But now, this…

“Tong Qiu, what’s wrong with you?”

“I regret it so much…”

“Regret what?”

“Regret being greedy and getting on this demon’s crazy ship!”

Tong Qiu rolled her eyes at Bai Jiujiu, realizing she could no longer judge her using the standards of a normal thousand-year-old demon.

She pouted, feeling both wronged and vengeful. “Now I’m really stuck with you. And with Zhang Feng always hating me, that jerk will definitely use his family’s influence to go after me.”

Zhang Feng’s father, Zhang Tao, is an elder of the Southern Green Mountain Sect, while his mother is the sister of the Prime Minister of the Great Chu Kingdom. Though not as powerful as the Seven Major Sects, their influence is significant in both the cultivation and common circles of the south.

Zhang Feng, the youngest of the Zhang family, has ordinary talent. At twenty-three, he only barely reached the Condensation Realm with help from his older brother and sister.

In the Demon Suppression Bureau, Zhang Feng looked down on Tong Qiu for being a commoner, and Tong Qiu disliked his arrogant attitude. Last year, they both wanted the same Demon-Binding Rope at an auction. Somehow, Tong Qiu managed to outbid Zhang Feng, and that’s how their feud started.

Now, that Demon-Binding Rope has taken Bai Jiujiu’s form.

What a mess…

Under Xia Ya’s wide-eyed gaze, Bai Jiujiu used the Demon-Binding Rope to fetch the clothes from the table. She picked out a gray-white garment for herself and handed a green one to Tong Qiu.

Xia Ya, seeing this, started to approach to help Tong Qiu dress.

“Xia Ya, go call Mr. Song for me. I have something to discuss with him.”

“Oh oh~”

Xia Ya pouted slightly, feeling a bit down as she left.

“Why did you refuse her? I think she just wanted to help you dress.”

Bai Jiujiu quickly put on the gray-white top and secured the skirt with a belt.

She could tell that Xia Ya, with her pure, grateful eyes, had no ulterior motives. This was far better than the demons on her mountain, especially those five disciples!

On Cloudfall Mountain, she sometimes commanded shaped-shifted young demons to assist her with baths and dressing, enjoying a luxury she never had in her past life. But those five disciples always interfered, either replacing the assistants with see-through garments or strange patches.

And during dressing, those five would never keep their hands to themselves!

Only Su Ling’er, before she became a ghost, and the lazy alter ego, Qingqing, were somewhat normal.

“These kids always try to repay me in various ways, especially Xia Ya. Her mother was a servant to a wealthy landowner and was killed by the mistress for having an affair with the master. Xia Ya was thrown into the slums.”

“I don’t want them to see themselves as lowly servants. I want Xia Ya and everyone at the orphanage to stand on their own feet.”

Tong Qiu recalled, her voice filled with a mix of frustration and determination.

“I think she just wants to repay you.”

“Effortlessly following Mr. Song’s teachings and cultivating to become an immortal—that’s the best way to repay me.”

As they talked, both had almost finished dressing. The new garments were unlike the previous pure white top. These had a gray-white hue, like ink splashed on paper, with faint bamboo leaves embroidered on the collar. The skirts had patterns resembling green bamboo shadows.

They both donned matching light outer robes from the Longxing Temple and black arm guards, also embroidered with bamboo.

“This clothing… can you really buy it at a night market?”

Tong Qiu furrowed her brow, examining the intricate, lightweight fabric. It felt strange. The craftsmanship was beyond what a mid-level city like Lianlin could offer. The materials—cloud silk as thin as cicada wings and shimmering brocade—were usually seen only on high-ranking officials during song and dance festivals.

Even then, such fabrics could only be specially ordered from textile merchants. How could Xia Ya have bought them at a night market?

And these arm guards… they looked like magical artifacts…

Bai Jiujiu also sensed something was off. Though she wasn’t familiar with human merchants, the clothes felt perfect, neither too tight nor too loose, as if tailor-made.

Most importantly, each skirt had embroidered poems.

Bai Jiujiu’s garment read:

“Establish the heart for the heavens and earth! Establish the mandate for the people! Continue the learning of ancient sages! Open the path to peace for all generations!”

These were the famous Four Sentences of Hengqu! Why were they here?

Bai Jiujiu was very familiar with these lines. On Cloudfall Mountain, she had once considered using them to guide her five disciples, but decided against it, thinking demons should live carefree lives.

She was certain she had never mentioned these sentences to any demon, let alone her five disciples!

So why were they here?

Bai Jiujiu’s eyes widened, her vertical pupils briefly visible, her black hair sticking to her temples.

“A hundred years of glory and decline are but a dream.”

“If the Zen gate suddenly breaks, the beauty is like jade, the sword like a rainbow. What fine poetry! Though the first and second parts seem to be from different poems.”

Tong Qiu murmured, her head bowed as she read the verses on her own garment. She couldn’t help but admire them.

Indeed, as Tong Qiu noted, the first part was from the poem “Falling Flowers” by Qiuchi of the past life, and the second part was from “Random feelings” by Gong Zizhen.

But why were they both here?

Bai Jiujiu, though she remembered all the poetry from her past life, had no habit of plagiarizing. She disdained such behavior…

These poems?

Bai Jiujiu’s vision blurred, and she saw a vague figure of a swordsman with a wine flask, writing these verses.

Below the name was written: Transmitter—Bai Jiuyue!

This person, like Bai Jiu’er, gave her a strong sense of familiarity…

Who could it be?

“Big Sister, Brother-in-law, I brought Mr. Song. Have you finished dressing?”

“Come in. I have some questions for you.”

Bai Jiujiu ignored the unusual greeting, glad she also had questions for Xia Ya.

Xia Ya opened the door, letting the white-haired elder enter first before following and closing the door behind her.

Hmm, this shows great respect for teachers!

Bai Jiujiu appreciated the courtesy, hoping her own disciples could be as well-behaved and respectful. Instead, they were always eager to challenge her…

Tong Qiu pulled Xia Ya aside, intending to ask where she bought the garments.

But before she could speak, Mr. Song turned to Bai Jiujiu, his expression frozen. In front of everyone, he knelt down, his aged body trembling.

“Bai Jiu’er! Have you finally been reincarnated?”

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