Chapter 14: The Unyielding Boundary and the Soaked Quilt

Children represent the future, a unique future brimming with wonders.

Regardless of gender, they are born as blank slates, acting purely on instinct. They might inadvertently irritate others with their perceived joys, or conversely, offer profound comfort with a simple gesture.

Yet, whether human or demon, any newborn life would receive her utmost assistance.

To Bai Jiujiu, life existed in only two forms: children and adults.

Once someone reached adulthood, Bai Jiujiu no longer regarded them as a child. Instead, she would choose how to interact with them as a hunter, an equal, and someone considering her own interests.

This was Bai Jiujiu’s self-imposed rule in Mount Qianli Yunlai, her sole unwavering boundary.

Bai Jiujiu’s five disciples were all found by her in Mount Qianli Yunlai and raised from infancy, fed spoonful by spoonful.

The milk wasn’t her own; her own peaks weren’t substantial when she first transformed. Instead, she had ‘requested’ it from a tigress who had submitted to her.

During that time, Bai Jiujiu had specifically guided them.

“When you are young, I will shield your vulnerable past with the warmth of spring. When you come of age, I will reveal the cruel future with the scorching heat of the sun.”

Bai Jiujiu would not force her five disciples to adopt her views, understanding that everyone had their own rules. However, she would not stand idly by if something crossed her personal red line.

Li Sibao’s actions undoubtedly trampled on Bai Jiujiu’s boundaries, repeatedly dancing on her red line. Moreover, the essential condition for her own departure might be connected to him.

The sensation of her bottom line and her interests aligning, allowing both to be achieved simultaneously, was immensely satisfying!

With everything clarified, Bai Jiujiu and Tong Qiu prepared to visit Li Sibao’s home together that evening.

On one hand, Tong Qiu needed to stay by Zhang Feng’s side during the day, ready for orders, which conveniently offered an opportunity to gather more information about this demon. On the other hand, the night was ideal for stealth, and the demon who had injured people also appeared after dark.

Thus, Tong Qiu first needed to report the search progress to Zhang Feng. After instructing Bai Jiujiu to remain in the house and not venture out, she took her identity token and prepared to leave.

She wasn’t worried about Bai Jiujiu rummaging through her temporary abode, as it was merely a portable residence. Besides daily provisions, there was nothing else inside.

Her home was utterly bare, so even if it were emptied, there would be no loss.

Bai Jiujiu used the fire tongs to retrieve the Demon-Binding Rope from the stove, then used her fair, delicate hands to extinguish the flames on it. She asked, a touch of confusion in her voice,

“Tong Qiu, could you lend me this Demon-Binding Rope for a few days? I’ll return it once I can protect myself.”

Though effective, the Demon-Binding Rope was not truly hers. Once she obtained other magical treasures or cultivation techniques, she would return it. She had initially gained control of the rope inexplicably, but now understood it was due to her unique physique.

If they were still adversaries, Bai Jiujiu would never return it. However, since they were now collaborating, she would give it back if Tong Qiu needed it.

“I’ll sell this to you. Three gold ingots, alright? Remember to give me that along with the ten million later.”

Tong Qiu glanced at it, realizing she still couldn’t manipulate her own rope with spiritual energy. Despite some reluctance, her counterpart was, after all, her golden patron. Relying on this Demon-Binding Rope for self-protection, any mishap would result in her own loss.

She decided to do a favor and sell it to this boss.

As for why she wasn’t simply giving it away… Tong Qiu truly couldn’t bear to part with the three gold ingots she had spent to buy the Demon-Binding Rope. Losing money was more painful than death itself for her.

It was currently midday, the height of summer, so it would likely be another seven or eight hours until nightfall.

What to do now?

Rushing out impulsively could easily lead to conflict with the constables. Using the Spirit Concealment Spell, which primarily controlled one’s aura, could hide her presence, as it wasn’t a demonic art or a cultivation technique. It was a skill developed through practice, accessible to both humans and demons, and unaffected by the Town Yuan Banner.

However, it wasn’t foolproof. Once attention was drawn, the Spirit Concealment Spell became useless.

Just as she had been in the teahouse, she’d accidentally sprayed tea onto Tong Qiu’s back, which had allowed her to realize that the person behind her was a snake demon.

To prevent any accidents, it was better to simply stay here.

But it was so boring…

Bai Jiujiu sat on Tong Qiu’s small wooden bed.

Bai Jiujiu felt the smooth, silken quilt.

With a smile, Bai Jiujiu removed her clothes.

“Ah~ Good night~”

The Azure Water Bead could suppress Bai Jiujiu’s narcolepsy, but she could still fall asleep anytime she wished. This bed was far more comfortable than any inn’s.

“So, this is why your legs were clamped around my quilt, leaving it completely soaked?”

Tong Qiu and Bai Jiujiu crouched in the tall grass. As night fell, their figures were well-hidden. Tong Qiu, however, had her lips pressed together, seemingly suppressing something.

“I’m sorry…”

Bai Jiujiu lowered her head, apologizing in a very soft voice.

Eight thousand years had passed since her reincarnation, and the habit of clamping something between her legs while sleeping, developed over eighteen years in her previous life, hadn’t just persisted but had intensified. It wasn’t an issue before her transformation; she would simply coil her body around anything. After transforming, however, her legs were never idle during sleep; countless pieces of wood and stone had been crushed between them.

As for the severe ‘wetness’ issue…

Bai Jiujiu wasn’t entirely sure. Approximately three thousand years ago, she had woken up to discover a hot spring brimming with spiritual energy. She had intended to soak in it to refresh herself, but within minutes, she had fallen asleep again. Upon waking, she found that the spring’s spiritual energy had been entirely absorbed by her.

This incident had caused Bai Jiujiu’s body to become… very peculiar, and it now emitted an intoxicating fragrance. If Bai Jiujiu didn’t control it, the demons on Mount Qianli Yunlai would often, upon smelling it, engage in primitive acts of reproduction.

The reason the waiter had been so enthusiastically helpful was partly due to Bai Jiujiu’s celestial beauty, and partly because her scent had bewitched his mind. Even her highly cultivated, wicked disciples couldn’t resist it, or perhaps they simply chose not to, instead looking at Bai Jiujiu with unusual excitement.

Those times… *tsk*, best not to think about them, best not to think about them.

Tong Qiu herself had a habit of clamping the quilt while sleeping, though she never produced as much ‘wetness’ as Bai Jiujiu.

“Oh, forget it, forget it. I can just wash it; it’ll still be usable.”

That quilt had been in use for over five years anyway; it had endured many hardships, and this was just one more.

“That’s Li Sibao’s house. I specifically checked his household registry today and even took the time to investigate his home.”

“But what’s strange is that none of Li Sibao’s nine daughters are registered in the household records.”

Tong Qiu took out a small booklet from her embrace and handed it to Bai Jiujiu. She had obtained it from the mayor of Chongxi Town under the guise of investigating a demon.

Bai Jiujiu took it, able to see clearly even through her veil.

The household registry was an item similar to the household registration system of her previous life, established in this world to manage its populace. Every person born had to be meticulously recorded within it.

When a girl married, her name on the registry would be transferred to her husband’s family column. If a man was not an only child, he could pay a fee to the government to apply for removal from his family’s registry and form a new, separate one. However, if only one person remained on a registry, they could not be removed.

The household registry not only allowed the government better management of its people but also facilitated the collection of various taxes based on the listed names. Moreover, Tong Qiu continued, explaining to Jiujiu that benefits across all industries, applications to study in academies, and rewards from the authorities were all determined by the household registry.

If one’s name wasn’t on the registry, they were no different from a hermit who didn’t exist in this world; they were even worse than hermits, forced to live their entire lives confined to a small space, performing jobs scorned by ordinary people.

“And what about you cultivators? Is it the same for you?”

“The first step to becoming a cultivator is to learn a cultivation technique that allows you to use spiritual energy, and all these techniques are held by various sects.”

“Those immortal cultivation sects surely aren’t bound by the rules of common folk, are they? After all, you mentioned that those immortals possess the power to overturn mountains and stir up rain. Once one becomes a cultivator and gains power, who cares about a household registry?”

“What’s the first step for sects when recruiting disciples across the land?”

“How do they recruit? I suppose they look at your aptitude.”

“They first check your household registry.”

A gentle breeze swept by, lifting Bai Jiujiu’s veil. Even through the layer of fabric, Bai Jiujiu clearly saw tears streaming down Tong Qiu’s face in the moonlight. Some children, from the moment of their birth, were destined to have no future.