X
Join our Discord server and get release updates for every novel you follow.
Join the ServerAt the eastern gate of Zhuocheng, the first rays of dawn were painting the towering city walls. This gentle light served as a silent signal to the guards who had stood watch through half the night, reminding them that their shift was nearing its end.
The warm glow offered a slight reprieve, stirring their drowsy spirits just enough to keep them from nodding off completely.
“When can we finally return to the barracks for some sleep? Haah… I’m utterly exhausted.”
“Just wait for the next shift to arrive. Pull yourself together; if the captain sees you like this, he’ll dock your pay for sure.”
Six armored guards stood on either side of the city gate, yawning widely as they listlessly leaned on their long spears.
Dozens of wanted posters adorned the gate, but the most striking among them depicted the fox demon Su Ling’er and the snake demon from Cloudfall Mountain.
Bored, they idly pointed at the bounty notices for these particular demons.
“Do you really think the imperial court would give me gold ingots if I managed to catch one of these demons?”
“You? Huo Wuhuan, dream on! Come back when your legs don’t tremble while you’re on duty.”
“What’s wrong with that? What else am I supposed to do in broad daylight if not daydream?”
“You can only dream. Which of these demons on the wanted posters isn’t a fierce, powerful fiend wreaking havoc across the land?”
“These are meant for immortal cultivators to catch. For us common folk, merely seeing one or providing a clue would be like our ancestors’ graves spewing green smoke—a sign of immense good fortune.”
“Then I’ll redouble my efforts to find a clue! I’ll use those gold ingots to make the name Huo Wuhuan resound across the peaks of Qingqiu Mountain!”
“Go for it, brother! We’re rooting for you!”
Watching the spirited young recruit, the older guards didn’t dampen his enthusiasm. Instead, they joined the others in encouraging and teasing him.
“Still, I have to say, that Su Ling’er is truly beautiful, even more stunning than the top courtesan at Spring Welcome Brothel.”
“She is a fox spirit, after all. You wouldn’t believe it, but the last time I saw a fox spirit swaggering down the street, *that* was true peerless beauty. What was it called? Ah, yes, ‘a smile that bewitches all living beings’!”
“Eh, didn’t anyone capture her and execute her on the spot?”
“It’s not that simple. The authorities now advocate for peace between humans and demons. As long as they have a certificate of innocence issued by the Demon Suppression Bureau, they can move freely within the city and even serve in the imperial court.”
“So, they’re just like humans? Is that really safe? Those demons are beasts transformed; who knows when they might suddenly turn violent and devour people?”
Just as the six guards were muttering amongst themselves, a carriage, bathed in the glow of the morning sun, approached the city gate.
“Stop! Who are you?”
The guards immediately ceased their whispers and quickly stepped forward to block the carriage.
Huo Wuhuan eyed the carriage warily. Someone wanting to enter the city right after the gates opened was understandable for a merchant, but a lone carriage felt suspicious.
The driver was a robust young man with a youthful vigor, dressed in coarse linen, with a simple blade tucked into his waist. Yet, to Huo Wuhuan, something about him felt particularly incongruous, like a doll stitched together from mismatched parts.
“We are from the Dragon Gate Escort Agency, escorting this young lady to Qingqiu City to handle family matters.”
“Is that so?”
Huo Wuhuan looked suspiciously at the carriage compartment. He felt a strange sensation, as if a faint scent emanated from within.
Sniff, sniff.
‘The scent of a demon?’
He was about to inquire further when one of the older guards pulled him back.
“Ah, I see. Please, come in, come in.”
“Eh?”
Huo Wuhuan stared blankly as the other five guards moved the barrier aside.
“Why are you just standing there? Hurry up and help!”
“Oh, oh!”
He joined the other guards in pushing the barrier open, then pushed it back once the carriage had passed through.
“Uncle, why didn’t you check their civilian registry? Didn’t the captain stipulate that everyone entering the city must be checked?”
The sweating guard, upon hearing this, immediately bristled with annoyance. However, remembering that this young man was on his first day of duty and unfamiliar with the rules, he merely grabbed Huo Wuhuan’s shoulder and patiently explained.
“Those from escort agencies are cultivators. Didn’t you see the storage ring on that man’s finger just now?”
“If you anger an immortal cultivator, how many heads do you think you have for them to chop off? Let them pass when you should; any problems will be the concern of those above us. Besides, if you make a good impression and serve them well, they might even reward you with a few coins.”
Huo Wuhuan had never heard such a thing before. He glanced around, seeing everyone else looking at him with a hint of exasperation, and even the captain on the city wall was turning a blind eye. In this atmosphere, he dared not voice his suspicions, only pursed his lips, lowered his head, and silently made a certain resolve.
“Esteemed guest, please feel free to command us if you need anything else.”
“Take good care of that horse for me; you’ll be amply rewarded later.”
“Thank you, esteemed guest!”
Inside the inn, after the carriage driver from earlier had dismissed the waiter, the human skin mask on their face finally gave way, crumbling apart automatically. It revealed Tong Qiu’s naturally beautiful features beneath.
Since the human skin mask had been hastily crafted, it had a time limit for use and would instantly shatter if it expired.
“We entered the city so easily. I thought there might be some conflict.”
Bai Jiujiu lifted the veil covering her face and tilted her head to look at the closed door. From entering the city to resting at the inn, as soon as people realized Tong Qiu was a cultivator, they immediately became respectful, not even bothering to check their civilian registry.
Tong Qiu removed the wig from her head, casually tidied it, and placed it on the table.
“In the eyes of ordinary folk, we cultivators are no different from the current Emperor himself.” Tong Qiu pulled her own civilian registry from her pocket, a hint of mockery in her smile. “Heh, this civilian registry truly lives up to its name—it’s specifically for ordinary people.”
“No wonder it was so easy for me to stay at inns in Chongxi Town a few days ago.”
“Zhuocheng isn’t much better than Lianlin City. To be precise, the entire Chu Kingdom is like this; only the area near Yingdu is stricter, considering it’s right under the Emperor’s nose.”
‘So that’s how it is.’
Bai Jiujiu nodded. As a shut-in in his previous life, he didn’t understand these nuances of social etiquette and worldly dealings. He rarely left his home, and before transmigrating, he knew no more than five people. It would be strange if he *did* understand.
Nevertheless, Bai Jiujiu curiously took the civilian registry. It meticulously detailed everything about Tong Qiu, including her birth date, current position, and cultivation realm. ‘How thorough!’ It noted her birth on the fourth day of the first month of Yuanping Year 59. Address… ‘Eh? Why is it blank?’
Before Bai Jiujiu could examine it further, Tong Qiu retrieved the civilian registry, tucking it into her storage ring.
“There’s nothing to see there, Senior. Let’s look at the next city we’re heading to.”
Tong Qiu took a map of the Chu Kingdom from her storage ring, pointed to Zhuocheng, and then drew a line to Qingqiu.
“Senior, look, we…”
Tong Qiu was about to plan their itinerary when she looked up and saw that Bai Jiujiu had, at some point, shed her clothes. The entire snake had smoothly coiled up under the blanket, dragging the Demon-Binding Rope and Flowing Shadow Sword with her. One snake, one rope, one sword—the three of them had made a complete mess of the bed.
‘Ah, haha.’
‘Is it too late for me to turn myself in to the Demon Suppression Bureau now?’
‘Is this truly something a great demon of the Demon Lord realm would do?’
This was the nth time on their journey that Tong Qiu had doubted whether she had made a mistake in her choice. Or had she truly been bewitched by Bai Jiujiu?
Tong Qiu’s gaze fell upon Bai Jiujiu’s exposed jade-like foot, half-revealed, fragrant and tender. *Hiss…*
One minute later…
“So, we only need to pass through three small towns under Zhuocheng’s jurisdiction to reach the Qingqiu region. If we want to go to Qingqiu Mountain, we’ll need to pass through Qingqiu City. Xia Ya prepared two human skin masks, which definitely won’t be enough if we use one for every town.”
The Demon-Binding Rope was tied to the Flowing Shadow Sword, forming a dead knot. Sword and rope were then bound together to an iron rod by Tong Qiu and tossed into the stove for “refining iron.” Oh, and a plucked wild chicken was skewered on the Flowing Shadow Sword.
Bai Jiujiu poked out a small head, timidly peering over the edge of the bed, listening to Tong Qiu’s admonitions. ‘Little Tong Qiu just now was so scary~’
“Senior Bai Jiujiu, did you understand?”
Tong Qiu benignly folded the map, flashing Bai Jiujiu a wide smile.
The excitement doesn't stop here! If you enjoyed this, you’ll adore The Aloof Immortal Wife Pushes Me Away, The Yandere Girl Longs for Me to Stay. Start reading now!
Read : The Aloof Immortal Wife Pushes Me Away, The Yandere Girl Longs for Me to Stay
If You Notice any translation issues or inconsistency in names, genders, or POV etc? Let us know here in the comments or on our Discord server, and we’ll fix it in current and future chapters. Thanks for helping us to improve! 🙂