Yusang’s heart melted when called “sister,” unconsciously feeling as if she had gained seniority. Hearing herself praised as being on par with a bodhisattva, she felt pleased and decided to take good care of Mingran. Smiling like a flower, she said, “No need to be so polite, no need at all.”

“Sister’s great kindness, Mingran will never dare forget in this life or the next.”

“It’s a small matter, small matter. Your body is weak now, so hurry and rest.” Yusang cheerfully pushed Mingran into the nearby thatched hut, not forgetting to take off her outer garment and hand it to her, reminding her to cover herself when sleeping.

After Mingran went inside to rest, Yusang turned around contentedly, humming a little tune as she went to gather grass and find a place to make a bed. But as she was laying it out, she felt something was wrong. Looking up, she indeed saw Yan Qige staring at her.

“What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a hardworking beauty before?” Yusang huffed without good humor.

Yan Qige stood with his hands behind his back, slightly tilting his head to examine Yusang. With some disdain, he moved his lips and said, “I don’t know what’s stuffed in your head.”

“Mind your own business. Whatever’s in my head is better than your inhuman cold-bloodedness.”

“So you’re angry about this.” Yan Qige seemed to smile but not smile, as if suddenly understanding.

Seeing Yan Qige’s expression, as if his previous indifference was completely without fault, she jumped up with a whoosh, raising her chin and lecturing righteously, “Look, such a weak woman sent to be a sacrifice—how pitiful! She finally escaped disaster, and on this dark and windy night, you want to drive her away again. Don’t you have even a bit of sympathy?”

“It seems you sympathize with her greatly.”

“I’m not cold-blooded like certain people.” Yusang dropped this line without good humor, turned around to take a blanket from her bundle that she carried with her, and continued crouching down to lay out the grass bedding.

“Alright, since you want to keep her, then let’s keep her. I won’t drive her away. Will that work?” Yan Qige sighed behind her.

Yusang frowned, thinking she had misheard. After all, Yan Qige had always looked down on people and never given in.

“Really?” Yusang turned her head to ask.

“As long as you’re happy.” Yan Qige rarely gave a smile. Though it was just a fleeting moment, it still made Yusang’s heart skip involuntarily. Truly a face that attracted hatred and jealousy—with such looks, as long as he smiled, anyone would immediately be unable to hate him.

Seeing Yusang’s infatuated expression with starry eyes, Yan Qige deeply despised her in his heart, but his face smiled even more charmingly as he softened his voice, “Seeing how considerate I am toward you, shouldn’t you also show me some consideration in return?”

Yusang listened in a daze and nodded.

“Mm, good. First, go fetch me some water to drink, then set up a protective array around here to prevent snakes, insects, rats, and ants from disturbing my rest…”

Yusang was completely bewitched. She didn’t listen carefully to what Yan Qige said, quickly nodded again, then took the water pouch he handed her in a daze and got up to fetch water.

After walking a few steps, Yusang stumbled and nearly fell. Breaking out in a cold sweat, she immediately came to her senses. Looking at the water pouch in her hands, she suddenly realized she had been foolishly used as a servant by Yan Qige. Somewhat annoyed, she turned around, just about to speak, when what she saw immediately made her anger rise another level.

She saw Yan Qige leisurely half-reclining on the grass bedding she had made, looking exactly like a landlord. Seeing Yusang standing there staring at him, not only did he show no restraint, but he pointed toward the small path nearby, saying, “Go straight in that direction—there’s a stream where you can fetch water.”

Yusang’s anger flared up. Just as she was about to retort, Yan Qige seemed to have anticipated this and cut off her words, continuing, “Sigh, you did nod your head just now. You’re not going back on your word, are you? If that’s the case, then don’t blame me for also going back on my word and driving away the person you wanted to keep.”

At this point, Yan Qige paused, looking at Yusang and sighing dramatically, then added, “You were just calling me cold-blooded, but now someone is not only going to be cold-blooded but also earn the reputation of being fickle and breaking their word.”

“Who said I was going back on my word? It’s just… just fetching water and setting up a barrier. It won’t stump this demon.” Yusang suppressed her anger and turned toward the stream to fetch water.

“If it’s convenient, also catch a fish, clean it, and bring it back for me to roast. I haven’t had dinner yet today. If it’s not convenient… still catch one and bring it back.”

Catching fish—catching fish in the middle of the night—wasn’t something a person should do. Yusang ran around in the reeds for over an hour before finally catching a decent fish in the dark, cursing Yan Qige while washing it. Damn him, want to drink water? Hope this water chokes you to death. Want to eat fish? Hope the bones get stuck in your throat and kill you.

“Girl, I asked you to get a fish—did you go raise one yourself?” Yan Qige called out impatiently from behind.

“Almost done, just a moment,” Yusang shouted back, squeezing the fish’s swim bladder in her hands as if it were Yan Qige’s head, crushing it completely. She rinsed the bloody fish in water and picked it up to walk toward the fire.

“I say, you’re a bamboo demon—catching fish should be very easy for you. After all this fuss, I’m almost asleep.” The half-reclining Yan Qige asked without good humor.

Yusang, who was looking for something to prop the fish over the fire, heard him say this and made a confused “hm” sound, not understanding what Yan Qige meant.

“Common people have the technique of sharpening bamboo into tools and using bamboo spears to catch fish…”

Yusang’s mouth slowly opened wider, her pupils dilating slightly, then she gritted her teeth and narrowed her eyes, saying, “According to your meaning, do you want me to tear off my arm, sharpen it into a bamboo spear, and then catch fish for you to eat?”

Yusang suddenly jumped up like a lit firecracker. Seeing that Yan Qige still showed no remorse and maintained that innocent expression, she felt deeply injured inside. Pointing at Yan Qige, she trembled with anger and couldn’t even speak properly.

“You… you…”

“Whatever you want to say, say it properly. Don’t pick up bad habits and learn to stutter.” Yan Qige seemed to chide her with some annoyance.

Yusang felt as if lightning had struck overhead. A surge of blood was about to rise, and she wanted to cough up some blood, but having no blood to cough up, she could only vent her anger elsewhere. She quickly reached into the reeds beside her, using her finger as a blade to instantly cut a reed into three sections, grasping the middle section in mid-air. Gritting her teeth and glaring at Yan Qige, she fiercely thrust it at the fish in her hand. The reed stem immediately pierced through the fish’s mouth and belly, emerging from the tail.

“See that? It’s not only bamboo that can spear fish.” Yusang said viciously, flinging her hand to prop the still-dripping fish over the fire to roast, as if the fish were Yan Qige himself.

Yan Qige looked somewhat surprised, slightly raising an eyebrow. He touched his nose and coughed lightly, “I just thought that perhaps your hair could transform into some bamboo branches, which would be sufficient. Who knew you’d be so ruthless as to think of taking your arm to catch fish for me? Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

“Do you think I’m Sun Wukong, able to pluck a hair and transform it into another version of myself?” Yusang interrupted angrily.

Yan Qige looked at Yusang, then slowly recited, “The ‘Demon Chronicles’ records: ‘All demons have intelligent natures and can understand transformation. Using hair as the body, borrowing to supplement their power slightly, they can take the form of noble bodies for use.”

Yusang hadn’t read many books, so naturally she didn’t understand the meaning of this passage from the ‘Demon Chronicles.’ Thinking Yan Qige was just talking nonsense, she became even more sour-faced, constantly rolling her eyes at him, “What gibberish. Speak human language.”

“You don’t even know basic magic like hair transformation, do you?” As Yan Qige spoke, he reached out and plucked a strand of hair from Yusang’s head, placing it in her palm. Holding her hand and closing his eyes, he made a hand seal with his fingers. As light emanated from Yusang’s hand, a green bamboo stick as thick as a thumb appeared out of thin air.

“This…” Yusang looked at the green bamboo that had appeared in her hand, her previous anger instantly vanishing, replaced by surprise.

“Sigh, ignorance is truly frightening.” Yan Qige shook his head disdainfully, withdrew his hand, turned over to lie on his side, and closed his eyes to rest. At the same time, he didn’t forget to add, “Roast the fish properly, don’t let it burn. Call me when it’s done.”