Flirting with the Villain's Mother - Chapter 22

The tomb chamber’s lights dimmed slightly, and the Demon Fire attacking the Mantis Demon in the passageway began to weaken. This was to be expected; the Pixiang Mirror Dragon Formation relied on the demonic creature’s physical body for sustenance. When they opened the coffin earlier, Mirror Quilt’s corpse had already dissipated, and its remaining energy had flowed into Shen Su’s body. The tomb chamber was now on the verge of collapse.

As the Demon Fire waned, the Mantis Demon swiftly took two steps and lunged toward Shen Su, his icy gaze locking onto her. “Give me the Jade Marrow!”

The Mantis Demon dismissed Shen Su and Wei Nanyi entirely, lacking even the urge to kill them. A frail young girl and a rabbit that wasn’t even a demon—he could crush them effortlessly.

But he soon sensed something amiss. A thin layer of purple mist enveloped Shen Su, seeping into her eyes and transforming her aura.

Startled, the Mantis Demon lunged at Shen Su with his mantis-like legs, but her body moved with the fluidity of mist. In the instant his legs struck, she slipped past him, appearing behind him and kicking him squarely in the back.

“Hmm?” The Mantis Demon was even more stunned. The woman who had seemed so fragile moments ago, as if she would shatter with a touch, now possessed such formidable counterattack capabilities. It was a pity her strength was still too weak; had she been stronger, his gravely wounded body would surely have collapsed.

The Mantis Demon grew wary. His back plates hardened into emerald-green armor, and the barbs on his mantis legs sharpened and gleamed, brandishing menacingly at Shen Su. She retreated two steps, silently rummaging through her ring for the Azure Flame Twin Blades Wei Nanyi had mentioned.

“Madam, I’ve found them!”

As the Azure Flame Twin Blades materialized in the tomb chamber, the flickering lamps dimmed further. A powerful gust of wind forced the Mantis Demon to stagger back several steps.

The Azure Flame Twin Blades consisted of ten blade tips, half crimson and half azure, arranged around a central ring. The weapon resembled a massive, razor-sharp butterfly. The moment Shen Su’s fingertips brushed the blades, the butterfly split in two—one crimson, one azure. The Crimson Blade coiled with flames, while the Azure Blade entwined with vines. The central ring also split, and Shen Su gripped the two halves tightly. The force of her grip sliced open her palms.

As her bl00d seeped into the blades, both instantly flew from her grasp, hurtling toward the Mantis Demon.

The Mantis Demon’s pupils contracted as he frantically dodged. “Azure Flame Twin Blades! A treasure ranked tenth on the Spirit Tool Ranking! Shen Su, who exactly were your ancestors?”

Evading the Azure Flame Twin Blades, he lunged at Shen Su’s face. Shen Su shielded the White-Haired Rabbit’s head with one hand while channeling her energy to control the blades, sending them hurtling backward. Before the Mantis Demon could reach her, the Azure Blade’s tip spun rapidly, transforming into long, razor-sharp thorns that instantly ensnared his body. The thorns pierced deep into his flesh, eliciting a piercing shriek of agony.

Soon, the Mantis Demon’s lips turned purple, and black bl00d began to seep from the corners of his mouth.

The Azure Blade was poisoned.

Protecting the rabbit, Shen Su retreated to a safer distance. The purple mist emanating from her hand controlling the Azure Flame Twin Blades thickened. As the Azure Blade constricted the Mantis Demon, the Crimson Blade’s tip grazed the stone wall, sparking flames that coiled around it before plunging into the Mantis Demon’s back. The oozing poisoned bl00d ignited like lamp oil the moment the Crimson Blade struck, engulfing the Mantis Demon in flames. The stench of burning flesh and acrid smoke filled the air. Shen Su covered the rabbit’s nose with one hand and her own mouth and nose with the other.

Now that Wei Nanyi was blind, its senses of smell and touch were heightened. The nauseating stench burned its eyes, bringing tears to its face.

Exploding sparks landed on Shen Su’s robes. She brushed them off and retreated further.

She watched as the flames grew fiercer, listening to the Mantis Demon’s agonizing howls.

From beginning to end, Shen Su hadn’t truly lifted a finger.

These Azure Flame Twin Blades were remarkably effective!

Shen Su retreated again, waiting until the stench had faded considerably before releasing her hand from the rabbit’s nose and mouth. She asked Wei Nanyi, “Madam, what is the Spirit Tool Ranking?”

She had vaguely overheard the Mantis Demon mention that the Azure Flame Twin Blades were ranked tenth on the Spirit Tool Ranking, and she secretly noted it. Although Shen Su had read the original novel, its world-building was incomplete, focusing primarily on the male lead’s cultivation journey and his romantic entanglements. Details about the world’s setting were scarce.

Shen Su had no idea what the Spirit Tool Ranking was, but Wei Nanyi certainly would.

The White-Haired Rabbit rubbed its nose and mouth against Shen Su’s robes, as if trying to mask the burning stench of the Mantis Demon with her scent.

Her crimson eyes, still teary from the smoke, had dampened her soft fur.

Shen Su stroked the rabbit’s fur twice with her fingertip, feeling the dampness. Her resentment toward the Mantis Demon deepened.

Once the White-Haired Rabbit had recovered, she finally revealed everything Shen Su wanted to know: “Every cultivator possesses at least one weapon. Some of these weapons, crafted from rare materials, gradually develop sentience. While they can’t compare to true soul-bound treasures, such souled artifacts remain exceedingly rare. Among weapons, Spirit Tools stand at the pinnacle. Because they possess sentience, Spirit Tools can recognize their masters and will never accept another until their master dies. The Spirit Tool Ranking lists a hundred such weapons, ranked by their power. The Azure Flame Twin Blades, ranked tenth, were gifted by Martial Uncle Jiang to Junior Brother Shen upon his apprenticeship. However, souled weapons aren’t necessarily the best. Many junior brothers and sisters at Approaching Immortals Mountain use weapons that aren’t Spirit Tools but surpass them in power. Therefore, beyond the Spirit Tool Ranking, there are also separate rankings for swords and other weapons.”

After listening, Shen Su felt confused. “Madam, aren’t swords also weapons? Why are they ranked separately?”

Wei Nanyi explained slowly, “Most disciples in the major sects favor longswords. If we didn’t separate longswords from other weapons, the rankings would be dominated by a single type.”

Shen Su nodded, only half understanding. “What weapon does Madam wield?” she asked.

At the mention of her weapon, the White-Haired Rabbit’s eyes dimmed slightly, the vivid crimson in her gaze fading a little. “Though my Master uses a sword, I rarely do. I prefer the Moonshadow Longbow.”

The Moonshadow Longbow!

Shen Su’s expression darkened. In the original novel, Jiang An had been exceptionally generous to his disciple, Yu Muhan, often gifting him rare treasures. The Moonshadow Longbow was one such gift, later passed on by the male lead to the female lead, Bai Ruoyi, becoming a symbol of their love.

Though soulless and spiritless, the Moonshadow Longbow possessed abundant spiritual power and immense destructive force. With it, Bai Ruoyi’s cultivation advanced significantly. Most crucially, in the novel’s climax, Jiang Xu was killed when an arrow imbued with the combined spiritual power of the male and female leads pierced his heart, fired from the Moonshadow Longbow.

They killed Wei Nanyi’s daughter with her own bow, a cruelty Jiang Xu scarcely deserved.

Though Jiang Xu was the villain, all her rebellions stemmed from Jiang An’s actions.

Looking back, many of the gifts Jiang An bestowed upon the male lead likely belonged to Wei Nanyi.

Wei Nanyi couldn’t see Shen Su’s sickly, bluish pallor as she continued explaining the weapon rankings: “Miss Shen, above Spirit Tools lie Divine Tools. Spirit Tools possess a spirit, but Divine Tools possess a complete soul, akin to living beings. They can not only recognize their master but also serve as the master’s combat avatar. Their consciousness is complete, but upon their master’s death, they fall into slumber, losing all memories of their master. My master’s Yu Ling Sword is a Divine Tool, currently wielded by Xu’er. If the Sword Spirit retained its memories, Xu’er wouldn’t be in such dire straits now.”

Her voice carried a deep sorrow.

Having served the Sect Leader for millennia, the Sword Spirit naturally held a revered position on Approaching Immortals Mountain. Yet, with its master’s death, the Sword Spirit had forgotten its past. The current Yu Ling Sword Spirit retained no memories, leaving it unable to recount Jiang An’s myriad misdeeds on Wei Nanyi’s behalf.

The White-Haired Rabbit clutched Shen Su’s lapel, gently wiping away the tears that welled up in her eyes once more. She whispered, “Miss Shen, Divine Tools actually change with their masters. Even the Sword Spirit’s personality evolves alongside its master. I’m worried that Ruoqing might be led astray by Xu’er. Xu’er… sigh…”

No one knows a daughter better than her mother.

Wei Nanyi could sense that Jiang Xu’s emotions had become excessively volatile, even bordering on malevolent.

Take, for example, his indiscriminate attempt to kill Shen Su.

Such incidents had occurred many times before. Jiang Xu had always retained a shred of his original nature. Though easily angered, he rarely resorted to lethal force unless his opponent engaged him in a life-or-death struggle. However, the moment anyone threatened Wei Nanyi, Jiang Xu would descend into a frenzy, as if he wanted to carve them into minced meat, piece by piece.

Wei Nanyi felt a pang of guilt. If not for her current predicament, Jiang Xu wouldn’t have become this way during their exile.

She was deeply concerned about the Yu Ling Sword.

The Yu Ling Sword was unlike any other weapon. It had been Shen Yinxue’s personal blade for thousands of years, and Wei Nanyi was intimately familiar with its Sword Soul, Ruoqing.

Wei Nanyi’s Master had been a cultivator of boundless compassion, her life untainted by flaw. Shen Yinxue had dedicated her entire existence to acts of kindness, accumulating virtue, and upholding justice.

Wei Nanyi believed the Yu Ling Sword should point its blade at the wicked, but never at ordinary people, especially when wielded by her daughter to bully the weak.

Shen Su’s fingertips brushed against a damp patch. She lifted the White-Haired Rabbit, cradling it in her palm, and met its gaze. As expected, she saw a pair of red eyes brimming with hot tears. This was no illusion; since falling ill, Wei Nanyi had become unusually prone to weeping.

The rabbit’s crimson eyes trembled, each falling tear like a glistening pearl.

Knowing Wei Nanyi couldn’t see, Shen Su freely stared at the rabbit in her palm. She watched the creature grasp its damp fur with tiny paws, shaking its head as if trying to shake off its sorrow.

Gathering her courage, Shen Su gave the rabbit’s head a firm pat. “Madam,” she said, “Divine Tools can discern good from evil. Even without its former memories, the Yu Ling Sword will never become a demonic blade.”

Though Shen Su was comforting Wei Nanyi, she wasn’t deceiving her.

The Yu Ling Sword would indeed never become a demonic blade. In the original story, Jiang Xu had even joined the Demonic Sect with the sword, allowing it to be corrupted by demonic energy day after day. Yet the Sword Soul Ruoqing remained steadfast, resisting the demonic influence and urging Jiang Xu to abandon the Demonic Sect. Had Wei Nanyi not died, Ruoqing might have succeeded.

Even when Jiang Xu forcibly absorbed her, Ruoqing harbored no resentment. Instead, she worried that merging with the Divine Tool’s Sword Spirit would irrevocably plunge Jiang Xu into the Demonic Path, leaving him trapped in the abyss forever.

Though she had lost her memories of serving Shen Yinxue, Ruoqing still treated Jiang Xu like an elder, showering him with care and concern.

Shen Yinxue had entrusted Ruoqing to Jiang Xu, hoping she would protect both him and Wei Nanyi. Ruoqing had fulfilled this duty admirably.

Jiang Xu had used her power to avenge himself, and by merging with his body, Ruoqing had accompanied him to the end of his life in a different form, protecting him until her final moment.

“Crack… crack…” The sound of cracking bones startled Shen Su, who was petting the White-Haired Rabbit. She looked up in alarm and saw the Mantis Demon’s limbs shattering inch by inch, revealing its green bones. Her mouth gaped in horror. “Madam, that demon… it looks like it’s dying.”

Wei Nanyi quickly interjected, “No, it won’t die so easily.”

Though she couldn’t see, Wei Nanyi had ample experience dealing with demonic creatures and a rough understanding of their capabilities. The Mantis Demon was the strongest among the four demons, and having absorbed the Bee Demon’s full power, it certainly wouldn’t perish so easily.

As the White-Haired Rabbit spoke, its cheeks puffed in and out, and the tip of its soft, pink tongue peeked between its lips.

The tender, narrow, pink tongue grew increasingly unsettling to Shen Su the longer she stared at it.

Shen Su glanced at the Mantis Demon, which was cracking apart inch by inch. The purple mist in her palm surged toward the Azure Flame Twin Blades once more, but this time, the flow wasn’t as smooth.

As she activated the cultivation technique, her limbs suddenly went weak, and she nearly collapsed.

The Azure Flame Twin Blades ceased their attack on the Mantis Demon. Instead, they withdrew from its body, rapidly coalescing back into the butterfly-shaped twin blades and settling into Shen Su’s palm. The tips of the glowing blades were noticeably duller than before.

Shen Su understood: while the Azure Flame Twin Blades possessed some autonomous combat capabilities, they relied entirely on her spiritual power for sustenance. Moreover, their consumption of spiritual power was alarmingly rapid; her reserves were nearly depleted.

Wei Nanyi’s voice echoed in Shen Su’s ears, reminding her to be extra cautious. She carefully tucked the rabbit back into her arms. As the battle shifted, her chest, where she held the rabbit, trembled violently.

Clutching the Azure Flame Twin Blades, Shen Su glanced behind her at the tunnel she had come through.

She retreated a few more steps, but as her spiritual power drained, her movements grew sluggish and clumsy.

This is bad, Shen Su thought grimly. Suddenly, the Mantis Demon’s mocking laughter rang out: “I never imagined you’d achieve Qi Condensation in just one day, reaching the peak of the Qi Condensation Stage! And with treasures like the Azure Flame Twin Blades at your side… what a waste! Hand them over! The Jade Marrow, the blades, and your body—I’ll take them all!”

A massive black shadow flashed before Shen Su’s eyes. When she looked again, the Mantis Demon had blocked her escape route.

She gazed up at the colossal mantis. The demon had fully transformed, its massive body filling the tunnel. Its pitch-black carapace, broken antennae, tattered wings, and even the black mist it exhaled made it a terrifying sight.

Though already battered and covered in a layer of black mist, the Mantis Demon’s eyes burned with a fierce, greedy light.

Fearing the Mantis Demon would harm Wei Nanyi, Shen Su pressed the rabbit’s head deeper into her arms.

The Mantis Demon’s eyes, scorched crimson, glanced contemptuously at Wei Nanyi nestled in Shen Su’s arms. “A monster neither human nor demon,” he sneered.

Shen Su, eyeing the Mantis Demon’s mangled body, retorted, “You’re the real monster.”

Unwilling to waste words on this exchange, the Mantis Demon pressed, “Hand over the Jade Marrow and Azure Flame Twin Blades, and I might spare your life.”

Shen Su wasn’t foolish. She had clearly heard the Mantis Demon’s earlier desire for her body, his covetousness of her bloodline’s innate talent. He would never let her live.

Moreover, she and Wei Nanyi had just cost the Mantis Demon’s forces one of their own.

“Never,” Shen Su declared, retrieving the Jade Marrow from her sleeve and openly tucking it back into her robes. She casually stroked the rabbit’s head in reassurance.

As she did so, Wei Nanyi’s voice suddenly rang out, “Miss Shen, he’s at his limit. If you can stall him a little longer, he’ll collapse.”

Hearing the soft, delicate voice, Shen Su finally realized that the creature she had been cradling in her arms wasn’t a soft, cuddly rabbit to be petted and squeezed at will, but a living, breathing person.

Her breathing quickened slightly as she hastily withdrew her hand.

The Mantis Demon’s pitch-black, mantis-like legs swept toward Shen Su. Before she could react, the Jade Marrow in her arms glowed again, its dazzling golden light coalescing into a barrier that perfectly blocked the demon’s attack.

Having already expended most of its demonic power, the Mantis Demon could barely maintain its form, its remaining strength insufficient to break through the Jade Marrow’s defenses.

Shen Su pondered whether she could simply endure until the demon’s power completely waned, relying solely on the Jade Marrow’s energy.

The Mantis Demon glared resentfully at Shen Su, its gaze fixed on her glowing chest, unable to conceal its greed and hatred. “You’re nothing but empty cultivation and a precious artifact! What makes you think you can fight me? You’re just lucky to have a good bloodline and powerful ancestors!”

The demon’s words dripped with malice. Wei Nanyi, fearing Shen Su might be upset, quickly interjected, “Miss Shen, don’t take the demonic creature’s insults to heart. He’s just lashing out in frustration because he can’t get what he wants.”

Shen Su wasn’t upset.

She lacked Wei Nanyi’s intense moral compass and self-reflection. Unlike Wei Nanyi, she wouldn’t spend thousands of years studying a Heavenly Tome—the Purple Transformation Jade Condensation Art—just because Mirror Quilt had uttered an unfair, indignant remark. Nor would she dwell on the Mantis Demon’s two angry curses.

On the contrary, she felt fortunate to possess such a bloodline and inheritance. Mirror Quilt’s bloodline might give her the chance to alter Wei Nanyi’s fate and provide her with the means to survive in this Xianxia Tragic Novel.

The white-haired rabbit in her arms seemed to sense her unease, gently nudging her chest in a gesture of comfort.

Shen Su’s usually calm heart stirred with agitation. She pressed down on the restless rabbit through the fabric, then smiled serenely at the Mantis Demon, who was trapped behind the Light Barrier, repeatedly pounding against it without making a dent. “Do you think I’m lucky too?” she asked calmly. “I also believe my fate is quite favorable. My bloodline, innate talent, and family inheritance are all quite satisfactory.”

Not bad at all!

If Shen Su considered her bloodline and inheritance merely “not bad,” then the Mantis Demon’s own were already buried in the dust.

These simple words made the Mantis Demon’s eyes burn crimson with rage. He even began to suspect that Shen Su’s earlier timidity and weakness had been a deliberate act. He slammed his fist against the Light Barrier with furious force. “Damn you! You deserve to die!”

Shen Su genuinely believed that using the Jade Marrow’s power to exhaust the Mantis Demon’s energy was a sound strategy. She had deliberately provoked him, knowing that anger could drive even demons to madness.

As the Mantis Demon’s attacks grew fiercer, the Light Barrier blazed brighter in response. Shen Su lowered her gaze slightly, shielding her eyes from the blinding light.

Before Shen Su could fully deplete the Mantis Demon’s energy using this method, another disturbance shook the tomb chamber. A deafening roar echoed through the chamber, as if the tomb itself were being torn apart inch by inch. The violent air currents forced Shen Su to stumble backward two steps. Then, she heard another voice in the tomb chamber.

“Are you sure your elder brother brought my A-Niang here?”

“Yes, yes, it’s here, Miss Jiang! Please spare me! I was just following my elder brother’s orders.”

“……”

Shen Su easily recognized the voice—it belonged to the male demon who had spoken with Jiang Xu and Cui Tao.

Jiang Xu had found them!

Shen Su rubbed her ears, trying to hear more clearly, but the sound abruptly vanished.

Her hearing was exceptionally sharp, but most of the time it was beyond her control. She could only passively hear what her ears chose to hear, such as danger signals. This lack of control was why her eardrums had been damaged when listening to Cui Tao and the others.

The only upside was that she could clearly hear every word Wei Nanyi spoke.

“Miss Shen, what’s wrong?” Wei Nanyi asked, having heard the commotion but not Jiang Xu’s voice.

“Madam, it’s nothing to worry about. Miss Jiang has found us,” Shen Su replied.

Hearing that Jiang Xu had also entered the tomb chamber, Shen Su felt more reassured. Afraid the White-Haired Rabbit might suffocate in her arms, she quickly pulled it out.

Who could have imagined that just moments after Shen Su had rescued Wei Nanyi, Wei Nanyi would burrow into her arms herself? She didn’t burrow too deeply, leaving a bit of the rabbit’s long ears visible outside Shen Su’s collar, the tips already wrapped in a layer of pink fur. “Miss Shen, I don’t care for the demon’s scent,” Wei Nanyi murmured.

Wei Nanyi’s words were rather understated. According to Shen Su, the Mantis Demon’s half-dead state, with its charred flesh and honey-like secretions mingling into a truly nauseating stench, was utterly unbearable.

The Mantis Demon heard the commotion. A layer of black ash fell from his pitch-black face as his gaze sharpened. “That fool actually led them here!”

Already frustrated by his inability to subdue Shen Su, the Mantis Demon grew even more agitated when his companion drew powerful cultivators to the scene. He remained unwilling to let Shen Su escape, his mantis-like legs slashing more fiercely, blow after blow. Yet the Light Barrier he clawed open quickly regenerated, showing no signs of weakening.

Shen Su knew the Jade Marrow’s protective capabilities weren’t as formidable as they seemed; the Mantis Demon was simply too exhausted.

And for this, she owed everything to Wei Nanyi.

Wei Nanyi was a master strategist, but her daughter was different.

When the ground beneath their feet began to tremble violently, Shen Su finally lost her composure. She forced a wry smile. “Madam, Miss Jiang seems to be preparing to blow up my ancestors’ tomb chamber.”

Jiang Xu wasn’t just preparing—he was already doing it.

With her overwhelming power, she rarely considered mitigating harm when absolute force could resolve matters.

The place looked like it was about to collapse.

The Mantis Demon’s expression darkened further. He cursed, “Madwoman!”

He glared resentfully at Shen Su before fleeing in panic down the tunnel, ultimately choosing to save his own life. But it wasn’t just him who was panicked; Wei Nanyi was too.

After a moment of contemplation, Wei Nanyi carefully phrased her words: “Miss Shen, I can’t speak to Xu’er right now. Please, don’t get hurt. Don’t let Xu’er discover that your bl00d is useful to me, or she’ll truly kill you… And don’t tell her you can hear me, or she might take your ears.”

Wei Nanyi seemed to have read her mind.

Shen Su had just been wondering if Jiang Xu, upon learning she could communicate with Wei Nanyi in animal form, might cut off her ears. She hadn’t expected Wei Nanyi to have the same thought.

When it came to understanding Jiang Xu, Wei Nanyi clearly knew her better.

Since Wei Nanyi had said so, Shen Su quickly agreed.

Shen Su glanced down at the White-Haired Rabbit nestled in her arms. The rabbit’s ears, which had been standing upright, had drooped slightly. Having shared life-and-death experiences with Wei Nanyi, Shen Su had come to understand her better. Wei Nanyi’s strong sense of morality and self-reflection meant she wouldn’t condemn Jiang Xu for his descent into darkness. Instead, she would blame herself, believing that if she hadn’t caused this, Jiang Xu wouldn’t have become so extreme.

Wei Nanyi always looked inward for fault, yet the true root of Jiang Xu’s ruthlessness lay with Jiang An.

Shen Su reached out and gently tapped the rabbit’s ear. “Madam, if you transformed into your human form more often, you might be able to keep Miss Jiang in check.”

The rabbit’s ear lightly brushed against Shen Su’s palm, as if acknowledging her words.

The soft fur rubbed against her palm, enveloping her senses in a seductive tenderness. Almost unconsciously, Shen Su stroked the rabbit’s ear again. Fortunately, Wei Nanyi didn’t seem to mind, and Jiang Xu wasn’t around to witness it.

Just as Shen Su thought of Jiang Xu, a deafening crash! echoed through the air. A massive black shadow hurtled overhead and slammed into the pile of rocks behind her. The force of the impact shook the stones above her, causing them to loosen. Shielding the rabbit in her arms, Shen Su dodged backward as rocks rained down around her. Through the falling debris, she finally glimpsed the dark figure that had been hurled past her.

The Mantis Demon.

Before she could recover from her shock, a longsword suddenly pressed against her lower back. “Shen Su, where’s my A-Niang?”

Though the fabric separated them, Shen Su could feel the sword’s icy sharpness, imagining how easily it could cleave through her body. Her lower back sank into a chilling cold that gradually spread, freezing her limbs. “Sh-she’s… she’s…”

Her voice trembled, making it difficult to form coherent words.

Perhaps it was because Jiang Xu was the book’s primary antagonist, perhaps it was his volatile temper, or perhaps it was the ever-present threat of the sword behind her. Whatever the reason, Shen Su’s heart turned to ice, her voice frozen in her throat.

“You didn’t lose my A-Niang, did you?” Jiang Xu’s voice grew menacing. Shen Su felt the sword pierce her clothing; a fraction more pressure would break her skin.

“Miss Shen, speak up!” Wei Nanyi fretted, frustrated that Jiang Xu couldn’t hear her. She could only urge Shen Su to speak.

Though she couldn’t see, Wei Nanyi knew that, given Jiang Xu’s temperament, he was likely threatening Shen Su’s life. If Shen Su unconsciously nodded or tacitly admitted to abandoning Wei Nanyi, Jiang Xu would kill her without hesitation.

Wei Nanyi was truly desperate.

She suddenly leaped, trying to escape Shen Su’s arms.

Shen Su’s entire body was rigid, but when she caught a glimpse of the rabbit leaping from her embrace, her reflexes outpaced her thoughts. With lightning-fast reflexes, she caught the rabbit and, trembling slightly, offered it to Jiang Xu. “Miss Jiang, Madam is here.”

Jiang Xu saw the rabbit. She retracted her sword and gently took the creature into her palm. A fleeting moment of disappointment flickered in her eyes, but it quickly gave way to a warm smile, her voice softening. “A-Niang, I’m so glad you’re safe.”

She smiled, but when her gaze fell on the trembling, terrified Shen Su, her eyes darkened. “A-Niang, has she been mistreating you?”

Shen Su turned to face Jiang Xu directly, only then noticing the dark, shapeless mass Jiang Xu held in her other hand—a severed animal head.

If things went as expected, Jiang Xu had likely slaughtered the male demon who had guided her here.

Jiang Xu, holding the severed head, asked her question in a way that seemed deliberately designed to intimidate Shen Su.

Shen Su’s throat tightened, her breathing becoming rapid and erratic.

Fortunately, the mute White-Haired Rabbit shook its head frantically, as if terrified that Jiang Xu might kill Shen Su if she hesitated.

Seeing the rabbit’s frantic denial, Jiang Xu finally ceased her intimidation. She tossed the severed head toward Shen Su. “I only completed half of what I promised. That damn bird got away. Just pay me whatever you think is fair.”

Cui Tao had escaped.

Shen Su couldn’t even respond. She was paralyzed by the severed head hurtling toward her chest. The acrid stench of bl00d filled her nostrils, and she felt the warm, sticky liquid splattering against her skin. Her limbs stiffened slightly, her eyes glazed over in shock.

She couldn’t understand why Jiang Xu had chosen to throw the head at her when there were so many other places to toss it. Though she had cultivated some spiritual power, she was still a novice in the world of cultivation. Even watching the Mantis Demon burn alive earlier hadn’t been as gruesome as this. She had even glimpsed the milky-white brain matter oozing from the severed head.

Shen Su gritted her teeth, forcing herself to remain calm as she secretly channeled her cultivation technique. Just as the severed head was about to fall into her arms, she managed to dodge it.

Watching the head crash heavily to the ground, shattering and oozing pus, Shen Su exhaled sharply.

Thank goodness it didn’t land on me.

Her brief relief was shattered by Jiang Xu’s icy voice: “A half-demon? Qi Condensation Stage? You’re certainly no ordinary pampered young lady.”

Only then did Shen Su realize that her fox ears had reappeared due to her heightened anxiety, and a long, bushy fox tail had even sprouted. She knew that if she couldn’t explain herself clearly, Jiang Xu would surely kill her.

“Miss Shen, tell Xu’er that I guided you in your cultivation, not…” Wei Nanyi’s words were cut short as Jiang Xu struck Shen Su, sending her flying. She crashed into a pile of jagged rocks, landing beside the dying Mantis Demon. The demon chuckled weakly, “Looks like she’s not your ally either.”

Just as Shen Su had feared, the Jade Marrow’s protective power wasn’t absolute. It could block the nearly exhausted Mantis Demon, but it was no match for Jiang Xu’s palm strike.

A dull ache throbbed in Shen Su’s chest. She hunched over slightly, half-kneeling on the ground, and coughed up a mouthful of bl00d. “Miss Jiang… Madam taught me this. I’m not… cough cough…”

The pain was unbearable.

She hadn’t died at the hands of the Mantis Demon, but she was about to die at Jiang Xu’s hands.

Jiang Xu truly refused to listen to reason.

Shen Su had been sent flying, and the Azure Flame Twin Blades she had been holding in her other hand clattered to the ground. Jiang Xu picked up the Spirit Tool, her expression growing colder. “Azure Flame Twin Blades, a Spirit Tool. You were indeed hiding something.”

Hiding something? Shen Su thought bitterly. You haven’t even given me a chance to explain!

Bl00d surged in Shen Su’s chest, her breathing ragged. Yet Jiang Xu was already upon her, poised to strike the killing blow. The little rabbit immediately leaped from Jiang Xu’s palm.

Rabbits are naturally agile, but Wei Nanyi’s frail body made the jump a harsh fall. The rabbit landed heavily on the rocky ground, and its leg quickly turned red.

Shen Su even heard a sharp crack.

Has Wei Nanyi broken a bone?

“Madam, are you alright?”

Shen Su hurriedly reached out to check on Wei Nanyi, but Jiang Xu’s sword landed beside her hand. “Who told you to touch my A-Niang!”

Shen Su, equally exasperated, struggled to hold the rabbit close. “Miss Jiang, you fell for their ‘lure the tiger from the mountain’ trick, putting Madam and me in danger! We barely escaped the Demonic Creature’s clutches, only to almost die by your hand!”

“Cough, cough!” She coughed violently, spewing mouthfuls of bloody mist from her lips.

Jiang Xu angrily raised his sword, only to notice the White-Haired Rabbit nestled in Shen Su’s palm, its hind legs slightly splayed in a posture of fierce protectiveness. His gaze darkened, but his tone softened slightly. “A-Niang, I didn’t mean to kill her. I just want to understand why she’s a half-demon.”

The rabbit’s long ears twitched urgently in Shen Su’s palm. “Miss Shen, tell Xu’er quickly!”

Shen Su forced a bitter smile, enduring the dull ache in her chest. “Madam, Miss Jiang simply won’t listen to anything I say.”

She froze mid-sentence, and the rabbit stared back in stunned silence.

Shen Su had just unconsciously spoken to the rabbit.

Jiang Xu’s expression shifted. She looked down at Shen Su, who was kneeling on the ground. “You can hear my A-Niang?”

Shen Su could sense the danger returning to Jiang Xu’s tone.

Wei Nanyi, unable to speak to Jiang Xu or scold her, could only say to Shen Su, “Miss Shen, don’t admit it.”

But even if Shen Su didn’t admit it, someone else would.

Sensing Jiang Xu’s strange tone, the Mantis Demon, already covered in wounds and on the verge of death, seized the opportunity to implicate Shen Su. He eagerly shouted, “She can hear! She’s been talking to that rabbit the whole time!”

He thought this would immediately turn Jiang Xu against Shen Su, but instead, a black-haired, blue-eyed woman emerged from Jiang Xu’s longsword. She smiled at the Mantis Demon, and before he could react, his head was severed.

As his head fell, the woman vanished.

The woman was none other than Ruoqing, the Sword Spirit of the Yu Ling Sword.

Jiang Xu stomped on the severed head, grinding it into a bloody pulp. Her gaze was icy. “My A-Niang isn’t a rabbit.”

A few splatters of gore landed on Shen Su’s clothes. Shen Su’s eyes trembled, and she nearly vomited.

The overwhelming stench of bl00d made the White-Haired Rabbit’s ears droop even further. Wei Nanyi couldn’t see it, but she could feel the person holding her trembling uncontrollably—a clear sign of terror. “Miss Shen, don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid.”

She clutched the rabbit tightly, her lips already deathly pale.

Shen Su was terrified, but Jiang Xu had no intention of ending things this way. She glanced sideways at Shen Su clutching the rabbit, frowned, and her gaze turned even colder. “Shen Su, will you give me your ears?”

Her eyes lingered on Shen Su’s fox ears.

Everything was proceeding exactly as they had predicted. Upon discovering that Shen Su could hear Wei Nanyi speak in her animal form, Jiang Xu’s first instinct had been to sever those ears, refine them, and claim them as her own.

A chill ran down Shen Su’s spine. She dared not speak, clinging tightly to the rabbit. Jiang Xu repeated her question: “Shen Su, you’ll give me your ears, won’t you?”

The rabbit in her arms twitched its ears frantically, as if fearing that if she hesitated even a moment longer, Shen Su’s ears would be lost.

Jiang Xu couldn’t understand why Wei Nanyi was so fiercely protective of a stranger after only a few days apart.

No, Shen Su isn’t even human—she’s just a half-demon.

He frowned, forcing himself to speak calmly. “A-Niang, you want to protect her, but I need her ears.”

Wei Nanyi couldn’t reason with Jiang Xu, nor could she control him. Helpless, tears streamed down her face, filled with sorrow and despair. “Miss Shen, if Xu’er kills you, I will repay you with my life.”

The power gap between Jiang Xu and Shen Su was too vast. No matter how Wei Nanyi calculated, she couldn’t find a path to survival for Shen Su.

Wei Nanyi wants to die with her?

But even if Jiang Xu killed Shen Su, it wouldn’t be her fault. It wasn’t a flaw in Wei Nanyi’s upbringing, but rather that she simply hadn’t had enough time to raise Jiang Xu properly.

Though anxious, Shen Su didn’t shed a tear. She gently shook her head. “There’s no need, Madam. You don’t have to do this.”

Jiang Xu didn’t understand their words, but seeing the rabbit’s eyes brimming with tears, he suddenly felt immensely irritated. “I just want the ears!”

Jiang Xu said he only wanted her ears, but once they were cut off, she would bleed. Without the Mirror Quilt’s power suppressing her demon soul, the wound would attract swarms of demonic entities, exposing the secrets of her bloodline. Jiang Xu would undoubtedly kill her to claim her bl00d.

It seemed her fate was sealed.

Shen Su felt a pang of resentment. She had only just discovered she wasn’t a mediocre person, but rather someone with genuine talent. She still dreamed of repaying Wei Nanyi, yet now she was about to be killed by Wei Nanyi’s own daughter.

Jiang Xu gripped his sword, closing in on her.

Shen Su’s breathing grew ragged. Finally calming herself, her trembling fingers touched the rabbit ears. She pressed them against the rabbit’s ear and whispered, “Madam, don’t die. Take care of yourself.”

Seeing this scene, Jiang Xu’s hand, which had hesitated moments before, suddenly moved with ruthless precision.

This sword would take Shen Su’s life.

Clang! Just as Jiang Xu’s sword neared Shen Su’s ear, a pebble struck it with tremendous force, sending the weapon flying from his grip. The sword hurtled through the air and embedded itself in the stone wall nearby.

Jiang Xu’s palm burned red from the impact, the force still reverberating through his arm. Stunned, he clutched his throbbing wrist and snapped his head up. “Who’s there?!”

Shen Su also frantically looked up, searching for her savior.

It was a woman in a lake-green robe, her features exquisite and her skin as white as snow. She resembled a snow lotus blooming on a frozen mountain peak, her gaze so cold it seemed to freeze the very air around her. Her eyes flashed with contempt. “Tch, Jiang Xu, you’ve truly fallen as your father predicted. Stealing a half-demon’s ears? How pathetic.”

The rabbit in Shen Su’s palm suddenly perked up, its eyes gleaming with vitality. “Miss Shen, that’s Martial Uncle Jiang’s voice.”

This was Jiang Ruiping.

No wonder she could appear here silently, undetected by Jiang Xu. She was the strongest Elder of the previous generation at Approaching Immortals Mountain.

Both Wei Nanyi and Jiang Xu recognized Jiang Ruiping. Jiang Xu clenched her fists, stepping protectively in front of the White-Haired Rabbit. “Jiang Ruiping, have you come to kill me?”

Jiang Ruiping pointed to the Yu Ling Sword embedded in the stone wall, a cold smile playing on her lips. “No, I’m here for it.”

Her peripheral vision caught Jiang Xu’s protective stance in front of Shen Su, and her smile turned even colder. “Jiang Xu, you’re truly strange. You tried to kill her just moments ago, yet now you’re shielding her.”

Jiang Ruiping hadn’t noticed the rabbit; she only saw Shen Su.

But both Shen Su and Jiang Xu understood that Jiang Xu was protecting Wei Nanyi.

Given Jiang Ruiping’s power—her ability to infiltrate the Pixiang Mirror Dragon Formation undetected—if she truly intended to kill anyone, Jiang Xu would be powerless to stop her.