How to Raise a Crazy Beautiful Snake Demon - Chapter 24

“Well, if it isn’t your dear little junior sister…”

 

 

At the entrance of the Jade Pure Sect’s grand hall stood an imposing ceremonial archway, its surface carved with ancient oracle bone script reading “Subdue Demons, Purge Evil, and Restore Order to the Three Realms.” These words, penned by the sect’s founding patriarch, embodied the original purpose behind the Jade Pure Sect’s establishment.

 

 

Now, Ji Qingwu stepped lightly across the shadow cast by the archway and entered the plaza before the hall.

 

 

“Always thinking about subduing demons… These hypocritical righteous sects just use us as stepping stones for their merits, flaunting our demon kin’s lives to polish their own reputations.”

 

 

In her mind, Zhu Jiuyin’s scornful words continued unabated. Originally, Ji Qingwu had hung Zhu Jiuyin on her wrist as an ornament, but the latter had refused to comply. Only after allowing Zhu Jiuyin to invade her consciousness and communicate directly did she manage to coax the demon into cooperating.

 

 

Now, this troublemaker was spouting such treasonous remarks about her sect inside her head. Fortunately, Ji Qingwu wasn’t as rigid as the original owner of this body, so she could still maintain her composure while listening to such words.

 

 

Yet, she couldn’t help but find the situation absurd. Here she was, the most esteemed senior disciple of the entire sect, secretly colluding with a demon right under everyone’s noses—and going to great lengths to cover its tracks. It was thrilling beyond belief.

 

 

She didn’t dare dwell on it too much; the mere thought made her feel too wicked to deserve her position as the senior disciple. Her palms grew clammy with sweat, as though she were treading on a path of knives and flames. And yet, Zhu Jiuyin’s commentary persisted:

 

 

“…Honestly, your righteous sects haven’t made a single bit of progress in thousands of years. Well, except for you… Hmph.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu walked gracefully ahead, her posture impeccable, while the other outstanding disciples followed behind her in perfect imitation, treating her as their model.

 

 

Several elders had just arrived and were conversing among themselves. When they noticed Ji Qingwu’s arrival, their gazes turned toward her—some approving, others concerned. Clearly, none of them considered her house arrest a serious matter.

 

 

Elder Yu Yan of the Discipline Hall stood at the forefront. With the sect leader currently in seclusion, she was the one overseeing all major and minor affairs within the sect—and the very person who had placed Ji Qingwu under house arrest.

 

 

Ji Qingwu greeted each elder respectfully, her voice restrained and her demeanor composed.

 

 

“Have you made any progress during this time?”

 

 

Yu Yan scrutinized her from head to toe as she posed the question.

 

 

“I’ve gained some insights, though my cultivation hasn’t shown significant advancement. I merely feel my state of mind has grown steadier.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu lowered her eyes as she replied.

 

 

“Insight is valuable enough… I see you’ve changed your attire. Why is that?”

 

 

Yu Yan clearly disapproved of her current outfit, her brows furrowing slightly. She preferred the strict, orderly aesthetic of black, white, and blue-green hues.

 

 

“This disciple was careless during training and damaged her sect robes, so I had no choice but to change.”

 

 

“You may retrieve a few spare sets from the inner storeroom. It would be best not to wear this outfit again today.”

 

 

Yu Yan declared.

 

 

As soon as she finished speaking, another female elder nearby chuckled and interjected:

 

 

“Elder Yu, what kind of talk is that? It’s perfectly normal for young girls to prefer brighter, more vibrant clothing. You oversee everything under the heavens—must you also dictate what people wear? Junior Ji, wear whatever you like, as long as it doesn’t violate sect rules.”

 

 

The speaker was Elder Tang Yunqing, a strikingly beautiful middle-aged woman dressed today in eye-catching red robes. Skilled in music and fond of dressing up, she often clashed with the rigid Elder Yu Yan.

 

 

From within Ji Qingwu’s mind came Zhu Jiuyin’s barely suppressed laughter.

 

 

 

“Pfft… Your Crimson Robe Elder is quite the character, saying everything I wanted to scold. I never expected your sect to have such talent—impressive indeed.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu showed no outward reaction, merely bowing respectfully:

 

 

“Many thanks for Elder Yu and Elder Tang’s guidance. This disciple understands.”

 

 

Elder Tang Yunqing moved closer, lifting Ji Qingwu’s sleeve for inspection:

 

 

“Oh? Are these golden threads runes… Hmm? What’s this?”

 

 

She pulled the sleeve back further, examining the silver serpent-shaped bracelet with a slight frown, seeming puzzled.

 

 

Elder Tang, well-versed in adornments and skilled in artifact crafting—had she noticed something amiss?

 

 

Ji Qingwu felt her voice pitch slightly higher:

 

 

“This is… a bracelet I recently crafted.”

 

 

Meanwhile, Zhu Jiuyin screamed in her mind:

 

 

“Is she trying to touch me? I forbid it! Make her stop!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu dared not order an elder about, so she simply lowered her head, pretending not to hear as the inspection continued.

 

 

Elder Tang raised an eyebrow, glancing at her:

 

 

“I never heard you practiced artifact crafting. Did your master teach you this?”

 

 

She tapped the serpent bracelet’s head, producing a crystalline chime—the sound of jade.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Ahhh! Damn it! Damn it! She tapped me! She actually tapped me!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu’s throat tightened:

 

 

“My master didn’t teach me, but I’ve studied crafting texts. This was just an experimental piece made during confinement.”

 

 

Elder Tang nodded, her delicate fingers tracing along the serpent bracelet from head to rigid tail, a faint smile curling her lips:

 

 

“Novel design, near-perfect details. Your craftsmanship is remarkable. Could you make me a similar piece? I’ll pay in spirit stones.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Get your hands off me! Stop squeezing! I’ll bite your fingers off! Ugh, what kind of person—if you keep this up, I can’t maintain the illusion—”

 

 

Ji Qingwu exhaled subtly, withdrawing her wrist to conceal the serpent under her sleeve:

 

 

“If Elder Tang wishes, I’ll do my best… though it may not match this one’s quality.”

 

 

After all, no matter her crafting skill, it would be fake—unlike this living serpent with its flawless details.

 

 

Elder Tang smiled, stepping back beside Elder Yu:

 

 

“My thanks in advance then.”

 

 

As Ji Qingwu retreated, the morning assembly began.

 

 

But her consciousness was in turmoil—Zhu Jiuyin raged:

 

 

“Don’t make her anything! She manhandled me! How dare you agree after that! I forbid it! Forbid it! Do you hear?!”

 

 

Helpless, Ji Qingwu projected her thoughts:

 

 

“Refusal would raise suspicion.”

 

 

A momentary pause—then greater fury:

 

 

“Suspicion?! Are you doubting my illusion magic?! I told you this bracelet form is flawless! My cultivation surpasses that Crimson Robe elder’s—she’d never see through it! How dare you imply otherwise!”

 

 

Between the elder’s recited cultivation techniques and Zhu Jiuyin’s tirade, Ji Qingwu comprehended neither.

 

 

Her mental voice turned sharp:

 

 

“Silence! We’ll discuss this after assembly.”

 

 

 

The consciousness space finally fell silent. Ji Qingwu let out a relieved sigh and focused on the lecture, but the peace lasted less than a few minutes before Zhu Jiuyin erupted like boiling oil, shouting loudly:

 

 

“You scolded me! You actually scolded me for that woman in red! How dare you scold me! I won’t cooperate anymore! I’ll revert to my true form right now—”

 

 

Ji Qingwu’s body swayed slightly as she hurriedly responded through their mental link:

 

 

“No no no… don’t transform back! Alright alright, it’s my fault. I wasn’t scolding you just now, I was just anxious. You did very well, you were absolutely right, you’re amazing, okay?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“What do you mean ‘okay’?”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…You’re incredible, a true senior, with profound cultivation and strong mental fortitude. It’s my honor to bring you out. So now, could you please remain quiet for a while? We’ll have a deeper conversation after the morning assembly.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin finally seemed satisfied, her voice dripping with pride:

 

 

“That’s more like it. You can speak properly after all. To think you scolded me earlier, hmph. This venerable one will grant you this face.”

 

 

True to her word, she remained quiet afterwards without further disturbances. When the morning assembly concluded smoothly, Elder Yu Yan even called Ji Qingwu up to demonstrate today’s energy circulation technique, which she performed flawlessly.

 

 

Before leaving, Tang Yunqing excitedly waved at Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“Remember to make that bracelet for me!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu nodded from a distance, waiting until most disciples had left before mounting her flying sword to depart.

 

 

No sooner had she flown beyond the mountain peak than Zhu Jiuyin’s sultry voice resurfaced in her consciousness, laced with drowsiness and a hint of hoarseness, as if just waking from a nap:

 

 

“You poor thing, having to endure these old fogies’ nonsense every day. I actually fell asleep listening to them just now… how utterly boring… yawn…”

 

 

The sound of her yawn echoed too closely in their shared consciousness. Ji Qingwu instinctively turned her head slightly, but couldn’t escape it—the sound, along with the subtle flow of breath, seemed to cling to her skin.

 

 

Ji Qingwu’s throat moved involuntarily, and she had to suppress her own urge to yawn:

 

 

“Cultivation techniques are like that. They must seem very boring to someone of your advanced level.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Mmm… so you do acknowledge my superior level, yet you still claim my illusion techniques are lacking. Fool.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…I never said that.”

 

 

What nonsense was this creature imagining all day?

 

 

Gliding through clouds and mist beyond the layered mountain peaks, Ji Qingwu subtly adjusted her flying sword’s trajectory while thinking:

 

 

“Next I’ll take you to see the sect’s training grounds. The library is nearby too, so we can visit both. We’ll finish at the small treasury.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin gave a noncommittal hum. After flying for some time, she suddenly asked through their mental link:

 

 

“Does your sect possess an artifact called… the Ten Thousand Demon Pagoda?”

 

 

The flying sword wobbled imperceptibly. Ji Qingwu’s foot slipped, nearly causing her to fall off as her sleeves billowed up to obscure her face.

 

 

Steadying the sword, she responded with guarded thoughts laced with undisguised hostility:

 

 

“Why do you ask?”

 

 

Unlike spoken words, mental communication revealed one’s truer emotions—harder to conceal. Her response clearly carried suspicion and wariness.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin remained silent for a long while, her serpentine tail tip dangling from Ji Qingwu’s sleeve, swaying gently.

 

 

Assuming she wouldn’t answer, Ji Qingwu focused on flying forward.

 

 

Then came a sudden cold laugh, the sultry voice dripping with sarcasm:

 

 

“What are you afraid of? I’m not here to steal your precious treasure.”

 

 

 

“That’s our sect’s treasure. Not just you—even I rarely get to see it…”

 

 

“Alright, alright, I get it. I didn’t even say I wanted to see it. Why are you so scared? Wipe your sweat already.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin teased.

 

 

Of course, a Nascent Soul cultivator wouldn’t sweat so easily. Ji Qingwu pressed her lips together and fell silent.

 

 

The two of them—one human, one snake—continued in silence until they arrived at a garden. A grand plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with bold, sweeping calligraphy: Raging Torrents.

 

 

This was the trial grounds for all sect disciples, crafted by the elders of the past using mountain-moving, sea-filling treasures. Though it appeared to be a garden, every corner concealed hidden mechanisms. At its heart lay a winding, exquisitely crafted lakeside corridor. Stepping onto it would reveal seventy-two trial arenas, each with unique challenges.

 

 

The original Ji Qingwu had been a frequent visitor here, having entered each arena dozens—if not hundreds—of times. No one knew its layout better than her.

 

 

She navigated through half the garden with practiced ease, occasionally lifting her wrist to show Zhu Jiuyin the rare spiritual plants.

 

 

“These are all unique spiritual plants collected by our sect members since the founding of the Jade Pure Sect. They’re extremely precious.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin remarked:

 

 

“Typical of a sect that’s never seen the wider world.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu walked slowly, realizing that in her memories, she was unfamiliar with any part of the garden beyond the trial corridor—let alone these dazzlingly beautiful spiritual plants. She barely recognized any of them.

 

 

Still, the sight was lovely. A breeze carried the fragrance of flowers, and for a moment, she felt… an odd illusion, as if they were on a date.

 

 

Horrified at the thought of Zhu Jiuyin overhearing, she quickly suppressed the embarrassing notion.

 

 

The snake’s tiny red eyes on the bracelet darted around, observing with genuine interest, occasionally asking through their mental link:

 

 

“What’s that red-flowered tree? And that tall grass—what’s it called? What effects does it have?”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…Sorry, I’m not sure. In the past, I only came here for the trial corridor. I never paid attention to these plants outside.”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“That’s a shame. When you’re older, you’ll realize watching a flower bloom is far more meaningful than eking out a sliver more spiritual power.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu felt a stirring in her heart—until Zhu Jiuyin’s tone turned playful again:

 

 

“After all, no matter how hard you train, if you run into an opponent like me—someone leagues above you—I’d have you devoured, body and soul, in ten minutes flat. Then you’d regret never taking the time to admire a flower’s bloom~”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…”

 

 

Truly, nothing good ever comes from a snake’s mouth.

 

 

Annoyed, she quickened her pace along a hidden path known only to sect disciples, no longer indulging Zhu Jiuyin’s sightseeing.

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Hey, hey! That tall yellow flower—I didn’t get a good look! Go back so I can see it properly!”

 

 

Ji Qingwu ignored her, striding ahead without sparing another word for the silver-tongued serpent.

 

 

Outside the trial corridor, a young girl stood by the entrance, craning her neck anxiously while muttering to herself, “It’s fine, don’t panic…” It was Song Shirui, who had been desperately waiting for her senior sister’s return all these days.

 

 

 

Song Shirui had sent Mid-Autumn Festival greetings to her senior sister but received no reply. Today, upon hearing that the senior sister had appeared at the morning assembly, she immediately planned to wait at the entrance of the Trial Corridor for a chance to meet her.

 

 

She waited and waited, hoping against hope, until finally—there in the distance, a figure in pink and white robes emerged gracefully from the woods. It was her beloved senior sister! And she was wearing new clothes!

 

 

Song Shirui felt so happy she might faint. The senior sister truly was dedicated to cultivation—coming straight to the Trial Corridor after the morning assembly. She had guessed right!

 

 

It had been so long since they last met, and the senior sister looked even more ethereal and beautiful now… Song Shirui checked her own attire, mustered her courage, and waved energetically:

 

 

“Senior Sister! Over here! What a coincidence!”

 

 

Before even reaching the entrance, Ji Qingwu spotted Song Shirui from beyond the flowering trees and abruptly halted.

 

 

“Hmm? Oh, isn’t that your dear little junior sister?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin had heard Song Shirui’s voice first and flicked her tail sharply, the impact stinging Ji Qingwu’s wrist.

 

 

Her tone was dripping with sarcasm as she continued:

 

 

“Truly your precious junior sister, huh? Just happens to be waiting for you here—did you two arrange this in advance?”

 

 

Flustered, Ji Qingwu replied:

 

 

“No, I didn’t know—”

 

 

But Zhu Jiuyin ignored her, still mocking:

 

 

“No wonder you wouldn’t let me admire the flowers earlier. So eager to rush to your little rendezvous, what a considerate and gentle senior sister you are~”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“I really didn’t—”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin:

 

 

“Ah, what a shame. I’m clearly the third wheel here, ruining your romantic meeting~ But you know what? I’m not in a great mood right now. I feel like shifting into my serpent form, trampling all these spirit plants, and smashing this entire garden to pieces. That might make me feel better.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu:

 

 

“…Fine. What do I have to do for you to calm down?”

 

 

Zhu Jiuyin coiled tightly around Ji Qingwu’s wrist, her tail tapping slowly against the veins, silent for a long moment.

 

 

Meanwhile, Song Shirui called out in confusion:

 

 

“Senior Sister, why aren’t you coming over?”

 

 

At last, Zhu Jiuyin’s voice echoed lazily in Ji Qingwu’s mind:

 

 

“Promise me this—tonight, when we return, you’ll sleep with me in the big bed. Then maybe… I’ll calm down.”

 

 

Ji Qingwu clenched her jaw, lowering her gaze to meet the serpent’s eyes.

 

 

She truly couldn’t fathom what this snake wanted.

 

 

Why bring up the big bed now? What was she really after?