Witch God Abyss (Lily) - Chapter 13

Zhongdu Hengjing, Princess Demao’s Mansion.

In the woodshed, Shen Yuan retrieved a porcelain bottle and a bamboo cage from behind a pile of firewood.

She split a rabbit caught in the wilderness from its belly, dividing it in two.

Opening the porcelain bottle, the pearl-colored snake poked its head out, as if waiting for Shen Yuan to speak.

Shen Yuan said, “Smell the bl00d?”

Juanjuan nodded.

“As we agreed, you eat only when I say so?”

Juanjuan nodded again.

“Good girl, go eat.”

Only then did Juanjuan slither out, burrowing into the split rabbit and disappearing.

The blue moth in the bamboo cage flew out, landing on the rabbit meat, and began to feed.

Bujian Tian said, “They’re weak now, so they obey you. When they grow stronger, that may change.”

“Oh, no worries, no worries. These little gu insect incarnations? Even a mountain-sized snake demon like Canranzi could be handled by Master!”

Bujian Tian asked, “Did your master tell you about naming demons?”

Shen Yuan nodded.

“If a mortal names a demon and the demon accepts, a bond forms between them. The name’s meaning can even affect the demon’s nature and cultivation…”

Bujian Tian shrugged.

“So, giving these little demons such unimpressive names means they won’t cause big trouble. Keep them.”

“I think so too. And, though Princess Jin is overbearing, she’s not bad. This morning, she sent me the message to leave the palace quickly. So, Juanjuan in the future…”

Bujian Tian interrupted, “You said she sent you the message?”

“Yes. The booklet came from her.”

“She’s a princess, not a courtier. How did she get the booklet?”

“She said a palace maid close to His Majesty copied it for her.”

Bujian Tian said, “Let me see the booklet again.”

Shen Yuan pulled it from her sleeve and handed it to Bujian Tian.

Bujian Tian touched the ink.

“The ink’s fully dry. When did she come?”

“Shortly after noon. I didn’t even eat lunch.”

“Today’s court session was at 9-11 AM. Does she have palace maids copy booklets for her every court session?”

“No idea.”

“Hmph, bribing maids, secretly copying courtiers’ memorials… Quite bold.”

Bujian Tian examined the handwriting.

“What kind of maid, stealing and copying memorials in such a neat small script? She gets the copy, delivers it to you in less than two hours—how? And she should’ve been at the Imperial Academy before noon.”

Shen Yuan hadn’t pieced it together.

“So?”

“It was written in advance. Zhao Beijin knew this morning’s court would have courtiers impeach Wen Li and knew the memorials’ contents. She brought the pre-written booklet straight from the Imperial Academy to the Imperial Observatory at noon.”

“So, she deliberately played the good guy?”

“Silly girl, it’s to make you look like you fled out of guilt! To solidify your crime!”

“If I hadn’t left?”

“She’d lose nothing. If you stayed, you’d only be suspended, have your badge taken, barred from the palace, and ordered to leave Zhongdu with Lady Huiyi in three days.”

Shen Yuan suddenly found Juanjuan far less cute.

Bujian Tian asked, “Well? Still keeping that venomous little thing?”

Shen Yuan pouted, put Juanjuan back in the porcelain bottle, locked Zhanzhan in the bamboo cage, stuffed the green round thing into her pouch, and stubbornly said, “Since I decided to keep them, I’ll take responsibility.”

“Where are you headed now?”

“Wujian Village. The booklet says the ‘Immortal Divine Sect’ keeps demons in the mountains, demanding a girl under ten as tribute yearly. This year, the county official heard of it, went to Wujian Village to stop the human sacrifice, and was eaten by a demon.”

“I followed the Holy Lord to conquer the south years ago and visited Nanjian Village. There are five main streams there, collectively called the Five Jian Barbarians. The terrain’s complex, with people living scattered along the streams, but they unite fiercely against outsiders. In that battle, the Five Jian used the terrain to give us trouble. Savage barbarians, their language incomprehensible, human sacrifices banned repeatedly by local authorities. One a year in Wujian Village isn’t much. I recall one of the five villages had monthly sacrifices.”

“Monthly?” Shen Yuan was shocked.

“Yes, the poorest village. Each month, they’d choose the weakest child for sacrifice, but really, the village ate them afterward.”

Shen Yuan said, “Eating people?! A village of demons, worse than my Juanjuan and Zhanzhan!”

“Later, the village’s conditions improved, but the tradition persisted.”

“Looks like I picked the right place.”

Bujian Tian said, “You won’t change anything there. The Holy Lord went, and the court sent capable officials over the years, all returning empty-handed.”

“I’ll go see for myself.” Shen Yuan packed the bottle with Juanjuan and the cage with Zhanzhan, ready to leave.

“Got travel money?” Bujian Tian asked.

“What travel money?”

“You’re going out without money for food, drink, or lodging?”

Shen Yuan held out her hand. “Heh, thanks for the reminder.”

Bujian Tian sighed, pulled out silver notes from his robe.

“Lady Huiyi gave me these.”

He added, “You have no travel permit, so don’t use city gates…”

“I’m the Divine Sect leader’s personal disciple! Formed my core at six, mastered arrays at ten, teleportation at twelve. Who’re you underestimating?”

“Big talk! Give me back the money!”

Before Bujian Tian finished, Shen Yuan was gone.