Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Three: The Magpie Claims the Nest

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Meiniang was startled. Turning around, she saw Hongqin striding toward her, her eyes blazing with anger. Instantly, Meiniang cursed her luck inwardly.

“We’re just watching over them for a while!” Meiniang replied hastily, adopting a respectful tone.

“Who told you to switch shifts on your own?” Hongqin demanded, her voice sharp.

“Well... it’s just that they were hungry and begged us for help!” Meiniang said, her face full of aggrieved innocence.

“Help them? As if you’re that generous?” Hongqin shot her a cold look.

“Hehe, you saw right through me! I just wanted to have a little fun with these rams...” Meiniang dropped her head, embarrassed.

“Tch, I knew you were up to no good! Usually you’re whining and complaining, and today you’re suddenly all helpful?!” Hongqin sneered.

“It’s just that today I felt...” Meiniang faltered, unable to explain, and could only grin foolishly.

“Didn’t you come looking for me? What is it?” Hongqin’s expression softened.

“Oh... right...” Meiniang hesitated, then hurriedly drew a pair of jade bangles from her robe. Hongqin and Hanyu both stared in surprise.

“We found these in the grass...” Meiniang said, slipping them onto Hongqin’s wrists.

“What’s this for? Don’t... Where did you find them?” Hongqin tried to pull away but didn’t actually resist.

“Near the Cloud Gate. We haven’t told anyone else yet. We wanted to hand them to you for safekeeping,” Meiniang reported solemnly.

“Oh, I see! Good, leave them with me. I’ll hand them to the Master myself.” Though Hongqin’s face remained serious, inwardly she was overjoyed. These bangles were extraordinary, not only exquisitely translucent but also radiating a spiritual aura.

“Excellent, that’s a relief...” Meiniang said, fixing Hongqin with a meaningful gaze.

“All right, all right. Tonight, you two will help me serve the Master! You sly little foxes—when did you get so clever?” Hongqin laughed at once.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Meiniang, overjoyed, nudged Hanyu.

Just then, the two demonesses who’d gone to eat returned, faces alight with happiness. But the moment they saw Hongqin, their faces turned ashen and they scurried over, heads bowed, not daring to speak.

“What’s wrong with Mo Zhu? Usually you never stop chattering, but today you’re silent?” Hongqin gave them a sidelong glance, then turned curiously to Mo Zhu. Before Meiniang could answer, Hanyu pointed wordlessly at her own throat.

“During the fight, she got struck by that fat one’s weapon, and ended up like this!” Meiniang explained, tenderly touching Hanyu’s throat.

“That fat fellow’s weapon is quite something! I showed it to the Master—she says it’s a divine artifact!” Hongqin couldn’t help exclaiming.

“Really?! My, things change so quickly...” Meiniang’s mind raced, and she shot Hanyu a glance.

“But it doesn’t change in my hands!” Hongqin said, clearly displeased.

“Ah, never mind that! Did the Master say how she’d reward you?” Meiniang quickly changed the subject.

Hongqin smiled knowingly and fell silent. She walked to the ram pen, examining the rams inside. Aside from Hong Kun and the others, the rest of the rams rushed over, eager and impatient. After a moment’s thought, Hongqin pointed at Qi Yuanxiao and Hong Peng. “Bring those two out, and the fat one as well!”

Meiniang and Hanyu quickly opened the pen and pulled out Hong Peng, Qi Yuanxiao, and Yibing. The other rams looked disappointed, which surprised Hanyu.

Hongqin drew three black cords from her robe and tossed them onto the three rams. Instantly, they transformed into the black snake ropes from the dungeon, binding the three tightly. Next, she produced the Devouring Sheep Mirror, muttered a spell, and shone it at their faces. Immediately, the three returned to human form, though the ropes still held them fast.

“Let’s go! The Master is waiting!” Seeing Meiniang and Hanyu standing dazed, Hongqin urged them on. The two snapped out of it and hurriedly herded the three men after her. Meiniang sneaked a glance at Hanyu and made a subtle gesture with her right hand. Though Hanyu didn’t entirely understand, she frowned and nodded.

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When they reached a secluded spot, Meiniang suddenly formed a hand seal, whispering an incantation. With a sharp “clack,” the two jade bangles on Hongqin’s wrists locked together. Before she could react, a cold wind swept over her from behind and, at the sound of “Hanyu!”, she collapsed.

“Did I get that right?” Hanyu asked, holding the jade club.

“You did!” Meiniang was full of admiration. This girl’s timing was perfect—she hadn’t even let Hongqin cry out.

“This is Meiniang! This is Hanyu! And...” Yibing hurried to introduce Hong Peng and Qi Yuanxiao.

“Chubby girl, possess her body!” Meiniang urged, glancing around nervously.

“I don’t know how!” The plump girl’s voice rang out beside Yibing, startling him.

“Junior sister?!” Qi Yuanxiao called out at once.

“Miss Zhao’s spirit has left her body!” Yibing explained quickly.

“Didn’t your master teach you to return?” Meiniang asked anxiously.

“She did, but that’s just for my own body! Senior brother, it’s me!” the plump girl replied hastily.

“Oh, come on now! What difference does it make—her body or yours, it’s still a physical form!” Meiniang was getting impatient.

“Well... all right, don’t rush me! I’ll try...”

Time seemed to freeze. No one spoke. Suddenly, with a thump, Hongqin sprang up from the ground, flailing and staggering as if completely out of control. Meiniang hurried forward to steady her.

“Hussy... no, no... Miss Mei...” Hongqin’s mouth seemed out of her own control, and she slapped herself.

“Miss Zhao...” The sound of the slap made Hanyu’s heart ache.

“I... I... There, it’s done! Miss Jade, Miss Mei, Yibing, Senior Brother Qi, Senior Brother Hong!” Hongqin greeted them in one breath, then suddenly hopped behind Hanyu. “And you, Brother Divine Tortoise!”

At some point, the divine tortoise had bitten through its bundle and crawled out. “You’re the best, girl!” it cried, then leapt to the ground and, as expected, landed on its back with a crisp smack. Hongqin quickly flipped it over.

“Tch! Some divine tortoise you are!” Hanyu pouted angrily. “Hey, why’d you jump out?”

“Hehe, I’d rather stay outside—just in case. Besides, I can act as a lookout!” Seeing Hanyu about to kick, the tortoise darted behind Hongqin.

“Leave it. Let it stay out,” Meiniang intervened, then turned to the tortoise. “But you have to untie them first.” At once, the tortoise stretched its neck, biting through the ropes on all three men, and the snake cords slithered to the ground.

“All right, you three, pretend you’re still tied up. When we get close to that old demon, we’ll act as needed. Watch for my signal! I refuse to believe that, with so many of us, we can’t take her down!” Meiniang muttered, trying to bolster her courage.

With Hongqin leading the way, they soon reached the rear hall. The demoness at the door, seeing Hongqin, opened the golden doors without question. As they entered the bedchamber, a magnificent jade-inlaid bed caught their eyes—so large that five or six people could roll on it at once. On one side was a perfectly round spring pool, on the other, a mound of pure white sand, perfectly symmetrical. Through the silver gauze curtains, one could just make out the slender figure of a woman reclining on embroidered quilts.

“Master, the rams are here!” Hongqin reported nervously, the plump girl unsure what else to say.

“Mm.” At once, the curtains lifted, and a faint, intoxicating fragrance filled the air.

She may have been a demon, but even so, Master Baopu was a vision—like a heavenly maiden descended to earth. Smiling, she swept her gaze over them, her delicate brows and sparkling eyes sending ripples through the hearts of all present. Not just the three men—even Meiniang and Hanyu found their hearts racing.

“This is the little fatty?” Baopu scrutinized Yibing, her lips curling in distaste. He was far too fat—she couldn’t bring herself to take his essence. The two young men beside him, though, were both handsome and sturdy—much more appealing.

“Yes!” Hongqin quickly pushed Yibing forward.

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“That divine iron—where did you get it?” Baopu asked, pointing to the mound of white sand by the bed. Only now did they notice that Yibing’s iron staff was stuck there.

“...Picked it up on Flat Horse Mountain...” Yibing replied, blinking his big eyes with an air of innocence.

“You’re not telling the truth, little fatty! Bring them over!” Baopu smiled and sat up. Her blue Taoist robe fell open, revealing her fair, delicate legs. Qi Yuanxiao nearly stumbled.

“Yes!” Hongqin pushed Yibing toward the bed, and Mo Yu and Mo Zhu quickly led Hong Peng and Qi Yuanxiao after him.

“What sect are you from?” Baopu asked gently.

“I am Qi Yuanxiao of the Misty Cloud Sect!” Qi Yuanxiao blurted out. Hong Peng shot him a glare.

“My, such a handsome fellow!” Baopu giggled. Hanyu nearly gagged.

“Hus...” Qi Yuanxiao blushed scarlet.

“Soon, you’ll be my husband!” Baopu reached out and stroked his chin.

“No... don’t...” Qi Yuanxiao protested feebly, making no effort to pull away.

“And you?” Baopu turned her smiling gaze to Hong Peng.

“Monster!” Hong Peng spat.

“A stubborn mule! The more you resist, the more I like you!” Baopu blew him a teasing kiss, then said to Mo Yu and Mo Zhu, “Go wash them!”

“Wash them?” Meiniang was startled. Baopu nodded toward the spring pool.

“Oh...” Meiniang hurried to push Qi Yuanxiao toward the water. They couldn’t actually wash them—if they didn’t, the Master would notice. In a flash, Meiniang and Hanyu exchanged a look, then leapt up together, weapons raised, striking at Baopu. But she was ready—drifting lightly backward, she evaded them with ease.

“Heh, you little brats—did you really think you could fool my eyes?” Baopu sneered.

“All together!” Hanyu shouted.

“It’s no use!” Yibing cried in alarm. The ropes that had been loosened suddenly writhed back to life, binding the three men tighter than ever—they couldn’t move at all.

“Let’s fight!” Meiniang and Hanyu shouted, attacking from both sides—one with her fox staff, the other with her jade club, both weapons glowing. Baopu curled her lips and struck with both hands, which turned into two massive snake tongues, smashing down with such force that the fox staff shattered and the moonlight dimmed. Meiniang and Hanyu were sent flying and, hitting the ground, spat blood and could no longer move. At once, their true forms were revealed—a fox spirit and a rabbit spirit.

“So, you’re a fox and a rabbit, eh? Well—” Baopu began, but before she could finish, Hongqin hurled herself at her. Baopu never imagined Hongqin would betray her, and found herself caught in a tight embrace. Furious, she flung Hongqin away, then spat a jet of black water at her, striking her in midair. With two cries of pain, Hongqin crashed to the floor.

“Soul usurpation!” Baopu’s brow furrowed, and a third eye opened on her forehead. Only then did she see the plump girl’s spirit writhing on the ground.

“Fine, I’ll destroy your spirit!” Baopu leapt toward her—but just then, another cold wind swept up behind her. Spinning around, she lashed out with both snake tongues, but when she saw what was coming, her face blanched in horror: it was a gigantic, snarling turtle head! The turtle’s head brushed aside her attack and crashed full on into her shoulder, sending her flying into the wall.

“Fatty, you’re dead!” Yibing was about to follow up with another blow when Baopu suddenly dissolved into a cloud of black smoke and vanished.

A moment earlier, as Yibing struggled desperately, he’d felt the ropes suddenly slacken and something heavy land on his foot. Looking down, he saw the divine tortoise glaring up at him, the iron staff clamped in its jaws. Overjoyed, Yibing seized the staff—just as the plump girl screamed. With no time to think, he struck at Baopu’s back, and in that split-second, the image of the snarling tortoise flashed through his mind—so he transformed his own head to that of the divine tortoise and smashed it straight at her.