Outside the screen, Nan Zhi took a sip of sparkling water before replying leisurely:
“If I just let it die like that, wouldn't I be letting it off too easy?”
As she spoke, she shook the half-conscious Red Fox and continued, “You've been in Dingyuan for so long, surely you've saved up some silver?”
“You dark-skinned woman, you won't even let a demon keep its silver.”
Perhaps seeing that its end was near, the Red Fox couldn't be bothered to flatter Nan Zhi anymore. It sullenly shook its tail, and over a dozen pieces of scattered silver fell to the ground.
“There, that's all I have. I only hope that for the sake of this silver, you'll find a hunter with a quick hand so I don't have to suffer.”
“Your net worth is a bit low. I've seen stories where demons are either draped in gold and silver or covered in jade and jewels. How did you end up so pathetic?”
Nan Zhi counted carefully and found that the fox didn't have much in savings—a total of seventeen taels.
“If I had money, why would I still be a demon? I would have become human long ago.
Stop reading those stories written by penniless scholars. They always feature beautiful fox immortals or cold female ghosts throwing themselves at scholars. Hmph.
You should know that while my fox clan may be lustful, we don't just mate with anyone.”
The Red Fox rolled its eyes dramatically.
“If you're going to kill me, just do it. Why are you dragging this out? I've already fallen into the hands of you two, so what else can I do?”
After saying this, it felt the grip on the scruff of its neck loosen.
Looking up, the Red Fox saw Nan Zhi standing before it, still weighing the seventeen taels of silver in her hand.
“I just thought about it again, and a fox pelt isn't really that rare.
Besides, you're a male fox. If I skinned you and gave the fur to my sister to wear, it would be quite creepy.”
Nan Zhi gestured with her chin toward the space behind the fox.
“Heaven has the virtue of loving life, so I'll spare you this once.
From now on, you're not allowed to steal, you're not allowed to dress up as ghosts to scare people, and you're especially not allowed to... ahem... launch sneak attacks while people are using the latrine.
In short, if you do it again, I will absolutely skin you and turn you into a rug.”
“You're truly willing to let me go?”
The Red Fox was suspicious, wondering what this sturdy, dark-skinned girl was up to.
But since there was a way to live, it didn't dare linger. It shot a glance at Nan Yi and then fled with its tail between its legs.
【Cultivator has shown mercy, achieving the accomplishment "All Beings Are Equal (I)": (What is the difference between demons and humans?)】
【Demon Favor +1, Reputation +10】
【Obtained: Heavenly Treasure Tree Lottery Ticket x5, 《Moon-Worshiping Breathing Method》 x1】
She actually managed to get another cultivation technique!
She wondered if she could manifest this one in reality too.
Nan Zhi was excited internally, but she didn't let it show on her face.
Nan Yi stepped forward, his round, deer-like eyes filled with a smile as he spoke softly to Nan Zhi:
“When did Ye-er ever say she wanted a fur vest? Doesn't she hate fur and fluff the most?”
“I was just scaring that Red Fox. If I didn't say that, who knows if it would return to its old ways.
Besides, it tried to splash me with filth earlier and called me a dark-skinned woman. It was only right to give it a lesson.”
Nan Zhi casually tossed the silver into his arms.
“The Sages once said there should be 'education for all.' This fox is quite intelligent. Although its wild nature is hard to tame, the mistakes it made were minor. If we really sent it to the county office—”
“Take this silver to the watchmen's families. Tell them the monster that scared them has been subdued by me, and this is the compensation from the monster for their medical expenses.”
“I've only ever heard of demons harming people; when has there ever been a precedent for a demon paying for medical bills?”
Nan Yi held the silver, his eyes curving into crescents as he looked at Nan Zhi with a smile.
“If we really sent that fox to the county office, I'm afraid it would be skinned, its bones crushed, and its body paraded through the streets to calm the people.
After all, those of a different race must have different hearts, right, Big Sister?”
Nan Zhi didn't respond to that, feeling as though his words were pointed.
Ever since she entered the game, this brother's reactions had been a bit strange.
But the favorability display showed that Nan Yi's affection for her was still at the maximum of ten hearts.
Besides, there was a whole dimension between them, so there was nothing to fear.
Nan Zhi changed the subject, asking where Headman Zhang had gone.
“Headman Zhang... I'm afraid he'll hate every fox under the sun from now on.”
Nan Yi pointed behind him and said with a grin, “With all that filth on him, I'm afraid he'll be washing for a long time.”
Thinking of Headman Zhang's tragic state, Nan Zhi suddenly felt that the beating she just gave the fox was a bit too light.
...
Perhaps Nan Zhi's intimidation that day had worked, as there were no more fox disturbances around Wangjia Bridge.
After a few days of recovery, the watchmen slowly regained their strength.
Though there were likely lingering side effects—if they saw a beautiful woman at night, they probably wouldn't dare approach her ever again.
Under Headman Zhang's enthusiastic promotion, Nan Zhi's fame grew even greater than before.
Many people came specifically to see the legendary eldest daughter of the Nan family who could exorcise ghosts and capture demons.
There were even relatives from the same village who came to the door, but they were all driven away by Chen Jingui.
“These people are truly like flies, buzzing around and annoying everyone.
My eldest daughter is capable, but she's not some pipa-playing entertainer from the Nan residence that they can just see whenever they open their mouths.”
Chen Jingui stood outside the courtyard gate, shouting at the relatives she had just kicked out:
“Before, you all mocked my daughter for being slow-witted, whispering behind our backs who knows how many times. Now that you see a chance to benefit, every one of you is like a black-eyed chicken, swarming over here.
Ye-er, in the future, if you see people like this, just use a willow branch to drive them out.”
In the past, these relatives had laughed at Chen Jingui for raising a "foolish" daughter, cursing Nan Zhi behind her back, saying she wouldn't survive. Some were even more blatant, saying it would be better to drown Nan Zhi in the river than to raise a fool for a lifetime.
Now that she had a chance to hold her head high, Chen Jingui naturally wouldn't let it go, thoroughly venting her anger in front of these people.
The ones being driven out were a couple draped in gold and silver. The two of them shared a strong resemblance, both having slanting eyebrows and triangular eyes, looking quite fierce.
The gifts they brought were scattered all over the ground. Pastries and fruits were strewn about, only to be picked up by the local children.
A crowd of onlookers had gathered around to watch the commotion.
“Sister, my dear sister.”
The woman quickly forced a smile.
“In the past, we didn't know any better and were too blind to recognize a living immortal, but this matter today cannot be delayed!”
“Yes, yes. The neighbors are all watching; you can't just ignore your own family's blood after you've married out.”
The man also hurried to offer smiles and honeyed words.
“Look, we even brought many supplements. These are all for your eldest daughter. The two of us traveled all the way from Wen County just to see our niece and get closer.
Ah, of course, if the matter is truly handled well, we can talk about the silver too...”
Chen Jingui didn't give them an ounce of face, spitting on the ground.
“Bah! What nerve!
The two of you have done nothing but wicked deeds. When your own father was alive, you wouldn't show him any filial piety, refusing to even buy him a decent coffin board.
Now that retribution has come and you dream of your father crying for help every night, you don't think to burn more paper money or paper clothes, but instead run here to ask my daughter to catch a ghost?
Let me ask you, what kind of ghost are you trying to catch? Do you want to make it so your father can't even remain a ghost?”
Having said that, Chen Jingui glared at the two of them and spat again.
“Mom, stop talking. Come inside and have some tea to soothe your throat.”
Standing to the side, Nan Ye's face burned with embarrassment, but she couldn't think of any other way to stop her mother, so she used an excuse:
“Big Sister is meditating in her room. If you keep making such a racket, won't you disturb her?”
Chen Jingui suddenly realized her mistake. She slapped her forehead and pulled Nan Ye into an embrace.
“Right, right. My good Ye-er, you're the clever one.
How could I forget? Quick, close the door! Don't let these two mangy dogs disturb your sister!”
With that, the Nan family's gate was slammed shut, cutting off the prying eyes and severing the couple's last bit of hope.
Rate on N.U.
