78: Belong to me

The eighth day of the ninth month.

Shen Jinhuan walked out of Dan Shuzis Cave Residence.

On her way to Lingwu City, she kept wondering what Jiang Ning was doing.

Would he be anxiously waiting for her, or would he be sitting in the courtyard, drinking wine and enjoying the breeze?

Jiang Ning was always lazy, not at all like those Cultivators busy with their cultivation.

She entered Lingwu City.

Shen Jinhuan's tender and charming pretty face, coupled with her white hair, was very eye-catching.

Her steps quickened considerably.

Standing in front of her own courtyard.

Shen Jinhuan hesitated for a moment, then finally, lowered the hand she was about to use to knock on the door.

She swallowed the Medicinal Pill Jiang Ning had given her, which could be used to conceal her Qi for escape, and hid to the side.

As soon as she had hidden, the door opened.

She saw Jiang Ning look to both sides of the door.

After calling out "Huanhuan" twice, he closed the door again.

A complex expression appeared on Shen Jinhuan's stern pretty face.

On this day.

She did not show herself.

She watched Jiang Ning retrieve the custom-made red spiritual silkworm silk dress for her from Wanbao Pavilion;

This man was really bad; he hadn't even told her.

She watched Jiang Ning go to the place that sold retail meat, ask for a spiritual fish weighing over ten catties, and also a piece of prime spiritual pork belly.

Shen Jinhuan sniffed, a sour feeling in her heart.

It was all her favorite food.

Jiang Ning had already entered Bigu, so buying these things must be for her to eat when she returned home.

A fragrant aroma wafted from the small courtyard.

Shen Jinhuan, with red eyes, grumbled, "If he stews it now, it will be so mushy by tomorrow..."

In the evening.

Shen Jinhuan saw Jiang Ning set up a chair on the city wall.

He was looking in the direction of Danshu Zi's Immortal Cave, squinting his eyes, leisurely waiting and resting.

"I already said I'd be back before the evening of the ninth day of the ninth month, why is he waiting?"

Shen Jinhuan wiped her eyes and averted her gaze.

She returned to Danshu Zi's Immortal Cave.

Several days passed. Because the temperature of this dark river was not high, and Shen Jinhuan had also been continuously cooling Ye Xi, Ye Xi seemed to be asleep.

She held Ye Xi's cold hand.

"Senior Sister, why do you say he's so bad?"

"First, he treated me badly in every way, and when I couldn't bear it anymore, he treated me well in every way."

"Do you think he did it on purpose, to make me so conflicted and struggling...?"

"Senior Sister, why is he like this...?"

Tears fell one by one.

In her Sea of Consciousness.

Black-haired Shen Jinhuan hugged white-haired Shen Jinhuan, gently patting her back.

"I am the second side activated for survival, but you are not Shen Jinhuan either; you are her past obsession, a prejudiced other side."

"Let's not be like this anymore... I think neither of us is Shen Jinhuan."

"Let's give her the initiative."

White-haired Shen Jinhuan looked up, gazing at black-haired Shen Jinhuan.

She curled her lips.

"When did it become your turn, you good little darling, to lecture me? But you're right, let her make her own decisions."

The two embraced, turning into specks of light and disappearing into the Sea of Consciousness.

Outside.

Shen Jinhuan opened her eyes.

The wind from the river stirred her white hair, gently brushing her face, carrying a ticklish sensation.

She bit her lip, her mouth trembling slightly.

After a few breaths.

She let out a sigh.

"I can't bring myself to do it, and I can't forgive myself, truly like a dog, forgetting the previous humiliation."

Shen Jinhuan's belief was collapsing.

She tidied Ye Xi's stray hairs.

She stood up.

"Senior Sister, I will seek justice for you, and for myself."

The ninth day of the ninth month.

In the morning.

Jiang Ning pushed open the courtyard door and froze when he saw Shen Jinhuan standing at the entrance.

He frowned deeply.

He frantically pulled Shen Jinhuan over.

"What happened?"

"Did something happen?"

"How did you become like this?!"

"Tell Revered Master, Revered Master will take you to get revenge!"

Jiang Ning worriedly touched Shen Jinhuan's white hair.

He was deeply shocked.

The Demoness... had finally returned. How did she get this white hair? What happened during these past few days?

Jiang Ning couldn't figure it out.

He always felt that Shen Jinhuan had changed, but he didn't know where she had changed.

It was as if she was no longer the little girl he knew.

"It's nothing." Shen Jinhuan pushed Jiang Ning's hand away. "I encountered some problems in my cultivation; it's just that my hair turned white, it's nothing."

"Huanhuan, you..."

"Revered Master, I'm hungry!"

Shen Jinhuan tilted her pretty face, smiling as she asked:

"Did you make crispy fish and Dongpo pork? I can smell it!"

"What a keen nose!"

Jiang Ning poked Shen Jinhuan's forehead, then took her hand and led her into the house.

No matter what, the little girl's feelings for him had not changed.

"You go tidy up quickly. I'll warm up the food. After we eat, I have a surprise for you."

Thinking of how the novels always described the Demoness in a red dress, he figured Shen Jinhuan must like red.

This dress he had ordered would surely delight the little girl.

Shen Jinhuan pretended to be puzzled.

"What surprise?"

"You'll know after we eat. It's a secret for now, but you'll absolutely love it!"

Jiang Ning finished speaking and ducked into the kitchen.

Shen Jinhuan grumbled, "I already knew."

She sighed.

She stared blankly at the sky.

After the ninth lunar month began, the weather cooled down.

The scorching sun became gentle, and the morning and evening winds carried a coolness.

Although for Cultivators, these temperatures wouldn't affect their senses much, the cooler weather also improved their mood, making them less irritable.

She didn't know how long she had been staring blankly.

Shen Jinhuan heard someone calling her. She looked over and saw it was Jiang Ning waving to her from the kitchen doorway.

"Huanhuan, come wash your hands!"

"Huh?" Shen Jinhuan got up and scurried over, "Coming, coming."

A moment later.

The two sat around the stone table, on stone stools.

Jiang Ning picked up a piece of crispy fish and placed it in the little girl's bowl.

"Huanhuan, try this crispy fish. I started stewing it yesterday, and now the bones inside are all soft. Didn't you say fish is delicious but has too many bones?

Now it's fine, even the bones can be eaten."

"Oh, right, and this Dongpo pork, try it. It's very tender and flavorful. See if it's fatty but not greasy? Don't worry about the name.

Just think of it as a dish I thought of on the eastern slope, so it's called Dongpo pork."

Shen Jinhuan lowered her head.

She watched her small bowl transform from empty to bountiful.

The aroma of the food reached her nose.

But it made her eyes red and her heart ache.

She wanted to cry.

"Revered Master..."

Shen Jinhuan spoke hoarsely.

"Hmm?"

Jiang Ning's expression changed, becoming much more serious. He said gently, "See? I knew you suffered grievances out there this time. Quick, tell me, you can tell Revered Master any grievances you have."

Shen Jinhuan suddenly burst into tears.

She got up and threw herself into Jiang Ning's arms, gripping the fabric over his chest, occasionally punching him lightly with her small fists.

Jiang Ning held her, gently patting her back, helping her calm down.

"Cry, crying it out will make you feel much better..."