34: Eight Rules

Fang Huai was in front, and Li Sirou followed behind.

The two of them, one after the other, headed toward the residence.

In addition to the Servant Curse locking her mind, Li Sirou had also been placed under a Spirit Binding Curse.

This Spell sealed her Spiritual Root and Qi Sea, making her cultivation no different from that of a Mortal.

Red Leaf Market was far from Skinning Peak; without the support of spiritual power, Li Sirou could only grit her teeth and trudge along on foot.

Fang Huai glanced at Li Sirou.

Her eyes were red as if she were holding back tears, and she stumbled as she walked.

When her eyes met his, they still flickered with a stubborn refusal to bow her head.

Profound Sword Sect Cultivators neglected physical cultivation; once separated from Spiritual Qi, their physical constitution was not much stronger than a Mortal's.

This woman had walked for several hours straight; her shoes were ruined and her feet were bleeding, yet she still refused to yield.

As the sky grew dark, Corpse Fiend Sect Disciples released their captive Baleful Corpses and Devil Heads.

Within moments, the sounds of ghostly wails and wolf-like howls echoed throughout the entire Sect.

With the Sect rules in place, those Monsters didn't dare target Fang Huai, but Li Sirou was in a miserable state, with a pack of Monsters trailing behind her.

Despite having the aura of a Middle Stage Qi Refinement Cultivator, her cultivation was only that of a Mortal; such a delicious and easily handled Physical Body drew the covetous eyes of the Monsters.

Li Sirou sensed the danger and could only walk closely at Fang Huai's heels.

When she stayed close, the Monsters would retreat a few steps in wariness; if she lagged even slightly, they would immediately close in with sinister grins.

Fang Huai's footsteps suddenly came to a halt.

Li Sirou, who was following with her head down, was caught off guard and slammed into his back, falling to the ground.

"What are you doing!" she cried out, both in pain and anger.

"Shut up!"

Fang Huai kept his voice extremely low, half-squatting so that his wide robes draped over her, shielding her.

At the same time, a hand covered her mouth.

Li Sirou's heart was in complete disarray.

Was this Demonic Cultivator going to disgrace her right here?

Her mind buzzed as she recalled the teachings of her Sect elders.

Demonic Cultivators were lecherous and sadistic; could the man before her be planning to take her chastity?

"Beast... I won't submit..."

Humiliation and fury rushed to her head, and she bit down hard on the palm covering her mouth.

*Slap!*

A crisp slapping sound rang out, leaving her dazed.

"Hold your breath, don't make a sound!" Fang Huai warned. "If you dare make another peep, I'll leave you behind immediately."

A massive shadow loomed over them.

Before Li Sirou could recover from the slap, her heart tightened, feeling as though an invisible mountain was crushing her breath away.

Looking up, she saw a giant centipede above them.

The centipede had caught her scent; its head kept peering downward, and its venom dripped, corroding deep pits into the ground.

A Black Fiend Centipede?

Li Sirou turned pale with fright, her body trembling.

This Foundation Establishment Stage Yao Beast was massive and shrouded in miasmic poison; just a single glance made her soul quiver.

Being so close to the Yao Beast, Li Sirou's heart leaped into her throat. She couldn't help but huddle closer to Fang Huai, burying her head against him and shivering.

After searching for a while, the Black Fiend Centipede saw only Fang Huai, a Disciple of the Sect. Confused, it stopped lingering and gradually crawled away.

"Let's go!" Fang Huai stood up, his face expressionless.

Li Sirou sighed softly and tried to stand, only to find that her legs had gone weak.

She wanted to ask Fang Huai for help, but she swallowed the words just as she was about to speak.

Seeing Fang Huai walking further away with no intention of looking back, and with the Monsters behind her closing in, she gritted her teeth, forced herself upright, and jogged to catch up.

It wasn't until the Hour of the Ox was nearly over that the two finally entered the residence.

Fang Huai was fine; at the third level of Body Tempering and with spiritual power cleansing his body, he wasn't fatigued.

Li Sirou was a different story. Having gone without sleep for three days and two nights, followed by a day of walking and numerous scares, her eyelids were already drooping and she was swaying on her feet.

Seeing Fang Huai lie down on the bed, she quietly closed her eyes. In her daze, she heard Fang Huai's voice.

"The Wild Vegetables and Potato-Rice are in the northeast corner. Add three stalks of poison heart grass when you cook.

I wake up at the start of the Hour of the Rabbit. If I don't see one dish, one soup, and some rice, I'll send you back to Red Leaf Market.

Furthermore, you are not allowed to sleep until I wake up!"

"bad person, Demonic Cultivator... even eating poisonous grass, I hope it poisons you to death!" Li Sirou grumbled under her breath as she reluctantly began washing vegetables to cook.

How was she supposed to know how to make a dish, a soup, and rice?

After a long time of toiling and throwing things out several times, she finally produced a pot of wild vegetable porridge with unrecognizable contents, a plate of blackened greens, and a few half-cooked potato-rice lumps.

Pinching herself repeatedly with her fingernails, Li Sirou forced herself to stay awake through the drowsiness until her ears started ringing, just as Fang Huai showed signs of waking up.

Stretching, Fang Huai got up. "Bring a basin of water and attend to my washing."

"Wash, wash, wash... you stink to high heaven, you really should wash."

Li Sirou grumbled, ladling a basin of cold water from the water jar and reluctantly bringing it before Fang Huai.

She was a dignified Middle Stage Qi Refinement Cultivator and quite the beauty as well.

Back at the Profound Sword Sect, male Cultivators vied for her attention, yet here she had become a servant girl fetching water and cooking.

At the thought of this, she couldn't help but feel incredibly frustrated.

A few days ago, to prove herself, she had snuck out of the Sect, hoping to bring back a few heads of Demonic Cultivators. She hadn't expected that instead of killing any, she would be the one to fall.

She regretted it deeply!

"Corpse Fiend Sect Cultivators shed their Mortal skin during cultivation and replace it with new skin formed from spiritual energy; they don't stink.

On the contrary, you Profound Sword Sect Cultivators with your Mortal skin are the ones who truly reek."

Fang Huai rubbed the soles of his feet without looking up. "The water is too cold. Remember to warm it up in advance from now on."

Having said that, he walked to the dining table and picked up his chopsticks.

Li Sirou suddenly felt nervous. Seeing the dark cuisine she had prepared, would this Demonic Cultivator kill her in a fit of rage?

To Li Sirou's astonishment, Fang Huai ate with great relish, finishing every bit of the food.

"Thousand Silks Entwining Jade Hand—what is the mnemonic chant?"

Li Sirou's eyes darted around as she wondered whether she should make something up to trick him.

Before she could come up with a lie, Fang Huai spoke again. "I have a great use for this Spell. If you dare deceive me, I swear by my Dao Heart that I will strip you bare and throw you out."

Despicable Demonic Cultivator!

Li Sirou had no choice but to teach him while fighting off her exhaustion.

Fang Huai memorized the chant and exchanged for her [Thousand Silks Entwining Jade Hand (Proficient - White)], then spoke:

"The Sect has its rules, and a household has its own. Since you belong to me, you must follow my rules. Listen well to these eight.

First: At the start of the Hour of the Rabbit and the end of the Hour of the Monkey every day, have food and hot water ready. You are not allowed to go to sleep before I do, and you must not still be asleep when I have already woken up.

Second: The room must be swept and cleaned three times a day—once after the Hour of the Rabbit, once in the middle of the Hour of the Goat, and once before the Hour of the Boar. Not a speck of dust or a single cobweb is to be left in the corners or crevices.

Third: When teaching Profound Sword Sect Cultivation Techniques or secret arts, you must speak the truth and must not conceal or fabricate anything.

Fourth: When I am in secluded meditation, you must wait outside the door. If any Sect Disciples come to visit, you must notify me first. You are not allowed to respond privately without permission, let alone reveal anything about the situation inside the room.

Fifth: Use the Thousand Silks Entwining Jade Hand to massage my Meridians every day for no less than half an hour. You are not to do a perfunctory job.

Sixth: When we go out, stay within ten feet of me. You are not allowed to have private contact with Sect Disciples. If we encounter Yao Beasts or an enemy attack, follow my orders; you are not to act on your own, nor are you allowed to shrink back or flee.

Seventh: Recite the Corpse Fiend Sect's rules and precepts every day. I will quiz you on three of them before bed each night; you must not stutter. You are not allowed to complain about the Corpse Fiend Sect or slander me in private; if I hear it, you will be punished by not being allowed to sleep that night.

Eighth: No matter when or where, you must be absolutely obedient to me. You are not allowed to lie, nor are you allowed to talk back or defy me in any way. If I decide to add more rules on a whim, you must obey unconditionally.

Violating any rule will result in a reduction of your daily rations at best, or being sent back to Red Leaf Market at worst!"

Having finished, Fang Huai's gaze swept over Li Sirou.

"Do you remember these eight rules clearly? Repeat them now. If you miss anything, don't even think about closing your eyes today."