RIIDMDR chapter 177

As Nan Xu was leaving the Golden Crow territory, he encountered someone who was not completely unfamiliar. The demon was roughly the height of Nan Xu’s eyebrows. His face was slightly round, and his eyes were round and bright, making him look very spirited.

“Are you… a hamster demon?” Nan Xu asked uncertainly after searching his face in his memory for a moment.

Nan Xu vaguely remembered seeing a young man who looked just like the demon before him when he previously saw the Hamster clan chief at Zhuyu Mountain. He could recall him among the many demon clans only because he wanted to inquire about the Golden Crow territory at the time. He had heard too many stories about territorial battles and was worried that the former Golden Crow territory had also become a battlefield, ruined and shattered.

Some demons stammered, their eyes drifting, when responding. After questioning them a few more times, Nan Xu finally realized what was going on. They had only heard rumors or passed by from afar decades ago and knew nothing of the current situation. As for the demons who lived in the northern region, most replied directly that they did not know. The Golden Crow clan had already been annihilated; who would care whether their territory had survived?

When he heard those words, it would be a lie to say he didn’t feel sad. However, since they spoke with such conviction, Nan Xu knew that was indeed how they felt. And so, he could not say any more.

When he was feeling discouraged, only a middle-aged demon sitting in the corner raised his hand. He wasn’t tall, and when he looked at others, his eyes naturally held a hint of a smile. His voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. “My clan’s territory is not far from where the Golden Crow clan used to be, so I know a bit about the current situation there. The houses are well preserved, and there are demons who clean their tombs.”

Because he spoke with certainty and the news was much better than Nan Xu had expected, Nan Xu committed that face to memory.

When the demon saw Nan Xu and Tingchuan, he looked somewhat unbelieving. He rubbed his eyes and replied, “Yes, how come you two seniors didn’t inform us of your arrival in the Northern Territory? We didn’t even offer you hospitality.”

“We just arrived in the north. We wanted to explore, so we didn’t disturb the various clans of the northern region,” Nan Xu said. Remembering that the Hamster clan was not close to this place, he asked, “Are you passing through?”

The hamster demon shook his head, hesitating on whether to speak. As he hesitated, Tingchuan, who was standing beside Nan Xu, asked, “Do you come here often to clean and tidy up?”

Once those words were spoken, both Nan Xu and the hamster demon froze. The hamster demon’s face instantly turned red, likely from embarrassment. Previously, when Nan Xu had asked, the Hamster demon had said that there were demons taking care of this territory. He had sounded as though many demons in the northern region still remembered the Golden Crow clan. But, in reality, only demons of his own clan ever came.

Now that his lie had been exposed, he wanted to explain that he hadn’t meant any harm; he just couldn’t stand the tone of the other northern demons. After opening his mouth several times, however, he still didn’t know what to say.

Seeing this, Nan Xu understood everything. Although he was disappointed, when he thought of the clean houses and paths he had seen on the way and the tombs with fresh offerings before them, he felt relieved.

“Thank you for your hard work,” Nan Xu said sincerely.

The Hamster clansman waved his hand. “This is what we should do. Our ancestors said that the Golden Crow clan used to take great care of us. With them around, the northern region remained stable for thousands of years. Our clan also grew strong during those peaceful times. The house I live in now was paid for by Senior Yun Yi of the Golden Crow clan!”

Nan Xu recalled how, after hearing his idea, Yun Yi had dragged Northeast Tiger Brother along to dig a ditch. Unfortunately, they dug in the wrong direction and accidentally flooded an innocent demon clan’s lair. Yun Yi had to empty his coffers to compensate for the loss. Nan Xu vaguely remembered that the flooded demon clan seemed to be the hamster clan.

Thinking of that, Nan Xu found it both funny and exasperating. He himself was responsible for a large part of the damage caused to the Hamster demon clan at that time.

After learning some additional details, Nan Xu said goodbye to the Hamster demons and went for a stroll in the surrounding mountains. Most of the peaks now belonged to other demon clans. With the spiritual veins restored, there were no territorial battles for the time being, and the northern region remained stable. Nan Xu deliberately chose remote, unclaimed areas to visit, where he saw many new sights.

Leaving the north, the two demons headed west toward the demon clans. There weren’t many demons living in the Bai clan’s territory, and the Bai couple wasn’t there. They were received by a shy, middle-aged hedgehog demon. He knew Nan Xu, but Nan Xu did not know him. Despite the social anxiety typical of hedgehog demons, he tried his best to chat with Nan Xu so as not to seem cold.

Nan Xu had come for two reasons: to visit Tingshu and to pay respects to the aunt who had taught him how to make tuckahoe cake. Tingshu’s grave was behind the mountain and inconspicuous among the many other tombs. It was an open, quiet place, rarely visited by demons and very serene. As Nan Xu walked past the tombstones, he noticed that all of the deceased were former clan leaders. Although Tingshu had never officially taken up the position, he had been acknowledged by the Bai clan of West Mountain.

Compared to the desolation of the Golden Crow burial grounds, the Bai clan’s burial place clearly held more life. This helped Nan Xu understand the meaning of “the building grows empty when its people are gone.” He began to understand the cowardice of the fish demon—only by leaving behind hope of continuation could one be remembered for tens of thousands of years.

But Yun Yi most likely wouldn’t care about matters after death.

Nan Xu took out a piece of tuckahoe cake and placed it on Tingshu’s tombstone. Although he knew that Tingshu’s spiritual energy had dispersed into the demon realm, leaving no trace of consciousness in this world, he still couldn’t help but speak softly, muttering fragmented words as though confiding in an old friend.

After reminiscing at Tingshu’s tombstone, Nan Xu was reluctant to leave. His mind was filled with scenes of their past travels, and he could clearly remember each face. He truly missed them.

After descending the mountain and circling toward the valley, Nan Xu paid respects to the aunt. After her death, she was buried alongside her husband. The tombstone did not record much of her life, only noting the year of her birth, her cultivation level, her husband’s early death, her subsequent unmarried state, and that she had raised Tingshu alone.

Nan Xu took out another piece of tuckahoe cake and said, “I almost forgot the recipe for this tuckahoe cake. Zhixing tasted it and said it was the best he had ever eaten. I felt ashamed because if you were still here, you would definitely think my skills were lacking.”

Tingchuan laughed in response, which was slightly inappropriate for the moment. However, he had also tasted the tuckahoe cake that Aunt had made, so he did have some basis for his comment.

“I can attest that he didn’t lie,” Tingchuan declared firmly when Nanxu’s gaze shifted to him.

Nanxu glared at him for several seconds, then burst into laughter. His aunt’s cultivation level wasn’t high enough. Living to that age was a peaceful death. She was fortunate not to have witnessed Tingshu’s death, so there was no need for him to be so sorrowful.

When they arrived at the South China Sea, it was early winter. The sea was calm, with no hurricanes or waves. Tingchuan had set up a seal when he left in the spring. After resolving the Heavenly Cave, he allowed the Bai couple to enter. Only the Bai couple and the unconscious Jingyuan remained on the isolated island.

Stepping into the small, familiar palace, Nan Xu noticed that even the fish and turtle demons who usually frequented the place were absent, making it exceptionally quiet. Nan Xu could clearly hear their footsteps on the jade bricks.

Before the two demons could reach Jing Yuan’s courtyard, they bumped into Zhixing’s father, who was coming from the opposite direction. He was startled for a moment upon seeing the demons, but his wary expression disappeared when he recognized them, and he greeted them.

Nan Xu knew Jing Yuan wouldn’t wake up quickly, but he couldn’t help asking, “How is Jing Yuan now? Is there any sign of him waking up?”

The Bai clan chief shook his head, but he didn’t look very sad. Instead, he had a faint smile on his face. “Senior Jing Yuan hasn’t woken up yet, but his body is slowly recovering from the depletion. While he was unconscious, he sensed the changes in the demon realm, and he is currently healing himself.”

Nan Xu was surprised and delighted upon hearing this. Tingchuan slightly raised the corners of his lips but said, “As expected of someone who clings to life—he won’t let go of even the slightest chance to survive.”

Nan Xu turned his head. “Are you upset because he didn’t give you the chance to help?”

Tingchuan: …

He just wanted Jing Yuan to owe him a favor so Jing Yuan would always be inferior to him. He didn’t have any malicious intent.

Although the spiritual vein had recovered, Jing Yuan’s body couldn’t rely solely on self-healing. This time, the Bai clan chief was heading off the island to buy some necessary medicinal ingredients. After chatting for a bit, Nan Xu said goodbye and headed toward Jing Yuan’s courtyard.

Jing Yuan lay on the bed with his eyes closed and his brows slightly furrowed. Having neither eaten nor moved for nearly a year, he appeared even thinner, with sunken cheeks, though his complexion had improved considerably.

Nan Xu reached out to check his pulse. Although he was not a physician, he could use his spiritual power to enter Jing Yuan’s spiritual space and assess his condition. He found the spiritual energy within Jingyuan’s body vast, so he no longer worried about his own spiritual energy being absorbed by Jingyuan’s spiritual space. He could now examine Jingyuan with confidence.

Initially calm, the boundless sea reacted with strong resistance to the incoming spiritual energy, instantly becoming turbulent. Dark clouds gathered overhead, attempting to attack the ethereal spiritual force. Nan Xu was startled the moment he stepped in. He was somewhat surprised by Jing Yuan’s swift reaction; its wariness was stronger than he had anticipated.

Dodging left and right, Nan Xu surveyed Jing Yuan’s spiritual space in the void. As the Bai clan chief had said, Jing Yuan’s previous losses were slowly being replenished and showed signs of recovery.

Due to the relentless attacks, Nan Xu’s checks were swift. Even so, when he emerged from Jing Yuan’s spiritual space, he breathed a long sigh of relief.

Tingchuan reached out and helped him up, laughing. “Why are you all sweaty? Did Jing Yuan’s consciousness chase after you?”

Nan Xu remained silent and looked sullen.

Tingchuan didn’t let up, continuing to jab, “Did I guess right? He didn’t even recognize you? He’s always clear about friends and foes. It’s hard to say if he did that on purpose.”

Nanxu: …

Nanxu: “He’s still unconscious, and you seem to be constantly slandering him.”

Tingchuan withdrew his hand, clasped it behind his back, straightened his spine, and looked righteous as he said, “I’m just telling the truth, that’s all.”

Nan Xu’s face was cold. “Oh, I believe you.”

They stayed in the South Sea for five or six days, watching Jingyuan recover a little more each day. They didn’t really need their help, so Nan Xu and Tingchuan finally left, heading toward the eastern part of the continent.

“We came to the South Sea and forgot to eat the local specialties.” Riding on a serow and swaying lazily on the road, Nan Xu suddenly sighed.

Earlier, they had eaten many local specialties along the way. But when they arrived in the South Sea, they focused every day on Jingyuan’s condition and became excited and joyful over even slight improvements. They had tossed aside the thought of looking for food. Now that they had left the South Sea, Nan Xu finally remembered.

“Next time we come back, just have Jingyuan treat us. It’s not worth it to look on your own.” Tingchuan knew exactly what he was thinking and could soothe him with a casual sentence.

Nanxu touched his empty purse and immediately nodded. “You’re so thoughtful.”

Thanks to Tingchuan’s reminder, Nan Xu would quietly look toward Tingchuan for all the expenses after entering the East Sea territory. Since Tingchuan didn’t have a single coin, he could only agree helplessly to put the costs on the Fox Clan’s tab and have a small fox demon deliver the money later.

Nan Xu actually didn’t buy anything else. The East Sea had the richest crops, so he bought many kinds of seeds. This was always Nan Xu’s habit—he had done the same in the Northern Territory and the West. The seeds he had bought from the system shop before were high quality, but the selection was limited. The inn’s future development couldn’t depend on just a few crops. Since he planned to live among the demons long-term, he needed to start obtaining resources from them and gradually forget the system shop’s convenience.

Everyone in the East Sea knew Tingchuan’s face. They all waved their hands and said these things were worthless and that there was no need to bother sending silver. In all his years, Tingchuan had never owed anyone a debt. Experiencing this for the first time made him feel a little embarrassed. But he saw Nan Xu writing on paper while secretly laughing and trying his best to maintain a cold and serious expression.

Nan Xu said he would let Tingchuan pay, and he truly didn’t give him a penny. Instead, he thoughtfully recorded all the expenses on a piece of paper along the way. By the time the two demons finally arrived at the fox demon’s territory, Tingchuan was heavily in debt.

The first thing Tingchuan did upon returning was pull the densely written sheet from Nan Xu’s hand. He handed it to a familiar young fox demon and told him to collect the money and deliver it to each demon clan.

The little fox demon received the paper and looked closely at it.

Demon Calendar 32348, November 18: The Butterfly Clan owes 146 silver coins for buying fushou flower seeds.

Demon Calendar 32348, November 21: The Mayfly Clan is owed 92 silver coins for buying water lily seeds.

Demon Calendar…

Some were for three or four hundred silver coins; others were for just one. Senior Tingchuan had basically gone into debt with all the East Sea demon clans!

Just as he was stunned, he received a smack on the head. His mother had come to hit him. The little fox demon looked at her in confusion. She scolded him, “I told you to do something, and you still didn’t move! Are your feet rooted to the ground?!”

The little fox demon felt wronged. He thought the smack was completely undeserved. Seeing his mother looking ready to hit him again, he immediately ran off.

As she watched her unperceptive son run farther away, the woman finally smiled and said to Tingchuan, whose face had already darkened, “My son is a bit too meticulous, which makes him a little slow. I hope the two seniors won’t laugh at him. But he’ll definitely finish the task beautifully.”

Her voice was gentle, completely different from the woman who had just yelled at her son. Though she seemed to criticize him, she didn’t say anything negative about him.

Hearing this, Nan Xu glanced at her twice, then smiled and said, “Leaving it to him, Tingchuan will definitely feel at ease.”

Pulling along Tingchuan, whose expression still didn’t look good, Nan Xu finally asked with a smile, “Are you usually too fierce with them? Why are they so terrified of you?”

Tingchuan’s displeasure came entirely from Nan Xu’s overly detailed record. The little fox demon’s shocked expression earlier had been completely unrestrained. He felt like the image he had maintained for thousands of years had completely collapsed.

Now, when he heard Nan Xu teasing him, Tingchuan merely gave him a faint glance and squeezed Nan Xu’s hand even tighter without answering. However, Nan Xu felt a chill down his spine as if something were targeting him, a bad premonition.

He had grown accustomed to his arrogance, forgetting how to restrain himself. He was unaware that, standing on the Fox Clan’s land, he was about to be pinned down by a certain fox demon.

Nan Xu’s sense of danger flashed through him instantly. Thinking it was an illusion, he continued looking around as they walked. It was deep winter. Only the evergreen trees remained vigorous. The wind in the valley was sharp, cutting against the skin like blades. Tingchuan quietly blocked most of the wind for Nan Xu.

The scenery wasn’t particularly impressive. Nan Xu saw green mountains every day in Zhuyu Mountain, so he quickly lost interest and pulled Tingchuan along, urging him to climb faster.

The huge garden, built according to the shape of the mountain, was still well maintained. They must have diverted hot spring water here—the flowers and plants thrived in the serene environment.

Tingchuan led Nan Xu toward the deepest courtyard. As they passed a flower bed, Nan Xu paused and asked, “Why aren’t you taking me to where you lived?”

Tingchuan’s expression didn’t change. “I’m taking you to exactly where I lived before.”

Nan Xu refused to be fooled. He stood firmly in place and said, “I know you have several residences, but you also know which one I mean. Don’t think you can trick me.”

With a mountain range as his body, who in this demon world could move him if he didn’t move?

Tingchuan certainly couldn’t. After standing in a standoff for a moment, Tingchuan lost and had to follow Nan Xu’s wishes, taking him down a different path.

He should have known. Whether three thousand years ago or three thousand years later, he was always the one to compromise.

In the familiar little courtyard, when he saw the door ahead, Nan Xu remembered that his memory in the formation had ended exactly there. Later, when he regained his memories, he recalled everything that happened afterward. Perhaps because he desperately tried to remember every detail about Tingchuan while trapped in another space yet could only remember up to this point, the memory felt especially vivid.

In that brief moment of distraction, Tingchuan had already pushed open the gate. Nan Xu lifted his foot to step inside, but then froze, doubting his eyes.

Was there even a single place to step in this entire courtyard?

Vines were tangled everywhere, and green leaves filled the entire yard. Nan Xu pulled back the foot he had raised to step inside. He opened his mouth several times, unsure what to say.

Tingchuan: “Don’t doubt it. You’re the one who planted them.”

Nan Xu pursed his lips. After a while, just when Tingchuan thought Nanxu should at least feel a little ashamed, he heard him exclaim, “How much sweet potato starch can this make!”

Tingchuan: …

He really shouldn’t fantasize about Nan Xu’s train of thought. His mind was only on food.

“Let’s go somewhere else!” Nan Xu said.

Tingchuan seemed to have expected this result. After pushing the door open, he didn’t lift his foot to step inside. Upon hearing this, he closed the courtyard door and led Nan Xu toward the alley.

Behind them, a little fox demon suddenly poked his head out from the small side door. He must have heard the door open. When he saw it was Tingchuan, he sighed in relief and said, “Clan Leader Tingchuan, have you come to look at the vines again? When we go in to clean, we always enter through the other corner door. We followed your instructions and never touched the vines. Please be assured.”

Tingchuan quickened his steps, pulling Nan Xu along. Nan Xu had excellent hearing, so he didn’t miss a word. Holding back a laugh, he said, “Not letting other demons touch it? Why?”

Tingchuan took a deep breath. He knew that if he didn’t answer, Nan Xu would pester him until he did. “The sweet potatoes you planted are delicate. They won’t let other demons touch them.”

Nan Xu felt he was slandering… his sweet potatoes. He immediately objected. “How is that possible?”

Tingchuan said, “They wilt when the wind is strong, when the rain is heavy, and sometimes when the sun is too bright. They absolutely won’t let other demons touch them. A little fox demon cleaning it touched it once, and the next day, the entire vine withered. That is the sweet potato you grew.”

Nan Xu still wanted to argue, but Tingchuan spoke with such certainty that Nan Xu began to doubt himself. He muttered, “Can sweet potatoes become spirits now?”

He mumbled the whole way, trying to defend the sweet potatoes he had planted. It took quite some effort to coax Nan Xu into another courtyard. Just as Nan Xu was about to continue, Tingchuan picked him up and headed toward the main room.

Nan Xu: “What are you doing?”

“You’re too noisy. I need to divert your attention,” Tingchuan said.

Even after he was placed on the couch, Nan Xu still didn’t understand. Puzzled, he said, “I was just saying that sweet potatoes aren’t as delicate as you said. How does that count as noisy? Sweet potatoes…they…”

His words grew more and more muffled. It wasn’t until the next morning that the muddled Nan Xu no longer had even a shadow of sweet potatoes on his mind.

Outside, snowflakes fell softly. Under the blanket, Nan Xu and Tingchuan slept, wrapped in each other’s arms. When they woke up again, everything outside was covered in silver. The flowers in the garden contrasted beautifully with the snow, far more beautiful than the snow at Zhuyu Mountain.

Indeed, what you pay a high price for is naturally different.

The snow kept falling on and off. The two demons lived on the mountain for more than a month. The house was warm, but Nan Xu felt stuffy after staying inside for too long. At those times, Tingchuan would take him out. Whether they were admiring the snow or fishing for silly fish in the pond, they always found something new to do and never felt time drag on.

In a flash, the end of the year had arrived. One morning, Nan Xu had a sudden realization. After counting the days, he sprang upright from the bed like a carp jumping out of water. Cold air rushed into the blanket, disturbing Tingchuan, who was still sleeping. Tingchuan pulled the thinly dressed Nan Xu back into the blanket and held him close. “What are you going to do, in such a hurry?”

Struggling to reach his clothes by the bed, Nan Xu said, “The New Year is almost here. I’m going to prepare the New Year goods.”

Tingchuan knew that Nan Xu was always enthusiastic about these matters, so he didn’t stop him. He sat up and helped Nan Xu put on his clothes, one by one. Then he put on his own clothes and got up with him.

With last year’s experience making New Year’s preparations, things were much smoother this time. After Nan Xu made a list of everything they needed, Tingchuan gave it to a little fox demon and told him to go down the mountain and buy the items on the list.

The little fox demon had just returned from settling debts and hadn’t caught his breath before being sent out again. Nan Xu thought Tingchuan was definitely taking personal revenge.

With the help of many little fox demons, red silk filled the entire garden. Couplets were pasted on every door. In two days, the mountaintop was festively decorated. Some little fox demons who didn’t know what was going on spread the news that their clan leader was about to get married. When Nan Xu heard this, he laughed helplessly and told Tingchuan, “The demon realm is truly strange. Just seeing red festive decorations makes them think someone is getting married.”

Instead, Tingchuan asked, “Then when do you plan to marry me?”

Nan Xu thought seriously about it for a moment. “When we get back to Zhuyu Mountain, we can start preparing!”

Since they had shared such a long journey together, it was time to give each other names, wasn’t it? Besides, he kind of wanted to have a banquet.

Tingchuan froze for a long time after hearing this answer, then joy overflowed without restraint. “Really?”

“Really? Why would I lie to you?” Nan Xu answered decisively.

He had never thought that this relationship required Tingchuan to take the initiative. Since they loved each other, they should face everything together. There was no need to differentiate who went first or last.

The New Year’s Eve dinner filled several tables in the main hall. After the dishes were served, Nan Xu bustled around, chatting with the demons who had helped prepare and offering New Year blessings. The little fox demons who had spread the rumor about Tingchuan getting married realized their mistake, but the news had already spread across the entire Eastern Sea. After the New Year, it was likely that countless demons would come bearing congratulatory gifts. The little fox demons sitting at the table all looked a bit dejected at this thought. How were they supposed to clean up this mess?

After dinner, Nan Xu dragged everyone to play cards and stay up for the New Year. They didn’t know the significance of staying up late on New Year’s Eve, but since Nan Xu said so, the fox demons naturally accompanied him. As they played and began to understand, the atmosphere became livelier. Amid the noise and excitement, Nan Xu left the table. He asked a fox demon who had been watching the game to take his place. Then, he carried a cup filled with juice over to Tingchuan.

Tingchuan wasn’t interested in card games. He was sitting alone in the pavilion, enjoying the night view. Nan Xu handed him the juice, and he accepted it and lightly clinked his cup with Nan Xu’s.

The two demons leaned against each other and gazed at the moonlight above while the lively fox demons stood behind them.

“Are we watching fireworks this year?” Tingchuan asked.

Nan Xu shook his head. “No. Watching once is enough.”

Those brilliant colors—remembering them was beautiful enough.

“I wonder how Zhixing is doing now. Leaving one demon alone on the mountain—isn’t that too lonely?” Nan Xu said.

He always felt that demons should cherish every year they lived. The liveliness of the New Year matched that of any clan.

“Youan wrote to me in the fall saying that he had arrived at Zhuyu Mountain. With You An keeping Zhixing company, he won’t be too bored,” Tingchuan said.

Thinking of You An’s personality, Nan Xu felt a bit relieved. “But it’s a bit unfair to him. With such a free and playful temperament, he has to be stuck on that mountain for so long.”

Tingchuan replied, “If he can’t endure it, how will he take another step forward with Zhixing?”

Nan Xu: …

He thought that was supposed to be a secret?!

You could tell from a mile away that You’an looked at Zhixing differently. But You’an was restless—every time he was moved, his nature pulled him away. Because of that, the two of them were just ordinary friends.

“When Yun Yi had a crush on Tingshu, he couldn’t stand how quiet Tingshu was. He’d scratch his ears and cheeks, dying to run off and play,” Nan Xu said, recalling those scattered memories from long ago. He continued slowly, “But later on, he somehow figured things out on his own. When Tingshu was studying medicinal theory, Yun Yi could sit by his side for days without saying a word.”

“Of course, whenever Yun Yi couldn’t suppress his nature anymore, Tingshu would travel with him for a few months.”

There’s no such thing as a perfectly matched couple in this world. It’s all about making small compromises and adjustments, and slowly becoming more in tune with each other.

After the Spring Festival, another half-month passed, and it was time to eat yuanxiao¹. As the days warmed, Nan Xu began missing the flowers, trees, and plants of Zhuyu Mountain. Aside from that, the seeds in his bag were restless—spring was prime planting season, and he couldn’t afford to miss it.

He shared this idea with Tingchuan. Tingchuan had already guessed as much and wasn’t surprised at all. He immediately told the little fox demon to pack their bags and took Nan Xu down the mountain.

After living there for so long, Nan Xu had grown attached to the place. He turned around for one last look. Seeing this, Tingchuan said, “This is your home, too. You can come anytime you want. All the fox demons on the mountain follow your commands.”

Nan Xu laughed. “And you?”

“Me?” Tingchuan paused for a moment. “Of course. I’ll be the first to follow your orders.”

Nan Xu burst out laughing, and his laughter echoed across the valley. He noticed fresh leaves sprouting in the wilderness and a mountainside that looked unusually green in the distance. He stopped and muttered, “That looks familiar.”

Following his gaze, Tingchuan understood. “Come back in April or May. When you see the mountains covered in rapeseed flowers, it’ll look even more familiar.”

“Rapeseed flowers?!” Nan Xu was startled.

Tingchuan simply looked at him without answering. Suddenly, Nan Xu seemed to recall something and asked uncertainly, “The rapeseed flowers that I secretly had people plant… have they already turned into an entire mountain?”

Tingchuan replied softly while Nanxu looked startled, fully displaying the calm of someone who had seen the world.

Nanxu was stunned. Tingchuan held his hand and led him down the mountain. He said, “When I first saw you, I knew you weren’t honest. Yet, I still let you handle the rapeseed flowers. That was my mistake.”

Nanxu blushed but insisted, “A mountain full of rapeseed flowers—could the demon realm possibly find another place like this?”

Tingchuan smiled because of his righteousness.

Their pace was quick. When they returned to Zhuyu Mountain in early March, it was the perfect season for sowing. Nanxu was glad he had made it back in time. When they reached the foot of the mountain, he gave the Canine clan some of the seeds he had bought. There was fertile land in the valley, and planting crops would generate income in the future.

The Canine Clan was naturally willing. They had already earned quite a bit of silver from agricultural products in the past half year by benefiting from Zhuyu Mountain. If they saved up for a few more years, they would be able to buy land outside of Zhuyu Mountain for their clan’s future development.

They didn’t want to leave Zhuyu Mountain urgently, but they understood that their ability to live there depended on Nanxu’s goodwill. Staying there didn’t mean the land belonged to them.

Returning to the small courtyard on the main peak, they found it empty. Nanxu was a bit surprised. He looked up at the sky. Where could they have gone at noon?

He vaguely heard some noise behind the house. He walked quickly and immediately ran into the two demons. Zhixing tilted his head and talked to You’an about something. You’an carried a hoe and looked lazy, yet listened seriously.

Nanxu vaguely heard the words “sowing” and “ingredients.” It seemed that You’an was tired of plowing and digging holes every day, and Zhixing was explaining the purpose of farming to him.

When Zhixing turned his head and saw Nanxu, his eyes lit up. You’an’s eyes lit up, too. Their four eyes, bright as light bulbs in the sunlight, made Nanxu take a half step back.

“Owner, you finally came back!”

“I finally don’t have to farm!”

The two voices sounded at the same time, leaving Nanxu speechless.

“With us back, you still need to finish planting the vegetables before you can leave,” Tingchuan said.

You’an’s smile stiffened. “How much do we have to plant?”

Tingchuan smiled warmly. “Nanxu brought back all the seeds that could be bought in the demon realm.”

You’an’s vision went dark.

Because of the abundance of seeds, they remained busy the entire spring—opening new fields, planting, and watering—without a single idle day, even after giving some to the Zhuang Si and Zhuang Wu brothers. By the time they finally finished, it was early May.

Nanxu learned that during the six months they were traveling, there had actually been some guests. Demons passing through would stay at the inn. Because nothing dangerous had happened during the demon tribes’ gathering at Zhuyu Mountain last time, the frightening rumors had faded and more demons dared to enter the mountain. Zhixing’s cooking, which he learned from Nanxu, earned unanimous praise.

“But everyone says the road into the mountain is too far. It’d be better if it were closer,” Zhixing said.

Nanxu praised Zhixing. You’an, sitting beside them, asked, “Did you forget to praise me?”

His contribution wasn’t small at all!

Zhixing muttered something quietly. Nanxu didn’t really listen, though; the two were already bickering again.

Nanxu considered the feasibility of what Zhixing had said. Creating an array that connected the outside of the mountain directly to the small courtyard wouldn’t be difficult, just as the South Sea had always maintained a teleportation array.

Nanxu was confident in his cultivation and wasn’t afraid of the consequences. However, he felt that teleporting directly to the courtyard gate was inadequate. Travelers staying at the inn should learn a little about Zhuyu Mountain. Otherwise, the inn might as well be located on the main road outside the mountain.

After discussing it with Tingchuan, they decided that the destination for the teleportation should be at the foot of the main peak. The climb wasn’t far, and with no restrictions on using magic, it took just over an hour.

Once the decision was made, Nanxu went down the mountain to discuss it with the Canine Clan again. They had no objections and felt that this would benefit them further. Clan members who didn’t leave the mountain could run small businesses at the teleportation exit, which was quite profitable.

After this was settled, Nanxu set up the teleportation array the next day. He tested it several times and was very satisfied.

As soon as the array opened, guests arrived within a few days. One guest had visited Zhuyu Mountain before, while repairing the Heavenly Cave. Upon entering the courtyard, he praised the teleportation array endlessly.

Maintaining a teleportation array requires abundant spiritual energy in the territory and a highly cultivated demon. In the demon realm, only the South Sea and Zhuyu Mountain had them. Demons who tried it were naturally fascinated.

After a year, all demon tribes had adapted to the demon realm’s rich spiritual energy. More demons began traveling. Nanxu’s inn welcomed different demon tribes daily. Some stayed for half a month; others stayed only overnight. But without exception, all ordered two dishes at mealtime, preferably with half a cup of wine.

The system’s final upgrade changed the inn’s layout. The rooms expanded, and even when many guests stayed, the inn didn’t feel crowded.

The small courtyard’s prosperity began one ordinary morning, after which guests came endlessly. Nanxu was initially unused to it, but slowly adapted. There were more and more returning customers.

“Owner, every time I come, I just want to eat a meal. Climbing for more than an hour is exhausting. It would be great if another demon clan could deliver food,” a demon said while paying.

Nanxu thought, Could this demon be asking him to start a food delivery service?

“It’s foolish to only think about food. The beds here are the softest, like clouds. You only understand how wonderful demon life is after you’ve stayed two nights,” said another demon at a nearby table.

Nanxu looked in that direction. It was an unfamiliar young demon. His eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke, as if he were already lying on a soft bed, enjoying life.

Another demon wondered aloud, “The bed is soft, but why do I always have nightmares when I sleep here? It’s terrifying.”

Nanxu recognized the demon who spoke this time—it was Dan Yin, who roamed the demon realm searching for food.

“It must be because you have thoughts you shouldn’t have,” the narrow-eyed young demon mocked.

Dan Yin scratched his head and looked at Nanxu, who was not far away. “How could that be?”

Tables were set up in both the main hall and the courtyard. Idle chatting among guests was common. Nanxu didn’t interrupt, nor did he notice Tingchuan beside him smiling in satisfaction.

Suddenly, noisy sounds came from outside the courtyard. Nanxu looked out. A thin, black-clad figure walked into the courtyard, Yaolin following behind.

Upon seeing the black-clad demon, Nanxu immediately jumped down from the counter and ran over quickly, saying, “Jing Yuan? You’re awake?!”

Jingyuan looked at him as he ran toward him. “Yes, I heard that recovering from injuries here is twice as effective, so I came. On the way here, I also heard that you’re getting married. When is the ceremony?”

Nan Xu glanced back at Tingchuan. His back was straight and his chin was slightly raised. The nine-tailed fox looked as if he were facing a mortal enemy.

Nan Xu’s lips unconsciously curled into a smile. “It’s set for the New Year.”

~THE END~

The story ends here 💛

Nan Xu shamelessly spending Tingchuan’s money will forever be one of my favorite moments hehe 🤭💸

Thank you to every reader and everyone who supported this translation along the way.

You can check out my other projects on my Ko-fi page ☕💕
And don’t forget to rate and review on NU—it really helps a lot! 🌟
See you in the next project! 🌼📖