It was only the second day, and this damn fox spirit had already caused so much trouble for him?
Seeing Nongli grinning with blood all over his mouth, Qingmu felt dizzy. He had just finished washing his face, but sweat suddenly broke out all over his back.
The sweat irritated the scars on his back, making his already painful expression look even more constipated.
The sect leader was dead!
“What did you do?!”
Qingmu stepped forward and shoved Nongli inside the room, asking in confusion, “Why did you do this?”
“Ah…”
Nongli seemed startled by Qingmu’s reaction and pitifully shrank her neck.
This attitude made Qingmu feel a little strange. Just yesterday, she had been fierce and fearless, but today she looked so miserable.
Before he could think further, Nongli turned her back to him, pointed at her own back, and imitated Qingmu’s grimace from yesterday, her face full of pain as she muttered, “Ah… ah…”
“You’re… avenging me?”
Qingmu was a bit surprised, and even somewhat touched.
Could this be a fox spirit’s repayment of gratitude?
But it was also revenge!
After this incident, the members of Youjian Sect would definitely launch a massive search!
Qingmu knew that Nongli couldn’t stay in his place now. He had to find a way to hide her.
And of course, Qingmu had his plans, and Nongli had hers.
In truth, Nongli wasn’t angry that Qingmu got beaten up. She just understood one thing.
Since she ate the pills Qingmu made, she had to please him a little, and killing the sect leader was naturally the best way.
Besides, it wasn’t just for Qingmu. She also wanted to check the sect leader’s place to see if there were any pills hidden there.
Unfortunately, just like Qingmu’s place, there was nothing — it must have been hidden well!
As for those Youjian Sect disciples, she wasn’t very afraid. As long as she took some more pills, she could kill them all one by one.
“Knock knock knock!”
The door was slammed, and someone shouted outside, “Open up!”
They were discovered?
Startled, Qingmu darted to the door, then gestured for Nongli to hide. The door was then forced open through the window. Qingmu stumbled back, steadying himself after a few faltering steps.
Several fellow Six Flavor Hall disciples and one fully armed Youjian Sect disciple stood outside.
The Youjian Sect disciple’s eyes scanned the courtyard like a hawk, while Qingmu pretended to know nothing, noticing Nongli’s speed but unsure where she had run off to.
“Did you hear anything unusual last night?”
The Youjian Sect disciple started rummaging through the courtyard with the Six Flavor Hall disciples.
“The sect leader is dead — bitten to death by the fox spirit, his neck covered in blood.”
One Six Flavor Hall disciple approached Qingmu and murmured quietly.
“I just heard that. There’s a… fox spirit here?”
Qingmu feigned ignorance, casting a wary glance at his courtyard, his face full of fear.
He really was scared, terrified even!
Afraid that someone might open the water jar lid or his bedding and end up face to face with Nongli.
If that happened, there would be no way out!
It didn’t matter if it was just hiding a young woman, but could the Youjian Sect disciples not tell that Nongli was a demon?
If Qingmu died, it would be bad enough, but Nongli only had one life!
But for now, there was nothing he could do. Filled with anxiety, Qingmu searched more diligently than anyone else, eager to find Nongli first and see if he could bluff his way through.
Strangely enough, everyone searched thoroughly and still found no sign of Nongli.
So where had she gone?
Qingmu put his hands on his hips, unsure whether this was good or bad.
What if Nongli ran off?
“Eh? Qingmu, you’re already refining pills this early?”
“What?”
Qingmu looked toward the direction another disciple pointed, and underneath the pill furnace, a small fire was burning!
“You just got up, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, because of yesterday’s incident… the sect leader would definitely punish me with more pill refining. I figured I’d just finish the usual batch early so it wouldn’t pile up.”
Qingmu said this as he approached the pill furnace under everyone’s watchful eyes. He used the furnace hook to lift the lid slightly and saw Nongli staring at him inside.
Nongli was panting heavily and looked overheated.
Ha! The pill furnace is supposed to be hot, not cool.
You’re quite clever, lighting the fire under the pill furnace?
“Isn’t the heat insufficient?” a disciple commented.
“Of course it’s insufficient! I’m just warming up the furnace!”
“Ah, no wonder your pills turn out better.”
“Alright, I’ll add more fire.”
Qingmu noticed the Youjian Sect disciple frown and hurriedly added more wood to the furnace to increase the heat.
“The sect leader is dead today, yet you ingrates are chatting as if nothing happened?”
The Youjian Sect disciple glared at the crowd, then turned and left. The other disciples exchanged meaningful looks, gave Qingmu a knowing nod, and departed as well.
Everything was clear without words.
Every member of Six Flavor Hall thought the sect leader’s death was well deserved. His recent oppression had earned their collective resentment.
Once everyone left, Qingmu quickly shut the gate and immediately heard a commotion inside the pill furnace.
“Bang!”
The furnace lid was thrown open. Nongli jumped out, her face scorched and painful, her tattered clothes still smoldering.
This scene reminded Qingmu of Sun Wukong bursting out of the furnace.
“Ah—”
Nongli didn’t dare scream loudly. She covered her eyes in pain.
No way, was she going to develop fiery golden eyes?
Qingmu ran over and saw tears streaming down Nongli’s smoke-smeared face. Her mouth was wide open, trying to cry but unable to. He brought her to a basin to wash her eyes.
This time, maybe they had gotten away with it?
Qingmu thought to himself as he looked at Nongli’s now-clean face and said seriously, “You can’t be discovered by the Youjian Sect disciples, right?”
Nongli nodded.
“I’m going out for a while, so it’s best if you don’t wander around. But if anyone comes, you have to find a way to make sure they don’t find you.
Otherwise, we’re both done for. I’ll do everything I can to protect you.”
Qingmu’s promise made Nongli feel a little strange. She bit her lip and tilted her head.
“Remember—no mistakes!”
After repeatedly stressing this to Nongli and receiving her nod, he left the courtyard.
With the sect leader dead, he couldn’t hide in the courtyard—that would only raise suspicion. He had to help the Youjian Sect disciples search for Nongli, just like the others.
But the result was obvious. As long as Nongli didn’t return to her residence, they definitely wouldn’t find her.
Fortunately, no one found Nongli.
In the afternoon, before the sect leader’s body was taken away, Qingmu caught a glimpse. It was indeed as others said — his neck had been bitten through, showing how sharp Nongli’s teeth were.
What followed was straightforward. The deputy sect leader, who was supposed to succeed the sect leader, took over. His expression was not as joyful as expected, but somewhat ambiguous.
After all, with a fox spirit causing chaos in Six Flavor Hall, everyone was on edge.
Looking over at the Youjian Sect disciples yawning and acting careless, Qingmu felt immense pressure. He felt like he was dancing on a sword’s edge.
But still, he had to dance…
He decided that the top priority now was to get Nongli some socialization training.