There weren’t many humans who could come and go freely in the Demon Realm, but these two female physicians were among them.
Arriving in the guest room of Nong Li as honored guests, they exchanged a few pleasantries with her, then got down to business. “I heard that Lord Nong Li has already found a suitable medicinal guide.”
“Yes, a human child.”
Nong Li nodded, her expression utterly calm.
“It seems we were right—only humans are suitable. We’re truly glad you were willing to search among the humans.”
“……”
Nong Li didn’t take these words as praise. Using the child of another race as a medicinal guide was something she deeply resisted, but with the war against the Sword Immortal of Shadows looming, she had no choice.
She looked up at the two female physicians, and couldn’t help but wonder, what did they truly feel about her? How did they see her?
A cold-blooded fox? A demon forced to the brink by the Sword Immortal of Shadows? Or a demon king pressed from all sides?
“May we go see the child?”
The female physicians suggested.
“Of course, of course you may.”
Nong Li nodded, and before long, she led them to Qing Mu’s residence.
“Lord Nong Li, would you like to stay outside? We will be discreet.”
The female physicians stopped at the doorway. Nong Li seemed distracted, nodding gently, and only after they had entered did she wonder why she was being left out.
Thinking about it, maybe they thought Qing Mu was nervous because he was being confined by her?
But how could that be?
Thinking of that little brat’s attitude in front of her, Nong Li couldn’t help but purse her lips, a surge of irritation rising in her heart.
On the other side, the female physicians pushed open the bedroom door and saw Qing Mu inside. They exchanged a look of utter astonishment, then walked up to the dazed Qing Mu. “Child?”
They glanced around the room, feeling that it was different from what they had imagined.
Because this child… wasn’t being imprisoned?
And, why did he look so familiar?
They were shocked and bewildered; Qing Mu was the same.
Looking at the two female physicians, memories suddenly flooded back to Qing Mu like a tidal wave.
Aren’t these…?
Weren’t these the two who transplanted spiritual veins for him and Lin Qiyou back then? Why were they here again?
Unexpected faces reappearing in front of him, Qing Mu stared blankly for a while, then, under their child-teasing demeanor, pretended to be a timid, shy child.
“Don’t be afraid, we’re just here to check on you. What are you doing here by yourself?”
The female physicians spoke while looking around the room.
Before they arrived, Qing Mu had been sitting on a chair lost in thought. Interrupted, he looked at them, feeling a vague sense of foreboding.
To Qing Mu, these two were like the black-and-white envoys of death—harbingers of misfortune.
Last time it was a spiritual vein transplant—what would it be this time?
Qing Mu didn’t speak, only shook his head.
“Is Lord Nong Li good to you? That is, the tall one, the fox.”
One of the physicians patted Qing Mu on the head and even pinched his little cheek.
They were naturally curious, because this child looked far too much like the boy they once extracted the spiritual roots from.
Almost identical to how that boy looked in his youth!
But so many years had passed. Lin Qiyou had already become the Sword Immortal of Shadows. How could that boy still be around?
They had watched with their own eyes as the boy’s breathing stopped.
“Mm.”
At the physician’s question, Qing Mu simply nodded, responding with the kind of childlike vagueness that made it impossible to tell if he truly didn’t know or was just pretending.
Sensing Qing Mu’s body, they did indeed confirm he was a suitable medicinal guide, then withdrew from the residence, returning to the doorway to find Nong Li. “Congratulations, Lord Nong Li, he is indeed a medicinal guide. With him, you can continue to break through in your cultivation, grow more tails, and become a true great demon.”
“Is that so…”
Nong Li nodded, eyes averted, muttering under her breath, “Sword Immortal of Shadows…”
The so-called Sword Immortal of Shadows was someone the physicians were all too familiar with, but they always chose to conceal their relationship with Lin Qiyou from Nong Li—such unrelated matters had best remain hidden.
After all, all they were doing was teaching Nong Li how to grow her eighth tail—nothing more.
Then, once they received their due reward, they would be off and gone.
“What Lord Nong Li must do now is quickly form a bond with him; then the medicine will work faster. Otherwise, you’ll be waiting a long time.”
“I understand. Thank you both.”
Nong Li nodded. As the female physicians passed her, they suddenly stopped.
“Lord Nong Li, may we ask the child’s name?”
“Qing Mu.”
Hearing the name, the female physicians exchanged another astonished glance and asked again, “He’s called Qing Mu?”
“Yes, I gave him that name. Why?”
Nong Li looked at them curiously.
“It’s nothing. Then, why did you name him that?”
“I… just picked it at random.”
“I see. Then we’ll take our leave.”
The female physicians bowed and departed.
Only when their figures vanished did Nong Li sigh and furrow her brow in puzzlement. She went to Qing Mu’s room and saw him sitting by the table, lost in thought.
When Qing Mu saw her, he blinked, one leg crossed over the other, cheek propped up in a way that made his face squish—a posture that Nong Li felt was pure imitation.
“What did they say to you?”
Nong Li’s tall form leaned against the door, like a mountain, a beautiful view upon its heights. Qing Mu glanced over her with an innocent air, answering, “Not much, just asked what I was doing here, and if you treat me well.”
“Do I treat you well?”
Nong Li asked him.
“Hmm?”
Qing Mu glanced around the luxurious room, looked at the little snacks and fruits on the table, and actually shook his head. This left Nong Li puzzled; she thought to herself that she lost every bet, that she really hadn’t done anything to Qing Mu. “And what makes you say I don’t treat you well?”
“You told me to say it. Now I said it, and you’re still unhappy.”
Qing Mu shrugged innocently.
“Look at all this, look at that—I even let you roam free in the palace. Surely you’ve seen how other humans are treated? I treat you so specially, and yet you still say I don’t treat you well? Are you ungrateful or what?”
Nong Li’s temper flared, her bean-shaped brows furrowed, and her fox ears flattened like airplane wings.
“Uh… that doesn’t really have anything to do with it, does it?”
“Oh? Then you tell me, what does it have to do with, then? How am I good to you?”
Nong Li put her hands on her waist, questioning.
“Hey, Nong Li…”
Qing Mu got down from the chair and slowly walked up to Nong Li, coming only up to her stomach. Looking up at the towering Nong Li, he said very calmly, “Is it that you… want to eat me?”
“Huh?”
Nong Li was stunned, and a phrase suddenly flashed through her mind:
“Master… delicious…”