novelapdf Chapter 138 After all, they were young and full of vigor, which is understandable.
Chapter 138 After all, they were young and full of vigor, which is understandable.
A moment later, Shui Miaozheng, who had prepared hot water, came over to call Jiang Mu.
Jiang Mu entered the house.
The interior was simply furnished and filled with a faint, pleasant fragrance.
Behind the screen, a half-person-high cypress bath was steaming, with a few unknown flower petals floating on the surface.
Pink and white, gently swaying with the water.
Jiang Mu watched this scene, her lips twitching slightly.
I'm a seven-foot-tall man, a rough guy who slays demons and monsters, why would I need to scatter flower petals when I take a bath?
This is so meticulous!
It would be more effective to just pour a bucket of cold water over his head.
"Xiao Jiang, I bought this outfit for you in town yesterday, thinking you might need it. Try it on and see if it fits. If not, Auntie will get it altered."
Shui Miaozheng's voice came from behind her.
She was holding a set of neatly folded new blue cotton clothes, the fabric of which looked thick and soft.
This made Jiang Mu even more embarrassed, and she quickly declined:
"Aunt Shui, this is too much trouble for you. I brought my own clothes; they're at my previous place..."
"Why be so polite with Aunt Shui?"
Shui Miaozheng gave him a reproachful look, her eyes filled with the affection of an elder for a younger one.
"When you're traveling, how can you be perfect in everything? Since Auntie saw it, it's only right that she prepares it for you. Why be so formal with your own aunt? I'll have someone fetch the things from your place tomorrow."
"Oh, by the way, take off your old clothes. Auntie will take them to wash for you. These clothes are covered in blood and sweat, and they're uncomfortable to wear." "Really, you don't need to."
Jiang Mu was startled and waved her hand in refusal, "I can wash it myself, why would I trouble you to do it?"
Shui Miaozheng, however, did not allow him to refuse. She walked behind the screen and urged him:
"Hurry up and take off your dirty clothes and throw them over here. While the water's still hot, take a good soak to relax. Don't worry, Auntie's right here, I'm not peeking at you."
Jiang Mu was helpless.
Knowing he couldn't refuse her, he had no choice but to start undressing.
This Aunt Shui is sometimes so enthusiastic that it's hard to resist.
The candle was placed next to the bathtub.
The orange light clearly projected his undressing movements onto the plain white screen.
The lean and muscular silhouette of the shoulders and back undulates in the light and shadow.
It exudes a powerful and masculine beauty.
Shui Miaozheng was just standing there casually when her gaze inadvertently swept over the silhouette on the screen. Listening to the rustling sound of the fabric, her cheeks inexplicably flushed.
This scene gave her a fleeting illusion.
It was as if they were neither in charge nor elders.
She was, however, the wife of an ordinary family.
She was keeping watch through the night, waiting for her husband to return from work, bathe and change, and then taking care of the chores for him...
The thought had barely surfaced when it spread like wildfire, engulfing the entire heart in a flash.
Shui Miaozheng felt her ears burning.
Just then, Jiang Mu, behind the screen, was bending down to take off the last of her trousers...
To cover up her inexplicable embarrassment and nervousness, Shui Miaozheng coughed lightly and joked in a seemingly relaxed manner:
"You silly child, why are you so wary here with Aunt Shui? And carrying a weapon for self-defense? Are you afraid Aunt Shui will harm you?"
"what?"
Jiang Mu, who was taking off her pants, was taken aback when she heard this.
He then realized what was happening and coughed awkwardly twice:
"Ahem... well... I'm used to it, I'm used to it. When you're out in the world, you can never have too many things for self-defense."
He couldn't explain, so he could only vaguely go along with the conversation, quickly taking off his pants and throwing them, shirt and all, over the top of the screen. *Thud*.
The clothes fell at Shui Miaozheng's feet.
Shui Miaozheng knelt down and picked up the clothes, still warm from her body and faintly smelling of sweat. The scent mixed with masculine fragrance made her heart skip a beat again. She steadied herself, trying to keep her tone normal, and softly instructed:
"You can wash first. If the water gets cold, there's hot water on the small stove over there; just add more. If you need anything, just call out, and Auntie will be right outside." "Okay, thank you, Auntie Shui."
Jiang Mu finally breathed a long sigh of relief after hearing the door close.
Fortunately.
Although Aunt Shui was enthusiastic, she wasn't at the point where he should stay and scrub his back.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't know how to refuse.
Jiang Mu stepped into the bathtub and immersed her body in the warm water.
A comfortable warmth enveloped my entire body, as if every pore had opened up, and the fatigue and tension of the past few days were completely relieved at this moment.
He let out a comfortable sigh.
Leaning against the barrel wall, Jiang Mu, having nothing to do, flipped his wrist and took out the bronze Buddhist lamp.
"The incense and prayers are being used up rather quickly."
Jiang Mu frowned slightly.
Previously, in order to help Si Rumeng repair her demon core and stabilize the opening of the space, a lot of the stored incense and prayer power was consumed.
If we don't find a way to replenish it, at the current rate of consumption, it probably won't last much longer.
Once the incense is extinguished, the female ghosts like Yu Xiaoqian, who depend on this lamp for survival, will only have one fate.
His soul was scattered and his spirit was destroyed.
Thinking of that innocent and stubborn little ghost girl, Jiang Mu felt a lump in her throat.
The notes about ghosts and demons in Tang Guixin's notebook involuntarily came to mind.
When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out; their soul mostly dissipates into the world.
However, there are two exceptions.
One type is a cultivator who was highly skilled in cultivation during their lifetime.
Using secret techniques or magical artifacts, they forcibly retain the remnant soul and transform it into a ghost cultivator.
These ghost cultivators typically retain their memories and intelligence from their previous life, waiting for an opportunity to possess another's body and be reborn, embarking on the path of cultivation anew.
For example, that unlucky Beitang Batian.
Another type is like Yu Xiaoqian.
They may have been just ordinary people in life, but at the moment of death, they had great resentment or obsession, which earned them a bit of favor from the heavens, allowing them to retain their souls by chance.
These kinds of souls often have incomplete memories, live in a daze, and become wandering ghosts.
Those filled with deep resentment will transform into vengeful ghosts and embark on the path of ghost cultivation, most of them being fierce and powerful.
Those who hold pure ideals are like Yu Xiaoqian.
Drifting aimlessly.
They'll either be subdued by demons like the Tree Demon Granny and become ghost cultivators, or be killed by righteous cultivators as experience points for accumulating merit. Even if they manage to embark on the path of ghost cultivation, limited by their innate deficiencies, even if they cultivate for hundreds of years, they'll at most be a fourth or fifth-level ghost, unlikely to achieve great things.
Initially, Jiang Mu valued Si Rumeng more because she was a powerful "tool" who could provide long-term value.
They didn't take the weak and limited female ghosts like Yu Xiaoqian too seriously, intending to let things take their course.
However, his previous conversation with Tian Wenjing about "gods among men" gave rise to a new idea in his mind.
Si Rumeng is ambitious and plots to steal the title of "God of the Human Realm" using her demonic form. From a long-term perspective, Jiang Mu is happy to see her succeed.
If he succeeds, he can share in the huge profits.
The failure resulted in significant backlash, which was primarily borne by Si Rumeng.
However, this woman is cunning and untamed, a double-edged sword that is extremely sharp but can also easily hurt herself.
They may not be willing to be controlled by him forever.
He needs an insurance policy.
A "lock" that can restrain or even counter Si Rumeng at crucial moments.
Yu Xiaoqian, this simple-minded little ghost who is dependent on him for saving her life, is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate.
Jiang Mu hadn't figured out what to do yet, but after experiencing the dream just now, she had a rough plan in mind.
Perhaps we could also mold Yu Xiaoqian into a goddess.
It is not a "god of the human world" like Si Rumeng, who needs to steal the orthodox offerings and deceive the heavens, but a god who exists in a more secretive way and is closer to the spiritual needs of mortals.
For example, the God of Dreams.
Who among the living beings in this world is without afflictions? Who is without hardship?
When overwhelmed by the pressures of reality, many people choose to escape.
Living a life of debauchery is a form of escapism.
And what about a beautiful dream that can bring a moment of peace and joy? Isn't that a haven for the soul?
Even if it's just an illusion, it can give those on the verge of collapse a chance to breathe and rekindle some hope.
Like some of the characters in the movie "Inception," they are willing to remain asleep in reality forever, indulging in meticulously crafted dreams in order to escape the harsh reality.
If Yu Xiaoqian could evolve into something like Nightmare, gaining abilities similar to "dream weaving" or "dream manipulation".
A "beautiful dream" that offers a glimmer of comfort to those who are in dire straits and disheartened.
Provide them with psychological comfort and release.
At that time, he will secretly spread the legends about the "Dream God" and "Praying for Dreams Brings Peace" and conduct some marketing... Perhaps, an alternative path to "becoming a god" can be laid out from there.
In this way, Yu Xiaoqian would not only receive a continuous stream of incense offerings and prayers for her cultivation, but it would also become a trump card for him on a spiritual level. However…
Yu Xiaoqian's aptitude is really too poor.
Without a great opportunity, it would be impossible to break through innate limitations and evolve into a higher-level ghost like a "nightmare".
I just want to break through my current level.
"Opportunity..."
With a thought, Jiang Mu flipped her wrist again.
A round bead, as black as ink and exuding a cold aura, appeared in his palm.
It was the very same natal ghost pill that Yu Xiaoqian had given him to save him.
Ji Hongyuan once said that if the Ghost Pill leaves the body for more than three days, the ghost will dissipate.
Counting the time, this is already the third day.
Jiang Mu had originally planned to return it to that girl, but when he accidentally tried to inject a trace of demonic energy, he discovered that the ghost pill could be slowly permeated and transformed by demonic energy.
This discovery made him postpone his plans to return the goods.
I plan to look into it further and return it.
The core of human cultivation lies in the Star Core, the core of demon cultivation lies in the Demon Core, and the core of ghost cultivation lies in the Ghost Core.
If this ghost pill could be completely transformed with demonic energy and its quality improved, it might be possible to break through Yu Xiaoqian's innate limitations.
Paving the way for evolution.
With that thought in mind, Jiang Mu no longer hesitated.
As the thought was directed, the demonic energy accumulated in the demonic trough surged out like a stream and slowly poured into the ghost pill in his hand.
Nourished by demonic energy, the Ghost Pill began to emit a faint purple light.
While injecting demonic energy to improve the quality of the ghost pill, Jiang Mu also drew a wisp of special incense and prayer power from the Buddhist lamp beside him.
This wisp of willpower is imbued with a trace of Si Rumeng's original divine soul aura.
He forcibly crushed this wisp of willpower and fused it into the demonic energy. Then, using the demonic energy as ink, he inscribed an extremely secret and complex magic seal at the core of the ghost pill.
This is a hand seal specifically designed to restrain Si Rumeng!
If Si Rumeng makes any moves that are detrimental to Jiang Mu in the future, or tries to break free from his control, Jiang Mu can use this magic seal to allow Yu Xiaoqian to restrain and interfere with her at crucial moments.
This is a hidden move.
Besides.
Jiang Mu did something even more "selfish".
He separated a wisp of his divine consciousness, mixed it with demonic energy, and imprinted his own name deep within the Ghost Core.
This is not control.
Rather, it is a subconscious constraint.
In this way, while ensuring that she retains her own thoughts and feelings, no matter how powerful Yu Xiaoqian becomes in the future, and no matter whether she retains her current memories.
Deep in her soul, her closeness to Jiang Mu will forever be etched.
Of course, to achieve this, we must first confirm that the girl herself has feelings of love for Jiang Mu.
Fortunately, the girl's young heart...
Someone's shadow has long been imprinted on it.
The moonlight, like a basin of cold water, poured crisply into the quiet courtyard, turning the ground into a silvery white.
Shui Miaozheng squatted in front of the wooden basin, her sleeves rolled up to her elbows, revealing two fair arms, and she was rubbing the man's undergarments in her hands.
The fabric tumbled in her palm, creating a soft, sloshing sound.
As she was washing, Shui Miaozheng suddenly stopped.
The casual remark she had made earlier now seemed like a delayed boomerang, suddenly striking her mind.
Belatedly, the image of the black silhouette on the screen resurfaced in her mind.
The woman finally realized what was happening.
Her beautiful face flushed bright red, and she wished she could disappear into the ground.
That brat!
Couldn't you just turn your back and take it off?
Shui Miaozheng was both embarrassed and angry. She couldn't help but raise her hand and pat the wet clothes in the basin, scolding them angrily:
"That kid... he's definitely laughing at me inside!"
The fragrance wafting from the lapel trembled slightly as it was splashed by the cold water.
She subconsciously glanced back at the closed door, bit Runfeng's lower lip, and mumbled a few words indistinctly, as if complaining, or something else entirely.
In the end, he lowered his head and continued to scrub vigorously.
After washing for a while, she suddenly stopped and, as if possessed, raised one of her wet arms.
He was carefully gazing at something.
Immediately, as if startled by her own actions, the heat that had just subsided on her face returned.
"I'm going crazy!"
The woman slapped her forehead hard, cursed under her breath, and quickly buried her head, scrubbing even more vigorously.
It's as if this way, all those messy thoughts in my head can be washed away.
inside the house.
Jiang Mu carefully put away the Ghost Pill that had been initially modified.
The demonic energy in the magic tank was almost completely depleted again, but this time he didn't feel bad about it.
Anyway, the one thing we don't lack right now is power banks. When the demon army arrives in a few days, it'll be experience packs all over the mountains and plains.
It can definitely be fully charged.
However, the transformation of this Ghost Pill was not without its challenges.
It seems to have hit a bottleneck in some material or rule, making it impossible to reach the ideal grade overnight.
Further breakthroughs will likely require Yu Xiaoqian to work hard and cultivate diligently on her own.
Even so, with this modified Ghost Pill, her cultivation efficiency was at least ten times faster than before.
If this girl puts in a little effort, she'll probably be able to break through to the fourth or fifth rank within a year or two.
After taking a proper bath, Jiang Mu changed into the new clothes prepared by Shui Miaozheng.
The clothes fit perfectly, as if they were tailor-made, and felt crisp and neat when worn.
Besides the clothes, there was also a pair of brand-new soft-soled cloth boots and a pair of clean white cloth socks neatly placed by the bed.
This shows Shui Miaozheng's meticulousness.
Jiang Mu sat down on the edge of the bed and picked up her socks to put them on.
When I reached for the other one, my hand accidentally bumped against the pile of folded clothes next to me.
"Clatter".
A thin, soft piece of fabric was torn out and fell to the ground.
Jiang Mu was taken aback, then bent down and picked it up.
It turned out to be a light red silk bodice.
The bib is exquisitely designed, with delicate patterns embroidered along the edges. Two thin straps hang down, and you can faintly smell a light, elegant fragrance similar to that of Shui Miaozheng.
I didn't expect Aunt Shui to be so well-off.
The thought flashed through Jiang Mu's mind subconsciously.
However, compared to exceptionally talented players like Ling Da Xigua, they are ultimately slightly inferior.
He quickly snapped out of his reverie, cursing himself for looking at something indecent, and haphazardly folded the undergarment, stuffing it back into the bottom of the pile of clothes.
Coincidentally, Shui Miaozheng had just finished hanging up the washed clothes and was wiping her wet hands with a cloth.
Hearing the door open, she turned around.
Seeing the completely transformed Jiang Mu, Shui Miaozheng's beautiful eyes lit up slightly.
The moonlight and the indoor light intertwined, falling on Jiang Mu, who had just bathed and changed clothes.
His wet hair was casually gathered behind his head, revealing his smooth forehead and handsome eyebrows. His new clothes fit him well, making his posture as upright as a pine tree, lacking the fierce killing intent he usually displayed when slaying demons.
That youthful freshness and vigor was particularly dazzling even in the quiet night.
"What a handsome young man."
Shui Miaozheng secretly praised him, her gaze unconsciously glancing downwards. Then, as if remembering something, her pretty face flushed slightly, and she turned her head away somewhat awkwardly, raising her hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, and softly said:
"Is it washed? Does it fit?"
"It fits perfectly, thank you Aunt Shui," Jiang Mu said with a smile.
"That's good."
Shui Miaozheng smiled gently and stepped forward. "Your hair is still wet. Why don't you dry it? Come in first, and let me comb your hair so you don't catch a cold."
"Oh? That won't be necessary, I can manage myself..."
Jiang Mu grunted, about to politely decline.
Without a word, the woman grabbed his arm, pulled him back into the house, and pressed him down onto the round stool in front of his dressing table.
"Sit still and don't move. Why are you being so formal with your aunt?"
Helpless, Jiang Mu had no choice but to sit obediently and let her do as she pleased.
Shui Miaozheng picked up a peach wood comb, stood behind him, and gently combed his half-dry black hair.
The comb teeth brushed against the hair, making a soft rustling sound.
The room was quiet for a moment, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.
To ease the overly quiet atmosphere, Shui Miaozheng, while combing her hair, casually asked, "Little Jiang, I heard from Elder Tian and the others that you're not married yet? Do you have a girl you like?"
Several figures flashed through Jiang Mu's mind.
Bai Xiang, who always loved reading in her wicker chair. Ling Ye, who spent all day carrying a watermelon.
And that quirky little healer...
He smiled and said:
"Not yet. A true man's ambition lies in all corners of the world. How can I speak of starting a family before I have achieved even the smallest merit? Besides, with demons and monsters running rampant these days, I have no time for romantic relationships."
"Pfft"
Shui Miaozheng was amused by his old-fashioned way of speaking, and gently tapped the back of his head with her comb, scolding him playfully.
"Stop trying to brush me off with empty words. It's only natural for men to marry and women to marry. Don't think you're young and don't need to rush; good girls don't wait for anyone. If..."
If you haven't found someone you like yet, tell Aunt Shui. She has some old acquaintances in Beijing and other places, and she'll help you look around and find you someone who is both good-looking and of good character.
Jiang Mu quickly waved her hands, making an exaggerated expression of fear:
"Aunt Shui, please have mercy on me. I'm fine as I am, free and easy. If you really find me someone to keep an eye on me, with my temper, I'm afraid I'll drive them away in three days."
Besides, the job of the Demon Slayer Division is so risky, why waste such a good girl's time?
Besides, I wouldn't even look at an ordinary woman, unless I could find someone as gentle, virtuous, and beautiful as Aunt Shui, then I would definitely marry her immediately.
Shui Miaozheng was so amused by his words that she burst into laughter, and even stopped what she was doing.
"Your words are so sweet."
Perhaps feeling that constantly giving passive answers wasn't good, Jiang Mu casually retorted, "Aunt Shui, what about you? With your looks and talent, why don't I see anyone by your side?"
As soon as the words left her mouth, Jiang Mu knew she was in trouble.
This topic seems a bit too private and presumptuous for a woman who has been single for many years.
Sure enough, the person combing their hair behind them paused slightly.
Through the blurry bronze mirror in front of him, Jiang Mu could see that Shui Miaozheng's smile had faded a bit, and a hint of unnaturalness flashed across her expression.
Jiang Mu was about to change the subject.
Shui Miaozheng, however, had already returned to normal, smiling faintly, her tone tinged with self-deprecation and a sense of vicissitude:
"At my age, I'm just an old woman nobody wants. What's the point of talking about getting married? It'll only make me a laughingstock." "Aunt Shui, please don't say that."
Jiang Mu said seriously, "With your looks and demeanor, you could easily pass for a young woman in her twenties. If word got out that you wanted to remarry, people from all over the country would be lining up to propose to you."
Our Manager Ran speaks highly of you in private, and he never forgets you.
Shui Miaozheng smiled, her eyes sparkling, and suddenly, feeling playful, she joked along with him:
"Oh? Really? If that old woman, Aunt Shui, said she wanted to marry you, would you marry her? Would you dare to accept?"
She had initially intended it with a touch of mockery, wanting to see the young man's embarrassed state.
To everyone's surprise, Jiang Mu laughed upon hearing this, her eyes clear, and replied, half-jokingly:
"Marry her! If Aunt Shui is really willing to marry me, I'll definitely bring her in with a grand procession. Only a fool wouldn't want such a beautiful and capable daughter-in-law."
Shui Miaozheng was instantly choked up, opened her mouth, and for a moment did not know how to respond.
Two blushes rose on her cheeks.
Why doesn't this kid play by the rules? That response was a bit too... blunt.
For a moment, both of them felt awkward and didn't know how to respond.
A subtle atmosphere permeated the air.
Jiang Mu quickly chuckled and began to shower him with flattery:
"However, on the other hand, how could an ordinary mortal be worthy of a woman as elegant and compassionate as Aunt Shui? I suppose only a celestial being descended to earth could catch your eye."
His witty remarks managed to lighten the tense atmosphere somewhat.
Shui Miaozheng also came to her senses, suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, and shook her head with a smile: "Glib-tongued, never serious."
But they didn't continue the topic.
After combing my hair.
Jiang Mu didn't dare to stay a moment longer. She stood up and said, "Aunt Shui, I'm going to sleep now. You should get some rest too."
"Okay, go ahead and get some sleep."
Shui Miaozheng nodded with a smile.
Watching the man's hurried departure, Shui Miaozheng stood there for a moment in a daze, then shook her head and chuckled, muttering to herself, "That guy, he's got a sweet tongue. No wonder he's so popular with girls."
She turned and walked to the bedside, preparing to undress and go to sleep.
Her gaze casually swept over the folded personal clothing beside her pillow, and she suddenly noticed that a corner of her light red bodice was sticking out. Shui Miaozheng was stunned for a moment.
She remembered clearly that she had folded her undergarment neatly and tucked it at the bottom, so how could it have been exposed?
Shui Miaozheng's heart stirred, and she reached out and took out the bodice.
There were several unnatural wrinkles on the silk fabric, as if it had been hastily crumpled and then haphazardly stuffed back in...
She stared blankly, then a surge of anger rushed to her head. She stood up abruptly, her eyebrows furrowed, ready to explode.
But after taking just one step, he abruptly stopped.
The anger on his face was gradually replaced by a complex and indescribable expression, and a blush crept back onto his cheeks.
She recalled Jiang Mu's half-joking remark earlier, and how his usually sharp and composed demeanor had occasionally revealed a youthful awkwardness. The woman's expression shifted, eventually turning into a sigh.
She sat back down on the edge of the bed and murmured:
"This guy used to be a womanizer, always surrounded by beautiful women. But after his family suffered a misfortune, he settled down and devoted himself to slaying demons and monsters, staying away from women."
"But after all, we are in the prime of our lives, surrounded by bloodshed and killing, and without a close confidant by our side... it's inevitable that we'll be a little irritable, which is only human nature."
"It must have been tough on him."
Shui Miaozheng offered a seemingly reasonable explanation.
Moreover, although she had just joked about being an "old woman," Shui Miaozheng was not entirely unaware of her own charm.
I only have myself to blame for not properly tidying up my private clothes...
She picked up the undergarment, intending to throw it into the basin to wash it.
But as soon as he took a step, his gaze involuntarily drifted to the bamboo pole under the porch outside the door, where Jiang Mu's old clothes, which had just been washed, were drying and swaying slightly in the night breeze.
The woman's eyes flickered slightly.
A vague thought, which even she herself might not be fully aware of, quietly crossed her mind.
In the end, she didn't wash the undergarment. Instead, as if possessed, she folded it up again and stuffed it back under her pillow.
Then he blew out the candle.
In the darkness, the woman's breathing seemed a little more rapid than usual.