"Benefactor, what is your name? Chen? Jiang Liuer? Hmm, Benefactor has a four-character name? That’s quite similar to us demons—many demons have four or five-character names."
"Benefactor, I’m fifteen this year. How old are you? You’re three years younger than me but almost as tall as me! If we had a child, they’d surely grow into a seven-foot-tall man."
"Benefactor, what do you like to eat? Plain rice? Your tastes are so simple! I could cook plain rice for you every day."
"Benefactor, have you studied? You have? Wonderful! That makes you a scholar!"
"Benefactor, I’m still a virgin, you know~"
"……"
Jiang Liuer had assumed the female demon who fought her way out of Wolf Ravine Cave with a dagger would be a ruthless, fearsome figure—someone or something that spoke little and acted mercilessly.
But Hu Yuyu only embodied the "ruthless" part. Her words, however, were endless.
Jiang Liuer couldn’t bring himself to drive her away, as her injuries hadn’t fully healed.
This left him deeply conflicted throughout their journey.
Some of Hu Yuyu’s remarks baffled him entirely.
He’d never even heard phrases like "virgin" before.
Perhaps…
It was some kind of demonic "slang"!
After half a day of walking in the direction he remembered, they encountered wolves, tigers, and leopards—but the beasts seemed to fear Hu Yuyu, unwilling to provoke a demon. Thus, the human and demon duo eventually emerged from the treacherous mountains unscathed.
Jiang Liuer crouched to examine the long, shallow grooves on the ground. "These are wheel ruts. This is a trade route."
The numerous ruts suggested frequent merchant traffic.
Jiang Liuer brightened. "If we meet a caravan, we could hitch a ride!"
Speak of the devil—hoofbeats soon echoed in the distance.
Jiang Liuer suddenly remembered something and turned to Hu Yuyu. "Hide your tail first. If people recognize you as a demon, they might panic."
Hu Yuyu smiled coyly. "Benefactor, I have a better idea."
With a spin of her body, a "poof" of white mist suddenly billowed up.
When the mist cleared, a blood-stained red fox stood in her place.
"Now they won’t know I’m a demon," said the fox, its voice identical to Hu Yuyu’s.
Jiang Liuer had to admit she was clever.
No wonder she’d escaped the Wolf Demon King’s clutches.
Soon…
A convoy of wagons came into view, kicking up clouds of dust as their wooden wheels rolled along the dirt road. At least a dozen carts were visible.
"Huh?" Jiang Liuer, now holding Hu Yuyu, realized with surprise that this wasn’t a merchant group.
He spotted soldiers.
Meanwhile, the lead soldier noticed someone blocking the path and signaled the convoy to slow down. Gripping his lance—its blade glinting coldly—he tightened his reins and called out, "Who dares obstruct an imperial prisoner transport? By His Majesty’s decree, we escort prisoners to Chang’an! Demons and troublemakers, disperse at once!"
The mounted soldiers all brandished spears.
The dozen wagons were prison carts.
Clearly, the soldiers found it suspicious that a lone boy would block their path in such a remote area—he must be a monster in disguise!
"I’m not a demon!" Jiang Liuer, fearing further misunderstanding, shouted, "I’m Jiang Liuer, a lay disciple of Golden Light Temple! Abbot Faming can vouch for me!"
"Golden Light Temple?" The lead soldier scoffed. "That’s over two hundred li from here. You look younger than my son. How could you travel so far alone?"
"I was fleeing demon pursuers," Jiang Liuer explained.
The soldier frowned. "Which demons?"
"Wolf Ravine Cave!"
"Wolf Wuji, the bandit demon?" The soldier clearly knew of the den housing over two hundred demons. The imperial court wasn’t blind to such threats.
Jiang Liuer nodded eagerly. "Exactly!"
"How did you escape them?"
Knowing he couldn’t mention the "Zhutian Xiyou Group," Jiang Liuer broke another vow against lying. "The Wolf Demon King blew a strange gust of wind that hurled me into the mountains. I’ve just emerged. If you don’t believe me, check the mountains—you’ll find the campfire I extinguished!"
The soldier studied him thoughtfully. "Lucky lad, surviving Wolf Wuji’s hunt."
Assuming the misunderstanding was resolved…
Jiang Liuer pleaded, "Sir, I’m lost. May I travel with you back to Golden Light Temple?"
"Follow us," the soldier said, sheathing his lance. "Find a prison cart and sit on its edge."
"Thank you, sir!" Jiang Liuer rejoiced.
He’d met kind people! These armored soldiers were far more reasonable than the arrogant constables he’d seen. He recalled how even Abbot Faming, a revered monk, had to humble himself before haughty officials. The contrast was stark.
Cradling Hu Yuyu, Jiang Liuer found a prison cart, hopped onto its edge, and lifted his feet to avoid the wheels.
The lead soldier glanced at the compliant boy and barked, "Move out!"
As the convoy resumed, a subordinate whispered, "Captain, do you really believe that kid?"
"No."
The subordinate blinked. "Then why…?"
"He’s no ordinary child. His vitality rivals our fiercest warriors. Confronting him might cost us several men. If we lose troops now and face bandits later, we’ll lack the numbers to defend the convoy."
The subordinate gasped. "He’s that strong?"
……
"Will Abbot Faming scold me?" Jiang Liuer fretted. "Will I become a wanted criminal?"
He stroked Hu Yuyu’s head and muttered, "If I really killed someone, I’ll never become a monk."
He might even end up in a prison cart himself!
Jiang Liuer had once witnessed an execution in the county square. The headsman’s blade still haunted him.
He shook off the thought, his neck tingling with imaginary cold.
"Boy, what’s your name?"
The sudden voice startled Jiang Liuer.
He turned to see the prisoner inside his chosen cart speaking.
……
