Chapter 60: Would You Mind Avoiding This?

“Damn it!” Yuan Qingling clapped a hand over her mouth, then awkwardly corrected herself, “I mean—stand—aside, Master, please.”

Wen Jinge didn’t respond. She had no interest in the golden crow, still in its avian form. She was simply curious: with such a massive leg, how had the bird managed to hide it when they crossed paths at the village entrance?

But now, she had more pressing matters at hand.

Her third disciple was faintly shrouded in demonic energy. It looked like he’d fallen into the path of demons, but in truth, he had simply advanced to the next rank.

Most likely, it was because she’d said, “Let your heart be free of external distractions.”

Such sudden, impactful phrases depended on the accumulation of experiences and past professional habits from her previous life. In her former world, such lines might have been commonplace, so ordinary people would scarcely notice them—after all, everyone is tired of chicken soup for the soul, whether soothing or poisonous, if they hear it every day.

But this was another world. Here, no one had endured nine years of compulsory education, and even among the more cultured members of the Xuanmen sect, the educated were few and far between.

Therefore, Wen Jinge’s words were worth pondering deeply.

Clearly, Yang Wennan was a diligent student. He had already grasped the meaning.

“Master…” Yang Wennan’s cheeks flushed even redder, as if he had come down with a terrible fever.

“I know,” Wen Jinge glanced at him, then at the golden crow who was clearly ready to bolt. She pinned the bird in place with an immobilizing charm before turning back to her disciple. “Have you been sleeping with the demon qin these last few nights?”

“…I…” For Yang Wennan, the social mortification of this moment rivaled—even surpassed—that of being kissed by the golden crow just now.

Moreover, the realm where his master resided was shrouded in darkness, yet for them, it was broad daylight.

He watched as the golden crow clung to his master and kissed her with enthusiasm. Suddenly, another version of his master appeared behind the bird, and the one in the bird’s arms turned into a half-human, half-bird creature.

“It’s all right. Next time, sleep with Gouchen instead. You can’t handle the demonic energy of the demon qin.” Wen Jinge produced Gouchen and handed it to him. “Keep thinking about what you were contemplating before.”

She glanced upward. If her senses were correct, that troublesome “Nonexistent” thing had returned.

The feeling of constraint was back.

[What did you do?]

“Aren’t you supposed to have been scared away by the lightning?”

[No, I went back to headquarters.] The mechanical voice sounded almost cheerful, as if it had some delightful news to share. [The loophole’s been fixed.]

Wen Jinge’s smile came a beat late. “Nonexistent” assumed the delay was another glitch and called out “Hello?” a few more times in her mind.

“I’m here,” she replied inwardly, cursing.

[Your decision to descend the mountain was absolutely correct. But have you noticed something amiss? You’ve only encountered demon beasts so far. You’re supposed to run into dangerous people—that would fit the narrative better.]

“Stop!” Wen Jinge cut it off quickly. She didn’t want to be assigned any more ridiculous side quests.

All she wanted was to spend the time before her scripted death guiding her disciples through their promotions, and to enjoy the grand scenery of this world free of charge.

Taking on extra disciples was a stroke of luck. Who knew? Perhaps they’d help her get rid of “Nonexistent” from her mind for good.

Wouldn’t that be interesting?

The system, the heavens above her head, the one in her sea of consciousness who called himself “This Seat,” and even the coffin—were they all fighting over this body?

[I think your emotional state is very abnormal,] “Nonexistent” said sternly.

It was lying to Wen Jinge.

It had been injured by Wen Jinge’s lightning array, but it couldn’t admit that. If she found out, she’d gloat and might even find a way to be rid of it entirely.

In the past, it could keep probing, guess at her little schemes, and make her behave.

But now, its power was limited. It couldn’t investigate further.

It didn’t know what Wen Jinge was plotting, but it sensed instinctively that she was growing dangerous.

“Look behind me—what do you see?”

[Xuanyun Sect,] “Nonexistent” replied, attempting to reason with her. [You’re not really thinking of destroying Xuanyun Sect, are you? That’s impossible! You can’t! Don’t you know—]

“What?”

But “Nonexistent” refused to say more, wary of being tricked again.

“Forget it. Say what you like,” Wen Jinge said, unconcerned. “Eighty-one tribulations, each more difficult than the last. I’m not even past the main gate and you expect me to encounter villainous characters? Do you think Xuanyun Sect is a bunch of pushovers? With a thousand years of prestige, who would dare stir up trouble?”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the three-legged golden crow—still in beast form. “Can that thing be eaten?”

If “Nonexistent” had eyelids, they’d be twitching furiously.

[That’s a three-legged golden crow!]

“Yes, but is it tasty?”

[I—I’m just here to remind you, don’t forget to assassinate Shan Hongxing! He’s treating you suspiciously! Don’t go soft!]

With that, “Nonexistent” stomped off in a huff, calling back as it left, [And don’t call me unless you’re about to die!]

“Don’t worry,” Wen Jinge’s eyes sparkled like stars, “even if I’m dying, I won’t call for you.”

“What—what are you planning to do?” The three-legged golden crow was truly panicking now.

The woman had stayed close to her disciples, protecting them, and hadn’t released the puppets. He was left with no one to rely on.

Wen Jinge’s business with “Nonexistent” was a private matter—only Lu Wei, the ancient soul, could see through it, and no one else knew. This only heightened the golden crow’s anxiety. He shielded himself with his wings, watching nervously as she approached.

“What do you want?” he stammered.

The moment the demon qin and Gouchen appeared, he realized she was no ordinary cultivator. An ordinary Xuanyun Sect elder could never tame such sword spirits—two of them, both radiating an aura of danger.

“What’s wrong with your face?”

Whenever he took human form, his body hair bristled. At first, Wen Jinge had wondered if she’d ended up with a monkey as a pet, never suspecting it was a bird—an especially randy one at that.

“Nothing!” He shielded his face.

“Are you sure you’re not going to shift into human form?”

Wang Xi quietly moved to guard Yang Wennan, while Yuan Qingling kept examining the golden crow’s three legs, as though inspecting a plucked chicken. “Master, I suddenly really want a chicken leg. Shall we roast him?”

He spoke with a hungry glint in his eyes—like a thousand-year-old ghost, starved for blood after ages in the wilderness.

Wen Jinge rapped him on the head. “Roast what?”

Yuan Qingling looked at the knife in his hand—just given to him by his master—and caught on, grinning. “Right, we can just eat a chicken leg. He’s got three, after all.”

The golden crow snapped, “Aren’t you going to find your other disciples? I’ve lured two of them away.”

“I was waiting for you to say that,” Wen Jinge replied, also gripping a knife. “Just as well, all three of my disciples are here. The other two will have to blame their bad luck. Now each of you can have a leg.”

He shivered and transformed into human form.

Yuan Wenqing was stunned. He quickly turned his body to shield the golden crow. “Master, would you mind stepping aside?”

“What—what are you going to do?” The golden crow, though faced with a child, was deeply unsettled by his bearing and expression—he seemed every bit an adult.

Thinking back on how he’d offended Wen Jinge earlier, he immediately dissolved into tears. “Please—let me go! I’ve never even slept with a man before!”

Wen Jinge: …