Hong Lao San watched as Lin Xue exited the room, then waved his hand and cast a sound-isolating spell, wrapping the entire bedroom in silence.
Hong Yanzhi asked curiously, “Father, what do you want to tell me?”
Hong Lao San glanced at his own arm with a satisfied look, then asked, “What’s the story behind that little Snake Spirit?”
Hong Yanzhi briefly described her earlier encounter with Lin Xue.
Hong Lao San nodded and said, “Don’t let that little demon slip away. Your father has a use for her. Find an excuse to keep her here.”
Hong Yanzhi replied, “That won’t be hard. Do you have any other instructions, Father?”
Hong Lao San let his sleeve drop, looked at Hong Yanzhi, and spoke solemnly, “Yanzhi, the real reason I called you here is something else.”
Hong Yanzhi straightened up, her posture attentive, showing she was ready to listen.
Then she heard Hong Lao San say, “It’s not that I enjoy nagging you. But you’re not young anymore—it’s time you chose a husband and got married.”
Upon hearing this, Hong Yanzhi’s face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and annoyance.
She pouted and protested, “Father, why are you bringing this up again? I don’t want to marry. I want to stay on the mountain and keep you company forever.”
Hong Lao San shook his head and chuckled, “Nonsense! What young lady stays home her whole life without getting married? Your father is getting old—I can’t always be by your side.”
Hong Yanzhi turned away with a huff, retorting defiantly, “I don’t care, I just don’t want to marry!”
Hong Lao San sighed, “Yanzhi, it’s not that I’m pushing you—circumstances are forcing our hand.”
“The Hei Pi Yao Wang of Erlong Mountain is selecting a new demon consort again.”
“That Hei Pi Yao Wang is old and feeble, at death’s door. He’s somehow gotten his hands on a set of Shuangxiu Huanyang Xuming Zhi Shu. In recent years, he’s often sent his Demon Generals to various Shouling to pick Nüyao with late-stage Body Tempering cultivation or higher. Officially, he’s choosing consorts, but in reality, he’s just seeking Luding for his own longevity through dual cultivation.”
“This year, that wretched duty falls on our Xixia Mountain. Zong Biao Yao Jiang, the Demon General in charge of consort selection, sent word to your father early, demanding that we hand over ten late-stage Body Tempering Nüyao in human form. He’ll be coming next month to inspect.”
“We don’t have many Nüyao on Xixia Mountain to begin with—late-stage Body Tempering ones are even fewer. How could we possibly gather ten?”
“I’ve searched the whole Shouling and can only find six.”
“When Zong Biao Yao Jiang arrives and sees we’re short, he’ll surely fly into a rage. I’ll have to humble myself, offer him generous gifts, and beg him to reduce our quota.”
“Zong Biao Yao Jiang is the nephew of Hei Pi Yao Wang, greedy beyond measure. I’ve been worrying these days that our tributes won’t be enough to appease him.”
“Today, seeing that little Snake Spirit, your father thought of a solution.”
“Although Zong Biao Yao Jiang is a wild boar demon, he’s obsessed with snake-type Nüyao. I hear that more than half of his dozens of concubines are Snake Spirits.”
“This Lin Xue is especially beautiful. Keep her here. When Zong Biao Yao Jiang arrives, present her to him—he’ll surely be delighted. With such a beauty and a fine tribute, I doubt he’ll make things difficult for Xixia Mountain.”
“Yanzhi, your transformation is complete and your cultivation is above late-stage Body Tempering—you fit the selection criteria. If you’re still unmarried when Zong Biao Yao Jiang comes and he sets his eyes on you, we’ll be in trouble.”
“So, I think you should settle your marriage this month. When the Demon General arrives, you’ll already be wed, and as the head of the mountain, at least I have some standing—he wouldn’t dare force my married daughter to be a Luding demon consort.”
“Among the neighboring Shouling, the only ones on par with you in cultivation are Xiong Ba, second son of Xiong from Niu’er Mountain, and Lang Buping, only son of Lang Qianxing from Yellow Wind Mountain.”
“Both are at the early Jindan stage like you, and both families have sent me marriage proposals. Whichever you prefer, just tell me and I’ll agree to that match.”
On hearing this, Hong Yanzhi’s willow-like brows shot up. She spat and cursed, “Those filthy, lustful wild boar bastards! Every one of them deserves to die!”
Hong Lao San jumped in shock and looked around, then scolded her sternly,
“It’s one thing to say that at home, but never say such things outside! Hei Pi Yao Wang rules over a dozen mountains—if he hears, we’ll be in grave trouble! Calamity comes from careless words!”
Hong Yanzhi replied, “I know, Father. I’m only complaining in front of you. Of course I wouldn’t speak like this outside.”
She went on to grumble, “As for those two, Xiong Ba is a stupid oaf—ugly too! He can’t even take proper human form, just a brute!”
“That Lang Buping, I hear, only reached Jindan thanks to his father’s spirit medicines. His foundation is weak and his skills are poor—he’s only good at waving that shabby fan and showing off a few spells. Take away the fan and he’s worthless. I don’t want to marry either one!”
“Father, if even a useless one like Lang Buping can be piled into Jindan with spirit medicine, why not find a few mid-stage Body Tempering Nüyao and use spirit medicine this month to get them to late stage? Then you’d have your ten, and there’d be no need to force your daughter into a marriage she doesn’t want.”
Hong Lao San scolded,
“Nonsense! You think Xixia Mountain is as wealthy as the Langs of Yellow Wind Mountain? To push someone from mid- to late-stage Body Tempering in a month—do you know how much spirit medicine that takes?”
“Where would your father find so much? Your brother’s already late-stage Body Tempering, about to marry himself. You know how high the bride price is for a well-bred Nüyao these days. I still need to save for your brother’s betrothal gifts. Where would I find so much silver to squander like that?”
Hong Yanzhi turned her face away, falling silent.
Hong Lao San softened his tone and coaxed,
“Yanzhi, you’re a grown woman now—it’s time to marry. Xiong Ba and Lang Buping are the best among the nearby demon clans, both with good family backgrounds and generous betrothal gifts.”
“If you keep delaying, who knows if you’ll meet anyone better in the future? You can’t just stay home forever, can you?”
Hong Yanzhi was silent for a while before saying:
“Father, you really should discipline Tigerzi! If it weren’t for him running wild every day, bullying Nüyao and scaring them off, would Xixia Mountain be unable to muster even ten late-stage Body Tempering Nüyao in human form?”
“Even my maidservant Pingping—last month, while I was in seclusion, Tigerzi forcibly dragged her away, and with his gang of lackeys, tormented her all night until she died! Now I don’t even have a personal maid!”
“If you keep indulging him, soon all the Nüyao in our mountain will flee and Xixia Mountain will become a mountain of bachelors!”
Hong Lao San sighed, “Ah, this Tigerzi is indeed utterly incorrigible! Your mother passed away early, and I suppose I have spoiled him too much. I’ll speak to him soon.”
He said to Hong Yanzhi, “But things have come to this. You really should choose between those two boys. They both have their flaws, but at least they’re young and their cultivation may improve. It’s far better than ending up as a Luding consort in Erlong Mountain, letting that soon-to-be-dead Hei Pi Yao Wang drain your life away.”
“All right, go and think over whom to marry. Make up your mind soon.”
Hong Yanzhi replied gloomily, “I understand. Rest well, Father. Your daughter takes her leave.”
Hong Lao San waved his hand and released the spell.
Hong Yanzhi walked out of the room, her face full of gloom and frustration.
Outside, Lin Xue stood by Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao, the two cat demons, anxiously waiting, her heart full of hope.
Her mind had long since drifted to the clouds—she was just waiting for Hong Yanzhi to come out so she could ask for her paper crane back and leave with Zhang Zongnian.
When she saw Hong Yanzhi emerge, Lin Xue’s pretty face lit up and she swayed her snake tail, about to greet her.
But she noticed that Hong Yanzhi’s expression was dark, as if everyone owed her money, and she just stomped forward without a word, her full chest bouncing with each step.
Lin Xue was startled, and the words she wanted to say stuck in her throat.
She wondered to herself: What did this tigress talk about with her old man? Why is she so furious, like she swallowed gunpowder?
She trailed after Hong Yanzhi with Yuan Ding and Yuan Bao, walking quietly and not daring to make a sound.
This tigress was clearly in a foul mood—best not to provoke her now.
It would be better to wait until she cooled off a bit before bringing up the matter of leaving with Zhang Zongnian.