Volume One, Chapter Thirty-Three: The Magpie Claims the Dove’s Nest

Meiniang was startled. She turned to see Hongqin striding toward her, eyes blazing with anger. A silent cry of alarm rose in her heart.

“We’re just watching over them for a while!” Meiniang hurriedly answered with utmost respect.

“Who told you to change shifts on your own?” Hongqin demanded, her voice sharp with displeasure.

“They were hungry and insisted we help them out!” Meiniang replied, her face full of grievance.

“Help them? As if you’d be so generous?” Hongqin shot her a withering look.

“Heh, you see right through me! I just wanted to tease these rams a little…” Meiniang mumbled, embarrassment lowering her head.

“Hmph, I knew you were up to no good! Always grumbling, and now you’re suddenly so helpful?” Hongqin mocked.

“I just thought…” Meiniang trailed off, unable to find the words, forcing a sheepish grin.

“Weren’t you looking for me? What is it?” Hongqin’s tone softened, suspicion giving way to curiosity.

“Oh… right…” Meiniang hesitated, then quickly produced a pair of jade bangles from her bosom. Both Hongqin and Hanyu stared in surprise.

“We found these in the grass…” Meiniang said, slipping the bangles onto Hongqin’s wrists herself.

“What are you doing? Stop… Where did you find them?” Hongqin protested, but made no real attempt to stop her.

“Near the Cloud Gate, and we haven’t told anyone else yet. We wanted you to handle it.” Meiniang reported solemnly.

“I see! Very well, I’ll take charge of them and hand them to the Master later,” Hongqin said, her face all seriousness, though inside she was exultant. This pair of jade bangles was extraordinary—delicate, flawless, pure in color, and radiating a spiritual energy from within.

“Good, good…” Meiniang fixed her gaze on Hongqin.

“I know, I know. Tonight, you two will serve the Master with me! You little rascal, when did you become so clever?” Hongqin laughed.

“Thank you! Thank you!” Meiniang, overjoyed, nudged Hanyu.

At that moment, the two she-demons who had gone to eat returned, beaming with delight. But at the sight of Hongqin, their faces went pale with fright; they hurried over, heads bowed, not daring to utter a word.

“What’s the matter with Mozhu? Usually chattering nonstop, but now not a word?” Hongqin threw them a glance, then turned her attention curiously to Mozhu. Before Meiniang could answer, Hanyu pointed urgently to her own throat.

“She got hit in the throat by that fat guy’s weapon in the fight. That’s why she’s like this now!” Meiniang explained, gently stroking Hanyu’s neck with concern.

“That fat guy’s weapon is quite the treasure! I showed it to the Master, and she said it’s an artifact!” Hongqin couldn’t help exclaiming.

“Really? Oh, how quickly things change…” Meiniang’s heart skipped a beat, and she shot Hanyu a covert glance.

“But it won’t change for me!” Hongqin said, vexed.

“Never mind! Did the Master say how she’d reward you?” Meiniang quickly changed the subject.

Hongqin smiled knowingly and fell silent. She turned to the sheepfold and scrutinized the rams within. All except Hong Kun and his companions crowded forward eagerly, unable to contain themselves. After a moment’s thought, Hongqin pointed to Qi Yuanxiao and Hong Peng, saying, “Bring those two out, and the fat one as well!”

Meiniang and Hanyu hurried to open the pen and brought out Hong Peng, Qi Yuanxiao, and Yibing. The other rams looked disappointed, which astonished Hanyu. Hongqin then pulled out three black cords from her robe, tossing them onto the three men, where they turned into the black serpent ropes of the dungeon, binding them tightly in an instant. Next, she produced the Devourer Mirror, muttered an incantation, and flashed it at their faces—at once, Yibing and the others transformed back into their human forms, though the ropes still held them fast.

“Let’s go! The Master is waiting!” Seeing Meiniang and Hanyu still stunned, Hongqin urged them on. The two snapped out of it and hurriedly escorted the three men after Hongqin. Meiniang gave Hanyu a secret wink and made a subtle gesture with her right hand; though Hanyu only half-understood, she frowned and nodded.

When they reached a secluded spot, Meiniang suddenly formed a hand seal and whispered an incantation. The two jade bangles on Hongqin’s wrists snapped together with a sharp click. Before she could cry out, a chill wind struck Hongqin from behind, and she collapsed to the ground.

“I didn’t misunderstand, did I?” Hanyu asked, hefting her jade staff.

“You didn’t!” Meiniang replied admiringly. The girl had timed it perfectly—Hongqin hadn’t even had a chance to shout.

“That’s Meiniang! And Hanyu! And…” Yibing quickly introduced them to Hong Peng and Qi Yuanxiao.

“Fat Girl, possess her body!” Meiniang urged, glancing about nervously.

“I don’t know how!” Fat Girl’s voice suddenly sounded beside Yibing, startling him.

“Junior Sister?!” cried Qi Yuanxiao.

“Miss Zhao’s spirit has left her body!” Yibing explained.

“Didn’t your master teach you how to return?” Meiniang asked anxiously.

“She did, but that’s to return to my own body! Senior Brother, it’s me!” Fat Girl replied urgently.

“Oh, come now—what’s the difference? Both are flesh!” Meiniang said in exasperation.

“Well… all right, don’t rush me! I’ll try…”

The world seemed to fall utterly silent. For a long moment, no one spoke. Suddenly, with a loud thud, Hongqin leapt up from the ground, flailing about wildly as though completely out of control. Meiniang rushed forward to steady her.

“Hussy… no, no, Miss Mei…” Hongqin stammered, even slapping her own face.

“Miss Zhao…” The sound of the slap made Hanyu wince with sympathy.

“I… I… There! All right! Miss Jade, Miss Mei, Yibing, Senior Brother Qi, Senior Brother Hong!” Hongqin greeted them all in a single breath, then suddenly hopped behind Hanyu. “And you, Brother Divine Turtle!”

The turtle poked its head out of the bundle. “You’re still the best, Fat Girl!” It leapt to the ground with a crisp “crack!” as expected, landing flat on its back. Hongqin hurriedly righted it.

“Some divine turtle!” Hanyu pouted. “Why’d you jump out?”

“Heh, better stay out, just in case. Besides, someone needs to send word if anything goes wrong!” The turtle dodged behind Hongqin as Hanyu raised her foot threateningly.

“Enough, let it stay,” Meiniang quickly intervened, then turned to the turtle. “But, you have to untie their ropes first.” At her words, the turtle stretched its neck and in a flash bit through the ropes binding the three men, which promptly fell to the ground.

“All right, you three pretend you’re still tied up. When we reach the old demon, we’ll act when the time is right. Watch for my signal! I refuse to believe we can’t beat her with so many of us!” Meiniang muttered, steeling her own nerves.

With Hongqin leading, they soon reached the rear hall. The demoness at the door, seeing Hongqin, opened the golden gates without question. As they entered the bedchamber, an exquisitely carved, inlaid jade bed came into view—so large that five or six people could easily roll about on it. On one side of the bed lay a crystal-clear spring, on the other a circle of white sand, symmetrical and gleaming. Through the silver silk curtains, a slender woman could be seen reclining on the embroidered covers.

“Master, the rams have been brought!” Hongqin reported nervously. Fat Girl, uncertain what else to say, simply let the words spill out.

“Mm.” The curtain lifted of its own accord, releasing a faint, enchanting fragrance. Though she was a demon, one could not deny that Mistress Baopu was like a celestial maiden descended from the Ninth Heaven! Her peach-pink cheeks dimpled with a smile as she glanced over the group, her delicate brows arching above eyes that shimmered with mystery and allure. Not only Yibing and his two companions, but even Meiniang and Hanyu felt their hearts race under her gaze.

“This is the little fat one?” Mistress Baopu eyed Yibing’s chubby form with barely concealed distaste. He was far too rotund—not at all to her liking. The two young men beside him, though, were handsome and sturdy—far more appealing.

“Yes!” Hongqin quickly pushed Yibing forward.

“And that divine iron—where did you get it?” Mistress Baopu pointed to the white sand by her bed. Only then did they notice Yibing’s divine iron stuck in the sand there.

“Found it on Flat Horse Mountain…” Yibing blinked his big eyes, affecting innocence.

“Little fatty, don’t lie! Bring them over!” Mistress Baopu smiled, turning to sit up. Her blue Daoist robe fell open, baring her fair, shapely legs for all to see. Qi Yuanxiao nearly fell over in shock.

“Yes!” Hongqin pushed Yibing to the bedside, while Meiyu and Meizhu hurriedly followed with Hong Peng and Qi Yuanxiao.

“What sect are you from?” Mistress Baopu asked with feigned gentleness.

“I am Qi Yuanxiao of the Misty Cloud Sect!” Qi Yuanxiao blurted out before Hong Peng could speak, earning a glare.

“My, what a handsome husband!” Mistress Baopu giggled coquettishly. Hanyu retched in disgust.

“H-husband…” Qi Yuanxiao flushed bright red.

“Soon you’ll be my husband!” Mistress Baopu teased, stroking his chin.

“N-no…” Qi Yuanxiao protested, but made no move to escape her touch.

“And you?” Mistress Baopu turned a playful gaze on Hong Peng.

“Demon!” Hong Peng spat.

“Oho, a stubborn one! The more you resist, the more I like you!” Mistress Baopu blew him a kiss, then turned to Meiyu and Meizhu. “Go wash them!”

“Wash them?” Meiniang echoed in confusion. Mistress Baopu jerked her chin at the spring.

“Oh…” Meiniang quickly led Qi Yuanxiao toward the water. They couldn’t really wash them, but if they didn’t, Mistress would surely notice. In a flash, Meiniang and Hanyu exchanged glances and, as one, leaped back, weapons striking for Mistress Baopu’s head. But she had been prepared, gliding back to evade their assault.

“Hmph! Thought you could fool my eyes, little brats!” Mistress Baopu sneered coldly.

“All together!” Hanyu shouted.

“No, wait!” Yibing cried in alarm. The ropes, which had come loose, suddenly came alive again, binding the three men tighter than ever, leaving them completely helpless.

“No choice!” Meiniang and Hanyu shouted in unison. The fox staff gleamed, the jade cudgel shimmered with moonlight, and together they attacked from left and right. Mistress Baopu’s lips curled in disdain; her hands transformed into two giant serpent tongues, smashing down. In an instant, the fox head shattered, the moonlight was extinguished, and Meiniang and Hanyu were hurled through the air. As they hit the ground, they coughed up blood and reverted to their true forms, unable to move.

“So, a fox spirit and a rabbit spirit. Well—” Mistress Baopu’s words were cut off as Hongqin suddenly barreled into her. Mistress never expected Hongqin’s betrayal, and was caught in a tight embrace. Furious, she flung Hongqin away, then spat a jet of black water from her mouth, hitting Hongqin square in the back. There were two agonized screams, and Hongqin collapsed.

“Soul-seizing and possession!” Mistress Baopu’s brow furrowed, a third eye opening on her forehead. Now she saw Fat Girl’s spirit writhing on the ground.

“I’ll destroy your soul!” Mistress Baopu sprang toward Fat Girl, but at that moment, another chill wind struck from behind. She spun around, hands lashing out with serpent tongues—only to recoil in horror at the sight. A giant turtle head, jaws gaping and ferocious, smashed aside her attacks and struck her shoulder head-on, sending her flying into the wall.

“Fatty, you’re dead meat!” Yibing was about to strike again, but Mistress Baopu dissolved into a cloud of black smoke and vanished.

Earlier, as Yibing struggled desperately, he had suddenly felt the ropes slacken and something heavy land on his foot. Looking down, he saw the divine turtle glaring up at him, baring its teeth, having somehow brought over the divine iron. Elated, Yibing grabbed the divine iron just as Fat Girl screamed in agony. Without a second thought, he struck for Mistress Baopu’s back. In that split second, the image of the turtle’s fierce grin flashed through his mind—and his blow transformed into a smashing turtle head.

[End of section]