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Killing the person she loved with her own hands was a feeling that Xing Ruyi could not comprehend, but she knew it would definitely not be a good experience. Even though that person had betrayed her, bullied her, and had once made her hate him to the core, wishing to tear him apart to relieve her anger, when the knife was truly in her hand and she had to decide his life or death, she realized that the so-called hatred stemmed from love, and the so-called resentment came from caring.
Lingxiang opened her eyes just as her knife was about to pierce Donkey's heart; all her movements came to an abrupt halt, leaving the entire kitchen in silence. Only the flames on the stove continued to flicker and crackle.
Clang! The knife fell from Lingxiang's hand onto the ground. Tears streamed down her face as she slowly knelt down before Donkey, reaching out to embrace his neck gently, asking softly, "Does it hurt?"
Donkey gasped for breath, letting out low groans.
"Don't worry, I won't kill you!" Lingxiang sobbed, yet a smile blossomed on her lips. "I couldn't bear to kill you then, and I still can't bear to do it now. They all say humans are sentimental, but in my view, we demons are even more sentimental and devoted than you humans."
Lingxiang glanced at Xing Ruyi. "Although I don't know who you are, I know you can see it, right?"
Xing Ruyi nodded.
Lingxiang smiled as she slowly released her grip and stood up, lightly tapping Donkey. To everyone's astonishment, Donkey transformed into a man—one who lay on the ground groaning pitifully.
The Clerk and Chef were left dumbfounded. Xing Ruyi signaled to Lingxiang, who waved her hand, causing the two men to fall asleep.
"Fox Demon, what is going on?"
"Brother Chang," said the Fox Demon, "you've been through so much; you should understand that Lingxiang is different from you and me. She is not an ordinary human but a demon. As for the man lying on the ground—well, that's Lingxiang's husband Su Guangcai, who has been missing for almost three years. He wronged Lingxiang and was turned into Donkey by her and locked in the Donkey Shed. That's why he has been untraceable; no matter how hard the Government Office searched for him, they couldn't find him."
Chang Tai was somewhat shocked but quickly regained his composure after a brief moment of astonishment; he had experienced quite a bit himself in recent years.
"Ruyi, is it?" Lingxiang looked at Xing Ruyi. "You're correct; I am a demon, and I turned this man into Donkey. Initially, I intended to kill him, but in the end, I couldn't bring myself to do it."
“At the Foot of the Mountain, that donkey skeleton should belong to the Liu Family, right? Since it is a donkey skeleton, those Yard Officers wouldn’t bother to distinguish whether it was a male or female donkey. So, back then, it was indeed this Su Guangcai who swept away all your possessions and eloped with the Liu Family, and you chased them to the foot of the mountain, turning both of them into Donkeys. Liu Family, you certainly wouldn’t let them go; Su Guangcai, you didn’t want to let him go either, but in the end, you softened your heart, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I softened my heart. I remembered how good he was to me back then.” Lingxiang smiled lightly, but her smile carried a hint of sadness. “I was originally cultivating in the mountains and never thought I would one day leave. However, Mother told me that cultivating in the mountains only nurtures skills and not the true heart. If I wanted to improve, I needed to walk through and see the mundane world.
So, I left the mountain. But shortly after leaving, I was deceived and sold into a Brothel. At first, I was confused and didn’t really understand what kind of place that Brothel was. Gradually, I learned more about it, but I found it somewhat interesting. I met many people and heard many stories; I began to live more like a real human.
Time flew by, and after a year, I grew tired of that place and wanted to leave. I am a demon; if I want to go somewhere, no one can stop me—not the Mother of the Brothel nor those thugs. Yet just when I wanted to leave, I met him.”
Lingxiang pointed at Su Guangcai, who was still lying on the ground. “He looked like a fool; he was stunned when he saw me for the first time. His first words were that he wanted to buy my freedom and take me home as his Wife. I thought he was joking, but this fool seriously took out all his double silver coins and handed them to the Mother of the Brothel. Unfortunately, it still wasn’t enough in the end.
Seeing his sincerity, Mother suggested that he work in the Brothel for half a year to pay off the debt; he actually agreed. Every day he served tea and did ordinary chores in the Brothel. During his free time, he would be teased by the sisters inside. But he didn’t mind at all. Gradually, I developed feelings for him and truly abandoned my thoughts of leaving the Brothel while waiting for him to buy my freedom. Later, I followed him to a Paper Shop where we became husband and wife.
I knew that I was a demon and he was human; humans and demons are on different paths; we could never have a future together. But matters of the heart are rarely so rational. I knew I should leave; I knew I shouldn’t cling to him or covet even that little kindness he showed me, yet I couldn’t let go. When he brought the Liu Family into our home and scolded me alongside them, I truly felt like the pitiful human while he was the real demon.”
“Indeed, sometimes humans can be scarier than demons, while many demons are actually kinder than humans. Although I am also human, I do not defend humanity,” Xing Ruyi said as she glanced at Su Guangcai before asking Lingxiang: “During these years when you turned Su Guangcai into a Donkey, you have been taking care of his Mother diligently too, haven’t you? The reason you haven’t left this Dragon Gate Inn is partly because you still can’t bear to part with this Heartless Man and partly because you worry that after you leave, no one will take care of his Mother.”
Lingxiang looked at Xing Ruyi but did not respond.
“Brother Chang investigated before; during these years when Su Guangcai went missing, his Mother has been well taken care of. She is a very stubborn old lady; if she doesn’t trust someone or feel close to them, she wouldn’t so easily accept their help.
Especially over a year ago when she fell ill with an incurable disease that required a lot of Silver for treatment. The Silver you took from Su Guangcai has mostly been used for treating his Mother’s illness; however, as long as her condition doesn’t improve, you will always need money for her care. So I suspect that this donkey in the yard is also related to her illness, isn’t it?”
“Ruyi is indeed exceptionally perceptive; it hasn’t even been an hour since entering this Dragon Gate Inn and yet you’ve seen through everything inside and out. Yes, I selected some guests who stayed here and turned them into donkeys before selling them to passing merchants; all the Silver earned has indeed been used on my mother-in-law.”
Su Guangcai Although she has not treated me well, my mother-in-law has never blamed me. What I have done is only right. However, I have ultimately harmed those people, and Lingxiang does not deny this either. Since this Master Chang is a Constable from the Yamen, he must be here to capture Lingxiang, right? Rest assured, once Lingxiang clarifies the situation here, she will return with you.
If Lingxiang were just an ordinary mortal who committed a crime, Chang Tai would naturally take her back to the Yamen. But now that she is a demon and not a human, even if she were captured, could she truly be judged? Just like what Lingxiang mentioned earlier, she is a demon; wherever she wants to go, no one can stop her. Oh no, perhaps the Fox Demon could stop her, but given the nature of the Fox Demon, she might not be willing to interfere in such "trivial matters." Since she cannot be stopped, what use is it to capture her?
As Chang Tai pondered this in his heart, he revealed a faint bitter smile. Xing Ruyi glanced at him and immediately understood what he was contemplating, so she lowered her head to hide the smile that was about to escape from her lips.
“Lingxiang, you misunderstood. We came here indeed because of the missing persons case that occurred in the inn, but we never intended to take you back. Moreover, even if we did take you back, the County Office’s Prison wouldn’t be able to hold you, would it?”
Lingxiang lowered her head and remained silent, clearly affected by Xing Ruyi. Even if she willingly followed Chang Tai back now, by nightfall, she might have already vanished from that prison. If they couldn't catch the real culprit, the County Magistrate wouldn't dare blame Brother Chang, after all, this case was one of their own at the County Office. Brother Chang was merely passing through and helping out.
But if they brought someone back only for that person to mysteriously disappear from the Prison, no matter how many mouths Brother Chang had to explain himself with, it wouldn't matter. Even if he understood what happened, would the County Magistrate believe him? Would others believe him? In that case, helping would not only go unappreciated but also bring him unnecessary trouble. This kind of losing deal was something Xing Ruyi would never do, nor would she ask Chang Tai to do it.
Clearly, Chang Tai had also realized this point. He merely cleared his throat softly and said to Lingxiang: “The Fox Demon is a doctor herself; perhaps we should let her take a look at Mrs. Su. Even if she can't cure her illness, she can help control it. If the condition can be managed, then you won’t have to harm those innocent guests anymore.”
“Lingxiang has never harmed any innocent guests!” Upon hearing this from Chang Tai, Lingxiang couldn't help but defend herself: “Those who were turned into Donkey and sold by me were not good people at all. For instance, that one on the outside was a thief who specialized in stealing from the elderly, leaving them increasingly helpless. Therefore, I planned to sell him to farmers in the countryside so he could work hard instead of continuing his selfish and harmful ways.”
“Clap! Clap!” Xing Ruyi applauded for Lingxiang, giving her a thumbs up as well.
Lingxiang smiled; this time it was a genuinely comforting smile. Unfortunately, this smile did not last long before turning into a look of surprise.
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