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墨書 Inktalez
When Xing Ruyi went upstairs, the door was open.
Mu Xi was fully focused on her work. In her hand, she held a Purple Bamboo wolf hair brush, leaning over the desk, carefully tracing a piece of skin—Human Skin.
With brows like distant mountains, eyes like autumn waters, lips resembling red petals, and cheeks tinted with Rouge, just from a distance, one could tell she had a beautiful appearance!
"Ruyi has arrived? Please take a seat and wait a moment; Mu Xi will be ready shortly."
Mu Xi said this as she picked up the Human Skin and turned around, delicately pressing it against her face. When she turned back around, she appeared just as usual, but Xing Ruyi scrutinized her new face closely. It was a new face, yet not entirely so; it seemed not much different from the one she had seen when she first entered the inn, but the subtle changes were what made it remarkable.
Mu Xi's depiction of the Human Skin was akin to modern cosmetic procedures; each time only requiring slight adjustments. You might think there was little change or even none at all, but as time passed and you looked back at old photos, you would suddenly realize that the person you thought you knew so well had unknowingly changed their appearance.
Seeing Xing Ruyi staring at her face intently, Mu Xi smiled lightly and asked, "What do you think, Ruyi?"
"Very good!"
Xing Ruyi pondered for a moment before uttering those two words.
Mu Xi smiled brightly in response. She lifted her gaze and walked over to sit across from Xing Ruyi.
"When Ruyi first entered, Mu Xi already sensed that you are no ordinary person. You carry a heavy aura of both demons and spirits, yet you are merely mortal. Mu Xi does not understand why you possess such diverse energies and how you have remained unharmed by them to live peacefully until now."
"Madam's words leave the Fox Demon unsure of how to respond," Xing Ruyi replied with a smile. "My husband comes from Qingqiu and belongs to the Yao Shen clan; most of the so-called demon energy I carry should come from him. However, we are not yet married and do not have a marital relationship."
The implication in Xing Ruyi's words was likely understood by Mu Xi. Her fair face flushed slightly before turning pale as paper.
Xing Ruyi looked at her and vaguely guessed about seven or eight points of the situation, so she continued with her previous words: "As for this Eerie Aura, it actually cannot be counted as mine; I just don't know how to explain it to you, Madam. Because even the Fox Demon hasn't figured it out yet. However, some of your earlier statements are also incorrect. The Fox Demon has indeed been harmed by these two auras; it's just that the injury is internal rather than external, and you haven't noticed it."
On the surface, Xing Ruyi appeared calm, but internally her aura was chaotic. If it weren't for the Fox, Yin Yuan, and Li Mao watching over her, she would have likely gone mad by now. Fortunately, the Ghost Dan and the demon dan had already been brought back by the Fox; it was just that the Fox hadn't taken them out for Xing Ruyi to consume, and she hadn't intentionally brought up this matter either. Today, after hearing Mu Xi's words, Xing Ruyi couldn't help but feel worried. Given the Fox's temperament, if the elixir had been refined successfully, it would surely force her to take it at their first meeting. Yet now, quite some time had passed without any news from the Fox—could something have gone wrong?
She shook her head, temporarily pushing these thoughts aside to focus on dealing with the General's Wife, Mu Xi.
"The matter of the Fox Demon is already known to the Adulterer; then can we also reveal some information about you to the Fox Demon? After all, your husband's condition is somewhat related to you, isn't it?"
"Since you've called Ruyi here, I have no intention of hiding anything. However, I don't know where to start with my story," Mu Xi replied.
"Then let's take it easy; start from wherever you're willing to share. The night is long, and both the Fox Demon and you have time."
"Alright then!" Mu Xi sighed lightly. "I am a demon; Ruyi, you probably have already seen that. But a long time ago, I was once a mortal girl like you."
"A mortal?" Xing Ruyi's eyes suddenly brightened. "Can a mortal become a demon?"
"No," Mu Xi shook her head. "There's no need for you to rush; just listen to me finish my story, and you'll understand."
Xing Ruyi nodded and took a deep breath. She couldn't help but think that if she could also become a demon, perhaps she could be with the Fox for eternity.
While Xing Ruyi was lost in her thoughts, Mu Xi had already immersed herself in her memories.
"Back then, there was no Golden Tang Dynasty; the place I lived was called Northern Qi. My father was an official; although his position was not high, he managed the finances of Northern Qi. At sixteen years old, arranged by my parents, I married into the Chen Family. The Chen Family was engaged in business and managed to maintain their position during chaotic times; in the eyes of both families' elders, this marriage was considered a good match."
The so-called marriage proposal is entirely based on the orders of parents and the words of a matchmaker. My parents have only me as their daughter, so naturally, they chose the best for me. Father, the young master of the Chen family, though not eloquent, possesses hidden knowledge and has an unlimited future ahead. Mother had someone check on my future husband’s appearance, and he is a perfect match for me. If we were to have children in the future, they would undoubtedly be exceptionally beautiful.
Hearing such words often leads to many fond feelings and expectations for my future husband. I even find myself eagerly wishing to marry him soon and become a couple that my parents would be proud of.
The wedding date was set for early summer. I clearly remember that the cicadas were already chirping in the sycamore tree in the courtyard, and a gentle sniff would reveal the rich fragrance of flowers amidst the summer heat. I love such days; they allow the festive attire to highlight my best features.
After going through various tedious rituals, I was assisted by maids into the wedding chamber. The elder woman whispered some blushing rules in my ear before leading the maids out of the chamber. I felt both anxious and nervous, yet amidst that tension, there was also a hint of curiosity.
I quietly lifted a corner of my bridal veil to see if my husband was present, but all I could see were his feet. Those feet moved up and down, swaying as he walked, bringing with them a strong scent of alcohol. He was clearly drunk.
I could hear my heart pounding, so I quickly lowered my hand and sat properly. I thought he would come over, lift my veil, and gaze at me with infatuated eyes. After all, I had dressed carefully before leaving my family home. However, he remained still for quite some time, only letting out a cold snort from above.
From that sound, I sensed disdain and contempt; I was puzzled and didn’t understand why he reacted this way. Could it be that he did not want to marry me?
While I was lost in speculation, he roughly pulled off my veil and turned around, stumbling out of the bedroom. What should have been a night worth a thousand gold coins in the wedding chamber turned into him leaving me alone to sit in shock and confusion for an entire night.
After the wedding chamber incident, I remained untouched; I didn’t know how to discuss this with anyone, even my parents—too ashamed to speak up. I could only hope that with time, my husband would treat me better.
However, just because I didn’t speak up didn’t mean others wouldn’t. Newlyweds yet he refused to share a room with me; my in-laws certainly noticed this and criticized me for not understanding the duties of a wife as if it were my fault for not keeping my husband. With grievances piling up inside me, all I could do was listen and endure while continually apologizing to my in-laws.
Half a year passed without him ever touching me; gradually, I became accustomed to it. My daily life remained unchanged as before marriage except for one additional task: frequently visiting my in-laws’ courtyard to receive scoldings and insults.
One day, he suddenly smiled at me and even allowed me to sit beside him while he entertained guests. During the meal, he personally served me pastries made from osmanthus flowers. They were sweet at first bite but left an odd bitter taste on my tongue. Yet, lost in his sudden kindness, I never thought—nor dared to think—that there might be traps hidden within this gesture.
Not long after eating that piece of pastry, I felt a heaviness in my chest and my head began to spin. He looked down at me, still smiling, but there was a hint of disdain and malice in his eyes. I remember that I seemed to have opened my mouth, but with the dizziness overwhelming me, I couldn't tell if any sound came out. All I could recall was that he was very close to me, so close that I could sense a trace of contempt in his breath.
He said, "Even if you put all your effort into it, you can only be a temporary Madam Chen!"
Although I couldn't understand the first half of his words, I quickly grasped the meaning of the latter half.
When I woke up again, it wasn't in my bedroom but in the ancestral hall of the Chen family. I was bound tightly, and beside me knelt a man who was crying bitterly. I recognized him as the person my husband had invited to the banquet that day, but now he was pointing at me, accusing me of being a rogue who had deliberately seduced him into committing the most disgraceful act between a man and a woman.
At that moment, I realized that I had been plotted against, and the one who had schemed against me was none other than my husband.
Yet even at that time, I still held onto a glimmer of hope for him. I looked at him with pleading eyes, hoping he would reveal the truth before the elders of the Chen family and speak a word of justice for me. But he merely glanced at me indifferently and said, "I hope this disgraceful matter won't be made public."
What followed was inevitable: I was accused of being unfaithful and having an affair with another man. My husband discovered it, and the Chen family dealt with me according to their clan rules. Just like that, I died in confusion, without even a proper grave to rest in. Soon after, the Northern Qi fell, my parents perished in the chaos of war, and my remains were left unburied.
My bones could not be laid to rest; the Chen family disowned me completely. I became a wandering soul, drifting aimlessly over that land. It wasn't until several years later that a kind-hearted person collected my remains and buried them in the earth, while by some twist of fate, I became half-demon.
Mu Xi extended her hand.
Xing Ruyi saw that beneath her skin were not veins but vines. It turned out that Mu Xi was a wood spirit; no wonder she carried that peculiar Fruitwood Fragrance.
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