野荷塘

In her happiness, Shen Li forgot Xiao He had sacrificed herself for the one she loved, that even if she looked like Xiao He, this was her reincarnated form so she would have no memory of her previous life . Unlike Xing Zhi who retained his memories, she would have lost hers . Without that memory she was freed from the past . In this life, she didn’t know Prince Rui or the heartbreak of that love .

Shen Li was silent for a moment, then she took a step toward the girl and asked, “Your abilities aren’t even that great, yet you dare set up a stall like this to harm others? How brazen . Aren’t you afraid the mountain god will punish you?”

With her head lowered to her chest the girl whispered that the mountain god was gone, captured some time ago .

Xing Zhi and Shen Li shared a glance .

“When? Did you see who did it?” Shen Li probed . Her voice came out unintentionally sterner than she meant it to .

It scared the girl, and though her lips trembled, she refused to say more .

“Really? I didn’t even beat you this time...” Shen Li sighed in disappointment . From her side, Xing Zhi laughed .

The sigh made the older woman exert a great amount of effort to look up from the ground . In a hoarse voice she asked, “Great immortals, you are sparing our lives?” Shen Li had only shaken her twice, but it was enough for her to understand the disparity in their strengths so she was very respectful when she spoke .

“Neither my child nor I wish to engage in such a malicious trade, but we were forced to do so because we had no other choice . We’ve only robbed passersby of their money . We take what we can, but we’ve never physically harmed anyone!”

“When did you put up the stall? And why were you compelled to do so?” Shen Li asked .

Thinking about it made the greened eyed python sigh . “This child’s father is a mortal . Together as a family we used to live in the forest surrounding Yangzhou . It was a hard life but we got by on the food he grew and the game I brought back from the mountain . Then three months ago something strange happened . The trees started withering away and the grass stopped growing . Thick miasma spread everywhere and nothing grew . I’m sure it’s related to the mountain god’s disappearance . ”

It clearly made her anxious just remembering . “The mountain god disappeared... The other supernatural beings said the god was taken away by someone named Fusheng Men . ”[notes]

Shen Li wrinkled her brows, that name again . It seemed, although he was from a small immortal sect, he was a rising power capable of not just kidnapping immortals around the capital, but also using demon magic . Even Shen Li began to doubt her conviction . Did someone from the Demon realm really break through the barrier and enter the Mortal realm?

“I had to take this child and hide here . There wasn’t anything to eat . Out of desperation we came upon the idea of robbing passersby of their money and any food they had with them .

“What about your husband?” Xing Zhi quietly asked, not concerned about Fusheng Men . “He’s not here with you so how is he getting by?”

“He...” The woman hesitated for a moment before fording forward honestly . “He was a Taoist priest before we married . Things were peaceful and we lived together without incident but he never laid down his duties . When the miasma spread down the mountain he had me and our daughter leave the area while he and his disciple went to Yangzhou . He said the miasma would be difficult to deal with and it would affect the city . ”

Shen Li was speechless at the revelation . This woman was in a relationship with a Taoist priest and they had a daughter together . Their identities were so different . It must have been incredibly difficult for them to remain together . She couldn’t help but admire the green snake .

Xing Zhi spoke up in Shen Li’s silence . “Since that’s the case, why don’t we go to Yangzhou? I’ll treat you to a meal another day . ” He smiled slightly at Shen Li as he spoke .

The intimate tone of his voice made Shen Li stare at him . She turned away and coughed .

“Great... great immortal!” The daughter suddenly spoke up . “Won’t you take me along as well?! I miss dad and I miss Brother Yan!”[notes] Her cheeks blushed out of embarrassment she said this .

A girl so young wouldn’t handle the miasma well . Xing Zhi was about to refuse but Shen Li spoke up first .

“OK, let’s go . ” She turned around and glanced at Xing Zhi . “Can you give her a talisman ward?” Though it was phrased as a question, it was clear she wasn’t interested in discussing the matter .

Xing Zhi looked at Shen Li in surprise before laughing out loud . He walked in front of the girl and drew several letters on her forehead . Finished he said, “Let me know if you feel unwell once we enter the city . ”

The girl nodded gratefully . Her body slowly changed into a tiny snake and she crawled into Shen Li’s sleeve . She peeked her head out and looked up at Shen Li .

With a laugh Shen Li said, “OK then, let’s go!”