So it turns out I'm the demon!

Next, Jiang Mu returned to her normal life at home.

The First Demon Shadow was in charge of breathing exercises and cultivating the "Purple Extreme Technique," which had no known purpose.

The second Shadow Demon is responsible for cultivating the "Spirit Serpent's Wandering Steps".

This martial art can be practiced without the need for Star Pills.

As for him personally...

I'm so bored I could die.

It was nothing more than occasionally helping out in the vegetable garden, or supervising Yuan Aqing who was undergoing body tempering.

One day, bored, Jiang Mu went to the vegetable garden.

Beside the fence, Bai Xiang squatted in front of a bean trellis that had just started to climb, holding a thin hemp rope in her hand, carefully securing the tender vines to a bamboo pole.

The woman was wearing a lake-blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) today.

Because of the squatting posture, the plump curves of her waist stretched the fabric tightly, creating a stark contrast with her slender waist above.

It resembles a ripe peach hanging on a slender branch.

"Need any help?" Jiang Mu asked as she approached.

Bai Xiang didn't turn around. She raised her muddy hand and pointed to a bundle of bamboo poles next to her.

Jiang Mu understood, stepped forward, picked up a bamboo pole, and helped her build the scaffold.

The two were separated by a fence, very close to each other.

As Bai Xiang raised her hand to tie the rope, her clothes opened slightly.

Jiang Mu's gaze inadvertently swept over it.

All I could glimpse was a dark blue piping and embroidered thread, beneath which lay skin as white as snow.

Black and white.

Profound and delicate.

Jiang Mu's hands kept moving as he casually remarked:

"It's boring staying home all day. Let's not cook dinner tonight. How about I take you to Ruyi Restaurant for a meal? I've heard their specialty shrimp is pretty good."

Bai Xiang tied the last knot, straightened up, and patted the dust off his hands.

She looked up at Jiang Mu, nodded slightly, and had a faint smile in her eyes.

……

After Yuan Aqing finished her final round of body-strengthening exercises, Jiang Mu told her to wash up and change into clean clothes, and the three of them went out together.

Ruyilou is one of the top restaurants in Huzhou City.

The shopkeeper naturally recognized the former playboy and courteously led them to the third floor.

The place is sparsely populated and quite quiet.

Even so, the three of them still attracted a lot of attention when they went upstairs.

Bai Xiang's figure was simply too eye-catching.

Even just a glimpse of her back, the rhythmic sway of her steps like a willow in the wind, is enough to make countless men's hearts flutter.

But when Bai Xiang revealed her ordinary face, those gazes shifted away in disappointment.

Bai Xiang remained calm and composed.

I chose a seat by the window and settled down comfortably.

This was the first time Yuan Aqing had ever been to such a grand place; she hadn't even dared to peek out from the doorway before.

She sat down next to Bai Xiang, feeling very reserved, only daring to glance around discreetly out of the corner of her eye.

Jiang Mu ordered several of their signature dishes.

Then he turned to Bai Xiang and asked her to order two light seasonal vegetables.

Just as the dishes were ordered, a loud voice suddenly rang out: "Isn't this Nephew Jiang?"

Jiang Mu turned her head to look.

A middle-aged man in fine clothes was walking towards them with a smile.

The man was around forty years old, with a robust build, a ruddy complexion, and an air of nouveau riche about him.

"So it's Uncle Shen."

Memories of this person surfaced in Jiang Mu's mind.

Shen Wanhai.

A well-known cloth and medicinal herb merchant in Huzhou City.

A few days ago, when the Jiang family held a funeral, this person came to offer condolences and subtly tried to take over one of the Jiang family's properties at a low price, but Jiang Mu politely declined.

"What a coincidence to run into my nephew here."

Shen Wanhai's gaze swept over Bai Xiang, and he teased, "Nephew, are you out for a stroll with your wife?"

Jiang Mu smiled faintly:

"Uncle Shen, you flatter me. This is my household steward. He's been very busy with official duties lately, but he had some free time today, so he brought his family out for a meal. Uncle Shen, are you here for a get-together too?"

"Yes, we went to the temple outside the city to burn incense, and now we've brought the whole family here to try something new."

Shen Wanhai pointed to a large table not far away.

Two elderly people, a child, and a brightly dressed woman were sitting at the table.

The woman was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a beautiful face and a charming and alluring air about her. She was surrounded by jewels and jade.

She was also holding a swaddled baby in her arms.

Just as Jiang Mu's gaze swept over, the woman also happened to look up.

Eyes facing each other.

A hint of resentment flashed across the woman's eyes. She gently bit her lower lip with her pearly teeth and then quickly lowered her eyes.

Jiang Mu: "?"

What's the meaning behind that look?

……

The two did not have a long conversation. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Shen Wanhai returned to his own table.

Jiang Mu sat back down in her chair, her brows furrowed slightly.

Madam Shen's gaze just now was so strange that it made him feel uneasy.

"They're probably not looking at me, are they?"

He shook his head, dismissing the inexplicable thought from his mind.

Before long, the food was served.

Although the dishes at Zuixianlou are exquisite, they always seem to lack the authentic, down-to-earth flavor of Baixiang's creations.

Jiang Mu took a few bites but lost interest and poured himself a small drink.

Yuan Aqing, standing to the side, remained reserved.

Holding the bowl, I only dared to pick at the plate of vegetables in front of me.

Seeing this, Jiang Mu peeled a few drunken shrimp and, regardless of whether the little girl wanted them or not, forced them into her bowl.

"Master, I..."

The little girl, holding the bowl, hurriedly tried to dodge.

"Not eating?"

Jiang Mu put on a stern face, "If you don't eat it, I'll throw it all away!"

Yuan Aqing was startled and had no choice but to obediently pick up the shrimp meat and put it in her mouth, looking aggrieved.

"Is it tasty?"

"...Delicious."

"Eat more if it's delicious!"

Jiang Mu got excited and kept feeding him food.

He only stopped when the little girl's belly was so full that he couldn't eat anymore.

Then, wanting to take care of Bai Xiang, she picked up a piece of fish meat and handed it to her.

Bai Xiang only glanced at him indifferently, picked up a bamboo shoot tip, chewed it slowly, and then put down her chopsticks.

Leaning against the window, I quietly gazed at the street scene below.

A gentle evening breeze caressed her temples, softly lifting a few strands of hair that shimmered in the dim lamplight.

After a while, Shen Wanhai and his family finished their meal and got up to leave.

As Shen Wanhai passed Jiang Mu's table, he greeted her with a smile:

"Please enjoy your meal, my dear nephew. We'll head back now and get together again another day when we have time."

"Take care, Uncle Shen."

Jiang Mu stood up and politely bowed as she saw him off.

Madam Shen followed at the back, holding her child.

As she passed Jiang Mu sideways, whether intentionally or unintentionally, the tip of her shoe stepped on Jiang Mu's foot.

Jiang Mu winced slightly in pain, frowning as she looked up.

But the woman had already caught up with her family and disappeared around the corner of the stairs.

Jiang Mu's heart sank.

Thinking back to Jiang Chen's past womanizing ways, a bad feeling welled up in her heart.

Could it be that...

Am I now a traitor to Cao Cao?

-

We left the restaurant.

Night had fallen.

A bright moon, like a jade plate washed clean by water, hangs quietly high in the sky.

Feeling the cool night breeze, Jiang Mu smiled and said:

"Let's not take the carriage, how about we walk back? The moonlight is lovely tonight, it'll be a good way to digest our food."

Bai Xiang smiled gently, her eyes reflecting the moonlight, and nodded softly.

"Ah Qing, what do you think?"

Jiang Mu turned around and looked at the little tail behind her.

Yuan Aqing, who was frowning and pressing her round belly with one hand, exclaimed "Ah!" upon hearing this and quickly nodded:

"I'll listen to you, sir!"

"How many times have I told you, call me young master."

Jiang Mu tapped the little girl on the forehead. "Do I look that old?"

"Yes, sir... no, young master!"

Jiang Mu chuckled, ruffled her hair, and turned to walk alongside Bai Xiang.

The long street was deserted, and the lights were dim.

The shadows of the two were stretched long and thin by the moonlight.

Bai Xiang walked very slowly.

She always kept her distance from Jiang Mu, and whenever he unintentionally got a little closer, she would move half a step to the side.

Jiang Mu didn't pay attention to these details and continued talking to herself:

"When I have some free time in a while, I'll take you to the capital. I've heard it's very prosperous there. The Qionglin Flower Banquet, the painted boats on the pond are like a woven tapestry, and the music and singing last all night... It's much more lively than this Huzhou City."

Upon hearing the word "capital city," Bai Xiang's eyes flickered.

She gently shook her head.

"Don't you want to go?" Jiang Mu raised an eyebrow.

Bai Xiang shook his head again.

The evening breeze caressed her plain dress, causing it to flutter.

"Too,"

Jiang Mu understood, "You are naturally quiet and don't like noise."

He then went on and on about many interesting things he had seen and heard.

Bai Xiang listened quietly.

When she heard something interesting, she smiled slightly, her eyes crinkling.

Occasionally, she would look up at the moon.

For some reason, I thought of the moon in my hometown, the Mirror Kingdom.

The moon there...

It always seems to need to be rounder and brighter.

As she looked around, her gaze fell on the man beside her.

Since settling here, day after day, I've gotten used to seeing that figure whenever I look up.

It is not about love, nor is it related to romance.

It's just a habit.

I've grown accustomed to seeing him sweating profusely in the sand.

I got used to his corny jokes that I couldn't understand, and I got used to that little courtyard full of warmth and a sense of security.

"This guy... is actually kind of cute."

Bai Xiang thought to herself.

Perhaps bewitched by the gentle night, she put her hands behind her back, playfully turned her body to the side, and gently bumped her shoulder against the other person.

Just a touch.

Their shadows then kissed.