On the official road outside Ding City

Chunniang sat in the carriage, feeling the cool breeze blowing in, holding a cup of cool tea and sipping it slowly.

She glanced sidelong at Luo Anqing and cursed, "Bad luck, get away from me quickly, so you don’t hurt my eyes by looking at you."

Luo Anqing was filled with sorrow and had no choice but to jump off the carriage, trotting alongside it.

Xiao Yuan and Cong Zhongbai followed behind and saw this scene, and even Cong Zhongbai, who was very chivalrous, was furious.

"That woman is too vicious."

He clenched his fists and said to Xiao Yuan, "It’s really hateful, even I want to drag her out and give her a beating."

Xiao Yuan kept a cold face and did not speak.

Cong Zhongbai pleaded with Xiao Yuan, "Brother Xiao, think of a way to save Miss Luo, if this continues, she’ll lose her life."

Xiao Yuan turned his palm over, "In another ten li, there’s a courier station, they’ll rest then, and I’ll figure out how to see Miss Luo."

The meaning was clear, as long as he could see her, Xiao Yuan could save her.

Cong Zhongbai’s face finally showed a hint of a smile.

Sure enough, after traveling about ten li, there was a small courier station by the roadside.

Chunniang made the team stop, planning to rest at the station.

Perhaps she was also tired, she didn’t torment Luo Anqing further, instead sending her to stay in the station’s kitchen.

Luo Anqing, extremely hungry, went into the kitchen to help with some work. The woman cooking there gave Luo Anqing a steamed bun, "Girl, hurry and eat. I think you won’t rest long; it’s a long way to the next station, and if you don’t eat now, you’ll starve for a long time."

Luo Anqing thanked the woman and took the steamed bun to eat.

She had just taken two bites when the woman suddenly fell to the ground.

"Ma’am, what happened to you?"

Luo Anqing was startled, quickly squatting down to check on the woman.

As soon as she squatted, she saw someone else in the kitchen.

The person was dressed in green, with long black hair tied up with a silver crown, and looked extraordinarily handsome, with a carefree, ethereal air.

"You..."

Luo Anqing supported the woman, cautiously eyeing the man who appeared in the kitchen, "Who are you?"

Xiao Yuan glanced at the woman, "She’s fine, I just made her sleep for a while."

"What do you want?"

Luo Anqing was even more on guard.

Xiao Yuan extended his hand, revealing a jade pendant in his palm.

Luo Anqing recognized the jade pendant at a glance; it was her mother’s usual accessory, which she frequently saw before she got married and would never mistake.

"Why is my mother’s jade pendant with you?"

Luo Anqing’s heart raced with fear that something had happened to her mother.

Xiao Yuan said in a low voice, "Some time ago, Second Miss Luo had a nightmare, waking up crying and saying the eldest miss isn’t living well. Mrs. Luo was worried and asked us to check on you. It was just to secretly take a look, but we found you indeed aren’t doing well..."

Luo Anqing took the jade pendant and looked at it, then held it in her hands, lowering her head and crying, "Mother, your daughter is unfilial, causing you worry."

Xiao Yuan stepped forward, extending his hand, and gently swept it across Luo Anqing’s forehead.

Luo Anqing froze for a moment, then felt an overwhelming relief, as if something controlling her was gone.

"What’s happening to me?"

She clutched the jade pendant, hesitantly asking Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan opened his palm, showing Luo Anqing a fat, white insect in his palm.

Luo Anqing had always been terrified of insects, and seeing that one made her face pale with fright.

Xiao Yuan, not hiding anything, straightforwardly said, "This was taken out of your body. Your maid Chunniang knows some poisonous insect techniques. She planted a love poison in you, making you fall in love with Li Pengcheng, loving him so much you’d do anything he said, and even be willing to die for him."

"Ugh."

Seeing the insect and thinking of it living in her body for so many years, Luo Anqing felt nauseated, wanting to vomit.

At the same time, she was filled with anger and hatred.

"Chunniang, Li Pengcheng, those two bastards..."

Xiao Yuan waited for Luo Anqing to curse a few more times before continuing, "Those servants are all controlled by Chunniang. You can’t act rashly now. Once we’re in Yang City, you can deal with Chunniang as you please."

Luo Anqing was not foolish.

She nodded solemnly, "Rest assured, young master, I know what to do."

She bowed to Xiao Yuan, "This humble one thanks the young master for saving my life."

Xiao Yuan waved his hand, "I’m just doing as tasked by someone."

He stretched out his hand, "Return the jade pendant to me. If you wear it and Chunniang sees it, it could be troublesome."

Reluctantly, Luo Anqing returned the jade pendant to Xiao Yuan.

Xiao Yuan stowed the jade pendant, waved his hand, and the woman woke up immediately.

In a flash, he had disappeared.

Luo Anqing, having collected herself, worriedly helped the woman up, "Ma’am, what happened to you just now? Why did you fall? Are you alright?"

The woman shook her head, "I’m fine, fine."

At night, in the Yao Family’s back garden, a shadowy figure slipped in.

He stood by the artificial lake, carefully investigating He Zhuzhu’s movements.

On the other side of the garden, Bai Rong and Hong Luo, the two flower spirits, hid cautiously within their true forms.

They were aware of Daoist Lu’s demon-capturing visit to the Yao Family a few days prior.

At the time, they too were terrified, fearing that Daoist Lu would capture them as well.

But Daoist Lu only captured the River Clam Spirit, never uncovering their identities, making Bai Rong and Hong Luo almost cry with gratitude.

Later, Anning appeared and explained what had happened to them.

It turned out Anning concealed their demon energy, preventing most of the world’s mages from recognizing them as demons.

This made Bai Rong and Hong Luo even more grateful to Anning.

In recent days, they’ve been diligently cultivating, for the cultivation technique Anning provided was advanced, allowing them to progress rapidly.

Bai Rong even mentioned to Hong Luo that if they cultivated for another year or so, their mana might surpass that of the River Clam Spirit. Given another decade or so, they could undoubtedly reign among demons.

Having a goal and hope, the two flower spirits put aside all inappropriate thoughts.

They once considered finding a scholar or a handsome young man for romance, but no longer thought that way.

Is cultivation not good? Isn’t eternal life appealing? Why get tangled with mortals?

Tonight, under the perfect moonlight, as the two flower spirits prepared to cultivate, they heard movement, and being sensitive by nature, ducked back into their true forms upon sensing trouble.

Then they saw a demon by the lake, constantly investigating.

Bai Rong whispered to Hong Luo, "Sister, could this be the River Clam Spirit’s family?"

Hong Luo nodded, "I think so; they’ve brought out the elder after dealing with the younger one."

"What kind of demon is it?"

Bai Rong couldn’t discern the shadow’s cultivation level, nor see his true form.

"I suppose it’s either a Fish Spirit or a Water Monster, anyway, it’s something from the water. Oh, it looks so ugly."

Hong Luo, being a flower spirit, was naturally very beautiful, looking down on those mountain demons and water monsters, finding them strange and unsightly.