Seeing Lu Zheng and Shen Ying appear, Wang Manzhu hurriedly turned her kowtows towards them.
“Immortal, spare me! Immortal, spare my life!”
“This scholar already promised to give his heart to me. This little demon also gave her pure body for him to defile. It was mutual willingness, a fair trade.”
Wang Manzhu pleaded, then wailed, “But this little demon wants none of it now. Please, Immortals, show mercy and let this little demon leave!”
Lu Zheng could not help laughing. “So now we are the unreasonable ones?”
Shen Ying snorted. “Quite slick with word games. The ‘give heart’ he said and the ‘give heart’ you mean, are they the same?”
Wang Manzhu trembled all over. Her so-called contract was merely an excuse, a pretext to boast to other demons that she did not kill indiscriminately, elevating her own status.
But when truly in trouble, this excuse was a joke. Using it now to beg for mercy was simply insulting Lu Zheng and Shen Ying’s intelligence.
Lu Zheng shook his head in amusement. “Look at this mess. Quite the sense of ceremony. If you had just dug out his heart the moment you met him, you would not have run into us.
“Now look. You had to play romantic, feel gratitude before the meal, make vows, have him offer his heart willingly. Dragging it out, wandering everywhere, and wandering right into trouble.”
Wang Manzhu’s face twisted bitterly.
Other demons had said similar things before, but when things went smoothly, she never thought about it. She only felt she had style and pursuit.
Now, acting and encountering extraordinary beings, her life in others’ hands, she finally regretted.
Was there still a future?
Hearing this, Shen Ying could not help feeling both annoyed and amused. She shot Lu Zheng a flirtatious glare.
Killing the heart with words, nothing more.
“Immortal, spare me!” Wang Manzhu only wailed for mercy. “This little demon has only just emerged from the mountain. I know nothing of mortal rules. The moment I came out, I met Yu Lang. I have never harmed lives before.
“Now this little demon understands. Please, two Immortals, show mercy. For the sake of heaven’s virtue in cherishing life, spare this little demon. I will reform completely and never harm again.”
Facing clear powerhouses, Wang Manzhu dared not use any arts. She only looked tearfully, speaking with utmost sincerity.
“Expression on point, tone earnest. Sounds just like the truth.” Lu Zheng commented. “A fine actress. Crushes a crowd of little flowers.”
In truth, Lu Zheng was biased. Most modern little flowers were at least trained professionally. If facing mortal danger with every performance, their acting would surely explode too.
Shen Ying thought Lu Zheng meant the peach blossom eighteen heavenly maidens. After all, when rehearsing Liang Zhu, some maidens played students, guests, villagers, sedan bearers, and such.
Thus, Shen Ying defended her subordinates. “That is because their roles had no room to shine. Their acting is actually very good.”
Lu Zheng blinked upon hearing this, realising the misunderstanding, but did not explain. He merely nodded in agreement.
After all…
Back at Wuxiu Manor during the dharma contest, when that old monk cast illusions, the eighteen maidens’ acting was indeed fine…
Ahem! Off topic. Back!
Lu Zheng refocused. He looked at the kowtowing Wang Manzhu, then at Shen Yu standing aside, shocked, terrified, yet relieved. He shrugged silently, leaving the matter to Shen Ying.
Shen Ying squeezed Lu Zheng’s hand, then looked at Shen Yu. Frowning, she said, “Explain. How did you meet this Wang Manzhu?”
…
A very ordinary story.
After the county exam, Shen Yu went out with classmates. Passing a certain town, he met Wang Manzhu and fell in love at first sight.
Learning her parents had died, she lived alone in the town. He eagerly invited her to the county town.
Thus, Wang Manzhu followed him to the county, moving into the Shen home. Skilled in tailoring, literate, versed in poetry, she was much liked by the Shen family.
The Shen family was no great household. Shen Yu was not the heir. So in just over half a month, Shen Wei approved the marriage.
Then… Wang Manzhu and Shen Yu came to pay respects to Shen’s mother, encountering Shen Ying and Lu Zheng.
Shen Ying nodded, confirming Wang Manzhu was a lone-operating demon. Under Wang Manzhu’s terrified gaze, she formed a hand seal.
Peach Blossom Baleful Qi struck straight into the heart veins. Wang Manzhu’s vision blackened. Pupils dilated. She died in body and path.
In the next moment, the three saw the prone Wang Manzhu’s form slump. Instantly, she became a three-chi-long great rat. Head and half body exposed outside the dress.
Shen Yu was horrified. He instinctively retreated several steps.
Shen Ying glanced at him. Her tone full of disdain. “Lust-clouded mind, no vigilance. Facing strangeness, no manly courage.”
Shen Yu lowered his brows and head, daring not speak.
Shen Ying flipped her palm. The earth beneath the great rat suddenly cracked, swallowing the corpse before restoring itself.
Shen Yu watched, envious. But just scolded, he only stood meekly aside, head lowered, silent.
“Your father is Shen Wei?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Shen Yu nodded repeatedly.
Shen Ying frowned, yet still asked, “How is Shen Yi now?”
“Little Aunt?” Shen Yu looked up, puzzled at Shen Ying, then clearly saw her face. His eyes jumped.
“Little Aunt married into Yao Prefecture city. Life is fairly smooth, but she rarely returns.”
Seeing Shen Ying’s cold gaze, Shen Yu startled and quickly lowered his head.
“Hmm.” Shen Ying nodded.
Lu Zheng looked at Shen Ying. She sighed. “When I married out, she was the only one who cried.”
Shen Yu’s heart leaped. He could not help looking up at Shen Ying again, suddenly recalling the two newly worshipped graves.
“You… you are…”
Shen Ying smiled faintly. “What am I?”
Shen Yu’s lips moved, speechless. Shen Ying’s incident happened before his birth. He only knew of her existence, not her name.
Married women follow husbands. There was no grave for Shen Ying here.
“Aunt… Aunt?”
“Hmph!”
Shen Ying huffed lightly, neither confirming nor denying. Instead, coldly asking, “How did your father speak of me to you?”
Shen Yu hurriedly said, “Said after marrying into the Wu family, you followed your husband to Yi Prefecture for posting. Met misfortune on the road.”
Clearly, the Shen family’s hasty marriage of Shen Ying to the Wu family and division of her property had been glossed over with euphemism.
Shen Ying shook her head. The faint stir of feeling extinguished. Too lazy to meet them again, she only said to Shen Yu, “In future, be cautious with those of unknown origins. Do not speak sweet words carelessly, lest you lose your life.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Shen Yu nodded repeatedly.
“You may go.”
“Aunt, will you not return with me…”
Shen Yu spoke while raising his head, only to find Shen Ying and Lu Zheng already gone.
