Chapter 181: Another Meeting with Qiaoyun

“The two Taoist Priests have quite the forgetful nature; it’s only been a few months, and you’ve already forgotten me?”

Seeing Xiang Jiannan and Gao Yu’an looking at each other, indicating that the matter had nothing to do with Wang Yixing, the Red-Clothed Snake Demon said with feigned anger.

Her tone was soft and sweet, making Xiang Jiannan almost lose his composure. A certain node deep in his memory seemed to be activated, and he just wanted to shout, “Demon!”

It was no longer the familiar feeling from before; this snake demon seemed to be a genuine old acquaintance.

“If you have something to say, please speak plainly, Miss. Who you are isn’t actually important.”

His tone was gentle and unhurried. Seeing that Xiang Jiannan was already eager to know the answer, Gao Yu’an spoke.

Changing the subject, this snake demon still wanted to whet the old Taoist Priest’s appetite…

Speaking so slowly, unlike that female demon, if she were a different gender, he believed his disciple wouldn’t have such an expectant expression.

“I am Qiaoyun; we met before in the Prefecture.”

“Qiaoyun? Magistrate Lin’s concubine…confidante!”

The words shocked Wang Yixing even more, making him even more confused. Seeing his Senior Brother’s expression change several times in a short period, Wang Yixing finally understood the origin of the red-clothed woman before him.

His Senior Brother almost blurted it out; could it be that Magistrate Lin had also come to Ping’an Town?

He couldn’t connect the Red-Clothed Snake Demon with what happened at the Chen Residence a few months ago just because of Xiang Jiannan’s words. Turning his head to search outside the Incense Hall, Wang Yixing thought that Lin Zhen had come to Ping’an Town again.

He had naturally heard about the County Magistrate having a confidante; for officials, who wouldn’t have some hobbies?

When he went home this morning, he hadn’t heard any commotion, so it must have happened after he returned to Ping’an Temple.

Right now, only his confidante had come first; was Magistrate Lin currently at the Chen Residence?

Did you see it all along?

Unlike Wang Yixing, who could instantly analyze so much, turning his gaze to Gao Yu’an, Xiang Jiannan saw a sense of relief on the old Taoist Priest’s face.

Then, turning his head to look at the Red-Clothed Snake Demon, not caring what Wang Yixing would think after hearing it:

“The snake demon that night in the Prefecture was also you? I didn’t recognize you at all.”

Although his tone carried some joy at reuniting with an old friend, he had already become wary.

This snake demon was actually Qiaoyun. He had thought she had disappeared without a trace, but who knew she had been circling around him all along.

It was very consistent with the methods used by snakes when attacking. To make matters worse, he had even helped her survive the Heavenly Tribulation.

“That’s because I shed several layers of skin.”

At this point, she finally stopped beating around the bush, but what she said made Xiang Jiannan even more confused. The Red-Clothed Snake Demon continued to smile:

“If it weren’t for the Old Taoist Priest’s mercy that day at the Chen Residence, how could Qiaoyun be standing in this Ping’an Temple today?”

“A blessing in disguise. It actually helped me shed my external Qi. After several trials, I finally managed to endure the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“I will always remember your great kindness!”

So, when you were undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation, you thought of our Ping’an Temple again? You’re just trying to cause trouble here, aren’t you?

Feeling that Qiaoyun’s words were not clear, and realizing that the talisman used by his Master during their first meeting might have been intentional, Xiang Jiannan immediately looked at Gao Yu’an after she finished speaking. Although the latter immediately showed an innocent expression when their eyes met, the surprised look made the Little Taoist even more suspicious.

There were too many coincidences on the day of the Heavenly Tribulation. Thinking back, it was difficult, but not impossible to arrange.

A few words made his suspicion surge again. Cultivators and demons; his Master was truly benevolent.

“You approached Magistrate Lin before, was it all for this day?”

Gao Yu’an didn’t speak, so he had to ask himself. While speaking, he couldn’t see the flickering gas from before. Xiang Jiannan began to throw out his questions one by one.

He had thought that the flickering gas was caused by the demonic entity transforming into human form. Now it seemed that the two were unrelated. What was external Qi? With his understanding of demons, this was the first time he had heard of such a thing.

He had lost some memories after transmigrating.

“Demons have a difficult time cultivating. Approaching Magistrate Lin was just to steal his official Qi. I just didn’t expect to alarm you two Taoist Priests. That Lin Zhen is truly a lecher!”

Answering Xiang Jiannan’s question, she looked disgusted at the end. Qiaoyun was almost spitting on the ground in front of them.

Lin Zhen was the first official she had submitted to. If nothing unexpected happened, he would probably be the last.

She had witnessed many dirty things by his side. For officials, it was actually very difficult to remain pure.

“So, you harmed the previous Qiaoyun?”

Remembering the words Lin Zhen had said that day, and still unable to equate Qiaoyun with the Red-Clothed Snake Demon, Xiang Jiannan continued to ask.

Lin Zhen had already made it clear during their first meeting that Qiaoyun had suddenly changed. This was equivalent to saying that the snake demon had committed murder.

When she finally escaped, she left behind only a skin. That scene was still shocking to him.

Did she completely empty her body? Suddenly, his head felt a little itchy.

“Where is there any previous Qiaoyun?”

Thinking that this Little Taoist was thinking too much, seeing that he seemed to have misunderstood, the Red-Clothed Snake Demon immediately corrected him:

“From beginning to end, Lin Zhen’s confidante has always been me. It was just that later, when stealing official Qi, things didn’t go smoothly, and my mind changed. Before you two Taoist Priests intervened, Qiaoyun didn’t think it was a big deal.”

She didn’t take our Ping’an Temple seriously at all.

Seeing that Qiaoyun’s tone was unusually calm, Xiang Jiannan really wanted to ask her if she wasn’t afraid of the monks in the city, but he paused for a while and ultimately didn’t ask.

She naturally knew what Lin Zhen was thinking. Her behavior at the Chen Residence was probably half intentional and half due to her mental state.

Stealing Lin Zhen’s official Qi for cultivation; this snake demon was worthy of his previous judgment of her.

She was quite bold, actually setting her sights on such a dangerous thing.

The official Qi of the Great Zhou Dynasty was the luck of the officials. This thing was connected to the lifeline of the country, and every officially appointed official would have it.

It was an invisible buff.

It was extremely dangerous for unofficial officials to try to cultivate using this. Taking other people’s benefits without being on the record would have dire consequences if caught.

Under the strong power of the state, they would basically be crushed. His Master had mentioned it to him before, when he was talking about Governor Sun after he had been interrogated.

Lin Zhen probably didn’t know about this. He had official Qi but no ability to protect it. As a mere County Magistrate, the closest person he had was Master Guo.

A snake demon, stealing Magistrate Lin’s official Qi.

Hearing another secret from the conversation between Xiang Jiannan and Qiaoyun, unlike his Master and Senior Brother who were so calm, Wang Yixing felt like he had a fishbone stuck in his throat.

Such a beautiful woman in red was actually a snake demon. If he hadn’t become a disciple of the Old Taoist Priest, how would he have known about such things? His Master had previously asked him not to talk nonsense anymore. At this moment, Wang Yixing was really struggling to hold it in.

“The so-called external Qi is the initial demonic Qi that demons cannot hide when they transform into human form.”

After Qiaoyun left, he began teaching his two disciples, speaking eloquently. Gao Yu’an stood at the entrance of the Incense Hall and explained:

“All birds and beasts will encounter this kind of problem when they achieve minor success in cultivation. Only when their cultivation reaches a certain level can they completely shed that initial demonic Qi.”

“After shedding it, you can’t tell they’re a demon anymore?”

“After the external Qi dissipates, the internal Qi will naturally follow. With your current cultivation, Disciple, it’s not appropriate to discuss such high-level things yet.”

“Seeing is believing, as they say.”

While speaking, he brought up Xiang Jiannan’s cultivation again, hitting a sore spot. Gao Yu’an had a slip of the tongue.

Seeing that both of his disciples were thinking seriously, he felt a sense of emotion, and soon a bad feeling arose.

A disgrace to the Taoist Sect.

It was understandable that Wang Yixing didn’t know about this, but Jiannan really shouldn’t be so ignorant.

Those scriptures in the temple, you’ve been reading them for nothing… I usually see you’re not idle either.

“Why do those demons all want to first cultivate into human form?”

There was still one thing he didn’t understand. When the old Taoist Priest’s vanity was greatly satisfied, Xiang Jiannan asked again.

He actually had a certain answer in his mind, but he just wanted to hear what the old Taoist Priest had to say.

Was it the same as he thought?

“To better cultivate?”

“Let me ask you, as your Teacher, if one day you suddenly encountered a talking wild boar on the road, what would be your first reaction, Disciple?”

“Of course, I’d run, as fast as I could, and then bring people back to deal with it.”

Wang Yixing answered before Xiang Jiannan could even speak. Seeing that his Master was not satisfied, Wang Yixing entered silent mode again.

After waiting for a while, he heard his Senior Brother speak formally, beginning a question-and-answer session with his Master.

“Capture it for research.”

“Research…”

“And if you can’t deal with it?”

“Ask for help to capture it for research.”

“That’s it. Demons think the same way.”

“Transforming into humans makes things much more convenient for them.”