RIIDMDR chapter 50

 

After dinner, Nan Xu was washing dishes and clearing the stove in the kitchen when he suddenly heard the sound of a Pipa in the courtyard. The melodious sound echoed like jade beads on a plate: graceful and beautiful. Then, the clear, high-pitched sound of a flute echoed through the valley.

Nan Xu peeked out the window and saw the two guests playing the instruments. He had seen the girl dressed in black polishing the flute earlier, but he wondered where the pipa had come from.

The two of them played in perfect harmony, captivating the audience. Even Guan’er was quiet, crouching under the stone table and licking its paws. Although Nan Xu didn’t understand music theory, he felt a strange sense of comfort in the music. It was like a clear stream flowing through his heart on a hot summer day, bringing clarity to his mind.

Washing dishes while listening to music was elegant. Nan Xu felt that life in the mountains could be dull at times and could use a little musical spice. However, when he thought about the various expensive instruments waiting to be unlocked in the mall, he realized that life before wasn’t so bad.

At that moment, Tingchuan finished clearing the table outside and came in with a bucket of water. He poured it into the basin for Nan Xu to wash the dishes. The well water was cool and refreshing in the summer. Nan Xu tilted his head and smiled at Tingchuan.

“What kind of demon is this new guest?” Nan Xu asked quietly after noticing that Tingchuan hadn’t left after pouring the water. He leaned over and watched him wash the dishes idly.

Demons have good hearing, so Nan Xu didn’t dare speak too loudly amid the clamor of the instruments. Fortunately, they were close enough for Tingchuan to hear him clearly. He replied, “The mermaids.”

Numerous legends about mermaids raced through Nan Xu’s mind, and he instinctively asked, “Is it the mermaid whose tears turn into pearls?”

Tingchuan raised his eyebrows slightly, as if surprised by the question. He shook his head, then nodded. “Mermaids don’t shed tears that turn into pearls. But what you’re saying probably does exist. It’s said that mermaids… Before the Spiritual Shattering, the spiritual energy within the body dissipates and transforms into rare pearls.”

Nan Xu seized on the key words: “It’s said? Have you even seen one?”

Tingchuan chuckled softly. “I’ve been on East Sea Mountain for thousands of years, and most of what I know about the demon world is hearsay. Mermaids are few in number, and they aspire to transform into dragons that dwell in the deep southern seas and shun the land.”

Nan Xu glanced at the two sisters in the courtyard. The meaning was self-evident. They didn’t interact with demons on land, so how could he be so lucky as to have seen one?

Ignoring Nan Xu’s objections, Tingchuan patiently explained, “In recent years, the mermaids have become increasingly eager to transform into dragons. This is because Azure Dragon is in dire straits. If he dies, Heaven will no longer recognize dragons in this world, and the mermaids will have virtually no hope. Therefore, several mermaid demons have come to the mainland to study.”

Nanxu understood. He didn’t know why the mermaids were so determined to transform, but it might be a belief of their race. It was similar to the demon world’s tacit agreement to preserve Azure Dragon Jingyuan’s life—a desire to preserve the world’s last Azure Dragon and give the demon world more space.

“They’re very skilled at their instruments,” Nan Xu said. “I’ve rarely heard such a natural flow to their performance.”

There are many masters of various instruments in the world. Nan Xu once gritted his teeth and spent money on tickets to see them perform live. The musicians on stage were indeed skilled, but compared to these two sisters, they lacked spirituality. Even Nan Xu, a layman, could hear the difference.

Tingchuan said, “Mermaids are skilled in music, whether with instruments or singing. It’s their form of entertainment, and it’s also their magical weapon.

Nan Xu put away the washed dishes. His eyes lit up at this. “Magic weapons? A flute or a pipa? Wouldn’t that mean he’d have to carry a pipa?”

Tingchuan nodded. “Many demons have their own magical weapons. The magical weapons of mermaids are almost always musical instruments. Demons who can control their weapons can manipulate them at will. For example, it’s not a bad idea to shrink the pipa and use it as a headdress. However, such transformations consume spiritual energy. Nowadays, magical weapons are rarely used in demon warfare unless it’s a major conflict.

As he said this, Nan Xu remembered that the girl in the brocade clothes had indeed worn a small pipa headdress. His eyes scanned Tingchuan. He was dressed casually and simply in a plain dress and headband with no other accessories. He was a little disappointed.

“Where are you hiding your magical weapons? Nan Xu asked.

Tingchuan paused, not answering immediately. He looked at Nan Xu for two seconds, almost enough time for Nan Xu to think he had asked the wrong question. Just as he was about to wave his hand and say that he would stop asking, Tingchuan calmly said, “My magical weapon is a long sword. I gave it to a friend, and they haven’t gotten it back yet.”

Nanxu wondered. Isn’t it said that magical weapons and demons merge into one? How could they be given away? He decided not to speculate about the existence of a four- or five-thousand-year-old demon. He was curious about what Tingchuan’s sword looked like, though. Perhaps it was like Tingchuan himself: untainted by dust and defying snow and frost.

Coming back to the present, Nan Xu wiped his damp hands on his clothes and glanced out the window. The woman in the vibrant brocade dress and the woman in black were both sitting upright with slender postures. Their robes fluttered in the wind, and the rustling of the loquat tree’s branches seemed to accompany it.

Nan Xu muttered softly, “You really need a special skill. If this performance were put on at a university welcome party, it would surely attract the attention of all the male students.”

Tingchuan didn’t understand “welcome party” or “students,” but he understood Nan Xu’s meaning. He asked softly, “Even the mermaids are addicted to the music, controlling and instigating those with unstable minds. How come you’re also captivated by it?”

Nan Xu shook his head hurriedly. “How could that be? How could I be unstable? There aren’t many entertainment activities in this mountain area, so I’m just curious about something new.”

Tingchuan said, “Then why are your eyes always fixed on that woman in brocade clothes?”

Nan Xu: …

Isn’t it because she’s too thin? I’m always worried she’ll break if she sits so straight!

After a brief moment of silence, Tingchuan left the kitchen. He looked a bit gloomy, as if he were unhappy.

—

After his afternoon nap, Nanxu took Guan’er for a stroll in the mountains. Since entering the formation atop the main peak, Nanxu had developed a deeper appreciation for the Zhuyu Mountains, a greater reverence and affinity for them.

This dangerous and mysterious mountain range did not treat him with the same indifference it had shown other demons. It bared its ferocious fangs at him, but only lightly touched him.

Guan’er enjoyed good food and drink in the mountains and ran around everywhere every day. In just a month or two, not only did his fur become shiny, but he also grew a lot bigger and more robust, looking quite majestic.

Nan Xu was already very familiar with the terrain of the nearby mountain paths. He didn’t need a map. With his improved stamina, he could now cover the distance much faster. What used to take three to four hours to reach the stony riverbank halfway down the mountain now took barely half the time. This change surprised him greatly.

“Guan’er, we’re not going down anymore,” Nan Xu called out.

He glanced at the sky. Since it got dark late in the summer, it wasn’t impossible to walk down further. However, Nan Xu hadn’t been here in a while. The water was wide here, and the current was slow, so he could catch small fish and shrimp to eat.

After weaving a few fish baskets and putting in some earthworms, Nan Xu sat on a shaded rock and gazed at the scenery. The path where he had once met Ting Chuan probably had more inn guests passing by now. The grass on the trail was thinner now and looked a little bare, making the path more distinct.

Guan’er darted happily through the woods. Whenever Nan Xu lost sight of him and barked, a distant “woof” echoed back. After waiting about half an hour, Nanxu stood up and gathered the baskets. There weren’t many shrimp, but there were small, finger-long river fish, all lively and active.

While waiting for the second wave of fish and shrimp, Guan’er returned in a frisky mood after playing and getting tired. He ran over to Nanxu, his tail wagging, and rubbed against his feet. Since it was summer and Nanxu was wearing only a layer of clothing, the puppy’s fur tickled his feet. He smiled and tried to push Guan’er away. They played for a while, and then suddenly, white foam began spitting out from the corners of Guan’er’s mouth.

Seeing this, Nanxu’s smile froze, and he reached out to wipe Guan’er’s mouth. Guan’er grinned and stuck out his tongue in confusion, but more white foam flowed from his mouth.

Nanxu was so frightened that he lost all desire to play. He knelt on the ground, hugged the dog’s head, pried open Guan’er’s mouth, and examined it. Guan’er thought Nan Xu was playing with him and didn’t resist. Nan Xu found no wounds or remnants of anything, but the sight of the foam on his hands made him panic.

“Guan’er, what did you eat? Are there any wounds on your body? Are you feeling any discomfort?” Nan Xu asked, searching for the source with increasing urgency.

Guan’er finally sensed that something was wrong. His wide, joyful mouth slowly closed. He looked at Nan Xu’s slightly panicked face with his bright black eyes and tilted his head. “Woof!”

One asked; the other really answered. Unfortunately, Nan Xu couldn’t understand him.

“Did you eat something?” Nan Xu hadn’t touched any wounds. He imagined Guan’er eating poisonous grass, foaming at the mouth, and collapsing. He imagined that if Guan’er died, he would have to ask the system to buy medicine to save him. Any amount of silver coins would be enough. He had finally gotten a dog from his two worlds and wanted to keep him for many years.

Completely unaware of his owner’s inner drama, Guan’er shook his head and ran to the stream in a panic. If not for the foam at the corners of his mouth, Nan Xu would have thought Guan’er was being overly sensitive.

Nan Xu followed Guan’er and watched him lick the water for a while. He couldn’t tell if Guan’er was drinking, but the unnatural strings of bubbles on the surface of the water around his mouth looked familiar.

Before Nan Xu could remember where he had seen them before, Guan’er finished drinking and raised his head. The fur around his mouth was soaked, but thankfully, no more foam escaped.

Guan’er wagged his tail and ran to Nan Xu’s side, trying to rub against him. Nan Xu held Guan’er and waited a long time, but when he saw nothing unusual, he finally felt relieved.

“What did you eat in the mountains?” Nanxu asked.

Guan’er leaped from his arms and ran toward the jungle. Nanxu followed quickly behind. Guan’er sniffed around, then stopped and barked twice.

Nanxu ran over and saw a few saliva-soaked fruits on the ground, each one as big as a longan. Two of them had teeth marks from the dog.

Nanxu picked one up, looked at it, and smelled it. It felt like he had seen them before. His mind connected the dots, and he finally remembered

Soapberry, commonly called soap fruit—the pulp makes bubbles when rubbed with water.

No wonder Guan’er had looked poisoned earlier.

Nan Xu reached out and touched Guan’er’s head twice. After understanding the whole situation, he was left with a mixture of laughter and tears. “You dare to try anything?”

Guan’er barked at the fruit, clearly recalling its unpleasant taste, and shouted in anger.

“Silly dog!”