PART 2
Baixu Ci answered honestly: “No.”
He directly picked up the “bunny” that had been used to hold the curled-up paper, using a stone as a support, and held it in one hand.
“Hey, no, the paper will fall!” Baixu Ci was a little anxious and used both hands to push the precarious paper.
Fan Yue felt it was unnecessary, so he directly tore it down.
“Rip—”
The notice board was instantly clean.
Baixu Ci was speechless, but he thought tearing it down was more convenient.
So he kicked away the stone used to prop up the paper, patted the dust off his hands, and looked up to see the notice.
But at that moment…
Baixu Ci suddenly noticed an eerie silence. It seemed that all the passersby were looking in this direction.
Their gazes varied, as if looking at some monster.
“Someone actually tore it down!”
“I thought it was already absurd enough that the magistrate is getting married, but there’s actually someone signing up to escort the wedding procession?”
“He’s a tough guy. The notice was almost falling down by itself; it would have been fine. He had to tear it down himself…”
…
Baixu Ci closed his eyes, hoping things weren’t what he thought.
“What’s wrong?” Fan Yue asked, slightly puzzled.
The people on the street were just watching the excitement, but most of them had their own things to do, so they dispersed after a while.
Baixu Ci took a deep breath and preemptively explained, “Brother, someone might invite us to be guests later.”
His gaze was sincere, not feigned.
“Guests?” Fan Yue didn’t seem to understand the word.
A short time later—
Baixu Ci sat on a chair in the yamen, boredly tapping his fingers.
A cool gaze turned to him…
He stopped tapping his fingers and immediately sat up straight.
It’s not my fault; you’re the one who tore it down.
“Uh, you two need to wait here; the magistrate will be here soon,” a clerk said softly, not daring to look at them.
Baixu Ci glanced behind him, then looked up at Fan Yue, feeling a wave of emotion.
Why doesn’t he have this kind of intimidating presence?
Fan Yue looked down at him, and the little demon on the chair immediately looked away.
He nervously grabbed a handful of melon seeds from the table next to him.
Ready to eat them.
But before he could put them in his mouth, his chin was pinched, forcing him to make eye contact.
They finished their meal and helped with some housework. It was time to leave.
Having confirmed that the Lin family’s small wooden house was unharmed, Baixu Ci finally relaxed.
Before leaving, Baixu Ci hugged Nannuan again.
The little thing.
“Sigh, it’s all because I didn’t take good care of Ayao back then. Little Bao was very weak when she was born, and she still can’t speak clearly,” he said with a worried tone.
Baixu Ci squeezed Nannuan’s little hand, offering comfort:
“Children, it’s okay if they speak late. They’ll grow up healthy. Don’t worry too much!”
She was so cute. When she was born, she was only as big as two palms.
“There, go find Mama,” Baixu Ci handed Nannuan to Meng Yao and really prepared to leave.
But Nannuan’s grape-sized eyes kept looking at Baixu Ci, unblinking, very focused.
“Bun…bunny,” she suddenly spoke, her little hand reaching out.
Baixu Ci froze, fearing Nannuan would next say, “He’s a bunny.”
“Oh, Little Bao spoke again! That’s great, say it again,” Uncle Lin was happy, unaware that the child was calling out to Baixu Ci.
Meng Yao’s eyes softened. She touched the baby’s head.
“Do you want to eat bunny?”
Baixu Ci was silent…
“Then, Uncle and Auntie, I’m going now!” Baixu Ci finally left the small wooden gate, saying somewhat reluctantly.
“Mm, take it easy on the road. There are thorny bushes down the mountain, be careful not to scratch yourself!” Meng Yao gave further instructions before waving goodbye.
Fan Yue remained an observer, watching this little demon deceive himself.
This family clearly had nothing to do with him.
“Sir, where are we going now?” Baixu Ci asked, once they were a distance from the small wooden house.
He’d come down the mountain for the Lins; seeing them doing well,
he felt relieved.
As for the logging in town, Baixu Ci felt he couldn’t do much. He was a disembodied spirit; even transforming was a problem, and staying here would only cause trouble.
Xuan Li would probably come to help…
“Do you want to leave?” Fan Yue directly questioned.
Baixu Ci was dumbfounded. He hadn’t said that. Though he had considered it slightly.
“No, but I’m really useless,” he explained, looking up as he trailed Fan Yue.
The mountain’s trees were lush and green; the gentle sunlight illuminated his face, making him look lively.
Fan Yue looked down, silent. He could see through him, yet couldn’t fully understand him. He was more interesting than those cultivators.
“Follow.” A simple command.
Baixu Ci stood in the woods, looking resentfully at Fan Yue’s back, puzzled. Why bring him?
He tilted his head. Did the demon need a servant…?
He trailed behind.
The human town was bustling.
Baixu Ci followed Fan Yue like a naive follower. Since coming to this world, he’d mostly stayed in Linshan. He’d only seen strangely shaped demons, rarely so many…people.
Fan Yue disliked the little demon’s timid trailing; he pulled him to his side.
“Stand properly.”
Baixu Ci: … He sounded like a headmaster.
He tugged at his collar and walked beside Fan Yue.
Vendors’ calls echoed; vendors were enthusiastic, soliciting customers directly.
Baixu Ci was well-behaved only briefly before his attention was diverted.
“Hairpins for sale! Latest styles from the west city shops!” A woman sitting in a rocking chair called out, adjusting her hair, looking charming.
“Sesame cakes! Freshly baked!” A scoop of the spatula, and the aroma of scallions filled the air.
“Sugar figurines! Cats, dogs, anything!” The master blew, shaping a little cat.
Baixu Ci was immersed in watching the stalls, his steps veering off course. Until—
His body lost its balance and he was yanked back. His wrist was tightly gripped.
“Are you going to set up a stall?” Fan Yue’s eyes remained fixed ahead, his expression unchanged.
Baixu Ci was aggrieved. “Sir— Brother, I’ve never seen this before.” He’d only seen flowers, plants, and strange demons in Linshan. It was his first time down here.
He hadn’t even said he wanted to buy anything!
He stopped, and bumped his head against Fan Yue’s arm.
“…” Why did he stop?
“Do you like these common human things?” Fan Yue turned, still puzzled.
The market was lively; they were blocking the way. A hawker carrying candied haws looked annoyed.
“Hey, move it!” He impatiently squeezed past, bumping Baixu Ci.
“Common human things? Think you’re a god?” His tone wasn’t pleasant.
Baixu Ci: … He wasn’t human.
Fan Yue’s face darkened; he raised his hand to—
A fair hand intervened.
“Don’t.”
“…”