Chapter 108: First Encounter with the Tree Demon

“Miss, please stop. You are the daughter of the National Uncle’s mansion. Even if you like Young Master Shen, the National Uncle would never approve!”

The maid was risking everything. For the sake of her own life, she directly shattered Jin Hua Cao’s illusions.

“You’re just talking nonsense again, girl. I’m being reasonable, not biased,” Jin Hua Cao argued slyly.

“Miss, please don’t lie to me. You’ve fallen for Young Master Shen, haven’t you?” The maid was no fool. There was no reason for ‘being reasonable and not biased.’ The way her mistress treated Shen Shi clearly showed affection.

Seeing the maid’s expression that said “You’re lying,” Jin Hua Cao blushed and whispered, “Yes, yes, I like him. Happy now?”

“Miss, you know that’s impossible. You are…”

“I know I’m the daughter of the National Uncle’s mansion, but he is also from a military family. Besides, the porcelain he makes sells for a thousand strings each. Now he even holds an official position. Why wouldn’t he be worthy of me?”

“Well…” The maid was momentarily speechless.

Indeed! In what way was he unworthy? After pondering for a while, the maid finally said, “He… lacks literary talent.”

“Heh, do you know he ranked first among the students this year? He recited the tale of The Ghost Bride—love between a human and a ghost, a love that transcends life and death, race, and the realms of yin and yang. Women with stories love simple men; simple women love men with stories… Even the officials praise him. Why can’t I love him?”

“Don’t forget, when my sister married the Emperor, she wasn’t even as accomplished as he is now.”

Having known Shen Shi for some time, Jin Hua Cao even managed a chuckle.

The maid was left speechless. Judging by her mistress’s words, she suddenly felt they were a perfect match. Military lineage might not compare to a scholarly family, but he was the top student, which meant he was learned. The officials recognized him and even granted him a civil post. With the help of the National Uncle’s mansion, he could become a minor official in the future!

Thinking this through, the maid also thought Shen Shi was a good match. As for Jin Hua Cao’s example of the Empress and the Emperor from the past, the maid chose to ignore it. Though young, she understood well when to feign deafness. The Emperor’s past was not something a lowly maid could comment on. However…

“Miss, what about her? I heard she redeemed herself and moved into the Shen household. Now she even manages their finances.” Knowing Shen Shi was a good match, the maid immediately grew concerned for her mistress.

“That’s exactly why I didn’t go to the capital with him,” Jin Hua Cao said confidently.

Whispers between daughters are normally unheard by outsiders. But this place was not only filled with ordinary people. For example, there was Ba Niang.

“Sister Ba, what are you up to?” Ba Niang not only heard the conversation but was ready to act—until Shi Si stopped her.

“Act? Shi Si, you heard it too. That woman is trying to steal your man!” Ba Niang’s eyes gleamed as she sought an ally.

“Tch! My man?” Shi Si spat and said seriously, “Young Master Shen has taught us greatly. Though not officially teacher and disciple, that is what we are in essence. Sister Ba, don’t slander him and ruin his reputation.”

“Tch.” Ba Niang spat back, “Shi Si, you’re truly brainwashed by human books. Teacher and disciple? A pure body like that—what man would…”

“Enough! I won’t say more.” Seeing Shi Si angry, Ba Niang changed her tone. “It’s not for you. It’s for me! Ever since becoming a demon, every time there’s thunder, Sister Ba has to bury herself deep underground, close all five senses, fearing being struck. But with Young Master Shen, no need to hide from thunder. That woman… you saw her, ugly and worthless. If she enters the house, despises our beauty, and makes the master drive us away, what then?”

“Heh heh.” Shi Si couldn’t help but laugh, “Sister Ba, don’t slander. That lady may dress like a man, but her skin is as beautiful as the peach blossoms in the courtyard, her eyes like black onyx, her hair shining like silk. She’s hardly that bad.”

“So what? You said it yourself, it’s just skin. Is she as beautiful as we are?” Ba Niang’s eyes glistened with faint tears but gained a seductive charm. The reason fox spirits are called fox spirits and not ordinary beauties is because even with no makeup or in moments of joy or sorrow, they exude an alluring charm that makes the males around them restless with desire.

In that regard, Jin Hua Cao was certainly no match.

Shi Si frowned, thinking carefully before saying, “If it really comes to that, I will leave. I hope Sister Ba will leave too.”

Ha!

Ba Niang was stunned.

Was everything I said just nonsense?

“Shi Si…”

“Sister Ba, I understand. Heaven treats us demons harshly. But as long as we do more good deeds, when the thunder rumbles, we can immediately cover mouth, ears, eyes, and nose, hide within, and then bury ourselves with floating earth. Heaven will leave a way out.”

It was all in vain!

Ba Niang shook her head, already knowing it would go this way. To her, her sister was truly foolish from reading too many human books.

…

Shen Shi and his group headed toward the capital, traveling with family in tow. Naturally, they could not cover eight hundred miles a day. Not to mention eight hundred miles, just ferrying people and horses across rivers and boarding ships took a whole day.

By nightfall, they reached the territory of Lanruo Temple.

“It’s getting late. Why don’t we stay overnight at the temple?” Bao Zheng suggested.

Shen Shi did not refuse Bao Zheng’s proposal. Honestly, he had long wanted to see Lanruo Temple. Although they lacked a hero like Yan Chixia here, they had Bao Zheng.

Bao Zheng’s party traveled under the official banner, so Lanruo Temple naturally would not refuse them.

Knowing they were at Lanruo Temple, Shen Shi kept his eyes open. The vast temple exuded a remarkable aura, incense burning thickly. Even at this hour, there were still lingering worshippers.

They were guided by the monks to side rooms to rest.

“Alas! How pitiful, how tragic! Hurry and pray to the sacred tree!”

Lanruo Temple was large, and before Shen Shi could take it all in, he caught a sensitive word—tree.

“Lord Bao, it seems something’s happened over there.”

Soon, not only Shen Shi but Bao Zheng and the others heard it too.

“Sacred tree, please help us! There’s hardly any food left at home.”

“Sacred tree, my daughter is missing. Please help find her.”

Following the voices, they saw a towering ancient tree standing in the temple’s rear courtyard.

The tree was tall and lush, its branches spreading wide, shading the ground. Before it stood a shrine with incense and candles, Buddhist scriptures hung on its trunk. Inscriptions read: “Pray for children, bear offspring.” Another said: “Those buried beneath this tree will not enter hell.”

And so on, various inscriptions.

Beneath the tree, over a hundred people—young and old, men and women—prayed devoutly.

“Could this be the legendary Tree Demon Matron?”

Seeing the so-called sacred tree, Shen Shi harbored doubts. Yet he cautiously observed it. After all, the current Lanruo Temple had worshippers and monks, and no one had witnessed it harming anyone.