NEBM Chapter 46.1: An Old Matter

It was due to a coincidence that the former Shen Zhixian became acquainted with the painted skin demon.

When he saw her, he was just a young man who had yet to reach the peak of cultivation. He was exactly at the age where he was curious about everything. Moreover, he’d been diligently cultivating within the sect for many years and so it was rare for him to see such a bustling and noisy place. He couldn’t help himself and stopped to look around.

It happened that the foot of the city was built along the river and, on the spacious river, there were several exquisite pleasure boats, all brightly lit and some decorated with colorful lanterns and silk ribbons. All kinds of beauties stood by the railing, looking out with charming eyes.

Sui Xian, with a sense of insight, randomly picked a pleasure boat to enter.

At that time, he didn’t know too much about it. What he entered was a pleasure boat adorned with lanterns. As soon as he entered, everyone seemed to wrap around him, making it difficult for him to move.

His original appearance was too outstanding so he’d modified it somewhat, making it so that, although his appearance hadn’t changed much, people would easily overlook him.

Yet, his temperament couldn’t be deliberately hidden. Although ordinary mortals couldn’t see through his illusion, they could still sense his noble temperament. As a result, all the girls and young men felt that he was a big guest, and they all came over to try their best to catch his attention.

Sui Xian was suddenly surrounded by rouged and powdered faces and assailed by strong perfume, making him nearly turn around to leave.

—The reason he didn’t leave was because he was attracted by a movement by the window.

At the table next to the window, there were a few richly dressed young men teasing the girl who was there to accompany them. They were not polite and their hands were not honest.

The girl dressed in pink seemed to be trapped in a wolf’s den, and there was nowhere for her to move to avoid their paws. The girl frowned slightly and softly rejected them, “Slave only came to sing a song.”

Among these young masters was an elder brother who had drunk too much. He pulled her toward him, dragging her until she fell and ended up sitting on his thigh.

The girl in pink struggled to get away, but she was held tight and unable to move. He said, “Who do you think you are? This old man is here to have fun. I have plenty of money, yet you dare to refuse…”

His two hands fiddled with her body, parting her outer jacket. The girl with the peach blossom face went cold, and then in the next moment, she smiled and asked softly, “Is the guest so insistent?”

This young master was not low in status and would usually indulge himself without any restraint. At this moment, he was urged on by several of his companions. His head was hot, and he didn’t realize there were any hidden dangers at all. He laughed wildly, “You accompany this old man. This old man—”

Before he’d even finished speaking, he became stunned when tea suddenly splashed across his face. The tea dripped down his forehead, with a few tea leaves affixed to his cheeks.

“Who was it?” The young master was furious. The cold tea did not sober him up but was instead like pouring oil on fire, flaming his anger. He shoved the girl in pink aside and angrily stood up. “Who dared pour tea on this old master?!”

At this time, Sui Xian took the opportunity to grab the ribbon of colored silk next to him and tossed it toward the girl. The end of the silk ribbon wrapped around the girl’s wrist, pulling her away from the wolf’s den.

The young master saw that it was a handsome youth who was doing these bad things to him. He growled and yelled but, in the next instance, he felt his mouth grow hot. The sounds of his scolding suddenly turned into the quackings of a duck. He grew frightened and touched his mouth in disbelief. He opened his mouth. “Quack, quack, quack, quack!”

The people around him were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter almost immediately after.

In the midst of this chaos, Sui Xian quietly left with the girl in pink.

There were vacancies everywhere in the pleasure boat, intended to make it convenient for guests who couldn’t help themselves and didn’t want to wait long. Sui Xian pushed open a vacant room at will and, pulling on the colored silk ribbon, tossed the delicate-looking girl into the room.

“Young Master is so rude.” The girl in pink stood firmly by the table. The silk ribbon wrapped around her hand was not only not taken down but was wrapped even more tightly around her wrist, the ribbon lining her skin like cream. She complained unhappily, “You’ve made this slave’s hand sore.”

Sui Xian closed the door behind him and turned a blind eye to her delicate and aggrieved demeanor. He asked mildly, “What did you want to do to that man?”

The girl in pink was silent for a moment. Then, she covered her mouth, chuckling. Her voice was very delicate as she said, “What can this weak slave girl do?”

Sui Xian shot her a glance and, hearing her light laugh, indifferently touched the sword at his waist. Tied to the sword hilt was a ribbon with a single, white jade. When he touched the sword, the jade knocked against the sword hilt, causing a light sound to rang out. He said, “Although I don’t know what kind of monster you are, if you have a harmful heart, I’ll behead you with this sword.”

The girl stiffened for a moment. Then, her eyes widened and she said innocently, “This slave just saw that he was drunk and upset and just wanted to cool him in the water…”

This was Sui Xian and the painted skin demon’s first encounter.

On the surface, it’d appeared as if he had rescued a girl who was almost bullied. In fact, he’d just saved the life of that rude gongzi brother. At that time, the painted skin demon’s hand had gathered a sinister-looking ball of spiritual power. If Sui Xian had reacted too slowly, that young master would really have been thrown into the river.

The memories ended quickly, and Shen Zhixian withdrew from his mind. The weak and delicate-looking Tao Hua’er who stood on the other side looked exactly like in memory. Even her small and pink mouth was like that year. “Young Master didn’t say goodbye that year, making this slave quite sad. After Young Master rescued me, I made a promise to myself, not to chase wealth but to only be with the young master and spend time grinding tea for him, serving him.”

What a headache….

The young Sui Xian had seen that she was a demon and, worried that she might hurt others, intervened in the incident. But, he’d only drawn trouble to himself.

He stayed in the city for three days, and the painted skin demon entangled him for three days. She’d changed her appearance, her temperament, and even her gender to try to entangle him. In the end, his head was turned around in circles. He couldn’t take it anymore and, on the fourth day, he’d quietly left the city before dawn.

Unexpectedly, after so many years had passed, Shen Zhixian would see her here again.

The painted skin demon can assume thousands of appearances and can see through many illusions. Therefore, the moment she looked up, Shen Zhixian knew that his simple illusion had been broken.

Tao Hua’er wanted to keep talking, but Shen Zhixian rubbed the space between his eyebrows in an effort to soothe his brewing headache. He said helplessly, “Okay, don’t say it anymore. My little disciple will get angry.”

The cold chill emanating from the little hedgehog next to him was cold enough to freeze. Even his thorns were quietly erect. If the painted skin demon continued to talk, Shen Zhixian had no doubt that she would be pierced by a small hedgehog.

The painted skin demon looked at him, and then looked at Yan Jin. But, she stopped elucidating on the topic. With a smile, she said, “We haven’t seen each other for a long time so it should be recounted. Young Master Sui and this…” She paused expectantly.

Shen Zhixian only said the word “Yan” and nothing more. The painted skin demon blinked and went with the flow. “Young Master Sui and Young Master Yan, let’s return for a chat.”

Shen Zhixian returned helplessly to their private room and sat back down. He picked up the folding fan that he’d left behind and began to play with it.

This time Yan Jin sat next to him, with one arm still resting on his waist, silently proclaiming sovereignty.

Tao Hua’er poured wine for them in a sophisticated and elegant manner.

Shen Zhixian leaned close to Yan Jin’s ear and whispered, “Painted skin demons can change into thousands of looks, and is the best at imitating. If you’re curious, she can change for you to see.”

Although he’d lowered his voice, Shen Zhixian was not too guarded against the painted skin demon on the other side. Moreover, this was a monster and not an ordinary person. How could she not hear him whisper?

Tao Hua’er really heard him. She put down the wine jug, and she touched her face with a smile, saying quietly, “Which one does Young Master Yan like?”

Yan Jin looked down at his wine cup and did not speak.

Tao Hua’er didn’t mind his indifference. She stood up, pushed open the door and called for paper and ink. Once the paper was rolled out on the table, she began painting with ease.

She drew very quickly and soon she finished. Putting down her brush, she gathered up the piece of paper.

Shen Zhixian glanced at it, only vaguely seeing a beautiful woman, which was quickly obscured by the mist that suddenly gathered around the painted skin demon.

A painted skin demon changes appearance like an ordinary person changes clothes.
Naturally, it was necessary to cover itself while it did so.

After a while, the mist disappeared, and the weak and delicate Tao Hua’er disappeared, replaced by a graceful and extravagant beauty.

There is a peony flower painted between her brows and a noble smile on her lips. She was full of dignity and was dressed in beautiful clothes with all the proper etiquette. She calmly said, “Peony has seen the two young masters. Can this appearance still enter the young master’s eyes? ”

Shen Zhixian sipped his wine with a smile. Meanwhile, Yan Jin glanced at her with an expressionless face, unmoved.

The painted skin demon saw that they didn’t respond. She rolled her eyes and brought out a new sheet of paper.