Chapter 14

Master's figure gradually disappeared, and Mei Ruoxue also did not answer Shi Ran's question; she felt doubtful in her heart, for even Master was so solemn—this great demon they encountered must not be taken lightly.

"Guest!" The waiter's voice echoed incessantly: "Guest, the bathing pool is ready, please go bathe! Guest!"

Before Mei Ruoxue snapped her fingers, she shook her head at Shi Ran, saying nothing more; she thought Shi Ran would not be so foolish—but—she had overthought it!!!

The waiter forcibly handed the white umbrella red flower to Shi Ran: "Guest, it's raining outside, please take the umbrella and walk slowly, watch your step!"

Shi Ran took a deep breath, gently accepting the paper umbrella; she was not being stubborn, but truly curious—what kind of demon or formation could make Master and senior sister act as if facing a great enemy?

Xiyu Town remained drizzling; to reach the baths, one must exit the inn, walk the path Master had just taken, and finally pass through a long, winding corridor.

The sky was overcast, black clouds hanging low, as if they might fall at any moment; the air floated with damp moldiness, the wooden steps covered in a layer of slippery moss, stepping on them silent yet nerve-wracking, fearing a misstep would send one sliding into the lake beside.

The winding path was deep and secluded, wooden pillars oozing unknown liquid—rain or blood? —twisting like a snake. Occasionally a cold wind swept through the alley, carrying the sulfur scent from the distant baths, mixed with the rot of decaying plants, making one's throat tighten. Beneath the feet, damp ferns squeezed out from the stone slab cracks, leaves thick, under the dim light emitting a sickly oil-green sheen.

The further one went, the thicker the water mist became, like a damp spiderweb clinging over. Water sounds drew near, yet no water light was seen—only muffled gurgling from the darkness, as if something stirred beneath the mire.

The baths finally came into view—a sunken pool, with an umbrella-shaped eave above, surrounded by white gauze screens, the pool's edge stacked with greenstone, occasionally bearing dark brown fungal spots.

The bathwater was yellow, with a film-like mist on the surface. Steam bubbled up from the pool bottom, bursting with a faint sigh, like the dying breaths of countless souls.

"Please, guest!" The waiter carefully took Shi Ran's white umbrella and placed it outside the screen: "We have a small bell by the baths, guest—if you need anything, you may ring it!"

Shi Ran seemed to have just come to her senses, yet she remained silent, quietly watching the waiter retreat!

"You're crazy!" Mei Ruoxue shouted from within the jade bottle, anxious to death; she had tried calling Shi Ran countless times, all blocked by Shi Ran, helpless—once out of the inn she could not exit the jade bottle herself, so she could only fret: "Shi Ran, can't you be normal?"

Only then did Shi Ran place her hand on the reddening jade bottle: "Don't worry, senior sister—I'm luring the snake out of its hole!"

"Curse it, nm, nmdebushibibi……"

The cursing was a bit vulgar; Shi Ran calmly covered the jade bottle with one hand, began to undress with the other, and finally entered the pool wearing only gauze.

The bathwater exuded a heavy sulfur smell—saying she wasn't afraid would be false, but Shi Ran also understood: this demon had appeared repeatedly; if she did not comply, she would never hope to pull out its tail.

Fortunately, Master was here, and so was senior sister; Shi Ran relied on her belief, step by step sliding into the bath. Steam swirled, warming her skin to a peach hue. Black hair piled at the pool's edge, a few strands wet, winding and clinging to her neck hollow. She slowly sank her body, the hot water climbing her collarbone, kissing her rounded shoulders.

Two or three petals floated on the pool surface, dispersing and regrouping with the ripples. She reached out to play with them, heart uneasy. The water mist thickened, veiling half her face—only her eyelashes were seen, bearing tiny water droplets, trembling with her breath.

Suddenly she heard someone whispering; she jerked her head back, the soaked gauze dress blooming into a small flower beneath the bath: "Who's there?!"

That person did not answer, but continued the whispering; Shi Ran focused her mind to listen, hearing only a woman's voice repeating a phrase.

"Sorry, forgive me, elder sister!"

"Forgive me!" The tone was so sorrowful! As if desperately hoping for the other's forgiveness—Shi Ran dispersed the mist, focused her gaze, and beyond the screen clearly saw only one umbrella!!!

"Shi Ran! It's the umbrella demon!!!" Mei Ruoxue also saw the umbrella, finally understanding this Xiyu Town, and what the white umbrella red flower truly meant!

Shi Ran "teng" sprang to her feet, water droplets rolling down her jade-like skin, pausing slightly at the protrusions before falling back into the pool, raising only the tiniest ripple.

Seeing her discovery, the umbrella's shadow slowly shifted, eventually transforming into a woman's form; she held the umbrella and slowly stepped out from behind the screen, wearing white robes, yet the hem was a blood-red crimson.

"Ah! White-clad maiden!" Shi Ran still had the mood to joke with Mei Ruoxue: "Senior sister, she likes wearing the same color as you!"

Mei Ruoxue rolled her eyes: "Shut up!" She was bound by the demon's great power, unable to leave; she closed her eyes: "I can't get out!" Then followed a sound unclear whether sigh or gloating: "You… you'd better fend for yourself!"

Shi Ran's smile cut off abruptly—Nani?! Looking at this international joke, that Brahma! And still Brahma! In her sea of consciousness, Brahma silently covered his ears: Humans, you must try to solve this yourself!

No one reliable! She looked at the demon maiden under the umbrella, embarrassed smile: "I… I say I took the wrong path, do you believe me?"

The umbrella demon said nothing, only sighed softly: "Elder sister!"

Shi Ran's body hair stood on end—Elder sister? What elder sister? At home she was the youngest, with no younger brothers or sisters below.

"Hehe… I took the wrong road, you mistook the person, we… we're even!" Shi Ran clasped her hands and fled: "Farewell!"

But as she just stepped forward, a white umbrella lunged at her face; before she could dodge, countless umbrella ribs bound her tightly: "Elder sister, won't you forgive me? Why must you still leave?"

Only then did Shi Ran clearly see the umbrella demon's face—what a face it was!

Left cheek like winter's first snow condensing into jade, right cheek blooming with the crimson birthmark of the other shore flower—clearly a stroke of heavy ink in the Judge's pen, a yin-yang judgment. Though clearly a pretty maiden with bright eyes and white teeth, she was half jade, half flame.

"You…" Shi Ran felt her body emptied; the umbrella demon's face was expressionless, as if in the next second it would choke her neck: "Master… save me!"

"Elder sister, if you leave, you're no longer my good elder sister, hehehe! Then… I'll have to…"

The umbrella demon's voice shifted: "Kill you!"

"Master… Master…"

"Don't call Master!" Mei Ruoxue roared, in urgency gesturing inside the jade bottle: "Follow me, this is the demon-subduing talisman!"

Brahma had just poked his head out, seeing Mei Ruoxue teach earnestly, he propped up his head to watch the fun.

Shi Ran glanced at it roughly; in mortal peril she disregarded other things, having just finished the gestures, she felt her neck loosen, a gentle wind embracing her.

Embrace?

Shi Ran looked up—it was a pair of eyes brighter than the star sea.

Master!