Chapter One (Continued)

Down the long street, two figures—one blue and one white, one short and one tall—walked beneath a single umbrella. One strolled carefreely, eyes ahead and smile on her lips. The other walked bearing a pitiable expression, following unwillingly. A strip of red cloth, a demonic rope marked with runes, bound their hands together.

“… You’re from Chongwu Camp?” the girl in pink asked. When she journeyed out today, she’d forgotten to consult the divination almanac, and now she’d fallen into the hands of a Chongwu Camp soldier. Wouldn’t it be better to die? Thinking this, her large eyes filled quickly with glistening tears.

“I have no martial arts talents, how could I be from Chongwu Camp? I’m just interested in demons, that’s all.”

Not from Chongwu Camp… Could this be just an ordinary person? An ordinary person who isn’t scared of demons?

“Who are you? You don’t fear demons?” The pink-clad girl gave a puzzled blink-blink of her eyes.

“Just one little rabbit who loves to tell lies. How could I, Wen Xiao, possibly be afraid?” Wen Xiao looked at her, her meaning clear.

“You’re Wen Xiao?” The girl practically yelped at hearing Wen Xiao’s name. Surprise, fear, respect, and still a little doubt and suspicion crossed her face in turns. Lastly, she earnestly looked at Wen Xiao from head to toe, evaluating.

Wen Xiao observed the girl’s reaction, smilingly slightly, but that smile still showed some frustration. “Ah, so sure enough, I’m quite famous among demons…”

The girl’s long, downy ears darted into the black coil of her hair, mouth gaping. “No, no, no, you’re just an unknown little girl. No one knows who you are.” In her heart, however, she thought, right, right, right; there’s not a demon who doesn’t know Official Wen Xiao! The Wilderness’s newly appointed goddess, her reputation simply reverberated like thunder, a very important name, renowned far and wide. It’s just a pity…

Wen Xiao reached out to lightly pinch the rabbit ears. “Deceptive Beasts. They look like rabbits, have human faces, and can speak—speaking ‘East’ while pointing West, speaking evil and acting nice… The one mostly likely to lie is you, isn’t that right, little liar?”

Wen Xiao remembered the accounts in the books: Deceptive Beasts say one thing and mean another, the words of their mouths contrary to the wants of their hearts. So, at the very beginning, she intentionally asked the Deceptive Beast a question to observe its reaction.

The Deceptive Beast used her hand to protect her ears, rejecting Wen Xiao’s attempt to play with her rabbit ears. “Wrong! Absolutely wrong!” Right, right, right, everything she said was right.

Wen Xiao continued, “Deceptive Beasts, even though they’re demonic animals, have the natural instinct to goodness. They are not vicious beasts—”

“But you still captured me!?” the Deceptive Beast interrupted.

Wen Xiao raised an eyebrow and began leisurely listing the beast’s crime: “Although not a vicious beast, you used your beauty to wreak havoc and disturb the peace. Of course I have to capture you. Half a year ago, you disguised yourself as a merchant to swindle ten taels of gold from the rice merchant Mr. Zhang. One month ago, you deceived the sincere heart of Wang, the great painter of Qingxin Studio. Now, Mr. Zhang has suffered grievous losses. Doubting him, his wife took his money and left with his adopted daughter. He had no choice but to report you to authorities. As for that Master Wang, after losing his heart to you, he’s been ruined, crying all day long.”

The beast’s face reddened as she listened. These situations weren’t as simple as they seemed. She anxiously opened her mouth, unable to stop herself from giving an explanation. “Big sister, don’t listen to idle talk. That Mr. Zhang is indeed a philanthropist renowned throughout the countryside. He heard of the drought that ruined the harvest, so he spent quite a lot of money to buy up all the rice from a few nearby villages. He says rice and grain will be in short supply in the future, so it’s a good idea to ensure that the people of Tiandu will have food to eat. … How could I deceive him! The heavens punish with lightning those who deceive good people!”

The beast’s face grew only redder as she explained it all in one breath, finishing with a vexed stamp of her foot. With a resigned droop of her shoulders, she let out a long sigh.

Wen Xiao attentively listened to her. Because the truth in the Deceptive Beast’s heart would contradict her words, she must be speaking in opposites. “Mn, I understand now,” Wen Xiao said. “Mr. Zhang was hoarding rice to swindle desperate people. He’s a profiteer.”

“Wah!” The Deceptive Beast lifted her head, big eyes bright like fire.

“And Master Wang?” Wen Xiao continued on.

“Master Wang is an exceptional talent,” the beast replied. “From the singing girls at the dance hall to the daughters of wealthy families, there’s no one who is not filled with admiration for his knowledge and logic. Master Wang has friends everywhere. He abandoned his former lover for me…”

Wen Xiao nodded. “Understood. Master Wang was never satisfied with what he had. His high morals were merely a gold coating over scum.”

The Deceptive Beast vigorously shook her head and added, “Ah! My love for them was more solid than gold!”

Wen Xiao fully understood. “Mn. You were pretending.”

“Big sister, I really did nothing wrong.” Saying this, the beast’s eyes drifted to one side and she looked a little afraid.