RIIDMDR chapter 107

 

The distance was only about ten meters. No matter how slowly Nan Xu walked, he had to walk in front of Tingchuan. As he passed by, he suddenly sped up, trying to rush past in the blink of an eye. Though the idea was good, the nine-tailed fox demon was even faster. With one long arm, he grabbed Nan Xu by the back of his collar and pulled him back to his side.

“Just walking slowly earlier, and now you’re running?” Tingchuan asked with a smile.

Nan Xu sighed like a trapped beast and continued to struggle. “I suddenly remembered that it’s time for dinner. I need to make food for everyone.”

“Zhixing is still picking vegetables in the garden. No rush.” Tingchuan moved closer to Nan Xu, sniffed the side of his neck, and frowned. “Did you roll around on the ground with a sheep?”

Nan Xu smiled awkwardly. In an attempt to flatter him, he blurted out, “Is a fox really part of the canine family? Your nose is surprisingly sharp.”

Tingchuan: “Canine family?”

Nan Xu: …

Nan Xu, who courted his own death, was thrown into the bathroom. Outside, Tingchuan added more wood to the stove, making the fire burn brightly. He intended to torture the owner, who had been having an affair with the sheep.

Inside the small bathroom, Nan Xu poured hot water over himself, dramatically shouting, “It’s so unfair! Let me out!” as he played out this forced interrogation.

Zhixing had just walked out of the vegetable garden with a basket when he heard the rushing water and faint cries. Looking at Tingchuan expressionlessly adding fire to the stove, Zhixing was completely baffled. How had the owner offended the senior demon to be punished so severely?

Intimidated by the great demon’s aura but wanting to rescue the owner, Zhixing hesitated at the garden gate. When the water stopped and Nan Xu’s cries weakened, Zhixing could no longer suppress his unease and stepped forward. “Senior Tingchuan…”

Tingchuan looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Though he was normally gentle and meticulous with Nan Xu, Tingchuan showed little patience toward the other demons at the inn. He rarely spoke, a trait common among surviving great demons in the demon realm. Younger demons were not surprised. For example, the ancestor, the White Phoenix of the Bird Clan, was even harder to approach than Tingchuan.

Zhixing clenched his palms, forcing his voice to sound normal under those dark, deep eyes. “Although the owner can be a bit reckless, he’s a good person. You can’t—”

Tingchuan did not respond, quietly watching Zhixing stumble through his words. Just then, the bathroom door opened and Zhixing stopped speaking abruptly.

Steam enveloped Nan Xu as he stepped out wearing clean clothes. Not seeing Zhixing in his blind spot, Nan Xu walked straight to Tingchuan, leaned toward him, and smiled. “Smell me again. Am I fragrant?”

The soap had no petals or scent, yet Tingchuan sniffed anyway. The warm air brushed his nose, and a low murmur escaped his throat: “Yes, fragrant.”

Tingchuan laughed heartily, then lifted his head and kissed Nan Xu on the lips in response to the compliment.

Zhixing: …

Zhixing was stunned, realizing he had looked ridiculous just moments ago. No wonder Tingchuan had looked at him so strangely.

The socially anxious hedgehog demon, humiliated twice in the same bathroom, quietly slipped away, choosing a new path to escape the place that had wounded him.

—

In early December, Yao Lin’s room lease expired. Taking advantage of the clear weather, he brought down his homemade fish sauce. Nan Xu felt reluctant to see him go after spending almost two months together. Though Yao Lin was often unreliable, their gossip sessions had been enjoyable.

Nan Xu was about to say a few sentimental farewell words when the carefree and confident Yao Lin interrupted, “I learned how to make over ten new dishes this time. When I return to my clan, I’ll show off and make sure everyone remembers your name.”

Nan Xu: …

His fleeting attachment vanished immediately. He forced a stiff smile and said, “Better not. Don’t mention my name.”

If Yao Lin went home and the clan was wiped out, Nan Xu didn’t want to be blamed for such injustice. The remaining mountains and ridges are vast and barren with few demons, they wouldn’t be able to withstand the wrath of the entire bird tribe.

As he watched Yao Lin stride down the mountain proudly, Nan Xu’s eyes fell on the clay jar of fish sauce he carried. He felt an inexplicable unease.

Two days after Yao Lin left, the second snowfall of the year occurred. Unlike the gentle first snow, this one was rougher. Fluffy white snowflakes danced in the air and covered everything in half a day.

By evening, Nan Xu and Zhixing were shoveling snow in the courtyard and had made two snowmen at the gate. Zhixing went to the storage room with a shovel. Nan Xu lingered, circling the snowmen and thinking that the one at the gate looked like a welcoming doorman.

He was muttering to himself when he saw two figures walking through the snow.

He looked at the approaching figures and then at the “doormen,” marveling that guests had really arrived.

The newcomers were unfamiliar. From afar, one had long golden hair. Nan Xu froze briefly, in this world, he had mostly seen demons with black hair and dark eyes. Seeing a golden-haired demon reminded him of a foreigner in the human world.

As they got closer, he stood at the courtyard gate and realized he had overthought it. The young woman’s features were not foreign. Her large, upturned eyes, red lips, and voluptuous figure radiated a stunning, alluring presence.

Nan Xu, a young man in his twenties, had never seen such a scene before. He instinctively looked away. The golden-haired demon’s soft, lazy laughter made him blush despite himself.

A black-haired man followed behind her. His high nose bridge, thin lips, and calm demeanor suggested that he was accustomed to the woman’s teasing.

“Are you two here to stay?” Nan Xu asked, eager to break the awkwardness.

The man nodded. “For a few days.”

Nan Xu led them inside. He didn’t know what kind of demons they were. Though they didn’t look exceptional, they had a flawless aura—one of the best he had seen.

Inside, the hall was warm. Tingchuan was nowhere in sight. Zhixing sat by the fireplace and turned his head at the sound of their arrival.

“Warm indeed~” the woman said, her voice naturally alluring.

Their eyes met Zhixing’s. She winked and blew an air kiss, making Zhixing blush. He turned his back to them, hiding shyly.

Nan Xu watched Zhixing and felt like diving into the fireplace, forgetting his previous embarrassment.

The woman led them upstairs and adored the warm little hall, lounging on the sofa. The black-haired man chose a room and paid.

After settling them in, Nan Xu went downstairs. A lazy voice called from behind: “Owner, do you have hot water for bathing?”

Nan Xu had never heard a demon request a bath instead of using purification techniques. His mind froze for a few seconds before he nodded. “I’ll heat it. Come down in a quarter of an hour.”

The woman responded with an upward inflection: “Thank you, owner. Such a handsome demon is indeed considerate.”

Nan Xu felt goosebumps rise on his arms. It wasn’t because he disliked the woman, he had never had someone flirt with him in such a sultry tone before.

Nan Xu hurried downstairs. Zhixing remained shyly beside the fire. They had already finished dinner, and the fire in the pot had long since died down. Nan Xu simply carried a bucket of water to the pot in the bathroom and lit a fire in the stove.

While waiting for the water to heat up, he moved a stool over to sit beside Zhixing by the fireplace.

The firelight illuminated their faces. They exchanged glances, reading the same expression on each other’s faces.

Zhixing: ?

“Don’t you like Senior Tingchuan?” Zhixing asked softly.

Nan Xu nodded. “Yes, why?”

Zhixing looked confused. “Then why do you blush when you see other female demons?”

Once hedgehog demons commit to their partners, they never change. They would never develop feelings for another demon without their partner’s knowledge. The owner and Senior Tingchuan are in love. Senior Tingchuan’s appearance and demeanor are rare in the demon world. He is also considerate and thoughtful. Aside from being older, there’s nothing wrong with him.

Yet, in the demon realm, being slightly older was inconsequential.

Nan Xu’s reaction was too risky. Zhixing didn’t understand, but he was shocked.

Nan Xu touched his face. The cold sensation likely caused the blush.

He didn’t explain, but instead asked: “Then why are you blushing?”

The young, innocent hedgehog had never been teased before. The earlier air kiss made his ears burn.

Seeing Zhixing’s expression, Nan Xu had an idea. He tapped Zhixing’s shoulder and teased, “Little Zhixing, could it be that you like bold female demons?”

“Of course not!” Zhixing quickly denied it, his face reddening more.

Nan Xu laughed heartily, knowing Zhixing was blushing out of shyness. But, with nothing else to entertain himself at night, he continued to tease him: “Of course not! You’re so shy! How can you fall in love unless you meet a bold, proactive female demon?”

---

Author’s note:

Zhixing: They’re probably just showing off their charm while waiting for a bold, infatuated demon to bump into them.