But I'm a proper river god, you know! - Chapter 4

“River God?”

“How laughable—to dare call yourself a god!”

Dongfang Hua’s face was ashen, sweat beading at his temples. More than fear, it was humiliation that burned in his chest.

“Junior Brother! Silence!”

Lin Langxing cut him off sharply. Though he shared the same disdain internally, he at least had the sense to mask it. Recalling how effortlessly this woman had shattered their formation, a chill ran down his spine.

After a moment’s calculation, he straightened his robes and stepped forward, offering Yuan Ji a deep, practiced bow.

“Esteemed Senior, please forgive my junior brother’s recklessness.” His voice was smooth as silk. “We three have pursued these two murderous demons across three villages. They slaughtered every innocent soul in their path—deceitful and merciless.”

“In our haste to finally capture them, we neglected courtesy. We humbly ask you to hand them over. Tianji Palace will remember this favor.”

Every word was polished, leaving no room for reproach.

“Pah!” The burly man, now realizing Yuan Ji wasn’t allied with the cultivators, spat in their direction. Though he didn’t speak, the hatred in his eyes could flay flesh from bone.

“I was just taking Baobei to see a healer!” he finally roared. “You self-righteous bastards hunted us like animals! And now you pin your crimes on us?”

Trembling with rage, he reached into his robes and produced a small porcelain vial pulsing with sinister energy. The moment it appeared, inky tendrils engulfed him, and the very air grew scorching—like charcoal searing lungs.

This was the “gift” from that person—the one who’d whispered that its contents could transform him into a feared demon, just like Baobei.

He’d resisted using it, even when near death. But after endless persecution… perhaps it was time to embrace the title these hypocrites gave him.

“DIE!”

The cultivators recoiled, weapons flashing to hand. “Formation!”

Above them, the azure sword hummed with killing intent.

Just then, A-Tong’s voice piped up, oddly excited: “Yuan Ji! There’s something valuable in that!”

Yuan Ji: “Oh?”

“That vial’s brimming with demonic energy, but hidden inside is a strand of pure vitality. I’ve never seen life-force this untainted!”

Yuan Ji’s fingers twitched. The vial tore from the man’s grip into her palm.

Pale fingers tangled with greedy black mist—light against dark—until her entire hand was swallowed.

Lin Langxing’s face hardened. “Senior,” he said, thinly veiled threat dripping from his words, “put that down. Unless you wish for… consequences.”

Another demon-loving heretic, he thought.

The azure sword shot down—but not toward Yuan Ji. Instead, it cracked against Lin Langxing’s forehead.

“Ow!” Clutching the rising lump, he bit back curses. Why is Senior Brother’s sword protecting her?!

Unless…

No. Impossible.

Everyone knew Qi Yan, Tianji Palace’s head disciple, was peerless in integrity. He’d never succumb to mere beauty. And yet… Lin Langxing’s traitorous gaze flicked to Yuan Ji’s face.

He shuddered and banished the blasphemous thought.

“I thought you were different,” the man whispered hoarsely. Without the vial, he was powerless—forced to watch Baobei suffer alone.

Baobei tilted its head, then suddenly—snap. Crimson light flooded its eyes. Demon energy erupted like vipers coiling across the ground.

“Baobei.” The man gently tied a green ribbon around its matted fur, exposing a face that made Luan Xuan gag in the bushes.

“Disgusting!”

Tension thickened. One spark would ignite carnage.

“No rush.”

Yuan Ji rolled the vial between her fingers, secretly releasing her ember. The moment it touched the demonic energy, it thrilled—twisting joyously in the feast. Only Yuan Ji’s mental tug stopped it from gulping everything.

Grudgingly, it coiled around that single strand of vitality instead.

To the onlookers, the black mist strangling Yuan Ji’s hand simply… vanished. Not even a stain remained.

Yuan Ji yawned.

Everyone: “…”

Are we in the same reality?

“Senior Brother!” Dongfang Hua blurted. “The demonic energy—it’s gone!”

Lin Langxing’s mind raced. No one absorbs demonic energy. Unless… His fingers crushed a hidden talisman. Reinforcements would come.

“Impossible!” Luan Yu hissed from hiding.

The man swayed, staring at Yuan Ji like she’d hung the moon. “Who… what are you?” His voice cracked. Could she cure Baobei?

“Actors!” Dongfang Hua screeched. “My uncle died to this corruption! You expect me to believe—”

He lunged, sword aimed at Yuan Ji’s heart.

The man threw himself in its path—

CLANG!

The azure sword smacked the blade aside. Yuan Ji sighed. One fingertip lifted.

Leaves froze mid-fall.

Breaths stuck in throats.

An invisible weight crushed down, bending spines like reeds.

“Tch.” Yuan Ji’s eyes glinted. “You’re… annoying.”

Dongfang Hua’s bladder nearly failed.

A flick of her wrist sent him flying—crashing through trees until he lay motionless.

Lin Langxing and co. didn’t wait. Blood trickled from their lips as they crushed escape talismans, dragging Dongfang Hua’s limp form with them.

Run. Just run.

Yuan Ji: “…”

A-Tong gulped. This can’t be right. New hosts are supposed to be blank slates! It frantically scrolled through system manuals. Maybe rebooting will—

Yuan Ji’s stomach growled.

Using her innate powers had drained her reserves. She massaged her aching abdomen, then glared at the silhouette hovering in the clouds.

“Another one?”

She dodged the wind blade effortlessly, strands of hair floating like ink in water. Then—oh.

A scent.

Cool as mountain snow yet sweet like dawn dew on lotus petals. Her gaze locked onto the figure materializing from mist.

Tall. Jade-like composure. Eyes sharp as frost.

Yet all Yuan Ji registered was: He smells like dessert.

The man studied her coldly—then turned away, robes fluttering as he departed.

Yuan Ji pouted.

Four pairs of starry eyes suddenly burned into her.

The man, Baobei, and the butterfly siblings all stared with desperate hope.

Yuan Ji: “…”

Don’t look at me. I’m hungry too.