Chapter 1: The Bewitched Demon Princess
As she looked up at the crude decor of her inn's lobby, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh and muttered to herself: "Alas, in this world, if I had even one-tenth of that little girl's beauty, I wouldn't have to be stuck managing this shabby inn..."
Given the circumstances, she should be one of the countless girls who love to stay in bed. However, upon closer inspection, one can discern some subtle anomalies.
The moment this thought arises, it is as if a bucket of cold water has been suddenly poured over her head, instantly extinguishing the raging anger within the heart of Princess Tianhu.
But the problem lies here
She is truly passionate about learning magical combat techniques. This time, she came to the hostile Huaxia nation to gather intelligence on military and civilian affairs, and before leaving, she casually took a manual on cultivation techniques, which is said to have been seized from the divine clan by the ancestors of the Tushan clan during the ancient battle against the demon gods.
This ancient tome is incredibly old, and the material of the pages is indiscernible. On the dim and aged pages, some patterns are faintly etched, intricate and mysterious; at this moment, the glow of the sunset shines through the window, and the patterns on the cover of the book seem to begin to flow.
"Why are you standing here?" Just as she was lost in thought, Bai Binglan suddenly heard someone calling from behind her
The princess of the demon clan was also decisive and swift; with a single thought, she immediately descended the stairs like a gust of wind, her garments fluttering, and in the blink of an eye, she was already on the street
Has the Princess of Tushan ever been subjected to such cold mockery? She could not help but want to jump out of bed and give that human woman a few resounding slaps. However, upon further reflection, she realized that being in enemy territory, enduring a bit of humiliation was a minor issue. If she were to strike someone and escalate the situation, there was a risk that some cunning official from Hangzhou might catch on and recognize her identity as a princess of the demon clan. The potential consequences and losses could be unimaginable, perhaps even greater than the defeats suffered by the Tushan Kingdom against the Huaxia Kingdom in several major battles.
It was not until she stood behind the counter in her familiar position that the shopkeeper, Madam Sun, suddenly realized: "Huh? What is going on? Why was I so surprised that I heard that little girl say 'get lost' and actually came rolling down the stairs?"
While wandering among the people of the Huaxia nation, she casually practiced and unexpectedly found that indeed, the demonic gods were different. The many profound demon clan techniques that were previously claimed to be perilous and difficult to practice posed no issues at all. However, this so-called broken "Fuxi Classic" had barely begun to be practiced, and in a moment of distraction, she actually fell into a state of obsession with the technique.
Alas! She let out a heavy sigh, "The artifacts of the divine race indeed conflict with our demon race; who would have thought that with my knowledge, Bai Binglan, I would actually fall into a state of obsession?"
The Tushan clan is the oldest and most noble of the demon tribes on the Shenzhou continent. It was a woman from the Tushan clan whom the great Yu, who governed the great flood, married.
For nearly half a month, she had been living in a guesthouse, and now, upon suddenly arriving in the crowded neighborhood, she did not feel the same aversion to the bustling world as before; instead, she sensed a certain warmth.
Specially, Bai Binglan is exceptionally intelligent and has a magnanimous personality. She possesses an astonishing talent for magical skills, and she can basically master the spellbooks treasured by the royal family of Tushan at a glance. Her actions are also dedicated to the country, which has earned her a high reputation among the officials and the military of the Tushan Kingdom.
No one could have imagined that the girl who was lazily lounging in the guesthouse of Hangzhou was actually the princess of the powerful demon clan dynasty in southern China today
Moreover, it was quite coincidental that Bai Binglan, who had not yet had breakfast and was already very hungry, felt even hungrier upon catching the wafting aroma of the steaming hot buns.
Now her strength is reduced to less than 10 percent, and her combat ability may not be much higher than that of a street thug
As soon as one hears the name of the Tushan Dynasty, it is clear that this young lady's origins are quite extraordinary
This young girl possesses an exquisite beauty, so much so that to describe her as having the beauty of a flower and the grace of the moon seems somewhat derogatory.
The proprietress of this establishment, though she is a shrew, harbors ill intentions, seeking to introduce me to a brothel in order to collect money from the madam's intermediary. However, it is also my fault that I have not paid her for lodging for more than half a month
Leaning against the wall, she gasped for breath for a moment, her muscles gradually calming down, no longer feeling so weak. However, there was another matter that made her feel more terrified than fainting in the street: whether it was due to severe hunger that caused her to hallucinate, she now found herself somewhat hoping that some scoundrel from the human nobility would discover her beauty and then entice her with a basket of buns—what was truly frightening was this; she thought for a moment and found herself hesitating about outright rejecting this idea.
Madam Sun spoke in a rapid-fire manner, and the Princess of the Celestial Fox, who had been holding back her voice, could no longer contain herself. She gathered all her strength and shouted, "Get lost!"
Of course, "Bai Binglan" is the name she often uses when she is out and about. In the Tushan Imperial Court, she is often called "Bai Shuangyao" or "Tushan Shuangyao." For her, these titles all represent herself, and she even has a particular fondness for the name "Bai Binglan"
The token was stolen, which is unfortunate; however, along with the disappearance of the token jade pendant, there was also a stack of silver notes used for traversing the rivers and lakes of Huaxia
At this moment, the bright spring sunlight slanted down from in front of the young girl, illuminating the person speaking before her, making them appear radiant; thus, this person's features became vividly clear in the eyes of Bai Binglan, causing even the well-traveled and knowledgeable Princess Tianhu to momentarily lose her composure, staring blankly at the person before her.
Indeed, fair maiden, if you trust me, with your natural charm, as long as you follow my advice and allow me to introduce you to a brothel, not only will you be able to repay the room fee immediately, but within ten to fifteen days, the money you earn from your share will be enough to purchase this inn of mine
After a brief pause, a high-pitched voice came again: "Stop pretending to be absent! With that frail body of yours, where could you possibly go at this hour? When are you going to settle the half-month's rent? I took pity on you and allowed you to stay first and pay later, but I didn't expect to have misjudged you. You look delicate and precious, yet it turns out you are completely broke!"
In the spring of Hangzhou, after a night of drizzling rain, the next morning perfectly embodies the essence of "listening to the spring rain from a small building, selling apricot blossoms in a deep alley"
In stark contrast to the gentle spring rain that had echoed throughout the night, the boss's words came forth like a rapid-fire barrage, pouring into Bai Binglan's ears like a tempest, even though separated by the rough wooden door.
The Celestial Fox Princess of the Tushan Dynasty has always lived in luxury and abundance, when has she ever encountered such a situation
It is one thing to be curious, but why should I still attempt the trial? As the princess of the Tushan Kingdom, why am I interested in the ancient divine clan's martial arts manuals?
Realizing that something was wrong, she quickly moved to the corner of the street, leaned against the wall, and positioned herself to avoid fainting in the middle of the street
Earlier, she had just seen a steamer of fragrant meat buns freshly out of the oven, and the owner of the bun shop was calling out clearly, with each bun priced at one wen
"Why am I so curious?" the girl who loves to stay in bed thought sadly, "In my Tushan dynasty, what sacred texts and extraordinary books do I not possess? Why am I particularly curious about this "Fuxi Classic"?"
Golden stars began to appear before her eyes, and her already weak body became even more feeble at this moment, making it almost impossible for her to stand.
It is in this way that the stunning young girl, lazily lying on the bed, lacks the youthful vitality that one should possess at her age. In her eyes, besides the languor, there is unexpectedly a hint of profound sorrow and indignation.
Hmph! It is not that I am afraid, she thought to herself calmly, it is just that this little girl, though her body appears delicate and soft, has a strangely peculiar voice that is quite annoying to listen to, I couldn't help but walk away.
It is all the fault of this wretched book
Hmph, these degenerate humans engage in such despicable trades; this princess would never lower herself to associate with them. Although she cannot profit from it, it does not prevent the noble and proud princess of the demon race from secretly mocking and despising humanity in her heart
"Is this princess truly to be defeated by a mere penny?" she cried out in her heart with indignation
It is unlikely that any citizen of the Tushan Kingdom could have imagined that the esteemed princess, who commands the winds and rains among the demon clan and captivates all, would find herself on the streets of the human realm, suffering from hunger and cold, to the point of being deluded into the illusion of selling herself for food
Given her current physical condition, she should not be moving about so swiftly; yet she still exerted all her strength, darting past the inn's front desk, truly unwilling to be urged for the room payment by the landlady again
Are you talking to me?" Intuitively feeling that she should shout towards herself, Bai Binglan slowly turned around
She only mocked a few times, yet she gradually felt that something was amiss
The proprietress is lamenting downstairs, while Bai Binglan has already put on that pale yellow dress upstairs, yet she is also filled with countless thoughts
Upon reaching the street, Bai Binglan looked up and saw that it was bustling with pedestrians, with vendors calling out everywhere, creating a scene of great prosperity and liveliness
Alas, although this princess is currently disguised as a lowly human woman, I cannot stay at an inn without paying. The weather is just right today, and having recovered for more than half a month, I can move about a little. Therefore, I shall take a stroll in Hangzhou city to see if there are any opportunities to make money.
Princess Bai Binglan is somewhat different from the princesses of the human race's Huaxia Dynasty; according to the ancestral system of the demon clan, in terms of inheriting the throne, princesses have equal rights to princes.
It cannot go on like this, she said to herself while looking out at the vibrant red flowers and green trees outside the window. I cannot continue like this. After resting for more than half a month, my strength has not improved much. Staying indoors every day and making no progress is not a solution.
Having temporarily lost her powers was one thing, but to her dismay, she was now caught in a downpour while her house was leaking. Being in an enemy nation, after losing her abilities, she was eager to return home and frantically searched the streets for the spies and hidden agents of her country, Tushan, in Huaxia. However, in the midst of her chaotic thoughts, she inadvertently caught the attention of a ruffian whom she had never regarded as a threat. To her astonishment, at some point, the token she used to prove her identity as a princess was stolen.
In the midst of fierce winds and heavy rain, the sound of "knock, knock, knock" echoed at the door, followed by the voice of an elderly woman, calling out loudly: "Miss Bai, Miss Bai, are you home?"
The boss lady, who was passionately speaking outside the door, was taken aback upon hearing the word "get lost"
As the morning light begins to unfold and the birds chirp, the air, refreshed by the spring rain, brings an exceptional sense of joy to the pedestrians walking through the alleys of Hangzhou
Not only was she taken aback, but she also instinctively turned around and swiftly made her way down, almost as if compelled by some unseen force, returning to the back of the reception counter in the hall
However, a young female guest currently residing in the alley inn cannot seem to lift her spirits
Alas! What is there to consider? If I possessed your beauty, I would have long rushed to the brothel to sell myself. Within three days, I would become the top courtesan of the West Lake's pleasure boats. By that time, who would still be talking about not being able to pay the rent? I would be feasting on delicacies and wearing fine silks, riding in luxurious carriages. Not only would someone like me be unable to approach you, but even the wealthy young masters from ordinary families would have to turn left upon exiting and wait in line to see you!
However, merely watching the excitement is quite enjoyable. She has walked past several cobblestone streets, yet she has not found any opportunity to make money.
Alas! Lying on the wooden bed of a cheap inn, feeling the hard wooden planks digging painfully into her body, she couldn't help but sigh, "Alas, my curvaceous and youthful figure, after enduring this ordeal, you will all become mediocre..."
At this moment, it is unclear whether Mrs. Sun has had a change of heart, as she suddenly softened her tone and gently said: "Little girl, it is not that I want to force you; we are in the business of making a living and have our own difficulties. If all the guests in the inn were like you, only staying without remembering to pay, my family would have to go hungry. So, what do you think? How have you considered the suggestion I mentioned to you the day before yesterday?"
If it were only a pleasing appearance, that would be one thing; however, your figure and the expression in your eyes possess an indescribable charm, akin to the seductive allure described in theatrical scripts. Even an old woman like the matron cannot help but be moved by it
I, Sun Danniang, am running a small business. If you do not pay, my 'Fugui Grand Inn' will soon be unable to operate!
The spring scenery outside the window is exquisite, marking the best time of the year in Hangzhou; if it were a typical hotel guest, they would have already risen, freshened up, and set out to enjoy the spring sights. However, this lively young girl is now lazily lying in bed, unwilling to get up.
"Truly detestable!" Bai Binglan thought resentfully, her brows furrowed in anger, "Indeed, these human beings are inherently lowly; they dare to call Hangzhou a paradise on earth, yet thieves are everywhere, and their quality is far inferior to that of our demon clan!"
The sorrowful and indignant girl, listening to the melodious birdsong coming from outside the window, is casting an angry gaze at a book lying beside her pillow
It is no exaggeration to say that anyone who merely catches a glimpse of her will suddenly realize: "I have always imagined what a celestial beauty from the Jade Pool would look like, and now that I have seen her, I finally know!"
Tsk tsk! Do not blame me for my coarse words, but how on earth has your delicate body grown like this? I, as a matron who opens the door to do business, have seen all kinds of beautiful young ladies. Compared to you, they are simply like wilted vegetable leaves next to a luxurious dish of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall
Thinking of this, the girl who had endured so many hardships without shedding a tear now let crystal-clear tears flow down her cheeks
The Tushan clan is a lineage of the Nine-Tailed Fox, passed down from the goddess Nüwa. It has dominated the southern region of the Divine Land for several thousand years and is the most powerful dynasty among the various nations of the demon race
The Tu Mountain Dynasty, with the surname derived from the white fur of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox, is represented by the indignant Bai Binglan, who is indeed the legitimate princess of the Tu Mountain Dynasty