Originally, the only buyer was the young painter, and he had been careful to keep this secret. But with so many experienced, highly skilled painters in the industry, how could they not see that the special effect he achieved wasn’t due to technique, but purely through external help?
Finally, the older painter who had come with him found the young painter’s weakness. Through threats and enticements, he too learned the source of this pigment.
In ancient times, the ores covering Mount Nüyang were worthless, and no one bothered to mine them. These stones had no use—they couldn’t be made into tools, used as fuel, or eaten. No species had any need for them. But then some genius figured out how to grind them into a pigment and sell it to humans. That turned Mount Nüyang’s ore into one of the most expensive pigments in the world.
At this point, Sister Wu proudly patted her chest. “That genius who figured out using ore as pigment is none other than yours truly, ga!” She was so excited her real voice slipped out.
“Amazing, amazing!” Ye Yang played along, using the leaves on his back to make a clapping sound. It was hot out, so after returning to the company, he had shifted to his original form and climbed into the large bathtub that Brother Ge had brought over. The seawater inside had been delivered by Shen Xiuyun.
Then he hesitated. “So, just those two clients? And they bought that little? That still counts as a big order?”
Sister Wu said, “One box of pigment costs two hundred thousand. Each of us gets fifty thousand, the rest goes to the company.”
Ye Yang shot his head out of the water, sending splashes everywhere. “Sis, just tell me what you need me to do!”
……
What Ye Yang needed to do was simple in some ways—just transport the ore from Mount Nüyang. Sister Wu could handle the rest.
But it was also not simple at all.
Mount Nüyang wasn’t a place just anyone could go.
Sister Wu explained that Mount Nüyang wasn’t what it used to be. In the past, the Guai River flowed past its base, and she only needed to detour a bit to go up. But now, a Xuan Turtle demon had cultivated to spirit form and lived in the Guai River. She and her kind had made a deal with the Lushu deer on Mount Nüyang: to protect the Lushu, they dug a canal to redirect the Guai River into a new channel encircling the mountain, completely sealing it off.
“This Guai River really lives up to its name. No bird can fly across it. Only aquatic species can swim through. And the Xuan Turtle inside is no pushover.”
Until now, Sister Wu had been selling from her stockpile. But with the stockpile gone, if she wanted to continue the business, she needed a suitable helper to obtain the ore.
“If not for that, would I let you just haul some ore and give you such a big cut? I’m not stupid.”
Hearing this, Ye Yang twitched the antennae on his head. “Sis, have you tried talking to the Xuan Turtle properly and just trading for the ore?”
“You think I haven’t? Of course I tried!” Sister Wu’s voice was full of barely suppressed anger. “Those Xuan Turtles and Lushu deer won’t listen to a crow! They actually thought I was like the others, coveting the Lushu’s fur!”
“So infuriating, so insulting! My kind can have several offspring in one litter—we don’t need some deviant methods to reproduce!”
Legend said wearing Lushu fur could make one’s descendants multiply and prosper. Ancient humans, and even many modern demons, wanted to get their hands on Lushu fur. No wonder the Lushu had sealed off the mountain.
But the Xuan Turtle was also occupying the mountain quite tyrannically. Why hadn’t anyone done something about it?
Well, Ye Yang thought, it looks like he was the one who needed to deal with the Xuan Turtle. He should be able to win, right?
Just as he was thinking that, Sister Wu added, “I’m not sending you there to fight. Just find a way to get friendly with the Xuan Turtle and obtain the ore. Whatever you do, don’t start a fight. If you fight, it’s over.”
Even though Ye Yang looked small and soft, he was proudest of his fists. He didn’t like hearing this. “Sis, what do you mean by that? You think I can’t win?”
A Xuan Turtle that had just cultivated to spirit form—that didn’t sound tough. How could he not be a match for it?
“No, it’s just that the Xuan Turtle is too hard to fight.” Sister Wu wasn’t known for her patience. Back in the day, she had come to blows with the Xuan Turtle immediately after a disagreement. But the Xuan Turtle refused to fight her—it just retreated into its shell, wrapping its viper-like tail around its body to cover every angle. Any attack bounced right off, leaving the Xuan Turtle itself unharmed.
Sister Wu had pecked at this iron-clad turtle for an entire day and night, nearly shattering her beak.
“That’s its innate skill. If not for that, someone would have dealt with the Xuan Turtle and Lushu occupying the mountain long ago.”
“I mean, someone could deal with it, but the demon cities nearby don’t think Mount Nüyang has resources worth the trouble, so they’ve let it slide.”
Ye Yang had one last question: “Why me?”
Sister Wu let out an “Aiyo” and suddenly scooped Ye Yang out of the water, cradling him in her hands and ruffling him. “Who else? Long, Grey, and Ge aren’t aquatic. The little snake newcomer is aquatic, but he’s not cute enough.”
Ye Yang finally caught on. “…So what exactly am I supposed to do?”
·
At the foot of Mount Nüyang, east of the Guai River.
A small sea hare, about the size of a dwarf rabbit, was timidly poking its head along the riverbank. After a long while, it cautiously dipped its soft body into the Guai River.
Plunk!
“!”
A massive suction force from the Guai River slammed into Ye Yang. Caught off guard, he tumbled straight in.
This suction force dragged Ye Yang down. The Guai River was pitch black, and nothing could be seen in the water. He had no idea how long passed before soft light suddenly appeared before his eyes.
“Your Majesty! We caught a monster!”
Your Majesty… such an old-fashioned title. And what did she mean by monster? I’m so cute! Ye Yang grumbled to himself.
The next moment, he saw the Xuan Turtle Queen.
On her beautiful oval-shaped face, a pair of red eyes and striking crimson lips stood out. Her long hair, streaked with black and red, drifted in the water. The Queen wore a loose-sleeved, wide-robed garment, and beneath her long skirt, the tip of a tail was visible—like a venomous snake coiled quietly at her feet.
She could already take human form, and such an outstandingly beautiful one at that. Her strength was clearly not to be underestimated.
Maybe he should have sent Chi Lian. He might be able to claim kinship with this Xuan Turtle.
As these random thoughts crossed his mind, the Xuan Turtle Queen spoke: “What is this thing, and where did it come from?” Her voice was soft and pleasant. So far, she didn’t seem as difficult to talk to as Sister Wu had suggested. Ye Yang’s confidence in successfully completing his mission grew.
The young Xuan Turtle holding Ye Yang said respectfully, “Your humble servant doesn’t know either. It was captured automatically by the flowing well.”
So he’d fallen into a trap. Ye Yang thought quickly, then suddenly spoke up: “Great Xuan Turtle Queen, I am a sea hare. I’ve come here to get some ore from Mount Nüyang.”
The young Xuan Turtle was so startled it nearly dropped Ye Yang. “It can talk? And there’s not a trace of demonic aura at all?! Forgive me, Your Majesty, I’ll take it to feed the fish!”
“Wait. A sea hare? I’ve never heard of that.” The Xuan Turtle Queen reached out with two fingers, pinched Ye Yang’s antennae, and lifted him up.
This position was unbearable. Ye Yang wriggled free and landed on the back of the Queen’s hand. “Your Majesty, please don’t feed me to the fish. I just want a little ore. I mean no harm!”
His jewel-like leaves fluttered gently, and two pink blushes appeared on his translucent cheeks.
This was Sister Wu’s advice. She said Ye Yang was so cute that no one who saw him would have the heart to make things difficult for him.
Ye Yang agreed. His human form was average, but his original form was stunning—every human and demon who had seen it said so!
Unfortunately, Sister Wu had been wrong.
The Xuan Turtle Queen stared at the cute little creature on the back of her hand, lost in thought for a long while. Finally, she reached out her other hand—
And tossed the little sea hare into the young Xuan Turtle’s arms, leaving the words: “Go feed it to the fish.” Whatever it was, any outsider demon couldn’t be up to any good.
Ye Yang: “…” Didn’t she want to touch his jewel-like leaves even a little? Didn’t she want to squish his soft belly? Was she even aquatic? Was there something wrong with her aesthetic sense?
Other species, fine—but an aquatic? How could she be so heartless toward him?!
Ye Yang was so shocked that he didn’t react until he was thrown into a fish farm stocked with catfish.
His tiny form vanished among the swarming fish, barely causing a ripple. The young Xuan Turtle peered for a moment, then dusted off its hands and went back to report.
A few minutes later, the fish in the farm parted like waves under a tremendous force. The little sea hare, holding a small ball of light between his antennae, emerged leisurely with his leaves drooping.
“Just as I thought—I’m no good at playing cute. Fists are more reliable. Alright, time for Plan B.”
The fish, scattered by a single punch, slowly reformed their school. The faintly glowing little sea hare silently vanished from the spot.
·
Mount Nüyang was vast. The ore Sister Wu needed lay scattered directly on the mountainside. Because it hindered plant growth, there were almost no animal traces in the areas covered by the ore.
Ye Yang, in his little sea hare form, moved among them. Seen from above, wherever he went, chunks of ore disappeared—swept in large quantities into Sister Wu’s universe pouch.
Sister Wu had said that since it wasn’t easy to come here, he should take as much as he could carry. Getting in this time was pure luck; who knew when the next chance would come?
The capacity of the universe pouch was tied to the user’s demonic power. Several hundred kilograms of ore was about Ye Yang’s limit. He stowed the pouch and retraced his steps.
Having been thrown to the fish earlier turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He had found a path that avoided the Xuan Turtle clan. All he had to do was re-enter the fish farm, and he could leave the Guai River basin without a trace.
He was weaving through the fish when suddenly, all the large fish around him panicked, breaking formation and darting about wildly. Caught off guard, Ye Yang got slapped by one of their tails and slammed hard into the muddy riverbed.
He had just pulled himself free when a steel-like, sharp claw descended from above, pinning him tight.
“What exactly are you, and what are you really doing here? Speak!”
It was the Xuan Turtle Queen.
The claw was incredibly hard. With all his strength, Ye Yang couldn’t budge it in the slightest.
“I just came to get ore! Didn’t I already tell you?!”
As he spoke, Ye Yang pulled out several pieces of ore to show her.
Unexpectedly, the Xuan Turtle Queen grew even angrier. The claw dug right into his flesh. “So you did sneak onto Mount Nüyang!”
“This ore is completely useless. If you’re going to lie, at least use your brain. Tell me the truth—what were you really doing on Mount Nüyang?!”
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