Volume One, Chapter Seven: Your Malevolent Heart

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Jiang Boyu’s gaze was deep and complicated as he stared at Cheng Xi. “Miss Cheng, we meet again.”

Cheng Xi only wanted to settle down, but never expected it to be this difficult. Her soul was damaged, and she hadn’t had proper rest these past few days. Her face was pale as a ghost. “Lord Jiang, you’ve come at just the right time. I was about to report a case to the Celestial Bureau.”

“Report a case?”

“Yes. Last night, the Four-Eyed Demon Fox broke into my home intending to harm me but was caught by Baohua.” Cheng Xi covered her chest and coughed once. “Yesterday, you mentioned discovering the Four-Eyed Demon Fox and suggested reporting it to the Celestial Bureau. I was just about to do so when you arrived.”

“Who is Baohua?” Jiang Boyu asked suspiciously.

Cheng Xi replied weakly, “Didn’t you see her yesterday?”

Jiang Boyu was stunned. He had seen her? Why couldn’t he remember?

Just then, Baohua came down from upstairs, carrying the tightly bound Four-Eyed Demon Fox. Her steps were stiff as she approached Jiang Boyu and tossed the fox toward him.

The guards behind Jiang Boyu at the Celestial Bureau’s entrance changed their expressions drastically. Jiang Boyu himself never imagined that Baohua was actually that paper doll—and even more, that this paper doll could capture the Four-Eyed Demon Fox!

Was his eyes playing tricks, or was he dreaming?

Cheng Xi’s paper doll was something different indeed.

Despite his doubts, Jiang Boyu reacted swiftly. A flash of treasure light appeared in his hand, and the Four-Eyed Demon Fox was locked inside a cage about a foot square.

The fox’s four eyes fixed tightly on Cheng Xi. She didn’t look at it but instead said to Jiang Boyu, “Lord Jiang, does this count as a meritorious deed? Does the court offer rewards?”

Jiang Boyu twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Of course, but rewards will be granted only after the Celestial Bureau concludes the case.”

Cheng Xi hadn’t eaten breakfast and felt her vision darkening. She looked at Jiang Boyu and said, “The reward from the Celestial Bureau can be yours. Could you buy me some breakfast?”

Jiang Boyu: ...

Cheng Xi’s pale face was truly a bit frightening. Jiang Boyu ordered his men to buy food and frowned as he said, “Miss Cheng, your body is too weak. You should see a physician.”

Cheng Xi nodded vaguely. Seeing a doctor wouldn’t help; the original owner’s body was too weak, incompatible with her soul, causing rejection.

In other words, she was too strong, and the original body too fragile—like a fierce fire trapped in a paper shell, naturally unsustainable.

Because Cheng Xi caught the Four-Eyed Demon Fox and handed it over to the Celestial Bureau’s guards, this demon hunt ended perfectly, and everyone present could claim credit.

The guard who bought the food came back carrying a table full of dishes.

Cheng Xi looked at him in astonishment.

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The Celestial Bureau guard smiled, “Miss Cheng, your body is too weak. You should eat more and recover sooner.”

Cheng Xi thanked him and took out some silver coins, but the guard refused, saying that such a great achievement was reward enough, and a meal was nothing.

Jiang Boyu held the cage with the Four-Eyed Demon Fox inside, curled into a ball, its eyes quietly watching Cheng Xi.

Cheng Xi seemed unaware, and curiously asked Jiang Boyu, “I see the demon’s vitality and power are both weakened. Does the Celestial Bureau often bleed it?”

Jiang Boyu frowned. “Who would dare do that without the Lord Commander’s orders?”

He looked down at the fox: its fur was glossy and smooth, its flesh and bones plump—nothing like a weakened demon.

“Perhaps I was mistaken,” Cheng Xi smiled faintly. “Lord Jiang, you still have to report back, so I won’t keep you.”

Jiang Boyu nodded and bade farewell, striding away with his men. The Four-Eyed Demon Fox banged hard against the cage, its fur instantly singed by fierce flames, letting out a miserable cry.

“Lord, this beast still tries to escape. We must hand it over to the Lord Commander quickly.”

“Miss Cheng’s paper doll caught the Four-Eyed Demon Fox—her talisman arts are no ordinary matter.”

The voices faded as Baohua immediately shut the door and carried the breakfast upstairs to Cheng Xi.

After eating, Cheng Xi finally felt alive again. Watching Baohua busy about, her mind stirred.

She once had a Baohua too, one she crafted piece by piece, like a little field snail maiden.

Yet, for some reason, everything she made always mutated.

For example, this Baohua before her could actually capture the Four-Eyed Demon Fox. Just thinking about it gave her a headache—she hoped Lord Li wouldn’t give her trouble again with some sudden attack.

***

The Celestial Bureau personnel left Qinchuan, but before departing, Jiang Boyu brought Cheng Xi the bureau’s reward. Although she said it was for Jiang Boyu, he wouldn’t take her belongings greedily.

Especially since Cheng Xi looked so weak, the Lord Commander had him deliver a rare Spirit-Nurturing Pill—perfect for restoring health.

Cheng Xi smiled as she looked at the pill. Li Zhian was quite interesting. However, the pill was useless to her, so she turned and placed it on Baohua.

Baohua was delighted, hanging it around her neck, then tucking it inside her garment.

Paper dolls require nurturing.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Cheng Xi thought that if no silver came from the Cheng family tomorrow, she would visit them personally to demand it.

Who would have guessed that early the next morning, Cheng Zhouxing came knocking at her door.

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Accompanying Cheng Zhouxing was Cheng Fenglian. The father and daughter entered and frowned at the shabby little courtyard.

Cheng Xi was too lazy to invite them to sit and directly asked, “Where’s the money?”

Cheng Fenglian sneered, “Cheng Xi, you’re far too mercenary, always talking about money.”

“Everything you eat, wear, and use is bought with silver. If you can take it off me, then I’ll believe you regard gold and silver as dirt, living like a hermit, noble and detached from worldly affairs.”

“You… you’re utterly shameless!”

“Shameless? I never stole anyone’s fiancé, nor did I use another’s mother’s dowry. If you’re so noble, then don’t do it!”

“Enough!” Cheng Zhouxing scolded with a dark face.

Cheng Xi looked completely indifferent. Cheng Fenglian’s face turned bright red, and she shot Cheng Xi a fierce glare.

“What are you looking at? Keep staring, and I’ll gouge your eyes out!” Cheng Xi said coldly.

Cheng Zhouxing had wanted to persuade Cheng Xi to return home, but seeing this, he gave up and placed a silver note on the table. “From now on, take care of yourself.”

Cheng Xi sneered, “Baohua, see them out!”

Cheng Zhouxing and his daughter’s faces stiffened when they saw Baohua. Before they could react, Baohua grabbed them each with one hand and threw them out.

With a bang, the door slammed shut.

Cheng Zhouxing scrambled up, staring fiercely at the two black lacquered doors.

“Fenglian, that’s paper control magic, isn’t it? Weren’t we told Cheng Xi was talentless and useless?”

Cheng Fenglian’s face paled. After thinking a moment, she said, “Father, even if you have money, you can buy this. Cheng Xi must have spent a fortune buying the paper doll from someone else to save face.”

Cheng Zhouxing thought it made sense. Cheng Xi tested talent once and failed; otherwise, he wouldn’t have sent her to the village.

Thinking about how Cheng Xi spent so much silver to buy a paper doll for appearances, and how the Cheng family was struggling to gather money recently, his anger flared uncontrollably.

Such a daughter was better off not having!