When Destiny Brings the Demon

Liao Tingyan couldn't fall asleep early that night, not because of the physiological health lesson the teacher had given during the day, but because she had been invited by her classmates to attend a banquet.

Her current identity was Yong Lingchun, the young lady of Night Wanderer Palace. At this social stratum, besides indulging in food and entertainment, building connections was also essential, so gatherings for feasting were an indispensable pastime. Since the entire class was going, Liao Tingyan followed along—after all, even corporate drones needed to socialize, and she wasn’t one to shy away.

A large group, led by the two highest-ranking students—one male and one female—headed to the splendid Brocade Hall outside Chen Academy for a night of revelry.

Men and women sat separately, able to see each other across the glow of lanterns and the hazy blossoms. Musicians played and sang beneath the flowers, while attendants served wine, snacks, and spirit-infused delicacies. The scene was harmonious and friendly—so harmonious, in fact, that adult Liao Tingyan felt a little disappointed.

Yong Lingchun sat in the middle of the women’s section. Not long after the banquet began, as everyone drank and chatted, two women from either side struck up conversations with her.

"Lingchun, I heard you came to Chen Academy with your elder brother. Why haven’t I seen him around lately?"

Liao Tingyan had no choice but to set down the half-eaten meatball decorated with peony patterns and reply, "My brother had other important matters to attend to. He should be back in a few days."

A delicate, fragile-looking woman took her arm. "Since you’re alone these days, why not attend classes with me? I’m also by myself, and it gets quite lonely. Our courtyards aren’t far apart, either."

Her expression suggested Liao Tingyan should know who she was—so much so that she didn’t even introduce herself. But Liao Tingyan was stumped; she didn’t recognize this person at all. No choice but to improvise. Drawing on years of social skills honed in the corporate grind, she exchanged pleasantries and smoothly sent her on her way.

No sooner had one left than another arrived. This one appeared sweet and charming but seemed to have a temper. She cut straight to the chase: "Did you have a conflict with my cousin in class? Was it you who embarrassed him?"

The only person she’d clashed with was that Qi guy whose backside she’d pricked. Liao Tingyan wore an expression of pure innocence, her bewilderment so convincing it was impossible to doubt her. "No, I didn’t. Who’s your cousin again?"

Salty Fish Skill #1: Sure, whatever, I don’t mind.

Salty Fish Skill #2: Huh? I don’t know, wasn’t me.

After successfully deflecting this sister, Liao Tingyan took another bite of her meatball. Before she could even swallow, the third conversationalist arrived. This one was clearly here to pick a fight. "Oh, so even people from Night Wanderer Palace have to come to our Gengchen Immortal Mansion to study? Though I suppose it makes sense—your place is so small and understaffed, there probably isn’t anyone capable of teaching you."

Liao Tingyan set down her chopsticks, her face the picture of sincerity. "Yes, you’re absolutely right."

Salty Fish Skill #3: Yes, correct, you’re so wise.

The girl continued, "I see your Spirit Root isn’t that great either. Even if you’re here, you probably won’t achieve much. You might as well find a cultivation partner to rely on early."

Liao Tingyan: "Good point. That’s very insightful."

Girl: "…Did you come here today just to find a partner? Too bad all the fellow cultivators here are from families far above your station. You’d better know your place."

Liao Tingyan: "Yes, I was thinking the same thing."

Girl: "…" Damn it.The girl came over to provoke, only to be shut down and ended up fuming herself. Gnashing her teeth as she left, she thought to herself: Wasn’t Yong Lingchun supposed to have a terrible temper, exploding at the slightest provocation? Why was she like a dough figurine, completely unresponsive no matter what was said?

With the girl gone, Liao Tingyan could finally eat the last bite of her meatball, sighing inwardly. Not a single person here had come for the food—they were all too busy talking. She had been interrupted three times just trying to eat a meatball. After finishing it, she went to scoop some of the milky-white sweet soup, which was refreshing and sweet—quite decent, really.

Her vacation days had seen fluctuating food quality. Back at Three Sage Mountain, she even had to bring her own meals, going without even a strip of dried meat for a while. After leaving Three Sage Mountain, she enjoyed a few carefree days at White Deer Cliff, where she could order whatever she wanted, with lavish feasts available anytime. That had been the best food she’d had.

Later, when things got messy and she had to flee, she resorted to self-prepared meals again. Fortunately, she had packed plenty of preserved dishes to satisfy her cravings. As for now, while the food couldn’t compare to White Deer Cliff’s standards, it was still better than the worst.

Just as she took her second spoonful of the sweet soup, another young girl sidled up to her and said, “You really have a great temper. Yuan Rongxue said all those things to you earlier, and you didn’t even get angry.”

Liao Tingyan: “Nothing worth getting angry about.” After all, she had been insulting Yong Lingchun—what did that have to do with Liao Tingyan?

Right now, she was part of the faction led by the big boss, Patriarch Sima Jiao. Sima Jiao’s status was roughly equivalent to the grandson of a company’s former chairman, parachuted into the company. The old guard superficially revered him but actually sidelined him, now relegating him to a grassroots branch for infrastructure work… No, that wasn’t quite right. It was more like this lone but ruthless boss, dissatisfied with the company, had voluntarily stepped down to undermine its foundations.

As the boss’s personal assistant, she had nothing to fear. If nothing else, when the big boss protected someone, it was like an impenetrable shield.

After some eating and drinking, the atmosphere grew livelier, and people finally began sharing insider information. Someone whispered mysteriously, “Did you all hear about the major incident in the inner mansion recently?”

“Oh, is it related to that Patriarch?”

With gossipy expressions, they used veiled references to discuss the affairs of Taoist Lord Cizang. These were all young masters and misses from branch families—not privy to too much, but still more informed than the average person.

Liao Tingyan had been wondering why, after Sima Jiao had caused such a huge incident and killed so many high-ranking figures, Gengchen Immortal Mansion seemed completely unaffected, with no one discussing it. Now, she finally caught a whiff of the topic and pricked up her ears to listen in.

“I heard the Patriarch flew into a rage and killed many people, all because a favored female disciple whispered in his ear. The sect master even had to cover it up for him.”

“They say the Patriarch had a dispute with the sect master and is now in seclusion at White Deer Cliff.”

Liao Tingyan: Well, that’s misinformation. The higher-ups must have suppressed the truth to maintain stability.

“I used to think that with the Patriarch’s return, our Gengchen Immortal Mansion would grow even stronger. But now it seems having such a Patriarch isn’t a good thing at all.”The crowd fell into an awkward silence at such blunt words. Even if some secretly agreed with the sentiment, it wasn't something to be voiced aloud, while others held completely opposite views.

A rather haughty-looking man spoke up: "Our Patriarch's cultivation is peerless, and as the sole descendant of the Sima clan, it's only natural he acts as he pleases. Haven't you all read the Gengchen History? There have been many Sima descendants like our Patriarch, yet each eventually became pillars of our Gengchen Immortal Mansion, bringing honor to our sect—venerated senior experts worthy of our respect. Given the chance, I would gladly lay down my life for our Patriarch."

Many shared this man's perspective, believing that a few deaths meant little as long as they weren't the ones being killed. Naturally, they preferred following someone so formidable.

Unfortunately, Sima Jiao had no intention of gathering forces to contend with others. From start to finish, he never concealed his disdain for the entire Gengchen Immortal Mansion, preferring to act alone in all matters.

"Finished eating? Let's go if you're done."

Speak of the devil—Sima Jiao, missing for a day and a half, suddenly appeared wearing Yong Shiqiu's face, standing behind Liao Tingyan as he spoke.

The sudden silence drew everyone's attention to him. Unfazed, Sima Jiao simply gestured to Liao Tingyan. Without hesitation, she set down her half-eaten sweet soup and rose to follow him.

"Wait—you're Yong Shiqiu from Night Wanderer Palace, aren't you?" The leading man called out to stop them. "Fellow Daoist Shi and I are hosting this banquet today for new students to acquaint themselves. Why leave in such haste? You and your sister should stay—there's still wonderful entertainment to come. It would be a shame to miss it."

Sima Jiao glanced at him with the indifference one might show an ant crawling over one's foot. "Banquet? All I see is idle chatter."

Liao Tingyan thought: He's right. That hits the nail on the head—what a boss.

Sima Jiao turned to look at her with an expression like discovering one's child had lost weight after two weeks apart.

Liao Tingyan: I must be misreading that expression.

The fake siblings brushed past everyone, leaving the floral banquet grove and all its awkward, displeased expressions behind.

"You like this place?" Sima Jiao asked casually as they walked along the waterside pavilion corridor.

Liao Tingyan smacked her lips. "It's alright. The food's better than at the academy."

Sima Jiao couldn't comprehend her obsession with eating. "At your current cultivation level, you don't need this. It serves no purpose beyond indulging your appetite."

Liao Tingyan: "Oh, I eat because I enjoy good food."

This ancestor's life was truly pitiful and dull. If one couldn't even sleep well or eat delicious food, living lost much of its meaning.

Liao Tingyan: "You could try different delicacies too. They're great for lifting your mood."

Sima Jiao scoffed disdainfully.

They didn't leave Brocade Hall because Liao Tingyan had only eaten meatballs and half a bowl of sweet soup for dinner—not enough. So they ordered another table's worth of dishes. As Liao Tingyan ate, Sima Jiao sat staring blankly. In some ways, Liao Tingyan thought the ancestor resembled a lonely, withdrawn child.

Sima Jiao: "I can sense what you're thinking."Liao Tingyan stopped her train of thought and began eating while mentally playing the soundtrack of A Bite of China , continuously praising the food’s deliciousness in the exaggerated tones of side characters from Cooking Master Boy .

Sima Jiao stared at her.

Liao Tingyan: "...Want to try some?"

Sima Jiao leaned over and ate the trembling, milky-white steamed egg custard from her spoon.

Liao Tingyan: ...There’s a whole other bowl right there, why did you have to take mine? Do you only find food appetizing if you steal it from others?

She set down the spoon, picked up a chopstick, and swiftly stuffed a pearl-like, translucent bird’s egg into her mouth, flashing Sima Jiao a fake smile. Hah, it’s in my mouth now. Try stealing it again, asshole.

Sima Jiao cupped her chin and leaned in.

Liao Tingyan: "!!!"

As their soft lips and tongues pressed and tangled, a shiver ran down the back of Liao Tingyan’s head, as if she had suddenly recalled a fleeting moment from their earlier Soul Communion.

Sima Jiao released her, leaning against the table as he chewed the bird’s egg in his mouth. Liao Tingyan instinctively pursed her lips and realized there was nothing left in her mouth except saliva. Just as she swallowed reflexively, Sima Jiao seemed to smirk—though the expression was faint and fleeting—before reverting to his usual annoying self. "This isn’t even good," he remarked.

Liao Tingyan wanted to shove the entire plate of pearl-like bird’s eggs floating in broth into his mouth and then pour the soup down his nostrils.

The next moment, Sima Jiao picked up the bowl of bird’s eggs and dumped both the eggs and broth onto the flowerbed beside them. After doing so, he seemed to pause briefly before tossing the empty dish back onto the table.

Liao Tingyan: "..." Damn it.

Not far away, a certain Mr. Qi, who had arrived late to the banquet and accidentally wandered into the scene, had just witnessed everything. His face cycled through shades of green and white, looking particularly grim. Qi Letian recognized the woman in the intimate, flirtatious kiss—wasn’t that Yong Lingchun, the woman he had his eye on? He hadn’t even gotten his hands on her yet, and here someone else had beaten him to it! And who the hell was that man beside her?

Qi Letian adjusted his expression and approached, feigning politeness as he addressed Liao Tingyan. "Lingchun, what are you doing here? Weren’t you supposed to be attending the Flower Night Banquet with the others?"

Then he glanced at Sima Jiao. "And who might this be?"

Liao Tingyan hadn’t even noticed that this man had witnessed the earlier scene. She replied, "This is my elder brother, Yong Shiqiu."

Qi Letian’s expression instantly froze. A torrent of filthy thoughts flashed through his mind before condensing into four bold characters: Brother-sister incest!

Sima Jiao gave him a faintly mocking look and idly pushed around the unappetizing dishes in front of him. "If you’ve got nothing better to do, scram."

Qi Letian glared at them with disdain before stiffly walking away without another word.

Liao Tingyan, baffled: "Why did he look like he was constipated?"