Chapter 293 - 140: An Arranged Pairing

Chapter 293: Chapter 140: An Arranged Pairing

With a light toss of her fair hand,

the round fan spun in the air, expanding several times in size. It transformed into a pale cyan umbrella of light, about ten feet in diameter, and hovered above the two of them, blocking every falling raindrop.

Raindrops struck the glowing umbrella with a crisp PITTER-PATTER.

"This Magical Treasure can be used like this?"

Jiang Mu was a little surprised.

Shui Miaozheng made a guiding gesture, and the glowing umbrella moved with them, always staying overhead. "This Magical Treasure is called the Cyan Luo," she said. "My father left it to me."

At the mention of her father, a shadow of sorrow and longing crossed her eyes, but she quickly hid it.

Jiang Mu understood.

’Right. With a father who once held a position at the General Office, it was only natural for him to leave a few powerful Magical Treasures for his daughter’s protection.’

"Keeping this up, won’t it consume too much Star Power?"

Jiang Mu asked.

Shui Miaozheng shook her head, her tone light.

"It’s just shielding us from the rain, maintaining the minimum level of protection. The consumption is negligible, so don’t worry."

The raindrops gradually grew denser.

They struck the Cyan Luo Umbrella, gathering into small streams that trickled down the edges of the light screen, forming a hazy curtain of water.

The two of them walked shoulder-to-shoulder, very close.

Their shoulders brushed occasionally, a warm sensation that was particularly distinct on this cool, rainy day.

Soon, they arrived in an area filled with jagged rocks.

This was one of the places the villagers had mentioned the Wolf Demon frequented.

Shui Miaozheng stopped and carefully examined the surrounding trees, rocks, and ground. She even bent down, picked up a bit of damp earth, and sniffed it.

Then, she closed her eyes and slowly spread out her Divine Sense.

Like invisible ripples,

it carefully scanned every inch of land and every wisp of aura in the area.

A moment later, she opened her eyes and shook her head in regret.

"It’s not here."

The two didn’t linger, continuing on to the next marked area.

However, after visiting three or four locations the villagers had pointed out as the Wolf Demon’s usual haunts, Shui Miaozheng’s Divine Sense scans all came up empty.

During this time, Jiang Mu even used up a Spiritual Light Divination for guidance.

But the divination result was blurry and inconclusive.

"Could the villagers have tipped off the Wolf Demon, allowing it to escape?" Jiang Mu guessed.

Shui Miaozheng stood at the edge of a cliff, gazing at the vast, rain-shrouded mountain forest. After a moment of thought, she shook her head in disagreement.

"I don’t think so. Before we came, I secretly had people watch who was entering and leaving the village and gave instructions. No one could have sent a warning in advance.

Besides, according to past records from the Yan City office, there have been encirclement operations before. Even when villagers secretly tipped it off, the Wolf Demon never left this mountain.

It seems to have an unusual attachment to this mountain. It would rather risk confrontation than leave."

She turned to Jiang Mu, the rain drumming softly on the glowing umbrella above them.

"Never mind. Let’s rest here for a bit and wait for news from Cuicui and the others. Their team has a Magical Artifact specially designed to detect demonic energy fluctuations; they might be able to conduct a more thorough search."

Jiang Mu had no objections.

After all, his main role this time was to "accompany" her; his job was to follow orders.

Shui Miaozheng led Jiang Mu to a dry cave they had scouted earlier.

She put away the round fan, and the two of them ducked inside.

’Although maintaining the fan didn’t consume much power, it was best to save every little bit. Who knew if a fierce battle lay ahead?’

Inside the cave, Shui Miaozheng took a neatly cut piece of yellow talisman paper from her robes. With a few nimble folds of her fingers, she created a lifelike paper crane.

She then took out a miniature Talisman covered in cinnabar runes, stuck it to the crane’s back, and gently blew a breath of Star Power-infused air onto it.

The paper crane’s wings trembled slightly, and it actually came to life.

Flapping its wings, it flew gracefully out of the cave and disappeared into the curtain of rain, off to deliver a message to Ming Cuicui and the others.

Jiang Mu, meanwhile, curiously sized up the cave.

The inside was quite clean. A pile of dry firewood was stacked in a corner, thick straw mats covered the floor, and there were even a few stones with smooth surfaces serving as simple seats.

’It seems that villagers who come up the mountain to chop wood or gather herbs also take shelter here from the wind and rain.’

The rain outside grew heavier, and a damp, cold chill seeped into the cave.

Perhaps worried that the thinly-dressed Jiang Mu would be cold, Shui Miaozheng walked over to the firewood. With a flick of her finger, a tiny spark shot into the pile.

WHOOSH! The campfire roared to life.

The orange-red light of the fire gradually dispelled the cave’s gloom and chill, casting Shui Miaozheng’s slender silhouette onto the stone wall, stretching it long and elegant.

"Xiaojiang,"

Shui Miaozheng suddenly spoke, her voice echoing slightly in the spacious cave, exceptionally gentle. "We’ve been walking for so long. Are you hungry?"

Jiang Mu paused, glanced at the downpour outside, and joked:

"Even if I were, what are you going to do, conjure a meal out of thin air in the middle of nowhere?"

The words had barely left his mouth when he saw Shui Miaozheng, like a magician, pull a large, plump, and already cleaned wild rabbit wrapped in oiled paper from behind her back.

The woman’s face held a hint of smugness and mischief as she watched him with a grin. "Who says I can’t? I’ll roast some rabbit for you. See? I even brought seasonings."

As she spoke, she produced two small jade vials.

They obviously contained salt and ground spices.

Jiang Mu was speechless.

’This woman... Don’t tell me she planned to have a picnic on the mountain all along?’

Staring at the naked rabbit in her hands, Jiang Mu blurted out, "Bunnies are so cute, why would you eat a bunny?"

Shui Miaozheng, who was about to skewer the rabbit with a branch, froze at his words.

She looked up at Jiang Mu, her expression utterly baffled, as if she couldn’t process why a grown man like him would say such a thing.

Jiang Mu found it funny himself and quickly waved his hand. "Just kidding. I’m teasing you."

Shui Miaozheng finally snapped out of it and shot him an annoyed glare, though the look in her eyes held a mature charm. She retorted,

"If you really don’t like rabbit, I can go catch you a wild pheasant or a boar. But boars are hard to find in this rain."

"No, that’s okay. I actually love spicy rabbit head. It’s got a kick."

Jiang Mu said with a laugh.

Shui Miaozheng smiled, said no more, and began to skillfully prepare the rabbit meat.

She skewered the rabbit on a sharpened branch, propped it over the campfire, and began to turn it slowly, sprinkling salt and spices evenly from the jade vials.

Her movements were practiced; clearly, this wasn’t her first time.

The flickering firelight illuminated her radiant profile and her figure, which swayed gently as she turned the branch.

Her collar had loosened slightly from bending over.

’In a daze, I felt like there was more than just one rabbit roasting over the fire...’