n

n

n“I’ll go and prepare some hot water,” Qing Mama announced. Then, she turned and

nleft. She felt incompetent because she hadn't realized that Eldest Miss's head was

nunbearably itchy.

n“You really can't bear the itch?” Zi Shang whispered softly into Ye Jiuge's ear. His

nwicked hands began to move.

n“Zi Shang, d*mn you, can't you warn me before you're in heat?” If Ye Jiuge had

nknown that her unwashed hair would compel Zi Shang to touch her in such a way,

nshe would have shaved it all off.

n“My estrous cycle is coming soon, you'll need to adapt,” Zi Shang said earnestly.

nThis girl's development is too slow, when will he be able to taste her? The wait is

nunbearable!

n“You have an estrous cycle?” Ye Jiuge’s skin crawled.

nWas her tiny figure sturdy enough for Zi Shang to trample on even once?

n“You’ll know when it comes.” Zi Shang was reluctant to part and he rubbed Ye

nJiuge's head before returning into her mark.

nJust then, Qing Mama and Zhen Zhu brought the hot water. Qing Mama knocked,

nsaying, “Eldest Miss, the hot water has been prepared.”

n“Come in!” Ye Jiuge did not feel like moving.

nWhen Qing Mama entered and saw Ye Jiuge's scattered hair and messy clothes,

nshe did not overthink it. After all, who dressed perfectly in the bathroom? With Qing

nMama and Zhen Zhu’s help, Ye Jiuge finished her bath. Then, she collapsed onto

nher bed, unable to move.

nWhen she woke, it was daybreak. Ye Jiuge was stretching herself on her bed when

nshe suddenly remembered the Spiritual Beast Pill, which she’d produced halfway last

nnight. Speedily, she sprung out of bed.

nOh no, oh no! After this long, it must be destroyed.

nYe Jiuge rushed fretting into the Pill Production Room and opened the small bronze

ncauldron. Nine round Spiritual Beast Pills waited inside. To her surprise, they emitted

na faint glow. They were second grade Spiritual Beast Pills.

n“Pipi!” The Black Fat Rat jumped onto the small bronze cauldron. It pushed out its

nchubby chest to express that this result had occurred because of its contribution.

n“Well done. I shall increase your wages.” Ye Jiuge gave the Black Fat Rat a thumbs-

nup.

n“Pipi Jam!” The Black Fat Rat wasn't interested in wages, it just wanted to please

nKing Zi Shang.

n“No problem,” reassured Ye Jiuge, “I'll put in a good word for you.”

nFeeling pleased, Ye Jiuge stashed the Spiritual Beast Pills in a bag together with the

nPoison Detection Pill, which she had produced last night. After breakfast, she went to

nfind Bai Songling.

nWhen Bai Songling saw Ye Jiuge, he expressed his relief, “You're just in time.”

n“What’s wrong?” Ye Jiuge asked Bai Songling curiously.

n“The Little Mute locked himself in his room last night and has yet to come out. He

nhasn't eaten dinner, and I have no idea what's going on,” he replied.

nBai Songling worried that the Little Mute was employing Ye Jiuge's secret technique

nfor producing Poison Earthworms; he wouldn't dare act blindly. Ye Jiuge's eyebrow

narched. Is the Little Mute really developing evolved Poison Earthworms?

n“If you can, please take a look. I need to head over to the Dongling Prince Mansion,

nso I can’t accompany you.” Bai Songling had something urgent to attend to.

n“I’ll head there now. Go ahead and do what you need to!”

nAfter bidding farewell to Bai Songling, Ye Jiuge reached the house where the Little

nMute was staying. Inside, it was quiet. On the table outside the house sat two large

nred wooden food boxes. Ye Jiuge opened them; the dishes inside were nutritious.

nThe main breakfast dish consisted of thin porridge and steamed buns, some

nvegetables, corn, sweet potato, and other coarse grains. The two meat patties also

nsmelled delicious. Bai Songling had certainly been considerate of the creature.

nYe Jiuge closed the food boxes then faked a cough. “Little Mute, what are you doing

ninside?”

nThe wooden door creaked open. The Little Mute’s snow-white face appeared behind

nthe door. His red lips and his large black eyes gave him a frightening appearance.

nWhy did her skin crawl every time she saw him?

nShe pointed to the food on the table and said, “You must be hungry. Eat something

nfirst.”

nThe Little Mute did not look at the food. Instead, he gestured for Ye Jiuge to follow

nhim inside, so she grudgingly went into the dark house with sealed windows and

ndoors. The further she went, the more she felt that something was wrong. A strange

nodor reached the tip of her nose. It smelled a little like blood, but different.

nShe looked carefully and observed a jug in the corner of the dark house—the source

nof the strange smell. The Little Mute stood beside the jug and pointed to it, indicating

nfor her to take a look. Curious, Ye Jiuge lowered her head. Suddenly, a tiny black

nshadow shot out of the jug and attacked her face.

nJust as Ye Jiuge was about to retaliate, two of the Little Mute's fingers clasped the

nblack shadow. Immediately, it went limp, like a strand of noodles. The black shadow

nwas a black Poison Earthworm, which was larger than an ordinary Poison

nEarthworm. Its entire body was pitch black, and it emanated vigorous vitality. It was

neasy to see that this was no ordinary creature, but it also differed from a normal

nevolved Poison Earthworm.

nThe Little Mute's right hand gripped the black Poison Earthworm and offered it to Ye

nJiuge. His left hand unfolded—a clear sign that he wanted to make a trade. She took

nout the Spiritual Beast Pill and handed it to him, then asked, “How did you develop

nthis Poison Earthworm?”

nThe Little Mute received the Spiritual Beast Pill and sniffed. His eyes immediately lit

nup with pleasant surprise. He seemed satisfied with the Spiritual Beast Pill that Ye

nJiuge had given him. Carefully, he stashed it away. Next, he drew a circle in front of

nhis chest and explained that the circle represented a bamboo winnowing basket. He

npretended to pour the contents of the bamboo winnowing basket into the jug. Ye

nJiuge understood at once.

n“You poured the Poison Earthworms from the winnowing basket into the jug so that

nthey’d massacre each other, and this is the only one left?” she asked.

nSince such a bloody and cruel method had developed the Poison Earthworm, it was

nno surprise that the thing looked unnatural. The small mute nodded and turned to

nleave. Outside, he opened the food boxes and began to eat. Seeing how he wolfed

ndown his meal, the question arose in Ye Jiuge's mind: Where did this Little Mute

ncome from?

nThe method he'd detailed resembled the way the Miao people had once raised their

nlegendary venomous insects. It could only be done using a unique secret technique.

nFurthermore, he’d caught the Poison Earthworm with his bare hands; this child was

nno ordinary orphan.

nThe Little Mute ignored Ye Jiuge's inquisitive gaze. After he devoured all his food, he

nwiped his mouth using his sleeves and returned to the dark house to rest.

n“Wait!” Ye Jiuge called out. “Can you continue developing this kind of Poison

nEarthworm?”

nThe Little Mute raised his skinny fingers and showed her the pill. His meaning was

nclear: as long as Ye Jiuge had Spiritual Beasts Pills, she could trade for Poison

nEarthworms anytime.

n