Chapter 111: Jumang

Chapter 111: Jumang

Some things may be challenging, but they are never impossible.

Its been some time since Lu Yibeis last period. Now that he has more than 20 days remaining as a buffer period, hell be able to control his transformations for now.

Although I dont know why she has business with me, 20 days should be enough for me to find out what shes after, he thought.

The girl didnt specify the quality of an urban legends core that needed to be fed to her, which means that he could possibly find a way to gather as many cores as possible with the least amount of effort.

All things are possible! He thought positively.

Plus, the girl was somewhat right. The Night Division Records are probably the only thing that the members are allowed to read, and Jianglis explanations were entirely from her point of view.

If Yibei were to ask her for information about the Eclipse Society, she would simply brush him off.

However, if the girl was able to provide him with more knowledge relating to urban legends, being a goddess herself, it would be more authentic and reliable.

He pondered for a few moments and looked at the girl who sat by the sofa, surrounded by a thicket of thorns: I accept your proposal!

Ill help you collect cores and look for that person, he continued. In exchange, you have to teach me everything I want to know. Is that reasonable to you?

He gripped his kitchen knife and held it firmly by his side so that the girl could see it.

I think the both of us have trust issues. I might betray you, but I am afraid that youll betray me too.

His grip on the knife hardened, and so did his gaze. It seemed to be a silent warning to the girl.

Oh, youre being cautious, the girl smiled, beckoning him towards her. A simple spell will fix this.

He stepped forward suspiciously, never letting go of his kitchen knife.

The girl in turn eyed his knife, and she seemed a little apprehensive. She calmly moved her thicket of thorns to the side to allow Yibei some space to sit.

Give me your hand, the girl said, stretching out her own.

He stretched his hand out, and she gently pulled it into her own.

Good. Now repeat after me, I

You the girl paused as she looked downward in shame. Whats your name again?

Lu Yibei, he replied. However, he just realised that, despite their incident in the last few hours, he still didnt know her true name.

By the way, what is your name?

Although he already knew her identity, he still felt that it would be better for her to confirm his suspicions.

After a brief burst of light, his living room started to dim, and in the darkness, he could see two petite hands clasped together.

His heart skipped a beat, and a surge of electricity seemed to run down his back, beckoning the sweat beads to stain his clothes in a greasy, cold sweat.

At this moment, he saw a cloud of emerald light hovering by Jumengs hands, and an ethereal plant sprouted from the cloud, releasing the calming fragrance of peach blossoms in the air.

In the next moment, an orb of flame containing a drop of blood ignited the back of his hand as it floated towards the peach blossom bud.

The moment the two met, they merged. The fiery red of the flame mixed with the gentle emerald cloud, forming a dirty grey cloud in her palm.

The cloud then collapsed into black, hitting her hands like ink as it splashed out a complex sigil that submerged both of their hands.

At this very moment, an idea plastered itself onto Lu Yibeis mind: if he or Jumeng were to break the terms of their contract, something very bad would happen to them.

The pain in his eye gradually dissipated, and soon he found himself back in the living room. He could see Jumeng still sitting in her thicket of thorns, toying with an orb of flame with her fingers, and he couldnt help but cry out in his heart.

She knows, he cried out. She must know. Theres no way she doesnt know.

Hmm the girl muttered, snapping the orb of flame out of sight. I didnt expect a boy like you to be attuned to fire. Arent you an interesting one?

Huh?

Does she not know?

He gulped and weakly asked, So, thats the spell?

Its finished. Its much more complicated, but I omitted a lot of unnecessary details.

Then, can I ask you a question?

Go ahead, she smiled.

Why are you called Jumeng instead of Jumang? I thought that

Oh. They just call me both names. You know, language isnt as developed as it is today, so I am known as both Jumeng and Jumang, she smiled.

Thats it?

Woman, I smell lies in you!

Thats it, she smiled, raising her arms in mock surrender.

Of course, she couldnt tell him that she was originally a giant peach tree with a magpies nest that rested on its branches but was mistakenly worshipped as a hibiscus tree by a group of ancients. And somehow, she inherited most of Jumangs power down the line.

She didnt feel like revealing information like this to him. A girl has secrets.

Forget it, Yibei sighed. If you dont want to tell me, then I wont ask anymore.