The White Mink was growing extremely impatient alone in the rented house.
He didn’t know what was going on; Leng Jing and Leng Qingqing had been gone all night and hadn't returned. Logically, with Leng Jing’s efficiency, things shouldn't have taken this long. Perhaps he had taken his snake father off somewhere to enjoy themselves. The White Mink decided to go out for a stroll on his own.
Before heading out, the White Mink was famished, so he first rummaged through Leng Qingqing’s room for something to eat. Leng Qingqing’s room was filled with all sorts of delicious treats scattered everywhere. Every time Leng Jing entered the room, he would inevitably throw away all of Leng Qingqing’s snacks—claiming they would attract bugs. Afterward, a teary-eyed Leng Qingqing would beg Leng Jing for more pocket money and trot off to buy another mountain of snacks. In this endless cycle, the snack-loving Leng Qingqing had once even thrown a tantrum; he bought a massive amount of pastries, built a small hut out of them in his room, transformed into a giant white snake, crawled inside, and ate his way out.
Thus, the snake father’s room was a paradise of snacks. The White Mink hopped inside, searched for his favorites, and soon emerged holding a large pile of assorted pastries.
Which one to eat first? The White Mink picked through them and finally settled on a tall, thick box. The box was decorated with platinum; surely, it contained some prestigious delicacy! The White Mink excitedly hooked the beautiful box open with his little claws.
To his surprise, the box didn't contain food. Instead, sparks suddenly flew out. The White Mink froze for a second before the sparks transformed into a soaring firework. With a thunderous *boom*, it shot into the sky, punching a large hole through the roof. Through the hole, one could see colorful fireworks blooming in the heavens.
The White Mink patted his chest, scared out of his wits. If he hadn't dodged quickly, his claws would have been singed. That damn Leng Qingqing, why would he keep something so dangerous nearby?!
After feasting his fill, the White Mink wiped the corners of his mouth with satisfaction. He transformed into a beautiful man, as elegant as an ice lotus, and mimicking Leng Jing’s aloof manner, he strode out to walk the streets.
Just as he stepped out of the main gate, it began to rain. Immediately after, a man covered in blood came staggering from the distance. When he reached the entrance of the Leng residence, he collapsed headlong and could no longer get up.
The White Mink looked around and saw no one. He intended to move this unlucky fellow to the neighbor’s doorstep, but the man suddenly grabbed the White Mink’s ankle.
"Save..." The man uttered only a single word before fainting, yet his hand remained clamped tightly around the White Mink’s foot. After a brief internal struggle, the White Mink dragged the man into the house, and only then did the man’s grip slowly loosen.
*Finally let go?!* The White Mink gave an insidious smile, intending to throw the man back out. However, the man woke up in a daze again. "Save..." He said another word, grabbed the White Mink’s ankle again, and fainted once more.
The White Mink had no choice but to drag the man onto Leng Jing’s bed. Only then did the man let go again. The White Mink hurried to find some rope, intending to tie the fellow up and dump him outside. Suddenly, the man opened his eyes again. "Save..." This time, he grabbed the White Mink’s wrist and wouldn't let go.
*Aaaaaah! I don't want to save you at all! How can someone be like this!!* The White Mink stamped his feet in fury.
***
Meanwhile, on Leng Jing’s side, after disposing of the woman’s corpse, he used his frigid energy to entwine her body, condensing it into a block of ice before sinking it hundreds of feet underground. Despite this, the dragon qi slowly leaking from the corpse still affected the local ley lines, causing a sudden shift in the area's feng shui.
When Leng Jing and Leng Qingqing returned to their rented courtyard, both were exhausted and covered in mud, looking quite filthy. Leng Qingqing, who had reverted to a giant white snake, balanced his head of cabbage and crawled sluggishly toward the house.
Leng Jing grabbed his tail and told him to bathe first.
"There isn't even a pool here... let Daddy go to sleep first..." the white snake said listlessly.
The little white dragon also revealed his true form. With one strike of his tail, he smashed a deep pit into the ground, then forcibly dragged the big white snake into it and summoned rain clouds to wash them.
Thus, the white snake with the cabbage and the white dragon began to bathe in the cramped, makeshift pool.
Suddenly, a group of assassins leaped down from the top of the wall, shouting, "Hand over Wei Fengyun immediately!" (Wei Fengyun was the man the White Mink had just "saved.")
However, when the assassins saw the terrifying sight of a dragon and a snake bathing in the courtyard, they all cried out in alarm. Only the leader remained calm, shouting, "Do not fear! This is a type of illusion array common in the martial world! Those sights are merely phantoms within the formation! Do not be afraid! Charge in, break the illusion, and drag Wei Fengyun out!"
Emboldened, the assassins no longer panicked. They drew their blades and swords, hacking toward the white dragon as it bared its claws.
The white dragon easily swatted these people down with his claws. The leader, pinned to the ground, cried out, "I was wrong! This isn't an illusion array! It's the Guiyuan Wandering Dragon Array! we must follow the steps of the Big Dipper to avoid being attacked by the wandering dragon within the formation!"
Consequently, the group of black-clad assassins began hopping around the courtyard, performing so-called "steps" while chanting, "Gate of Life to the left, Gate of Death to the north, Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches..."
"Get out." The white dragon climbed out of the pool and blocked the assassins' path.
"Oh no! Everyone’s footwork is wrong! We've triggered the mechanism! The Wandering Dragon Killing Array has been activated! Retreat!" The leader shrieked, and all the assassins fled without a trace.
***
Having finally finished their bath, the Leng father and son ran into the house, calling for the White Mink to cook and make the beds. Instead, they saw a handsome man lying on Leng Jing’s bed, gazing affectionately at the beautiful White Mink, who was feeding him medicine. It was a picture of perfect harmony.
Seeing the two enter, the White Mink smiled and said to the mysterious man, Wei Fengyun, "Uh, Master Wei, let me introduce them. These two are... well, this is my master, named Leng Qingqing. Because I was sold into the Leng household as a child, Young Master Qingqing treated me very well. Even after the Leng family fell into ruin, I still serve him as my master. And that gentleman is Leng Jing; he is Young Master Qingqing’s adopted son in name."
Wei Fengyun nodded. "Thank you all for saving my life. I am Wei Fengyun, the Zhenyuan General of the current dynasty. I was pursued by villains after being framed. Having been saved by Master White, I shall certainly repay this debt!" His gaze toward the White Mink was full of tender emotion.
Leng Qingqing and Leng Jing retreated without a word. *Has the White Mink’s spring finally arrived?*
The White Mink followed them out, twiddling his fingers. "Young Boss, I didn't want to save that man at first, but after he woke up, he said I was beautiful and spoke so many sweet words. He’s even a Great General... I suddenly feel like it’s love at first sight... Young Boss, I think... I might not be able to keep traveling with you... I want to be with Fengyun..."
"...Whatever," Leng Jing said with a flat expression.
***
Three days later.
Leng Jing sat in his wheelchair, soaking up the sun while studying the secret dossiers he had stolen from the Shentong Sect. Leng Qingqing was busy researching his cabbage noodles. Meanwhile, the relationship between the White Mink and Wei Fengyun continued to heat up. At that moment, the White Mink was supporting Wei Fengyun as they walked out of the room for a stroll in the courtyard.
"How did Master Jing become..." Wei Fengyun was startled upon seeing Leng Jing’s state.
"Young Master Leng Jing is in poor health; he uses the wheelchair occasionally!" the White Mink prevaricated.
Wei Fengyun nodded. "I know some excellent physicians who can help treat Master Jing. Diao-diao, you spend all day taking care of others; you must take care of yourself too!"
"Yun-yun, you’re so kind!" The White Mink smiled tenderly and leaned against his arm. "You need to get well soon."
"Mhm, I will take Diao-diao back to my manor and report to my mother so she will agree to our marriage," Wei Fengyun said, chuckling as he pinched the mink's chin.
Leng Jing looked up and gave them a flat stare.
Just then, ten men in black descended from the sky again. The leader sneered, "Wei Fengyun! We’ve finally caught you today! Prepare to die!"
"Diao-diao! Run!" Wei Fengyun’s expression changed.
"Watch out for the array! Everyone, attack!" The leader commanded. They rushed forward, and Wei Fengyun immediately began to fight them.
"Yun-yun!" Anxious, the White Mink joined the fray. Wei Fengyun hadn't expected the seemingly frail Diao-diao to have such extraordinary martial arts. Though his own strength was flagging, with the White Mink’s help, he managed to handle the ten assassins with ease.
Suddenly, one of the assassins held a sword to the neck of Leng Jing, who hadn't moved. "Stop! Or I’ll kill him!"
The White Mink acted as if he hadn't heard, blasting one man away with a palm strike. He snarled, "I won't let you hurt Yun-yun!"
"Diao-diao! Master Jing is in danger!" Wei Fengyun reminded him, clutching his chest.
"As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters!" the White Mink said, looking at him with deep affection.
Seeing that their threat was useless, the black-clad men exchanged looks and carried Leng Jing away, wheelchair and all.
"If you want that crippled master to be safe, come to Wuli Plain with your testimony to ransom him!" The men left these words behind and scattered.
"Diao-diao! Master Jing has been captured! What should we do?! I’m injured and can't win against those people... Sigh, if only I could contact the General’s Manor... Diao-diao, can you make the trip for me?" Wei Fengyun frowned.
"Yun-yun, I will definitely do it for you!" The White Mink nodded earnestly.
The White Mink then set off with a bundle on his back.
Wei Fengyun remained alone in the courtyard. Thinking of the delectable Leng Qingqing still inside, he suddenly felt a fire rising in his loins. *Damn it, it’s only been three days and I can't hold back anymore!*
In truth, his favorite was that calm and elegant Master Jing. Such a refined person would surely be exceptionally delicious to "consume." It was a pity he had been snatched by those people from the Tie Xue Sect. No matter; as long as that foolish White Mink reported to the General’s Manor and brought reinforcements, he could easily escape and reclaim his noble status as a Great General.
If anything was to blame, it was what happened three years ago. He had fallen for the trick of a frontier witch and practiced the "Yang-Harvesting Technique." Since then, he had been trapped in an ocean of desire, unable to extricate himself. By day he was a Great General, but by night he was a ravenous beast. Recently, because he had defiled several young masters from famous families in Jiangnan, he had been targeted and pursued for thousands of miles by the Tie Xue Sect. However, his luck hadn't run out; he had actually encountered the martially skilled and foolishly beautiful White Mink. Truly, heaven was helping him!
Now, having restrained himself for three days, if he didn't find a tasty prey, the fire in his body would burn him to a crisp. He walked quickly toward the kitchen where Leng Qingqing was.
*Damn it, is my lust so strong that I’m seeing things?* Wei Fengyun rubbed his eyes. In the kitchen, there was clearly a giant white snake with a cabbage on its head!
Looking closer, he realized he was indeed seeing things. It was just the beautiful Qingqing with a cabbage.
Wei Fengyun gave an evil smirk and hugged Leng Qingqing from behind.
Leng Qingqing turned his head and suddenly curled his lip.
***
"Young Master is a genius of formations; we have offended you. Truly, you may not know, but that Wei Fengyun is a notorious flower-thief!" Several men in black bowed to Leng Jing in apology.
"I understand. You may take me back now," Leng Jing said.
"However, for your safety, it is better if we capture Wei Fengyun first. I fear that with that youth named Diao-diao interfering, Wei Fengyun might have already escaped!" The leader of the Tie Xue Sect sighed. "A total failure. We have been pursuing him for half a year."
"I think if you go back now, you’ll be just in time to collect his corpse," Leng Jing said indifferently.
"Huh?" The men in black looked at each other in confusion.
***
Meanwhile, back at the Leng residence.
The White Mink and Leng Qingqing were looking at the tightly bound Wei Fengyun with sinister smiles.
"Yun-yun, you’ve disappointed me so much," the White Mink said, crossing his arms. "Did you think I was that easy to fool?"
"Actually, we are demons!" Leng Qingqing grinned, trying to look wicked.
"You liar!" The White Mink also gave a wicked, cold laugh.
And so—
"Thousand-Pound Mink Crush!"
"Ten Thousand Snake Shadows!"
"Aaaaaah~~~~ Save me~~~~~~~~"
Unnatural screams echoed from the house.
Finally, the dying Wei Fengyun was taken away by the Tie Xue Sect. The White Mink was quite dejected and remained depressed for a long time. Every day, he went to the latrine in silence, ate in silence, and was silently enslaved by the Leng father and son.
On another rainy day, the White Mink stood lonely at the door, preparing to go buy the tofu Leng Qingqing loved.
Suddenly, a blood-stained hand reached over the threshold. A youth with a face covered in blood looked up with difficulty. "Save..." His hand reached out to grab the White Mink’s ankle. The White Mink lifted his foot and stepped hard over him. "Watch the gate!" he dropped coldly before leaving with his umbrella.
The youth looked up with difficulty and saw a sign hanging on the gate that read: "No Seeking Help."
Thus, the youth could only crawl silently and laboriously toward the neighbor’s house.
Love at first sight is often just a delusional impulse. The White Mink sniffled, cursing Leng Jing in his heart ten thousand times over.
***
Late at night.
Under the dim light of an oil lamp, Leng Jing opened the mysterious dossier. This was the top-secret document hidden within the Shentong Sect headquarters, containing records regarding "Wanxiang Tower":
*Year 3 of Dade, 12th Month: Traded with Wanxiang Tower. Led nine men and seven women into the tower; none emerged. Received three crates of gold.*
*Year 3 of Dade, 6th Month: Led eighteen men and twenty women into the tower.*
*Year 3 of Dade, 7th Month: Led fifteen men and fifteen women into the tower.*
*Year 4 of Dade...*
...
Leng Jing counted the records. The number of people who "entered the tower and never emerged" totaled over three thousand. The prices paid by Wanxiang Tower included not only gold and treasures but also many unheard-of curiosities, such as "Magic Mirrors" and "Invulnerable Armor." However, after the fourth year of Dade, the currency Wanxiang Tower used for trade with the Shentong Sect was entirely replaced by something called "Ascension Nectar."
Clearly, the Nectar was an addictive substance, as the Shentong Sect’s demand for it grew larger and larger. There were even records like this:
*8th Month: Nectar exhausted. Credited three liters from Wanxiang Tower; must lead sixty-eight people into the tower next month.*
To obtain the so-called Nectar, the Shentong Sect had even resorted to buying on credit, showing they were deeply controlled by Wanxiang Tower. The tower’s demand for living people gradually decreased after the fifth year of Dade. Recently, there had been no significant dealings, but the latter half of the dossier seemed to be a "Wanxiang Investigation" written by the Sect Leader himself, detailing his interactions with the tower.
The general meaning was: The Sect Leader had received funding from Wanxiang Tower to establish the Shentong Sect, but the tower simultaneously set conditions requiring him to constantly supply living people, who never returned. Later, the tower used the addictive Ascension Nectar to control the sect. Feeling himself unable to escape, the Sect Leader wrote down everything he knew. According to him, Wanxiang Tower was originally a medical clinic located in the far north, distant from the Central Plains. Yet, the messengers of Wanxiang Tower could travel a thousand miles in a day with ease. Because many sought medical help due to the tower’s reputation, there were indeed many cases proving their medical skills were superb. However, the mysterious veil of Wanxiang Tower could never be lifted. Recently, at the Sect Leader’s request, Wanxiang Tower had sent two messengers to deal with Leng Jing and handle the so-called "Yunlai Inn" incident. It seemed Wanxiang Tower was exceptionally concerned about what happened at that inn.
*Those two messengers must be the man and woman who tried to kill me a few days ago,* Leng Jing thought, recalling the deceased pair.
Leng Qingqing, meanwhile, was staring blankly at the firework the White Mink had set off. He had only just realized it was gone. That was the signal given to him by the Yokai Matchmaking Association; once the firework was launched, the bride would arrive three days later.
Now, it was too late. He was about to get married.
Leng Qingqing looked at Leng Jing dejectedly, wondering if Leng Jing could accept it. He kept glancing at Leng Jing, only to find him focused entirely on the tattered book before him. Leng Qingqing was a bit disappointed and said intentionally, "Jing-er, do you remember what we said a few days ago about finding you a stepmother?"
"What about it?" Leng Jing asked blankly.
"...Well... that... they’ve already arrived." Leng Qingqing pointed toward the main gate.
"How is that possible?" Leng Jing didn't believe it.
"They said it’s called 'One-Stop Service,'" Leng Qingqing said, hanging his head.
"One-Stop Service? What does that mean? Service for me?" Leng Jing clearly didn't understand the new terminology.
"It means..." Before Leng Qingqing could finish, the main gate was burst open. In the small courtyard, many foxes and lynxes quickly set up tables and stools. A banquet was laid out immediately, red "Double Happiness" characters and lanterns were pasted up, firecrackers were lit, and the sounds of trumpets and suona horns filled the air. It was a bustling wedding! Even the guests were pre-arranged yokai. The courtyard was filled with distinguished guests and a festive atmosphere; the speed was so impressive that even Leng Jing was moved to admiration.
"Look, look! It’s already started!" Leng Qingqing said with a long, miserable face.
***
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 卫风云 | Wei Fengyun | The name of the "General" / flower-thief. |
| 镇远大将军 | Zhenyuan General | A military title (General who Stabilizes the Distant Lands). |
| 归元游龙阵 | Guiyuan Wandering Dragon Array | A fictional martial arts formation the assassins imagine. |
| 铁血门 | Tie Xue Sect | Iron Blood Sect; a martial arts organization. |
| 采阳补阳功 | Yang-Harvesting Technique | A predatory cultivation method involving sexual predation. |
| 五里坪 | Wuli Plain | A local place name (Five-Mile Plain). |
| 升仙琼浆 | Ascension Nectar | An addictive substance provided by Wanxiang Tower. |
| 万象探秘 | Wanxiang Investigation | A personal record/journal written by the Shentong Sect Leader. |
| 运来客栈 | Yunlai Inn | The name of the inn where previous events occurred. |
| 一条龙服务 | One-Stop Service | A modern idiom used humorously for a complete service package. |
| 妖怪相亲会 | Yokai Matchmaking Association | An organization for supernatural beings to find partners. |
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