"Are you absolutely certain no one caught a glimpse of you?" Bai Xifeng pressed, her eyes scanning the courtyard for any unwanted shadows.
"Not a soul, Young Miss," Xiao Li replied, her face beaming with a sense of accomplishment. "That secret passage you discovered is a godsend. It's as if the mansion itself is helping us hide."
"Excellent. We'll squeeze every bit of utility out of that hole in the wall until some nosy servant stumbles upon it," Bai Xifeng said, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. "In this house, a hidden exit is worth more than a master key."
"Yes, Young Miss!" Xiao Li nodded vigorously, her loyalty shining in her eyes.
"Now, more importantly, sustenance. Go to the kitchen and scavenge whatever you can find. My stomach is starting to think my throat has been cut," Bai Xifeng said, rubbing her midsection.
"Right away. But let me tuck these herbs safely into the cupboard first," Xiao Li said, reaching for the heavy box of expensive ingredients.
"No need for that. I'll handle the storage myself. You focus on the food," Xifeng countered, gently pulling the box away.
"Are you sure, Young Miss?" Xiao Li asked, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Positive," Xifeng nodded.
In reality, Bai Xifeng wouldn't dream of leaving these precious herbs in this dilapidated room. If the "Family Vipers" decided to raid her courtyard, they would sniff out the medicine in an heartbeat. These herbs weren't just plants, they were her ticket to survival. She intended to hand them over to Baishe, where they would be tucked away in a dimension no mortal could reach.
"But... what if the kitchen staff refuses us again?" Xiao Li's expression crumpled into one of familiar sadness. It galled her that the legitimate daughter of the Great General had to beg for scraps like a stray cat.
"Don't let it worry you. If they give you any trouble, just tell them it's an express order from the 'Old Hag' herself," Xifeng said coolly. "Remind them that she's currently in a... generous mood."
Xiao Li wondered if the threat would actually hold weight, but she recalled the decent meal they'd received recently and decided to trust her mistress's newfound iron will. With a final bow, she hurried out of the courtyard.
Once the coast was clear, Xifeng bolted her door and pressed her fingers to the birthmark on her wrist. The air shimmered, the stale smell of dust replaced by the crisp, ethereal scent of the mirror world.
"Baishe! I've got the goods," Bai Xifeng announced.
The massive white python materialized from the mist, its scales shimmering like polished ivory. Xifeng knelt and spread out the packages, revealing the various roots, leaves, and barks. Baishe lowered its head, its flicking tongue tasting the air to confirm the potency of the ingredients.
"The quality is acceptable," Baishe hissed, a vibration of satisfaction in its voice. "You may begin the first stage of your treatment tonight."
"How long is this going to take?" Xifeng asked, leaning back against one of the iridescent pillars. "I have a lot of people to terrify, and I'd like to be at full strength for it."
"That depends entirely on your own fortitude," Baishe explained. "The more efficiently you can guide the Qi to digest the toxins, the shorter the process. For some, it takes years. For a talent like yours... we shall see."
"Fair enough. By the way, I'm starving. What about you? Do giant ancient snakes get the munchies?" Bai Xifeng asked, genuinely curious about the logistics of being a spirit beast.
Baishe's ruby eyes narrowed slightly. "I have not tasted a morsel of food in over a thousand years. What do you imagine my appetite is like?"
"Well, I'm planning on a feast. What's your preferred cuisine?" Bai Xifeng asked, hoping to treat her guardian.
"Humans," Baishe replied simply.
Xifeng's playful expression froze. She stared at the python for a long, silent beat, her brain processing the word.
"You... you eat people?" She managed to ask, her voice remarkably steady for someone talking to a man-eater.
"What is this? Are you suddenly afraid of me, little master?" Baishe's scales shifted, and the snake seemed to "smile" in a way that was both beautiful and terrifying.
Xifeng let out a sharp, sudden laugh, her grin returning. "Afraid? Hardlly. You've already pledged your loyalty to me, Baishe. I'm fairly certain I'd be a very indigestible meal for a loyal subordinate."
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. It breaks my heart when someone steals my hard work. Can you consider reading it on the original website for those who read my novel on another website besides w e b n o v e l .c o m, as your support to me? Thank you, from, your shameless author, ZerahNeko***
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