The Female Cannon Fodder With Boundless Merits
Chapter 390 - 394: The Demon’s Gratitude (17)

Chapter 390: Chapter 394: The Demon’s Gratitude (17)

Satisfied with the many feasts he had indulged in at home, Su Li finally decided to step out of his doorstep on a sunny day after several days.

Former classmates had come to invite him many times before, but Su Li had declined them all.

The flesh and blood of the Carp Spirit and the Cuttlefish Spirit was suffused with Spiritual Energy, which took Su Li several days to digest and refine.

He had left the house just as he was about to cross the line where his classmates might start to distance themselves from him if he didn’t show up soon.

All from the same academy, the place they frequented the most was the scholars’ tea house in the city.

Su Li, accompanied by Jinbao, headed straight for the largest Qing Garden in the city.

The Qing Garden was most popular among scholars, especially those from wealthy families or with substantial official salaries.

Poorer students preferred the tea house in the west of the city for tea and literary conversation.

You should know that a cup of tea at the Qing Garden is quite expensive. Most importantly, the environment is serene; not only do the scholars enjoy it, but some of the more refined nobles from the court do as well.

When Su Li arrived, he spotted several familiar faces in a corner of the Qing Garden’s main hall, already seated, leisurely sipping tea and listening to storytelling.

Jinbao automatically went to another table, joining a group of other servants.

As Su Li approached, his classmates greeted him with a barrage of complaints.

After Su Li repeatedly apologized and pleaded for forgiveness, they forgave him.

They had known each other for a long time and were obviously well aware of each other’s traits.

The nature of the Su Family’s young master was something his classmates understood.

Calling him a bookworm was not an exaggeration.

Perhaps he was so engrossed in an excellent article that he simply forgot about their invitations.

This kind of thing had happened before.

The group chatted for a while and eventually started talking about the strange occurrences at the Eldest Prince Mansion recently.

One of them was particularly well-informed and started the talk.

He suddenly lowered his voice, looked around mysteriously, and then whispered, "Do you guys know about the recent events in the Eldest Prince Mansion?"

The others, intrigued by his demeanor, lowered their voices and urged, "What happened? Hurry up and tell us?"

Though it’s improper to gossip about senior officials, the nobility, and the princes, some private discussions were still beyond anyone’s control.

Su Li’s hand paused while pouring water, the Eldest Prince? Thinking of the Carp Demon Soul that had escaped, the smile on his lips tightened slightly.

Could it be such a coincidence...

"I’ve heard that the people living near the Eldest Prince Mansion say that there’s a haunting in the mansion," the scholar whispered.

"At night, people hear strange noises coming from inside, and before the dawn, someone saw the Prince Mansion’s housekeeper secretly throwing out dead chickens and ducks."

At this point, the speaking scholar showed a smug expression and then whispered even more softly.

"I’m only telling you guys this, you mustn’t spread it around, okay?"

Su Li’s lips twitched.

Why does this phrase sound so familiar...

It seems that everyone likes to start their gossip with this line.

"My second uncle’s wet nurse’s cousin’s daughter-in-law’s granddaughter works at the Prince Mansion, and she secretly told someone that the Eldest Prince has been looking gloomy all the time, and he even secretly asked the family housekeeper to find a powerful Taoist," the scholar said with emphasis, captivating his audience.

"So, is the Eldest Prince Mansion... really haunted...?"

"I don’t know about that, but it’s true that there’s often a fishy smell wafting from around the mansion. The Prince Mansion’s housekeeper explained that they received too many fish from the countryside, couldn’t eat them all in time, and with the hot weather, they naturally rotted."

"This explanation... might as well be nonexistent, it’s like we’re eagerly informing others that there’s something odd."

Su Li could now be one hundred percent certain that the Carp Spirit’s demon soul was definitely within the Eldest Prince Mansion.

She watched her fellow students discuss heatedly and cleared her throat, "It’s getting dark."

She never knew they were so interested in gossip, in addition to their studies.

These scholars, in their discussions, digressed to the topic at hand.

From speculations about the Prince Mansion to rural legends, they had worked themselves into a shiver.

Su Li’s reminder made them also notice the setting sun and remember what they had just heard ringing in their ears; one by one, they became restless as if their backsides were on fire.

"Mr. Su, we’ll take our leave first."

Su Li snorted with laughter, cowards.

She had Jinbao head back first and then, using the last bit of the setting sun’s light in the west, she slowly walked in the direction of the Eldest Prince Mansion.

As she approached and was still some distance from the Eldest Prince Mansion, Su Li’s keen sense of smell twitched.

An almost imperceptible, damp scent was in the air.

The atmosphere in this area was more humid than the surrounding areas.

A few steps further, and the fishy smell grew distinctly stronger.

By the time Su Li stood in front of the Eldest Prince Mansion, even through the enclosing walls, the fishy stench was unbearable, and any ordinary person’s nose could clearly detect it.

All around, doors were tightly shut, and even the pedestrians who hastily passed this way hurried their steps upon reaching the Eldest Prince Mansion’s front gate.

Clearly, the neighbors around the Eldest Prince Mansion were well aware of its oddities.

Beyond that, Su Li could hear piercing wails in her ears, the resentful energy of small animals lingering above the Eldest Prince Mansion, refusing to dissipate.

Such apparent anomalies should have quickly caught the attention of the hidden powers within the Capital; how come there had been no movement so far?

Incomprehensible...

Dispelling the spreading thoughts from her mind, Su Li turned and headed for the back door of the Eldest Prince Mansion.

After the sky had completely darkened, she melded into the shadows and climbed atop the wall.

After nightfall, the Eldest Prince Mansion looked pitch-dark, and only a few servants were seen moving about.

Su Li strutted around confidently, not encountering a single soul on her way.

Following the familiar scent, she arrived at a yard where the lights were on.

Strangely enough, this yard didn’t seem as loose and unguarded as other parts of the Prince Mansion.

The guards, both visible and hidden, were not few in number.

One could vaguely see figures moving inside the yard, armed and more numerous than those on the perimeter.

Su Li’s footsteps became very light as she concealed herself, skirting the guards without much effort until she reached the core area.

Separated by only a window, she could clearly hear the voices inside.

"Your Highness, I believe we should play the long game. We can’t completely trust, nor dismiss, the demon’s words."

"Then, Master, what do you advise we do?"

"For now, we should cultivate the demon’s cooperation, have her contribute to our great endeavor. When Your Highness ascends the throne... we..."

A sudden silence fell upon the room, followed by a young voice: "Do you think... we can extract the Path of Immortality from that demon?"

To which an elder exclaimed in shock, "Your Highness, that must never be."