Command 1: The Demonic Advisor’s Granddaughter and Her Daily Life

Two months passed. From being a beggar, the old man returned to his status as the intelligent and highly skilled demonic advisor. Ning’ai continued living as an ordinary little girl, with the addition of having her own home.

The house where she and her grandfather resided was just a small residence set apart from the other buildings. However, it had a spacious, shaded area and was named Dew Residence. Every day, servants brought water to refill the supply and replenished their provisions. If they wanted anything, they only needed to say the word.

Where else could such comfort be found?

Even more so in the past two to three weeks, her grandfather, having an impetuous thought, began practicing his internal energy anew, since that ‘Lord’ had connected his severed energy flow. Although he had to start from the beginning, it was better than having none at all. Hence, she, his granddaughter, had to be his companion in practice and encourage her grandfather.  

It would have been wonderful if this wasn’t the Kurama Technique.

‘Kurama’ means turtle. This martial art technique was about firm internal energy. As its name suggests, it focused on defense rather than movement. It included hands, index fingers, feet, and spear.

Ning’ai wanted to cry out for justice from the heavens.

This technique greatly complemented her inherent gift of The Thousand Demons. The only bad thing was that it did not enhance the image of a proper and graceful lady at all. It was said to truly be a technique practiced by men. Regular martial arts training was tough enough, but a cultivator of the Kurama Technique required at least ten times the effort. It was more than great that she had some inherent talents.

If she succeeded in mastering this technique, even if she stood still and waited for a sword infused with internal energy to cut and pierce her, she wouldn’t even get a scratch.

What was this mix of joy and embarrassment?

Ning’ai let her thoughts drift. Today was a good day, as Grandfather had given her a break due to her rapid progress. So, she had time to sew new clothes for Grandfather in preparation for the dongtian season that was nearly arriving. Although his martial art energy had partially returned, and the weather wouldn’t harm him, she couldn’t help but worry about the elder.

Grandfather, oh Grandfather. For an elderly person, illness and ailments were only natural.

After spending three ke fluidly moving with her thread and needle, Ning’ai set aside a thick fabric of fine texture, one that that was neatly and beautifully tailored. It seemed her skills in homemaking far outpaced her martial movements.

In the soft morning sunlight, the small figure diligently watered and loosened the soil of the herbs she had planted with an effort. The vast land of the Dew Residence had been transformed by her and Grandfather into a large vegetable garden. Apart from getting to train her strength by gardening while wearing weights that increased by ten jin daily, she also got to practice transmitting her internal energy into the soil as fertilizer. She got to expand her dantian point. Moreover, she had fast-growing, high-quality vegetables to eat.

Thinking about it, whether she trained or not, there wasn’t much difference. It was like she merely skipped morning and evening exercises. Apart from that, she couldn’t ignore tending to the vegetable garden.  

Ning’ai let out a sigh.

Mmm… sweet and crisp radishes infused with internal energy… She would pretend she hadn’t noticed Grandfather’s schemes…

After finishing half of the gardening work, Ning’ai washed her hands and prepared lunch for her grandfather, who always returned to eat with her.

“Welcome back, Grandfather.” The owner of a sweet voice smiled as she welcomed the elder. Her eyes sparkled brightly.

Ning’ai and Gui Huimo had lunch together. They chatted as grandfather and granddaughter, taking turns picking up food. It seemed so warm. Occasionally, Grandfather shared stories about his work to let her practice expressing her thoughts.

The grown woman from the two thousand something era did quite well.

“Ning’er, what do you think about accepting disciples?” the old advisor asked his granddaughter while sipping fine tea. His muteness had been cured, along with the restoration of his internal energy meridians.

“Will there be a selection process?” The little girl stopped eating a tiny piece of snack and tilted her head to ask.

“In three days,” the elder replied. The clouded gray eyes dimmed.

She guessed this wasn’t entirely a casual question.

“In my opinion, this was an ordinary matter for the thirteen buildings. But for us… I think we should wait.” Ning’ai went silent for a while before she answered.

“I believe there isn’t a rule that requires advisors to take disciples every year.”

If an advisor had countless disciples, wouldn’t finding an advisor be as easy as flipping a hand for people across the land? Moreover, it wasn’t easy to find someone who was suitable to be trained for the Kurama Technique.

In any case, both her and Grandfather’s statuses were not fully ready.

After lunch, Grandfather departed to meet with the ‘Lord of the Demons Palace’ and the commanders who managed the buildings to discuss the upcoming disciple selection in three days. Additionally, in ten more days, there would be the Martial World Assembly, for which the Ten Thousand Demons Palace was the host this year. So, there were many responsibilities for her grandfather to think non-stop.

Could it be said that they had returned at the right time? Some old guards and the new bloods did not completely trust her grandfather. They were wary and often came to discreetly watch him.  

If it weren’t for the House’s Daughter, they might have already searched through her bedroom.

Humans, oh humans. They feared the unknown. They feared overwhelming power.

And now Grandfather possessed both. So, she had to sit sipping tea, making sweets, and tending to household chores without hiring servants. She was a massive thorn in their side. Surely, she also refrained from stepping out of the residence’s boundaries.

Ning’ai felt as though she was about to become related to the four-legged creatures.

Her hands worked with her hoe and shovel, watering and loosen the soil for the vegetables for a while. Grandfather, who was supposed to return in four hours, appeared—accompanied by a stone-faced man whom she had only seen once before.

The Lord of the Demons Palace, ‘Gu Yangjie. Based’ on the brief history she had asked from her grandfather, this man, who was so handsome as if he was carved by gods, was around thirty years old, yet no marks of aging could mar his face, nor could the trace of emotions. He had once been the top disciple of her grandfather until the bloody incident ten years ago. That event severed the bond between teacher and student and led him to rise as the head of the Ten Thousand Demons Palace.

Whatever had occurred, she didn’t care, as her grandfather always wore a sorrowful expression whenever the topic was mentioned.

“Ning’er, go prepare some snacks and tea,” her grandfather said to her, his wrinkled face adorned with a gentle smile. From her experience of living with Grandfather…, that smile seemed to conceal… something.

“Yes,” Ning’ai replied, bowing her head slightly before hurrying off.

She got goosebumps because of Grandfather’s looks, and there also was the Lord’s gaze, one that pierced her through and through. He stared at her as if she were a low-price item for housewives to pick over in a convenience store. Of course, that lord was the housewife.

It sounded a bit strange, but the comparison was right.

After preparing tea, hot water, and a few snacks she had, Ning’ai carried them to the pavilion where the two, who were older than her, were discussing.

Why was he looking at her with such sparkling eyes?...

“Ning’er, what level of internal energy cultivation are you at?” Advisor Huimo asked his little granddaughter.

“The seventh level commander,” Ning’ai tilted her head as she answered, puzzled. It was so easy to verify her cultivation; why bother asking verbally?

Upon reflection, reaching the seventh level commander in just two weeks made her an exceptional genius.

“And the Kurama Technique?” her grandfather asked further.

“Intermediate level now. I think that even if someone’s internal energy level were five stages above mine, it would be difficult for them to wound me,” the little girl replied. As for this, she told a big lie.

Intermediate level? My ass!!

Her grandfather’s rigorous training and The Thousand Demons had already supported her to achieve  an advanced level, close to being a grand master. Even if an opponent’s internal energy was two big gaps higher than hers, they still wouldn’t be able to wound her even a bit!

As for this matter, even if it was Grandfather, she couldn’t tell him. Ning’ai didn’t want to give him a heart attack.

Thud!

“Ouch!” A force, which she could barely dodge, caused Ning’ai to cry without herself realizing it.

He hit her! That stone-faced Lord had hit her!! Ever since she was born into this life, Grandfather had barely touched her, not even the tip of her finger. If she hadn’t sensed it and almost managed to dodge in time, there would have been a red handprint under her clothes, even for someone like her.

A deadpan faced man who deserved to be dead!

“The reaction is slow.” With his expressionless tone, he said without a hint of concern. She was dying to argue that it was him who was too fast.

“She managed to dodge you,” the elder said while sipping the warm milk tea, one that was a special recipe from his granddaughter.

The atmosphere grew silent. She didn’t speak. The Lord didn’t speak. Her grandfather didn’t speak. Even the birds and crows, which were chirping, had to fall quiet because of the gloominess that had no cause.

Ning’ai observed that those who had mastered advanced techniques either played mind games or communicated through gazes.

What kind of logic was this?...

“Ning’ai, receive your order.” A slow, expressionless voice came floating like steam from the teacup.

Ning’ai blinked repeatedly, glancing back and forth between the two elders.

“Yes?”

“I assign you the duty of selecting women for the buildings!!” After speaking, the grown man flicked the hem of his flowing deep blue robes, walking effortlessly away from the shaded pavilion.

...

Ah, did the Lord not think to ask whether she was willing?

It was a pity that this thoughts could not reach the man who left like the Eastern wind.