I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script

After just one visit to a pleasure house, Xu Shulou found herself possibly entangled in unintended romantic debts, leaving her in a complicated mood.

Under her junior sister’s scrutinizing gaze, she forced a dry laugh. "The cultivation world is truly wondrous—every day brings new lessons."

Bai Roushuang pressed further, "Then, Senior Sister, which type of demon do you like best? Fox demons or rabbit demons?"

Xu Shulou hesitated. "Well... each of them is so adorable. How could I possibly choose?"

"..."

The long-tailed rabbit in her arms swayed its tail enticingly, but Xu Shulou dared not pet it recklessly again.

The rabbit then glanced at the female demon cultivator nearby, who chuckled and said, "Ping'er means you can keep petting her. No need to marry her."

Xu Shulou smiled and ran her delicate fingers over the rabbit’s forehead again, soothing it so much that the creature narrowed its eyes and let out a tiny yawn.

With few customers around at this hour, the demoness stayed to chat. "You’re quite skilled. Do you frequent such places often?"

"I had pet rabbits when I was younger."

"Why not keep another one?" the demoness teased. "Just get one that hasn’t gained sentience—that way, you won’t accidentally end up betrothed to it."

"I don’t plan to raise any more," Xu Shulou shook her head. "Losing them... isn’t a pleasant feeling."

A simple statement, yet it struck Bai Roushuang, who had glimpsed her senior sister’s inner demons, with a pang of sorrow. Was Xu Shulou really just talking about rabbits? Or was it because she had lost too much that she now treated everyone around her with such earnest kindness?

On ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌‍that tranquil afternoon, Bai Roushuang recalled a story she’d read in the mortal realm—about a once-good man who turned to darkness after his family was slaughtered, unable to bear others’ happiness.

At the time, she had sympathized with him, thinking his descent into evil made perfect sense.

But what about her senior sister? People were different.

Bai Roushuang sighed softly. During the flood in Sweetwater Town, Xu Shulou had saved countless families.

She remembered that night when her senior sister released a lantern with the wish for "peace across the three realms." Back then, Bai Roushuang had scoffed.

Yet, when had she begun to admire her?

Perhaps... kindness was always a force that moved hearts.

And for one who had endured suffering yet still held onto compassion—that was even more worthy of respect.

How could Bai Roushuang not revere her?

Unaware of her junior sister’s musings, Xu Shulou watched as the rabbit in her arms hopped to the ground and transformed into a girl adorned with white fluffy balls in her hair—utterly charming.

Bai Roushuang took one look and realized this fluffy, decorative human form was precisely her senior sister’s weakness. Forgetting her earlier reflections, she bit her lip and remarked, "Who’d have thought such a plump rabbit would turn into such a delicate beauty?"

"Plump?!" Ping'er looked wounded.

Xu Shulou quickly reassured her, "Not plump—just fluffy."

Ping'er beamed. "Miss, I like you."

Even in human form, she retained some rabbit-like habits, nuzzling affectionately against Xu Shulou as the latter sat on a stone bench in the courtyard.

Xu Shulou retrieved a bracelet from her qiankun bangle. "My apologies. This black jade bracelet is for you."

"Apologies for what? I let you pet me," Ping'er giggled, accepting the gift. "You’re the first guest who came here just to stroke my true form."

She weighed the bracelet in her hand. "And you’re so generous too."

Suddenly inspired, she added, "I have many friends in the house—their true forms are just as cute. Would you like to pet them too?"

"Ah..." Xu Shulou was about to decline.

Ping'er quickly clarified, "Don’t worry, none of them will demand marriage."

Feeling a bit disheartened and thinking she might as well indulge one last time before quitting this habit, Xu Shulou nodded. "Bring them all, then."

"..." Ping'er cheered, while Bai Roushuang nearly choked.

Word spread quickly about a generous guest in the backyard who sought no dual cultivation, and soon, demons of all shapes and sizes rushed over in their true forms.

Bai Roushuang surveyed the garden full of creatures and twitched. "A sheep is one thing, but that bear counts as cute? And that hulking ox demon looks like it could send my senior sister flying with one toss. This is outright fraud!"

Ping'er protested, "How is it fraud? I even stopped a snake from joining!"

"..."

To prove her diligence, Ping'er dashed inside and returned with a lineup of snake, insect, and scorpion demons. "See? See? I didn’t call these ones!"

Bai Roushuang was speechless.

Meanwhile, Xu Shulou was lost in a sea of fluff, happily embracing one creature after another.

Bai Roushuang, however, wasn’t accustomed to the fur-filled environment and sneezed violently. "Which one of you is shedding?!"

No one confessed.

Just then, a stunningly beautiful butterfly, its iridescent wings dusted with fragrant powder, fluttered over. The intricate patterns on its wings shimmered exquisitely in the sunlight, instantly outshining the other demons. It landed gracefully on Xu Shulou’s shoulder, antennae twitching as if awaiting her affection.

Before Xu Shulou could react, the glamorous demoness sneered, "How cunning. Last time, you were a maggot, and now you’re a butterfly for a wealthy guest?"

Xu Shulou’s outstretched hand froze mid-air.

The butterfly abruptly dropped to the ground, transforming into a burly man with a thick accent. He glared at the demoness. "Who told ya that thing’s called a maggot, huh? Since when do butterflies turn into maggots? It’s a caterpillar! A caterpillar! Ya think maggots and caterpillars are the same? You’re hundreds of years old and still can’t tell ‘em apart?"

"Pah! Who cares about the difference? They’re all just bugs," the demoness taunted. "And I ate plenty of both before gaining human form!"

"Ya just love stirrin’ trouble, don’t ya? I’m tryin’ to make a livin’ here! Quit ruinin’ it!"

"Enough arguing."

Xu Shulou separated them with a headache, now too wary to pet anything lest she accidentally fondle a delicate-looking brute. Instead, she distributed spirit stones to the crowd.

After all, they were looted from the ice caverns—no need to be frugal. As she spent lavishly, she mused aloud, "If only someone would come after me again. I could rob them next."

Bai Roushuang gaped. "You have... principles."

"Of course! I can’t just rob innocent people," Xu Shulou took it as praise and pondered. "Black Tortoise Tower seems wealthy. Maybe I should reveal myself and lure them into attacking me?"

Bai Roushuang was aghast. "Let’s not invite trouble, Senior Sister. Your love curse isn’t even resolved yet."

Xu Shulou nodded. "Fine."

Bai Roushuang eyed her skeptically.

Xu Shulou lowered her eyes slightly: "I was just joking. Truthfully, it's been a long time since I've done anything like this."

Bai Roushuang immediately felt a pang of sympathy: "Then... after the love gu is lifted, maybe we can try it just a little? If you can get away with it, there's no harm..."

Xu Shulou couldn't help but laugh at her unprincipled junior sister. Brushing off the fur clinging to her robes, she stood up: "Come on, let me take you for something delicious."

The alluring female demon cultivator, ever the shrewd businesswoman, chimed in: "Our Drunken Dreams Pavilion serves the finest golden-sliced jade perch in all of Ruzhou. Would the two young ladies care to stay and try it?"

Xu Shulou readily agreed: "Then please lead the way."

The demoness escorted them to a private room on the second floor and summoned a waiter: "Is there a batch of golden-sliced jade perch nearly ready in the kitchen?"

"There is, but it was ordered by Master Shen."

The demoness waved dismissively: "Never mind him. Serve that portion to these two ladies first and have the kitchen prepare another for him."

The waiter, who clearly held no fondness for the man, nodded cheerfully. In no time, he delivered a generously filled plate of golden-sliced jade perch.

Xu Shulou asked, "Master Shen is a member of Black Tortoise Tower—won’t this cause trouble for you?"

"That’s Shen Ji, the Left Protector of Black Tortoise Tower," the demoness scoffed. "He comes here every day to eat and drink, always demanding company, yet never pays a single spirit stone. And there’s nothing we can do about it."

Bai Roushuang, ever cautious, asked warily: "Then... this perch doesn’t have the waiter’s spit in it, does it?"

The demoness gave her a surprised look: "Of course not! We’d never do such a thing."

Bai Roushuang felt a twinge of shame—these demons were far more guileless than humans.

Since it was a case of enemies crossing paths, Xu Shulou indulged in the stolen privilege without guilt, savoring Shen Ji’s golden-sliced jade perch.

The demoness hadn’t exaggerated—the thinly sliced fresh perch melted in the mouth, and the accompanying water bamboo shoots were exquisitely tender, leaving the two women thoroughly satisfied.

Xu Shulou then pulled out several food containers bought from a secret realm: "Could you have the kitchen fill these for me?"

"Of course." The demoness took the containers and returned shortly with a platter of chilled fruit.

Bai Roushuang picked up a piece of iced pear, biting into its juicy sweetness, and sighed: "Now I understand why Senior Sister isn’t in a hurry to ascend to immortality."

The golden-sliced jade perch took time to prepare, especially since they’d ordered so much. While waiting, Xu Shulou noticed Shen Ji leaving the first floor, leering as he groped the demoness’s waist. Setting down her tangerine, she smiled at her junior sister: "I’ll be back shortly."

With that, she slipped gracefully out the window of the private room.

Bai Roushuang gasped, leaning out to call after her: "Senior Sister, where are you going?"

"To rob the rich and aid the poor."

"Eh? Rob which rich? Aid which poor?"

But Xu Shulou had already vanished like a wisp of wind.

Bai Roushuang despaired at her senior sister’s carefree attitude despite being afflicted by a love gu. Left alone, she finished the fruit platter, then a dish of licorice plum cakes, followed by a bowl of salted cherries.

At one point, Ping'er passed by and asked curiously, "Did your senior sister spend all her spirit stones and leave you here as collateral?"

Bai Roushuang flared up, ready to retort, but then reconsidered. Sipping her tea, she replied coolly: "Senior Sister spends every day with me. If she occasionally goes off to play elsewhere, I don’t mind the quiet."

Ping'er opened her mouth but found no suitable reply.

Bai Roushuang mentally patted herself on the back—what a poised and dignified response! Hmph, no little demoness could ever come between her and her senior sister.

Just as she cleared her throat, ready to press her advantage, Xu Shulou climbed back through the window.

Truly, even window-scaling looked elegant when her senior sister did it. Bai Roushuang propped her chin on her hands, instantly captivated.

Xu Shulou settled gracefully into her seat, smiled at the two, and popped a cherry into her mouth.

Ping'er gaped: "Miss, where did you go?"

"I followed Shen Ji and lifted his purse at the gambling den."

Ping'er stammered nervously: "Miss, you stole—"

"Stole?" Bai Roushuang batted her lashes, her voice sweet as honey. "My senior sister was merely redistributing wealth."

Xu Shulou shot her a baffled look: "Why does your voice sound so strange today?"

"..."

Xu Shulou produced a silk pouch, emptying its spirit stones onto the table and sliding them toward Ping'er: "Split these among yourselves quietly. No need to announce it."

"Miss, this is...?" Ping'er stared in disbelief. "Shen Ji is a local tyrant. You risked angering him for these stones, yet you’re giving them all to us?"

"They were always meant to repay your losses."

Ping'er nodded, tucking the stones into her own pouch: "Thank you. I won’t betray you, but please be careful."

"Even if you do, it’s fine. If they question you, just blame me," Xu Shulou said breezily. "At worst, I’ll climb a couple spots higher on their ban list."

Ping'er gasped: "The ban list? Only formidable figures make it onto that!"

"Shh..." Xu Shulou grinned, pressing a finger to her lips. "Go share the spoils with your friends."

"You’re a person of great skill, yet you show kindness to the likes of us. Ping'er is grateful." She bowed deeply before departing.

"Senior Sister, robbing the rich to help the poor—a true heroine!" Bai Roushuang pouted, determined to reclaim the spotlight. "Next time, take me along! I’ll keep watch for you."

"While tailing him, I gambled a bit and won this hair ribbon for you." Xu Shulou handed her a water-blue silk ribbon embroidered with flowers. "It matches your new robes. Practical too—keeps your hair perfectly in place even after a brawl."

Who wouldn’t be moved by a senior sister who remembered to bring gifts even while stealing and gambling?

Bai Roushuang certainly was.

(Though she had doubts about the "practicality" of surviving a brawl, she was touched nonetheless.)

Now she only regretted that Ping'er had already left.

"Oh, and I snagged one more thing." Xu Shulou tossed a small bronze token in her palm.

Bai Roushuang squinted—the token bore the seal script characters "Black Tortoise." Her eyes widened: "Black Tortoise Tower’s token?"

"Shen Ji kept it in his purse. Seemed useful, so I took it." Xu Shulou shrugged.

"...Senior Sister has had quite the eventful day." Eating, drinking, flirting, gambling, stealing—she’d done it all.

After a pause, Bai Roushuang asked curiously: "How did this Left Protector of Black Tortoise Tower offend you?"

Xu Shulou’s expression turned resolute: "All members of Black Tortoise Tower are scum."

Bai Roushuang was about to agree wholeheartedly—

But then Xu Shulou, recalling something she’d recently learned, hesitated. "Well... perhaps excluding their sect’s guardian spirit beast."

"..."