Chapter 11

Why, after half a month, was the former demon king still grappling with poverty? After all, who has a "gold-selling cave" just lying around at home?

Initially, Meng Ruji had hoped that Mu Sui could catch thieves to make money. After all, she was just an ordinary person now, without spiritual power or physical strength. Although Mu Sui ate a lot, his skills in catching thieves seemed to be a reliable way to cover their expenses.

But soon, Meng Ruji realized that this plan was unsustainable.

First, the market was devoid of the "big thieves" she had hoped for—there weren’t even any "middle thieves." Most criminals were petty thieves who only dared to snatch small bags. Even if Mu Sui managed to catch one or two, the reward money would be quickly consumed by his substantial appetite.

To make matters worse, after just a few days, the market saw no thieves at all. The presence of a "thief king" in town had scared off other criminals, making them too fearful to commit any crimes.

But Meng Ruji couldn’t afford to wait around for them to come back. While they could cut back on business and eat less, Mu Sui's appetite and her own dwindling supplies made this approach impractical. Going hungry for one or two meals was manageable, but after a few days without food, she felt dizzy and weak.

So, on the third day, Meng Ruji gathered wild fruits from the mountains for Mu Sui, instructing him to stay indoors, rest, and avoid unnecessary movement. Mu Sui was initially reluctant but eventually complied, remaining in the wooden house with a look of discontent.

Meng Ruji, meanwhile, opened the medicine bottle Miao Miao had given her, took a small green bean pill, and went to the market to "work."

Every day, Meng Ruji ran various errands around the market. She understood that her situation was different from Mu Sui’s. Without spiritual power for protection and unable to engage in dangerous work like catching thieves, she set up a small stall with a wooden sign that read "Work" in charcoal. 

She took on various odd jobs: writing and calculating accounts for a small fee, washing dishes for Miao Miao when she was busy, and occasionally more strenuous tasks like delivering goods or repairing roofs, which paid better.

Despite Wuliudi being a place with a high mortality rate, it was bustling with activity from the "living people." The market was full of people trying to make a living, and opportunities for large profits were scarce. Meng Ruji realized that unless she committed a crime, she had to rely on hard work, diligence, and persistence to get by.

After more than ten days of this, Meng Ruji felt as though she was trapped in a never-ending cycle of labor. She had become accustomed to being looked down upon and insulted, facing life's hardships with a forced smile. It seemed that no matter how hard she worked, she could barely make ends meet.

Her situation was compounded by a lack of available odd jobs. The market was small, and despite her efforts to help everyone who needed it, there was simply not enough work. As a result, Meng Ruji and Mu Sui often had to rely on wild fruits for sustenance.

Even though it was disheartening, Meng Ruji didn't give up completely. There were still plenty of wild fruits to gather, providing some relief. Each fruit-picking session became a rare moment of relaxation amidst her struggles.

Mu Sui always accompanied her, picking fruits alongside her and filling his pockets before heading "home" with her. However, today Meng Ruji returned empty-handed, feeling the weight of her ongoing struggle. 

Just as Meng Ruji was washing the fruits, Mu Sui announced that he was going out. Concerned about their livelihood, Meng Ruji instinctively told him not to go far and allowed him to leave.

Unexpectedly, Mu Sui went "hunting" for more food. Meng Ruji, watching him sleep on her lap, played with his hair absentmindedly. Mu Sui, a light sleeper, opened his eyes and looked up at her, asking, "Meng Ruji, can't you sleep?"

His serious tone, combined with his childlike earnestness, was striking. "Well, I'm thinking about how to make some money tomorrow," Meng Ruji replied. With only one green bean left and no way to delay, she needed to buy more.

"I'll go with you tomorrow," Mu Sui said earnestly. "I won't run or overexert myself."

Since Meng Ruji had ordered Mu Sui to rest and conserve his energy, she knew he had been trying to avoid eating too much. He confessed, "I'm not that hungry now."

Meng Ruji eyed him skeptically as his stomach rumbled. "Really?" she asked.

"Really," Mu Sui insisted.

"Don't tell lies that can be easily proven false," Meng Ruji said, tapping his stomach lightly. 

Mu Sui lowered his gaze. "I heard someone at the market say his donkey eats too much and he’s considering whether to sell it or kill it..."

Meng Ruji struggled to contain her laughter. Despite his serious expression, Mu Sui wasn’t joking. He looked at her with sincerity, "I don't want to be sold or killed, so I'll eat less and avoid being so hungry all the time."

Meng Ruji was deeply moved. If it were in the past, she would have felt she had failed him by forcing him into such hardship. But now, her own struggles made her empathize with him. She was exhausted from trying to make enough money to feed both of them.

She wanted to cry but held back, forcing a smile and maintaining her role as a supportive sister. "You’re not a donkey, so I won't sell you or kill you," she said, stroking his hair. "Try using the meditation method I taught you to absorb spiritual energy. It might help."

Mu Sui shook his head. "I've tried many times. This place is different. When you weren't here, I meditated, but there was no progress. Didn’t you notice?"

Meng Ruji realized that the spiritual energy in this place was different from what she was used to. Despite her efforts, she found that practicing here didn’t yield the same results as it did in Hengxu Mountain.

Meng Ruji had hoped to use the local currency to study the hidden magic, but her lack of money and time made this impossible. She worked tirelessly to buy food and had little time left for anything else.

"Ah..." Meng Ruji sighed, then told Mu Sui, "Let’s try again tomorrow. If it doesn't work, you can come to the market with me the day after."

"If I don't find any green beans the day after tomorrow?" Mu Sui asked.

"If I make money tomorrow, there will be green beans," Meng Ruji replied.

Mu Sui looked up at her. Despite her haggard appearance from the relentless work, her touch was gentle. "You should rest," he said. "I’ll find a way to make things easier for you."

Meng Ruji smiled and leaned against the wooden wall, closing her eyes as silence filled the small, broken house. 

"Oh," she murmured sleepily, "the man you tied up today looks familiar..."

"It's the thief who stole my bag," Mu Sui replied.

"I thought he was released quickly."

"Yeah."

"Why are you still targeting him?"

"I hold a grudge."

Meng Ruji smiled, growing drowsy. As she was about to fall asleep, she whispered, "Don’t do this kind of thing in the future..."

Mu Sui responded softly, "Yeah."

As Meng Ruji fell asleep on his shoulder, Mu Sui gently repositioned her, making sure she was comfortable. He looked out at the moonlight, his eyes reflecting a cold light. His voice, filled with resolve, slipped into the night, "I will see him... on my own."

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