Chapter 20: The Scorpion Spirit Who Cleans
“What’s going on here?”
Xiang Yu walked over and found that everyone was there—the employees and Director Ji alike. They were all utterly exhausted, tongues hanging out as they panted like a pack of dogs.
The hot spring pools were temporarily closed while the system carried out its cleaning cycle and automatically replaced the water, so everyone was squatting outside waiting.
“Boss!!!”
The moment they saw Xiang Yu return, her overworked employees scrambled to their feet from the ground, looking as if they wanted nothing more than to throw themselves at her and hug her legs.
Liu Bo’s face and hands were smeared black with coal dust, no doubt from setting up charcoal stoves and hauling coal for the guests. When he grinned, his white teeth stood out so starkly that he looked like a toothpaste commercial.
“Guess how much we made today!”
Xiang Yu almost didn’t recognize him. With genuine respect, she cupped a hand to her ear.
“How much?”
The accountant, Mu Qian, had dirt all over her hands from peeling potatoes and shelling peanuts. Squatting on the steps, she said in an exhausted voice,
“You don’t even need to check. On a normal day, rotating three or four groups through the pools is already pushing it. At absolute maximum, the springs can hold just over a hundred people at once. Today they ran at full capacity the entire time. At least three hundred guests soaked in the pools, and almost all of them bought the package deal.”
“Today’s revenue: 30,000 yuan.”
Xiao Tian, the female bath attendant—known as the Buddhist Guardian Boy—looked utterly dazed.
“There weren’t enough straw mats to go around. The people at the back started buying mats from the people in front… and we couldn’t boil the hot spring eggs fast enough…”
“There was just… no way we could keep up.”
Xiao Shan, who had spent the entire day calling out, “Sir, this way, please!” to the men’s bath guests, covered his face and burst into tears.
“People were even stealing the slippers…”
“My hands are almost callused.”
The shyest employee, Du Zhilan, turned her head, tears streaming down her face.
“I don’t know which idiot posted online that the volcanic mud was amazing for your skin. So all the people who couldn’t get into the hot springs started asking for volcanic mud facials.”
“There wasn’t a single break all day…”
She had suffered the worst of it.
The hot spring pools had a limit on how many guests they could admit, but each skincare session took twenty minutes.
The entire operation had become an assembly line.
One customer would finish applying the volcanic mud and immediately move on to a massage. By the time that massage was over, the next customer’s mud mask had already finished and they were ready to take the chair.
For the first time in her life, Du Zhilan felt that even charging 50 yuan per treatment wasn’t enough to compensate for how sore her hands had become.
Ji Kailang was squatting nearby with her backside sticking up, busily sorting through something.
When Xiang Yu leaned over for a closer look, she found it was a stack of commemorative banners.
One read:
“The Spinning Top King Is Forever the GOAT!”
There were also banners saying:
“A Benevolent Healer”
“Miracle Worker”
“The Nation’s Top Bian Que”
“Worthy of Worship in the Imperial Ancestral Temple”
“…Leading the Charge with Manure.”
…That last one really seemed like it belonged at Pingping’s house instead.
Seeing everyone so utterly exhausted, Xiang Yu didn’t waste time with a long speech.
She simply announced two pieces of good news.
First, the staff dormitory and cafeteria were ready.
Second, she’d brought everyone shopping gift cards as a reward for all their hard work over the past few days.
Nothing boosted morale like an immediate reward.
The university students were especially easy to cheer up.
Only moments ago they’d been sprawled across the steps, too tired to move. But the instant they heard that room and board had been taken care of, they started howling with excitement.
“Boss, you’re amazing!”
When they actually received the gift cards, they were so touched they could barely find the words.
Their exhaustion vanished in an instant.
The group noisily piled into Liu Bo’s car to head back to campus, all eagerly asking Xiang Yu to take pictures of the dormitory for them so they’d know what bedding and pillows to bring when they moved in.
Ji Kailang stayed behind until everyone else had left.
With a mysterious smile, she handed Xiang Yu a bulging plastic bag.
“What’s this?”
“From Pingping’s mom. Go ahead and take it.”
Ji Kailang opened the bag.
It was filled with all kinds of wild mountain mushrooms.
“Given her family’s circumstances, this is the best gift she could possibly afford. She also gave some to Liu Bo, Xiao Du, and the others. This portion is for you.”
“I brought something for you too.”
Xiang Yu pulled out another plastic bag, looking a little embarrassed.
“I was originally going to get you a shopping card too, but in the end I bought mosquito-repellent wristbands and some floral water instead.”
The night breeze drifted past.
The two of them exchanged bags and smiled at each other.
It felt like the perfect ending cutscene after clearing the first day of business—a flawless MVP victory screen.
Ji Kailang gave Xiang Yu’s shoulder a hearty pat.
“Get some rest.”
She had only taken a few steps away before suddenly remembering something.
It felt as though someone was missing from this victory CG.
“By the way… where’s that handsome guy of yours?”
“I haven’t seen him since the fight.”
Director Ji really had a knack for getting straight to the point.
Just as Xiang Yu was about to open the Hama Green app and search for “What do I do if I’ve lost an employee?”, she spotted the little cat sitting beneath the staff dormitory.
The kitten had followed her ever since she first entered Hama Valley.
It had trailed after her everywhere, weaving around her feet while she bustled from place to place. Under the lights, it still looked very young, with a soft, fluffy belly.
It was a purebred cat.
Its fur was creamy white, while its ears, legs, and tail gradually darkened into a rich chocolate brown. The warmer parts of its body were lighter, and the cooler extremities were darker.
Xiang Yu vaguely remembered hearing about this breed before.
A Siamese cat—often nicknamed the “nanny cat” among felines.
For some reason, though, the kitten’s whiskers looked a little singed.
She crouched down and gave it a gentle stroke.
The kitten let out a soft meow. After allowing itself to be petted, it hopped a short distance away.
It didn’t seem to like having its rear touched…
But it clearly liked her.
After hesitating for a moment from a few steps away, it suddenly lowered its head and trotted back, bumping it squarely into her waiting palm.
Its little head was unbelievably fluffy beneath her hand.
The sensation was wonderfully satisfying.
Reluctantly, Xiang Yu withdrew her hand.
She rubbed her fingertips together, unable to stop herself from savoring the memory of that feather-soft fur.
It reminded her of the cat she’d had in her previous life.
It had been about the same size as this one, felt just as soft, and had the same little black paws that looked like tiny gloves.
People always said cats were selfish creatures.
They demanded the finest canned food, the tastiest treats, weren’t especially bright, quickly forgot people, wandered off halfway through being petted, and never tolerated anything that made them even slightly uncomfortable.
But Xiang Yu’s cat had remembered people.
The two of them had shared a very special bond.
She’d asked other students before, and hardly anyone even remembered seeing the black cat that lived beneath the dormitory building.
Yet every single time Xiang Yu walked past the flowerbeds carrying a chicken drumstick and called out, “Kitty?”
The cat would appear without fail.
Every.
Single.
Time.
It had been almost miraculous.
During the winter, when it snowed, Xiang Yu would bring the little cat into the cardboard-box shelter she’d built on the dormitory balcony.
The cat was clean and beautiful, and all of her roommates adored it.
They fed it salmon, freeze-dried fruit treats, and premium snacks.
One of her roommates, whose family was wealthy enough that she drove a Porsche Panamera, even said she’d adopt the cat after graduation.
The cat wanted nothing to do with it.
Whenever the rich roommate tried to pet it, it would dodge away.
And just like that, it let a life of wealth and luxury slip through its paws.
From then on, everyone agreed it was undeniable proof that the cat wasn’t very bright.
By Xiang Yu’s junior year, the place where she worked provided employee housing.
Her roommates were used to seeing her climb back over the dormitory wall late at night, but because she didn’t want to disturb them when she worked night shifts, she started sleeping at work instead.
The very next day, one of her roommates called.
“The cat’s gone.”
It was snowing that day.
Xiang Yu was still wearing her gloves as she answered the phone and unlocked the door.
The moment she turned on the light, she saw the cat sitting on the windowsill.
The window faced north.
Cold winter winds howled through the gaps, ruffling the cat’s fur, which was dusted with delicate six-pointed snowflakes.
That was when Xiang Yu made up her mind.
When I’m an old lady someday…
Even if I end up wandering the streets collecting trash to survive, I’ll take you with me.
Winter was always hard for poor people.
The tiny dorm room had at least been warm enough.
But the little rental room she later lived in was almost empty, with nothing but a single electric space heater for warmth.
The cat loved rubbing itself against the heater until its fur was practically singed.
Its entire little face would end up soot-black every day, looking just like a lump of coal.
Fortunately, the old heater always tripped its circuit breaker if it stayed on too long, so it never actually roasted the foolish cat alive.
At night, it would curl into a ball beside her feet beneath the corner of the quilt, purring contentedly.
Sometimes, if her foot accidentally bumped into it, the cat would shiver from the cold.
But instead of moving away, it would press its little body even closer against hers.
It was just the two of them, making their way through life together.
It was hard to say who had really been taking care of whom.
Whatever Xiang Yu ate, the cat ate too.
Steamed buns.
Chicken drumsticks.
Cucumbers.
Instant noodles.
Even the tough cores of napa cabbage.
After every meal, it would meticulously lick its paws and wash its face until it was spotless.
Then it would disappear for a while to go hunting…
…and come back carrying money.
A cat’s way of repaying kindness is usually to bring home dead mice, cockroaches, or maybe even a snake.
But this cat had once come back from “hunting” with a heavy gold necklace.
Xiang Yu turned it in to the lost-and-found.
After that, the cat started bringing home cash instead.
People rarely used paper money these days, and although it was never much—five yuan here, ten yuan there—it was still impossible to imagine where the little rascal kept finding it.
A little pickpocket.
That was what Xiang Yu secretly called it.
She spent every yuan the cat brought back on canned cat food.
Only then did she discover that the cat wasn’t stupid after all.
It knew perfectly well that canned food was delicious.
When life was hanging by a thread, she never had the luxury of thinking about the cat.
But now that she’d bought herself a few more days to live…
She wanted to bring it with her again.
Especially today.
She’d earned a lot of money.
Enough to buy plenty of cat food and dried fish.
And now there was a new dormitory.
The new place was beautiful.
The ancient-town-style buildings were embraced by a stream fed by snowmelt from the mountains. Every room had an open corridor and a terrace. The courtyards were enclosed by wood and stone, each with its own charming little patio. There was even a tiny ornamental mill that looked more like part of the landscaping than a real tool.
It would be perfect for grinding meat into pâté or preparing cat grass.
A place like this would easily rent for four or five hundred yuan a night on a travel-booking app as a boutique guesthouse.
Now she finally had wealth and comfort…
But the cat was gone.
That’s just…
Unfortunately, Xiang Yu had never been much for elegant words.
Even though the mood was perfectly set for a poignant reflection, the only saying she could think of was:
“The child wishes to provide for their parents, but they’re no longer there to receive the care.”
Not exactly the right proverb.
Lost in those scattered thoughts, she arrived at the staff dormitory.
To her surprise, the lights inside were still on.
The steps were damp, with fresh streaks left behind by a recently mopped floor.
Someone had gotten there before her.
It looked as though the place had already been tidied up.
Shen Jiu?
Xiang Yu climbed the steps and gently knocked on the heavy wooden door set into the bluish-gray mountain stone.
The door swung open with almost no resistance.
Someone had deliberately left it unlocked for her.
But the person inside wasn’t Shen Jiu.
Instead, standing there was a delicate, pretty young girl wearing a dress with her hair neatly tied up in a bun.
A small bucket sat beside her.
She was struggling with both hands to push a mop that was taller than she was, working so hard that sweat covered her forehead.
Behind her dress extended a metallic-colored tail.
A rag was wrapped around the tip of the tail, and it was busily wiping down the table while she mopped the floor.
The sound of someone entering made her jump.
With a whoosh, she whipped her tail back behind her. The rag wrapped around its tip fluttered gently to the floor.
Then she turned toward the doorway.
She and Xiang Yu stared at each other for two seconds.
Suddenly, the little girl gathered up her skirt and dropped to one knee with a smack.
“Benefactor!” she called out in a bright, clear voice.
She clasped her hands in salute and bowed her head.
“I am the newly assigned disabled employee, Xuan Ying.”
Who knew how long she’d been cleaning?
The dormitory—which was, technically speaking, still under renovation—was now spotless.
Not a speck of dust remained.
Everything gleamed.
The tables, the lampshades… every surface shone as though it had been polished with wax.
Her name sounded straight out of an ancient fantasy novel.
Xiang Yu hurried over and pulled her to her feet.
“Okay, okay. My name is Xiang Yu. We don’t do this kind of grand ceremony here. And don’t call me ‘Benefactor,’ either.”
Xuan Ying caught on immediately.
She nodded obediently.
“Master.”
That title instantly reminded Xiang Yu of certain unpleasant memories.
But looking into the girl’s wide, innocent, sparkling eyes, she simply couldn’t bring herself to object.
Xuan Ying enthusiastically led Xiang Yu over to the dining table.
To Xiang Yu’s surprise, dinner had been left waiting for her.
There was stir-fried wild vegetables with eggs, mushroom soup, and a bowl of rice topped with two glossy, braised chicken drumsticks.
Seeing the little girl staring at her with bright, expectant eyes, Xiang Yu immediately headed into the kitchen to find another bowl so they could share.
Xuan Ying frantically shook her head.
“No, no! I don’t eat.”
“I’m a scorpion spirit.”
“Thank you.”
Xiang Yu spoke with complete sincerity.
“You don’t have to do all this. I’ll hire a cafeteria chef.”
“Okay!” the girl answered loudly.
“But… I don’t dare tell him.”
“You’ll have to say it yourself, Master.”
“…Huh?”
The little scorpion spirit explained with complete honesty,
“When I arrived, I saw The Heaven-Swallowing, Dao-Protecting, Nine Heavens’ Heavenly Fortune, Evil-Suppressing Celestial Exalt cooking in the kitchen.”
He was simply far too hardworking.
She had only just arrived and had no idea what sort of immortal paradise this was. Naturally, she didn’t dare offend such an exalted being.
So when she noticed a pile of cement and bricks in the corner, she immediately mixed mortar and patched every uneven spot she could find.
Then she discovered the well, picked up a rag and a mop, and spent the entire evening cleaning every inch of the place.
She was exhausted.
Such was the way little demons survived.~
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