Yan Zhengya invited Tianmiao and her two companions into the Daoist Temple and called Yuanyuan to brew some tea. Yuanyuan nervously served the tea and then quickly scurried away.
"These are the demons for this month." Yan Zhengya handed over the Qiankun Bag containing the demons. Dong Xiao stepped forward, took the bag, and unceremoniously dumped the demons into his own Qiankun Bag before returning Yan Zhengya’s bag to him.
After Dong Xiao finished his task, he took out a small box and handed it to Yan Zhengya.
Yan Zhengya took the box, opened it, and was stunned. Inside, two neat rows of silver were carefully arranged, a total of ten ingots, each weighing fifty taels. There were five hundred taels of silver in this box! He had never seen so much money in his life. Forgive him for being so impoverished!
"This seems to be a bit much." Yan Zhengya looked at the silver, then at Tianmiao, puzzled. He had submitted a few demons this time, exceeding the threshold, but there definitely shouldn’t have been this much.
"Oh, the extra is for our lodging fees during this period. And, for buying treats for the little pig." Tianmiao said, as she petted the chin of the little pig resting on her lap, refusing to get down.
"Are you planning to stay here temporarily?" Yan Zhengya realized.
"Yes." Tianmiao nodded.
"Is there something you need to take care of? Of course, there’s no problem staying here, but I’m afraid our humble abode is too modest and may inconvenience you." Yan Zhengya spoke from the heart. Looking at the clothing of these three, one could tell they were used to luxury, while his shabby Daoist Temple leaked in summer rains and had to be cleared quickly in winter snows to prevent collapse. Such a dilapidated place was indeed a bit unfair for people of status.
"Don’t worry, we brought our own supplies." Tianmiao could see Yan Zhengya’s concern.
"Alright then." Yan Zhengya accepted the silver without further ado, "I’ll not stand on ceremony. You can stay in the courtyard to the east, it used to be used by my master to entertain guests. I’ll go clean it with Yuanyuan now."
"Okay, we appreciate it." Tianmiao said to Dong Xiao, "You go help too."
Yan Zhengya took a few steps and then remembered something. He awkwardly said to Tianmiao, "Uh, there’s no one to accompany you..."
"It’s fine, I’ll have the little pig show me around." Tianmiao said.
"How did you know its name is the little pig?" Yan Zhengya frowned, puzzled, and somewhat dubious.
"It told me itself." Tianmiao stood up, holding the little pig, "I am also a Demon Exterminator, but I can understand what animals convey. You wouldn’t think the little pig is just an ordinary pig, would you?"
"Is it a demon? But I didn’t sense any demonic aura." Yan Zhengya was even more puzzled. "Isn’t it an ordinary pig?"
"It’s a mutated pig. I’m here this time to investigate the reason for its mutation. It has already awakened its intelligence, didn’t you know?" Tianmiao chuckled, touching the clothes on the little pig, "You shaved off all its hair, didn’t it cry?"
"It, it got angry and rammed into me." Yan Zhengya scratched his head sheepishly, then suddenly realized the important point, "You, you said it awakened its intelligence? Ah, I haven’t even asked your surname yet."
"Tianmiao. This is Dong Xiao and Kong Hou." Tianmiao said, cradling the little pig, "You guys tidy up the house first, I’m going to town to buy something. I’ll take the little pig with me, is that okay?"
Oink oink! Oink!! Before Yan Zhengya could respond, the little pig oinked out its answer, then wrapped its little forelegs tightly around Tianmiao’s hand, refusing to let go.
Yan Zhengya: ... Alright, I understand what you mean. How heartbreaking. The pig I painstakingly raised has run off with someone else.