“Turns out you always knew how to awaken my true form!”

“No, no, no, I didn’t know!”

Bai Shuo’s eyes shot open in shock.

Sunlight spilled onto her face, too bright and almost stinging.

She blinked in confusion, her eyes darting around.

Above her was the ceiling of a stone room, sparsely furnished with a table and chairs. Scattered across the floor were grasshopper toys made from straw, likely for children.

She touched the hard wooden plank of the bed beneath her, thinking dazedly that it was even rougher than the one carved by Mumu…

Mumu? Mumu!

Suddenly jolting upright, Bai Shuo sprang off the bed, only to feel a wave of weakness overwhelm her.

Her legs buckled, but someone quickly steadied her.

“Immortal Bai, you’re awake?”

She turned her head and saw a delighted woman’s face.

“Aunt Xiaoqi?”

“Yes, it’s me!”

“Where am I?”

“My house, of course.”

Bai Shuo froze.

Wasn’t she in the stone palace of the Yi King’s palace? How did she end up here?

What about the corrupted dragon?

What about Ah Zhao, Big Iron Flower, the Kunlun Sword Master, the fox? What about her little disciple?!

Oh. It all came rushing back— the big demon descending from the skies, and her little disciple… gone.

Still dazed, she instinctively clutched her chest.

It hurt, slightly.

And no wonder—using the blood of her heart to awaken the seal of a demigod wasn’t just taxing; it was life-threatening.

“You’re awake now, that’s what matters. Immortal Bai, come, have some porridge,” Aunt Xiaoqi said as she placed a basket on the table and helped Bai Shuo sit down.

“You’ve been asleep for two days.”

“Two days?”

Bai Shuo’s head shot up.

“Auntie, what about my friends?”

“They’ve all left.”

“Left?”

“Yes. The Yi City doesn’t allow outsiders to stay, and the Wutong Martial Banquet is over. Naturally, they had to leave.”

Bai Shuo was baffled.

After such chaos involving the Yi King, the Ninth Heavenly Palace Lord must have been alerted.

Whether the Yi King had been manipulated or not, his act of sacrificing immortal and demon disciple as offerings was undeniable.

So why was the Yi City so eerily calm?

“Speaking of which, we’re really grateful to you immortals,” Aunt Xiaoqi said with heartfelt appreciation.

“His Highness Yong said that a few days ago, an evil spirit infiltrated the city and stole the souls of the Yi people. If it hadn’t been for your help, that evil spirit couldn’t have been destroyed, and the citizens wouldn’t have been saved.”

Bai Shuo was stunned.

“And oh, when the palace exploded, a bunch of flying immortals showed up outside the city,” the woman continued.

“Immortals? They didn’t do anything?”

“What could they do? Old Zhu from next door said that the little immortal who came into the city with you drove out all the immortal and demon disciple and reactivated the Spiritual-Sealing Formation. Those immortals couldn’t even enter the city and just took their people and left.”

Little immortal? Bai Shuo felt a heaviness in her chest.

What little immortal? He was clearly a big demon.

No wonder the Yi City remained intact. The two clans’ disciple had all been saved by Fan Yue.

If he wanted to protect the Yi race, not only would Jinyao agree, but even the Kunlun and Fox Clans would owe him a favor.

“Auntie, how did I end up here…?”

“That little immortal Zhao brought you here.”

Ah Zhao? Bai Shuo perked up. Was Ah Zhao still around?

“Where is he?”

“He left with the immortals. Little immortal Zhao asked me to take good care of you. Immortal Bai, His Majesty has decreed that you’re a benefactor to our Yi people. If you like, you’re welcome to stay here in the city forever.”

“His Majesty?…” Bai Shuo froze.

Wasn’t the Yi King already…

Seeing Bai Shuo’s surprise, the woman’s expression dimmed.

“The late king and General Wuzhao both perished while fighting the evil spirit. His Highness Yong has now ascended the throne.”

So that’s the official announcement to the world.

Wait—Hua Yong has succeeded to the Yi King’s throne?

Bai Shuo was momentarily stunned.

Hua Yong had no spiritual bone, making him akin to a mortal.

How could he inherit the throne?

The woman seemed to notice Bai Shuo’s confusion and smiled faintly.

“The day the palace shook, the Yi King Sword disappeared.”

She paused and sighed.

“But in truth, whether or not the sword exists doesn’t matter to us, Yi. The Hua family has protected our people for centuries. In the hearts of the Yi race, they are our true kings. The late king always dreamed of leading our people out of the Yi City, but I think staying here is better. We’ve lived in this city for a thousand years—this is our home. Why leave?”

Bai Shuo felt a pang in her chest.

Generations of Yi Kings had paid a heavy price trying to draw the Yi King Sword, yet they never considered that perhaps all the people wanted was a peaceful life.

For a moment, Bai Shuo felt desolate.

Everyone had left.

She didn’t even know how this chaotic Wutong Martial Banquet had ended—or what had happened to that big demon.

Suddenly, she looked up at the woman.

“Aunt Xiaoqi, how long did you say I’ve been asleep?”

“Two days.”

Then she must still be here!

“Auntie, do you know where the royal tomb is?”

The woman was startled but pointed out the window in a certain direction.

Bai Shuo immediately jumped to her feet and dashed out.

“Auntie, I’ll be back later!”

In the courtyard, a child was wobbling on a wooden horse.

Seeing Bai Shuo rush out, his little face flushed as he held up a straw grasshopper and grinned at her.

Bai Shuo paused, her heart warming.

The suffocating gloom in her chest lifted significantly.

“Immortal Bai, thank you!”

Bai Shuo turned her head and smiled at the kind woman.

She patted the child’s fluffy head and made a funny face at him.

“I’m off!”

Out of habit, she reached for the storage bag at her waist to retrieve a flying talisman—but found nothing.

She froze for a moment before taking off running on foot.

At the Yi City’s royal tomb, Hua Hong stood in plain clothes.

Beside Queen Mei’s grave, two new graves had been erected.

The hurried sound of footsteps approached.

Hua Hong didn’t turn around but knew who it was.

“You’re here?”

Bai Shuo stopped behind her, panting heavily.

“I remember the Yi King mentioning that today is the princess’s memorial day. I thought maybe you’d still be here.”

Hua Hong remained silent, and the area around the tomb fell quiet.

“I remember when Hua Yong was first brought back, Uncle Wuzhao was very fond of him. Mother said Uncle Wuzhao had a difficult upbringing and was taken in by the Mei family. Perhaps, looking at Hua Yong reminded him of his own childhood.”

Suddenly, Hua Hong spoke.

“Did you know? Hua Yong is older than me.”

“What?”

Bai Shuo exclaimed, startled.

“How is that possible?”

Hua Hong walked to one of the new graves and placed her hand on the tombstone.

“Little Half-Immortal, I once told you the story of the Yi King’s daughter, the story of Hua Lin. Do you want to hear it?”

Bai Shuo remained silent.

She knew the Princess of Yi City didn’t need advice—only a listener.

“A long time ago, in the wilderness, there was a city trapped in isolation for a thousand years. Everyone in the city revered strength above all else. But the king’s son was born frail and weak. He knew from a young age that he could never draw the sword symbolizing the throne, so he never aspired to rule the city. He didn’t love weapons or combat; he loved music and books—a misfit in his tribe. The only one who supported and understood him was his young maid.

“Time passed, and the crown prince grew up. He fell in love with the maid and wanted to marry her. The king was enraged and ordered the maid’s execution. The prince fled the palace with her in the dead of night, seeking refuge in the mountains.

“Without the blessing of their parents, the prince and his beloved took heaven and earth as their witnesses and became husband and wife. They lived a peaceful and happy life for a while. Soon, the maid became pregnant. The prince believed that once the child was born, his stubborn father might finally accept them.

“But on the day of the child’s birth, the king forcibly took the prince back to the palace and used a spell to rebuild his spiritual bone.”

“That night, the king and the uncle who had watched over him since childhood both died for his sake. He ascended to the throne at the cost of two lives. When he returned to the mountain after burying his father and uncle, his wife had already passed away during childbirth. Their newborn, weakened and at death’s door, was barely clinging to life. To save his son, the young father had no choice but to seal the infant’s six senses, placing him in a deep slumber.”

“The old king is dead, and the isolated city has lost its guardian. He had no choice but to become the new king. Later, to repay a debt of gratitude, he married his uncle’s daughter and became a father again. Years passed, and his slumbering son awakened. Overjoyed, he found himself unable to share the truth of the past with the fierce and devoted queen by his side. So, he concealed the child’s origins, allowing him to return to the palace under a different identity.”

“That child was Hua Yong.”

Hua Hong’s hand paused as she caressed the tombstone.

Before his death, the Yi King had sent a flash of spiritual light into Hua Hong’s spiritual core.

Within it was the untold story of the Yi King’s life.

Bai Shuo gazed at Hua Hong’s solitary figure and lowered her eyes, unsure of what to say.

If Queen Mei had known the Yi King was not as cold and unfeeling as he seemed, perhaps she wouldn’t have passed away in grief.

If Wuzhao had understood the king’s reasons, he might not have betrayed their race.

But in this world, so many things are beyond one’s control, and too many truths go unspoken.

The Rong Xian of the past, the Yi King of today—they were no different.

“You’re not going to cry, are you?”

Suddenly, a face appeared close to Bai Shuo, startling her so much that she nearly crashed into a crooked tree beside her.

Hua Hong reached out and grabbed the teary-eyed little half-immortal.

“I am not!” Bai Shuo turned her head away.

“These are century-old matters. The stars and moon of the world have already revolved countless times. Now, dust returns to dust, earth to earth. All those grudges and feuds have nothing to do with me anymore,” Hua Hong said lightly.

Then, suddenly, she leaned closer to Bai Shuo.

“Honestly, isn’t it surprising that you didn’t get smacked to death? Do you think he’s got something wrong in the head?”

Bai Shuo’s face darkened, and she glared with wide eyes.

You’re the one with something wrong with your head! My dear Mumu is a genius!

Though Bai Shuo said nothing, Hua Hong read her expression perfectly.

She shrugged, straightened up, and said, “Well, that’s the end of the story. I’m leaving now. Little Half-Immortal, farewell.”

She picked up her iron staff, waved at Bai Shuo, and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

Bai Shuo suddenly called out.

Hua Hong stopped mid-step and glanced at her sideways.

“What?”

Bai Shuo fell silent.

She had so many questions to ask, yet when the time came, she couldn’t utter a single one.

Did Ah Zhao leave her a message?

Did the heartfire in the fox and the Kunlun sword cultivator’s spiritual core finally dissipate?

If they met again, would Hua Hong be the blacksmith next door or the Flame Demon Lord of Haoyue Palace?
And… was her little disciple still there?

A few days ago, she had been surrounded by people.

Now, after waking from a dream, she was all alone.

But she was just a half-immortal.

Who would even remember her?

Hua Hong glanced at the dazed little half-immortal, who looked as if she might cry, and turned her head away.

No matter how clever, she was still just a half-immortal child.

Shaking her head, Hua Hong took a step forward.

“Why were you raising chickens next to my house?”

Hua Hong froze mid-step as the little half-immortal’s indignant voice rang out behind her.

The notorious demon lord, said to have killed thousands with a single strike, slipped slightly—and laughed.

She shrugged, turned back, and winked.

“What’s that saying you mortals have? ‘Disciples handle chores for their masters.’ I can’t help it if the ancestor likes to eat chicken. Farewell, little half-immortal!”

Hua Hong burst into laughter, leaped into the sky, and disappeared before Bai Shuo’s eyes.

Bai Shuo looked up at the sky until Hua Hong’s figure faded into a speck of starlight.

Then she lowered her head in dejection.

Turning around, she froze.

Behind a tree not far away stood a young man.

He wore a simple robe and crown, his eyes warm and gentle.

He nodded softly to Bai Shuo and then turned to walk away, his steps solitary and slow.

Half a day later, Bai Shuo, carrying the wine gifted by Aunt Xiaoqi and leaning on a small wooden staff, headed southward on her journey.