4056-chapter-67
Chapter 67
“La la la la la, the big demon got tricked…”
Bai Shuo plucked a dry straw from her hat and held it in her mouth, skipping and humming a tune, feeling utterly refreshed.
“You made my Mumu disappear, big demon, I hope you’re furious!”
With a loud bang, a heavy object was thrown not far away, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Bai Shuo abruptly stopped and hid behind a tree.
Before she could see who it was, a familiar voice rang out.
“If you keep following me, I’ll chop you up for firewood!”
Big Iron Flower? Bai Shuo peeked out, and a figure darted past like the wind—it was Hua Hong.
Who would have the guts to pester this fierce demon lord?
Just as Bai Shuo was about to call out to her, the fiery red thing on the ground quickly sprang up and chased after the icy Hua Hong.
“Hey hey, Little Flame Demon Lord, help me fix my Wheel of Destruction, will you? Your Burning Heaven Staff is so mighty, you can’t favor one over the other, right?”
The little fox jumped around Hua Hong, and if it had transformed into its true form, its tail would probably be wagging up to the sky.
“None of my damn business, go back to your fox den.”
Mu Jiu?
All old acquaintances!
Bai Shuo’s eyes welled up with tears, and just as she was about to speak, her eyes suddenly widened.
She saw Mu Jiu grab Hua Hong’s hand and pout.
“Of course it’s your business, my little wheel shattered into pieces for you. It’s broken, and my heart is broken too. Little Hua, you can’t just watch me suffer, can you?”
The young man’s eyes were slightly red, on the verge of tears.
Bai Shuo shuddered, almost vomiting her dinner from the night before.
Oh dear, she couldn’t bear to look and turned her gaze to Hua Hong.
Sure enough, Tianhuo Demon Lord of Haoyue Palace looked pale, staring at Mu Jiu as if she had seen a ghost.
“Let… go,” Hua Hong forced out two words from her throat.
“I won’t let go unless you promise to treat my little wheel equally, care for it tenderly, and give it a new life…”
The young fox-eyed boy spoke without hesitation.
“I’ll give it a new life, my foot…” Hua Hong couldn’t take it anymore, and the Burning Heaven Staff flew through the air, aiming to strike Mu Jiu.
“Damn, Little Hua, are you trying to kill your husband?”
The Burning Heaven Staff came swiftly, about to hit Mu Jiu’s head, but the young man suddenly jumped up. Unexpectedly, the staff softened and turned into a loop, trapping both the fox and Hua Hong together. Instantly, their faces were close, chest to chest, limbs entangled.
Seeing Hua Hong’s face so close, Mu Jiu froze, his face turning red with excitement.
“Little Hua, so you feel the same about me…”
“Mu Jiu! I’ll chop you up!”
Without another word, Hua Hong pulled down the Burning Heaven Staff, stepped on the fox, and raised the staff to strike.
Mu Jiu went berserk, shouting at the top of his lungs, “Damn it, you were the one who initiated it, and now you’re turning on me! Go ahead, chop me up! Do it!”
Demon Lord Tianhuo was furious, and the little fox was equally aggrieved, lying flat and letting Hua Hong do as she pleased.
But after a while, the Burning Heaven Staff didn’t fall on his head.
Huh? Maybe she’s just putting on a show, and her Little Hua is too shy? The fox secretly opened his eyes, only to see Hua Hong staring at the Burning Heaven Staff in a daze.
What’s going on? Mu Jiu quickly moved Hua Hong’s foot away, jumped up, and looked at the Burning Heaven Staff, also stunned.
On the incredibly hard Burning Heaven Staff, two small paper figures were sweating profusely, trying their best to bend the staff back into a loop.
“Bai! Shuo!”
In the distance, Hua Hong’s angry voice faintly reached them.
Bai Shuo dug her ear, flicked her finger, and sneakily followed behind someone.
What a coincidence, she was just about to catch up with an old acquaintance when she ran into another, even older one.
Ahead, Eryun was carrying a bowl of medicine, stepping into a small courtyard.
Bai Shuo looked up at the sign “Songhe Pavillion” and slipped inside.
“Did you just say that Bai Shuo asked about where?”
Inside Jiuhua Pavilion, Qing Yi couldn’t find Bai Shuo and turned to Wu Shuang for answers.
“Piaomiao Island… and Haoyue Palace,” Wu Shuang answered honestly.
“My lord? Is there something wrong?”
“Nothing,” Qing Yi waved his hand, his expression calm.
“You may leave.”
“Yes.”
Wu Shuang left, and Qing Yi frowned, pulling out an object from his robe.
It was the Heavenly Thunder talisman that Bai Shuo had thrown to save him in the Yuanling swamp.
He flicked his finger, and a wisp of immortal energy escaped from the talisman.
Though faint, it was undoubtedly from an orthodox immortal sect.
If she had a master, why did she lie about coming to Phoenix Island to study?
If she was an immortal, why did she ask about Haoyue Palace?
Qing Yi sighed, put away the Heavenly Thunder talisman, and left Jiuhua Pavilion.
In the room, Chong Zhao sat with his eyes closed, concentrating at his desk.
The door opened, and Eryun walked in with a bowl of spiritual medicine.
Chong Zhao opened his eyes, about to speak, but his expression changed.
“You…”
“Ah, caught me,” under the candlelight, Eryun’s cold face had transformed.
Fu Ling pushed the bowl towards Chong Zhao.
“This is made from thousand-year-old Ganoderma, it can replenish your spiritual energy.”
Outside the window, Bai Shuo, who had been planning a grand reunion, saw the face in the shadows and her expression changed, covering her mouth.
How could it be her? That female demon lord who hunted the big demon at Muxiao Mountain three years ago?!
The memory of Fu Ling drawing her cloud-fire arrow, full of killing intent, became vividly clear.
How did Ah Zhao get involved with her?
“No need,” Chong Zhao stood up, taking out a small porcelain bottle from his robe and placing it on the table.
“I appreciate your kindness, but please take the medicine back.”
“So you’re afraid of others knowing you have ties with a demon like me?” Fu Ling glanced at the unopened bottle on the table, her face showing self-mockery.
“Right, a prodigy renowned in the immortal world, personally selected by Jinyao to enter the Heavenly Palace, with a boundless future. It’s only right to draw a clear line with me.”
“That’s not it,” as Fu Ling turned to leave, Chong Zhao spoke up.
She paused and turned back.
“Not it? Then what is it?”
“If it weren’t for your protection with the Ling Flower Armor, I would have died in the Yi city. My promise to you that day wasn’t just lip service, but…” Chong Zhao hesitated.
“Your feelings, I cannot accept, nor do I deserve them.”
Fu Ling was stunned.
She stared at Chong Zhao, suddenly leaning close to his face.
Caught off guard, Chong Zhao stepped back but was pulled back by Fu Ling, bringing them face to face.
“So you knew,” Fu Ling said firmly, leaning closer to Chong Zhao’s ear, her breath like orchids.
“What? My feelings are unacceptable…”
Chong Zhao’s face stiffened, about to push Fu Ling away, but her voice lowered, “But what about your childhood sweetheart’s feelings? Are they acceptable? Yet, her heart might not be with you…”Chong Zhao’s expression changed. Outside the window, Bai Shuo, seeing Fu Ling almost pressing herself against Chong Zhao, was momentarily distracted and accidentally nudged the window shutter.
Oh my god, it’s over !
In that instant, a vine shot out from the room, binding Bai Shuo, who was about to flee.
With a thud, Bai Shuo fell face-first onto the ground in front of the two.
Fu Ling’s expression turned icy as her demonic flower transformed into a sword, poised to strike.
“Stop!”
Chong Zhao’s immortal sword swung out, cutting through the demonic flower.
Bai Shuo’s straw hat fell off, revealing her pitiful face.
“Ah Shuo?!” Chong Zhao was stunned, inexplicably feeling a bit breathless.
Bai Shuo quickly jumped behind Chong Zhao.
“Ah Zhao, stay away from her!”
Fu Ling’s face grew even colder, ready to strike again, but Chong Zhao had already shielded Bai Shuo completely, warning Fu Ling with a glance.
“Fu Ling, Demon Lord, this is Phoenix Island.”
Fu Ling’s hand paused.
She gave Chong Zhao a deep look, then turned and left with a flick of her sleeve.
Chong Zhao glanced at the medicine bottle and spiritual herbs on the table, his gaze lingering on Fu Ling’s retreating figure.
A flicker of guilt passed through his eyes, but he sighed and remained silent.
“Ah Zhao, who is she? How do you know her? What’s this about a Ling Flower Armor? What’s going on…”
ai Shuo tore off the vines binding her and eagerly pressed closer to Chong Zhao.
“Why are you on Wutong Phoenix Island?” Chong Zhao interrupted.
Chong Zhao’s question only fueled Bai Shuo’s frustration.
“You’re asking me? I went through so much to help you in the Yi city, and you just left me there. Don’t change the subject! That demon is bad news, you need to stay away from her…”
“She’s Fu Ling, the Second Palace Master of Cold Spring Palace. She saved me,” Chong Zhao said stiffly.
“Second Palace Master of Cold Spring Palace? Why would she save you?”
“Years ago, when I left the capital to look for you, I accidentally saved her when she was severely injured. At the time, I didn’t know she wasn’t human. Half a year ago, I broke into the human imperial city and was injured by the Dragon Protection Array. She saved me. Later, in the Yi city, I found out she had planted a Ling Flower Armor in me. It was that armor that withstood the Black Dragon’s strike.”
So that was why Fu Ling and Ah Zhao had both appeared at Muxiao Mountain back then.
Bai Shuo’s face paled as she recalled the past.
She cautiously asked, “You went to the imperial city… for the Ziwei?”
Chong Zhao remained silent, only saying, “Ah Shuo, she has helped me multiple times. She means me no harm.”
Bai Shuo grew anxious.
“But she’s still a demon! And Cold Spring Palace is known for its ruthlessness…”
“Isn’t the Lord of Haoyue Palace also a demon? Does Tianhuo Cangshan have a good reputation?”
Chong Zhao suddenly flared up.
“Is it only you who can befriend demons and travel with them?”
Since becoming an immortal, Chong Zhao had always been calm and reserved, no longer the carefree youth he once was.
Bai Shuo had never seen him so angry or heard him speak so harshly.
She was momentarily stunned, stammering, “Ah Zhao…”
Chong Zhao also came to his senses.
He turned away, unsure how to face Bai Shuo or how to express the frustration and resentment boiling inside him.
He had grown up with her, and she had always been by his side.
But what right did he have? He still had a blood debt to settle, and he didn’t even have the strength to protect her…
Chong Zhao’s restrained expression was hidden in the candlelight, exuding a sense of sorrow that Bai Shuo couldn’t see.
“I… I’m just a wandering immortal. Even if my reputation is bad, even if I make mistakes, the worst that can happen is I stop being an immortal,” Bai Shuo’s small voice echoed in the room.
“But Ah Zhao, you’re destined for the Heavenly Palace. I want to protect you. I didn’t mean to hide the fact that I had the Lord of Haoyue Palace with me. I was afraid you’d worry, and I was scared that if he regained his memories, he might harm Piaomiao Island. That’s why I secretly brought him to Nanhai City. I…”
Outside Songhe Pavillion, a figure in red stood under the moonlight, his sleeves flowing with clouds and moons.
It was unclear how long he had been there.
When Bai Shuo spoke those words, his gaze turned cold, and he vanished.
In the room, a sigh was heard.
Before Bai Shuo could look up, a pair of warm hands patted her head, carrying the familiar scent of Chong Zhao.
“He’s the Lord of Haoyue Palace, a demigod of the demon realm. How many heads do you think you have, daring to deceive him?”
“He’s still my little disciple… By seniority, he should call you ‘Uncle Master,'” Bai Shuo muttered.
Chong Zhao almost laughed in exasperation.
“Stop talking nonsense. He’s regained his memories now. I don’t know why he spared you in the Yi city, but don’t push your luck. If he truly decides to kill you, not even ten Piaomiao Islands could protect you. By the way, you’ve got me so worked up I forgot to ask—how did you get into Phoenix Island?”
“Qing Yi brought me here.”
“Qing Yi?” Chong Zhao was surprised.
“The Qing Yi from Daze Mountain? How do you know him?”
“It’s a long story… Oh no! I forgot about him!” Bai Shuo suddenly exclaimed.
“Ah Zhao, did you use the Ling Flower Armor when you entered the imperial city?”
“Yes, why?”
“There’s no time to explain. I have to go. Remember, no matter what, never use the Ling Flower Armor in front of Qing Yi. I’ll explain everything after the banquet.”
Bai Shuo’s expression changed, and she hurriedly gave her warning before turning to run.
“Ah Shuo!”
Bai Shuo ran back to Jiuhua Pavilion, panting heavily.
As she pushed open the courtyard gate, she froze.
Under the towering ancient tree, the Chief Disciple of Daze Mountain stood facing her, as if he had been waiting.