4059-chapter-69
Chapter 69
It wasn’t Mu Mu.
Bai Shuo’s heart trembled, and she stammered uncontrollably, “L-L-Lord Palace Master… I-I…”
In her flustered attempt to prop herself up, her hand accidentally pressed against the dark star at the center of Fan Yue’s chest.
Fan Yue frowned.
“I-I-I didn’t mean to!” Bai Shuo panicked even more, raising her hands as if shocked by an electric current.
But the more she panicked, the less composed she became.
The moment her hands left his body, she lost balance and fell onto Fan Yue’s chest again.
A muffled grunt—whether from pain or frustration, she couldn’t tell.
Bai Shuo dared not move and simply lay there like a salted fish, resigning herself to fate and closing her eyes.
Forget it! It’s not the first time she’s courting death.
Whether he wanted to kill or skin her, it was up to him!
“It hurts,” a low voice sounded beneath her.
Bai Shuo froze and snapped her eyes open.
The person she was pressing down on was staring at her, his gaze carrying a hint of grievance and confusion.
She instantly sprang up, grabbing the boy’s arm in delight.
“Mumu?!”
“Master, it’s me.”
The little disciple obediently called out to her, his eyes never leaving her for a second.
Bai Shuo suddenly embraced Fan Yue.
“Thank goodness, you’re back!”
The boy’s body stiffened slightly.
He lowered his eyes and, just as he had done countless times before, wrapped his arms around her.
“Yes, I’m back.”
As he gathered her into his arms, Bai Shuo felt a sour twinge in her eyes, her emotions a tangled mess.
They had only been apart for a few days, yet she felt as if she hadn’t seen her little disciple in a long, long time.
The candlelight flickered, and for a moment, silence filled the hall.
Their figures cast shadows on the ground, rippling with an unnoticed warmth and tenderness.
“Right, let Master take a look.”
Bai Shuo suddenly recalled how her little disciple had been gravely injured by the wicked dragon back in the stone palace.
She hurriedly pulled Fan Yue apart, anxiously pinching his face and checking his hands.
“Are your wounds healed?”
Seeing Bai Shuo fussing over him, Fan Yue pressed her hands down.
“Master, don’t worry. I’m fine now.”
Only then did Bai Shuo belatedly notice his bare upper body—completely unscathed.
The boy’s frame was lean yet well-proportioned, a few strands of black hair draping over his chest.
For some reason, she found it difficult to look directly at him.
She had meant to praise the big demon for his divine physique, impervious to damage, but the words slipped from her mind.
She also failed to notice that, when her usually gentle little disciple pressed down on her hands, there was an unfamiliar hint of domineering firmness.
For some reason, as Bai Shuo dazed out, the boy’s lips curled into a smile, his mood visibly improving.
“Master, I’m hungry.”
The boy suddenly leaned close to her face, speaking softly.
The ill-timed act of acting spoiled snapped Bai Shuo out of her daze.
As she jolted back to reality, she realized that his face was extremely close—and their fingers were intertwined without her knowing when.
Her face flushed bright red.
She shot up in panic, only to slam her forehead against the screen with a loud thud, gritting her teeth from the pain.
“Ow, ow, ow…”
A pair of hands landed on her forehead, gently rubbing it while a scolding voice chided, “Reckless.”
There was an undeniable intimacy in that reprimand.
Bai Shuo lifted her head and met her little disciple’s slightly curved lips, her heart suddenly skipping a beat.
“Mumu?”
The hand rubbing her forehead paused.
The boy turned back, looking at her with a blank expression.
“Hmm?”
Bai Shuo stared into his warm and pure eyes, feeling relieved.
She pulled his hand down.
“Master’s not hurt. You wait here—I’ll go make you something delicious!”
She turned to leave but stumbled slightly.
Looking down, she saw that her little disciple was tugging at her sleeve.
“???”
Bai Shuo looked at him in confusion, her face full of question marks.
“Master, you promised me something but didn’t keep your word.”
The boy lowered his eyes and spoke suddenly.
Bai Shuo’s heart skipped a beat.
Here it comes…
Her little disciple was kind and obedient, easily molded and shaped, but he had his reverse scale.
She had promised not to abandon him, yet she had done exactly that—not only breaking her word, but even burying him with her own hands.
“Mumu, I…”
Bai Shuo opened her mouth but lowered her head in dejection, not daring to look at him.
“I was wro—”
“You promised that once we left the Yi city, you’d take me to eat my way through Nanhai City.”
The boy’s voice carried a hint of grievance.
“???”
Bai Shuo, who had been bracing for a life-or-death moment, instantly looked up in shock and hurriedly reassured him.
“Eat, eat, eat! Master promises you—once the grand banquet between the two clans is over, I’ll definitely take you to eat through Nanhai City!”
“No, right now.”
The little disciple shook his head.
“Right now?”
Fan Yue nodded.
“Tonight? But Mumu, we’re on Wutong Island right now. Nanhai City is a thousand miles awa—”
“I can fly,” the boy interrupted her, brooking no refusal.
Bai Shuo hesitated.
The grand banquet was in two days, and she had promised Lord Qing Yi to reveal the truth about the massacre at the Prime Minister’s residence to Ah Zhao before then…
“Master?”
The boy’s voice softened as he saw her hesitation.
Bai Shuo looked up to see him biting his lip, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
She clenched her teeth and quickly pulled out a paper talisman from her spatial pouch.
“Tell Ah Zhao to wait for me at Songhe pavillion tomorrow night—I have something important to tell him. Go!”
With a single breath, she blew on the talisman, which turned into a streak of spiritual light and flew swiftly out the window.
demigod powers—traversing a thousand miles would take mere moments.
The grand banquet was still a day away; she could make it back in time.
Fan Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly as he watched, a flicker of coldness flashing through them.
His fingers twitched, sending a wisp of spiritual energy chasing after the talisman.
But before that coldness could fully surface, a hand grabbed his.
“Come on, Mumu, Master is taking you to Nanhai City!”
Fan Yue looked up, momentarily dazed by the seriousness in Bai Shuo’s eyes—one of cherishing something regained.
“…Alright.”
The little disciple smiled.
As his hand fell, the spiritual energy trailing the talisman dissipated silently beneath a distant tree.
With a flash of light, Fan Yue glanced out the window before wrapping his arm around Bai Shuo’s waist and vanishing from the Xiaoyao Pavilion.
Outside the window, Cangshan and Tianhuo, who had been standing there like statues for half an hour, finally exhaled in unison.
(T/N: I will translate flame demon into Tianhuo as flame demon is too long, and I’m too lazy to type it..hehe)
“Damn, I almost suffocated to death,” Hua Hong gasped, rubbing his eyes.
“Spicy eyes, spicy eyes.”
Zangshan turned to leave without a word, only to be grabbed by the blacksmith.
“Where are you going?”
“She ruined Master’s refinement of the Bodhi Wood again. I’m going to stay by his side.”
Cangshan’s brows furrowed tightly.
“Idiot.”
Hua Hong rolled his eyes.
“Do you think our Palace Master is someone who would fall for the same trick twice?”
Cangshan hesitated.
“But just now, Master clearly…”
“You never listen, do you? Before that brat entered Wutong Island, our Palace Master had already refined the Bodhi Wood given by the Phoenix Emperor.”
“Then Master, he…” Cangshan pointed toward the room, full of confusion.
“Use your brain and figure it out yourself.”
Hua Hong couldn’t be bothered with the stone-headed fool.
Looking at the fading streak of spiritual light in the sky, she shook his head.
Tsk….Given their Palace Master’s nature, if he could use force, he wouldn’t waste words.
If he was scheming this much, he must have big plans in store.
Little half-immortal, you’d better brace yourself.
“Mumu? Have we arrived?” Bai Shuo cheerfully poked her head out from Fan Yue’s embrace.
But as she took in the scene before her, she froze.
The Nanhai City was ethereal and immortal-like, a place where immortals gathered in great numbers.
Even at midnight, one could still hear poetry being recited and zithers being played, making the entire city a haven of refined elegance.
But here—this place was filled with taverns lining the streets, lanterns illuminating every corner in bright festivity.
The men walking about were tall and broad-shouldered, while the women were dressed in flamboyant, alluring garments with a touch of mischief in their charm.
Most importantly, the air was thick with demonic energy!
This was the Demon Realm!
Having been a half-immortal for a few years, Bai Shuo still had enough knowledge to recognize what this meant.
She gasped sharply.
How did they end up in the Demon Realm? Could it be that Mumu—?
Before Bai Shuo could voice her suspicions, her little disciple’s regretful voice rang out.
“Master, I think I flew to the wrong place…”
Bai Shuo looked up to see her young disciple pursing his lips, gazing at her apologetically.
Her heart softened instantly, and whatever fleeting thoughts she had shattered into dust.
She quickly reassured him, “It’s fine, it’s fine. You’ve never traveled far before, so it’s understandable to make a mistake. There’s still plenty of time; we can just fly—”
Before she could finish, her little disciple had already turned his curious gaze toward the bustling street.
“Master, where are we?”
Uh…
Bai Shuo was at a loss for words.
She had only been a half-immortal for a few years herself—she hadn’t even been to the Heavenly Palace, let alone the Demon Realm.
She hastily looked around and happened to spot a flag fluttering atop the city wall not far away.
Without thinking, she blurted out, “Unruly?”
“Huh?”
“This is Unruly City.”
Bai Shuo swallowed hard.
“The legendary number one pleasure city of the Demon Realm.”
The demon clan had always lived more freely and indulgently than immortal—uninhibited, wild, and unrestrained.
A city reflects its inhabitants, and Unruly City was the most renowned of them all.
It was said to have the richest wine in the Three Realms, the most beautiful dancers, and the largest gambling dens—an extravagant paradise of indulgence and entertainment.
But most importantly—this city had no ruler.
As long as one possessed spiritual beads, even the lowest wandering demon could rise to the top.
Not to mention demons—many immortals who wavered in their Dao would often fall into temptation here, some even abandoning their immortal status to embrace the revelry of the Demon Realm, never looking back.
“Mumu…” Bai Shuo turned to speak but saw that her young disciple was already mesmerized by the lively street scene.
The words caught in her throat.
She turned to Fan Yue instead.
“Do you like it here?”
“Mm, Master, it’s so lively here. I’ve never seen a place this lively before.”
Fan Yue shook Bai Shuo’s hand.
“Next time, will you bring me here to play?”
“Alright.”
“Really? You promise? No take-backs!”
The young boy’s eyes sparkled.
“Come on, let’s go back to Nanhai City…”
He wrapped an arm around Bai Shuo’s waist, preparing to leave.
“We’re not going back.”
Bai Shuo, however, grabbed his hand.
“Hm?”
“We’re staying here. There’s good food too.”
Fan Yue blinked in surprise.
“But this is the Demon Realm, Master. You’re an immortal.”
“Who cares! Come, Mumu! Master will show you the wonders of the greatest pleasure city in all Three Realms!”
With that, Bai Shuo pulled Fan Yue along and disappeared into the bustling crowd.
“Waaah! Mumu, look! Such beautiful little spirits—they’re flying!”
The streets of Unruly City were packed with people, luxurious carriages rolling slowly through the crowds.
At the head of a grand procession, tiny butterflies fluttered amidst a sea of pink bubbles.
Their delicate butterfly wings shimmered with green colors, their tiny figures exuding an innocent charm.
Having boldly declared that she would show her disciple the city, Bai Shuo now held a candied hawthorn in one hand and an osmanthus cake in the other, nudging Fan Yue with her elbow like a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.
A bubble drifted toward Bai Shuo.
Inside, a tiny butterfly blinked playfully and reached out a tiny, rosy fingertip toward her.
Overjoyed, Bai Shuo hurriedly bit down on her osmanthus cake and extended her own finger in response.
But just as their fingertips touched, a thin, eerie red thread suddenly extended from the butterfly’s hand, unnoticed by Bai Shuo.
The little butterfly spirit’s smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with a strange, sinister amusement.
However, before the red thread could fully emerge, it abruptly disintegrated into ash.
The little butterfly trembled violently, her scream catching in her throat as Bai Shuo firmly grasped her entire tiny hand.
“Wah, so soft!”
Bai Shuo beamed with delight, while the tiny butterfly spirit stiffened in terror, frozen under a cold, warning gaze.
Only after Bai Shuo had thoroughly examined her, satisfied, and let go did the little butterfly feel her body lighten.
“Mumu, she likes me!” Bai Shuo shouted excitedly.
“You should touch her too—”
As she turned, however, she saw the previously obedient little butterfly spirit shoot into the air like a startled monkey, disappearing into the swarm of butterflies in the blink of an eye.
Uh… Bai Shuo was stunned.
“Seems like she didn’t like you that much,” Fan Yue commented, pulling another piece of osmanthus cake from his paper bag and placing it in Bai Shuo’s free hand.
Bai Shuo took a bite and huffed.
“Of course she did! Who wouldn’t love me? I’m adored by all—demons and immortals alike!”
She grinned smugly, but before she could bask in her own glory, a melodious tune drifted through the air. Bai Shuo turned her head and saw a group of white-robed musicians seated elegantly on a passing carriage, playing zithers and flutes.
Each of them was breathtakingly handsome.
Before she could utter another “waaah,” her eyes widened.
Behind the musicians, in the center of the procession, eighteen brawny demon men carried a massive hundred-foot-long mirror.
On its gleaming surface, a dozen young women, clad in sheer silks, swayed and danced seductively.
Their fragrances wafted through the air, their beauty mesmerizing.
The moment the procession appeared, the surrounding taverns and teahouses erupted with cheers.
Countless spiritual beads and red blossoms rained down like snow, accompanied by uninhibited shouts and raucous laughter.
Brilliant lights flickered across the mirror’s surface, reflecting the intoxicated delight of the demon revelers—hedonistic, extravagant, and utterly indulgent.
Bai Shuo, having lived a simple and pure life for twenty years, had never seen such a scene before.
She was utterly dumbfounded.
Fan Yue plucked a sugar-coated hawthorn and popped it into Bai Shuo’s mouth.
The burst of sweetness jolted her back to reality, and she murmured, “Mumu, being a demon sure seems nice…”
“They say all earthly pleasures are loved by the Demon God, and so the demon clan has learned to enjoy them to the fullest.”
Fan Yue chuckled, gently wiping a bit of sugar off Bai Shuo’s lips.
“Master, they’re going inside. Let’s join them.”
As Bai Shuo snapped out of her daze and looked up, she saw the carriages heading toward the towering, pagoda-like building at the street’s end, its lanterns swaying amidst laughter and revelry.
Fan Yue stepped forward, but Bai Shuo instinctively grabbed his sleeve.
“No!”
Fan Yue looked puzzled.
“Demon gods may indulge, and demons may follow their nature, but we are immortalss. The Dao is hard to cultivate—we cannot allow ourselves to be overly immersed.”
Bai Shuo cleared her throat, her expression serious.
“Master…”
Fan Yue drawled, clearly unimpressed.
“You just said being a demon seemed nice.”
Bai Shuo nearly choked on her candy, hastily pulling Fan Yue away.
“No more nonsense! Let’s go find something to eat!”
As Bai Shuo dragged her young disciple off, Fan Yue’s eyes twinkled with laughter.
He let her lead him away, disappearing into the lively crowd.
“I can still fight!”
Bai Shuo suddenly straightened up, eyes bright and clear.
“Where? Is there more food?!”
She shouted with an air of heroic resolve, as if ready to sacrifice herself for the cause.
Yet, the two fluffy fox ears atop her head quivered slightly, making the sight all the more absurd.
Her little disciple couldn’t hold back any longer—he wrapped an arm around her waist and disappeared from the tavern entrance.
When Bai Shuo’s feet touched the ground again, she found herself standing beside a tranquil lake.
The grass beneath her was soft, carrying a refreshing fragrance, and on the water’s surface was the reflection of a small crescent moon.
The full moon clearly hung high in the sky, yet the reflection in the lake was purple.
The lively world around her had suddenly quieted.
Bai Shuo stared in amazement at the serene lake before her, then turned to look at Fan Yue in surprise.
“Mumu! Is this Purple Moon Lake?!”
Fan Yue nodded.
In the ancient days, before the God Realm had sealed itself away, the Demon God Tianqi had once taken on the guise of Demon Lord Jing Yuan and lived in the lower realms for a thousand years.
At that time, much of the Demon Realm was barren and desolate.
Having grown accustomed to the splendor of the God Realm, the Demon God could hardly tolerate such a wasteland.
Thus, wherever he set foot, divine remnants were left behind.
The countless Purple Moon Lakes scattered across the realm were said to be his handiwork.
Legend had it that the purple moon reflected in the lake carried the aura of a god.
“How did you know there was a Purple Moon Lake in Unruly City?” Bai Shuo asked.
“When I was buying Osmanthus Cake for you earlier, the little rabbit demon shopkeeper told me,”
Fan Yue replied.
Bai Shuo was speechless.
“Buying a piece of cake, and she just happened to tell you that?”
“I gave her a spiritual bead as a gift. I imagine she was quite pleased.”
“A spiritual beads?!”
Bai Shuo’s eyes widened in distress.
What a waste!
Without another word, she bent down and scooped up a handful of lake water, drinking it down in one go.
The moment the water slid down her throat, Bai Shuo felt an overwhelming sense of refreshment.
Her muddled spirit cleared in an instant, and even the lingering pain in her heart from sacrificing her own heart blood at the festival in the Yi city dissipated entirely.
Truly a divine gift! Bai Shuo’s face lit up with joy.
She was about to plunge her entire head into the lake for a full drink when a pair of hands pulled her back.
Her little disicple looked at her helplessly.
“This lake carries the Demon God’s aura. Master, you’re only a half-immortal—two mouthfuls are enough.”
“But a whole spiritual bead!” Bai Shuo grumbled.
“Just two mouthfuls? That’s not worth it.”
Seeing the disapproval on Fan Yue’s face, Bai Shuo could only pout.
“Fine, fine, two mouthfuls it is.”
She cast a regretful glance at the lake before suddenly pulling Fan Yue down to sit beside her, shoulder to shoulder.
Fan Yue looked a little surprised but remained composed.
Together, they gazed into the distance.
The purple moon rippled in the water, its glow shimmering under the vast sky filled with stars.
The atmosphere was serene, mystical, and endlessly captivating.
It was unclear how much time had passed when Bai Shuo suddenly turned to Fan Yue.
“Mumu.”
“Hmm?”
“Once the grand banquet between the two clans is over, let’s return to Nanhai City,” Bai Shuo said.
“You wouldn’t believe it—while you were away, our house collapsed! But don’t worry, your master is quite capable. I’ve already fixed it…”
Fan Yue turned to look at her, his gaze unreadable.
Bai Shuo, however, seemed oblivious, rummaging through her storage bag before eagerly holding out two items in front of him.
“Look what I brought for you!”
In her palm was a small bag of dried flowers and a tiny jar of Yaochi Water.
“These are all the treasures you saved up for me. I’ve kept them safe.”
Fan Yue looked at the items in her hands, his eyes soft and warm, just like before.
“Master, you want to take me home?” he asked.
“Mm!”
Bai Shuo nodded firmly.
“But…”
Fan Yue lifted his eyes to meet hers, and his lips slowly curled into a cold, mocking smile.
“This lord does not wish to go.”