Thriving after the Moon Falls (I Can’t Possibly Take Pity On A Demon) - Chapter 21
Chapter 21
Liu Shuang hadn’t expected that, even before she settled down in Kong Sang, she would have to head to the Kunlun Immortal Realm for the Huanyan. Before departing, she made a point of asking Fu Liu for some guidance on how to deal with the two young masters of the Bai family.
The original Liu Shuang had been a bit naive, so she figured acting a bit clueless in front of familiar faces couldn’t go wrong.
The next morning, Bai Zhuixu arrived at her quarters early to escort her.
When Liu Shuang came out, Bai Zhuixu paused, startled at her attire.
She tugged at her layered outfit and asked, “Does this look strange? Fu Liu insisted I dress like this.”
Her immortal robes were layered so excessively that they wrapped her once-slender figure like a bundled dumpling.
Earlier that morning, Fu Liu had piled these protective robes onto her, worried that their young miss might be hurt in Kunlun.
Liu Shuang couldn’t refuse her concerned maid, and any attempt to wear fewer layers had failed.
In the end, Fu Liu had even produced a veil for Liu Shuang, suggesting that since the Kunlun Lord was also a man, he might soften if her face were concealed and she appeared pitiful.
After taking the Huanyan bead, her new appearance was so striking that shielding it might help, avoiding further irritation of the Kunlun Lord.
So, by the time Liu Shuang finally stepped out, she had transformed into a veiled, pink-wrapped bundle.
Bai Zhuixu clenched his fist, hiding a smile as he cleared his throat. “Not at all; for traveling, this is… quite suitable, young miss.”
Noticing his attempt at reassurance, Liu Shuang muttered, “Then stop laughing.”
Obliging, Bai Zhuixu straightened his expression, though his eyes still held a trace of amusement. “Young miss, Yuxiao is already waiting outside. Let’s go.”
Following Bai Zhuixu outside, Liu Shuang spotted Bai Yuxiao waiting near the edge of the immortal realm, playfully teasing a jade-topped fire-dragon colt. Unlike his elder brother, Bai Yuxiao showed no restraint and laughed unabashedly as he saw her.
“Chishui Liushuang, are you resigned to your fate, just rolling yourself up like that? Planning to get steamed?”
Bai Zhuixu frowned.
“Yuxiao, mind your manners with the young miss.”
Laughing a while longer, Bai Yuxiao finally stopped when he realized that Liu Shuang, standing calmly by Bai Zhuixu’s side, didn’t react or pick a fight as usual. She and Bai Zhuixu just looked at him like he was a fool, which made him straighten his face.
“Come on, let’s set off. The sooner we go, the sooner we get back. I hear the people of Kunlun are all as stiff as logs—not much fun at all.”
With that, Bai Yuxiao took out a few copper coins, tossing them into the air.
As they hit the ground, they rapidly expanded, transforming into a dazzling golden boat that nearly blinded Liu Shuang.
Bai Yuxiao grinned with satisfaction.
“Kunlun lies far to the north, so I borrowed these Seven-Treasure Coins from Father early on. We can sleep inside, and it’ll take us comfortably to Kunlun.”
Liu Shuang stared, unblinking, at the magnificent golden vessel formed by the Seven-Treasure Coins, its tassels swaying luxuriously.
Not bad—getting a second chance at life certainly came with new sights.
Bai Zhuixu helped her onboard, and to Liu Shuang’s surprise, the interior was a gleaming golden chamber.
She had never seen such opulent immortal artifacts.
In her past life, the Canglan had always been humble, with hardly anything of such grandeur.
Later, when she resided in the Ghost Realm, Yan Chaosheng, being a warrior, was practical and unadorned.
Though there were plenty of useful things around, she’d never seen him indulge in luxurious items.
Kong Sang truly deserved its reputation as an ancient realm, filled with treasures.
Seated at a table, Bai Yuxiao noticed Liu Shuang taking in her surroundings, feeling somewhat proud.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?”
Liu Shuang nodded, still figuring out how best to get along with everyone, and sincerely praised him.
“It is beautiful.”
This time, she didn’t argue.
Bai Yuxiao snickered at her wide-eyed expression, teasing, “Such ignorance.”
However, both Bai brothers knew well that, due to her missing soul fragments and the prophecy of her fate trial, their realm’s lord had been exceptionally strict with Chishui Liushuang.
Having lived in Kong Sang for three hundred years, she had hardly stepped out once. While the outside world knew of Kong Sang’s young miss, they were unaware of her cultivation level or appearance.
This was also why Chishui Chong had been both furious and worried when she secretly went to Kunlun previously.
Just as Bai Yuxiao was about to command the artifact, Bai Zhuizu spoke up.
“Hold on, there’s one more person.”
At his words, a young man in dark robes appeared.
Yan Chaosheng emerged from the light morning mist of Kong Sang, approaching from the edge of the immortal pool and bowing slightly.
“Young Master Bai, Second Master Bai.”
Finally, his gaze fell on Liu Shuang, and he calmly addressed her, “Young miss.”
On instinct, Liu Shuang glanced at Bai Yuxiao, who had once secretly destroyed Yan Chaosheng’s spiritual energy and severed his meridians.
In the Eight Wilderness, crippling one’s cultivation was worse than killing them—a true act of vengeance.
Seeing Yan Chaosheng, Bai Yuxiao’s expression subtly shifted.
Yan Chaosheng, however, remained emotionless, as if nothing had happened.
His composure piqued Liu Shuang’s curiosity, prompting her to look at him more closely.
Knowing him as she did, she sensed that he was likely hiding something.
She eyed him, trying to locate the “Ten Commandments Ring” Chishui Chong had given him.
Just what sort of thing had her father, the realm lord, handed him?
Something to help her “accidentally” dispose of him along the way?
Sensing her gaze, Yan Chaosheng turned, giving her a cool look. “Young Miss, is something the matter?”
Of course, Liu Shuang wouldn’t bring up the ring directly and shook her head.
“No.”
Yan Chaosheng gave a slight smile and said nothing more.
Unaware of the underlying tensions, Bai Zhui Xu urged, “Let’s set off.”
Bai Yuxiao steered the Seven-Treasure Coins through clouds of rosy mist, and Liu Shuang casually picked a chamber to continue cultivating.
Even with smooth travel, it would take at least ten days to reach Kunlun at the speed of the Seven-Treasure Coins.
Of the three traveling with her, Liu Shuang found Bai Zhuixu the most agreeable. Bai Yuxiao was like an irritable hedgehog, while Yan Chaosheng—a constant thorn in her side—left her trying to devise a way to deal with him under the Bai brothers’ watchful eyes, without exposing herself.
As for how she would apologize to Kunlun upon arrival, Liu Shuang had no idea.
In her days as a little immortal herb, she had been mild and soft-hearted and had never caused trouble, so her experience with making amends was limited.
She had no clue what Chishui Liushuang might have said or done to humiliate the Kunlun Lord, leaving her feeling apprehensive.
Hopefully, the Kunlun Lord would be understanding and not give her too much trouble.
After three days of travel on the Seven-Treasure Coins, it was Bai Yuxiao who grew restless first and knocked on her door.
“Chishui Liushuang, don’t tell me you’re cultivating in there! You’re not trying to run off, are you?”
Before she could respond, a violent jolt shook everything beneath her.
Bai Yusiao, also caught off guard by the tremor, muttered in confusion.
Before any of them could react, the Seven-Treasure Coins abruptly reverted to their copper coin form, dropping them into the air.
With no support, Liu Shuang plummeted uncontrollably.
Attempting to steady herself, she tried to fly, only to find her spiritual energy useless.
Something terrifying below seemed to be pulling her down with immense force.
In the chaos, she heard Bai Zhuixu’s voice, still relatively calm, call out, “I don’t know what’s happening, young miss, but don’t panic. Whatever you do, stay close. Give me your hand!”
Liu Shuang quickly reached out for him.
Yet before she could reach Bai Zhuixu’s hand, an icy bracelet suddenly clasped around her wrist.
In the next moment, everything spun, and Liu Shuang was falling.
At this point, Fu Liu’s foresight proved invaluable.
The many layers of her “pink dumpling” outfit fully protected her; even after plummeting from the clouds, thanks to the six layers of enchanted robes, she remained unharmed.
Nearby, a muffled grunt caught her attention.
Liu Shuang glanced over to see Yan Chaosheng lying beside her, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Somehow, the bracelet on her wrist had also fastened to Yan Chaosheng’s wrist, binding the two of them together.
The silver bracelet emanated a faint glow, like a hidden undercurrent surging within it.
Liu Shuang looked around and realized the Bai brothers were nowhere in sight.
Annoyed, she demanded, “What did you do?!”
Yan Chaosheng climbed to his feet, wiping away the blood at his lips.
Seeing her accuse him without question, his gaze turned colder.
“I didn’t do anything.”
At first, Liu Shuang didn’t believe him, but glancing around, she sensed something wasn’t right.
The sky above was murky, and behind them loomed a large jade plaque inscribed with “Taichuan City.”
There hadn’t been any ominous signs while they were in the air, but now that they had landed, a sinister demonic energy filled the air, thick enough to be alarming.
Did Yan Chaosheng even possess power great enough to manipulate all this?
Liu Shuang peered into the city streets, noticing the eerie stillness.
The streets were empty, though rows of houses lined each side, and every doorway was decorated with red lanterns, as if for a festive celebration.
A bad feeling stirred within her.
This oppressive atmosphere reminded Liu Shuang all too well of the haunting Ghost Realm she had once entered; the sight of it was identical.
It felt as though something invisible was draining the spiritual energy from her body.
When she tried to gather her spiritual energy, it vanished the moment it reached her fingertips.
Suddenly, a hand grabbed her from behind, yanking her into an alleyway.
Yan Chaosheng held her firmly, covering her mouth, and whispered in her ear, “Something’s wrong. If you want to survive, don’t make a sound.”
His tone was anything but friendly; his narrowed eyes scanned the alleyway, alert.
Instinctively, Liu Shuang began to struggle against his hold, but noticing his grim expression, she turned to see what had him on edge.
At some point, all the tightly shut doors to the residences had opened.
People carrying red lanterns walked out with blank, empty expressions.
One household after another did the same, until a large crowd had gathered.
Hundreds of people, moving in perfect synchrony, heads bowed, like puppets under some unseen control, began to march in a single direction.
Once the last of them had passed, Yan Chaosheng released her.
His gaze gleamed strangely in the dusky sky, his eyes piercingly bright.
“Young Miss, let’s follow them and see where they’re going.”
“I’m not going,” Liu Shuang replied firmly, shaking her head.
This place was nothing but trouble, exuding an aura of danger from every corner.
Here, where even her spiritual energy was being eroded, she felt incredibly insecure.
She’d worked so hard to survive; there was no way she’d put herself at further risk now.
“Undo this binding. If you want to go, go by yourself—I’m going to find Bai Zhuixu and Bai Yuxiao.”
She gestured for him to remove the silver bracelet linking them, maintaining a calm expression and summoning every ounce of her dignity as the Young Miss of Kong Sang, all in hopes of hiding the fact that her powers were gone.
Yan Chaosheng, being of demonic origin, seemed unaffected here.
With the Ten Commandments Ring in his possession, he might very well use her lack of power against her if he found out.
He lowered his gaze at her, noticing her stern, unswayed expression—she clearly had no intention of joining him.
Meanwhile, a force within the city tugged at Yan Chaosheng, urging him to explore further, as if some voice was drawing him in.
After a brief moment of consideration, Yan Chaosheng undid the Ten Commandments Ring.
Liu Shuang breathed a sigh of relief and turned to leave the city.
The gate was just a short distance away, making her escape easy.
Survival first—Yan Chaosheng could be dealt with later.
Spotting the gate, Liu Shuang felt a surge of hope and immediately made her way toward it.
Yet, as soon as she stepped outside, a dizziness struck her mind, and she found herself back at the starting point.
Refusing to give up, she tried several more times, but each time she exited, she returned to the same spot.
Her spiritual energy was dissipating even faster now.
Raising her hand, she could visibly see the icy blue energy draining from her body.
“So, in this place, the Young Miss’s spiritual energy dissipates.”
Liu Shuang turned toward the voice and saw Yan Chaosheng holding two lanterns, his expression unreadable.
He took a step closer, and Liu Shuang’s heart sank.
He had seen everything.
She backed away, retreating until he had her cornered against the gate.
As he advanced, she thought, “This is it, I’m done for.”
No one knew better than she how vengeful and arrogant Yan Chaosheng could be.
Now that he had discovered her weakness, her title as Young Miss would no longer intimidate him.
Recalling the incident at the Lotus Platform, she felt a twinge of regret.
Yan Chaosheng looked down at her, his tone light but with a mocking edge. “So, even the Young Miss knows fear?”
Liu Shuang steadied herself.
“No. Just keep your distance.”
She reached out to push him away, but although he appeared slight, he didn’t budge at all when she pressed against him.
His eyes held a dark, unreadable gleam as he let her dissipating spiritual energy hover briefly in his hand, lost in thought.
Liu Shuang tensed, preparing herself.
If he truly tried anything, she would not go down without a fight.
After a long moment, he thrust a red lantern into her hand and said, “Hold this and follow me.”
The lantern he handed her was ornate, with a pair of Mandarin ducks painted on it.
Liu Shuang froze, unmoving.
After taking a few steps, Yan Chaosheng noticed she hadn’t followed and turned back; the hostility in his gaze softened to a gentle look.
“Young Miss, I won’t harm you. You won’t be able to leave like this—I have a hunch that the way out is within the city. Do you trust me?”
Standing by the gate with the red lantern, her face hidden beneath a veil, she looked at him with wide, wary eyes.
Both of them held silent disdain for each other.
Yan Chaosheng thought, “So timid—this is the Young Miss of the Immortal Realm?”
Liu Shuang thought, “If he wants to get himself killed, that’s one thing, but he’s trying to drag me into it too?”
Seeing she still hadn’t moved, Yan Chaosheng coaxed her, his voice even softer, reaching a hand out to her.
“Young Miss, trust me.”
To trust him meant that if danger arose, he could absorb her power and handle anything that came their way.
If they exited safely, he would have saved the Young Miss of Kong Sang—a fine achievement indeed. Repaying favors was something he knew very well.
