“Tonight? But, Mumu, we’re on Phoenix Island, and Nan Hai City is a thousand miles from here…”
“I can fly.” The boy interrupted her, leaving no room for argument.
Bai Shuo hesitated, glancing at her little disciple’s sad expression. The grand assembly was set for dawn, and she had promised Qing Yi to reveal the truth about the Chancellor’s execution to Chong Zhao before then.
“Master?”
Seeing her hesitate, the boy lowered his brows slightly and called her name in a soft voice.
Bai Shuo looked up, seeing her disciple biting his lip, a glimmer of sadness in his eyes.
Making a swift decision, she pulled a paper doll from her pouch, instructing it quickly, “Tell Chong Zhao to wait for me at Song He Courtyard tomorrow night. I have something very important to tell him. Go!”
She blew on it, and the paper doll transformed into a beam of light, darting out the window.
In the shadows, Fan Yue’s eyes narrowed slightly, a glint of coldness in them. He flicked his fingers, sending a wisp of energy to chase after the paper doll.
But before his chill could fully settle, he felt his hand being taken again.
“Let’s go, Mumu. Master will take you to Nan Hai City!”
Fan Yue looked up, startled by the rare earnestness in Bai Shuo’s gaze.
“Alright.”
His smile softened, and as he took her hand, the wisp of energy following the paper doll faded away. With a flash of light, Fan Yue glanced once more out the window before wrapping an arm around Bai Shuo’s waist, disappearing from Carefree Pavilion.
Outside, Tian Huo and Cang Shan, who had been lurking for over half an hour, finally exhaled a long-held breath.
“Ugh, thought I was going to suffocate,” Hua Hong gasped, rubbing her eyes. “That was…that was something.”
Cang Shan turned silently to leave, only to be grabbed by the blacksmith. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“She's ruined the master’s attempt to refine the Bodhi Wood again. I must stay by his side,” Cang Shan muttered, his brows knitted tightly.
“Idiot,” Hua Hong rolled her eyes dramatically. “You think our Hall Master would let the same thing mess him up twice?”
Cang Shan hesitated, his voice a low rumble, “But the Hall Master…he clearly turned into…”
“Oh, save it. Before this little troublemaker even set foot on Phoenix Island, our Hall Master already had that Bodhi Wood from the Phoenix Emperor refined,” Hua Hong shot back.
“So then…why is the Hall Master…” Cang Shan pointed toward the building, confusion etched across his face.
“He’s missing a few screws; figure it out yourself,” Hua Hong huffed, dismissing him with a wave before looking in the direction of the faint glimmer in the sky. Well now, with our Hall Master’s personality, he'd never use words when he could act. Whatever scheme he’s cooking up now, it’s sure to give someone a real run for their money. Little half-immortal, you'd best be prepared.
With a flash of light, the clouds dissipated, and Bai Shuo finally felt solid ground beneath her feet.
“Mumu? Are we there?” Bai Shuo poked her head out from Fan Yue’s embrace, her face bright with excitement. But as she looked around, her expression froze.
Nan Hai City was usually an ethereal place—poetic, musical, and full of refined charm even in the midnight hours. But here, countless taverns and colorful lanterns lined the streets. Tall and imposing men, along with beautifully dressed and charming women, wandered about, all exuding a fierce, wild aura.
Most telling of all, the atmosphere was thick with demonic energy!
This…this was the Demon Realm!
After several years as a half-immortal, Bai Shuo could easily sense it. She gasped, bewildered. How could we have ended up in the Demon Realm? Could it be that Mumu…?
Before she could voice her question, her little disciple’s regretful voice cut in.
“Master, I think I may have flown to the wrong place…”
Bai Shuo looked up to find him biting his lip and giving her an apologetic gaze. Her heart melted at once, and whatever suspicion she’d had evaporated instantly. She quickly reassured him, “It’s okay, it’s okay! You haven’t been out much, so it’s alright if you got a bit lost. We still have plenty of time; we can just fly again…”
Before she could finish, her disciple had already turned his curious gaze towards the bustling street. “Master, where are we?”
Uh…
At a loss, Bai Shuo scanned their surroundings and spotted a banner waving in the wind atop a nearby city wall. She blurted out, “Bu Ji?”
“What?”
“This is Bu Ji City,” Bai Shuo swallowed nervously. “The famed ‘City of Excess’ in the Demon Realm.”
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