55 - The Cannon Fodder is Prepared to Divorce

Recently, the world of immortals has been bustling with significant events: a demonic cultivator named Ling Zhou single-handedly invaded Wuji and Cangxue, seizing the prized treasures of both sects and capturing everyone's attention. Just a few days later, she appeared at Ming Yun. During a battle between Ran Yin and the Ming Yun Pavilion Master, she boldly stole Ming Yun's Evernight Barrier. Ran Yin is a general under the current Demon Sovereign, dwelling in the Demon Realm, and is said to have the Sovereign's deep trust. Outsiders know very little about him, often just recognizing his name. Ming Yun Pavilion had received intel about this clandestine meeting and prepared a team to investigate, but ended up being captured. With Ran Yin's soul-searching abilities, he discovered Ming Yun's entry point. When a large group of demonic cultivators stormed Ming Yun's barrier, Elder Wuxing and his disciples met them in battle. It was only once the fight began that they realized their leader was Ran Yin, who was already at the peak of Nascent Soul, one step away from divinity. During the confrontation, miasma spread everywhere. Elder Wuxing fell to demonic influence, leading to his demise, while three other elders sustained serious injuries. The Ming Yun Pavilion Master Mu Tian Wen joined the fray but could only reach a stalemate with Ran Yin. At that moment, Ling Zhou appeared like a storm, and with a cold sword, Dong Yue Shang, she stole Ming Yun's barrier and fled. With the battle re-ignited, Ming Yun was still outmatched. Amidst heavy casualties, an icy arrow sliced through the air. Cold energy dispersed, freezing the green mountains; the sharp arrow headed straight for Ran Yin. As witnesses said, Ran Yin initially dismissed it, thinking he could melt the arrow with an explosion of demonic energy. However, the cold intensified, freezing even the demonic energy solid. When Ran Yin swung his sword to block, the sword itself froze and shattered in his hand. At that moment, with the last of the cold energy spent, the true spiritual arrow emerged, more domineering and fierce than before. Before Ran Yin could react, the arrow pierced his dantian, turning him into dust. The next arrow killed another peak Nascent Soul cultivator. Letters flooded Six Departures, inquiring about the mysterious woman from that day. Ye Er, always minding his own business, took the opportunity to avoid the chaos by claiming he needed rest, resolutely staying out of the affair. Using her as a shield, Ji Wu Nian had quite the plan. "You two should just trade identities," Jiu Yi couldn't help but tease her, "Didn’t you use her identity to steal the 'Eternal Night'?" "Mutual assistance," Yue Bai sat cross-legged, slowly digesting the qi within her. Despite her soul being unharmed, the recent exertions and the infiltration of cold energy had left her exhausted. Fortunately, Ji Wu Nian behaved herself. After shooting that arrow, she stayed quietly in Mianan, without running around recklessly. "Sigh... who would’ve thought she's that kind of person..." Jiu Yi asked a bit sarcastically, "Isn't this like taking on a spy's role?" "Whether she's good or bad is none of my concern." Yue Bai just needed to fulfill her wish; the reasons behind it didn't matter to her. "...That sounds... pretty heartless." But Jiu Yi had no standing to question Yue Bai, so she continued with her sour remarks, "Aren't you going to check on her?" Yue Bai remained calm, "Maybe later." *** "Later," according to Yue Bai, was just a few days later. As soon as she felt the cold energy dissipate from her body, she sought an opportunity and left the Six Departures Hall. But she didn't go to find Ji Wu Nian; instead, she headed to Kunmi. Kunmi, far from the central plains and surrounded by mountains, had its unique customs. Apart from immortals, demons, and spirits, even among the common folk, Kunmi was like a melting pot, absorbing various mountain tribes around it and becoming a place where myriad flowers bloomed. Yue Bai strolled through several streets and happened to pass a stall where the vendor was spreading banana leaves on a bamboo sieve. She stopped and quietly stood nearby. The vendor, looking to be in his thirties, had long hair coiled atop his head. Clad in a light yellow tunic and a floral sarong, his appearance was quite different from people in the central plains. His hands, worn with calluses from labor, were softened by the hot rice he handled. He placed a handful of rice in the center of the leaf and ladled various dishes around it before handing it to a customer. "...You've never seen hand-grabbed rice?" Jiu Yi queried, incredulously. "Not from here," Yue Bai smiled, as Jiu Yi had predicted, and stepped forward to order, "Excuse me, how much is this?" The vendor was momentarily taken aback by her approach. His official dialect wasn't good, and fearing Yue Bai wouldn't understand his local accent, he showed eight fingers, "Eight, eight!" Yue Bai handed over eight copper coins, exchanging them for a portion of rice. "Are you here for an inspection?" By now, Jiu Yi was accustomed, though still inclined to tease, to Yue Bai's habit of seeking local delicacies wherever she went. The street was bustling, and the vendor hadn't set up tables or chairs. Most buyers, being city workers, didn't bother about appearances and ate by the roadside, returning the round sieves once finished. Yue Bai looked around, contemplating the possibility of joining them. "Hey boss," Jiu Yi wanted to throw the food in her face, "Maintain your image, will you?" Ultimately, thinking it was too conspicuous for a young lady to sit by the roadside, Yue Bai took out two more copper coins, hoping to buy the round sieve as well. But the vendor didn't understand her intentions, gesturing with his hands, looking more anxious than Yue Bai, "Eight! Eight!" At this moment, a voice from behind explained Yue Bai's request in the local dialect. The person even paid for the two additional coins on her behalf. The vendor happily accepted the payment and smiled at the two ladies. "Thank you," Yue Bai, holding her meal, smiled at Su Yang. "This place is inconvenient," Su Yang, who was very noticeable and even more enchanting when smiling, suggested, "Why don't you join me in a private room upstairs?" Yue Bai glanced in the direction she indicated, where she had previously seen Cong Sheng waving from a window. "That's Cong Sheng, the owner of Butterfly Manor," Su Yang raised a hand in invitation, "She wishes to meet you; would you be willing?" Yue Bai had deliberately not concealed her aura, precisely waiting for Su Yang to find her. Bringing Cong Sheng along was even better. "Lead the way, Miss Su." Su Yang led Yue Bai to a private room and closed the door behind them, "Please, have a seat." Cong Sheng, sitting by the table, waved with a smile, "Nice to meet you." "You're still holding on to that..." Jiu Yi grumbled dryly, "Quite silly." Yue Bai saw some empty space on the table and placed her food down, not bothering with pleasantries, "Yue Bai." "Miss Yue Bai," Cong Sheng appeared young and short, but her toast was steady, "A toast to you." Su Yang followed suit, pouring a cup of wine and handing it to Yue Bai. The wine was clear, and Yue Bai, seeing her unfamiliar reflection, smiled, "You haven't added anything this time, have you?" "With your divine soul, another dose of Red Sleeve wouldn't affect you anyway..." Su Yang placed a cup in front of herself, mirroring Yue Bai’s gesture, "Please, Miss Yue Bai." After downing the clear wine, Yue Bai covered her face with her long sleeve. When she lowered it, her true appearance was revealed. "When Ah Yang spoke of your beauty," Cong Sheng's eyes sparkled, and her smile revealed dimples, making her look a bit childlike, "she certainly wasn't lying." Putting down her cup, her eyes lit up, "Could it be the other lady that night is also a heavenly beauty?" ...Good news seldom travels far; bad news spreads fast. "Ah," Su Yang lightly coughed, her eyes narrowing in a warning to Cong Sheng to watch her words, "Miss Yue Bai, forgive her..." "She is quite beautiful," Yue Bai smiled slightly, like a breeze from the mountains, fresh and invigorating, "She stands out more than I do." Mostly due to her personality. "She must be truly stunning," Cong Sheng's eyes widened, "Could we have the honor of meeting her?" "Perhaps..." Yue Bai picked up chopsticks, eyeing the table full of delicacies, "May I start?" Finding Yue Bai more approachable than she had expected, Su Yang also picked up her chopsticks, "Please, help yourself." Cong Sheng went as far as to place a piece of freshly stir-fried clams into Yue Bai's bowl, "This is Kunmi's special rolled dish, filled with pickled meat today. Have a taste, Yue Bai." Cong Sheng was short, reaching over the table as if hanging in mid-air to serve Yue Bai. Yue Bai picked up the piece, scrutinizing it, "It resembles Yue Harbor’s 'Hai Ming Sausage'..." "The texture is indeed similar," Cong Sheng said, taking a bite herself, "but Yue Harbor's is seafood, while this is mountain fare. The flavors are different." Yue Bai took a bite. The texture was drier than Hai Ming Sausage, but the meat was aromatic, perfectly seasoned, creating a unique taste. “It is indeed very good.” "...Have you forgotten why you’re here?" Jiu Yi was speechless at Yue Bai's hidden food-loving persona. Yue Bai took another piece of stone tofu, "Patience." As drinks were passed and dishes introduced, Cong Sheng talked extensively about the local customs and tribes of Kunmi. When one pot was finished, Su Yang went down to fetch more wine, leaving Cong Sheng to finally set down her chopsticks, smiling slyly, "Miss Yue Bai seems unfamiliar with this area." "I usually keep to myself," Yue Bai, still holding her bowl, was fishing for a piece of steamed chicken. “Oh? Is it to protect that lady?” Cong Sheng’s lips curved up, “A tale of devoted lovers?” "Hardly lovers," Yue Bai tried a bit of everything, not touching the hand-grabbed rice she had bought, "But I am here for her." "Such frankness," Cong Sheng swung her legs, "Aren't you afraid I might use her to threaten you?" Yue Bai smiled, "Have you figured out who she is?" Cong Sheng, as if teased, pouted like a child deprived of her toy, "I haven't." She gave Yue Bai a grudging look, "Even in that chaos, you set up a barrier. Your composure is admirable." "She did it." Yue Bai put down her chopsticks and bowl only after she was almost full, "I bear no ill will towards you." "Does Miss Yue Bai know who I am?" "The name of the former Demon General is easy enough to find out." Yue Bai responded, "But I didn't expect you to abandon your position as a General and become a merchant here." "Constant fighting is meaningless," Cong Sheng shook her hand, "Making money is more interesting." The young girl examined her own hand, the bones on the back of her delicate hand prominent, looking eerie against her bright red eyes, "But it’s a skill ingrained in my bones, some things I can’t forget.” She smiled like a beautiful doll, "I see Miss Yue Bai has a strong soul, but your cultivation level isn’t high." Looking at her, Yue Bai somehow thought of Ji Wu Nian and imagined if Ji Wu Nian threatened someone, she might also have this smiling-tiger facade. "My cultivation is not as high as yours," Yue Bai admitted frankly, "But you can't do anything to me either." She continued to watch Cong Sheng, feeling there was some connection to Ji Wu Nian she couldn’t quite pinpoint, but could only give up trying. "I have no intention of being your enemy. I’m just here to investigate something." Cong Sheng retracted her red eyes, appearing innocent and romantic again, "What does the lady wish to investigate?" "It’s rumored that concealed demonic energy is being spread in the Demon Realm, undetectable unless triggered." Yue Bai smiled, "I know that Butterfly Manor is one of the origins, does the Master know about this?" Cong Sheng smiled, "The other day, Ming Yun was heavily attacked and suffered significant losses, with rumors circulating everywhere. I do know about this demonic energy, but saying my Butterfly Manor is the origin...how did Miss Yue Bai find out?" Yue Bai didn't answer her question, only asked, "Do you know about it?" Cong Sheng shook her head candidly, "Does Miss Yue Bai have any leads?" "Qi Feng." Yue Bai prompted her, "The one from Sanqing who’s fallen into demonic cultivation, do you know him?" "He sounds like a small fry," Cong Sheng slid two fingers along her jawline as if she had a beard, "I’ll have to check." “I thought you would be well aware of Butterfly Manor’s dealings,” Yue Bai smiled. "Butterfly Manor hosts a mix of immortals, demons, and spirits," Cong Sheng tilted her head, "If I kept track of everyone who came and went, my brain would explode." "...Head tilt kill." Jiu Yi swallowed a symbolic gulp. Kind of cute. Su Yang just returned with more wine, carrying a tray with three bamboo tubes. The liquid inside was milky white, exuding a faint sweet aroma. She glanced at Cong Sheng, prompting the latter to smile and show her small white teeth. "This is rice wine from the Dai people around here," Su Yang placed a cup in front of Yue Bai, "Miss Yue Bai, please try it." "Just call me Yue Bai," Yue Bai preferred sweet flavors, and this scent suited her taste. Seeing Su Yang now gentle and mild, even though her appearance was stunning, she seemed devoid of that playful aggression she had in the illusion. Yue Bai’s interest was piqued, "Miss Su, why did you have me dance that day?" Su Yang was taken aback, covering her mouth as she laughed, "That was quite a coincidence." “Ah Yang and I had a bet on the revenue of Butterfly Manor versus Illusionary Dream.” Cong Sheng picked up the conversation, glancing mischievously at Su Yang, “It was the bet’s final day. Ah Yang planned to use the ‘Laughing in the Mortal World’ dance to turn the tables, but the dancer fell ill… Had you two not walked right into it, Ah Yang would have gone up herself.” …And she still lost. Yue Bai took a sip of her wine, "That was indeed fortunate." "Even more surprising was how that lady knew I had the proprietary Red Sleeve, Chi Meng." Su Yang remained puzzled, "It was new, untested, and unknown. I can't deny I had a mind to test it on you two." "She has a knack for such things," Yue Bai didn’t want to delve deeper into this subject and changed the tone, "Miss Su, your inherent talent goes beyond making little concoctions." “Originally, Ah Yang had no idea how to utilize her potential. But now…” Cong Sheng nestled close to Su Yang, wrapping an arm around her neck, "Thanks to your manual, Yue Bai." Knowing its value, Cong Sheng had shown Yue Bai such goodwill upon reading it. “Just a small matter.” Yue Bai smiled, "If you have any questions, feel free to ask." Su Yang freed herself from Cong Sheng's embrace and bowed to Yue Bai, "Su Yang is grateful." Although her talent was innate, her ability to harness spiritual power was difficult. This provided another path for her. Cong Sheng pouted and returned to her seat, looking at Yue Bai with great interest, "Speaking of which, Yue Bai, recently both the immortal and demonic realms have had noteworthy newbies. First, there was that mysterious woman with the 'Arrow Sealing Ten Thousand Seas,' then Ling Zhou in red who single-handedly took on three sects... Now, with you, this reclusive expert, and that omnipotent lady... things are getting interesting." "I have no intention of getting involved in those situations." Being guessed at wasn’t unexpected for Yue Bai; she smiled, "I’m only interested in that concealed demonic energy. If you know anything, Cong Sheng, please share." Cong Sheng didn’t push further, simply spreading her hands, "I’ve been away from the Demon Realm for decades, I don’t know what they’re up to. But if Ran Yin is dead, Fen Yu alone won't stir up much trouble." Ran Yin was known for his significant schemes, while Fen Yu was much gentler in comparison. An idea popped into Yue Bai's mind, “Why did you leave the Demon Realm back then?” "Hmm?" Cong Sheng's eyes slightly widened, feeling that they had just touched on a similar topic. This time, glancing at Su Yang, her response was more honest, "To raise a child. Ah Yang was too young to survive in the Demon Realm, so I had to bring her to the human world." “Whoa!” Jiu Yi exclaimed, "That’s pretty intense!" Su Yang gave her a look of contempt before providing more explanation to Yue Bai, "During the chaos of war, I was sold into the Demon Realm by human traffickers. By chance, I met Cong Sheng. At that time, she was troubled by demonic energy and discovered my talent, so she kept me by her side. Later..." Su Yang paused, "Some things happened, and she took me out." Cong Sheng, not fond of sweet wine, sipped some tea. "War?" Yue Bai's mind raced, "Was it during the Third Prince's rebellion?" “Yes,” Su Yang smiled bitterly, "The prince's uprising occurred near my hometown. The two sides clashed, destroying my village entirely..." Su Yang sighed, "Thinking back to those turbulent times and seeing this current prosperity, perhaps that Immortal Ji really did preserve a wise ruler..." "That Immortal Ji is indeed intriguing," Cong Sheng, not wanting Su Yang to dwell on these past events, dangled her legs and gossiped, "Initially so wild, now she’s taking students… who knows how long that disciple will entertain her." The entertained disciple: “...” Cong Sheng continued, “There were rumors about her and her senior brother, and now there's this ‘lady.’ Many say the lady is in cahoots with Six Departures, but it’s still widely believed that Ji Wu Nian and the lady are close, perhaps she even stole her senior brother’s beloved…” The beloved who was stolen: “...” Su Yang, noting Cong Sheng’s intent to divert, chuckled, “That’s enough. Immortal Ji has been seriously in seclusion recently, hasn’t she?” "Ah, that!" Cong Sheng perked up, "They say she was punished by the head of Sanqing for confessing her feelings for her disciple in public…" she mischievously smiled, "Maybe she’s hiding away to secretly meet that lady." The confessed disciple & frequently met lady: “...” Jiu Yi remained calm, “They've almost got it all figured out.” “...Lovestruck disciple and beloved beauty…” Su Yang could only smile helplessly at Cong Sheng’s “nonsense.” "What do you take Immortal Ji for?" Cong Sheng shrugged. If it kept Su Yang happy, she didn’t care who was what. Yue Bai quietly picked more food, remaining silent.