Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Twenty-Seven

“Since when have the Immortals started using the charms of my Yao Race to refine elixirs?”

Deep within the Fire-Ice Island, beneath the peach tree, Fan Yue stood clad in red robes, his gaze teasingly fixed on Bai Shuo as he mocked.

What is this demon doing in the East Sea?!

Bai Shuo screamed internally, but her face remained impassive. She subtly tucked the medicine pouch behind her back, her eyes brimming with perfectly feigned fear as she trembled and hid behind Chong Zhao. “D-demon…”

“Audacious Yao! How dare you trespass into the Immortal Realm!” Chong Zhao shielded Bai Shuo, his gaze flickering briefly toward the spring before darkening as he glared at Fan Yue.

“This lord is a demon? Then what exactly are you?” Fan Yue scoffed, his expression icy.

“Arrogant!” Chong Zhao snorted coldly, summoning an Immortal Sword in his palm. A blade of light swept forth as he lunged straight at Fan Yue.

Fan Yue flicked his sleeve, unleashing a surge of frigid demonic power from his palm that deflected the sword light. Chong Zhao was forced back two steps, his expression shifting as he exclaimed, “Lord of the Moonlight Palace?!”

Fan Yue narrowed his eyes, slightly surprised. “To recognize this lord in a single move—I underestimated you. Three years apart, and the stench on you is far more repulsive than when you were a mere Mortal.”

“You—!”

Chong Zhao stiffened, a shadow flitting swiftly through his eyes, unnoticed by Bai Shuo. He pointed his sword at Bai Jue. “Fan Yue, spare us your demonic lies. Since you’ve dared to step into Piaomiao today, this lord will ensure you never leave!”

“With just you?” Fan Yue sneered. Suddenly, his figure blurred, and in the blink of an eye, he appeared behind Bai Shuo. The movement was so swift even Chong Zhao failed to react. Yet Bai Shuo, as if anticipating it, nimbly dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding Fan Yue’s grasp.

With a “whoosh,” Bai Shuo darted behind the unconscious White Tiger, swiftly pulling out the porcelain vial she had used to drug it earlier. She brandished it at Fan Yue. “Demon! Stay back!”

Whether intentional or not, Bai Shuo’s escape had positioned her, Fan Yue, and Chong Zhao in a triangular standoff.

Fan Yue paused, glancing at his empty palm before rubbing his fingertips together. The memory of Bai Shuo’s crisp shout of “Demon!” three years ago on Mu Xiao Mountain surfaced in his mind. He turned a dangerous gaze toward her. “You remember this lord?”

“W-what are you talking about? This is our first meeting!” Bai Shuo shook her head like a rattle-drum.

“Then why are you avoiding me?”

“I—I’m an Immortal, and you’re… Ahhhh!” Even Bai Shuo’s quick wit faltered under Fan Yue’s questioning. Before she could react, she felt herself lifted into the air by the collar.

Twisting her head, she found Fan Yue staring at her with feigned seriousness. “What is this lord?”

“A peerlessly handsome, dashing demon unparalleled in all the realms!” Survival was practically Bai Shuo’s life motto—her mouth was far more honest than her body.

A low chuckle escaped Fan Yue’s throat. He nodded slightly, his eyes even flashing with approval. “Not entirely wrong.”

Bai Shuo had inexplicably crossed paths with this demonic overlord countless times, but this was the first she’d seen such undisguised amusement in his gaze. For some reason, her heart thudded heavily, and she momentarily froze.

“Release her!” A furious roar came from nearby, reminding the two that someone else was present. Turning, they saw Chong Zhao pointing his sword at Fan Yue, his face cold and grim."Yes, yes, yes! Let—let me go! Or I'll make you end up like—like that White Tiger!" Bai Shuo hastily pointed the porcelain vial in her hand at Fan Yue, pretending she was about to open it.

"Hallucinogenic incense refined from demonic flowers—useless against this Hall Master." Fan Yue's gaze was practically looking at an idiot.

"Right." Bai Shuo calmly put the vial away without changing her expression, appearing utterly sincere. "Hall Master, my apologies."

Fan Yue couldn't be bothered to engage with Bai Shuo any longer and turned to Chong Zhao. "Such a worthless Loose Immortal, yet you care so deeply for her. Leave your life here, and this Hall Master will grant you an intact corpse."

"Demon! You dare trespass into our Misty Mountain Sect and spout such arrogance!"

"What Misty Mountain? Just a shabby immortal sect..." Fan Yue glanced at Chong Zhao. "But you... you're somewhat interesting. Three years apart, and you've ascended from a mortal to an immortal—rare indeed."

"Hey, Hall Master, if you two are catching up, could you let me down first?" Bai Shuo suddenly interjected, pointing at the frost chain Fan Yue had clamped around her throat. She blinked innocently.

"No." Fan Yue's refusal was crisp and to the point. Bai Shuo abruptly wrapped her arms around Fan Yue's waist and shouted at Chong Zhao, "A-Zhao, run!"

Chong Zhao paused, surprised, but didn’t flee.

"Go! You can't beat him! Hurry back to the island and get Junior Martial Uncle to save me! If I die, so be it, but you're the hope of our Misty Island!"

Bai Shuo clung desperately to Fan Yue, her eyes filled with urgency. Yet Chong Zhao's expression suddenly hardened, and without another word, he raised his Sword and lunged at Fan Yue.

Fan Yue snorted coldly and casually flicked his hand, sending Bai Shuo tumbling to the ground. She looked up to see Fan Yue advancing toward Chong Zhao.

Above the peach grove, Immortal Qi and demonic power clashed in a dazzling spectacle. Though Chong Zhao, newly ascended to immortality, was at a disadvantage against Fan Yue, he still managed to hold his ground.

Bai Shuo's eyes flickered, her gaze lingering on Chong Zhao for a moment before she stealthily began edging away.

With immortals and demons fighting, she’d better slip away now—otherwise, she wouldn’t even know how she died.

"A-Zhao! Go for it! Kill that monster!" Bai Shuo cheered loudly while subtly inching backward.

Mid-air, Fan Yue frowned, wishing he could slap that noisy, foolish woman below to death.

With a thunderous crash, Chong Zhao was struck down from the sky, landing bloodied at Bai Shuo’s feet.

"Run!" Before Bai Shuo could scream, Chong Zhao hurled his Sword behind him with his last ounce of strength. The Sword Qi surged skyward, blocking Fan Yue as Chong Zhao dragged Bai Shuo deep into the peach grove.

As the Sword light dissipated, Fan Yue landed, frowning at the broken tip of the blade on the ground.

The shattered Sword, now devoid of Immortal Qi, was tainted with thick, dark energy—clearly a weapon of evil.

Days ago, he had sensed the aura of the third piece of Bodhi Divine Wood and thus left the Yao Realm for the easternmost shores of the Immortal Realm. But why was there no trace of the Divine Wood here? Instead, the island was brimming with sinister energy. And why was that fool here too?

A mere mortal, not only cultivating immortality but also daring to trespass here? Had she obtained Dragon Three as well, just like three years ago?

Fan Yue narrowed his eyes and vanished.

In the peach grove, Chong Zhao tightly gripped Bai Shuo’s wrist as they fled. Bai Shuo kept her head down, her expression unreadable.

Suddenly, Chong Zhao’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to his knees, vomiting a mouthful of blood, his face deathly pale.

"A-Zhao!" Bai Shuo cried anxiously, rushing to support him. "Are you alright?"

Chong Zhao shook his head weakly, his breath faint. "Fan Yue pierced my heart meridian..."Bai Shuo lowered her gaze and saw Chong Zhao's robes torn open at the chest, revealing a deep sword wound that nearly reached the bone, blood streaming freely.

"How could you be injured so severely!" Bai Shuo grasped Chong Zhao's wrist, her fingers resting precisely on his pulse point.

His immortal pulse was faint—was he truly on the verge of death?

Before Bai Shuo could finish the thought, her arm was seized tightly. Startled, she looked up to meet Chong Zhao's pleading eyes. "Save me, A-Shuo... save me..."

"I—" Bai Shuo hastily pulled out a pile of medicine bottles from her pouch, fumbling to pour out dozens of pills and pressing them to Chong Zhao's lips. "A-Zhao, these are the medicinal pills I refined. Take them, quickly!"

But Chong Zhao shook his head, refusing to swallow them. "Fan Yue is already a demigod. These spirit medicines can't heal my wounds."

"Then what should we do?" Panic flashed across Bai Shuo's face as she tugged at Chong Zhao. "Come, let's return to Misty Isle. The Sect Leader will surely have a way to save you—"

As Bai Shuo tried to pull Chong Zhao up to leave, he stopped her. "It's too late... A-Shuo... Do you still remember the day we met Master three years ago...?"

Bai Shuo's hands, supporting Chong Zhao, trembled slightly. She lowered her eyes, avoiding his gaze.

"That day... we had been adrift at sea for three months, exhausted and starving. I... don't remember it clearly." Her voice was distant.

"That day, Master was gravely injured, and you... you saved him with your blood. Do you remember?"

Chong Zhao's voice was weak, but to Bai Shuo, it carried an eerie, sinister undertone. She suppressed her frantically pounding heart, not daring to speak.

So that was it. This thing had taken A-Zhao's form to get close to her—for her blood? But only she and A-Zhao knew her blood could heal. How did this "Chong Zhao" not only know but also recall her saving the Sect Leader Song He three years ago? Who was he really?

What did this thing want—her blood, or her life?

Cold sweat beaded densely on Bai Shuo's back. A chill touched her chin—Chong Zhao had reached for her face.

"A-Shuo, won't you save me?" Chong Zhao's hand rested lightly on Bai Shuo's cheek, tilting her lowered head up. His voice carried an inexplicable note.

"Of course I would!" The moment her face was lifted, Bai Shuo's expression had already shifted back to worry and concern. "But my blood isn't really useful. Don't you remember? Back then, I'd just consumed a century-old lingzhi mushroom and happened upon Sect Leader Song He when he was gravely injured. It was just a coincidence... Really, my blood isn't special. Think about it—if I were truly that powerful, I wouldn't still be a Loose Immortal today! A-Zhao, let's hurry back to the island. The Sect Leader's spiritual power is profound—he’ll surely save you!"

Chong Zhao stared at her deeply. Bai Shuo's face showed nothing but concern, not a trace of anything amiss.

A gust of wind blew, sending a chill down Bai Shuo's spine. Only then did she realize—the entire forest was devoid of any sound or presence of living creatures.

Oh heavens, if only she'd clung to that big monster the moment she noticed this fake Chong Zhao was off! No matter how annoying that demon was, it couldn't be worse than the horror before her now.

At this moment, Bai Shuo found herself missing Fan Yue's icy face terribly.

"Then these spirit medicines must be more useful than that lingzhi back then, don't you think?" In the heavy silence, Chong Zhao pressed the pills Bai Shuo had offered earlier to her lips, his gaze dark and unreadable.Bai Shuo's face stiffened, unable to maintain her composure any longer. She trembled as she looked at the Medicinal Pill held near her lips, on the verge of tears. Bai Shuo, oh Bai Shuo, how could you be so stupid to come up with such a terrible excuse!

"I... I...?" Bai Shuo stammered, unable to find another reason.

"A-Shuo, back on the island, you once told me we'd live and die together..." Chong Zhao's voice was eerie, his blood-stained face inching closer to Bai Shuo's neck. "Have you forgotten?"

A cold breath brushed against Bai Shuo's neck. That once-gentle face now seemed ready to sink its teeth into her throat at any moment. Trembling all over, Bai Shuo stealthily reached toward her sleeve.

But Chong Zhao seemed to know her thoughts and pressed down on her hand, continuing to lean toward her neck. "Since I'm going to die, why don't you... come with me, A-Shuo!"

Chong Zhao's expression suddenly turned ferocious as he lunged for her neck.

"Ahhhhh! Big monster, save me!" Bai Shuo's breath hitched, her entire body turning ice-cold as she finally couldn't hold back her scream.

A flash of silver light swept Chong Zhao violently to the ground, while Bai Shuo was lifted into the air and landed in a cold embrace.

"You're not entirely stupid—knowing that at this moment, only This Lord can save you." The icy voice carried a hint of mockery, but to Bai Shuo, it sounded like heavenly music.

She snapped her eyes open, saw the aloof yet handsome face before her, and immediately clung to him. "Wahhhhh! Oh my god, you finally came!"

Fan Yue looked at Bai Shuo in his arms—her face covered in snot and tears, clinging to him like an octopus—and felt a vein throb on his forehead.

He must be sick in the head to have impulsively saved this woman!

"Get down."

"No!" Bai Shuo refused reflexively, pointing accusingly at Chong Zhao, who had risen to his feet with a dark expression. "He wants to eat me!"

"If you keep yapping, This Lord won't mind handing you over to him as a meal." Fan Yue's voice was like shards of ice. Bai Shuo shivered, belatedly realizing that the man before her wasn't someone to be trifled with either, and scrambled down in a hurry.

"I'm down! I'm down!" Bai Shuo leaped far away, wishing she could put as much distance as possible between herself and these two calamities.

"Bearing both immortal and demonic Qi—what exactly are you?" Fan Yue couldn't be bothered with Bai Shuo anymore, his cold gaze fixed on Chong Zhao.

"Lord of the Haoyue Palace, as long as you stay out of this, This Monarch is willing to share her blood with you—half and half."

Chong Zhao licked his lips, his greedy eyes fixed on Bai Shuo.

Fan Yue glanced at Bai Shuo, as if somewhat tempted by the fiend's proposal. Bai Shuo shuddered, her self-preservation instincts kicking in. She planted her hands on her hips and shouted at Chong Zhao, "Hey! Monster! Don't you dare spread your poisonous lies! Our Lord of the Haoyue Palace is noble and virtuous—he would never collude with the likes of you!" After her outburst, she gave Fan Yue an ingratiating smile. "My Lord, my skin is rough and my flesh is tough—I wouldn't taste good."

Seeing Bai Shuo desperately blinking at him, Fan Yue would have laughed at this clown if the situation weren't so dire. In all the heavens and earth, he had never met anyone more afraid of death than the person before him.

"Shut up and stay put." Fan Yue coldly spat out the words, then turned his gaze to the sinister Chong Zhao in the distance. "If This Lord wants her, why would I need to join forces with a half-breed abomination like you?""You!" These words seemed to strike a nerve in the fake Chong Zhao. His expression darkened instantly, and his blood-stained white robes turned black in an instant. A pitch-black wooden staff materialized in his palm, while countless streams of dark Qi spread throughout the peach grove. The once celestial paradise transformed into a sinister and terrifying place, overflowing with malevolent energy.

Fan Yue frowned as he stared at the staff in the fake Chong Zhao's hand, narrowing his eyes in surprise. "No wonder I couldn't detect your Qi. So you've fallen into becoming a vile creature."