Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Twenty-Eight

In the peach grove, the fake Chong Zhao couldn't help but stiffen, pointing his staff at Fan Yue. "This lord is also a born divine body! Don’t think just because you awakened first, you can devour me!"

"Merely a piece of rotten wood. It’s only natural for this prince to consume you."

The fake Chong Zhao sneered coldly as he observed Fan Yue’s unshaken demeanor. "Stop pretending. Did you think I wouldn’t notice? You’re injured. Otherwise, how could I have taken her away just now?"

Fan Yue’s expression faltered slightly. The scorching Qi in his chest gnawed at his heart meridian—this vile creature had actually discerned the Restriction acting up within him.

Every full moon, the blazing fire within him would invade his heart meridian. To protect it, his demonic power was reduced to merely half its usual strength, barely at the Peak of a High Lord.

Bai Shuo had been watching the spectacle with a grin, but seeing Fan Yue fall silent, her face instantly soured like a bitter melon.

No way, this guy is injured? Then why put on such a show? Too used to playing the big shot? Doesn’t he know that "lying low" is also a fine virtue?

"Originally, this lord planned to devour this girl first before coming to the Moonlight Hall for you. But since you’ve delivered yourself, you can both become this lord’s Spirit Medicine!"

"You?" Fan Yue scoffed dismissively.

The fake Chong Zhao let out a cold laugh and wasted no more words, swinging his wooden staff straight toward Fan Yue’s forehead.

Fan Yue remained expressionless. A silver chain materialized in his palm, shimmering with a faint white glow. In his grasp, it instantly straightened, its demonic power swirling as it clashed head-on with the black staff.

The forces of immortal, demon, and evil intertwined above the peach grove. Not far away, Chong Zhao, who had been about to question Er Yun, paled at the sight of these three powers colliding.

"A-Shuo!" Without another word, Chong Zhao gripped his bamboo scroll and rushed toward the peach grove.

"Junior Brother!" Er Yun stomped her foot and hurried after him.

The silver chain and black staff tangled mid-air as the two opponents hovered, locked in a stalemate. Suddenly, the peach branches nearby writhed as if alive, snaking toward the unsuspecting Bai Shuo. The cold, sinister vines wrapped around her in an instant, dragging her screaming toward the depths of the grove. The bamboo flute around her neck fell to the ground.

"Ahhhh! Monster! Help!"

A silver chain shot through the air as Fan Yue leaped up, severing the vines and catching the falling Bai Shuo. The peach tree let out a mournful wail, its branches retracting instantly. Seizing the opportunity, the fake Chong Zhao swung his staff down, landing a heavy blow on Fan Yue’s shoulder.

Bai Shuo heard a muffled groan as Fan Yue landed with her in his arms. She stumbled and scrambled off him with remarkable speed.

"I-I-I’m down!"

A gust of fierce wind surged from behind. Fan Yue swung the silver chain backhanded to block the fake Chong Zhao and pushed Bai Shuo away. "Go!"

Propelled by a surge of demonic power, Bai Shuo was pushed back several feet. Instinctively, she turned to flee, but for some reason, she glanced back—only to see Fan Yue and Chong Zhao locked in mid-air, Fan Yue’s face slightly pale as the wooden staff inched closer to his forehead. Her steps froze.

Above, the fake Chong Zhao’s face twisted into a savage grin. "This lord originally planned to devour that girl to ascend to godhood, but since you’ve delivered yourself, consuming you will do just as well—hahaha!"

His evil aura surged as he swung the staff down toward Fan Yue’s forehead. Just then, a cloying fragrance wafted through the air. The glow on Chong Zhao’s black staff dimmed abruptly. Stunned, he turned—only to see Bai Shuo trembling atop a wisp of cloud behind him, one hand holding an open porcelain vial, the other fanning vigorously in his direction.The cloying fragrance filled Chong Zhao's nostrils. His grip on the staff trembled as his pupils turned completely black, his face twisting into a hideous snarl. "Seeking death!"

With a backhanded motion, he unleashed a wave of sinister black Qi toward Bai Shuo.

Given Bai Shuo's limited immortal power, there was no way she could dodge it. Fear flashed in her eyes—Damn it, I'm going to die again! I should've just slipped away quietly instead of messing with that monster!

Just as the staff was about to strike Bai Shuo, Fan Yue swiftly moved in front of her, taking the blow head-on. Suddenly, a wooden pig flew out from his sleeve, expanding to half a zhang in size. The pig's golden wings flared with immense demonic power, striking the fake Chong Zhao squarely in the chest. A gaping hole tore open where the blow landed, yet no blood spilled out. The fake Chong Zhao looked down at the wound, let out a furious roar, and then his body dissolved into a mass of malevolent black Qi, vanishing on the spot.

"Let's go!" Fan Yue wasted no time. Retrieving the wooden pig, he scooped up Bai Shuo and transformed into a streak of light, darting out of the peach grove.

The moment the fake Chong Zhao dissipated, a fissure tore through the overwhelming dark Qi surrounding Fire-Ice Island. The twelve Disciples of Liuyun, who had been desperately suppressing the evil energy, seized the opportunity and charged toward the island.

At the same time, two beams of immortal light shot straight toward the heart of the peach grove.

A flash of demonic light later, Fan Yue and Bai Shuo landed on the outermost edge of Fire-Ice Island, where the roaring waves crashed nearby.

"Are you alright?" Bai Shuo noticed Fan Yue's slightly pale complexion and remembered he had taken two staff blows for her. She hurried to support him, but Fan Yue brushed her off with a deliberate flick of his sleeve.

Bai Shuo's well-meaning hand froze mid-air. Seeing the disdain on Fan Yue's face, she awkwardly withdrew it and wiped it on her robe. With lingering fear, she glanced back at the eerie peach grove. "That was close! Good thing I kept a bottle of Wanling Zui for self-defense—otherwise, I'd have been devoured by that thing."

Fan Yue scoffed. "Not as foolish as you seem. When did you realize that Chong Zhao was fake?"

"With the Palace Lord's constant reminders, it'd be hard to stay clueless," Bai Shuo declared righteously.

"When did this Palace Lord ever remind you?" Fan Yue raised an eyebrow.

"Don't deny it now, Palace Lord! The moment you appeared, you said..." Bai Shuo fawned, "'He recognized your identity at a glance'—which was actually hinting that he shouldn't have been able to recognize you. Even though I haven't cultivated immortality for long, I know the Lord of Haoyue Palace rarely appears in public. How could a Disciple from a remote immortal island, who's only practiced for three years, identify you so easily?"

She paused, then suddenly peered at Fan Yue. "Also, when you attacked me by the spring... you were actually trying to save me, weren't you?"

Fan Yue narrowed his eyes. "Even if this Palace Lord hadn't reminded you, you'd already known he was fake."

Bai Shuo grinned but didn't deny it. "A-Zhao and I grew up together—of course I'd recognize him. Besides, A-Zhao would never let me use Wanling Zui against that White Tiger and put myself in danger. The moment he appeared, I knew something was off. Bringing out the Wanling Zui was just to test him."

She spoke confidently, but when she turned, Fan Yue was staring at her strangely.

"Palace Lord?"

Fan Yue suddenly asked, "Who am I?"

Bai Shuo's heart skipped a beat. Meeting his gaze, she answered softly, "The Lord of Haoyue Palace."

"And?"

She forced herself to stay calm, quickly replaying everything that had happened that day in her mind.A-Zhao was injured. She had found ancient texts in the library and come to Fire-Ice Island seeking treasures. The eerie evil entity, and that very entity taking on Chong Zhao's form—her usually tranquil cultivation life had been nothing short of tumultuous today. Bai Shuo's mind was a tangled mess, wanting only to flee this cursed place as quickly as possible and report everything that had happened to Chong Zhao, so their sect could prepare a response. But she had already exhausted all her immortal power earlier. If she wanted to return to Misty Island, she could only rely on the person before her now.

Steadying her nerves, Bai Shuo clasped her fists toward Fan Yue and forced an innocent smile. "Brother Mu, long time no see. How have you been?"

Fan Yue stared at Bai Shuo, his gaze playful. "Aren’t you always fond of playing the fool? Why drop the act today?"

"Before the Hall Master, how would Bai Shuo dare deceive?"

"Speak plainly."

Bai Shuo took a deep breath. "I’m afraid of dying."

Fan Yue was taken aback.

"Misty Island may be remote, but we’re not ignorant of affairs in the Three Realms. Hall Master, your demonic power is unparalleled, yet that evil entity earlier held its own against you. Why would such a figure take on Chong Zhao’s form to lure me to the spring instead of simply crushing me with a single strike? If he didn’t kill me, it must be because there’s something he wants from me. That’s why he approached me using A-Zhao’s identity—only he was interrupted by you before succeeding."

Her blood? A flicker passed through Fan Yue’s eyes. Their gazes met, both recalling the events at Mu Xiao Mountain three years ago. Though understanding dawned in their hearts, neither voiced it.

"What secret do you carry, that my spells have no effect on you?"

Bai Shuo was stunned by the question. She wished she knew! A-Zhao had been enchanted by this Hall Master of the Moonlight Hall and forgotten everything, yet Fan Yue’s spells had no effect on her at all.

Bai Shuo shook her head bluntly. "I don’t know either."

Fan Yue frowned. Though he didn’t believe her, he couldn’t be bothered to press further.

"You don’t strike me as someone destined for longevity. If you want to live a few more years, return to the mortal realm."

"Why?"

"'The common man’s guilt lies in the jade he carries.' Though you may seem ordinary, your flesh and blood are akin to a Spirit Pill of heaven and earth. If you attracted that evil entity today, you’ll inevitably encounter more in the future. Since you lack the power to protect yourself, you’d be better off as a mortal."

"As long as I stay quietly on Misty Island, I’ll be perfectly safe," Bai Shuo muttered.

"Foolish." Fan Yue couldn’t be bothered to engage further and turned to leave, only for Bai Shuo to grab the hem of his robe.

"Hall—Hall Master Fan!"

Fan Yue frowned, his icy gaze sweeping to Bai Shuo’s hand. She trembled but didn’t let go. Tilting her head up to meet his eyes, a faint glimmer shone in her gaze.

An odd feeling stirred in Fan Yue’s heart, and he found himself lowering his head to meet Bai Shuo’s eyes.

"I—I have an impertinent request…" Bai Shuo fidgeted awkwardly. "Hall Master, since fate has brought us together…" She held up a finger and blurted, "Could you help me one more time? I used up all my immortal power earlier to save you. Could you lend me your legs and take me back to Misty Island…"

Silence fell between them. Fan Yue’s expression darkened further. Bai Shuo had no idea what she’d said wrong and looked up innocently. "Hall Master Fan—"

Before she could finish, Fan Yue strode off without a backward glance. "Get lost on your own."

He had never met someone as shameless as Bai Shuo!

"Hey! Hall Master!"

"Bai Shuo!"

Just as Bai Shuo was about to plead further, several streaks of immortal power flashed by. Over a dozen Misty Island Disciples landed before her and began approaching.Bai Shuo's heart tightened as she quickly turned around, but Fan Yue's figure was already gone. She let out a sigh of relief before she could speak, only to be bombarded with questions by the leading disciple.

"How did you get here?"

"I came to gather herbs for alchemy. Senior Brothers, why are you all—"

"Have you seen Senior Sister Er Yun and Junior Brother Chong Zhao?"

Bai Shuo's expression changed abruptly. "What? A-Zhao came to this island too? Why would he come to this cursed place?!"

"Something has happened on the island, Bai Shuo. Return to the mountain sect immediately. We have orders from our master and cannot explain further." The twelve disciples of Liuyun looked grave and wasted no time, transforming into streaks of light as they headed deeper into the island.

Two streams of immortal energy flashed past, landing at the spot where Fan Yue had clashed with the sinister Qi earlier. It was Chong Zhao and Er Yun.

The ground bore traces of a fierce battle, and a bamboo flute lay abandoned on the earth.

"A-Shuo!" Chong Zhao stepped forward, picking up the flute with a look of panic. Unable to contain himself, he shouted, "A-Shuo! A-Shuo!"

Seeing Chong Zhao's distress, Er Yun couldn't help but say, "Junior Brother, Bai Shuo is clever. She'll be fine. We should focus on finding that evil creature—"

"This flute was a gift from me to A-Shuo. She wouldn't just discard it—something must have happened!"

Before Chong Zhao could finish, the peach grove behind them seemed to come alive. Countless branches extended like tentacles toward Chong Zhao and Er Yun.

"Ah!" Chong Zhao turned to see Er Yun being dragged into the depths of the grove by a vine-like appendage.

"Senior Sister!" With a furious roar, Chong Zhao swung his sword to rescue Er Yun, but roots and vines entangled him. With a flick of his palm, he summoned his immortal sword, severing the vines binding both him and Er Yun. A surge of sinister Qi erupted from the grove, striking Er Yun, who let out a muffled groan and collapsed. Chong Zhao rushed to catch her.

At that moment, the sinister Qi materialized behind Chong Zhao. When he turned and saw the face of the sinister entity, he froze in shock, momentarily forgetting to act. The entity swung its black staff again, and Chong Zhao groaned, collapsing to the ground.

Twelve streaks of immortal energy flashed as the twelve Liuyun disciples landed in the peach grove. Waves of black Qi surged forth, enveloping the disciples. A chorus of agonized screams followed as their faces withered instantly, their immortal energy drained. They fell lifeless to the ground.

"A-Zhao!"

At the edge of the Fire-Ice Island, Bai Shuo heard the distant screams and immediately turned to run back into the island.

Fan Yue reached out to stop her, frowning. "Earlier, I only wounded its clone. Going back now is no different from seeking death."

"I don't need you—" Bai Shuo blurted out but caught herself under Fan Yue's gaze. Pleading, she said, "Palace Master, A-Zhao is no match for that evil creature. Please—"

"The life or death of a mere immortal sect disciple is none of my concern." Before Bai Shuo could finish, Fan Yue coldly refused. "If you wish to die, that is also none of my concern."

Fan Yue turned to leave.

"If you help, I'll tell you its weakness!" Bai Shuo took a deep breath and spoke calmly, "Palace Master, didn't you come here for that evil creature?"

Fan Yue paused mid-step and slowly turned back.