Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Forty-Three

The Yao Realm, the northernmost region, Haoyue Palace.

The main hall’s doors were tightly shut. Cang Shan paced back and forth inside, his towering figure making the stone slabs tremble beneath his feet.

"Shan Douzi, stop spinning around. You’re making me dizzy." A female demon lord leaned against a pillar by the hall entrance, arms crossed, yawning. Her features were strikingly sharp, her brows and eyes exuding a fierce aura. She stood half a head taller than most female demon lords, her killing intent no less than Cang Shan’s, yet she wore an oddly soft, pale-yellow gown.

"We’ve searched the entire Yao Realm. The master is nowhere to be found," Cang Shan rumbled, his voice shaking dust loose from the rafters.

The female demon lord sneezed. "Obviously. If he were that easy to find, he wouldn’t be the lord of Haoyue Palace. Maybe he just sneaked out to have fun. Stop worrying for nothing."

"The master is in trouble." Cang Shan frowned and shook his head. "I can’t sense his Qi."

"Even you can’t?" The female demon lord’s expression turned serious as she stroked her chin. "That can’t be. The palace lord is a demigod. If he died, the Three Realms would show signs of disturbance. It wouldn’t be this peaceful."

Just as anger flared on Cang Shan’s face, the female demon lord jerked her chin toward the table. "Ask that pig. It definitely knows."

On the table, Mu Zhu was curled up against Long Er’s wooden donkey, fast asleep.

Cang Shan looked puzzled. The female demon lord snorted. "If the palace lord were really in trouble, would it still be here dreaming away?"

The pig’s ears twitched on the table, caught red-handed by the female demon lord. Just as it was about to open its eyes, someone pinched its ear and dangled it midair.

"Stop pretending, you dead pig. Where the hell is the palace lord?"

Mu Zhu’s short legs flailed in the air. "Hey, hey! Gentlemen use words, not force! You metal block, put me down!"

"Shut up. I’m a woman, not a man."

"How should I know? He’s decades old—it’s not like I’m his mother..."

"Zhen Yu and Chang Quan have already gone to Phoenix Island. If the palace lord doesn’t show up before the Wutong Martial Banquet ends, do you think Zhen Yu won’t take the chance to overthrow Haoyue Palace and steal the Demon Gathering Banner? The demon tiger clan has already been wiped out."

Mu Zhu’s short legs stiffened. Slowly, it turned its head. "The demon tiger clan was wiped out?"

Mu Zhu was usually carefree, but the female demon lord saw an uncharacteristic flicker of sorrow in its large eyes. Her grip on its ear loosened, and Mu Zhu seized the chance to fly into the air.

"What? You know them?" Could this mysterious pig have some connection to the demon tiger clan?

"I only managed to save a few cubs. They’re being raised in the back hall."

Hearing that a remnant of the clan still survived, Mu Zhu quickly reverted to its usual self. Over the ages, prosperity and decline were just the natural order.

It flew back to the table and stepped onto the wooden donkey. "I don’t know where he went either..." Seeing the female demon lord raising her iron hand again, Mu Zhu hastily added, "But I know if we find one person, we’ll find him."

At that, both the iron and the mountain in the hall turned their gazes to Mu Zhu.

Bai Shuo crouched in front of the courtyard, miserably counting two copper coins as she looked up at Fan Yue.

"Disciple, we’ve run out of spirit pearls. We’ll have to eat sweet potatoes again today."

This was the westernmost part of Nanhai City, surrounded by dilapidated thatched huts. Bai Shuo had traded a low-grade Spirit Medicine with the landlord Zhou Bapi for this place.

The hut was simple but spotless—Fan Yue had tidied it up inside and out.The young man, bare-chested, had just finished chopping firewood when he heard Bai Shuo’s dejected voice. He quickly pushed aside the dry grass, revealing a trussed-up chicken hidden beneath.

The chicken, its beak stuffed with a rag, glared furiously at the two of them.

Bai Shuo’s eyes lit up. “Where’d you get this?”

Fan Yue jerked his chin toward the south. About a hundred meters south of their small courtyard stood another thatched cottage, home to a blacksmith’s family. The head of the household was a female half-immortal named Hua Hong, notorious for her fiery temper. She forged excellent iron and raised even better chickens.

For half of every month, Bai Shuo and her disciple were penniless, resorting to stealing chickens from their neighbor every few days. Once, Hua Hong caught Bai Shuo in the act and chased her halfway down the street. Since then, Bai Shuo had nicknamed her “Hua Da Tie” (Iron Hua), and the two were famously at odds.

Bai Shuo immediately understood and tiptoed to peek at the neighboring cottage, still wary. “Did Hua Da Tie see you?”

Fan Yue shook his head vigorously.

“Good disciple!” Bai Shuo grinned, rubbing her stomach. “Tonight, we feast on beggar’s chicken! Quick, get to work! Here, the firewood.”

Bai Shuo handed Fan Yue the portrait she had just bought from Zhi Zhanggui for thirty spirit pearls that day, without a hint of reluctance.

Fan Yue nodded, took it, and without hesitation grabbed the gagged chicken to start preparing the meal.

Bai Shuo lounged in the old rattan chair Fan Yue had made for her, swinging lazily as she counted on her fingers.

Kunlun, Yunxiao, Daze—none of them matched. Then there was Jinyao Zhangzuo from the Heavenly Palace, the Four Lords of Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning, Zhen Yu from the Cold Spring Palace in the Yao Realm, Chang Quan from the Silent Mountain, and a few Elders. Rumor had it that the Old Dragon King, who once dominated the Abyssal Marsh a thousand years ago, was still wandering the lower Three Realms.

Bai Shuo pondered, quickly running out of fingers to count.

Now that she had left Piaomiao and no longer had to worry about A-Zhao day and night, Bai Shuo could finally devote all her time to finding that person.

Having half-stepped into the Immortal Realm, she reflected on the events of that night in her childhood. Though she couldn’t recall the person’s face or name, she remembered that the nine-headed serpent demon who had tried to kill her was a formidable foe—at least a mid-level Yao Lord. Whoever defeated that demon couldn’t have been ordinary.

In the Three Realms, only the Sect Leaders and Elders of the major immortal and Yao factions possessed such immense spiritual power. Not many, but certainly not few.

Yet these individuals were all high-ranking and immensely powerful. Even if she were lucky enough to cultivate into an upper immortal, she might never get to meet them. Nanhai City was the largest immortal city in the Immortal Realm, and she had long heard that Shunfeng Pavilion knew everything about the Three Realms—any information could be bought for the right price. But with her lowly status, this clumsy method was her only option.

Bai Shuo was certain that even if she couldn’t remember the person’s face, she would recognize them the moment she saw their true essence portrait.

She weighed her empty Qiankun Bag and sighed. Life was hard, and she still had to support her little disciple. How many more spirit pearls would she need to earn? It felt endless…

While Bai Shuo was still lamenting her meager existence, the fragrant beggar’s chicken was placed before her.

The chicken was neatly carved, accompanied by peach blossom wine and a few spicy pickled radish strips to cut the grease. Though life was frugal, Fan Yue always managed to make it flavorful.

Bai Shuo glanced at the corner under the tree—sure enough, a few more jars of peach blossom wine were buried there, and the freshly dug radishes on the fence hadn’t even dried yet. She silently watched her busy little disciple, then picked up a piece of chicken and took a bite.

Damn, this is delicious!

For a half-immortal, where did he learn all this? Was the Moonlight Palace so poor that its lord had to do manual labor to survive?"Master?" Fan Yue noticed Bai Shuo staring at him intently and stepped forward to pour her a cup of peach blossom wine. "Here."

"Ahhhh! Damned Daoist! Did you steal my chicken again?!"

Before Bai Shuo could take the cup, a sudden burst of light and an enraged shout came from a nearby courtyard.

Bai Shuo and Fan Yue exchanged glances, then simultaneously turned their gaze to the beggar's chicken on the wooden table. Without hesitation, they both grabbed the chicken and stuffed it into their mouths.

Thud! Thud! Thud! The two wolfed down the last bite of chicken just as a mountain-like figure appeared at the courtyard gate. The broad-shouldered, thick-waisted woman wore heavy makeup and swung a massive hammer that crashed to the ground, shaking the entire thatched cottage three times.

"Hey, Hua Xiaomei," Bai Shuo said, standing on scattered chicken bones while quickly wiping her greasy fingers on her back. She flashed a grin. "It's so late, why aren't you resting?"

The blacksmith Hua Hong's bell-like eyes scanned the courtyard but found no trace of her missing chicken. Suspicious, she glared at the master and disciple. "What are you two doing?"

"W-we're eating radishes..." Bai Shuo hastily picked up a small plate of radish strips, looking dejected. "No business today, so Mu Mu dug up some radishes." She secretly took a deep breath and patted her empty stomach. "Eating vegetarian all day, never full. Look how thin this Daoist has gotten!"

Hua Hong's gaze lingered on Bai Shuo's stomach, softening slightly. She narrowed her eyes, gripping her hammer until it creaked. "Have you seen my chicken? One went missing today."

Good heavens, with hundreds of chickens, how could she tell one was gone?

Bai Shuo cursed inwardly, her legs trembling. She blew at her fake mustache and hurriedly said, "Little sister, it really wasn't me this time! Must be that Zhu Xiucai next door. When I came back earlier, I saw him carrying a big cloth bag, covered in dust. I was wondering—since when does that scholar, who usually keeps his hands clean and only spouts classical nonsense, get so disheveled? Turns out he stole your chicken!"

Hua Hong studied Bai Shuo's indignant expression, then raised an eyebrow at Fan Yue. "Is your master telling the truth?"

"Mm. I also saw him carrying a big cloth bag," Fan Yue nodded, playing along with perfect seriousness.

"That damned scholar, I'll split him in half!"

Everyone in the area knew Bai Shuo's young disciple was an honest soul. Hua Hong immediately turned and stormed off with her hammer.

Once the mountain-like figure disappeared next door, Bai Shuo exhaled deeply, her belly now round. "Whew, that was close... hic... hic... hic..."

Before she could finish, the rich aroma of meat erupted from her throat in a series of hiccups. She'd eaten too fast and choked!

Fan Yue quickly handed her the peach blossom wine. "Master, don't panic. Drink this."

Bai Shuo gulped down a large mouthful and finally caught her breath. Next door, chaos erupted—chickens squawking, curses flying.

"Quick, close the door before Hua Da Tie comes back looking for trouble!" Bai Shuo hastily peeled off her fake mustache and dragged Fan Yue into the thatched cottage.

The moon hung over the willow branches, and the world grew quiet. Bai Shuo soaked in a hot bath, changed into a clean long dress, and lounged comfortably under a tree to admire the moon.

Her obedient little disciple diligently shelled sunflower seeds for her. Under the moonlight, the boy's profile was as serene as mountains cradling the sun and moon. The fine down on his forehead seemed visible in the silver light. Bai Shuo held her breath, momentarily entranced.When Fan Yue was a great demon, Bai Shuo had never taken a good look at him. Even when she called him "Master" day in and day out, she hadn't paid close attention. It turned out the young man had such a handsome face.

"Master?" The little disciple turned his head and saw Bai Shuo staring at him blankly, furrowing his brows in confusion.

"Disciple, starting tomorrow, remember to smear some ash on your face before following Master to set up the stall."

Fan Yue looked puzzled and touched his face. "Wh-why?"

"You're too ugly. Don't scare the noble ladies—we still depend on them for our livelihood."

With looks like his, what if those ladies really snatched him away?

Bai Shuo waved her hand, spinning lies without batting an eye, speaking as if it were the absolute truth.

"I have to protect your purity. If you ever regain your memories one day, wouldn't you slap me to death?"

She muttered under her breath, suddenly feeling a pang in her chest at the thought of her disciple disappearing someday.

"Disciple, when will you complete your training?" Bai Shuo gazed at the moon and abruptly spoke.

The little disciple's face changed, and he turned his head in panic. "Master, are you abandoning me?"

"No, no, I was just saying. You'll grow up eventually. When people grow up, they're supposed to start families and careers. You can't follow Master forever."

"I won't grow up." Fan Yue smiled shyly. "Master, I'll always stay with you. Wherever you are, I'll be there."

The young man's smile was sincere, his gaze full of dependence as he looked at Bai Shuo, making her heart bloom with joy. The dark clouds in her mind scattered, and she slapped his shoulder. "Good disciple, so filial! Tomorrow, when Master earns some spirit pearls, I'll take you to eat roast suckling pig at Yuanyang Tower!"

"Mm!" The boy nodded happily, his face alight with excitement.

Under the moonlight, their shadows stood side by side, warm as any mortal world.

Not far away, in a dim corner, the demon noblewoman poked the mountain-like, solemn Cang Shan beside her and pointed at the courtyard. "Shan Douzi, do you think our lord..." She patted her head. "Has gone stupid?"

Cang Shan stared at the foolishly grinning young man in the courtyard, then stiffly averted his gaze.

The next day, on the familiar street, the familiar master and disciple pair.

Bai Shuo had just directed Fan Yue to set up the stall when, before she could even start hawking, a group of people stood before her.

"Are you Daoist Bai?" The man spoke, his voice deep. "Can you divine fortunes?"