Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Forty-Eight

"Good morning, Lord!" Bai Shuo greeted with a sunny smile, as if last night had been utterly uneventful.

Nan Wan turned and headed downstairs, with Bai Shuo quickly following and lowering her voice to ask, "Lord, did you find that place?"

"No." Nan Wan continued down the stairs, and Bai Shuo trotted after her.

"Lord, there’s no need to rush just yet. How about we grab some breakfast first—"

Nan Wan shot her a cold glance. "Lord Bei Chen left the inn early this morning. If we delay any longer, who do you think will find the first Phoenix Heart Flame first—him or us?"

Bai Shuo choked back her words and immediately said, "Right, business first! Actually, I’m not that hungry anyway."

Just as Bai Shuo was forcing a smile, a chicken leg suddenly appeared beside her. Hua Da Tie licked her greasy lips and said, "Eat up. Saved this for ya."

"Eat, eat, of course!" Bai Shuo hastily accepted it, gnawing on the chicken leg as she followed Nan Wan out the door.

Hua Da Tie, unfazed and uninvited, naturally tagged along behind Bai Shuo.

The moment Bai Shuo stepped out of the inn, she let out a surprised sound. The streets were bustling with towering, sharp-featured outsiders—even the women had fierce brows. Under the harsh desert sun, neither men nor women possessed the delicate softness of those from the Central Plains.

No sooner had they stepped outside than Mingxin approached with a group of dark-eyed disciples.

"Any luck?" Nan Wan asked coolly.

"Senior Brother, we’ve searched every tomb in the Outsider City, but none are called the Outsider Tomb," Mingxin reported, casting a skeptical glance at Bai Shuo, his expression dripping with doubt about her divination.

Nan Wan frowned and turned to Bai Shuo, who quickly spoke up, "Lord, the Outsider Tomb must be well-hidden. Would Immortal Jin Yao really stash a Phoenix Spiritual Artifact in a place that’s easy to find? Lord Mingxin, did you ask the local outsiders about this tomb?"

Mingxin rolled his eyes at the outsiders in the street. "Forget asking questions—they avoid us like the plague the moment they see us."

Sure enough, as Bai Shuo looked around, the outsiders on the street were all giving the inn a wide berth, steering clear of the immortal and demon disciples.

"Time is running out. We only have a day and a half left, and we haven’t even found the first Dao Heart Flame. Daoist Bai, are you absolutely certain you didn’t divine the location of the Outsider Tomb?" Nan Wan’s patience was wearing thin.

"By heaven and earth, Lord, this humble Daoist truly couldn’t divine it."

"If the Daoist is so useless, then what’s the point of me keeping you—" Nan Wan’s voice turned icy as she stared at Bai Shuo, "—alive?"

Bai Shuo’s heart pounded. She had swindled a hefty sum of spirit pearls from Yunxiao, and given Nan Wan’s tone, she might just crush her before she could even accomplish anything.

Just as Bai Shuo was scrambling for an excuse, two figures suddenly rushed into the inn, followed by an outsider woman.

"Is Lord Bei Chen here?"

A-Zhao?! Senior Sister Er Yun?!

Chong Zhao, carrying a child of about five or six, and Er Yun charged into the inn, momentarily failing to notice Bai Shuo amidst the Yunxiao disciples.

Bai Shuo stared at the two all-too-familiar figures, the half-eaten chicken leg nearly choking her.

After searching high and low, here they were—delivered right to her doorstep!

The hierarchy of the immortal sects was strict, and this inn was reserved only for disciples of the Three Mountains and Six Prefectures. The sudden intrusion of two unfamiliar faces immediately drew attention. The moment Chong Zhao and Er Yun stepped inside, they were blocked—by the same immortal disciple who had tried to curry favor with Nan Wan the night before."Which sect's disciple dares to trespass here?" This was Shou An of Wuliang, notorious for his sycophantic ways.

"Senior Brother, this child is gravely ill. We've long heard of Kunlun's healing arts. May we beg Lord Bei Chen to save him?"

The foreign woman beside Chong Zhao looked anxious, pleadingly gazing at Shou An.

Wuliang glanced at the child in Chong Zhao's arms—a foreigner, somehow already cyanotic, barely breathing.

Shou An shot the foreign woman a disgusted look, refusing to glance again at the child. "A foreigner? Senior Brother Bei Chen isn't here. Leave."

"Senior Brother—"

"Who's your senior brother? Don't presume familiarity here. Senior Brother Bei Chen is busy searching for the Phoenix Heart Flame. Even if he were here, he wouldn't waste time on lowly sect disciples, let alone expend effort saving some foreigner."

"You—!" Er Yun bristled, ready to strike.

The foreign woman was fierce too. Hearing Shou An's insults, she moved to take the child from Chong Zhao and leave.

Chong Zhao stopped her. "Madam, let me try again." Suppressing his anger, he asked, "May I ask which sect you belong to, Senior Brother?"

"Wuliang Shou An." Shou An lifted his chin, noticing the flowing clouds on Chong Zhao's sleeve. He snorted. "So it's the East Sea Piaomiao. Piaomiao hasn't sent disciples to the Phoenix Martial Banquet in three hundred years. Now that your sect has produced an Immortal Lord, you dare compare to Wuliang?"

"We wouldn't dare, Immortal Lord Shou An. Even a foreigner is a life. Since the Phoenix Martial Banquet is held in a foreign city, the celestial immortals must intend goodwill toward foreigners. If we refuse to save them, Jinyao Zhangzuo might someday reprimand us immortals for lacking compassion."

"You—!" By now, many immortal disciples had gathered inside and outside the inn, all eyes on Shou An.

Cornered by Chong Zhao, Shou An grew angrier but dared not speak harshly again.

"If Lord Bei Chen isn't here, could you tell us where he is?"

Outside the inn, Nan Wan heard the argument but had no intention of wasting time on such matters. As she turned to leave, Bai Shuo tugged her sleeve.

"My Lord, this is a perfect opportunity."

Puzzled, Bai Shuo quickly explained, "This child might be our chance."

Nan Wan's thoughts shifted, immediately grasping Bai Shuo's meaning.

The Foreigners' Tomb. As the name suggested, it must hold the remains of foreign elders. They didn't know its location, but foreigners surely would. Saving this child might lead them to the tomb's whereabouts.

"If Bei Chen isn't here, perhaps I can try..."

As the standoff continued inside, a voice rang out by the door. Everyone turned to see Nan Wan returning with the Yunxiao disciples.

"Lord Nan Wan." The immortals made way, their expressions respectful.

Chong Zhao turned, stunned, then froze in disbelief.

Behind Nan Wan, Bai Shuo waved a chicken leg at him, blinking incessantly.

The jade flute hadn't been wrong! A-Shuo was really in the foreign city!

Chong Zhao's blood surged. He longed to drag this reckless girl over and scold her, but then a youth emerged behind Bai Shuo, steadying her arm.

Bai Shuo remained oblivious, but the youth looked toward Chong Zhao.

Their gazes met midair. Chong Zhao's expression changed instantly, his grip tightening around the foreign child.

The Lord of Haoyue Palace?! Why was he with A-Shuo? Even though Fan Yue wore a youthful face, Chong Zhao recognized him at once."Let me take a look."

Before Chong Zhao could react, Nan Wan had already stepped forward and placed her fingers on the strange child's pulse.

The woman watched Nan Wan nervously, her eyes filled with hope.

"How odd," Nan Wan murmured, looking at the woman. "Has this child been practicing spiritual arts?"

The mixed-bloodline of the outsiders made them naturally incapable of cultivating spiritual arts, yet they were all physically robust. However, the faint spiritual Qi within this child's body was chaotically circulating throughout his entire being.

"No," the woman quickly shook her head. "Our kind never practices spiritual arts."

"The spiritual Qi within him is surging, like the precursor to Qi Deviation. No matter, I shall channel a strand of divine power to calm the Qi in his body." As Nan Wan spoke, she was about to condense a strand of divine power to infuse into the child when Chong Zhao stopped her.

"Lord Nan Wan, outsiders cannot cultivate spiritual arts. This child likely isn't experiencing Qi Deviation. Kunlun excels in healing arts—perhaps we should first seek Lord Bei Chen..."

"You ignorant disciple of Piaomiao! My Senior Brother's willingness to help is already a tremendous Opportunity for this child!" Mingxin angrily pushed Chong Zhao aside and brought the child before Nan Wan.

"Kunlun's Sword Cultivators are renowned, but our Yunxiao is no lesser." Nan Wan glanced coolly at Chong Zhao and waved her hand, sending a strand of divine power into the child's body.

Sure enough, the child groaned and opened his eyes.

"Mother..."

"Hu Er!"

The woman excitedly hugged her child, and Chong Zhao also sighed in relief.

Before anyone could rejoice, the child in the woman's arms suddenly turned red all over, his eyes glowing crimson as he let out a piercing wail, his small body thrashing violently in her embrace.

"What have you done?!" the woman roared at Nan Wan, clutching her child tightly.

"How could this happen...?"

Nan Wan was also startled. How could her divine power not only fail to calm the child's spiritual Qi but instead worsen it?

"I knew none of you immortals are any good!" The woman kicked the table and chairs in front of her, shattering them instantly.

Good heavens, the outsiders' innate divine strength was truly no myth—even an ordinary woman like her possessed such terrifying power. Bai Shuo shuddered at the sight of the wooden table reduced to splinters.

Worried for her son, the woman, her eyes red, made to rush out with the child, not wanting to engage further.

Many outsiders on the street, hearing the commotion, began to surge toward the inn.

"Mu Mu! Stop her!"

"Lord Mingxin, quickly, guard the entrance! Don't let the outsiders in!"

Bai Shuo suddenly shouted.

The outsiders already held deep prejudices against immortals and demons. If a conflict erupted now, it would be hard to resolve.

Fan Yue acted without hesitation at Bai Shuo's command, flashing forward to intercept the woman. Mingxin hesitated briefly but, seeing Nan Wan's lack of objection, quickly led the disciples to block the outsiders at the inn's entrance with their swords.

"Let us in! What are you doing?!"

"Hu Er's mother, what happened?!"

The outsiders in the city were familiar with one another, and some already recognized the woman, trying to force their way in.

"Everyone! This child is ill!" Bai Shuo called out to the crowd. "I'm a healer—I can save him!"

She immediately turned to the woman. "Auntie, let me examine the child."

"Don't touch my son! I'll never trust any of you again!" The woman refused to believe Bai Shuo."Exactly! Hu Er's mother, how can you trust these Immortals? Get out of the way, let us in!" The crowd of outsiders outside grew increasingly indignant, pushing against the Yunxiao disciples as they tried to force their way in.

Suddenly, the child in the woman's arms convulsed even more violently, breaking free from her grasp and lunging toward Bai Shuo.

"Hu Er!" The woman rushed forward to grab him.

But Bai Shuo was quicker. In a flash, she stepped forward, pried open the child's mouth, and tossed a pill inside.

"What did you give him?!" The woman roared in fury, scooping up her child and kicking at Bai Shuo.

Bai Shuo still vividly remembered the power of that kick from earlier.

"Mu Mu! Save me!"

Before she even finished shouting, the young man had already leaped out, pulling Bai Shuo back and shielding her behind him.

In the crowd, Chong Zhao's outstretched hand froze midair. His gaze fixed on the two of them, his hidden hand clenching tightly in his sleeve.

Mu Mu? Wasn't this young man supposed to be the Lord of Haoyue Hall?

He could sense only the faintest trace of Spiritual Qi emanating from the youth, nothing like the divine pressure he had witnessed on Fire-Ice Island.

What in the world was going on?

"Wait, wait! Auntie, look at your child!" Bai Shuo peeked out from behind Fan Yue and hurriedly called out.

The woman looked down and saw that the child had indeed stopped his frenzied thrashing. The blood-red hue in his eyes faded, and the bluish-purple discoloration on his skin slowly disappeared.

The outsiders outside the inn, seeing the child's condition, also ceased their shoving.

Dazed, the child turned his head, murmured "Mama," and then collapsed back into the woman's arms, falling into a deep sleep. This time, however, his breathing was steady, and a healthy flush returned to his cheeks.

"Hu Er!" The woman's panic eased slightly as she hurried toward Bai Shuo. "Daoist, Hu Er, he..."

Fan Yue glared coldly at her, and the woman, shame flashing in her eyes, dared not approach further.

"Mu Mu." Bai Shuo patted Fan Yue's hand and quickly stepped forward to check the child's breathing. She sighed in relief. "He's fine. He's just exhausted. Let him sleep, and he'll be better after resting."

"Thank you, Daoist." The woman bowed hastily. "Daoist, what exactly is wrong with Hu Er?"

Bai Shuo was puzzled herself. She looked up and asked, "Auntie, what did Hu Er eat today?"

The woman paused. "It's still early. He only drank some water and ate a few fruits from home."

"Fruits? What kind?"

"Autumn Cicada Fruits. He eats them every day and has never reacted like this before."

Autumn Cicada Fruits were a type of spiritual fruit containing faint traces of Spiritual Qi. In the barren wastelands, the outsider tribes relied on them as a staple food, and they were known for their robust health.

Bai Shuo studied the child. Outsiders were typically born with strong constitutions, but this boy was unusually frail for his kind. Clearly, his body couldn't digest the Spiritual Qi in the fruits, causing it to accumulate and disrupt the natural balance of his Immortal and demonic energies.

The pill Bai Shuo had given him was a Heart-Cleansing Pill, designed to dissolve Spiritual Qi. She had concocted it out of boredom during her time on Misty Isle. Often bullied by Inner Sect Disciples, she had originally intended to brew laxatives to prank them but ended up with this instead. However, since Bai Shuo had used ordinary Materials, the pill only worked on half-Immortals—Immortal Lords wouldn't feel a thing.

If not for the child's rampant Spiritual Qi, Bai Shuo might have completely forgotten about this seemingly useless pill.

"Auntie, Autumn Cicada Fruits contain Spiritual Qi. Hu Er's body is too weak to absorb it, so it built up inside him, causing the imbalance. Wait until he's older and stronger before letting him eat them again."The woman nodded repeatedly, somewhat self-reproachful. "It's all my fault. Hu Er was born frail, so I gave him autumn cicada fruit every day. I never thought it would harm him."

Holding the child, the woman bowed to Bai Shuo. "I apologize, Daoist. I was just too frantic earlier..."

"No harm done, I'm perfectly fine," Bai Shuo quickly helped the woman up, scratching her head before glancing at the crowd of non-humans outside. "Perhaps you could say something? Having all these people gathered here isn't ideal."

The woman immediately called out, "Everything's fine now, please disperse! Hu Er ate something wrong, but thanks to this Daoist, he's alright!"

Hearing the woman's voice and seeing the child's rosy complexion, the non-humans outside the inn felt reassured and gradually dispersed.

After the crowd left, the woman turned to Chong Zhao. "Thank you, Immortal, for bringing me here."

Chong Zhao's expression softened. "As long as the child is fine."

His gaze met Bai Shuo's, who was about to give him a meaningful look when Chong Zhao abruptly turned away as if he didn't know her.

What now? Bai Shuo was puzzled until she noticed Nan Wan standing stiffly nearby, his face dark as thunder.

Oh no, I almost forgot about this one. Earlier, the woman thanked me and Chong Zhao but completely overlooked Nan Wan.

Ever quick-witted, Bai Shuo spoke up, "Auntie, I'd like to ask you something."

The woman blinked. "What is it, Daoist? Please, go ahead."

Just as Bai Shuo was about to speak, Nan Wan interrupted, "The child just had a scare. Let's escort the lady home first; other matters can wait."

With all the sect disciples watching, Bai Shuo immediately caught on. "Right, let's take Hu Er home first. I'll give him another Clear Heart Pill to protect his spiritual core."

"Well..." The woman glanced warily at the Yunxiao disciples and hesitated. "Thank you for your kindness, but perhaps Young Master Chong could accompany me back. After all, it was he who helped me earlier."

Though the Yunxiao disciples appeared friendly, their aloof disdain was unmistakable. Only Chong Zhao and Bai Shuo showed genuine concern. As a non-human, despite owing Bai Shuo a debt, the woman preferred not to get too involved with Immortals.

Seeing Nan Wan frown, Bai Shuo quickly grabbed Chong Zhao's hand. "Auntie, don't worry. Yunxiao and Piaomiao are closest allies. This Young Master Chong is also good friends with our Senior Brother Nan Wan. Right, Young Master Chong?"

Bai Shuo swiftly wrote the character "Wu" on Chong Zhao's palm and gave him a meaningful look. Pausing, Chong Zhao set aside his earlier displeasure and nodded. "Indeed. There's no need for concern, auntie."

As the woman still hesitated, Nan Wan spoke calmly, "Mingxin, you and the other disciples stay at the inn. I'll accompany Young Master Chong and return shortly."

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Seeing Nan Wan willing to go alone, the woman finally agreed. "Then I'll trouble you all."

With the woman's nod, Chong Zhao took the child from her arms. "Let's go, auntie."