Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Fifty-Five

With a splash, water flew everywhere as Bai Shuo emerged from the hot spring, wiping his face and letting out a satisfied sigh.

After descending the mountain, they were directly taken to the King Yi Palace by Wu Zhao. The palace was devoid of guards, and the maidservants were busy preparing for the evening banquet.

Having fought all night, everyone was covered in dust. Wu Zhao kindly had the maidservants lead them to rest and freshen up. They were all pampered second-generation heirs, and even Bai Shuo had lived a comfortable life while on Earth. Upon hearing Wu Zhao's arrangement, everyone happily followed the maidservants.

Bai Shuo initially wanted to discuss with Chong Zhao about contacting Hu Er's mother to build some rapport, as the immortal and demon clans were generally not favored by outsiders. After all, it was only Chong Zhao who had saved that little foreign child, which created some connection. However, before Bai Shuo could speak, Chong Zhao had already left with the maidservants, leaving Bai Shuo feeling a bit rejected. He decided to enjoy himself first, with Fan Yue sticking close to him, even soaking in the hot spring together, his eyes never leaving Bai Shuo.

Bai Shuo looked at his little disciple's stern face and sighed.

This Yi City was quite strange; he needed to cheer up his little disciple. She swam to the edge of the hot spring and poked her disciple's face.

"Little Mu Mu, don't worry, Master is very tough. I won't die."

Little Mu Mu lowered his eyes and replied, "Master, you're lying. Their spiritual power is stronger than yours. One slap and they could kill you."

That was probably the longest sentence Little Mu Mu had ever said, nearly choking Bai Shuo.

"We can't let others gain confidence at the expense of our own prestige," Bai Shuo coaxed gently, presenting facts and reasoning. "In this world, I fear death more than anyone. I will definitely protect myself."

Bai Shuo initially spoke with a hint of deception, but as he continued, he became particularly serious. The young boy, confused, suddenly asked, "Why?"

Bai Shuo was taken aback. "What do you mean, why?"

"Why are you afraid of death?"

Bai Shuo froze, meeting the boy's clear eyes. The half-hearted response that was on the tip of his tongue suddenly stopped. He looked up, unsure if it was because they were in the wilderness, but the sky of Yi City was exceptionally blue.

Bai Shuo raised his hand towards the sky; the nine layers of clouds were still so far away.

He gazed at the sky, slowly speaking, "Because I need to find someone. I can't die before I find him."

"Who?" Little Mu Mu tilted his head but froze when he saw Bai Shuo's expression.

He had never seen such a look in Bai Shuo's eyes, not even when she was thinking about her beloved Senior Martial Uncle.

Little Mu Mu was naive, but he saw a light in Bai Shuo's eyes, as if a voice within him was telling him that it was an obsession.

"I don't know." In the hot spring, Bai Shuo suddenly turned around, grinning, breaking the tranquility.

"Don't know?"

"Yeah, I don't remember what he looks like, nor his face; I can only recognize his back." Bai Shuo sank back into the water, speaking gloomily.

"Master."

"Mm?"

"Are you looking for someone you like?" Little Mu Mu's voice was soft.

"Of course not." Bai Shuo blurted out, and the boy's eyes brightened.

Bai Shuo flicked Little Mu Mu's forehead. "Master is looking for a lifesaver."

A lifesaver? Fan Yue was stunned, watching as Bai Shuo yawned."I grew up in the mortal world. When I was a child, a monster tried to eat me, but someone appeared and saved me. I made a promise to him—no matter how many thousands or tens of thousands of years it took, I would find him and repay him for saving my life."

Fan Yue let out a relieved sigh, curious. "Then why don’t you remember what he looked like?"

"He sealed my memories of him." Bai Shuo rested her chin on her hand and shrugged. "But for some reason, the Seal didn’t fully take effect. Though I can’t recall his face or name, I remember the promise I made to him. I cultivate the Dao to live long enough to find him and repay my debt. So, my dear disciple, don’t worry—I won’t die before I find my Master’s savior."

Bai Shuo smiled, her eyes curving into crescents. The heaviness in Fan Yue’s heart dissipated, and suddenly, his entire being seemed to brighten.

"I’ll go with you."

"What?"

"I’ll go with you to find him."

By the hot spring, the young man spoke, his voice as firm and resolute as a chisel striking stone.

Bai Shuo looked at him, her lips curving. Just as she was about to praise her little disciple, a sudden thud came from beside them—someone had fallen from a tree.

Dust flew as the two turned to see Hua Hong sprawled on the ground, grinning sheepishly.

"Sorry, my foot slipped. Carry on, carry on…" With that, the blacksmith simply sat by the spring, not even bothering to hide anymore.

Bai Shuo stared at this princess of the Otherworld, her face darkening.

Hua Hong, for some inexplicable reason, had stuck to them like a deadweight even after returning home, insisting on tagging along no matter what.

Before knowing Hua Hong’s identity, Bai Shuo had thought she followed her into the Otherworld to obtain the Phoenix Heart Flame. But as the princess of the Otherworld, Hua Hong could even challenge Rong Xian’s Golden Core—the Phoenix Heart Flame held little allure for her.

So why was she so determined to follow me? Through the mist, Bai Shuo rested her chin on her hand, gazing at Hua Hong from afar, then suddenly glanced at her little disciple beside her.

Could it be… she’s not following me? Is it the big monster? Does she know Mu Mu’s identity?!

Bai Shuo’s heart tightened. The Otherworld was full of mysteries, and Hua Hong’s status was unusual—could she be trusted?

Uncertain, Bai Shuo suddenly waved toward the spring.

"Mu Mu, go take a bath too! It’s really comfortable!"

Her little disciple shook his head, his voice stiff. "No."

Hua Da Tie watched the two with a smile, idly playing with the water, lost in thought.

Bai Shuo took a deep breath and pinched her nose. "Come on, come on… you haven’t bathed in days. Go on…" She glanced at Hua Hong. "At least with this ancestor here, and in the Otherworld’s royal palace, it’s safe."

To Bai Shuo, Fan Yue was just an innocent little disciple. Having entered the world to cultivate the Dao, her mind held no barriers between men and women beyond caring for Chong Zhao and finding her savior. She leaned forward, her slender, dewy arm nearly poking Fan Yue in the face. The young man abruptly stood and walked away.

Only Hua Hong noticed—their unflappable Palace Master’s ears had turned as red as hot iron.

" I’m safe? Girl, where’d you get that confidence?"

Before Bai Shuo could reply, Hua Hong yanked the naked Bai Shuo to the spring’s edge, eyeing her dangerously.

Bai Shuo gulped, then blurted out without warning, "Are you following me because of Mu Mu?""That little disciple of yours?" Hua Hong's grip on Bai Shuo's arm paused as she glanced at Fan Yue's retreating figure, stretching lazily to play dumb. "Just a simple-minded locust tree Spirit Monster. Why would I do anything for him?"

"You know who he is."

Bai Shuo's tone left no room for doubt.

When smart people talk, they cut straight to the chase. This princess of the Strange City was a master at playing the fool to deceive others. Bai Shuo had no patience for further pretense and said bluntly, "Nan Wan brought me into the Strange City to locate the Phoenix Heart Flame. But you—a dignified princess of the Strange City—living in a thatched hut in South Sea City, raising chickens with us every day—surely you're not here for an obscure outcast like me. I've got nothing to my name except this precious little disciple. There's nothing else worth scheming over."

Hua Hong studied Bai Shuo with amusement before suddenly leaning in close to her ear. "That pig clearly said you were quite clever, but you don't seem like it. You know who he is, yet you still let him call you Master? Do you have a death wish...?"

Hua Hong drew out her words, her eyes gleaming with obvious mockery.

Pig? Long Yi Zhu?! So she really is from the Bright Moon Hall!

Bai Shuo's confidence surged. She pushed Hua Hong away, slipping free from her grasp, and relaxed into the water. "That's my business..." Bai Shuo also drew out her words. "Since you're from the Bright Moon Hall, we're practically allies. So, Da Tie, why were you exiled from the Strange City?"

Bai Shuo stared at Hua Hong, suddenly posing the question.

Fan Yue had lost his memories. Though Hua Hong knew about that silly pig and had been protecting Fan Yue all along, she was still the princess of the Strange City. This place was treacherous and dangerous—who knew if she might betray them at the last moment?

Hua Hong narrowed her eyes, a shadow flickering in her gaze. Before she could speak, a maid's panicked voice suddenly rang out from outside the hot spring.

"Young Highness, there are guests inside. You can't go in!"

"Has Royal Sister returned? Get out of my way!" A child's voice echoed outside the spring, followed by hurried footsteps as someone charged in.

"Holy—!" Bai Shuo hadn't expected such a reckless child in the Strange King's palace. She hastily submerged herself, leaving only her eyes above the water.

A shadow loomed over the spring. Bai Shuo looked up and froze.

This was no child—it was a towering young man wearing a tiger-head hat, with a rattle drum tucked at his waist. The sight was bizarre and ridiculous.

"Royal Sister!" The young man didn't even notice Bai Shuo cowering like a quail in the water. He beamed and rushed toward Hua Hong.

A surge of malevolent Qi struck the ground at his feet, sending shattered stones flying at him. A gash appeared on his face, blood streaming down.

"Get out." Hua Hong's voice, usually playful, was now icy. She didn't even spare him a glance.

The young man, who had been grinning foolishly moments ago, shrank back. His face twisted with grievance as he stared pitifully at Hua Hong, ignoring his bleeding wound. "Royal Sister..." he whimpered.

Bai Shuo gaped at the young man, who looked like he might burst into tears. This was the legendary heir of the Strange City? A fool?

Hua Hong's impatience flashed in her eyes. Suddenly, the young man tilted his head and looked at Bai Shuo in the water—his gaze cold and vicious.

"Royal Sister, is it because of her that you don't want to play with me...?"

The childish voice vanished, replaced by a deep, youthful tone—yet his eyes remained innocently blank.In the water, Bai Shuo shivered under the young man's fierce glare. What kind of twisted logic was this?! Your sister ignoring you has nothing to do with me!

Before Bai Shuo could react, the young man by the hot spring suddenly leaped up, throwing a punch straight at her in the water.

A familiar stench of decay rushed toward Bai Shuo's nose. Before she could recall where she had smelled it before, the young man's fist had already landed between her brows.

"Mu Mu!" Bai Shuo's heart lurched, and she instinctively screamed.

Before Fan Yue could reach them, a staff swept the dangerously close fist aside. The young man crashed heavily to the ground, his head covered in blood.

Bai Shuo patted her chest, about to praise Hua Da Tie for his quick action, when the foreign city's heir suddenly charged at her like a madman.

"Damn it, Da Tie, save me! Your brother's gone crazy!"

Bai Shuo plunged headfirst into the hot spring. Through the misty water, she saw Hua Da Tie toss her clothes from the spring's edge toward her with one hand while using his staff to drive the foreign heir away from the spring with the other.

Flustered, Bai Shuo scrambled out of the water and hastily dressed, barely catching her breath.

Damn it, is there anyone in this foreign palace besides the foreign king who's actually normal? Is this heir truly insane or just pretending?

That smell just now... Bai Shuo's eyes sharpened. That night, the evil spirit had carried the same stench!

"Master!" Before Bai Shuo could think further, Fan Yue had already landed by the spring. The young man looked frantic, his hair still wet, clearly having just emerged from the water himself.

The foreign palace had provided attire of the Human Race, which made Fan Yue look even more dashing. Bai Shuo felt there was something different about her disciple's face, though she couldn't quite place it, and she momentarily spaced out.

"Master, are you hurt anywhere?!"

Bai Shuo snapped back to reality. "No, no. Mu Mu, where's Hua Da Tie?"

"Over there." Fan Yue pointed in the direction where Hua Hong had vanished.

"Quick! Take me there!"

Without hesitation, the young man wrapped an arm around Bai Shuo's waist and leaped from the hot spring, chasing after Hua Hong.

Strangely, despite the fierce fight between Hua Hong and the foreign heir moments ago, the palace remained eerily calm, as if such scenes were commonplace.

Fan Yue moved swiftly, carrying Bai Shuo through the palace. Suddenly, he halted by an outer courtyard wall, nearly causing Bai Shuo to lose her balance as she clung tightly to her disciple's waist.

"Mu Mu?" Bai Shuo questioned. Fan Yue hushed her softly and gestured for her to look into the courtyard.

"Your Highness, show mercy!"

A familiar voice rang out from within the courtyard. Peering through the gaps in the stone wall, Bai Shuo saw the foreign heir slumped dazedly at Hua Hong's feet, his face covered in blood. Wu Zhao held Hua Hong's iron staff, his expression resigned.

Since when had her disciple become so clever, even knowing how to eavesdrop? Bai Shuo shot Fan Yue a glance but had no time to dwell on it, her attention drawn back to the trio in the courtyard.

Inside, Hua Hong gave Wu Zhao a cold glance before retracting her staff.

"Can't even control this deranged fool—is the foreign palace truly so incompetent?" Hua Hong sneered.

"Your Highness, no matter what, the heir is still your brother. You used to dote on him so much—"

"He deserves that?" Hua Hong's face twisted with disgust, her voice icy. "I have no brothers."

Hua Hong turned to leave but inadvertently caught sight of a red plum blossom in the corner. Unconsciously, she walked over and inhaled its scent, her voice hoarse.

"I burned all the palace's red plum blossoms back then. Why is this one still here?"

"The queen adored them. His Majesty had this one planted."“Hmph, hypocritical benevolence and righteousness.” Hua Hong’s voice turned cold, the tenderness in her eyes vanishing instantly.

“Your Highness! His Highness Yong, he…”

Uncle Wu Zhao hesitated as he called out to Hua Hong, as if wanting to say something, but she cut him off: “Uncle Wu Zhao, I had a brother. But how did he die? Have even you forgotten?”

Wu Zhao’s voice choked, his expression stiffening.

“He never even got to see this world—smothered to death in our mother’s womb…” Hua Hong’s grip on the iron staff tightened until her knuckles turned white. Unable to bear the sight of the red plum blossoms before her, she closed her eyes.

“Your Highness, the Queen and the little prince…” Wu Zhao trailed off, unsure how to continue, and could only sigh helplessly. “No one wanted what happened back then. His Highness Yong was just a child—he was innocent…”

Hua Hong swung her staff at the unconscious heir of the Yiren King lying on the ground. Wu Zhao hastily grabbed the heir’s collar and pulled him aside, narrowly avoiding the ruthless strike.

“Your Highness!”

Hua Hong glared coldly at the unconscious figure shielded behind Wu Zhao. “Innocent?! If not for his existence, why would my mother have been heartbroken, her Qi and blood in turmoil, dying in childbirth?! His Highness Yong? A bastard child, a cuckoo usurping the nest—what a colossal joke! You’d better warn the Yiren King to keep him under control. If he dares appear before me again, tell the Yiren King to come collect his corpse!”

Outside the wall, Bai Shuo covered her mouth, stunned by the argument unfolding in the courtyard.

Heavens, what earth-shattering secret had she just stumbled upon?!

The Three Realms only knew the Yiren King had one son and one daughter—no one had ever heard that this heir was an illegitimate child!

What exactly had happened back then? And why had Hua Da Tie been exiled from Yicheng? Bai Shuo was eager to hear more when her young disciple suddenly tensed, wrapped his arms around her, and vanished from the spot.

In a flash of spiritual light, the two reappeared by the hot spring.

“Aiya, Mu Mu! I wasn’t finished listening! Quick, quick, take us back—”

“Someone’s coming. If we stay any longer, we’ll be discovered,” the boy said, shaking his head.

“Who’s coming? I didn’t sense anyone.”

“The Yiren King.”

“Mother of heavens!” Bai Shuo shuddered, patting her chest in relief, and quickly praised her disciple. “Good thing we ran fast! Mu Mu, you’re amazing!”

To forsake his exceptionally gifted eldest daughter and instead crown a fool as his heir—this idiot son must be the Yiren King’s most treasured possession. If the king found out she’d overheard these secrets, she’d never leave Yicheng alive.

Why did the Yiren King’s heir carry the aura of evil spirits? Could the Yiren King, who spent every day with him, truly be unaware? Bai Shuo’s heart sank.

Suddenly remembering something, she pulled out the turtle shells she had nearly forgotten from her Qiankun Bag at her waist.

Bai Shuo tapped the shells with her fingertip. At first, they swayed gently, but then they began spinning wildly before stopping abruptly—their pointed ends aimed directly behind her.

Bai Shuo froze.

She had been testing the location of the last Phoenix Heart Flame. The Golden Radiance Immortal had scattered the flames across the skies of Yicheng, so why were the shells pointing not outside the palace but toward the Yiren King’s palace behind her?

Had the Yiren King lied? A chill ran down Bai Shuo’s spine.

Back in the courtyard, Hua Hong frowned as she stared at the Yiren King’s heir behind Wu Zhao, then suddenly spoke.

“Why does he reek of evil Qi?”

Wu Zhao’s face paled, but before he could respond, a figure materialized in the courtyard, gazing at Hua Hong.

“You shouldn’t have come back,” the newcomer said coolly."Shouldn't have come back?" Hua Hong's gaze turned cold, her voice laced with self-mockery. "Who would want to return to this godforsaken place? When the Spirit-Sealing Array opens at dawn, I'll leave. As for the filthy affairs of your Yiren City, they have nothing to do with me."

Hua Hong turned to leave but found herself unable to step beyond the courtyard. An unseen barrier had sealed off the small yard at some point. She whirled around, but before she could voice her protest, a force struck toward her neck. Her expression changed as she raised a hand to block it, only to discover her limbs had gone weak. She collapsed limply toward the ground.

When had she been poisoned? Hua Hong turned her head toward the red plum blossoms nearby, her face paling—they had been laced with poison! The familiar plum blossoms, representing her most vulnerable past, had made her drop her guard just long enough to fall into this trap.

Those were her mother's favorite flowers. Hua Yong's appearance hadn't been accidental—he'd lured her here to trap her! And that red plum tree had been prepared specifically for her!

What a fine Yiren King! What a fine father!

Rage filled Hua Hong's eyes, turning them crimson before she closed them and slumped completely to the ground.

A pair of hands caught her steadily. The Yiren King's face remained expressionless.

"Your Majesty..." Wu Zhao looked at the unconscious Hua Hong and Hua Yong in the courtyard and said with reluctance, "Must it be this way? Given Princess Hong's temperament, she will never forgive you once she wakes."

"She long ago stopped seeing me as her father in her eyes." The King of Yiren did not glance at Hua Hong but instead gazed at Hua Yong in Wu Zhao's arms. "This is Yong Er's only chance. Wu Zhao, restrain her. Once everything is settled, send her out of Yicheng."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

In the hot spring, Bai Shuo put away the tortoise shell, her expression grave.

"Mu Mu, let's go. We need to find A-Zhao." She had to immediately inform Chong Zhao and Bei Chen about the news of the Phoenix Heart Flame.

Nan Wan and that fox were not to be trusted. The Sword Cultivators of Kunlun were upright and honorable—they were the ones who could be relied upon.

Just as Bai Shuo was about to leave the hot spring with Fan Yue, she turned to find the maids of the Yiren Palace already approaching.

"Young Master Mu, Miss Bai, the time has come. The other lords have already gathered for the banquet. Please follow me."