Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Fifty-Eight

Under the moonlight, Bai Shuo stepped on the dirt beneath her feet and glanced back at the grand hall behind her, a wave of lingering fear washing over her.

That eerie stone hall was buried a hundred meters beneath the Yi King’s palace. If not for Fan Yue’s abundant spiritual energy carrying her out, she would never have escaped. No wonder there were no guards stationed inside—those Fairy and Demon Disciples with shattered spiritual platforms wouldn’t be able to leap a hundred meters even if they woke up.

As soon as they left the stone hall, Bai Shuo pulled Fan Yue into hiding in a secluded corner and retrieved a tortoise shell from her Qiankun Bag.

Somehow, she managed to produce a handful of white powder, which she sprinkled onto the shell.

Fan Yue inhaled—the powder carried a strong scent of rouge, oddly familiar.

“This is some Hua Da Tie smeared on me earlier. I secretly kept a bit. Since she could block Rong Xian’s sword strike, there’s a nine out of ten chance she’s reached the Peak of the Upper Realm. She might be able to break the Yi King’s Formation.” Bai Shuo explained while activating the tortoise shell. “She disappeared after chasing the Yi King’s heir. I suspect the Yi King trapped her. This rouge carries her aura—the shell should be able to locate her.”

Fan Yue stared at the busy Bai Shuo, momentarily lost in thought. Just how many layers of cunning did his Master possess? Despite her pitifully weak spiritual power—unable to even defeat a minor Spirit Monster—she still thought of finding the Yi King’s daughter to save Chong Zhao. How intriguing.

Under the moonlight, the young man didn’t realize that the way he looked at Bai Shuo was no longer just simple reverence. There was now a hint of admiration and scrutiny.

Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, his expression stiffened, and a sharp pain shot through his brow. He pressed his fingers hard against his forehead, as though trying to dispel the abrupt thought that had surfaced in his heart.

That wasn’t him! But if not him, then who? His former self?

“Found her!” The tortoise shell in Bai Shuo’s palm stopped spinning, pointing toward the northernmost corner of the Yi King’s palace. “Hua Da Tie is there!”

Bai Shuo turned her head—her little disciple’s face was hidden in the shadows, seemingly trembling. Her heart clenched, and she quickly grasped his hand. “Mu Mu, what’s wrong?”

Bai Shuo’s hand was warm. The young man lifted his head and curved his eyes into a smile. “Master, I’m fine.”

Bai Shuo exhaled in relief. “Let’s go find Hua Da Tie.”

Fan Yue nodded, wrapped an arm around Bai Shuo’s waist, and vanished from the spot.

In a secluded corner of the Yi King’s palace stood a simple, unnamed courtyard. A few withered trees dotted the yard, and beside them was a stone pavilion with a crude wooden swing beneath it. The swing, likely aged, had yellowed cloth ropes securing the wooden plank.

In the dead of night, Hua Hong leaned against the swing, chewing on a wild grass stalk, lost in thought as she swayed leisurely.

Bai Shuo rushed into the courtyard in a frenzy, locking eyes with Hua Hong across the stone pavilion. Both froze in surprise.

Bai Shuo’s gaze was wary, while Hua Da Tie’s was brimming with excitement.

“Took you long enough! Hurry, get me out of here!”

Bai Shuo scanned the peaceful, unguarded courtyard and took a step back. “You need my help?”

Hua Hong waved a hand, revealing a faintly shimmering barrier outside the pavilion.

“The Yi King trapped me. This Formation was set by Wu Zhao—he can break it.” She pointed at Fan Yue.

“If he can break it, why can’t you?” Bai Shuo retreated another step, her eyes growing even more suspicious.

The Yi King’s malevolence was undeniable, and Hua Hong was, after all, his daughter.

“I’ve been poisoned with Forbidden Spiritual Plant. Until noon tomorrow, I’m no different from a Mortal.” Hua Hong spread her hands helplessly."The King of the Outcasts has such a treasure? How did he refine it?" Bai Shuo couldn't help but stare with wide eyes.

Forbidden Spirit Grass was the bane of both the Fairy and Demon races. However, this plant only grew on snow-capped mountains thousands of meters high, guarded by high-grade snow pythons. Not only was it difficult to harvest, but it also shattered upon contact with fire, making it extremely hard to refine. Bai Shuo, with her weak spiritual power, had studied all the natural spiritual materials that could save lives and was well aware of the Forbidden Spirit Grass's reputation.

"Wait, who could have poisoned you?" Bai Shuo paused. "Was it the King of the Outcasts?"

Seeing Hua Hong remain silent, Bai Shuo suddenly spoke up, "Hua Hong, why were you exiled from the Outcast City back then?"

Hua Hong narrowed her eyes and glanced over. "None of your damn business."

"It's not that I want to dig up your Hua family's old gossip. The King of the Outcasts has captured all the Fairy and Demon Disciples who came to participate in the Wutong Martial Banquet. My Senior Brother's life is also in your father's hands. They're trapped in his formation, and only you can break that evil array. How am I supposed to know if I can trust you?"

"Believe it or not." Hua Hong snorted lightly, chewing on a wild grass as she glanced at Bai Shuo. "If you don't trust me, then leave."

Hearing that the others had been captured, Hua Hong showed no concern. Bai Shuo cursed herself for being foolish. Although Hua Hong had been by her side all along, it was only to protect Fan Yue. No one from the Haoyue Palace was trapped here. Given Hua Hong's status, she'd probably clap her hands in delight if these people all died.

Bai Shuo bit her lip and glanced back at Fan Yue before suddenly whispering to Hua Hong, "Do you believe I'll shout right now?"

Hua Hong froze, then suddenly looked toward Fan Yue's direction, her face turning cold. "Bai Shuo, how dare you?!"

The King of the Outcasts didn't know Fan Yue's identity. Tonight, he wouldn't spare a single Fairy or Demon Disciple who entered the Outcast City. Fan Yue's Divine Power hadn't yet recovered, and if he encountered the King of the Outcasts now, he'd be doomed.

"What wouldn't I dare? At worst... I'll die with him." Bai Shuo pressed her lips tightly together, not daring to look back.

Sorry, Mu Mu. A-Zhao can't die. I must save him.

"You...!" Hua Hong had been a demon for over a century and had never met someone as shameless as Bai Shuo.

Not far away, Fan Yue watched Bai Shuo quietly, as if he understood, or perhaps heard nothing at all. He lowered his eyes, his expression unreadable.

"I'm shouting now..." Bai Shuo closed her eyes and opened her mouth to yell.

"I destroyed the core of the Spirit-Sealing Array." Hua Hong's voice in the courtyard cut Bai Shuo off.

Bai Shuo snapped her eyes open to see Hua Hong turning away, her figure looking somewhat desolate under the moonlight.

The Spirit-Sealing Array? Wasn't that the Outcast City's only Magic Treasure that allowed them to survive in the Three Realms? As the Outcast Princess, why would Hua Hong destroy it?

"Outcasts are born with blocked Spiritual Veins and cannot cultivate spiritual power. That's why the title of King of the Outcasts isn't passed down through generations but is instead determined by the Outcast King's Sword. After Mu Guang founded the Outcast City, he forged a sword from the Mystical Iron of the Eastern Sea and bestowed it upon the first King of the Outcasts. That sword could only be drawn with immense strength. From then on, the Outcast City established a rule: among each generation of youths, whoever could draw the Outcast King's Sword would become the King of the Outcasts."

Without waiting for Bai Shuo to speak, Hua Hong continued.

"But how can a sword control human hearts? The Outcast City has been isolated for a thousand years. Even as a forsaken city in the Three Realms, it couldn't escape the growth of power-hungry desires. The Hua family has ruled the Outcast City for over five hundred years, but by this generation, they can no longer hold onto the throne."

"Why?"

"Hua Lin was born weak and couldn't possibly draw the Outcast King's Sword."Hua Lin? Bai Shuo was taken aback, realizing that Hua Lin must be the current generation's Yiren King—Hua Hong's father.

Wait a minute, the Yiren King had clearly cultivated to the Peak of the Upper Monarch realm, just one step away from becoming a demigod. How could someone born inherently weak achieve this?

"Aside from the Hua family inheriting the throne for centuries, there was another prominent family in Yicheng—the Mei family. For generations, the Mei family bore the responsibility of assisting the Hua family in guarding Yicheng, serving as generals. By this generation, Old General Mei had only one daughter, named Han. To ensure the Hua family's continued reign, the old Yicheng King struck a deal with Old General Mei."

"What kind of deal?"

"The Hua family would welcome Mei Han as the Crown Princess, while the Mei family would offer Old General Mei's Spiritual Qi as a sacrifice to the Crown Prince, reshaping his frail body. The Yiren are not devoid of Spiritual Qi; rather, their Spiritual Veins are chaotic. Back then, Hua Lin's Spiritual Veins were even more disordered than those of ordinary Yiren. The old Yiren King bore the duty of protecting the Yiren race. At that time, Old General Mei was the only one in Yicheng who had cultivated to the Upper Monarch realm. Only his Spiritual Qi could alter Hua Lin's Spiritual Veins."

Sacrifice? Bai Shuo recalled the eerie and sinister formation in the stone hall and paled.

Could that stone hall be the place where the Yiren King's body was reshaped back then? But now that he had reached the Peak of the Upper Monarch realm, why would he reactivate that sinister formation?

Before Bai Shuo could ponder further, Hua Hong continued.

"But no one expected Hua Lin to be too weak. Old General Mei's Spiritual Qi alone was far from enough. The technique was sinister—once initiated, it couldn't be stopped, or both would die. For the sake of his son, the old Yiren King also poured all his Spiritual Qi into Hua Lin's body. That night, the old Yiren King and Old General Mei perished on the spot, while Hua Lin ascended to the Upper Monarch realm, drew the Yiren King's Sword, and became the new Yiren King. To preserve the Hua family's honor, this matter was kept secret between the two families, known only to a handful. Soon after, he honored his promise and married Mei Han as his consort. Later, their eldest daughter was born. Legend has it that the girl was born with Divine Power and drew the Yiren King's Sword at the age of eighteen, bearing the hopes of all Yicheng's people."

Hua Lin becoming the Yiren King happened a century ago. Though these people were Hua Hong's blood relatives, she spoke of these century-old secrets as if they were someone else's story.

Bai Shuo blinked, staring at Hua Hong in admiration. "Hua Da Tie, you're amazing."

Hua Lin needed the Spiritual Qi of two Upper Monarchs to draw the Yiren King's Sword, yet Hua Hong managed it in her teens. If not for being born a Yiren with blocked Spiritual Veins, she would have been a prodigy.

"That's just a legend. How many legends in this world are true? Back then, everyone said Rong Xian killed his wife and children for the position of Kunlun's Sect Leader, but you heard the truth at the Yiren Tomb."

Under the stone pavilion, Hua Hong spoke indifferently.

"That was fake?" Bai Shuo was stunned.

The drawing of the Yiren King's Sword was accompanied by celestial phenomena. Since it was known throughout the Three Realms, someone must have sensed it—it couldn't have been faked.

"Not entirely fake. A child did draw the Yiren King's Sword, but it wasn't me."

"Who was it?"

The courtyard fell silent for a long time before Hua Hong spoke.

"Hua Yong."

"The Yiren Crown Prince? That fool?" Bai Shuo's jaw nearly dropped.

That day at the hot spring, Hua Yong had shown some brute strength, but in terms of cultivation, he was far inferior to Hua Hong.

"Back then, he wasn't the Yiren Crown Prince. In fact, the Yiren race didn't even know of his existence."

Hua Hong seemed lost in memories as she gazed at the humble courtyard behind her."As the princess of Yicheng, I was doted upon by the entire city since childhood, developing a willful and unrestrained nature. During one Mengyu Festival, I sneaked out of the palace and encountered a bullied child on the streets. Orphaned and pitiful, I took him back to the palace out of compassion. Hua Lin had always indulged me, never opposing my whims, and that time was no exception. The boy was gentle and naive—at first, I brought him back merely for amusement, but over time, our relationship grew more like siblings than master and servant. My mother, having no other children besides me, adored him. She personally taught him to read and write, named him Hua Yong, and even passed down the Mei family’s Saber techniques without reservation."

Hua Hong’s voice faltered as she glanced at the humble courtyard behind her. Bai Shuo suddenly understood—this must have been where Hua Yong lived before becoming the heir of Yicheng.

"And so he stayed in the Yicheng Palace until my eighteenth year, when my mother became pregnant again. The entire palace rejoiced, and Hua Lin was overjoyed. But my mother grew increasingly troubled, for every royal child of Yicheng, upon turning eighteen, must undergo the trial of the Yicheng King’s Sword before the people. Only by drawing the sword could one inherit the throne. The Yicheng King’s Sword harbored immense power—success meant kingship, failure meant death. Over the millennia, countless young heirs had perished under its might."

"Tormented by worry for me, my mother lost sleep, yet she couldn’t stop me. The throne of Yicheng wasn’t just the Hua family’s legacy—it was bought with my grandfather’s life. As the princess, drawing the sword was my destiny. At the time, no one among the city’s youth could rival me. I believed… I could succeed."

Bai Shuo remained silent, listening intently.

"But on that day, the Yicheng King’s Sword chose its master—not me, but Hua Yong. And my mother died that same day."

A heavy silence fell over the courtyard.

"What exactly happened that day?"

If the sword chose its master, how did the queen meet such a tragic end?

"It was the Mengyu Festival. Before the eyes of the entire city, I tried to draw the Yicheng King’s Sword, but I couldn’t even approach within a meter of it. To retreat was inevitable—such is the Heavenly Dao’s law. The sword’s backlash struck me down, but at the moment of my death, Hua Yong intercepted its fury for me."

"He saved you?"

"I wish he never had." Hua Hong’s voice turned icy as she closed her eyes. "I’d rather have died by that sword. By taking the backlash for me, his spirit bones shattered, revealing the unique mark of the Hua Bloodline…"

The old king of Yicheng had only one son, Hua Lin, and the previous king had long passed. Hua Yong was just a child—his parentage needed no explanation.

"My mother, stricken with shock, confronted Wu Zhao and learned the truth: the frail crown prince had long been in love with another. They had pledged themselves to each other, and his marriage to my mother was merely a political move, secured by my grandfather’s sacrifice. My mother, proud and unyielding, couldn’t endure such humiliation. She didn’t survive the night—dying with her unborn child, consumed by hatred."

Hua Yong was several years younger than Hua Hong, meaning the king had continued his affair even after marrying the Mei family. Worse, he’d smuggled his illegitimate son into the palace to be raised by the queen herself. Knowing Hua Hong’s temperament, it was clear Queen Mei had been a woman of unshakable pride."Where did the King of Yiren go? Even if the queen was suffering from fetal distress, with his Peak-level cultivation as a Shangjun, he could have easily protected her." Bai Shuo said indignantly.

"Hua Yong's spiritual bones were severed. He sealed the stone palace to prolong Hua Yong's life, while my mother died in childbirth on the spot, passing away just like that."

Bai Shuo froze, utterly incredulous.

Hua Hong turned her head, a self-deprecating smile on her lips. "Why be surprised? The son of his beloved is naturally more precious than anyone else."

Her words were icy to the core, yet carried an overwhelming sorrow.

Bai Shuo suddenly understood—perhaps the moment the King of Yiren left with Hua Yong, the queen no longer wished to live.

Under the dim moonlight, the King of Yiren sat before a grave.

"Hong'er has returned. She's grown up, so much like you." The king caressed the tombstone, finished his last cup of wine, then rose and left without ever looking back.

"After my mother's death, Hua Yong became the heir to the Yiren throne. As for me, without my mother's protection, I was nothing but a pitiful joke. So on the day the Yiren City appointed its heir, I broke into the Spirit-Sealing Array. If it weren't for this damned throne, my grandfather wouldn't have had to die, and my mother wouldn't have had to marry that beast in human skin. I lost all my family—why should these people get to live happily in this city?"

"But I failed. As the princess of Yiren City, I tried to destroy its very Foundation. How could the Yiren people and Hua Lin tolerate me? After that night, I was exiled from Yiren City. From then on, I wandered the Three Realms until the Haoyue Palace took me in."

Hua Hong glanced in Fan Yue's direction before turning back to Bai Shuo. "Now you know everything. Do you think I would ever help the King of Yiren?"