Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Sixty-Seven

"La la la la la... the big monster got tricked..."

Bai Shuo plucked a dry stalk of grass from her hat and stuck it in her mouth, humming cheerfully as she skipped along, feeling utterly refreshed.

Serves you right for making my Mu Mu disappear, you big monster! Hope you’re fuming!

A thunderous crash echoed as a heavy object slammed into the ground not far away, kicking up a cloud of dust. Bai Shuo skidded to a halt and ducked behind a tree. Before she could even see who it was, a familiar voice rang out.

"If you keep following me, I’ll chop you into firewood!"

The blacksmith? Bai Shuo peeked out just in time to see a figure dart past like the wind—it was Hua Hong.

Who in the world had the guts to pester this terrifying figure?

Just as Bai Shuo was about to call out to her, the fiery-red lump on the ground sprang up and chased after the ice-cold Hua Hong.

"Hey hey, Little Heavenly Flame, help me fix my Wheel of Annihilation, won’t you? Your Blazing Heaven Staff is so mighty and spirited—surely you wouldn’t play favorites?"

The little fox pranced around Hua Hong, bouncing up and down. If he had transformed into his true form, his tail would probably be wagging all the way to the sky.

"None of my damn business. Get lost and crawl back to your fox den."

Mu Jiu? All old acquaintances! Bai Shuo’s eyes welled up with tears of joy, and she was just about to speak when her eyes suddenly widened in shock.

Mu Jiu grabbed Hua Hong’s hand and pouted.

"Of course it’s your business! My little wheel shattered into pieces for your sake. If it’s broken, my heart is broken too. Little Flower, you can’t just stand by and watch me suffer, can you?"

The young man’s eyes reddened, as if he were on the verge of tears. Bai Shuo shuddered, nearly gagging at the sight. Oh heavens, she couldn’t bear to watch and turned her gaze to Hua Hong instead.

Sure enough, the Heavenly Flame Demon Lord of the Bright Moon Palace looked as pale as a ghost, staring at Mu Jiu as if he’d seen a specter.

"Let. Go." Hua Hong forced the words out through gritted teeth.

"No! Not unless you promise to treat my little wheel with the same care and devotion, giving it a new lease on life..." The fox-eyed youth tilted his head and rattled on without hesitation.

"I’ll give it a new lease on your damn—" The blacksmith couldn’t take another word. The Blazing Heaven Staff shot through the air, aiming straight for Mu Jiu’s head.

"Holy crap, Little Flower, are you trying to murder your future husband?!"

The staff came down fast, about to smash into Mu Jiu’s skull, when the young man suddenly leaped up. But then, the Blazing Heaven Staff abruptly softened, twisting into a loop that ensnared both the fox and Hua Hong, pulling them face-to-face, chest-to-chest, limbs tangled together.

Staring at Hua Hong’s face mere inches away, Mu Jiu froze in shock, his face flushing with excitement.

"Little Flower, so you feel the same way about me—"

"Mu Jiu! I’ll chop you to pieces!"

Without another word, Hua Hong yanked the staff free, stomped the fox into the ground, and raised the weapon for a strike.

Mu Jiu lost it, shouting at the top of his lungs, "What the hell?! You were the one who initiated it, and now you’re turning on me? Fine, go ahead and kill me! Do it! Do it!"

The Heavenly Flame Demon Lord was furious, but the little fox was equally aggrieved. He simply flopped onto his back, resigned to his fate. Yet after a long wait, the staff never landed on his head.

Huh? Maybe she was just bluffing? Was his Little Flower too shy? The fox cautiously cracked an eye open, only to see Hua Hong staring at the Blazing Heaven Staff in stunned silence.

What was going on? Mu Jiu quickly wriggled out from under Hua Hong’s foot and scrambled up to look at the staff—then froze in shock.

On the indestructible Blazing Heaven Staff, two tiny paper figures were sweating profusely, straining to bend the staff back into a loop.

"Bai! Shuo!"

From afar, Hua Hong’s furious voice drifted faintly through the air. Bai Shuo dug a finger in her ear, flicked it away, and then, with a sly grin, stealthily trailed after a certain someone.What a coincidence. Just as she was about to catch up with an old acquaintance, she ran into another, even older one.

Ahead, Er Yun carried a bowl of medicinal soup into a small courtyard.

Bai Shuo glanced up at the sign reading "Pine Crane Courtyard" and slipped inside.

"You said earlier that Immortal Lord Bai Shuo inquired about which places?"

Inside Jiuhua Pavilion, Qing Yi, unable to find Bai Shuo anywhere, questioned Wu Shuang.

"Misty Island... and the Hall of Bright Moon," Wu Shuang answered honestly. "My Lord? Is something amiss?"

"Nothing." Qing Yi waved a hand, his expression unreadable. "You may leave."

"Yes."

As Wu Shuang withdrew, Qing Yi frowned and pulled something from his robes.

It was the Heavenly Thunder Talisman Bai Shuo had thrown to save him in the Abyss Marsh.

With a flick of his finger, a wisp of Immortal Qi escaped the talisman—faint, yet unmistakably orthodox in origin.

If she already had a master, why deceive him into coming to Phoenix Island to seek one?

And if she was an Immortal, why ask about the Hall of Bright Moon?

Qing Yi sighed, tucked the talisman away, and left Jiuhua Pavilion.

Inside a chamber, Chong Zhao sat meditating at a desk, eyes closed. The door creaked open as Er Yun entered with the Spirit Medicine.

Chong Zhao opened his eyes, about to speak, when his expression shifted abruptly. "You—"

"Well, well. Caught me." Under the candlelight, Er Yun's cool features morphed into another face entirely. Fu Ling pushed the bowl toward Chong Zhao. "Made from thousand-year lingzhi. It'll replenish your Spiritual Qi."

Outside the window, Bai Shuo—who'd been planning a grand reunion—gasped, covering her mouth at the sight of the shadowed face.

How could it be her? That female demon lord who'd led the siege against the great monster at Mu Xiao Mountain three years ago?!

The memory of Fu Ling's face, filled with Killing Intent as she drew her Cloud Fire Arrow, flashed vividly in Bai Shuo's mind.

Why was A-Zhao mixed up with her?

"No need." Chong Zhao stood, placing an unopened porcelain vial on the table. "This humble one appreciates your kindness, my Lord, but please take the Spirit Medicine back."

"So afraid of being associated with a demoness like me, are you?" Fu Ling glanced at the vial, her smile self-deprecating. "Of course. The prodigy renowned across the Immortal Realm, personally selected by Jin Yao for celestial tutelage—such a bright future. Naturally, you'd want to draw a clear line."

"That's not it." As Fu Ling turned to leave, Chong Zhao spoke. She paused, looking back.

"Not it? How so?"

"Had you not protected me with your Spirit Blossom Armor in the Foreign City, I would have perished. My promise to you that day was no empty courtesy. It's just..." Chong Zhao hesitated. "Your feelings... I cannot accept them. Nor do I deserve to."

Fu Ling froze. Staring at him, she suddenly leaned in, catching Chong Zhao off guard. He stumbled back two steps, only for her to yank him forward until they were mere inches apart.

"So you knew." Fu Ling held his gaze, her breath warm against his ear as she whispered, "What? My feelings are unacceptable..."

Chong Zhao stiffened, about to push her away, when Fu Ling's voice dropped lower. "But you'd accept your childhood sweetheart's affections? Too bad her heart might belong to someone else..."

Chong Zhao's face darkened. Outside, as Fu Ling nearly pressed against him, Bai Shuo—distracted—accidentally nudged the window shutter.

Oh no, not again!

In that instant, a vine shot from the ceiling, ensnaring Bai Shuo just as she tried to bolt.

With a thud, she face-planted at their feet. Fu Ling's eyes turned icy as her demonic flower transformed into a Sword, thrusting downward."Stop!" Chong Zhao swung his immortal sword, severing the demonic vines. The straw hat fell away, revealing Bai Shuo's pitiful face.

"A-Shuo?!" Chong Zhao froze, inexplicably feeling a pang of guilt.

Bai Shuo immediately darted behind Chong Zhao. "A-Zhao, stay away from her!"

Fu Ling's expression turned even colder as she prepared to strike again, but Chong Zhao had already shielded Bai Shuo completely, giving Fu Ling a warning look. "Fu Ling, Demon Monarch, this is Phoenix Island."

Fu Ling paused, her hand trembling slightly. She cast a heavy glance at Chong Zhao before turning away with a flick of her sleeve.

Chong Zhao's gaze lingered on the medicine bottles and spirit herbs on the table, then shifted to Fu Ling's retreating figure. A fleeting look of remorse crossed his eyes, but he sighed and remained silent.

"A-Zhao, who is she really? How do you know her? What's this about a Spirit Soul Armor? What's going on..." Bai Shuo tore off the remaining vines and pressed close to Chong Zhao, firing questions rapidly.

"Why are you on Phoenix Island?" Chong Zhao interrupted.

The question only fueled Bai Shuo's frustration. "You're asking me? After I went through so much to help you in Yi City, you just left me there! And don't change the subject—that demoness is bad news. You should stay away—"

"She's Fu Ling, Second Palace Master of Cold Spring Palace. She saved my life," Chong Zhao stated bluntly.

"Second Palace Master of Cold Spring Palace? Why would she save you?"

"Years ago, when I left the capital to search for you, I stumbled upon her severely injured on the road and helped her. At the time, I didn't know she wasn't mortal. Half a year ago, I infiltrated the imperial city and was wounded by the Dragon Protection Array. She saved me again. Later, in Yi City, I learned she had planted a Spirit Soul Armor within me—it was that armor that withstood the Black Dragon's strike."

So that was why Fu Ling and A-Zhao had both appeared on Mu Xiao Mountain back then.

Bai Shuo paled at the memory and asked cautiously, "You went to the imperial city... for the Purple Star?"

Chong Zhao remained silent for a moment before replying, "A-Shuo, she's helped me multiple times. She means me no harm."

Bai Shuo grew anxious. "But she's still of the Yao Race, and Cold Spring Palace is known for its ruthlessness—"

"Is the Lord of Haoyue Hall not of the Yao Race? Does Cang Shan of Heavenly Fire have a spotless reputation?" Chong Zhao suddenly flared with anger. "Are you the only one allowed to befriend the Yao Race, to travel alongside them?"

Since ascending to immortality, Chong Zhao had always been calm and detached, never returning to the carefree exuberance of his youth. But Bai Shuo had never seen him this furious or heard such harsh words from him.

She froze, stammering, "A-Zhao..."

Chong Zhao regained his composure but turned away, unsure how to face Bai Shuo or voice the resentment and helplessness churning inside him.

He had grown up with her. He had always been the only one by her side. But what right did he have? His vengeance remained unfulfilled; he lacked even the strength to keep her safe...

His restrained expression, hidden in the candlelight, carried an inexplicable sorrow—one Bai Shuo couldn't see.

"I... I'm just a minor Loose Immortal. Even if my reputation is ruined and I make countless mistakes, the worst that can happen is I stop being an immortal," Bai Shuo's small voice broke the silence. "But you, A-Zhao, are destined for the Nine Heavens. I have to protect you. I didn't mean to hide the Lord of Haoyue Hall from you. I was afraid you'd worry, and I feared that if he regained his memories, he might pose a threat to Piaomiao. That's why I secretly brought him to South Sea City. I..."

Outside the Songhe Courtyard, a figure clad in red stood beneath the moonlight, the clouds and moons embroidered on his sleeves shimmering faintly. How long he had been there, no one knew.When Bai Shuo uttered those words, his gaze turned cold, and he vanished on the spot.

In the room, a sigh echoed before Bai Shuo could even raise her head. A pair of warm hands patted her head, carrying the familiar scent of Chong Zhao.

"He is the Lord of Haoyue Palace, a demigod of the Yao Realm. How many heads do you think you have to dare deceive him?"

"He's still my little disciple... By seniority, he should call you Senior Martial Uncle," Bai Shuo muttered.

Chong Zhao was nearly driven to laughter by her audacity. "Stop talking nonsense. He's already regained his memories now. Though I don’t know why he spared you in Yi City, you must never test his limits again. If he truly decides to kill you, not even ten Piaomiaos could protect you. Wait—you’ve got me so frustrated I forgot to ask. How did you even enter Phoenix Island?"

"It was Lord Qing Yi who brought me here."

"Qing Yi?" Chong Zhao was astonished. "Lord Qing Yi of Daze Mountain? How do you know him?"

"It's a long story... Oh no! How could I have forgotten about him!" Bai Shuo suddenly exclaimed, "A-Zhao, did you use your soul power when you entered the imperial city?"

"Yes, why?"

"There’s no time to explain. I have to go. Remember, no matter what, you must never use your soul power in front of Qing Yi. I’ll tell you everything after the banquet between the two clans."

Her expression changed abruptly as she hastily warned him before turning to flee.

"A-Shuo!"

Panting heavily, Bai Shuo rushed back to Jiuhua Pavilion. Pushing open the courtyard gate, she froze mid-step.

Beneath the towering ancient tree, the Lord of Daze Mountain stood facing her, as if he had been waiting.