Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Sixty-Nine

As the saying goes, familiarity breeds ease. When Bai Shuo once again touched the icy yet warm body beneath her, her eyes snapped open—only to meet that familiar face.

A pair of pitch-black eyes gazed heavily at her. It wasn’t Mu Mu.

Bai Shuo’s heart lurched, and she immediately began to stammer, “L-L-Lord… I-I…”

Flustered, she tried to push herself up, but her hand inadvertently pressed against the dark star at the very center of Fan Yue’s chest. His brow furrowed.

“I-I didn’t mean to!” Bai Shuo panicked even more, raising her hands as if electrocuted. The more flustered she became, the more she lost her composure. The moment her hands left his body, she collapsed onto Fan Yue’s chest again.

A muffled grunt escaped him—whether from pain or anger was unclear.

Bai Shuo gave up, not daring to move a muscle. Like a salted fish, she lay flat, resigned to her fate as she squeezed her eyes shut.

Whatever! It wasn’t the first time she’d courted death. Let him kill or slice her as he pleased!

“It hurts.” A low voice came from beneath her.

Bai Shuo froze, then snapped her eyes open. The person she was pinning down stared back at her, his gaze both aggrieved and slightly dazed.

She sprang up instantly, pulling the youth to his feet with overwhelming joy. “Mu Mu?!”

“Master, it’s me.”

Her little disciple called out to her obediently, his eyes never leaving hers for even a second.

Bai Shuo threw her arms around Fan Yue. “Thank goodness, you’re back!”

The youth stiffened slightly before lowering his gaze to the person in his arms. As he had done countless times before, he wrapped his arms around her.

“Yes, I’m back.”

The moment Fan Yue embraced her, Bai Shuo’s eyes stung with a surge of indescribable emotions.

Though only a few days had passed, it felt like an eternity since she had last seen her little disciple.

The candlelight flickered, casting their intertwined shadows across the silent hall, an undercurrent of warmth and tenderness unnoticed by anyone else.

“Oh! Let me take a look at you.” Bai Shuo suddenly remembered how her disciple had been gravely wounded by the evil Dragon in the stone hall. She hastily pulled away from Fan Yue, anxiously checking his face and hands. “Are your injuries healed?”

Watching her fuss, Fan Yue gently pressed her hands down. “Master, don’t worry. I’m fine.”

Only then did Bai Shuo belatedly notice Fan Yue’s bare torso—indeed, not a single scar remained.

The youth’s body was lean and well-proportioned, with a few strands of black hair falling across his chest, making it somehow difficult to look at directly.

The words praising the divine resilience of the great demon’s body died on Bai Shuo’s lips, forgotten in an instant. She also failed to notice that her usually gentle disciple had pressed her hands down with a newfound, unyielding assertiveness.

For some reason, seeing Bai Shuo so distracted, the youth’s lips curled slightly, his mood lifting.

“Master, I’m hungry.”

He suddenly leaned in close, his voice soft and pleading.

This untimely whiplash snapped Bai Shuo out of her daze. She blinked, realizing her disciple’s face was now mere inches away—and their fingers had somehow become entwined.

Her cheeks burned crimson as she shot up, only to slam her forehead into the nearby screen with a loud thud. She winced in pain.

“Owwww…”

A pair of hands promptly landed on her forehead, gently massaging the sore spot as a voice chided, “So reckless.”

The affectionate scolding was impossible to ignore. Bai Shuo looked up into her disciple’s faintly smiling face and suddenly felt a pang of unease. “Mu Mu?”

The hands on her forehead paused. The youth turned to her, his expression blank. “Hmm?”

Bai Shuo studied his innocent, gentle eyes and relaxed, pulling his hands away. “It’s nothing. Wait here, Master will make you something delicious!”Bai Shuo turned to leave but stumbled, unable to move forward. Looking down, she saw her little disciple clutching her sleeve.

Bai Shuo was puzzled, her face filled with obvious confusion.

"Master promised me something but didn’t keep her word."

The young boy lowered his eyes and suddenly spoke. Bai Shuo’s heart skipped a beat.

Here it comes…

Her little disciple was usually gentle and obedient, letting her tease and pinch him without complaint—except for this one thing she couldn’t defy.

She had promised not to abandon him, yet she had broken that vow—not only breaking her word but also burying him with her own hands.

"Mu Mu, I…" Bai Shuo opened her mouth, then lowered her head dejectedly, not daring to meet his eyes. "I was wrong—"

"You promised that once we left the strange city, you’d take me to eat my way through Nanhai City."

The boy’s slightly resentful voice cut her off.

Huh???

Bai Shuo looked up as if given a second chance at life and hurriedly reassured him, "Eat, eat, eat! Master promises you—once the banquet between the two clans is over, I’ll definitely take you to eat your way through Nanhai City!"

"No, it has to be now." The little disciple shook his head.

"Now?"

Fan Yue nodded.

"Go to Nanhai City tonight?" Bai Shuo was stunned. "Mu Mu, we’re on Phoenix Island right now. Nanhai City is thousands of miles away—"

"I can fly." The little disciple interrupted her, leaving no room for argument.

Bai Shuo hesitated. The grand banquet was the day after tomorrow, and she had promised Qing Yi that she would reveal the truth about the prime minister’s execution to A-Zhao before the banquet…

"Master?" Seeing her hesitation, the boy’s brows darkened as he called out softly.

Bai Shuo looked up. Her little disciple pressed his lips together, his eyes dim with disappointment.

Gritting her teeth, Bai Shuo quickly pulled a paper figure from her Qiankun Bag and instructed, "Tell A-Zhao to wait for me at Songhe Courtyard tomorrow night. I have something very important to tell him. Go!"

With a breath from Bai Shuo, the paper figure transformed into a streak of spiritual light and flew swiftly out the window.

With her semi-divine powers, traveling thousands of miles was a matter of moments. The banquet was still a day away—she could definitely make it back by tomorrow.

Fan Yue, who had been looking down, narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in his pupils as his fingers twitched. A wisp of spiritual Qi chased after the paper figure.

But before that coldness could fully spread, his hand was grasped.

"Let’s go, Mu Mu! Master will take you back to Nanhai City!"

Fan Yue looked up. The solemnity in Bai Shuo’s eyes—as if she had regained something precious—made him pause.

"Alright."

The little disciple smiled, lowering his hand. Under a distant tree, the spiritual Qi chasing the paper figure quietly dissipated.

In a flash of light, Fan Yue glanced out the window, then wrapped an arm around Bai Shuo’s waist, vanishing from the carefree pavilion.

Outside the window, Cang Shan and Tianhuo, who had been standing stiff as logs for half an hour, finally let out a long breath.

"Damn, I almost suffocated," Hua Hong gasped, rubbing his eyes. "That was painful to watch."

Cang Shan, silent, was about to fly off when the blacksmith grabbed him. "Where are you going?"

"She ruined the master’s refinement of the Bodhi Wood again. I need to stay by his side." Cang Shan’s brows were tightly furrowed.

"Idiot." Hua Hong rolled his eyes. "Do you really think our lord would stumble over the same thing twice?"

Cang Shan froze, his voice muffled. "But just now, the lord clearly turned back into—"

"Calling you a mountain bumpkin wasn’t wrong. Before this little ancestor even set foot on Phoenix Island, our lord had already refined the Bodhi Wood given by the Phoenix Emperor."

"Then why did the lord…?" Cang Shan pointed into the room, utterly confused.

"Use your brain, blockhead." Hua Hong couldn’t be bothered with the dense rock. Shaking his head, he gazed at the fading spiritual light in the sky."Yikes, with her temple master's temperament—always preferring action over words—this roundabout scheming is bound to make things difficult. Little half-immortal, you'd better pray for luck."

A flash of spiritual light, the clouds parted, and Bai Shuo finally felt solid ground beneath her feet.

"Mu Mu? Are we here?" Bai Shuo poked her head cheerfully out of Fan Yue's embrace, then froze at the sight before her.

The Southern Sea City was a place of ethereal Immortal Qi, where even at midnight, poetry recitals and zither music filled the air—a refined and scholarly haven. But this place was lined with taverns, adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations. The men striding through the streets were tall and burly, while the women wore flamboyant, alluring attire that exuded a wicked charm.

More importantly, this place reeked of Demonic Qi!

This was the Yao Realm!

Having spent years as a half-immortal, Bai Shuo at least had this much knowledge. She sucked in a sharp breath.

Why had they come to the Yao Realm? Could it be that Mu Mu...?

Before Bai Shuo could voice her suspicion, her little disciple's remorseful voice rang out.

"Master, I think I flew to the wrong place..."

Bai Shuo looked up to see her disciple biting his lip, gazing at her apologetically.

Her heart softened instantly, and all her suspicions shattered. She quickly reassured him, "It's fine, it's fine! You’ve never traveled far before. Wrong place or not, we still have time. We can just fly again—"

Before she could finish, her little disciple had already turned his curious gaze toward the bustling streets. "Master, where is this?"

Uh...

Bai Shuo was at a loss for words. She, too, had only been a half-immortal for a few years and had never even been to the Heavenly Palace, let alone the Yao Realm.

Frantic, she scanned their surroundings and spotted a flag fluttering atop the city wall in the distance. The words came to her lips unbidden: "Unfettered?"

"What?"

"This is Unfettered City," Bai Shuo gulped. "The legendary Yao Realm's foremost city of pleasure."

The Yao Race lived with a wild, unrestrained freedom in their bones—bold and untamed. The city reflected its people, and none were more infamous than Unfettered City. Rumors spoke of the Three Realms' finest wines, most enchanting dancers, and grandest gambling dens—a place of unbridled luxury and indulgence. Most importantly, this city had no ruler.

As long as one had spirit pearls, even the lowliest wandering demon could live like a king here. Even Immortals with unstable Dao Hearts could lose themselves in its temptations. It was said that many celestial beings had forsaken their nature, turning to the Yao Race just to revel in this city, never to return.

"Mu Mu..." Bai Shuo turned, only to find her little disciple's attention already glued to the lively streets.

Her words died in her throat. She studied Fan Yue. "Do you like it here?"

"Yes, Master. It's so lively. I’ve never seen a place this exciting before." Fan Yue tugged at Bai Shuo's sleeve. "Next time, will you bring me here to play?"

"Sure."

"Really? You can’t take it back once you promise!" The boy's eyes sparkled. "Let’s go, we should head back to Southern Sea City—"

He wrapped an arm around Bai Shuo's waist, ready to whisk her away.

"No, we’re not going back." Bai Shuo grabbed her disciple's hand instead.

"Huh?"

"We’ll play here. They have good food too."

Fan Yue blinked. "But this is the Yao Realm, Master. You’re an Immortal."

"Who cares! Come on, Mu Mu, let me show you the Three Realms' most exhilarating city!"

Bai Shuo pulled Fan Yue out from the street corner and plunged into the bustling crowd.

"Wow! Mu Mu, look! Such a beautiful sprite—it’s flying, it’s flying!"On the bustling streets of the Unfettered City, a procession of fragrant carriages moved leisurely. At the forefront, amidst a sky filled with pink bubbles, fluttered palm-sized sprites with butterfly wings that shimmered in iridescent hues, their delicate forms exuding charm and playfulness.

Bai Shuo, who had boldly vowed to show her young disciple the wonders of the Unfettered City, held a candied hawthorn stick in one hand and an osmanthus cake in the other. With her only free elbow, she nudged Fan Yue, looking every bit the country bumpkin who had never seen the world in eight hundred years.

A bubble floated toward Bai Shuo, and the sprite inside playfully blinked, even extending a tiny, rosy fingertip toward her. Overwhelmed by the unexpected gesture, Bai Shuo quickly stuffed the osmanthus cake into her mouth and stretched out her own finger in return.

Just as the butterfly sprite’s fingertip touched Bai Shuo’s, a sinister thread of blood silently crept from its fingers. Oblivious, Bai Shuo beamed as the little butterfly’s smile grew brighter—its eyes gleaming with sly triumph. Suddenly, the sprite’s finger froze. The blood thread disintegrated into dust before it could fully emerge. The butterfly shuddered, a scream trapped in its throat as Bai Shuo clasped its tiny hand wholeheartedly.

“Wow, so soft!”

Bai Shuo grinned, while the sprite looked up in terror, meeting a pair of icy, warning eyes. It stiffened, not daring to move.

Only after Bai Shuo had thoroughly squeezed and petted it to her satisfaction did the butterfly finally regain its freedom.

“Mu Mu, she likes me!” Bai Shuo called out excitedly, tilting her head back. “You should touch her too…”

But as she turned, the once docile butterfly sprite shot into the crowd like a startled monkey, vanishing in an instant.

“Uh…” Bai Shuo stood dumbfounded.

“Seems she didn’t like me much,” the youth remarked, pulling another osmanthus cake from the paper bag and placing it in Bai Shuo’s now-empty hand.

She took a bite. “Of course not. How could you compare to your Master, beloved by all, irresistible even to the Yao Race?”

Bai Shuo preened with pride as melodious zither music drifted over. Turning toward the sound, she saw a group of ethereal musicians in flowing white robes seated in the carriages, plucking strings and playing flutes, their features as exquisite as paintings, each one strikingly handsome.

Before Bai Shuo could utter another “Wow!”, her eyes widened further.

Behind the musicians, at the center of the procession, eighteen burly Yao men carried a hundred-foot-long mirror on their shoulders. Upon its surface, a dozen gauze-clad maidens swayed their slender waists, dancing in a drunken trance. Their fragrance wafted through the air, an intoxicating blend of perfume and allure that enchanted the entire city.

From the taverns and teahouses lining the streets, countless men and women of the Yao Race seemed to have been waiting for this moment. A storm of spirit pearls and crimson flowers rained down from both sides, accompanied by brazen shouts and unrestrained laughter, blanketing the mirror like snowflakes.

Countless spiritual lights flickered and danced upon the mirror’s surface as the Yao revelled in decadent splendor, indulging in pure, unbridled joy.

Having lived a simple and naive life for twenty years, Bai Shuo had never witnessed such a spectacle. She stood utterly dumbstruck.

Fan Yue plucked a candied hawthorn and popped it into Bai Shuo’s mouth. The sweetness snapped her out of her daze, and she murmured in awe,

“Mu Mu, being a Yao is truly wonderful.”

“They say the greatest pleasures of the world are beloved by the Demon Gods. Since even the gods indulge, the Yao Race has learned to emulate them perfectly,” Fan Yue chuckled, wiping the crumbs from Bai Shuo’s lips. “Master, they’re heading inside. Shall we join the fun?”

Bai Shuo snapped back to attention and hurriedly looked ahead. The fragrant carriages were slowly making their way to the end of the street, where a towering pagoda-like pavilion stood adorned with swaying lanterns and filled with laughter. Twelve strong men were now carrying the enchanting maidens from the mirror into the building.Seeing Fan Yue about to walk away, Bai Shuo inexplicably grabbed her little disciple's sleeve. "No!"

Fan Yue gave her a puzzled look.

"The Demon God's pleasures are for the Yao Race to inherit. We are Immortals, and the path of Dao is hard to cultivate. We shouldn't indulge too much." Bai Shuo cleared her throat, putting on a serious face.

"Master..." The little disciple dragged out the word, his face full of reluctance. "You just said how nice it is to be a demon."

Bai Shuo nearly choked, biting down hard on her candied hawthorn until her teeth creaked. She tugged at his sleeve and turned to leave. "What's improper shouldn't be seen. At such a young age, you're already picking up bad habits. What are you thinking about all day? Come on, let's go. Master will take you to eat something delicious."

Watching Bai Shuo charge ahead as if the pagoda building were a ferocious beast, Fan Yue couldn't help but smile, letting her pull him into the crowd.

The full moon rose high, and Unruly City seemed like a place where night never fell. Despite the late hour, the city was still filled with laughter and the aroma of wine.

Determined to dispel her disciple's "unholy thoughts," Bai Shuo dragged Fan Yue through half the city, eating at every stop. By the time she emerged from the last tavern, leaning against a pillar, she finally waved her hand. "No more, I can't eat another bite."

"Master, since you're full, let's go—"

"I can still fight!" Bai Shuo suddenly straightened up, eyes bright. "Where? Is there more food?"

Her shout was full of bravado, as if she were ready to sacrifice herself for the Dao, but the trembling of her fluffy fox ears gave her away. Unable to hold back any longer, the little disciple wrapped an arm around her waist and vanished from the tavern entrance.

When Bai Shuo's feet touched the ground again, she found herself facing a serene lake. The grass beneath her feet was soft, and the air was filled with a fresh fragrance. Reflected on the lake's surface was a small, purple crescent moon.

Though the full moon hung high in the sky, the reflection on the lake was a purple crescent. The noisy world suddenly fell silent. Bai Shuo stared at the lake, then rushed to the shore, turning to Fan Yue in astonishment.

"Mu Mu! Is this the Purple Moon Lake?"

Fan Yue nodded.

Before the ancient Divine Realm was sealed away, the Demon God Tian Qi had once dwelled in the Yao Realm of the lower Three Realms as the Serene Abyss Demon Lord for a thousand years. Back then, the Yao Realm was mostly barren land. Accustomed to the luxuries of the Divine Realm, the Demon God couldn't stand such desolation. Thus, wherever he stayed during those thousand years, divine traces were left behind. The countless Purple Moon Lakes, large and small, were his handiwork.

Legend had it that the purple moon reflected in the lake carried the breath of a god.

"How did you know there was a Purple Moon Lake in Unruly City?"

"The rabbit demon shopkeeper told me when I bought you osmanthus cakes earlier."

Bai Shuo was speechless. "You bought osmanthus cakes, and she told you about the Purple Moon Lake?"

"I gave her a spirit pearl. She must have been very pleased."

A spirit pearl?! What a spendthrift! Bai Shuo's eyes widened, her heart aching at the waste.

Without another word, she bent down, scooped up handfuls of lake water, and gulped several mouthfuls.

As the water flowed down her throat, Bai Shuo felt invigorated. Her muddled spirit instantly cleared, and even the lingering pain from offering her heart's blood in the foreign city dissipated.

Truly a gift from the gods! Delighted, Bai Shuo was about to dunk her entire head into the lake for a hearty drink when a pair of hands pulled her back.

Her little disciple looked at her helplessly. "Master, you're only a half-Immortal. Two mouthfuls of the Demon God's divine essence are enough."

"That was a spirit pearl!" Bai Shuo grumbled. "Only two mouthfuls? What a waste."

Seeing her disciple's disapproving expression, Bai Shuo pouted. "Fine, two mouthfuls it is."Bai Shuo glanced regretfully at the lake, then suddenly pulled her little disciple over to sit shoulder-to-shoulder with him by the shore.

Fan Yue was somewhat surprised, but took it in stride.

The two gazed into the distance. The purple moon rippled across the lake, its shimmering light reflecting countless stars in the vast, mysterious sky, creating an endless, dreamlike scene.

After who knows how long, Bai Shuo suddenly turned to look at her young disciple.

"Mu Mu."

"Hmm?"

"Once the grand banquet between the two clans is over, let's return to South Sea City. You wouldn't know this, but our house collapsed while you were gone. But don't worry, Master is quite capable—it's already been repaired..."

Fan Yue turned to look at her, his gaze lingering thoughtfully.

Bai Shuo, however, seemed oblivious, busily rummaging through her Qiankun Bag before pulling out two items and eagerly presenting them to Fan Yue. "Look what I've brought for you."

In her palm lay a small pouch of dried flowers and a tiny jar of water from the Jade Pool.

"These are all the treasures you've been saving for Master. I've kept them safe."

Fan Yue looked at the items in Bai Shuo's hand, his eyes as gentle as ever.

"Master, are you taking me home?"

"Mm!" Bai Shuo nodded vigorously.

"But..." Fan Yue raised his eyes to meet hers, his lips curling into a slow, icy smirk.

"This prince has no such desire."