Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Seventy

"I refuse."

Four icy words, and Bai Shuo's heart turned to ice.

Her little disciple hadn't vanished, but he would never return.

The Hedonistic Unfettered City had no master, yet it lay at the edge of the Yao Realm. Who but a demigod could arrive in an instant?

The Illusory Demon Butterflies were born bloodthirsty. If they hadn’t been wary, why would they have spared her?

The Violet Moon Lake was a divine relic of the Demon God, existing only in legends for millennia. For a mere rabbit spirit to know its location was nothing short of a joke.

She had always known he was Fan Yue, not Mu Mu—but what if?

A-Zhao was already an Upper Immortal. He was bound for the Nine Heavens Palace, embarking on an immortal journey spanning countless millennia. The path she could walk with him ended here.

A half-immortal like Bai Shuo could only live a hundred years. What if her Mu Mu had been willing to spend a few decades with her as carefree master and disciple in Nanhai City?

Alone and unaccompanied, she had traveled thousands of miles to Phoenix Island, mustering all her courage for one desperate gamble—and she had lost.

The moment she chose to awaken the Lord of the Bright Moon Hall in that foreign stone palace, she should have known her little disciple would never come back.

Bai Shuo lifted her head in a daze, meeting a pair of coldly furious eyes.

"To save Chong Zhao, you deceived me into forming a Divine Soul contract with you. To protect Piaomiao, you coaxed me into playing the role of a helpless Spirit Monster."

"No, I didn’t—" Bai Shuo stammered in panic.

"Master? Nanhai City?"

Fan Yue let out a derisive laugh, flicking his sleeve. The flower pouch and the water from the Jade Pool in Bai Shuo’s hands fell to the ground. Her face paled.

Fan Yue stepped forward, his cold fingers gripping her chin. "A mere half-immortal, daring to play me for a fool. Bai Shuo, who do you think you are?"

Even at the peak of his fury, the Lord of the Bright Moon Hall's eyes remained indifferent.

A torrent of words clogged Bai Shuo’s chest, but she couldn’t utter a single one. Before she could speak again, a flash of light blurred her vision—Fan Yue had taken her away from the Violet Moon Lake.

Lascivious music flooded her ears, the clamor of revelry overwhelming. By the time Bai Shuo regained her senses, she stood on unfamiliar steps.

Crystal lamps illuminated the hall, while jade and spirit stones paved the floor. The sheer opulence before her eyes left Bai Shuo stunned. Just then, raucous laughter rose from below. She glanced down.

Burly demon lords filled the first floor, their greedy gazes fixed on the center. On a massive mirror, young maidens danced gracefully, one by one being chosen and pulled into embraces amid coquettish laughter.

The Unfettered City? That pagoda tower? Why had the great demon brought her here?

"In Nanhai City, do you remember what you made me do?"

The icy voice whispered in her ear. Bai Shuo froze. The scene of her little disciple frowning as he was surrounded by female immortals at the fortune-telling stall, while she cheerfully collected spirit pearls, overlapped eerily with the spectacle before her.

No way… A strange unease twisted in Bai Shuo’s gut. Surely the great demon didn’t mean to—

"N-no, I don’t remember," Bai Shuo stuttered.

"Don’t remember? Shall I remind you?"

"N-no need!" Bai Shuo’s scalp prickled. She turned to flee but was blocked by the figure behind her on the steps.

"Do you know why this place is called the Unfettered City?" A strangely sinister voice brushed against her neck, sending a chill down her spine. Bai Shuo momentarily lost herself.

"Why?"

"Because here, there are no rules. Everything can be taken—that’s what ‘unfettered’ means."

Before Bai Shuo could process his words, she was suddenly lifted and hurled downward.

"Ahhhhh!"

A gust of wind swept past—thud! A bundle crashed onto the mirror. The dancing maiden shrieked and scrambled aside. When she saw what lay in the center, her fear turned to curiosity.The hall fell silent as the gathered Yao Race members stared in astonishment at the tiny creature on the mirror surface, unable to suppress their exclamations.

"A fox!"

Bai Shuo felt dizzy. When she opened her eyes, everything seemed towering above her, with pairs of greedy eyes looking down.

"What in the world?!" She tried to speak, but only a soft "chirp" came out.

Bai Shuo was dumbfounded. Looking down at the polished mirror surface, she saw a plump little snow-white fox, the jade flute around its neck swaying heavily.

She reached out, and the little fox extended its paw. Losing balance, it tumbled onto the mirror, all four paws in the air.

Looking up, the little fox widened its eyes to see the red-robed Hall Master of Haoyue lazily seated on the ruby-cast recliner at the far end of the second floor.

At the sight of the occupied ruby chair, the hall's occupants stood in unison, bowing to Fan Yue.

"Greetings, Tower Master."

While the Unfettered City had no official ruler, everyone knew the owner of this ruby chair in the Unfettered Tower was its underground king. None had seen the Tower Master's true face—this throne was his symbol.

Fan Yue massaged his temples as his hoarse voice echoed:

"Nothing serious. This white fox is for your entertainment. The first to take the jade flute from her neck keeps her."

Silence gripped the tower before erupting into thunderous cheers.

Only Bai Shuo's eyes widened, her fur bristling.

Damn black-hearted miser!

Foxes held exalted status among the Yao Race. While Unfettered City hosted all manner of Spirit Monsters, fox hunting was taboo—capturing a white fox would become the city's legend for a decade!

The gathered demons, all lawless scoundrels, needed no further prompting. One immediately lunged toward the mirror.

The gust of wind made Bai Shuo's fur stand on end. Accustomed to two legs, maneuvering with four paws proved disastrous.

Her tiny paws barely lifted when she slipped on the smooth surface, comically face-planting.

"Oh dear, careful!" Nearby girls watched with tender concern, yearning to cuddle the little fox.

The figure on the jade throne sipped wine indifferently, expressionless.

Having observed countless Human Immortals and demons, Fan Yue knew none matched the cunning of this half-immortal named Bai Shuo.

Perhaps luck intervened—her fall made the first attacker miss. As he turned, five or six others blocked him on the mirror.

Soon, demonic energies clashed amid flashing sabers and swords. What began as dancers' competition became a battle of spiritual prowess, with the little fox dodging through the Killing Intent-filled chaos, stealing glances at the throne.

Yet its occupant remained unmoved, watching like a spectator.

The fox's eyes dimmed—until another demon seized an opening, his whip lashing toward Bai Shuo's neck in the corner.

The Tower Master had specified taking the flute, not sparing lives. This killer demon cared little for an unshaped fox—today's victor would be Unfettered City's hero.

Distracted, Bai Shuo only noticed when girls gasped—the whip's Killing Intent had pinned her. Wide-eyed, she watched death descend.On the jade throne, Fan Yue, who had been idly toying with his wine cup, suddenly paused, his pupils darkening.

On the mirror-like surface, the chaotic demonic energy from the battling demons unexpectedly coalesced into a single force and surged toward the sneaky demon lord. Countless weapons tangled together, forcibly knocking away the whip that had been descending toward Bai Shuo’s head.

The demons turned their heads, seeing someone had taken advantage of the chaos. Their eyes reddened, and without a word, they united in righteous fury to gang up on the dishonorable demon lord.

The killing intent around Bai Shuo dissipated. In the same instant the demons resumed their brawl, she swiftly sprang up. The women gasped in surprise, and the demons turned to see the little fox, who had seemed so clumsy moments ago, now leaping gracefully across the mirror’s surface. Like a gust of wind, she dashed toward the jade steps and landed before the red jade couch.

Such speed, such agility! The hall fell into stunned silence. The demons’ lips twitched—truly as cunning as a fox!

Before they could process this, another sudden change occurred. Under the gaze of the entire hall, the little white fox reached up with her paw, pulled the jade flute from around her neck, and unceremoniously pressed it into the hands of the Unrestrained Tower’s master.

What had the master said earlier?

Whoever was the first to take the jade flute from the little fox’s neck would claim her as their own.

Now, the flute was in the Unrestrained Tower master’s hands.

All eyes turned toward the figure on the red jade throne.

A flicker of surprise passed through Fan Yue’s indifferent gaze. He lowered his eyes to see the pitiful little fox pressing the flute firmly into his hand, staring up at him with wide eyes, her paw-like pads trembling slightly.

Suddenly, the Lord of the Bright Moon Palace realized that the suffocating weight in his chest since his awakening had dissipated—just like that, so simply.

This half-immortal, said to possess a heart of seven exquisite facets—such a description was almost an insult to her.

How could there be something in this world so clever and utterly endearing?

A pity she wasn’t his.

Bai Shuo struggled to keep her tiny paws steady. If not for fear of losing face, her tail would have been wagging furiously.

But the Lord of the Bright Moon Palace merely watched her with amusement, giving no reaction at all.

Even this wasn’t enough? Fine, she’d go all out. Dignity was something she’d never had anyway.

Bai Shuo gritted her teeth, her tail about to shoot up—

Suddenly, the world spun. Amidst the collective gasp of the hall, she was lifted by a pair of slender hands and settled into a cool embrace.

“She is mine now. Tonight, the Unrestrained Tower feasts the entire city. Enjoy yourselves.”

The lazy voice rang out from the top of the jade steps. Before the demons could react, the figure on the red jade throne—and the fox—had vanished.

On the glazed mirror surface, the demons who had been fighting tooth and nail moments ago now exchanged bewildered glances. Before they could even curse, soft laughter filled the air as enchanting maidens pressed close, and seductive music wove through the revelry. With beauties in their arms and the Unrestrained Tower’s pleasures at their fingertips, the absurd scramble from moments ago became nothing more than a passing joke.

With a soft thud, the little white fox landed on a patch of soft grass. The purple moon rippled on the lake’s surface, as though the extravagant, heated farce had never happened.

“Stingy! Black-hearted—” The little fox’s indignant outburst was cut short as she suddenly realized her furious voice echoed conspicuously in the quiet lakeside. Wide-eyed, she clapped a paw over her mouth.

Oh no—when had she turned human again?!

“Why stop?”

Fan Yue leaned against a tree, his crimson robes fluttering in the wind. His lazy, indifferent gaze was unexpectedly mesmerizing, and he actually seemed to be in a decent mood.

Bai Shuo stared for a second before snapping back to reality, lowering her eyes demurely. “Lord of the Palace.”

The man beneath the tree glanced at her, arched a brow, then turned and walked away without another word.

…What just happened?"L-Lord!" Bai Shuo bounded over to Fan Yue in a few quick steps, grabbing his sleeve in confusion. "Where are you going?"

Fan Yue turned back with an odd look, answering as if it were the most natural thing in the world. "Naturally, I'm returning to the Phoenix Island of the Wutong Tree."

Seeing him travel-ready with light gear, Bai Shuo pointed at herself dumbfounded. "Then... what about me?"

Fan Yue narrowed his eyes, summoning a jade flute into his palm. "You chose to become part of the Moonlight Palace yourself."

Was this great demon planning to abandon her in the Yao Realm?

"No!" The words burst from Bai Shuo's lips. "I have to go back."

"Go back?" Fan Yue's voice turned icy. "Piaomiao has already cast you out. What difference does it make for a half-immortal like you between South Sea City and Moonlight Palace?"

"I... I..." Bai Shuo stammered, inexplicably unable to voice that she wanted to return for A-Zhao when facing Fan Yue's piercing gaze.

"Ah, this lord remembers now..." Fan Yue's tone grew colder as he leaned down, his lips curling into a mocking smile as he stared at Bai Shuo. "You made a promise with that Chong Zhao."

"I..." Sweat beaded on Bai Shuo's forehead as she desperately grabbed Fan Yue's wrist. "My lord, I'm willing to return to Moonlight Palace with you. But before the grand banquet of the two clans, I must see A-Zhao once. There's something very important..."

Before she could finish, her chin was seized in a painful grip. The previously gentle Moonlight Palace Lord now regarded her with utter disdain.

"You're willing? Bai Shuo, do you truly believe this lord keeps you by my side out of kindness?"

Bai Shuo froze.

"After humiliating and toying with this lord so thoroughly, killing you would be too merciful. What do you take Moonlight Palace for? Someplace you can come and go as you please?"

Fan Yue's eyes were utterly cold, as if the person who had held her protectively in the Unrestrained Tower moments ago had been someone else entirely.

"No, I need to go back because—"

Bai Shuo rushed to explain, but Fan Yue had no patience for her excuses. With a flick of his wrist, he erected a barrier before her.

"Great Demon! What are you doing?" Bai Shuo lunged toward Fan Yue but was blocked by the barrier, falling hard to the ground with a thud.

Fan Yue's brow furrowed slightly as he turned away, his voice frigid. "Stay put. This lord will return in a day's time."

"No, Great Demon, I promised—"

Before Bai Shuo could finish, Fan Yue had already shot into the sky, transforming into a streak of light that vanished toward the horizon.

"Great Demon! Fan Yue!" Bai Shuo scrambled to her feet and threw herself at the barrier, only to be flung back to the lakeside once more.

Her face etched with anxiety, Bai Shuo watched as the figure by the Purple Moon Lake gradually shrank to a distant speck under the moonlight.