Moonlit Reunion

"You haven't seen the Demon Market yet, have you? Why don't I take you there today?"

With these words from Wu Zhen, Mei Zhuyu found himself being led to the Demon Market. As they approached the eastern district gate, Mei Zhuyu hesitated slightly, "Will there be any trouble if I enter the Demon Market?" From what he knew, the Chang'an Demon Market wasn't so easy to enter.

But Wu Zhen waved off his concerns carelessly, "No problem at all. Nothing will happen with me bringing you in."

Just before entering the market district, a mischievous idea popped into Wu Zhen's head. She glanced sideways at her husband and said with a smile, "Husband, you usually conceal your spiritual energy and appear like an ordinary person. But this is the Demon Market—I'm afraid some ignorant little demons might disrespect you. Why don't you drop the pretense and openly display your power?"

Mei Zhuyu frowned, "That might not be appropriate. It could cause chaos..." After all, his spiritual energy came from orthodox Taoist practices, fundamentally different from demonic energy. Entering the Demon Market like this would undoubtedly attract attention.

Wu Zhen, however, simply wanted to scare the demons for some entertainment and wouldn't be dissuaded. She stepped forward, took Mei Zhuyu's arm, and gave it a gentle shake while looking up at him with sparkling eyes. Soon, the 'inappropriate' became 'appropriate.'

The eastern Demon Market had twelve guardian Demon Generals who usually took the form of twelve-zhang-tall golden statues standing guard on either side of the district gate. Only when a powerful intruder appeared would they intervene—for weaker intruders, these esteemed generals wouldn't even bother opening their eyes, as the ordinary demons in the market could easily handle them.

In recent years, the Chang'an Demon Market had become increasingly peaceful, with no major incidents for a long time. The Demon Generals had been asleep for so long that grass had even begun growing on their golden bodies. On this day, however, they sensed an intrusion of pure spiritual energy that clashed with the demonic aura of the market. The energy jolted them awake, and their eyes snapped open simultaneously. One general, with eyes as large as bronze bells, roared angrily before even seeing who had arrived, "Who dares to cause trouble in the Demon Market?!"

Before his voice faded, a woman's laughter rang out, "What's all the shouting for? So loud it's deafening."

The enormous Demon General looked down to see the little Cat Official—notorious for tormenting demons without mercy—standing at his feet, smiling up at him. The sight of that smile immediately made his head ache, bringing back memories of the days when the Cat Official had harassed him so badly he'd wanted to burrow into the ground to escape.

Then he noticed the source of the pure spiritual energy that had startled him and the other generals awake—it was the man whose hand the Cat Official was holding.

The guardian Demon Generals exchanged glances, the small trees growing on their heads swaying like weeds as they turned. After a moment of silence, one hesitantly asked, "Cat Official, may we ask who this beside you is...?"

Wu Zhen had been waiting for this question. She proudly pulled Mei Zhuyu back a couple of steps, presenting him for their inspection, and announced, "This is my husband. I got married recently, so I brought him here to introduce him to everyone."

Who would dare marry the Cat Official? Weren't they afraid of being tormented to death?! The Demon Generals' eyes widened in unison. Then, noticing the profound spiritual energy emanating from Mei Zhuyu, they suddenly understood—with such cultivation, no wonder he dared to marry the Cat Official. Truly, only the boldest could handle her.

Hand in hand, the couple walked past the intense scrutiny of the Demon Generals and entered the market, immediately causing another uproar of chaos and commotion.The demons living in the Demon Market were startled on this day when they sensed the approaching aura of a Taoist priest. At first, they thought a priest had barged into the Demon Market to slaughter them, turning their heads in shock—only to become even more astonished in an instant.

Some demons knew the Cat Official had married, but very few knew who exactly that person was. So when they saw the Cat Official intimately holding hands with a man, her expression soft and gentle, how could they not be shocked?

Upon realizing that the terrifying priestly aura came from someone the Cat Official had brought, the demons' fear lessened slightly, but their curiosity grew even stronger.

Life had been too peaceful lately, leaving the demons bored. Now that something interesting had finally happened, whether they were eating in shops or playing at home, they all rushed out to line both sides of the street. Some peeked from shop windows and doors, while others crowded along second-floor railings to watch the spectacle. In mere moments, the entire market district was packed with demons, their faces alight with curiosity.

Mei Zhuyu had indeed encountered many demons before. Due to his unique constitution, malevolent demons had sought to devour him since childhood. Having survived this long, he had naturally slain many who coveted him. Yet even he had never seen so many demons gathered in one place at the same time.

Observing them—the weasel demons in short jackets with sweat towels around their necks, peering about; the rabbit demons adorned with hairpins and wearing vibrant floral skirts; the mountain rat demons in straw hats hauling large sacks of goods onto carts; the flower demons wrapped in blooming vines, timidly watching from behind trees—if not for their slightly unusual features, they hardly differed from ordinary people one might see in the eastern and western districts.

Wu Zhen felt no shame for startling the demons like this. On the contrary, she strode down the center of the street with heightened enthusiasm, loudly introducing the man beside her to the onlookers. Waves of astonished exclamations and awed murmurs followed, then erupted into buzzing discussions—the two of them becoming the absolute center of attention.

Under the scrutiny of so many demonic gazes, Mei Zhuyu grew somewhat uncomfortable. He lifted his eyes to meet their assessing stares. Immediately, silence fell wherever his gaze landed. The demons froze in place, intimidated by his spiritual energy. As his eyes swept the area, the surroundings grew noticeably quieter.

He remained silent throughout, while Wu Zhen only smiled brighter, glancing between the dumbstruck demons and the man beside her.

However, as the crowd of onlookers continued to swell, Wu Zhen suddenly halted. Her smile vanished as she scanned the surroundings, her voice turning stern. "Today, I've brought my husband to introduce to all of you. Why do you all seem... less than pleased?"

The long-time residents of the Demon Market recognized her expression and knew trouble was brewing. Immediately, a white-bearded old demon chuckled nervously, "No, no, of course we're delighted! Anyone esteemed by the Cat Official is an honored guest of ours. This humble one runs a shop—our mountain delicacy soup is quite passable. If the Cat Official has time, perhaps you and your husband could stop by for a bowl."

Following the shrewd old Polygonum demon's lead, the others quickly joined in, and soon the street was alive with enthusiastic invitations.

The cleverest among them, noticing Wu Zhen's affectionate attitude toward Mei Zhuyu, even rushed forward to present gifts—thrusting a ginseng root as thick as a forearm into Mei Zhuyu's hands with the casual enthusiasm of a farmer offering a radish.What followed was another bout of chaos. Mei Zhuyu had barely taken five steps before his hands were inexplicably filled with various items. Seeing his arms already full, some latecomers simply hung their offerings on his shoulders.

Without a single chance to refuse, he was soon draped like a festooned tree. For the first time, Mei Zhuyu realized that demons could be this enthusiastic.

Of course, some demons disapproved of the Taoist priest and muttered under their breaths, "Why fawn over him like this? It's embarrassing for demons."

But they dared not speak too loudly. If overheard, not only might the seemingly formidable priest take offense and act against them, but even the Cat Official might take displeasure and make their lives miserable if she heard.

Best not to provoke.

Seeing her husband instantly weighed down and struggling to move, Wu Zhen stifled a laugh and finally intervened, "Take back whatever you've stuffed on him. Do you think he won't get tired carrying all this?"

The demons: "..." So, it seems the Cat Official is smitten. Wait—looking again at the priest's face, "beauty" hardly fits. If anything, it's the priest who's smitten by beauty.

Pulling Mei Zhuyu free from the demon crowd, Wu Zhen led him into Yan Tower. Inside, the clamor faded, and the intense gazes disappeared.

Wu Zhen's deputy, Huzhu, sat upstairs, a crimson sleeve draped over the railing. Seeing the couple arrive hand in hand, she smiled coyly, her voice sweet and soft, "Cat Official~ Why have you brought Mei-langjun here~"

As a fox spirit, her natural charm was irresistible even without intent. A single lean or smile from her was enough to enchant.

Mei Zhuyu and Wu Zhen looked up at her. Mei Zhuyu had met her before and knew she was one of Wu Zhen's deputies. He also recalled rumors he'd heard—that Wu Zhen preferred the company of courtesans skilled in music and dance over men, especially the famed Huzhu, whom she often took on outings.

Huzhu suddenly stiffened, her hair standing on end. She felt a chill under Mei Zhuyu's sharp gaze, bewildered as to why he was glaring at her. Had she somehow offended him? Remembering the priest's ruthless demeanor when slaying the Plague God, she instinctively straightened her posture and schooled her expression into seriousness.

Only then did Mei Zhuyu look away.

Wu Zhen, observing their exchange, nearly laughed aloud, guessing exactly why her husband had reacted that way.

Coincidentally, her other deputy, Shengun (The Charlatan), was also present. Usually, he disguised himself as ordinary-looking elders, children, or burly men, but today he had taken the form of a delicate youth. Wu Zhen greeted him with familiar warmth, but before he could ask why she was being so affectionate today, he noticed Mei Zhuyu's gaze lingering on him—those eyes...

Shengun immediately stood, clutching his divination tools, and muttered as he hurried out, "Today's reading foretells calamity! I must stay far from the Cat Official to avoid it. Farewell for now!"

Liu Taizhen was also there, still writing in her usual spot upstairs. When Wu Zhen and Mei Zhuyu approached, she didn't even glance up, her tone icy. "You've stirred up the Demon Market into such a frenzy. Happy now?"

Wu Zhen: "Very."Liu Taizhen snorted, put down her brush, and raised her head. When her gaze met Mei Zhuyu's, both pairs of eyes held the same aloofness and scrutiny. She pulled a seal from her sleeve and tossed it to Wu Zhen, saying coldly, "Use it quickly and return it to me as soon as you're done."

Wu Zhen grinned. "As expected, Little Snake knows me best!" She had specifically brought her husband here to get this seal stamped. With both the Cat Official's and the Snake Lord's seals, he would be able to freely enter and exit the Demon Market in the future.

Taking Mei Zhuyu's hand, Wu Zhen pressed Liu Taizhen's seal onto the back of his hand. The golden mark shimmered briefly before vanishing. She tossed the seal back to Liu Taizhen, then pulled another seal from her own sleeve. After glancing around and hesitating for a moment, she suddenly reached out, pulled open Mei Zhuyu's collar, and stamped the seal just below his collarbone, near his chest.

Liu Taizhen's lips twitched. She lowered her head and resumed writing, unable to hold back her irritation as she snapped, "Get out. Don't stand there being an eyesore."

She was practically blinded.