The invisible haze over Merfolk Moon City grew denser, and the end of the Dragon Gate incident did not bring peace to the city.
Yun Heng took all the books from the secret chamber and the scattered papers around, planning to study them to see if she could find a use for the other jar of sacrificial offerings.
“The Demon Kings suggested proceeding with tomorrow’s grand ceremony as planned, saying it was to celebrate for me. Given the current situation, it’s better to cancel it to avoid implicating the innocent,” Bai Jiao said helplessly.
Despite all the upheavals, Bai Jiao figured many people would still want to stay in Merfolk Moon City and wait for the “blessing” from the sea. After all, when it came to things that could boost cultivation, many cultivators were willing to take risks.
If that demon struck when the city was most crowded, who knew how many casualties it would cause.
It was better to cancel it outright so they could focus on dealing with that deeply hidden demon.
“Wait a moment first.” Yun Heng signaled for Bai Jiao not to rush into canceling the ceremony. “Excessive caution will only put us in an extremely passive position.”
“But if we don’t cancel, everyone attending the celebration will be in danger,” Bai Jiao hesitated.
“They don’t need to bear that risk.” Yun Heng saw the confusion on her junior sister’s face, so she asked Wen Qiwu, “Do you remember the shadow puppet shows we played as kids?”
Wen Qiwu suddenly understood. “I remember!”
“You two sisters should consider this outsider a bit.” Bai Jiao anxiously told them not to speak in riddles.
Before explaining, Yun Heng first set up a barrier to prevent any “people” from eavesdropping.
A gentle breeze passed through the woods behind the City Lord Mansion, and aside from the rustling of leaves, there was no other sound.
…
Due to the early appearance of the Dragon Gate and the emergence of the True Dragon, Merfolk Moon City not only did not see fewer visitors because of the previous turmoil but even gained more.
Among them were people specially sent by various factions from the Cangwang Realm to visit her after hearing the news, so Bai Jiao hid in the inn to seek some peace.
On Bai Jiao’s tenth or so sigh, the innkeeper tapped her abacus on the table in front of her.
“The Demon Kings and the family heads of the great houses are searching everywhere for you. Why did you come here to sigh? If you sigh away all my prosperity, I’ll throw your bedding out.” Yan Yulan paused, then asked, “Has the demon cultivator issue not been resolved yet?”
As dusk fell, Bai Jiao did not return to the City Lord Mansion but came to the inn with Yun Heng and the others.
After arriving, she occupied Yan Yulan’s room. The innkeeper occasionally checked in and often heard the City Lord sighing.
Bai Jiao paused at her question and went silent for a moment before putting on a relaxed expression. “It’s nothing major.”
Whether Yan Yulan believed her or not, she gave Bai Jiao a deep look before asking, “What about the Immortal Venerable and Miss Wen?”
“Yun Heng was dragged back by her junior sister to take medicine.” Thinking of the earlier scene, Bai Jiao couldn’t suppress the amusement in her eyes. “I’ve never seen Yun Heng so obedient.”
“Indeed, she’s very different from the image I had in mind.” Who could have imagined that the legendary Immortal Venerable, known for being aloof and unapproachable, would personally cook pastries for her junior sister? And her skills were no worse than those of her own head chef.
“Her childhood self probably matched your expectations better. These past hundred-plus years… things have changed.” Bai Jiao sighed, standing by the window where she saw Gao Fu, the heir of the Gao Family, passing below.
She still needed to thank her for the care a few days ago.
“City Lord, what do you plan to do with that impostor? It’s wearing your body, after all.” Because it had seized the City Lord’s body, Yan Yulan was hesitant about how to handle it.
“A body that’s been possessed by something like that—I wouldn’t dare keep it. Just dispose of it directly, cleanly, so it doesn’t have a chance to transfer to someone else.” Bai Jiao decided on the spot, discarding her original body without hesitation.
“Got it.” The innkeeper also found the thing creepy; better to deal with it sooner.
“By the way, there’s also… the Gao Family of Dragon Lion City wants to do a business deal with us involving Dragon Scale Pearls. You go to Dragon Lion City and negotiate with the head of the Gao Family as soon as possible.”
Bai Jiao showed no unusual expression, but the innkeeper’s face grew colder.
“What, trying to send me away?”
“No, I didn’t mean…” Bai Jiao tried to cover it up, but seeing the knowing look in the innkeeper’s eyes, she let out a sigh of relief.
“The demon cultivator has its eyes on this place. Yun Heng guesses the enemy might still be holding back some scheme, and I think it’s highly likely. Now that Merfolk Moon City is targeted, why don’t you go stay in Dragon Lion City for a while? Come back after we’ve handled things here,” she explained.
The innkeeper let out a mocking huff. “If you and the Immortal Venerable can’t protect this city, then where in the Vast Sea Domain or even the Cangwang Realm would be safe?”
That made sense, but Bai Jiao had her own worries. “If Yun Heng’s condition returned to how it was over a hundred years ago, that would be fine, but now…”
“I’ve heard some rumors before, saying she was gravely injured in the Immortal-Demon War, and some even more outlandish ones claim she fell to heart demons because of unrequited love. Most are just gossip, but I’m afraid there really is something wrong with Yun Heng’s body.”
“Rumors?” Yan Yulan raised the corner of her mouth meaningfully. “I don’t think so.”
“Not rumors?” Bai Jiao shook her head with a smile. “You don’t understand. I know Yun Heng best. Though she didn’t cultivate the Heartless Dao, that blockhead is no different from someone on the Heartless Dao.”
She spoke with full confidence, but Yan Yulan looked at her with a half-smile, and Bai Jiao realized she wasn’t joking.
Yan Yulan said, “I’ve heard more rumors than you. I suspect… the person the Immortal Venerable holds in her heart is that junior sister of hers.”
Bai Jiao choked on her own saliva, coughing for a good while before catching her breath. “Impossible, right? Those two…”
Before she finished, Bai Jiao recalled the intimacy between the two that went beyond ordinary master-sister bonds. With the innkeeper’s reminder, all the oddities she’d noticed suddenly made sense.
“But they’re master and sister!” Bai Jiao blurted out instinctively.
Yan Yulan’s expression shifted slightly as she asked softly, “Do you, like those worldly fools, think they shouldn’t be together?”
Bai Jiao was stunned for a moment before waving it off. “I’m not one of those rigid types. I just think… Yun Heng said she was raising a child, but she ended up raising herself a Dao companion! When did that blockhead get so scheming?”
“She couldn’t have warned me earlier. No wonder Yun Heng looked like she wanted to chop off my hand when I wanted to pet that fluffy little one.” Bai Jiao leaned back in the bamboo chair, clicking her tongue in wonder. “I thought that blockhead was the most suited for the Heartless Dao. Who knew the one she fell for was her own junior sister.”
“You don’t mind?” Yan Yulan sat beside her, idly fiddling with her abacus, her downcast eyes hiding her emotions.
“What’s there to mind? I know what you’re thinking. The Demon Race doesn’t have all those rules and restrictions.” Bai Jiao said nonchalantly.
A genuine smile finally appeared in Yan Yulan’s eyes. “Then you’d better stay away from Miss Wen from now on. The Immortal Venerable’s jealousy is no joke.”
“You’re right.” Bai Jiao nodded helplessly. If she’d known earlier about their possible relationship, she wouldn’t have glanced twice at that fluffy dumpling, no matter how tempting.
After all, she didn’t want to be chased to the other end of the Vast Sea Domain by someone again.
Wen Qiwu, whom the two were gossiping about, suddenly felt her nose itch. She saw specks of ash drifting in from outside, so she poked her head out to look. Someone outside was burning paper, probably to commemorate those who died in the incident.
The ash floated into the air, smelling acrid. Hearing Yun Heng cough lightly twice, Wen Qiwu immediately closed the window.
“Senior Sister, the Medical Immortal has passed the treatment method to me. She instructed that we must complete the first round before midnight.” Wen Qiwu pressed her senior sister onto the bed.
Yun Heng lightly wrapped her arms around her waist. The Night Pearl beside them emitted a soft glow, and from this angle, she appeared soft and somewhat obedient.
“Okay.”
Wen Qiwu’s brows curved in a smile. “I’ve confirmed with the Medical Immortal. The treatment will hurt a little, and tonight, you might be affected by the curse and ‘see’ some bad things because of it. So, Senior Sister, you must remember—I’m always by your side.”
“The aftereffects will weaken day by day, and it should completely disappear in about seven days.” As Wen Qiwu prepared the ritual tools needed for the treatment, she explained.
Yun Heng recalled the nightmares artificially induced and the events that followed. She pursed her lips tightly, her arms tightening slightly around her.
After a moment of contemplation, she took out a chain—an immortal artifact she had forged herself. It was more than enough to bind a Golden Immortal, and even a regular True Immortal Realm cultivator, but to bind herself, it might need more reinforcements.
“Qiwu, in a bit, I’ll set some restrictions on this. You tie me up with it first to prevent me from accidentally hurting you.” Yun Heng placed the immortal artifact in Wen Qiwu’s hands.
Yun Heng showed no mercy to herself, setting restriction after restriction, each more powerful than the last. Any attempt to break free would trigger them all. But without this, Yun Heng could close her eyes and recall nearly stabbing her junior sister with her sword.
“No need to tie, no need. The Medical Immortal said you’ll only have nightmares, nothing as severe as before, so no need to worry.” Though Wen Qiwu only recognized a few of the restrictions, they were already terrifying enough to make her heart race.
“Better to prepare in advance, just in case.” Heart Demons were unpredictable, and Yun Heng wouldn’t gamble with her junior sister’s safety, so she was unusually stubborn on this.
Seeing the vulnerability in her senior sister’s eyes, Wen Qiwu felt a dense ache in her heart. To reassure her senior sister and proceed with the treatment, Wen Qiwu had no choice but to bind Yun Heng with the chain first, then ignite the Phoenix Fire.
The Phoenix Fire was the most crucial part of the Medical Immortal’s treatment method. When passing the message to Wen Qiwu, she had even mocked that demon cultivator, saying it probably never dreamed there was still a living Phoenix in the world.
The process of gradually removing the afflicted areas did hurt. It felt like using a small knife to slowly carve out the polluted parts of the soul— not unbearable, but torturous.
Yun Heng’s face turned deathly pale. She bit her teeth without crying out, but Wen Qiwu still noticed her whole body trembling.
In a haze, Yun Heng vaguely heard her junior sister say she could bite her if it hurt. She slightly opened her eyes and lightly kissed her junior sister’s fair neck.
