Chapter 53: “You Have to Pledge Yourself in Marriage.”

Bi Lan couldn’t remember the last time she had run like this.

She ran until sweat soaked her clothes, until she was completely out of breath.

All because she had accidentally glimpsed an incredibly familiar figure within the crowd.

In a panic, she sprinted down the long street, glancing left and right at the intersection.

The surrounding scenery and the passing cultivators swirled around her in circles.

It was as if she forgot she knew the Divination Art, that she was best at searching. When the street branched into several different paths, she didn’t dare delay a single moment, choosing one based purely on instinct.

Luckily, her luck was good enough.

The figure reappeared in her view, and her steps grew faster, more urgent.

“Sister Mu!” Bi Lan shouted, grabbing one of the figure’s hands from behind.

The figure turned back, revealing an unfamiliar face.

The stranger looked at Bi Lan with shock and suspicion, her tone impatient. “Who the hell are you?”

Bi Lan froze on the spot, then awkwardly released her hand. “S-sorry, I mistook you for someone else.”

Perhaps the disappointment in Bi Lan’s eyes was too stark, because the scolding words on the stranger’s lips were swallowed back down. She just flicked her sleeve and turned away. “Be more careful.”

As the stranger’s back gradually retreated into the distance, Bi Lan finally came to her senses.

Focusing her gaze, she saw that this woman’s back only resembled the one in her memory in build. Their auras were completely different.

A single leaf had blinded her, clouding her judgment, causing her to mistake the person.

Bi Lan was utterly despondent.

On the upper floor of a nearby pavilion, a woman stood by the window, quietly observing this scene for a long time.

A companion also stepped onto the landing and approached her from behind. “Why have you stopped? What are you looking at?”

The woman lowered the bamboo blinds, retracting her gaze. “Nothing,” she said flatly.

Her cold, prickly, distant attitude made her companion shake their head helplessly. They advised, “When you meet the esteemed guest soon, you must rein in that temper of yours a little.”

The woman walked forward on her own, leaving only a proud, unyielding silhouette for her companion.

The companion sighed and couldn’t help but mutter under their breath, “Xuanyuan Mu, you are no longer the eldest daughter of the Xuanyuan family.”

Whether the woman heard or not, she never looked back.

·

Yan Zhao clutched a rope, walking slowly down the streets of the Immortal Market.

She looked left, looked right, carefully searching for the Immortal Alliance stronghold.

The stronghold was too hidden. She had already been searching for a full half-hour and still hadn’t found the place to exchange the bounties.

Passersby around her halted, faces full of shock.

Someone was committing violence in broad daylight? And the perpetrator was a young girl with a face as fair as jade?

They saw the rope in Yan Zhao’s hand tied to two people behind her, who had been dragged along the entire way. The ox-like man had even lost one of his shoes.

The two looked unconscious; it was unclear if they were dead or alive.

How could such wicked evil be permitted within the jurisdiction of the Immortal Alliance?!

Immediately, a righteous man, eager to help those in need, stepped forward and shouted, “Stop right there!”

The violent woman seemed deaf to his words, continuing forward.

The road-blocking swordsman, seeking to act heroically, flushed red, feeling the surrounding onlookers’ gazes seemed full of mockery.

He felt ashamed, yet unwilling to give up. So, riding his sword, he flashed before the woman, raising his blade to block her path. “I said stop!”

The moment he spoke, he finally saw the woman’s face. Instantly, his mind went blank, and the speech he’d prepared was completely forgotten.

A person suddenly appeared before her; Yan Zhao stopped walking.

She raised her eyes to meet his gaze.

The other person stared at her dumbly, not stating his business. Yan Zhao was puzzled.

She tilted her head, thought of a solution, and then spoke. “How do I get to the Immortal Alliance stronghold?”

“Eh?” The swordsman was stunned, then subconsciously pointed the way. “Head south to the third intersection. The house with two lanterns out front, the one with ‘Immortal Alliance’ written on it, that’s the place.”

Having obtained the detailed directions, Yan Zhao turned and left.

The swordsman’s muddled mind cleared slightly. He was astonished. How could a vicious criminal walk right into the lion’s den?

Hesitant, he glanced again at Yan Zhao’s retreating figure and, filled with questions, followed after her.

After an immense effort, Yan Zhao finally found the Immortal Alliance stronghold.

The two cultivators guarding the stronghold door saw her approach, dragging two men in a miserable state behind her. They were stunned. “This Miss, you…”

Before they could finish, a Bounty Order appeared before their eyes.

“I’m here to collect the bounty,” Yan Zhao said.

The cultivator raised his eyebrows in surprise. He looked at the two people drawn on the Bounty Order, then back at Yan Zhao. “You caught these two?”

Yan Zhao nodded.

The two cultivators at the door exchanged a glance. One stepped forward and said to Yan Zhao, “Miss, please come inside.”

Yan Zhao stepped over the threshold, but after a few steps, she couldn’t move anymore. Looking back, she saw the two men behind her were stuck on the threshold.

She pulled harder with her hand, and the two men flipped over the threshold, crashing into the room.

The Immortal Alliance cultivators and the swordsman who had followed her in: “…”

The officer on duty at the stronghold verified the identities of Zhang San and Li Si, still astonished. “Those two are repeat offenders. They never act unless absolutely certain and flee at the first sign of trouble. The bounty has been up for years with no results. How did you catch them?”

Yan Zhao: “Caught them with my hands.”

“…” The Immortal Alliance cultivator was speechless, then nodded awkwardly. “The Miss makes a fair point.”

Yan Zhao handed over the Bounty Order. The Immortal Alliance cultivator couldn’t find Yan Zhao’s name in the Immortal Alliance register.

He asked, “Miss, is this your first time exchanging a bounty at an Immortal Alliance stronghold?”

Yan Zhao nodded.

“Immortal Alliance Contributions must be stored in a Bounty Token. Since this is the Miss’s first completed bounty, please first apply to register as a Bounty Hunter.” The officer on duty then handed Yan Zhao a form to fill out.

Yan Zhao glanced at it. The form had fields for name, sect, and other details. She pouted. “I can’t write.”

At the same time, she thought: Just exchanging a Demon Core and Spirit Stones, how can this be so troublesome?

The officer was stunned. Though he found it strange, he quickly thought of a solution. “What is the Miss’s name? This humble one will help fill it out.”

Yan Zhao recalled the words that had echoed in her ear in her sleep a few days ago and said, “My name is Yan Zhao. Zhao as in ‘grievance revealed’.”

The officer swiftly put pen to paper, writing the characters for “Yan Zhao” on the form. He asked again, “To what sect or school does Miss Yan belong? And what is her current cultivation base?”

Yan Zhao pondered for a moment, then answered, “Rogue Cultivator, Foundation Establishment.”

The officer was shocked once again. “Miss Yan is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet caught the ‘Neither-Three-Nor-Four’ Thief Gang all by herself? Truly, heroes emerge young, the younger generation inspires awe!”

Yan Zhao didn’t acknowledge his praise, just extended a hand. “Where’s the Demon Core?”

“Please wait a moment, Miss Yan.” The officer quickly finished the form, then diligently explained to Yan Zhao, “A newly registered Bounty Token is originally only First-Tier. Because the Miss completed a Second-Tier Bounty Mission, the token has been upgraded to Second Tier. You can now accept bounty missions of Third Tier and below at any Immortal Alliance stronghold.”

After explaining, he took out a Bounty Token, had Yan Zhao bind it with a drop of blood, and recorded her earned Immortal Alliance Contributions.

“The Immortal Alliance also has trading companies in major Immortal Markets. You can use Immortal Alliance Contributions to exchange for Magical Artifacts and pill materials. The mission reward is stored within the token. This token can conceal your aura, preventing tracking. Please take it and go in peace!”

Yan Zhao took the palm-sized Bounty Token. The black token had dark gold trim. After being bound by blood, it was connected to Yan Zhao’s soul sense. The hidden space inside could only be opened by Yan Zhao herself.

Having received her bounty reward, Yan Zhao cheerfully left the stronghold. The swordsman hurried over. “Miss, please wait!”

Yan Zhao still ignored him.

The swordsman had to quicken his pace, even using a movement technique. Whoosh! He appeared before Yan Zhao, spreading his arms to block her.

Yan Zhao was forced to stop.

The swordsman looked bashful, scratching the back of his head. “It was I who misunderstood the Miss earlier! I hereby apologize! I am a disciple of the Wusheng Sword Sect. Meeting is destiny. May I ask the Miss…”

Before he could finish, an arm extended from the side, inserted between him and Yan Zhao.

Those fingertips lightly pushed against the swordsman’s chest, sending him stumbling backward uncontrollably.

Yan Zhao turned her head.

It was that unfamiliar face she’d seen once before.

Bai Jin pushed the swordsman aside for Yan Zhao, a smile in her eyes. “Speaking so loudly, don’t frighten Sister Yan Zhao. Have you no sense? Don’t you see Sister Yan’s brows are furrowed? She’s not interested in listening to you.”

After speaking, she looked at Yan Zhao, beaming. “Isn’t that right, Sister Yan Zhao?”

Her words fell, but there was no response.

Where was the person beside her anymore?

The swordsman kindly reminded her: “She already left.”

Bai Jin: “…”

After Yan Zhao left the Immortal Market, she felt like she’d forgotten something, but couldn’t recall what.

If she couldn’t remember, it wasn’t important.

Yan Zhao found a quiet place to sit down. She took out a high-quality Demon Core and poked the little fox in her arms.

The little fox reluctantly opened its eyes, its head poking out from Yan Zhao’s embrace.

Yan Zhao held the Demon Core to its mouth. “Want to eat?”

A Fourth-Tier water-attribute Demon Core. Yan Zhao was really investing a lot to feed it.

The little fox opened its mouth and swallowed it without any politeness.

Seeing it acknowledge her and willing to eat, Yan Zhao’s face lit up with a smile.

After a satisfying hour-long nap and swallowing a Demon Core, the little fox recovered some energy and noticed something amiss.

First, Bi Lan, who had been traveling with Yan Zhao, was gone.

Second, there was an extra item in Yan Zhao’s arms.

It looked closely. A Bounty Token?

Seeing the little fox staring at her Bounty Token, Yan Zhao thought it was still hungry and took out another Demon Core.

The first core hadn’t been refined yet; normally, another wasn’t needed. However, the little fox’s eyes darted around as it remembered all of Yan Zhao’s evil deeds from that morning, and changed its mind.

It accepted everything offered, swallowing four or five Third-Tier water-attribute Demon Cores in quick succession.

Not that it actually ate them, but secretly transferred them to its Universe Pouch.

Yan Zhao’s face scrunched up. She muttered quietly, “You eat that much?”

The little fox snorted, lifting its head with an air of superiority, as if saying: What, if I can eat, you won’t feed me anymore?

Yan Zhao fished out another Demon Core and brought it to the little fox’s mouth.

Just as the little fox was about to open its mouth, Yan Zhao’s hand retracted. She cleared her throat and said, “This is the last one for today. No more.”

She could clearly raise it without Demon Cores before; she hadn’t expected this little fox to have such a huge appetite.

The Demon Cores came and went quickly. Thanks to the little fox, Yan Zhao felt her pockets growing tight again.

The little fox lunged forward, snapping at the Demon Core in Yan Zhao’s hand.

Yan Zhao wouldn’t let go. Person and fox, neither giving in. After a brief tug-of-war, Yan Zhao finally relented, and the Demon Core ended up in Ren Qingyue’s purse.

Just imagine, who could make a miser like Yan Zhao willingly hand over a Demon Core already in her pocket?

No one! Not in the entire Fuyun Sect! Not in the entire world!

The little fox’s big tail swished back and forth, its whole body exuding a smug satisfaction.

Yan Zhao immediately forgot the heartache of losing the Demon Core, amused by the little fox’s demeanor, her eyes curving into crescents.

She lowered her head and touched noses with the little fox.

“Ate my Demon Cores, so now you’re my fox. You have to pledge yourself in marriage.”

The little fox froze.

…Pledge herself in marriage?!