After Yue Liangze went to the Listening Tower to meet Bai Cang and the others, Ling Luo dispersed her Skin Spirit disguise. She found a riverbank to wash her face, dusty from a full day of travel.
Ling Luo had interfered with the affairs of North Court Moon Palace to change Chu Yi’s fate.
But she couldn’t be certain whether she could truly change anything.
After all, her rebirth time was frustrating—though she had escaped Three Seals’ interrogation that year, she still hadn’t escaped the water torture.
Some things simply couldn’t be changed.
Especially other people’s perspectives and mindsets.
Ling Luo looked down at the water’s surface. The ripples distorted her reflection.
What nonsense about changing others? She couldn’t even change herself.
As the water calmed, daylight suddenly appeared, its radiance flooding the mortal realm.
Ling Luo looked at her reflection in the water, raising her hand to pull at her collar. With an indifferent expression, she examined the Suffering Flower below her collarbone.
Many petals remained—she still had much of Yue Liangze’s memories to view.
But what would happen after she finished?
Would she change for Yue Liangze?
Ling Luo released her collar and lowered her gaze to the wisps of black mist coiling around her fingertips—the demonic essence that existed within her body and was etched into her soul.
Her demonic transformation couldn’t be changed even through reincarnation.
She dispersed the demonic essence and raised her head, lying down by the riverbank. After gazing at the brightening sky for a moment, she simply sat up and summoned several spirit demons.
Black little spheres fell from the void, chattering noisily around her:
“Master, Master! Four monsters spewed fire and burned Mount Tianzhao!”
“Master didn’t die, uwuwu!”
“Master! The Moon is fighting four monsters at the foot of the mountain!”
“After the Moon dies, we’ll never be able to absorb his spirit food again, you!”
“How dare these monsters lay hands on Master’s chef!”
“What will Master do for her three meals after the Moon dies, uwu!”
Ling Luo: “…”
She was momentarily stunned, surrounded by crying and shouting black spherical spirit demons.
After her stupefaction came anger: “Shut up! Stop reminding me one by one that he died! He’s alive right before my eyes! If I let him die in this lifetime, I’ll make all of you accompany him in death!”
Why did her spirit demons also have memories? And they even knew about Mount Tianzhao! Making it seem like she was the only one who didn’t know Yue Liangze had died fighting the Four Forbidden Beasts.
The spirit demons quieted for a moment, then collectively choked out: “Master, please calm down. Give us another chance and we’ll protect the Moon well!”
Human and demonic languages differed. Yue Liangze’s name in the demonic tongue more closely resembled the meaning of “moon,” so whenever Ling Luo called for Yue Liangze, the spirit demons remembered it as “Moon.”
These little spirit demons had been summoned by Ling Luo in the past to pass the time. She had practiced a forbidden technique that allowed her to summon countless spirit demons, large or small.
Ling Luo liked these little spirit demons that hadn’t yet developed consciousness.
After her demonic transformation, she had once confined herself in a sunless place for some time—just her alone, silent and dark. She relied on the chattering little spirit demons to feel that she was still alive.
Ling Luo hadn’t expected these little spirit demons to have memories too.
They had constantly watched Yue Liangze cook, absorbing spiritual energy from his food to cultivate, and thus remembered him deeply.
Ling Luo asked the little spirit demons what Yue Liangze had done when she wasn’t at Mount Tianzhao. They chattered away, describing in vivid detail, almost recreating the scenes.
After a long while, her jade communicator sounded.
The “Moon” who had died according to the spirit demons’ description was now sending her a message: “Where are you?”
Ling Luo: “…”
She showed the jade communicator to the little spirit demons: “See? Don’t say he’s dead anymore!”
The little black spheres all nodded in unison.
Ling Luo thought for a moment, then released Sui Wu whom she had blocked: “And you’re not allowed to keep reminding me that he died at Mount Tianzhao!”
Sui Wu: “Alright, alright, I’ll do whatever you say! Please don’t block me again! The world of a lone sword is so lonely! I’ve said so many things to you that you couldn’t hear, I really—”
Ling Luo blocked it again.
She stood up, dusting off her sleeves, and told the little spirit demons: “Go find where that demon is.”
The spirit demons scattered: “As commanded!”
Ling Luo replied to the message and went to the entrance of Moon Palace to meet Yue Liangze.
By now, daylight had fully emerged, and many disciples were coming and going through the mountain gate of Moon Palace. Yue Liangze stood in a secluded position, deliberately avoiding most people.
While waiting for Ling Luo, he noticed a group of young men dressed in golden clothes heading toward the mountain gate of Moon Palace.
The leader was eye-catching and familiar with his gold ornaments and spiritual inscriptions.
Feng Tianyao walked quickly, his face showing hints of anger. Beside him, Yu Cang fanned himself while advising: “Young Master, walk slower. Moon Palace is right in front of us and won’t run away.”
Feng Tianyao cursed: “They’re despicable!”
Yu Cang made a hushing gesture: “The matter isn’t settled yet. There must be some misunderstanding. Let’s calm down first.”
Feng Tianyao said: “I am calm!”
The newcomers approached with imposing momentum, crossing paths with the returning Ling Luo.
Upon seeing her, Feng Tianyao immediately stopped. Yu Cang, who had been advising him, didn’t halt in time and walked two steps forward, turning back with a surprised expression.
Ling Luo slightly raised an eyebrow, glanced at him, and then ignored him, walking around.
Feng Tianyao held his breath, pointing at Yu Cang: “She ignored this young master!”
Yu Cang said: “But you didn’t greet her either!”
Feng Tianyao exploded: “I was about to! I had already thought about what to say, but she just left, okay?”
This time Yu Cang actively pulled him toward the mountain gate: “Then next time be quicker, more nimble, don’t hesitate.”
Feng Tianyao fumed: “Next time? There won’t be a next time! Why should I greet her first? I won’t!”
As he spoke, he glanced toward Ling Luo after walking a few steps. Seeing her stop by Yue Liangze’s side, and then meeting Yue Liangze’s returning gaze, Feng Tianyao immediately turned his head, pretending he hadn’t seen anything.
After turning away, he found it strange.
Why the hell am I the one turning away? I haven’t done anything wrong and have no dealings with Sacred Sword Sect!
Yue Liangze withdrew his gaze from Nan Shan Xue He and the others, telling Ling Luo: “I met Senior Brother Zi Xiu on my way out.”
Ling Luo asked in surprise: “Why is Senior Brother Zi Xiu here too?”
“Senior Brother Zi Xiu says he has friends all over the world, in every immortal sect. This time he was invited by the first disciple of Moon Palace’s Second Elder to attend the Blooming Flower Banquet,” Yue Liangze explained. “He loves lively events and banquets.”
Ling Luo glanced at Moon Palace: “He may love them, but with people from the Three Mountains attending this Blooming Flower Banquet, can he still enjoy himself?”
Her Senior Brother Zi Xiu was one of Mu Hengtian’s disciples and once a renowned heavenly talent in the cultivation world. However, his spiritual meridians were later severely damaged, causing irreversible injury. Now, forget wielding a sword—even forming the simplest incantation was difficult.
People thought he would be devastated, but unexpectedly, Zi Xiu was quite carefree. After recovering for a few months, he resumed his lively activities. Instead of cultivating, he found other things to do, indulging in mountain exploring, river touring, attending various banquets, and making many friends to join in his revelry.
Though he had offended many people in the past while slaying demons and eliminating evil, despite becoming a cripple, he was still the disciple of the East Island Sky Extreme Sect Leader. With his close friend Chu Yi protecting him when he traveled, no one dared to touch him.
Ling Luo’s impression of this fellow disciple consisted only of four words: eating, drinking, playing, and having fun.
Yue Liangze said: “Don’t worry. Just now some people from Qi Mountain tried to give him trouble, but Senior Brother who was passing by resolved it. Those two have already arranged to play in North Court City.”
Bai Cang and Zi Xiu were quite compatible playmates.
Ling Luo heard him continue: “Simply avoiding Three Seals’ interrogation won’t solve the problem. Qi Mountain can choose not to believe Three Seals and use other methods of interrogation. You can’t help with everything.”
“We need to make Qi Mountain completely abandon the idea that Mu Xujing is the culprit.”
Ling Luo blinked at him: “What do you want to do?”
“Find evidence that Cui Shou liked to molest young girls, and shift the focus onto Qi Mountain itself,” Yue Liangze said calmly. “Wu Mountain and Cloud Mountain both have their flaws. When something more attention-grabbing than Cui Shou’s murder emerges, people won’t care who the killer is.”
Ling Luo looked at him, suddenly remembering the Sky Extreme Sect’s outer court entrance examination years ago.
Yue Liangze had calculated the rankings, pushing the thirtieth-place candidate out—not an easy task.
Yet he had accomplished it silently.
This man appeared quiet and indifferent to worldly desires, but he was quite scheming.
Ling Luo recalled when Yue Liangze had said: “Don’t you want to practice the Beauty Point? I’ll practice with you.”
Shameless! Despicable!
Ling Luo raised an eyebrow, looking at him with contempt.
Yue Liangze: “…”
He was somewhat confused: “What’s wrong?”
Ling Luo snorted: “No problem, but have you discussed this with your Third Senior Brother?”
“I did. Senior Brother told me to handle it as I see fit,” Yue Liangze said. “A Fu’s businesses span throughout the mortal realm and can help investigate the young girls’ matter. I need to leave Moon Palace for a while.”
Ling Luo: “Go ahead then. I’ll wander around North Court City.”
Shortly after Yue Liangze left, her jade communicator sounded with a message from Chu Yi.
Chu Yi asked: “What are you doing at North Court Moon Palace?!”
Ling Luo: “…”
How was I exposed?
She asked Chu Yi how he knew, but Chu Yi wouldn’t tell her. It was much later when Ling Luo discovered that it was due to a conversation between two people playing in North Court City—
Zi Xiu: “Why didn’t you invite Junior Brother to join us?”
Bai Cang: “He wants to play with your Junior Sister, not with us.”
Zi Xiu was shocked: “Which Junior Sister of mine has such an honor?”
Bai Cang: “The one who won first place last time.”
Zi Xiu slapped the table: “Junior Brother is quite bold to covet our Ling Luo! This must be reported to Chu Yi to let him experience the anxiety of having his cabbage rooted by a pig!”
Bai Cang stroked his chin: “My Junior Brother isn’t that bad, is he?”
Chu Yi sent another flurry of messages to her:
“You’re dead.”
“Master is already bringing Three Seals to Moon Palace, arriving tonight. Let’s see where you can hide now!”
“Are you still fooling around with that Sacred Sword Sect boy?!!!”
“If Master gets angry, who will save you? Fend for yourself!”
“Coming back to commit suicide and apologize is still an option.”
“Why come back? To face Master at a narrow pass?” Ling Luo replied gloomily. “You didn’t come along, did you?”
Chu Yi: “What do you think?!”
Ling Luo: “Hurry up and tell me!”
“Why the hell can’t I go?” Chu Yi replied to the jade communicator with a cold expression. “It would be strange if I didn’t take this rare chance to leave the mountain.”
Ling Luo: “…”
My useless Senior Brother!
Yun Shouxi saw Chu Yi constantly replying to messages: “Didn’t you say you deleted your Junior Sister?”
Chu Yi: “…”
He put on a serious face: “It’s Zi Xiu. He’s telling me about the fun places in North Court City.”
Yun Shouxi casually asked: “Zi Xiu is in North Court too?”
“That man just loves to run around having fun. With the Blooming Flower Banquet in North Court, he’ll join the festivities,” Chu Yi said without changing expression.
Yun Shouxi said: “If he’s just there for fun, that’s fine. You two are close, so give him a gentle reminder to be mindful. Recently, some rumors have reached the Grand Sect Leader’s ears, and many people have grievances against him.”
Chu Yi listened with slightly furrowed brows, nodding: “Understood.”
It was still early in the day, but Ling Luo looked at her jade communicator with a gloomy expression.
East Island Sky Extreme Sect had sent people, and South Mountain Snow River had also sent people—they only needed Western Sea Supreme Beginning to arrive at North Court Moon Palace to complete a mahjong table.
While others were busy with internal sect troubles and external demon entanglements, everyone from Western Sea Supreme Beginning, from the sect leader down to the disciples, was still fixated on retrieving the Zhen Xianyu.