Unlike Kung Sang with immortal palaces everywhere, the dwellings of Kun Lun immortals were mostly floating pavilions.
Below the pavilions were ten thousand layers of cloud stairs, appearing majestic and grand.
Since seeing Shao You that day, Liu Shuang hadn’t seen him again. Each time she sought an audience, Shao You was always busy in his immortal pavilion, not seeing any visitors.
Ministers of the Kun Lun immortal clan came and went in the immortal pavilion one after another. Compared to Liu Shuang, a Young Lord with absurd amounts of free time, Shao You bore much heavier responsibilities. After emerging from seclusion, he had been constantly managing Kun Lun’s internal affairs.
Although Liu Shuang, this “former fiancée,” hadn’t been treated coldly in Kun Lun, she didn’t have much presence either.
Bai Zhuixu was extremely worried, fearing that if the Phantom Appearance Pearl remained in Liu Shuang’s body too long, it could never be removed. He inquired about Kun Lun’s situation daily.
Bai Yuxiao found Liu Shuang and said: “That Ji Mo Shao You looks gentle, but he’s immovable. Why don’t we secretly find the Shennong Cauldron?”
Liu Shuang glanced at him: “And then be discovered using the Shennong Cauldron, ensuring none of us leave Kun Lun alive?” Daring to touch another immortal realm’s divine instrument meant being prepared to die there. As expected of Bai Yuxiao, one bad idea after another.
Bai Yuxiao curled his lip: “I see my brother so anxious about your matter, but he’s not just trying to help you.”
This comment made matters worse. As soon as he spoke, Liu Shuang gave him a meaningful look: “You couldn’t be…”
Bai Yuxiao nearly jumped: “You, you, you… I’m warning you, don’t make wild guesses! In all of Kung Sang, you’re the one I dislike most!”
His transparent denial amused Liu Shuang. She teased, “If I’m the most disliked, then who do you like most? Immortal Lady Mi Chu?”
“Anyway, Mi Chu is better than you—better looking, gentler, more understanding, and more hardworking.”
Liu Shuang chuckled.
If it had been a few days earlier, she would have felt wronged on behalf of the original owner of this body. But throughout the journey from Kung Sang to Kun Lun, Liu Shuang had come to understand—Bai Yuxiao was someone whose words contradicted his heart, tough-talking but soft-hearted.
If Bai Yuxiao truly detested the original owner, he wouldn’t have cooperated with her mischievous plans to torment Yan Chaosheng.
Though he said she was an ugly monster after swallowing the Phantom Appearance Pearl, there was no disgust in his eyes. He was simply accustomed to bickering since childhood—being gentle and kind to her would probably make him deeply uncomfortable.
Liu Shuang somewhat understood his twisted mindset. His brother, the Bai clan’s First Young Master, had cherished the original owner since childhood. As a brother-complex person, Bai Yuxiao both envied and resented the original owner.
Yet Bai Yuxiao had also watched the original owner grow up. It was impossible for him to truly dislike her. Though they bickered when together, Bai Yuxiao still cared deeply for the original owner.
Chi Shui Chong understood this, which was why he had allowed Bai Yuxiao to accompany and protect her.
As for Bai Yuxiao’s admiration for Mi Chu, Liu Shuang hadn’t met her and couldn’t judge.
This potential enemy was very popular in Kung Sang. Not just Bai Yuxiao, but even Bai Zhuixu never spoke ill of Mi Chu.
If Liu Shuang hadn’t been harmed by Mi Chu’s illusion in her previous life, after inhabiting the original owner’s body, she might have believed herself wrong and Mi Chu wronged.
But those who walk the night path long enough will eventually encounter ghosts. Knowing Mi Chu wasn’t a good person, there would eventually come a time when Mi Chu would reveal her true nature.
Though she couldn’t expose her now, Liu Shuang would settle accounts with Mi Chu later.
The original owner’s life couldn’t be sacrificed in vain for Mi Chu.
Bai Zhuixu was deeply worried about the Shennong Cauldron matter. Liu Shuang thought she should also work on removing the Phantom Appearance Pearl. If the pearl couldn’t be removed, she might accept it, but her mother, Madam Zi, who loved her daughter dearly, would never be able to accept it.
So these days, whenever Liu Shuang had free time, she would wait outside Shao You’s immortal pavilion. Her earlier confidence wasn’t meant to reassure Bai Zhuixu—having lived for hundreds of years in the future and knowing Shao You for a century, she understood his affairs well.
She knew one thing that could fulfill the current Shao You’s wish.
She had thought Shao You’s residence would match his character, with either bamboo or elegant orchids planted outside. Unexpectedly, outside his immortal pavilion bloomed a large patch of brilliant blue-purple hibiscus flowers, extraordinarily beautiful.
Shao You had been busy handling affairs and had hardly returned. Liu Shuang waited patiently, using her free time to channel spiritual energy to these living beings.
Her fingers spread, pale green light enveloping the entire pavilion. Though the hibiscus hadn’t yet awakened consciousness, they received her benefits daily. Seeing her arrival, they would spread their leaves, rustling in the wind to welcome her.
Previously in the Ghost Realm, Liu Shuang could grow a sea of flowers. In Kun Lun, rich with immortal energy, it was even easier.
Another day passed without success. The next day, Shao You found time and returned to his immortal pavilion instead of being in the grand hall for discussions.
Liu Shuang went to find Shao You but was blocked by two immortal children outside the pavilion.
An immortal child said apologetically, “Forgive us, Immortal Lady, but the Young Lord already has a guest. It’s not convenient for the Immortal Lady to enter now.”
“A guest?”
Before Liu Shuang could clarify the situation, she saw Shao You walking out with a woman following behind him. The woman said with frustration: “Brother Shao You, why won’t you agree? I’ve heard it was the Chi Shui clan who broke off the engagement first! After how she treated you, could you still have hopes for her? I am a descendant of the Feng family. Whatever the Chi Shui clan can give to Kun Lun, I can give more! As long as… as long as our two immortal realms form a marriage alliance, everything will improve. Don’t you want to know why the Feng clan’s spiritual veins never run dry?”
The last sentence contained such tremendous temptation that even Liu Shuang couldn’t help but look up.
Among the four great immortal realms, three had depleting spiritual veins. Only the Feng clan not only had abundant spiritual power in their veins but also produced Celestial Lords generation after generation. The Feng clan’s descendants were all outstanding.
Yet Shao You remained unmoved: “Immortal Lady Cai Yi, if you’ve said enough, please return. I’ve already notified the Crown Prince to send someone to escort you. Spiritual veins are a matter between immortal realms, not between you and me.”
Feng Cai Yi was very dissatisfied: “Then why could Chi Shui Liu Shuang?”
Shao You paused: “The affairs of our fathers’ generation, I dare not disobey.”
Feng Cai Yi bit her lip: “Then… that means, Brother Shao You, you don’t like her either, right?”
Shao You looked at her calmly.
Though gentle, he was, after all, the future master of the immortal realm. Even in silence, he inexplicably made Feng Cai Yi feel intimidated. She knew she shouldn’t interfere with Shao You’s personal affairs, but how could someone in love not care about such things?
Liu Shuang, hidden among the flowers, unexpectedly overheard all this. Looking up, she met the gazes of Shao You and Feng Cai Yi.
Feng Cai Yi glared at Liu Shuang and said, “You were eavesdropping!”
This was unfair—they were the ones talking here, and Liu Shuang couldn’t even enter the pavilion.
Feng Cai Yi walked over, circling Liu Shuang a few times: “I haven’t seen you in Kun Lun before. You must be that Chi Shui Young Lord, right? Weren’t you acting that way toward Brother Shao You before? Why have you come to Kun Lun again?”
“You’re a descendant of the Feng clan?”
Feng Cai Yi said, “Indeed.” Her lips curved slightly. Before Liu Shuang, she had lost the girlish demeanor she showed to Shao You, displaying more of the arrogance befitting a beloved daughter of the Feng family.
Indeed, Liu Shuang thought, the current Celestial Lord was surnamed Feng, and the next presumptive Celestial Lord, Feng Fuming, was this Feng Cai Yi’s brother. In mortal terms, Feng Cai Yi would be a princess.
But as fellow daughters of boundary masters, Liu Shuang was the sole heir of the Chi Shui family—neither feared the other.
Liu Shuang smiled slightly and said, “Why I’ve come is my business, irrelevant to Immortal Lady Cai Yi.”
Feng Cai Yi smirked, thoughtfully staring at Liu Shuang’s veil: “I’ve heard the Chi Shui clan’s Young Lord is exceptionally beautiful. Why don’t you remove your veil and show yourself today?”
With that, she reached out to remove Liu Shuang’s veil.
Liu Shuang, quick-eyed and quick-handed, blocked her. Their spiritual powers clashed, and Feng Cai Yi withdrew her hand. Liu Shuang felt her wrist go numb.
Feng Cai Yi was several hundred years older than the original owner, with significantly higher cultivation. Though Liu Shuang felt pain, she endured without showing it. Now, with her complete soul, diligently cultivating with excellent aptitude, she should surpass Feng Cai Yi in the future. However, in a real fight now, she definitely couldn’t defeat Feng Cai Yi.
Feng Cai Yi was surprised. Relying on her seniority over Liu Shuang and knowing the Chi Shui clan’s Young Lord was useless, she had struck suddenly, not expecting Liu Shuang to block her unexpected attack.
As Feng Cai Yi moved to remove Liu Shuang’s veil again, a beam of cyan light shot over. Feng Cai Yi stepped back, turning to see Shao You’s cold eyes: “Immortal Lady Cai Yi, Kun Lun does not tolerate troublemaking.”
Feng Cai Yi bit her lip, stamped her foot, unwilling yet not daring to act rashly. She could only leave with her maid for now.
“Thank you, Ji Mo Young Lord,” Liu Shuang quickly said.
Shao You said, “It is my failure as a host that made the Chi Shui Immortal Lady suffer in Kun Lun.”
Liu Shuang secretly glanced at him.
His entire being was like water, proper and peaceful, yet with unyielding resilience.
The harshest words he had spoken in her previous life were asking her not to call him Master, as he didn’t want to be her master.
Shao You said coldly, “If the Chi Shui Immortal Lady has no other matters, please return to rest. I still have business and must take my leave.”
“Wait,” Liu Shuang said. “I came today to tell you something. I know you’ve been searching for a fragment of a soul, and I know where that soul fragment is!”
Shao You halted his steps and turned to look at Liu Shuang.
Liu Shuang lowered her voice: “You’re looking for your mother’s remaining soul, aren’t you?”
Shao You’s eyes were calm and unruffled: “The Immortal Lady presumes too much. My thoughts are clearest to me. If you wish to borrow the Shennong Cauldron, you still need my father’s consent. As I’ve said before, I cannot activate the Shennong Cauldron.”
“I’m not joking, nor am I deceiving you,” Liu Shuang pressed her lips, looking at him. “I know you want to see her. Come with me to look—just look and you’ll know I’m not lying.”
Shao You had secretly searched for his mother’s remaining soul for five hundred years. This had always been his only lifelong wish. Since she could fulfill his wish earlier, helping him avoid having to search in secret outside the realm under the guise of seclusion, Liu Shuang naturally wanted to help him.
Shao You had once told her that to find this trace of soul, he had traveled throughout the Eight Wilderness, even taking wrong paths, losing a thousand years of cultivation in one crisis.
Shao You had always helped her. This time, she could finally help Shao You.
Shao You remained silent, looking calmly at Liu Shuang, showing neither joy nor anger, not even visible longing.
Liu Shuang thought that Shao You, born bearing Kun Lun’s heavy burden, naturally doubted how she knew his wish and wouldn’t trust her.
She blinked, pointing at her face, fabricating: “Ji Mo Young Lord, just give me a chance. I want my original face back, but I can’t think of how to ask for your forgiveness, to help me activate the Shennong Cauldron. So I’ve gone to great lengths to learn everything about you—this is all my guess. How about this: I’ll try my best to help you find that soul, and you try your best to help me open the Shennong Cauldron in exchange? If Ji Mo Young Lord agrees, let’s meet here at midnight tonight.”
With that, she smiled and waved.
Shao You looked at her once, then turned and left.
After returning, Liu Shuang immediately sought out Bai Yuxiao: “Second Young Master, may I borrow something from you?”
Bai Yuxiao raised an eyebrow: “What?”
“The Heirloom Mirror?”
“Well, well, Chi Shui Liu Shuang, the day has come when you need to ask me for a favor.” Bai Yuxiao was particularly pleased, pinching Liu Shuang’s face. “Beg me, and if I’m happy, I’ll lend it to you.”
Liu Shuang’s face was almost painfully stretched, but she smiled calmly: “I beg you.”
Bai Yuxiao choked: “Where’s your pride?”
“Used to beg you,” Liu Shuang said. “If you’re still not happy, shall I beg you twice more?”
Bai Yuxiao gritted his teeth: “No, I can’t lend this to you.”
Liu Shuang rubbed her face and glared at him. If he wouldn’t lend it, why did he make her beg?
“Why not?”
Bai Yuxiao coughed: “Anyway, I just can’t lend it. This is our Bai clan’s treasure.”
Liu Shuang pressed her fingertips together: “I’ll just borrow it for one day, one day!”
“Not even for one day.”
“Stingy!”
Bai Yuxiao glared at her, his face turning from white to red, then back to white. How could he explain that the Heirloom Mirror was passed down to the clan leader’s wife? Did Chi Shui Liu Shuang want to marry him or his brother?
Under her contemptuous gaze, Bai Yuxiao gritted his teeth: “What exactly do you need it for? I’ll tell you what—I’ll lend it, but just for one day. You borrow it and return it. If you dare lose it, I won’t let you off!” Never mind, he thought. He had always been unrestrained in his actions—why worry about this?
Liu Shuang said, “I can’t tell you what it’s for right now, but I promise to return it in perfect condition. Didn’t we come to Kun Lun for the Shennong Cauldron? I’m borrowing this to remove the Phantom Appearance Pearl sooner.”
After receiving the Heirloom Mirror from Bai Yuxiao, Liu Shuang was very curious and asked Bai Yuxiao how to use it.
In her previous life in the Celestial Realm, she had heard that Mi Chu had used the Heirloom Mirror. When she first awakened in the original owner’s body, Bai Yuxiao had used this mirror to throw Yan Chaosheng into the Nine Thoughts Pond. This mirror was unique in the world. If one paid a certain price, it could traverse the Eight Wilderness. She hadn’t expected it to be a treasure of the Bai clan.
Then why, seven hundred years later, was the Heirloom Mirror in Mi Chu’s hands?
The Heirloom Mirror contained what looked like concentric ripples. When Liu Shuang touched it with her finger, the ripples spread layer by layer.
Before midnight, Liu Shuang carefully carried the Heirloom Mirror out.
Everything was prepared. Now it all depended on whether Shao You would trust that she meant him no harm and whether he would come.