Qing Shi Cheng
Wen Zheng turned her head to look at him, "Were you lucky?"
I didn't feel that way at all; on the contrary, I felt quite unlucky.
"Of course it would be great." The Lord of Vermilion Bird City was just saying it casually, but he didn't expect Wen Zheng to actually get the opportunity from the remnant soul of the Peacock King. He should have gone himself if he had known.
His expression of utter disappointment cheered Wen Zheng up considerably, and she said, "But I still don't know what the opportunity is."
Wouldn't it be a waste if we couldn't use it?
The Lord of Vermilion Bird City explained, "The phoenix does not die; it is reborn from the ashes, a process known as the Phoenix Nirvana. Unfortunately, the phoenix has disappeared, and its remnant soul has given you a half-finished product."
"Semi-finished product?"
"It can only be used once," said the Lord of Suzaku City.
Knowing that it could only be used once, Wen Zheng didn't take the opportunity too seriously. For her, something that could only be used once was worse than nothing.
With the sealing issue resolved and an unexpected opportunity obtained, Wen Zheng brought up the matter of returning home, saying, "I'm sorry to have troubled you all for so long while I was in the demon race. I might have to go back to my sect in a couple of days."
She had been away for too long, and having just broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, she wanted to go back as soon as possible to consolidate her cultivation.
"So eager?" Xiao Ze asked.
He hasn't invited Wen Zheng to visit his clan yet.
"I heard that the Immortal Sect Competition is about to begin, and I want to go back as soon as possible to prepare." Wen Zheng remembered that Qu Hong had mentioned this before she set off.
"The Immortal Sect Competition? It must be very exciting. It's a pity that the demon race can't go." Xiao Ze sighed. "I won't see you off, but you need to go to the elders to explain the situation regarding Hua Rong."
If something unexpected happens to the first demon who was detained in a human sect to work and pay off his debts, neither side can explain themselves clearly.
When Hua Rong was mentioned, Wen Zheng paused for a moment before remembering that she was the culprit who burned down Mu Qing's house. She subconsciously looked at Mu Qing.
Mu Qing looked up: ?
Wen Zheng quickly looked away and said, "Okay, is the elder also in Mingguang City?"
Apart from the time she bought the lightning-struck wood, she had hardly ever explored Mingguang City properly and had only a superficial understanding of the city's situation.
Xiao Ze glanced at the Lord of Vermilion Bird City, who snorted coldly. He awkwardly laughed and explained, "The elders don't like crowded places. They're in Green Stone City. I'll have someone take you there later."
Wen Zheng nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go back and rest now."
Her injuries hadn't fully healed, and all she wanted to do right now was lie down.
Xiao Ze had someone send her back, and Mu Qing stayed by her side, keeping a close eye on her condition.
After the two had walked a distance, Xiao Ze's gaze fell on the now useless feather fan. "What do you plan to do with this thing?"
Only the demon elders and a few city lords knew that the feather fan had run out of oil and the lamp had died. The magical artifact left behind by the Peacock King was damaged by the demons' repeated improper use. If this were to be revealed, the demons would be filled with indignation.
The Lord of Vermilion Bird City picked up a feather fan and twirled the handle, saying casually, "Let me set up a magic array and find an opportunity to throw it at a few elders."
Xiao Ze: "You're pulling this trick again?"
They weren't satisfied with the previous loss they suffered for framing the elders, so they're doing it again.
“The previous one was an accident, but this time there’s a scapegoat.” The Suzaku City Lord’s eyes gleamed with calculation.
Xiao Ze was startled and quickly said, "Wen Zheng won't do. Hua Rong is still in her sect, and I've already considered her a friend."
He lifted the seal on someone and then framed them; he's so insidious.
Under the skeptical gaze of his friend, the Lord of Vermilion Bird City touched his nose and took the initiative to explain: "The elders won't believe her cultivation level, but the one who ambushed me might."
"So your injury was fake?!"
"Of course it's true." The Lord of Suzaku City rolled his eyes at his friend. "How could this charade be real if I weren't injured?"
After he finished speaking, Xiao Zecai realized that his friend had gone through all this trouble just to take revenge on the elders.
"Are you serious?" Xiao Ze asked through gritted teeth.
"As for that, I still feel it's not enough." The Suzaku City Lord's tone was filled with hatred. "The power of the feather fan is still too weak. I'll add some magic arrays that can hurt people."
Seeing that his friend was determined to do things his own way, Xiao Ze didn't bother to persuade him and turned to leave.
After Wen Zheng and Mu Qing returned to their room, they began to pack their things. Fortunately, they didn't have much, so they finished packing quickly.
Wen Zheng packed her things, lay down on the bed, and closed her eyes to rest. Half-asleep, she heard a knock at the door.
Are you resting? I need to talk to you.
Mu Qing's voice came from outside the door. Wen Zheng rubbed her eyes and opened the door. Mu Qing outside the door had already returned to her original appearance, and she was still wearing the disciple's robes she wore when she left the sect.
Wen Zheng's drowsiness vanished instantly, and she asked in fright, "You, you, how did you turn back?"
Xiao Ze avoided him like a cat in hiding, not daring to imagine how scared the other person would be if he found out.
In his adult form, Mu Qing's features were more defined, and his entire being resembled the unmelted snow on Mount Aoxue, so cold that people dared not approach him.
"They guessed it already. I'm too lazy to hide it. I'll personally meet with the demon clan elders tomorrow," Mu Qing said coldly.
"You?" Wen Zheng looked him up and down. "You're not planning to attack me, are you?"
Switching from a small number to a large number is not a good sign.
Mu Qing: "..."
An hour ago, Mu Qing was worried that Wen Zheng's emotions had suddenly become introverted and that she had some inexplicable worries. Now that his worries have disappeared, his new concern is how to deal with Wen Zheng's tendency to overthink.
Seeing that Mu Qing remained silent, Wen Zheng's smile faded, and she said seriously, "Are you trying to extort money from them?"
Mu Qing corrected her, "Making demands within a reasonable range is called compensation."
Wen Zheng smiled, her eyes narrowed. "Alright, you're not wrong to say that."
She never expected Mu Qing to be so cunning, and she glanced at her a couple more times in surprise.
Feeling constantly stared at by Wen Zheng, Mu Qing lowered her eyes and looked away. She picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said uncomfortably, "I mentioned to the sect leader that you could take 30% of the compensation, and he agreed."
"Thirty percent?!"
Wen Zheng excitedly stood up from the stool and sat down to Mu Qing's right. "Did the sect leader really say that?"
This windfall is truly a blessing from heaven; the sect leader is a good person.
"Is there anything I can do?" Wen Zheng asked. Taking 30% of the compensation for nothing felt like a hot potato if she didn't do something.
"No need, just showing your face is enough," Mu Qing said.
Lanshui Town.
Xiao Yu had been hiding at Mayor Zhao's house for a few days before finally daring to go out and meet people. Today, Mayor Zhao was out on business and decided to take him out for some fresh air.
"Xiaoyu, don't get into another fight with Uncle Hu's son when you go to his house later," Mayor Zhao instructed.
Old Hu's son, Xiao Hu, and Xiao Yu don't get along; they easily start fighting if they're not watched closely.
"Yes, I understand, Grandpa Mayor." Xiaoyu held the mayor's hand, head down, looking nervous.
Seeing his frightened appearance, Mayor Zhao wanted to speak again but then shut his mouth. "Never mind," he thought, "let him calm down."
Mayor Zhao took Xiaoyu to a mountain far outside the town, and he called out to the top of the mountain, "Old Hu, I'm here."
A tall, strong middle-aged man emerged from a thatched hut on the mountaintop and greeted them, "You're here, make yourself at home." Then he called into the hut, "Wife, boil some water."
A woman's voice answered from inside the thatched shed. Old Hu led Mayor Zhao to sit down on a wooden stump next to them, and the two chatted about recent events.
Xiaoyu sat to one side, drinking freshly boiled water, but his eyes were fixed on the dragonfly flapping its wings on the other side.
The purplish-red dragonfly flew rapidly up and down in the air, and Xiaoyu watched with a burning desire to chase after it.
Old Hu's son, Xiao Hu, crawled out of the thatched shed. Seeing his son's longing expression, he quickly pounced on him, caught the dragonfly, and handed it to him.
"Hey, don't say your big brother didn't protect you." Xiao Hu patted Xiao Yu's shoulder with feigned generosity, acting like a good buddy.
Seeing that the two had reconciled, Mayor Zhao said, "Xiaoyu, your Uncle Hu and I have a long talk. Why don't you and Xiao Hu go out and play for a while?"
Xiao Yu held a dragonfly in his hand, nodded, and followed Xiao Hu into the forest.
As soon as the two children entered the woods, they acted as if they were home, transforming into their animal forms and leaping and bounding among the trees.
Xiao Hu's beast form was a small tiger. He climbed to a high tree branch and said to Xiao Yu below, "Do you want me to help you up?"
"No need." The white fawn shook its head and lay down to rest under the tree.
Standing on the tree, Xiao Hu could see very far and easily spotted a group of people in white robes running quickly toward their location.
Remembering what his father had told him these past two days, Xiao Hu's face changed drastically. He hurriedly climbed down the tree and grabbed Xiao Yu, who was sleeping on the ground, saying, "Run! The white-robed man who's after you is here again!"
He carried the terrified Xiao Yu home as fast as he could, not daring to stop for a moment until he saw his own father. Xiao Hu threw himself into his father's arms and cried out, "The man in white robes is here!"
The three adults present were stunned when they heard what Xiao Hu said. Mayor Zhao, leaning on his cane, stood up in surprise and pulled Xiao Hu aside, asking, "Are you telling the truth?"
Xiao Hu nodded haphazardly out of fear. Mayor Zhao's heart sank, and he picked up Xiao Yu, intending to leave.
Old Hu stopped him and said, "It's no use taking Xiaoyu back. These people came prepared. You'd better go to Qing Shi City and ask the elders for help."
Mayor Zhao tightened his grip on Xiaoyu, his face grave. There was no time to go now; he could feel a powerful force approaching.
If these people are brought back to the town, Xiaoyu's family's tragedy will happen again, only this time the dead will be the town's demons.
Seeing Mayor Zhao's hesitation, Old Hu's wife took out a feather. "This feather was given to me by Lord Qingniao. It can travel a thousand miles a day. You can take it and use it."
A light feather was placed in Mayor Zhao's hand. He looked abruptly at Old Hu's wife and said, "Bluebird feathers are too precious; I cannot take them."
Old Hu's wife waved her hand, "Our family usually lives in the mountains, so we don't need it at all. You can use the bluebird feather to distract the pursuers so we can hide."
The words may sound harsh, but Mayor Zhao understood the real meaning. A bluebird's feather can travel a thousand miles a day, and the man in white robes could not catch up. If he ran away with Xiaoyu, Old Hu and his family would be in danger.
"You, these feathers..." Mayor Zhao had barely opened his mouth when Old Hu and his family transformed back into their animal forms and disappeared into the forest.
Mayor Zhao held the bluebird feather, looked at Xiaoyu's terrified face, turned his head and saw the white-robed man rushing out of the forest, and hardened his heart to use the bluebird feather.
Almost in the blink of an eye, he left the white-robed man behind and, with Xiao Yu in tow, ran towards Qing Shi City without stopping.
On the other side.
Wen Zheng and Mu Qing, who had returned to her original form, bid farewell to Xiao Ze. When Xiao Ze saw Mu Qing, he was not surprised. He had already guessed it, and since she did not explain, he did not point it out either.
“We’re leaving in a bit. Is there anything you need us to bring?” Wen Zheng asked casually, having gotten used to bringing things for her friends.
“Yes.” Xiao Ze took out the feather fan that the Lord of Vermilion Bird City had given him that morning. “Take this and put it at the auction house. Someone will take it.”
Wen Zheng took the feather fan and glanced at it. "Isn't this useless now?"
When the seal was broken that day, she watched the remnant soul dissipate with her own eyes.
Xiao Ze said with a profound expression, "The fact that the remnant soul has dissipated does not mean it has no other use."
"What's the use?" Wen Zheng shook the feather fan, but Xiao Ze stopped her in alarm, saying, "Don't touch it. The feather fan was modified by Zhuque, and its effect is similar to your explosive talisman."
Wen Zheng's hand holding the feather fan stiffened. She gently put the fan down, her movements unusually restrained. "You're not trying to harm me, are you?"
Xiao Ze smiled as he packed the feather fan away, then shook his head and said, "I only told you this because I consider you a friend. Remember to take a disguise pill when you send the feather fan to the auction house."
His words were full of scheming. Considering that the other party had helped her break the seal, Wen Zheng was willing to help, and put away her feather fan.
Seeing that Wen Zheng accepted the token, Xiao Ze took out the clan's token and said, "I also have some connections with the elders. I can use the token to command them when needed."
"Okay." Wen Zheng took it and put it away.
Having said what she needed to say, Wen Zheng got up to leave, but before leaving, she suddenly asked, "By the way, isn't Mingguang City the largest city of the demon race? Why don't the elders live here?"
"Who knows?" Xiao Ze laughed. "Perhaps the elders are happy with Qingxi Stone City."
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