Into The Sea

After the light drizzle, a few rays of warm sunlight broke through the clouds. Lan Yueyao walked further and further away. When her figure completely disappeared, Lan Wu turned her gaze away and called out, “Ah Yue.”

Ji Lingyue turned her head, staring at her intently.

“Let’s go home.”

“Okay.”

Beside them, Wen Shiyu and Qi Yueyao still hadn’t fully snapped out of it. Only after Ye Qingjun called to them did they quickly follow along.

“Will the demons listen to her and stop?”

Lan Wu said, “Let’s hope they will.”

Qi Yueyao asked again, “What did you whisper to her before she left?”

“If it was a secret, how could I just tell you?”

“At a time like this, you’re still keeping secrets?” Qi Yueyao said, dissatisfied. “And what about that Soul Binding spell? What did you show her that made her attitude change so quickly?”

Lan Wu coughed lightly. “I can’t tell you that either. That’s also a secret.”

“You… After I came all this way with you too. Talk about no good deed going unpunished!”

As they spoke, they stepped into the barrier. As soon as they looked up, they were met with countless pairs of inquisitive eyes. Qi Yun walked forward, taking the initiative to ask, “What did you say to her? Why did she suddenly stop?”

Qi Yueyao’s eyes lit up, and she answered first. “That Demon Queen promised that she would order the demons to stop attacking, but she requested a formal meeting with the sect leaders to discuss peace talks.”

Qi Yun was shocked. “She agreed so easily?”

Qi Yueyao hummed, patting Lan Wu’s shoulder. “This time, we really have to thank her.”

Most of the onlookers showed expressions of joy. Qi Yun thought for a moment, then frowned. “Did she say when she would meet?”

Qi Yueyao was taken aback, turning to look at Lan Wu. Lan Wu withdrew her gaze from the crowd. “Three days later.”

“Three days later, everything will be settled.”

After briefly explaining the situation, the crowd that had gathered all morning gradually dispersed. Ye Qingjun ordered the Haochen Mountain disciples to carry the injured cultivators back from outside the barrier. The once solemn and heavy streets seemed to come alive, with occasional bursts of laughter.

Ji Lingyue stared at a figure quickly leaving. Her fingertips twitched, and a light black butterfly flew out, silently landing on the person’s back.

The person hurried away, not looking back, and disappeared into a narrow alleyway. Soon, they reached the front of a residence. The black butterfly flew up from their back, landing lightly on the wall. Ji Lingyue used its perspective to look up, and saw the two words on the plaque: Chu Residence.

Lan Wu asked, “Is it them?”

Ji Lingyue nodded. “It’s them.”

She turned to ask, “Lan Yueyao clearly didn’t say when she would meet. Why did you say three days later?”

“Of course, I said it for Chu Jiangchi to hear.” Lan Wu took her hand. “With only three days, they will either give up or take desperate measures and implement their plan early. If they don’t make a move, we’ll have to rely on Miss Chu to help us slowly dig out Chu Chen. If they do make a move, then that’s even better.” Lan Wu paused, then continued, “With only three days, they can’t be fully prepared. There will be loopholes. When they make their move, that’s when they’ll expose themselves.”

Ji Lingyue pondered. “I think they will definitely make a move. After all, they’ve secretly done so much, even sacrificing so many lives. Before achieving their goals, how can they possibly give up?”

Lan Wu smiled at her. “I think so too.”

“If that’s the case, why not tell Elder Ye about the plan? If they really make a move, I’m afraid that only the two of us won’t be able to handle it.”

“Who said it’s only the two of us?” Lan Wu winked at her. “There’s also Aunt.”

At noon, Lan Yueyao had just stepped into the entrance to the demon realm when a suffocating heat wave hit her. The terrible weather had been going on for three months. The horizon twisted and swayed in her vision. The barren red earth was covered with thin cracks. The plants were withered, and not a single bit of green could be seen.

She hovered in the air, gazing into the distance. For the first time, she seriously surveyed the place where she had lived for hundreds of years. After a long while, she sighed silently.

Those who remained in the demon realm were mostly the old, weak, and sick. Even in the most prosperous city of Yandu, the streets were sparsely populated. She had left in a hurry, and she returned just as silently. When she stepped into the royal palace, the red fox that had been bound like a dumpling was gnawing at the ropes on her body, having moved about half the palace’s length since she had left.

Lan Yueyao stopped in front of her. The fox froze, slowly lifting her head. Her green eyes stared at her timidly.

“Are you Lan Wu’s friend?”

The fox’s eyes darted around, as if struggling with how to answer.

Lan Yueyao curled her finger, and the fox was suspended upside down in the air. “Is this such a difficult question to answer?”

Yao Zhu hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “If you hate Lan Wu, wouldn’t I be in trouble if I admitted to being her friend?”

Lan Yueyao chuckled. “So, if I really hated Lan Wu, you wouldn’t admit to being her friend?”

Yao Zhu nodded.

Lan Yueyao curled the corners of her lips, leading her deeper into the palace while saying casually, “Little fox, actually, I knew every time you secretly slipped into the royal palace these past few years.”

Yao Zhu was shocked, struggling to lift her head. “You knew?!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t notice your little tricks?” Lan Yueyao brushed aside a curtain. “It’s just that my life is too boring. I just used you as entertainment to relieve my boredom.”

Yao Zhu froze for a moment, then shook her body angrily. “So every time I came in, you were just watching?!”

“Correct.”

“So you hid Xuan Yu every time!”

Lan Yueyao hummed, releasing the demon-binding ropes on the fox and tossing her down.

Yao Zhu quickly spread her four paws to land steadily. She stared at her warily. “I already know your purpose! I advise you to release Xuan Yu quickly. She’s not suitable to be your lover’s body!”

Lan Yueyao tilted her head, saying in confusion, “I think she’s quite suitable.”

“She’s not suitable!” Yao Zhu said excitedly. “She’s already… she’s already slept with me several times. We used to be together every day. We’ve done everything! Everything you can think of, we’ve done it! If you let your lover possess Xuan Yu, then that means I’ll be with your lover…”

Lan Yueyao suddenly pinched her mouth shut from afar, her expression turning cold. “You really dare to say that.”

Yao Zhu whimpered, anxiously using her front paws to scratch at her face. When she felt her mouth was released, she hopped back a step, panting. “In short, you should release Xuan Yu. If not, I’ll help you find another suitable body.”

“No need,” Lan Yueyao said, looking down at her. “It’s not needed anymore.”

Yao Zhu was shocked, her expression suddenly turning horrified. “What do you mean? Don’t tell me… you’ve already…”

Lan Yueyao was taken aback, watching her trembling whiskers. Her mind started to wander, and she had a sudden urge to tease her. “That’s right.” She said, smiling, “I killed her a long time ago. I’m just preserving her body from decaying.”

The little fox shivered, her red eyes fixed on her, grinding her teeth.

“You… you…”

She suddenly let out a fox howl, her body growing in size. She lunged at Lan Yueyao, her claws bared. The woman lightly stepped to the side, and the stone wall behind her opened, revealing a dark, gaping secret chamber.

Yao Zhu was caught off guard, her paws slipping on the ground. She shot inside with a whoosh, and then crashed into the wall of the secret chamber with a thud. Just as she struggled to get up, wanting to charge out again, she heard the rattling of chains.

A soft body fell into her arms, burying itself into her fluffy chest.

“Yao Zhu…” the woman sobbed.

Yao Zhu froze, her large body not daring to move. After a long while, she carefully lowered her head. “Xuan Yu?”

“It’s me.” the woman whispered.

Warm tears soaked her fur. In the darkness, her hoarse voice carried a trembling smile:

“You and me, doing… everything together? What nonsense are you talking about?”