Long Er flicked his palm, and a gray robe unfurled before Bai Shuo. Its color was strikingly similar to his donkey-hide form.
"This is a treasure I obtained from Mu Xiao Mountain when I came from the Yao Realm to the mortal world—the Myriad Robe. It can transform at will and conceal one's original qi. Wear it, and whatever you envision in your heart, it will become." Long Er's voice grew serious. "The sacrificial ritual will cause fluctuations in demonic energy, attracting the Heavenly Immortals. Only the imperial mausoleum behind the royal city can suppress it. I'll rescue Chong Zhao for you. Meet me at the mausoleum."
The imperial mausoleum? Bai Shuo was taken aback but nodded, accepting the robe. "Alright."
Long Er turned and leaped nimbly out the window, vanishing into the night toward the prison.
Bai Shuo kowtowed three times respectfully toward the ancestral hall, then draped the Myriad Robe over her shoulders and pushed open the door without looking back.
The general's estate was heavily guarded. Bai Shuo moved with extreme caution, narrowly escaping detection several times. Moments later, she crawled through a gap in the high wall and ran toward the city outskirts.
Long Er employed the same tactic, blowing a cloud of sleep-inducing smoke at the prison entrance before sneaking into Chong Zhao's cell. The young man lay on the ground, his face covered in dried blood. Long Er nudged him with his foot—no response. Only half his face was visible beneath the matted hair.
With the impatience of youth, Long Er curled his lips. "Just a mortal. Bai Shuo's so clever, yet she's throwing her life away for this pretty boy."
He grabbed Chong Zhao, hoisted him onto his back, and in a flash darted out of the prison. Moments later, he reappeared at the entrance, relieved to see the guards still unconscious. With a final leap, he vaulted over the wall.
Just as Long Er cleared it—BOOM!
Several beams of immortal light erupted from the darkness. A massive celestial net descended from the sky, closing in around him.
Damn it! They'd been discovered!
Long Er's expression darkened as he summoned an old staff from his palm, swatting desperately at the net.
A group of immortal generals appeared mid-air, controlling the net with coordinated hand movements. No matter how Long Er dodged, he couldn't break free.
Qing Yi stood at the forefront, surprised at the sight of the childlike Long Er. "Just a tree demon?"
He scanned the royal city, puzzled. The capital had been steeped in demonic energy for half a month—how could this tree demon be the only troublemaker?
Though outmatched, Long Er refused to surrender. He wielded his staff with surprising agility, but as dawn approached and the city's inhabitants would soon awaken, Qing Yi stepped forward. He summoned a whisk and struck Long Er on the head. The blow sent stars spinning before the boy's eyes. He stiffened and plummeted toward the ground with the unconscious Chong Zhao.
The celestial net swooped down, ready to ensnare them both.
Then—an icy chill descended.
A thin layer of frost instantly encased everything within a mile of the prison—except for Long Er, who continued to fall.
A streak of silver light shot toward him. Long Er's eyes widened with fear a hundred times greater than before. He swung his staff defiantly at the light, but it shattered effortlessly. The moment the silver light touched his forehead, the green-robed boy vanished.
With a soft thud, a tiny wooden donkey—no larger than a palm—tumbled to the ground, spun a few times, and lay still.
The wooden donkey flew into the air and landed in a pair of slender hands.
Under the moonlight, the figure was obscured by a faint glow, making his features indistinct. He toyed idly with the wooden donkey, his voice cold and detached. "Since you're so eager to be a donkey, you might as well stay one forever."
The wooden donkey could neither speak nor move. Though nothing more than a lifeless object, its dull, vacant eyes seemed to radiate boundless sorrow and despair.
With a casual flick of his wrist, the figure tossed the donkey into his sleeve. With another wave, Chong Zhao—frozen in a block of ice—vanished from midair. Without sparing a glance at the assembled Heavenly Gods, he turned and strode away, covering a thousand miles in a single step as he headed beyond the imperial city.
Behind him, Qing Yi's eyelids twitched. A surge of immortal energy coalesced in his palm, finally shattering the icy restriction. With one hand he freed the other immortals; with the other, he swung his horsetail whisk to block Fan Yue's retreat.
"Stay!"
The moment the whisk touched Fan Yue's back, an immense surge of demonic power erupted. The collision of immortal and demonic forces shattered the whisk instantly, splitting it in two. Qing Yi coughed up blood and staggered back several steps.
Beneath the full moon, the figure turned his head slightly. His brows were dark as ink, exuding an aura of cold indifference and overwhelming strength.
Several immortal generals rushed to steady Qing Yi.
"Your Highness!"
Some still sought to give chase, but Qing Yi stopped them.
"Stand down!" His face was pale as he watched Fan Yue's retreating figure. "There's no need to pursue. That was the master of the Moonlight Palace."
His words silenced everyone. They had assumed it was merely some rogue demon causing trouble—never had they imagined the Moonlight Palace's lord would appear. Rumors claimed he never left the far northern reaches. Why would he come to the mortal realm to save a mere human?
Qing Yi wore a similarly puzzled expression, his brows furrowed in silent contemplation.
At the general's residence, Bai Xun stood in the main hall, barely containing his fury.
"When did the young miss disappear?"
The guards knelt in rows, their heads bowed. "General, we... we don't know."
"Nonsense! With so many of you watching her, how could she just vanish?!"
"We were stationed outside the ancestral hall the entire time, not daring to leave for a moment. General, the young miss truly never exited the hall!" The guards exchanged uneasy glances, fear flickering in their eyes.
Bai Shuo's return to the capital had already stirred up a storm. Now her inexplicable disappearance under heavy guard left them deeply unsettled. Could it be, as the rumors claimed, that their young miss had truly attracted some unclean presence?
Bai Xun's expression darkened. "Go check the backyard—see if that donkey that brought her home is still there."
The guards were momentarily stunned but didn't dare delay. One quickly rose and hurried off. "At once!"
Moments later, the guard returned with news: the donkey kept in the backyard had mysteriously vanished. Around the same time, whispers of Chong Zhao's disappearance from the celestial prison reached the Bai household.
Bai Xun swayed on his feet, nearly collapsing, but a pair of hands steadied him.
"Father."
Bai Xi stood before him, clad in plain mourning attire. She lifted her veil, revealing a face that no longer bore much resemblance to Bai Shuo's.
"Xi'er, why have you returned? Your sister, she—"
"I already know." Bai Xi waved a hand dismissively. "Leave us."
"Yes, Your Highness." The hall emptied in an instant.
"Father, ever since A-Shuo returned, I've had the Eastern Palace keep watch over our household and the Chong family. The moment I heard she was missing, I rushed back."
"Do you know where she might have gone?"
"No." Bai Xi shook her head. "But I suspect her sudden disappearance from the general's residence is connected to Chong Zhao being rescued from the celestial prison."
Bai Xi remained composed as she gazed outside the hall. "Actually, ever since you brought me back from the imperial mausoleum all those years ago, I knew we couldn't keep her. I never thought this day would still come..."
Bai Xun's expression changed, a vague suspicion forming in his heart. "Xi'er, you...?"
Bai Xi nodded gently. "Yes. What happened when I was eight years old—I've always remembered."
Bai Xun froze, then let out a heavy sigh.
Outside the imperial mausoleum, Bai Shuo had retreated until her back was against the cliff edge.
"You—why are you here?"
Fan Yue approached with the lingering mischief of youth in his step. "Brother Bai is so clever. Surely you know why I'm here?"
"You flatter me, Hall Master." Bai Shuo forced a dry laugh. "How could I dare presume to call you brother? Hall Master Fan, that Long Er really isn't with me! I swear!"
"I know." Fan Yue leaned lazily against a tree trunk, speaking casually.
Before Bai Shuo could react, he flicked his wrist. A palm-sized wooden donkey rolled between his fingers.
"Long Er?" The words slipped out before Bai Shuo could stop herself. She hastily covered her mouth.
"Seems you two are old acquaintances."
Fan Yue's eyes gleamed with amusement, but Bai Shuo's expression suddenly shifted. "You captured Long Er? Oh no! A-Zhao!"
She glanced at the high sun and turned to run toward the city, only to be blocked by an invisible barrier of ice.
"Move!" Bai Shuo's eyes burned red with desperation.
"In such a hurry—for him?"
Fan Yue waved his hand, and Chong Zhao's unconscious figure appeared beneath a nearby rock.
"A-Zhao!" Bai Shuo rushed forward. Seeing his wounds healed and bloodstains gone, she relaxed slightly before turning back warily. "You saved him?"
"Naturally. Unless you think it was this stupid donkey?" Fan Yue frowned in displeasure.
"Why...?" Bai Shuo stammered.
"Convenience."
Bai Shuo was stunned as Fan Yue stepped closer.
"This Hall Master never owes debts—especially to mortals. I saved his life. Consider your aid at Mu Xiao Mountain repaid. We're even."
Fan Yue stopped before her. In the sunlight, his sharp silhouette cast a shadow over her smaller frame. She looked up, inexplicably dazed.
"Th-thank you." She couldn't think of anything else to say.
Maybe demons aren't so bad after all. Those storybooks must have lied... Bai Shuo thought.
"Since we're even, there's no need for you to remember certain things."
Before Bai Shuo could react, the youth bent down. His slender hand covered her forehead. A flash of demonic light passed, and Bai Shuo's eyes slowly closed as she collapsed softly to the ground.
The youth stood, giving the two on the ground a fleeting glance before turning away without hesitation.
In the sunlight, Bai Shuo's fading vision filled with the sight of his retreating figure. For some reason, it felt familiar.
Who was he? The master of Moonlight Palace? Just a demon... Was that all...?
Darkness swallowed her vision as her eyes shut completely.
When Bai Shuo awoke again, she was in a carriage, dressed in plain cloth instead of finery. Chong Zhao lay asleep beside her.
The carriage halted the moment she stirred. Bai Shuo lifted the curtain to find no one around—not even a driver. At the pavilion where the road ended, a lone figure stood waiting.
How could she be here?!
Bai Shuo was startled and quickly jumped down from the carriage.
"A-Xi!" She rushed forward, nearly stumbling, but Bai Xi steadied her.
"Slow down."
At the sight of Bai Xi, Bai Shuo could no longer contain the fear and distress of the past days. She clung to her sister and burst into tears. "A-Xi... A-Xi..."
"There, there, it's alright now. Don't cry." Bai Xi patiently patted Bai Shuo's back until her sobs subsided.
"I..." Tears filled Bai Shuo's eyes as she glanced at the carriage, unsure where to begin.
"Some things, you don't have to tell me. Father found a condemned prisoner to replace A-Zhao. No one knows the one in the imperial prison isn't him," Bai Xi said softly.
"What about the Chong family...?"
Bai Xi shook her head with a light sigh. "By noon, the Chong family had already been executed to the last member."
Bai Shuo's face turned pale, her lips pressed tightly together. Bai Xi grasped her hand. "A-Shuo, this isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself. A-Zhao is innocent, and you've done all you could."
Bai Shuo's hands trembled slightly. She nodded, then shook her head.
"A-Zhao can't stay in the capital anymore. He'll have to live under an assumed name from now on. If you want to come back with me, Father and I will find a way to—"
"No." Bai Shuo interrupted, glancing at the carriage again. "A-Zhao has lost everything. I'm afraid he might do something reckless. I want to stay with him until he can come to terms with what happened."
Bai Xi's expression darkened. Bai Shuo squeezed her hand reassuringly. "It's alright, A-Xi. You know me—I never wanted to be some pampered young miss or a general's daughter. Since childhood, my dream has been to live freely as an unfettered immortal!"
Bai Xi looked helplessly at Bai Shuo's cheeky grin and tapped her forehead lightly. "You..."
"You're the Crown Princess. You can't be away from the Eastern Palace for too long. No matter how far you escort someone, parting must come. Go back now. When I become an immortal, I'll come visit you, alright?"
Bai Shuo said with a smile. Bai Xi's eyes reddened slightly, and she finally nodded. "Alright, I'll wait for our little immortal to come visit me. The outside world isn't like home—you must take good care of yourself. If... if you encounter any difficulties, or if you no longer want to be that so-called immortal, come home. Promise me?"
Bai Shuo's eyes were red as she nodded firmly. "I promise!"
She released Bai Xi's hand and turned to leave. After a few steps, she suddenly spun around and ran back.
"Sis!" Bai Shuo hugged Bai Xi tightly—the first time in their eighteen years that she had called her "sister."
"Take care of Father and Mother for me. Stay safe!" Bai Shuo abruptly let go and turned away, never looking back.
"A—" Bai Xi reached out, only managing to brush the edge of her sleeve.
The carriage disappeared at the end of the official road. Bai Xun quietly appeared beside Bai Xi, watching Bai Shuo's distant figure fade away.
When Chong Zhao woke again, half a month had passed. He never asked Bai Shuo anything, yet seemed to know everything. Day after day, he remained silent, eating and drinking only when necessary, curled up in the carriage like a man devoid of all feeling.
Bai Shuo drove the carriage eastward, showing him the scenery along the way. She told him stories from operas, cracked jokes to cheer him up. During the day, she dared not stray far; at night, she dared not sleep deeply, terrified she might lose the dazed Chong Zhao in a careless moment.
A month passed like this. Bai Shuo dared not linger anywhere long, enduring the hardships of the open road. As winter approached, the winds and sands grew harsher. Her once-smooth hands cracked from driving the carriage, and her face became dark and rough from the relentless elements. Yet the light in her eyes never dimmed.
She believed that one day, Chong Zhao would be willing to speak to her again. And one day, she would reach the end of the Eastern Sea and find the legendary immortal mountain.
The days slipped by. By the time they arrived at the last city in the eastern part of Dajing, it was already the end of the year.
That night, fireworks lit up the sky as the entire city celebrated. Hearing praises of the emperor's benevolence echoing through the streets, Bai Shuo suddenly remembered—it was the emperor's birthday.
Flustered, she tried to steer the carriage away from the bustling city, but the surging crowd trapped them beneath the dazzling fireworks.
Then, a pair of hands took hold of the reins.
Chong Zhao had woken up at some point. He looked at Bai Shuo gently and smiled.
Tears welled up in Bai Shuo's eyes, but not a single word could escape her throat.
"Where are we going, A-Shuo?" Chong Zhao's voice was as warm as ever.
"To... to become immortals," Bai Shuo choked out, forcing the words out one by one. "Okay?"
"Okay." Chong Zhao patted her head and steadily guided the carriage through the fireworks, heading east.
That same night, in the far north of the Yao Realm, within the Hall of the Bright Moon.
In the cold, desolate hall, Fan Yue drank alone under the moonlight. The small wooden donkey lay discarded by the incense-filled brazier. A wine cup clattered onto the table as Long Yi Zhu flapped his wings drunkenly, climbing onto the table with bleary eyes. He leaned against the incense burner and comfortably planted a foot on the wooden donkey.
"Little wooden thing..." Long Yi Zhu hiccuped. "How long has it been since we got back? Why haven't you eaten this donkey yet?"
Fan Yue said nothing, his gaze fixed on the moon hanging high in the night sky.
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