Chapter 43: Spirit Pearls in Nanhai City

Haoyue Palace, Northern Region of the Yao Realm

In the cold northern reaches of the Yao Realm, the vast main hall of Haoyue Palace stood sealed in tense silence.

The heavy doors were shut tight, yet the atmosphere inside felt even heavier.

Cang Shan paced restlessly across the stone floor. Each step from his towering frame carried immense weight, causing faint tremors to ripple through the slabs beneath his feet. Dust shook loose from the rafters with every turn he made.

His brows were deeply furrowed, his expression dark with worry.

"Shan Douzi, stop spinning around. You’re making me dizzy."

A female demon lord leaned lazily against a pillar near the entrance, arms crossed as she yawned. Her sharp features carried an unmistakable killing aura, fierce and imposing. Though dressed in a soft pale-yellow gown, her presence felt anything but gentle.

Her height alone made her stand out among most demon lords, and the iron hammer resting beside her only reinforced the danger she carried.

"We’ve searched the entire Yao Realm. The master is nowhere to be found," Cang Shan rumbled, his voice deep enough to shake the air itself.

The female demon lord sneezed lightly and waved a hand dismissively.

"Obviously. If he were that easy to find, he wouldn’t be the lord of Haoyue Palace. Maybe he just sneaked out to have fun. Stop worrying for nothing."

Cang Shan’s expression hardened.

"The master is in trouble. I can’t sense his Qi."

Her relaxed demeanor finally faltered.

"Even you can’t?"

She stroked her chin, her eyes narrowing.

"That can’t be. The palace lord is a demigod. If he died, the Three Realms would show signs of disturbance. It wouldn’t be this peaceful."

Before Cang Shan’s anger could erupt, she suddenly pointed toward the table.

"Ask that pig. It definitely knows."

Curled comfortably atop the table was Mu Zhu, fast asleep beside Long Er’s wooden donkey.

Cang Shan blinked, confused.

The female demon lord snorted.

"If the palace lord were really in trouble, would it still be here dreaming away?"

The pig’s ears twitched.

Before it could react, the demon lord grabbed one ear and lifted it into the air.

"Stop pretending, you dead pig. Where the hell is the palace lord?"

Mu Zhu flailed wildly.

"Hey, hey! Gentlemen use words, not force! You metal block, put me down!"

"Shut up. I’m a woman, not a man."

"How should I know? He’s decades old—it’s not like I’m his mother..."

The demon lord’s expression sharpened.

"Zhen Yu and Chang Quan have already gone to Phoenix Island. If the palace lord doesn’t show up before the Wutong Martial Banquet ends, do you think Zhen Yu won’t take the chance to overthrow Haoyue Palace and steal the Demon Gathering Banner? The demon tiger clan has already been wiped out."

Mu Zhu froze midair.

Its short legs stiffened.

"The demon tiger clan was wiped out?"

For the first time, sorrow flickered within its eyes.

The demon lord loosened her grip slightly. Mu Zhu seized the chance and flew free.

"I only managed to save a few cubs. They’re being raised in the back hall."

Mu Zhu’s expression softened briefly before returning to its usual carefree look.

"I don’t know where he went either..."

The demon lord raised her iron hand again.

Mu Zhu hurriedly added:

"But I know if we find one person, we’ll find him."

Both Cang Shan and the demon lord turned toward it at once.

---

Nanhai City 

Far from the tension of the Yao Realm, Bai Shuo crouched in a dusty courtyard in the western outskirts of Nanhai City.

The area was lined with crumbling thatched huts, far removed from the lively city center.

She stared miserably at two copper coins resting in her palm before lifting her eyes toward Fan Yue.

"Disciple, we’ve run out of spirit pearls. We’ll have to eat sweet potatoes again today."

Their small courtyard had been rented using a low-grade spirit medicine. Though simple, the place was spotless—Fan Yue had cleaned every corner.

Fan Yue had just finished chopping firewood. Hearing her voice, he quietly pushed aside a pile of dry grass.

A trussed-up chicken was revealed.

Its beak was stuffed with cloth.

Its eyes burned with fury.

Bai Shuo’s expression instantly brightened.

“Where’d you get this?”

Fan Yue tilted his chin toward the south.

There stood the neighboring cottage—home to the blacksmith Hua Hong, a half-immortal famous for her temper and her excellent chickens.

Half the time, Bai Shuo and Fan Yue were broke.

The other half, they survived by stealing chickens.

Once, Hua Hong had chased Bai Shuo across half the street.

Since then, Bai Shuo privately called her “Hua Da Tie.”

Bai Shuo cautiously peeked toward the neighbor’s house.

“Did Hua Da Tie see you?”

Fan Yue shook his head.

“Good disciple!”

Her eyes sparkled.

“Tonight, we feast on beggar’s chicken! Quick, get to work! Here, the firewood.”

Without hesitation, she handed Fan Yue the portrait she had purchased earlier for thirty spirit pearls—now repurposed as fire-starting material.

Fan Yue accepted it calmly.

The chicken, however, looked far less calm.

---

Bai Shuo’s Hidden Mission

While Fan Yue prepared dinner, Bai Shuo leaned back in the rattan chair he had made for her.

Her fingers moved as she counted names.

Kunlun. Yunxiao. Daze.

Then the Heavenly Palace.

Then the demon lords.

Her expression slowly turned thoughtful.

Since leaving Piaomiao, she had finally begun searching seriously for the mysterious figure who had saved her during childhood.

Though she couldn’t recall his face, she remembered the terrifying power he possessed.

Only the strongest figures of the Three Realms could defeat the nine-headed serpent demon.

Shunfeng Pavilion’s portraits were her only clue.

But they were expensive.

And she was poor.

Very poor.

She shook her nearly empty Qiankun Bag and sighed deeply.

Life was difficult.

Especially when she still had to raise a disciple.

Soon, the fragrant aroma of roasted chicken filled the courtyard.

Fan Yue carefully arranged the dish alongside peach blossom wine and pickled radishes.

Despite their poverty, he always made their meals feel rich.

Bai Shuo took one bite.

Her eyes widened.

Delicious.

Before she could speak—

"Ahhhh! Damned Daoist! Did you steal my chicken again?!"

Both master and disciple froze.

Then slowly turned toward the table.

Then simultaneously—

Grabbed the chicken.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The courtyard trembled as Hua Hong arrived.

"Hey, Hua Xiaomei," Bai Shuo said quickly, wiping her greasy fingers behind her back. "It's so late, why aren't you resting?"

Hua Hong scanned the courtyard suspiciously.

"What are you two doing?"

"W-we're eating radishes..."

She lifted a plate miserably.

"No business today… Eating vegetarian all day, never full. Look how thin this Daoist has gotten!"

Hua Hong narrowed her eyes.

"Have you seen my chicken? One went missing today."

Bai Shuo’s heart nearly stopped.

But her acting improved instantly.

"Little sister, it really wasn't me this time! Must be that Zhu Xiucai next door..."

She delivered the lie flawlessly.

Hua Hong turned toward Fan Yue.

"Is your master telling the truth?"

"Mm. I also saw him carrying a big cloth bag."

The response was calm. Honest. Convincing.

Hua Hong immediately stormed away.

"That damned scholar, I'll split him in half!"

Silence returned.

Bai Shuo collapsed in relief.

"Whew, that was close..."

Then—

Hic.

Hic.

Hic.

She had eaten too fast.

Later that night, the courtyard grew quiet beneath soft silver moonlight.

Freshly bathed, Bai Shuo relaxed beneath a tree while Fan Yue sat beside her, patiently shelling sunflower seeds.

The moonlight softened his features.

For the first time, Bai Shuo truly noticed how handsome he was.

"Disciple, starting tomorrow, remember to smear some ash on your face before following Master to set up the stall."

Fan Yue blinked.

"Wh-why?"

"You're too ugly. Don't scare the noble ladies—we still depend on them for our livelihood."

Her tone was casual.

But her thoughts were not.

She feared one day he might leave.

"Disciple, when will you complete your training?"

Fan Yue turned suddenly.

"Master, are you abandoning me?"

"No, no…"

Her voice softened.

"You’ll grow up eventually."

But Fan Yue only smiled.

"I won't grow up. Master, I'll always stay with you. Wherever you are, I'll be there."

The sincerity in his voice melted her worries.

She laughed and slapped his shoulder.

"Good disciple! Tomorrow, when Master earns some spirit pearls, I'll take you to eat roast suckling pig at Yuanyang Tower!"

"Mm!"

Their shadows stretched side by side under the moon.

Warm.

Simple.

Almost peaceful.

Not far away, two figures watched silently.

The demon noblewoman leaned toward Cang Shan.

"Shan Douzi, do you think our lord... Has gone stupid?"

Cang Shan stared at the smiling young man in the courtyard.

Then slowly looked away.

---

The Next Day

Morning returned.

The familiar street.

The familiar stall.

Just as Bai Shuo finished arranging everything—

A group stepped forward.

"Are you Daoist Bai?"

A deep voice followed.

"Can you divine fortunes?"