Chapter 11

That night, Peng Peng ended up sleeping in the only bed inside the thatched cottage.

Yue Wujiu’s sleeping quarters had originally been empty. After giving it to Peng Peng, he arranged the curio shelves, tables, and chairs he had retrieved for her in the room, seemingly preparing for her to stay there long-term.

Headmaster Tang Fang smiled warmly as she watched Yue Wujiu arranging bedding in the corridor, saying with satisfaction:

“Good, you’re finally starting to look like a proper master.”

Yue Wujiu turned his head and gave her a cool glance.

“I’ve never seen a master who has to sleep outside before.”

“Back when you first came to the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect, I offered several times to expand your cave residence. It was you who refused, saying it was too big and troublesome to clean. That’s why you’re now left without enough beds after taking in two disciples.”

There was a teasing tone in Headmaster Tang Fang’s voice, but then her gaze grew distant as if remembering something:

“Ah, your Tranquil Evil Peak has been so quiet all these years. Now with two disciples, it feels much livelier.”

Tang Fang recalled the first time she met Yue Wujiu.

That year, the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect had declined, attracting demonic creatures to wreak havoc within its territory. The sect dispatched all its disciples but still couldn’t quell the chaos.

Yue Wujiu appeared that very night.

The white-robed immortal arrived under the moonlight, sword in hand, venturing alone into the mountains. He fought until dawn before returning, standing before Tang Fang covered in blood, his weary eyes lowered as he asked:

Does your esteemed sect still need people?

To this day, Tang Fang knew nothing of Yue Wujiu’s past, but she always felt that he must have traveled a long road, meeting and parting with many people, before arriving so exhausted in search of a place to rest.

If before he had been a wandering soul drifting at the edge of the mortal world, liable to disappear at any moment…

She hoped these two new ties might anchor him more firmly to this earthly existence.

As if sensing Tang Fang’s concern from her words, Yue Wujiu slowly looked up, his clear, cold eyes meeting hers deeply:

“Headmaster Tang Fang, I’ve caused you much trouble over these years.”

Just as Tang Fang was about to be moved, Yue Wujiu continued:

“Since that’s the case…”

“Might as well make it one more favor. Could you advance my salary for the next hundred years and lend me a million spirit stones?”

Tang Fang suddenly realized that sometimes, being too grounded in worldly matters wasn’t necessarily a good thing.

As the saying goes:

Where there is quietude in peaceful times, it’s only because someone else is carrying the weight for you.

While Yue Wujiu, Ji Shu, and Headmaster Tang Fang spent the night pooling their money bags together, Peng Peng had long fallen asleep in the soft, spacious bed.

Yet her sleep was far from peaceful.

In her dream, Peng Peng seemed to walk into a deep mountain valley.

Lush green grass carpeted the ground as a snow-white divine deer bent its head to pick up a spirit fungus. A green-bodied, white-headed ape wandered among the trees. When a clear cry sounded above, Peng Peng looked up just in time to see a five-colored phoenix glide across the sky before disappearing into the layered clouds.

[This is how Mount Luofu in the Nether Capital once looked]

Peng Peng turned at the voice to see it came from a mass of black mist.

She remembered clearly – this was the same voice that had spoken when sealing the evil demon at Changliu Mountain.

From within the black mist, what seemed like a pair of eyes observed her for a moment before slowly speaking:

[I am the Lord of the Nether Capital…]

Peng Peng’s eyes widened.

[…subordinate.]

Only then did Peng Peng relax.

That made more sense – if he were the Lord of the Nether Capital, then what did that make her?

But Peng Peng had no idea that the first half of what he said was the truth.

The person conversing with her in the spirit realm at this very moment was none other than the genuine ruler of the entire Nether Capital, the Demon King of Mount Luofu, the one resurrected from defiled earth—the true Lord of the Nether Capital, Ye Qi.

Hidden within the black mist, Ye Qi coldly scrutinized the little girl before him.

To this day, he couldn’t comprehend how the Soul-Guiding Reincarnation Method had gone awry.

This Ancient Secret Technique was supposed to find a dying person whose fate aligned with his, creating the perfect vessel to house his soul. He hadn’t even complained that the vessel was female, yet at the critical moment of fusion, he was abruptly kicked out.

Only later did he realize—his vessel had been taken over by something else.

The mighty Lord of the Nether Capital had been reduced to a wandering ghost.

Ye Qi’s soul drifted from one dilapidated magical artifact to another, homeless, exposed to wind and sun, enduring hardship for an entire year. Finally, heaven rewarded his perseverance, and after much struggle, he managed to latch onto a ring in the Gongyi residence.

And then he discovered that the foolish Spirit Demons sent by the Nether Capital were joyfully surrounding the little girl who had stolen his vessel, calling her “Young Master.”

At that moment, Ye Qi despaired over the unreliable old fools in the Nether Capital.

They had promised to resurrect him in a hundred years.

A hundred years passed, then another hundred.

Five hundred years had gone by! And they had the audacity to mistake someone else for him!

Just as he was about to give up, ready to drink Meng Po’s soup and start anew in eighteen years, the little girl put on the ring herself and nourished his soul with her blood.

Trapped within the ring, Ye Qi finally awakened.

Gazing at the girl who had stolen his vessel, left him homeless, tossed into the mud, bitten by stray dogs, and trampled by countless people, he thought viciously—once his strength grew stronger—

That body—it’s mine now!

“I knew it!”

The sudden lunge from the little girl startled Ye Qi.

She knew? Knew what?

The black mist trembled.

“You must have heard that I’m heading to Kunlun Ruins tomorrow to wreak havoc, so you couldn’t wait to come out and lend me a hand! You want to join me in avenging the Nether Capital, right!”

Ye Qi: Uh… well…

The matter of avenging the Nether Capital had long been forgotten.

Not that he could be blamed.

After all these years without a body, his daily routine consisted of cursing the old fools in the Nether Capital a hundred times for failing to resurrect him, and occasionally, he’d tack on another fifty curses for the scheming old men in the cultivation world who had betrayed him.

Faced with the girl’s expectant gaze, Ye Qi could only remain silent for a few seconds before replying:

[Indeed.]

“I knew it! I truly am the chosen one!”

Peng Peng swelled with confidence, her eyes gleaming.

“Even though Qiuqiu told me when I was four that I was the Lord of the Nether Capital, it was so weak I didn’t really believe it. But now it’s different! Now that you’re here!”

Ye Qi was overwhelmed by her fiery enthusiasm.

Still riding high, Peng Peng unhesitatingly hugged the swirling black mist before her and gave it a hearty pat.

“Don’t worry, as long as you serve me well, I won’t let you down. Tomorrow at Kunlun Ruins, we’ll show those bullying cultivators what it means when the Dragon King returns after three years!”

Ye Qi was utterly dumbfounded.

He never expected a five-year-old girl to be like this.

…How could a fake Lord of the Nether Capital be more fired up than him, the real deal?

What three-year comeback of the Dragon King? In his current state, his power wasn’t even one ten-millionth of what it had been at its peak. With just the two of them, how could they possibly wreak havoc in the Kunlun Ruins?

He didn’t even have a physical form. The only thing he could touch was this little girl before him, whom he had targeted for possession.

But…

It was warm.

The body heat of a human being—something he hadn’t felt in five hundred years.

Could it really be this warm?

As Peng Peng hugged him, she suddenly sensed something amiss.

The cotton-like black mist gradually stretched and transformed into the figure of a youth dressed in red robes with black hair.

His hair was as dark as thick ink, while the crimson outer robe draped over his shoulders was as vivid as red maple leaves in November. The stark contrast between the bewitching black and red hues framed a face as pale as porcelain, with a single red mole beneath the corner of his eye—so beautiful it was startling.

Peng Peng blinked as she faced him.

Though part of her daze was due to being dazzled by his beauty, the main reason was that she noticed—

He seemed on the verge of tears.

Ye Qi, snapping out of his trance: !!!

After a moment’s thought, Peng Peng suddenly understood. “Don’t cry, don’t cry! I know you’re really excited right now. Don’t worry—since I’m your Boss and you’re my underling, from now on, you’re family, just like Qiuqiu.”

Ye Qi broke free from her arms and stumbled back a dozen steps.

Who—who the hell is your underling?! Get it straight—you’re just a tool I’m going to possess sooner or later, got it?!

Of course, Ye Qi didn’t dare say that out loud.

He rubbed his eyes fiercely, his face flushing under Peng Peng’s puzzled gaze.

Ye Qi felt that looking at this person for even a second longer would shave a hundred years off his lifespan, so he quickly formed a hand seal with both hands—

The scene before them dissipated like smoke.

Peng Peng only felt a surge of power gathering back at her fingertips. When she opened her eyes again, Ji Shu was standing by her bed, telling her to get up for breakfast.

“Shijie—!”

Peng Peng’s eyes sparkled as she raised the hand wearing the ring, blurting out excitedly:

“My ring really does have a mysterious old man inside!”

Ji Shu: ?

Ye Qi, who was a thousand years old: ?

Of course, having seen the Rainbow Glass Space Jade Pendant before, Ji Shu didn’t take Peng Peng’s words seriously.

After breakfast, Yue Wujiu took Ji Shu and an unusually hyperactive Peng Peng to the Kunlun Ruins via Sword Control.

Amid the swirling mist, the Golden Summit Palace gradually revealed its true form.

Peng Peng had been buzzing with excitement over last night’s bizarre experience, but the moment she took in the grandeur of the Kunlun Ruins, she instantly switched from “Dragon King’s Return” mode to “Granny Liu Enters the Grand View Garden.”

“Is… is this an Immortal Palace? This has to be an Immortal Palace, right?”

Yue Wujiu replied calmly, “It’s the Kunlun Ruins.”

Peng Peng couldn’t believe her eyes.

They were both Immortal Sects.

How could their palaces be so numerous! Their grounds so vast! And why did their rooftops look like they were made of gold?!

Ji Shu glanced at Peng Peng and nudged her jaw back up before it could drop any further.

Noticing Ji Shu’s lack of surprise, Peng Peng tilted her head and asked, “Shijie, have you been to the Kunlun Ruins before?”

“A long time ago, I came here once by chance.”

In one lifetime, when Ji Shu became the Supreme Clarity Capital’s sect leader, the Kunlun Ruins had condemned him for betraying his master and sought to rid the cultivation world of this scourge.

At that time, the Kunlun Ruins’ sect leader Yan Guihong had already been slain by the sword of a mysterious grandmaster. Without Yan Guihong, the Kunlun Ruins were nothing in Ji Shu’s eyes. It didn’t take long before he led his forces to attack the Kunlun Ruins, taking the entire sect under his control.

After his visit, the Kunlun Ruins ceased to exist.

Peng Peng then asked Yue Wujiu, “Master, have you been here before?”

Yue Wujiu wasn’t quite sure how to answer her question.

He couldn’t tell Peng Peng that without him, there would be no Kunlun Ruins, nor could he mention that he had once come here and stabbed the sect leader of Kunlun Ruins with his sword.

So, like Ji Shu, he simply replied indifferently:

“A long time ago, I happened to pass by.”

After his visit, the Kunlun Ruins indirectly ceased to exist.

Peng Peng had no idea that the “visits” these two spoke of were entirely different from what she imagined.

The three of them arrived at the gates of Kunlun Ruins.

The gatekeeper disciples inquired about their identities.

“Yue Wujiu of the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect, accompanied by my two disciples, here to visit Shui Jing Daoren. Please announce our arrival.”

Upon hearing the name Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect, the gatekeeper disciples immediately recalled the conflict between the two sects at the Immortal Market the day before.

The incident itself wasn’t a major issue, but the fact that senior disciple Zhu Xianfei had been slapped by his own Spirit Demon was so shocking that it spread throughout the entire sect within a day.

Zhu Xianfei himself had been ridiculed so much that he still didn’t dare to show his face.

Gatekeeper disciple: “P-please wait a moment, we’ll go inside to announce—”

Yue Wujiu gave a slight nod.

The three of them were left standing outside for about half an hour.

Cultivators didn’t rely on their feet to travel—half an hour was enough time to crawl there.

Peng Peng grumbled angrily, and upon closer listening, it was all things like, “If I don’t avenge this, I’m unworthy of being a Supreme Ruler.”

Yue Wujiu and Ji Shu, however, weren’t angry at all. Instead, they found it amusing.

Both wore faint smiles that would have terrified anyone from their past lives into wetting their pants.

Another quarter of an hour later.

“Immortal Yue, please.”

The Kunlun Ruins disciples led them to the side peak where Shui Jing Daoren resided.

Upon reaching the entrance, they realized Shui Jing Daoren had no intention of letting them in.

A deep voice echoed from afar:

“The minor conflict between our disciples was settled yesterday. May I ask why Immortal Yue has brought your two disciples here today?”

Yue Wujiu replied politely:

“Meeting Shui Jing Daoren for the first time yesterday, I was deeply impressed by the profundity of your Daoist arts. Unfortunately, it was only a brief encounter. Today, I’ve brought my disciples specifically to engage in a friendly spar with Shui Jing Daoren, allowing them to observe and learn.”

Silence fell within the inner hall.

In the Soaring Void Realm, sparring was a common occurrence, especially for a flourishing sect like Kunlun Ruins.

Yue Wujiu was, after all, one of only two elders of the Ninefold Mountain Moon Sect. By all reason, he shouldn’t be refused.

But after a long hesitation, Shui Jing Daoren spoke:

“Immortal Yue, your timing is unfortunate today. I am preoccupied with trivial matters. Perhaps we could reschedule for another day—”

Before the word “spar” could even leave his lips—

“Mm, then we’ll trouble you.”

Shui Jing Daoren: “…What do you mean ‘mm’?! No one agreed to this!!”

But Yue Wujiu clearly didn’t care.

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised a hand and lightly knocked on the door three times.

On the third knock—

The vermilion gates exploded with a thunderous crash!

“Let’s go.”

Under the stunned gazes of the gatekeeper disciples, Yue Wujiu strode in with Ji Shu and Peng Peng as if no one else were present.

Ji Shu, eyes fixed straight ahead, reached out once more to lift Peng Peng’s jaw, which had nearly dropped to the ground.

Inside the inner hall, Shui Jing Daoren abruptly stood up.

“I wouldn’t dare to take up too much of your time, so let’s settle this quickly. What aspect would Shui Jing Daoren like to spar in? Discussing the Dao, magical combat, or perhaps martial arts?”

Yue Wujiu smoothly lifted the hem of his robe and sat down on the cushion before Shui Jing Daoren.

“By the way, Shui Jing Daoren might not know this, but I am quite the gambler. Without some stakes, it always feels like something is missing. Today, I’ve brought ten thousand Spirit Stones. What do you intend to wager?”

If Shui Jing Daoren still couldn’t grasp Yue Wujiu’s meaning, he would be a fool.

He laughed in anger. “A few years ago, you gifted my disciple the Spirit Demon snow leopard. How about that, Immortal Yue?”

Yue Wujiu’s expression remained indifferent, as if he didn’t detect the fury in the other’s words.

“Hmm, that sounds excellent.”

Excellent, my foot!

“Yue Wujiu! Our Kunlun Ruins has always valued harmony. I’ve tolerated you again and again—don’t push your luck!”

The white-robed, white-haired cultivator slowly raised his eyes and met his gaze calmly for a few seconds.

“Then, regardless of whether I win or lose, these ten thousand Spirit Stones will be yours. With that, does Shui Jing Daoren dare to fight?”

All cultivators had a competitive streak.

Yue Wujiu’s use of the word “dare” clearly ignited some fighting spirit in Shui Jing Daoren.

Seeing that the matter was mostly settled, Ji Shu turned to Peng Peng and said:

“When great masters spar, they enter a void realm where outsiders can’t see anything. Since you’ll just be idling here, why not go look for that Spirit Demon?”

Peng Peng glanced at Yue Wujiu’s side, hesitating slightly.

“But… what if Shifu…”

She was worried that if her master lost and got injured, what would they do?

“No need to worry. I’m still here.” Ji Shu thought for a moment and added, “We’ve already spent ten thousand Spirit Stones today. If you don’t bring back that Spirit Demon, wouldn’t it be like losing the army and the general?”

At the mention of ten thousand Spirit Stones, Peng Peng’s face instantly turned solemn.

“Mission accepted!”

Ten thousand Spirit Stones.

That was ten thousand Spirit Stones!

Driven by this enormous sum, Peng Peng spent the journey acting sweet and coquettish, finally managing to learn where A Xue was being kept.

Inside the Soul Restraining Garden.

Zhu Xianfei and a few fellow disciples were gathered around, trying to feed the snow leopard.

Clearly, great care had been taken with its living quarters. Despite it being late spring, the lake in the Soul Restraining Garden was frozen over with ice and snow.

Bound by the Demon Binding Rope, the snow leopard lay listlessly on the ice. The children around it kept approaching with rabbits and pheasants, but it couldn’t even be bothered to glance at them. When truly annoyed, it wouldn’t hesitate to swipe a paw.

“Aaaah—it scratched me again!”

Zhu Xianfei withdrew his hand, tears welling in his eyes, revealing several bloody marks.

Seeing even Zhu Xianfei, its supposed owner, get scratched, the other disciples didn’t dare approach further. They circled at a distance, their expressions a mix of longing and caution—like wanting to touch but pulling back.

Big cats might be adorable, but they weren’t worth risking one’s life to pet.

They had all come after hearing that A Xue had rolled onto its back and purred for a little girl it had only met once yesterday. They thought A Xue had changed its temperament, but it turned out to be even fiercer than before.

So much for rumors…

“A Xue, my darling—hug hug!”

Amid the crowd, a figure in pink robes suddenly darted past. Before anyone could react, the little girl had flung herself into the snow leopard’s embrace.

The Spirit Demon that had just fiercely attacked Zhu Xianfei was now not only steadily catching the little girl who pounced at it but also allowing her to snuggle against its soft belly.

It even let out kitten-like meows.

Everyone: “…Holy shit!”

Witnessing this scene, Zhu Xianfei nearly fainted from sheer envy.

Peng Peng swiftly untied the Demon Binding Rope—which was only meant to restrain Spirit Demons anyway.

Just as she was about to leave with A Xue, the indignant Zhu Xianfei blocked their path.

“Stop right there!”

A Xue began sharpening her claws again.

Zhu Xianfei hesitated but, unwilling to back down, glared at Peng Peng and demanded:

“…How did you even do that!”

Peng Peng tilted her head, confused by his question.

“I’m asking you—how did you make A Xue obey you!”

Peng Peng suddenly understood, and the other Kunlun Ruins disciples nearby also perked up with curiosity.

Then they saw Peng Peng proudly lift her chin and command the Spirit Demon beside her:

“A Xue! Shake hands!”

Under the astonished gazes of the crowd, the ruthless Spirit Demon obediently placed its large paw onto Peng Peng’s tiny palm.

Zhu Xianfei’s eyes turned red with envy.

The little girl in the pink dress smirked crookedly:

“Is it really that hard?”

…So punchable!

How could such an adorable-looking girl say something so infuriating!

Someone whispered timidly: “Um… Little Junior Sister, can I… pet her? Just once!”

Peng Peng was initially generous enough to agree but then reconsidered—

No way!

How could she let these rivals casually touch her newly acquired subordinate number three!

So Peng Peng turned and whispered a few words to A Xue.

Everyone watched as A Xue seemed to understand and nodded, and then Peng Peng announced:

“You can pet her—and shake hands too—but it’ll cost you!”

Zhu Xianfei: ? You’re charging people to interact with my Spirit Demon???

“Hmm… five seconds of petting for ten Spirit Stones, five seconds of handshaking for twenty Spirit Stones!”

Peng Peng felt a twinge of guilt after saying this.

She wasn’t sure if the prices were too high or too low, but thinking about Yue Wujiu’s earlier expenditure of ten thousand Spirit Stones, she figured she ought to earn some back.

Unexpectedly, someone immediately called out:

“I’ll pay a hundred Spirit Stones for fifty seconds!”

Peng Peng: !!!

“I’ll pay a hundred too!”

“I’ll pay a hundred and ten! Also fifty seconds, but let me go first!”

“? No undercutting! We said a hundred—why are you raising the price!”

…

By the time Yue Wujiu and Shui Jing Daoren finished their duel, the sun had already begun to set.

Though neither had moved an inch from their spots, when they reopened their eyes, Shui Jing Daoren was drenched in sweat, his gaze toward Yue Wujiu now completely different.

“Immortal Revered, to possess such power… why, why…”

Yue Wujiu slowly rose and glanced at Ji Shu, who was leaning against the doorframe waiting.

Ji Shu: “Little Junior Sister went to find that Spirit Demon.”

Yue Wujiu set down a Mustard Seed Pouch containing ten thousand Spirit Stones.

“Let’s go.”

Under Shui Jing Daoren’s mix of awe and fear, master and disciple departed with a flick of their sleeves, leaving not a single word behind—a perfectly executed display of coolness.

But when they saw the figure surrounded by a crowd in the Soul Restraining Garden, the two coolness connoisseurs fell silent.

Talk about a boss—who’s the real boss here?

The little girl seated on a carved chair had an array of pastries and fruits spread before her, which she devoured messily, while a young attendant draped an oversized coat over her shoulders.

Next to them was the noble and aloof snow leopard, gracefully extending its paw for handshakes. A line of eager, paying suckers jostled for their turn, as if it were some idol handshake event.  

Yue Wujiu thought about how he had won yet still ended up giving away ten thousand Spirit Stones.  

Then he glanced at Peng Peng, who was lounging around raking in the cash.

…Lost, completely lost.

In this life, the Kunlun Ruins were not conquered, yet it was worse than being conquered.