Bustling

In the evening, just as the Hour of the Rooster approached, Mo Hua arrived under the big tree on West Street.

Bai Zisheng hadn't arrived yet, so the bored Mo Hua picked up a branch and started drawing formations on the ground to pass the time.

Mo Hua was practicing the Earth Fire Array, as offensive formations required different considerations, requiring more time to ponder and improve proficiency.

Just as Mo Hua was starting to think Bai Zisheng wouldn't come, he looked up to see Aunt Xue leading Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi walking towards him.

Mo Hua waved politely, "Aunt Xue, long time no see!"

"Indeed, it's been a while!"

Aunt Xue couldn't help but pat Mo Hua's head with her plain white hand. Mo Hua wasn't very willing, but he didn't refuse either.

"Zisheng and Zixi have been working hard in their cultivation. Since today is also a festival, let them relax a bit. It's also trouble for you to take us around." Aunt Xue spoke gently.

"It's no trouble." Mo Hua shook his head, then gestured, "Follow me. Today is the last day of the Demon Hunting Festival, and it's very lively!"

Bai Zisheng sighed lightly and ran up to Mo Hua, curiously looking around, eager to ask Mo Hua about anything new he spotted.

The cultivation world was vast, with vast differences in customs and products, and strict family regulations meant many things Bai Zisheng had never seen before.

Bai Zixi quietly followed Aunt Xue, wearing a small straw hat similar to Aunt Xue's but much smaller, a delicate white veil covering her exceptionally beautiful face, only revealing a small part of her refined and fair chin. She didn't speak much along the way but listened attentively to every word of Bai Zisheng and Mo Hua's conversation.

The streets were brightly lit, not particularly bustling, but filled with the hustle and bustle of human life.

On both sides of the street were stalls selling everything imaginable: elixirs, spiritual artifacts, jewelry, snacks, formations, miscellaneous items, toys, medicinal herbs, spiritual ink, and even the fur, bones, and inner cores of demonic beasts, all displayed in a dazzling array.

The crowd flowed smoothly past the stalls, streaming gradually into the distance where the light and shadows of the lamps extended indefinitely.

Even Aunt Xue, not to mention Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, seemed momentarily stunned.

Having been born into a prestigious family, she had seen much grandeur in the Immortal Cities, but this bustling and noisy street and market were a first for her. It was as if these cultivators were truly alive and vibrant.

Following the noisy crowd, even immortals who abstained from earthly pleasures could feel the joy of the mundane world.

Bai Zisheng wandered all the way, buying many things like a cow that could spout fire, a monkey that could blink, and a dog that could wag its tail, all wooden toys painted and dyed to look vividly lifelike, likely inscribed with simple formations inside that would activate with a bit of spiritual power.

In addition to these, there was a magnificent sword with dragon and phoenix engravings, sparkling with iridescent colors. Apart from its flamboyant appearance, it was practically useless and didn't even qualify as a spiritual artifact. But Bai Zisheng liked it very much.

Mo Hua also carried a bunch of things bought by Bai Zisheng, asking Mo Hua to hold them so he could pick out what he liked later.

Bai Zixi got a small white rabbit, only the size of a fingernail, which she held in her palm. It would move its tiny legs and run quickly, a gift from Mo Hua.

Bai Zixi simply thanked him and didn't show whether she liked it or not, but along the way, she would spread out her white jade-like hands whenever she had time, watching the little white rabbit run in the palm of her hand.

In addition to shopping, Bai Zisheng also liked to watch plays.

One type was shadow puppetry, with a large curtain bearing shadow puppets depicting characters of all ages and types, including various ghosts and monsters. Cultivators used spiritual power to control the shadow puppets, performing various actions while reciting lines to interpret stories.

Shadow puppet plays featured both humans and demons, usually with male cultivators rescuing beauties in the wilderness, encountering beautiful female cultivators, making solemn vows, and privately agreeing on their lifelong commitment.

The man even disregarded the obstruction of his sect and elders, eloping with a female cultivator to a remote and uninhabited place. There, the female cultivator shed her clothes, transformed into a demonic beast, and devoured the man.

Mo Hua loved this story, finding it very instructive and never tiring of it.

But Bai Zisheng didn't care for it much. He preferred watching lively and straightforward beast-fighting shows.

Beast-fighting shows depicted demon hunters hunting and killing demonic beasts. A large stage was set up, with several cultivators playing the roles of demon hunters—though they might not have needed to act, as they were hunters themselves. Other cultivators hid inside puppets made from the bones and fur of demonic beasts, portraying the beasts. The beasts would breathe fire, and the cultivators would use spells, creating a lively and joyous spectacle.

Mo Hua found it a bit fake because Mo Shan was a demon hunter and had told him that real demon hunting was tense and dangerous. Even facing weak demonic beasts, one couldn't afford to be careless, as it could lead to injuries or even death.

However, such performances were just for fun and games, and no one took them seriously—except, of course, Bai Zisheng.

He dreamed of going up the mountain and fighting demonic beasts one-on-one, though Aunt Xue would never allow it.

As they strolled along, they bumped into Zhang Lan.

Zhang Lan walked with a group of elderly cultivators, not many hairs left on their heads but clearly of high status—probably senior cultivators from the Dao Court and chiefs or elders of several clans in the Immortal City.

A procession of cultivators marched grandly, led by a cultivator in Dao Court robes clearing the way for them, followed by a group of young cultivators respectfully trailing behind.

These young cultivators accompanying the elders in their leisurely stroll were obviously highly regarded within their clans. Mo Hua had seen several of them before; they were all direct descendants of the Qian and An families, leading figures in the Tong Xian Gate.

Among the white-haired cultivators, Zhang Lan seemed out of place, forcing a fake smile on his face as he awkwardly chatted.

Mo Hua spotted Zhang Lan, but Zhang Lan was busy socializing and probably didn't notice him.

Unexpectedly, Zhang Lan said something to an elderly cultivator with the least hair and whitest hair, then bowed and quietly withdrew. When Mo Hua turned his head, he saw Zhang Lan standing not far away, waving at him.

"Aren't you supposed to accompany them? Those are important figures in the city..." Mo Hua couldn't help asking.

"Forget it. I was originally on leave and sneaked out for a stroll. Who knew I'd get caught halfway by the supervisor and end up reluctantly accompanying these clan heads and elders for half a day."

"Oh, I thought you were just slacking off, but I didn't expect you to entertain those elders so decently, even if it's a bit fake." Mo Hua looked at Zhang Lan with newfound respect.

Zhang Lan casually patted Mo Hua's head, "What does a kid like you understand? It's just putting on a show for the occasion. I'm lazy, not stupid."

Mo Hua felt a bit disdainful.

"Well, I have something else to do. You go ahead and enjoy yourself." Mo Hua dismissed him.

Zhang Lan chuckled, "What could you possibly have to do?" Then he noticed Bai Zisheng and Bai Zixi, with their remarkable looks, standing beside Mo Hua, as well as Aunt Xue behind them, whose face couldn't be seen clearly but exuded a remarkable aura.

(End of the Chapter)