Chapter Five: Oath

Qingfeng Hall

Nan Xianyi arrived at Qingfeng Hall with an uneasy heart. "Master, did you summon me?"

The Lingxuan Emperor slammed the table fiercely. "So, this is your response to me?"

"You better explain to me why you want to keep that fox demon in Fusang. Do you think its mischief isn't big enough?"

"Master, please forgive me! Your disciple would never dare to do it again, I only kept it because its injuries were too severe, and I wanted to heal it."

"I swear, once it's healed, I'll drive it away. Please forgive me for a few more days, Master."

...

When Nan Xianyi arrived, Zisang was dozing off under the purple wisteria tree.

Nan Xianyi cursed inwardly, "Damn fox, causing trouble while I'm cleaning up the mess for you, and now you're here napping."

Suppressing his anger, he approached and said bluntly, "You damn fox, wake up."

His hand was mercilessly pushed away, and Zisang said coldly, "Remove your hand."

Nan Xianyi almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

What attitude is this! I'm your lifesaver, shouldn't you listen to me?

Oh right, I forgot you're a fox, you probably don't understand gratitude. I have to be more humane.

Nan Xianyi took a deep breath again and said in a suppressed voice, "Pipa, you..."

"What Pipa and not Pipa? I am Zisang, the daughter of the Demon King, Princess of the demon clan."

Nan Xianyi took another deep breath and said, "Okay, Miss Zisang, don't you think you're disrespecting your lifesaver a bit too much?"

Although she wasn't human, he still hoped she could understand the meaning behind his words.

He didn't expect her to show any kindness towards him, but he still hoped she understood that "he" was her benefactor.

Nan Xianyi looked at Zisang expectantly, only to see her smile at the corner of her mouth, then lean close to his ear and say three words, "I'm hungry."

Nan Xianyi looked at Zisang with a blank expression, at a loss for words. "Starve then."

That's it, and she shamelessly said, "Didn't you say you're my benefactor! Why, do you want to starve me to death now?"

"Benefactor... I'm hungry."

Zisang leaned closer again and said, sounding like she was acting cute, but her expression seemed more like a threat.

Nan Xianyi reached into his bosom and took out a bun, tossing it to her.

"I only eat meat," Zisang said proudly.

"That's a meat bun," Nan Xianyi retorted without hesitation.

"Then take the meat out for me," even though she was currently dependent on him, she still spoke with a commanding tone.

...

Even Nan Xianyi, who was quite rule-bound, couldn't stand Zisang's pestering. Besides, he wasn't that type of person.

Zisang complained that the bun was too bland and insisted that Nan Xianyi go to the kitchen to find something tasty.

However, she insisted on following him, causing unnecessary trouble.

The other day, she disrupted Fusang's banquet, and now she followed him out again.

If she was discovered, he wouldn't be able to clean up the mess again. So, he quietly took her out and planned to send her back secretly.

Unfortunately, reality was harsher than his plans.

Zisang didn't take his words to heart at all. As soon as they arrived at the kitchen, she started rummaging around.

Nan Xianyi was surprised when she pulled out a jar of wine. He only said they were going to find food, not drink.

"This won't do, find something else!" he said.

"Hmph! Whatever this princess wants, you have no say," Zisang said defiantly.

Their argument attracted attention from outside, and the sound of footsteps alerted them...

By the time someone opened the door, they were gone, but the mess inside proved that someone had been there.

Nan Xianyi pulled Zisang along and ran back to the shade of the trees.

Luckily, they were fast enough, or they would have been caught.

Nan Xianyi panted heavily and glanced back. Surprisingly, Zisang seemed unfazed, focusing all her attention on the jar of wine in her hands.

He didn't even notice when she took the wine out!

Nan Xianyi took the wine jar from her without a word.

Zisang didn't try to take it back, just looked at him expectantly.

"This wine is too strong, you just recovered from your injuries, so let's take it easy for now."

"Now that the wine is out, can't I drink it?" Zisang said confidently, challenging Nan Xianyi's authority.

Nan Xianyi shook the wine jar for a while before chuckling lightly.

He pulled Zisang to the shade of the purple wisteria tree and buried the wine jar in a pit.

"Let's bury it here for now. When you want to drink it in the future, we can dig it up. Is that okay?"

"I really don't understand the way you immortals think!"

"But since you said that today, I'll give you some face."

Nan Xianyi looked up at Zisang and chuckled twice. Zisang continued, "But you have to promise me that no matter where I am in the future, whenever I want to drink, you have to dig it up and bring it to me. Can you do that?"

Nan Xianyi looked up and smiled, "Of course." The indulgent look in his eyes almost ensnared Zisang.

In recent days, Nan Xianyi often visited the shade of the trees, not just because of Zisang.

Nan Xianyi was a mortal living among immortals. Although he had learned some cultivation, he was still just a mortal. He was like a dim pearl compared to grains of sand, noble in comparison but the least noticeable among other pearls.

To truly integrate, he needed countless trials and refinements. For Nan Xianyi, the first thing to do was to cultivate.

This had always been Nan Xianyi's idea. Zisang once asked him, "Why do you want to cultivate?"

Nan Xianyi sneered and said, "Being immortal is great, you can live forever."

Since he wanted to live forever, why did he show such disdain? Although she didn't understand, she didn't ask further.

Zisang understood that his cultivation was not just for longevity. There were many ways to achieve immortality, but he chose the dumbest one, who would be so stupid?

Zisang thought for a moment and continued, "What's the point of being immortal? It's better to be a demon, demons can also live forever."

Looking at her bold demeanor, Nan Xianyi inexplicably felt like he was in an inn, with the innkeeper saying, "What would you like to eat, sir? We have plenty."

Nan Xianyi stared at her dumbfoundedly for a long time before saying, "Master taught me from a young age to have aspirations and not to fall into decadence."

Hearing this, Zisang was furious. "What do you mean falling into decadence? These immortals are all hypocrites."

...

At night, Zisang came to a secluded place, intending to use magic to break Fusang's formation. However, all her efforts were in vain.

This formation was set up personally by the Lingxuan Emperor and was not easy to break.

This was not the first time Zisang had tried to break the formation since waking up, and she had tried many times without success.

Today, she received a secret letter.

Now that the demon clan was leaderless, internal chaos had begun. She couldn't stay here anymore.