Chapter Seventy-Four: The Land of Nothingness

Yebai's actions were akin to courting death; having just escaped it, he failed to appreciate his newfound lease on life and instead charged headlong into danger.

Jun Feng glanced back with a faint smile, his eyes filled with menace. "You seem quite pleased, don't you?"

Instantly, goosebumps covered the ground!

Why... do I have a bad feeling about this?

Jun Feng casually picked up a piece of tattered cloth and hastily fashioned it into a small sail. Taking up a pen, he wrote a few words, "As an orphan since childhood, with no one to rely on, I struggle to earn a living."

Yebai read it carefully and caught a glimpse of Jun Feng's smirk. A chill ran down his spine. "Don't even think about it!"

"I haven't even said anything yet."

"You just want me to go out and perform to earn money for you! Forget it!" Yebai's eyes widened, seemingly acknowledging his defeat to Jun Feng's physical prowess but refusing to back down in spirit.

"You have no choice because... this is the price you pay for mocking me!" Jun Feng smirked slyly.

Yebai dashed away, but in a moment of distraction, he was struck by Jun Feng's magic. The next moment, his limbs seemed to move uncontrollably, defying his own will as he walked towards where the sail was erected. It felt as if his entire body was no longer his own, as if he were a puppet being manipulated by someone else!

(Jun Feng, you despicable and shameless scoundrel! How dare you use puppetry on me! Bastard! One day, I will tear you apart into a million pieces!)

(I heard that! If you dare to continue, well, I can't guarantee you'll come back alive!)

(Shh~ If you do well this time, I'll buy you delicious food when you come back!)

Jun Feng sat on the eaves not far from Yebai. His Flowing Cup zither emitted a faint white light under the sunlight. His slender index finger gently plucked the strings, and the melodious sound drifted into Yebai's ears.

In the crowd, a conspicuously dressed boy in red stood stiffly in the middle of the street. Suddenly, the sound of a zither filled the air, and the previously stiff child seemed to come alive, dancing energetically.

With waving hands and twisting hips, he couldn't be more adorable. However, if his facial expression were a bit softer, it would be better; otherwise, despite his cuteness, he always looked like he wanted to kill someone, and that had its limits.

But people weren't that stingy. Since the child had put in so much effort into the performance, it was only right to show some appreciation! So, the onlookers generously donated their love.

Yebai even vaguely heard someone say, "... such a pitiful child! He's so young and already out here working hard. It's not easy!"

"Yeah! Look at my child at home. He's much older, but still not half as responsible as these children!"

Yebai even faintly heard someone saying, "...such a pitiful child! He's so young and already out here working hard. It's not easy!"

"Yeah! Look at my child at home. He's much older, but still not half as responsible as these children!"

It seemed that some people were starting to discuss whether they should adopt him?

Yebai felt like crying but couldn't shed tears, wanted to curse but dared not. He could only endure the injustice in silence, with an even darker expression on his face.

(Be good~ Smile!)

(Hmph!)

(Alas! Don't forget, you're now an orphan with nowhere to turn, your family history is tragic, penniless, destitute, and miserable. Everything you're doing now is just to have a meal!)

(Just look at how miserable you are. Don't you think it's worth crying for?)

Just thinking about these things made Jun Feng couldn't help but sigh! Look at this poor child. Can you bear to watch him go hungry?

"Ugh... my life is so bitter! My father... mother... I'm so hungry... Give me money for food! Ugh~" After hearing Jun Feng's words, Yebai immediately collapsed to the ground, wailing loudly, lamenting his fate, and calling for his parents.

Of course, this wasn't Yebai's true feelings. All of this was being controlled by Jun Feng.

Meanwhile, Yebai's actual inner monologue went like this:

(Smile? You go up if you can!)

(Your father died, your mother died, your whole family died, and you, you shameless bastard, keep finding ways to insult me!)

(Huh? Why am I crying? Why do I have to cry? Ah! It's so embarrassing to cry in front of so many people! What should I do? What should I do? Jun Feng! I'll kill you!)

Yebai's inner turmoil escalated from resignation to embarrassment, and then to the point of explosion. With a determined effort, he broke free from Jun Feng's puppetry.

"Jun Feng, you bastard! Show yourself!" Yebai howled to the sky, venting all his pent-up grievances.

As for the emotions that had just begun to brew among the onlookers, after Yebai's roar, they were all startled. No one had expected that such an apparently cute child could also have such a terrifying and ferocious appearance.

As if waking up from a dream, they realized that it was all a show, and they were furious.

"So, it was all an act! You little brat, at such a young age, you learn nothing good but deception?"

"Really, at such a young age, you already know how to deceive people. What will you be like when you grow up?"

"Oh my, luckily my Iron Egg at home doesn't cause trouble. If he were like him, what would we do?"

After a round of scolding, the onlookers reclaimed the silver coins they had "donated" and even spat on Yebai before leaving. No matter how Yebai tried to explain, no one would listen.

After the crowd dispersed, Jun Feng slowly walked out from behind. Instead of rushing to comfort Yebai's injured soul, he was only concerned about the three copper coins left on the ground, gazing regretfully at the departing pedestrians.

Finally, Jun Feng's gaze fell on Yebai, and with a disdainful glance up and down, Yebai, in turn, rolled his eyes and casually uttered four words from his mouth, "You're really useless!"

After the crowd dispersed and the money ran dry, Jun Feng leisurely emerged from behind. He didn't rush to comfort Yebai's wounded heart but instead busied himself picking up the three copper coins left on the ground, watching the departing pedestrians with a pang of regret.

Finally, Jun Feng's gaze fell on Yebai. He disdainfully scanned him from head to toe, and Yebai, in turn, rolled his eyes and casually uttered four words from his mouth, "You're really useless!"

"Useless? Me?!" Yebai felt like his lungs were about to explode. How could there be such shameless people in the world? He was simply his nemesis!

"Hey! Stop right there and explain yourself!" Yebai ran up with his two short legs, stood in front of Jun Feng, hands on hips, and angrily confronted him, his tender little face turning red with anger.

Looks like he's really angry this time!

"I was going to say... hah!" Jun Feng had intended to reason with him, but suddenly remembered Yebai's acrobatics performance just now and couldn't help but laugh.

"What are you laughing at? What's so funny?" His face turning even redder with anger, Yebai wished he could cover Jun Feng's mouth and stop him from laughing.

"Yeah, what's so funny? We're the ones who should be laughing."

A rough male voice sounded not far away. Yebai and Jun Feng both turned to look in the direction of the voice.

"Haha! Still laughing?"

"Maybe he's met an idiot? Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!" The followers behind also burst into laughter, full of mockery.

Jun Feng couldn't help but sneer, turning to Yebai and saying, "Kid, you've got your meal money for these few days, but... let's see if you can handle them!"

"Really?"

"Of course."

"Heh, what's so hard about that? Just watch!" Yebai patted his chest confidently, swaggering over to stand in front of the bandit leader.

At first, the bandit leader was a little confused. After sizing up this child, who was only half his height and holding a red umbrella, and then looking at the man in white standing far away, he paused for a few seconds, then burst into laughter, clutching his stomach. "You coward, you're already this big, yet you still hide behind a child. Have you no shame!"

"Ha!" Yebai couldn't help but laugh and muttered, "He really has no shame!" Glancing cautiously at the iron-faced Jun Feng, he knew that these bandits were in big trouble. He feared... they were in for a rough time!

"Alright! Very good!"

Sure enough, Jun Feng was furious. Without even looking, he could tell that Jun Feng was grinding his teeth. Yebai could even hear the sound of teeth shattering.

"Surrender quietly, we only want the money. Leave the money behind and you can go!"

As he spoke, he wiped off some stubble, leered at Yebai, and said, "Otherwise, I'll take you brat back and make a few bucks selling you!"

Yebai's face darkened, and he leaped up, delivering a swift kick to the bandit leader's left cheek.

The bandit leader was kicked back into a tree, spitting out a mouthful of blood from his throat, along with two teeth.

Yebai repeated his words to him, "I'm not interested in you mortals. Leave the money, and you can go!"

"This..."

"Hmm?"

"Yes, yes! Get, get the money for Karman!" The bandit leader held his swollen left cheek while commanding his men.

These people weren't stupid. Seeing their boss in such a state, they wouldn't be foolish enough to resist. They could only obediently hand over their money to Jun Feng. There were one or two who harbored some ideas and hid some money on them, but when Yebai gave them a stern look, they chickened out on the spot.

These people weren't stupid. Seeing their boss beaten like that, they wouldn't be foolish enough to resist. They obediently handed over their money to Jun Feng. There were one or two who harbored some ideas and hid some money on them, but one glance from Yebai made them back down on the spot.

A few of them took advantage of their distraction and ran off as fast as they could.

Jun Feng and Yebai naturally noticed, but they couldn't be bothered with them. What they were more concerned about now was how to divide the money in their hands fairly.

Jun Feng thought he had come up with the idea, but would Yebai have the brains to come up with such a plan if he hadn't guided him? So, the credit naturally belonged to him.

However, Yebai thought it was all his doing. Knowing Jun Feng's wicked ways, he just stood there, not doing anything useful except breathing heavily.

After arguing for a while without reaching a conclusion, Jun Feng started laying down the terms with Yebai.

"Alright, since the money is in our hands now, there's no need to distinguish between yours and mine. I'll hold onto the money for now. If you want to eat or buy something, just come to me."

"Why should I trust you, you schemer!"

"Heh! Whether you believe me or not, the money is in my hands!" Jun Feng waved dismissively, irritating Yebai to the point of flames shooting from his eyes.

"What are you staring at?" Jun Feng lightly tapped the back of Yebai's head. "If you keep glaring like that, I won't buy you anything to eat later! Haha, you little brat!"

"You're the brat here! Your whole family is a bunch of brats! And you're an old scoundrel!"

"Quit babbling. If you don't keep up, you'll go hungry later!"

"I want this!" Yebai reached out his small hand and tugged at Jun Feng's clothes, then pointed to the small sugar figures by the roadside.

Jun Feng hastily glanced over and hastily dismissed him, saying, "That's not tasty. I'll take you to something better later."

As he spoke, he kept pushing Yebai forward, ignoring Yebai's struggles.

"I don't want that! I want this one!"

Jun Feng sighed helplessly, looking at Yebai's pitiful appearance, his heart softened. After all, he was still a child, and liking candy was normal.

"Do you... really want it?"

"Mhmm!" Yebai nodded vigorously without hesitation.

"Alright then! You go ahead and wait for me."

After a while...

Jun Feng's figure gradually appeared in the crowd, and Yebai couldn't contain his excitement and started jumping up and down. He had been looking forward to it for so long.

He loved candy, but his mother never let him have any. When he stole a piece of candy as a child and was caught by his mother, he was severely punished. Since then, he had never eaten it again, but the taste of that candy still lingered in his mind.

Yebai anxiously stomped his feet in place, feeling like Jun Feng was deliberately teasing him. He knew Yebai was anxious, yet he deliberately slowed down his pace, occasionally admiring the scenery along the way.

Yebai, impatient, jogged up to meet him, his head held high with a sense of urgency. "Where's my candy person? Did you buy the candy person for me?" he asked eagerly, scanning Jun Feng from head to toe.

The color gradually drained from his pink face, and he asked disappointedly, "You're not deceiving me, are you?"

"How could I! I, Jun Feng, always keep my word." With that, he pulled it out from behind.

"What is this? I asked for a candy person, are you trying to fool me with a string of candied haws?"

"Quit your nonsense! It's good enough to have something to eat!" Jun Feng was also straightforward, directly stuffing it into Yebai's hand.

Every day, Danjun would come to the Lotus Pond to take care of Moxuan. According to the guards at the door, they were almost living together.

The chubby guard couldn't help but notice Danjun's blushing face and teased, "Why not just ask the Heavenly Emperor to advance your wedding date? Save the trouble of coming back and forth!"

Now, Danjun's face was as red as a ripe tomato, thoroughly embarrassed. Without a word, she covered her cheeks with her hands and quickly retreated.

Unfortunately, this awkward moment was witnessed by Moxuan, catching Danjun completely off guard. She had planned to leave a good impression on her "big brother in black"!

Danjun stood awkwardly in place, her hands covering her cheeks in embarrassment, with only her index fingers pointing to her face, trying to look cute.

"I heard them say earlier that there seems to be an engagement between you and me?" Moxuan asked blankly, completely unaware of Danjun's discomfort and went straight to the point.

Her smile froze instantly, her face stiff as she replied awkwardly, "Yes, yes! It's something from a long time ago!"

"Why are you silent? You... don't want... to marry me, do you?" Seeing Moxuan's silence, Danjun began to worry. Actually, she had already noticed that her "big brother in black" had feelings for Sang'er. He was usually so cold, but whenever he saw Sang'er, he couldn't help but smile.

A very faint smile, as if he was deliberately hiding it, barely noticeable unless you paid attention. Many times she would lie to herself, saying it was just a coincidence. Perhaps he happened to see something funny at that moment.

But... a person's gaze couldn't deceive others. His eyes were clearly full of affection, and his gaze always followed her!

A bitter taste filled Danjun's heart, choking her throat, bitter and acrid.

"Prince Moxuan, you don't have to..."

"Danjun, you've misunderstood. I just think an engagement is not something to be taken lightly." "If two people who don't love each other are forced together by a piece of paper, they will never be happy."

Throughout the conversation, Moxuan couldn't bring himself to look directly at Danjun, his gaze evasive, as if avoiding something.

At that moment, Danjun felt as if something had been taken from her heart, leaving it empty and choked up. Nevertheless, she forced a smile and said, "I finally found someone I can confide in!"

Pretending not to care, she patted Moxuan's sturdy shoulder. "I told them that the betrothal and the childhood engagement were useless, but they just wouldn't listen!"

"Actually..." Moxuan hesitated for a moment before slowly speaking, "Actually, I often dream of a girl. She always stands in the distance, waving to me and smiling."

"Do you know who she is?" It seemed like a struggle to get the words out.

Moxuan shook his head, "I don't know! When I wake up, I can't remember anything. I can't remember her face, I can't remember her name. I only remember that there are fireflies where she appears, many! Many! They seem to be born because of her." As he spoke, a faint smile curved his lips, all of which fell into Danjun's eyes.

She seemed to know who it was!

Moxuan shook his head. "I don't know! When I wake up, I can't remember anything. I can't remember her face, I can't remember her name. I only remember that there are fireflies where she appears, many! Many! They seem to be born because of her." As he spoke, a faint smile curved his lips, all of which fell into Danjun's eyes.

She seemed to know who it was!

"You've been hungry all day. Why don't you eat something first to fill your stomach, and we can think about other things later."

As Danjun brought the food to the table, she explained, "This is my first time cooking, so I'm not sure how it tastes. It might not be as good as you imagine. Why don't you try it first, and if it's not good, I'll go back and make it again."

Although she pretended to be casual, she was actually in a panic, sweating in her palms and staring anxiously as Moxuan picked up a bite of food. She continued to watch him intently!

Seeing Moxuan's discomfort, Danjun hesitated for a moment before retracting her hand. "You... do you want to eat too?"

"No need, no need. I'm fine watching you eat!" She waved her hand gracefully and smiled.

With that, she gazed at Moxuan with a lovestruck expression.

"This..." Moxuan hesitated internally. What should he do? He couldn't stand being stared at like this, feeling pressured. He couldn't even eat properly now; every move felt uncomfortable.

But seeing the expectant look in Danjun's eyes, he couldn't bear to disappoint her.

After hesitating for a moment, he picked up the chopsticks, paused in mid-air for a moment, and finally picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the edge of the plate.

"So you like osmanthus cakes!" Danjun was delighted.

"Yeah, I do!" Then he gently took a bite of the osmanthus cake. In reality, he didn't like osmanthus cakes at all, or any sweet food for that matter. They were nightmares to him.

He just remembered that in his dream, that person gave him an osmanthus cake and said it was her favorite. It seemed like the first time he had encountered such a sweet food, and he couldn't forget that feeling, that taste, sweet and crisp, with a strange sensation.

He didn't fall in love with sweet food because of that, but he didn't dislike it as much as before.

"How is it? Is it good?" Danjun couldn't wait any longer, anxiously asking, her expression more restless than before.

Instead of immediately replying, Moxuan savored the taste, lingering over its flavor. After a long time, he calmly replied to Danjun, "Not good! It's a bit bitter!"

"Bitter? How is that possible!" Danjun couldn't believe it, picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. "Hmm... cough, why is it so sweet? I didn't add much sugar!"

"I'm sorry! I didn't do it right this time. Next time, I'll make it delicious and bring it to you."

"Master Ming, can you teach me how to make osmanthus cakes?"

When Danjun returned, it was already late, and Master Ming had been busy inside and out, not resting for a minute.

Danjun had been muttering "osmanthus cakes" since she returned. Initially, Master Ming thought she was hungry and wanted osmanthus cakes, so she asked her. But Danjun insisted otherwise.

Within a short time, Danjun started pestering her to teach her how to make osmanthus cakes. Master Ming wondered why she was suddenly interested in making osmanthus cakes in the middle of the night when she didn't even know what a kitchen looked like. What kind of madness had possessed her tonight to want to make osmanthus cakes?

"Why are you making osmanthus cakes in the middle of the night? Get some rest first. I'll teach you tomorrow, okay?"

Master Ming tried to persuade Danjun to stop, but Danjun was determined.

"No, no! Master Ming, if you don't teach me today, I definitely won't be able to sleep tonight! Ah, Master Ming, please teach me! I promise it won't take up much of your time."

"You naughty girl, you know just how to soften my heart!"

"Hehe, Master Ming, you're the best!"

Master Ming was all talk and no action, but she couldn't resist Danjun's persistence.

Danjun was the only little princess under the White Emperor's knees, born superior. Not to mention cooking; she didn't even know what a kitchen looked like or where anything was. These things were not her concern; she just sat quietly and waited for the celestial officials to serve her. However, since she made a request today, Master Ming naturally had to comply.

Master Ming had watched Danjun grow up since she was a child, so she knew her personality well. The more you resisted her, the more she wanted to do it. You could only indulge her, and when she couldn't learn it, she would naturally give up.

"So... Master Ming, where do we start?"

"First, knead the dough." Master Ming stood by, instructing. "Add water to the flour, stir until smooth, and then beat the eggs."

"Oh... add water... and then stir until smooth..."

"Too much water! You added too much!"

"Oh, what should I do now? Do we need to start over?"

Master Ming sighed and rubbed her temples, forcing herself to calm down. "Don't rush to start over. Add more flour! Keep adding flour! It shouldn't be too thick or too thin. It should be able to hold chopsticks upright!"

Danjun was at a loss, her mind blank, unable to remember where she had put the flour, just rummaging around blindly.

Suddenly, she slipped and fell, the freshly kneaded dough water spilling all over her face without warning, turning her into a "fair as snow" and "hair full of green strands turning into white snow."

"Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?" Master Ming hurried over to help her up, concerned.

"Hehe, Master Ming, looks like we really need to start over this time!" Despite the failure, Danjun still smiled foolishly.

"Master Ming, I'm fine. Let's continue! This time I'll definitely succeed!"

"Silly girl, go wash your face first."

Yunsi stealthily left Jingshui Temple, running southward, stopping occasionally as if looking for something. She seemed to have no sense of direction, relying entirely on her intuition, wandering aimlessly through the forest. After a while of being lost in the woods, Yunsi paused briefly before continuing deeper into the forest.

About a hundred meters ahead, the sound of a waterfall could be heard. Yunsi's face lit up with joy. She eagerly pushed through the tree branches and jumped into the clearing, laughing heartily, "Great Immortal, I found you!"

Junfeng was caught off guard by her sudden appearance, his expression momentarily blank, and his hands, which had been playing the zither, stopped unconsciously.

"How did you find this place?" Junfeng was genuinely curious. He believed this spot to be well-hidden, unlikely to be discovered by anyone.

Even if someone could, Jingshui Temple was over a hundred miles away. How did she manage to find this place? Could she have been following me all along?

"Wow! Great Immortal, you can play the zither! No wonder I heard someone playing on my way here. It was you!"

Yunsi ignored Junfeng's question, rushing over with a curious look. She circled around the flowing zither with a look of wonder, her eyes fixed on the white jade zither on Junfeng's lap.

Not content with just looking, she reached out to touch it. Junfeng, irritated, slapped her hand away and quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe the strings repeatedly, grumbling all the while.

"You can look, but why did you touch my zither? If you damage it, can you afford to pay for it? It took me a long time to get this celestial silk from Cangxuan, a rare treasure that only appears once in a thousand years."

"It's not broken, though!" Yunsi was stunned by Junfeng's slap, standing there without daring to breathe. It took her a while to muster up this reply.

She had always thought immortals treated wealth like dirt. Seeing him act like this, she realized she needed to change her view of immortals.

"What are you doing here? Are you out of scriptures to copy or mantras to recite?" Junfeng looked at her with disdain, perfectly conveying his unwelcome attitude.

Yunsi muttered under her breath, "I was just bored and wanted to come out and play with you."

"What did you say?"

"Nothing!"

Junfeng shot her a glare and hurriedly said, "If you have nothing to do, leave early. I have urgent matters to attend to and no time to play with you."

He busily packed up his belongings, looking as if he was indeed in a hurry, not sparing Yunsi another glance.

"I'm not leaving. I had a hard time finding this place, and now that I've just arrived, you want to send me away?" Yunsi sat down cross-legged on the ground, arms crossed, clearly throwing a childish tantrum.

Junfeng found her demeanor inexplicably amusing. "I remember you weren't like this before!"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"I said you need to leave here immediately. If any danger arises, I won't have time to protect you."

Yunsi glanced at the desolate surroundings and said dismissively, "What danger could there be in a place like this? Wolves or leopards?" She laughed and added, "Oh! Maybe there are poisonous snakes in this wilderness! Haha."

It was clear she had no sense of danger. Junfeng furrowed his brows in exasperation. "What will it take for you to go back?"

"Play with me! Otherwise, I won't leave even if I die!"

Junfeng was taken aback, staring at Yunsi, his mind flooded with thoughts. Yes, she was no longer who she used to be. They were two different people, even if they shared the same appearance, their personalities were completely different.

And her eyes, they had changed too. The former her, though a princess of the demon clan, always had a myriad of emotions and a face full of worry. But now, those emotions were gone. Her eyes were clear and pure, like an innocent child untouched by the world.

Indeed, they grew up in different environments; how could they be the same?

For a moment, he felt an inexplicable desire to protect her, a possessiveness. He wanted to safeguard this kind and pure version of her, not wanting her to suffer, not wanting her to become another Zisan.

"So, what do you want to play?" Junfeng asked, his expression softening.

"Well, you can play the zither, right? Could you play a piece for me? I spend all day in the temple listening to endless Buddhist scriptures and teachings. My ears are about to grow calluses," Yunsi said, scratching behind her ear.

Junfeng chuckled, his composure unwavering. "My zither playing isn't something I do on a whim."

"Huh? Then what would make you play?" Yunsi asked earnestly, her big eyes blinking at him sincerely.

Junfeng sighed and smiled helplessly, a hint of tenderness in his eyes. "Fine, I'll make an exception for you this time."

His fingers gently curved, his fingertips gliding over the strings, producing clear and melodious notes. His slender, jade-like hands moved gracefully, mesmerizing Yunsi.

Watching the strings dance as if they had come to life, Yunsi couldn't resist reaching out to touch them.

"Dang!" Yunsi barely plucked a string, yet it produced a loud sound, interrupting Junfeng's performance completely.

Under Junfeng's cold gaze, Yunsi trembled.

I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it, stop looking at me! It's making me nervous!

"Um... I didn't mean to interrupt you, I was just curious! Yes, curious!"

Junfeng gave her a dismissive look, too weary to reprimand her further.

When Junfeng remained silent, Yunsi grew even more anxious. He already looked cold, but now his stern face made her uneasy. Desperate, Yunsi clung to his arm, crying and pleading, "I'm sorry, okay? Don't be mad, please? Pretty please?"

She thought she was being convincing, but Junfeng pushed her away with a look of disdain. "That won't work on me. Tell me, how did you find this place?"

She thought she was being quite convincing, but Junfeng still pushed her away with a look of disdain. "Don't try that on me. It won't work. But I do want to know how you found this place."

"I followed the sound!" Junfeng's lack of reprimand made Yunsi more confident, her expression smug.

Junfeng was momentarily taken aback, unsure how to respond. "Sound? What sound?"

"The sound of this bell! It makes such a lovely tinkling noise!"

A sound? Why had he never heard it before?

Junfeng hesitated, looking at the glass ball at his waist, then suspiciously at Yunsi. "Hmph! You should come up with more believable lies in the future." Luckily, I'm patient. If it were someone else, you'd have been beaten by now.

"It's true!" Seeing Junfeng's skeptical gaze, Yunsi explained more earnestly, "I used to have a dog with a bell like yours around its neck. Whenever it got lost, I'd follow the sound to find it."

Junfeng's hand, which was fiddling with the glass ball, suddenly froze. The smile on his face disappeared, replaced by a dark expression as he gritted his teeth. "What do you mean?"

"Uh? I... I didn't mean anything!" Yunsi mentally slapped herself, cursing her own stupidity. Why did she have to walk right into this?

The way she said it, she practically compared Junfeng to her old dog. Oh no, I'm doomed!

"God... God Immortal, let me explain. I didn't mean that. I... I was just making an analogy, really."

"Heh, come here!" Junfeng beckoned her with a dangerous smile.

"No! Please, let me go!" Yunsi shook her head, desperately trying to push him away. But she was just a girl, unlike Junfeng, who was trained. Within moments, he pulled her over with one arm.

Yunsi, at a loss, shut her eyes tight, flailing her arms wildly. Amidst her own noisy cries for help, she heard a faint, intermittent tinkling sound. Suddenly, a cold object slipped into her collar, and Yunsi instinctively clutched her shirt.

"I'm a monk! What do you intend to do to me? Let me tell you, I am the disciple of the greatest master in the world. If you dare try anything inappropriate, my master will never forgive you!"

Gasping for breath, Yunsi glared at Junfeng warily, fearing he might attack. To her surprise, it seemed she had overthought it. He had no such intentions and even rolled his eyes at her in disdain.

Seeing that Junfeng wasn't going to harm her, Yunsi relaxed and patted her chest, only to feel something bulging. Looking down, she found Junfeng's bell that had been hanging at his waist.

"God Immortal, why did you give this to me? Don't you want it anymore?"

"No, I just think it suits you better."

"Oh~" Yunsi nodded blankly, playing with the glass ball. Suddenly remembering something, her smile froze. "But it feels strange hanging around my neck. Maybe I should wear it on my waist like you... Huh, why can't I take it off?"

Junfeng smiled smugly, his eyes narrowing with amusement. "Why take it off? This way, if I want to find you, I can just follow the sound."

Yunsi was thunderstruck, utterly shocked. She had thought the matter was settled. She had even apologized! What a petty person! And he calls himself an immortal? Hmph! Compared to him, my master truly seems like a noble and virtuous immortal.

Yunsi was thunderstruck, utterly shocked. She had thought the matter was settled. She had even apologized! What a petty person! And he calls himself an immortal? Hmph! Compared to him, my master truly seems like a noble and virtuous immortal.

"This isn't right," Yunsi said weakly.

"What's wrong with it? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Now you won't have to chase after me. I'll come to find you."

Unable to argue with Junfeng, Yunsi had no choice but to endure his teasing. After all, she had come looking for trouble herself. Who could she blame?

"Junfeng! He's coming!" A child's voice echoed from a distance, its innocent tone tinged with a sinister undertone.

Before Yunsi could locate the source of the voice, Junfeng stood up and hurriedly left.

"Immortal, where are you going? I'll come with you!" Yunsi immediately chased after him, but Junfeng suddenly turned and angrily flicked his sleeve, creating a gust of wind that swept her away. As he left, she vaguely heard him say, "Go back! This is none of your business..."

Meanwhile, Danjun had spent the entire night perfecting the art of making osmanthus cakes. At dawn, he eagerly headed to the Lotus Pond.

When he arrived, he found Moxuan sleeping on a long bench. Seeing him dressed in only a thin garment, Danjun set down the food box and found a blanket to cover him.

However, he noticed that Moxuan was sweating profusely, not from heat, but as if he were having a nightmare. His face was troubled, and his brows were tightly furrowed.

Danjun quickly took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from Moxuan's forehead. The moment he touched him, Moxuan suddenly shouted, "Who are you? ... Who are you? ... Don't, don't leave me..."

Danjun's mind buzzed, feeling as if something were about to explode. He hesitated for a moment, then withdrew his hand, but his gaze never left Moxuan's face.

A heavy feeling settled in his heart. Perhaps the girl from the fireflies' memory is Sister Sang'er.

If possible, she would rather know nothing at all. At least that way, she wouldn't feel burdened. She could shamelessly stick by his side as his little follower.

But now, even though he's right beside her, it feels like there's a mountain and a sea between them...

"Danjun? When did you get here?"

Moxuan, now awake, saw her staring at him blankly. He felt an indescribable mix of awkwardness and confusion.

Danjun snapped out of it and forced a smile. She lifted the food box she had brought and waved it in front of him. "I brought you something delicious!"

"But I didn't want to wake you since you were asleep."

"Thank you!"

"It's nothing. You must be hungry, right? I brought your favorite osmanthus cakes. Ah~" As she spoke, Danjun picked up a piece of cake and held it to Moxuan's mouth.

Moxuan frowned slightly but hesitantly took a small bite.

"How is it? Isn't it delicious?"

Danjun beamed with pride. She had worked all night to perfect this recipe. Many times she had wanted to give up, but the thought of it being Brother Hei's favorite dessert made her persevere. Now, seeing him eat it brought an indescribable joy to her heart.

But for Moxuan, it was a deeply uncomfortable experience. However, seeing Danjun's expectant expression, he couldn't bear to disappoint her and forced himself to swallow.

His eyes lingered on the golden osmanthus cakes on the white plate, and memories suddenly surfaced. Past scenes overlapped with the present, and his head began to throb with intense pain.

His gaze was drawn to the golden osmanthus cakes on the white plate. His eyes fixed on them, and suddenly, memories flooded his mind. Past scenes intertwined with the present, and his head began to throb with intense pain.

That familiar figure still haunted his thoughts, her memory always resurfacing, yet he could never see her face clearly or recall her name.

"Who are you? Who are you really? I... I don't want to forget you, I don't want to forget you... Ah!!!!" Moxuan clutched his head, screaming in agony, using all his strength to vent his pain.

Yunsi, having been swept away by a fierce wind from miles away, found herself disoriented and dizzy when she opened her eyes, not knowing where she was.

"Bastard!" Yunsi cursed through gritted teeth. "I should've known better than to look for you. And you call yourself an immortal? Hmph!"

"Where am I anyway?"

Yunsi wandered aimlessly in the forest, turning in circles without finding an exit. It seemed she had fallen into an enormous forest, so vast that she couldn't walk out even if she tried.

"Where am I? Boohoo, Master, please come save me! If you don't come soon, your beloved disciple will starve to death in a foreign land."

Yunsi walked while grumbling to herself, seemingly intent on airing all her grievances.

Finally, after an hour, she had no strength left to complain. Having not eaten for several hours, she was now both hungry and cold, with hunger gnawing at her stomach.

She started to hallucinate, seeing one person ahead of her who seemed to be accompanied by two shadows. The three figures swayed and overlapped as if they were merging.

Yunsi shook her head vigorously to see more clearly. When she opened her eyes again, sure enough, there was indeed a woman ahead.

The woman clenched her fists tightly and her body trembled, as if she were enduring great pain.

"Amitabha! I am Yunsi, a disciple of Master Qingwu from Jingshui Temple. I see that you are unwell. Is there anything I, a humble monk, can do to help you?"

"Zisang? How dare you show up in front of me?" As Yunsi kindly approached to help, she was ruthlessly lashed by the woman's whip.

"What are you doing? I have no quarrel with you. Why are you treating me like this?"

"No quarrel? I ended up like this because of you." The woman's face twisted with rage. It was clear she harbored a deep grudge against Yunsi, otherwise she wouldn't hate her so much.

As a disciple of a Buddhist temple, Yunsi always believed in teaching and resolving inner conflicts. Now, facing someone so blinded by hatred, she was determined to help.

She dismissed her confusion and continued calmly, "Miss, it seems you have some misunderstanding about me. I only wanted to help because I saw you were hurt."

Seeing Yunsi still talking to her calmly, the woman became even more furious. "Zisang, stop pretending. Don't tell me you've forgotten who I am. Look at my face. You caused this. You won't get away with it."

"I caused this?"

"Have you really forgotten? No matter, I'll remind you who I am. I am Yufu, daughter of the most esteemed King of All Birds in the demon realm. I grew up with you."

"Of course, we weren't friends. We were enemies! From birth, we were destined to oppose each other. I hate you. You took everything that should have been mine. You stole the person I loved. Now, do you remember who I am?"

"Hmph, have you really forgotten? No matter, I'll tell you who I am. I am Yufu, the daughter of the most esteemed King of All Birds in the demon realm. I grew up with you."

"Of course, we are not friends. We are enemies! From birth, we were destined to oppose each other. I hate you. You took everything that should have been mine. You stole the person I loved. Now, do you know who I am?" Yufu's smile grew more sorrowful, and Yunsi thought she caught a glimpse of tears in Yufu's eyes.

Although Yunsi had no idea what had transpired, she had experienced enough sudden, unexpected events to handle them calmly by now. She looked at Yufu with an unexpectedly calm demeanor, her eyes devoid of any ripples. She said softly, "I am not this Zisang you speak of. I am merely a little monk from Jingshui Temple. I saw you were unwell and wanted to help you."

"Help me? With what?" Yufu sneered but then seemed to think of something, her eyes lighting up. "Will you really help me?"

"Of course! As long as it's within my capability, I will do my best," Yunsi answered without hesitation.

Yufu gave a strange, sinister smile and approached Yunsi. "If you can get me the Jiao Down, then I'll believe you."

"But I don't even know where to find it, or what it is," Yunsi replied, uneasily pushing Yufu away slightly.

Instead of getting angry, Yufu smiled even more, "No worries, I can tell you."

According to Yufu, the Jiao Down is a treasure held by the Water Dragon Clan. It is said to possess a special ability: it can drive away illnesses and has a powerful self-healing capacity. Yufu seemed to covet this ability to cure her own ailments. However, from her words, it seemed she had some conflict with the Water Clan, and they were unwilling to lend her the treasure.

Since Yunsi had promised to retrieve the Jiao Down for her, she was determined to do so, even though she knew it would not be an easy task. She wandered around the riverbank several times but couldn't think of any way to reach the Water Clan. She was just an ordinary mortal, and the little magic she had learned was hardly useful in this situation.

"Hello? Is anyone there? I am... uh, Monk Yunsi. I have heard that the Water Dragon Clan possesses a treasure called Jiao Down. I have come to seek it," Yunsi called out after much deliberation, choosing the simplest approach in the end. She hoped that if she shouted loud enough, they would hear her.

However, things didn't go as she had hoped. A considerable amount of time passed, and her voice grew hoarse without any response. There was no sign of anyone, not even a ghost.

After hesitating for a moment, Yunsi slowly took out a few thunderbolts from her robe. Apologetically, she muttered, "Great fish spirits, please don't blame me. I am desperate."

With that, she raised her hand to throw them into the water, but then hesitated and pulled back.

"The sea is so vast and rapid. Just a few of these might not be enough. Better add a few more!"

She took out a handful of thunderbolts from her robe and threw them into the sea. Then, as was her habit, she hid behind a tree to observe what would happen in the water from a safe distance.

"The sea is so vast and turbulent, just a few won't be enough. Let's add more!"

With that, she pulled out a handful of thunderbolts from her robe and threw them into the sea. Instinctively, she hid behind a tree and observed the water from a distance.

...

...

...

Time ticked by, and Yunsi's eyes grew tired, but nothing happened as she had hoped.

Could it be that the thunderbolts lost their effect in the sea? Why was there no reaction after all this time? Forget it, she couldn't waste any more time here.

"Boom!!!!"

As Yunsi was about to walk away, she was caught off guard by a sudden explosion. Water poured down like rain, drenching her from head to toe. Her neatly tied hair fell loose and stuck to her face, making her look like a water ghost.

"Who are you? How dare you cause trouble in our water realm? Do you want to die?"

Yunsi wiped the water off her face, and through her blurred vision, she saw three strange-looking men.

One was short and fat with a foolish expression, another was tall with a long nose and big mouth, and the leader, though not ugly, had a fierce and intimidating look. His bulging eyes glared at her as if he wanted to devour her.

"I am..."

Mustering her courage, Yunsi tried to introduce herself to intimidate them, but before she could finish, the fierce-looking leader gave her a glare that made her stumble and fall, tears welling up in her eyes.

"What... what are you going to do? I'm warning you, my master is very powerful. If you harm me, he won't let you off!"

The two fish spirits exchanged mocking glances and approached Yunsi in unison.

"No! No, please!!!!"

...

Yunsi sat on the ground, despair written all over her face as she surveyed her surroundings, feeling utterly helpless.

Surrounding the cage that imprisoned her was a crowd of strange-looking people who stared at her with peculiar expressions.

Their expressions varied, but their gazes at her were as strange as her own at them. Instinctively, she felt that they saw her as a weird, terrifying, and unfamiliar creature.

Curiosity, fear, anxiety—various emotions were reflected in their eyes, making Yunsi feel extremely uncomfortable with no place to hide.

"So, this is a human!"

"So, this is what humans look like?"

"Will she harm us? Humans are so selfish and greedy. She shouldn't be allowed to live. Kill her!"

"Yes, kill her! Only by killing her can we quell our anger!"

...

Incited by a few voices, the originally quiet crowd began to stir, threatening to tear her to pieces to avenge their fallen friends. Some, in a fit of rage, started brandishing their weapons at Yunsi.

"What are you all doing?"

A male voice boomed from afar, like a clap of thunder.

The crowd was stunned.

Before Yunsi, the chaotic crowd began to part in an orderly fashion, creating a path.

Down this path walked a young man in silver armor. His thick, straight eyebrows overshadowed his other features, making his face seem as if it only had those eyebrows from a distance. As he got closer, his features didn't seem so harsh.

Down the path walked a young man in silver armor. His thick, straight eyebrows overshadowed his other features, making his face seem as if it only had those eyebrows from a distance. As he got closer, his features didn't seem so harsh.

Setting aside those distinctive eyebrows, his eyes alone were captivating enough to make anyone lost in them. His sea-blue pupils sparkled like gems, stirring a curiosity to explore further.

The man strode confidently to the edge of the cage and stopped, haughtily asking, "Are you the one causing trouble in my water realm?"

"I..."

"Who gave you the nerve to come to my water realm and make trouble? Are you out of your mind?"

Before Yunsi could respond, the man with the straight eyebrows bombarded her with a barrage of questions, leaving her speechless.

"Answer me! What's wrong with you? Are you pretending not to hear me?"

Seeing his demeanor, Yunsi lost all desire to speak politely. She glared at him with her large, expressive eyes.

The man with the straight eyebrows grew even more displeased. He was, after all, the prince of the water realm. When had his words ever been taken so lightly?

"Stupid girl! I captured you as a prisoner, not to act like a big shot here. Tell me, what were you thinking, coming to bomb my palace?"

The man became increasingly agitated. Worried that the distance between them might prevent Yunsi from fully understanding his frustration, he decided to open the cage for a closer conversation.

"Prince, that cage is made of black iron; it can't be... opened!"

Halfway through his sentence, the onlooker watched in shock as their prince effortlessly pried open the cage they had painstakingly crafted, believing it to be unbreakable.

"Look at what you've done to my underwater realm... Wait, who are you?" The man paused, taking a closer look at Yunsi before realizing, "Ah! I knew it! That brat Junfeng must have sent you to mess with me, didn't he?"

"I knew you looked familiar! Now I remember, you're the fox spirit that Junfeng raised outside!" The man laughed heartily, as if he had outwitted her.

Yunsi furrowed her brows, casting a concerned look at him.

"Do I, a full-grown person, look like a fox to you?" Yunsi stammered as she got up from the ground, mustering the courage to retort.

The man's smile faded, and he looked at Yunsi with a serious expression.

Yunsi's heart sank. She wondered if she had crossed a line and if he was going to kill her.

"I'm not..."

"Hahaha, interesting! Very interesting!" The man suddenly burst into laughter again. "Why don't you stay in the water realm? At least then I won't be bored with no one to talk to."

"What?" Yunsi was confused. She couldn't believe how quickly his attitude had changed. Was he mentally unstable?

However, she remembered her purpose for being there: to find the dragon scales and save lives. Since she hadn't even figured out the layout of the water realm, how could she possibly find what she needed?

It seemed she had no choice but to agree for now. Once she stayed in the water realm, she could figure out her next steps.

"What do you mean, 'what'? Can't you?"

"Sure, I can!"

"Haha, then what are you waiting for? Let her out!"

The man impatiently gestured to the guards outside, who, in their fear, hastily cast a spell to open the cage. Yunsi later learned that the man with the straight eyebrows was actually the crown prince of the water realm and a member of the Dragon Clan. This revelation meant she would be quite busy. Since the dragon scales belonged to the Dragon Clan, she would have to rely on him to find out where they were. However, given his previously violent and unreasonable behavior, getting that information out of him seemed unlikely.

"You all may leave," a voice suddenly called from outside, interrupting Yunsi's thoughts.

Cang Xuan entered, discarding his cloak casually to the side, and walked straight to Yunsi, sitting down across from her. Glancing at the food on the table, he teased, "Oh, you're having a meal? Didn't even invite me."

He then started eating without waiting for a response. Halfway through his meal, he noticed Yunsi sitting silently, watching him eat.

Seeing her peculiar expression, Cang Xuan put down his chopsticks. "Why aren't you eating? The food's getting cold. Don't be shy; make yourself at home. Since you're a friend of Junfeng, you're a friend of mine too."

Yunsi looked at him briefly, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.

"I get it. You don't like the food, do you?"

Cang Xuan's remark hit the mark, and Yunsi nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, I don't like this type of food."

Cang Xuan burst out laughing, slapping the table with a loud thud, which startled Yunsi, making her jump up in fright. She thought he was angry and might drag her out for punishment. But then he shouted to the door, "Someone, take these dishes away and bring in a fresh spread." Yunsi finally let out a sigh of relief.

"What?" Before she could fully relax, she tensed up again. "Fresh food?" Didn't that mean he wanted her to eat it raw?

"No, no, these dishes are fine, really," Yunsi hurriedly tried to stop Cang Xuan, struggling to convince him, but he completely misunderstood her.

"Don't worry about the hassle. Let the servants handle it. You're a guest, eat as much as you want. If you don't like it, they can make more."

Yunsi clung to a guard, shouting at Cang Xuan, "I really can't eat worms! Please spare me! I may have blown up your palace, but you can punish me however you want. I'll be a hero again in eighteen years, but I won't surrender to a worm, wah!"

The room fell silent, with only Yunsi's wailing filling the space, making her feel embarrassed and causing her to stop.

Peeking through the gap, she saw everyone looking serious and silent. She couldn't understand why and was too scared to make a sound.

The next second, everyone burst into laughter. Cang Xuan laughed so hard he had to wipe his face, almost falling over. "Hahaha, I thought if I pressured you enough, you'd swallow it down. Hahaha, turns out you're not that foolish!"

Yunsi finally realized that he had been teasing her all along. She had thought he really intended to make her eat worms. Honestly, the idea of eating worms was so repulsive that she'd rather die than go through with it.

Yunsi finally realized that he had been teasing her all along. She had thought he really intended to make her eat worms. Honestly, the idea of eating worms was so repulsive that she'd rather die than go through with it.

"Little fox, oh little fox, wasn't it easy for you to come to the Water Realm? You didn't need to blow up my palace!" Cang Xuan lamented, regretting the destruction of his newly built palace.

"I didn't mean to. I didn't even know it was your palace. Besides, I don't have any magical powers. If you don't let your people out to find me, should I just jump in myself?" Yunsi replied casually, taking a bite of her food.

"No magical powers?" Cang Xuan seemed shocked. "After thousands of years of cultivation, you still don't have any magical powers?"

Yunsi nonchalantly chewed her food. "Are you talking about me? If I had lived for thousands of years, wouldn't I be an old demon by now?"

Yunsi's response made Cang Xuan reconsider the girl in front of him. Though she shared the same appearance as Yunsi, her demeanor was completely different. She seemed naive yet pure, with no trace of malice.

Cang Xuan rubbed his chin thoughtfully, his gaze fixed on Yunsi like a hawk. Yunsi dared not move under his scrutiny.

"How old are you this year?" he asked.

"Seventeen," Yunsi replied.

"Seventeen?" Cang Xuan's expression darkened as he fell into contemplation.

Without saying a word, Yunsi dared not ask further questions. The two sat facing each other for the rest of the afternoon.

"Miss, please don't trouble yourself with these chores. Let us handle everything," a maid intervened, taking the bedding Yunsi was holding and arranging it herself. She then went to tidy up the rest of the room.

This was Yunsi's third day here, and she hadn't seen the so-called Water Realm prince since that day. She thought it was a good opportunity to investigate the whereabouts of the dragon scales. However, she was constantly under surveillance, and leaving the room was not an option without being followed closely by guards.

Feeling trapped, Yunsi sighed inwardly. Even in the room, she had no freedom. She couldn't voice her complaints, as offending anyone here could be fatal.

As she reached for a cup to pour herself some tea to calm her nerves, a shrill voice pierced her ears. "Don't move!"

Yunsi froze instantly, not daring to make a sound.

"If you want to drink water, just tell me. You're an honored guest; how can you do it yourself?" The maid, who had helped tidy up earlier, quickly approached Yunsi and poured her a cup of tea, handing it to her with a smile.

Yunsi sighed inwardly at the meticulous care. If she had known that life under the water could be so comfortable, she would have jumped in ten years ago. But now, with the pressing matter of the dragon scales and the memory of Yu Guan's desperate situation, she couldn't delay any longer.

Yunsi sighed inwardly at the meticulous care. If only she had known that life under the water could be so enjoyable, she would have jumped in ten years ago. Why wait until today?

What a tough break! She hadn't even had enough enjoyment yet, and now she had to worry about the dragon scales. But thinking back to Yu Fu's desperate situation that day, she couldn't delay any longer.

Clutching the cup tightly, Yunsi made up her mind and asked, through gritted teeth, "I've heard that the Water Realm is vast and rich in treasures. I've come here rarely, and I wonder if there's a chance to see some of them."

Even after speaking, she dared not lift her head, let alone meet the maid's gaze. She felt a few drops of cold sweat on her forehead. If the maid sensed her ulterior motives, would she drag her out and eat her alive?

And those people outside seemed to have reached their limit with her. Each of them glared at her as if sparks were about to fly from their eyes. Would they band together and devour her?

But fish didn't eat people, did they? Then again, who said they were fish?

Oh no, it seemed like her life was about to end here! Shouldn't she explain herself?

"I see!" The maid's response sent shivers down Yunsi's spine.

"Well, I was just joking. Actually... I'm not that curious. You don't have to force yourself," Yunsi quickly added, taking a sip of her tea.

"Why would I force myself? The treasures of our Water Realm are well-known throughout the Six Realms. It's not unusual for someone to want to see them. After you finish your breakfast, I'll take you there," the maid said with a smile, refilling Yunsi's tea without showing any sign of suspicion.

After breakfast, the maid led Yunsi into a cave. The cave was dark, illuminated only by glowing plants. But within ten meters, a dazzling light made it impossible to open one's eyes.

After a while, Yunsi's eyes adjusted to the brightness. Through the cracks between her fingers, she saw a magnificent sight: scattered jewels and jade objects shimmering in various colors, far more dazzling than the gold found in the mortal realm.

Overwhelmed by the splendor, Yunsi couldn't help but speak up, though her words came out awkwardly.

"So many treasures! Why are they just lying around like this? Shouldn't they be kept in boxes? And with so many precious items here, why isn't there a guard at the door? At least put up a door and some locks. The security should be tight to put my mind at ease."

The attendants exchanged glances and burst into laughter. Yunsi realized her words were a bit rude and felt embarrassed. She quickly tried to save face.

"That was just... I mean, I was just concerned about the safety of these treasures. If they were lost, what would you do?"

"Miss's words are all reasonable. I'll discuss with the prince and have a door added here," the maid said, struggling to contain her laughter. Yunsi couldn't help but feel tickled by the sight.