As the words fell.
Inside the Lightless Cave, there was a long silence.
The crimson sunlight did not fade; instead, it grew even more intense.
Within the radiance, countless images emerged.
They were not world-shaking grand scenes—not the overturning of a Dao Lineage, not geniuses locked in fierce battle, nor great powers pointing their swords at the firmament.
It was a white-haired old farmer, back hunched, hoeing a meager field for an entire lifetime.
It was a woman married to a poor man, guarding three leaky mud huts, spending her remaining years stitch by stitch.
It was a child in some mountain who couldn't even recognize all the characters, never stepping out of those mountains for a lifetime.
Ordinary.
Ordinary to the point of being almost tragic.
Mo Qianxun slowly closed his palm, gathering the radiance, and unhurriedly straightened his sleeves.
"I've disturbed you many times over these years, and I know you don't have a good attitude toward the people of Yujing Tower."
He stood in place, his voice flat, possessing neither an aggressive stance nor the slightest hint of flattery.
"Out of consideration for your old friendship with Moyang True Lord, I will speak a word of truth today."
"If you hand over the star palace atlas, we both know what Profound Sun will do with it. That path leads only to them brushing off their sleeves and leaving, while the mess of this world is left for future generations to clean up."
"But if you give it to me..."
Mo Qianxun raised his eyes, looking indifferently at the massive White Elephant before him, a trace of ferocity slowly curling at the corners of his mouth.
"Profound Sun is old and only thinks of escaping, but I am different."
His voice was extremely low, yet every word was steady.
"I want to stay here."
...
The flying boat broke through the final layer of the cloud barrier.
The silhouette of Chang'an City slowly emerged from the horizon.
It was the height of late autumn.
The twilight was fading, and the morning light had not yet arrived.
The last smear of blue-gray on the horizon was being swallowed by the morning glow.
The city walls stood majestic; the lights of ten thousand homes were extinguished one by one, and cooking smoke curled up from the residential wards, merging into the fish-belly white dome of the sky.
The Imperial City sat in the center with layer upon layer of halls and pavilions, their glazed tiles faintly shimmering with gold in the daylight.
The moat, like an ink-colored ribbon, encircled this imperial capital of the mortal world.
Jiang Yuechu lowered her gaze and looked down.
How long had she been away?
It didn't seem too long.
But from Danhua to Wangchuan, and Wangchuan to Green Phoenix Tree.
The things that happened along this journey—if they were to be recounted in detail—would likely take three days and nights to finish.
She withdrew her gaze and glanced behind her.
The Jue Chen Demon Emperor was leaning against the ship's railing with a look of novelty. Its half-collapsed deer face was pressed against the guardrail, its two deer eyes wide and round as it gazed at the prosperous city below.
"Where is this place?"
The Deer Demon clicked its tongue in wonder.
It had spent its entire life in the Yu Mountain Great Range; when had it ever seen such a grand Human Race capital?
"Demon Emperor, although the quality of human blood-food here is a bit low... it makes up for it with a thriving population. If we were to establish a Foundation here, it wouldn't be a bad territory."
Jue Chen Demon Emperor scratched its antlers and commented quite seriously.
When Wang Ziyu heard this, the corners of his mouth twitched violently.
Good grief.
What did this Deer Demon take the capital of the Great Tang for?
He was just about to speak up and offer a reminder when he heard Jiang Yuechu speak indifferently.
"Once we arrive, the two of you will stay in Great Tang."
Wang Ziyu was stunned.
"You're not taking us with you?"
Jiang Yuechu glanced at him.
"What would I take you for? You're in the way."
Wang Ziyu was choked into silence.
He instinctively wanted to argue, but when the words reached his lips, he felt there really wasn't anything to refute.
Ever since the journey back from Yu Mountain, he had deeply realized one fact.
Beside this girl, whether he was there or not made no difference.
Tiger Cuihua, on the other hand, was quite sensible and immediately nodded its tiger head.
"Understood. Rest assured, Your Highness, Cuihua will wait for Your Highness to return in Chang'an."
As it spoke, it didn't forget to protect the densely written notebook in its arms.
It was afraid the high-altitude winds would blow away the material it had worked so hard to collect along the way.
...
The manor in the early morning was excessively quiet.
Ever since that Highness had been away, the servants in the manor had become increasingly cautious, to the point where they almost walked on their tiptoes.
It wasn't that they were afraid of their master.
They were afraid of the two 'living ancestors' in the courtyard.
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon was coiled under the eaves, its head resting on the steps, its slit pupils half-closed as if it were dozing off.
Running Ox was squatting on a stone stool not far away, its thick ox hooves swinging back and forth, holding a jar of yellow wine pilfered from the kitchen, drinking vigorously.
The courtyard was very quiet.
So quiet that even Running Ox's wine burp sounded exceptionally loud.
"When do you think Her Highness will return?"
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon didn't open its eyes, only saying in a low voice: "How should I know... maybe she'll be back today, or maybe in a year or so..."
Just as it was speaking.
Outside the courtyard wall, there was suddenly an extremely subtle fluctuation of Qi.
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon's slit pupils snapped open.
The wine jar in Running Ox's hand fell to the ground with a thud.
The two demons stood up almost simultaneously.
The next moment.
The courtyard gate was pushed open.
A Figure in Black stepped inside.
"I'm back."
Jiang Yuechu's tone was flat as she casually brushed off some morning dew from her shoulder.
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon and Running Ox exchanged a glance.
Then, they both stepped forward to welcome her.
"Your Highness, you've finally—"
The words were only half-spoken.
The two demons' gazes simultaneously bypassed Jiang Yuechu's shoulder and fixed on the figure behind her.
A demon with a half-collapsed deer face and towering antlers was standing at the courtyard gate with its chest puffed out.
Seeing the two demons' gazes turn toward it, Jue Chen Demon Emperor instinctively tilted its chin up, striking a condescending pose.
"..."
The two demons' gazes snapped back to Jiang Yuechu's body.
Their faces were written with a massive question.
Again?!
How did she bring back another demon?!
And.
Running Ox's eyes narrowed slightly.
This Deer Demon's aura... Late Stage Ascending the Tower?
Likely even more than that.
He couldn't help but glance at Jue Chen Demon Emperor's smug expression.
A very subtle sense of unease welled up in his heart.
Jiang Yuechu didn't offer much of an explanation, only casually dropping a sentence.
"The newcomer. Get to know each other yourselves."
After saying that, she walked straight out.
"Where is Your Highness going?"
"To the palace for a bit."
Her figure disappeared through the main gate.
In the courtyard.
The four demons stared at each other.
Jue Chen Demon Emperor was the first to speak, cupping its hands in a very experienced manner.
"Gentlemen, I am Jade Dust, the Demon Emperor of Wangchuan Valley. Thanks to the Demon Emperor—"
It suddenly realized its wording was wrong.
In the Yu Mountain Great Range, calling her Demon Emperor was no problem.
But just now, it had clearly heard those two demons call her—Your Highness?
It paused slightly but quickly adjusted, smoothly changing its wording: "Thanks to Her Highness not spurning me and taking me under her command to serve. I hope you two will look after me in the future."
After speaking, it produced an exquisite jade bottle from its robes and handed it over with both hands.
"A small gift, a token of my respect."
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon looked at the jade bottle.
Running Ox also looked at the jade bottle.
The expressions of both demons became somewhat strange.
This Deer Demon... actually prepared a greeting gift?
So good at this... are you trying to reach the heavens!!!
Thinking of this.
The Old Scarlet Flood Dragon spoke first, its tone flat: "No need. We have known Her Highness for a long time; there's no need for 'looking after' anyone."
"You go and rest first. Her Highness's rules... you'll naturally learn them after staying for a while."
With that, the Old Scarlet Flood Dragon turned around, signaling Tiger Cuihua and Running Ox to follow.