Dongfang Wuji leaned back on the chair, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He had sobered up considerably. "Why have you come looking for me?"
At this, Tang Yi's expression grew serious. "Do you know about the large number of demonized humans gathering in the Upper Realm?"
Dongfang Wuji sat up, his gaze intent. "Demonized humans are gathering in the Upper Realm? Why?"
Tang Yi lowered her eyelids, a complex light flickering in her eyes. "The demonized human who escaped is their king. This gathering must be her command."
"Do you know where they are gathered? Shall I lead the troops there?"
Hearing this, Tang Yi shook her head, a look of distress on her face. "I don't know where they are now, only that we've found traces of their passage."
Why their king was gathering forces in the Upper Realm and what schemes she was plotting remained unknown.
"Behave yourselves for the next few days. We might be at war with the demonized humans at any moment."
Dongfang Wuji's expression turned grim, and he nodded. "Mm, I'll buy all the wine back today."
Tang Yi's eye twitched. She looked at Dongfang Wuji, reeking of alcohol, and couldn't help but feel disgusted.
"Jingyun—! Listen to me explain!"
Jing Feng had to use all his strength to catch up to Jing Yun, who was walking ahead.
"Listen to me! I didn't know these girls were there! That scoundrel tricked me into drinking!"
Jing Feng's voice was hurried, and his eyes were full of anxiety, but Jing Yun remained unmoved, his face growing increasingly sullen.
"Whether you ordered courtesans or not, whether you drank or not, it's none of my business. Move aside!"
"Hey! Don't go, I really know I was wrong! I'll never come out with Dongfang Wuji again, no matter what!"
Jing Yun pushed Jing Feng, who was blocking his path, and tried to walk forward. Jing Feng, in his haste, grabbed him.
"Are you jealous?"
At this, the atmosphere froze for a moment. Jing Yun, who had just started to walk, stiffened completely, ceasing his movement.
"Did I... did I guess right?" Jing Feng blinked, his gaze scanning the face in front of him openly.
"Jingyun? Little Yun'er? Little Yunyun? Ayun..."
"Stop it!"
Jing Yun's shoulders trembled slightly, and his face turned beet red, unsure if it was from anger or embarrassment.
Jing Feng smiled wryly, and half of his anxiety dissipated.
He took Jing Yun's hand. At first, Jing Yun tried to break free with all his might, but Jing Feng's strength was too great, and he eventually gave up struggling.
"I promise, I'll never do it again. Trust me, okay?"
"You lie all the time. How can I trust you?"
Jing Feng raised an eyebrow, pouted his lips, and began to act shamelessly again: "Little Yunyun, just trust me one mo—"
"I trust you! I trust you, alright!"
The passing demon civilians kept casting glances their way. Jing Yun had already cursed Jing Feng a thousand times in his mind.
Jing Feng chuckled, slung an arm around his shoulder, and started walking back. "Little Yunyun is the best~"
"Call me that again, and I'll sew your mouth shut, believe it or not?"
"My mistake, my mistake."
...
The next day, Bai Ran, along with Zhong Zi and Dong Ling, headed to the southernmost tomb in the Ghost Clan's territory.
Upon arriving at the tomb, they saw several familiar figures at the entrance.
"Why are you here!" the woman said, looking at Bai Ran with a frown, her hostility unconcealed.
Bai Ran raised an eyebrow and looked them up and down. Fang An was holding some firewood, her fair face now smudged with dirt.
Meng Xuan was also covered in soot, his neat robes wrinkled and creased.
"I should be asking you that. Why are you here at the tomb?" Bai Ran asked, staring at her with amusement.
Fang An gritted her teeth, her resentful gaze almost piercing Bai Ran through. "What business is it of yours? This isn't a place for you! Get lost!"
Zhong Zi frowned, angered by the woman's rudeness. "If you continue to speak disrespectfully, don't blame me for being impolite."
Hearing this, Fang An became even more defiant. She put down the firewood and walked directly in front of Bai Ran, meeting her gaze.
"Such a pampered young lady, not even wearing appropriate attire to enter a tomb?"
"You!" Zhong Zi clenched her fists, about to make a move, but Bai Ran stopped her.
Bai Ran sneered and met Fang An's gaze without flinching. "Aren't you the same?"
In fact, before coming, Bai Ran had removed all the gold and silver jewelry from her head and changed her dress into the most simple style.
However, she didn't have a white dress, so she had to wear a pale red one.
Meng Xuan sighed and stepped forward, pulling Fang An back. "If the King is here to see the elder, please return."
"Why?"
"He will not see you."
"How will you know if you don't try?"
Facing Bai Ran's obstinacy, Meng Xuan's patience seemed to be wearing thin. "You are too delicate. You are not suited to be near the tomb."
"What's all the noise—!" an aged voice boomed from within the tomb, filled with infinite rage.
Fang An and Meng Xuan trembled upon hearing this. Their earlier assertiveness vanished completely, and they both cowered, not daring to breathe.
Bai Ran cast a glance at Zhong Zi and Dong Ling behind her and walked towards the tomb.
Seeing this, Fang An became anxious and was about to stop her again. "Hey!"
But then, she remembered the angry shout from moments ago and lowered her voice. "You can't go in!"
This time, Bai Ran didn't stop. She didn't even glance at Fang An, but walked straight ahead.
"Are you deaf! I said you can't go in, and you're still going!"
The air rippled. Bai Ran, who had been some distance from Fang An, suddenly appeared right in front of her.
A fiery red sword was held at her throat, icy cold.
"Don't try to test my patience..."
Fang An's expression froze, then slowly darkened. "What if I want to test it?"
The sword moved, sinking three inches into her neck. Although outsiders couldn't touch specters who hadn't fully materialized, Bai Ran was different.
As the Ghost King, she could touch and attack them. If she killed a specter, it would vanish into thin air, disappearing from the face of the earth.
But Fang An, before her, was clearly unafraid. Even with Bai Ran's sword at her throat, she didn't retreat an inch.
"Why are you deliberately opposing me?" Bai Ran stared intently into her eyes.
Hearing this, Fang An's body stiffened, and a hint of panic crossed her face, but she quickly suppressed it.
"You are unworthy to be the King of the Ghost Clan! Do you understand?"
Upon hearing this, Bai Ran chuckled softly and slowly lowered the sword. "You are indeed very annoying, but only until today."
"Your acting needs more practice."
Watching Bai Ran and her two companions disappear into the tomb entrance, Fang An's expression was inscrutable. Only her words kept echoing in her mind.
'Your acting needs more practice...'
She turned to Meng Xuan beside her. "Could it be... I slipped up?"