Not long after, the familiar cave entrance appeared ahead.
The two walked one after the other, passing through the narrow cave, and steadily landed on the solid ground outside.
“Wait for me a moment.”
Lu Qiancha whispered to Shangguan Yunzhu beside her. Then she turned around to face the cliffside that just moments ago had been the entrance.
She stretched out her small claws and gently covered the cold, rough rock surface, closing her eyes to focus.
With a subtle thought, a pure thread of Spiritual Power slowly flowed along her arm’s meridians, entering the translucent white stone pearl quietly suspended in the Qi Sea of her Dan Tian.
Hum—!
The talisman seemed to sense this, trembling slightly within her Dan Tian.
At the very same moment—
The cave behind them, which served as the Secret Realm’s entrance, suddenly rippled violently. Like a bubble bursting, it twisted intensely before collapsing inward.
In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a dazzling meteor streaking in a radiant pink-white glow.
Trailing a dreamlike light tail, it shot straight toward Lu Qiancha’s throat under the astonished gazes of Lu Qiancha and Shangguan Yunzhu.
“Ugh!”
Lu Qiancha suddenly felt a chill at her neck. Immediately afterward, a subtle but definite tightening sensation came over her.
It was as if something soft and cold gently wrapped and tightened around her.
She instinctively raised her hand to touch it, and the feeling under her claw tips was like a delicate veil as light as smoke.
“Xiao Qiancha?! What is this?!”
Shangguan Yunzhu was startled as well.
Lu Qiancha quickly formed a clear Water Mirror and leaned over to inspect it.
On her slender, fair neck, an exquisitely crafted peach-pink velvet choker had appeared at some unknown moment.
The choker’s surface was fine and flexible, with intricate lace ruffles edging it like freshly fallen snow—delicate, yet irresistibly cute.
Lu Qiancha instantly understood; this must be the replacement for the Secret Realm portal.
Her claw tips carefully brushed the soft lace along the choker’s edge.
The touch was cool and smooth, quite comfortable.
Not bad. Starting today—I’m officially a big shot who carries a whole little world around her neck.
Lu Qiancha nodded in satisfaction.
The only small, insignificant flaw of this choker… was that it was a little too cute—peach-pink with lace, completely at odds with her temperament.
Pretending to be fierce.
Lu Qiancha couldn’t help but glance again at the Water Mirror—
The fuzzy blue-haired little girl in the reflection, wearing the delicate pink lace choker, looked even more like a pouty child sulking in defiance.
Lu Qiancha’s mouth twitched involuntarily, and she sighed silently in her heart. Oh well, practical matters first; appearance doesn’t matter.
When she used Wanshang Shen Ying Jue to disguise herself, she’d just hide the choker too.
Just then, the restless slender hand beside her reached over again and poked the choker on Lu Qiancha’s neck, unable to resist asking, “Xiao Qiancha, what is this?”
“Smack!”
Lu Qiancha’s eyes were sharp and claws quick; she swatted away the inquisitive hand without hesitation, then explained, “It’s the physical form of the Secret Realm portal.
Once it bonds to its master, it becomes both the key and the gate.”
“Oh—” Shangguan Yunzhu nodded in sudden understanding. Her amber eyes curved with a teasing sparkle as she leaned close to Lu Qiancha’s ear and whispered, “It’s so cute, super—suits you.”
Lu Qiancha heard this and forcibly suppressed the urge to claw her. Her form shifted, once again disguising herself as the delicate young man in white.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk…”
Shangguan Yunzhu circled her twice, fingers stroking her chin, eyes full of curiosity and amazement as she kept scrutinizing Lu Qiancha before her: “This disguise is truly flawless. How did you do it?”
As she spoke, her claws reached out again restlessly,
first tentatively poking Lu Qiancha’s palm—hmm, the fuzzy sensation was no different from the little blue-haired girl just now.
Then, Shangguan Yunzhu’s mischievous fingertips slid quietly toward the “young man’s” face and gently pinched…
“Ouch!”
Shangguan Yunzhu jerked her hand back sharply.
Three faint claw marks had appeared on the back of her fair hand, the skin broken.
She hugged her hand in mock grievance, eyes reddening a bit, muttering, “If I can’t touch, then fine, but why scratch?”
Lu Qiancha showed no expression as she flicked her hidden tail, completely ignoring the mournful, accusatory look behind her.
With a single claw point, Cloud energy gathered as she mounted a cloud and shot upward without looking back.
Destination—Jiangling City!
“Hey! Xiao Qiancha! Wait for me!”
Shangguan Yunzhu stomped her foot anxiously, no longer caring about her hurt hand. The Red Spirit Sword instantly sheathed and flashed forth, cutting through the clouds like a rainbow beam as she pursued the white cloud.
***
Jiangling City, County Office Inner Hall.
The air was thick and stagnant, like solidified resin. Behind the rosewood desk, County Magistrate Zhou’s forehead furrows deepened, layered and crisscrossed, etched with anxiety and exhaustion.
His calloused fingers tapped absentmindedly on a thick pile of missing persons case files, each knock like a strike against his fractured heart.
It had been nearly ten days, and still no word from the Master…
A deep despair was gradually tightening its grip on his heart.
A heavy sigh echoed dully through the silent inner hall, carving several more inches into his furrowed brow.
“Report—!!!”
A sharp, almost shrill announcement suddenly shattered the stillness as a young servant came tumbling into the hall.
“What’s the panic?!” The already taut nerves of County Magistrate Zhou were jolted awake by the sound, his face darkening further.
His voice even trembled slightly, “Could it be that outside the city… there’s another new disappearance case?!”
“No, no! Great Lord!”
The servant panted heavily, but his face was alight with the joy of rain after drought. “It’s the Master! The Master is back! Waiting right outside the door!”
“What?! Quickly! Quickly, invite them in!”
County Magistrate Zhou sprang to his feet, almost shouting, “Don’t neglect the Master! Open the main gate! Open the main gate quickly!!”
“Yes, sir.”
The doorkeeper complied hurriedly and opened the door to admit the visitors.
A moment later.
In the inner hall’s carved rosewood chairs, Lu Qiancha and Shangguan Yunzhu sat upright with perfect composure.
Two cups of just-right green tea steamed lightly, the subtle bitterness gently dispelling the musty smell of old ink that lingered in the county office.
County Magistrate Zhou’s eyes quickly swept over the unfamiliar red-clad girl beside Lu Qiancha but dared not ask.
He placed all his hopes on the figure before him, speaking with humility and urgency, “May I ask, Master, is there any news of those unfortunate missing people…?”
A faint glow.
“People, I have already found them.”
Lu Qiancha’s voice was clear and icy like a mountain spring. Just those five words loosened the tight grip on County Magistrate Zhou’s heart by half, a glimmer bursting forth in his eyes.
“But…” Lu Qiancha’s tone shifted, carrying a cold trace of regret, “They have all died. The Evil Spirits have possessed them; they are no longer alive.”
With that, she gently placed a translucent Shadow Record Stone on the desk. Within it, water-like ripples shimmered softly. Stimulated by Spiritual Power, hum—
A solid light screen was projected above the Shadow Record Stone.
On the screen appeared a man with a blank expression, his eyes hollow and lifeless. His skin was an ominous red, and more terrifyingly—
Beneath that red skin were countless small, sinister bulges that writhed slowly like living creatures.
The magistrate trembled violently. The man on the screen was one of his trusted constables, sent days ago to investigate the forest, and had since vanished without a trace.
“Li… Li Qiang?!”
The scene was too horrifying.
A chill crawled up his spine, twisting his voice, “This… this is…”
“When I found them, they had all been possessed by evil beings and lost their lives.”
A barely perceptible regret flashed across Lu Qiancha’s eyes.
“I see…”
County Magistrate Zhou’s face turned as pale as paper.
His deeply lined face contorted into a smile worse than crying, “Master, please do not blame yourself. Fate and Fortune—life and death are predestined. This is a calamity that was bound to happen.”
Lu Qiancha silently shook her head, saying no more. She lifted the celadon tea cup and took a small sip of the cool tea.
With the matter settled, no doubts remained.
County Magistrate Zhou let out a long breath, as if unburdening a thousand-pound weight, yet also drained of all strength.
He shakily produced from his sleeve a polished wooden token carved with a rugged, ancient “Heaven” character at its center, holding it respectfully before Lu Qiancha.
“Master, this is the token for delivering the mission entrusted by the sect…”
His voice was weary and low, “I must also prepare documents to… comfort the families of those unfortunate souls. I dare not delay the Master any longer.”
As he finished speaking, the tired, bloodshot eyes before him held nothing but profound exhaustion and unspeakable sorrow.