After Wuyazi’s death, the Ghost Emperor Devouring Moon Soul Swallowing Array naturally ceased.
With its master gone, the ghost emperor bats wreathed in dark red flames perished alongside him, disappearing without a trace.
The false sky vanished, the full, blood-red moon replaced by a bright, pristine waning crescent.
The crowd on the street regained their senses, exchanging bewildered glances.
Women’s startled screams broke out repeatedly—after all, most were scantily clad.
Ling Xiaodong and Ye Yiyun paid no mind to the noisy crowd around them; they both looked up at the clear night sky dotted with stars.
Bathed in the pale moonlight, a figure in white robes approached, riding the wind.
Her flowing garments billowed gracefully, and with her stunning beauty, she looked like a celestial maiden from the Moon Palace.
Yet this Moon Palace maiden’s brows were furrowed in anger, her willow-shaped eyebrows sharply raised, showing not a hint of gentleness.
Ling Xiaodong thought to himself: No wonder she’s my master; even when angry, she looks this beautiful.
Only now did he remember what he had forgotten when he came down the mountain.
“Ling Xiaodong!”
Yue Yingying floated down from the night sky, her phoenix-like eyes wide open.
She hurried toward Ling Xiaodong, ignoring any explanation, and promptly smacked him on the head.
“Got a hard head now, huh? Without a word, you left me alone on the mountain and ran off to have fun yourself?”
“Master, are you trying to show concern for me?” Ling Xiaodong asked happily after so long without seeing his master.
“Concern for you?”
Yue Yingying raised her delicate jade hand and smacked his head again, angrily saying, “You managed to borrow money all the way to Peng City? Your master was about to starve to death in the sect!”
“Yingying!”
Ye Yiyun timidly called out to the junior disciple she hadn’t seen in five years.
Honestly, she was a little afraid to face Yue Yingying now.
She already felt guilty toward her, and now she had brought Ling Xiaodong to such a dangerous place.
Most importantly, she felt ashamed of herself for behaving so disrespectfully, even entangling herself with her own grandnephew.
At this moment, her gaze toward Yue Yingying was like that of a caught thief.
“Hmph!”
Yue Yingying crossed her arms and turned her head away, refusing to look at her.
“Master, Aunt Yun has taken great care of me since coming down the mountain.
You two don’t have any deep hatred between you, so why can’t you reconcile?”
Seeing Ye Yiyun fidget awkwardly, Ling Xiaodong quickly tugged on Yue Yingying’s sleeve and spoke gently on her behalf.
Yue Yingying squinted her cold, sharp eyes at Ling Xiaodong and coldly said,
“Aunt Yun? That’s quite a familiar way to address her.”
Ling Xiaodong grumbled inwardly: If that’s “familiar,” you should have heard what she called her when she was younger!
“Ye Yiyun, let’s not bring up old grudges.
Why did you take my disciple down the mountain without permission?”
“Well…”
Ye Yiyun lowered her head, biting her lip, unwilling to answer.
Seeing her embarrassed and wronged expression, Ling Xiaodong felt sorry and quickly defended her.
“Master, it was me who asked Aunt Yun to bring me down the mountain.”
Yue Yingying frowned unhappily.
“Hey! You unfilial disciple, why do you always deflect blame?
Is she your master or am I your master?”
“Of course you’re my master! Master, you must be hungry rushing over in such a hurry.
The stewed pork at this inn is excellent. Come on, come on!”
Ling Xiaodong tugged on Yue Yingying’s arm, dragging her into the shop.
Because the inn was open late, the cooks were surprised to find themselves standing outside on the street with knives in hand, surrounded by half-naked men and women.
After the commotion, everyone returned to the kitchen to resume work.
Yue Yingying had fasted inside the sect for three days and then flew all the way here on the wind, exhausting much energy.
Hungry, she allowed Ling Xiaodong to lead her inside without causing a scene with Ye Yiyun.
The three sat around the table silently.
Though no one spoke, as the saying goes, “Eat without speaking, sleep without talking,” the atmosphere eased somewhat.
Soon the dishes arrived—this inn’s kitchen was indeed skilled.
A table full of steaming hot dishes released appetizing aromas, making mouths water.
“Here, Aunt Yun, this will replenish your body. Eat more.”
“All right, Xiaodong, I can’t eat this much.”
Having just recovered from a serious illness and recently broken her maidenhead, Ling Xiaodong took extra care of Ye Yiyun, frequently offering her food.
Unbeknownst to him, Yue Yingying’s expression grew darker by the minute.
Under the table, her delicate foot suddenly kicked Ling Xiaodong’s calf, then she lightly cleared her throat.
“Ahem.”
After coughing, she pretended not to notice but stole a glance at Ling Xiaodong.
“Master, is your throat uncomfortable? I’ll get you some water.”
Ling Xiaodong misunderstood her intentions.
Yue Yingying glared at him, kicked him again, and thinking it wasn’t enough, stepped on his foot and twisted it harshly a few times.
Ling Xiaodong was utterly confused by her antics.
What had he done to offend her?
Fortunately, Ye Yiyun read the situation and picked some food from her own plate to give Yue Yingying, who accepted without refusing.
After the meal, the three decided to stay the night and set out for the mountain again the next day.
Ling Xiaodong booked a room for Yue Yingying right next to his own.
Ye Yiyun entered the room, and Ling Xiaodong naturally wanted to follow her inside but was suddenly pulled back by Yue Yingying.
“Where are you going?”
“To rest?” Ling Xiaodong replied casually.
Yue Yingying looked incredulous and pointed at Ye Yiyun, asking Ling Xiaodong,
“You’re sharing a room with her?”
Ye Yiyun sensed something was wrong and said, “Xiaodong, you should go open another room.”
“No need!”
Yue Yingying decisively refused, glancing warily at Ye Yiyun before pointing at the door and ordering Ling Xiaodong,
“Get into my room!”
“Ah?”
Ling Xiaodong was dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, outside Peng City.
Shao Yinhua clung tightly to Wuyazi’s corpse, eyes bloodshot, tears streaming down his face.
“Xuan Lang, I will avenge you.”
Ghost cultivators run counter to heaven, and those who cultivate the Ghost Dao are punished invisibly by the heavens.
They age far faster than ordinary people; some become gray-haired old men in their thirties.
No matter the past love or hatred between Shao Yinhua and Wuyazi, now that he was dead, all was extinguished like a blown-out candle.
Only a widow consumed by hatred remained.
Knowing he was no match, Shao Yinhua understood that even if he sought out Ling Xiaodong now, it would be a death trap.
Though he couldn’t defeat Ling Xiaodong himself, he knew someone else could.
He dug a grave in the forest, buried Wuyazi’s body, then looked toward Peng City for a long moment before mounting his horse and galloping toward the capital.
Ling Xiaodong stared blankly at the ceiling.
Yue Yingying lay sound asleep beside him.
She slept peacefully, but Ling Xiaodong could not.
His master, whom he longed for day and night, was now lying beside him.
The faint, familiar scent lingered, and her loose hair tickled his neck.
Ling Xiaodong turned his head to look.
Yue Yingying’s long lashes twitched slightly.
Her delicate nose and thin cherry lips formed a perfect harmony.
Sleeping, his master seemed like the most exquisite porcelain in the world—so flawless, yet so fragile.
No, there was no way he could sleep tonight!
Ling Xiaodong carefully slipped out of bed, gently pushed open the door, then slowly closed it behind him.
He then headed to Ye Yiyun’s room.
“Yun’er, are you asleep?”
Ling Xiaodong called softly.
“Why are you here? Go back quickly! What if Yingying finds out?”
Ye Yiyun, seeing him sneaking in, anxiously tried to shoo him away.
“It’s okay. Master always sleeps deeply; she won’t wake before dawn.
Come here, Yun’er, make some room.”
Ling Xiaodong explained as he climbed into bed, pulling Ye Yiyun into his arms.
“No! I’m not dressed!”
Ye Yiyun blushed deeply.
She had expected to sleep alone tonight, wearing only a thin dudou and undergarments.
She never imagined Ling Xiaodong would be so bold.
But Ling Xiaodong had already fallen into a deep sleep, unresponsive to her protests.
In the end, it was poor Yun’er who spent the night wide awake, heart pounding in fear.