One month later, inside Nanzhou’s Curiosities Tower—famous for its boast that “not a single bug gets out alive”—Yu Qingtang sat beside a window with a grotesque, terrifying-looking scorpion dangling from his mouth as he peered down at the street.
Below, Pretty Butterfly chased the little monk from one end of the street to the other.
One of them skipped along in delight. The other shrieked and hollered. It was quite the spectacle.
Yu Qingtang spat the scorpion shell into his palm and sighed in admiration. “Ah, youth. So energetic.”
“You’re not old either.” Chi Yantian was holding an enormous slab of centipede meat. He disliked anything that had to be shelled and only enjoyed large hunks of meat, without particularly caring what creature the meat had come from.
Scholar Xiao, however, was suffering. Pale-faced, he huddled in a corner over a bowl of mushroom soup he had begged the kitchen to make for him and sighed. “Are you two certain you didn’t insist on eating here today solely to torment me?”
“How could you say that—” Yu Qingtang drew out the words and pointed at Chi Yantian. “Brother Chi suggested it.”
“Hm?” Chi Yantian looked over. “Oh. Pretty Butterfly told me this place served huge slabs of insect meat and that they tasted pretty good. Are you sure you don’t want to try some?”
As he spoke, he pushed the meat toward Scholar Xiao’s mouth.
Scholar Xiao recoiled in horror and hurriedly waved him away. “Absolutely not...”
Afraid that Chi Yantian’s stubborn streak might rear its head, he immediately changed the subject. “By the way, how is Brother Ye progressing with the totem challenges?”
“Blazingly fast.” Yu Qingtang propped up his chin and muttered, “It’s only been a month, and he’s almost finished challenging the demon race’s seventy-two divisions. He was at seventy yesterday. He said he’d save one for tomorrow.”
“That’s also why I came out with you today. I won’t be joining you tomorrow. He asked me to witness his final trial.”
“I’m curious too.” Chi Yantian smacked his lips. “But ordinary people probably aren’t allowed to watch demon-race trials. Tell me about it once you get back.”
“Sure.” Yu Qingtang nodded. “I’ll tell you whatever parts I’m allowed to.”
Scholar Xiao smiled. “No wonder you’ve been distracted today. You’ve been thinking about him.”
Yu Qingtang paused, then sighed and muttered quietly, “Actually, according to Senior Candle Nine Yin, most of the demonfolk have already accepted him. He could take possession of the Pleasure Sect master’s seal right now, and it would still count as passing the trials.”
He gazed worriedly out the window, his chin resting in his hand. “But he says he wants to finish what he started.”
He was a Long Aotian, after all. He had principles. He was nothing like an idle cultivator such as Yu Qingtang, who was perfectly happy to settle for good enough.
Scholar Xiao smiled. “Perfect completion would naturally be ideal, but I suspect Senior Candle Nine Yin may also be somewhat concerned...”
He gently waved his folding fan. “I’ve heard that the trials of the demon race’s seventy-two divisions grow harder toward the end, with each one increasingly difficult to pass.”
“Senior Candle Nine Yin likely said that to leave Brother Ye a way out.”
“Defeating seventy of the seventy-two divisions is already a feat rarely seen throughout history. If he assumes control of the Pleasure Sect now, some may grumble, but they won’t be able to stir up much trouble.”
Scholar Xiao shook his head slightly. “But if he loses one of the remaining trials, that could become troublesome.”
“Mm.” Yu Qingtang sighed softly. “And he saved the strongest for last. Tomorrow, he’s challenging the Flying Serpent division—Senior Candle Nine Yin’s own division.”
Scholar Xiao sucked in a sharp breath. “Brother Ye truly does insist on marching straight into the tiger’s den.”
“Exactly.” Yu Qingtang shook his head. “He says that if it’s a trial, he should choose the most difficult one so he can temper himself as much as possible.”
He slumped against the windowsill. “He’s been coming home injured sometimes lately, but he also looks genuinely happy. I can’t exactly persuade him to stop.”
“All I can do is...”
Scholar Xiao smiled. “Worry about him in secret.”
Yu Qingtang choked, snatched up another scorpion, and stuffed it into his mouth. “Nonsense!”
“All I can do is feast on good food behind his back—do I look like I’ve been eating any less?”
Scholar Xiao nodded with an amused smile. “Of course. Of course.”
Behind him, the door flew open. Pretty Butterfly entered on a waft of perfume and said cheerfully, “Well? Isn’t this insect banquet excellent? Ordinary people couldn’t get a table here even if they tried. They only let you in because of me.”
Yu Qingtang looked back at her. “Did the little monk catch you?”
“No.” Pretty Butterfly grinned. “I got tired of chasing him, so I came up to rest. Besides, I was afraid his throat wouldn’t survive much longer.”
Scholar Xiao laughed helplessly. “Oh, I truly cannot tell whether you’re heartless or hopelessly devoted...”
Pretty Butterfly burst out laughing. “Hopelessly devoted?”
She smiled slyly. “The true hearts of Nanzhou’s young women aren’t so easily seen through.”
“Huh?” Chi Yantian frowned in confusion. “Why do you chase him around every day if you don’t like him?”
“For fun.” Pretty Butterfly poured herself a cup of wine, her eyes smiling. “When a kitten pounces on a bird, do you call that hopeless devotion too?”
Chi Yantian looked deeply disapproving. “Then you’re being too...”
“We’re each getting what we need.” Pretty Butterfly smiled. “I use the Dharma Academy to practice my seduction arts, and he can use me to practice his self-control. We’re merely seeing who loses first.”
“My mother said the Dharma Academy’s monks make the best whetstones. Where else could you find people who impose so many restrictions on themselves?”
The more Chi Yantian listened, the stranger his expression became. He turned toward Scholar Xiao. “Hold on. You’re still writing this down? She already said she doesn’t like him...”
“She changes her story every day and lies constantly. Do you seriously believe her every single time?” Scholar Xiao wrote furiously without raising his head. “I’ll record the material first. Whether it’s true or false, time will eventually tell.”
Chi Yantian picked up the wine jug and shook it. “Hm? We’re out.”
Pretty Butterfly pointed at him. “Go ask for more.”
Chi Yantian glared at her. “Why should I go?”
“Hey, hey!” Yu Qingtang hurriedly stood to keep the peace. “I’ll go! I’ll call a waiter from the doorway.”
He pushed open the door, but the waiter who had previously been stationed outside was nowhere to be seen. Yu Qingtang leaned over the railing and looked downstairs.
A line of waiters had armed themselves with whatever they could grab and surrounded a man dressed entirely in white as though facing a deadly enemy.
The man wore a white veiled hat that concealed his face, but his bearing alone marked him as no ordinary passerby.
Yu Qingtang leaned against the second-floor railing to watch the commotion. He was just about to call the others over when a waiter clutching a bench noticed him. The waiter immediately threw down the bench and rushed upstairs.
“Oh! My apologies, esteemed guest. We’ve neglected you!”
“What can I get you? My hands are free now. I’ll see to it immediately!”
“There’s no rush. We only wanted another jug of wine.” Yu Qingtang glanced downstairs curiously. “What happened?”
“Some idiot came out of nowhere.” The moment the waiter looked down, indignation covered his face. “He came to Curiosities Tower to cause trouble!”
“He said all the food we serve is poisonous and that eating it will kill people. Our proprietor explained that we have a secret preparation method that guarantees the food is harmless—we’ve been open in Nanzhou for hundreds of years! If our food killed people, who would still dare come here?”
The waiter grew angrier the more he spoke and pointed at the white-clad man below. “Then he demanded proof from our proprietor! He wants us to show him our secret method!”
“Who does he think he is, trying to get our secrets for nothing?”
The waiter was not speaking quietly, nor did he make any attempt to hide his words. Hearing him, the man downstairs raised his head and looked toward them.
Caught openly watching the spectacle, Yu Qingtang gave him an embarrassed smile. He let out two awkward chuckles and was about to retreat when the man below suddenly stepped toward him.
The surrounding staff immediately closed ranks around the man. “What do you think you’re doing?”
The man stared at Yu Qingtang. “He is a customer. Since you possess no physical evidence, I shall question an eyewitness.”
Yu Qingtang and the waiter exchanged bewildered looks.
“What am I supposed to testify to?”
“You ate the poisonous creatures served here, yet were not poisoned?” the man asked, enunciating every word. “And during that time, you took no antidote pills?”
“Mm.” Yu Qingtang nodded.
“One question, one answer,” the man said with rigid precision. “I asked three questions. Which one did you answer?”
“Hey!” The waiter bristled. “Who the hell are you, interrogating one of our customers like this?”
“Our establishment hasn’t survived this many years in Nanzhou by having a pleasant temper!”
Yu Qingtang looked between the two of them. Following the teachings of the Scripture of Awaiting Good Fortune, he first soothed the waiter. “Don’t be angry. Harmony brings wealth.”
Then he advised the man below, “If you believe something is wrong, you can ask Starwatch Pavilion to investigate. Making groundless accusations and causing a disturbance puts you in the wrong.”
The man suddenly raised a hand and removed his hat, revealing white hair and a strikingly handsome, refined face.
His presence was peculiar. Simply standing there, he seemed separated from everything around him by a thin sheet of paper—completely out of place, untouched by the world.
His eyes were especially remarkable: still as an ancient well and utterly devoid of emotion.
He looked at Yu Qingtang. “Starwatch Pavilion refuses to receive me.”
“It is quite the coincidence that I encountered you here.”
Yu Qingtang froze.
That presence. That appearance. They seemed somewhat familiar.
Realization struck him. He darted back into the room and shouted, “Guards, protect me! He’s from the Esoteric Sect!”
Chi Yantian charged out with both blades in hand. “Who dares make trouble for your grandpa?”
Pretty Butterfly followed close behind. Silver needles shot silently from her hand, but the man seemed to sense them and stepped back, evading them.
“Oh?” Pretty Butterfly’s eyes gleamed. “You’re awfully alert. If you’re from the Esoteric Sect, why don’t you give us your name?”
Yu Qingtang cautiously poked his head out. “He’s that Ji Ruxue’s senior brother! Ying Wujue, a disciple of the Esoteric Sect!”
“Look at all that white hair. It’s a side effect of severing his emotional ties. He cultivates the Dao of Emotionlessness!”
“The Dao of Emotionlessness?” Pretty Butterfly’s interest was suddenly piqued. “Isn’t that just as entertaining as the Dharma Academy?”
She leaned over the railing and smiled down at him. “Hey, White-Hair. Are people who cultivate the Dao of Emotionlessness allowed to take wives?”
Ying Wujue fell silent for a moment, then slowly raised his head. Even though events had taken an unexpected turn, his eyes barely wavered.
“If one is without emotion, how can one take a wife?”
“Not necessarily.” Pretty Butterfly propped up her chin with a grin. “There are plenty of married couples in this world who feel nothing for each other. Getting married alone doesn’t make them lovers.”
Ying Wujue: “...”
Yu Qingtang secretly gave Pretty Butterfly a thumbs-up.
Nobody beats you at arguing complete nonsense!
And annoyingly enough, she had a point.
Chi Yantian asked impatiently, “Are you finished? Are we fighting or not?”
“I am not here for any of you.” Ying Wujue looked at Yu Qingtang. “I seek only him.”
“He does not belong to this realm. I—”
Before he could finish, Pretty Butterfly’s expression changed. “Big idiot, attack!”
As soon as she spoke, she floated gracefully down and struck first, cutting off Ying Wujue’s words.
She glanced back and found Chi Yantian still standing where he had been, unmoving.
Furious, she shouted, “Why aren’t you helping?”
Chi Yantian folded his arms. “We don’t know his cultivation level yet. Two against one wouldn’t be fair.”
Pretty Butterfly nearly toppled over from rage. “You’re the one who should join the Dharma Academy! You ought to be the wooden fish they beat on!”
Ying Wujue lightly evaded Pretty Butterfly’s attacks. In the blink of an eye, he stepped onto the stairs and closed the distance between them.
“Hm?” Chi Yantian’s brows drew together. “Peak Nascent Soul. Get out of the way. You’re no match for him.”
Pretty Butterfly glared. “You only formed your Nascent Soul a few days ago. You think you’re a match for him?”
“Probably not.” Chi Yantian excitedly raised his twin blades. “That doesn’t mean I can’t try!”
“Oh, why did this turn into a fight?” Scholar Xiao helplessly waved his fan, shot Yu Qingtang a meaningful look, and lowered his voice. “Time to slip away.”
“I’ve already called Senior Sister Tianxin. You only need to hold out for a little while!” Yu Qingtang nodded rapidly, climbed straight through the window, and escaped.
Ying Wujue’s brows furrowed tightly. He made no serious attempt to exchange blows with them and merely warned, “You know nothing of his origins, yet you are still willing to help him like this?”
Seeing that Yu Qingtang had already fled through the window, he did not linger. He turned to leave through the door, only to find the establishment’s staff blocking his path.
The proprietor’s expression was unfriendly. “Not so fast! Even revenge is first come, first served. I haven’t had my turn yet. Esteemed guests, please wait.”
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