Immortal Travel of Longevity

"That's a demon!"

"A demon!"

Zhao Lin stared at Chen Changsheng, his eyes wide with disbelief.

His shouts immediately drew several gazes their way.

The demons' eyes settled on him. Some looked puzzled, while others watched calmly, treating him like a passing spectacle.

Zhao Lin snapped back to reality. Taking a sharp breath, he clamped his mouth shut. He stepped forward, grabbed Chen Changsheng by the collar, and hissed, "They're non-humans! Monsters! You're human too! Where does this leave the common people of our world?"

Chen Changsheng lightly batted his hand away. "Ever since Zhao Zhen unified the realm, the Mortal World's qi destiny has surged. The late emperor who succeeded him elevated the qi destiny of the human dao to unprecedented heights. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth has converged here, causing a growing number of beasts and plants to awaken their intelligence and rouse their spirits. Have you not noticed that over the past few decades, rumors of demons and cultivators have grown far more frequent?"

"So what?"

"The demons will only multiply."

"You—"

Zhao Lin bristled with momentary anger, but Chen Changsheng's pointed question quickly grounded him.

Following Chen Changsheng's logic, total extermination was hardly a viable solution. Demons would constantly be born within the Mortal World. The only way to stop it would be to slaughter every spiritual entity in existence—an absolute impossibility.

He lowered his head, lost in thought.

Seeing him calm down, Chen Changsheng said no more.

The long queue finally moved forward, bringing them to the front.

He stepped up, only to raise his eyes and spot a very familiar pair of pincers.

The little girl wielding the massive claws stood guard beside the Lantern vendor. She waved her pincers around, as if to intimidate the demons lining up before her.

"No causing trouble once you're inside!"

"Whoever dares to ignore my rules gets crushed to death in my claws! Do you hear me?"

Clack, clack.

The large pincers snapped together sharply. The watching spirits did not dare act out, hastily bowing their heads as they hurried into the Demon Market.

This display of authority left the little girl immensely pleased with herself, and she gave a smug little hum.

Qingsuo was naturally full of herself. Back at her old post, there had often been powerful demons she simply could not handle. Things were completely different here—she could beat down anyone who crossed her.

After all, the Tongtian River flowed right nearby. If she couldn't win a fight, she could immediately call for backup. Armed with the token given by Her Ladyship, a single command from her would summon thousands of shrimp soldiers and crab generals to her aid. No one dared provoke her.

Chen Changsheng silently lowered his head and stepped forward.

The Lantern-selling demon didn't look closely. "Three coppers a Lantern."

Chen Changsheng handed over six coppers.

The vendor noted his silence with a flicker of confusion but opted not to ask any questions.

Qingsuo, however, was far less accommodating. She frowned and demanded, "Where are you from? Why are you hiding your face like a coward?"

Chen Changsheng paused briefly. Coughing lightly, he replied, "I've caught a bit of a chill. It's best if I don't look up."

"What? What kind of chill? Look up and let me see. I'll cure it for you right now."

As she spoke, Qingsuo snapped her heavy pincers together with a sharp clatter.

Resigned, Chen Changsheng lifted his head.

He figured that with so much time having passed, the little girl had likely forgotten him anyway.

But the moment he looked up and Qingsuo caught sight of his face, she let out a startled shriek. "You, you, you..."

Chen Changsheng offered a warm, polite smile. "May I go in now?"

Qingsuo immediately blocked his path. "Don't you walk away! I remember you! You're that Iron Head! Yes, that's you!"

"..." Chen Changsheng felt a drop of sweat forming on his brow. "You have the wrong person," he said gently.

"Don't play dumb with me!"

With that, Qingsuo swung her heavy pincer and brought it down squarely on his head.

Clang!

The recoil was instantaneous. She dropped into a squat, her eyes turning red from the sharp, stinging pain.

"That familiar feeling... I knew it!" Qingsuo glared up at Chen Changsheng through watery eyes. "It is you!"

Unfortunately for her, the moment she had crouched down to nurse her claw...

"Run!"

Chen Changsheng shoved a Lantern into Zhao Lin's hands and bolted forward into the market, carrying his own.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't run! Get back here!"

But Chen Changsheng vanished without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Standing right where he had been left, Zhao Lin stared blankly ahead. He held the Lantern awkwardly, completely oblivious to what had just transpired.

He had been entirely lost in his own thoughts. While he had heard fragments of an argument, the market was already loud and chaotic, so he had tuned the noise out entirely.

Seeing that her quarry was already gone, Qingsuo slammed to a halt. Then, she slowly turned her head back.

Zhao Lin glanced up and instantly froze.

Standing right in front of him was a little girl wielding two massive crab pincers, glaring at him through narrowed, calculating eyes.

Startled, Zhao Lin took two quick steps back.

"You think you're going to run, too?"

A heavy crab claw snapped firmly onto Zhao Lin's robes, yanking him to a halt.

Zhao Lin gaped for a second before stammering, "I haven't done anything to offend you, miss!"

"You're with that Iron Head."

"You're mistaken, miss! I don't know anyone named Iron... Iron Head!"

"You came in with him!"

"I really didn't! Miss, who even is Iron Head?"

Zhao Lin wanted to weep. He had absolutely no idea what was going on.

"You dare claim you have nothing to do with that man from just now?"

"Just now..."

Zhao Lin paused as realization finally crashed down on him.

Son of a bitch!

She had to mean that bastard Chen!

Did Chen Changsheng provoke this demon and then just dump him here to take the fall?

Panicking, Zhao Lin rapidly shook his head. "I don't know him! I swear I don't know him!"

"Do I look stupid to you?"

"No, no, no, miss is exceptionally brilliant!"

"Then cut the nonsense! One more word out of you, and I'll snip you in half!"

"..."

Zhao Lin was so frantic he was on the verge of tears. The heavy crab claw maintained its death grip on his robes, hoisting him into the air like a helpless chick.

"I'm doomed. I'm totally doomed..."

"Chen Changsheng, you bastard! I am never letting you live this down!"

Halfway up the mountain, Chen Changsheng paused and glanced back down.

He immediately spotted Zhao Lin dangling miserably from the giant crab pincer.

A smile broke out across Chen Changsheng's face, his mood instantly soaring.

He casually brushed the dust from his robes before strolling deeper into the Demon Market.

This particular Demon Market had been established quite early. According to the idle chatter of the surrounding demons, it was the second of its kind, built directly after Donglin. Lord Huan himself had even personally overseen it in the past. As a result, public order here was far more stable, and demons rarely dared to commit crimes within its borders.

Compared to other places, the atmosphere here felt somewhat ordinary.

Every Demon Market possessed its own distinct flavor. This one leaned toward being a traditional bazaar, filled with stalls selling clothing, ordinary food, and spiritual fruits. The market at the Donglin Ward was entirely different—vendors there sold armaments and novelty items from the Mortal World, giving it the distinct feel of a human marketplace.

Still other Demon Markets sold completely different wares entirely. Daoist priests would arrive to peddle elixir pills, demons would barter away rare spiritual herbs they had scavenged from mountain valleys, and some stalls even traded in cultivation manuals. Those specific markets felt far more like gatherings for cultivators.

Once deeper into the mountain, Chen Changsheng set off in the direction of the Demon Bureau.

He had come here for two reasons: first, to track down the thief who had stolen their boat, and second, to find someone else entirely.

Demons bustled back and forth along the crowded street, and the myriad of strange items on display caught his eye.

He fished a piece of candied fruit from his sleeve and popped it into his mouth, taking a slow, leisurely look around the wildly bustling Demon Market.

He found the sight endlessly amusing no matter how many times he visited.

This place had even more of an earthly, bustling charm than the Mortal World.

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