Chapter 45: Lying, as Expected…
Bai Xuci was just waiting for Fu Ling here, so he had no intention of paying any attention to Xuan Li.
He was just a fickle-hearted demon, after all.
Ew, distasteful.
“You little demon, shouldn’t you greet me?” Xuan Li crossed his arms and closed his eyes, momentarily speechless and choked with indignation.
Did I offend this little demon?
How dare he!
Hearing this, Bai Xuci paused his actions, thought for a moment, then looked up and said stiffly:
“Hello, Lord Xuan.”
It sounded like he was just completing a task, utterly devoid of “sincerity.”
Xuan Li stood to the side, suddenly at a loss for words. Why is this rabbit’s temper growing?
I didn’t even say anything wrong, did I?
During this “standoff,” a wave of fragrance drifted over. Xuan Li turned his head and saw that Fu Ling had arrived.
Her posture was swaying and graceful, the light gauze on her arms fluttering in the wind—the very image of a refined lady.
Xuan Li frowned, finding it a bit strange.
“Xiao Bai, have you been waiting long? Let’s go.” Fu Ling held the small rouge box she had just received, glancing indifferently at Xuan Li standing nearby.
There was a hidden warning in her eyes.
As if to say: If you dare call me “old lady” again, this old lady will chop you in half!
Xuan Li: “…”
Bai Xuci wasn’t in high spirits to begin with, but seeing Sister Fu Ling arrive, he clapped his hands and stood up.
“Okay,” he said, sounding quite obedient.
Fu Ling smiled gently, nodded, and started walking down the small path again.
Without looking back even once.
Xuan Li stood frozen in place, suddenly confused.
I… haven’t I barely said a few words?
He looked up; they were already walking far away.
Bai Xuci looked down and tugged at his clothes, feeling a bit annoyed.
Perhaps because it was autumn or winter, the wind seemed stronger now. His sleeves were wide and loose, so they kept puffing up as he walked.
Walking against the wind actually created some resistance.
Like a giant lantern.
“Little demon, hey, don’t—” That familiar voice followed them.
Bai Xuci stopped walking, turned his head expressionlessly, and said:
“This little demon’s name is Bai Xuci.”
Then he continued walking, rather unhappy.
“Xuan Li, do you have nothing better to do?” Fu Ling didn’t look back at all, but a ball of spiritual energy had condensed in her hand.
Ready to be thrown behind her at any moment.
So annoying.
Xuan Li was stunned for a moment after hearing Bai Xuci’s words, then quickly caught up, saying:
“Bai Xuci, okay, okay, I’ll remember it. Why are you as petty as a human? Isn’t it just that I didn’t call you by your name…”
While sneaking glances, he barely managed to catch the attack Fu Ling threw over.
Bai Xuci glanced at Xuan Li, looking confused.
“You came to find me?” He pointed a scallion-white finger at himself.
He truly didn’t understand. Did he have any friendship with this monkey?
Shouldn’t he be following the big demon lord and doing tasks…
Why come looking for me?
Hearing this, Fu Ling also became curious. She withdrew the light ball in her hand and turned to watch with interest.
Wanting to hear some gossip.
Xuan Li suddenly felt awkward, his eyes darting around, looking quite uncomfortable.
Bai Xuci narrowed his eyes and simply stopped walking.
Fu Ling began to look expectant as well.
“I just wanted to ask you.”
Bai Xuci furrowed his brows, feeling that whatever came next wouldn’t be serious.
“How did you build such a good relationship with Zunshang?” A face leaned in close, looking extremely serious.
“…”
“It’s been twice now. I saw you and Zun—”
Alarm bells instantly rang in Bai Xuci’s head. His eyes went wide, and he immediately reached out and covered the other’s mouth.
“Okay, okay, you can stop talking now.”
He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself and maintain a smile.
Fu Ling instantly realized something, and an intrigued smile appeared on her face.
“Mmph…” Xuan Li’s brows twisted into a knot. He didn’t understand what was so taboo about asking.
I just want to learn from his experience, okay?
Bai Xuci felt his head throbbing. He didn’t even need to think about what the other party had seen.
Earlier in the Great Hall, he hadn’t even been able to struggle free.
“…”
But maybe demons don’t have that concept, the thought suddenly popped into Bai Xuci’s head.
His hand loosened.
That’s right, maybe he doesn’t mean anything by it.
Using human standards to judge demons seemed like disturbing oneself unnecessary.
At the same time, his hand unconsciously let go completely.
Xuan Li took a deep breath and prepared to continue speaking, but before he could open his mouth, a large ball of light came flying at his face.
Bang!
He was blasted several meters away.
Bai Xuci stared blankly at the scene, unable to react for a moment.
“Alright, little monkey, hurry back and eat your bananas.” Fu Ling clapped her hands. It seemed her true nature was showing a bit; her tone even carried a hint of seasoned authority.
However, noticing Xiao Bai looking her way, she quickly put down the hands she had placed on her hips and maintained her dignified posture.
Xuan Li wanted to speak, but Fu Ling threw a silencing spell at him.
His mouth was sealed shut.
“…”
Bai Xuci was still completely out of the loop as he was gently pulled away by Fu Ling, who even considerately thanked Xuan Li on the way.
“Nice choice on the rouge box. Thank you, our little monkey.”
After saying this, Fu Ling continued walking forward with Bai Xuci, completely ignoring Xuan Li, who was frozen in place.
Bai Xuci looked back a few times and found that Xuan Li indeed couldn’t move, his eyes filled with resentment.
Is Fu Ling’s cultivation actually higher than Xuan Li’s?
Bai Xuci really hadn’t expected that; in fact, he was quite shocked. At first, he had mistaken Fu Ling for an ordinary guide demon, but after this interaction, it seemed that wasn’t the case at all.
She even very casually called Xuan Li “little monkey.”
His gaze slowly moved to the “lady” in front of him, and his look turned respectful.
“Don’t mind that monkey. He’s purely just bored out of his mind,” Fu Ling explained, turning her head to smile very gently.
Seeming to have returned to her comfort zone.
Bai Xuci looked up at her and returned a smile.
He hadn’t forgotten that big light ball just now…
Able to blast Xuan Li away directly.
Hmm.
“Here we are, Xiao Bai. This is the place.” Fu Ling withdrew her hand, feeling she had completed her mission, and adjusted her hairpin.
In front of them was an even more magnificent palace. It looked very imposing, but inexplicably a bit gloomy.
Bai Xuci looked it over, frowning. He felt something was wrong.
This… seems a bit too big, doesn’t it?
Is this for me to live in?
“Sister Fu Ling, this…” Bai Xuci wanted to ask.
But Fu Ling seemed to still have business and didn’t hear him. She just waved her hand gently and said:
“Go on in quickly. Everything inside—”
She paused abruptly, but then continued.
“Everything has been arranged properly.”
After saying this, Fu Ling really left, though she was muttering something under her breath, saying something like, “Better not come to this place…”
Only Bai Xuci was left at the entrance of the main hall.
“…”
Bai Xuci first looked up at the outer walls, then silently lowered his head. He really didn’t want to go in.
It’s too dark. What kind of decor style is this?
The entire wall was dark-colored. Standing there alone, he felt an inexplicable sense of desolation.
Just a small white dot.
After hesitating for a long time, Bai Xuci slowly shuffled in, looking left and right nervously.
It was a bit dark inside. When he first entered, he tripped over the threshold.
Bai Xuci was scared out of his wits, barely managing to grab a nearby pillar to steady himself.
“Why isn’t there even a light…” he muttered.
But just as he finished speaking, the ghost-fire lamps in the center of the hall instantly lit up.
Poof, poof, poof.
Bai Xuci was startled again and even hugged the pillar.
“Why are they like streetlights?”
A very quiet complaint.
The hall was silent. Bai Xuci tugged at his sleeves to calm himself down.
He continued walking forward reluctantly.
A small flame popped out from a ghost-fire lamp, circled Bai Xuci once, and then stopped in front of him.
Blocking his path.
“…”
Just then, another wisp of flame ran out from the other side and squeezed the troublemaker away.
Then it drew a heart shape in mid-air.
Bai Xuci tilted his head. He didn’t feel so afraid anymore and pursed his lips.
“You—”
The little flame bounced again, looking very sensible.
Bai Xuci’s lips curled up. He felt living here might be okay, with such cute little things around.
He couldn’t help but reach out his hand.
The little flame retreated at first, a bit confused, then seemed to realize something and circled his palm.
Slowly preparing to land on his hand.
Bai Xuci blinked, feeling expectant.
But just as the little flame was about to land, it suddenly vanished with a whoosh, running straight back into the ghost-fire lamp.
“Eh?” A confused breathy sound.
But the next second, Bai Xuci’s wrist was grabbed, and his back was pressed against a chest.
“You don’t learn your lesson.” A slightly deep voice sounded, the airflow brushing past Bai Xuci’s neck, causing him to shrink back involuntarily.
“Didn’t your fur get singed last time?”
Bai Xuci was instantly no longer afraid; only embarrassment and indignation remained on his face.
“Zunshang, that time was… that time was…” He stammered, trying to refute.
Fan Yue didn’t let go. Instead, he lifted the boy by the wrist he was holding and walked toward the side.
“Was what?”
“Weren’t you very sad when you asked This Venerable One to restore it for you?” His tone was faint.
Bai Xuci wilted instantly, silenced by the scolding.
But thinking of the jumping little ghost fire, he puffed out his cheeks, feeling this wasn’t entirely his fault.
It was just too cute.
Fan Yue carried the creature in his arms to a table nearby. After considering for a moment, he didn’t put him down.
He lifted his robes and sat down, his left arm still encircling a certain someone.
“Zunshang…”
Bai Xuci really felt this wasn’t necessary. Isn’t holding me like this constantly a hindrance?
Besides.
I’ve already come to terms with it.
If he wants to hug, let him hug. Demons don’t have other thoughts anyway; they are very simple.
As his voice fell, a pair of golden eyes looked over, seeming to wait.
Bai Xuci looked up, met his gaze quickly, and said earnestly:
“Zunshang, I’m used to it. I’m already used to it. You can hug me in human form.”
“So, there’s no need to keep practicing.”
His tone sounded quite sincere, as if he really had accepted it well.
Fan Yue looked at the creature in his arms, judging the truthfulness of these words.
“This Venerable One can hug you however he likes?” he asked slowly, his tone somewhat low.
Bai Xuci was now just a ruthless nodding machine, saying obediently, “Mhm, mhm, yes, yes. So you don’t have to force yourself anymore—”
Before he could finish, he squeezed his eyes shut.
Fan Yue lifted him straight up, in a posture exactly like Uncle Lin lifting his little daughter.
Bai Xuci was a bit afraid of heights. His eyes instantly turned pitiful, and his fingers curled up.
“I…”
Before he could adjust, Bai Xuci felt his calves being gently pulled and brought forward.
By the time he realized what was happening—
Bai Xuci’s pupils quaked in shock.
H-how can you hold me like this?!!!
“Don’t hold me like this.” He reached out his hands, struggling to push away.
But he was held firmly in place.
“Lying to This Venerable One, as expected.”
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