Chapter 50: My What?
The Great Hall was very empty; not a single attendant was in sight.
Bai Xuci walked unsteadily forward, and wherever he went, the little ghost fire followed.
It was rather like a fully automated flashlight.
“Why build it so big…” he muttered, a little dissatisfied.
Bai Xuci’s head was still a bit woozy. His steps were light and floaty; basically, he would walk a stretch and then lean against a pillar to rest for a while.
He had just pointed in a random direction earlier, and now he had no idea where he was.
The structure inside the Great Hall was somewhat complex. In his dazed state, he had gone up some stairs, then down again.
He had turned left and right several times.
Now, he fell silent.
“Why are there still pillars?” Bai Xuci stared blankly ahead, feeling a twinge of regret.
He had completely forgotten the way and couldn’t even go back.
He could only brace himself and keep moving forward.
The little ghost fire was still scouting the path ahead, bobbing up and down, looking quite proud of itself.
Because its competitor, the little black mist, wasn’t around.
Bai Xuci sighed and comforted himself about getting lost. Anyway, he didn’t have anything to do; he might as well treat it as a stroll.
Thinking this, Bai Xuci raised his hand to stifle a yawn and continued to walk slowly forward.
In passing, he looked up to examine the structure of the Great Hall.
This place was completely different from the Council Hall he had seen before. At least that place had some chairs and such, a bit of human touch.
But here, there was nothing, just some simple ghost fire lamps.
Emmm, even spookier.
Bai Xuci spun in a circle, scanning his surroundings, and noticed something strange.
Since this place was so empty, why was there a bed in that area just now?
He frowned slightly, a ridiculous guess forming in his mind.
Could it be specifically for him…?
While his mind was wandering, Bai Xuci suddenly heard the sound of water.
Reflexively, he looked up.
There was some light ahead; it seemed much brighter than where he was.
Because of the stairs, Bai Xuci simply lifted the hem of his slightly long white robe and ran up.
He didn’t even realize when he had stopped feeling afraid.
The Great Hall was quiet, save for the rhythmic pat-pat-pat of his running footsteps.
The little ghost fire originally wanted to follow, but after flying forward a bit, it sensed something.
It immediately retreated, then whoosh, flew back the way it came.
“Eh?” Bai Xuci turned his head to look, perplexed.
Why did the little ghost fire stop leading the way? Was it tired?
While he was frowning in thought, his attention was suddenly pulled back by the pattering sound of water from inside. He turned his head to look in again.
Releasing his robe, he ignored the “deserter” ghost fire and walked forward on his own.
There were several screens in front of him, layered one after another. Apart from the light, he couldn’t see anything else.
“Is he here?” Bai Xuci was somewhat doubtful, stopping at the outermost screen.
He tugged at his clothes, suddenly feeling a bit at a loss.
He didn’t really have any other business; he just felt that since he had just drunk the man’s blood, he should at least say thank you.
“Maybe I should wait a bit.” Bai Xuci stepped back, returning to the stairs he had just come from, and stood there very obediently.
If he was inside, then he would just wait.
He needed to say thank you.
Mm.
Bai Xuci waited for a while, feeling a bit tired from standing, so he raised his hand to pound his shoulder.
He looked listless and didn’t notice a light-patterned barrier forming behind him.
It seemed to be a bounded field.
After waiting for about half a quarter of an hour (7-8 minutes), Bai Xuci felt a bit depressed.
Why hadn’t he come out yet?
He took a few steps forward, walking right up to the first screen. He held onto the edge and poked his head out to peek inside.
The light-patterned barrier behind him seemed to have a life of its own, following his every step.
“Zun Shang?” A very quiet call, as if he didn’t really want to be heard, accompanied by a pair of nervous eyes.
Bai Xuci had initially wanted to go straight in, but hearing the sound of water, he couldn’t help but feel there was some kind of pool inside.
He didn’t dare go.
What if the other person was bathing?
Obviously, there was no response.
Bai Xuci rubbed his nose, inexplicably feeling a bit embarrassed.
No sound for so long; he probably wasn’t there. Maybe he should leave.
Thinking it over, he convinced himself, lowered his head, turned around, and started to walk back.
But as soon as he turned his head, he saw a figure in dark robes—wet ones.
His brain short-circuited for a second or two.
“So impatient,” Fan Yue said, pronouncing each word clearly as he looked down at the little demon.
Hearing this, Bai Xuci opened his mouth to retort, but upon seeing the look in the other’s eyes, he inexplicably chickened out.
Why was he looking at him like that?
“Whatever you say is right…” His tone was weak as he gave up.
“Zun Shang, I think I should properly say to you—”
Bai Xuci suddenly rose into the air. Before he could finish the word “thank you,” his face filled with panic.
“Hey, hey, hey, Zun Shang, where are you taking me?” Bai Xuci stammered in panic, turning his head back in fear.
He couldn’t see the path clearly now, only the screens “walking” past one by one.
Fan Yue still looked gloomy, but he didn’t say anything. He simply carried Bai Xuci with one hand to the edge of the Spirit Pond.
And put him down.
He looked at him.
The other party was still looking bewildered, the front of his clothes wet, but his hand was still clutching Fan Yue’s sleeve.
Fan Yue looked down, still not understanding.
Why did he not like him?
“Zun Shang, w-what do you want to do?” Bai Xuci looked up, his eyes filled with confusion.
Why bring him here?
After waiting for a while, the other didn’t answer, only staring at him fixedly.
Bai Xuci averted his gaze uncomfortably and looked to the side, only to discover that inside the screens was indeed as he had expected.
It was a very large pool, seemingly even bigger than the one Fu Ling had taken him to before.
It looked misty and ethereal.
While he was looking, Bai Xuci suddenly felt a shadow cover him, scaring him into closing his eyes immediately.
“Soak in here for a while.”
The familiar splash of water sounded, and when Bai Xuci opened his eyes, he found himself placed securely in the pool.
His silvery-white hair instantly spread out, and the illusory white ribbon had disappeared at some point.
His expression was first puzzled, and then…
After Fan Yue put the person in, he intended to leave.
But with a casual glance, he realized his sleeve was still being pulled by the little demon, who showed no sign of letting go.
“You—”
“C-Cold… cold…” The voice of the creature in his arms began to tremble, the corners of his mouth turning down, looking utterly aggrieved.
He didn’t seem to understand why he had been thrown into a cold pool.
Fan Yue’s eyes changed instantly. almost immediately, he wrapped his arm around the person’s waist and scooped him back up.
He raised his hand to cast a spell, and the surrounding temperature changed instantly.
Especially the water in the pool, which finally turned warm.
Bai Xuci’s lips were pale from the cold, his eyes red-rimmed, his mind stuck in a loop.
Why throw him into a cold pool?
He hadn’t done anything wrong…
“I want to leave.” His voice was nasal, sounding very pitiful.
Bai Xuci felt he must have been out of his mind to come looking for him, only to be thrown into a cold pool the moment they met.
Looking for suffering…
He raised his hand to push away, his lips pressed into a straight line.
Not very happy.
“It is… not cold anymore.” The tone sounded somewhat stiff, but he still held onto Bai Xuci’s wrist.
Sending spiritual energy in to keep him warm.
Bai Xuci looked down at his held wrist, a complex feeling surging in his heart.
“No need, I have enough spiritual energy.”
He didn’t owe him anything; taking advantage of him all the time wasn’t right…
Habitually, he tugged his hand back, wanting to pull away.
Due to inertia, Fan Yue’s hand suddenly let go, and the slender wrist retracted.
The flow of spiritual energy was interrupted.
Bai Xuci was also a bit surprised. He didn’t expect it to… to be like this. Was it really that easy to break free?
“I—” Suddenly, it was a bit awkward.
“Mm, alright.”
Fan Yue showed no expression on his face. He simply pursed his lips and continued somewhat apologetically:
” Ben Zuo forgot to adjust the water temperature.”
“But you still need to soak. It’s warm now. It has benefits.”
With that, he got up and left.
Bai Xuci suddenly felt at a loss. He wanted to tug on the other’s robe.
But he missed.
“No…” He was a bit anxious.
The mist in the pool was getting thicker.
Bai Xuci didn’t want to soak at all. He tugged at his clothes, intending to climb out of the pool.
But before he could even take a step out, he found the surrounding ripple barrier blocking him completely.
“!!”
Bai Xuci patted the barrier and found it harder than tempered glass.
He tried to go around it.
But he discovered that the barrier surrounded the pool perfectly, leaving not a single gap.
“Do I have to soak…” Bai Xuci drooped his head, turned back, and sat by the edge of the pool again, feeling depressed.
He looked down at his palm, then let it drop.
He didn’t mean that.
“Next time, hold on tighter,” he muttered to himself, feeling wronged.
Bai Xuci had absolutely no interest in soaking, but he kept being pushed by the barrier.
In the end, he fell into the pool.
He could only splash the water in frustration, imagining it as a punching bag.
After feeling the spiritual energy circulating in his meridians, Bai Xuci roughly guessed it was because of this pool.
For a moment, he didn’t know what to say.
He… seemed like an ingrate.
He covered his face in anguish, then slowly slid down along the pool wall.
His white hair floated on the surface, like lustrous satin.
The ripples on the barrier moved, but it remained normal.
But very quickly—
There was still no movement in the pool, not even bubbles.
The barrier suddenly dispersed. Fan Yue, looking rather grim, raised his hand and fished out the mischievous little demon.
“Aha, you appeared.” Bai Xuci gasped for large breaths of air, feeling inexplicably proud.
See, this method absolutely works.
Fan Yue: “…”
He glanced at the other, then picked up his wrist again. But just as he was about to check—
He paused.
“You can pinch it, you can,” Bai Xuci added carefully, blinking his eyes.
Hearing this, Fan Yue shifted his gaze to the creature beside him, just staring.
“I-It’s just, Zun Shang, I didn’t mean that. Thank you.” His tone was stuttering.
Bai Xuci didn’t dare to maintain eye contact. He quickly lowered his head and began to express his gratitude dutifully:
“You always give me spiritual energy, and I have no way to repay you…”
“Ben Zuo never asked you to repay me,” came the indifferent statement.
Hearing this, Bai Xuci replied reflexively, “That won’t do either. I can’t keep taking advantage of you. I’m not your—”
He cut himself off abruptly.
Fan Yue waited for a while. Not hearing the second half of the sentence, he had to ask:
“My what?”
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