“Chanchao!”
A tightness gripped Qingmo’s heart as he hurried to Chanchao’s side. The other man stood in absolute silence, staring with a solemn expression at the flower in his hand.
Just as Qingmo began to worry that he had fallen under some kind of soul-capturing spell and frantically searched for a solution, Chanchao blankly muttered, “It seems I forgot to bring the basin of water back.”
Qingmo let out a long sigh of relief, silently talking himself out of arguing with a piece of wood. “Where did you go? Are you alright?”
Chanchao shook his head. “Your subordinate encountered the High Priest by the well just now. Hearing that the Spirit Illusion Bureau is coming to establish a garrison here, he developed a flower called Dream-Entering designed to soothe the emotions of demonic beasts.”
With that, he handed the flower over. Qingmo took it and inspected it closely: it had only five petals, thin and translucent yet dazzlingly crimson, while its stem was pale yellow instead of the usual vibrant green.
“This is Dream-Entering?” Qingmo held it between two fingers and gave it a sniff. “There is no scent at all.”
On second thought, since he was a ghost, perhaps this was not meant for him in the first place. He gestured to Suyu. “This flower is supposed to soothe demonic beasts. Care to give it a try?”
Suyu stepped closer, leaning forward near Qingmo’s hand, when a stray lock of hair happened to brush against Qingmo’s lips.
Suyu carried a fragrance far sweeter than the flower, mingled with a faint, bitter trace of herbal medicine.
Pressing his lips tightly together, Qingmo felt the posture was strangely intimate and pushed him away just as Suyu stepped back on his own accord.
“I cannot feel anything.”
Demonic beasts in the Demon Realm were low-ranking creatures; someone with Suyu’s cultivation level naturally did not fall into that category.
With an air of supreme confidence, Qingmo remarked, “That makes sense. They said it was meant for ordinary beasts; it is only natural that a great demon like you feels nothing.”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a loud, booming shout echoed over: “Qingmo!”
There was no need to guess whose voice that was. Bai Yingfei came striding in like a whirlwind, clad in a brilliant red wedding robe, though he reined in his excitement slightly upon seeing all three of them present.
“Everyone is here… Ah, has Zhiqiang already given you the flowers? How are they working?”
Lately, just looking at Bai Yingfei made Qingmo struggle to breathe. “Not doing much. Do any of us three look like a demonic beast to you? And frankly, I really do not wish to know that this flower will be featured at your wedding ceremony.”
“You are so smart!” Bai Yingfei clapped him on the shoulder. “Zhiqiang planted tons of them in the flowerbeds!”
Before Qingmo could be angered to the point of fainting, Bai Yingfei quickly retreated two steps, spun around in a circle, and showed off his wedding robe. “Look at this! Is it gorgeous? The embroiderers spent over half a year sewing it!”
So you already had thoughts of getting married over half a year ago!
Fearing he might lose control and punch the brat, Qingmo turned away with a perfunctory, “Gorgeous, gorgeous!”
Then, stroking his own chin with a disdainful curl of his lip, he added, “No matter how pretty it is, it is still not as pretty as me.”
Bai Yingfei was successfully provoked into mutual sabotage. “Tone down your narcissism!”
Yet today, Qingmo genuinely looked a bit different. At first glance, a subtle charm of beauty seemed to cling to him. Wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him, Bai Yingfei rubbed them hard and finally found the source of the change.
It was the black hair draped across his shoulders, secured by a single hairpin at the back of his head.
Winking mischievously, Bai Yingfei teased, “This styling does not look like your usual style at all.”
Qingmo scoffed and glanced at Suyu, prompting Bai Yingfei to instantly realize whose handiwork it was.
“No wonder! So it is the Demon Lord’s doing!” Throwing an arm around Qingmo’s shoulders with a broad grin, Bai Yingfei declared, “If you ask me, no matter how pretty you think you are, you can never outshine the Demon Lord. He is the most gorgeous person I have ever laid eyes on!”
Qingmo shoved his head away. “Like you are the only one with eyes! I can see for myself!”
Watching the two bicker, Suyu smiled faintly. The spring-like warmth gracing his cheeks and his heterochromatic eyes shining like pearlescent beads truly transformed the word peerless into a tangible reality.
At that moment, a guard appeared outside the courtyard, lingering hesitantly and not daring to approach.
Noticing him and fearing he would lose face for the City Lord’s Mansion in front of the Demon Lord, Bai Yingfei barked angrily, “Get in here! What is with all that dawdling and hesitation?”
“C-City Lord…” The guard seemed terrified of interrupting their conversation, stammering out, “A little beggar has come to the front gates, crying and begging to see you.”
“A beggar?” Perhaps eager to prove to Qingmo that he had grown up and was capable of handling matters, Bai Yingfei waved a grand hand. “Let us go take a look!”
Outside the gates of the City Lord’s Mansion, the young beggar was indeed weeping, wailing, and kowtowing into the ground just as the guard had described, desperate for an audience with Bai Yingfei.
Bloodstains already marred his forehead from the violent prostrations, giving the impression he was ready to smash his head against the stone gates if he was not granted an audience.
Sensing something amiss, Bai Yingfei frowned. “What exactly do you want? The City Lord’s Mansion is not a place for you to throw tantrums!”
“City Lord…!” The young beggar raised his tear-streaked face, his words tumbling out in a jumbled, incomprehensible mess. “Lord City Lord, I beg for your mercy! My younger brother is dying, he is going to die, sob…”
Qingmo and Suyu followed close behind. Wearing a mocking expression, Qingmo chimed in, “Weeping so bitterly, did you go and bully ordinary citizens?”
“I did nothing of the sort! You think everyone is as fond of stirring up trouble as you!” Bai Yingfei refused to lose the verbal sparring match.
After all, the Ghost Fiend’s reputation for making trouble was legendary.
“My skills are not something just anyone can pick up.” Folding his arms with a hum of amusement, Qingmo stepped up to the beggar with calm, unhurried composure, radiating an overwhelming sense of pressure just by standing there. “State your business clearly first, or else it will not just be your brother who is dying, you will be next.”
Intimidated by the sheer deterrence, the young beggar trembled like chaff in the wind, stuttering, “W-We wanted to enter the altar to pray for blessings…”
Overwhelmed by tears, he explained the reason for his visit today.
As it turned out, the beggar and his younger brother had always relied on begging on the streets, living from hand to mouth. Yet every month, they made it a point to visit the altar on schedule to pray for a better life. The prayers had indeed proved miraculous; under the protection of the Witch Clan, although they received very little, they at least managed to avoid starving on the streets. However, because his brother had missed yesterday’s visit for personal reasons, he had fallen violently ill today and was now on the verge of death.
“Can you even make up for missed prayers?” Qingmo’s mouth twitched slightly. He did not believe in such things, viewing them merely as a source of psychological comfort.
“Matters concerning the altar are handled by Zhiqiang. The 1st and 15th of the month are fixed; since you missed the hour, I cannot grant this favor.”
Though Bai Yingfei was frequently swamped by official duties, he held a strict sense of justice deep in his heart. If he broke the rules simply because someone knelt and cried at his doorstep, he would not be fit to serve as City Lord.
Seeing that all hope of appeal was lost, the beggar prepared to resume his loud crying and kowtowing. Fearing a tragedy might actually happen at their doorstep, the guard quickly stepped forward to drag him away.
“Hold on.” A gentle voice rang out.
Everyone present turned to look at Suyu.
Without offering an explanation, Suyu walked slowly over to the young beggar and handed him a clean handkerchief to wipe away the grime on his face. “Where is your younger brother right now? This lord has some medical knowledge and can take a look.”
Dazedly captivated by Suyu’s appearance, the young beggar stood frozen in astonishment for a long while, entirely forgetting to reply. Yet Suyu showed no sign of annoyance, patiently waiting for him.
Qingmo planted a hand on his hip and jutted out his chin in a pout. “He is sticking his nose into other people’s business again!”
Led by the young beggar, the two navigated a damp, grimy, and foul-smelling alleyway where the stench of mildew and rotting food instantly hit them in waves.
The foul odors immediately assaulted Suyu’s frail constitution, causing him to cover his sleeve and break into a fit of coughing.
Though inwardly cursing up a storm, Qingmo’s hands moved without hesitation as he pulled out a veil and draped it over Suyu’s face to barely block out the stench.
“We are here, my brother is right over there… Brother!” The young beggar cried out in alarm and rushed forward.
A child of seven or eight years old lay curled on the ground in a state of agonizing distress, his skin flushed red. Rasping, hoarse groans escaped his lips unconsciously, and the bizarre rune branded upon his forehead was unmistakably that of a blood skeleton.
Having suffered from the terrifying effects of a skull invading one’s spiritual consciousness, Qingmo knew firsthand how miserable it felt and quickly covered his eyes without a second thought. “Unlucky trash!”
Curled up on the filthy ground, the beggar boy clutched his stomach tightly with both arms, breathing faintly and groaning in severe agony as life seemed to slip away from him.
Filled with pity for the suffering, Suyu pushed aside the grime to lift the child up, using his sleeve to temporarily shield the strange mark on his forehead.
“Why is there demonic aura inside his body?” Confused, Suyu suddenly caught a flash of insight as his gaze darkened, turning back to address the older brother. “You mentioned your younger brother failed to visit the altar yesterday. What was the reason?”
Lowering his head, the older brother stammered without being able to give a coherent explanation.
That made the situation even more suspicious.
Though Suyu kept his emotions strictly hidden beneath a calm exterior, the beggar boy could clearly sense his anger.
“The demonic aura in your brother’s body is radiating from within. Do you have any idea what the consequences are of swallowing a demonic core?!”
Silently slipping up behind the beggar boy, Qingmo grabbed him by the back of his collar and hoisted him into the air.
Startled, the beggar let out a cry. “Ah… Let me go!”
“Hush—” Qingmo flashed a pair of seductive peach-blossom eyes devoid of any amusement, holding up a finger to signal silence.
“Do not speak yet. Let me guess,” Qingmo murmured softly. “Did the two of you accidentally capture a pitiful, weak little demonic beast on the street yesterday? And then, remembering the rumor that a demonic core can cure all diseases, you killed that poor little beast to harvest its core?”
This accusation was full of holes and merely intended to frighten a child. Leaving aside the fact that there were no demonic beasts roaming Chizhou City to begin with, even if there were, it was not something two begging brats could easily hunt down.
Yet the beggar boy fell right for it, terrified that slaying a demon was a capital offense punishable by decapitation. He struggled frantically in panic. “N-No! We did not kill any demonic beast…”
“Oh? Then what is the reason?” Qingmo coaxed him gently.
“I-It was given to us by someone else…” he sobbed out the truth.
Normally, he and his brother begged separately during the day and shared food at night. But yesterday was the 1st of the month, the day to pray at the altar, so he had gone to find his brother earlier in the afternoon. By sheer coincidence, just as he arrived, a kind-hearted stranger had dropped a few copper coins and a glowing, sparkling pearl into his brother’s bowl. The stranger had leaned down to whisper something to his brother before leaving; the older brother had not heard the conversation, but as he drew closer, his brother had looked thoroughly unnatural and stubbornly refused to go pray at the altar with him. Later that evening, when the two brothers huddled together, the younger one mysteriously produced the glowing pearl and told him that as long as he swallowed it, they would enjoy lifelong wealth and prosperity.
“So he swallowed it?” Qingmo asked.
“…Yes.” The beggar boy hung his head in shame. “My brother… just did not want to go hungry anymore…”
Fearing Qingmo would misunderstand, he waved his hands frantically in defense. “We really did not know it was a demonic core! After my brother ate it, he turned out like this the next morning. I… I thought it was because we missed yesterday’s prayers and the High Priest got angry…”
With that, he broke down into loud, wailing sobs once more, tears streaming down his face like broken beads. His crying gave Qingmo a splitting headache; losing the last shred of his patience, he tossed the boy straight onto the ground. “Stop crying! Keep it up, and I will shove the demonic core right down your throat!”