"As for why..."
Bai Jun brushed his thumb over his lips, his peripheral vision discreetly flicking toward the mirror beside him.
Though Bai Jun was alone in the bathroom, something indescribable clearly flickered within the mirror. Looking closer, it resembled ghostly fire slicing through the air, flashing bright and dim...
The next instant, the previously stagnant air was torn apart. Bai Jun's left fingertips shot upward at an angle, and after a brief shriek that broke the sound barrier, a clump of turquoise "flame" appeared, caught between his index finger and thumb.
"Found you."
Bai Jun pressed the flame between his fingertips as though kneading candy. Feeling that incomparably familiar energy fluctuation, he revealed a proud expression that said, Just as I thought.
Returning to the earlier topic, the reason was actually quite simple. The other residents had mostly complained about leaking water valves or the poor attitude of the Aurum Alley Chamber of Commerce. Yet this particular resident had encountered far more troublesome incidents. When Bai Jun had surveyed the room that morning, he had faintly sensed the presence of a Suiyang nearby. The aura had simply been too weak for him to draw any rash conclusions.
The reason he had specifically come at night was to confirm that suspicion. As it turned out, his instincts had been quite reliable.
The little thing pinched between his fingertips looked harmless enough, but judging it by appearance alone would be a grave taboo for Xianzhou soldiers. This flame was in fact a notorious dangerous evil spirit listed among the Xianzhou Alliance's greatest enemies—a Suiyang, also known as Formless Demonic Fire.
As rare Formless Eye lifeforms and energy creatures without fixed bodies, Suiyang could normally avoid the range of light visible to humans, concealing themselves as they tracked prey by the scent of emotion. They occupied physical shells and turned their hosts into walking corpses. Hosts unable to successfully merge with them died on the spot, after which the Suiyang would seek out a new suitable host. They were truly terrifying parasites.
It was worth mentioning that ordinary Suiyang did not like invading the bodies of long-lived species. Their immense lifespans and strong regenerative abilities made it difficult for Suiyang to seize control of their wills. Thus, Foxkin and Outworlders on the Xianzhou often became their preferred targets. On top of that, Suiyang liked attaching themselves to those with powerful desires...
That chubby Outworlder merchant perfectly met every one of those conditions!
Looking at the flame, barely the size of a fingernail, Bai Jun had to admit it was fortunate this newborn Suiyang was so weak. It did not yet possess the ability to take over a body and could only harvest emotions through intimidation and similar means. Otherwise, that merchant would have been replaced long ago. Was that a blessing in disguise?
Perhaps Bai Jun's grip had made it uncomfortable, or perhaps it had imagined the miserable future awaiting it after capture. The demonic fire at his fingertips began struggling restlessly, wildly biting at his fingers like a kitten or puppy in an attempt to break free.
A scorching bite of pain suddenly shot through him. To Bai Jun, though, flames of this level were no worse than being kissed by an ant. Still, he put on a show and threatened it, "Stop moving!"
"Wuwu!" The flame trembled as though it understood him perfectly, obediently curling up around Bai Jun's fingers and not daring to move again.
Bai Jun nodded in satisfaction and loosened his grip slightly. "By the way, can't you talk?"
"Wuwu..."
"Well, I suppose that makes sense. You've never taken over anyone's body, so you haven't had the ability to learn language."
"Wuwu?"
"No. If I let you go, you'll definitely harm others again. You were lucky to run into me this time. If the Ten Lords Bureau catches you, you definitely won't have a good time."
"Wuwu!!"
"It's no use saying that." Listening to the flame's explanation, Bai Jun clicked his tongue and scratched his cheek in some difficulty.
Every creature in the universe obeyed the commands of some force. No one taught flies how to fly, yet they knew how. No one taught spiders how to spin webs, yet they knew how. When people were hungry, they ate. When they were lonely or bored, they found something to pass the time. Suiyang were no different.
Of course, he knew that a Suiyang's possession of bodies had nothing to do with good or evil. Just as humans ate out of instinct, it was like a program already written into their souls. There was no right or wrong involved—only a difference in position.
Having failed to earn Bai Jun's sympathy, the Suiyang appeared quite dejected. Even the flame at its center dimmed somewhat as it silently awaited confinement within a Formless prison that would never see daylight, enduring endless torment for eternity.
"You don't need to pretend to be pitiful. I'm not letting you go." Bai Jun sighed, his right hand moving to the hilt at his waist. "But... you can choose between this blade and the Ten Lords Bureau."
Clang—
The crisp sound of a blade leaving its sheath rang out. The unremarkable longsword was drawn half an inch, and the pale gleam revealed along its straight blade became all the more frigid beneath the soft moonlight. Yet it radiated heat as searing as transparent flame.
When the Suiyang caught that scent, it froze for a moment before erupting into nearly frenzied cheers.
Sensing its fervor, Bai Jun held the Suiyang and lightly tapped it against the sword's hilt as though cracking an egg. In an instant, the turquoise flame eagerly transformed into a streak of light and burrowed into the blade.
Only after that fervor completely settled did he return the now-calm blade to its sheath.
"All right, job done!" Having dealt with the matter, Bai Jun stretched lazily in satisfaction. His busy day had finally come to an end. All that remained was to lie down in bed and sleep.
Glancing at the bare bedframe, Bai Jun silently gave up on spending the night here. He would rather take the longer route home to sleep and wait until he had some free time in the coming days to tidy this place up before moving in.
Oh, right. He had nearly forgotten something.
As though recalling something, Bai Jun took out his Jade Omen from his pocket. The time was just around 9 PM.
Judging that it was about time for a certain person to be active, his finger moved slightly as he found a friend in his contacts whose avatar was still gray.
Nan Liujing: There have been Suiyang sightings near the Aurum Alley business district. Please have the Ten Lords Bureau investigate when you have time.
The instant the message was sent, the previously gray avatar lit up, as though that person had been deliberately waiting for him... Yeah, right. That was impossible.
Snowy Coat: Received!
Snowy Coat: (Catgirl giving a thumbs-up sticker)
The other party replied with two messages at lightning speed. Looking at the cute sticker, Bai Jun had no idea what had gotten into this person.
Nan Liujing: ...Watch less weird anime in the future. It'll corrupt you.
Snowy Coat: Sorry, meow.
Kind of cute...
Thinking of the delicate, adorable black-haired girl on the other side of the Jade Omen screen, Bai Jun's finger paused over the display. He silently deleted the message he had intended to send.
Forget it. Since she was cute, he would let it slide.
Bai Jun put away his Jade Omen and picked up the milk tea on the table, now half cold. Just as he was about to leave for home, the Jade Omen in his pocket rang again at an inconvenient moment.
His steps paused. Bai Jun took out the Jade Omen once more. This time, the avatar on the screen was a silver-haired little figure made of pixels.
Silver Hacker: Log on.
What a letdown. He had thought the Ten Lords Bureau had some other troublesome matter. So it was an online friend he had met playing games some time ago.
Bai Jun raised an eyebrow. With his always strict routine, he naturally would not waste his time on something as pointless as gaming.
What he needed to do now was hurry home, take a hot bath, drink a cup of warm milk, do twenty minutes of stretching, then climb into bed and sleep straight through until dawn. He absolutely would not carry his exhaustion and stress into the next day.
Nan Liujing: It's too late. I'm going to sleep.
The other person was clearly silent for a while. Just as Bai Jun thought she would give up inviting him to play, two suddenly appearing messages firmly caught his attention.
Silver Hacker: ???
Silver Hacker: Don't sleep. Tonight, I'll let you use a greatsword.
Bai Jun's fingers paused slightly, forcibly stopping the perfunctory reply he had been typing.
Think about it for a—What was there to think about? Hesitating for even half a second would be an insult to the greatsword!
Nan Liujing: Logging on?
P.S. I update ten thousand words daily. Since the author works so hard, could I ask for some votes?
Xianzhou People Always Compromise
The next morning, the alarm he had set in advance shattered the silence. Listening to the irritating ringing, Bai Jun climbed out of bed with great reluctance, rubbed his aching eyes, and blankly surveyed his surroundings.
"Ah, I got carried away playing..."
Feeling so sleepy he could barely open his eyes, along with a fatigue so deep that he did not want to get up at all, Bai Jun had already begun regretting agreeing to play games with that Silver Hacker last night.
They had clearly agreed at first that he could use the greatsword, but before he had even enjoyed it for half an hour, she had inexplicably started pressuring him.
Things like: "Seriously, bro? You missed that rising slash? Poet, hold your poem."
Then she had forced him to put down the greatsword and obediently support her instead...
Supporting was fine, at least at the start of the night, she had maintained remarkably skillful mechanics and strategy. He could slack off a little and still get carried to victory. But for some reason, in the latter half of the night, her style suddenly changed into that of a reckless brute who only knew "ratatatat, bang bang—bang!" and mindless fighting. To keep up with her pace, he had not even been able to slack off anymore.
Could it be that she had been half-assing it later on?
No. No matter what, he would never play with her again.
After silently making that vow, Bai Jun struggled to jump out of bed. Barefoot, he stepped onto the floor, vigorously rubbed his face again, then staggered sleepily into the bathroom to wash up and groom himself.
After washing up, Bai Jun faced the mirror, took a deep breath, and slightly curled his lips.
It was not that he liked smiling. On the contrary, the smile carried a hint of reluctance and falseness. But at least it could give his day a good start.
"Okay. I'll work hard to stay alive today too."
After declaring something of unclear significance, Bai Jun pushed open the door, parted the chilly morning mist, and stepped onto the quiet street.
Though it was still early, the morning temperature could hardly be called cold. Instead, he could sense the subtle changes brought by the passing seasons.
There were only a few scattered people on the street. Bai Jun walked to the breakfast shop he frequented and ordered his usual bowl of Soda Mung Bean Milk, several buns, and some fried dough sticks.
It was a classic Xianzhou breakfast. The buns and fried dough sticks at this shop were delicious. As for the so-called Soda Mung Bean Milk, it was actually made from fermented bean products. Though it was not widely accepted, once you got used to it, you would find it refreshingly cool and delicious.
After breakfast, the biting chill had completely faded away. The first rays of sunlight fell, and even the towering buildings around him could not block all of it. It felt wonderfully warm on his body. Sitting upright, Bai Jun took a sip of mung bean milk and looked up at the sky, his mood seeming to improve considerably.
He tossed a piece of fried dough into his mouth and chewed, casually turning his gaze toward the nearby street outside the window.
The cold mist dispersed beneath the sunlight, and there were noticeably more pedestrians than before. The rolling shutters of various shops clattered upward. Familiar neighbors chatted idly in bits and pieces. It was a peaceful scene, and also one of the few leisurely moments in Bai Jun's day. There was still plenty of time before work, so he could rest a little longer.
Thus, Bai Jun lazily leaned back in his chair, one hand casually resting on his cup of mung bean milk as he gently swirled it. His eyes were half closed while he quietly enjoyed the morning sunlight. His long lashes cast shadows beneath his eyelids, and his entire person exuded an easygoing air of contentment.
But this rare tranquility was soon disturbed when a man dressed in ornate robes swaggered into the shop.
"Well, if it isn't Mr. Jing Fang, General Jing Yuan's younger brother. What brings you to my humble shop today?" The shopkeeper immediately dismissed the waiter and came forward personally to greet him.
"Mm. I happened to be passing by." Jing Fang clasped his hands behind his back and nodded proudly. His manner naturally carried an air of arrogance. Clearly, this was far from his first visit.
The shopkeeper did not get angry. A gentle smile remained on his face. Merchants valued harmony and prosperity, and they had to keep their eyes and ears open at all times. This Jing Fang, who freeloaded on food and drink, was not worth a second glance. But he was supposedly related to the General. Even when beating a dog, one had to consider its owner, much less a person.
Still, the shopkeeper sincerely felt it was unfair to the General. How had he ended up with such a wastrel younger brother? His lifetime reputation would be ruined by this bastard. The shopkeeper truly wondered whether future historians would add the bold words "indulgence and cover-up" and "abuse of power for personal gain" to the General's evaluation.
While the shopkeeper grumbled internally, Jing Fang spoke again. "Ahem. The General has returned from his Hunt expedition. I'm going to visit him later."
After saying that, he planted his hands on his hips and stared directly at the flustered waiter standing nearby.
The waiter was completely bewildered by the stare. Seeing this, the worldly-wise shopkeeper hurried forward to smooth things over. "Please have a seat first. I'll make you some tea. Once you've eaten and drunk your fill, please convey the people of Exalting Sanctum's greetings to the General when you visit Shence Mansion. Thank the General for his care over the years."
"Mm, I'll trouble you then." Jing Fang nodded, quite pleased by the shopkeeper's tact.
Jing Fang was not polite after that. He picked up the menu and ordered whatever was expensive. Only after ordering seven or eight dishes did he smack his lips, still not fully satisfied. "Fine. This will do for the morning."
He tossed the menu to the waiter, then began picking out a desirable seat for himself.
There were not many dine-in customers at the breakfast shop. Most were office workers getting takeout. Yet after scanning the room, Jing Fang's gaze landed on the window seat at the far left. From there, one could see the street outside and enjoy the warm sunlight.
"Not bad. I want to sit there." Jing Fang pointed at the seat and shouted at the waiter beside him.
"C-customer, but there's another customer sitting there."
Though the shopkeeper had told him to satisfy this man's every request if possible, the waiter could not help offering a quiet reminder.
Jing Fang raised his brows. Only after hearing the waiter did he realize someone was sitting there. That person's presence had been too faint, and Jing Fang had not paid attention earlier, so he had failed to notice him.
But why did that person's back look somewhat familiar? Forget it, it was not important. All he had to do was walk over and display his "identity." Surely no one would be so tactless.
With that thought, Jing Fang adjusted his collar and strutted over to Bai Jun's side. Yet before he could speak, his eyes widened round, and the words at his lips were forcibly swallowed back down.
The young man before him wore nothing more than an ordinary white shirt and black suit pants. His silver hair looked messy yet not unkempt, but most eye-catching were his clear eyes, like lake-blue gemstones.
However, the moment Jing Fang met those deep blue eyes, he immediately understood where that inexplicable familiarity came from. Dead memories surged back like a tide, as though even the blood in his bones had frozen.
At that moment, only one thought flashed through Jing Fang's mind: I'm screwed!
"Is there something you need?"
Bai Jun leaned back in his chair, expressionlessly chewing a fried dough stick. Yet his gaze remained firmly fixed on the trembling Jing Fang. His tone was gentle, but Jing Fang could sense the irritation hidden in those blue eyes.
"Oh, what a coincidence. If I'd known you were here..." Cold sweat streamed down Jing Fang's forehead as he uneasily rubbed his hands together, stammering without knowing how to defend himself.
"Don't say that. You're General Jing Yuan's younger brother, dear Mr. Jing Fang."
"Oh, no, no, no! Sir, please don't mock me! Just call me Jing Qi, Jing Qi!" At Bai Jun's words, Jing Fang's legs trembled so badly that he nearly dropped to his knees and kowtowed on the spot.
Of course, he was not General Jing Yuan's younger brother. It was simply that in the local Xianzhou language, the characters for Yuan and Qi looked similar, so people often joked that he was related to General Jing Yuan. Once, he had suddenly gotten the idea that this could be a way to freeload meals, and he had begun calling himself that as well.
But this man was different. Jing Fang vaguely remembered passing Shence Mansion once and seeing two young figures chatting casually beside the General. One had been the rising young Vanguard, Yan Qing. The other had been this living ancestor right in front of him!
Though Jing Fang did not know whether this man was another Vanguard by the General's side or something else entirely, his status was definitely not something a scoundrel like him could imitate!
Jing Fang's guts were nearly turning green with regret. If he had known, he would not have come out to freeload at this time. Now he had been caught by an important figure beside the General. If he was not sunk into the bay, it would be a miracle from the Reignbow Arbiter.
"Oh, don't be like that. I actually think Jing Fang sounds better than Jing Qi." Seeing Jing Fang's miserable, tearful expression, Bai Jun's lips curved faintly, revealing a foxlike wicked smile.
"Y-you can call me whatever you like..." Jing Fang suppressed the intense urge to vomit from fear and crouched trembling beside the man's table. He felt like his mara-struck organs were about to act up. All he wanted was to crawl back beneath a bridge. He did not even want a free meal anymore. Staying alive was enough.
Bai Jun did not continue questioning him right away. Instead, he crossed his legs and stared at Jing Fang with great interest. "You know who I am?"
"N-no, I don't..." Jing Fang had watched similar gangster movies. He knew that every extra who learned a big shot's identity had to die, so no matter what happened, he could not admit it.
"Take another look." Bai Jun slapped Jing Fang on the forehead. He did not use much force, but Jing Fang's body still jolted violently.
"Sir! But I really don't know!" Jing Fang stubbornly clung to that answer, shaking his head nonstop like a rattle drum.
Before you continue