A Fated Enemy, Ghost Moth

After a simple dinner, Qian Yun and Hu Liena rested together in the study.

Qian Yun sat at the desk, sorting through the mission report he hadn't yet submitted after completing his last assignment. Hu Liena lay bored on the sofa, pouting as she glanced at him from time to time.

Qian Yun glanced up from his work. "If you're tired, go get some rest. I'll probably be busy until midnight."

Hu Liena raised her brows slightly, looking hopeful. "And what about you? If I take the bed, where will you sleep?"

Qian Yun took a sip of strong tea and replied matter-of-factly, "I'll sleep here."

"Uh..." Hu Liena parted her lips, then stopped herself. She had wanted to suggest that he could sleep with her, but she was too embarrassed to say it.

Looking at Qian Yun, immersed in his own world, Hu Liena suddenly felt an inexplicable surge of irritation. She gave a quiet huff, stood up, and said, "Well, I really am going to bed, then. Don't go saying later that I bullied you."

"Mm. Good night."

"Knock, knock, knock."

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

Qian Yun frowned, set down his quill, and looked up. "What is it?"

A servant's respectful voice came from outside. "My lord, you have an urgent letter."

"A letter?" Qian Yun gave Hu Liena a strange look.

Hu Liena glared back at him. "What are you looking at? It wasn't me."

Qian Yun was puzzled. "Just slip it under the door and leave."

"Yes, sir."

As the servant's footsteps gradually faded away, Qian Yun made no move to get up. Instead, he smiled and tilted his head toward Hu Liena.

Hu Liena rolled her eyes. "Hmph. You really think I'm your servant?"

Though she sounded quite displeased, she dutifully walked over and opened the door, catching the letter as it slipped through.

"Here!" Hu Liena flicked a finger at it in annoyance, and the letter fluttered over to Qian Yun's desk.

"Thanks." Qian Yun smiled as he picked up the envelope, but the next moment, his brows furrowed.

The envelope was very thin, containing only a single sheet of paper. What really caught his attention was the word "urgent" written on it.

Qian Yun had a feeling that this was no simple matter. He silently opened the envelope:

Millennium Spirit Beast Ghost Moth spotted in Sunset Forest!

The short message seemed to hit him like a sledgehammer. His whole body shuddered, and his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. He didn't even notice that the envelope in his other hand had been crushed to pieces.

"Um... what's wrong?" Hu Liena asked, confused. She had never seen Qian Yun lose his composure like this.

Qian Yun took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice. "The Spirit Beast Ghost Moth... it's been spotted!"

Hu Liena's casual expression instantly froze. A few moments later, she spun around and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

After Hu Liena left, Qian Yun set down the letter and stared at the creaking, groaning door, his eyes blazing with murderous intent!

Neither in his previous life nor in this one had he ever felt such an urgent need to erase a life from existence. It was as if a beast, constantly tormented by hunger, had finally locked onto its prey. The thirst for slaughter nearly overwhelmed all his reason.

"Phew..."

After a long while, the red glow in Qian Yun's eyes finally faded, and his usual calm expression returned.

Picking up the letter again, Qian Yun fixed his gaze on the words "Sunset Forest." Now that he had calmed down, he finally had time to think.

If he remembered correctly, that was Dugu Fu's territory, wasn't it? That Titled Douluo was no pushover, and the forest was shrouded in Poison Mist. If the two of them approached recklessly, they might be poisoned to death before they even saw the Ghost Moth.

Qian Yun frowned as he pondered. He had never expected the Ghost Moth to travel so far and end up in such a troublesome place. If possible, he really didn't want to have any dealings with a Titled Douluo outside Spirit Hall at this stage, but sometimes circumstances left him no choice.

"Hmph. No matter how far you run, I'll kill you."

Qian Yun put the letter away in a drawer, then left the study and returned to his room. As expected, Hu Liena wasn't there. He sighed and turned to look in the other direction.

He chose not to disturb her. At that moment, they both needed to calm down.

The next day

Qian Yun was ready early that morning. An ordinary carriage waited quietly outside the courtyard, and he stood with his arms folded, waiting for Hu Liena to appear.

The night's hazy veil finally lifted, and the soft light of dawn spilled over the earth. At last, a head poked out from the doorway.

Hu Liena hurried over, head lowered, looking a little ashamed. "Sorry, I'm late."

Qian Yun looked at her tired little face and reached out to smooth down a few stray locks of hair. He laughed heartily. "Staying up late is bad for you. Keep it up, and you'll be bald before you know it."

"..."

Hu Liena slapped away the paw Qian Yun had placed on her forehead, feeling that all the emotions she'd been working up since last night had gone to waste.

"Get lost! If I ever go bald, I'll still be the prettiest bald girl around."

Qian Yun chuckled and stepped aside, making a courteous gesture. "All right, all right. You're beautiful; I won't argue. After you."

Hu Liena climbed into the carriage with a frown, and Qian Yun followed.

At last, the carriage set off. Hu Liena, dark circles under her eyes, rested her cheek on one hand and gazed out the window, lost in thought.

Qian Yun took out a food box and set it on the table. "I've been waiting for you forever. I didn't even have time to eat. You haven't eaten either, have you? Want some?"

Hu Liena said nothing, only shook her head, still staring absently out the window.

Seeing her like that, Qian Yun couldn't help sighing. As he laid out the plates, he asked, "Still thinking about what happened?"

Hu Liena's eyes twitched. "No."

"Don't worry. We're well prepared. That Ghost Moth is as good as dead."

After a long silence, Qian Yun spoke again. "Should we go to Muyi City first to pay our respects to Village Chief Grandpa and A-Qiang, then head to Sunset Forest?"

Hu Liena nodded. "I was thinking the same thing."

Qian Yun sat down at the table and looked at Hu Liena. "You really don't want any? I don't care about anything else, but I'm just worried..."

Hu Liena seemed tempted. "Worried about what?"

"I'm just worried you'll get so hungry you won't have the strength to hold your knife steady."

Hu Liena sprang over to the table, grabbed a piece of bread, and stuffed it into her mouth. "You've got to be kidding! I'd never go weak!"

Qian Yun smiled without replying. They quickly finished breakfast together.

Time passed, and at some point that day, Qian Yun felt a weight on his shoulder. He turned his head to look.

Hu Liena's serene sleeping face was tinged with exhaustion. Qian Yun knew that the stubborn girl really hadn't slept at all the night before.

The previous night, Qian Yun had quietly gone looking for Hu Liena. He found her beneath the Ginkgo Tree, sitting motionless on the swing.

Qian Yun shifted so Hu Liena could rest more comfortably, then leaned his head against hers.

He, too, had spent the whole night awake.

A few days later, in Muyi City.

Qian Yun and Hu Liena first visited the three of them at Spirit Hall. They found that time had changed everything: the former trio had gone their separate ways. Elder Li had retired and was enjoying his old age, while Yibu and Duomeng had been promoted to steward and acting bishop, respectively.

They didn't stay long. After a brief visit, Qian Yun and Hu Liena left Spirit Hall and wandered along streets that felt both familiar and strange.

A light drizzle polished the road, reflecting the hurried faces of passersby. Overcast weather always made people more sentimental. Hu Liena lifted her face and let the fine rain brush against it, feeling sorrow in her heart, yet also an inexplicable sense of relief.

"Hey, little girl, come here." Qian Yun called over a young flower seller. "I'll take all your white flowers."

"Huh?! Oh, okay."

After buying the flowers, Qian Yun and Hu Liena continued on their way. The cemetery where Village Chief Grandpa and A-Qiang were buried lay just ahead.

A cool breeze carried the fine rain—and the faint, earthy smell of the grass—into their noses, refreshing their senses.

Since there was no special occasion that day, only a few people were in the cemetery. Holding a bunch of white flowers, Hu Liena gently set them down in front of the gravestone, then crouched and carefully traced the carved inscription with her hand.

"Grandpa... A-Qiang, Xiao Na's here to see you... I know you were always against me becoming a Spirit Master because you wanted me to be safe and happy. But with our enemy right in front of us, please bless me. I'll avenge you!"

Qian Yun glanced at the dark clouds thickening on the horizon, opened a black umbrella over her, and took a flask from his coat with his other hand. He flicked open the stopper, tipped the flask, and poured the wine onto the grass, where it seeped into the soil.

He didn't know whether such a custom existed in this other world, but Qian Yun sincerely hoped that they, resting beneath the earth, could once again taste wine from the living world.

After putting the flask away, Qian Yun remained silent for a long while before speaking. "Xiao Na."

"Mm?"

He turned to look at Hu Liena, his gaze earnest. "I was thinking... after this is over, we should bring Village Chief and A-Qiang back to Beast King Village. After all, that's their hometown."

Hu Liena's body trembled. The word "hometown" seemed to hold an irresistible magic, filling her with longing. Beast King Village... Yes, it had been a long time since she'd gone back, too.

"Mm! Thank you, Qian Yun."

After paying their respects to the departed, Qian Yun and Hu Liena stayed in Muyi City for the night. They left early the next day, heading for the final destination of their journey—Sunset Forest!

Sunset Forest lay in the center of the Heaven Dou Empire. It was a natural forest inhabited by Spirit Beasts. Though it was nowhere near as vast as the Star Dou Great Forest, and had far fewer Spirit Beasts and species, its unique climate was home to some unusual Spirit Beasts.

Qian Yun and Hu Liena's carriage traveled straight from the broad highway into the densely wooded forest without stopping to rest.

After traveling day and night, the two of them reached their destination. When Qian Yun jumped down from the carriage, the sudden firmness beneath his feet left him disoriented for a while. Everything before his eyes seemed to be swaying.

He wanted to rest properly, but with his enemy so close, he couldn't afford to.

"Psst!"

A short, sharp whistle suddenly rang through the woods under the cover of dusk, startling a line of birds that had been resting.

It was already nearing nightfall. The dark forest crouched against the dim earth, and tangled branches held a veil of white mist suspended among the trees. The whole forest looked like a shadow cut from a sheet of paper, making one uneasy.

Qian Yun put away his whistle and waited quietly with Hu Liena. Before long, something seemed to leap out of the dark forest. With his excellent eyesight, Qian Yun made out a person.

The newcomer bounded out from among the trees and hurried over to them. He cupped his hands in greeting. "The Martial Soul Hall Scout Team has been waiting here for you two, my lords."

Qian Yun nodded calmly and held out his token. "Thanks for your hard work. How are things?"

The scout carefully examined every detail of the token with his sharp eyes. After confirming their identities, he bowed again. "Reporting to you, my lord: we were ordered to keep watch on the Ghost Moth. Nothing unusual has happened so far."

"Good!" Qian Yun took back the token, relieved. He'd been worried they would have to deal with a tracking mission at the last minute.

He exchanged a glance with Hu Liena, then said to the scout, "Keep watch tonight. We'll make our move tomorrow."

The scout froze. He looked from Qian Yun to Hu Liena, then asked uncertainly, "Will only the two of you be taking action?"

Qian Yun nodded matter-of-factly. "That's right, just the two of us. You don't need to accompany us. Just surround the area and make sure the Ghost Moth can't escape."

The scout hurried a step forward, his voice anxious. "How can that be? The Ghost Moth is a millennium-level Spirit Beast. The two of you alone may not be able to handle it. Why don't we... why don't we ask a nearby Spirit Hall for reinforcements?"

Qian Yun shook his head. "Don't worry, we're not going to our deaths. We'll act tomorrow. That's all for now."

"...Yes, sir." Seeing that Qian Yun remained firm, the scout could only withdraw helplessly.