You Can't Leave

Xiao Bai's spine went cold. That ghostlike figure had frightened him badly.

As Martial Granduncle, he still had to force himself to remain calm and slowly turn around.

This was a young man with a tall, slender build, classical makeup, and an exceedingly pale complexion.

He was thin and pallid, his features gentle and refined, his bearing drifting like wisps of cloud.

His eyes were slightly narrowed, always radiating a faint softness that never contended with others, giving him an androgynous, enigmatic, sickly beauty.

Coupled with his formidable aura, he was rather like a Lin Daiyu capable of uprooting a weeping willow.

He was Elder Yuhu's second Core Disciple—

the Onmyoji.

Since this was their first meeting, Xiao Bai knowingly asked the obvious:

"Which disciple are you?"

The young man in white replied respectfully:

"This disciple is the Onmyoji. Greetings, Martial Granduncle."

His voice was very gentle, yet his aura did not lose out to an elder's.

Xiao Bai knew that Elder Yuhu was at the Golden Core Peak. Could this man be just as strong?

Without exchanging pleasantries, Xiao Bai stated his purpose outright:

"I need a sword, two sets of Daoist robes, and some Flying Paper Kites that ordinary people can use."

The Onmyoji smiled mildly and gestured toward the Pill Pavilion.

"Master has already instructed me. Martial Granduncle, please follow me."

Xiao Bai thought, That Demoness wife of mine is quite considerate!

This Onmyoji seemed all right too. His initial display of airs had merely been a test; he showed no obvious hostility.

The snow was still falling.

The two slowly headed toward the Pill Pavilion.

Red plum blossoms encircled the base of the Pill Pavilion tower, while a thin layer of snow covered its summit. The tower itself stood majestic and unadorned.

Antique and elegant, yet brimming with the breath of spring.

The Pill Pavilion had nine floors in total: seven above ground and two underground.

The gossip Xiao Bai had heard was that the two underground floors of the Pill Pavilion were forbidden grounds, where the Dao Alliance's Forbidden Medicine and large quantities of raw materials used to make it were sealed away.

Upon entering the Pill Pavilion, the first floor was the teaching floor, while the floors above were respectively the pharmacy and the Medical Texts.

The top floor was the Reception Floor.

The Onmyoji led Xiao Bai up the stairs to the reception room on the top floor.

Xiao Bai was being received with great ceremony, yet he still felt like an outsider. There was a certain distance between them.

It was their first meeting, after all. That was only natural.

The top floor was one large open level without partitions, save for a screen set up on the north side.

Floor-to-ceiling lattice windows lined the walls. On the long table in the center sat qin, chess, calligraphy, and paintings, all renowned treasures from the Tian Yuan Era.

Besides that,

there was also a Storage Bag.

An Azure Sword in its scabbard.

A stack of translucent dark-yellow talisman paper.

As well as two sets of Snow Flame Sect deacon's robes.

It was even a little more than Xiao Bai had requested...

The Onmyoji said:

"Martial Granduncle's sword was forged yesterday by Senior Brother Mo of Sword Wielding Peak at this disciple's request. It has been engraved with a Mortal Access Seal. Martial Granduncle need only perform Blood Binding with it, then attach Spirit Accumulation Talisman paper, and you will be able to ride the sword."

Xiao Bai picked up the sword, feeling rather excited. He calmly nodded.

Mortal Access Seals, Blood Binding, and Spirit Accumulation Talisman paper were all standard methods for using civilian-grade spiritual artifacts.

However, because the Spiritual Qi Concentration of the Tian Yuan Era was far inferior to that of the Golden Age, these were limited to the Dao Alliance, the military, and sect disciples in order to reduce wasted spiritual power. They were forbidden from entering civilian hands.

It was a concept similar to "carbon neutrality" in Xiao Bai's previous life.

When Xiao Bai had been a Laborer Disciple, he likewise had not been qualified to use Mortal Access Spiritual Artifacts.

Faced with a whole batch of Mortal Access spiritual swords, Xiao Bai impatiently performed Blood Binding. Under the Onmyoji's guidance, he attached the talisman paper and basically learned how to use the spiritual sword and the Storage Bag.

"Thank you."

Xiao Bai thanked him politely, but never touched the deacon's robes.

The elder had said Mu Yun would personally make him Daoist robes. How could they fob him off with deacon's robes?

The Onmyoji hurriedly explained:

"As for Martial Granduncle's Daoist robes, Junior Sister Mu Yun personally finished them yesterday and is carrying them with her now... The clothes Junior Sister makes herself are top-quality. They are not easy to obtain—I begged for so long, yet she never made even one for me."

Xiao Bai did not quite understand.

"But I'm her Martial Granduncle."

The Onmyoji smiled.

"As the current princess, favored solely by Master, gifted and skilled with her hands, it is perfectly normal for her to be a little willful."

Willful? Xiao Bai was puzzled.

"Could there be some special condition?"

The Onmyoji explained:

"To obtain Daoist robes personally made by Junior Sister, you must be someone she truly approves of from the bottom of her heart. She has immense objections to Master and Martial Granduncle becoming companions! Martial Granduncle should first take these two deacon's robes with you. If you can get the robes Junior Sister made, that is a good thing. If not, at least you will still have clothes to wear."

Xiao Bai was speechless.

A tiny Daoist child actually dared meddle in her master's affairs? Making a robe for her Martial Granduncle still required her heartfelt approval?

Who exactly was the master here?

If I don't make you kneel and sing "Conquer," then I'm not your Martial Granduncle!

"How can deacon's robes do? Wouldn't that be lowering my own status? Where is Mu Yun now? I'll go meet her!"

Xiao Bai's momentum surged like a rainbow.

The Onmyoji answered truthfully:

"Junior Sister seemed to still be here an hour ago. She seemed to have gone looking for Xiao Bai and should return shortly. Martial Granduncle can wait here and, while you are at it, offer some guidance on the Pill Pavilion's work."

Guide your sister!

Wasn't this putting me on a rack and roasting me over a fire?

"No, I'm going to find her now!"

Xiao Bai said impatiently, then suddenly remembered that he seemed to have heard a certain keyword just now.

"Right, who is Xiao Bai?"

The Onmyoji said:

"It is a Spiritual Rabbit of exceptional talent. She only acquired it a little over a month ago and treasures it dearly."

A Spiritual Rabbit...

An ominous premonition instantly leaped into his heart.

Xiao Bai felt utterly terrible and hurriedly pressed on:

"Is the rabbit male or female? What color is it... Has it been bound?"

The Onmyoji said:

"It is a white female rabbit. She bound it not long ago."

Xiao Bai's expression changed. He swiftly picked up the deacon's robes from the long table, abruptly changing his tune.

"I think wearing Martial Granduncle's robes specifically would be too high-profile. These deacon's robes have quite a sense of design. I'll take them and wear them for now. I have something to do, so I'll be leaving first."

With that, he bolted out the door.

Leaving only the Onmyoji standing there in confusion, muttering to himself.

"Strange. Martial Granduncle was just saying he wanted to meet Junior Sister. Why did he suddenly leave in such a hurry...?"

Xiao Bai changed into the deacon's robes and promptly scrambled out of the Pill Pavilion.

In the plaza, he publicly took out the Azure Sword, attached the Spirit Accumulation Talisman paper, and prepared to flee on his sword.

The moment he stepped onto the Sword Body, a woman's voice, crisp as wind chimes yet repressed like a sinking ship, descended from the sky—

"Are you Xiao Bai?"

It was over!

Xiao Bai gritted his teeth and looked up. A pair of slender, straight calves, tightly wrapped in white silk stockings, stood suspended in the air.

The curtain of snow drifted hazily. From Xiao Bai's angle, there was actually very little he could see.

Other than those beautiful calves, the only eye-catching things were the two stacks of Daoist robes in the girl's hands.

The girl's identity was confirmed... it was Mu Yun!

Seeing Mu Yun personally delivering the Daoist robes, Xiao Bai thought she might not yet know that he had eaten the Spiritual Rabbit.

With that thought, Xiao Bai hurriedly tried to save himself:

"The clothes Senior Sister personally made are extremely precious. They should be saved for the Dao companion you will have in the future. How could I, your Martial Granduncle, have the nerve to seize what you love? You all cultivate well; I won't disturb you. I'll be going now."

With that, Xiao Bai activated the spirit talisman and tried to leave on his sword.

...Unfortunately, the sword did not move.

Not only could the sword not move, neither could he.

The snow fluff filling the sky hung frozen in midair.

Vast spiritual pressure solidified the air.

Only a cold, restrained female voice fell from above.

"You can't leave."