Afternoon.
Blazing sunlight filtered through the half-drawn gauze curtains in dappled patches, spreading a warm golden glow across the bedroom floor. Fine dust drifted lazily through the shafts of light, and the entire room lay steeped in languid, gentle sunshine.
Leng Yaozhu had curled up in his arms and fallen sound asleep, her brows faintly knitted, like an injured kitten that had found shelter from the wind.
Tang Qingye's tiny body bore an enormous burden of wickedness. Woohoo!
Tang Qingye brushed one hand over the crease between her brows, slowly stroking it and gently smoothing that shallow wrinkle away.
With his other hand, he set down the Soul Communication Device he had just used. Its screen displayed the two latest call records.
Suddenly, someone rang the doorbell, seemingly pressing it to the rhythm of a particular tune.
"Big Baby, get the door."
A streak of azure light floated toward the door, and the cool handle turned.
"Young master, I knew you... huh?"
Unable to see Tang Qingye's mismatched eyes, Leng Nu Jiao was rather puzzled. Who had opened the door, then?
Leng Nu Jiao closed the door behind her and headed inside.
"Young master, you... huh? What happened to Teacher?"
Leng Nu Jiao asked quietly.
"Master's a little tired."
Tang Qingye looked Leng Nu Jiao over now that she had dressed up. Her outfit today really did catch the eye.
A black dress, black low-heeled leather shoes, fiery red hair adorned with small plain silver accessories, and long black stockings-with just a little dressing up, the usually cool and reserved girl looked even more stunning, her vivid red hair setting off her cool beauty.
As for the white stockings, she had already put them away in her collection.
"Jiaojiao, you're just in time. There's something I need you to do."
The girl hurried over and stopped beside the bed, her long fiery hair falling neatly behind her. She reached out and lightly nudged his arm, her eyes lively and charming.
"What is it?"
"Go to the biggest fireworks merchant in Heaven Dou City and order a large batch of custom fireworks. The more, the better."
Her eyes instantly went round, and she stared at him in disbelief, her little brows knitting tightly together.
"Have you lost your mind? Aren't fireworks banned in Heaven Dou City? Why buy so many?"
A faint smile lingered in his eyes, his tone relaxed and casual.
"Heaven Dou City's laws don't extend to us. Besides, plenty of people set them off in secret."
"And we won't use our own identities to buy them. I'll change my face and borrow someone else's identity."
"Who do you hate most? I can turn into him to make the purchases. No one will be able to trace it back to us."
The girl tilted her head and thought for two seconds, then immediately pulled a long face, her eyes full of distaste.
"Qiangu Zhangting, definitely. That guy is the most irritating."
"Then tell me, what does he look like?"
At that, she rolled her eyes at him in exasperation, puffing out her cheeks, every bit the petulant young lady.
"How would I remember every little detail? It's not like I draw portraits for a living. Who would stare at his face for no reason?"
Watching her puff up in annoyance, he wore a gentle expression and raised his fingertips, a layer of deep blue spiritual light curling around them.
"Then picture him in your mind. Sorry to put you through this."
Tang Qingye raised his hand and stroked the girl's pretty face.
"Hmph. Fine."
As the deep blue spiritual light touched Leng Nu Jiao, she felt a vast surge of Spiritual Power linger between her brows.
She slowly lowered the defenses of her Spiritual World. The Spiritual Power lingering between her brows slowly entered through the passage she had opened, finally establishing a successful connection with Tang Qingye.
How could she describe the feeling? It was as though a mountain had suddenly appeared in her Spiritual World. This ought to count as intimate spiritual contact between her and the young master, right?
Leng Nu Jiao did not know whether the young master could hear her thoughts, but if she accidentally thought of something she should not, she would be done for. Especially...
If he saw that, she would have no face left.
Qiangu Zhangting, get your damned self out here and cover everything else up.
Images flowed through this Spiritual World, as though veiled by a hazy layer of mist, while Tang Qingye captured every scene surfacing in her thoughts at that moment.
Just as the deep blue spiritual light slowly withdrew, about to leave Jiaojiao's Sea of Consciousness, Tang Qingye caught a fleeting glimpse and stopped time for a moment.
A broad expanse of pale skin filled his vision, with only a cleft visible. Then the image zoomed out, revealing the figure within it.
Through the sea's refraction, that body was so perfect it took his breath away. Every inch of skin shone with an ivory luster, her slender legs swaying together, the movement of her waist heart-stopping.
Tang Qingye: Look not upon what is improper. Look not upon what is improper.
In truth, he only left after he had finished looking, every detail of the girl's exquisite curves etched upon his retinas.
He felt a rush of heat in his nose and hurriedly wiped it with his cuff, only for his fingertips to come away covered in sticky warmth. Looking down, he saw scarlet blood dripping between his fingers.
"Ah! Young master, why is your nose bleeding?" The girl took out a handkerchief, pinching it between her slender fingers as she carefully wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and around his nostrils.
They were extremely close. Her long eyelashes almost brushed his cheek, and her warm breath fell against his skin.
"It's nothing. I used up some energy. A little rest will do." Tang Qingye had long since reined in his earlier emotional fluctuations. He sat perfectly upright, his emotions as calm as a pool of spring water.
"All right, Jiaojiao. Take Second Baby with you." Tang Qingye placed the blue gourd in the girl's hands.
"Huh? What's this? Ah! He... he can move!"
"He can do plenty of things. He's much shrewder than you."
"I'm not stupid!" Leng Nu Jiao glared at Tang Qingye in exasperation. The young master is so mean, always telling the truth.
"Then can he understand what I say?" Leng Nu Jiao leaned back, holding Second Baby up.
"Why don't you try and find out?"
"Tch. Second Baby, let's go. We're ignoring him." Leng Nu Jiao jogged out the door and immediately began chatting eagerly with Second Baby.
"Second Baby, Second Baby, can you transform?"
"Did the young master give birth to you?"
"I'm the young master's child bride. You have to call me Mistress, understand?"
Second Baby: ...goo-goo ga-ga...
Next, all that remained was to wait for everyone to arrive. The Saint-Slaying God-Killing Conference...
Spirit Pagoda Headquarters.
The illusory world.
The surrounding woods were quiet and secluded. A warm breeze swept across the lake, its waters shimmering softly.
After he had sat quietly for a long time, the tip of his fishing rod suddenly plunged. Unhurried, Han Tianyi slowly applied strength through his arm, using the rod's curve to steadily haul the creature beneath the surface out of the pool. Droplets pattered down from its scales.
"Finally took the bait. How are you so crafty?" Han Tianyi slapped the fish.
Fish: Now you're putting pressure on a fish?
He was getting on in years. Surely there was nothing wrong with a little fishing to keep himself healthy? Unfortunately, someone had only been gone a few days before sending work his way. What a baka-yarou, Pleasant Goat-san.
"I still have to pick someone up before setting off. That little brat... treating me like his chauffeur."
Shrek City.
Phoenix Street.
Xiao Wu Lin lay on his stomach on the bed, his elbows propped on a pillow as he stared unblinkingly at the Soul Communication Device. Behind him, his little feet hovered above the bed, restlessly swinging from side to side.
Lang Yue walked slowly to the bedside and gently brushed her fingertips over the child's fluffy hair, her voice soft and tender. "What are you looking at, little Linlin?"
Hearing her, Xiao Wu Lin lifted his round little face, his gaze still glued to the glowing screen, and said in a sweet, soft voice, "Mommy, Big Brother just told me he's taking me to Heaven Dou City to fight monsters."
"What? Heaven Dou City? Fight monsters?"
"Mm-hmm. He said someone would come pick me up."
Before you continue