Chapter 424 - 423: Draw Your Sword!
Chapter 423: Draw Your Sword!
Luo Wusheng’s brows were tightly furrowed.
He stood in the northern sector of the Royal City, his figure hidden and his presence completely suppressed, keeping out of sight of any wandering eyes.
The night was moonless and windy, the only illumination coming from the bright lanterns lining the street.
Few people ventured out this late—unless they were heading toward the night market or the pleasure quarters.
And since the northern district had no night market, the brightest lights ahead almost certainly belonged to the brothels, and most of the late-night foot traffic was headed that way.
Naturally, Luo Wusheng had no intention of visiting such places.
Perhaps back in the days when he lacked a "private car," he might have been curious about the "public bus," but now that he possessed his own perfect, exclusive high-end car, that particular need had diminished considerably.
Especially tonight—he simply didn’t have the mood for it.
"I can only hope I’m overthinking this..."
He exhaled softly.
He had just left the Wandering Immortal Inn.
After much deliberation, he had decided to come here.
Because he had spent most of the evening waiting at the inn for Miss Kirin, yet she never came.
’According to our agreement, on the eve of the Human Immortal List, she should have sought me out...’
’True, it’s possible she still thinks the competition will begin at the original time, but...’
The ominous twitching of both eyelids refused to subside, pressing down on his chest like a stone.
Unable to suppress the sense of impending trouble, he chose to come find the Mortal Alter Ego of the Empress, whose safety he was now seriously beginning to worry about.
Thanks to the sudden early arrival of the Trial of Ascension Platform, most of the Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked members were stationed in the northern district to guard the formation.
This was information Luo Wusheng could easily obtain with a few casual inquiries.
"...If I’m right, she should be at the Ascension Platform formation, shouldn’t she?"
He muttered to himself as he scanned the familiar scenery around him.
The northern district by night was not new to him—he had already experienced it once during the night of the Netherkin Extermination Operation.
In fact, the spot where he now stood was very near the same location where he had observed the battle that night.
After a brief pause, he leapt lightly upward, landing atop the same rooftop pavilion where Miss Kirin had once stood watch.
It was an excellent vantage point, offering a sweeping view of nearly the entire northern district.
From here, his gaze fell upon a broad, open space that immediately caught his attention.
Even at a distance, the faintly glowing, mysterious formation lines shimmered across its surface.
In an instant, Luo Wusheng understood: that was the site of the Trial of Ascension Platform’s formation.
He recalled the details of the Human Immortal List: when the contest began, the Immortal Nation would activate the formation, sending all participants and those holding invitation letters into the pocket space where the Ascension Platform awaited.
Naturally, he had received an invitation letter himself—earlier at the inn, Hu Dingtian had personally delivered it into his hands.
As for the common citizens unable to obtain invitations, they too would gather in the northern district; once the formation activated, it would project a live display into the night sky for all to watch.
Although it was still early, a crowd had already staked out their viewing spots, chatting animatedly about the events of the morning.
Luo Wusheng’s eyes swept past the onlookers—and then his face darkened.
He could see several of the Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked members, but not Kirin.
From afar, among the Immortal Nation Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked members, the most striking figure was Xuan Ming.
Luo Wusheng also recognized the familiar faces of Night Crow and Wutong, and there even seemed to be a petite young woman squatting with her head in her hands... judging from the emblem on her chest, she too was a Six Gate Bureau Golden Ranked member.
But judging from her... assets, one glance was enough to eliminate the possibility of her being Kirin.
’Could something really have happened?’
’But look at them—none of them seem the least bit anxious.’
’If something truly had happened to her, they wouldn’t be acting like this.’
For once, Luo Wusheng couldn’t be sure of anything.
Descending silently from the rooftop, he moved a short distance forward, hesitation tugging at every step—until he suddenly froze in place.
His eyes flicked across the surrounding streetscape.
A forgotten memory stirred to life.
And all at once, Luo Wusheng realized—there was something he had overlooked.
That night of the Netherkin Extermination Operation, the Goat Netherkin hiding in the royal city had tried to secretly slip away from the Antediluvian Nether Eye’s grasp, but because the eye had already been refined by him, it was captured instead.
Back then, he’d been standing right here when he handed over the Goat Netherkin—now a quivering ball of flesh—to Miss Kirin, who just happened to be passing by.
At that time, her explanation had been that she’d sensed a strange fluctuation...
Luo Wusheng fell into deep thought.
After a long silence, faint purple lightning began to flicker at his fingertips.
. . . .
Demon Artifact Pavilion
Bai Xiaoyao slowly withdrew from her cultivation state.
A pair of starry eyes opened, her lips curving into a teasing, enchanting smile.
"I’ve kept Senior Brother waiting long enough... it should be about time."
It was time to go find her Senior Brother.
In truth, the little demoness hadn’t been nearly as angry about what had happened that morning as she’d pretended.
She had been a little jealous when she first learned the whole story, but once she understood it was just a complete accident—and that nothing had actually happened—her heart had settled considerably.
As for ignoring her Senior Brother for most of the day... Of course that was on purpose.
’Mm... only by doing this will a little seed take root in Senior Brother’s heart—the seed of wanting to coax me...’
Her eyes curved into mischievous slits.
Since the incident couldn’t be undone, it only made sense to make the most of it.
For a demoness, such small manipulations were the most basic of basics.
And Bai Xiaoyao knew that tonight was the best opportunity she would ever get.
She didn’t have much time left.
If something did happen during the Human Immortal List, this night—according to her own plan—might be the key to achieving her destined goal.
There might never be a better moment to push things forward.
As for the promise she’d made to Lu Yuliu...
Well, failing to keep it was indeed her fault.
But that was fine.
She would just have to treat Yuli like a true younger sister from now on to make up for it.
These thoughts swirled in her mind, yet she wasn’t the least bit anxious.
With a wave of her hand, a light, floating white dress appeared beside her.
The demoness was thoroughly prepared.
She changed into the off-shoulder white dress that had unsettled her Senior Brother once before, draped a small white fur shawl over her shoulders to half-hide her glowing skin, slid her black-silk–wrapped feet into her gold-trimmed white boots, and turned toward the bronze mirror on the table.
Slowly, she applied a touch of soft makeup.
At last, looking at her own reflection, Bai Xiaoyao pressed her moist red lips together and let out a light, confident laugh.
She was certain that if she simply leaned close to her wooden-hearted Senior Brother and softly said, "Senior Brother, would you like a taste of the rouge on your junior sister’s lips?"—it would be a guaranteed finishing blow.
Letting out a quiet breath, she rose gracefully to her feet.
Leaving the lights of her own room burning, Bai Xiaoyao concealed her presence and slipped silently into the night.
"Still... what if Senior Brother hasn’t come back yet?"
The little demoness tilted her head in thought, then quickly replaced the musing with her usual playful smile.
If he wasn’t back, that was fine too.
She could just sit on his bed and wait.
Who knew, that might even have a better effect.
Her light steps carried her across the courtyard.
Their residences weren’t far apart, and in an instant she spotted his room, dark and unlit.
’Looks like Senior Brother really isn’t back yet...’
She didn’t think much of it and continued toward the room.
But then she suddenly frowned.
’What a strange smell... It’s like someone mixed several of the city’s famous perfumes together without carefully balancing the proportions—or paying attention to the amount.’
Rather than fragrant, it was almost pungent.
Why would there be the scent of women’s perfume outside Senior Brother’s door?
The only women in the entire compound were herself and...
—!
Bai Xiaoyao’s breath caught.
Almost instinctively, she formed a hand seal.
The next moment, it was as if a faint voice reached her ears.
"Luo Lang~... mm, still not quite right. That doesn’t sound natural enough..."
"Whew... one more time... Ah—Luo Lang, you’re back? Then, would you like to bathe first, or eat first, or maybe... ahhh, no, no, my face is too hot!"
"...This is hard. I really can’t say the lines from that story after all... Honestly, how am I supposed to act like someone not very bright?"
"Forget it, I’ll skip that part for now... what should I change it to? ’Luo Lang, you’re so slow, Little Yuli has been waiting for you—eh?"
The crisp, slightly childish voice suddenly cut off.
At that exact moment, the tightly closed door creaked open.
In the faint light, a girl stood silently at the doorway, her face completely blank—while another girl sat frozen on the bed, wrapped tightly in a quilt.
The next instant, a piercing scream split the air.
"Ahhhhhhhh—!"
"Y-y-you— why are you here?! When did you get there?! Everything I just said—"
On the bed, Lu Yuliu shrank even deeper into the blanket, her breathing chaotic.
Had the lamp been lit, one would see her small face burning so red it looked ready to bleed.
"Hehe~ I basically heard everything."
Bai Xiaoyao’s lips curved into a gentle, almost kind smile—but there wasn’t the slightest trace of warmth in her eyes.
"I truly didn’t expect... Little Sister Yuli would be in my Senior Brother’s room. And what exactly are you planning to do here?"
Her pristine white boots stepped softly into the room.
She gave an elegant sniff.
"And this scent... I can’t believe it. To think you were this kind of woma—"
The demoness’ voice suddenly halted.
She realized the girl who had been flustered only a moment ago was now staring straight at her instead.
The look in Lu Yuliu’s eyes shifted from shock, to something strange, to a flat, unreadable calm.
The sparkle faded away.
Only then did the impulsive Bai Xiaoyao remember her own current outfit—the carefully chosen "battle attire" that clearly proclaimed its true purpose.
Silence fell.
The Sword Fairy’s face was still crimson, but her gaze no longer wandered.
The tight blanket loosened slightly as she met Bai Xiaoyao’s eyes head-on.
And with Bai Xiaoyao’s talent for reading hearts, the meaning behind those eyes was all too clear:
"I never expected you to be this kind of woman either!"
In that instant, both of them understood perfectly.
The so-called promise?
Heh—forget it!
They were the same. Neither had any right to call out the other.
No more words were needed.
Draw your swords.
While almost every soul in the royal city had their attention fixed on the northern district that night, no one noticed the bursts of rumbling that erupted again and again from within the residence of the Demon Sect’s Holy Saint.
The noise lasted until the break of dawn.
The first day of the Human Immortal List had arrived.
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Note: Link to the character Illustration:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1lkIcPnCxeyuyZA4Kkb621dPC05UvWjhD
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