The late afternoon sun baked the dilapidated industrial complex, warming the ruins. A few tufts of weeds swayed gently in the faint breeze as two feral cats, mid-squabble, bolted across the freshly ruined expanse, startled into silence by several figures standing nearby. They immediately tucked their tails and darted into the half-collapsed factory buildings.

A thin, smoky substance hung suspended over the clearing. Though a breeze stirred, it seemed unaffected, not dispersing but slowly flowing, intentionally drawing itself toward the center.

Liu Di, Gui’er, and Nan Yu were approaching this spot, with the somewhat dull-feathered Huo’er flying ahead of them.

When they rushed forward, they saw Zhou Ying, whose shadow energy had already formed a distinct shape, slowly sitting up. His Shadow Blade was gone, and his own silhouette appeared somewhat faint—a very bad sign, yet at least he was alive, which brought everyone a wave of relief.

Zhou Ying looked at them and said calmly, "I won."

Gui’er was the first to cheer and rush over. Huo’er transformed into a fiery projectile, soaring swiftly through the air, tracing ‘V’ shapes to vent its joy. However, the closer they got, the more Liu Di and Nan Yu sensed something was amiss. Unlike the others, they didn't charge blindly. Liu Di and Nan Yu stopped on either side of Zhou Ying, their gazes fixed on him with evident concern. Gui’er shouted and leaped joyfully, throwing her arms around Zhou Ying in a big hug. But Zhou Ying drifted apart within her embrace, only to quickly coalesce again just outside her reach.

"Why aren't you taking your true form!" Gui’er cried out in astonishment.

"This is my true form," Zhou Ying said, looking at her and then the others with confusion. "I seem... I seem unable to change back into a person."

"It's more than that, isn't it..." Liu Di circled him, stroking his chin thoughtfully. At that moment, Nan Yu also caught Huo’er, who was about to pounce into Zhou Ying’s arms: "Huo’er, don't go near him yet. Zhou Ying’s condition is very wrong." Even when Zhou Ying manifested as a shadow previously, he possessed a tangible form that could be touched; now, however, he seemed to exist only as an illusion.

Zhou Ying attempted to solidify his body, but after a moment, he shook his head at everyone. "No use. It seems I’ve lost a great deal of magical power; my body won't hold together."

"If you can't hold your body together, isn't that practically being knocked back to your original state!" Liu Di tentatively reached out, passing his hand through Zhou Ying several times, each attempt confirming the intangible state.

After examining himself, Zhou Ying nodded. "It looks like I've lost at least two hundred years of cultivation."

Two hundred years is no short span, even for yokai whose lifespans vastly exceed those of humans. For a yokai, two centuries of cultivation could represent an entire tier of advancement. Especially for a Shadow Demon like Zhou Ying, who had only cultivated for just over three hundred years, losing two hundred years of power was nearly equivalent to reverting him to his primal form. To think Zhou Ying had managed to save his life in the battle against the Nine-Tailed Fox, only to suffer this consequence, caused looks of heartache to cross everyone’s faces. Only Zhou Ying remained unfazed. "As long as I'm alive, I can slowly cultivate my power again." He said this while looking at the corpse of Yue Ronghuan.

Yue Ronghuan’s body lay not far away. Having been used as an outlet for Huo’er’s immense anxiety over the past few days, it was already unrecognizable as the Nine-Tailed Fox that once boasted magnificent fur. Its originally white pelt was scorched black in patches by Huo’er’s flames, and the remaining intact areas were coated in dust. The smell of the corpse was attracting a swarm of flies circling above it.

This was death: no matter how proud or powerful a creature was in life, it ultimately could not escape the same end.

"Huo’er, cremate it," Zhou Ying instructed.

Huo’er needed no further prompting, immediately unleashing a gout of flame. That it could produce such intensity in its exhausted state demonstrated how eagerly it wished to turn this hated enemy to ash. Yue Ronghuan’s body instantly dissolved into embers in the inferno. Liu Di waved his hand, and a gust of wind swept through, scattering the ashes into the air until not a trace remained.

That was the fate of Feng Wenyuan; today, the exact same end had befallen Yue Ronghuan.

"Perhaps they will meet again somewhere," Nan Yu murmured softly while watching the scene. "If they can see each other again, surely they would never separate again, no matter what..."

Gui’er tightly gripped Nan Yu’s arm and responded with a soft "Mhm," nodding in agreement.

"Alright, alright, time to go home. I haven't slept properly in days!" Huo’er, not yet grasping the severity of the situation, yawned, preparing to snuggle into Zhou Ying’s arms as usual. Nan Yu quickly caught it again. "Huo’er, you cannot touch Zhou Ying from now on."

"Why!" Huo’er shrieked. Things were finally over, Zhou Ying was alive—it thought everything could revert to normal. Now, being told it couldn't even approach Zhou Ying was impossible to accept.

"Zhou Ying's cultivation has been severely depleted. His current state cannot handle your power. If you touch him, at best it will severely drain his vital energy; at worst, it could kill him," Liu Di stated with grave seriousness.

Huo’er snarled defiantly at him. "I don't believe you! Even when Ying was in shadow form before, he held me all the time, and he didn't die!"

"You were little then. Your power wasn't enough to harm him. But you are no longer the newly hatched Bifa you once were," Nan Yu said, gently stroking its head.

Huo’er might have ignored Liu Di’s words, but Nan Yu never lied to it. Helplessly, Huo’er glanced at Zhou Ying, then at Nan Yu, Gui’er, and Liu Di...

It said nothing more, drooping its head and flying off first in the direction of home.

"Huo’er, you don't need to be so upset. Perhaps Zhou Ying has only temporarily lost his power due to severe injury. If he rests well, he might be back to normal in a few days," Nan Yu’s comfort helped Huo’er feel a little better. Though forbidden from touching Zhou Ying, it still flew near him, never leaving his side. "Ying, I order you to get better quickly, or where will I sleep? Where will I roll around?"

"I know," Zhou Ying replied apologetically. "I'll cultivate as fast as I can."

"Not as fast as you can—you need to change back immediately, do you understand!"

"I understand, I understand."

Gui’er secretly lowered her head to wipe tears from her eyes, then abruptly grabbed Huo’er. "Zhou Ying just woke up and needs rest. Stop bothering him! How about we throw a feast to celebrate? What does everyone want to eat? Just say the word, and I'll make it!"

The lure of delicious food temporarily pushed aside Huo’er’s grievances. It immediately began counting off the menu on its wing feathers: "This, that, this, that..."

Zhou Ying leapt into Liu Di’s shadow, merging within it to re-enter a dormant state. The duel had left him utterly depleted; he needed to conserve his energy as much as possible. As for re-cultivating, that would have to wait until his core vitality recovered.

The group slowly departed the ruins, heading toward the home Zhou Ying had been away from for many days. The setting sun filtered through the clouds on the horizon, washing everything nearby in a beautiful hue. Tomorrow looked like it would be good weather—at least, it would be a brand new day. Liu Di waved an arm toward the sky as they walked.

Everyone gathered on the sofa in Zhou Ying’s house.

Liu Di sat uncharacteristically upright, and Huo’er was unusually quiet, perched on Lin Rui’s lap. Zhou Ying sat in his shadow form, his posture strangely awkward. Everyone wore worried expressions, especially Huo’er, whose eyes looked close to sparking fire.

Zhou Ying had rested for over half a month since the duel with Yue Ronghuan. His power had recovered somewhat, but only enough to solidify a physical body; it was nowhere near enough to assume human form. Nan Yu and Liu Di had just conducted a joint examination and confirmed his condition was indeed a reversion to his original state, not the temporary weakness Huo’er had hoped for.

"It's only two hundred years of cultivation," Liu Di tried to keep his tone light. "Actually, this is much better than the worst-case scenario..."

"At least two hundred and fifty years!" Huo’er shrieked. "He can’t even hug me now!"

"Then I will cultivate for another two hundred and fifty years," Zhou Ying had accepted the reality and appeared very calm. For most yokai, losing nearly ninety percent of their power suddenly—even if their optimistic nature kept them from despair—would certainly result in inner frustration. But Zhou Ying genuinely took things in stride; this was simply his character. He didn't fear effort or waiting; spending a few more centuries cultivating was nothing he couldn't accept.

But Huo’er could not accept it.

Zhou Ying had lost at least seven-tenths of his power in that brutal fight. In his current state, he was too far removed from the present-day Huo’er; a single touch from the Bifa could cause the Shadow Demon, whose power barely sufficed to maintain a shadow form, to vanish into thin air. Thus, Huo’er was repeatedly ordered by everyone not to approach Zhou Ying. Its initial extreme unwillingness had morphed into profound dejection; bringing up the subject caused it to droop mournfully. Now, to add insult to injury, the notion that Zhou Ying would eventually recover after a period of patience was dashed. He would have to wait two hundred and fifty years to feel his father's touch—how could it bear that?

"I refuse!" Huo’er’s discontent erupted. It roared at Zhou Ying, "I just refuse! Change back immediately!"

"I'm sorry, Huo’er..."

"I refuse! Change back now! Immediately!"

"Huo’er, Zhou Ying doesn't want this either. Stop being so willful," Gui’er’s plea only fueled the fire, and the flames around Huo’er flared up instantly. "I won't listen! I want to cause trouble! I don't care who he blames—who told him to go find that Nine-Tailed Fox himself! Who told him not to bring me! It’s his own fault! Change back now and compensate me for my losses!"

"Huo’er, why are you being so unreasonable?"

"I am being unreasonable!" Huo’er knew deep down that no amount of irrational outburst would suddenly change Zhou Ying’s situation. If Zhou Ying hadn't rashly decided to confront the Nine-Tailed Fox alone, if Zhou Ying hadn't slipped away from him, things wouldn't be like this. This was clearly the result of his own willfulness, and yet everyone was calling him willful! The more it thought, the more wronged and indignant it felt. It flew up and burst out the window: "I’m running away from home! Don’t look for me!" leaving Zhou Ying sitting there, helpless and stunned.

Thanks to the allure of Gui’er’s cooking, Huo’er’s runaway lasted only until dinnertime, but its grievances and dissatisfaction had not lessened in the slightest. It completely ignored Zhou Ying at dinner, wiped its mouth, and left, not even sleeping at home that night. Its various escapades outside were relayed to Zhou Ying through Liu Di or Lin Rui.

"Huo’er inexplicably beat up Luo Tian just because Luo Tian kindly asked why he hadn't seen Zhou Ying around recently."

"Find a way to stop it! Huo’er is burning down cinemas one by one because a staff member in the currently showing movie happens to be named Zhou Ying."

"Is Huo’er at home? How dare it hit my mother's students! Discussing Zhou Ying behind his back was wrong, but they shouldn't be beaten so badly they can't attend class!"

"Zhou Ying, your Huo’er has gone too far! It used the excuse that someone recited a poem containing the line 'Countless willow catkins pass without a trace' to devour that person! Does it want to start a literary inquisition in Lixin City?"

"Today Huo’er set a fire in the city center plaza, burning several cars because the last number on their license plates matched yours."

"Today Huo’er..."

"Your Huo’er..."

Such reports were incessant. Liu Di, Nan Yu, and Lin Rui were all exhausted from following in Huo’er’s wake and cleaning up the messes. At this point, they couldn't help but admire Zhou Ying—he used to handle cleaning up Huo’er’s battlefields all by himself. They truly wondered where he found such energy and patience.

But now, the only one who could restrain Huo’er was incapable of doing so. In fact, if Zhou Ying tried to control it, Huo’er’s mischief would only escalate; one might even say its current rampage was directed at Zhou Ying.

"Terrible twos... the terrible twos..." Liu Di shook his head in exasperation. "Children in their rebellious phase are simply uncontrollable..."

"It’s not Huo’er’s fault," Zhou Ying insisted. He was now filled with guilt toward Huo’er; failing to take good care of it was his failure.

"Whose fault it is doesn't matter. What matters is that if this continues, none of us can take it anymore!" Liu Di tapped the glass coffee table rhythmically with his knuckles. "Huo’er is causing so much trouble, honestly, even I’m thinking of moving, let alone others!"

Zhou Ying said mournfully, "I am truly sorry." He knew that these past days, Liu Di and Nan Yu, especially Liu Di, had barely eaten or slept while dealing with Huo’er's antics and cleaning up its messes, dreaming nightmares of Huo’er setting houses on fire.

"I said that's not the point. The point is you need to figure out a way to stop this madness. Only you can manage it."

Zhou Ying sighed. If only he could control Huo’er right now, but Huo’er was clearly sulking and holding a grudge against him. In fact, Huo’er's recent behavior stemmed directly from this resentment. If he tried to persuade it, the outcome would likely be counterproductive, causing Huo’er to become even worse.

Liu Di shook his head. "In any case, it’s your responsibility. You figure out what to do. If this keeps up, I’m going on strike!"

While the previous Huo’er had been a major concern for the yokai of Lixin City, at least Zhou Ying could restrain it to some extent, and its simple nature meant most yokai could predict its behavior, making it somewhat tolerable. Now, without Zhou Ying’s control, it was behaving erratically, and the yokai of Lixin City felt disaster was imminent. Aside from unanimously pushing Liu Di to negotiate with Zhou Ying for failing to properly educate his 'child,' they were preparing their bags to move.

Zhou Ying felt he needed to talk to Huo’er. Though he didn't know what he would say, he wanted to speak with it. They hadn't had a proper conversation in days. Previously, no matter what he was doing, Huo’er always wanted to be near him; even when he cultivated, Huo’er would rest on his head or lap. Now, being forced to maintain distance from Huo’er made life awkward even for Zhou Ying, let alone Huo’er. It was no wonder it vented its dissatisfaction through constant chaos and destruction.

"Has Huo’er come back?" Zhou Ying asked Gui’er in the kitchen. It seemed only Gui’er’s cooking could still entice Huo’er home.

Gui’er pointed toward the bedroom.

Zhou Ying gently pushed the bedroom door open a crack and saw Huo’er indeed thrashing about on the bed. Their home's bedroom and bed were largely decorative. Huo’er’s fixed sleeping spot was Zhou Ying’s pocket or lap, and Zhou Ying, not needing sleep, only lay on the bed symbolically to mimic human behavior. Huo’er usually loved this large bed; although it slept in the matchbox inside Zhou Ying’s pocket, it enjoyed rolling on the mattress when it had time—this was why their sheets needed constant replacement due to scorching.

Huo’er was currently rolling around on the bed, bored. Lately, unable to sleep in its designated spot, the bed had finally found a use.

Just as Zhou Ying was about to step inside, he saw Huo’er’s movements stop. It lay half-propped on the mattress, staring blankly at the pattern on the sheets, when suddenly, large tears began to fall. Huo’er’s tears were blobs of flowing 'fire water,' immediately igniting small flames when they hit the mattress. Huo’er haphazardly fanned them out with its wings and hastily wiped its eyes, clearly not wanting anyone to see it crying. Even in all their years together, Zhou Ying had only seen Huo’er weep twice—once when Zhou Ju passed away, and the second time was today.

Zhou Ying quietly closed the door and stepped back.

He sat down next to Liu Di and, after a long silence, suddenly asked, "Is there any way for me to recover my magic?"

Liu Di froze for a moment, then finally said, "What?"

"I want to recover my power quickly."

Liu Di tilted his head, looking at him. Zhou Ying should have understood the principle of cultivation requiring step-by-step progress better than anyone. Furthermore, after the incident, he hadn't shown much distress or regret over his lost power. Why the sudden request? After a brief thought, Liu Di understood the root cause and sighed. "Huo’er will slowly understand; this is something no one can control. For your situation to recover quickly, you would need the direct aid of an immortal being, or perhaps some miraculous elixir to aid your practice. Otherwise, there is simply no way."

"Is there truly no other way?" Zhou Ying asked unwillingly.

Liu Di shrugged. "Otherwise, why don't you try eating other yokai? Absorbing their cultivation might help you recover faster."

Zhou Ying frowned and began considering the feasibility of this suggestion.

Gui’er emerged from the kitchen, setting a plate heavily on the table. "Liu Di, stop giving Zhou Ying terrible ideas. Things are chaotic enough as it is."

Liu Di reached into the plate, pulled out a chicken leg, and stuffed it in his mouth, mumbling indistinctly, "He asked me himself..."

Gui’er muttered while tidying the messy living room, "Speaking of elixirs that rapidly increase magical power, I do know of one. My mother told me when I was young about a medicine used by the Yellow Emperor called the 'Huitian Pill' (Pill to Return to Heaven). It was specifically for those whose cultivation was severely damaged by accident. A friend of my great-grandmother fortunately obtained this pill after a serious injury, which is how she preserved her entire Dao foundation and eventually achieved perfect enlightenment."

"If there’s such a good thing, why didn't you say so sooner!" Huo’er emerged from the room at some unknown time, grabbing Gui’er’s collar and shouting loudly.

"What use would it have been if I mentioned it?" Gui’er retorted with an eye-roll.

"I’m going to find it and give it to Ying to eat!" Huo’er announced loudly. "Then Ying can be normal right away!"

"Where are you going to find it?"

"The Emperor you mentioned! He probably lives in Beijing, right? I’ve been to that place called the Forbidden City!" Huo’er declared with full confidence. "As soon as I scare him, he’ll obediently hand it over, don't worry!"

Liu Di groaned, clutching his head. "Zhou Ying, how exactly do you educate your child? You haven't even taught it basic common sense!"

Zhou Ying shook his head. "Huo’er, she’s talking about the Celestial Sovereign Yellow Emperor (Huang Di), not a human emperor. The characters are written differently. Look, this is ‘emperor’ [Huang Di, ], and this is ‘Yellow Emperor’ [Huang Di, ]."

Liu Di groaned again. "Are the spellings of the names just different?"

Zhou Ying paused, then added, "The Yellow Emperor is very powerful; you can't defeat him."

"Oh..." Huo’er nodded in comprehension. "I get it. When I go, I'll ambush him from behind."

Liu Di burst into laughter, collapsing onto the sofa: "You want to sneak up on the Yellow Emperor from behind! Hahahaha, that kills me... Hahahaha... Zhou Ying, truly worthy of the child you taught..."

Gui'er also laughed for a moment, then felt that this might wound the pride of Zhou Ying and Huo'er, so she quickly suppressed her laughter and said to Huo'er, "The Yellow Emperor is the chief of the Five Emperors of Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor who sits at the center, a king among gods who can command all immortals. For little monsters and spirit beasts like us, we wouldn't even get a chance to see his face."

Huo'er's mouth gaped open. "He's that powerful? Yes, I think I vaguely remember Zhou Xu mentioning something like that before." Although Zhou Xu often dragged it along to listen when teaching Zhou Ying, Huo'er always found ways to skip class. For Zhou Xu, teaching the wooden-headed Zhou Ying was hard enough, and since Huo'er was truly unbearable, he mostly let it roam free. Most of Huo'er's knowledge was picked up while sleeping near Zhou Ying, so it being patchy wasn't surprising.

"The Yellow Emperor apparently has a Bifang spirit beast too, but theirs is known as the King of Spirit Beasts. It usually pulls the Yellow Emperor's chariot, driving six flood dragons. In your current form, even one flood dragon could likely end your life, couldn't it?" Liu Di deliberately taunted Huo'er with mocking words. Knowing that water and fire counteract each other, the fact that a Bifang could command six flood dragons showed just how formidable its strength was. Compared to Huo'er, one was in the heavens while the other couldn't even reach the ground, stuck thirty-odd floors underground.

"Hmph," Huo'er retorted with indignation, "What's so great about that! When I grow up, I'll get a few flood dragons too to pull a carriage for Ying. Then our taxi won't even need gas." As it said this, its voice dropped, and the room, which had just been buzzing with lively laughter, quieted again—when would Zhou Ying ever get to drive his taxi again? If his magic couldn't recover, what good would it do even if they found flood dragons to pull a carriage for him?

Huo'er hung its head for a long moment, then suddenly said, "Where can we find that spirit medicine?"

Gui'er asked hesitantly, "What—what are you planning to do?"

"Of course, I'm going to find it for Ying," Huo'er declared decisively.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?" Liu Di patted its head. "The Yellow Emperor's spirit medicine—is that something a little spirit beast like you can covet?!"

"If I can't snatch it, can't I steal it? If I can't steal it, can't I trick them? If I can't trick them, then what... Gui'er, what if trickery fails?" Huo'er asked, shaking its head back and forth.

Liu Di smacked it hard. "Can't you understand me when I speak! What kind of place is Mount Kunlun, where the Heavenly Emperor resides? You couldn't even get past the surrounding Weak Water and Flaming Mountains!" Liu Di considered himself daring enough to defy the heavens, but he realized he was far behind Huo'er's fearless ignorance. No matter how powerful a demon was, before deities, they were as weak and helpless as infants. So-called powerful spirit beasts were merely the pets or attendants of the gods. It wasn't that Liu Di was a coward; it was simply beyond his imagination. If one didn't possess the power to destroy heaven and earth, how could they be called a god?

"Actually, we don't necessarily have to go to Mount Kunlun," Gui'er whispered.

Huo'er immediately pressed its head close. "Why? Why?"

Gui'er said, "My mother told me that the friend of my great-grandmother back then didn't get that spirit medicine from Mount Kunlun, but from Mount Qingyao."

"Mount Qingyao, the Heavenly Emperor's secondary capital," Liu Di murmured.

"What is a 'secondary capital of the Emperor'?" Huo'er asked, its eyes flickering.

"It means the Heavenly Emperor's vacation villa!" Liu Di answered succinctly. "It wouldn't be strange for the Heavenly Emperor's spirit medicine to be there, after all, it's a place the Heavenly Emperor once resided."

"Gui'er, did your mother say how your great-grandmother's friend managed to steal it?" Huo'er inquired carefully. If others could do it, Huo'er wouldn't be worse off.

"She didn't steal it; it was bestowed upon her by Wuluo, the Mountain God of Mount Qingyao. Before achieving full enlightenment, God Wuluo was also one of the mountain ghosts. Seeing a kinsman injured, he couldn't bear it, so he specially granted the spirit medicine to save my great-grandmother's friend."

"What is a Mountain God?" Huo'er asked again. The forests of the mortal realm were long devoid of mountain gods' protection, so it wasn't clear what kind of figure a Mountain God was.

"They're the ones who guard the gates for the Heavenly Emperor," Liu Di replied again.

"Oh, so he's the old man guarding the gate..." Huo'er nodded. "Can't we just ask that old man to give Ying a spirit medicine?"

"Who is an old man!" Gui'er threw a cushion at Liu Di's face. "Don't teach Huo'er nonsense! How dare you speak so disrespectfully of a god?" God Wuluo was the pride of the mountain ghost clan, and she couldn't tolerate Liu Di's irreverence. "Huo'er, my great-grandmother's friend was also a mountain ghost. God Wuluo saved her out of kinship for their shared clan. Why should she help Zhou Ying? With our status, we can't even get an audience with her."

"Then we'll steal from her, or rob her! She probably isn't some emperor among the immortals, right?" Huo'er announced excitedly. "Ying, you wait at home, I'll find her, get the spirit medicine, and come right back." Saying this, it prepared to fly out the window.

Liu Di raised his voice. "Huo'er, do you even know where Mount Qingyao is?"

"I'll find a fox to help me check the maps."

Liu Di covered his head and groaned again. "Zhou Ying, couldn't you have taught it some basic common sense?"

"Huo'er, Mount Qingyao is in another realm; the distance is not something that can be described merely by separation," Nan Yu walked in at some point, patting Huo'er's head. She looked at everyone with worry. "Are you planning to go to Mount Qingyao to retrieve the spirit medicine to help Zhou Ying?"

"We were just talking about that place and the medicine that could help Zhou Ying, not saying we're actually going..." Liu Di stopped mid-sentence, biting his lip, then half a moment later looked up at everyone and said, "But maybe going isn't such a bad idea after all?"

The room fell silent, broken only by Huo'er's arrogant, misguided shout: "Exactly! I have to go! You all just wait at home for my good news!"

"Huo'er cannot go!" Liu Di stated firmly. "Among us, only I have traveled to the various realms. So if anyone goes, it must be me, followed by Nan Yu; her experience and magic can serve as my assistant. This leaves someone here to protect Zhou Ying and Gui'er—you all know how many enemies Huo'er... hehe, and I have made. If even Huo'er leaves, they will surely target Zhou Ying."

Nan Yu nodded. "That's right. Liu Di, Huo'er, and I—we three cannot all leave."

"Then Nan Yu and I will go, and Liu Di stays here!" Huo'er protested unhappily.

"Did you not understand what I said? Only I have been to the realms. Without me leading the way, you wouldn't even know where Mount Qingyao is, let alone retrieving the spirit medicine!" Liu Di rarely spoke to Huo'er with such seriousness. Staring at Huo'er, he pressed, "Do you know which realm Mount Qingyao is in? Do you know what kind of inhabitants exist within the various realms? Do you know where the Dragon Clan, the natural nemesis of you Bifangs, lurks? Do you know how to deal with the Mountain Gods and Earth Gods of different realms?"

Though reluctant, Huo'er shook its head.

"So, I must go, and you..." Liu Di's serious expression didn't last long; it vanished, replaced by an annoying smirk as he asked Huo'er, "You don't want to travel with me, do you?"

"Hmph! I want to go steal the spirit medicine! I want to help Ying! I absolutely must go!" Huo'er employed a tantrum tactic, yelling and rolling around. "I'm going, I must go!"

"Huo'er, we will definitely bring the spirit medicine back for Zhou Ying. Don't you trust me?" Nan Yu assured Huo'er. Although she clearly knew that this sudden decision for a long journey wasn't ideal, and finding the medicine to restore Zhou Ying wouldn't be easy—even if found, it was uncertain if the two of them, demons, could actually 'retrieve' it. But calming Huo'er was the priority now; she could only make herself sound overly confident.

"I actually have a better idea..." Gui'er, who had been listening to their planning, suddenly spoke up. "Nan Yu shouldn't go. I'll go with Huo'er and Liu Di." Seeing everyone look at her, she bit her lip, then spoke after a moment. "I am a mountain ghost. Mountain ghosts outside the mortal realm are generally quite welcome, and God Wuluo is an ascended elder of the mountain ghost lineage; she has always taken good care of her kin. Perhaps because I go, the chances of success will be higher." Gui'er finished speaking and looked pleadingly at Nan Yu, fearing she might be upset.

Nan Yu nodded. "Yes... perhaps this is the best way."

Liu Di's mind raced. Leaving Nan Yu behind to accompany Gui'er and Huo'er? This way, their strength wouldn't diminish much, and they would have an excellent diplomatic envoy. The only downside was that Huo'er was difficult to manage. However, leaving it alone in Lixin City to protect Zhou Ying was equally unsettling; Nan Yu was more reliable. He looked at Huo'er and said, "Let me make one thing clear: if you come out with me, you listen to everything I say, or I'll dump you in another realm and leave you!"

Huo'er was overjoyed that it could go and nodded without truly hearing what Liu Di said, then pounced on Gui'er, jumping and bouncing. "Gui'er, you are the best!"

"Then..." Liu Di looked at Zhou Ying. "It's decided then."

Zhou Ying had not offered an opinion throughout the whole discussion, sitting there watching everyone. When Liu Di asked him, he still said nothing, just sat quietly. It wasn't until Liu Di told everyone to disperse and prepare that he said to Liu Di, "You must take good care of them. The spirit medicine isn't important; you must bring them back."

Liu Di pointed to his own nose and shouted back, "What about me? Don't you care if I live or die?"

There was a strange atmosphere in the bar today.

Wu Qi muttered to himself while mixing drinks for customers.

In his view, customers were divided into two categories: normal and abnormal. Normal ones came here to drink, dance, use drugs, date, or solicit sex. The abnormal ones might engage in all sorts of incomprehensible behavior. Take the customer in that corner, for instance; he looked truly strange.

That heavily made-up, scantily clad woman clearly looked like she was in "that" profession, yet she had refused several approaches from seemingly wealthy "clients." Now, she was sitting close to a man dressed like a migrant worker, leaning against him, whispering about something, their demeanor intimate.

The customer in front of Wu Qi had clearly ordered a glass of white liquor, but after staring blankly for a while, he ignored the glass Wu Qi placed before him. Instead, he snatched a cocktail Wu Qi was making for another customer and walked away. After wandering around the bar for a while, he even approached the table of that "migrant worker" and sat down by gripping the man's shoulder.

A while later, a wealthy man whose 'outer packaging'—all brand names—was worth over a hundred thousand entered the bar. He paid no attention to the commotion around him, heading straight for that same table without glancing sideways. The large diamond ring on his hand tapped the table loudly as he spoke passionately to the "migrant worker" opposite him.

A migrant worker had that much charisma? When three or four flashy women also walked over to the "migrant worker" and started talking intimately with him, Wu Qi couldn't help but grumble inwardly.

Then another person walked past the bar toward the corner surrounded by that large group centering on one man, completely piquing Wu Qi's curiosity. Because even in the dim light of the bar, Wu Qi's sharp eyes recognized the person who just passed—the idol superstar Luo Tian. For a star like him to come to a bar that didn't even qualify as third-rate, without makeup or sunglasses, and without a single lackey trailing him, only to gather around a migrant worker and whisper secrets with a group of "ladies," a wealthy man, and a common-looking face—anyone who saw this situation would be curious and want to know the truth. Don't blame me for being too nosy... Wu Qi tried to comfort himself, and seeing few customers, he slipped out from behind the bar.

"Lu Jiu, just confess. It won't hurt you to say it, but if you don't... Hmph... you're really not giving me any face, are you?" The first woman who arrived was clinging hotly to the "migrant worker," blowing into his ear, her voice sickly sweet, though the words she spoke did not match her expression.

The "migrant worker" shifted away, his face troubled. "I really don't know. Stop asking me! I'm not familiar with them. You should go ask Lin Rui, go ask Nan Yu."

The common-faced person sitting on his other side heavily pressed down on his shoulder, forcing his slightly 'airborne' posterior back down. "You think we don't know that they know more than you? But who dares ask them? That family of nine-tailed foxes surnamed Bai already put out a warning: whoever dares provoke Lin Rui will have their entire clan come from the Land of Qingqiu to protest. Don't you know the fate of the demons who entered Nan Yu's hospital? Not to mention there's also a... In short, if we don't ask you, who do we ask? Be honest and stop playing tricks on us."

It's just bullying the weak and fearing the strong. Lin Rui and Nan Yu are people they can't afford to offend, so they come to bully this honest man, Lu Jiu grumbled under his breath.

"What are you muttering about over there? Hurry up and tell us, tell us!"

"Yes, my dear little Lu'er, just tell us..."

"Brother Lu Jiu, I've taken care of your business quite a bit over the years, count how many pigs you've bought from me! You wouldn't be this disloyal, would you..."

"Lu Jiu, this concert ticket is what your uncle asked me for. If you don't tell me, I'll just tear it up and not give it to him. You can explain it to your uncle yourself."

"Everyone, please stop teasing me. I truly don't know..." Lu Jiu begged, holding his head in his hands. "Spare me! You all don't dare ask about Liu Di and Huo'er, so how would I dare meddle? They wouldn't tell me either..."

"Everyone knows you're Liu Di's friend. Although he's terrifying, he's always been loyal to his friends."

"Exactly. Liu Di even skipped our date just to drink with you. You must know about his affairs."

"That's true. In Lixin City, everyone knows your pig farm—you're just the nominal boss; the real behind-the-scenes big boss is Zhou Ying, and Huo'er is the chairman. You're basically an employee working for them, so how would you know the bosses' affairs?"

"I'm wronged! I built that pig farm with my own two hands, brick by brick..." Lu Jiu yelled, realizing he couldn't clarify things with them.

Just then, Luo Tian thrust the ticket into his hand. "Actually, think about it. Our situations are the same as yours. If they aren't here or something happens to them, those of us who usually stick close to them will definitely be affected. Don't forget, there are plenty of guys who usually dislike us but are holding back only because of them. If something happens to them, do you think those enemies won't seize the opportunity to strike at us? If you have any news, tell us so we can prepare. Don't hoard it. Will we really shortchange you?"

The common-faced man also said, "Your uncle, Lu Weima, is famous for being greedy for life and fearing death. He's well-informed and always uses Liu Di's reputation as a shield. Does he not have any information? If he has news, would he not tell his nephew? Stop fooling around."

Lu Jiu put on a miserable look. "My uncle told me not to speak carelessly."

With that statement, he indirectly admitted he had information others didn't know. The others would not let him go, swarming him with intimidation, persuasion, coaxing, appealing to emotion, reasoning with logic, and tempting with allure. Under all their methods, an honest man like Lu Jiu finally broke.

"Liu—Liu Di, he... indeed is not in Lixin City..." He tried carefully to stop after a few words. But once a crack appears in the dam, collapse is only a matter of time, especially facing an overwhelming, surging attack from his opponents. The secrets Lu Jiu divulged became increasingly uncontrollable.

"Huo'er, Gui'er went with him too... They aren't not coming back; they definitely will return. They went somewhere—it seems they went to Gui'er's hometown to find her relatives to cure Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying isn't sick, he isn't sick... He just lost most of his magic power and can't take human form... No, I didn't say anything... I didn't say anything... You all forced me..."

The man who looked like a tycoon leaned back, lit a cigarette, and said, "You've confessed this much. Do you think Liu Di and the others won't know you said anything? Just tell us the whole story honestly, and the few of us guarantee we won't tell a soul."

Luo Tian patted Lu Jiu's shoulder reassuringly. "That's right. In this situation, whether you say it or not, telling it brings some relief, doesn't it?"

Lu Jiu looked resigned, took a large gulp of liquor, and said, "Fine, I'll tell you! Zhou Ying went crazy a few days ago and fought a nine-tailed fox without bringing Huo'er. The result was that he killed the fox (gasps from the crowd; everyone believed Zhou Ying's power came entirely from having Huo'er nearby, and frankly, no one thought much of Zhou Ying's own abilities. Hearing that he could single-handedly handle a nine-tailed fox made everyone look at him with new respect). But he was gravely injured himself, his cultivation greatly diminished, and now he can't take human form. Liu Di and Huo'er went with Gui'er to one of her relatives to find a spirit medicine to restore Zhou Ying's magic. So none of them are in Lixin City right now. And Zhou Ying is hiding at Nan Yu's place—you all know how many enemies Huo'er and Liu Di have made over the years; many eyes are watching Zhou Ying. My uncle only knows this much. We've already decided to go back to our hometown to hide for a while. You all should look out for yourselves." After saying this, he stood up and hurried away.

The remaining people looked at each other. They were all shrewd demons who had deduced from the abnormal comings and goings of Lixin City's strongest figures—Liu Di, Zhou Ying, and the others—over the past few days that something had happened. That's why they sought out Lu Jiu, nephew of Lu Weima, known for being well-informed (Lu Weima was extremely cunning, making it very hard to extract information from him). They hadn't expected to hear such astonishing news in the end.

After a long silence, Luo Tian spoke first. "My concert tour should be starting soon. I think the first stop will be in Southeast Asia. If anyone has time, come support me! I need to go now; I have a lot of preparations to make."

After Luo Tian left, the wealthy-looking man nodded. "There are some issues with wool acquisition in Australia lately; I really should go check it out myself. Leaving business to my subordinates just isn't reassuring... Hehe, I'll treat everyone to tea when I get back..."

The several women chirped, whispering to each other, and then said together, "We've been wanting to go skiing in Switzerland for ages. This is a perfect chance to go together; it'll be lively with so many of us! Hahahaha..."

The common-faced man didn't bother questioning whether the current season was suitable for skiing in Switzerland; he watched the women who had promised to bring him Swiss gifts depart. Once alone, he held his cup and muttered to himself, "They all scamper off quite fast, but Zhou Ying is at his most vulnerable now. Even you who usually shelter under his wing have fled, leaving him with only Nan Yu to protect him—is that enough? Hey, human, come out. Time to settle the bill; I'll cover their share."

Wu Qi, realizing he'd been overheard, shuffled out sheepishly. He had committed every baffling word he’d just heard to memory. With the golden signboard of superstar Luo Tian, this information could fetch a handsome price from those journalists specializing in digging up celebrity secrets.

The common-faced man looked at him with severe eyes. Wu Qi stared back fearlessly. Who was afraid of whom? If they dared to speak in public, why couldn't I listen? I’ve already heard it; are you going to dig it out of my head?

The common-faced man frowned in thought. "Being preoccupied with talk, I’ve lost even the most basic sense of caution. Thank goodness you’re just a human. If you were... how should I deal with you? Never mind, I really don't have the appetite right now."

Wu Qi was bewildered by his words, but then he saw the common-faced man reach out and press down on his forehead. Wu Qi couldn't dodge in time; he only felt the man’s fingers were searing hot, like live coals. His head throbbed as if it would split, his mind feeling stuffed with fire. He let out a sudden cry and collapsed.

In the early morning, when the bar ceased operations and the staff began their cleanup, Wu Qi, who had been missing for most of the night, was finally dragged out from under a sofa. Shaken awake by his colleagues, Wu Qi smelled strongly of alcohol and felt a splitting headache, just like a severe hangover. As for how he drank so much, how he ended up under the sofa, or what he even did the night before, he remembered nothing.

Quan Xian'er had a good haul today. The total earnings from selling pearls amounted to about thirty thousand, plus various odd payments, pushing her daily income past the forty thousand mark—definitely cause for celebration. Thus, she walked with a light spring in her step, intending to buy some small trinket costing no more than ten yuan to treat herself.

Quan Xian’er’s tears could turn into pearls, and the quality of those pearls was somewhat superior to those cultivated in shells, a world apart from the mass-farmed pearls flooding the streets now. However, though she liked money, she wouldn't deliberately make herself cry just to produce them. The pearls she’d sold before were accumulated from minor bouts of sadness, so the quantity was never substantial. Recently, Gui'er had recommended a slew of idol dramas, and the plots filled with tragic partings and reunions had coaxed out many tears, significantly boosting her income.

"Heh..." Smiling foolishly while thinking of the cash in her pocket, Quan Xian'er lingered outside an audio-visual shop for a long time before finally making up her mind: she should just borrow these shows from Gui'er in the future; buying them was too expensive. Having made her decision, she turned around and spotted two familiar figures walking through the crowd, each carrying a large bundle on their back. These two were always peculiar, constantly engaging in strange activities.

"Brother Zhang, Sister-in-law Zhang," Quan Xian’er walked over briskly, reaching out to clap both of them lightly on the shoulder from behind.

Who knew that this common method of greeting acquaintances would produce an earth-shattering reaction from these two? They both let out a piercing scream, sprang ten meters into the air, and then turned around, adopting an offensive posture.

Quan Xian’er and all the surrounding humans who witnessed the scene froze on the spot, the entire street seeming to come to a standstill.

Seeing that it was Quan Xian’er behind them, Old Man Zhang and his wife gaped for a moment before finally letting out a breath. "It's you! You scared us half to death! Startling people at a time like this can actually kill them."

Quan Xian’er asked, confused, "What time is it? Where are you two going? Why are you carrying luggage? Are you moving?"

Old Man Zhang noticed that the humans nearby had snapped out of their shock and were beginning to discuss whether the elderly couple had truly jumped ten meters high just now.

Knowing this was hardly the place for conversation, Old Man Zhang mysteriously pulled Quan Xian’er aside, slipping into a secluded alley before the crowd could erupt in greater commotion. He glanced around furtively. Once his wife stood guard at the alley entrance, he lowered his voice to Quan Xian’er and said, "You don't know yet? Something big has happened!"

Influenced by the couple's bizarre actions, Quan Xian’er couldn't help but lower her voice and ask mysteriously, "What happened? Did some monster come to snatch that illusory Pure Spirit Pearl again? Just blame it on Liu Di. Or better yet, just tell them the truth and spare yourself the agony of maintaining appearances." Quan Xian’er couldn't fathom why they insisted on deceiving others just to save face, and she advised them kindly.

"It’s not like that!" Old Man Zhang emphasized with hand gestures. "It’s..." He glanced around again. Upon receiving the all-clear signal from his wife posted on the street, he lowered his voice even further and said, "It’s Liu Di and Zhou Ying... something happened to them..."

Something happened to Liu Di and Zhou Ying? Quan Xian’er blinked several times before comprehending the implication.

Even Quan Xian’er, a "sea creature" living outside the city, knew what it meant if Liu Di and Zhou Ying ran into trouble in Lixin City. "But who would dare mess with them? How could they get into trouble? What happened?" Liu Di and Quan Xian’er were considered "drinking confidants," so she cared for him to some extent.

"They..." Old Man Zhang scanned the surroundings once more, then leaned in almost to Quan Xian’er's ear to whisper, "A few days ago, Zhou Ying went mad about something and provoked a Nine-Tailed Fox—isn't having Gui'er and Nan Yu enough? Is he still philandering everywhere? (Quan Xian’er nodded vigorously) And what's even more outrageous is that he attacked the Fox without summoning his fire! As a result, he was beaten back to his true form and can’t become human now. Liu Di and Huo’er learned that Gui’er has a relative with a spiritual medicine that can help him recover. They’re planning to follow Gui’er to her hometown—whether by buying, tricking, robbing, or stealing, they must obtain it one way or another. Think about it, with Zhou Ying like that, and Liu Di and Huo’er gone, Lixin City will instantly descend into chaos! We old tree stumps can't handle the commotion, so we’re preparing to hide in the mountains. A word of good advice: you should also stay in the sea and not come out for a while."

The Zhang couple vanished at the end of the street, leaving Quan Xian’er frowning for a long time.

Due to the characteristics of her race, as long as she didn't exhibit hostility first, the monsters she encountered wouldn't feel hostile or wary toward her. Therefore, the impending chaos among Lixin City’s monsters didn't directly concern her much. However, the unrest among the monsters could very well affect human life, which in turn could indirectly impact her, as she primarily made money from humans. Forget it; it's better to avoid trouble than to invite it. She had earned quite a bit recently, so she might as well treat it as a vacation. Quan Xian’er turned back to the audio-visual shop where she had been lingering, gritting her teeth to endure the heartache as she rented a few dramas before slowly heading toward the sea at the edge of the city.

After Quan Xian’er’s figure rounded the street corner, a man leaped out from beneath a sewer grate (unseen by any surrounding humans, of course). A cold smirk played on his lips as he muttered to himself, "Zhou Ying... Heh heh, look at you now? With Liu Di and that damn Bi Fang gone, it’s perfect... Let me think, Zhou Ying must be hiding like a turtle right now, yes? In a monastery or a hospital? There won't be such a good opportunity again; I must seize it... I need to gather information properly, and plan my move... Heh... Zhou Ying..."

The cold snicker that involuntarily escaped him as he plotted caused passersby to eye him suspiciously and walk wide around him. The man seemed to intuitively sense the atmosphere around him, lowered his head, and slipped into a shop, vanishing before the clerk or customers could take notice.

Feeling the room temperature rise, Zhou Ying, who was sitting in the sunlight, subconsciously called out, "Huo’er." But after calling out, he realized his mistake—Huo’er had left with Liu Di and Gui’er for Qingyao Mountain and was nowhere near him. A strange man appeared in the room, his eyes fixed on Zhou Ying "burning" with fierce light; perhaps this was why Zhou Ying felt the room getting warmer?

"Ying Mei, I have come for revenge!" With a roar that had become all too familiar these past few days, the man lunged at Zhou Ying.

Zhou Ying’s form vanished instantly, reappearing on the opposite side of the room, within the area illuminated by the sun.

He looked at the man, but his memory yielded no relevant information. Perhaps Huo’er had eaten this man's relative, or Liu Di had stolen his girlfriend, or he’d charged him for a ride—something along those lines, most likely. The deaths of Feng Wenyuan and Yue Ronghuan were still swirling in his mind, and since Huo’er wasn't present, he didn't need to consider the child’s palate, so he felt no killing intent whatsoever. Instead, he kept circling the man, evading his storm-like attacks.

"Ying Mei, have the guts to face me head-on! What kind of man is only good at running away!" the man roared at Zhou Ying. This Ying Mei repeatedly dodged his attacks by dissolving and reforming, leaving his fury nowhere to vent. He couldn't help but curse loudly, hoping to provoke his opponent into a real, hard-fought battle. The news that Di Lang and Bi Fang were absent from Lixin City had spread quickly among the well-informed residents, both human and demon. This was the perfect moment for old scores to be settled, and the target of revenge was naturally Bi Fang’s adoptive father and Di Lang’s close friend, Ying Mei Zhou Ying, who usually aided the wicked.

The man didn't know if anyone had confronted Zhou Ying before him, but he knew that even if they had, they had failed. He congratulated himself on their failure, as it gave him a personal chance to avenge his family. However, this also made him extremely vigilant. Rumor had it that this Ying Mei had lost seventy percent of his magical power, but he surely possessed other life-saving means, otherwise, how could he still be safe days after Di Lang and Bi Fang left?

Still, he wouldn't pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so he approached the door despite the possible risks.

Zhou Ying vanished once more and reappeared on the other side of the room, quietly awaiting the man’s next assault.

The man, of course, didn't realize that this was currently Zhou Ying's only defensive move. If the man attacked recklessly without restraint, Zhou Ying, by continuously dissolving into shadows, would be unable to escape his assault. Yet, the man, adhering to the normal mindset of demons, didn't want to cause too much of a scene, and Zhou Ying’s established reputation also forced him to consider many possibilities, leading him to overestimate Zhou Ying's abilities somewhat.

Finally, the man grew weary of chasing the evasive Zhou Ying. His attacks became more chaotic, but ironically, such randomized attacks were the best way to deal with Zhou Ying. Several times, Zhou Ying narrowly avoided being struck. After a few attempts, the man discovered this method and began recklessly unleashing spells throughout the room, smashing furniture and decorations into disarray.

Zhou Ying seemed unconcerned about his predicament. Although he was narrowly missed several times, he maintained his rhythm—dissolving, coalescing, dissolving, coalescing—which only enraged and agitated the hater-filled demon all the more. When one of his attacks finally knocked Zhou Ying off balance, watching him tumble into a corner, the attacker burst into laughter: "Ying Mei, look at you now! Taste what it’s like to be bullied!" Saying this, he lunged forward.

The instant his hand was about to grasp Zhou Ying, the four corners of the room suddenly began to flash with light, and a three-dimensional formation materialized within the room. The demon inwardly cried out in alarm, but it was too late; the formation instantly contracted, trapping him inside. Then, several streaks of red light flashed, bathing the entire room in a color resembling flowing blood. When the light subsided, the room returned to normal. On the floor, besides the fragments of furniture and decorations, lay a small pile of ash.

Zhou Ying suffered minor injuries. He found his sudden reluctance to kill strange. He knew perfectly well the opponent intended to end his life, and the correct choice would have been to activate the formation left by Liu Di and Huo’er from the very beginning. Yet, he delayed until he was injured. Such an injury was completely unnecessary, Zhou Ying thought.

"Zhou Ying, are you alright?" Lin Rui slipped in through the window from some unknown point. "Was it another enemy? How many more times can the formation Huo’er left be used?"

"Seven times." This formation had already been used seven times, leaving half its uses remaining.

"They’ve only been gone four days, and seven enemies have already shown up!" Lin Rui’s eyes widened. "The news spreads alarmingly fast in this place. Look, Zhou Ying, why don't you go hide at Nan Yu’s place? This formation will run out soon, and besides, it might not work well against a truly powerful opponent." He added after a moment's thought, "I’m not suggesting this just because too many demons are coming and going, fearing it might affect my mother’s safety, you know!"

Zhou Ying thought blankly for a moment and said, "I think I'll stay here a while longer."

"Hmph, you stubborn fellow! If only you would listen..." Lin Rui shook his head unhappily. "I know you miss Huo’er, but you don't have to act like it's never coming back..." he mumbled as he left.

Zhou Ying looked up and stated firmly, "Huo’er will come back!" By then, Lin Rui was long gone. Zhou Ying looked around the empty room and returned to his usual spot. But after sitting by the window for a while, he couldn't resist getting up and pacing around the room again. A home without Huo’er naturally felt empty. Ever since Huo’er was born, it had always been by Zhou Ying’s side; the father and son had never been separated for more than three days. Now, it was so far away, and he didn't know when it would return, which made Zhou Ying feel utterly miserable whenever he thought about it.