Volume 2 Chunfan City

***

Of course, Wu Xingxue failed to leave.

For one, it would be a real pity to leave just like that after having already reached the city gates. For another, he truly had nowhere else to go.

They lingered by the bridge for a while before the two sword-bearing disciples came over.

Wu Xingxue saw that their silver-threaded sword tassels each had a hibiscus jade-carved peach blossom, and their waist tokens were also engraved with the character "Hua." He surmised that they were from a "Hua" titled family clan in Chunfan City. To be responsible for such important places as the harbor and the city gates, their status was surely not low; they were a major Immortal Sect.

"Are you all entering the city?" The two disciples performed a salute and said, "There has been some trouble nearby these few days, so entry and exit are being monitored more closely. If we have been abrupt or offensive in any way, please forgive us."

They looked at Ning Huaishan and Duan Bi, their expressions cautious. "Are these two young masters... unwell?"

It was no wonder they were suspicious. The moment those two set foot on shore, they got dizzy and threw up at the sight of the god statue. Their reactions were truly like those of an Evil Demon.

If it weren't for the completely unaffected Wu Xingxue and Xiao Fuxuan accompanying them, these two disciples would have drawn their swords directly.

Ning Huaishan had no time to explain. He pinched his fingers, and his fingertips became as sharp as a blade.

Wu Xingxue pressed his hand back down and said, "They're seasick."

"Oh..." The sword-bearing disciple glanced at the black-canopied boat again, half-believing, half-doubting. "Where have you all come from?"

With the City Lord preventing him from moving, Ning Huaishan could only wipe his lips and say, "The Posuo Path of the Endless Sea."

"Oh! No wonder. The wind and thunder there last night were incessant, making it difficult to sail."

This time, the two sword-bearing disciples believed them.

They looked at Xiao Fuxuan a few more times. Before they could speak, Ning Huaishan had already interjected, "This is my Cit... Young Master's puppet."

Xiao Fuxuan: "..."

'With a mouth like Ning Huaishan's,' Wu Xingxue thought, 'he could spill all their secrets to the entire city in just two days.'

However, puppets themselves were not uncommon; Immortal Sects liked to use them too. Especially as the world grew more chaotic, it was common for sons of wealthy families to bring a few puppets for protection when they went out, so it wasn't worthy of suspicion.

It was just that this puppet's height, appearance, and bearing were all too outstanding. While drawing attention, it also made the two sword-bearing disciples mutter to themselves in puzzlement.

Out of propriety, they didn't stare at Xiao Fuxuan to get a clear look. But as they left, Wu Xingxue heard them discussing in low voices.

"That puppet, have we seen him somewhere before? Why does he seem so familiar, a bit like we've met before?"

"Hiss, actually, that Young Master also..."

...

***

In the end, only Wu Xingxue and Xiao Fuxuan entered Chunfan City.

Because a huge stone god statue had been added inside Chunfan City, standing on the official road right after the city gate. The bronze platform before the statue was full of incense sticks, smoke and fire coiling in the air. Ning Huaishan and Duan Bi's faces turned green on the spot. Waving their hands, they ran away at top speed, leaving behind the words: "City Lord, we'll wait for you in the mountains on the city outskirts."

For Wu Xingxue, this was exactly what he wanted.

As soon as those two hindrances were gone, Wu Xingxue immediately dragged Xiao Fuxuan into an alley.

"High Immortal, do me a favor. In my current state, it's probably not convenient for me to go to Yi Wusheng's house to get beaten up. Help me change my appearance—" He walked a little deeper into the long alley, and only after confirming no one was around did he turn back.

But he saw Xiao Fuxuan letting himself be dragged, his gaze resting on his own captured wrist, his expression unreadable.

Wu Xingxue was stunned for a moment and let go.

Only then did Xiao Fuxuan lift his eyes. "Is this how you usually ask people for help?"

Wu Xingxue raised an eyebrow. "How?"

Xiao Fuxuan's gaze swept over his carelessly grabbing fingers, then glanced at the alley.

The alley was too narrow, and he was tall, blocking most of the already faint daylight.

Only then did Wu Xingxue feel that it was indeed a bit secluded.

He smiled slightly. "I don't usually ask people for help. Alleys as winding as this are rare even in Magpie Capital."

This was true.

In Magpie Capital, he just had to extend a hand, and without even needing to speak, someone would place what he wanted properly into it. He really had no need to ask people for help.

Wu Xingxue: "Besides, I've never had to do things that needed to be hidden from prying eyes before."

Xiao Fuxuan looked at him for a while without comment.

"A disguise, is it?" Xiao Fuxuan asked this.

He didn't seem to be waiting for Wu Xingxue's answer, merely switching his longsword to his other hand. He lowered his head, bent his fingers to cup Wu Xingxue's chin, and lightly smeared his thumb on the side of his face, chin, and forehead.

"Don't make it too ugly," Wu Xingxue couldn't help but say.

"..."

Xiao Fuxuan's fingers paused for a moment before he continued silently.

After a moment, he said in a deep voice, "Too late."

Fine...

Wu Xingxue gave up struggling and let him adjust his face.

This alley was indeed too secluded and quiet. A brief moment felt very long.

"Are you done?" Wu Xingxue asked.

"Mn," Xiao Fuxuan replied.

He had already lowered his hand, but after a moment, he raised it again and touched Wu Xingxue's brow and eyes.

"What is it?" Wu Xingxue was confused.

"Nothing." Xiao Fuxuan was very efficient. After finishing the disguise, he didn't delay at all and walked towards the alley's exit.

It was only when he turned around that Wu Xingxue heard him say, "Your eyes are too recognizable."

Wu Xingxue was stunned for a moment, then strode after him. "Xiao Fuxuan."

The person in front slightly turned his head.

"You'd better change your appearance too. Since they love carving god statues so much, and your name is so famous, there's bound to be one of you. Although I think the statues are far from resembling the real person, it's hard to guarantee there isn't some prodigy who can carve one with your divine charm. It would be bad if you were truly recognized."

It wasn't until he exited the long alley and the daylight flashed before his eyes that Wu Xingxue suddenly realized he had said something unnecessary—

Xiao Fuxuan was a dignified High Immortal. So what if he was recognized? He wouldn't be like him, making enemies everywhere and having people clamoring to beat and kill him.

Just as he was about to speak and add something, he saw Xiao Fuxuan turn sideways and wait a step for him. That face had clearly already been altered.

***

Chunfan City was no small place; it was said to have six Immortal Sects of varying sizes. The one with the most renowned reputation and the most disciples was the Hua Family.

The Hua Family was situated on the Peach Blossom Isle in the middle of the river to the west of Chunfan City. For one, this made for a quiet and secluded residence, so they didn't have to compete for territory by setting up barriers with other Immortal Sects within the city walls. For another, having such a large Immortal Sect there could also guard the western side.

After all, to the west of Chunfan City was Yanzi Harbor, the place with the most outsiders, a chaotic mix of all sorts. Even with a thousand precautions, Evil Demons would still slip in from time to time.

And every time an Evil Demon slipped into the city, it was truly a nightmare.

Many Evil Demons were originally human. They had the appearance of ordinary people, spoke the common tongue of the streets and alleys, and even... before they walked the evil path, they had once lived in this city. Therefore, when mixed in a crowd, they were fundamentally indistinguishable.

The cultivation methods of those Evil Demons were too perverse. They were cunning, fickle, skilled at bewitching people, and bloodthirsty.

Some Evil Demons were particularly troublesome and very difficult to catch because they could change skins.

They fed on living souls and flesh. Once they had consumed one body, they would attach themselves to the next. And this process was almost silent.

It was said that twenty or thirty years ago, even when it wasn't at its most prosperous, Chunfan City had a population of over two hundred thousand households.

By two years ago, only a hundred thousand households remained.

Now, in just two short years, that hundred thousand had become seventy thousand.

Chunfan City's territory was still just as large; it was just that the number of long-unoccupied empty houses was growing. The closer one got to the city walls, the more deathly silent it became.

All Wu Xingxue saw along the way were these empty houses, covered in thick cobwebs, their doors and windows riddled with holes of all sizes, through which the late winter wind whistled, whimpering like the long cries of ghosts.

Only near a certain Immortal Sect was there any sign of life.

Those inhabited houses clustered around the few Immortal Sects like ants around a piece of pine nut candy.

There was only one exception—the Hua Family.

But this point was also understandable.

Because the Hua Family guarded the Peach Blossom Isle and the entire East River alone, isolated and without support, it was inherently a dangerous place, easy to attack and hard to defend. Furthermore, the Hua Family had numerous disciples. If a few Evil Demons were to accidentally mix in, the consequences would be simply unimaginable.

If ordinary commoners, who knew no immortal arts and were completely powerless to protect themselves, were to gather there, it would be like an uncovered delicacy, openly displayed without any thought, constantly attracting Evil Demons to come and feast.

Then... Peach Blossom Isle would probably not see a single day of peace.

The Immortal Sect couldn't hold its ground, and the common folk would also suffer.

***

Having heard those discussions about the Hua Family, Wu Xingxue had already judged "Peach Blossom Isle" to be a place of misfortune. He thought to himself that he absolutely could not go to such a dangerous place.

As a result, an hour later, he and Xiao Fuxuan were standing at the entrance to the Peach Blossom Isle's bridge, staring wide-eyed at the young disciples guarding it.

"No, wait a moment." Wu Xingxue pulled Xiao Fuxuan back to the shore. "Didn't you promise to take me to find Yi Wusheng? Why are there twelve banners on both sides of this bridge, with the character 'Hua' written on every single one???"

"Tell me the truth, do you really know Yi Wusheng???"

"Isn't his surname Yi???"

Xiao Fuxuan: "..."

He furrowed his brow slightly, looking at Wu Xingxue. His expression was cold, yet tinged with a certain indescribable feeling.

"Who gave you the misconception that everyone under the Hua Family is a family retainer, and that there are no members with other surnames?" Xiao Fuxuan asked.

Wu Xingxue: "Why didn't you say so earlier..."

Xiao Fuxuan: "..."

'Did you ask?'

His expression was indifferent. He jutted his chin towards Jiangzhou in the distance. "I happen to have had some dealings with Yi Wusheng in the past. There's no mistake. He is one of the Four Hall Elders of the Hua Family, and he is not entirely unrelated to the Hua Family either."

Wu Xingxue: "What relation?"

Xiao Fuxuan said, "Yi Wusheng's wife is the younger sister of the Hua Family Head, Hua Zhaoting."

After speaking, he glanced again at the fingers with which Wu Xingxue was pulling him, and after a moment, he asked, "How long do you plan to cling to me and make a scene here on the riverbank?"

Wu Xingxue could no longer make a scene. He let go of his hand and followed Xiao Fuxuan towards the bridge, muttering as he walked, "You're a High Immortal who used to live in the Immortal Capital, how are you so clear about the affairs of the Mortal Realm?"

Xiao Fuxuan did not answer.

It wasn't until they were about to step onto the bridge that those disciples, with dazed expressions, saluted them with their swords held.

Only then did he hear Xiao Fuxuan's voice: "Someone used to like coming here."

Wu Xingxue was stunned.

In the next instant, he heard those disciples say to them in unison, "Mister Yi Wusheng is in seclusion in the rear hall and has not yet emerged. We have already informed the Family Head. The Family Head has instructed us to receive you both at Tinghua Hall to rest for a moment. He will be there shortly."

"This way, please."

Wu Xingxue crossed the long bridge, entered the main gate of the Hua Family, and was being led by a disciple into Tinghua Hall when he suddenly came to his senses.

The sister of the Hua Family Head is Yi Wusheng's wife.

And Yi Wusheng's father, older brother, wife, and daughter all died tragically at the hands of my original self...

Which is to say, not only that unlucky Yi Wusheng, but the largest Immortal Sect in Chunfan City... the entire Hua Family is my enemy???

Wu Xingxue: "..."

'Maybe I should just kill myself. At least it'll be quick.'