The Immortal’s "White Moonlight" Reborn - Chapter 71

Early the next morning, the sunlight spilled into the room. Wen Qiwu’s eyelashes fluttered slightly before she slowly opened her eyes.

The spot beside her was already cold, and the small bed nearby was empty. Wen Qiwu rubbed her eyes and sat up.

Where did Senior Sister go?

She noticed a messaging paper crane sitting on the low cabinet next to her… except this “crane” was incredibly plump. Its round, orb-like shape was clearly no longer that of a crane. Wen Qiwu found the silhouette very familiar after all; it was exactly what she saw in the mirror whenever she reverted to her original form.

“Am I really this round?” Wen Qiwu poked the chubby paper phoenix, muttering under her breath.

The moment she touched the paper bundle, the immortal power within was triggered, and the ball emitted Yun Heng’s voice: “A-Que, I’ve stepped out to buy a few things and will be back shortly. Xiao Tong has taken the child to breakfast, so do not worry…”

It’s so early; what could she be buying?

Wen Qiwu tucked the poorly made paper bundle into her storage bag, confiscating the evidence.

After washing up and leaving the room, she found Xiao Tong looking after the child’s meal. Fortunately, the tavern wasn’t crowded yet, so Xiao Tong still had time to spare.

“Manager, did those two demons confess? Where did they steal this child from?” Xiao Tong asked the manager, who was standing nearby, as she fed the girl.

The manager had already composed herself. With the City Lord seriously injured, she—as a trusted confidante, was being watched by everyone. She could not afford to show the vulnerability she had displayed the night before.

She stood there with a dark expression, clicking her abacus. Everyone assumed she was in a foul mood because those two “pauper” demons had smashed the ceiling without having a single cent to pay for the repairs.

Hearing Xiao Tong’s question, the manager’s fingers paused briefly.

“They’ve talked. They snatched the child from an old beggar at a ruined shack in the south of the city. I sent someone to investigate; the pair had indeed been begging there for years. However… those two demons didn’t spare the old man. This child is an orphan now.” The manager’s voice was low and somber.

“Those beasts!” Xiao Tong gnashed her teeth. “Then what happens to her? Without family… she won’t survive.”

The manager glanced at the well-behaved child, who sat as still and silent as a porcelain doll.

“We’ll keep her in the tavern for the time being,” the manager sighed. She couldn’t just cast her out to fend for herself; providing a few meals wouldn’t cost much.

“Manager, did the demons say why they took her?” Wen Qiwu asked, walking down the stairs.

“They did. They were practicing a dark art that required a flesh-and-blood sacrifice. This child met their requirements perfectly.” The manager offered Wen Qiwu a morning greeting and explained the situation.

“A dark art?” Wen Qiwu walked over to the child. A breeze from the doorway made her skirts flutter, carrying a sweet, faint fragrance to the little girl’s nose.

The child’s nose twitched. She reached out tentatively and caught hold of Wen Qiwu’s sleeve.

“She recognizes you!” Xiao Tong said with delight. The child usually had no reaction to anyone; it was rare for her to take the initiative to hold onto someone.

Wen Qiwu stroked her head and asked the manager, “Was she affected by the dark art?”

“We checked. There’s no trace of that filth on her.” Fortunately, those two demons hadn’t had the chance to start the ritual before they were stopped.

A flash of anger crossed the manager’s heart. If the City Lord were well, how would such scum dare to sneak into Moonshark City!

“Manager! The roofers are here, please come and take a look!” a worker shouted from the back.

“I’m coming.”

As the manager walked past Wen Qiwu and the child, a scent of cloud-pine lingered in the air. The child, still holding Wen Qiwu’s sleeve, suddenly looked up. She reached out as if trying to grab the person passing by, but the manager was walking quickly; the child’s hand only brushed the edge of her robe.

A flicker of disappointment appeared in the child’s eyes before vanishing.

Xiao Tong quickly pressed the child’s hand down. “Stay still, sweetheart. If you need something, ask me! The manager is in a bad mood—she’s very, very scary right now!”

She then slapped her own forehead. What am I doing? The child can’t hear me. But the child’s reaction… she probably just felt someone passing by and got nervous.

“Xiao Tong.” The manager hadn’t gone far and had heard every word of the girl’s whispering.

She didn’t know whether to be annoyed or amused.

“S-sorry! Manager, I didn’t mean it! Please don’t dock my pay!” Xiao Tong looked up and saw the manager’s smile, nearly jumping out of her skin.

“Hmph. Just do your work.” Out of respect for the guests, the manager didn’t scold her further, only shooting her a glare before heading toward the kitchen.

Xiao Tong exhaled a sigh of relief once the manager was truly gone.

Wen Qiwu hid a giggle behind her hand. Xiao Tong rubbed her head sheepishly. “Hehe, sorry for the spectacle.”

Yun Heng returned just in time to see her Junior Sister laughing at Xiao Tong’s antics. When Wen Qiwu looked up at her, her eyes were still dancing with a vibrant, charming light.

“Senior Sister, where did you go?” Wen Qiwu walked to her side, her voice carrying a hint of a spoiled tone and perhaps a tiny bit of “resentment” at waking up to find her gone.

“I went to buy some items for the Dragon Gate ceremony. Xiao Tong mentioned it to me; at the end of the festival, it’s customary to release Carp Lanterns. We write our prayers on them and let them rise with the Dragon Carriage. It symbolizes…”

“It symbolizes the ‘Carp Leaping the Dragon Gate’ success in all your heart’s desires!” Xiao Tong added enthusiastically.

“Yes. Success in all your heart’s desires.” Yun Heng nodded, her eyes reflecting a soft, tender light.

She hadn’t known about this custom until she overheard Xiao Tong and the others discussing their lanterns this morning. Xiao Tong had said a handmade lantern showed more sincerity, so Yun Heng had decided to buy materials for them.

At the time, Xiao Tong was shocked. She asked, “Does a True Immortal Sovereign truly have wishes to ask of the heavens?”

Of course she did.

Immortals are not omnipotent, and there were many things Yun Heng wished to pray for.

“Then I’ll make one too.” Wen Qiwu grew interested. She had a wish as well: she wanted her Senior Sister to be safe, healthy, and for all her chronic ailments to vanish.

“Maybe I should make one for this child too?” Xiao Tong patted the girl’s head. “She’s so pitiful. I hope the heavens look down and give her a chance to recover.”

As they spoke, the tavern grew busier. The other workers were swamped, so Xiao Tong left to help.

“It’s getting crowded. Let’s take the child back to the room,” Wen Qiwu suggested. Then they could study how to make the lanterns.

“Alright.” Yun Heng nodded and moved to pick the child up. To her surprise, before she even touched her, the girl began to tremble violently.

“What’s wrong?” Wen Qiwu checked the child for a relapse of any injury, but found nothing. Curiously, as soon as Yun Heng stepped back, the child returned to normal.

“Strange. She didn’t resist you yesterday, Senior Sister.” Wen Qiwu patted the child’s back. It was a pity they couldn’t communicate; otherwise, they might know why she was afraid.

Yun Heng frowned slightly, glancing at her own sleeve. This child… is very perceptive.

She had cleaned up everything thoroughly, even A-Que hadn’t noticed—yet this child still reacted.

Is her soul different from ordinary people? No… this might be beyond the realm of ‘human.’ Perhaps I should investigate her origins.

“Qiwu!”

Just as they were about to head upstairs, an excited voice rang out from the tavern entrance.

It was a familiar voice. Wen Qiwu turned and saw Gao Fu.

“It wasn’t easy for me to sneak out—hiss! Qiwu… who is this?” Gao Fu had run over happily, only for an indescribable chill to hook onto her ankles, making her feet almost too frozen to lift.

When she entered, she had eyes only for Wen Qiwu. Only now did she notice the cold beauty standing beside her. The woman’s aura was remarkably similar to Yu Hengwei’s. After leaving the Endless Sea of Trees, Gao Fu had been unable to contact Yu Hengwei, and their deal remained unfinalized. Then, not long ago, the other party had suddenly contacted her, stating she had found the person she was looking for and the deal was complete.

Gao Fu felt bad about accepting help for nothing and had intended to pay her back with immortal stones or techniques, but the woman had ignored her. Gao Fu didn’t even know where to send the payment.

For a second, she thought she was seeing Yu Hengwei again, but a closer look told her it wasn’t her.

Wen Qiwu shot her Senior Sister a teasing look and tugged on her sleeve, signaling her to stop scaring the poor girl. Then she began the introduction. “A-Fu, this is my Senior Sister.”

Yun Heng’s gaze shifted over. Gao Fu was suddenly so nervous she didn’t know what to do with her hands and feet, stumbling over her greetings.

So the ‘patient’ Qiwu mentioned must be this Senior Sister?

Yun Heng gave a barely perceptible nod as a greeting, though her brows were still clouded with a frosty air that made the back of Gao Fu’s neck tingle.

Wasn’t Dragon Lion City supposed to be busy? How does this Gao family junior have time to go running around?

“A-Fu, didn’t you say you were busy? How did you end up in Moonshark City?” Wen Qiwu asked.

“Because my family’s Ancestor came out of seclusion! He took over the major affairs of the ceremony, so I have a lot less on my plate. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have had the chance to come find you!” Gao Fu patted her chest in relief.

This year had been chaotic, with multiple factions infiltrating the city. It was only the beginning of the ceremony, and Gao Fu had been too overwhelmed to find Wen Qiwu. Fortunately, the Ancestor had stepped in.

Yun Heng’s face remained icy. She took a half-step forward and grasped her Junior Sister’s hand.

An Ancestor of the Gao family?

Tsk. What an inconvenient time to come out of seclusion.