Chapter 518: Chapter 518: Then Give Me One_1
"He said he wanted to help your Senior Sister reunite with you. All that was needed was to carve her handwriting at the collapsed Sect Gate. Beyond that, I know nothing."
After Wu Ying finished speaking, he furrowed his brow and thought for a long time. "I remember as he was leaving, the Daoist with him mentioned something about looking for the seventh key in the Mass Burial Mound."
A key! There’s a key in the Quasi-Emperor’s Tomb on Earth, and the seventh one is in the Mass Burial Mound... How many keys are there in total?
Xu Lai’s question was destined to remain unanswered. He said gravely, "It seems I’ll have to make a trip to the Mass Burial Mound myself."
"Don’t go. It’s dangerous." Yu Guiwan’s expression shifted slightly. "There’s a heartbeat and a pressure there comparable to the Emperor Realm. The first time it sounded, it shattered the Quasi-Emperor Realm’s inherited Barrier."
His Senior Sister was in the Immortal Venerable Realm. Even though she was only in the initial stage, her words were a hundred times more credible than those of Daoist Master Yunlong.
"Senior Sister, are you sure it’s comparable to the Emperor Realm?" Xu Lai asked, his expression grave.
"I’m certain," Yu Guiwan replied with the utmost earnestness.
Xu Lai nodded. He really had to investigate the Mass Burial Mound.
Of course, not right now. The most important thing at the moment was to spend quality time with his wife, daughter, and Senior Sister.
That night, Xu Lai and his Senior Sister gazed at the starry sky, talking about the past. Time slipped away unnoticed until the morning came.
Yu Guiwan, who had fallen asleep on Xu Lai’s shoulder, woke up and stretched. "Sleeping on my Junior Brother’s shoulder is still the most comfortable."
"It’s a pity your wife beat me to it," she lamented. "A pillow this good is one of a kind."
Xu Lai was helpless. "Senior Sister, please stop saying things that could be so easily misunderstood. Ruan Tang will make me kneel on a keyboard."
"Young people these days are really something else." Yu Guiwan’s eyes sparkled. "Tell me more. What kind of stimulating Magical Treasure is a ’keyboard’? Your Senior Sister loves hearing about this stuff."
"..."
His First Senior Sister was still the same person who loved telling crude jokes. But Xu Lai was no longer the little Junior Brother who would blush at every tease.
Xu Lai massaged his forehead. "Senior Sister, it’s not what you think. ’Kneeling on a keyboard’ is just a figure of speech. You understand what a figure of speech is, right?"
"Mhm, I understand."
"..."
The image of a certain female doctor suddenly flashed through Xu Lai’s mind. Perhaps only the completely uninhibited Liu Nanwei could keep up a conversation with his Senior Sister.
Xu Lai spent the entire day touring the Eastern Desolate Domain with Ruan Tang and Yiyi.
Ruan Tang wasn’t particularly enthusiastic, but Ruan Lan and Yiyi were incredibly excited. When they saw the Refinement Pavilion, the two of them wanted to try their hand at Artifact Refining.
Half an hour later, they ran out with their faces covered in soot.
Passing by the Elixir Pavilion, they wanted to try every single Elixir. Initially, Xu Lai was planning to let his sister-in-law and daughter fool around, but when he saw Ruan Lan pick up a bottle of Charm Elixir, he quickly intervened.
After learning of its effects, Ruan Lan’s face turned blood-red. She spat, "You shameless brother-in-law! All you ever think about is this depraved stuff!"
Then she stuffed the Elixir into her blouse and pulled three hundred-yuan bills from her wallet. "Is this enough!?"
The owner of the Elixir Pavilion smiled. "Fellow Daoist, our shop only accepts Spirit Stones."
"Then he’ll pay!" Ruan Lan pointed at Xu Lai, grabbed Yiyi, and ran off.
「Soon, night fell.」
They had only explored one city, but Ruan Lan and Yiyi were still eager for more, so they continued to roam the night market together.
Compared to a night on Earth, the Eastern Desolate Domain was far livelier. It may have been the most remote and backward region in the Eastern Immortal Domain, but any of its major cities boasted a population starting in the several billions, comprised of all kinds of races. There were members of the Human Race, the Demon Race, and various other strangely shaped Cultivator species. Therefore, the night market here was much more prosperous and bustling.
"Purple Crystal Rabbit Heads! One Low-grade Spirit Stone each! Don’t miss out!" a vendor shouted from his stall on the side of the street.
"Bunnies are so cute. Why would you eat bunnies?" Yiyi pouted at the vendor.
"Because they’re delicious," the vendor replied instinctively.
"Then I’ll have one," Yiyi said, swallowing her saliva.
"..."
At that moment, a young man appeared behind Xu Lai. It was Taotie, the First Divine General. He cupped his fists and said, "Young Master." When outsiders were present, Taotie and the other Divine Generals typically addressed Xu Lai as Young Master to avoid trouble.
"What are you doing here?" Xu Lai asked, somewhat surprised.
Taotie looked aggrieved. "Young Master, you let Baize and the others each lead one hundred thousand soldiers. I want to as well..."
"No, you don’t." Xu Lai glanced at Taotie. "Go back to the Heavenly Court and behave yourself, or go back to Earth and keep Liu Wan company."
Taotie grew anxious. As the First Divine General of the Heavenly Court, he was the very first to follow Xu Lai, carving a path through a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood. In doing so, he had earned a fearsome reputation that shook the Immortal Domain. But now, the Heavenly Court rarely went to war. This time, Huang Fu had mobilized four hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers, and even the Qingfeng Camp from The Supreme Emperor’s personal guard had left the South Heavenly Gate. How could he, the First Divine General, sit still?!
"The First Divine General." Yu Guiwan sized up Taotie, a bright gleam in her eyes. "Qingfeng, let him go. The Mass Burial Mound is thick with the aura of death. He is needed there."
How does one overcome such dense yin energy? With the baleful aura of a man who has walked over mountains of white bones!
"And you are..." Taotie scratched his head. "Which of the Young Master’s beautiful confidantes might you be? I don’t believe we’ve met."
Yu Guiwan smiled faintly. "Guess."
Ruan Tang turned her head, her gaze gentle.
Xu Lai’s face darkened, and he kicked Taotie, sending him flying. "Get yourself to the Mass Burial Mound!"
"Aye!" Taotie flew off gleefully.
A light sweat had appeared on Xu Lai’s brow. Ruan Tang tenderly wiped it away. "It’s not even hot. Why are you sweating so much?"
"It’s still a little warm," Xu Lai coughed.
"Alright then." Ruan Tang pinned up her hair. "Yiyi, Ruan Lan, stop playing. It’s time to rest."
"Okay," the two replied, reluctant to leave.
Xu Lai wanted to find the best inn in the city, but Ruan Tang wasn’t interested. She still preferred the Gilded Palanquin, because its decor was in the style of Earth.
"Qingfeng, are you going to the Mass Burial Mound tonight?" Yu Guiwan asked, sitting on a swing on the rear hill.
"Mhm," Xu Lai nodded.
"Then I’ll wait for you," his Senior Sister said, swaying gently.
Xu Lai first coaxed his daughter to sleep. Then, with a wave of his hand, the roof of the Gilded Palanquin turned transparent, revealing a clear view of the brilliant starry sky.
"Husband, I miss home," Ruan Tang whispered, snuggled into Xu Lai’s arms like a kitten.
"Then we’ll go home tomorrow," Xu Lai replied. "I should be able to settle things here tonight."
"I’m sorry." Ruan Tang’s voice was full of self-reproach. "I thought I would get used to this fantastical world, but here..." She bit her lip, saying no more.
The Immortal Domain was too vast. So vast that Ruan Tang felt adrift, burdened by a sense of alienation, as if she didn’t belong.
"You never need to say sorry to me." Xu Lai held Ruan Tang tighter and said earnestly, "Some birds need a vast, boundless sky, but some fish need a clear, tranquil stream."
"Then what are you?" Ruan Tang looked up at Xu Lai, the starlight scattering across her, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
"I’m a cat."
"A cat?"
"Yes. A cat that specializes in eating fish."
"..."
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