NOVPUBMeeting an Old Friend
Are the dishes each uniquely terrible?
The two who had just been gazing at her eagerly now seemed reluctant to engage further.
Exchanging a glance, Bai Roushuang cleared her throat first. "Ahem, your footwork is truly impressive—I couldn’t predict your next step at all."
"Your swordsmanship isn’t bad either," Yue'er reciprocated politely. "I can tell your fundamentals are solid."
With Xu Shulou’s earlier remark hanging in the air, the two suddenly found themselves sharing an inexplicable sense of camaraderie.
Xu Shulou watched them exchange compliments with amusement and took the opportunity to offer Bai Roushuang some advice. "When Yue'er steps onto the Li position, if you switch your sword to your left hand and thrust upward, you could end the fight in one move."
Bai Roushuang mentally replayed the scenario. "I see. But in the heat of the moment, I just couldn’t react fast enough."
"You’ll get used to it with more sparring practice."
Curious, Yue'er asked, "What about me? Do I have any weaknesses?"
Xu Shulou pondered briefly. "For your footwork, perhaps you could try this." She demonstrated, stepping forward slightly with her left foot, pivoting gracefully in an arc, and landing precisely on the next position.
Yue'er gasped in surprise. "You understood my footwork after watching for such a short time? The cultivation world truly is full of hidden talents."
Bai Roushuang objected, "It’s not the cultivation world—it’s my senior sister who’s exceptional!"
"Enough flattery," Xu Shulou chuckled as a knock sounded at the door. "That must be the lunch I ordered. Both of you, sit down and wait to eat."
"Alright!" Bai Roushuang nodded, trusting her senior sister unconditionally. Since Yue'er had been brought back by Xu Shulou, she saw no reason to dwell on whether demons were good or bad and settled in eagerly for the meal.
Xu Shulou opened the door and returned with a large tray. "Today’s menu is Hunan cuisine. Try this ‘Divine Chicken’ and see if you like it."
After washing their hands, the two obediently gathered around the table, dividing bowls and chopsticks. Bai Roushuang picked up a piece of the tender, juicy chicken and remarked, "Master would love this."
"He certainly would," Xu Shulou sighed. "I once spent a month with him in the mortal world searching for the most authentic version of this dish."
Bai Roushuang laughed. "Anyone who didn’t know better might think Master was a fox who’d attained human form."
Yue'er, meanwhile, couldn’t stop praising the dish. "This is delicious! Xu Shulou, since you saved me, the chicken leg is yours."
Not to be outdone, Bai Roushuang placed the other chicken leg on Xu Shulou’s plate. "Senior sister, both are for you."
And so, Xu Shulou happily devoured both drumsticks.
A sudden thought struck Bai Roushuang. When it was just the two of them, they usually split the chicken legs evenly. Now, with three people, both legs went to her senior sister. Would Xu Shulou grow fond of this new dynamic and prefer traveling in a trio?
"Why did you stop eating?" Xu Shulou asked.
Snapping out of her reverie, Bai Roushuang found her own musings ridiculous and stuck out her tongue playfully. "It’s nothing."
The Hunan feast was a delight—savory cured meats steamed to perfection, velvety braised beef marrow, and the fiery Fenghua Fish Noodles had them all reaching for seconds.
True to her word, Yue'er wasn’t picky. She polished off even the dishes Xu Shulou had barely touched, like the spicy bamboo shoots and chestnut-stuffed greens.
After the meal, Xu Shulou brewed a pot of tangerine peel and hawthorn tea on a small stove. Lounging in chairs, they sipped tea and enjoyed the tranquil afternoon scenery, prompting Yue'er to exclaim she never wanted to return to the demon realm.
But soon, the pleasure cruise arrived at Nightless City, docking for a three-day stay. Though reluctant, Yue'er knew she couldn’t impose on Xu Shulou indefinitely and prepared to bid farewell.
Noticing her wistful expression, Xu Shulou offered, "The ship will stay here for three days. If you’d like, you can explore the city with us. But afterward, you should head home—the cultivation world isn’t the safest place for you."
Yue'er brightened instantly. "Deal!"
The trio disembarked and entered the city that never slept, nestled in the grasslands.
Nightless City was one of four cities built by cultivators and the only one open to mortals—though without the cruise, mortals would struggle to find it. The entire city could relocate at its master’s whims, usually resting in the heart of the plains but occasionally wandering elsewhere.
Residents had protested endlessly. Waking up to find their homes suddenly transported, with their livestock still grazing in the original pastures, meant laboriously flying back and forth to retrieve each animal.
But the city’s capricious ruler remained unmoved. Sometimes he’d move the city to bask in sunlight; other times, he’d chase rainclouds for a downpour.
Xu Shulou’s group had arrived during one of his rainy moods.
She summoned a translucent qi barrier, shielding herself from the droplets that pattered harmlessly against its surface.
Yue'er eyed it enviously. "Demonic barriers are blood-red. Doesn’t that stand out too much?"
It certainly did. Xu Shulou opened a gap in her barrier. "Come in."
Noticing this, Bai Roushuang dismissed her own shield. "Senior sister—"
Xu Shulou sighed, already understanding. "You too."
Bai Roushuang cheered and squeezed inside. Encased in their shared bubble, they strolled through the streets, sometimes walking single-file, other times fanning out.
Occasionally, Bai Roushuang and Yue'er would turn in opposite directions—one toward a shop’s magical artifacts, the other toward a fruit vendor—leaving Xu Shulou stretched thin in the middle, her qi barrier distorting comically as she sighed in resignation.
"Daoist Xu!"
A voice tinged with delight called out mid-stroll.
Xu Shulou turned and smiled in recognition. "It’s you two!"
Bai Roushuang spotted a man and woman approaching, their robes flowing elegantly. They bowed deeply to Xu Shulou. "Daoist Xu, it’s been too long since we last met in Xiaoming Prefecture."
This was the first time Bai Roushuang had seen cultivators greet her senior sister with such reverence instead of hostility.
Xu Shulou explained, "Over a decade ago, Xiaoming Prefecture was plagued by demonic beasts. I was sent to eliminate them and met Daoist Xi and Daoist Peng there."
Xi Cheng chuckled. "We’d received faulty intel and underestimated their numbers. Ready to detonate our golden cores as a last resort, we sent out a warning so others wouldn’t stumble into the blast. Instead, Daoist Xu rushed straight in. Wanxi nearly fainted from frustration."
Bai Roushuang nodded in agreement. Well, that last remark was just like her senior sister—familiar enough to make one faint from exasperation.
The woman named Peng Wanxi recalled, "At the time, the situation was critical. I shouted at Fellow Daoist Xu, asking if she hadn’t received the warning. She replied with utter innocence that she had indeed received it—that was why she’d come in! In the midst of the chaos, I managed to turn and glance at her. There she was, with my dispatched spirit beast perched on her shoulder, holding the note I’d written about the danger in one hand and a white jade folding fan in the other, looking as leisurely as some idle noble out for a stroll with his pet bird. I was so furious I nearly cursed."
A male cultivator added, "At first, we thought she was some inexperienced disciple from a prestigious sect, rushing in to claim glory. Who could’ve guessed Fellow Daoist Xu would descend like a divine blade? When her heavy sword struck, the very ground trembled. Truly, a single stroke of hers could rival an army of a million."
Xu Shulou gave a wry smile. "A million is far too exaggerated." 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒑𝒖𝒃.𝙘𝒐𝒎
The male cultivator chuckled. "You’re our lifesaver—of course we’ll exaggerate!"
"..."
The female cultivator chimed in, "Even back then, Fellow Daoist Xu’s cultivation was unfathomable. Now, you must have reached the Deity Transformation stage, haven’t you?"
Xu Shulou smiled. "Close enough. And what about you two?"
The male cultivator eagerly interjected, "We’ve become Daoist partners!"
The female cultivator kicked him. "She was asking about our cultivation, not our marital status!"
Xu Shulou laughed. "Congratulations to you both."
The female cultivator shook her head. "Ignore him. When we first became partners, he’d introduce me as his Daoist companion even to thieves he caught on the street. After all this time, he still hasn’t shaken the habit."
Xu Shulou smiled. Back then, after slaying the demonic beasts, the group had stayed to help the locals rebuild their homes, spending some time together and becoming friends. Even then, she had noticed the mutual affection between the two. Both were rogue cultivators without a sect, their techniques perfectly complementary—the woman specialized in offense while the man cultivated support skills, handling healing, replenishing spiritual energy, and even enhancing the woman’s attacks.
Moreover, both were righteous souls. When the demonic beasts wreaked havoc, they had volunteered to help. Seeing such a well-matched pair, united in both love and purpose, brought Xu Shulou genuine joy.
The male cultivator enthusiastically invited them, "Wanxi and I have settled here in the City of Eternal Night. If you have time, why not visit our humble abode?"
Xu Shulou readily agreed. She didn’t conceal the fact that Yue’er was a demon, and Peng Wanxi only hesitated briefly before saying, "If Fellow Daoist Xu trusts her, then it’s no issue."
When the group arrived at their residence, they were all surprised. The homes in the City of Eternal Night were built atop towering trees.
Before them stood ancient trees so tall they seemed to pierce the clouds, their branches wide and sheltering. Some bore houses nestled among them. Following Peng Wanxi and her partner, Xu Shulou and the others leaped from one massive leaf to another until they reached the couple’s treehouse.
Expecting cramped quarters, they were instead greeted by a spacious interior. The treehouses were spaced far apart, ensuring privacy. Outside, rain pattered against the leaves, lending a serene ambiance.
Large, unfamiliar blossoms bloomed by the window. Before anyone could ask, Xi Cheng leaned out and spoke to a colossal beehive nearby. A spirit bee queen emerged, gave him a reluctant glance, and nodded. Xi Cheng then retrieved some spirit honey, crushed cherries and sour plums, and prepared honeyed fruit drinks for everyone.
Xu Shulou took a sip—the blend of sweet and tart was delightful, spiritual energy bursting on her tongue.
When the couple insisted on preparing a meal, Xu Shulou declined. "We’ve already eaten aboard the ship."
"That pleasure cruiser?" Peng Wanxi asked curiously. "Was it entertaining? Xi Cheng and I have been meaning to try it."
"Quite enjoyable." Xu Shulou described the ship’s attractions in detail, her storytelling so vivid that Peng Wanxi listened, enthralled.
Meanwhile, noticing their empty cups, Xi Cheng opened the window and exchanged a few words with the spirit swallows nesting under the eaves. The swallows flew off and soon returned, carrying fruit stems in their beaks, which they handed to him.
After washing the spirit fruit, Xi Cheng served them on a porcelain plate.
Yue’er cradled a fruit, examining it carefully before taking small, savoring bites.
Bai Roushuang watched in fascination. "Fellow Daoist Xi, how do you get the bees and swallows to help you?"
Peng Wanxi smiled. "He loves building. This treehouse was his handiwork, as were the beehive and swallow nests outside. He’s also made homes for rabbits, tree frogs… Sometimes, rabbits even bring us vegetables."
Bai Roushuang gaped. "...The cultivation world truly has no shortage of talents and wonders."
Xu Shulou laughed. "This kind of life sounds lovely."
Peng Wanxi gave her a knowing look. "But it wouldn’t suit you."
Xu Shulou blinked. "Why not? I enjoy peaceful days."
"I could tell back then," Peng Wanxi shook her head. "The peace you crave is the respite between adventures—not this kind of long-term tranquility."
Xu Shulou paused. "Is... that so?"
Bai Roushuang nodded. "Exactly."
Xu Shulou looked surprised. "Even you can see it?"
Bai Roushuang huffed. "Must you sound so shocked? As if I’m slow-witted."
