NOVPUB◎ A Male Bodhisattva Descends to Bestow Chocolate Milk. ◎
The spatial passage within the mirror was indeed highly unstable.
Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang each carried large bundles on their backs, and at one point, the clasp of one of the packages snapped open, nearly losing its contents to the chaotic spatial currents.
To Yan Luoyue, the entire passage felt like an old, neglected rural dirt road—one that had just endured a mudslide and then been battered by a torrential downpour. It was incredibly difficult to traverse.
Had either she or Wu Manshuang brought a storage pouch, the spatial containment effect might have destabilized the mirror passage even further.
The walls of the passage shimmered with kaleidoscopic colors, dazzling and vibrant.
At first glance, it might have seemed almost sci-fi. But after a while, Yan Luoyue found it simply exhausting to look at.
Even with Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang’s speed, navigating the winding, convoluted path took them nearly half an hour.
If not for Ji Qinghong’s usual reliability in critical matters, Yan Luoyue might have suspected they’d stumbled into some kind of mirror maze.
Finally, the end of the passage came into view.
As Yan Luoyue’s feet touched solid ground again, she let out a long sigh of relief.
Turning to Wu Manshuang, she noted that while the reserved young man didn’t show much outward emotion, the relaxation in his brow betrayed his satisfaction with their arrival.
Yan Luoyue scanned their surroundings, finding only an endless expanse of wilderness.
Extending her spiritual sense further, she still couldn’t detect the boundaries of this space.
As expected, this was an extraordinarily vast secret realm.
In terms of general environment—rolling hills, grassy meadows, winding rivers—it closely resembled the cultivation world.
But the flora and fauna here were entirely different.
Moreover, compared to the cultivation world, the spiritual energy here felt noticeably thinner.
Wu Manshuang nodded in understanding. “No wonder the senior who crafted the Boundary-Breaking Mirror didn’t use this place as a portable spiritual field.”
Given the sparse spiritual energy here, at best, one could cultivate mid- or low-grade spiritual herbs.
Growing high-grade herbs would likely require pouring in more resources than they were worth.
And as everyone knew, selling raw materials was far less profitable than selling refined goods.
Given that the senior had the skill to craft a Boundary-Breaking Mirror, the meager profits from low- and mid-grade herbs would hardly have been worth their time.
Yan Luoyue nodded, then mused curiously, “I wonder how the time flow here compares to ours.”
If the ratio was two to one, then after four or five years here, she could return with hundreds of millions—or even billions—of spiritual sense gold bars, while only two or three years would have passed in the cultivation world.
If it was five to one, even better. She’d gain five years’ worth of vitality here while only one year passed back home.
And if it was five hundred to one…
Wu Manshuang swiftly cut off her daydream with a single, sobering remark.
With the clarity of an outsider, he stated matter-of-factly, “Then Shizun would be overjoyed and immediately hand all assembly line training responsibilities to you.”
Yan Luoyue: “…”
That… was absolutely something Ji Qinghong would do.
Suddenly, the urgency to return didn’t feel quite so pressing anymore.
Clearing her throat, Yan Luoyue untied the massive bundle from her back and dug out a refining furnace.
Wu Manshuang blinked in surprise. “Luoyue, are you crafting a movement artifact?”
“That can wait.” Yan Luoyue tilted her chin up. “Right now, we’re making the most important thing!”
Namely—storage pouches!
If storage pouches couldn’t pass through the spatial passage, then she’d just craft them on-site after entering the secret realm. Problem solved.
A cultivator couldn’t go without a storage pouch, just as a turtle couldn’t lose its shell.
Yan Luoyue promptly refined two high-capacity storage pouches, handing one to Wu Manshuang.
After stashing all their belongings inside, they set off in a random direction.
As they walked, Yan Luoyue extended her spiritual sense to survey their surroundings.
“This secret realm is truly vast, with incredibly diverse species. If not for the immense cost of opening it, the sect would’ve long since turned it into a training ground for ordinary disciples…”
Her words abruptly cut off.
Her grip on Wu Manshuang’s hand tightened slightly.
At the same moment, Wu Manshuang lifted his head, his spiritual sense lashing out like a whip toward the direction where Yan Luoyue’s had paused.
“Over there is…”
“A city.”
A city meant a gathering of intelligent beings—and a large one at that.
Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang exchanged glances, surprise flickering across both their faces.
A moment later, Yan Luoyue muttered under her breath, “Holy crap, now I finally get it…”
Why was this secret realm so vast, its creatures so abundant, its spatial passage so unstable, and its time flow different from the cultivation world’s?
Because… this wasn’t a secret realm at all!
This was a freaking entire new world!
Yan Luoyue smacked her forehead. “That senior who made the Boundary-Breaking Mirror really should’ve explored further back then.”
Such crucial information had slipped right past them.
Wu Manshuang, however, disagreed. “Time here flows faster than in our world. So when that senior arrived, what they saw was probably nothing like this…”
Thousands of years ago, the humans here might not have had the capability to build cities. They might’ve still been in a primitive state.
But now that there was a city, they had a destination.
Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang headed straight for it, maintaining a steady, unhurried pace.
After all, they’d be spending at least the next four or five years in this world.
There was no need to rush anything.
As they drew closer to the city, Yan Luoyue caught sight of the local inhabitants.
One of them, a man with strikingly handsome features, sat atop a distinctly exotic-looking carriage.
The creature pulling it resembled a horse but had wide hooves, horn-like fleshy protrusions on its head, and vibrantly colored fur.
At first glance, Yan Luoyue was simultaneously reminded of “My Little Pony” and unicorns, and she couldn’t help staring for a moment.
While she studied the creature, the carriage’s occupant scrutinized her and Wu Manshuang in return.
After giving them both a strange once-over, the man muttered something under his breath—something that sounded like “solid”—before flicking the reins and driving off.
Yan Luoyue: “???”
She and Wu Manshuang shared a baffled look.
“Did I mishear? Or is this world’s common language the same as the cultivation world’s?”
“Unclear for now.” Wu Manshuang, ever observant, had noticed more details in their brief encounter. “Luoyue, did you see how he was dressed?”
The carriage driver’s attire had been… notably skimpy.
The fabric on his body was vibrant and soft, and even by this world's standards, the material should be considered quite good.
However, the man wore only a strip of cloth draped over his upper body, like a sash covering half his chest, with the end tied around his left wrist.
As for his lower half, he wore a pair of thin shorts, with no shoes or socks on his feet.
Was this the local traditional attire? Yan Luoyue wasn’t entirely sure.
As the two walked further, they encountered more passersby.
Almost everyone who passed by would give them a strange look.
Then, many would curl their lips slightly and mutter the words, "solid ones."
Yan Luoyue: "..."
Yan Luoyue noted the pattern among these people: those riding in carriages wore less and thinner clothing, while those walking on foot dressed more heavily.
As for her and Wu Manshuang, who were covered from head to toe and even adorned with jingling little accessories—they were practically one-of-a-kind.
Stretching out a finger to feel the temperature of the wind, Yan Luoyue murmured, "It can’t be because of the climate."
The weather in this world was akin to early spring—just after the ice had melted and spring had returned, so people on the street could dress however they pleased.
A wool coat was acceptable, a windbreaker and skirt were fine, and a hardy young man wearing a short-sleeved T-shirt wouldn’t freeze either.
But why did the locals look at her and Wu Manshuang as if they were a pair of fools strolling around in down jackets in the middle of summer?
Just as Yan Luoyue was puzzling over this, another unicorn-drawn carriage approached from behind.
This time, the young man in the carriage slowed his vehicle and took the initiative to greet Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang.
"You two aren’t from Baolan City, are you?"
The young man spoke while sizing them up from head to toe.
When his gaze landed on their faces, his eyes—already shifty from constant movement—suddenly gleamed with a bright, calculating light.
"..."
Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang exchanged a quick glance.
—The young man spoke with a heavy local accent, yet Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang could understand him perfectly.
That was convenient.
Yan Luoyue smiled openly and replied, "Yes, we’ve come from afar."
"No wonder—your accents don’t sound like you’re from Baolan City."
The young man suddenly understood and scooted over, making room for them in the carriage.
"Hop on, let me give you a ride!"
The young man introduced himself as "Little Mouse."
Apparently, when his mother gave birth to him, the rats in their house had also birthed a litter, hence the name.
Wu Manshuang noticed that this young man wore very little clothing—light and sparse.
After a brief exchange, Yan Luoyue confirmed one thing: the language of this world was largely compatible with that of the cultivation realm.
However, certain words or phrases had developed different meanings here.
For example, the young man’s earlier phrase, "No wonder," actually meant "Ah, that explains it."
And then…
Wait, why was this man muttering "solid ones" while looking at her and Wu Manshuang?
Yan Luoyue asked in confusion, "What does 'solid ones' mean? Why does everyone keep saying that?"
Judging by tone and expression, the term seemed similar to "country bumpkin," but the actual meaning must have been slightly different.
At her question, Little Mouse’s face flashed with something close to disbelief.
He murmured, "You really must be from somewhere very, very far away…"
"Hmm?"
Little Mouse chuckled, putting down the trinket in his hand, and asked, "Can you spirit-shift?"
"What’s spirit-shifting?" Yan Luoyue raised an eyebrow, guessing this must be one of this world’s unique traits.
Little Mouse hummed thoughtfully. The next second, right before Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang’s eyes, his features melted like wax, growing fainter and fainter…
Within half a minute, from his head to his waist, Little Mouse’s body transformed into a translucent, ghostly silhouette.
His head became a large sphere, his facial features indistinct, and his fingers rounded off like Doraemon’s mitts.
At the same time, the garment draped over his shoulders slipped right through his ghostly form and landed with a soft thud on the carriage seat.
Curious, Yan Luoyue tentatively reached out to touch Little Mouse’s arm.
Her fingers passed right through him as if he were made of air.
Little Mouse grinned. "Unless you spirit-shift too, solid ones can’t touch us."
Oh?
Hearing this, Yan Luoyue smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
The moment Little Mouse "spirit-shifted," she had sensed a distinct surge of spiritual energy from him.
Yan Luoyue was certain that if she channeled her own spiritual power, even in his ghostly state, he wouldn’t be able to evade her.
A moment later, Little Mouse solidified back into his physical form, and his first action was to pick up the fallen garment and put it back on. "That’s spirit-shifting."
Wu Manshuang asked, "Do you feel anything when you spirit-shift?"
"Nope." Little Mouse adjusted the sash-like garment. "No cold, no heat, no thirst, no hunger. Too bad we can’t stay like that forever—now that’d be the life!"
Hearing this, Yan Luoyue finally understood.
No wonder the higher someone’s status here, the less they wore.
After all, if they got too hot or cold, they could just spirit-shift to solve the problem.
And spirit-shifting didn’t include clothing.
So after returning to their physical forms, they’d have to pick up their discarded garments and put them back on.
Over time, humans—ever lazy by nature—opted to wear fewer and easier-to-remove clothes the stronger they were.
In other words, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang, dressed from head to toe, were living proof of their inability to spirit-shift.
No wonder every passerby could tell they were "solid ones."
Yan Luoyue pressed further, "Can everyone spirit-shift?"
Little Mouse laughed heartily. "Most people can, but a few can’t. Like you and this young man—you two don’t have the ability, do you?"
Yan Luoyue smiled slightly, thinking, We can’t turn into ghosts, but we can turn into beasts.
The two of them could transform into a turtle and a snake on the spot—or even combine into the Black Tortoise.
Little Mouse rummaged through the carriage and pulled out a waterskin and cups.
The round-footed cups were made of a metal unique to this world, resembling silver dusted with starlight.
"Drink up. You’ve come a long way—you must be thirsty." Little Mouse said generously. "We people of Baolan City are the most hospitable!"
Wu Manshuang accepted the cup Little Mouse pushed into his hands.
The moment his lips touched the water, he couldn’t help but smile.
The smile was meaningful, and Yan Luoyue understood its implication at a glance.
She blinked, sharing a playful look with Wu Manshuang.
——So someone actually dared to?
Wu Manshuang’s eyes also showed a hint of admiration: Indeed, someone actually dared to.
The next second, Yan Luoyue drank the water as well. As expected, a -9 health damage bar floated before her eyes.
Yan Luoyue: "……"
She stared at the number for a long time, confirming it was truly -9 and not -99.
…Tch, the damage value couldn’t even reach 10 points. The potion this guy came up with was kinda weak, huh?
But then again, this world had sparse spiritual energy. Whether it was the quality of spirit herbs, the grade of spirit ores, or the cultivation levels practitioners could achieve, everything was far weaker than the cultivation realm.
Whatever, borrowing the identity of a local would make it easier to blend into the city.
Yan Luoyue muttered to herself before putting on a convincing act of passing out.
After she collapsed, Wu Manshuang also "fell unconscious" right beside her.
The two showed not a hint of tension. The moment they lay down, Wu Manshuang even gave Yan Luoyue’s palm a playful squeeze.
Seeing both of them knocked out, Little Mouse burst into laughter: "Haha, what a pair of gullible fools!"
He whipped the reins and drove triumphantly toward the gates of Baolan City.
What Little Mouse would never expect was that inside the carriage, the two who were supposedly "unconscious" were secretly tracing pinyin letters into each other’s palms beneath their sleeves.
Wu Manshuang wrote in Yan Luoyue’s palm: This guy’s got a black heart.
Though her eyes were closed, a faint trace of amusement still flickered at the corners of Yan Luoyue’s brows.
She wrote back in Wu Manshuang’s palm: Yeah, later we’ll beat him until he’s hollow inside.
For some reason, Little Mouse, who was speeding ahead with the carriage, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
……
Upon entering the city, Yan Luoyue extended her spiritual sense and observed that the local currency was a solid, leaf-shaped green object called a "Leaf."
These Leaves contained trace amounts of spiritual energy, with ten Leaves roughly equivalent to one Spirit Pearl.
When entering the city, Little Mouse paid a total of thirty Leaves as the entry fee, which included the shares for Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang.
Though he had to fork over twenty extra Leaves, Little Mouse still felt smug as he flicked the reins.
Back on the road, he had taken one look at these two "gullible fools" and been struck by their beauty. If he sold them to the city lord’s estate, he could make at least…
Before the thought could fully form, another wave of cold crept up the back of Little Mouse’s neck.
He turned halfway and found himself staring at the edge of a blade pressed against his throat—and Yan Luoyue’s half-lidded, amused eyes as she propped her chin on one hand.
Little Mouse blinked. "You woke up fast."
As he spoke, the man swiftly shifted into a ghostly, intangible form.
He smirked smugly, about to say something, when a scream tore from his throat instead.
The lively, pretty girl had seized his wrist.
She was supposed to be a "gullible fool," yet her grip was solid enough to hold his spiritualized body in place.
Her palm burned like a branding iron, and the skin she touched uncontrollably reverted to its physical form.
Worse, the solidification spread like a contagion, crawling up Little Mouse’s arm in an instant and forcing his entire body back into flesh and blood!
Little Mouse gasped in horror. "What—what are you?"
Even invading demons couldn’t forcibly break spiritualization like this!
Yan Luoyue gave a fake smile. "As you can see, we’re just two passing… gullible fools."
Wu Manshuang’s reaction was more direct. He flung open the carriage curtain and pointed at the many citizens walking the streets, his voice icy. "What’s wrong with them?"
Even without extending his spiritual sense, it was impossible to miss how three or four out of every ten citizens were missing a limb—whether a left or right arm, or a left or right leg.
If it were just one, it could’ve been an accident. But with so many missing limbs, things clearly weren’t that simple.
Little Mouse grimaced. "Th-that’s just how spiritualized citizens are treated! What’s it to you gullible fools?"
"…Oh?" Yan Luoyue frowned, instantly increasing the spiritual energy surging from her hand. "I thought spiritualization made you immune to physical harm?"
"Agh—stop, stop! Please, let go, little miss!"
Gasping in pain, Little Mouse spilled everything like beans from a bamboo tube.
First, one thing was certain: in this world, imprisonment wasn’t an option for punishing spiritualized criminals.
After all, once spiritualized, one could simply phase through walls. No matter the sentence, escape was just a night’s work.
So the only punishments for spiritualized offenders were either immediate release or immediate execution.
For crimes not severe enough for death, the solution was either a beating by fellow spiritualized enforcers—or outright amputation.
Wu Manshuang narrowed his eyes. "They’re all criminals?"
Were there really this many offenders in a single city?
Little Mouse rubbed his hands together with an awkward chuckle.
Turns out, the lord of Baolan City had a vicious temper and advocated harsh laws, ruling with an iron fist that left the people miserable.
So even minor offenses—like failing to pay the full head tax—earned citizens a visit from the lord’s guards and a lost limb.
Since everyone knew that those missing limbs were criminals—serious ones, at that—any who tried to leave Baolan City would find themselves shunned as outcasts, unwelcome in other cities.
So even under such tyranny, the maimed citizens had nowhere to go but stay in Baolan City.
Halfway through the story, Yan Luoyue’s frown deepened.
Coldly, she asked, "And what does that make you?"
Little Mouse’s smile faltered completely.
—He was a broker who traveled between cities, arranging deals for wealthy merchants and powerful figures, supplying all sorts of "goods."
Of course, if there was money to be made, he wasn’t above human trafficking either.
For instance, the lord of Baolan City had a particular fondness for beautiful "gullible fools."
So when Little Mouse spotted Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang on the road, he’d hatched a plan to trick them into his carriage.
At this point, Little Mouse’s regret was palpable.
No wonder these two had been so easy to fool.
Turns out, while they couldn’t spiritualize, they could suppress others’ spiritualization.
That made them far more dangerous than any spiritualized being!
If only he’d known…
Before the thought could finish, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang exchanged a glance.
"Aside from spiritualization, they have no cultivation at all. Otherwise, they’re no different from mortals," Wu Manshuang murmured. "Should we use that?"
"Let’s." Yan Luoyue nodded, her gaze settling on the captive Little Mouse. "He’s just a mortal too… Want to test it on him first?"
No need to be polite with a trafficker.
Wu Manshuang’s blade flashed, and in the next instant, one of Little Mouse’s arms hit the floor.
The cold, sharp pain turned him into a trembling wreck.
For a moment, he was too stunned to even scream.
"Agh—mmph!"
Only after the sharp pain belatedly traveled through his nerves and reached his brain did Little Mouse open his mouth to let out a scream—but before he could, Yan Luoyue shoved half a pill into it.
What happened next was something he wouldn’t have dared to imagine even in his wildest dreams.
At the severed stump of his arm, flesh and blood began to writhe and squirm. Before long, a brand-new arm, its skin still pale and fragile, sprouted forth like a budding branch.
"!!!"
Little Mouse swallowed hard and tentatively flexed his new fingers—they actually moved!
Meanwhile, Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang, who had witnessed this scene firsthand, showed no trace of surprise.
Yan Luoyue remarked with satisfaction, "It seems this works even across worlds. The biological constitutions must be similar—perhaps we can even find substitute ingredients here."
This was a byproduct developed while cultivating the Changlili species—the Body Restoration Pill. Though it was only effective for mortals, it now appeared capable of achieving remarkable results.
"Mm." Wu Manshuang smiled faintly, exchanging a glance with Yan Luoyue.
In that moment, neither of them spoke a word.
Yet, in the meeting of their gazes, it was as if a thousand words had been exchanged. A single look was enough to confirm all the decisions that would follow.
Wu Manshuang said softly, "Luoyue, do as you wish."
With a thud, Little Mouse knelt heavily on the severed arm he had lost earlier.
It finally dawned on him that this time, his scheme had ensnared two unimaginably powerful figures.
Moreover, he couldn’t shake the creeping suspicion that these two were stronger than the lord of Baolan City—stronger than any city lord he had ever seen. In fact, they might even be the most formidable beings in this entire world...
"Y-you…" Little Mouse stammered, "Just who are you…?"
Yan Luoyue didn’t answer directly.
Instead, she said leisurely, "My master once taught me a principle: if you see an injustice you wish to right, then act."
"—After all, if you don’t intervene when you witness wrongdoing, what’s the point of having such power?"
As she spoke, she pulled out a small bottle of pills and dangled it in front of Little Mouse.
Trembling like a leaf, Little Mouse instinctively shrank back, only for Yan Luoyue to yank him forward again.
"Why run?" Yan Luoyue chuckled. "This is a Beauty Pill—nothing harmful."
"B-Beauty Pill?"
"That’s right," Yan Luoyue said coolly. "I’ve already broken your spiritual form. Now, after taking this pill, you’ll become an exquisitely beautiful, irresistibly alluring solid person—just the kind Baolan City’s lord adores."
"......"
Realizing the poetic justice implied in her words, Little Mouse shuddered like the vermin he was, his teeth chattering uncontrollably.
"N-no, I was wrong! I shouldn’t have tricked you—I shouldn’t trick anyone! This was really my first time, spare me, please spare me—mmph!"
Yan Luoyue tapped her chin thoughtfully and turned to Wu Manshuang. "How much do you think we should sell him for?"
She still wasn’t entirely familiar with the local pricing.
Wu Manshuang considered this, then replied with perfect logic, "Twenty leaves."
"Huh?"
Wu Manshuang nodded politely at Little Mouse and explained with impeccable reasoning:
"Earlier, you paid twenty leaves for our entry into the city. We are deeply grateful for your generosity. Therefore, we will sell you for twenty leaves and use that money to repay you. Do you have any objections?"
Now transformed into a vision of breathtaking beauty, Little Mouse didn’t dare voice a single objection—in fact, under the weight of such divine power, he hardly dared to breathe too loudly.
Wu Manshuang nodded approvingly and turned to Yan Luoyue. "Good. He agrees."
Yan Luoyue: "..."
She covered her face with one hand. "Manshuang, you’re the real master of ruthlessness here..."
"What?" Wu Manshuang blinked in genuine confusion before correcting her earnestly. "I was merely explaining the logic to him."
......
The unicorn-drawn carriage had just reached the side gate of the city lord’s manor when a clear, composed voice rang out from beyond the curtain before Yan Luoyue could even step out.
"Little Mouse?" The man’s tone was icy. "Here to sell another solid person?"
Hearing the disdain in his voice, Yan Luoyue paused before lifting the curtain.
As she extended one foot past the carriage threshold, the man growled impatiently:
"You’ve got terrible timing. The lord is busy today—get lost before—"
His words cut off abruptly as Yan Luoyue locked eyes with him.
The young man was strikingly handsome, his posture upright and confident. His slightly upturned eyes carried a wild, leonine intensity.
Here, the less clothing one wore, the greater their strength.
So far, Yan Luoyue had encountered many locals, but this was the first man she’d seen who could make such scant fabric look so effortlessly appealing.
A few wisps of gauze draped around his waist, revealing long, muscular legs. Another sheer golden sash rested loosely against the sculpted curves of his chest.
The opulent gold complemented his deep, sun-kissed skin perfectly—like a divine being descending to bestow chocolate milk upon mortals.
"..."
The young man frowned, about to speak again, when a fully clothed "solid person" emerged from the carriage, cutting off his words.
His gaze darted to the carriage, confirming he hadn’t mistaken it, then he whispered urgently, "Were you tricked here?"
The question was so quick and quiet that Yan Luoyue might have missed it had she not been paying close attention.
Smiling faintly, she cleared her throat. "We’re here to sell a solid person."
"..."
His expression shifted instantly.
The flicker of pity vanished, replaced by cold professionalism.
"So," he said flatly, "you work for Little Mouse?"
"Not at all."
"Don’t lie." The man scoffed. "I recognize Little Mouse’s carriage."
With that, he yanked the curtain aside. The faint metallic scent inside hadn’t yet dissipated, and his nose twitched slightly.
Then, in the next second, his eyes widened in shock as they landed on the breathtakingly beautiful man inside.
"..."
Though it lasted barely a fraction of a second—and though he schooled his expression almost immediately—his disbelief was unmistakable.
Yan Luoyue tilted her head curiously. "Do you know Little Mouse well?"
It seemed he not only recognized the carriage but also identified Little Mouse himself, despite his dramatic transformation.
The young man replied evenly, "Little Mouse has a cross-shaped scar on his shoulder. Plenty of people know that."
As he spoke, he reached out and dragged Little Mouse down from the carriage, his tone eerily calm as he asked:
"How much are you selling this person for? Our City Lord has taken an interest."
Little Mouse turned deathly pale in an instant. "N-no, just now... you said the City Lord was... was busy today..."
The young man bared his teeth in a grin, the smile dripping with bloody satisfaction. "He’s free now."
"I’m Little Mouse!" Little Mouse shrieked. "I have a cross-shaped scar on my shoulder—lots of people know that!"
The young man shook his head regretfully. "What a shame. The City Lord doesn’t."
He shook Little Mouse’s arm up and down until the man’s wrist dislocated, but no transformation occurred.
With a note of surprise, the young man remarked, "Has this guy really turned into a solid human?"
Yan Luoyue smiled without answering.
After a moment’s thought, the young man hastily pulled out paper and pen, scribbled something down, then crumpled the note and flicked it into the carriage, where it landed on Wu Manshuang’s knee.
"It’s been a pleasure meeting you today. If you’re interested in getting acquainted, wait for me at this address."
Since he was the only guard on duty at the gate, his actions, though swift, carried an air of effortless confidence.
Yan Luoyue asked curiously, "You know this is Little Mouse. Aren’t you afraid he’ll say something reckless to your City Lord?"
The young man laughed openly, giving the man in his grip another shake.
"First, now that he’s a fine, solid human, the City Lord won’t care about his past identity. Second... he won’t get the chance to say anything reckless to the City Lord."
At that moment, Little Mouse, slumped limply on the ground, suddenly lifted his head as if realizing something.
"The Freedom Alliance—Cen Mingxiao! You... you’re with the Freedom Alliance, aren’t you?"
Before he could finish, Cen Mingxiao drove his elbow into Little Mouse’s head, knocking him out cold.
With a sigh, he remarked, "This solid human’s clearly lost his mind—first claiming to be Little Mouse, then accusing me of being with the Freedom Alliance. Oh, right—how much are you selling him for?"
Yan Luoyue replied, "Twenty leaves, please."
Cen Mingxiao paused, then burst into hearty laughter. "Perfect! That’s all he’s worth!"
His wild, striking eyes swept over Yan Luoyue and Wu Manshuang before he declared with enthusiasm,
"You two must come find me tonight. We’ll drink together—it’s settled!"
Without waiting for Yan Luoyue’s refusal, Cen Mingxiao dragged Little Mouse away, disappearing through a side gate.
Yan Luoyue stood still, watching Cen Mingxiao’s retreating figure—his well-proportioned legs and trim waist—and mused, "What a straightforward guy. Good personality."
Suddenly, Wu Manshuang was right behind her, his voice low and icy. "Do you like them a bit more... sun-kissed?"
"It’s not about that," Yan Luoyue assessed objectively. "It’s more that his personality is so... streamlined, his approach to things so full-bodied and well-developed, his aura so elastic and radiant..."
Wu Manshuang: "..."
Wu Manshuang took a deep breath, feeling a surge of boiling frustration rush to his head.
At that moment, he suddenly had the urge to take another age-pill, then immediately change into his limited-edition Southern Border demon prince attire.
"Wait." Yan Luoyue blinked rapidly. "Manshuang, why are you counting seconds?"
Wu Manshuang, tallying on his fingers with a terrifyingly polite smile, replied:
"I’m counting how many seconds it’ll take before you describe his social skills as... slurp slurp slurp."
Yan Luoyue: "..."
