Chapter Eighteen: The One in the Heart

Below the Jiuli Mountain, there was a thatched cottage. Although the decoration of the house was simple, the scenery was quite nice. The cottage was situated above a stream, with its back facing the green mountains and its front facing the clear water. Along the shore was a dense bamboo forest. This environment was most suitable for literati and poets to reside in, and it was the place agreed upon by Zisang and Wuchen.

Wuchen had been waiting in the house since the day they arrived, along with Danjun who had come with him. However, Zisang had yet to arrive. Wuchen was not someone who enjoyed revelry. Ever since that day, he had been waiting patiently in the house for Zisang to arrive.

In contrast to Danjun, who was always full of excitement, Wuchen remained restless from the moment he arrived. He even went out to hunt wild rabbits again.

A table was placed near the door, and Wuchen spent his days and nights sitting there, his eyes fixed on the outside world, as if he could see through it. He would rush outside at the slightest movement.

Danjun, full of excitement, waved at him and shouted, "Brother in Black, we have rabbits to eat tonight!"

A smile on Wuchen's face was instantly wiped away. His eyes sank, and he walked heavily back inside to continue guarding the door.

The atmosphere inside the house also became subdued. Danjun looked at Wuchen for a long time.

He had a cold expression, devoid of any emotion. In fact, this was not uncommon. What intrigued her was the expression he had just shown, one she had never seen before. It was a mixture of happiness and restraint.

Since she had known him, he had always worn a cold expression. He seldom spoke, and if she didn't talk to him, he could go a whole day without saying a word. Sometimes, even when she spoke to him, he wouldn't reply.

Unknowingly, she fell asleep. When Danjun woke up again, it was already deep into the night.

"Wow! Fireflies!"

Danjun, like a child, jumped around playing with the fireflies.

Watching this scene, Wuchen seemed to hear Zisang's voice again.

"What are you looking at?"

Following Wuchen's gaze, Zisang looked over and said disdainfully, "Just fireflies! Our demon realm has plenty of them. After this is over, I'll take you to our demon realm. The fireflies in our demon realm are the most beautiful."

The past seemed to flash before his eyes, as if Zisang were still sitting beside him, talking to him.

A sweetness filled his eyes, and his lips involuntarily curved upwards. Danjun, looking at this scene, was stunned. So, he does smile. His smile is so beautiful, as if it has a magical power. Seeing him smile, she couldn't help but smile too.

"...Wuchen."

A vacant voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"I command you, why have you not completed the task?"

"This matter still requires some time. I hope the Demon Lord can be patient for a while longer."

Wuchen replied with telepathy.

"I have waited long enough. If there is any slight mistake in this operation, you will pay the price."

The Demon Lord's tone was extremely angry, but it was understandable... He had been sealed in the Sea of Sorrow for a thousand years. Now that he had a way to leave, how could he not be impatient?

"I implore the Demon Lord to calm down. I am implementing the plan step by step according to the plan. Success is within reach."

"The Demon Lord must not be impatient. Haste makes waste. After all, haste makes waste."

Knowing that the Demon Lord was impatient, fearing that his impatience would cause mistakes, Wuchen also tried to persuade him.

In the demon realm,

"Useless!"

As soon as Emperor Chenrui returned to the house, he started to rage. Various tea and porcelain ware were smashed into pieces.

The maids in the room were all frightened, trembling with their heads down. Emperor Hengsong, who couldn't bear to see it, found a cup from the few remaining ones and poured some tea, offering it to Emperor Chenrui to calm him down.

"Have a cup of tea to calm your anger. That demon girl, no matter how powerful she is, she's just a little girl. Why bother getting angry because of her?"

Emperor Chenrui raised his head and finished the tea in one gulp. Just as he was about to put the cup down on the table, he angrily threw it to the ground again.

"I'm just so angry! A little girl who's still wet behind the ears dares to show off in front of me!"

"And that Qingluan Jun, he's simply useless. He couldn't even defeat a little girl. He's been living in vain for thousands of years."

"We've been giving him advice and strategies on the sidelines, but what's the result? It's all talk and no action," Emperor Chenrui said angrily, pounding the table.

"Emperor Chenrui, what you said makes sense. So... what do you plan to do next?"

Emperor Hengsong lightly shook the water in the cup and lazily asked.

"The next step needs careful consideration. I plan to..."

"Your Majesty, something's not right!"

Emperor Chenrui's words were suddenly interrupted by a maid, and then the maid rushed over in a panic.

"Didn't you see that I was talking to Emperor Hengsong? Whatever it is, it can wait until later."

Emperor Chenrui scolded, originally still angry, now venting his anger on the maid.

The maid didn't dare to argue with Emperor Chenrui. Hastily, she said, "The princess was taken away by the princess's people."

"What?"

"When did this happen?"

"Just last night."

"Bang!" Emperor Chenrui stood up abruptly, gritting his teeth.

"Alright, since I didn't settle the score with you today, you've come to bully me again. Then I'll settle both old and new accounts with you."

...

Nan Xianyi and Zisang had been wandering around Jiuli Mountain for several circles, but they still couldn't find the thatched cottage that Wuchen had mentioned.

Knowing that Zisang had a poor sense of direction, but this was too much!

Nan Xianyi looked at Zisang, who was still looking for the way, and thought to himself, 'I can't let her go out alone in the future. What if she gets lost?'

Nan Xianyi smiled and said, "Sang'er, look, it's getting late, and you've been tired all day. How about... you go back to the inn to rest first, and uh... let me take care of finding the person."

Zisang looked at Nan Xianyi with a somewhat puzzled expression, as if she were thinking about something.

Oh no, could she have sensed that I'm impatient with her inability to find the way?

What should I do? Will she be angry? Should I explain to her that I didn't mean it that way?

"Okay! Just be careful."

Nan Xianyi breathed a sigh of relief as Zisang agreed and left very gracefully.

"Just a moment!"

Just as Zisang was about to leave, Nan Xianyi called her back, and after hesitating for a long time, he said, "Um... can you find your way back to the inn?"

"Isn't that obvious?"

Zisang's expression was slightly surprised, as if she hadn't expected Nan Xianyi to say that.

"Oh, okay!" Seeing Zisang's surprised expression, Nan Xianyi felt a little embarrassed and scratched the back of his head.

After parting ways with Zisang, Nan Xianyi searched the village at the foot of Jiuli Mountain for a while longer but still couldn't find the thatched cottage Zisang had mentioned. He began to doubt whether Zisang had remembered correctly. Seeing that it was already night...

Nan Xianyi had no choice but to give up. It seemed that he wouldn't be able to find it today, so he could only wait until tomorrow.

...

On the way back, Nan Xianyi always felt like someone was following him. Every time he turned around to look, there was no one behind him.

Nan Xianyi hesitated for a moment, then lifted his feet and continued walking. One step, two steps, three steps... His footsteps gradually slowed down...

The person behind him was slowly approaching, extending their fingers towards him...

Nan Xianyi suddenly turned around, and the flute was already at the person's throat.

"Nan... Nan Xianyi, what are you doing?"

The moonlight revealed the person's face, and it was Lu Yan. Nan Xianyi immediately retracted the flute.

Turning his head again, he saw Luyan, who looked exhausted, slowly walking towards them, as if he hadn't rested for a day.

Nan Xianyi couldn't help but ask weakly, "Didn't you come here overnight?"

Lu Yan snorted, "Hmph, coming here overnight would be too light. I ran here overnight."

"It's not that I'm saying, Miss Yufu, next time you want to fly again, can you discuss it with me? Do you think I can keep up with you running with my legs while you're flying with your wings?"

After listening to Lu Yan's complaints, Nan Xianyi couldn't help but throw him a caring look.

But back to the point, could the people who followed him just now be them? It's impossible. Judging from the footsteps just now, there should be more than two people. Could it be...