22. Girls should take more baths

The sunlight harshly illuminated the night.

Swirls of white smoke could be seen from afar, making Ancient Moon Town seem like an incense burner placed before the statue of a deity.

And those struggling to survive were like the ash within the burner.

When the three returned to their previous room, the little girl from last night was still there, hugging her knees, her lips pale as she squatted by the door, as if she had been waiting for him.

Seeing him return, her bright and clear eyes suddenly lit up.

"Immortal Master."

She ran up excitedly.

But then, as if suddenly realizing something was amiss, she abruptly stopped.

Xu Yuan squatted down, gently touched her head with a tender expression, and said, "Don't run around, understand?"

"Mhm."

She nodded timidly.

Watching the three walk back into the room, the light gradually faded from her eyes, leaving them dim and listless.

...

Elsewhere, within a rosewood attic that seemed removed from the world,

a relentless argument was erupting.

"If they keep on stalling like this, waiting any longer will be in vain, right? We might as well take action now."

"If we act now, wouldn't that just be tipping them off?"

"Dragging this out won't yield any results either."

The girls' voices were crisp and pleasant, but they sounded as if numerous swords were clashing fiercely, proving rather irritating to the ears.

"Enough, stop quarreling."

The 'walker' girl, who was sitting half a meter away from them, sighed, looking out at the sky through the window. A ripple finally appeared in her calm, clear eyes, "Time... is almost upon us. Get ready to make your move. When the moment comes, I will take care of the main target; you all with the Array Plate will delay the other two. Once it's done, we'll make our escape immediately."

"Understood."

The ones who had just been arguing exchanged glances, nodding in silent agreement, the excitement of accomplishing their goal clearly visible in their eyes.

...

Xu Yuan sat in his chair, examining the Jade Pendant he'd snatched from the vendor, turning it over in his hands, yet he couldn't find any part of it that seemed useful.

"In the game, it was Lin Qingque who casually picked up this object and bonded with the Illusory Mirror. Why don't I feel anything holding it?"

Indeed, this object was the key prop in this game instance. In the game, it was actually Lin Qingque who had stepped into his previous role, picked up the Jade Pendant, and triggered the Illusory Realm.

Then the three of them and the Sword Sect disciples who entered later, overcame challenges and enemies one by one, with Lin Qingque successfully bonding with the Illusory Mirror, advancing her abilities in both Heart Dao and Illusory Realm.

This time, however, he had just managed to get there first.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so rash.

But this time's plot differed significantly from the game, starting with the change in the first night's story—it seemed like someone accelerated the pace, skipping straight from the first night to the last. Moreover, the Sword Sect disciples who were supposed to appear at night and get into a fight due to a misunderstanding were also absent.

'Could it be that the Mind Reading Technique is necessary to understand its secrets?'

Xu Yuan remembered that it was only after Lin Qingque took it, restored it to its original form, and turned it into a Jade Pendant, that she could bond with it.

But can this thing… be read?

He pondered endlessly, ever since it came into his possession; whenever he had free time, he used various methods to try to unlock its transformation, but they pretty much were all in vain.

No matter whether he channeled spiritual power into it, dripped blood to claim ownership, applied fire or submerged it in water, it remained utterly indifferent, without the slightest change.

And all of these, further proved on the other hand, that he indeed hadn't taken the wrong item.

"It's a pity that once the Illusory Mirror claims an owner, it can't be changed; otherwise, I could have given her the key first and then later coaxed her into giving this thing to me," he thought regretfully.

Xu Yuan must obtain this thing no matter what.

It was one of the trump cards he had selected.

As long as he could successfully claim ownership of the Illusory Mirror, even if he had to turn against the two of them in the future, he was confident he could escape.

As his thoughts entangled in his mind, a gentle knocking sound came from beyond the two walls in front and behind him.

Xu Yuan buried these thoughts in his mind but didn't rush to remove the camouflage due to his multitasking gift. Instead, he continued to think about trivial matters such as Lin Qingque's daily preferences and carefully hid the jade pendant.

The next moment, ripples appeared on both walls as if they were water surfaces, and then, two young girls emerged from behind the walls as if passing through a curtain.

One in a red dress like fire, with hands behind her back and eyes downcast, resembled an empress. Despite not being groomed for many days, her dress remained bright and dazzling. Whenever one's gaze fell upon it, there was a searing pain, much like looking at a burning flame.

The other was in plain clothes, cool and ethereal like a fairy, with long hair flowing like dark clouds and snow, chest out and back straight, the epitome of grace and beauty.

"Wall-Penetration Skills," Xu Yuan muttered with a touch of envy.

Unfortunately, although on the way here he acquired many cultivation insights and spells from the two girls, especially from Tian Liuli, he hadn't yet had much time for cultivation.

"Senior brother, I'm here," Lin Qingque blinked her eyes, melting the eternal ice mountain expression with a sweet smile, as delicate as a jade.

"Hmm," responded Xu Yuan, his gaze falling on her hair that was still somewhat moist, somewhat helplessly he said, "Have you used gathered water to bathe again?"

"Yes, after all, as a girl, it's always better to be clean," Lin Qingque replied with a charming smile, her eyes hinting at Tian Liuli as she spoke, "I am a girl after all, I can't go every day without washing and stink, can I?"

"It's nothing more than vanity, a wasteful use of spiritual power," Tian Liuli retorted with a cold smile.

"Better that than someone unclean and dirty," Lin Qingque smiled sweetly and added, "I can smell a scent from afar, ugh, disgusting."

A hint of sharpness flickered in Tian Liuli's brow, and a trace of aura appeared on her composed face.

Even though she knew Lin Qingque's words were false, Tian Liuli was unavoidably stirred and became agitated.

"Enough, you two…" Xu Yuan rubbed his forehead with a hint of helplessness and said, "Stop arguing, if they discover us, our camouflage will be for naught."

"So, senior brother, why did you call us here, what do you want to say?" Lin Qingque asked.

Without a trace of emotion, Tian Liuli lowered her nose slightly and took a soft breath. After confirming there was no smell, she finally relaxed a bit, then took up Xu Yuan's cue and said, "If nothing goes wrong, the demons hidden within the town should soon make their move."