To be frank, Mei Ying did not know what kind of response to expect.

Though Jian Yu replied to her question, it only helped the huntress understand two things: One, her friend is strong--or rather--insanely powerful enough to do whatever he wants. Two, the Demon King was the complete opposite of what the widespread legends and rumors made him to be.

There would be a third thing learned...if Mei Ying interprets the answer this way as well: Jian Yu’s purpose from the start of their meeting was to help her, simply because--he is Jian Yu.

I had suspected that the Demon King murdered my Shaman Hua, but he still helped me, regardless. The young woman thought carefully. More than just that, he is unlike anything from Bing Wen’s fairytale… I do not feel that he is arrogant, hateful, or bloodthirsty.

If anything, Bing Wen was the ungrateful one.

Then, again, the warrior god never claimed Mei Ying and the others to be his friends. From the beginning, he only collaborated with her, Jian Yu, and Xiao Li to find the missing Heaven Immortal. Once that was accomplished, the man had no further need to be friendly with them anymore.

It was the same with Wei Sheng.

The God of Fate had asked for Mei Ying’s help, and she agreed. He lied, and, still, the huntress went along with his ideas.

Despite all that, then, why…? Mei Ying glanced over her shoulder to where the grumbling Bing Wen and the cheerful Wei Sheng would have trailed behind, bickering amongst themselves. In their imaginary places was the long cobblestone pavement, painted by shadows and rolling gold leaves. I cannot help...but miss them.

The young woman’s forehead pulsated in pain. She rubbed at the area with her fingers. Ouch…

“Is there something wrong?” Xiao Li turned to Mei Ying.

“No, I...was just lost in my thoughts.”

After browsing through the trinket stalls and playing mini festive games, Mei Ying noticed that a growing number of people were going home. The Qixi Festival was gradually coming to an end. Soon, the beating drums, various musical stringed instruments, and the giggles of young women and whispering men faded behind the three enigmatic cultivators.

The huntress and her friends strolled over the enormous stone bridge, which was engraved with elaborate cloud swirls on both sides. As they walked behind the crowd, the trio took their time to appreciate the lustrous moonlight in the dark water below. Then, they scanned around at the colorful lights from the wood-paneled buildings and their stacks of oiled-paper windows.

From afar, there were the lively food stalls and restaurants, with customers dining outside and slurping down noodles or chowing down rice. Around the bend of the small cobblestone streets were also a string of vendors with their makeshift stands of wares and goods, yelling and pacing around. All of it lined along the canal of rowing boats far ahead and radiating lanterns.

It was different, watching the Qixi Festival from a distance. The picturesque event was infused with multi-colored glittering lights and the diverse scents of food, drinks, gray smoke, and white, rolling steam.

At once, the three cultivators continued their way over the bridge. Mei Ying reached out and felt the long, thin leaves of a golden willow tree, one of the many that decorated here and there toward the city’s gate. She had seen paintings of willow trees in their greenest state with flowers blooming in between the fresh foliage. It was rare when she would come across the real things.

From under the high archway of the paifang gate, Mei Ying and her friends approached the end of the bridge. She wordlessly admired its towering wooden pillars and green-tiled rooftop. The huntress noticed the mythical beast statues, half of which were intricately-carved dragons with acute eyes. At that instant, one pupil glowed a faint light.

Mei Ying froze.

Is Qing Di using the dragon statues of the Mortal realm to be his eyes and ears?

“My, what a beautiful night this is!” A lively voice disrupted Mei Ying’s thread of speculation from above.

Faraway in the twinkling skies, multiple cultivators, in apricot-orange robes, rode their shining swords down toward the gate. One of them, a man whom Mei Ying had recognized from Huamei City, looked upon her with a perplexed gaze. When she had accidentally run into Kong for the first time, that peak master of the friendly Xie sect had de-escalated the tension between the Song cultivators and the Feng Bao sect representatives.

So, the Jian Sword sect’s tournament must have ended. After a few days, the conference with the ten major cultivation sects did too, and some either stayed or went on their way back home.

There was no doubt that the Song clan was treated a bit better after Mei Ying’s leave.

“Mama, it’s the Xie sect!” A child called out, pointing at the elegant and well-composed cultivators. As the figures approached the highly-embellished gate of wooden engravings and gold edges, they beamed upon the girl and her doll. “The Xie sect came to Xingzuo City for the Qixi Festival!”

The girl’s mother bowed her head. “Good evening, Peak Master Chun!”

As the man descended closer to the bridge, he glanced down at the woman with a smile and gestured to the various Xie sect disciples for landing.

The fact that these two are close with that person...means that we might have stumbled into one of the Xie sect’s territories. Mei Ying’s steps began to slow. While he helped me once, it could be argued that he only did that to maintain the friendly facade and to shut Kong down. Pretty words do not always mean a pretty heart.

Right away, a large crowd had already gathered around the huge, colorful paifang gate, its sizable wooden pillars, and magnificent mythical beast statues. Though they were on their way out, they decided to prolong their stay.

Among the budding group of people were several maidens, with hot cheeks and pounding hearts for the good-looking peak master. Children were also raised high up on their parent’s shoulders to wave at the flock of cultivators.

Jian Yu grabbed onto the huntress’ pale hand and pulled her behind him. They were no longer strolling out past the gate. Taking advantage of the crowd, the three cultivators backed away and blended into the sea of faces and blabbering voices.

In spite of being nervous, the young woman followed her friend’s lead, with Xiao Li flanking on her right side. She glanced down at her fingers interlacing with Jian Yu’s. Is it just her....or did their hands shrink? A blink, and, aiyo!

Instead of Jian Yu being in front of Mei Ying, there was a boy in a red robe. Though he wore a similar hairstyle to her friend’s, including the streaming red ribbon, the huntress tried to let go. Perhap, she had grabbed a child’s hand by mistake when spacing out!

Subsequently, Mei Ying caught a small but vivid yellow-orange tinge on her peripheral. There, at the center of her chest was a minature emblem of the Xie sect’s hibiscus! It was about the size of the huntress’ tiny thumb!

“That man had the audacity to cast a tracking incantation on you.” The handsome boy whipped around, furrowing his eyebrows. Despite the tall, rowdy people brushing past him, he remained calm with his marble-like skin, white as cream nephrite jade, and hair as black as obsidian. “While I can just override the spell…”

The child noticed his friend's confusion. Though his voice was small and high, he solemnly insisted, “Mei Ying, it’s me.”

Ah, little Jian Yu is too adorable!

“For things to settle down…” To the huntress’ right stood another boy, dressed in all-black, with a short-braided ponytail. “...it is best to leave the Mortal realm as quietly as we can.”

This child’s face swapped from being reluctant to pure annoyance at the surrounding crowd’s blaring cheer when the Xie sect cultivators tried to move through the area. He rubbed the side of one ear and clucked his tongue.

Xiao Li carried on, “While we have already roused the suspicions of the Heaven realm, it’ll be a pain if the mortals start snooping for the Young Miss’ true whereabouts...”

Oh no, little Xiao Li is also endearing!

It was then that Mei Ying touched her face with her other hand. “Oh.” She too became a child!

“Actually, I have an idea.” Jian Yu gently pulled the girl along as they weaved around the droves of people. He had already made up his mind. “Let’s have a bit more fun...”

The small servant lowered his voice, “Your Highness, ah…”

“Mei Ying, do you trust me?”

“Of course!” Jian Yu has never let the huntress down. The girl went on, “As long as you are here, I am fine.”

Hearing the particular response, the boy nearly stopped walking. He tightened the palm of his hand against Mei Ying’s. Still, Jian Yu did not glance her way and kept looking ahead.

With a light tap on every adult’s leg, they immediately moved aside for the charming boy and the other two children. No one could stand up to Jian Yu, not even to his child form.

Manipulating mortals like puppets were mere games to entities like him.

The little Demon King whispered, “Just breathe and act normal.”

“Why don’t we telepor--” It was too sudden when Mei Ying ran into her friend, stumbled back, and rubbed her aching nose with her free hand. “Aiya…”

Jian Yu had come to a standstill in front of the girl.

When the huntress tried to step aside to see, the boy pivoted his foot and blocked her view with his wide sleeve. Instantly, a large shadow overwhelmed the three children as the people around them went quiet. Mei Ying’s mind scrambled. With a racing heart, the girl grasped onto her friend’s robe. She peeked behind the red sleeve.

Ah, the peak master was already waiting at the back for them.

“Hmm…” Towering over Mei Ying and her friends, the man waved the colorful fan against his slender neck. The temperate wind swayed his long, dark hair to one side and out to the other. “It seems that you, the boy in red, already sensed my presence before I even approached you all...”

He fanned himself once, twice before continuing, “I also thought that I saw the Child of Red Omen here from the skies, but I am embarrassed that it was a child that I had mistaken her for.” There was that friendly smile again. “She really did ascend, after all! This one apologizes for his silly error.”

With a few finger swipes in the air, the man dismissed the hibiscus symbol on Mei Ying’s chest. The brilliant mark disappeared, freeing the child.

Regardless, Jian Yu did not move, with his small shoulders squared and chin raised.

Quickly, the encircling spectators inched away from where the man and three children stood. In came the several sect disciples; thus, creating a small inner circle within the murmuring crowd on the end segment of the massive bridge. Red and gold leaves continued to fall against the towering paifang gate that loomed overhead.

The peak master cocked his head with glinting eyes. He pointed his fan at the child and asked, “Boy-in-red...who are you?”

“Me?” Without batting an eye, the boy sneered upon the respectable man. “I am the Demon King!”

Your Highness! Xiao Li wanted to scream as the sympathetic Mei Ying looked at him with pity.

Holding up his and Mei Ying’s hands for everyone to see, Jian Yu added, “And this is the princess!” With his other hand, the boy pointed at teary-eyed Xiao Li. “That’s our son. The daughter is at home with the soldiers and servants.”

Mei Ying’s mouth hung open. When did I become a princess--and when did Xiao Li become our son?!

For a short while, the expression on the Xie sect peak master was comical, with bulging eyes. He casted his gaze down, frowned, and returned his attention to the red-robed boy. Slowly, the man chuckled and turned to the Xie sect disciples from either side. Then, he erupted into a loud, full-blown laughter that forced the cultivators to join.

“Hahaha! Did you hear how cute this child sounded?!” The peak master gasped out, with tears in his eyes. “Haha… The Demon King--with a family of his own?! Hahaha! As if anyone could love that monster!”

Even the surrounding city folks felt compelled to snicker a little, showing off their teeth and crescent-shaped eyes.

It did not sit right with Mei Ying.

Though the Xie sect peak master seemed friendly, though he was supposed to be a righteous cultivator with a righteous heart, he was making fun of Jian Yu. It was too mean. Whether it was due to her child form or the magic affecting her mind, Mei Ying gritted her teeth. She sucked in a breath. Heat arose from her face. Her free hand formed tightly into a quavering red-and-white fist.

“HAHAHAHAHA!” All around the trio, the adults and even their children convulsed with laughter. “HAHAHAHAHA!”

Like the time when Xi Feng yelled at Jian Yu and tried to strike him--Mei Ying found the scene to be unbearable. Her blood felt like steaming. Her sanity was shaking.

What was even more maddening?

Jian Yu seemed unbothered, staring at the Xie sect peak master and the other cultivators. The boy soon raised his free arm.

In the given interval, Mei Ying slipped her hand out of Jian Yu’s. She dug through one of her broad white sleeves. Since the mean man was still roaring in laughter, she drew out a round object and unpeeled the paper wrap.

The Xie sect cultivator closed his eyes, gasping for air before he choked out a chuckle.

Immediately, the little girl threw the sticky tanghulu fruit--right into the peak master’s long, beautiful hair!

“HA--AHHHHHH!” Now, shrieking in tears, the man struggled to pull the red candied hawthorn from his once-perfect crown of hair. “LITTLE GIRL! H-HOW DARE YOU?!”

“PEAK MASTER!” Suddenly, the other cultivators swarmed over to their elder. “YOUR HAIR!”

“AHHH! THIS IS TANGHULU!”

“TANGHULU?!”

“NO, NO, GO AFTER THOSE F*CKIN’ LITTLE SHITS!”

“Jian Jian, let’s run away!” Seizing hold of her friend’s hand, little Mei Ying hurriedly made sure to grab Xiao Li’s as well. As fast as her short legs could carry her, the girl zipped under and past the legs of several adults.

“Run where?!”

Everywhere, people spun around, shouting for the brats to come out. Meanwhile, the ones from the outer ring of the crowd did not even get to see the children’s faces. Unknown to them, the adorable culprits were already sprinting past them and behind their butts.

Mei Ying was about to answer, but when she saw the handsome boy’s stunned expression, her chest tightened.

Ah, so...even the mischievous person...can make such a face.

It felt as though the huntress was experiencing deja vu. How can this be?

Without hesitation, the child hopped onto her feet and held onto her friend’s cold hand again. ‘Yue Liang, let’s run away!’

Gold, shining aura lined the girl’s small body. Determination was fixated into her shining eyes. She was ready to teleport them—thanks to the boy’s transferred energy.

‘…Run where?’ asked the demon, quietly.

“MY ROBE IS ON FIRE TOO!”

As the peak master splashed into the water behind them, Mei Ying glanced at her friend as they ran.

Jian Yu turned his face away. “You have no proof.”

Ah, the unlucky peak master...and the entire Xie sect had lost face tonight. They all would have nowhere to hide theirs for days afterward. Their pristine and good-natured public image was ruined.

So much for Xiao Li's wish for a quiet exit from the Mortal realm.

Before long, there was no end of adults blocking any further glimpse of the Xie cultivation sect members. A green light rapidly closed over the children. Mei Ying blinked, and, soon, the children had stepped out of a luminous curtain. There was soft grass, high-reaching trees of maple leaves, and singing birds.

But when the huntress tried to stop and breathe--Jian Yu pulled her behind him again, with Xiao Li darting closeby. The servant chanted another spell. One-Step Migration!

Again, the cultivators dashed forward, this time, into a huge dark rift.

When Mei Ying opened her eyes, a substantial pair of doors made way for them, groaning resonantly. Gold light flooded her sight. Once they were inside the area, the young woman halted in her tracks. She turned to the handsome friend, catching her breaths. Jian Yu had ceased running.

Mei Ying looked at Xiao Li, who stood closely by. The servant had reverted to normal too. They were adults again!

Massaging the temple of her head, the huntress was about to speak when she noticed something amiss.

What struck her was the silence in the vast room, adorned by red beaded curtains. Silk sashes swept from pillar to pillar, and large gold feathers fanned across walls. Many ornamental motifs decorated the vicinity as well.

Am...I in the Crimson Flower Palace of the Netherworld’s Feng Cheng? Mei Ying wondered.

At the center was an extensive table filled with assorted jade plates and iridescent-colored goblets, lined with gold and pearls. The meals were overflowing with warm, fresh aromas. Some shimmered in juice or sauce. Other dishes were hot soups, surrounded by garnish, seeping in the flavors of meat, vegetables, and hot chili peppers.

In front of the extravagant buffet though were many handsome, well-dressed men and a few alluring women with delicate features. All of them were down on one knee with their heads bowed down and backs bent. At large, there were eighteen people, donned in sophisticated outer robes and filed into two rows of nine. A certain coolness could be felt from them.

“Welcome home.” The speaker was a bowing man closest to where Jian Yu stood. He raised his head slightly. “Your Highness.”

The speaker was handsome too, carrying an air of superior ego and pride. He had long black hair and wore his black-and-gold inner robe quite loosely, showing off his chest and muscles. Around the demon’s neck was a long gold necklace with a bright ruby pendant. On the side, he carried a rather large broadsword.

“Netherworld Officials, please stand.” commanded Jian Yu.

At that point, the huntress remembered that her friend had not released her hand yet. Most importantly...is it just her or did the Demon King get much taller than before?

The Netherworld Officials ceremoniously rose to their feet. Eighteen pairs of red eyes drifted over toward the young woman. Likewise, they sensed the immense spiritual energy that swirled around the scabbard by Mei Ying’s hip.