The next day, Li Yanchu told Hongtu, who had just returned from the entertainment district, about helping Lady Qingyi exorcize the demonic remnant the night before. “What?! You already killed that demonic remnant?!” Bai Hongtu was visibly shocked. Although he hadn’t taken part, Xu Lingsu had informed both of them about this matter beforehand. It had stayed on his mind ever since. That was a temple deity, after all! And not just any deity, it was one enshrined in a temple teeming with incense and worship. Such an existence wasn’t something an ordinary cultivator could hope to shake. Li Yanchu wasn’t one to embellish with flowery words, so he just briefly recounted the demon-slaying process in a few simple sentences. Even with just that, the sheer danger behind it still made Bai Hongtu shudder inwardly. Then suddenly, he looked guilty and heaved a long sigh. “What’s wrong, Hongtu?” Li Yanchu asked. Bai Hongtu replied, full of remorse, “Last night, while you were out there fighting for your life... I was out carousing in the entertainment district. I can’t help feeling terrible about it.” In his mind, no matter how calm Li Yanchu appeared now, he must’ve gone through a life-or-death struggle last night and was riddled with injuries. God only knew what kind of lasting damage he might have suffered. That was Lady Qingyi, for heaven’s sake! “You’re not just putting on a brave face, are you? Could you have sustained some kind of... irreversible internal damage?” Bai Hongtu asked with concern. Li Yanchu paused for a moment, then shook his head. “I’m fine. Nothing happened.” Bai Hongtu let out another heavy sigh. “Yanchu, you’re seriously tough as nails. I bet you and that demon remnant fought hundreds of rounds. And in the end, you barely scraped by with your life.” His eyes were filled with a sort of tragic admiration as he spoke. Hearing his words, Li Yanchu froze again for a moment. Thinking back, he actually didn’t get injured at all last night. He just steamrolled that demon remnant. Its strength had already been weakened and suppressed by Lady Qingyi herself, so it wasn’t anywhere near its full power. Even so... Li Yanchu didn’t bother to explain all that in detail. After all, he couldn’t very well pull Bai Hongtu aside and say, You don’t need to worry about me. I beat that demon remnant so hard it didn’t even get a chance to fight back. He felt like saying any more would just sound like he was showing off. Then, the two of them chatted idly for a bit. Bai Hongtu never once brought up his fiancée, Xu Lingsu, and it was clear this girl was a serious headache for him. Li Yanchu didn’t ask either. He was curious about their relationship, but since Bai Hongtu didn’t mention it, he wasn’t going to pry. “Come on, it’s my treat today. We’re going to Chunfeng Restaurant[1]. Let’s get you a proper feast to calm your nerves.” Bai Hongtu waved his hand grandly, full of swagger. He didn’t like going to the Taiping Inn. For one, the innkeeper didn’t seem to care for him much. And also, the chef there couldn’t hold a candle to the one at Chunfeng Restaurant. Now that Young Master Bai finally had some spending money, he was ready to enjoy himself to the fullest! Then, the two walked off side by side. Suddenly, Bai Hongtu came to a stiff halt, and his body froze in place. Standing right in front of him was a girl in a pale yellow robe, no more than thirteen or fourteen. She was elegant, refined, and almost ethereal. It was none other than Xu Lingsu. “Hongtu, it’s been a while. Did you miss me?” Xu Lingsu asked with a bright smile. Seeing her, Bai Hongtu looked uneasy. “O-Of course I did.” Then, Xu Lingsu blinked innocently and said, “I don’t believe you. You seemed to be having such a good time with those brothel girls.” Bai Hongtu waved his hands quickly. “I was just... playing along with them. It’s nothing serious.” Xu Lingsu nodded with a smile still on her face, appearing sweet and harmless. “I believe you.” Hearing her words, Bai Hongtu froze. Xu Lingsu added with a soft sigh, “Otherwise, how could you be spending time with both Yue Niang and Xiangling[2], and say different things to each?” Bai Hongtu’s neck went rigid, and a creeping sense of dread filled his chest. Bit by bit, he stiffly lifted his head, and he stared at Xu Lingsu in disbelief. Xu Lingsu gave him a dazzling smile. “They were just beauties I painted, you know. I made them based on what you like, Hongtu. So tell me, do you like Yue Niang more, or Xiangling?” Bai Hongtu looked like he’d been struck by lightning, and he was petrified on the spot. This elegant, dashing young master was absolutely socially annihilated. The two women he had been fawning over at the brothel... were both characters painted by Xu Lingsu!? Tʜe source of this ᴄontent ɪs novel~fire~net Li Yanchu couldn’t hold it in anymore, and he burst out laughing from the side. Painted manifestations created through the Painting Dao were always under the control of their creator. In other words, while Bai Hongtu thought he was enjoying the pleasures of hugging beauties left and right at the brothel...it was actually Xu Lingsu playing dress-up and roleplaying with him the whole time!? Li Yanchu couldn't help glancing over at Xu Lingsu. This little girl really knew how to stir up trouble. At this time, Bai Hongtu stood silent for a long while. To him, it felt like time itself had stopped. The world had gone still; autumn wind rustled, dead leaves swirled in the air, and a crow cawed mournfully overhead. Even Li Yanchu, standing on the side, couldn’t help feeling a wave of second-hand embarrassment. “Sister-in-law, you didn’t come here just to talk about this, right?” That “sister-in-law” ruthlessly tore off the last shred of Bai Hongtu’s dignity, and his body visibly wobbled. Facing Li Yanchu, Xu Lingsu became noticeably more reserved. “Lady Qingyi sent me here today to present a gift to Daoist Master Li.” As she spoke, she took out a bead and handed it over. They had actually reconnected with Lady Qingyi the night before, and Lady Qingyi had said there was no need to reveal the matter of the Blissful Land, and that Li Yanchu was already in the heart of the storm in Wei City. He was part of the chessboard now, and all he needed to do was go with the flow. If they spoke too plainly, it could trigger unseen forces and bring about interference that would complicate things. Many who practiced divination and deduction followed this principle: they couldn’t speak of Heaven’s secrets directly but only hint at them, or subtly prepare behind the scenes. At this time, Li Yanchu took a closer look. The bead was faintly shrouded in a purplish glow, and it was clearly not an ordinary object. Xu Lingsu continued, “Lady Qingyi says this is a token of gratitude. She is currently in a critical stage of cultivation and cannot come personally, so she offers this for now. When the time is right, she will thank you in person.” This Lady Qingyi had quite the sense of propriety. Li Yanchu nodded slightly. Xu Lingsu added, “This item is called the Wind Tamer[3]. It holds the divine power to still and suppress wind. It’s just a little trinket, so we hope that you won’t find it lacking.” Li Yanchu’s eyes lit up. “Wind Tamer?” If this truly was that legendary artifact, it was far from the “little trinket” Xu Lingsu downplayed it as. He had heard of it in Journey to the West, but this world also had records of the Wind Tamer. Unlike the talismanic armor, however, the origins of the Wind Tamer were completely unknown. All anyone knew was that a high monk had obtained it a thousand years ago. That monk had once ventured deep into the Western Regions’ desert, seeking the Elixir of Immortality. The desert climate was unpredictable, with relentless wind and sand. Tornadoes and sandstorms, in particular, ran rampant and were truly beyond human resistance. Yet the monk survived several years in that hellscape. Though he never found the Elixir, his miraculous ability to stop the wind became legendary and was passed down through the traveling merchant caravans of the Central Plains. The Wind Tamer thus became renowned throughout the world. It was a genuine divine artifact, but as for whether it had any other hidden abilities, later generations could no longer say for sure. There were even ancient rumors that the Wind Tamer contained the secret to the Elixir of Immortality, but so much time had passed that its truth was no longer verifiable. In any case, this treasure's value was by no means inferior to that of the Daoist talismanic armor. In fact, one could argue it was even more precious. If it were ever to fall into public hands, it would undoubtedly spark fierce conflict and bloodshed. At this time, Li Yanchu gently infused a trace of spirit energy into the Wind Tamer. The breeze around him, which was previously faint but present, suddenly froze still, ceasing all movement. It was a strange, otherworldly sensation. “Please thank Lady Qingyi on my behalf,” Li Yanchu said seriously. This was far more than some trivial trinket; it was an extraordinarily rare treasure, the kind that could serve as a nation-protecting artifact. 1. Chunfeng 春风 literally means “spring wind.” ☜ 2. 香菱 (Xiānglíng) is composed of two characters: 香 (“fragrance” or “aroma”) and 菱 (“water caltrop,” a type of aquatic plant with pointed seeds). To me, the name evokes the image of something delicate, fresh, and natural, suggesting both beauty and grace. ☜ 3. 定风珠 literally means “Wind-Calming Pearl.” In classical Chinese literature and Daoist-inspired stories, it is a magical object capable of controlling or stabilizing the wind, often used to aid travel or prevent natural disasters. 定风珠 also appears in 黑神话悟空 Black Myth: Wukong as well, so if you’ve played that game you most likely have encountered the term before! ☜