Chapter 65: Return to Mirror City

At this moment, Hongyun had not truly departed. He lingered in the shadows, silently observing Zhao Mieyou. Only after watching her intently for a considerable time did he finally leave.

It seemed that the little demon he had inadvertently picked up was not without her uses—perhaps she might prove to be his most important hidden piece in the end. To erase any traces he might have left upon her, he had purposely refrained from imparting too much knowledge, wary lest someone discerning might uncover something amiss.

He mused thus within himself and drifted away: Since this was a hidden arrangement, he need only wait patiently. When the girl truly matured, who knew what surprise she might bring him?

Outside Mirror City.

As soon as Hongyun entered the hundred-li radius surrounding Mirror City, he sensed a presence watching him. Focusing his gaze in one direction, he found no aura of calamity in the air and furrowed his brow in mild confusion.

For a while, he did not move, but stood quietly, waiting.

After a short while, he perceived a strand of calamity energy before him and raised his brows, looking over.

With his gaze, a pale-faced man stepped out and nodded slightly to Hongyun.

“I had my suspicions before, but now it seems Brother Yun can indeed sense my presence.”

Mirror Seven?

Recognizing an acquaintance, Hongyun understood a little and chuckled lightly at the words: “Years spent wandering have made me keenly aware of my surroundings. Is that so strange?”

Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “Yet, there is something I do not understand. Brother Mirror Seven, enlighten me: Why is it that upon arriving here, I sense... that this world is somehow different?”

“Naturally, it is different.”

Mirror Seven did not refute him, but nodded in agreement, raising a hand to conjure a mirror for Hongyun.

“In Mirror City, and indeed within a hundred li of its borders, these lands are all under the city’s surveillance. Should I wish to see, I can observe any movement within.”

A hundred li around Mirror City?

Hongyun’s heart grew tense at this. Such a method, though unimpressive in the wilds, was unique in the Treasure Vase Realm. Mirror City alone possessed such a power.

“I see, so that’s how it is.”

Hongyun replied with a laugh, then focused his gaze, for the first time examining Mirror City with the Calamity Eye.

In his sight, the world seemed stripped bare, with several strands of calamity energy drifting far apart from one another.

Contemplating the number of these energies, he asked, “Brother Mirror Seven, do your clansmen number over a hundred?”

Over a hundred?

Mirror Seven was puzzled by this question, but answered without much thought, “In the Mirror Clan, there are only nine true clansmen. Three monitor and patrol, three rotate duty, and the remaining three remain in slumber.”

Hongyun sensed he had grasped a critical point, yet felt he could not press further, and merely nodded, “In that case, thank you for clarifying, Brother Mirror Seven.”

Mirror Seven did not feel he had helped in any way, and his figure faded into the mirror.

“We are friends—there’s no need for thanks. If you wish to show gratitude, hurry back and check on Xiaoyue.”

Hongyun was puzzled by these departing words, but after some thought, gained a faint understanding: He had long noticed that the girl possessed a unique charm, evoking a desire to protect her from the heart. Could it be that his newly made friend also felt affection for this little one?

He laughed softly and shook his head, feeling the sensation of being watched fade away.

He had intended to return immediately, but then recalled he had not prepared any gift for Chai Xiaoyue, feeling a twinge of regret.

Had he thought of it sooner, he could have caught a few demon cultivators for her to eat, saving himself the trouble of racking his brains now.

After pondering for a while, he remembered he still carried the fangs of the Howling Moon Wolf, which he had not yet used. He took them out, and as the baleful energy swirled, patterns gradually appeared upon them.

After about two hours, the two wolf fangs had been shaped into rough embryo forms of baleful treasures.

Both were the same size, essentially two daggers—suitable for self-defense or ornament, more than enough for her needs.

Once prepared, he flickered into motion, heading toward Mirror City: He had planned for long enough; it was time to see some results and put his mind at ease.

...

Mirror City, in the inn.

Chai Xiaoyue sat cross-legged, forming seals with her hands, cultivating the technique imparted to her by Hongyun.

She had waited and waited for Hongyun to return, and her desire to show off her newly mastered music and perfected technique had faded. Now, she only wished to diligently cultivate, hoping one day to help her Uncle Yun.

Just then, Hongyun appeared in the inn’s guest room.

He glanced at Xiaoyue, then at the two crow demons, oblivious to his return, and condensed two balls of baleful energy, flicking them at their heads.

“You two lazy creatures, already at the Nirvana stage, yet still so unmotivated—after all I’ve taught you.”

With two startled cries, the demons awoke, grinning sheepishly as they tried to curry favor, only to shrink their heads beneath their wings under Hongyun’s stern gaze.

Uncle Yun has returned!

Xiaoyue, absorbed in her cultivation, was delighted by the commotion and quickly broke her meditation, rising and feeling her way toward the direction of the sound.

Hongyun smiled and stood still, letting the little girl tug at his sleeve and embrace his arm.

“Uncle Yun, why are you only just back? It’s been so many days.”

Eh?

Hongyun suddenly felt the sensation of being watched again, and upon seeing the material of Xiaoyue’s robe, understood at once.

He did not point it out, but responded with a smile, taking out the two baleful treasure embryos he had prepared, placing them in a jade box.

“I’ve brought you a little gift.”

Seeing Xiaoyue’s delighted face as she eagerly accepted the box and tried to open it, Hongyun did not stop her.

“Inside are two baleful treasure embryos. They can be forged into a pair of daggers. You can choose the style yourself someday—they’ll be perfect for self-defense.”

As she played with the treasures, Hongyun turned to the two demons.

“You two know that I’ve been having Xiaoyue practice the technique I taught her. Now the technique’s seal is branded upon you. Will you obey Xiaoyue’s commands without issue?”