Chapter 56

This turn of events came completely unexpectedly. Luo Han had already experienced similar situations with the main characters back in the Western Sea, and she instinctively compared Ling Zhongyu's timing to that standard.
She vividly remembered how Ling Zhongyu and Yun Menghan had been at it for a long time, with such fierce combat that they had to switch locations. After that, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao seized an opportunity to slip away, and she lost track of the battle, but judging by Ling Zhongyu's momentum, she imagined it could last the whole night.
Without realizing it, Luo Han had started measuring everything against Ling Zhongyu, secretly admiring how those who had undergone cultivation were indeed different from ordinary people. Their endurance was astonishing. It wasn’t until today that the truth of this world had abruptly unfolded before her eyes.
It turned out...not everyone was the same. The male lead was the exception. Ling Zhongyu was likely a genetic inheritance from their race, with extraordinary talents, because in every version of the bedtime stories from the Six Realms, the image of dragons was always depicted as greedy, selfish, and lustful. It might have been slander in some versions, as all races taught their children that, but it was true nonetheless.
The simplest proof was how Ling Qingxiao had reacted just now.
Although men who had cultivated might not reach the exaggerated extremes of Ling Zhongyu, for Scarred Man, this round had definitely ended abruptly. He had even brought two women back with him, and if he stopped here, he would lose face.
After a brief rest outside, they regrouped and started again. This time, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao didn’t dare to argue; they both focused intently. Luckily, this time it lasted a little longer, and Ling Qingxiao silently prepared himself. At a certain moment, he suddenly struck, sending three beams of spiritual light from behind the curtain.
Scarred Man was in the midst of releasing, his mind blank, momentarily losing all sense of his surroundings. In that instant, a beam of spiritual light struck the back of his head.
The other two demon women had weak magical powers, and it was easy for Ling Qingxiao to control them. They didn’t even have time to react before they fell into a deep sleep. Scarred Man’s movements stopped, his gaze unfocused, and he lost consciousness.
Ling QingXiaolifted the curtain and stepped out. When he did, he cast a quick glance, then immediately turned around. Luo Han followed him out and, before she could even see the situation in the room, saw Ling Qingxiao turn back, his face stern as he covered her eyes.
“...What’s wrong?” Luo Han asked in confusion.
“It’s nothing,” Ling Qingxiao’s voice was tight, “You don’t need to look. I’ll handle the interrogation.”
Luo Han hesitated for a moment, then said softly, “The two demon women inside aren’t wearing clothes. Is it really appropriate for you to interrogate them?”
“I’m not looking,” Ling Qingxiao said, then frowned in distaste, “They are wearing clothes.”
Luo Han suddenly became excited: “You call that not looking?”
She was about to make a point, but then a long, strong hand reached over her head and firmly pressed down on her: “Don’t make a fuss. This place isn’t clean. Let’s finish the interrogation and leave quickly.”
Luo Han paused, then stopped moving. In that brief moment of silence, Ling Qingxiao asked, “Who are you?”
Even in such a setting, his voice remained cold and clean, sounding as if it would never be tainted by dust. Scarred Man, with a dazed look in his eyes, replied woodenly, “I am Lei Ba.”
He was given the surname Lei and was ranked eighth, which made it clear he was a death warrior under Lei Lie King. Ling Qingxiao asked again, “Who are your parents? How old are you? What is your position?”
“I don’t know about my parents. I’ve been alone since I have memory, living on my own. I can’t remember my age, but I’ve probably been wandering for five or six hundred years. After meeting the prince, I’ve been with him for six hundred and eighty years. I have no position, only serving as the prince’s guard.”
Ling Qingxiao didn’t immediately torture him but started with simple questions about his name, age, and other usual things, gradually delving deeper. Though the Dream Heart Induction technique was in play, the sea of consciousness is the most exclusive place, so a gradual approach was necessary to avoid provoking a backlash.
When the time seemed right, Ling Qingxiao asked, “Why did you come to Da Ming City?”
This question involved confidential matters. Lei Ba, having undergone years of inhumane training, had built up strong mental defenses. He didn’t respond immediately, though his expression had begun to show some hostility, even though his eyes were still dazed.
It was his subconscious trying to resist the Dream Heart Induction.
Ling Qingxiao increased the pressure and suppressed his subconscious warning. He rephrased the question: “You brought the Demon-Sealing Stone to Da Ming City. Who were you trying to meet?”
This way of questioning bypassed the brainwashing techniques of the death warriors, making it much more precise. Lei Ba’s resistance weakened, and he replied woodenly, “I came to see the Red Lotus Demon King.”
Red Lotus Demon King. Luo Han froze at the familiar name.
The Red Lotus Demon King was one of the male protagonists’ rivals, who dared to snatch Yun Menghan from the Demon Realm in front of the male lead and publicly declared that if anyone dared to harm Yun Menghan, he would kill all the lovesick male supporting characters in the world.
Lei Lie King’s intended ally was actually him?
Ling Qingxiao wasn’t surprised at all by this answer. He had guessed it would be Lian Wushuang from the beginning, given the various signs, and even expected this meeting location in Da Ming City. What surprised him was Luo Han’s reaction.
It seemed like she also recognized the name. This was unusual, since she knew so little about the world outside the Immortal Realm. She couldn’t even distinguish the three major forces of the Demon Realm, so how did she know about the Red Lotus Demon King?
Ling Qingxiao noted this suspicion, though he didn’t show it, and continued coldly, “When and where were you supposed to meet?”
“October 29th, at the third watch, in the northern black market of Da Ming City.”
“What were you supposed to do in the black market?”
“Exchange the Demon-Sealing Stone.”
Luo Han had initially wondered why they would choose the black market for their negotiations, but when she heard Lei Ba mention the Demon-Sealing Stone, she immediately understood. Of course, for two powers to form an alliance, they would go through multiple tests and negotiations. Lei Lie King wanted to seek help from the Demon Realm, while the Red Lotus Demon King was also wary of being tricked by the Demon Race.
The Demon Realm had always stayed out of the struggles between Immortals and Demons, preferring to indulge in their own pleasures and reproduce on their own land. For millions of years, they had managed to live in peace. Though they were envious of the Immortal Realm’s resources, their strength was insufficient, and they could only keep to themselves.
If they got involved carelessly, even if they gained some resources, it would be nothing compared to the consequences if they ended up making an enemy of the Immortal Realm.
The Red Lotus Demon King was indeed obsessed with the female lead, but once he was away from her, he was actually a cold-blooded, detached Demon King. In a world like this, anyone who could survive in the ruthless Demon Realm and become a powerful Demon King wouldn’t be a fool.
The Red Lotus Demon King would definitely first test whether the Zhanxian Stone was real. If it truly worked as the Demon Realm claimed, with remarkable effects, catching them off guard, only then would the Red Lotus Demon King consider further cooperation. But if the Demon Race was just making empty promises, the Red Lotus Demon King would rather continue to stay in his corner than be dragged into their mess.
So, at this stage, there was no need for negotiations. They would first see if the Zhanxian Stone was real.
They had decided to meet in the black market, using the chaos to hand over the Zhanxian Stone. It was both discreet and safe. Even if things fell apart later, the black market made tracking their movements impossible. The Red Lotus Demon King could always deny ever meeting Lei Lie King, and no matter what, the blame would not fall on him.
This was the kind of intelligence a Demon King should have.
Ling Qingxiao quickly understood the intentions of both parties. He continued his questioning: "How do you confirm each other’s identities?"
"That day, we’ll have dark red fire patterns embroidered on the lower left corner of our cloaks, and wear red belts around our waists. They will have purple lotus flowers embroidered on the upper right corner of their hoods and wear purple belts. After meeting, we also have a secret phrase."
Time, location, and individuals had all been covered. By now, they had gathered most of the information they needed. Luo Han, her eyes still covered, could only rely on her sense to move closer to Ling Qingxiao. She whispered, "It’s almost over, can we leave now?"
Ling Qingxiao gave a low "Hmm," and before they left, he asked one final question, "What does Lei Lie King intend to do with the Zhanxian Stone?"
"I don’t know."
Ling Qingxiao’s fingers shifted, intensifying his control over the Dream Heart Induction. Lei Ba still answered, "I don’t know. The prince has his own plans. We only need to complete the mission. We are not allowed to inquire about anything beyond that."
It seemed like he truly didn’t know. Ling Qingxiao hadn’t held out much hope, so he wasn’t surprised by this. He completed the final steps of the Dream Heart Induction, and Lei Ba’s gaze remained dazed as his body swayed before collapsing onto the bed, falling into a deep sleep.
When he woke, he would only remember that he had slept soundly. As for what happened in the dream, he would have no recollection.
After Ling Qingxiao cleaned up the scene and erased all traces, he gently turned Luo Han’s shoulder and said, "Let’s go."
With her eyes still covered, Luo Han couldn’t find her way and could only follow Ling Qingxiao. It wasn’t until they stopped at a window that her eyes were freed. She instinctively turned around to look but hadn’t had a chance to see the inside before being swept up by Ling Qingxiao, leaping out of the window.
Indeed, she didn’t see a thing.
Luo Han couldn’t help but be impressed.
This time, they didn’t need to track anyone. Ling Qingxiao held her and flew straight to the rooftop, gliding across the eaves. He moved so quickly that in the darkness, he seemed like a shadow.
This area was filled with flower houses, and at night, these flower houses were busiest. The buildings were bustling with people, and the sound of strings and bamboo filled the air. Luo Han passed over one building after another, so close to the noise, but it felt as if they were from two different worlds.
Below her was the drunken, dreamlike human world, and ahead of her was the deep night sky, with a bright moon hanging in the distance, cold and pure, unchanging through the ages. Gradually, the brightly lit flower houses grew distant, and the clamor faded away.
Only the moon remained, quietly hanging in front of them, seeming within reach, but when she stretched out her hand, she would realize it was all an illusion.
Luo Han retracted her hand and, for some reason, glanced at Ling Qingxiao.
Ling Qingxiao resembled the moon above, indifferent to whether it was full or waning, always cold and unreachable.
By the time they reached the residential area, the street sounds had diminished. Upon arriving at their alley, the road was already silent, with no one around. Ling Qingxiao unlocked the barrier, and as they stepped inside, the people in the yard immediately turned to look.
Luo Han was startled by the gazes of Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai. She instinctively asked, "What’s wrong?"
"Where have you been?" Zou Jibai hurriedly stood up and asked, "Why are you so late? Where did you go today?"
Ye Zinan, with his sharp nose, sniffed and suddenly asked, "What’s that smell?"
At his words, both Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao stiffened. They had spent a long time at the flower house today, hiding in enclosed spaces multiple times, so it was inevitable they would carry the scent of the flower house. Though they had no guilt, mentioning something like visiting a flower house would hurt their reputation.
When Ye Zinan pointed it out, Zou Jibai also caught the scent. Zou Jibai, with less life experience than Ye Zinan, didn’t recognize the fragrance, but he found it sweet and sticky, somewhat like the smell often found in the air during mating season: "Why are you both using incense? What’s that scent? It doesn’t seem quite right."
Luo Han thought to herself, "Oh no, could it be the Hehuan incense?" Ling Qingxiao waved his hand, releasing a burst of spiritual energy that immediately neutralized the strange scent with cold air. Luo Han quickly released the Devourer Beast from her spirit beast pouch, using it as a diversion: "The Devourer Beast has been in the pouch all day, very well-behaved, and deserves a reward. Now that it’s safe, let’s let it out to get some air."
The Devourer Beast stretched its limbs and then found a comfortable spot to play. Worried that Ye Zinan might still be thinking about the earlier topic, Luo Han quickly asked, "Did you get anything while tailing today?"
When it came to business, both Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai straightened up. Zou Jibai sighed and shook his head. "Nothing. We’ve been drinking tea all day."
Ye Zinan added, "That Demon Race lost the Zhanxian Stone at the gambling den and seems to have been heavily punished. They didn’t leave their residence all day. This morning, five or six Demon Race members followed a scar-faced demon out, but by the time we left at night, they still hadn’t returned."
The two teams had split up. After the scar-faced man left in the morning, Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao followed him, while Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai stayed behind to watch for any new developments.
Luo Han coughed lightly, as she already knew about this and even why Lei Ba hadn’t returned.
Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai continued to complain about how difficult it was to tail someone, before asking the other two teams if they had found anything. The other two sat upright, looking like they had the bearing of immortals, righteous and proper. Ye Zinan and Zou Jibai hadn’t given it much thought, but the two teammates they found reliable were actually replaying some awkward moments in their minds.
Ling Qingxiao's eyes flickered briefly before he spoke again, his voice calm and unhurried: "We've located the whereabouts of the Demon-Sealing Stone. The leader of the demon faction, Lei Ba, is a warrior ranked eighth in Lei Lie City, responsible for escorting the Demon-Sealing Stone to Da Ming City and overseeing the subsequent handover. The person they want to ally with is the Red Lotus Demon King. They'll meet at the black market at the third watch on the tenth day."
Zou Jibai and Ye Zinan were once again stunned. Despite tailing the target, why had Ling Qingxiao and Luo Han progressed so much faster? While they were still lingering around the outskirts, Ling Qingxiao had already gathered intel on the other party's manpower, objectives, time, location, and methods.
Ye Zinan, overwhelmed by the sudden barrage of information, asked in a daze: "What do we do now?"
"We cannot let them hand the Demon-Sealing Stone over to Lian Wushuang," Ling Qingxiao replied, "The alliance between Lei Lie King and the Red Lotus Demon King must be stopped."
Zou Jibai and Ye Zinan exchanged a glance, then quietly mimed the gesture of slitting their throats: "Kill them?"
Luo Han raised an eyebrow, looking at the two with a speechless expression. Ling Qingxiao sighed and shook his head. "There's no need. Even if we kill them, Lei Lie King could just send a new batch. Lei Lie City has plenty of death warriors. The next ones will only rank higher, and they'll act even more cautiously. Killing them will only be a temporary solution, not the root of the problem."
Zou Jibai scratched his head, his brows knitted in frustration. "We can't kill them, and we can't let them go. What are we supposed to do?"
Ling Qingxiao had already thought this through during their journey. After carefully weighing the pros and cons of four different plans, he had finally settled on the one with the highest chance of success. "We turn their plan against them and use the art of substitution."
"Substitution?" Ye Zinan asked, perplexed.
"Yes," Ling Qingxiao confirmed. "This is the most optimal strategy. Whether we intercept them or stop them, we might succeed once, but we won't be able to do so every time. Instead of alarming them, we take advantage of the situation and swap the Demon-Sealing Stone from Lei Ba's hands, Red Lotus Demon King will receive a fake stone. After testing it and finding it ineffective, he'll naturally abandon the alliance. As long as he has no intention of cooperating, no matter how much effort Lei Lie King puts into it, it will be useless."
Ye Zinan frowned. "This plan is good in theory, but the feasibility is extremely low. The Demon-Sealing Stone is never far from them, and we have no idea where they keep it. If we wait until the black market exchange to swap it, we'll only have one chance. If we fail, the entire mission will be compromised. Since Lei Ba is tasked with escorting the stone, he'll be extra cautious at the black market that day. I’m afraid we won’t even be able to make a move."
"Not necessarily," Ling Qingxiao countered. "It’s hard to act against the demon faction, but what about the demon clan? They don’t recognize the Demon-Sealing Stone, so even if we swap it, they won’t know the difference. That’s our chance."
Ye Zinan wiped the sweat off his forehead. "This mission just keeps getting more dangerous...We’re only four people, and we’re supposed to steal something from both Demon Kings at the black market in Da Ming City?"
"Even if it's dangerous, we must succeed," Ling Qingxiao replied, his tone firm. "The biggest challenge now is the substitution. If we can switch it without a trace, the risk will be significantly reduced."
At this point, Luo Han, who had been silent, finally spoke up. "Perhaps I can give it a try."
The three of them looked at her. Luo Han moved her fingers slightly and then said softly, "I might be able to substitute the storage bag from a distance. But I’ll need cover."
On the day of the black market, both the demon and the demon clans would be on high alert, and any fluctuation of spiritual energy would likely catch their attention. But what about spatial fluctuations?
For cultivators from the Six Realms, space was as natural as water was to fish. Few would notice the subtle fluctuations of space since they lived within it. Last time, in a life-threatening moment, Luo Han had suddenly burst out and created a spatial area, pulling the Devourer Beast, herself, and Ling Qingxiao to safety. While she hadn’t mastered spatial control, she could perhaps manage a small cut, swapping two spaces.
Ling Qingxiao thought back to the event in the Western Sea, his fingers tapping the table as his expression brightened. "Good. It's settled then. This mission cannot afford to fail. I'll stay with you and help you practice. We must ensure perfection."
The extra classes after school came out of nowhere. Luo Han hadn’t expected to have extra lessons, especially with Ling Qingxiao personally supervising. Her mood sank a little, and Ye Zinan glanced at her and then at Ling Qingxiao, suddenly realizing that this mission seemed to have nothing to do with him.
From beginning to end, he wouldn't need to do anything. Was he just going to coast through this one?

Soon, the tenth day arrived.
The end of October marked the Da Ming city’s grand festival, akin to the New Year's Eve for humans. During these days, countless demons poured into the city, making it the most vibrant time of the year. The festival reached its peak on the last three days of the month, with the entire city staying awake all night, adorned with lanterns and decorations, while everyone dressed as demons and joined in the street festivities.
The "Ten Thousand Demons Festival" had begun.
The time agreed upon between the demon faction and the Red Lotus Demon King was on the tenth day, coinciding with the festival.
Since the day before, the noise from outside had been unceasing. Ling Qingxiao had set up a silent array in the courtyard, allowing some peace and quiet. The demon faction and the Red Lotus Demon King were scheduled to meet in the evening at the third watch, but the four of them had disguised themselves and set out around noon.
This time, the operation was split into two teams. Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao would execute the primary plan, while Zou Jibai and Ye Zinan were stationed on another route, ready to implement the backup plan. They couldn't appear familiar with each other at the black market, so they left in batches.
At this moment, the Ten Thousand Demons Festival was in full swing. Since everyone was dressed in eccentric outfits, it wasn't unusual for Luo Han and Ling Qingxiao to wear cloaks and masks. It wasn't until they approached the black market that the crowd began to thin out. Luo Han, in her black cloak with her face completely covered, exchanged a glance with Ling Qingxiao. She lowered her hood, and together they entered the black market.
Although the black market was a market, it lacked the usual lively atmosphere. Instead, it felt heavy and oppressive. Everyone, from the customers to the stall vendors, wore cloaks and masks, revealing only their eyes.
This was a place specifically for handling goods that were inconvenient to trade openly. Murder, robbery, and theft were the most common sources of these wares. Among them were stolen goods with official bounties, secret manuals that had caused bloodshed in the outside world, and legendary pills that could shake the heavens. Yet no matter how much chaos they had once incited, here, they were displayed openly like ordinary goods, waiting for buyers.
Money wasn’t necessarily the only means of trade. It all depended on how the vendor set the price. Some bartered goods, others exchanged information, and there were even those who demanded a life. As long as the target was killed—whoever they were—bringing proof of their death would be enough to claim the treasure.
In short, this was not a clean place.
Luo Han had spent eighteen years abiding by the law, yet in the span of just half a month, she had already visited a gambling den, a brothel, and now, a black market.
She and Ling Qingxiao arrived at the black market earlier than the demons. Not wanting to appear suspicious, they pretended to browse the stalls, walking and looking around casually. They had made their way through two alleys when Ling QingXiaolightly squeezed Luo Han’s wrist, signaling that their target had arrived.
Under the guise of examining goods, Luo Han cast a discreet glance in that direction. Sure enough, beyond the rows of merchandise, eight figures draped in black cloaks walked along another path. On the lower left corner of their cloaks was an embroidered dark red flame, and their belts bore a similar crimson pattern.
Luo Han quickly retracted her gaze, feigning disinterest. Lei Ba, on the other hand, remained highly alert as he moved through the black market. His sharp, hawk-like eyes swept over the surroundings—until they suddenly locked onto a distant figure.
The person was tall and slender, their entire form concealed beneath a cloak, but the elegant contours of their frame were still discernible. There was another person standing in front of them, shorter in stature—most likely a woman.
It was Lei Ba’s first time in Da Ming City, let alone the black market. He shouldn’t have recognized anyone here. Yet, for some reason, that silhouette struck him as strangely familiar…

Author’s Note:
#Shocking! Once a model student, now frequenting illegal establishments after crossing into the immortal world! The person by her side suspected to be the Second Young Master of Zhongshan! The Immortal Realm’s fake morality, confirmed! Ling Qingxiao, out of character, confirmed!