Chapter 8: Chaos in the City

Cultivators don’t rely on sleep to recover their energy. After a brief rest, the three of them set off again.

Before they departed, Blue Ling’er and Huang Doudou asked Yu Yi about Chi Ming’s situation.

Upon learning that Yu Yi had let Chi Ming go, both understood that expecting Chi Ming to immediately return to the sect wasn’t realistic.

Master was giving her time.

All three changed into plain clothes and skirts, their appearances now vastly different from before.

“Master, this Disciple still doesn’t understand. Although we’ve been hiding and running for some time, we don’t actually lack money. Why didn’t we buy some high-quality clothes just now?”

Huang Doudou tugged at the plain skirt she wore, speaking with some discomfort.

“This fabric is really low-quality. It’s so uncomfortable to wear.”

Yu Yi didn’t know how to explain.

After all, it was her first time as a woman.

She’d never had the habit of wearing women’s clothes. Compared to the plain attire, those fancy garments were just too troublesome to put on and take off.

That’s right—the reason Yu Yi changed clothes was simply for convenience.

She couldn’t possibly rely on her Disciples to help her dress and undress every time, could she?

“Doudou, Master must have had other intentions for doing this.”

Blue Ling’er’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she respectfully asked Yu Yi:

“This Disciple dares to guess Master’s intentions. Would Master allow this Disciple a chance to try?”

Good grief, what are you thinking up again??

Yu Yi was inwardly shocked, but maintained a calm expression.

“Speak.”

“Our next destination is Mingyue City. As the only route to Among the Colorful Clouds, Mingyue City was originally a place outsiders dared not enter. But ever since Master left Among the Colorful Clouds, Mingyue City became a mix of all sorts of people, with countless forces sneaking in. There are many rogue cultivators, and among them, there must be spies planted by the Ghost Shadow Sect.”

“If we still dressed as before, we’d definitely attract attention. If those spies discovered our identities, the Ghost Shadow Sect would learn of it before us and escape. Master changed her appearance to visit the Ghost Shadow Sect quietly, ensuring none could escape, and making everyone pay the price!”

After Blue Ling’er’s analysis, Huang Doudou couldn’t help but clap in admiration.

“Brilliant!”

Blue Ling’er then looked confidently at Yu Yi.

“Master, how accurate was this Disciple’s guess?”

Yu Yi fell silent.

This… makes sense!

But considering her dignity as Master, Yu Yi replied calmly,

“Nine parts correct.”

“Huh?”

Blue Ling’er was a little surprised, frowning in thought.

“There’s still one part missing… What did I overlook…”

“Ahem.”

Yu Yi coughed lightly.

“Ling’er, that’s enough.”

Stop guessing, stop guessing—if you keep going, I won’t have a shred of dignity left!

“This Disciple was rude! May Master forgive my offense!”

Only then did Blue Ling’er realize her mistake and hurriedly apologized.

As a Disciple, speculating about Master’s intentions was an act of disrespect.

Blue Ling’er glanced secretly at Yu Yi. Seeing no reaction, she breathed a sigh of relief, then said, “Thank you for your generosity, Master. This Disciple’s habit of acting clever must be corrected.”

Yu Yi frowned.

Corrected?

That won’t do!

“There’s no need to go that far.”

Yu Yi shook her head and instructed,

“Ling’er is intelligent and sharp. As your Master, I am proud. Just remember to be mindful of the situation and your words. That is enough.”

“This Disciple will obey Master’s teaching!”

Blue Ling’er replied quickly, feeling extremely happy to have received Master’s approval.

Yu Yi let out a sigh of relief.

***

After daylight had been up for a while, the three finally arrived at Mingyue City.

Memories about Mingyue City surged in Yu Yi’s mind, providing her with much information.

Mingyue City—despite its grand-sounding name—was just a small county city in Yizhou.

It only gained fame because it connected to Among the Colorful Clouds, the territory of the female demon Yu Yi Jue.

Thus, “Mingyue County” was elevated and became “Mingyue City.”

Upon entering the city, a lively atmosphere rushed to greet them.

Teahouses and taverns, scattered crowds, storytellers and singers working harder than ever—at first glance, nothing seemed amiss.

But for some reason, Yu Yi couldn’t shake a subtle sense of discomfort.

“Master, the people in this city seem… off somehow…”

Huang Doudou pressed close to Yu Yi and whispered.

“Oh?”

Yu Yi raised her brows.

“Tell me, what seems off?”

Huang Doudou was skilled at gathering information, possessing keen insight.

She might have the answer.

Given the chance to perform, Huang Doudou perked up and analyzed seriously.

“That storyteller by the roadside—the pattern on his folding fan changes with the angle it’s opened. This could be a way to pass messages to others.

And those street performers, the swords and spears they’re playing with have just been sharpened.

There are faint stains of blood on the blades that can’t be cleaned off.

These people aren’t ordinary citizens, but cultivators disguising themselves.

From their stances, it seems they’ve been hiding their identities for some time, always ready for action.”

Yu Yi listened thoughtfully.

Cultivators disguised as commoners—what was their aim?

Could these be Ghost Shadow Sect spies?

“Master, could they be…”

Blue Ling’er also realized it, her gaze turning cold.

“Be careful not to alert the enemy.”

Yu Yi said calmly.

“Master is right. This is only one corner of the street, yet there are already several suspicious people. There must be more elsewhere. If we act here, the Ghost Shadow Sect’s other spies will report the news!”

Huang Doudou agreed.

“This Disciple was too rash.”

Blue Ling’er composed herself, lowering her voice.

However, just as the three of them continued walking as if nothing was amiss, the storyteller and the street performers suddenly stopped what they were doing and headed straight toward them.

Yu Yi frowned, a cold gleam in her eyes.

“Have we been discovered?”

Blue Ling’er and Huang Doudou also readied themselves for battle.

As the distance shrank, the atmosphere grew more tense.

But suddenly, within ten meters ahead, inside a small tavern, a burly man who looked honest and sturdy seemed to sense something. He abruptly overturned a table and dashed out the door.

In the next moment, the storyteller swung his folding fan, and several sharp silver needles shot at the man like rain—but the overturned table blocked them all.

“Target confirmed! All units, capture him!”

The storyteller shouted, and nearby vendors and beggars, along with the street performers, dropped their disguises and charged at the fleeing man.

The sudden battle threw passing civilians into panic.

Surprisingly, the man’s movements were incredibly swift and strange.

In just a few breaths, he vanished from sight, and a black shadow appeared on the ground, darting toward the terrified crowd.

“This is the Ghost Shadow Technique! Damn, so fast!”

The storyteller shouted to the crowd,

“Everyone, be careful! Don’t let his shadow touch you!!”

But even with the warning, it was too late.

The man emerged from the shadow, grabbing a victim.

His true face was now exposed—a broad, grinning visage filled with menace.

He pointed at the storyteller.

“Heh, you’d better not move, or this woman’s life is forfeit!”

The storyteller gritted her teeth, cursing his shamelessness.

Seeing the woman he’d seized was frozen in fear, she tried to calm her.

But as she saw the woman’s face, she froze.

Plain white clothes, an ordinary look at first glance—

But looking closer, she was an absolute beauty?