Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Chen Zui, perched on Black Bat's back, glanced behind him. He wasn't sure exactly where Wang Qianjiao was in the vicinity, but the thought that Wang Qianjiao had been secretly following him all this way meant he must know everything Chen Zui had done.

Ao Tian: "What are you looking at?"

Chen Zui: "Wang Qianjiao."

Ao Tian: "Huh? Where?"

Chen Zui: "Not sure, but definitely nearby. The rain last night didn't touch me because of him."

After answering Ao Tian, Chen Zui pursed his lips. He had indeed made contact—it had been soft and fragrant.

Ao Tian: "He's actually following you? That's just—"

Ao Tian: "A mother's worry follows her child even a thousand miles away."

Chen Zui frowned in confusion. What nonsense was this? Ao Tian was truly committed to casting Wang Qianjiao as a mother figure.

Ao Tian: "Oh no, then he must know all the trouble you've been causing on this journey!"

Ao Tian: "Will he choose to be a strict mother or a gentle one? Can't wait to see!"

Chen Zui: "..."

Chen Zui didn't continue the idle chatter with Ao Tian. If they kept talking, Ao Tian would turn it into some ethical dilemma. Better to find some amusement for himself.

An idea sparked in his eyes.

Chen Zui whispered into Black Bat's ear. The Black Bat responded with a sound.

Then, Chen Zui let himself fall backward off Black Bat's back, plummeting from the sky.

Wang Qianjiao, who was following on his sword, recognized this scene. On their way to the forbidden lands before, Chen Zui had kept jumping off like this—it seemed he never tired of this game.

He assumed the Black Bat would swoop down to catch Chen Zui.

But as Chen Zui was about to crash into the trees, and the Black Bat made no move to catch him, Wang Qianjiao’s expression hardened. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a gust of wind that lifted Chen Zui—who was moments from becoming a human kebab—and blew him back toward the still-flying Black Bat.

The wind dissipated.

Chen Zui smirked.

Then he jumped off again.

Only then did Wang Qianjiao realize his puppet was doing this on purpose. So tricky—impossible to predict. Despite this thought, his face showed no trace of impatience or anger.

With a flick of his wrist, the clouds in the sky formed the shape of a hand.

As his hand moved downward, the cloud hand followed, grabbing Chen Zui by the back of his collar in perfect sync with Wang Qianjiao’s motion. It held him like scruffing a misbehaving cat, then tossed him back onto the Black Bat.

At this point, Chen Zui knew Wang Qianjiao was following him, and Wang Qianjiao knew that Chen Zui knew. Both knew the score, yet one refused to show himself, and the other refused to expose him—both playing dumb, continuing this game without confrontation.

Chen Zui jumped off the Black Bat once more. This time, the clouds in the sky formed a swing, catching him steadily. Then, with a flick of Wang Qianjiao’s finger, the swing began to sway.

Chen Zui was having a great time. This world was interesting, but Wang Qianjiao was even more so.

The swing soared high, Chen Zui’s ponytail flying behind him, making him look carefree and happy. For once, he wore a broad, uninhibited smile, showing both his upper and lower teeth.

With another swing, Chen Zui leaped off and landed back on the Black Bat.

Before nightfall, Chen Zui saw the endless sea below. The setting sun cast a golden glow, stunningly beautiful. He and the Black Bat became a tiny speck against it.

Chen Zui jumped off once again.

This time, Wang Qianjiao didn’t catch him, letting him dive into the sea. However, the moment Chen Zui hit the water, Wang Qianjiao cast a water-based spell on him, forming a transparent bubble around Chen Zui.

It ensured that after entering the water, he wouldn’t get wet or have trouble breathing.

After casting the same spell on himself, Wang Qianjiao also entered the sea. He immediately spotted the shimmering bubble encircling Chen Zui, descending deeper into the ocean.

Small fish were drawn to it, swimming around him.

Wang Qianjiao took a small porcelain bottle from his spatial ring and tossed it ahead of Chen Zui. The liquid inside spilled out, and soon, various schools of fish were attracted by the scent.

Colorful fish formed a storybook world in the depths. Glowing jellyfish joined in, pulsing as they swam. Chen Zui’s bubble was sometimes bumped aside by the fish, sometimes treated as a toy by larger fish, who nudged it upward like a ball with their mouths.

Chen Zui’s eyes couldn't take it all in fast enough. Though he enjoyed diving, he had never seen an underwater world like this.

It was like a dream.

Wang Qianjiao gestured, and the small bottle returned to his hand. He watched Chen Zui chasing the fish. The fish were beautiful—no bigger than his palm, with silvery-pink gradient scales and tail fins like flowing skirts.

Chen Zui cupped one in his hands.

He stroked the little fish’s head with his finger, its tiny mouth opening and closing.

Chen Zui opened his hands, releasing the fish, and then he began to swim upward.

Before the little fish could rejoin its school, Wang Qianjiao intercepted it, scooping up the fish with some seawater into a vase inside his spatial ring.

Chen Zui emerged from the sea’s surface under a starry sky and a bright moon. Silver moonlight shimmered on the water.

It was a mysterious calm, different from the sunset.

He resembled a merperson who had sneaked out under the cover of night. If he were to remove his clothes and reveal the body chain he wore, the resemblance would be even stronger.

Black Bat returned from the distance. The moment Chen Zui left the water, the protective bubble vanished.

Sitting cross-legged on the Black Bat’s back, Chen Zui faced the moon as if he could almost touch it by reaching out. Yet, as the Black Bat flew onward, the moon remained ahead—neither closer nor farther, always just out of reach.

Wang Qianjiao put away his sword and landed softly behind Chen Zui.

The Black Bat’s eyes shifted backward briefly before continuing forward. This human was powerful—it knew it was no match for him.

Near the fishing village by the sea, a child stepped out to relieve himself. Drowsily, he thought he saw a large monster above the sea and hurriedly rubbed his eyes to look more clearly.

The moon hung in the sky like a round plate. A giant bat flapped its wings, flying past. On its back sat a young man in coarse linen clothes, propping his cheek as if bored. Behind him was a faint, indistinct figure, more dreamlike than the moonlight. With a flick of his hand, fireworks suddenly lit up the night sky.

They flew past the moon, into the fireworks.

The wind lifted the young man’s long hair, brushing it against the jaw of the man behind him, lingering softly.

That man lowered his gaze and raised a hand, gently tracing the strand of hair as if cherishing it infinitely.

Doors and windows opened one after another, and curious faces appeared.

"Wow! What beautiful fireworks!"

"So beautiful."

"Look, sister, that firework is so big!"

"Who's setting off fireworks in the middle of the night? Let people sleep!"

—

Ao Tian: "I'm getting envious, this is just too spoiled!"

Ao Tian: "If I ever become human, I won’t be an overbearing boss anymore. Being an overbearing boss is nowhere near as sweet as being pampered!"

Ao Tian: "How can I even focus on handling those junior disciples now? This mission is really impossible to carry out."

Chen Zui listened to his chatter, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. This was, in fact, the first time in his life he had been pampered so much, as if even if he caused a disaster, Wang Qianjiao would transform into Nüwa to mend the sky for him.

This feeling…

He slowly raised his hand and placed it over his heart. Behind this layer of flesh, there was nothing—yet where did this throbbing come from?

They flew out over the sea, the night at its deepest.

Chen Zui crossed his legs, propping himself up on one arm.

Relaxed and carefree.

Behind his head, Wang Qianjiao sat cross-legged. With a slight hook of his finger, Chen Zui caught a strand of Wang Qianjiao’s long hair that had been hanging down.

He grasped a lock.

Wang Qianjiao glanced over but did not pull back the captured strand.

Chen Zui twirled and fiddled with that lock of hair. Wang Qianjiao must be very, very close—close enough that if he leaned back now, he would lean into his arms.

But he didn’t do that.

This was fine as it was. No need to acknowledge or address it.

He raised his other hand as if to grab the stars. Wang Qianjiao also lifted his hand, the wide sleeve of his blue robe falling back, slowly resting against the back of Chen Zui’s hand.

His hand was slightly smaller than Chen Zui’s.

One finger after another pressed against it, then slowly curled around his palm.

Chen Zui stared intently, letting his hand be guided by Wang Qianjiao’s strength.

He felt something materialize in his palm.

Hard.

Wang Qianjiao’s hand withdrew.

Chen Zui opened his hand—a glittering jewel now lay in his palm.

As if he had plucked a star from the sky.

Ao Tian: "I can’t take it anymore, I’m defecting. Just go for him! Who cares if he’s the receptive partner!"

Chen Zui gazed at the star in his hand.

Wang Qianjiao observed Chen Zui, who was looking at the star.

—

Five days later, Chen Zui finally reached his destination. From Black Bat’s back, he looked ahead—it was right there where he had to leap from the cliff.

Only…

Ao Tian: "He’s been following all along. What do we do?"

Chen Zui: "He won’t take it from me."

The tone in which he said this was entirely that of someone spoiled and fearless, secure in being favored.

Ao Tian: "But what if he asks about it later?"

Chen Zui: "A divine revelation in a dream."

It fit perfectly with the world’s setting. Whether he believed it or not was another matter—he’d given an answer.

Besides, Chen Zui thought Wang Qianjiao must be very curious about him.

Why was he so different from all the other puppets Wang Qianjiao had known?

When those eyes looked at him, he often saw surprise and delight in them, and a desire to see more, to see what else made him different.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Black Bat carried Chen Zui swooping down the cliff, Wang Qianjiao following closely by.

Once they broke through the mist, they reached a small valley floor where even Black Bat had to tuck in its wings somewhat to fit.

After Chen Zui jumped down, it turned sideways, claws gripping the cliff face as it perched.

It glanced at Wang Qianjiao.

If it weren’t for this human’s power and his kindness toward the other human (Chen Zui), it would have long since shaken Chen Zui off and flown away.

Now it could only stay put obediently.

The valley floor was covered in wildflowers and grass. Chen Zui parted them as he searched.

Wang Qianjiao watched curiously. So this was the destination of his trip down the mountain.

What was he looking for?

And how did he know about this place?

Some use corpses to return to life—could it be that someone borrowed this puppet vessel?

If so.

Who was he?

Chen Zui searched inch by inch. Even Ao Tian didn’t know exactly where the elixir was, because the original book only mentioned that Wang Qianjiao stumbled upon it on the ground after falling off the cliff.

Wang Qianjiao: So intent—it must be something useful.

Chen Zui carefully parted the grass blade by blade, searching meticulously, and finally, heaven rewards the diligent.

After parting a pink wildflower, he spotted the immortal pill.

A glint lit up his eyes.

He picked up the pill.

Wang Qianjiao narrowed his eyes; he could sense a wisp of spiritual energy from the pill, but nothing more.

Was this really worth coming all this way for?

Chen Zui wiped the pill off and tossed it into his mouth, then quickly sat down cross-legged and began to meditate.

Ao Tian: "You need to chew the elixir thoroughly."

Chen Zui immediately chewed, and the moment he crushed the pill,

Wang Qianjiao felt a massive wave of spiritual energy.