Chapter 123: Landor Comes to Make Trouble

"Then let us speak of that when you can offer me a perfect ten. As it stands now, in my eyes, his kindness is a ten, and yours, Putai, might just reach a five."

At these words, he paused slightly, his voice drifting as if from afar. "Five is fine. It is still better than having none at all."

"It is hardly none. You have helped me time and again, and I have kept it all in my heart. Though you may not treat me with the same kindness as Zilian, you are truly the person in this world who understands me the most."

At this, I sighed. "In the Demon Realm, everyone fears me because I am a princess. On the surface, they flatter me, yield to me, greet me with smiles, and speak sweet words, but I am well aware of what they say behind my back. They have long disliked me, this Demon Princess. From the day I was born until now, no one has ever shown me a sincere smile more than a handful of times. The way they treat me is not out of genuine affection, but merely because Chixiao is my brother, and because I hold the title of princess. If I had been nothing more than an ordinary demon from the start, they likely would not have even glanced my way."

It has been several days since I fled the Demon Palace, and having heard not a single whisper of the Demon Princess going missing, I suspect the inhabitants of the palace have long since cast me, a trivial princess, to the back of their minds.

Putai looked at me with a touch of surprise, then suddenly raised his voice. "Could it be that your flight from the Demon Realm to follow Immortal Zilian is a ruse, and leaving that place of sorrow is the true intent?"

"Nonsense. While the two are intertwined, following Zilian is something I have yearned for over a thousand years. Regardless of my standing in the Demon Realm—whether I was held in the palms of their hands like a precious treasure, or treated as I am now, a mere ladder for others to climb toward power—I would still have fled the Demon Realm for Zilian's sake, following him all the way to the Celestial Realm, never to look back."

"Never to look back?"

A trace of mockery appeared on his face as he smiled. "I only hope, Lady Yuge, that this lack of looking back earns you that one-tenth you so desire. May you not end up falling into an abyss from which there is no return."

Deep down, I had already steeled myself, prepared to stake everything on this gamble. Even if the result truly meant an eternal fall, what of it? I do not care.

"Since you have made such a firm resolve, Lady Yuge, I shall say no more."

He flicked his folding fan, his smile growing colder, tinged with a faint, weary resignation. Suddenly, he reached out and handed me a bamboo tube. "Take this. Keep it with you. If you ever encounter danger and your master is unable to reach you in time, blow into this tube, and I shall appear before you."

I asked him, puzzled, "And what would you do if you appeared before me?"

Could he possibly intend to save me? Looking at his frail, pedantic scholar’s air, I doubted he could be of any help. If anything, it should be I helping him.

"Do you not want it?" His voice was filled with disappointment. His hand remained outstretched, unwilling to withdraw, though a mocking smile played on his lips. "Take it. It is merely a bamboo tube. I assure you, Lady Yuge, it is as ordinary as a bamboo tube can be. It will not harm you, nor will it harm your Zilian."

"Well... alright then."

In truth, I had only hesitated for a moment. I knew it was just a tube; how could it possibly have the power to harm me or Zilian? I had not expected this bookish scholar to overthink things so much and say such suggestive words.

"I never said I didn't want it! Since it is a gift from you, I shall certainly treasure it. If I ever find myself in dire straits, I will blow this tube, and when that time comes, you must make sure to arrive, Putai!"

I snatched the tube from his hand, quickly tucked it into my robes, and looked up at him with a smile.

"Mn." He nodded slightly, then turned back to me. "Very well. It seems your 'eternal fall' is approaching. I shall take my leave now, and we shall meet again another day."

With that, a flash of teal robes flickered before my eyes, and he vanished.

*Bang, bang, bang...*

It was rare to hear a knock at the door of Qingshui Pavilion, and judging by Putai’s parting words, the person at the door was likely my master, the High Immortal Zilian.

Oh no, oh no. At this hour of the day, could he be coming to demand breakfast? I was suddenly overcome with nerves, my heart and mind spiraling into a chaotic frenzy of wild thoughts.

*Bang, bang, bang...* The knocking grew slightly more urgent.

"Little Martial Uncle, come out quickly! Fairy Landuo is in a fit of rage at the Luofu Palace because you brought breakfast to Martial Uncle Fengshi Liuying this morning! I heard she even scratched Senior Sister Liuying’s face, and it won't stop bleeding!" The urgent voice of Fen Dudu rang out from outside, growing louder and more frantic with every shout, as if he were terrified.

At his words, my heart skipped a beat. I scrambled up and rushed to throw open the door. "What?"

"Fairy Landuo is bullying Senior Sister Liuying at the Luofu Palace!" Fen Dudu looked up at me, his small hands covering his face, his eyes brimming with tears.

I moved his small, chubby hands away and discovered a clear, red handprint on his face. This Landuo had gone too far; relying on her noble immortal birth to treat other disciples with such disrespect—she was nothing but a shrew.

"Come, let us go together." I took Fen Dudu’s small hand, dashed out of Qingshui Pavilion, and charged ahead.