Chapter Sixty-Four: Revealing Kunlun

The Immortal Lady first drew a seal in the palm of her right hand, then pressed her right hand over her mouth thirty-six times in a ritual gesture, burned a plate of incense, and immediately grasped the Fire Gourd in her left hand, shouting loudly toward the west, “Reveal!” With her right hand, she held a sword gesture above her head and traced a path.

In a short time, everyone saw a curtain of white light appear twenty paces to the west. Within the white glow, a forbidding snow-capped mountain slowly emerged, its summit lost in the clouds.

At that moment, Jiang Wei leapt to stand near the Qiongqi, swinging a horsetail whisk twice before its eyes. Recognizing the magical item that had wounded it, the beast—vengeful by nature—was instantly enraged. It hunched its back, kicked off with its hind legs, and sprang at Jiang Wei. Jiang Wei, seeing his chance, dashed toward Kunlun. When he was less than thirty meters from Kunlun, the Qiongqi suddenly halted, as if it had caught a scent. Jiang Wei stopped as well, looking back to see the Qiongqi change direction and charge at Qin Xiaomo. Seeing this, Master Liu hurriedly produced a talisman, casting a diamond barrier to shield her. The Qiongqi crashed into it with a resounding clang, like a bell struck.

The collision left the beast dizzy and even more furious. Shaking its head, it battered the barrier repeatedly, causing it to tremble and waver. Master Liu, realizing the shield wouldn't last, quickly considered another way to draw the beast away.

At this moment, Qin Xiaomo was even more perplexed. Why did the Qiongqi ignore Jiang Wei, an Immortal Lord, and target her instead? Nervous, she summoned the Xuanli Blade. Seeing the Qiongqi become more frenzied, she wondered—could it recognize the Xuanli Blade?

“Miss Qin, why don’t you try tossing the Xuanli Blade away?” Master Liu suggested, having observed the beast’s reaction.

Qin Xiaomo gently threw the Xuanli Blade toward another spot. It traced a beautiful white arc, falling to the ground like a shooting star.

As expected, the Qiongqi immediately turned and bounded after the blade. The next scene left everyone dumbfounded: the beast picked up the Xuanli Blade and carried it back, placing it outside Qin Xiaomo’s diamond barrier and sitting half-upright like a husky, tongue lolling, panting heavily.

“Is it… trying to play? Maybe it's full and wants to digest?” Qin Xiaomo asked uncertainly.

“I’d guess its previous master used the Xuanli Blade to play with it,” Jiang Wei replied from nearby.

The Immortal Lady, silent for a long time, suddenly spoke: “Let it in quickly—Kunlun is about to disappear.”

Everyone looked and saw mist rising from the ground.

“Hurry, throw the Xuanli Blade into Kunlun,” urged Master Liu.

Qin Xiaomo, feeling reluctant, carefully picked up the blade and tossed it into Kunlun. The Qiongqi immediately sprang up to chase after it, following the blade into the mountain. When it picked up the blade and prepared to exit, the Kunlun vision grew increasingly blurry; the beast grew anxious, pacing back and forth inside. Behind it, a vague form appeared—a nine-headed tiger-bodied, human-faced beast, enormous as an elephant compared to the Qiongqi’s mouse-like size. Terrified, the Qiongqi clawed desperately at the barrier. Eventually, Kunlun vanished, leaving silence in its wake. For a long time, no one spoke.

The Immortal Lady, seeing her task was complete, broke the silence: “My mission is fulfilled; I take my leave.” Only then did everyone come to their senses, bidding her farewell.

Qin Xiaomo still hadn’t recovered. Perhaps it was the sight of the Qiongqi playing with the Xuanli Blade that made her feel the beast was not entirely cruel and savage. A pang of guilt and pity stirred within her.

Everything had gone so smoothly, even Master Liu was caught off guard. Jiang Wei decided to quickly return to the Heavenly Realm for the Immortal Seal, fearing that lingering would bring unforeseen trouble.

Qin Xiaomo tried to summon the Xuanli Blade in her mind, but her hand remained empty. The emptiness in her hand echoed in her heart. This was a gift from Qian Mubai—losing it felt as if she’d lost him too.

Dawn crept in, birdsong echoed at her ear, and the anxious look in the Qiongqi’s eyes replayed in her mind, refusing to fade.

On the way down the mountain, Qin Xiaomo suddenly said, “This Qiongqi… did it have a master before?”

Master Liu shook his head. “Never heard of it. All I know is it’s a fierce beast; no one’s ever mentioned its origins.”

Perhaps… its former master had played with it using the Xuanli Blade, but Qin Xiaomo kept that thought to herself.

Back at the Thousand Gold Pavilion, Qin Xiaomo woke up Jidou and went home together. After a night of turmoil, Qin Xiaomo showered and fell straight into sleep, forgetting all about whether she had crossed worlds.

When she awoke, it was afternoon. Jidou was in the living room, working on her laptop. Qin Xiaomo stumbled out, surprising Jidou.

“You’re up?”

Qin Xiaomo, still groggy, croaked, “Shouldn’t I be?”

“I mean… you didn’t travel across worlds?”

Jidou’s words brought Qin Xiaomo fully awake. Right—she’d had a dreamless, peaceful sleep, and hadn’t crossed over.

“What’s going on? I didn’t cross over.”

Jidou closed her laptop and focused on her. “Let’s sort this out. You didn’t return at the usual time, nor did you go as normal. Tell me all the details about your return; let’s analyze it.”

“I was discussing the Heavenly Emperor’s travels with Qian Mubai. Somehow, the conversation turned to the modern world, I thought of you all, and then I woke up.” Qin Xiaomo was bewildered.

“Then lie down and try to imagine that world, focus your thoughts on it.”

“Will it work?”

“You won’t know unless you try.” Jidou quickly vacated the sofa.

Qin Xiaomo closed her eyes, picturing Qian Mubai’s face and scenes from that other world. After a while, she heard Jidou whisper softly in her ear, “Qin Xiaomo, can you hear me?”

Qin Xiaomo suddenly opened her eyes. “I can hear you.”

“You scared me!” Jidou stepped back. “So it doesn’t work?”

She shook her head.

Jidou’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go find Master Liu and ask him what’s going on.”

Qin Xiaomo squinted at her. “Are you really helping me, or is this about someone else? Be honest—have you taken a liking to Jiang Wei?”

Jidou feigned bashfulness, glancing at Qin Xiaomo. “Isn’t it obvious? If you know anything about him, spill it—fast!”

Qin Xiaomo wasn’t sure how to explain. Jidou had fallen for an Immortal Lord. Usually, it was immortal maidens descending to bathe, surrounded by onlookers, reluctantly agreeing to marry, only for things to end poorly. If Jidou and Jiang Wei truly… would the Heavenly Realm intervene? Like a wealthy heir disguising himself, falling for a Cinderella, only for their families to oppose them, forcing them to elope… At this, Qin Xiaomo quickly shook her head. Was she overthinking?

Jidou sped to the Thousand Gold Pavilion at nearly a hundred miles an hour, showing just how eager she was to see Jiang Wei. Finding the lights on, they pushed the door open. Inside, only Qingfeng the immortal crane hid behind the computer, poking its head out. Seeing Qin Xiaomo and Jidou, it relaxed and came out.

“Greetings, sisters. Master went grocery shopping.”

“He went alone?” Jidou stroked her chin, trying not to look too guilty.

Qingfeng, confused, glanced at Qin Xiaomo, who suppressed a laugh and gave him a look to mind his own business. Just then, the door opened and Master Liu returned, humming, laden with groceries.

Jidou, excited, turned to look at Master Liu, then behind him, seeing no one, immediately slumped like a deflated balloon, not even bothering with a greeting.

“Miss Jidou, I know I’m not handsome, but do you have to make it so obvious?”

Jidou forced a smile. “Hello, Master Liu!”

“Mm, what brings you here so suddenly? Is something the matter?”

“There is, actually. I caught up on sleep today—and didn’t cross over!”