That night, as the various major immortal sects successively arrived at the Cloud Heaven Sect, the core disciples from every peak who understood the situation were all mobilized to receive guests. The entire Cloud Heaven Sect was frequently streaked with streams of light overhead, and Haotian Peak at the very center of the sect was especially brightly lit.
Xiao Lingyu stood holding Zhu Yurun, gazing in the direction of Haotian Peak. That night, neither Chu Mingwei nor Wu Yunzi returned. Once again, he activated the transmission talisman in his hand, and Chu Mingwei’s familiar voice came through, carefully reminding him to eat properly, rest early, and especially not to wander outside. Xiao Lingyu suppressed the uneasy feeling in his heart; he kept sensing that Chu Mingwei’s mood was off.
In his arms, Zhu Yurun forced his eyes open. “Little Monster, is Eldest Senior Brother not coming back tonight?”
Xiao Lingyu gave a soft “mm.”
“Then can Zhu stay and sleep with Little Monster?”
Xiao Lingyu smiled and patted his head. “Mm.”
“Then let’s hurry and go to sleep,” Zhu Yurun said, wrapping his arms around Xiao Lingyu’s neck and acting spoiled. “Zhu is very sleepy already.”
“Alright, we’ll go sleep.”
Just as Xiao Lingyu was about to carry Zhu Yurun back to their courtyard, he suddenly stopped.
In the distance, a streak of light was flying over from Haotian Peak.
“Eldest Senior Brother!” Xiao Lingyu called out in surprise—but when he saw the figure clearly, he froze.
On a sword glowing with faint blue light, Luo Shaohan stood in a green robe, holding Cang Ye in his arms, his face stiff as he tried to suppress the anger between his brows.
“Senior Brother Luo?” Xiao Lingyu greeted carefully.
Luo Shaohan forced a smile that never quite formed, then glanced at the child in his arms with a headache. “Lingyu, can you help me take care of Cang Ye for a night?”
Xiao Lingyu naturally agreed—but Cang Ye was clinging tightly to Luo Shaohan, refusing to let go.
Seeing Xiao Lingyu agree so readily, Cang Ye suddenly turned and glared at him fiercely.
“Daddy, don’t abandon Cang Ye! Cang Ye won’t attack that annoying girl again!”
Luo Shaohan remained cold-faced, unmoved.
Cang Ye pouted, tears welling up as he looked at him. “Daddy… are you going to be with that girl and don’t want Cang Ye anymore?”
Luo Shaohan still said nothing.
Cang Ye simply stared at him silently, tears streaming down his face.
Xiao Lingyu silently stepped back a little. The scene felt… increasingly strange.
Finally, Luo Shaohan relented, awkwardly wiping Cang Ye’s tears. “Stop crying. I’m not abandoning you. I’m just letting Lingyu take care of you for one night. I’ll come pick you up tomorrow morning.”
“Really?”
“Really.”
Cang Ye immediately brightened. He kissed Luo Shaohan’s face a few times, then obediently climbed down and stood beside Xiao Lingyu.
“Lingyu, sorry to trouble you,” Luo Shaohan said before quickly leaving.
The moment he was gone, Cang Ye shot Xiao Lingyu another fierce glare.
“Daddy is mine. Don’t you dare look at him.”
Xiao Lingyu’s mouth twitched. After a long pause, he gave up. “Don’t worry. He’s yours. I won’t take him.”
Cang Ye studied him seriously for a moment, then finally looked away with a snort.
Zhu Yurun, who had been quietly watching from the side despite his fear of Cang Ye’s demonic aura, finally gathered courage and leaned out.
“Little Monster is Zhu’s. You’re not allowed to look at Little Monster either.”
Cang Ye snorted in disdain—but at least he stopped staring at them.
Xiao Lingyu gave Zhu Yurun a thumbs-up in his heart, then led them back to his courtyard.
Because of Cang Ye’s presence, Xiao Lingyu had no choice but to tidy up Zhu Yurun’s previous room for him. Fortunately, Cang Ye was difficult in temperament but not picky about living conditions. He lay down directly and quickly fell into a deep sleep.
In the half-asleep night, a black shadow suddenly appeared in the center of the room.
Countless vines instantly shot out from within Cang Ye’s body, lashing toward the intruder.
“Cang Ye!” the figure called out.
The vines froze midair.
The figure stepped forward. Moonlight from the window fell in, revealing his face clearly—Jing Zhan, who had been secretly recovering within the Cloud Heaven Sect.
“You don’t remember me?” Jing Zhan asked, disappointed.
Cang Ye blinked, confused. “You smell familiar… like Qingming Gege.”
Jing Zhan’s expression darkened slightly at the term “Qingming Gege,” but he said nothing.
Cang Ye’s current form was that of a child, his body shrunk down to about five years old. Jing Zhan sighed and reached out cautiously.
Cang Ye instinctively tried to dodge, then stopped.
Jing Zhan gently touched his head.
“Cang Ye…” he murmured again, regretful.
Suddenly, Jing Zhan flicked his fingers. A black energy shot toward a corner of the room—but was blocked midair.
A second figure slowly appeared.
“Qingming Gege!” Cang Ye called happily.
Jing Zhan’s expression turned cold.
Qingming looked at him calmly. “I’m here for you.”
Jing Zhan scoffed. “We already settled everything last time. I don’t see any reason to meet again.”
Qingming sighed and briefly explained the situation regarding the fragments of the Heavenly Mechanism Disk and the so-called “variable” of the lower realm.
Jing Zhan listened lazily at first—but the moment he heard Zhu Yurun’s name, his expression changed.
Then he sneered.
“So you’re doing all this for humans again, Qingming. You really are devoted.”
Qingming didn’t argue.
Instead, he directly stated his purpose.
“I need to borrow the Creation Pearl.”
Jing Zhan laughed coldly. “The Creation Pearl is a sacred artifact of the demon race. Don’t even think about taking it to please Xiao Qingyi.”
Qingming frowned. “It’s not for Xiao Lingyu. It’s for the spirit beast.”
“Zhu Yurun?” Jing Zhan was surprised.
Qingming explained that Zhu Yurun’s internal space was unstable and needed external support from the Creation Pearl.
Jing Zhan replied lazily, “It’s not with me.”
“It’s with my remaining soul,” he said. “If you want it, go find him.”
Qingming’s expression darkened slightly, but Jing Zhan only smiled meaningfully.
As the conversation ended, Jing Zhan left.
Cang Ye, half-asleep, suddenly asked, “If the lower realm collapses… will Daddy be in danger?”
Qingming smiled softly. “No.”
Cang Ye nodded seriously. “Cang Ye will protect Daddy.”
Qingming gave a gentle nod.
After Qingming left, Jing Zhan looked toward Zhu Yurun’s direction and smiled faintly.
“Variable of fate…” he murmured.
The night passed quickly.
The next morning, Xiao Lingyu woke up to find Zhu Yurun missing. His divine sense immediately spread out—and he froze at what he saw.
Zhu Yurun, completely naked, was hugging a stone stool in the courtyard, fast asleep, drooling all over it.
“Delicious… so delicious…” he mumbled.
Xiao Lingyu helplessly carried him back to the room.
Behind him, Jing Zhan silently slipped away into a spatial rift.
As it closed, his final glance fell on Zhu Yurun.
“Destiny of the spirit beast…” he sighed softly before vanishing into the void.