Back at Mo Su's cave, the three of them stared at the dark bruise around his left eye. Their eyes were full of amusement, though none of them dared show it too openly.
Jian Feng, for once, actually brought out a tea set. He brewed spirit tea for the three of them and slid a cup in front of Mo Su.
Mo Su lifted it and took a sip. His mood wasn't that bad. After all, since he'd taken this beating today, Mo Yue wouldn't be able to use the same excuse to trouble him again. Besides, Jian Feng had stood firmly on his side, and that made him pretty satisfied.
It wasn't until Jian Dan's disguise fell that Mo Su realized he'd been set up by Mo Yue and Jian Feng working together.
Right now, he was still in the dark. Jian Feng was a disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, so naturally he couldn't reveal the sect's deepest secrets and could only pretend not to know.
"Honestly, the beating was worth it." Mo Su set down his teacup as he spoke.
"Junior brother, we get what you're thinking, but you're the only one who can say getting beaten makes you happy." Mo Qi teased him.
"You've got it wrong." Mo Su sighed helplessly. Did he really look that stupid to them?
"Then what's the truth?"
"Just now when I fought Mo Yue, Jian Feng and I linked our qi. We started supporting each other's attacks. Our cultivation didn't rise, but our strikes got a whole level stronger." He turned to Jian Feng.
Jian Feng nodded, confirming it. He was starting to understand why Mo Yue Zūnshàng had insisted on dragging him onto the stage. She was one of the few who knew his body was Pure Yang while Mo Su's was Pure Yin.
It was the first time they'd fought side by side, and the result was an unexpected discovery. No wonder Zūnshàng had asked him if they'd ever fought together. He couldn't shake the feeling that she knew something about him and Mo Su.
"Because of your physiques, your strength gets a boost when you team up. That's the real gain from today's match. You two should focus on raising your realms as fast as you can. Once you both reach Void Refinement, you'll be able to challenge Mo Yue together." Mo Yi offered the advice seriously.
"I think that's gonna be tough. Mo Yue's cultivation speed leaves us in the dust." Mo Qi was always blunt.
Meanwhile, Jian Dan had just returned to Mo Yan Peak. She was in the mood to admire the flowers when Chun Yu arrived with a post.
"Zūnshàng, the beast clan's Bai Jue Zūnshàng is here to visit."
"Oh? What for?"
"Bai Jue Zūnshàng only said an old friend seeks an audience."
"Then invite him in."
At that moment, Jian Dan felt a trace of familiar qi and pressed her lips into a small smile.
Bai Jue came dressed in spotless white robes, walking slowly beneath the peach blossom tree. A fluffy gray-and-white ball suddenly sprang out of his arms and bounced straight into Jian Dan's embrace.
Bai Jue's elegant face revealed rare shock.
"Mo Yue, I came to play with you!" Xiao Yue's excited voice rang out as he snuggled into Jian Dan's arms, even rubbing his little head against her chest in satisfaction. Bai Jue couldn't help feeling this was a bit of a disgrace to the beast race.
Jian Dan stroked Xiao Yue's head. She wasn't angry. Instead, she glanced at Bai Jue and the small fox, Yue Liang, perched on his shoulder.
She'd already sensed Yue Liang's contract mark earlier. The fox's bright eyes shimmered as she confirmed that the female demon cultivator before her was indeed her Zūnshàng. Without that contract, the disguise never would've been exposed.
Yue Liang hopped onto the table, raised a tiny paw, and saluted. "Greetings, Zūnshàng."
Jian Dan smiled and gestured for Bai Jue to sit. Chun Yu and Xia He hurried forward to reset the tea service.
"Xiao Yue, you came for the succession ceremony too?"
Jian Dan asked.
"Ask him yourself."
Yue Liang said sourly. Normally, Zūnshàng's embrace belonged only to her. Today, a wolf cub had stolen it.
Jian Dan saw right through Yue Liang's pettiness. She winked at the fox, then tapped Xiao Yue's head."You snuck out, didn't you?"
It wasn't a question.
"How'd you know, Mo Yue?"
Xiao Yue looked up with wide, innocent eyes.
"You're only at the fourth rank. There's no way the Lang Xiao clan leader would let you wander out alone. You'd have a guard escort at least. But you came here with Bai Jue instead."
"The clan leader knows I came to the Heavenly Demon Palace!"
The little guy tried to dodge.
"He said he came here to see his mother."
Yue Liang immediately exposed him.
Jian Dan and Bai Jue froze, then Jian Dan's face went black. When had she suddenly become a mother?
"Explain yourself."
She poked Xiao Yue's forehead.
"I just wanted to come play with you. Father wouldn't let me, so I snuck out."
Then he pouted and honestly recounted how he fooled everyone, snuck onto a flying boat, and what happened after he got caught.
Both Jian Dan and Bai Jue listened with interest.
"Not bad. You even made a battle plan and pulled it off."
Jian Dan gave a fair evaluation.
Xiao Yue's eyes lit up at the praise.
"Bai Jue Daoyou, why'd you bring Xiao Yue here?"
"He wouldn't shut up about seeing you. The moment our boat landed, he grabbed the Heavenly Demon Palace guards and asked after you. When he heard you'd returned to the sect, he was like a rat with its tail on fire. I couldn't stop him, so here we are."
Yue Liang grumbled again.
"Mo Yue Zūnshàng, please forgive him. This is Xiao Yue's first time leaving the clan grounds. He wanted to broaden his horizons. I've already told the Lang Xiao clan leader. Since you're here, he shamelessly asks you to look after Xiao Yue until the ceremony ends. After that, I'll take him back to the beast clan."
Bai Jue's voice was polite and respectful.
So they wanted her to play babysitter. Jian Dan felt helpless, but when she saw Xiao Yue's eager little face, she couldn't refuse.
"Fine. Then Lang Xiao owes me a favor."
"Of course. I'll relay your words to him."
Jian Dan smiled at Yue Liang and sent a sound transmission. "Yue Liang, go find Jian Xu and meet up with him. I can't reveal my identity for now."
"Understood, Zūnshàng. Don't worry. I'll stay with the Heavenly Sword Sect disciples. If I need to, I'll use Xiao Yue as an excuse to contact you."
"Good. To be safe, let's pass messages through the contract mark."
"Yes."
They sealed the agreement through their bond.
Bai Jue rose and took his leave, returning to the beast clan's temporary residence.
Yue Liang flicked her fluffy tail, shot Xiao Yue a glare, and left as well to find Jian Xu.
Xiao Yue, now able to monopolize Mo Yue Zūnshàng all by himself, rolled happily in Jian Dan's arms.
Jian Dan laughed. "That happy?"
"Mm! I left the clan grounds, and I get to see you, Mo Yue. I'm really happy."
"Alright. Be happy, but don't slack off on your cultivation."
"Got it!"
And so, Xiao Yue officially moved into Mo Yue Zūnshàng's cave. Chun Yu and Xia He quickly set up a side cave just for him.
After they finished, Jian Dan brought Xiao Yue to see it. She waved her hand and carved a Moon Gathering Array into the ground. She broke through the cave wall and placed a formation plate that would absorb moonlight at maximum efficiency. Then she poured the power of lunar yin into the array, creating the perfect place for Xiao Yue's cultivation.
Chun Yu and Xia He could only gape. Zūnshàng was really spoiling this little wolf cub.
Back in the beast clan's territory, the Lang Xiao clan leader finally received Bai Jue's white feather message:
"Task complete. Xiao Yue has been entrusted to Mo Yue Zūnshàng's care. Zūnshàng said you owe him a favor."
The clan leader finally breathed easy.