The Luoxing Expanse was vast and boundless.
Though locked in eternal night, it was not as pitch-black as one might imagine. A massive full moon hung low in the vaulted sky, its cold, blinding white light illuminating everything around them, yet inexplicably exuding a suffocating sense of oppression.
The moment anyone stepped into the halo of light, space distorted, scattering them to different landing spots.
Only those in the same group would land together.
Wu Li and Song Yueyao fell from the void simultaneously. When they looked up, they were surprised to find the valley they were in somewhat familiar.
It wasn't until they walked a distance and rounded a mountain pass, catching sight of that familiar, dilapidated inn, that it dawned on them: this was Zhu Yu's inn from their journey here.
They had heard the locals of Qianwu Town mention before that although the Luoxing Expanse was a realm of chaos, the scenery within it actually shifted and changed in tandem with the real world.
It was the equivalent of an Outer World and an Inner World.
Like the two sides of a mirror—one real, one illusory.
However, this mirror world possessed no sunlight and no vitality. There were only swarms of evil entities, breeding and spreading beneath the ghastly white moon.
Furthermore, anyone who entered the Luoxing Expanse would be guided by their strongest subconscious will to the place etched deepest in their memories.
In her short, tumultuous life of wandering, Song Yueyao had no unforgettable haven in her subconscious where she longed to stay.
Therefore, this place was the most profound location in Wu Li's heart.
Song Yueyao glanced back at the deep, shadowy valley before quietly shifting her gaze to Wu Li beside her.
They had merely played out a scene with that ghost infant inside.
What exactly had happened in this valley to make it so unforgettable for him?
However, Song Yueyao had always known her boundaries. She would never ask about things that were none of her business.
Yet, there was one thing she truly didn't understand. "Wu Li, you just told Xiaomi to wander around, saying we would be out in a bit. Did you not know that the New Moon Archery Contest requires us to stay in this realm for a full three days?"
For these three days, aside from waterskins, everyone had specially stocked up on dry rations. Though, just like the real world, the Luoxing Expanse had trees and plants; if one didn't mind the bitter taste, they could forage for wild berries to stave off hunger.
The Moonshadow Sprite was incredibly difficult to find. Three days was already the bare minimum. If no one managed to shoot it after three days, the New Moon Archery Contest would end dismally with no ultimate winner.
Song Yueyao looked up at the oppressively low full moon, a trace of disappointment flickering in her eyes. She had thought Jiang Zhiyu would definitely come to see her before she entered, but the man hadn't even shown his face.
"Three days?"
Wu Li sneered. The moonlight fell upon the side of his face, illuminating a carelessly ruthless edge. "Even half a day is too much for me. It's just catching a sprite; why go through so much trouble?"
"But let me make things ugly and clear right now." The young man suddenly turned his head. The usual nonchalance in his eyes abruptly vanished, replaced by a chilling gleam that was a mix of darkness and bloodlust.
"First, I don't have time to protect you, but you'd better stay alive. My wife likes you. If anything happens to you, she will definitely cry."
"Second, don't hold me back. Those amateur archery skills you've picked up over the last few days might be enough to catch a wild rabbit, but they are far from sufficient to hunt a cunning sprite. When I notch an arrow, you step aside."
"Lastly, the prize belongs to me. If you want to snatch it, you'll have to trade your life for it."
"Understood?"
His flippant tone sounded as if he were joking, but listening closely, that final word carried a vicious bite.
Song Yueyao froze in place, her fingertips turning icy cold inch by inch.
She almost could not believe her eyes.
Was the person in front of her... really Wu Li?
How could that young man, who had carefully protected his wife along the journey and occasionally blushed in awkwardness, reveal such an expression?
It was so unfamiliar that it sent chills down her spine.
Even though she had been accustomed to the slaughter of the battlefield since childhood, she subconsciously gripped her bow tightly at this moment, her knuckles turning pale.
"I have no intention of fighting for the Ice Bow and Mystic Arrows, but such a divine artifact must never fall into the hands of the barbarians. They are predatory by nature. If they obtain the artifact, they will definitely use it against our people," Song Yueyao said in a deep voice.
She looked steadily at Wu Li. "Since you said you are confident in finding the Moon Shadow Demon Spirit, why haven't you made a move yet?"
Song Yueyao was a bit curious. Wu Li had boasted that half a day was too much time, so what method could he possibly use to find this spirit?
"What is the rush?" His tone was lazy as he casually snapped off a piece of foxtail grass, slowly twirling it between his fingers. "It is rare for the streets outside to be so empty. It is good to let her play a little longer, lest the arrow competition ends before she even has time to swallow her pancake."
The dense crowd of people disgusted him just by looking at them.
Since childhood, he had been used to staying in dark, quiet, and damp corners, accompanied by venomous insects and poisons.
In crowded places, even having the hem of his clothes touched made him nauseous.
But when navigating the noisy crowds, in order to protect the little girl in his arms and prevent anyone from brushing against her, he had to turn himself into an iron wall, enduring the passing touches and challenging his limits of patience time and time again.
"What?!"
The young girl's clear voice suddenly exploded, piercing the sky.
Even the passing birds were startled.
"Three days?!"
Chai Xiaomi's hand holding the oiled paper bag trembled, and her face instantly fell. "Didn't he say he would be out in a little while? How did it become three days?"
The meat pancake in her hand suddenly lost its appeal.
The first thought that popped into her mind was: Three days... I will not be able to see Lili for the next three whole days.
This thought blocked her chest, making her throat dry and taking away her appetite.
She spat the bite of pancake she had just taken back into the oiled paper bag without even chewing it, her shoulders drooping listlessly.
She was not eating anymore, she had no appetite.
Seeing this, the pancake stall owner had a face full of frustration. "Miss, does this meat pancake not suit your taste?"
No matter how bad it tasted, it should not be so bad that she spat it out before even chewing the first bite.
When had his meat pancakes ever received such humiliating treatment?
This was a decades-old ancestral recipe. Anyone who tasted it would be captivated. His stall was the most popular on the entire East Street. A few days ago, when there were many tourists, there was a long, dragon-like queue in front of his stall every day.
Chai Xiaomi shook her head weakly. "It does not suit me. Not at all. Not even a little bit."
What the heck, stupid Lili! He even lied to her saying he would be out in a bit!
She now wished she could rush into the Falling Star Plateau, grab him by the collar, and question him.
The owner became anxious and could not help raising his voice. "My pancakes are great! A few days ago, a young man from out of town lined up every single day without fail to buy them! Once, when they were sold out and the other customers had dispersed, he grabbed onto me and would not let go, pestering me to grind fresh flour and restart the fire, insisting that I make another one before he gave up..."
It was so delicious that it made people this persistent.
Yet this little girl was so incredibly picky.
Ouyang Rui waved his hand, gesturing for the shop owner not to interrupt, and continued, "Xiaomi, don't you find it suspicious? He knew full well that the archery tournament would take three days, yet he deliberately deceived you, saying he would be right out. To leave a beautiful young lady like you wandering the streets all alone—he doesn't worry about you in the slightest."
"I can guarantee," he suddenly lowered his voice, "that your husband and that Song Yueyao are absolutely having an affair! You didn't catch them in the act last time, so now they've taken it a step further. They ran straight into the Falling Star Plateau to romance each other, where no one else can discover them."
He shook his head and began to clap slowly. "What a brilliant scheme!"
"Shut up! You must be the ancient ancestor of tabloid gossip mongers!"
Chai Xiaomi's face suddenly darkened, her voice tight with rare anger.
"If you keep spouting such nonsense, we are no longer friends."
Song Yueyao's heart was entirely set on Jiang Zhiyu; she had absolutely zero interest in Wu Li.
And as for Wu Li...
Ever since they returned from the Ouyang Manor that night, his attitude toward Song Yueyao had taken a sharp nosedive. He was cold and distant, refusing to even spare her a glance.
Where could there possibly be any love?
Her fingertips unconsciously brushed against the corner of her lips. Certain burning memories suddenly surged to the surface of her mind, making her ears grow hot.
Then why on earth was he so determined to plant a love gu in Song Yueyao?
Or could it be...
He was hiding some unspeakable secret?
