Keesokan paginya.
"Hampir... tinggal sedikit lagi."
Li Mo, yang kemarin kalah lebih dari belasan kali, bangun dari mimpi, api merah-keemasannya di mata pun perlahan-memerlahan memudar.
Untungnya, sang pemuda Li agak tidak sabar.
Menantang bos yang sama dan kalah berkali-kali, setiap kali dengan cara yang berbeda — tak ada kepadan kerasa marah yang tidak meletup? Apalagi, ia benar-benbenar merasakan krisis hidup-mati setiap kali. Namun, di akhirnya ia tetap bisa menahan amarahnya. Pada saat itu, ia berkata pada dirinya, "Besok setelah bangun, aku pasti tidak biarkan blok es ini menertawakan aku..."
Cahaya matahari mengalir melalui jendela, mengisi ruangan dengan kehangatan.
"Berapa kali kamu kalah kemarin malam?"
Suara yang jernih dan melodius mengalun dari meja teh.
"Sebelas kali pertama, aku tidak menang. Kali terakhir... dia tidak kalah."
Li Mo berkata dengan wajah serius, sambil bermain dengan kata-kata "menang" dan "kalah".
"?"
"Baiklah, baiklah. Aku tidak menang sekali saja. Silakanlah ketawa."
Li Mo menyerah diri pada kekalahannya.
"Kalah lebih dari sepuluh kali berarti kamu tidak pernah bergantung pada senjata ilahimu. Kamu benar-benar belajar dengan sungguh-sungguh. Itu membanggakan."
Suara Ying Bing pelan, dan ia jarang berkata begitu banyak dalam sekaligus.
"!"
Li Mo tertongkah, tidak bisa menahan diri untuk tidak menolem pandang ke arah Ying Bing.
Dikelilingi oleh cahaya pagi emas, ia memegang secangkir teh, kehadirannya begitu halus sehingga bisa membuat seseorang salah mengira ia adalah sepotong giok hangat yang memancarkan kabut.
Blok es pun bersinar setiagi layaknya sinar matahari di luar, matanya mengandung sedikit keedenia — bukan untuk menertawakan, tetapi untuk memberi dorongan dan pujian.
Tak lama kemudian, Li Mo pun kembali ceria.
"Bagaimana kamu kalah pada kali terakhir?"
"Ah, aku sempat terlalu dekat! Aku sudah mendorong roda Cahaya Surgawi-Nya, tetapi ketika aku mendekat, tiba-tiba berubah menjadi pemancuhan cahaya matahari..."
Li Mo menceritakan detail pertarungan dari malam sebelumnya, membiarkan Ying Bing menganalisisnya.
Sesampainya bicara, keduanya memasukkan barang-barang mereka yang sedikit dan berjalan ke lantai bawah untuk sarapan pagi terakhir di Southern Border. Setelah hari ini, mereka akan kembali ke kampung halaman di Qinghe County.
Aktivitas pagi Jiawei Tavern begitu ramai seperti biasanya. Kelembapan sejuk Southern Border membuat para penduduk setempat terbiasa minum wine di pagi hari, sehingga tempat ini sudah ramai sejak pagi.
Li Mo mengajak Ying Bing ke tempat duduk biasaan mereka dan memesan beberapa hidangan sarapan lokal.
Kedatangan mereka menyebabkan suasana sejenak tenang di tavern.
Namun, tak lama kemudian, kebisingan kembali mengalir.
Mereka memang terkenal, sering menjadi topik pembicaraan di antara para tamu. Tapi gossip itu memang gossip — seperti di kehidupan nyata, ketika orang tiba-tiba melihat selebritas, siapa pun yang sehat mental pasti tidak akan benar-benar mendekat dan menyapa?
Apalagi dengan Frost Fairy yang duduk di situ.
Hari ini, ia mengenakan gaun porselein biru-putih yang telah ganti kembali, menekankan bentuk tubuhnya yang ana-ana dan halus. Kulitnya putih hampir seperti porselen sebenarnya.
Makan dengan sunyi, sikapnya yang aloof sudah cukup untuk menyinggungkan siapapun yang ingin mendekat.
Hanya sesekali, ia menyendokkan bakpao dalam saus cabai dan menyuapkannya kepada Li Mo melintasi meja...
"""Apa yang harus kita bawa pulang untuk orang tua...?
"Sudah teratasi."
"Ying Bing memejal kepala boneka berkepala besar itu.
"!"
"Li Mo, yang sudah terlalu panas kepalanya dari menganalisis detail pertarungan, tiba-tiba kewalakuan.
Sejak kapan Ice Block ini menjadi begitu pemikir?
Kerasa untuk bayangkan dirinya berjalan di jalan sendiri-sendirian, memilih hadiah...
Perjalanan ke Southern Border kali ini sepertinya telah mengubah lebih dari dirinya saja...
"""Ini, Ice Block. Makan."
"""Li Mo mengambil bakpao berlengkung cabai dan memegangnya hingga bibir Ying Bing."
""""Hanya setelah ia menggigitnya, ia tersenyum dan berkata,
"Bakpao ini adalah hadiah untuk reif-mu tumbuh."
""""Childish..."
Ying Bing menolem ke arahnya, dengan sedikit kehilangan di matanya.
Setelah sarapan, ia memecundang pemilik tavern sebelum keluar.
Tak lama setelah itu, ia sedang merenungkan apakah ia harus bersua-sapa dengan prajurit Greenwood Barracks dan Brother Donglai sebelum pergi, sebuah keribuan muncul di belakangnya.
Tentu saja.
Ribu orang turun tangga — bagaimana pun tidak bisa membuatnya tak terdengar?
"""Hall Master—"
"""Meskipun aku yang terhormat sebagai BM Hall Master, ketika berada di luar, kamu harus menyebutku sebagai 'Proprietor.'"
The next morning.
"Almost... just a little more."
Li Mo, who had lost over a dozen times the previous day, woke from his dreams, the golden-red flames in his eyes slowly fading.
To be honest, young Li was feeling a bit impatient.
Challenging the same boss and getting defeated over ten times in a row, each time in a different way—any normal person would be boiling with frustration.
Not to mention, he had genuinely experienced life-and-death crises each time. Yet, in the end, he still managed to rein in his temper. At the time, he had thought to himself that when he woke up the next day, he absolutely wouldn’t let the ice block laugh at him...
Sunlight streamed through the window, filling the room with warmth.
"How many times did you lose last night?"
A clear, melodious voice came from the tea table.
"The first eleven times, I didn’t win. The last time... he didn’t lose."
Li Mo spoke with a straight face, playing with the words "win" and "lose."
"?"
"Alright, fine. I didn’t win a single time. Go ahead and laugh."
Li Mo resigned himself to defeat.
"Losing over ten times means you never relied on your divine weapon. You were genuinely honing your skills. That’s commendable."
Ying Bing’s voice was soft, and she rarely spoke this much at once.
"!"
Li Mo froze, unable to resist looking up at Ying Bing.
Bathed in the golden morning light, she held a cup of tea, her presence so ethereal it could make one mistake her for a piece of warm jade radiating mist.
The ice block was as radiant as the sunlight outside, her eyes carrying a faint trace of amusement—not mockery, but encouragement and praise.
Instantly, Li Mo’s mood brightened.
"How did you lose the last time?"
"Ah, I was so close! I had already knocked away his Solar Radiance Wheel, but when I closed in, it suddenly turned into a burst of sunlight..."
Li Mo recounted the details of last night’s battle, letting Ying Bing analyze it for him.
As they talked, the two packed their few belongings and headed downstairs for their final breakfast in the Southern Border. After today, they would be back in their hometown of Qinghe County.
The morning bustle of Jiawei Tavern was as lively as ever. The Southern Border’s damp chill gave locals the habit of drinking morning wine, so the place was already packed early in the day.
Li Mo led Ying Bing to their usual spot and ordered a few local breakfast dishes.
Their arrival caused a momentary hush in the tavern.
But soon, the noise resumed.
They were indeed famous, often the topic of conversation among the patrons. But gossip was gossip—just like in real life, when people suddenly spot a celebrity, who in their right mind would actually go up and greet them?
Especially with the Frost Fairy sitting there.
Today, she had changed back into her blue-and-white porcelain dress, accentuating her slender, delicate figure. Her fair skin almost seemed like actual porcelain.
Chewing quietly, her aloof demeanor was enough to deter any strangers from approaching.
Only occasionally would she dip a steamed bun in chili sauce and hand it to Li Mo across the table...
"What should we bring back for Mom and Dad...?"
"It’s already taken care of."
Ying Bing patted the big-headed doll’s head.
"!"
Li Mo, whose brain was already overheating from analyzing battle details, was momentarily stunned.
Since when had the ice block become so thoughtful?
It was hard to imagine her walking the streets alone, picking out gifts...
This trip to the Southern Border seemed to have changed more than just him...
"Here, ice block. Eat."
Li Mo picked up a chili-dipped bun and held it to Ying Bing’s lips.
Only after she took a bite did he grin and say,
"This bun is a reward for growing up."
"Childish..."
Ying Bing glanced up at him, a hint of helplessness in her eyes.
After breakfast, he bid farewell to the tavern’s owners before stepping outside.
Just as he was wondering whether he should say goodbye to the soldiers of the Greenwood Barracks and Brother Donglai before leaving, a commotion rose behind him.
Of course.
A crowd of over a dozen people descending the stairs—how could that not make noise?
"Hall Master—"
"Though I am the esteemed Beast Hall Master, when outside, you must address me as ‘Proprietor.’"
"Understood, Hall Master. Will our food and lodging be reimbursed for this business trip?"
"..."
To be fair, these Demon Sect members disguised themselves well. Under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t be easily recognized.
But the problem was...
The Heavenly Venerable Immortal Li Mo had dealt with the Summoning Demons Sect far too often.
And he had the Divine Eye of Fate—whenever something felt off, he’d take a look.
[Name: Luo Yexian]
[Age: 72]
[Root Bone: Hundred Beasts Serpent Demon Body]
[Cultivation: Outer Scenery Sixth Heaven]
[Fate: Blue with Hints of Purple]
[Evaluation: Brother-in-law of the Summoning Demons Sect’s Young Master. Born without innate talent, he relied on the sect’s Hundred Beasts Blood Refinement to improve his aptitude, consuming vast amounts of mortal essence. His beastly nature is well-suppressed, and he is extremely cautious. Unfortunately, his potential is exhausted, leaving him forever stuck at Outer Scenery. Once collaborated with Han Zhen, hoping the latter would help him attain a Dharma Body.]
[Recent Events: Tracking mortal essence, searching for the mysterious ‘Heavenly Venerable Immortal.’ Currently, he has only confirmed that the target is within Greenwood City.]
Li Mo: "..."
So they really were Summoning Demons Sect members—even a Hall Master, no less! Probably even the superior of that unlucky Elder Yin Hua!
In a way, it was a coincidence they had stumbled into Jiawei Tavern.
But then again, sharing the same roof and still missing each other—wasn’t that also a coincidence?
"What’s wrong?"
Ying Bing noticed his gaze.
"Tell you later."
Li Mo lowered his voice. Once they had left the street, he summoned his Somersault Cloud, lifting them both into the sky.
The cloud didn’t leave Greenwood City, instead hovering midair.
"The Summoning Demons Sect is onto us."
"Those merchants earlier?"
Ying Bing’s phoenix-like eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze darkening.
She seemed to be considering how to deal with them...
Seeing her already plotting their demise, Li Mo shook his head.
"There are too many of them, and they’re all Outer and Inner Scenery cultivators. We can’t take them head-on."
"But we’re going home." Ying Bing frowned.
They couldn’t let these Demon Sect members follow them all the way back to Qinghe County. They had to settle this before leaving.
"Lure them to the Greenwood Barracks?"
"You didn’t see it—that Beast Hall Master just now, when someone spat on his shoe, he took it without a word. Someone that cautious is tricky to handle... Luckily, I came up with a plan in the meantime."
"What is it?"
"Congrats, ice block. Starting now, you’re the Holy Maiden of the Myriad Phenomena Immortal Sect!"
Li Mo said with utmost seriousness, handing her the Formless Glazed Veil.
After a moment’s thought, he also passed her the Buddhist prayer beads gifted by Brother Murong.
"?"
"It’s time for our performance!"
That’s right!
This was the plan devised by Golden Statue Award-winning Li Mo!
As a Best Actor, he had already made the name "Heavenly Venerable Immortal" resound across the Southern Border!
Now, with the Best Actor and Best Actress teaming up, what was a mere Beast Hall of the Summoning Demons Sect? Just a matter of flexing a little!
........
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