The Bai family school was located to the west of the Bai Estate, with its eastern gate leading to the estate's side entrance, and to the west, the largest marketplace in Qingyun City.
Upon leaving the school, Bai Siyao did not return to the estate but headed straight to the bustling market.
Contrary to what many believed, she was a demon with a serene and self-reconciled mind, untroubled by inner demons.
Had her youth been difficult? Well, it was over now, so why dwell on it? With her current cultivation surpassing all expectations, even a simple stomp could send tremors through the cultivation world. As for those who had once bullied her from the Bai family, they had long since turned to dust, not even worthy of a fleeting thought. So, why did this illusion feel so peculiar?
Typically, an illusion had two purposes: either to attack one's mental weaknesses and shatter the Dao heart, or to show the person their deepest desires, ensnaring them.
Yet, for Bai Siyao, this fragment of her past offered neither.
How strange. The Reincarnation Mirror was an ancient treasure, surely it possessed more power than this? Wasn't it said to have the ability to move mountains and seas, to defy the heavens and alter fate? Puzzled, Bai Siyao decided to explore the market. Qingyun City was a vast metropolis where both mortals and immortals lived together, and the more people, the easier it was to spot any flaws.
The market was unexpectedly crowded, with vendors and passersby jostling shoulder to shoulder, their cries for attention filling the air.
As Bai Siyao surveyed the scene, her frown deepened.
She couldn't detect anything wrong—it was as if these people were truly alive.
Could this not be an illusion after all? Then what could it be? A self-contained world within the Reincarnation Mirror? Unable to find an answer, Bai Siyao casually chose a tea stand and sat down to contemplate.
She absentmindedly took a few sips of tea when suddenly, a lively girl's voice reached her ears.
"Senior Brother, we've been walking all day! Let's take a break!"
A familiar male voice replied with a teasing tone, "You just like the look of the tea snacks and want to try them, don't you?"
Caught red-handed, the girl pouted playfully, "Oh, come on!"
The senior brother, half helpless and half indulgent, said, "As if I could say no to you. Order whatever you like—my treat."
With a cheer of delight, the girl eagerly called for the waiter.
Bai Siyao turned her head at the sound and saw a young man and woman sitting at the next table, both dressed in similar apricot-colored robes. The girl, around fifteen or sixteen years old, had delicate, charming features with a hint of youthful innocence. The man—someone Bai Siyao had just seen before closing her eyes—was none other than Huo Chongxiao! But he appeared much younger.
Her first instinct was to cover her face. If Huo Chongxiao had entered the illusion with her, revealing herself now would certainly cause trouble—her cultivation hadn't fully returned yet. But as she continued listening to their conversation, she paused.
She also recognized the young girl. It was Huo Chongxiao's junior sister, Yue Yunqiao. The two had grown up together and were very close. Unfortunately, Yue Yunqiao had died in a demon-hunting mission shortly after joining the sect, a tragedy that had changed Huo Chongxiao's personality forever.
If this man truly was Huo Chongxiao, encountering the junior sister he had longed for would have stirred deeper emotions. Yet, here he was, as lighthearted as ever.
Could it be that he remembered nothing? Or was he, too, part of this illusion? With these questions in mind, Bai Siyao continued to listen closely.
Yue Yunqiao, ever lively, prattled on about the tea snacks before shifting the topic.
"Senior Brother, we've been investigating for days now and still haven't found anything. Is there really a demon in Qingyun City?"
Huo Chongxiao took a sip of tea and replied, "The missing people from the city are all young men, women, or children—the perfect sacrifices for a demon."
"But couldn't it just be human traffickers?"
"You're not wrong, but if it were traffickers, the compass wouldn't have reacted. This was reported by demon hunters—it's likely true."
In the cultivation world, besides the major sects and clans, there were numerous rogue cultivators. Many made a living hunting demons, and when they encountered something beyond their capabilities, they sought help from the sects.
In reality, Bai Siyao had no knowledge of Huo Chongxiao ever coming to Qingyun City at this point in time, nor had she heard of any demon sightings. Was this illusion fabricating events?
A sense of foreboding crept over her.
"In any case, this is highly unusual. We must proceed with caution," Huo Chongxiao said, finishing his tea and paying the bill before leading Yue Yunqiao away.
Bai Siyao thought for a moment, tossed a few coins onto the table, and followed them.
The two left the market and headed south, to the part of the city where people from all walks of life mingled—a densely populated area.
Huo Chongxiao knocked on a door, which was opened by a woman with swollen, red eyes who looked at them in confusion. "Who are you?"
"Ma'am, we were recommended by Immortal Liu," Huo Chongxiao explained. Immortal Liu must have been the demon hunter who reported the case. Realization dawned on the woman, and she quickly gestured for them to enter. "Oh, please come in, Immortals. Forgive the state of our humble home."
Huo Chongxiao smiled politely. "Not at all, thank you for having us."
The door closed behind them.
Bai Siyao, with her weakened abilities, couldn't hear their conversation from outside. After some thought, she pulled out a stack of talismans from her robes, selecting one to fold into a paper crane.
Blowing gently on it, she whispered, "Go."
The crane shimmered with spiritual light, transforming into a small insect that flew to the crack beneath the door, allowing the voices inside to reach her ears.
"Da Ya disappeared that night. It's all my fault. I knew it wasn't safe outside, but I didn't go to fetch her. Now she's gone."
"Which route did she usually take home? What time did she usually return?"
"She always took Goat Horn Street—it's busier near the taverns. Da Ya was such a good girl; she always came home after work, never later than the second watch."
Huo Chongxiao asked a few more questions before requesting one of Da Ya's personal belongings.
The woman, her eyes filled with hope, asked, "Immortals, will my daughter come back?"
Huo Chongxiao fell silent for a moment. "We haven't found any clues yet, so I can't say."
The woman began to sob softly. "People say she was taken and eaten by a monster."
After offering a few words of comfort, Huo Chongxiao and Yue Yunqiao left.
"What now, Senior Brother?" Yue Yunqiao asked.
Huo Chongxiao thought for a moment. "We'll wait until nightfall and summon her spirit."
By this time, the sun was setting. Bai Siyao decided to stick with them instead of returning home, following them from a distance.
The pair retraced Da Ya's route through Goat Horn Street, finally stopping at a deserted corner.
"Senior Brother, I feel a strong presence of yin energy here."
"Then this is the spot. Take out the items."
"Okay."
Yue Yunqiao pulled out her talisman pen and ink while Huo Chongxiao drew a simple summoning circle on the ground.
As night fully descended, he burned the handkerchief taken from the grieving woman in the center of the circle.
Black smoke curled into the air, and the summoning circle began to react. Something invisible gathered around them, but as time passed, no further manifestation occurred. Huo Chongxiao's expression grew increasingly grave.
Bai Siyao's brow furrowed as well. The summoning circle had sensed a presence, which confirmed Da Ya's death. But the fact that no full spirit had appeared after such a long time indicated something unusual.
The Danxia Palace's summoning technique could easily summon the spirit of an ordinary person. If the spirit didn't come, it meant either the soul had been destroyed or it was being held captive.
There really was a demon in Qingyun City!
How dare a demon act so brazenly in the presence of the Great Demon herself?! At that moment, something flickered behind Yue Yunqiao, unnoticed by both her and Huo Chongxiao.
In an instant, Bai Siyao formed an invisible sigil with her fingers and muttered, "Watch out!"