The three of them followed the trail of demonic energy out of the city.
Surrounding every city are sprawling farmlands, supporting the population with their bounty, and Qingyun City was no exception.
They arrived at a farm, guided by the stone lantern, and were startled to hear festive music coming from within.
"A wedding?" they wondered.
"Senior brother, is this where the demonic energy originates?" Yue Yunqiao asked.
Huo Chongxiao glanced at the stone lantern and nodded. "Indeed, the flame burns even brighter than before."
The demonic energy they had tracked was already sparse. The only reason for the increased flame was the presence of a stronger source nearby.
"What should we do?" Bai Siyao asked with an air of naïveté.
"Let's investigate," Huo Chongxiao sighed. "There are many people here. If something happens, it could be a disaster."
Yue Yunqiao firmly agreed, "Senior brother is right. We can't just sit back and do nothing."
Naturally, Bai Siyao had no objections.
Huo Chongxiao extinguished the stone lantern, tidied up his appearance, and suppressed his cultivation, disguising himself as a wandering rogue cultivator.
"Sister, do you have the jade talisman with you?" he asked.
Yue Yunqiao responded by pulling out a jade pendant. "I've got it right here!"
After a moment's thought, Huo Chongxiao produced a string of three copper coins and handed them to Bai Siyao. "Miss Bai, we don't know what we're dealing with yet. This is a protective charm made by my master—keep it with you at all times until we leave. Understood?"
Bai Siyao took the charm, feeling a mix of emotions. Huo Chongxiao used to guard against her, and now she was receiving his protection. It felt strangely surreal.
With everything in order, the three made their way toward the farm.
They were soon noticed by a group of villagers. An old man, flanked by several younger men, approached them. "Please stop here, travelers."
Huo Chongxiao smiled warmly and stepped forward. "Greetings, elder."
He had a dignified appearance and a polite manner that instantly put people at ease. Yet, the old man remained stern, asking, "Where do you hail from, and what brings you here?"
"We are disciples from Yongzhou, traveling under our master's orders. By chance, we found ourselves at your doorstep today. Unfortunately, we missed our intended lodging and were hoping to spend the night here," Huo Chongxiao explained.
"That would be inappropriate," one of the younger men interjected hastily. "We're hosting a wedding tonight, and it wouldn't be proper to entertain guests. You should try the next village."
Huo Chongxiao hesitated, "Well..."
Suddenly, Bai Siyao stumbled, nearly falling.
Yue Yunqiao quickly caught her. "Sister Bai!"
Huo Chongxiao's mind raced, and he blurted out, "My junior sister is ill. I'm afraid she won't be able to travel any further. Please, allow us this small favor."
Bai Siyao's youthful appearance, her pale complexion, and the dim light all made her seem particularly delicate.
After exchanging a few glances, the villagers reluctantly agreed. "Fine. We'll make room for you, but please don't wander outside and disturb the bride."
"Thank you," Huo Chongxiao said gratefully.
They were led to a remote courtyard and settled in a room belonging to the old man's son, who was not home. The old woman of the house brought them hot water and food after they arrived.
Once the door was closed, Huo Chongxiao inspected the room, confirmed there was nothing suspicious, and set up a protective barrier. He exhaled in relief. "We're safe for now."
Yue Yunqiao praised, "Sister Bai, you were quick-witted. If not for you, we wouldn't have made it inside."
Bai Siyao blushed, embarrassed. "I was just hungry and lost my balance…"
"Regardless, we're in now," Yue Yunqiao turned to Huo Chongxiao. "Senior brother, what's our next move?"
The music continued faintly in the distance, indicating that the celebration was taking place far away. The elderly couple's house was positioned to keep an eye on them, and the village seemed to harbor a great deal of suspicion toward them.
"Let's eat first," Huo Chongxiao suggested. "You haven't achieved the state of fasting yet, so you shouldn't go hungry."
Yue Yunqiao pulled out some food from her storage bag, still warm, and shared it with Bai Siyao. Meanwhile, the food brought by the old woman was fed to Huo Chongxiao's spirit bird.
After a brief rest, Huo Chongxiao retrieved several puppets. "Let's go. We're going to take a closer look at this wedding."
He breathed on the puppets, transforming them into replicas of the three. The doppelgängers sat and lounged around the room while Huo Chongxiao used a spell to carve an opening in the wall, creating a hidden passage.
He led the way, followed by Yue Yunqiao and Bai Siyao.
Huo Chongxiao handed them each a paper doll with different designs. "Here, take one."
They infused the paper dolls with their spiritual energy, and each was disguised in a different form.
"This is really useful," Bai Siyao remarked, pretending to be naïve.
"This is just basic puppet technique. You'll learn it once you advance," Yue Yunqiao said with a smile.
Huo Chongxiao's disguise was that of an ordinary man, Yue Yunqiao appeared as a young scholar, and Bai Siyao transformed into a girl in a red jacket, resembling a father with his two children.
Huo Chongxiao picked up a branch, transforming it into a gift box, and with a mischievous grin said, "Come along, children. Let's go crash this wedding."
Yue Yunqiao huffed, "Senior brother, stop teasing us!"
Laughing heartily, Huo Chongxiao led the way toward the sound of the music.
Following behind, Bai Siyao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It had been so long since Yue Yunqiao passed away that she had almost forgotten what Huo Chongxiao's carefree laughter sounded like. In her memories, he was either out hunting demons or locked away in the training hall. When they did meet, his expression was always grim.
Huo Chongxiao had no part in her grudge with Ning Yanzhi. They barely knew each other, and after she betrayed the sect, there was no reason to explain anything to him. Now, every encounter between them ended in a fight, turning them into enemies.
Watching Huo Chongxiao's lighthearted demeanor now, she almost felt sorry for him. When this illusion ended, would he feel an even deeper sense of loss? Losing someone once was painful enough, but to lose them again after a fleeting reunion—wouldn't that just deepen the wound?
This thought flickered briefly before Bai Siyao shook her head with a bitter smile. How absurd. Shouldn't she be the one most deserving of pity?
The three of them soon arrived at the brightly decorated farmhouse, where drums beat and banners flew. Dozens of banquet tables were set up, and the atmosphere was filled with celebration.
Huo Chongxiao led them to the gift table and presented the box.
The account keeper looked at them suspiciously. "And you are...?"
"Distant relatives," Huo Chongxiao answered with a heavy accent, smiling sheepishly. "We traveled a long way and only just arrived."
"Is that so?" The account keeper turned to inquire, but Huo Chongxiao's expression remained calm and sincere.
With the auspicious hour fast approaching, the account keeper had no choice but to hurriedly accept the gift. "So many guests today—I apologize for the lack of proper hospitality. Please join the others over there for the ceremony."
"Much obliged!" Huo Chongxiao chuckled, guiding his "children" into the crowd.