Chapter Four: The Greatest Mistake of Unauthorized Practice
Front Hall
A woman dressed in an elegant gradient blue robe, her head adorned with pearl and flower ornaments, red lips painted vividly, entered gracefully while holding a cup of tea.
“Your Highness—”
The man seated at the desk lifted his eyes, his gaze indifferent and cool. “What is it?”
“I, Su Qin, have some questions about cultivation that I’d like to consult with Your Highness.”
She gently placed the tea on the black wooden table before him. “Please have some tea, Your Highness.”
“No, thank you,” he said coldly, lifting his head. “Speak your questions. I do not drink tea.”
He had no interest in earthly things.
Su Qin’s hand froze for a moment, awkwardly setting down the tea. She lifted her gaze and smiled delicately. “Your Highness, this tea was specially brewed from dew I gathered. It’s different from the teas of the outer realms. Please try it; I’m sure you will like it.”
He frowned and declined again. “No need. If you have no questions, leave. I have other matters to attend to.”
“I-I do have some questions about a magical artifact, and I came specifically to seek Your Highness’s guidance.”
“A magical artifact? What artifact?”
“The Zhuxian Bell.”
“What did you say?” His expression darkened, his eyes deepening. “Are you certain it’s the Zhuxian Bell?”
With a sudden thud, she knelt down, bowing her head low. “I dare not deceive Your Highness. It is indeed the Zhuxian Bell, which harms cultivators.”
His voice lowered gravely. “Where is it? Have you been cultivating with it?”
“No, I have not. My cultivation is weak; I cannot yet synchronize with it. That’s why I came to ask Your Highness.”
“You need not cultivate with it anymore.”
“Your Highness?” She looked up, confused, her delicate brows knitting with a trace of helplessness and sorrow.
He rose to his feet, a chilling aura emanating from him. His voice was deep and commanding. “The Zhuxian Bell can slay immortals, but it also harms cultivators. Its power is immense, but the backlash is even greater. You should already know the details without my having to remind you.”
“Though it is a rare immortal artifact, appearing once in ten thousand years, it is also one that brings both fortune and disaster.”
“Those who wield it either have their cultivation multiplied a hundredfold or go mad from backlash, suffering grievous internal wounds.”
“Your cultivation cannot merge with it. I do not wish to take in another ghost official from hell in my domain.”
She understood immediately, bowing deeply. “Thank you for your warning, Your Highness. I shall never dare to cultivate such an artifact on my own again. Please forgive me.”
“Leave now. From this day forward, without my orders, do not bring any magical artifacts into hell.”
“Yes.” Su Qin slowly stood, then suddenly remembered the Zhuxian Bell was still in her chamber. “Your Highness, I will return to the inner palace immediately and bring the Zhuxian Bell to you.”
He did not glance back, stepping out without a word. “No need. That artifact was retrieved by you and rightfully belongs to you. I have no need for it.”
Besides, it was just one Zhuxian Bell; he didn’t even care for it.
“…Yes.” Her gaze involuntarily followed his departing figure, a faint sweet smile curling at the corners of her lips.
...
Rear Hall
After waking up, Xiao Miaoyuan looked around her chamber groggily, but there was no sign of any man.
Pouting, she got out of bed and rummaged through her spatial ring, finally pulling out a small brown spherical communication spiritual device.
“Tick-tock—”
“Tick-tock—”
“Sister Baichang, Sister Baichang, are you there?”
“Baichang Sister?”
A delighted voice came through. “Little Princess, you’re awake?”
The little bundle smiled shyly, lowering her head, her soft, adorable face glowing with innocence. “How did Sister Baichang know I was asleep? I just woke up.”
“Ha ha ha…” Baichang’s loud laughter echoed in her ears. “How could I not know you, Little Princess?”
“If you weren’t sleeping, would those evil spirits dare roam about so freely? Brother said you got yourself another magical artifact and gave those spirits a real hard time.”
Just hearing about it made her so happy she couldn’t fall back asleep. She almost wanted to drag those ghosts along and ask how it felt to be sent to heaven.
“That’s not true!” Xiao Miaoyuan blushed as a faint mandrake vine seemed to creep up her delicate white neck. “It was given to me by an imprisoned immortal lord in hell. He said if I used this artifact, I could leave hell.”
“But before I could even use it, Father discovered it.”
“And then?” Baichang’s voice held a strong hint of gossip.
This kind of curiosity was far more intense than the stories her brother told her. After all, she was the protagonist.
Xiao Miaoyuan clutched the communication bell in one hand and covered her mouth with the other, whispering her complaint. “Father then locked me inside this barrier. I still can’t get out. Can you come help me?”
Locked up?
Without hesitation, Baichang slapped her thigh and nodded eagerly. “Alright, alright, wait for me. I’ll come rescue you right away.”
“Okay, okay! Hurry up!” The little princess tucked away the artifact, sitting happily on the tall bed, swinging her feet excitedly.
Wonderful.
She could finally get out.
...
Elsewhere
Seeing Baichang’s abrupt silence, she suddenly remembered something very important.
She had just promised the Lady Meng Po that she wouldn’t visit the Rear Hall to see the little princess, yet she was about to do just that.
“What are you dazing about?” Heichang strode in, his dark and elegant face concealing inscrutable depth that no one could fathom.
Baichang made a distressed face. “Oh no, Brother, I just promised the little princess I’d come find her, but Lady Meng Po warned me not to go to the Rear Hall. What should I do?”
He frowned deeply. “Why can’t you go? What happened to the little princess?”
He hadn’t heard the Lord of Hell forbid stepping into the Rear Hall.
“She’s locked inside a barrier by the Lord of Hell. I want to help her.”
*Thud*—a heavy smack on the forehead.
“Ow! Brother, why are you hitting me?”
His face stern, he withdrew his hand. “That was done by His Highness. You’re not to interfere.”
“I’m just talking. Why are you so fierce?”
“No going to the Rear Hall. The Lord of Hell is currently troubled over the little princess’s cultivation. Don’t disturb him.”
“But I just promised her.”
“Still no.”
“Brother?” Baichang looked at him in disbelief.
He turned on his heel and left, footsteps echoing in the empty space.
She grit her teeth in anger and shouted, “Brother, you coward!”
“A coward afraid of His Highness! I don’t want to be with you!”
“I’m going to find the little princess anyway!”
...
Outer Hall
A perfectly formed figure in human shape stealthily hid behind a pillar.
She carefully surveyed the ghost servants guarding the hall, her brow furrowed in thought. “How should I get in?”
“How to get them…”
“To leave?”
After a moment, a brilliant idea sparked in her mind.
She reached into her spatial pouch and pulled out a small spiked ball treasure, hurling it fiercely toward another part of the hall.
*Crack*—a sharp sound of breaking echoed from that side.
The evil spirits were startled. “Quick, go see what happened!”
“Hurry, hurry, everyone, come see! Let’s go!”
Baichang smiled with delight, pocketed the treasure, and quickly ran into the hall.
“Little Princess?”
“Miaoyuan, Little Princess!”
“I’m coming!”
Inside the hall
Hearing the voices, Xiao Miaoyuan looked over excitedly, sitting atop the large bed, waving happily. “I’m here, Sister Baichang, come quickly!”
Baichang looked at the barrier surrounding the bed and said, “Your Highness, wait a moment; I’ll break this barrier right away.”
Xiao Miaoyuan nodded eagerly. “Okay, I’ll wait for you, Sister Baichang.”
With a wave of her hand, Baichang summoned a concentrated force and struck the barrier with all her might.
*Boom—*
*Crash—*
The barrier instantly tore open, and Xiao Miaoyuan squeezed out, beaming. “Sister Baichang, you’re amazing!”
“Of course. The barrier set by the Lord of Hell is no match for me. Let’s go. I want to show you the new magical artifact I brought back. It’s a super fun flying device.”
“Really? Where, where?”
“Of course, it’s in my palace. Little Princess, will you come with me?”
“Alright, alright!!!”
Hand in hand, the tall and the small happily left the palace.