#20: Nightbright Palace (1)

Yao Yin opened her eyes again, awakened by the dazzling sunlight. She instinctively shielded her eyes from the blinding light and gradually adjusted to it after a long time. The sky was azure, cloudless, and the sun shone brightly. She lay on a thick pile of withered grass, and the surrounding scenery was vastly different from Wenren’s mansion.

Where was A-Yan? Where was Wenren Liansheng?

Yao Yin searched around several times but still couldn’t find any trace of Yun Yan. There wasn’t even another person’s shadow here.

“A-Yan—A-Yan—”

There was no response.

The empty rural path, deserted all around.

Yao Yin was consumed by anxiety, yet there was no one to tell her where she was or what she could do. Yao Yin patted her bottom, jumped off the pile of grass, and walked aimlessly along the field. After a long time, the sun remained fixed overhead, unmoving, but she clearly felt she had walked for a very, very long time... Just then, she saw an old man with a bamboo hat walking towards her from ahead. Yao Yin was stunned for a moment, then immediately scurried over and bowed to the old man, “Forgive my intrusion, old sir, but have you seen a child about ten years old? He’s about this tall—” she said, gesturing to her waist.

He looked at her as if she were a monster, his eyes wide, and after a moment of愣, he shook his head, gave her a disgusted look, and was about to leave.

Yao Yin quickly stopped him: “Old sir, could you please tell me, where is this place?”

He frowned, his face full of suspicion. After a long pause, he said, “The entire Ghost Realm only has Nightbright City where it’s spring all year round, warm and constant. Don’t you know that?”

“This is the Ghost Realm?!” Yao Yin was greatly alarmed.

The old man froze, then nodded.

“...”

Yao Yin was silent for a while, then suddenly conjured a sword, holding it to the old man’s neck, and sharply demanded, “Speak! Where did you take A-Yan? I used to hear that the Ghost Clan loves children, did you perhaps eat him?”

A flash of insight suddenly appeared in the old man’s eyes. He deftly pinched the sword blade with two fingers, moved it away from his neck, and chuckled, “Why do you say something you yourself don’t believe, young lady?” With that, the old man shook his head helplessly and turned to leave.

With a “clatter,” Yao Yin’s sword fell to the ground and then dissipated into the air. She quickly followed him, pleading, “I’m new here, know nothing, and my only relative has disappeared. Old sir, please be kind, don’t leave me here alone...”

He rubbed his forehead, sighed, then conjured a carriage, saying, “I happen to be going back to the city; I’ll give you a ride. Get in.”

“Thank you, old sir,” Yao Yin was overjoyed. She then jumped onto the carriage and sat beside the old man. The roadside scenery was incredibly beautiful farmland, but Yao Yin’s thoughts couldn’t leave Yun Yan. She touched the purple jade talisman in her sleeve, her heart filled with doubts.

What was Wenren Liansheng’s purpose in taking him to the Ghost Realm?

Could A-Yan have already been eaten by him?

When Wenren Liansheng took A-Yan away, why didn’t A-Yan call for help?

A series of questions swirled in Yao Yin’s mind, making her feel utterly powerless.

The weather in the Ghost Clan’s sky was always unpredictable. It had just been clear and cloudless, but now dark clouds covered the sky, and even the wild grass by the roadside turned dark with the weather.

The old man said, “Although the crops here grow in the ground, they cannot be eaten.”

“Why?” Yao Yin asked, confused.

“This is a city parallel to the mortal realm. The only thing lacking is the sunlight for all things to grow. The sun hanging high in the sky right now is entirely gathered by the sacrificial ghost spirits on the Hall of Ten Thousand Demons in Nightbright Palace. It has form, but no blessings...”

The old man spoke eloquently, and Yao Yin gradually gained a deeper understanding of the Ghost Clan... It turned out that for many years, the Ghost Clan had been ambitious, poised to devour the Nine Heavens, with Demon Lord Yanguai as their representative. And Ghost King Shiyan, who advocated for peace, decided to rest and recuperate indefinitely, slowly bringing new life and hope to the Ghost Clan. In this world teeming with demons, there was always bloodshed and slaughter, and their bloodthirsty nature could never be changed. But one thing was certain: in the Ghost Clan, everyone hated immortals and divine beings. They were their own gods, and their own power determined their treatment.

Currently, there are five highly revered figures in the Ghost Clan: Ghost King Shiyan and the four Demon Lords, namely Yanguai, Wenren Tongtian, Hua Lili, and Jiu Qing.

Yanguai generally doesn’t act, so his power is unknown. Wenren Tongtian has been the top winner of previous Ten Thousand Demon Assemblies, an undisputed Ghost Clan supreme, with the most formidable power. Hua Lili leads a relatively leisurely life, tending to flowers and plants daily, but her power is not to be underestimated. Jiu Qing is reclusive and rarely seen. Besides them, there is also a mysterious figure whom no one has seen, yet he is the master of Nightbright Palace. This person is called ‘Flower Monarch Yan,’ and he is the most special existence in the Ghost Clan.

Recently, there was a widespread rumor in the Ghost Clan that Demon Lord Hua Lili, in an attempt to save a life, was struck by heavenly lightning and instantly killed, so charred that her face was unrecognizable. And Flower Monarch Yan, the master of Nightbright Palace, had also disappeared for several days. Ghost King Shiyan showed no reaction to this, playing chess with Yanguai in the palace all day as if nothing had happened. Perhaps this was the calm before the storm...

The carriage slowly rumbled into the city. On both sides of the bluestone paved streets, though not as bustling as the human world, they could still be called bustling with shops. All sorts of goods were sold. Several times, the old man seemed about to speak but then stopped himself, and Yao Yin didn’t know what to say to him either, so the two remained silent the whole way. Soon after, a magnificent walled structure appeared ahead, neatly constructed of dark grey bricks. On the gate tower, three large characters were written: Nightbright City.

The characters for “Nightbright City” were elegant, making Yao Yin feel a sudden familiarity, yet she couldn’t recall where she had seen them before...

No sooner had the two entered the city than the old man issued a farewell, leaving Yao Yin alone on the street and driving off into the distance. Just then, Yao Yin suddenly glimpsed a child resembling Yun Yan at a street corner. She immediately rushed towards him, but before she could get within five steps, she was repelled by his qi, sent flying backward, and hit a large tree with a “thump.”

Yao Yin froze on the spot, completely bewildered by what had just happened.

The child turned around and gave her a mischievous smile: “Mommy said not to interact with strangers.” He then suddenly changed his expression, like a little devil, and shouted loudly, “You’re a stranger, stay away from me!” With that, he turned and left without looking back.

Yao Yin painstakingly propped herself up, sighing inwardly, “This is definitely not the human realm. Where in the human realm would there be so many eccentric and uncivilized people?”

Yao Yin shook her head, resigned to her bad luck, and climbed to her feet. She felt as if all the bones in her body were coming apart, and she swayed as she walked. She staggered along, asking for directions, until she finally found an inn. However, she was penniless in ghost realm currency. No matter how much she pleaded, the innkeeper stubbornly refused to accept money from the immortal realm, flatly ordering the waiter to kick her out.

“Get lost! No money, what are you doing at an inn!” the waiter roared.

Yao Yin was already feeling unwell and walked slowly. She lost her footing and was pushed to the ground by him, her money and belongings scattering everywhere. Yao Yin endured the pain and picked up the scattered items from the ground. Just as she was wondering why even a mere waiter in the Ghost Realm was so fierce, the inn suddenly became silent, so quiet that even a needle falling to the ground could be heard clearly.

After picking up the last item — the jade tablet she had taken from Wenren Liansheng — Yao Yin stood up, about to take her leave. Unexpectedly, the lobby suddenly erupted. All eyes were fixed on her.

“Young lady, stop!” The innkeeper darted forward, knelt before Yao Yin, and said with a fawning smile, “Our humble establishment has specially prepared the best room and fine food and wine for esteemed sir. Please do not hold our minor offenses against us and do grace us with your presence by staying at our inn!”

Yao Yin was suspicious, “Why is manna suddenly falling from the sky?”

“It was this humble one who had no discerning eyes, please forgive me, sir,” the innkeeper bowed and scraped, continuously apologizing.

Yao Yin was suspicious, but decided to accept his good intentions.

“Let’s see what tricks you’re playing,” she thought to herself. At the same time, she followed the waiter into the inn.

The waiter led her to the best room, “Heavenly Room Number One.” The room was naturally excellent, and the waiter was also extremely respectful, but she just couldn’t understand why their attitude had changed so drastically. Unable to figure it out, she decided to accept it with the principle of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Yao Yin called for a servant, had a full tub of hot water drawn, and enjoyed a comfortable bath. Her body felt relaxed, but her heart remained tightly strung.

“Where did A-Yan go? Was he abducted? Will Zichen be scared if he wakes up alone at Wenren’s mansion? Will he think I abandoned him?” Thinking of this, a scene suddenly popped into Yao Yin’s mind: Yun Yan and Zichen being dismembered and eaten by evil spirits, with only his amber eyes wide, staring at her, as if questioning why she hadn’t saved him.

“No, no, they won’t be in trouble.”

Yao Yin cupped some clear water and splashed it on her face, trying hard not to overthink. But no matter what she did, her heart remained tightly clenched. At this moment, she resented herself immensely, blaming her own lack of ability to protect them. This feeling of powerlessness made her very sad. She soaked in the water until it turned cold before getting up disheartened. She took out a new outfit from her Cosmic Bag, changed into a light yellow gauze dress, and then went downstairs.

After Yao Yin went downstairs, she saw the lobby brightly decorated with lanterns and bustling with people. It was lively indeed.

Could it be a wedding?

Yao Yin walked down the stairs, and the crowd immediately parted automatically, creating a path. As soon as she was seated at the dining table, three waiters brought out many dishes, instantly filling the entire tabletop in front of Yao Yin. Every dish was exquisite in color, aroma, and taste, making one’s appetite grow. Unfortunately, Yao Yin hadn’t eaten anything oily for too long, and seeing the table full of dishes, she was somewhat at a loss for how to start.

“Miss not satisfied?”

“Uh... no.”

“Whatever the young lady desires, just say the word. Our humble establishment will do its utmost to make you feel at home.”

“I... would like a dish of plain porridge.” No sooner had the words left her mouth than the innkeeper gave a signal, and the waiter immediately brought up four or five plates of porridge: fish porridge, preserved egg porridge, corn and egg drop porridge, all kinds, making Yao Yin dizzy.

She took a shallow taste, finding it very delicious, yet also somewhat unappetizing, even a little difficult to swallow. After thinking for a long time, she finally understood what was going on, so she put down her spoon and smiled bitterly, shaking her head.

“Miss not satisfied?” The innkeeper was treading on thin ice.

Yao Yin shook her head and frowned, “Have you ever had someone stare at you while you eat like this? If it were you, could you eat?”

“I apologize! We were rude!” The innkeeper said, and the surrounding onlookers immediately scattered like birds. Their speed was astonishing. The entire lobby suddenly contained only three trembling waiters and one sweating innkeeper.

Yao Yin couldn’t stand it anymore and said faintly, “Tell me, what’s going on?”

The few of them exchanged glances, and then with a few “thuds,” all three knelt down in unison.

“My Lord, you are our second parents. This humble one had no discerning eyes, please, my Lord, do not hold this humble one’s faults against them, and spare this humble one.”

Yao Yin was confused, “What ‘second parents’?”

“My Lord, please don’t be modest. Who doesn’t know that the purple jade talisman is the symbol of Nightbright Palace? Anyone who can possess the purple jade talisman is a highly important figure within Nightbright Palace. We were blind, please forgive us!”

Yao Yin was surprised; the deterrent power of this purple jade was actually so strong. What was even more peculiar was that Wenren Liansheng actually had a purple jade talisman? Truly, strange things happen every year, and today, they were particularly abundant. If purple jade represented Nightbright Palace, would Yun Yan be there?

Yao Yin’s heart was thundering, but her face remained as calm as a placid lake. She spoke lightly, “Then take me to Nightbright Palace.”

Just then, a burst of laughter suddenly came from outside the door: “Latest news! Ghost King Shiyan actually abdicated, becoming a handyman in Nightbright Palace, saying it was to atone for killing some officials from some city...” The newcomer was a young man, holding a long bow, and appearing somewhat frail. He had spoken halfway when he realized the inn was empty, with only Yao Yin and the innkeeper’s group staring at each other.

“Father, wha- what happened to you all?” He stood frozen, staring intently at them.

“Son! What are you standing there for? Come quickly and bow to the Envoy!” The innkeeper waved, and the man immediately walked over. Although his face was full of confusion, he still respectfully bowed to Yao Yin.

“This Venerable One hasn’t returned to the Ghost Realm in a long time and finds everything quite unfamiliar. What did you just say happened to Ghost King Shiyan?” Yao Yin nodded, returning the greeting. Then she took a sip of tea, her face calm as she played the innocent. She decided that if she was going to pretend, she would do it convincingly, calmly, and openly!

The newcomer scratched his head, then regained his excited demeanor, talking voluminously. Yao Yin rubbed her temple, digesting for a while before she managed to make sense of his words—it turned out that Ghost King Shiyan had recently caused trouble in the Heavenly Realm, leading to the ruin of a family, with husband and wife separated and children scattered. Nightbright Palace Master Flower Monarch Yan had just returned to the palace and was deeply saddened upon hearing of this. The reason for his sadness was unknown, but according to reliable sources, the family that suffered the calamity in the Heavenly Palace was the younger aunt of the second uncle of Flower Monarch Yan’s first love. Shiyan deeply felt that he had caused great trouble, so he voluntarily abdicated and became a handyman in Nightbright Palace to atone for his sins. And the newly appointed acting Ghost King was Jiu Qing, one of the four Demon Lords.

Yao Yin now had an idea: this Palace Master Flower Monarch Yan must be the black-clad man from Cloud Ridge. Yao Yin’s mind immediately conjured the image of him and Hua Lili intimately together on Cloud Ridge... Men, after all, are eventually charmed by beauty.

But then, upon second thought, she felt it wasn’t right.

Flower Monarch Yan himself was breathtakingly beautiful, so there was no need for him to be infatuated with mere beauty. If it was just for appearance, he might as well consider a “cut sleeve” relationship with Zichen... Moreover, he was depressed because of his first love, which suggested he was a person of deep affection. Regardless, since she was in the Ghost Realm, she would first go to Nightbright Palace to find Yun Yan, and incidentally see if she could sneak into the imperial kitchen to steal a few Bashe eggs. Yao Yin suddenly felt that her future was bright, and it was very likely she could complete the Bashe egg mission. From then on, she, Yun Yan, and Zichen could travel the world, cultivate diligently, and live a happy life with plenty of meat to eat...