#3: The Heaven of Six Desires (3)

Yundu is a small city on the outskirts of the Heaven of Six Desires, beyond which lies the borderland where the Heaven of Six Desires meets the Yama Heaven. A bridge woven from flowing clouds spans the Celestial River, serving as the land link between the two heavens. The Heaven of Six Desires and the Yama Heaven have always coexisted peacefully, so the area outside Yundu is a no-man’s-land.

After nightfall, powerful demon-ghosts often appear here, as there’s no better nourishment for ghosts than immortals. Yao Yin had traveled through the night, constantly flying on her sword, and always had to worry about encountering powerful ghosts. She was already physically and mentally exhausted, and her immortal power was on the verge of depletion.

Yao Yin calculated: For water-loving Bashe snakes, everything in the Huai River is most nourishing, and the source of the Huai River is on Yunling Mountain southwest of Yundu. Once they smell the water, they travel upstream. After settling at the source, they rarely move, so there’s no need to rush. Yao Yin, after thinking it over, decided to rest for a while in Yundu and resupply before continuing her journey.

By then, the sun had set, and the sky was filled with dark twilight. Hundreds of crows, startled by something unknown, flapped their wings and cawed, a truly terrifying sight.

Along the way, the surrounding bushes were covered in frost and dew, and insect chirps occasionally echoed from within. The night sky gradually became studded with stars, and the Milky Way stretched far across. Yao Yin focused her gaze and suddenly noticed that the Emperor Star, corresponding to the Ziwei Star, was slightly reddish and dim.

Could it be that the Celestial Family is in peril?

Yao Yin’s heart jolted. She found that whenever she thought of the Hao Yue帝君 with his shining silver hair, her mood inexplicably became agitated. She couldn’t stand it if he was doing well, but she also wouldn’t be happy if something happened to him. In short, whenever she thought of him, her insides felt like a thousand ants crawling.

“Oh well, forget it. The affairs of the Celestial Family are not for humble beings like us to speculate on. Let’s get something to eat first.” Yao Yin exhaled slowly, untied her straw hat, and slowed her pace, walking towards a tavern not far away.

The tavern was full of people, but even though it was crowded, everyone ate their own food and didn’t converse much. She scanned the main hall and found only one table in the corner occupied by a woman in green.

“May I sit here?” Yao Yin walked over and asked the woman if she could sit down.

The woman nodded and made a “please” gesture. Yao Yin then sat down at ease.

The wine seller quickly came over and handed her a sign with the prices of various foods.

Yao Yin quietly counted the silver in her purse, pointed to the small wontons, and said, “I’ll have a bowl.” The wine seller nodded, seemingly unwilling to speak much, and just collected two silver coins from her before leaving.

The entire tavern was immersed in an eerie silence. Bored, Yao Yin could only observe the woman in front of her. The woman’s face was as radiant as the scorching sun, and her eyes seemed to hold an ink painting. Every move she made carried a hint of profound charm, and the subtle shifts in her gaze held more allure than even the captivating Nine-Tailed Fox clan. Her black hair was like satin, casually tied into a bun at the back of her head with a wooden hairpin. Her skin was as smooth as cream, but a little too pale. However, what was more enviable than her face was her figure. Most of her shoulder was exposed, and a green vine was tattooed on her fragrant shoulder, looking infinitely alluring.

Yao Yin swallowed, thinking, “Such a beauty is rare, even in the Upper Three Heavens...”

Yao Yin looked around and noticed that many people in the tavern were secretly looking at the woman, but they only dared to look stealthily. No one talked about her, let alone tried to strike up a conversation.

Yao Yin immediately felt strange. After careful thought, she realized that it wasn’t just this tavern; ever since she entered Yundu, she had seen everyone on the streets looking distracted. People didn’t talk much, and the entire city of Yundu exuded a gloomy atmosphere. The only sounds came from the rows of ravens on the rooftops, crying and wailing in the middle of the night, their voices truly bone-chilling. Yao Yin now deeply regretted not having cultivated her magic properly; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been startled by a few crows...

Just as Yao Yin was lost in thought, the woman suddenly looked up and smiled at her, “Little immortal, what are you looking at?” Immediately, several bowls and chopsticks dropped to the floor in the tavern.

The woman’s face was utterly perfect, but her voice was hoarse and obscure, worse than that of an eighty-year-old mortal woman. Yao Yin felt a surge of sympathy and couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, you are beautiful, but why is your voice so hoarse?”

The woman drank the wine in her cup and then, after a long pause, simply said, “Born this way.”

Yao Yin smiled and nodded. Since she didn’t want to say more, it wasn’t appropriate to ask further.

Just then, the waiter brought the wontons, still steaming hot in the bowl. Yao Yin was already famished. She eagerly picked up her spoon and scooped one into her mouth.

“So delicious!” Yao Yin laughed contentedly, eating three or four more in quick succession. The woman opposite her smiled as well, seemingly amused by her ravenous and grateful demeanor.

“Hahahaha—I’m not afraid of anything!” Just then, a boisterous laugh came from not far away. Soon, the person who had laughed loudly walked into the main hall.

Everyone frowned, staring at him as if he were a fearless monster.

Yao Yin and the woman also turned their heads, only to see a seven-foot-tall immortal official with a full beard. He had an unpleasant, rugged, and uninhibited appearance, with a large axe tied behind him.

Yao Yin and the woman exchanged glances, both unconsciously raising the corners of their mouths, their eyes seemingly saying, “He clearly possesses the aura of a high immortal, yet he cultivated the disposition of a brigand. What a talent...”

At this moment, the man suddenly roared, “A pot of wine, the best wine!” As he spoke, the entire tavern trembled.

“This, this guest, our humble establishment is full. You’d better go to another place to eat,” the waiter stammered.

“Didn’t you eat? Will you die if you speak louder? This High God can’t hear you!” The man grabbed the waiter, staring at him. “Don’t whisper and be so indecisive with me. This High God survived a hundred years of torment in the Celestial Prison, and I don’t believe that demon can do anything to me! If I meet that demon, I will make it disappear from this world forever!” He said, walking to a central table, slapped it, and the table legs immediately broke off.

“This High God is here, now get out!” With his roar, everyone promptly exited the tavern, as if fleeing for their lives, except for Yao Yin and the woman opposite her.

Yao Yin didn’t know what was happening, thinking that since it wasn’t her business, she’d be fine just eating her food.

As for the woman with the green vine tattoo, she smiled calmly and composedly.

“Go get me ten catties of beef!” The High Immortal finished, then sat at the table opposite Yao Yin and the woman, raising an eyebrow. “Oh, aren’t there two fearless ones here?” As he spoke, the woman glanced at the burly man, her eyes showing no emotion.

“What do you mean, little immortal? Looking down on me?” The immortal official slammed the table and stood up. The woman did not back down; instead, she intended to rise.

Yao Yin’s heart jolted, and she quickly grabbed her hand, signaling her not to provoke him.

How could a delicate little immortal like her be a match for a High Immortal?

But the female immortal smiled and shook her head, pulling Yao Yin’s hand away.

She walked up to the burly man and casually sat on his lap.

“High Immortal, this humble immortal admires you.” The woman’s voice was incredibly pleasant, sweet and coquettish, a complete departure from her previous dull hoarseness.

Before Yao Yin could even wonder, she heard the High Immortal laugh heartily, “Hahahaha—you admire me? What makes you say that?”

The woman’s eyes shimmered with a seductive gaze, and she cooed, “Who in Yundu doesn’t know that a powerful ghost demon has arrived on Yunling Mountain? This demon particularly dislikes talkative and rude people, and I’ve heard many have already died. The immortals in Yundu City are terrified and dare not speak loudly. And you... you’re not afraid at all, so this humble immortal naturally admires you...” As she spoke, she slipped her hand into the High Immortal’s clothes.

The already quiet inn became even more silent, with only the slightly hurried breathing of the immortal official remaining, instantly adding a hint of debauchery.

Yao Yin was dumbfounded. This was her first time witnessing such a scene. How could an immortal behave like this?

“That ghost demon... This God is not afraid... But little immortal, you... you... Oh...” The immortal official’s face was flushed, panting incessantly. “You truly are a demoness!” He overturned the table, threw a golden leaf on the ground, and swept the female immortal into his arms, then dashed out of the inn.

The woman narrowed her eyes, giggling and panting in his embrace.

There was a hint of ruthlessness in her eyes that the High Immortal couldn’t see, but Yao Yin did.

Purple eyes!

Her eyes were purple!

Yao Yin immediately gave chase, but in a flash, where were the immortal official and the woman?

She was sure she hadn’t misjudged; the woman’s eyes had turned purple—a color only high-ranking ghost clans possessed.

Yao Yin remembered the “ghost demon” she spoke of and had a strong feeling that the woman was that ghost demon. And the burly immortal official’s departure... was likely a tragic fate.

Heaven has the virtue of cherishing life, but she was not a Bodhisattva. The woman had sat directly opposite her, and she hadn’t sensed any ghostly aura, which showed that the woman’s power far surpassed her own. She wanted to help but lamented her powerlessness; it was better to protect herself...

After this incident, Yao Yin had no appetite. She put on her straw hat again and continued her journey towards the Huai River.