Shattered Bell Part 1

Xiao Fuxuan glanced at the Dream Bell that had been shoved back at him, then looked at Wu Xingxue. Before he could speak, he was preemptively accused—

Wu Xingxue said, "Giving it back. What would I do with it?"

Xiao Fuxuan: "..."

A few young disciples from the Immortal Sects had exceptionally good memories.

They remembered that this white jade bell had appeared during Yun Hai's questioning, and that it was the Spirit King's immortal treasure. They also remembered the nonsense Yi Wusheng had used to placate them earlier, and were now quietly praising Wu Xingxue: "The young master's character is truly noble. Such a rare immortal treasure, an ordinary person would likely stare wide-eyed upon seeing it, and would never let go once they had it. Not only was the young master not dazzled by the immortal treasure, he was even able to hand it over."

"..."

Xiao Fuxuan couldn't help but shoot a glance at those young disciples.

The young disciples were still asking themselves in introspection: "To be honest, if it were me, I couldn't have done that—eh?"

Startled by High Immortal Tianxiu's glance, they realized their quiet discussion had been overheard. Their faces flushed red instantly, and after stammering for a moment, they pointed at Yi Wusheng: "Previously, we heard Senior say that Wu—"

They still didn't dare say the Demon Lord's name to his face. After uttering "Wu," they mumbled past it: "—uhm, it wasn't him, but a mortal's soul who had accidentally entered the wrong body."

"..."

Yi Wusheng silently covered his face, thinking to himself that these young disciples were truly gullible.

Being watched by everyone, the young disciple's face grew even redder. He hastily explained, "That... We once heard our revered master say that after the Immortal Capital fell, some immortal treasures were scattered across the mortal realm, and the major sects and high-level rogue cultivators have been searching for them, both openly and secretly. Immortal treasures often carry an immortal's life essence and are rare objects that have gathered a millennium of spiritual energy, so naturally, everyone wants one. But those in the world capable of carrying an immortal treasure are few and far between. Without a foundation of at least a hundred years of cultivation, one simply cannot bear such potent immortal energy."

"Since the young master is a mortal soul, it is indeed not suitable for him to carry an immortal treasure. But countless people know this principle, yet very few can remain unmoved by it. Therefore, the young master's actions are truly admirable."

After chattering through his explanation, he even gave Wu Xingxue a refined, cupped-fist salute.

Wu Xingxue was laughing inwardly for a long time, but his expression remained impassive. He gracefully returned the salute to the young disciple and said, "You flatter me."

High Immortal Tianxiu's expression went from speechless to numb.

Wu Xingxue looked at his cold face and laughed even harder inside. In the midst of his laughter, he suddenly recalled the phrase "intimate guest" and that bed...

He stopped abruptly, no longer laughing.

Just like in the carriage before, Xiao Fuxuan didn't expose him.

As the young disciple chattered on, Xiao Fuxuan listened, his fingers casually fiddling with the Dream Bell.

In his long, slender fingers, the Dream Bell appeared especially delicate and small, its jade color lustrous and translucent.

The strange thing was, when the young disciple mentioned "Immortal treasures often carry an immortal's life essence," Wu Xingxue, who couldn't even remember what life essence was, inexplicably felt a connection of Spirit Essence to that Dream Bell.

Now, watching Xiao Fuxuan's fingers toying with the Dream Bell, it was really...

Wu Xingxue watched for a moment, then reached out and took the Dream Bell back.

The young Immortal Sect disciple who had just finished his praise was now full of questions.

Xiao Fuxuan looked at Wu Xingxue. "Weren't you returning it to me?"

Wu Xingxue said, "I've changed my mind."

"Why?"

"..."

Wu Xingxue cast a dark look at him.

He couldn't very well say, 'I can't stand seeing you playing with that Dream Bell.' If he said that, and Xiao Fuxuan followed up with another 'Why,' what would become of his dignity?

High Immortal Tianxiu was capable of doing just that.

Wu Xingxue was silent for a moment before saying, "I just suddenly remembered, even if I were to return it, it shouldn't be to you."

After speaking, he turned and handed the Dream Bell to Yi Wusheng.

Yi Wusheng: "..."

'No need!'

Wu Xingxue said, "I remember you said before we left, Mister, that you came to this Great Sorrow Valley for two reasons. One was to figure out where the mark on the back of your neck came from, and the other was to help the Hua Family find their true immortal treasure."

Yi Wusheng quickly waved his hands, thinking, 'You and High Immortal Tianxiu can just push this back and forth between yourselves, don't involve an innocent mortal like me.'

However, Wu Xingxue wouldn't let him off. "Why are you waving your hands, Mister? This was lost by the Hua Family. Now that it's found, it should rightly be given to you."

Yi Wusheng: "..."

It would have been better not to bring this up. Now that it was mentioned, Yi Wusheng wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Back at the Hua Family's residence when they discovered the real Dream Bell was missing, what foolish things had he said?

Oh, right, he had immediately guessed that Wu Xingxue did it...

Guessed it right to Wu Xingxue's face.

Later, he had said he would come to Great Sorrow Valley to find the Dream Bell and retrieve the Hua Family's immortal treasure.

As a result, Yun Hai's questioning proved that the original owner of this immortal treasure was that Spirit King. And what happened after that?

Oh, right, Yun Hai had called out "Spirit King" to Wu Xingxue.

...

Although Yi Wusheng had never seen that Spirit King in any immortal registry, had no way of knowing how transcendent the other's status was in the Immortal Capital, and was even more clueless about what had happened in between to turn a dignified Spirit King into the Demon Lord everyone now feared.

But this Dream Bell was indeed his.

High Immortal Tianxiu placing the Dream Bell in Wu Xingxue's hand was returning it to its rightful owner. Now, the original owner, for some unknown reason, was playing dumb and insisting on giving the Dream Bell to him.

Did he dare to accept it?

He did not.

Not only did he not dare, he didn't have the face to accept it.

Yi Wusheng had a scholar's temperament and was especially thin-skinned. When he was young, the siblings Hua Zhaoting and Hua Zhaotai had enjoyed teasing him until his face turned red. Later, he became an elder of the Four Halls with a considerable reputation, and the siblings, who had grown more mature, no longer teased him like that, nor did anyone else dare to.

He hadn't experienced the feeling of blushing beet red in a long time, until this very moment. If he had any blood left in him, his face would have already turned red.

There was a widely circulated rumor in the world that the Hua Family had chanced upon an immortal treasure through a fortuitous immortal encounter, but it was later unfortunately stolen by the Demon Lord Wu Xingxue.

Thinking back on it now, it was utterly ironic.

The man was just taking back his own thing. It was the Hua Family's "chanced upon an immortal treasure through a fortuitous immortal encounter" that was rather meaningful.

Under these circumstances, how could Yi Wusheng dare to accept the Dream Bell?

If it weren't for that ancestor stubbornly refusing to admit he wasn't a "soul-possessed body," if it weren't for High Immortal Tianxiu threatening with his sword to help conceal the fact, and if it weren't for the few easily distraught young Immortal Sect disciples standing by, Yi Wusheng would have definitely cupped his hands and begged Wu Xingxue for mercy.

But now he couldn't say anything. He could only look at Wu Xingxue silently, his gaze gradually turning mournful.

Finally, he clutched the paper and said, "Young Master, I only have this remnant of a soul left..."

The implication being: 'Please go torment someone else.'

Wu Xingxue looked at his expression, reflected for a moment, and felt he was being a bit of a bully. So he turned his demonic claws towards his two subordinates.

He had always been lazy and disliked holding things in his hands. Picking a subordinate to act as a storage pouch should be a common occurrence. Ning Huaishan and Fang Chu must have been used to it long ago.

But when he turned his head, he was met with the even more mournful faces of Ning Huaishan and Fang Chu.

Wu Xingxue: "?"

"I haven't even said anything yet," Wu Xingxue said slowly.