Song Yao took a piece of sugar cake from her spatial pouch and ate it, replying indistinctly, “Sure.”
Ning Zhou felt extremely hurt. “Sure?? Why didn't you even try to deny it?? We've gone through life and death together, after all! If I really get poisoned, would you actually just leave me behind??”
Song Yao: “Uh-huh.”
Ning Zhou wailed, “Lin Mu, I hate you.”
Song Yao pulled out another piece of sugar cake and stuffed it into his mouth. “You're welcome.”
Ning Zhou was choked up and couldn't speak. It took him a while to swallow before he looked at the remaining half-piece of sugar cake. “Why does this taste like something Fifth Elder's husband made?”
Song Yao nodded. “Yes.”
Ning Zhou stood up in shock. “We're both traveling far from home, so why did Fifth Elder's husband only make them for you and not for me? I'm his actual disciple!”
Song Yao lied without missing a beat, “Fifth Elder's husband said you eat too much.”
Ning Zhou slapped the table. “You're talking nonsense!”
Song Yao added, “Fifth Elder's husband even told me not to share them with you and to eat them all myself.”
Ning Zhou said, “I don't believe you. I'm breaking off our friendship.”
Song Yao said, “What for? Didn't I just share some with you? Stingy.”
Ning Zhou: “...”
He sat back down dejectedly and poured himself a cup of wine. “I thought I was Fifth Elder's husband's favorite disciple.”
Song Yao patted his shoulder to comfort him. “It's fine, it doesn't matter. Anyway, it's not like we're guaranteed to make it out of this demon realm alive.”
These words were like a bucket of cold water poured over his head, snapping Ning Zhou back to reality.
No, wait.
They were inside a demon realm.
Everyone around them was abnormal, and everything about this place was bizarre. Yet, he had actually let his guard down so much that he had the leisure to eat and bicker with Lin Mu.
Could it be the effect of the demon toxin?
He took a deep breath, quietly brushing Song Yao's hand off his shoulder, and whispered, “I felt a bit dazed just now. Be careful. There's something wrong with this demon toxin—it makes people too relaxed.”
Song Yao reached out to grab her wine, but he intercepted her hand. “See, there really is a problem! Look at you, you still have the mind to drink!”
Song Yao said hesitantly, “...I think I'm actually fine.”
Ning Zhou argued, “The fact that you think you're fine is the biggest problem! If you weren't affected by the demon toxin, would a normal person be downing wine like this in a demon realm?”
Song Yao: “...”
Without another word, Ning Zhou stuffed the wine jar into his spatial pouch. “No way. This isn't a school excursion; you can't just do whatever you want. I'll give it back to you once we get out.”
Song Yao: “...”
Even after entering a demon realm, she was still being restricted.
She shouldn't have brought him along if she had known.
Giving up the struggle, she buried her face in her soup bowl.
Ning Zhou looked around.
Outside, the sky had turned pitch-black, yet there were still many people walking back and forth in the streets. The tavern was brightly lit, with waves of customers pouring in, making it even noisier than before.
However, he couldn't tell if it was just his imagination, but he felt several gazes from the crowd drifting over to them from time to time.
Nightfall would undoubtedly bring greater danger.
He had a bad premonition, so he pulled Song Yao up. “Stop eating. Let's find a place to stay for the night so we can get up early tomorrow to look for Cheng Yue.”
Ning Zhou's strength was currently far too immense.
Song Yao was dragged to her feet by him. “I haven't finished eating yet. You're too tense. What are you afraid of when I'm here...?”
Ning Zhou replied, “I'm even more afraid precisely because you're here! Do you have any idea how much the Hall Master and the Seventh Elder dote on you? If anything happens to you, they'll probably skin me alive twice over.”
Song Yao said, “Not that extreme, not that extreme...”
Before she could finish her sentence, the moment they stood up, the subtle gazes that had been drifting over them suddenly multiplied. They clung to them like damp forest mist, wrapping around them tightly.
Ning Zhou's heart tightened. Gripping her wrist, he feigned composure and walked toward the entrance.
But they couldn't get out.
The waiter, leading several thugs, marched in from outside and blocked their path completely.
Ning Zhou immediately shielded Song Yao behind his back. Secretly circulating his spiritual energy, he asked warily, “We've already paid for our meal. What do you—what do you all want?”
The waiter stared straight at them, cracking a stiff smile. “You two have misunderstood. We have no ill intentions. It's just that, looking at your attire, you must be outsiders, right?”
Ning Zhou replied coldly, “So what if we are?”
The waiter hurriedly explained, “You two might not be aware, but our Frost Country has a rule: after nightfall, outsiders are not allowed to walk the streets. Violators will be detained! This is a serious crime!”
Song Yao's attention was finally piqued.
Frost Country?
Wasn't it Frost City?
How did it get upgraded?
Ning Zhou didn't notice this detail and asked, “Why are we not allowed out after nightfall?”
The waiter rubbed her hands together. “These are rules set by the higher-ups, so a lowly one like me doesn't know the exact reason. But since it's already late, why don't you two stay in our humble establishment to save yourselves some trouble?”
Ning Zhou's brow furrowed.
The waiter had brought a crowd of thugs, making it clear that if they said no, they would be detained by force. She didn't seem to have their best interests at heart at all.
He glanced at the surrounding thugs, his voice tight. “What kind of tyrannical rule is this? You're forcing us to buy your services!”
“I am only doing this for your own good, dear customers.”
As she spoke, the thugs behind the waiter took another half-step forward.
The gazes from the noisy patrons behind them grew increasingly blatant and greedy, like beasts staring at isolated prey.
But when Ning Zhou suddenly turned his head to look, everyone immediately averted their eyes, raising their cups and chatting merrily as if the intense staring just now had been a mere illusion.
His heart trembled.
Something's wrong.
Indeed, something is very wrong.
What exactly did these people want?
If they stayed in this tavern tonight, would they even make it out alive?
They absolutely could not stay here.
The waiter said politely, “It's only twenty spirit stones for a night's stay. Please don't delay any longer, customers. Head upstairs and rest.”
Ning Zhou turned to look at Song Yao, shooting her a meaningful look to ask for her opinion.
Yet, she still maintained her usual nonchalant attitude, without a hint of panic. She even yawned, her voice soft, “Sure. We'll take two rooms.”
She actually wants to stay?!
I knew she was bold, but I didn't know she was this reckless!
Ning Zhou opened and closed his mouth, but in the end, he could only blurt out urgently, “One room! We want just one room!”
They couldn't afford to worry about propriety in a demon realm. Staying in the same room would allow them to look out for each other.
Song Yao didn't care. “Fine. Lead the way.”
Seeing that they were being relatively cooperative, the waiter immediately beamed with joy, and the thugs stepped aside.
“This way, please.”
Just as she turned to lead them upstairs, several talismans suddenly flew in through the window, crashing straight into the crowded hall and exploding.
Choking smoke instantly filled the room. The sound of shattering dishes and startled cries erupted everywhere, plunging the hall into chaos.
A woman rushed in from outside, pushing through the crowd to reach them. Her voice was urgent. “Quick! Come with me! They're trying to capture you!”
Choking on the smoke, the waiter coughed repeatedly and shrieked furiously, “It's you again! Quick! Stop them! Grab them all!”
As the scene grew increasingly chaotic, Ning Zhou didn't have time to think. He grabbed Song Yao and rushed out after the woman.
The streets had been bustling with crowds, but at the sound of the shout, the pedestrians along the entire street seemed to wake up in unison. They all spun around at once and began chasing after them.
Rate on N.U.
