At that very moment, they were deep in thought, desperately trying to deduce the identity of this mysterious young man and the reason for his sudden appearance in their kingdom. It was a matter of gravity, one they knew must be reported to the Emperor immediately.
Bai Xifeng, however, was blissfully unaware of their schemes, nor would she have cared even if she knew. After sweeping her new acquisitions into her space bag, she settled the payment with a flick of her wrist and prepared to depart.
"Young Master, please, grace us with your presence again." The storekeeper called out, bowing deeply to Bai Xifeng.
He moved with a newfound level of respect, his previous casualness replaced by careful deference. He had assumed, upon seeing her casual use of a high-quality space bag, that she must hail from a background of immense power and significance.
"Young Master, I would like to formally invite you to the palace. Would you happen to have any time?" Liu Shan asked, trying her luck one last time.
Bai Xifeng offered Liu Shan nothing more than a brief, cool glance. "No, I have no time to waste on such things."
With those final words, she turned and left. Her mind was already elsewhere. She was preoccupied with the thought of buying a proper lunch for herself and Xiao Li. She made her way back to the same restaurant she had visited the day before, her appetite set on their famous Glory-Roasted Duck. Upon arriving, she ordered two ducks to go. While she waited for the kitchen to prepare the feast, she sat quietly and ordered a bowl of soup to pass the time.
As she stepped into the establishment, she remained unaware that sharp eyes were observing her every move from a distance.
"Is he the one who managed to evade your pursuit last time?" A young man dressed in elegant blue robes asked, turning toward his companion in black.
"Yes. Even the others are baffled as to how she managed to vanish so completely." The black-robed man stated flatly.
"I find myself unable to discern his cultivation level at all. Could it be that his level is significantly higher than mine?" The blue-robed youth turned his gaze toward a masked man who sat in calm silence across from him.
"Either that, or she possesses the skill to perfectly conceal her aura." The masked man replied, his voice steady. "And stop using 'he.' Use 'she.' She is a woman, after all."
"Wait—like you?" The blue-robed man blurted out, a look of genuine shock flashing across his face.
"Precisely. Perhaps you should try calling out to her. But remember, watch your pronouns. She is a woman." The masked man repeated firmly.
"I keep forgetting. Her disguise is truly flawless." The blue-robed man admitted, nodding in realisation. He then turned back to his subordinate. "Do I need you to follow her again?"
"And do you truly believe you can bring her here if I say yes?"The black-robed man asked back.
"No." The blue-robed man answered, offering only a single, blunt word.
"Well, at least that's an honest answer." The blue-robed man chuckled.
"If you are that curious, you could always try asking Ji Huang about her." The masked man suggested.
"Why him?" The blue-robed man looked confused.
"Because, through some twist of fate, she seems to have reached an agreement with him." The masked man revealed.
Inside the restaurant, the food was finally ready. Bai Xifeng collected the parcels, paid the bill, and stepped back out into the bustling street. It was then that Baishe's voice echoed in her mind.
"It appears you have attracted someone's undivided attention." Baishe noted.
"Huh? Am I being targeted again?" Bai Xifeng's expression shifted into one of mild surprise.
"Quite likely. I don't sense anyone actively tailing us at the moment, which means they are likely observing you from a great distance. Regardless, you must remain vigilant of your surroundings." Baishe advised cautiously.
"Who do you think they are? People from the royal family, perhaps?" Bai Xifeng guessed.
"Maybe. I cannot say for certain." Baishe replied.
"Well, as long as they are not breathing down our necks, let's just head home. Xiao Li must be waiting for me. I wonder if she's been practising her cultivation properly while I was out." Bai Xifeng quickened her pace, weaving through the crowd.
....
"Venerable Sir Boqin, should we dispatch our people to locate the fated one, the Phoenix Star?" A man asked, addressing an elder who sat motionless before a shimmering water mirror.
"There is no need for that for the time being. The stars have not yet aligned for us to reveal ourselves to her." Venerable Sir Boqin answered, his gaze fixed on the ripples of the mirror.
"But why wait?" The man pressed.
"She must grow through her own trials. If we interfere and provide aid now, she will never become the person destiny requires her to be. By helping her too early, we might very well be the ones who ruin her." Venerable Sir Boqin explained calmly.
The man nodded several times, the wisdom of the elder's words sinking in.
"You need not worry so much. She already has a protector by her side. She will be just fine." Venerable Sir Boqin added.
"Do you already know her true identity, then?" The man asked eagerly.
"I do, but I will not hand the answer to you so easily. You will all discover the truth in the fullness of time." Venerable Sir Boqin said.
Though the man felt a pang of disappointment, he understood that the Elder was acting out of a desire to shield the Phoenix Star. Currently, ever since Venerable Sir Boqin had prophesied the reappearance of the Phoenix Star, various factions had begun scouring the lands for this fated individual. Not all of them sought her for noble reasons. Many dreaded her return.
Whoever the Phoenix Star was, she was destined to command immense power, the power enough to eventually defeat the Demon King. Because of this, she was in constant peril. The demon realm would stop at nothing to extinguish her light before she could fully ascend.
"I understand." The man replied softly.
Venerable Sir Boqin's eyes never wavered from the water mirror. The man failed to notice the small, knowing smile playing on the Elder's lips. It seemed he was genuinely amused by the scenes unfolding on the water's surface.
'This person is truly entertaining,' Venerable Sir Boqin thought to himself. He found himself looking forward to seeing what other antics this "Phoenix Star" would get into in the future.
***This novel is a contracted work with w e b n o v e l. c o m. If you do not read this novel on w e b n o v e l. c o m, that means it has been stolen. Thank you, from your shameless author, ZerahNeko***