**"Rock, paper, scissors shoot!"**
Han (Zhao) jumped up from his seat and shouted with excitement:
"Hurrah, hurrah! I won again… poor Mo Zhan, he's got nothing, always loses!"
Mo Zhan, frustrated and annoyed, threw himself onto the bed and covered his ears with both hands so he wouldn't hear Han's teasing. He was also seriously pissed — they'd played almost twenty rounds and Han had won all of them.
Han grabbed Mo Zhan's arm with all his strength and pulled him off the bed, throwing him onto the floor so hard that Mo Zhan's groan filled the room.
"Hey, idiot! Why are you throwing me down?!"
Han planted his hands on the bed like someone basking in glory and said proudly:
"Since I won, you must do whatever I say."
Mo Zhan replied with boredom:
"Yeah, yeah, enough already. My ears are full of that line. Hurry up — what do you want?"
Han raised an eyebrow mischievously.
"Until I tell you… kneel right there."
Mo Zhan stared.
"What? Here? On this stone carpet? My knees will hurt!"
Han let out a short laugh.
"That's your problem."
Mo Zhan had no choice but to obey. The rule of the game was that the loser had to do whatever the winner demanded.
Han was fiddling with his long hair, whispering something under his breath.
Mo Zhan, glaring at him with pure annoyance, suddenly fell into thought.
He touched his stomach and, surprised, asked:
"Hey… isn't it weird? We haven't eaten anything in a while, but we're not hungry."
Han answered casually:
"That's normal. Lou Wang and Zhao have strong internal energy that keeps them nourished, powerful, refreshed, and lively."
Mo Zhan grumbled:
"That's ridiculous. Who gives up the pleasure of food? Besides, I've seen a few servants eating something, yet they never bring anything for their master."
He rolled his eyes dramatically.
Han, who had quickly adapted to this world thanks to Zhao's memories, said:
"Those servants are ordinary people. They don't have magic or inner power, so they need food to survive. And sure, we don't *need* to eat right now — but we can if we want to."
Mo Zhan brightened.
"Really?"
Han nodded.
"But anyway… it's been days since we heard anything from the Immortals. I have a bad feeling."
Three days had passed since they sent the messenger, yet still no response. Using "planning strategy" as an excuse, Han and Mo Zhan had hidden away in Lou Wang's room. The whole time, like two little boys, they just played games.
Mo Zhan rubbed his knees, trying not to ask Han to stop.
With a frown, he said:
"And that damn talking book hasn't shown up yet."
Han growled,
"It better not show up. If it does, I'll tear it to pieces."
In that moment, a voice came from outside.
"My Lord, may I enter?"
It was Zhang Hao's voice. The two looked at each other in curiosity before quickly standing up.
Mo Zhan, who had been kneeling before Han moments earlier, now sat on the pearl bed like a dignified lord. He straightened his posture and smoothed his long robe to look presentable.
Han (Zhao) fixed his hair, placed his hand confidently on the stone wall, and stood beside Mo Zhan.
Since Lou Wang could open the walls with his mind, and Mo Zhan couldn't use magic, Han had to do it — but if he did it too often, Zhang Hao might get suspicious.
Zhang Hao entered, bowed calmly before Mo Zhan, and waited for permission to speak.
Mo Zhan glanced at Han, then said with a serious tone:
"What is it? Didn't I say no one should disturb us?"
Zhang Hao responded respectfully:
"Forgive me, My Lord, but it was an urgent matter that had to be reported."
Mo Zhan closed his eyes slowly.
"Speak."
Zhang Hao said,
"A messenger has arrived from the Immortal Realm."
Mo Zhan's eyes shot open. Anxiety flooded him instantly.
He exchanged a meaningful look with Han, whose eyes also widened with unease.
The Immortals' reply could determine the entire course of the story.
---
**The Grand Hall — Assembly of the Demon Court**
Officials stood in disciplined rows. Outwardly calm, but inwardly restless, each wondered what answer the Immortals had sent.
A low-ranking guard kneeled on the red carpet before Lou Wang (Mo Zhan), holding a white messenger charm.
Mo Zhan looked calm on the outside, but his heart was racing. He prayed the Immortals' answer would be positive — but then a thought hit him:
*"Oh god, why does this feel like waiting for someone's wedding proposal reply?"*
He almost wanted to laugh, but stopped himself.
Han, just like Zhao in the novel, stood to Mo Zhan's right with sharp eyes and a cold expression.
Qi Ping — always the ambassador for dealing with other realms — stepped forward.
"My Lord, first we must verify whether this letter is authentic or forged."
He reached for the letter, but Mo Zhan's voice stopped him.
"Wait."
Mo Zhan trusted no one except Zhao, the friend inside his body, and Zhang Hao, Lou Wang's most loyal subordinate.
"Commander Zhang Hao — you examine it."
Zhang Hao bowed. A mixed red-and-black aura formed around the letter as he lifted his hand.
Mo Zhan stared in awe. He wished more than ever that he could use magic too.
A moment later, the letter vanished and reappeared in Zhang Hao's hand.
He knelt before Mo Zhan and said:
"My Lord, based on the seal and talisman, this letter unquestionably belongs to the Immortal Realm."
Mo Zhan impatiently took the letter, treating it like a locked box — unwilling to open it in front of everyone.
Then he realized he *needed magic* to unlock it.
Trying to maintain composure, he handed it back to Zhang Hao.
"Read it aloud for everyone."
Zhang Hao paused, met Mo Zhan's eyes with a sharp glance, then took the letter and said,
"As you command."
Standing at the edge of the dais, he brushed his fingers along the envelope and opened it effortlessly.
Then, in a loud and stern voice, he read:
---
"This letter is from the Immortal Realm to the Great Lord of Demons, Lou Wang, and all Demonkind.
I, Shen Yu, Lord of the Immortals, along with the other Immortal Elders, accept your request for a ceasefire and long-term peace.
However, for the safety of our realm and to uphold the pact, we have conditions."
" One: To strengthen mutual relations, students from both sides must travel between realms to exchange knowledge as allies."
"Two: Since we are now united in peace, no harm or attacks shall be made against mortals."
---
Gasps, murmurs, outrage, and protest erupted throughout the hall.
One official stepped forward:
"My Lord, even though they agreed, their intentions are sinister. They want to use this opportunity to infiltrate our realm. We must not allow it!"
Mo Zhan, who had been thrilled by the Immortals' acceptance, now froze.
*"Oh, shut up man… so what if they send spies? They're not taking your seat!"*
Before he could recover from that man's comment, another official spoke:
"We already have spies among them, so there's no need to send our own. We can refuse their demand."
Someone else countered:
"They made only two conditions. There is no way they'll accept rejection — they won't let this go."
Arguments went back and forth. Mo Zhan, completely confused, looked at Han for help.
Han stepped closer and whispered:
"The mission is to prevent the war. Don't think about the rest."
Mo Zhan thought:
*He's right. I just need to stop the war… but still, now I'll have to deal with Immortal spies too… great.*
Each official took turns arguing, only to be contradicted by another.
Mo Zhan finally raised his voice:
"Silence!"
The hall froze like winter.
"The purpose of the ceasefire is peace. Their request is bold, but we have no choice but to accept.
Whether now or later, the Immortal Realm will eventually belong to us, so there's no need to panic."
No one dared object. Mo Zhan understood — if Lou Wang gave an order, nobody could speak against it.
He took a deep breath.
"Then the Demon Realm accepts these conditions. We will send students to the Immortal Realm and receive theirs with respect."
Zhang Hao approached with the letter.
"To seal the pact, you must place your hand upon the letter. It's written in the document."
Mo Zhan stared blankly for a moment, then examined the writing closely.
The script looked surprisingly similar to his own world's style.
Without hesitation, he placed his hand on the blank side. Within seconds, the letter burned like fire and dissolved into smoke.
And with that, the agreement was sealed.
Things were getting more interesting by the minute.
He cleared his throat.
"Zhang Hao — select a few capable individuals and send them to the Immortal Realm. Also, personally escort any Immortal students who come."
Zhang Hao bowed.
"As you command."
Mo Zhan (Lu wang) stood up and asked coldly,
"Any objections?"
Everyone knelt.
"No, My Lord. May your reign be eternal."
He smirked proudly and walked past them with firm steps.
---
**Lou Wang's Chamber**
"Well? How was my acting?"
Mo Zhan eagerly awaited Han's reply.
Han glanced at him, clapped, and said:
"You were perfect, darling. For a moment, I thought the real Lou Wang had returned."
Mo Zhan almost exploded with joy — until he remembered the incoming Immortal spies. His happiness evaporated instantly.
He sat next to Han on the bed, pouting.
"What do we do about those spies now? What if they try to kidnap me? I don't have any magic — I can't fight back!"
The thought sent a shiver down his spine. With wide, trembling eyes, he grabbed Han's hand.
"What if that 'appointed guy' is among them? What if he comes to kill me?"
Han pulled his hand away and wrinkled his nose.
"Ugh, you're such a coward. There's no way. They don't know the real Lou Wang is gone. Right now you're a terrifying monster in their eyes, no one dares challenge."
His words comforted Mo Zhan a little. He lay down on the bed, relieved.
"Finally… I can relax. No more worrying about missions."
But that peace didn't last long.
A strange voice echoed through the quiet room. Mo Zhan and Han turned toward it in fear.
***"Congratulations. You have successfully completed the first mission. Now… it's time for Mission Two,guys."***