Lu Wang's room was no longer orderly like when we first arrived. Everything was messy and chaotic. The walls were cracked, and the stones were shattered.
All of this destruction was because of that damn Talking Book. The moment it appeared, neither Han nor I could contain our rage. We attacked the Talking Book, hitting it with everything we could find. Han swung Zhao's sword towards it, but the book merely turned into smoke in the air. Instead, the sword strikes hit the glowing walls and stones, demolishing everything. Meanwhile, I was trying to hit it with one of my shoes.
After growing tired and failing to land a hit, we slumped onto the bed and stared at the Talking Book circling above our heads.
Talking Book: "Kids, I think that's enough. Your second mission must be delivered as soon as possible."
I half-stood up and angrily retorted: "Hey, just return us to our own world. Those missions are all yours."
The Talking Book circled around me, stopped in front of my eyes again, and said:
"No. You have entered now. You cannot return until you complete your missions."
I wanted to protest, but Han stepped forward and said: "I don't want to see you anymore. Just announce the mission and get it over with."
I stared at Han. It was clear he was burning with frustration, but he still forced the words out.
Talking Book: Mission Two: Go to the Realm of the Immortals.
Hearing those words, we both first stared at the Talking Book in shock and disbelief, then at each other. A moment passed, and we both burst out laughing.
Our laughter subsided, and we sat up, taking on serious expressions. I looked at Han and asked: "Han! Look at my forehead. Does it say 'Idiot'?"
Han: "No. How about mine?"
Me: "No."
Then, I angrily snapped at the Talking Book:
"Then, you foolish imbecile! Do you want us to walk willingly into the jaws of death? How about we gift-wrap ourselves, send ourselves to the Immortals, and say, 'Here are Lu Wang and Zhao, at your service!'"
Han shook his head and added: "Or maybe give us a loudspeaker so we can inform the whole world?"
The Talking Book replied with an indifferent tone: "Your emotions are understandable. If you fear your identities being revealed, then do not worry. Because to this day, none of the Immortals have seen the faces of Lu Wang and his two deputies, Zhao and Zang Hao; only a limited number of rulers from other realms have."
Han frowned and said: "We already knew that. But what about their inner aura? Lu Wang and Zhao are high-ranking cultivators, and their energy can be sensed from miles away."
Following Han's words, a moment of silence settled between us. Suddenly, a golden light fell upon us from the book, and a golden halo immediately surrounded us.
I was initially staring in awe at the lights around me, but a sharp pain twisted inside me, making me fall to the ground. Something incredibly hot was surging through my body. It felt as if my veins were exploding from within. I curled up, gasping for breath, and looked with pleading eyes at Han, who was struggling on the bed just like me.
A moment passed, my head rang, my eyelids grew heavy, and... absolute darkness.
With a sting on my face, I groggily opened my eyes. I looked around until my gaze fell upon Han, who was grinning widely and about to slap my ear again. I reacted quickly and pulled myself back. I snapped at him:
"What's wrong with you, savage?"
Han grinned widely but then angrily said: "I've been calling you for an hour, but you wouldn't wake up, that's why!"
I touched my slapped face. Remembering the Talking Book, I looked around in confusion but couldn't find it.
Han, seeing my questioning expression, said: "It's gone."
I asked in surprise: "What? We were just talking! Say, did you feel a pain in your body too?"
He nodded and said: "Yes, it hurt a lot. I also fainted like you, but I woke up sooner. Fortunately, the Talking Book was still here."
I asked curiously: "Did it say anything?"
He glanced at me and said: "Yes, it said that this mission will only end when we go to the Immortals' Realm."
I asked: "What if we don't go?"
He smiled and said: "Do you know what that sudden pain was for?"
I replied, surprised by his question: "No."
He turned toward me and said: "The Talking Book did something to shut down the inner power in the bodies we occupy. This means we are now two ordinary people who must start from scratch."
I wrinkled my nose and asked: "So what?"
Han replied exasperatedly: "Look, in a few hours, we will become just like any two ordinary demons. If we don't leave here soon, the demons might find out, and that's when we might fall into their hands. If that happens, our lives are definitely over."
I thought for a moment in confusion and anxiety. A thought struck me, and I snapped my fingers, saying: "Since that's the case, how about we just vanish from everyone's sight? We neither stay in the Demons' Realm nor go to the Immortals' Realm. We go somewhere far away and wait for the novel to end by itself."
I looked at Han with a wide grin, who slapped me across the back of the head. I barely kept my balance.
"Hey, what's wrong with you today? You keep hitting poor me."
He angrily replied: "Because you don't say anything sensible! You idiot, where do you want to go? This is not our world where everywhere is safe. God knows if we step out of here carelessly, we might end up in another realm, which would be worse than bad."
I took my gaze away from him sadly and stared at a fixed point. Han was right. God knows what might happen to us if we went out carelessly.
I sighed and said to Han: "Now what do we do?"
Han stomped his foot in frustration and said: "We only have one way. We have to go to the Immortals' Realm, no matter what."
Me: "How?"
A smile crept to the corner of his lips. He said: "Very simply."
Then he got up from the bed, circled in front of my questioning eyes, and said: "Didn't you order disciples to be sent to the Immortals' Realm? So, we will go there as two ordinary disciples."
I completely agreed with his ideas, so I nodded and said: "That's brilliant!"
Han, who was looking at me proudly, suddenly looked surprised. He came closer and ran a hand through my hair. Then he backed up and said: "Wow, what a change! Your hair has turned black."
Hearing him, I touched my long hair in surprise and looked at it. It truly was black.
Han: "Oh, that streak next to your face is gone too."
I put a hand on my face and asked: "Which streak?"
Han: "Ah, don't you remember the descriptions of Lu Wang's face? Long white hair with a black streak starting from his chest and ending at his cheek."
I thought for a moment and finally remembered. My hair had completely changed color from white to black. I asked: "But why did this happen suddenly?"
He moved a strand of hair from his face and said: "Maybe it's because the inner power shut down. Surely the white hair and that streak were related to Lu Wang's inner power."
Me: Oh, that makes sense. When Lu Wang was captured by the Immortals, he was tortured severely, and his inner power was weakened, which is why his hair turned gray and the black streak faded.
I looked at Han, who was staring thoughtfully at a fixed point. I could genuinely feel the pressure on him. We were in a bad situation.
I asked curiously: "Well, what do we do now?"
Han directed his gaze toward me and said: "We need Zang Hao."
I looked at him, surprised, and said: "You want him to know about this too? Isn't that dangerous?"
He shook his head and said: "No. Zang Hao is very loyal, just like Zhao. He is our only hope."
Me: Han was right. In all his memories, Zhao saw Zang Hao as a pillar of loyalty. If we were going to trust anyone, he was the only option.
I nodded doubtfully and said: "Fine, then we need to cook up some lies."
Then together, we planned our acting strategy for meeting Zang Hao.
Half an hour later, Han went out to find Zang Hao and returned with him.
Zang Hao noticed the shutdown of my inner power (Lu Wang's) without me saying anything. I guessed he figured it out because of the changes in my appearance.
Then, I spoke about our plan to go to the Immortals' Realm with Zhao (Han) as disciples sent by the Demon Realm.
Zang Hao: "Forgive my audacity, but your inner power will be completely shut down within a few hours. If you go to the Immortals' Realm and someone realizes your identities, you will fall into their clutches. Please let me go in your stead."
I shifted slightly on the bed, kept my gaze fixed on him, and said: "I know this is a big risk, but it is worth it to find that person. Besides, no one can discover my identity unless someone informs them."
I looked at him with cold, piercing eyes to ensure he understood the gravity of the situation.
With his usual composure, he said: "Your secret is safe with me, Your Excellency."
I nodded and said: "Have you chosen the disciples who are supposed to be sent to the Immortals' Realm?"
Zang Hao: "Yes, I have chosen the most capable and most loyal individuals."
Han (Zhao) and I had discussed this. We shouldn't send capable and skilled people. Because we are supposed to establish peace between the two sides, not send spies to stir up trouble. That's why the best option is for us two to go alone.
I said with a cold tone: "Don't send those individuals. Only Zhao and I will go."
Zang Hao: "But..."
I raised my hand as a sign of silence and cut him off: "I have my own plans. I don't want my identity to be compromised because of some worthless people."
He bowed his head and said: "As you command."
I rose from the bed, and he respectfully stepped back two paces.
I asked: "Good. With my departure, you will bear a heavy burden. While I am away, watch over the realm and keep a close eye on the officials. Make sure no one finds out about my departure."
He bowed and said: "Yes."
I turned away from him and asked: "When is the exchange of disciples supposed to take place?"
Zang Hao: "In a few hours, disciples will be sent from the Immortals' side to the 'Ching Tan' border. I will personally escort them from there, and the Immortals are also obligated to do the same for ours."
I said "Good" and dismissed him.
Han and I stared at each other. We shook hands and said: "We will finish this mission too."
We smiled.
I hope entering the Immortals' Realm will be a new and pleasant start.