Chapter Eighteen: The Marvelous Bag of Universal Law

Once the two figures had completely disappeared into the distance, a massive grey crane silently glided down from the ancient tree where it had just hidden. With a shake of its feathers, it instantly transformed into the dread fiend, the Grey Crane Patriarch, who had terrorized them the previous night.

It turned out that after his defeat last night, the Grey Crane had not fled far but had chosen to lie low amidst the forest.

Staring after the vanished duo, a cold sneer crept over the Grey Crane’s sinister face. He muttered under his breath, “So, you’re that old fossil Baize’s disciple. No wonder you have such formidable strength at your age, not to mention the obscene number of magical treasures you carry. And that jade flute in the girl’s hands—there’s something uncanny about it, too. It looks awfully familiar. Still…”

At this, the Grey Crane’s thin lips curled into a wicked grin. “Regardless of how many treasures you possess, in the end, they will all be mine!”

With that, his form shimmered and shifted, transforming once more into a great bird that darted toward his former lair. In just a few graceful leaps, he landed inside the cave.

Swelling with pride, the Grey Crane reverted to his old man’s guise and strode swaggeringly into the cave, the cold smile still lingering on his lips—no doubt plotting how to seize the Spirit Illustration and the ancient divine sword from Bai Mu’s possession.

But his triumphant smile froze abruptly, for the scene before him stabbed deep into his aged heart.

The Hunyuan Eight-Sided Cauldron, now reduced to useless scrap, lay in pieces on the ground. The cuts made by sword energy were so clean and smooth it was almost suffocating to behold.

Even more galling were the crushed black pills scattered across the floor, as if silently issuing a challenge to the Grey Crane Patriarch.

“Damn it!”

He cursed, nearly trembling with rage, his beard quivering. Where once his face was placid, anger now carved deep new creases across his features.

Yet, long years of cultivation and discipline quickly brought his fury under control. With practiced efficiency, he drew a cloth pouch from his sleeve and chanted, “Heaven’s Law brings clarity, Earth’s Law brings light. Cosmic Treasure Pouch, grant me the power to gather all under heaven. Collect!”

At his command, the shattered remains of the cauldron shot into the air with a whoosh, vanishing into the pouch. This was indeed a wondrous treasure, reminiscent of those famed Buddhist relics said to contain entire mountains.

Once all the broken metal was stowed away, the Grey Crane cast a venomous glance at the trampled remains of his pills and ground out, “You two brats will pay for this, and the price will be tenfold.”

He kicked a nearby skeleton to vent his fury, then, in a flash of gray feathers, soared out of the cave in the direction of Dayong Market.

Meanwhile, guided by the Spirit Illustration, Bai Mu and Ling Yan soon found the way to Dayong Market. Their swift pace—covering leagues at a stride—and their rumbling stomachs brought them to a narrow path on the market’s northern edge in a matter of moments.

Last time they had arrived at Dayong, it had been the dead of night; other than glimpsing the market’s impressive scale, they had hardly enjoyed the scenery, for the vigilant Dream Tapir had kept them on their guard.

But now, under the bright light of day, they finally understood why people spoke of Dayong as a place where “miles of peach groves stretch in unbroken bloom, white walls and blue tiles nestled in between.” From their vantage point, they could see the clustered rooftops of the market below, likely home to over a hundred families.

Surrounding the market was an endless sea of peach blossoms, now in full bloom at the cusp of spring and summer, painting the hillsides in a vibrant pink.

At the center of the market, several streams ran down from Mang Mountain, winding like green ribbons past white walls and blue tiles, with sparse willows planted along their banks, lending the scene the charm of an ancient gathering for wine and poetry.

“Bai Mu, who would have thought the Wildlands could hold such beauty!” Ling Yan exclaimed in awe, standing dumbfounded on the mountain path.

“Indeed,” Bai Mu replied, his face alight. “I always thought our Eastward Mountain the most beautiful place in the world, but now, seeing Dayong, it seems I was a frog at the bottom of a well!”

“Enough talk—let’s hurry down and eat!” Ling Yan grumbled, already racing toward the village at the foot of the hill, with Bai Mu hot on her heels.

Reaching the center of the market, the two slowed their pace lest they draw undue attention. Strolling side by side through the bustling street, they looked for all the world like a pair of young lovers.

“Bai Mu, look over there!” Ling Yan pointed with a slender finger to the left, indicating a large establishment whose signboard bore the bold characters: “Dayong Tavern.”

“That’s it—a dining hall. The name even has a touch of elegance to it.”

“Let’s go in and see what all the fuss is about!”

Without thinking, Bai Mu reached out and took Ling Yan’s hand, leading her inside. Ling Yan instinctively tried to pull away—this was, after all, the first time a mortal boy had taken such liberties with her. But the warmth of his hand melted her resistance completely.

Inside, the tavern was bustling, likely due to the peach blossom season drawing crowds of visitors. The main hall was packed, filled with people from all walks of life—warriors with swords, merchants in colorful robes, all mingling together.

It was the first time Bai Mu and Ling Yan had seen such a riot of humanity, and they paused in the hall to take it all in.

Though the other diners were busy with their meals, the sudden entrance of such a strikingly handsome pair drew many curious glances, most of which lingered on the radiant beauty of Ling Yan. Bai Mu, accustomed to her presence, had long grown used to her looks, but for others, such natural grace was a rare marvel.

“Welcome, honored guests! Are you here for a meal?” A sharp voice called out from behind the counter.

“Yes,” Ling Yan replied calmly, stepping up to the polished counter and politely inquiring, “Excuse me, do you have private rooms available here?”