Chapter Eight: The Enchanting Dream Realm of the Tapir

“What?” Ling Yan turned around, her surprise evident as she asked, “You said the women in your dream all have children already?”

“Yes, that’s right—do you have any doubts?”

“Of course!” Ling Yan rolled her eyes and muttered with displeasure, “Why do you always speak in half sentences, making me angry for nothing?”

Bai Mu, hearing this, felt a stir in his heart. He mistakenly thought Ling Yan was still angry because of the dream beast escaping due to his earlier dream, so he hurriedly apologized, “Ling… Ling Yan, don’t be upset. Next time, I’ll catch the dream beast for you myself, how about that?”

“You blockhead, I don’t want you to catch anything for me!” Ling Yan scolded him angrily, then skipped beneath the trees, picking a few wild fruits before heading down the mountain alone. As she walked, she grumbled inwardly, “Bai Mu really is thick-headed.”

Fortunately, after the incident with the dream beast, nothing else disturbed the mountain.

The two hastily filled their stomachs with wild fruits, then found a sheltered slope at the foot of the mountain to spend the night in their clothes, waiting for dawn to hurry to Boundaryless City.

That night, the two lay side by side on the grass, gazing at the dense stars above, breathing in the scent of wildflowers and listening to the distant chirping of cicadas. The scene was harmonious and pleasant, a perfect moment for romance.

However, both were only sixteen or seventeen, inexperienced in matters of love, so they unwittingly let this beautiful night go to waste.

Ling Yan sighed inexplicably as she gazed at the sky above.

“Why the sigh?” Bai Mu turned to her, curiosity in his eyes.

“I’m a bit homesick,” Ling Yan replied, her face full of confusion and worry. Gone was the spark she’d shown during the battle with the fierce bird Bi Fang; she was simply a neighbor’s little sister now.

Seeing her like this, Bai Mu felt a strong urge to reach out and comfort her with a warm embrace. Yet he hesitated, intimidated by the young girl whose abilities and cultivation far surpassed his own. Remembering her usual aloof demeanor, he let the thought fade.

Still, he asked with concern, “Did you sneak out as well?”

“Even if I did, my father wouldn’t blame me. He treats me so well.”

“How do you know he treats you well?” Ling Yan turned to him, curiosity piqued.

“It’s obvious. He gave you the divine artifacts he used in his youth, and even gifted you the Flowing Firefly Silk Fan on your birthday. He clearly dotes on you.”

Ling Yan giggled involuntarily. “Father does spoil me, but I can’t go back yet.”

“Why not?” Bai Mu’s curiosity was stirred.

“I haven’t finished my task. I can’t return empty-handed!”

Hearing her mention the task again, Bai Mu recalled Ling Yan’s restless behavior in the hut on Deer Terrace Mountain, and suspicion welled up in his heart.

After a moment’s silence, Bai Mu patted his chest with gusto. “No matter what your task is, I’ll help you accomplish it—as long as you don’t mind my low cultivation!”

“Of course not!” Ling Yan replied without hesitation. “Your cultivation isn’t low at all. If you hadn’t helped me in White Deer Valley that day, I would’ve been eaten by the fierce Bi Fang bird.”

“So you mustn’t underestimate yourself!”

Knowing Ling Yan was trying to comfort him, Bai Mu didn’t press the issue further, but continued with curiosity, “What is your task? Can you tell me?”

Ling Yan appeared hesitant. This time, her mission in the Wild Realm was no small matter—it could affect the order and stability of the realms of gods, humans, demons, and spirits. She dared not easily share the matter of the Transforming Demon Vessel with others.

But Bai Mu was her only friend in the Wild Realm, and to conceal it from him felt wrong.

Moreover, Bai Mu was now master of the Azure Dragon Sword. The boy who deduced the way of heaven had said, ‘Success lies in transformation, failure in the Azure Dragon.’ This suggested the Transforming Demon Vessel was closely linked to Bai Mu. If she confided in him, perhaps their future search would be easier.

After an inner struggle, Ling Yan smiled gently at Bai Mu. “To be honest, I left home this time under orders to search for the Transforming Demon Vessel.”

“The Transforming Demon Vessel?”

“You’re not joking with me, are you?” Bai Mu looked at Ling Yan in disbelief, his mind racing with questions.

Although he knew little about worldly intrigue, Bai Mu was exceptionally clever.

During his years on Eastward Mountain, he’d heard his master Bai Ze recount many tales of ancient battles between gods and demons.

The most familiar was the story of the Heavenly Emperor forging the Transforming Demon Vessel and the Azure Dragon Sword with great power.

Thus, Bai Mu knew well that for thousands of years, the Transforming Demon Vessel had been kept in the Purple Cloud Palace of the god clan, guarded by numerous heavenly generals, virtually impregnable.

Now Ling Yan claimed her father had sent her to find the Transforming Demon Vessel. Could it be lost?

If it hadn’t been lost, was Ling Yan lying?

Yet her clear, innocent eyes betrayed no hint of deceit.

There was another longstanding question: Ling Yan’s identity.

Though Bai Mu knew little about the realms of the Wild, from her extraordinary cultivation and array of ancient treasures, it was clear she was no ordinary denizen of the Wild Realm.

Out of respect for her, he’d kept silent.

Now, after Ling Yan’s mention of the Transforming Demon Vessel, his suspicions resurfaced, and he lay there, lost in thought.

But then, how could a girl of Ling Yan’s intelligence and perception not know what Bai Mu was thinking in this moment?

As the youngest and most cherished daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, she possessed remarkable abilities in every regard.

She had inherited her father’s fine features, was both beautiful and graceful, and her talent and cultivation surpassed all other scions of the god clan. She was considered one of the most promising figures in the divine realm in nearly a thousand years, rivaled only by the daughter of the God of War, Brahma Immortal.

Thus, aside from sending a handful of ancient deities to investigate, the Heavenly Emperor had secretly dispatched his most beloved and trusted youngest daughter to the mortal realm to search for the Transforming Demon Vessel.

Noticing Bai Mu’s unease, Ling Yan quickly explained, “It is an indisputable fact that the Transforming Demon Vessel has fallen into the mortal world. If it is not recovered in time, the realms of gods, humans, demons, and spirits will face upheaval.”

“When the great calamity of the heavenly way arrives, all living beings will suffer, and even you and I will not remain untouched.”