A flood of memories crashed over Ye Yu like a tidal wave.
That Communication Stone belonged to Hanyue Xi for contacting her parents. When they’d parted so hastily before, she’d fled before Ye Yu could return it. To keep it from mixing with his own, Ye Yu had tucked Hanyue Xi’s Communication Stone into his robe, intending to give it back the next time they met—never imagining this mix-up.
From Little White’s expression, their conversation had been extremely unpleasant. How unpleasant, Ye Yu did not know. He seized Little White and demanded it repeat, word for word, [N O V E L I G H T] what had happened.
Through Little White’s narration, Ye Yu finally understood everything.
In Little White’s eyes, Ye Yu’s slumber was indistinguishable from seclusion cultivation. After all, once one became a god, who simply went to sleep? And seclusion cultivation required absolute silence—any disturbance could lead to madness.
To ensure Ye Yu’s safety, Little White had stood guard outside. When it heard the Communication Stone vibrate, it entered the room—and saw Ye Yu frown in response to the disturbance. Fearing for his safety, Little White snatched up the Stone and took it outside to explain: “Big Brother is in seclusion—please wait.” As soon as it infused divine power to connect, the voice on the other end barked:
“Where are you?”
Little White frowned. “You want to reach my Big Brother Ye Yu, right? He’s currently—”
Before it could finish, the stranger cut in: “Ye Yu? Who’s Ye Yu? Who are you?”
Their tone grew impatient and harsh. Thus began a half-hour-long barrage of insults between beast and god:
“I’m Little White!”
“What a crappy name—like some mutt. You trying to fool me? Kid, you’re dead meat.”
“I suggest you be respectful.”
“Respect my—! Hand over the Stone, or I’ll turn you into a dog for real!”
“I’ll slip you a banana peel on your face! You dog—you’re the dog, you big black dog.”
“How dare you call me a dog? You’re in trouble—you’re in big trouble! I am Hangu—dare you tell me your true name? I’ll come find you right now!”
“My name’s Little White, in Balance City—come find me if you can! Let’s see if I don’t eat you first!”
“I’ll eat you first! When I find you, I’ll stew you into soup!”
“I’ll stew your egg!”
“I’ll stew both your eggs!”
...
In the end, Little White was outmatched. Lacking vocabulary, it lost the war of words—and in frustration leapt so hard it cracked a huge pit in the hall and shattered the Communication Stone.
Ye Yu’s head throbbed. Why had things gone sideways into a shouting match? And since Hanyue Xi likely remembered this dream-vision too, his carefully constructed lie was blown apart. As if that weren’t enough, he now also had to deal with her father’s feud with Little White. Life was indeed hard.
But Hangu’s temper was legendary—flaring at a so-called “fusion freak”—and undeniably entertaining. Ye Yu decided to wait in Balance City with Little White for Hangu’s arrival. Any misunderstanding could be cleared up civilly; no need for a murderous brawl.
After all, Hanyue Xi had said her parents cultivated in the Ancient God Realm. Little White could already swallow Ancient God-realm deities whole. If her parents arrived, they’d be delivering trouble, not a humble offering. Swallowing one’s in-laws would lead to an unbridgeable rift—no friends afterward. Better to explain slowly... assuming they’d listen.
Hangu: even the name sounded unapproachable. As Ye Yu pondered, a cold aura descended on Balance City. A middle-aged gentleman scholar appeared, streaked gray at the temples—yet rather than seeming old, he exuded gravitas. One might well call him “handsome elder.”
It was none other than Hangu, the common father of Hanyue Xi and Hanyue Zhang. His face darkened as he realized the Communication Stone he’d brought for family use was now in someone else’s hands—proof his daughters were in danger. Urgency drove him to seek “Little White” for information and to pray both children were alive.
But when Hangu produced the Stone to call Little White, it would not connect. Panic rose. Hangu had even tried to deduce Little White’s origin by divination—yet failed. It shouldn’t exist in the Divine Realm at all, let alone be alive.
Was someone targeting the Hangu clan?
Hangu narrowed his eyes, pulling a cloak over his face and disguising his divine aura. He resorted to the simplest method: questioning every vendor in the market, saying in a low voice, “Are you Little White?” and watching their reaction. Shock meant a true match; confusion meant a false one. Though clumsy, with no other lead and countless Divine-realm traders in Balance City, Hangu persevered.
He never considered the City Lord’s mansion—Balance’s Lord Yu Buxia was a woman with unrivaled connections. To strike at the Hangu family, she’d have had far easier means. Besides, the voice on the Stone sounded masculine. By elimination, the mansion was ruled out.
Thus Balance City saw two parallel scenes: Ye Yu and Little White waiting patiently in the Lord’s mansion, while Hangu prowled the outer city stalls, interrogating everyone in sight. Good-natured vendors merely asked who Little White was; ill-tempered ones snapped back, “‘White’ your grandfather—you’re the dog here!”
Hangu, equally short-tempered, retorted in kind—until the city rang with shouts, gods and mortals alike trading insults in a bizarre chorus.
