Yue Wanqiu, although she also wanted ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) to wrap up matters with the Manniu Clan as quickly as possible and continue her quest to find Ye Yu, couldn’t fully relax as long as Niu Shixiao remained alive.
As long as Niu Shixiao lived, Niu Erhua could not be completely safe.
So Yue Wanqiu had no choice but to stay temporarily among the Manniu Clan, sending out people to inquire about Niu Shixiao’s whereabouts and preparing to strike again to eliminate him once and for all.
While they waited, Yue Wanqiu suddenly received a message via her communication stone from Nangong Jingtang. She claimed that there had been upheavals in the Yao Realm, and that new passages to the Mo Realm and the Heaven Realm had opened.
Nangong Jingtang said, “I’ve basically searched the entire Yao Realm and found no sign of Ye Yu. I’m planning to head to the Heaven Realm next. Maybe there’ll be new leads there. Once your business here is done, come to the Heaven Realm and join me as soon as you can.”
Hearing this, Yue Wanqiu’s heart stirred with hope—perhaps the reopening of the Five Realms’ passages would be the very opportunity to find Ye Yu.
But a few hours later, to everyone’s astonishment, Ye Yu appeared of his own accord within the Manniu Clan’s territory. Fate, it seemed, worked in unpredictable ways.
After listening to Yue Wanqiu’s account, Ye Yu finally exhaled in relief. As long as Nangong Jingtang was safe, heading to the Heaven Realm was even better—it would save him the trouble of going back and forth.
“I’ll have Yue Wanqiu contact Nangong Jingtang with the communication stone,” Ye Yu said at once, “and ask her to wait at the Wu Wei Tower.”
Yue Wanqiu agreed, but the communication stone wouldn’t connect. Only then did they realize that a Yao Realm communication stone couldn’t tap into the power of immortals—it absorbed Yao energy but couldn’t handle immortal qi. After all, these little technological marvels weren’t that advanced.
Ye Yu wasn’t too disappointed, though. As long as Nangong Jingtang was safe, that was what mattered most. And crucially, the Heaven Realm was very different from the Yao Realm. Ye Yu had some renown there; with patience, they could surely pick up a clue or two.
“But should we leave right now?” Ye Yu looked at Yue Wanqiu. After a moment’s thought, he asked softly, “I’m an immortal of the Heaven Realm. Would you come back with me?”
“I would!” Yue Wanqiu agreed without hesitation, as if she’d been waiting to say those words. Then she blushed and added in a low voice, “I just wonder... would Sister Nangong accept me?”
Ye Yu couldn’t help but smile. “It’s not up to her alone. You’ll have many sisters there.”
“Hm?” At first Yue Wanqiu didn’t catch on. But once it clicked, she cautiously asked, “You have many fairy companions?”
Ye Yu nodded. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all—really, not at all!” Yue Wanqiu’s answer was wholehearted. Only in this way, she thought, could she have a real chance of being with Ye Yu. If he already had so many companions, another sister wouldn’t matter to Nangong Jingtang, right?
With their feelings laid bare, both Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu felt a weight lift from their hearts. But they still didn’t immediately set off for the Heaven Realm. First, they decided to deal with Niu Erhua’s lingering threat.
Ye Yu honored his promise by summoning two whole roasted pigs. One had to admit, Niu Erhua really had a monster appetite. In just two hours, she devoured three pigs the size of her own body without even a satisfied burp—truly a formidable eater.
With the feast concluded, Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu prepared to go out and track down Niu Shixiao. Together, eliminating him would be no problem. But first they needed his exact location—blindly searching would be useless.
To their surprise, Niu Shixiao himself showed up at the edge of Manniu Clan territory, flanked by two cat-demon emissaries—the very Sacred Hall envoys who had once unsealed Shang Jinleng’s seal in the Dreamscape, brothers named Zhuo Kong and Zhuo Yi. Both had breakthroughs in formation arrays; without their skill, they couldn’t have undone the seal. Having brought two Demon King Realm apex warriors, Niu Shixiao had grown extremely arrogant.
He called out across the boundary, “Where’s Niu Erhua? Today, if you step down and relinquish the chieftainship to me, I’ll remember our uncle-niece bond and let you live. If not, you’ll suffer the consequences! As for Yue Wanqiu, she must submit and serve as my slave!”
His bold proclamation, amplified by Yao energy, instantly rang through the Manniu Clan’s lands. Ye Yu and Yue Wanqiu exchanged incredulous glances, while Niu Erhua, escorted by Niu Li and others, stepped forward.
“Second Uncle, why must you persecute me?” Niu Erhua asked. “Passing the chieftainship to me was Father’s direct order. Why do you insist on taking it? And don’t bring up the Ring of Life—Aunt Yue has already retrieved it from Wing Demon City. Your lies have long since been exposed!”
Niu Shixiao remained unfazed. “What lies? It’s always the victor who writes history. Today I state it plainly: you must abdicate. I’ve joined the Sacred Hall as an envoy, and these esteemed seniors are here to help me reclaim the chieftainship. Know when to yield, or all who oppose me die!”
Niu Li, Niu Erhua’s chief guard, could no longer restrain himself. “Scoundrel! As an elder of the Manniu Clan, you colluding with outsiders to usurp the throne is a grave offense. If you persist, we won’t hesitate to enforce clan law!”
“Clan law? You dare?” Niu Shixiao sneered, his arrogance unabated. Zhuo Kong patted his shoulder and said coolly, “We didn’t come here for your empty threats. We’re busy—let’s finish this quickly.”
All at once, Zhuo Kong and Zhuo Yi stepped forward, ready to strike. But before they could move, Ye Yu snapped his fingers—and they lost control of their bodies entirely.
