Chapter 178 So Long, Jade Qing Sec (2/2)

They chose the final room at the end of the second-floor corridor, as per their usual custom, where Xiao Chen first searched for any peculiarities with his spiritual senses before they settled down. But Murong Xian'er was hardly fatigued by the long journey. She scurried around the room like curious mice, examining the furniture of the room and playing with partition screen while having fun herself.

Xiao Chen could only smile with exasperation. Her purpose of coming seemed more bent on having fun rather than seeking the truth of her past, Xiao Chen grimaced. ”Come here, Xian'er,” he beckoned.

Hearing her name being called, she sped over to Xiao Chen and nearly knocked him into his bed. With her eyes gleaming wide with enthusiasm, she asked, ”What?”

Their noses were so near that they nearly touched each other. ”Errr...” Xiao Chen stammered, pulling himself up. He felt himself getting out of breath at such uneasy closeness. After an uneasy silence, he quickly gasped, ”I-it's nothing...”

”You called me, yet now you tell me it's nothing! What a spoilsport!” Murong Xian'er complained and ran off to the windows to look at the streets below which are still busy in the night. ”There are lots of people down there, Big Brother! Let's go down and walk around!”

Xiao Chen immediately thought of the band of young men following behind her earlier. ”We ought to rest early,” he said, ”We still have a long journey ahead tomorrow.”

But Murong Xian'er would never relent. She tugged at his sleeves, trying to pull at his shirt as hard as she could. ”Come on, Big Brother! I want to go down and see things that are down there!” She exclaimed through her pursed lips, ”There are so many people down there!”

Xiao Chen shook his head. He knocked on her head lightly with a smile,” All right, all right. We'll go.” Murong Xian'er giggled exultantly. She stuck out a tongue, saying, ”This is how I get someone to mollycoddle me! It's Big Sister Yan who taught me this!”

Heavens, what had Shangguan Yan been teaching her, Xiao Chen groaned.

The bustling streets were lined with various lanterns in various shapes that hung over the night sky. It was a scene that reminded him of the Human World. Many young maidens stood by the banks of the rivers, setting floating lamps alight before releasing them into the river and making wishes. Countless peddlers and hawkers were trying fervently to ply their wares to any prospective patrons that walked past with lion dances and acrobatic performances spicing up the joyous atmosphere to the maximum.

Murong Xian'er wandered around, her eyes twinkling with fervor and exhilaration, dashing from stall to stall to look at the different items for sale with the curiosity that would even put a cat to shame. Xiao Chen could only follow closely behind, smiling benignly at his little sister's lovable behavior. It has been quite some time since they came to the Violet Manor; yet this was the first time they enjoyed such a peaceful night.

Xiao Chen was temporarily mesmerized by the reminisces of his past in the Human World until he shook himself awake. But Murong Xian'er was missing.

”Xian'er!” Xiao Chen felt a fear slowly engulfing him. There was no sight of Xian'er everywhere as he looked around, until a buoyant chirp came from behind all of a sudden. ”Try guessing who I am, Big Brother!”

Xiao Chen exhaled a gasp of reprieve when he recognized the voice. He turned and there was Murong Xian'er, wearing a mask of a monkey that looked exceptionally magnificent with its phoenix-tailed headdress.

He was about to chastise Xian'er for running off on her own when an old man, looking almost in his sixties, came hurrying towards them. ”You have not paid money, little girl!”

Murong Xian'er took off her mask, giggling slyly, pointing at Xiao Chen. ”He'll pay for it.”

Xiao Chen scowled, shaking his head. He paid the old man. But the mask felt unique to him. ”Who is this that you've drawn on this mask, old man?”

”Huh? Don't you recognize who this is?” The old man exclaimed with surprise, ”This is the famous Demon Lord from the fables of old.”