Chapter Seventy-Five: Alien

After Old Wolf returned, the first thing he did was ask Song Yue to take him to pay respects at Elder Zhao’s grave.

He uncorked a fine bottle of wine, poured out half as a libation, and asked Song Yue if he wanted a drink. When Song Yue shook his head, Old Wolf took two deep swigs and poured the rest onto the grave.

Throughout, Old Wolf said little. On the drive back, with Song Yue at the wheel, the bespectacled Old Wolf grew a little wistful.

“Do you know? The one thing I envied most all these years was the Bureau of Extraordinary Affairs. Thanks to your master, I finally became a civil servant in my lifetime—I’m really happy about it!”

“The Bureau is a typical place—few matters, great authority, with independent judicial and adjudicative power. Its status is virtually unassailable.”

“Day to day, there’s risk, but even powerful monsters living in the city must treat Bureau agents with courtesy—if they want to stay here, that is.”

“Why? No one wants unnecessary trouble.”

“So I never imagined something like this would happen. Had I been there that day, I might be in the ground with them, waiting for you to bring a bottle to share.”

Song Yue could sense Old Wolf’s sorrow—he felt much the same.

Though it had been some time, every memory of that event pressed on his heart like a heavy stone, suffocating. At such moments, one truly understood how insignificant mortals are before the great powers of the cultivation world—no more than ants.

“Don’t worry,” Old Wolf said. “I’ve more or less got a grasp of the situation. If those people can keep quiet for a while, so much the better. Otherwise, even though I’m just a crippled old wolf, my strength all but gone, I’m still with the Bureau. I won’t stand idly by.”

Song Yue looked at him. “Uncle Wolf, were your injuries back then… very serious?”

A monster who had survived the Battlefield of the Nine Gates could hardly be ordinary, but Old Wolf’s current strength was unimpressive. In the brief clash with the Beihai demons, Song Yue had noticed that his master, mistress, and Old Wolf all struggled.

“Very serious, of course!” Old Wolf gave a helpless smile. “Normally, a cultivator of my level—even with a lame leg—would have ways to regenerate it. But mine will never heal. And that’s the least of my wounds.”

He did not dwell on the topic, simply telling Song Yue not to worry—he would watch over the household.

Song Yue dropped Old Wolf off at the Bureau, returned home, and still didn’t see the Red Bird. So he went to his master’s backyard and asked Old Peony to help find her.

Old Peony agreed readily—it was nothing to him.

Soon enough, the palm-sized Red Bird flapped into the yard, squawking, “I was having a great time—what do you want?”

This rascal clearly wasn’t fit to be a mount.

“I’m heading out for a bit—off-world. Want to come?” Song Yue asked.

“No way! I haven’t even explored Earth yet. I’m a homebody!” Red Bird declared righteously.

A homebody, really? You didn’t say that when you escaped from the Western Secret Realm.

But since she was unwilling, Song Yue didn’t insist. After a few instructions, he let her go.

After Red Bird left, Old Peony told Song Yue that she’d been mingling with the city’s bird demons lately, eating, drinking, and playing to her heart’s content. Maybe because of her superior bloodline, she held a high status among them, quite adored. No wonder she was never home.

Song Yue shook his head, then asked Old Peony to keep an eye on the city’s affairs—and, if possible, the entire Hangzhou region. If any demonic cultivators appeared, report to his master at once.

Even though his master said the Li family would be lying low for a while, Song Yue still feared rogue demonic cultivators could appear. He couldn’t control too large an area, but within Hangzhou, he would not tolerate innocent deaths.

After instructing Old Peony, Song Yue messaged Little Seven to say he’d be heading to Tianyue Star. As usual, there was no reply.

Finally, he bought several large freezers, stocked his master’s basement with shrimp, crab, and dragon-patterned leopard meat.

With all this done, he went to bid his master farewell.

His master was easygoing. Since he’d decided to let his young eagle fly, he wouldn’t interfere too much. Still, Song Yue’s journey would take him light-years away, and there was a hint of worry.

From the Tongtian Tablet, his master retrieved a slender red cord, looking much like a girl’s bracelet. He handed it to Song Yue and taught him how to wield it.

“This is a low-grade version of the Divine Binding Cord. With your current spiritual cultivation, you can probably bind a Core-Forming cultivator for three to five seconds. Even someone of the Penetration level… normally couldn’t break free.”

Song Yue was astonished—even Core-Forming cultivators? This was a true artifact!

His master cautioned, “Artifacts are always mere externals—they’re embellishments. Never forget, your own strength is the foundation.”

Song Yue took the lesson to heart, storing the cord alongside that mysterious string of small bells from Miss Qian.

Looking at the bells, Song Yue suddenly thought to ask his master if he recognized them. He took them out and handed them over. “Master, could you tell me what kind of artifact this is?”

His master’s expression grew solemn at once. “The Enchantment Bell… How did this end up with you? Isn’t this… Oh, I see. Qianxue gave it to you, didn’t she?”

“Just borrowing it,” Song Yue said, feeling a little guilty under his master’s gentle gaze. He then asked, “But it’s just a bell—why call it a bell? Is it that powerful?”

His master shook his head with a wry smile. “If I’d known you had this, I wouldn’t have worried so much. That Qian girl treats you very well. Long ago, she gave you a top-tier movement technique, even had an expert forge a fake name to deceive you…”

“Huh?” Song Yue was stunned.

“The footwork you learned is no mere Phantom Trace Step, but a supreme technique called Azureduckweed. In the cultivation world, on the Battlefield of the Nine Gates, it’s renowned!”

His master sighed. “With the fall of the Immortals and the disappearance of gods and Buddhas, so many ancient supreme arts and artifacts have found their way into the mortal world. My Binding Cord is ordinary among them; but your Enchantment Bell, with at least eight layers of rune seals, is truly a top-grade artifact. In the hands of a great master, it’s terrifyingly potent.”

“Whether borrowed or gifted, don’t let her kindness go unappreciated. Share some of your seafood and dragon-patterned leopard meat with her—let her honor her family with it.”

Song Yue nodded. “I understand, Master.”

Afterward, he bid farewell to his mistress, who was even more reluctant to part than his own mother, warning him again and again to be careful.

Once Song Yue had left, the mistress went to the study.

She looked at her husband. “Why did you change your mind at the last moment and not give him the contact information for your old friends?”

The master blushed—a rare sight—and said seriously, “I think young people need to grow through their own efforts. The Lin family has a good reputation and they need his help; I trust they’ll keep him safe.”

The mistress sniffed, giving him a “you’d better know your place” look before departing.

After she’d left, the master quietly took out his phone and sent Song Yue a message with several contact numbers, all labeled as “aunties.”

Song Yue, upon receiving them, could only roll his eyes.

He was increasingly convinced his master must have been a real charmer in his youth.

He bought two more large freezers, called Qian Qianxue over, and gave her all the seafood and leopard meat.

He told her to arrange refrigerated transport home.

Qian Qianxue knew the value—these ingredients were so coveted they’d be fought over on the black market even sold by the gram.

“It’s just a little filial piety to your parents—no need to be formal. I’m off now. Lock up when you leave, or stay if you like!”

Afraid she’d protest, Song Yue bolted after speaking.

Watching him go, Qian Qianxue murmured, “Be careful. I’ll do my best, too!”

Then she called Wen Rou over, pointed to one of the freezers. “Song Yue gave you this. Let’s arrange for delivery home.”

“Huh?” Wen Rou was stunned. She looked at Qian Qianxue. “Isn’t this all for you? I can’t accept—it’s too valuable…”

“Everything he’s ever given you is valuable. Weren’t those herbs valuable? Enough nonsense. Take it. I need to go to the Bureau. I’ll send you my address for the transport…” With that, Qian Qianxue hurried off.

Wen Rou stood at Song Yue’s door for a long time before finally pulling out her phone to arrange shipping.

She felt she’d done nothing to deserve such kindness, but resolved to work hard at alchemy and become someone useful.

…

Preparations complete, Song Yue called Lin Huan and Xiao Mo, and the three went to the Bureau to meet the six experts sent by the Lin family.

As Lin Huan had said, they treated Song Yue with utmost courtesy—even, it seemed, a hint of deference.

In their words, it was as if they already considered Song Yue Lin Huan’s future husband.

Song Yue was a little speechless. They hadn’t said it outright, and he didn’t want to clarify—he was only eighteen, after all, and nothing had even begun between him and Qian Qianxue.

After introducing the six to Old Wolf and Qian Qianxue, Song Yue turned to her.

“I’m off. Take care of things here,” he said.

Qian Qianxue rolled her eyes, her bright gaze resting on him a moment before she replied, “I know.”

The others withdrew, leaving them the space.

A breeze lifted Qian Qianxue’s long hair. Suddenly, Song Yue asked, “Why is your hair so long?”

Qian Qianxue: ?

Song Yue grinned. “It stirs something in my heart!”

She shot him a glare. “You could say that to anyone.”

He shook his head with a smile. “You’re so learned, Qian. Could you help me expand my vocabulary? None of the words I know are enough to describe your beauty.”

She couldn’t help but laugh, giving him a look. “Enough, enough—go on. They’re all eavesdropping at the window as we speak!”

Song Yue had known, but pretended not to care.

He said, “When I return, just the two of us, let’s travel to another planet.”

Qian Qianxue nodded softly. “Alright. I’ll wait for you.”

…

Aboard the starship, Song Yue gazed out the porthole at strange constellations.

They had already crossed the wormhole into the Tianyue system.

A new world.

Opposite him, Lin Huan sipped her drink, stretched—her figure striking—and said cheerfully, “Home at last—how wonderful!”

She glanced at Song Yue. “How do you feel?”

He thought for a moment. “Human civilization is truly amazing. Even ordinary people without cultivation—if they have enough money—can buy a ticket and travel light-years from home.”

Lin Huan smiled. “Yes. But humanity’s roots are on Earth—the mother planet for all humans throughout the universe. Countless civilizations have set forth from there to explore the stars.”

As the ship entered Tianyue’s atmosphere, Song Yue felt an overwhelming sense of technology.

From above, skyscrapers pierced the clouds, and countless flying vehicles wove intricate yet orderly patterns across the surface.

The entire planet seemed a single vast city—distance was nothing here.

When the starship landed on Tianyue’s “moon,” Song Yue saw the immense plaza packed with gleaming starships, and was moved beyond words.

The impact was stronger even than a country boy’s first sight of the big city.

A Lin family welcoming party awaited them. Upon seeing Song Yue, they greeted him warmly—treating him not as some ordinary youth, but with all due honor.

Among them was a handsome young man who resembled Lin Huan. He looked at Song Yue excitedly and said to Lin Huan, “Sis, is this my brother-in-law?”

Lin Huan flicked his forehead. “Don’t talk nonsense!”

The boy yelped and retreated, then looked at Song Yue. “So you’re Brother Yue? Please, put my sister out of her misery already!”

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