Chapter 113: Liuji City

Unable to track down Jiu'er, Zhou Qi remained deeply anxious. He could not discern the motives of the person who had rescued her; were they friend or foe? What was their stance toward the demon race?

Zhou Qi could find no answers. It was fortunate that Jiu'er had not fallen into the hands of Dao Fan, yet equally unfortunate that she was still missing.

He left Xiao Bai behind, providing him with a substantial supply of spirit stones and medicinal pills, instructing him to continue searching for news of Jiu'er within the Daoist sect's territory. Should any information arise, he was to report it to Quan'an City. Huangfu Xiu's condition could no longer be delayed. Now that he had acquired the Dragon Pearl and had nearly mastered the Hunyuan Protective Art, saving her had to be his priority; the search for Jiu'er would have to be a gradual effort.

Xiao Bai was moved to tears by the generous advance in pay. For years, he had never experienced such opulence, never having to worry about resources. If his previous loyalty to Zhou Qi had been born of necessity, his current devotion was sincere. The treatment was simply too good, and his master had offered him opportunities for advancement that even the great cultivation sects might not provide—after all, they lacked the ability to infuse dragon essence into medicinal pills. Zhou Qi did not mention the poison in Xiao Bai's system, and Xiao Bai did not ask. Zhou Qi had forgotten, while Xiao Bai chose to trust him unconditionally; if his master hadn't brought it up, there must be a reason, and since he had received such benefits, his master would surely not let him die.

With the matters of Xiao Bai and Jiu'er settled, Zhou Qi faced a new dilemma regarding Huang Qianqian, who sat on his shoulder. He had brought her out of the Dragon Burial Valley, but she now showed no intention of leaving.

The bird-and-man combination was far too conspicuous. No matter how he altered his appearance, as long as this bird remained on his shoulder, it was akin to announcing his identity. Given Dao Fan's intellect, he had likely already deduced that the one who warned the others to evacuate Ansi Valley was none other than Zhou Qi.

"Senior, I have brought you out of Ansi Valley. Whether you stay or go is entirely up to you," Zhou Qi finally felt compelled to ask.

"What? Trying to chase me away? You've barely used me and now you're tired of me? Men truly are all the same," Huang Qianqian replied with a resentful tone that sounded exactly like a jilted woman in a boudoir.

Zhou Qi felt a headache coming on. Why was this bird so dramatic? "It is not that I wish to chase you away, Senior, but I am in a desperate hurry to save someone. I fear that staying with me will hinder your recovery and affect your grand plan for revenge."

"No matter. Once outside, I can cultivate using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. If I encounter high-quality flames, they will help me recover my cultivation even faster. I have just emerged, and the Tianxuan Continent has changed drastically. People from my era are either dead or lost. I am unfamiliar with this place; where would you have me go?"

"Er, it is my honor to have you with me, Senior. But could you perhaps alter your appearance? I have enemies, and if you remain in your true form, it will be difficult for me to remain incognito," Zhou Qi explained.

"That is simple." Huang Qianqian took flight from his shoulder, and with a flash of red light, she transformed into a peerless beauty. She was slender, her long hair tied up, wearing a phoenix crown and a feathered cloak; a faint, ethereal mist seemed to cling to her, giving her an air of incomparable nobility. As she turned, her face was like the full moon of mid-autumn, her brows as if painted in ink, her skin as white as snow. She was unimaginably stunning and breathtakingly beautiful.

Zhou Qi was stunned. He had thought the bird was boasting, but her human form truly possessed an otherworldly grace. Unlike the beauty of Jiang Yiyi or Jiu'er, Huang Qianqian carried an aura of inherent superiority—a beauty so noble that it commanded respect and forbade intrusion.

This would not do; she was too beautiful and would only invite trouble. Just as Zhou Qi was about to point this out, Huang Qianqian spoke, shattering the noble aura instantly: "Well, little Zhou? Does it make your dragon blood boil? Are you thinking of doing something wicked?"

"Senior, please, no jokes. This appearance is inappropriate and will only attract unwanted attention. It would be better to look more ordinary. If some old monster takes a fancy to you, I wouldn't have the power to rescue you," Zhou Qi said. He was immune to charm spells, so the mere instinct of dragon blood meant nothing to him.

"I suppose you're right. Sigh, beauty is such a burden." Huang Qianqian spun in place, and when she stopped, she was hideous. Her eyes were mere slits, she had a bulbous nose, thick, protruding lips, and a face covered in pockmarks. Her dazzling immortal robes had turned into coarse hempen cloth.

Zhou Qi nearly gagged. Remembering how Jiu'er would act coquettishly after transforming into an ugly appearance, he quickly added, "Senior, there is a difference between 'ordinary' and 'ugly.' Looking like that will also attract attention."

"So troublesome," Huang Qianqian grumbled. To keep her status as a long-term guest on Zhou Qi's payroll, she transformed several more times until she finally met his requirements. Zhou Qi also transformed into an ordinary-looking male cultivator—the kind whose defining trait was having none, the sort one would lose in a crowd.

Zhou Qi set off with Huang Qianqian toward Liuji City, intending to use the city's teleportation array to return to Quan'an City. While Liuji City was not the headquarters of the Daoist sect, it was a major city under their control, meaning their influence was likely everywhere. He could only wonder how far Dao Fan’s reach extended.

On the journey to Liuji City, Zhou Qi barely stopped, save for the necessary intervals to reset his transformation spell, and he did not encounter any meddlesome cultivators. Although the lives of cultivators under Daoist rule were harsh, the security was remarkably tight; there were no random killings or public robberies. Within the Daoist sphere of influence, everything appeared deceptively harmonious.

Huang Qianqian was as curious about the human city as Jiu'er had been, wanting to try everything and buy every trinket she saw. Zhou Qi felt helpless, discovering he had a talent for being a "sucker." Moreover, Huang Qianqian did not obey him as Jiu'er did, frequently complaining about how "you men are all the same," which gave Zhou Qi a splitting headache.

Daoists in robes could be seen everywhere in Liuji City, of varying cultivation levels, most of them appearing quite amiable. However, Zhou Qi noticed several cultivators quietly scanning the passersby.

"Fellow Daoist, are you looking for someone?" Zhou Qi asked a passing Daoist directly, a storage bag already discreetly offered in his hand.

"Indeed, we are looking for a cultivator with a bird perched on their shoulder," the cultivator replied honestly, declining the storage bag and saying it was a small matter not worth such expense.

Zhou Qi was astonished. It was the first time someone had refused his "small gesture." He could not help but think a little higher of this man, and since the man would not take it, Zhou Qi did not press the issue.

"May I ask why you are searching for this cultivator?" Zhou Qi continued.

"I don't know the specifics. I only heard it was an order from above. If we find them, we are not to disturb them, but simply report their location."

It seemed Dao Fan did not intend to deal with him openly, preferring to wait for a chance to strike from the shadows. That was fine; he would not play the fool. He would take the teleportation array and leave immediately, and see what move Dao Fan would make next.