Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1553 - 958: Meeting Gift (Part 2)

With various powerful factions converging, the young master found himself uncertain of the true extent of his adversaries.

Considering the ultimate outcome, securing a whole dragon corpse seemed entirely out of reach. However, young master, you..."

Jiushijiu’s gaze intensified, fixed on Baili An: "You desire that small white dragon alive, correct?"

Baili An’s eyes narrowed, a flickering scarlet light within his pupils: "You are aware of this?!"

Jiushijiu affirmed with a nod: "At this present moment, I am the sole individual capable of assisting you in preserving that little white dragon."

Baili An resumed his seat: "State your demands."

Jiushijiu revealed: "Young master may not be privy to this, but recently, Fang You has been discretely orchestrating a marriage for Fang Geyu, utilizing the auction event as a clandestine backdrop."

Baili An’s brow immediately furrowed, a deep vertical line appearing between them as if etched by dread:

"Arranging a marriage? Yet he is fully aware of Fang Geyu’s current predicament, and the potential for mutiny in Shifang City at any moment – why arrange a marriage now?!"

"Perhaps it is precisely due to Fang You sensing the impending crisis in Shifang City that he is hastily seeking to have Fang Geyu marry and produce heirs, thereby ensuring the city’s lineage continuity."

"Inheritance? Bloodline?" Baili An scoffed coldly: "Fang Geyu holds the third rank in Shifang City, and she has two elder brothers who are still unmarried. Why would it be her turn so soon."

Jiushijiu observed Baili An: "Fang Geyu is the one getting married; why do you exhibit such agitation, young master?"

Intending to bask in Baili An’s flustered reaction, he unexpectedly lifted his gaze with composure and declared: "Since you perceive what she does, you must comprehend that I will not permit anyone else to possess her."

Jiushijiu offered a perfunctory acknowledgment.

She propped her chin on her hand, her delicate pinky finger lightly grazing her lips, a subtle smile playing in her eyes.

"Indeed, the Ghost House within Xianling City, the spectral Bridal Thread, the thunderous drumbeats that summon death and ensnare souls, the third Miss Fang who refuses to yield her pride, her lips are so delicate.

Were I in your position, I too would be hesitant to let her marry another."

With a casual remark, she unearthed deeply buried, mortifying memories from the unguarded Baili An.

His handsome features instantly flushed crimson as he leaped to his feet: "You... you even spied on that?!"

Jiushijiu, composed as unblemished jade, leisurely took a sip of her wine: "The young master need not be concerned. I am merely a puppet, devoid of understanding in such matters, and naturally devoid of shame. You may consider it as being observed by an inanimate stone."

Despite his words, he could not reconcile the woman before him with the crude automatons stored within his Qiankun Bag.

"Cease this deliberate deflection."

Jiushijiu stated: "Although Shifang City places great value on its women and traditionally passes down the position of City Lord to daughters, you mustn't forget, young master.

The rule persists, yet Fang You, holding the status of a humble consort, ascended to the position of City Lord.

If he sought to lend support, whether for the succession of the Ten Directions Sword or for the birth of direct descendants, it would not fall to Fang Geyu."

Baili An’s frown deepened: "You imply..."

"Whispers suggest that the third Miss Fang might not be the biological child of City Lord Fang You.

Why does no one question whether Fang Da and Fang Er are perhaps not the children of the former Lord of Snow City?"

Baili An's eyes, profound as the ocean, fixed on Jiushijiu: "You claim to be a puppet from Shifang City, yet you possess an excessive amount of knowledge regarding its secrets."

Jiushijiu offered a slight smile, her gem-like eyes shimmering with countless fragmented reflections, appearing impossibly inscrutable.

"Yinghuo signifies the first puppet to achieve self-awareness, thus naturally possessing singular characteristics.

Allow me to impart another secret to the young master: there exist only two Yinghuo puppets, both brought into being from the blood shed from Lord Xue's fingertips.

"Consequently, we differ from conventional puppets. Puppets are sworn to absolute subservience to humans, tasked with their protection and the fulfillment of every assigned duty.

Until the day our physical forms decay, we shall defend Shifang City with unwavering resolve."

Jiushijiu turned her gaze towards the frost and snow visible outside the window, her expression distant, as if all worldly matters had detached from her in that instant.

"However, my master is no longer present."

"I am left with no one to obey, nor anyone to protect. Yet, I possess independent thought, an intellect that surpasses that of humans.

I have thus attained freedom. The absence of a purpose for protection signifies... that I will only bring about devastation."

Baili An: "..."

A puppet endowed with self-awareness could even mimic a human heart, beating with warmth beneath its chest.

Though outwardly resembling humans, every aspect of their being contradicted the fundamental nature of humanity.

With no one remaining to safeguard, such an entity would inevitably wield the instrument of destruction.

Baili An inquired: "You previously stated that the 'Yinghuo' comprised two individuals?"

Jiushijiu lowered her gaze, her voice steady: "Sixteen years ago, during the siege battle, she had already died."

Baili An remained silent for a moment, absorbing the weight of her words.

Jiushijiu lifted her head to face Baili An, her expression earnest. "I invited you here today, hoping you could, using your current identity, defeat those coming to Shifang City seeking marriage, thereby gaining Fang You's favor."

Baili An, finding the request perplexing, asked, "Why?"

Jiushijiu responded simply, "Because Shifang City doesn’t require a direct bloodline; breaking it in this generation is acceptable. And you, young master..."

Jiushijiu's lips curved into a cool, almost imperceptible smile. "Since you are a corpse demon, even if you harbor intentions towards Miss Fang Third."

"You might carry on what was left unfinished in the Ghost House of old, yet you could never allow her to bear heirs."

"To me, choosing you not only stabilizes Fang You but is also quite safe; no one is more suitable than you."

Baili An's chest rose slightly with a surge of emotion. "I think, rather than approach Fang Geyu, I should be killing you right now."

"You can't," Jiushijiu stated, looking directly at Baili An. "You don’t realize, I am far more powerful than you imagine."

"So powerful that... even your mother wouldn’t possess absolute confidence in killing me if she were present."

"Are you truly that confident, miss?"

"You have underestimated me," Jiushijiu replied. She placed both hands on the wine table, intertwining her ten slender fingers, her posture relaxed.

"After all, one could say I am also a principal culprit behind the Witch Plague chaos. Having incited such turmoil in Shifang City, I wouldn't be easily dispatched by anyone."

She revealed her role so openly and candidly?

Just as she claimed, Jiushijiu's intellect far surpassed that of ordinary humans.

She laid bare her conspiracy, her ambitions, and her grand designs upon this wine table.

Despite Baili An's awareness that cooperating with her was exceptionally perilous.

Regardless of the perspective, whether it concerned the safety of the little white dragon.

Or Fang Geyu's potential marriage, he found himself with no valid reason to refuse.

Jiushijiu proceeded to fill the final cup of wine for him.

This time, she did not inquire if he would drink. Instead, she retrieved a delicate plum blossom from a cloth pouch at her waist.

"While traveling the world, I passed through Jiangnan. Upon witnessing a branch of plum blossoms blooming splendidly between the flower bridges of a tranquil glen, I plucked this branch as a gift for our meeting today."

Baili An accepted the plum blossom. Its gracefully slender branch wound upward, nestled between his long, lean finger bones, exuding an enchanting aura.

Baili An suddenly remarked, "I heard that the late Lord of Snow City cherished plum blossoms above all else during her lifetime. Could it be, Miss Jiushijiu, having received her fingertip blood, shares a similar fondness?"

Jiushijiu paused momentarily before shaking her head. "The late Lord of Snow City's affection for cold plum blossoms was merely a rumor. She didn’t love the plum itself; she loved the person standing with such elegance and a snow-like glow beneath the plum tree."

It sounded like another ancient and deeply buried secret was being unveiled.

Night had fully descended. Baili An was uncertain if Shu Ci had returned to the inn to rest.

He bid farewell to Jiushijiu and departed the tavern, the rabbit held gently in his arms.