143: Chapter 143 Bonfire Party

...Undercurrents by the bonfire.

The night wind carried the crackling sound of burning wood, swirling sparks into the deep blue night sky.

The bonfire party was held in an open forest clearing behind Longhu Mountain. The brothers Deng Youfu and Deng Youcai arrived early, joining the ranks of those trying to persuade Zhang Chulan to drink; they too wanted to see what this shougongsha was all about.

Zhang Chulan was flanked by Lu Linglong and Zhi Jinhua, looking for all the world like a kidnapped hostage, his face written with a total loss of hope.

Xu Si was nearby cracking melon seeds, laughing so hard he slapped his thigh: "Chu Lan, even you, the 'dont shake the green lotus', have a day like this?"

Even Perfected Master Nie Jiao Zhang Lingyu and Zhuge Qing came to join the fun.

Deng Youcai rubbed his hands and leaned toward Mia: "Miss Mia, can the Immortals enshrined in my hall watch together?"

Deng Youfu yanked his brother back and gave a dry cough: "Don't embarrass us. It's already a favor that she's dancing once for Lord Liu Kunsheng."

Tuaner's ears twitched, and she immediately sneered: "Oh? So there's more than one audience member? Should we set up a table for the Immortals and put out some dried fruit?"

Sweat instantly broke out on Deng Youfu's forehead: "A misunderstanding! Definitely a misunderstanding! We're just here to appreciate the art!"

Mia pursed her lips and smiled, reaching out to pull Tuaner: "It's fine, everyone can watch. Let's go, it's time to go on."

The clearing by the bonfire was cordoned off into a simple stage. Outlaws sat or stood around, their eyes shining brightly.

Mia stepped barefoot onto the stage covered in red silk, a waist drum hanging at her side, her skirt as red as fire.

Tuaner followed behind her, trying her best to ignore the two faint, cold gazes behind the Deng brothers—Liu Kunsheng's spiritual body was coiled deep in the shadows of the trees, its golden vertical pupils staring fixedly at the stage. There also seemed to be an oversized rat in the forest.

...As exotic music played from the speakers, the drumming suddenly began.

Mia's fingertips tapped out a dense rhythm on the drumhead. With a spin of her toes, her red veil fluttered like waves.

She leaned back, her heterochromatic eyes reflecting the heat of the fire. The gold-thread patterns embroidered on her skirt flowed with her movements, and the ornaments on her head swayed. She looked like a Dunhuang mural's flying Apsara come to life.

"This dance... why does it look a bit wicked?" Cang Long whispered.

"Nonsense, the person dancing is a [Demon] to begin with," Yun remarked, clicking his tongue.

"I think Mia is pretty good too. At least not worse than Xia He," Zhuge Qing said, looking at Zhang Lingyu. His skill at persuasion was truly extraordinary.

"Just a [Demon]. When I encounter her later, I'll let her know the meaning of [Subduing Demons and Exorcising Devils]!" Zhang Lingyu also took a sip of beer.

Suddenly, Mia flicked her wrist and struck the waist drum. A nearly imperceptible dark red aura rippled out from the drumhead, heading straight for the shadows. The onlookers noticed nothing, but Deng Youfu suddenly clutched his chest and retreated two steps—the Immortal within him was agitated into restlessness!

Liu Kunsheng's spiritual body moved slowly in the shadows, its flickering tongue seemingly mimicking the drum's rhythm.

It stared at Mia's fluid movements, its pupils narrowing into slits—just as Lu Jin had said, it was "learning."

The dance ended, but the applause had not yet faded.

The leaves moved without wind, and a low hiss echoed in everyone's minds: "...Little girl, thanks."

"It was nothing," Mia smiled gracefully. As she spoke, she actually waved at Liu Kunsheng, then pulled Tuaner along as she stepped down from the wooden stage.

On the mountain path back to their quarters, Tuaner finally couldn't hold it in and asked, "That burst of Qi just now, you did it on purpose, didn't you?"

"Mm," Mia toyed with the waist drum. "That snake spirit wanted to use my demonic aura to temper its form, so I simply gave it some—though while it's digesting it, it'll give Shihua a headache for three days."

Tuaner burst out laughing, but then her brow furrowed: "But... are you sure you won't intervene in Xiao Xiao's matter? What if he really uses Shong Qi..."

Mia's eyes darkened slightly: "I've warned him. If he insists on using it... the price of waking 'that person' who now calls himself Luo Yu is more than just tearing down Longhu Mountain."

"Aren't you two reconciled? Since that incident, he's the man Luo Yu, and you're the girl Mia, right?" Tuaner pouted, feeling the injustice. She hugged Mia and exerted all her effort to cast her charm technique.

"I can tell from his eyes that he's thinking about me just like you are. I don't know whether to be happy or sad!" Mia tapped Tuaner's nose, speaking to her with a hint of bewilderment.

The night wind suddenly grew cold. The dying embers of the distant bonfire flickered, revealing a dark shadow that had quietly appeared behind them—Feng Baobao had caught up at some point, holding a shovel in her hand: "Oh ho, what dangerous topic are you two talking about?"

Tuaner and Mia: "..."

...Zhang Chulan still ended up drinking too much—or rather, being made to drink too much. Amidst the cheers of the Lu Family Troupe, Zhang Chulan stood on beer crates and drank case after case.

Finally, he stood on the stage where Mia and the others had danced and showed everyone his [shougongsha]. Under everyone's egging on, he even activated the [Golden Light Spell] to illuminate the shougongsha... He really had spent too much time with Sister Baoer; he'd become quite the 'clever' one.

Zhi Jinhua still wouldn't give up on Zhang Lingyu's gossip, persistently asking who took his 'first blood'. This allowed Zhuge Qing's restless heart a moment of peace.

"Hehe, Zhang Lingyu actually has such a dark past. This trip to Longhu Mountain wasn't in vain!"

Zhang Chulan successfully 'walked the bird', and Sister Baoer outdrank the entire Lu Family Troupe. The story didn't seem to have strayed too far off track. Mia, holding the drunk Tuaner, had a slightly mischievous smile on her innocent face...

The next day, Zhang Chulan had become the first person in the history of the Celestial Masters Mansion to 'walk the bird'!

The Celestial Master just chuckled when he heard about it, thinking to himself, "Finally, a junior has appeared who is even more embarrassing than Huaiyi and me. From now on, being hung up won't be a big deal among the past sect leaders. Good job, Chu Lan!"

What Zhang Chulan feared most happened anyway. The friends from the Lu Family Troupe were loyal enough not to take photos, but they did record a video...

Zhi Jinhua had memorized all the rune contents and become a bit of an obsessed girl, while Lu Linglong completely didn't dare to face Zhang Chulan. This pink-haired loli now fled in shame whenever she saw him.

The match table for the top sixteen had already been posted on the arena gates.

Today's first match was Zhang Chulan versus Tang Wenlong. This 'cheat' had been prepared for Zhang Chulan by Mia and Liang Wuer from the very beginning of their special training.

Having faced Xiao Tang every day, Chu Lan was intimately familiar with the Tang Clan's poison miasma, hidden weapons, movement techniques, and everything else that could be known by outsiders.

Feng Shayan was up against Feng Baobao. Sister Baoer had spent the entire night sharpening her kitchen knife. Now even Ryan was curious about what kind of grudge these two women had.

Mia was against Xiao Xiao. The Celestial Master took this very seriously, pushing Elder Tian and bringing Lu Jin along to watch her match—for no other reason than to save on repair costs.

Zhang Chulan stepped into the arena. Waiting for him was a tall young man with gray hair and gray eyes.

"No need for pleasantries. Let's fight quickly and end this... I still have several tough battles to prepare for later..." Tang Wenlong's tone wasn't very polite, making Xiao Tang and Liang Wuer in the stands cover their faces.

"He's doomed!" Xiao Tang felt a bit sorry for his fellow disciple.

"Yeah, you're right. I was thinking the same thing!" Lightning had already condensed on Zhang Chulan's body (the treacherous Zhang Chulan). A flash of white lightning streaked past, directly wounding one of Tang Wenlong's arms...