Chapter 1649: News from the Lower Realm (Part 2)

Another silence followed. Su Hong was stared at by Li Yan until her face flushed. She was about to snap in irritation when her aura began to fluctuate.

Li Yan sensed the hostile aura and immediately snapped out of his daze. “Oh… oh… I have been disrespectful! Thank you, thank you!”

He apologized hurriedly while expressing his gratitude. His heart was now overflowing with joy. ‘A son and a daughter. Father, Mother, the wife I brought back to the village has added to the Li family line!’

This news truly pulled him out of his gloom. He thought of Gong Chenying, but with Su Hong’s intelligence, she wouldn’t tell him only half the story. If Gong Chenying were also pregnant, she would have mentioned it. Since she didn’t, it meant Gong Chenying wasn’t. Besides, he couldn’t exactly press her on that; it wasn’t as if she spent every day watching his wives.

Li Yan then asked about other matters regarding the Bamboo Peak and the major events of the Wangliang Sect. Su Hong knew quite a bit. He learned that his second senior brother, Du Sanjiang, and many others had reached the Nascent Soul stage, making their generation one of many powerhouses.

His heart finally settled. Aside from the news of his teacher’s wife, nothing unexpected or unpleasant had happened. He then recounted the inquiries he had made in Ghost Sound City to Su Hong.

“…I want to return to the lower realm. If possible, I’ll bring them all up. But your trade house said they don’t offer such a service. Still, I must be thick-skinned and ask: Miss Su, do you have a way? You can state any conditions; if I can do it, I will find a way! If there truly is no way, I will have to cross to another realm to handle some matters first. Please inform Zhao Min and the others that we have met so they can truly be at ease.”

Li Yan bowed to her. He truly hoped she had a way to help him return. From her words, it was clear she could move between the upper and lower realms. He was certain she possessed such a path or method. But whether she was willing was another matter. He had to ask.

Moreover, if he couldn’t return to the Mortal Realm, he would have to ask for her help in traveling to the Sacrificial Nether Realm. He didn’t want to bother another party.

He knew he was asking for more than their friendship warranted. For her to travel so far to bring him this news was already something he didn’t know how to repay. But he had limited capabilities in the Immortal Spirit Realm; he had tried everything he could. Aside from the Return-Home Trade House, he could only wait for Elder Hao and the others.

Su Hong didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked curiously, “The Immortal Spirit Realm is so vast. It was hard enough to find your current location. Even if you can’t return to the Mortal Realm, I can pass your exact location down. Why are you crossing realms again? Which realm are you going to, and do you have a clear location? Aren’t you going to wait for Zhao Min and the others to ascend?”

She found it strange. Two people who had just regained contact after a long time, only for one to immediately leave his current position.

Li Yan paused before answering. “If I cannot return to the Mortal Realm, I plan to accompany a friend to the Sacrificial Nether Realm. Her cultivation is similar to mine, so crossing realms alone is too dangerous. I had a preliminary plan with your shop for a powerhouse escort, but that’s only within the North Ice Continent. Once we reach another realm, it’s better to have another hand.”

“Oh? Someone you would personally escort… is it a female cultivator?” Su Hong’s heart trembled as the thought arose. ‘Has he gotten involved with another woman during his years here?’

“To be honest, it is indeed a woman. I met her when I wandered into a secret realm while exploring the Heavenly Demon Prairie. It was incredibly dangerous, and she saved my life…”

Li Yan repeated the story he had told Shangguan Tianque, claiming they had to team up to survive. In a battle with demonic beasts, Mu Guyue saved him, so he wanted to repay the debt.

He felt helpless about lying to Su Hong. But he hadn’t figured out how to explain Mu Guyue to Zhao Min and Gong Chenying yet, let alone Su Hong. She knew the lower realm too well. He couldn’t tell her the truth of his entanglement with Mu Guyue, so he used this excuse.

“You say she is a Black Demon?” Su Hong’s eyes widened in disbelief. She knew of the hatred between the Black Demons and the Desolate Moon Continent. Li Yan had been cast into the Lost Continent because of their invasion.

But as a woman, she felt her intuition was correct—he hadn’t told her everything. Yet, falling for a Black Demon didn’t seem like him; he wasn’t lustful. Why else would he always be a perfect gentleman with her? ‘Is he really just repaying a debt?’

Su Hong thought it through. She didn’t believe his reason, but the Black Demons were a proud race. She had collected information on many races in the lower realm. They were even enemies with the White Demons, their closest kin. For a Black Demon female to give herself to another race was seen as a stain on their noble blood—a great shame. But teaming up for survival was possible.

‘Mu Guyue, the new Supreme Elder of the Broken Army Sect who appeared a few decades ago. I thought that name sounded familiar…’

Mu Guyue was once a Demon General; her name was on the Return-Home Trade House’s lists. But Su Hong had so much to remember that she only focused on what interested her. She had seen the name but buried it in her memory.

When she investigated the Broken Army Sect, the important cultivators were presented to her. Her eyes had locked onto Li Yan, and she had only skimmed the others. She had seen “Mu Guyue” and felt she had seen it before, but didn’t dwell on it. Now, seeing Li Yan wanted to help someone cross realms, she realized the person must be nearby.

Su Hong’s hand flashed, and a jade slip in the form of an ancient book appeared. She immersed her divine sense into it right in front of Li Yan.

Protectors Lian and Ning exchanged a glance. Their Miss was actually searching Trade House intelligence without hiding it from Li Yan? They chose not to think further.

Li Yan was surprised by the unique jade slip and her expression. He, too, had his guesses but sat in silence. Soon, Su Hong withdrew her sense. She was somewhat convinced he was telling the truth. She had seen a detailed introduction for Mu Guyue, which included the line:

‘…gave birth to a son, Mu Sha, known as the “Undying Demon Vine,” who first showed his brilliance in the Demon Blade Battalion…’

Seeing this, Su Hong felt she had overthought things. This Mu Guyue had already had a son in the lower realm. ‘A Black Demon cultivator actually made peace with you? That… probably only happens in the upper realm!’ she thought, her eyes still filled with wonder as the slip vanished.