The night was as dark as ink, and the mist of Dihua Marsh quietly spread.
A dark green figure swept across the lake like a gale, landing steadily on the highest balcony of Wangshu Inn.
Xiao put away his vortex vanquisher. The karma and killing intent swirling around him gradually settled with the night breeze, leaving only a hint of deep-seated exhaustion between his brows.
His patrol finished, it should have been a moment of silence. However, the faint clamor coming from the lobby below the inn broke the tranquility of the night.
Xiao had no desire to concern himself with mortal trivialities and was about to turn away, but his overly keen hearing uncontrollably caught a few fragmented words—
"...Conqueror of Demons..."
"...insomnia..."
"...height..."
"...Look up, look down, see..."
His footsteps came to a sudden halt, and his cold gaze instinctively turned toward the source of the sound. Though separated by several floors, the discussion felt as if it were right next to his ear; those keywords in particular pricked his ears like fine needles.
What?
He frowned slightly, a trace of absurd doubt flashing through his mind.
These mortals, staying awake deep into the night, what nonsense are they discussing now?
Then, a clearer voice filled with obvious amusement came through, seemingly reading something aloud: "...Therefore, it is privately suggested that Immortal Xiao be granted an elegant title: 'True Lord Look Up, Look Down, See.' How fitting! How vivid!"
"Pfft—hahaha!" A burst of suppressed yet joyful laughter erupted from below.
"This author Lovia really dares to write anything!"
"Shh! Keep it down! What if he actually hears..."
"What's there to fear? Doesn't the book say it's just 'hearsay and idle chatter'? Besides, it says not to mention it to his face. We're just reading a book, not saying it to him..."
"But seriously, a thousand years of insomnia... just thinking about it is terrifying."
"So that's why he's... uh, I mean, that's why he's so diligent in exorcising demons, right?"
On the balcony, Xiao's figure stiffened completely.
Moonlight spilled over him, outlining the slender yet upright silhouette of the young adeptus. His face remained expressionless, but his tightly pursed lips and the slight twitch at the corner of his eye betrayed his inner turmoil.
Insomnia? Not growing tall? True Lord Look Up, Look Down, See?
These words swirled in his mind, combining into a sense of ashamed annoyance he had never experienced before.
Had his height really become such a topic of conversation? And it was even in a book?
Xiao's grip on his vortex vanquisher tightened. An invisible low-pressure aura slowly spread out from him, startling the night birds on nearby branches into taking flight in a panic.
The clamor and laughter below continued. That book seemed to have become a source of joy, as various 'idle chats' about the 'Conqueror of Demons' were being read aloud and discussed.
Xiao stood in silence, listening. For the first time, he felt a flicker of helpless resentment toward his own overly keen hearing.
The night breeze ruffled his dark hair, but it could not blow away the strange and irritating emotions in his heart.
That book... who exactly wrote it?
And what other nonsense did it say?
True Lord Look Up, Look Down, See?
Such a title is utterly ridiculous!
He had never cared for mortal writings and loathed being the subject of gossip. But at this moment, a curiosity too strong to ignore, coupled with a slight sense of being offended, seized him.
He had to know what else was written in that book.
His figure vanished soundlessly from the balcony. In the next instant, as if merging with the shadows, he appeared behind a secluded pillar in the lobby of Wangshu Inn.
None of the rowdy travelers noticed the silent arrival of the Yaksha.
His gaze quickly locked onto the boss, Fiorgolde, who was behind the counter clicking away at an abacus. She seemed somewhat helpless regarding the travelers' noise but did not stop them, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Xiao's figure moved again. With almost no sound of footsteps, he appeared abruptly before the counter like a phantom, separated from Fiorgolde by only the width of the desk.
Fiorgolde sensed something and looked up. Seeing the person who had appeared so silently, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, which quickly turned into a gentle smile. "Immortal Xiao? Is there something you need?"
She noticed that the adeptus's expression seemed a few degrees colder than usual, his brow slightly furrowed as if he had encountered some incomprehensible problem.
Xiao pursed his lips, appearing extremely unaccustomed to making such a request.
Avoiding Fiorgolde's searching gaze, his eyes fell on the ledger to the side. His voice remained characteristically cold, but if one listened closely, a faint trace of unease and forced urgency could be detected.
"That book..." Xiao paused, seemingly weighing his words. "...The book they are discussing, do you have an extra copy here?"
The last few words were squeezed out from between his teeth. Asking this was a major exception for him.
He had never imagined that one day he would proactively ask for a leisure book that recorded (and likely fabricated) things about himself.
Fiorgolde was momentarily stunned before realization dawned on her. She glanced at the crowd still discussing animatedly, then back at the adeptus who appeared calm on the surface but radiated an aura of 'I care,' and the smile at the corner of her mouth deepened.
She suppressed the urge to laugh and considerately didn't ask a single question, simply bending down to pull out another similarly bound book from beneath the counter.
"Yes, I have it. A girl from Sanyu Bookstore brought a few copies over a few days ago, saying they were for guests to read." She gently pushed the book across the counter, her tone as natural as if she were recommending a new dish. "This is the one. Is Immortal Xiao also interested in these folk anecdotes?"
Xiao did not answer, reaching out for the book almost instantly. His movement was so fast it stirred a slight breeze. His fingertips seemed to pause imperceptibly the moment they touched the cover before he quickly took the book into his hand.
"...Thank you."
After a stiff word of thanks, the dark green figure vanished from the counter in an instant, as if he had never been there, leaving only a faint breeze and the boss, Fiorgolde, with a playful smile on her face.
In the next moment, Xiao had returned to his usual resting corner on the top balcony.
Moonlight flowed over him as he stood with his back to the noisy lobby below. He lowered his head, his gaze complex as he stared at the book in his hand: The Troubles of the Guardian Yaksha: Karma is Not as Scary as Insomnia.
The cover was simple, looking no different from any ordinary book.
Yet for some reason, it felt hot to the touch.
Xiao took a deep breath and finally opened the first page.
Tonight, the 'insomnia' on the top floor of Wangshu Inn would likely be a bit more severe than usual.
In the lobby below, the book was still being passed around, with laughter erupting from time to time. No one noticed that the subject of their discussion had quietly returned and then slipped away again, filled with an unspeakable gloom.
Only the boss at the counter, Fiorgolde, looked up toward the top floor, her lips curving into a knowing yet slightly sympathetic smile.
"Consequences at your own risk, WangSheng Funeral Parlor awaits you with a 30% discount"—those words weren't just for show, dear guests.