Chapter 102: The Lingering Mist Demon

Shi Ran was happy like a little rabbit, bouncing ahead of the three, feeling her eyes weren't enough.

Mei Ruoxue occasionally glanced at the women's attire around her, guessing the latest fashions; Luo Changfeng bought several strings of candied haws for everyone, while Gu Yusheng vigilantly watched their surroundings.

"Look quickly!" Shi Ran suddenly pointed to the riverside, where many people had gathered to release river lanterns. Points of light floated downstream, like a galaxy fallen to earth.

The night grew darker, and the river lanterns lit up one by one. These lanterns were lotus-shaped, with paper petals and wax hearts; of course there were also boat-shaped ones and palace-lantern ones, and some were simply oil-soaked cardboard crudely made.

They lit up one by one, each carrying their own thoughts. With their respective wishes, they were drawn by the current toward the same direction.

As the lanterns drifted with the wind, they lasted into the night until the horizon.

"How beautiful!" Mei Ruoxue couldn't help exclaiming. Gu Yusheng softly sighed, "Such tiny river lanterns—how could they bear so many thoughts? It's just that heaven thwarts human intentions, a mere comfort."

"Exactly!" Luo Changfeng also sighed, "It's merely people's wishes."

Shi Ran didn't understand why they were sighing; she darted out like a gust of wind, then darted back like a gust: "Since we're here, let's release river lanterns too!" She happened to have exactly four lotus river lanterns in her arms.

Luo Changfeng waved his hand, "Such a girl's thing… I definitely won't release it!"

The scene shifted; the four people properly placed the lit lotus river lanterns into the water, watching them sway with candlelight toward an unknown direction. Shi Ran clasped her hands: "May my master enjoy happiness and health year after year, may my senior brothers and sisters have smooth cultivation paths, may I…"

"What wish for myself?" Shi Ran opened her eyes, staring blankly at the river lanterns… Just wish, I hope to return home soon!

Mei Ruoxue looked at Luo Changfeng, who was also making a wish, and rare smiled: "Senior Brother, didn't you say this is a girl's thing and you definitely wouldn't release it?"

"Release! Why not!" Luo Changfeng declared firmly, "My wish is also simple: I hope the world is free of demons…"

As they watched the river lanterns drift away, the lotus lantern in Shi Ran's Qiankun bag suddenly shook violently; at the same time, the lotus mark on her forehead began to heat, a sharp pain piercing her mind.

"Ah!" Shi Ran covered her head, unable to stifle a cry of pain.

"What's wrong?" The others immediately gathered around, concerned.

Before Shi Ran could answer, the previously clear night sky suddenly clouded over, a chilly wind swept through, extinguishing most of the lanterns in the square. The crowd began to stir, someone shouted that it was going to rain and ran straight home.

"Not right!" Gu Yusheng drew his Chuyue Sword, "There's demonic aura!"

Almost as his words fell, thick ink-like black mist surged from all directions, in an instant enveloping the panicked crowd in the square; people collided like headless flies, with cries of wailing, pleas for help, and curses rising.

"It's a mist demon! He dares to cause chaos among mortals!" Luo Changfeng unfurled his Poyun Sword, like a silver dragon tearing through clouds, instantly dispelling a mass of black mist in the blink of an eye.

From the black mist came a familiar hoarse laugh: "Don't waste your effort! Do you think you can still escape? Shi Ran, if you're wise, hand over the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus now, and perhaps I'll consider sparing your life, making you my fifth concubine!"

Shi Ran, though not strong, had a fiery temper: "Pah! Do your spring-and-autumn dream; I'd rather die immediately than be your lowly concubine!"

The mist demon, enraged by Shi Ran, sent streaks of mist swords toward her face; Mei Ruoxue swung her sword to block, her Youge Sword striking the mist swords and producing sparks, but the mist swords were too many; while she also had to pull Shi Ran, her movement slowed slightly, and a mist sword grazed her slender waist, scorching a trace on her moon-white gauze robe.

Seeing Mei Ruoxue injured, Gu Yusheng's brows rose, his star-like eyes sharp; he directed his Chuyue Sword, transforming into a beam of starlight and moonlight that pierced straight into the depths of the black mist.

The mist demon underestimated Gu Yusheng, was wounded by his Chuyue Sword, and let out an involuntary cry of pain.

Seizing the opportunity, Mei Ruoxue swung her sword to knock down each mist sword, while pulling Shi Ran into a rapid retreat toward the riverbank.

The three once again surrounded Shi Ran, prepared for a major battle.

Suddenly, the lotus lantern from Shi Ran's Qiankun bag flew out on its own, hovering before her, its seven-colored flames flaring. At the same time, the lotus on her forehead burst into dazzling light; where the two lights merged, a complex rune appeared.

"This is an Immortal-Protecting Talisman!" Luo Changfeng frowned, "How could this symbol appear here?"

From the mist came the demon's anguished howl: "Impossible! Impossible! How could it choose you? No!!!"

Shi Ran's head felt like it would split; countless memory fragments surged in her mind: she seemed to have her back to the mountain gate, surrounded by raging flames, her senior brothers and sisters lay lifeless in pools of blood, she drove her sword fiercely into someone's chest, blood staining her eyes red, she lifted her head, her master gave her a faint smile, "It's alright…"

"No!" Shi Ran clutched her head and screamed; the lotus light on her forehead suddenly burst, forming a seven-colored shield that protected the four of them, and any mist touched by the seven-colored light instantly melted like ice and snow.

Could this be the power of the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus? Gu Yusheng lowered his eyes, concealing the myriad emotions flashing in his gaze.

The power of the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus kept expanding, enveloping everyone, nearly all the people in the square, within its seven-colored light and shadow.

The mist demon roared resentfully, "I refuse to believe it! What mere child deserves to be master of the Seven-Colored Fire Lotus!" The black mist swished together, forming an evil dragon that lunged at Shi Ran's face.

Shi Ran snapped her eyes open; the blinding light tore the mist apart in the dark night, and in just a breath, the arrogant mist demon vanished completely, never revealing his true form from start to finish, like a rat in a sewer that cannot bear the light.

Shi Ran let out a soft hum; the light faded, the lotus lantern fell with a pop to the ground, its flame extinguished, and the lotus mark on her forehead returned to calm.

The square was in disarray; the fortunate uninjured civilians helped each other, still shaken, while in the distance came the gong and shouts of officials.

"We have to leave!" Luo Changfeng urged anxiously, "Let's return to the sect first and talk later!"

"No!" Shi Ran grabbed Luo Changfeng, lifting her head with tears flickering in her eyes as the lotus mark faded, "My master is in danger; we must go to the Demon Realm first!"

Luo Changfeng and the three stared at each other; the night wind suddenly rose, sweeping away the bonds that drifted with the wind onto the river lanterns.

"It's true!" Shi Ran tightly gripped Luo Changfeng's hand, "Believe me! He's in danger!" After saying that, she seemed unable to endure any longer, her body went limp and she leaned directly against Gu Yusheng behind her……