Compared to Bai Ling, Lu Xian lacked her icy aloofness and instead carried a carefree, gentle ease. When the Meteorological Bureau faced troubles, Lu Xian never grew annoyed—he simply handled them. No one knew what philosophy drove him, but for Lu Xian, it was teaching without discrimination.
Indeed, he truly practiced it—enlightening anything he saw, then carelessly discarding them afterward.
Spirits and monsters enlightened by Lu Xian were rarely easy to deal with. For ordinary humans, they posed grave dangers.
Thus, the Second Weather Bureau hated Lu Xian with a passion. Who knew how many messes he’d caused or how many times they’d cleaned up after him? Warnings were ignored; Lu Xian did as he pleased. He even deliberately provoked the Bureau several times, laughing heartily before slipping away.
This childlike nature might explain why Lu Xian was called an earthly immortal.
"You should enlighten fewer random things," Bai Ling said. "Qianning has plenty of playmates. Otherwise, both the Meteorological Bureau and I will deem you unfit to stay here." She took another small sip of jasmine honey tea, resting her head on one hand and giving Lu Xian a cold glance.
Honestly, if Lu Xian didn’t curb this habit, Bai Ling herself would thrash him—no Bureau needed. She’d carefully woven a web for Junior Li Ming. If anyone ruined it, Senior Bailin wouldn’t hesitate to end them.
"That’s asking too much, Black King," Lu Xian shrugged helplessly—he couldn’t afford to provoke Black King Bai Ling. Noticing her empty wine glass and lingering enjoyment, he added with a smile, "But as they say, don’t impose on others what you dislike. Since you asked, I’ll oblige. ... Another cup?"
"Hmm. Another cup."
"First one’s on me. Second, you pay."
"Charge it to the puppet master’s account."
Bai Ling teased with rare playfulness. Her mood was undeniably bright today—Liming’s arrival was the best news imaginable.
"This small business doesn’t run tabs," Lu Xian growled, feigning menace. "Pay up, missy, or I’ll force you to be my mountain bandit wife~!" His tone turned rough, bandit-like. For lofty Containment Entities, loneliness often reigned—but joking eased it.
It was absurd for Lu Xian’s featureless face to mimic lecherous fury, yet it made Bai Ling smile.
"Small business? Doesn’t the Meteorological Bureau stuff your pockets monthly?" Bai Ling ignored his act, placing her other hand on the counter. Her perfect curves trembled slightly beneath the black gown. The deep cleavage could drive men mad with desire.
Lu Xian whistled playfully, content to feast his eyes.
But Containment Entities didn’t share human aesthetics. Lu Xian preferred beings with similar life structures—certainly not terrifying ones like Bai Ling.
"You’re in high spirits today, Black King," Lu Xian remarked. "I thought that foolish boy had offended you. Something wonderful must’ve happened."
"Yes. My beloved has arrived. Soon, he’ll stay by my side forever." Bai Ling stated it openly, unashamed.
Lu Xian froze, expression complex. To be loved by the Black King... that poor soul was cursed with unimaginable misfortune.
Black King Bai Ling was a yandere—common knowledge. With her insane schemes, Lu Xian already pictured a trapped butterfly struggling before being devoured.
But what did it matter to him? Trading a human for the Black King’s stability was a sure win.
"Congratulations. You’re the first among us three to find a home. Yan Jiu doesn’t count—that sword maniac hugs his immortal blade all day, nearly sparking from rubbing it. He’ll probably marry it."
"Speaking of Yan Jiu, where’s he vanished to?"
Peerless Sword Swallow Nine was their purest battle maniac—restless without daily duels. While other Containment Entities avoided the Second Weather Bureau, he charged headfirst. His sword’s victims rivaled Bai Ling’s. Months ago, he pestered her for a fight in Qianning; an impatient Bai Ling beat him senseless. He’d been missing since.
"Yan Jiu went to Kunlun Mountain. He claims it’s filled with strong beings. He won’t return until his sword intent reaches divine levels."
"Kunlun? ... The remote northwest. Only he’d brave it—even I find it troublesome."
Coastal areas, aside from Qiong Prefecture, had few proper containment sites. The Meteorological Bureau’s teams weren’t the strongest. The northwestern Gobi Desert housed extremely dangerous Containment Entities—mythical creatures and legends were commonplace there.
"He won’t die. Yan Jiu grows stronger with each battle. News came days ago—he slew an outer-domain Evil God. The Bureau was ecstatic."
"Let him be. As long as he keeps trouble from Qianning, I don’t care."
Bai Ling accepted the second cup of jasmine honey tea, licking her cherry-red lips. This divine brew was coveted by ordinary humans. Even enlisted Containment Entities from the Second Weather Bureau often sneaked into the Mystic Blue Tavern for a taste.
"...I have news that might displease you, Black King. Just learned it."
"What? Is the Meteorological Bureau tired of living?"
"No. Little Eleven voluntarily got contained. He found a Qingluan companion and is living freely. Black King, are you—"
"His voluntary containment voids my agreement with his mother. He means nothing to me now."
Little Eleven was a likable child, raised under Bai Ling’s watch. But her aloof nature drove him away after failed advances. Only her promise to his mother spared him her arrow.
