After Constantly Courting Death, I Became the White Moonlight - Chapter 12

The Xiaozhongshan Secret Realm was located within Liuming Mountain. When the Xuanxu Sword Sect’s floating immortal vessel arrived at the mountain gate, it was just around noon.

Liuming Mountain was home to a major cultivation sect. Unlike the Xuanxu Sect, which focused solely on swordsmanship, or Fanyin Temple, which was devoted to Buddhism, Liuming Mountain integrated many branches of cultivation—it was much like a comprehensive university.

Immortal clouds curled through the mountains; lakes dotted the landscape. Sunlight spilled into the water, sending out dazzling and translucent sparkles like shattered sunlight fallen into the mortal world—an empty mountain, flowing with light.

Cranes glided leisurely through the forest. Jade towers and celestial pavilions stood atop the layered peaks. Glimmering waves reflected white walls and glazed tiles—it looked just like a heavenly paradise.

“This place is huge!”

He Zhizhou jumped off the vessel, and in his excitement, let out a string of 21st-century bro speak: “Awesome! Invincible! Sickkk!”

Afterward, he was summoned to Qingxiao Hall by the elders. It took everything he had to explain that he had only sensed demonic energy on Pei Ji and was simply trying to investigate his identity. As for the so-called “dark, thick thing”it was just a humble little demon-slaying dagger.

Ji Yunkai fell silent after hearing that. Shi Jingyi teared up.

It was said that the elders were collectively silent for a long time. Finally, Tian Xianzi gave a dry cough and feigned normalcy: “Yes, yes! That’s exactly why we called you here. We mustn’t discriminate against demonic bloodlines! Pei Ji didn’t do anything wrong. It’s not like he chose to have that kind of father, right? Zhizhou, you must understand how much we care!”

And just like that, the matter was brushed under the rug.

When venting Ning Ning, He Zhizhou’s evaluation was that people don’t need food—they should just be eating detergent for their reputations.

…

“The Xuanxu Sword Sect has arrived!”

A middle-aged man standing at the gate laughed heartily and strode forward, several blue-robed disciples of considerable cultivation following behind. “We haven’t seen each other in so long. Apologies for not greeting you sooner!”

The speaker was none other than the sect master of Liuming Mountain, He Xiaocheng.

Just as he finished speaking, a calm yet excited male voice rang out: “When will Sect Master have time to spar with me?”

To everyone’s surprise, He Xiaocheng didn’t even hesitate. He turned to look at Zhen Xiao, who had issued the challenge, his black eyes gleaming: “Right now! Come, I’ll take you somewhere good!”

“Sect Master—”
One of the disciples behind him called out, “We’re supposed to be welcoming all the other sects right now. If you leave…”

He Xiaocheng waved it off. “Just say I overexerted myself while receiving guests, nearly went into qi deviation, and need to rest in seclusion.”

Then he turned back to Zhen Xiao: “Let’s go!”

Two swords vanished into light and shot off.

Who would’ve thought that beneath Sect Master He’s refined, scholarly appearance, he’d be just as much of a battle maniac as Zhen Xiao?

…

“Please don’t mind him,” said the same, blue-robed disciple from earlier with a polite yet slightly awkward smile. He stepped aside and gestured to the grand mountain path ahead. “I am Xie Junming of Liuming Mountain. The secret realm will open tomorrow. Today, our sect has prepared a banquet for all of you—please, follow me this way.”

Fifteen disciples had come from the Xuanxu Sword Sect. Among them, Ning Ning recognized Lin Xun, Pei Ji, He Zhizhou, and Qin Shu.

The banquet was held at the summit of Xuanji Peak. Amid rising clouds and mist, tables overflowed with rare and exquisite dishes, it truly looked like a feast for celestial beings.

Ning Ning and Lin Xun, those two unlucky kids who were used to eating dirt, hadn’t seen such delicacies in ages. Especially Ning Ning, who had come from another world—every single dish felt novel and fascinating. Without a second thought, she dug in with gusto.

Xie Junming was momentarily stunned.

Although the banquet before a secret realm was officially meant for “rest and recovery,” its real purpose for sect disciples was to gather intel and assess the strength of their competitors.

Who just threw themselves at food like this?

Ning Ning ate with a bright smile: “Soft and cool, silky and smooth. The moment you bite down, the sweet chill melts into liquid and flows straight to your stomach. White Jade Cake is number one in the world!”

Lin Xun had tears at the corners of his eyes: “This fish soup is tender and rich. They must have used premium dew to remove the fishiness. The flavor bursts forth unmatched!”

Xie Junming: …

Are you guys seriously doing gourmet reviews right now?! And tearing up over a spoonful of soup? Fellow cultivator, are you for real?

…

“Youngsters. Don’t you know? This banquet isn’t meant for eating.”

Finally—someone who got it.

Xie Junming turned toward the voice and saw He Zhizhou, dressed in white robes, with handsome features and an easy, confident air. He was undeniably a charming young gentleman.

From the moment they arrived at Xuanji Peak, he had been quietly observing all the disciples from various sects with a serious expression, clearly someone meticulous and strategic, already planning for a dramatic entrance once the secret realm opened.

Then He Zhizhou paused briefly, widened his eyes, and spoke faster.

“There are so many hot guys and pretty girls here, oh my god! You guys need to get your fill of eye candy while you can!”

Xie Junming: …

Wow. Incredible. Truly living up to the Xuanxu Sect name.

Lin Xun, being incredibly shy, didn’t even dare to look directly at others in public.

Only Ning Ning looked up honestly and nodded like mad: “It’s true, it’s true! So many pretty big sisters!”

As she spoke, she picked up another piece of dessert, her eyes sparkling: “That big sister in the blue dress over there is so beautiful. I wish I could talk to her.”

Xie Junming followed her gaze.

In the corner of the banquet sat a young girl in a flowing sky-blue dress. Phoenix eyes, red lips, skin like congealed cream—bathed in sunlight, her whole figure seemed to glow, so pale she was nearly translucent.

That girl’s features were delicate like a painting, like mist. Sitting alone to the side, it was as if even the wind around her slowed its pace—quiet to the point of surreal.

“That’s Junior Sister Yundanyue from Liuming Mountain. Talking to her might be a bit difficult.”

Xie Junming explained honestly, “It’s not that she’s arrogant or hard to approach—she’s just naturally afraid of people. Except when she’s with close friends or family, she doesn’t speak at all.”

Wouldn’t that mean her social anxiety is even worse than Lin Xun’s?

Ning Ning nodded in thanks and shifted her gaze elsewhere.

Among the bustling crowd, there was someone else equally eye-catching.

Unlike the solitary Yundanyue, this person was surrounded by a group of sect disciples and seemed to be quite popular.

It was a young monk—handsome to an extraordinary degree.

The young monk wore white robes, his figure tall and upright, with peach blossom eyes always carrying a smile. Beneath a high nose bridge, his pale pink lips curved gently upward.

He had striking features, with a bright red mark on his forehead. Yet when he smiled, he was like a snow lotus blooming on a faraway peak—noble and serene.

“That’s Mingkong from Fanyin Temple,” Xie Junming said, following her line of sight and explaining patiently. “A young prodigy with a compassionate heart.”

Just as he finished speaking, a clear youthful voice chimed in nearby, laced with a lazy chuckle that tickled the ears like a cat’s paw: “Isn’t everyone here a young prodigy?”

The voice was pleasant. With a mouthful of pastry, Ning Ning rolled her round black eyes playfully.

Then she heard He Zhizhou beside her let out a surprised “Wow!”

The newcomer was a boy of sixteen or seventeen, and his beauty was in no way inferior to Mingkong’s—

In fact, in terms of charm and allure, he might even surpass him.

The boy wore fiery red robes, standing out amidst the sea of sect uniforms dominated by black, white, and blue.

Long ink-black hair flowed down his back, setting off his porcelain-white face and startlingly red lips. His long, narrow eyes overflowed with mirth—seemingly carefree, yet with the slightest tilt of his eye, he exuded endless allure.

And then there was the faint curve at the corners of his lips—so naturally seductive, it seemed to carry boundless ambiguity.

Xie Junming let out a cold snort. “A charm cultivator from Niguan Island.”

Disciples from the major sects often looked down on this kind of less ‘orthodox’ cultivation.

In charm cultivation, the more beautiful one was, the greater their talent. For this boy to reach the Golden Core stage at such a young age, his looks must be exceptional.

The boy ignored Xie Junming’s tone, flashing Ning Ning a smile. “You must be a disciple of Xuanxu Sword Sect. I’m Rong Ci, from Niguan Island.”

“I’m Ning Ning.”

Ning Ning swallowed her pastry and smiled with crescent-shaped eyes. “This is my first time meeting a charm cultivator. Do you train on the island itself? What’s the scenery like there? You’re so good-looking—you must be strong.”

This time, it was Rong Ci who froze slightly, almost imperceptibly.

Most disciples from other sects either treated him coldly or blushed and stammered. This was the first time he’d met someone who greeted him casually and even gave him a compliment, just like that.

A little silly.

“The scenery on Niguan Island, huh…”

Charm cultivators were naturally bold; they never hesitated once they’d set their sights on a target. Rong Ci’s smile deepened, and he leaned a step closer to the girl. “Why not come see it with me? With your beauty, Miss Ning Ning, if you were to dual—”

Ning Ning listened attentively.

Dual what?

“Senior Sister.”

Alas, the sentence was interrupted halfway.

Pei Ji had appeared at some point not far away, his brows slightly furrowed.

Worthy of being the male lead—he stood toe-to-toe with even someone as stunning as Rong Ci.

Pei Ji was already exceptionally good-looking. Dressed in black, he stood tall like bamboo in the wind, or like a sharp sword suddenly unsheathed brimming with unstoppable momentum.

The trace of cold hostility at the corners of his eyes condensed into a deep red mole beneath the outer corner of one eye. At that moment, his faint smile as he looked at Rong Ci seemed to carry a sense of danger.

He raised his brows slightly, a bit provocatively. Though his words were addressed to Ning Ning, his gaze never left Rong Ci. “Master is about to take us to the guest rooms where we’ll be staying tonight. If you don’t come now, you’ll be left behind.”

Rong Ci squinted and smiled back, replying with his eyes alone.

“Oh! Coming!” Ning Ning said, then glanced back at Rong Ci. As she turned, he quickly returned to that harmless, gentle smile again.

She said softly, “Then I’ll go first! Let’s continue our chat next time.”

She paused. “Though the next time we meet… it’ll probably be in the secret realm.”

“Yes.” The red-robed charm cultivator replied with a calm, almost expectant tone. “And then… we’ll be rivals.”

=====

Liuming Mountain was indeed worthy of being a prestigious immortal sect—even their guest rooms were exquisitely beautiful. Each room even came with an alchemy furnace.

As soon as Ning Ning saw the furnace, she recalled a certain not-so-pleasant memory and couldn’t help but feel a pang of pain.

But—how could a successor of New China be defeated by such a minor setback? If she fell there, then she’d get back up from the same place. She refused to believe she couldn’t handle one measly furnace!

“What? Using an alchemy furnace to cook?” He Zhizhou was stunned for a moment, then quickly grinned with approval. “Why not! These alchemy furnaces are basically like cultivation-world microwaves. You can control the fire however you want, and the food made with them even carries spiritual energy. If you use it for cooking, you might just create some world-shaking masterpiece.”

Cooking with a pill furnace poses no technical or theoretical challenge.

It’s just that from the perspective of cultivators; a furnace has always been used for refining precious pills—using it to cook food seems like a complete waste of a high-grade tool.

But Ning Ning didn’t think that way at all.

In her previous world, she often made small desserts herself. After arriving here, she rarely had the chance to go near a kitchen. Starting a fire, washing those things were a hassle. If she could turn the pill furnace into a portable mini oven and tuck it into her storage pouch—

Then she could finally enjoy cultivator-style mung bean cakes, osmanthus jelly, salted egg yolk puffs, even sushi!

The two of them immediately got to work. Due to the current lack of ingredients, all they had were the syrup, starch, and cooking oil in Ning Ning’s storage pouch, and the apples, bananas, and pears on the guestroom table. After some discussion, they decided today’s goal would be candied bananas.

Qin Shu, who shared a room with Ning Ning, sat holding her sword and watched them bustle about. “What are candied bananas?”

“A delicacy of the mortal world! Junior Sister, you’re in for a treat tonight!”

He Zhizhou gave a thumb-up. “Once the syrup hardens around the sliced bananas, take a bite while it’s hot. The sugar coating is scalding and crisply crunchy, while the inside is soft and fragrant. It gives off a warm, sweet aroma—divine!”

Qin Shu let out an “Oh,” then asked, “Then why did Fellow Daoist Lin Xun go pale when he saw me and run straight into his room?”

Ning Ning replied, “My junior brother’s shy—he’s terrified of strangers. I already bought him a mannequin so he can practice conversation in his room and hopefully improve.”

The first banana slice, coated in oil and starch, was placed into the furnace. Smoke rose, and Ning Ning gave a light cough, nearly losing her grip on the chopsticks.

Just then, she noticed a shadow flash before her, shielding her from the thick smoke.

It was Pei Ji. He had raised his left hand to block the smoke with his sleeve, and without a word, took the chopsticks from her other hand.
“I’ll do it,” he said.

Their hands only touched for a moment.

Pei Ji’s palm was icy cold, like black iron, while her hand was warm and soft. The contrast made Ning Ning blink from the chill.

Right—he was born with a cold constitution, and his body wasn’t in the best shape.

Pei Ji was quick to grasp the steps after just one look. His long, slender fingers moved skillfully as he flipped and adjusted the bananas. In no time, the whole batch was placed inside the furnace.

Unlike Ning Ning, who only acted mischievously when the system gave her tasks, He Zhizhou usually got along decently with Pei Ji.

As a former acting student who once dreamed of winning an Oscar, he was very committed to maintaining his “villain persona” and snorted coldly:
“Didn’t expect it—your sword skills may suck, but your cooking’s not bad.”

Well, of course.

Ning Ning thought, Pei Ji’s mother never took care of him. If he hadn’t learned to cook for himself, he would’ve starved by now.

Now that all the bananas were in the furnace, a crucial question arose.

Ning Ning scratched her head, face serious:
“So… how long do we wait before taking them out?”

…

“…Spying on the enemy?”

That evening, in a guest room on Luming Mountain.

A young girl in plain clothes sat at a wooden table. Though she was speaking with the person beside her, her gaze was fixed straight down, fully focused on the book in her hands: The Nine Styles of the Supreme Sword.

She was none other than Su Qinghan, a personal disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

“That’s right! The secret realm opens tomorrow. We’ve got nothing better to do, so why not look at what kind of disciples the other sects are bringing?”

The boy beside her said, “Senior Sister, the Xiao Zhongshan Secret Realm opens only once every few years. Many Core Formation cultivators see it as proving ground. As the saying goes, know thyself and know thy enemy, and you’ll never lose a battle. So why don’t we—”

“Xu Ye. As sword cultivators, how can we let our minds be swayed by such underhanded ideas?”

Su Qinghan’s voice was calm, without the slightest hint of emotion:
“No matter who they are—under our sword, they’re all the same.”

In other words: when mowing grass, every blade is equal.

This young lady was fierce.

The boy, Xu Ye, was left speechless and had no choice but to bow out. But just because she rejected him outright didn’t mean he’d give up halfway.

Senior Sister always said he had too many sneaky ideas and wasn’t like a proper sword cultivator. But Xu Ye felt otherwise—this wasn’t being sneaky, it was called tactics and strategy.

—She had taken care of him for so long. Tomorrow, he was determined to impress her with his battle prep.

With the Xiao Zhongshan Secret Realm about to open, many sect disciples were now intensely studying its rules.

Some had spent a fortune acquiring information about the realm and were now cramming like students before finals, with a tense atmosphere hanging in the air.

Xu Ye scouted the area and eventually arrived at the guest rooms of the Xuanxu Sword Sect.

The first few rooms were completely normal disciples either practiced swordplay, read books, or lazed around to pass the time. But when he came to a certain room, he suddenly widened his eyes in shock.

The window was slightly ajar. Through a small crack, he saw the side profile of a young man.

That man had a pair of dragon horns and refined, handsome features. He was softly murmuring to someone in front of him, shyly.
“Miss, my name is Lin Xun. I’m a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. May I ask your name?”

There was no response.

Yet he acted as if he’d received one. He lowered his head, blushed, and smiled shyly:
“Really? What a lovely name. May I ask what brings you here?”

Then came a long silence.

That dragon clansman named Lin Xun was acting like he was seriously listening—he even nodded from time to time in agreement.

Xu Ye was puzzled and shifted his position slightly, just enough to see who Lin Xun was talking to.

One glance—and his scalp nearly exploded.

He—he, he, he—

The person Lin Xun was facing wasn’t a person at all, but a scarecrow, crudely drawn with human facial features!

That was terrifying beyond reason! Why was someone talking to a scarecrow?! And they were having a whole conversation with it! Was this cultivator mentally sound?! Was it safe for someone like this to enter a mystic realm?!

And that wasn’t even the worst of it.

Inside the room, Lin Xun frowned. “No… this isn’t working.”

Xu Ye had no way of knowing: the scarecrow was something Ning Ning had specially prepared to help his little junior practice conversation.

Nor could he know that Lin Xun simply felt that talking to thin air was too unrealistic and wasn’t helping his training. So, to be more effective, he decided to act out both parts himself.

All Xu Ye knew was that this mentally unstable dragon clansman, for the second time, said that nightmare-inducing line.

“Miss, my name is Lin Xun. I’m a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. May I ask for your name?”

Then, Xu Ye saw him pause… and turned around.

Followed by a bashful smile and a gentle, demure voice:

“This humble one is called Xiaohua. May I ask what brings young master here?”

The scene was more bizarre than anything imaginable.

Xu Ye rolled his eyes so hard he almost vomited from fear.

He then heard a cold chuckle from inside the room.

Lin Xun’s face contorted, still mid-transition into another expression. With a crooked nose and twisted mouth, he let out a creepy giggle: “I came here… to slay demons.”

Xu Ye: Cao.

Xu Ye: Cao cao cao cao cao!!!

This man’s mental condition was getting worse! He was already holding full conversations with himself! Bro, I beg you, please act normal! He’s just a kid—he’s really, really scared!

What the hell was going on in there?!

There wasn’t even a trace of demonic energy in the room, the only explanation was that the man’s mind was off.

Utterly terrified, Xu Ye fled in a panic and rushed to another room.

After that harrowing scene, everything else now looked friendly and comforting—everything felt like home.

This room’s window was wide open, and he could clearly see what was going on inside. Desperate to cleanse his eyes with something normal, he eagerly looked in—

—only for his expression to completely freeze.

There were four people in the room: two men, two women.

A strange, foul odor he’d never smelled before wafted out. A white-robed youth was using chopsticks to lift some unidentifiable object out of a pill furnace.

—No, Xu Ye could still roughly guess what it was.

A cylinder. Dark brown. Emitting a very disturbing aura.

Why on earth would someone put that thing in a pill furnace?!

His young, innocent heart was under attack.

Ning Ning marveled, shaking his head in admiration.
“Absolutely stunning. A timeless creation. With looks like this, it truly deserves to be called the number one delicacy in the entire cultivation world.”

He Zhizhou fought back nausea:
“That doesn’t look like food. It looks more like… the thing you get after digesting food. Ever seen The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Born old, never young—that’s what this reminds me of.”

Qin Shu backed away a step, her expression unchanged, and instinctively blurted, “Amitabha.”

Even someone as strong as her couldn’t withstand the visual trauma.

Pei Ji: “……”

“…Maybe it cooked too long, that’s why it turned so dark.”

Ning Ning patted He Zhizhou on the shoulder.
“Don’t worry, the taste is fine. We’re the first cultivators to ever make this dish. A few little mistakes are totally normal.”

Yeah, you sure are the first to ever make that thing.

Xu Ye trembled. He really wanted to ask, Brothers, sisters… what are you trying to achieve?

“I just don’t get the point of all this effort,” Qin Shu said. “What’s the difference from just eating it directly? Now it’s even less appetizing.”

Damn.

As if eating it directly would make it any more appetizing?!

You Xuanxu Sword Sect folks really are built differently.

From that point on, the young boy witnessed a scene that would forever burn itself into his memory.

The white-robed sword cultivator from the Xuanxu Sword Sect picked up that column-like object, hesitated, and then took a bite.

Xu Ye personally saw the expression on his face shift—from disgust and rejection, to calm acceptance, and then… to a faint smile of pure bliss.

That’s right. He was enjoying it.

“At first, I thought no one would ever eat this thing,” He Zhizhou said, giving a slow thumb-up. “It may look ugly, but it’s beautiful on the inside!”

That’s not even a matter of looks anymore! The entire concept is fundamentally wrong!

Who could’ve seen it coming?

As one of the top sword cultivation sects in the realm, the disciples of Xuanxu Sword Sect were either talking to themselves like they’d gone mad, laughing eerily at nothing—
Or acting like members of some demonic cult, gathered around a furnace trying to refine… whatever the hell that was.

Xu Ye was on the verge of tears.

His psyche had been double damaged—he really couldn’t take it anymore.

The communication talisman in his arms flickered with a soft glow. He received a message from a senior brother:

[What did you find out? Xuanxu Sword Sect is our sworn enemy—any updates on their condition?]

With tears streaming down his face, Xu Ye, hands trembling, pulled out a brush from his storage pouch and shakily wrote a few crooked words.

The final three exclamation marks—each one carried the weight of his endless suffering and sorrow.

[Terrifying beyond belief. Do not approach!!!]