After Constantly Courting Death, I Became the White Moonlight - Chapter 43

He Zhizhou and Ye Zongheng were taken away.

The Law Enforcement Officer showed no mercy whatsoever. Ning Ning, unable to help in the slightest, could only light a candle in her heart for her poor fellow townsmen.

Awaiting them would undoubtedly be a heartfelt “lesson” from their sect elders… followed by a mournful tune, a white cloth draped over their heads, and the entire sect, young and old, lining up for a meal.

With both Best Actors of the “Crasher Cult” now dining in the Law Bureau’s holding cell, He Zhizhou’s loyal sectmates finally let loose and turned the entire Luancheng marketplace upside down.

Luancheng, famed far and wide as a bustling commercial hub, sat at the crossroads of six major cities. With smooth overland routes and the Cang River curling around it like a coiling dragon, it enjoyed unparalleled access to both land and river transportation. It truly was a city where “broad avenues met shadowy alleys, and fancy horses and carved carriages filled the scented streets.”

Shops stood side by side in rows as dense as fish scales and teeth. The main street sparkled with silk drapes and beaded curtains; taverns, teahouses, willow-lined bridges, red-light alleys, and narrow side streets sprawled out like stars across the heavens. Every alley led to another, open or hidden, the whole city a dense web of winding roads.

Pedestrians came and went in endless streams. Merchants and nobles, beggars and thieves, fancy young masters and ragged blind beggars, loud peddlers and curious tourists—all kinds mingled in the crowd. It was nothing short of vibrant chaos.

At the heart of the city stood the tallest building in sight: the City Lord’s Mansion. Lofty walls surrounded a complex of pavilions and towers, their painted beams and soaring eaves making it look as though it were about to take flight.

At the very top perched a decorative luan bird, its jade-inlaid eyes gleaming and spinning gently under the sun, scattering dazzling lights like glittering threads.

Besides the costume dramas she’d seen on TV, Ning Ning had never witnessed such a scene in real life. Her black, glimmering eyes darted this way and that, brimming with unconcealed curiosity and delight.

She hated to admit it, but in this moment, she really did feel like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden for the first time.

—But so what? Being happy was the most important thing!

After their trip to the Pagoda Tower, she had finally earned a bit of pocket money. Though the reward was divided among everyone, the amount she received was still a substantial windfall for someone who’d been living frugally on the brink of bankruptcy.

Her mood today was exceptionally good, to the point even the chaotic street vendors’ shouting sounded cute to her ears. The streets bustled with luxury, perfume, and noise. Being a little girl at heart, Ning Ning’s gaze was quickly drawn to a jewellery shop.

Shops in Luancheng were worlds apart from the crude little stalls Zheng Weiqi used to set up at the sect gates. These places were exquisite in design, clever in layout, and crafted with top-tier materials—jade, pearls, gold, silver—each more dazzling than the last, and clearly far from affordable.

The moment she stepped inside, a waft of sandalwood greeted her, and the space glittered with a dazzling array of treasures.

Ning Ning’s doggy eyes were almost blinded on the spot.

The shop owner, a graceful young woman, greeted them warmly: “You must be little cultivators here for the Ten Directions Assembly? Just from your aura alone, I can tell you’re disciples from prestigious sects—feel free to browse, pick anything you like.”

Ning Ning politely replied and lowered her head to examine the wares.

Golden hairpins adorned with kingfisher feathers, pearls nestled within emerald plumes; crystal hair ornaments as clear as ice, untouched by dust, shimmering under the light like melting snow—each piece rippled with iridescent beauty.

But what truly caught her eye was a small, elegant jade pendant.

Most pendants were carved in the likeness of Buddhas or dragons and phoenixes. But this one was unique: a crescent moon, delicately sculpted from fine white jade. Cold as winter snow, soft as morning frost, it truly resembled a little moon hanging in the sky.

Then she glanced at the price—and nearly coughed up blood.

It would completely drain her tiny treasure chest.

As she was feeling that all-too-familiar heartache, the shopkeeper chuckled and said, “You’ve got an excellent eye, young master. That night-luminescent pearl comes from the East Sea, a rare and exquisite piece. Whether for blessings or decoration, it’s tremendously beneficial.”

Ning Ning turned toward the voice and saw Lin Xun standing in front of a round, glowing night pearl. Caught off guard by the attention, his face turned bright red and he quickly waved his hands in panic, his voice stumbling out in a fluster, “D-Don’t need it! I-I…”

He didn’t have that kind of money.

The more Little White Dragon spoke, the redder his face became. By the end, his voice had melted into his throat, the final words dissolving into a mix of muffled breath and whimpers. He just couldn’t bring himself to finish what he was trying to say. In the end, he clenched the hem of his robe, bowed his head, and stared fixedly at his own ankles.

Only then did Ningning belatedly recall—wasn’t it common knowledge that dragons loved all things shiny?
A luminous, pearl-like treasure such as the Night-Luminescent Orb must be the equivalent of catnip to someone like Lin Xun—irresistibly tempting.

Even more so when the pearl was of oceanic origin, no doubt stirring a sense of homesickness in his heart.

You had to understand—Lin Xun, though painfully shy, was unexpectedly stubborn about some things.

Case in point: the Xuanxu Sword Sect forbade its disciples from living off family wealth. Lin Xun, true to the rule, had outright rejected all financial support from home. The once-spendthrift young master was now practically surviving off moonlight and dew, stealing melons in the dead of night like a common thief.

Ningning had visited his room once. It was the definition of bare-bones—clean, sparse, and white as tofu. There wasn’t a single shiny ornament in sight. Even the candles had burned down to their final stubs, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he started chiseling through walls for light any day now.

Rumor had it his father, heart aching for his son, had once sent over a cartload of watermelons. Lin Xun, naturally, gave them all away to his senior brothers and sisters without keeping a single one.

He hadn’t participated in the Pagoda Tower trial and was currently penniless. Even if he loved that Night Pearl to death, he simply couldn’t afford it.

At that moment, Zheng Weiqi and Meng Jue were on the other side of the shop, too far away to hear the conversation. As a seasoned “influencer” and master saleswoman, Senior Sister Zheng was already bored of jewelry. Seeing everyone looking disinterested, she called out in her usual blunt fashion, “Nothing good here? Should we head to the next shop?”

Lin Xun’s face turned even redder, and he nodded frantically like a pecking chicken.

The group began trickling out of the shop, but Ningning paused as she stepped past the threshold. Something tugged at her.

She glanced one last time at the glowing white crescent-moon pendant, then reached into her robe for her storage pouch.

Lowering her voice, she leaned in and asked the shopkeeper, “Sister, how much is that Night Pearl?”

===

By the time they were all utterly exhausted, the afternoon had quietly given way to dusk.

The night banquet at the City Lord’s Manor would begin in about an hour. After a brief discussion, everyone agreed to return to their rooms to rest a bit—no one wanted to show up looking like half-dead fish flopping on the shore.

The Xuanxu Sword Sect’s reputation really couldn’t afford any more scandals.

Taking advantage of the downtime, Ningning snuck back to the jewellery store and bought the Night Pearl.

Afterward, she wandered the streets aimlessly for a while, soaking in the vibrant city atmosphere. But when she finally returned to the inn and happened to glance up… she caught sight of a dark figure perched quietly atop the rooftop pavilion.

Squinting through the fading light, she realized—it was Pei Ji.

He wasn’t sitting on the inn’s top floor balcony, but on the actual roof beam—the absolute highest point of the entire building.

Dressed as always in black, he seemed to melt into the evening sky, his face stark pale by contrast. His expression was unreadable, but it was clear from the way his body tensed that he hadn’t expected anyone to spot him.

Ningning had no idea what was going through his mind. All she could think when she saw him perched there was—

“Whoa! That’s actual rooftop running!”

With their current cultivation level, sword cultivators like them could definitely leap into the air and move across rooftops just like the martial arts heroes in old wuxia films.

But back at Xuanxu Sword Sect, all she ever saw were mountains, rivers, and forests—no roofs, no walls, no bustling streets. The feeling just wasn’t the same.

But now—now it was different.

Facing into the light, Ningning narrowed her eyes and beamed. Then, with a light tap of her foot, she effortlessly leapt up to join Pei Ji on the roof.

“Little Junior Brother!” she called out.

The wind scattered her voice like petals in the breeze.
“Instead of sulking up here all alone,” she said with a grin, “why not come with me and do something fun?”

===

At dusk, Luancheng transformed into an entirely different world from its daytime self. Especially from atop the tiled rooftops, where just a glance downward revealed the full panorama of the city’s enchanting splendor.

Twilight blurred the sky as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. The silver moon had already risen above the treetops, like the soft, glimmering eyes of a maiden veiled in gossamer.

Lanterns began to float up from thousands of homes, their warm glow flickering gently, stretching across the city like a sea of stars. With moonlight draped across them, it all took on a dreamlike unreality.

The air buzzed with life—murmurs of conversation, the gurgle of water, the clatter of hooves. Laughter of children rang out now and then. The scent of honey and apricot blossoms drifted in the breeze, weaving subtly into the thinning evening air.

Ning Ning moved with the grace of a shadow. Her footsteps were nearly soundless atop the eaves, and her speed left her a blur—more dragonfly than girl, flitting between the lanterns below.

Pei Ji followed quietly behind. He spoke only when replying to her, his presence low and steady like a ripple beneath still water.

“Little Junior Brother,” Ning Ning called out mid-stride, her voice playful. “Have you ever been to a city this big before?”

“…Never.”

“Oh.”

She bit into a sugar drop, lips curving with amusement. “That’s actually perfect. First times are special; you know? And since you came to Luancheng with us, maybe every time you visit from now on, you’ll think of this.”

Pei Ji didn’t answer. He walked through the soft haze of firelight, stealing a glance at her back.

Her pale dress fluttered with her movements, flowing like water and carving arcs through the night air. Though she chatted with him, there was always a distance between them—a space that felt like it could stretch into forever. As if, at any moment, she might vanish into the dusk.

Then, she suddenly stopped.

Without warning, she turned around to face him.

Pei Ji faltered and came to a stop as well.

“Little Junior Brother.” Her smile lingered, and she tilted her chin slightly, pointing past his shoulder. “Look behind you—what’s that?”

Pei Ji turned, gaze following her finger, but all he saw were a cluster of low rooftops. Nothing strange or notable at all.

He frowned, puzzled, when suddenly—soft footsteps.

They were light, almost nothing more than a tremor in the wind, but his senses caught it instantly.

He spun around—

Only to find Ning Ning, mid-sneak, completely frozen in place.

Clearly, she hadn’t expected him to notice. Startled by his sudden turn, she stumbled, her foot slipping on a loose tile.

And in the next instant, she pitched forward—arms flailing, just a few steps away from Pei Ji.

Ning Ning: …!

Wait wait wait—this isn’t how it’s supposed to go!!

No matter what script she’d imagined, it definitely didn’t involve her dying a tragic slapstick death before she could even deliver the surprise. The intended plot went something like this:

After noticing Pei Ji’s clothes were starting to fade—clearly worn out from all his obsessive sword training—she’d realized he probably never had time to care about his appearance. And since most of her allowance had been spent on Lin Xun’s glowing pearl, she scraped together the last of her private savings to buy him a new hair ribbon—dark cloud-patterned silk, embroidered in gold thread.

The plan was simple: wait until Pei Ji turned around, then sneak up quietly and present the ribbon right when he looked back. He’d see the gift, his eyes would go wide in disbelief, and—bam! Surprise, warmth, connection!

…That was how it should have gone.

Instead, what was supposed to be his surprise turned into her personal jump scare.

Ning Ning’s heart sank. She braced herself, teeth clenched, ready for the most undignified faceplant of her life—

But the expected pain never came.

A gust of wind swept past her nose, carrying with it a faint, cool scent of pine.

A hand caught her by the shoulder.

Then—thud—she fell straight into a lean, solid chest.

…Eh?

That scent… that texture against her cheek—

The fabric was soft, warm. Beneath the thin layer of clothing, something thudded violently, like a beast trapped in a cage.

Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.
Ba-dump.

Each beat was clear. Too clear.

Ning Ning sucked in a sharp breath, mind going completely blank.

No. No no no no no—don’t tell me…

She… she was caught by Pei Ji?!

Oh my heavens above—Jade Emperor, Tathagata Buddha, Lord Jesus, and Guanyin Bodhisattva! In all her sixteen years of life, she had never been this close to a boy before. This was…!

Too weird!!!

Wait, what was she supposed to say at a time like this again?

“Ta-da, surprise!” or “Didn’t expect this, huh? It’s a gift for you”?

No, no, no! Focus! The most urgent matter now was not delivering some cheesy line—but to get out of Pei Ji’s arms immediately!

The twilight deepened, flickering lights rising all around.

Ning Ning’s thoughts were in absolute chaos, while the black-clad youth standing steadily on the roof wasn’t faring any better—his ears were burning a fierce red.

He’d originally only intended to catch her before she fell, but she had… she had just toppled directly into his arms!

Pei Ji was rarely in contact with women. Now, with a soft, sweet-smelling figure suddenly pressed against his chest, his mind blanked. Her scent was gentle and sugary, like a breeze carrying the aroma of candy he had never tasted.

Shadowless and silent, he stood frozen on the spot, not sure if he should push her away or wait for her to get up herself.

His grip had been light—just one hand pressed against her shoulder—but his entire body had gone stiff from that single point of contact. The heat from his palm seemed to seep inward, like a spark igniting something deep inside his chest.

Then, breaking the silence, a sharp whistle sliced through the night.

Boom.

A long stream of golden light shot into the sky like a bolt of lightning, before bursting open mid-air in a blossom of brilliance.

More fireworks followed, brighter and grander, painting the dusk with brilliance, until the entire sky looked like it was drowning in stars—a roaring river of stardust crashing through the heavens.

The fireworks were from the City Lord’s manor, a celebration for the upcoming Ten Directions Assembly.

At the far end of that starry river, the girl who had fallen into his arms slowly lifted her head.

She had her back to the fireworks, but the soft glow still reflected in her eyes, casting them in hues of dreamlike rainbow light.

Her expression, however, was anything but dreamy. With visible irritation, she pushed herself upright. Her cheeks, whether from frustration or the reflection of the fireworks, were flushed a rich crimson.

Pei Ji had thought she would be angry.

Because of the demonic aura within him, most people kept their distance. As a child, even brushing against other kids in town would earn him beatings.

He had grown used to being alone. But now, standing in front of Ning Ning, he felt… nervous. His throat tightened slightly, and his fingers curled into his robe.

Yet instead of scolding him, Ning Ning simply gave him a glare, then looked away without a word. She lowered her head and pulled something from her storage pouch—a long, flat ribbon as black as night.

It was, more specifically, a hair tie. Finely made, embroidered with faint golden cloud patterns, and clearly expensive at a glance.

“This is for you,” she said bluntly, not looking up at all. “I just… happened to walk past a stall and grabbed it. That’s all. I definitely didn’t pick it out on purpose for you.”

She rambled on without rhyme or reason, cheeks still flushed from her earlier fall. And as if realizing that wasn’t convincing enough, she added stiffly, “The one you’re using now is way too old. I don’t like it. Just change it already.”

…What even was that explanation?

Ning Ning wanted nothing more than to find a wall and slam her head into it. Preferably several times.

The lines she had practiced so carefully were all ruined by that one fall.

The hair ties in her hand had cost her every last coin she had to her name, but from the way she blurted out her words just now, it was like she’d stolen it off a roadside stall.

So frustrating.

Ning Ning’s thoughts flew in and out like birds in a storm, and her mind was a complete mess. While she was still mentally thrashing about, she suddenly noticed Pei Ji moving in front of her.

She had thought—assumed—that he would take the hair tie.

But instead, when he reached out his hand, his palm wasn’t empty.

Nestled quietly in the center was a small object, delicately placed with care.

As the fireworks overhead grew even more dazzling, Ning Ning’s eyes slowly widened.

Her lips parted into a small, astonished circle.

Her heart, without rhyme or reason, began to pound violently in her chest—thump thump, thump thump, as if trying to leap out.

Resting in Pei Ji’s palm was a glowing white crescent moon, softly radiant under the dim evening sky. It looked almost like the real moon had grown from his hand, emitting a gentle light that made everything else seem unreal.

It was the same jade pendant—the exact same one—she had seen in the jewellery shop.

Everything tonight felt like a dream. Unreal.

That clumsy, out-of-nowhere embrace.

Those ill-timed fireworks.

And now this little piece of jewellery, the one she had fallen in love with and could never forget, now somehow in Pei Ji’s hand.

She had just wanted to give Pei Ji a silly little surprise.

But somehow… he had turned around and given her something even bigger.

—How did he know what she was thinking?

Before Ning Ning could fully process what was happening, Pei Ji had already taken the hair tie from her hands without asking, and in its place, he firmly pushed the jade moon pendant into her palms.

“No way, no way!” she exclaimed, startled. “This is way too expensive—I can’t accept it!”

Pei Ji’s voice was calm, but there was a cool edge to it as he raised a brow, almost challengingly.
“Why not? You bought a luminous pearl for Senior Brother Lin Xun… but somehow can’t accept a gift of equal value from me?”

Ning Ning froze.

He knew about the luminous pearl?

Wait—why did Pei Ji sound a little… off? Was he upset? What was he even upset about?

He must’ve gone to the jewellery shop after her. That shopkeeper was chatty and nosy enough to spill everything with a smile.

Still reeling from the jab, Ning Ning tried to regain her footing. “I—I didn’t earn it. I can’t just accept something like this for no reason. Why would you give it to me?”

As soon as the question left her mouth, another firework burst open in the sky, illuminating the corner of Pei Ji’s eye where a faint red beauty mark lay, and the quiet shadow that often lingered in his gaze.

His answer was calm and matter-of-fact, devoid of any emotion.
“Then why would you give me a hair tie, Little Senior Sister?”

Ning Ning was thoroughly speechless.

This brat—

Since when was Pei Ji so good at talking back?

Left with no argument, she could only clench the jade pendant in her hand, hesitating for a moment before muttering softly, “…Then I’ll accept it… thank you.”

What she didn’t know was that beside her, the boy’s stiff, tense back quietly relaxed ever so slightly.

He responded in a faint voice. “Mn.”

Then silence returned between them.

Pei Ji watched her carefully open her palm, her eyes tracing the shape of the delicate little moon pendant. Slowly, she lifted it toward the sky, letting it catch the moonlight.

From the upper levels of the City Lord’s manor, pale lanterns lit up like heavenly palaces. No one could say what day or year it was.

Beyond the fireworks and streetlights, scarlet lanterns bobbed across the Cang River, their reflections shattered by paddles, shadows dancing on the ripples with the occasional falling petal drifting by.

Ning Ning stared at the little pendant in her hand as a breeze curled under the eaves, stirring the strands of black hair brushing against her cheeks. Pei Ji, catching sight of her pale, slender neckline, quickly looked away.

The jade moon glowed with a dim white shimmer beneath the moonlight. The fireworks spun a galaxy across the sky, all of it reflected in the girl’s dark pupils.

The moon before her eyes, the stars in her gaze.

Then, all of a sudden, Ning Ning turned her head.

And in her eyes—beside the moon and stars—was Pei Ji, standing right there, dead center in her field of vision, close enough to reach.

She broke into a sudden giggle, full of unrestrained delight.

“Wow, Pei Ji,” she said, eyes sparkling, “this is the first time I’ve ever seen you smile.”

She paused, then added earnestly, “Sorry! I didn’t mean to laugh… it’s just, the way you look right now—kind of like that Meme Boy With the Fake Smile!”

===

Although Pei Ji had never actually seen the “Meme Boy with the Fake Smile,” just from Ning Ning’s tone and the literal meaning of the phrase, he could guess she was calling his smile weird.

That night, the banquet had officially begun. The two of them didn’t linger long and hurried back to the inn to regroup with the rest of their sect before heading out again.

Before attending such an event, of course, they were expected to freshen up and tidy their appearances. Pei Ji held the brand-new hair ribbon in his hand but never tied it onto his hair.

Gold-edged embroidery coiled and shimmered atop soft silken threads. The young man’s gaze darkened slightly as his slender fingers tightened instinctively around it.

He remembered—back at the jewellery shop—seeing Ning Ning stop in front of that jade pendant, eyes lingering on it for quite a while. He assumed she didn’t buy it because of the price.

Pei Ji had always been frugal, but over time he’d managed to save quite a bit. He had planned to buy it for her—just a quiet, simple surprise.

But just as that plan had taken root, he heard Ying, the sword spirit bound to him, snicker in his head:
[Ohhh! So even cold little Pei Ji knows how to give surprises now? Wow wow wow!]

Before he could respond, the shopkeeper cheerfully chimed in, “What a coincidence! That girl who came in with you earlier just left—not long ago. She bought the luminous pearl!”

Luminous pearl.

That was what Senior Brother Lin Xun liked.

So—she hadn’t bought the jade pendant… because she’d spent her money making Lin Xun happy?

Pei Ji couldn’t describe how he felt at that moment—surprised, confused… a little hurt, and honestly, just the tiniest bit wronged.

…Only a tiny bit, really.

He’d been a little mad. He’d even decided not to give her the pendant anymore.

But the moment he saw the hair ribbon in her hands—handmade, clearly chosen with care—the fragile mound of frustration and stubbornness he’d been building in his chest crumbled at once. All because of a thin strip of fabric.

His heart… was soft. Too soft. Uselessly so.

Something tugged at his thoughts.

Pei Ji lowered his head with a cold expression, frowning as he stared into his own reflection in the bronze mirror.

Then, he raised his right hand and pulled up the corner of his lips on the right side.

He had grown up in shadows, surrounded by scorn and harshness. Joy had always been rare, so rare that over time, smiling became something unnecessary, forgotten and discarded.

He had never really learned how to smile.

Now, his pale lips were forced into something resembling a smile—but the result was stiff, as if metal wires were holding it up. Paired with his cold brows and frosty eyes, it didn’t look like a smile at all—more like a demon gone mad or someone poisoned by a deviation in cultivation.

The person in the mirror furrowed his brows.

So… this is what I look like when I smile?

After a long, awkward silence, Ying finally spoke up, desperately stifling laughter:
[No way, Pei Xiao Ji. Ning Ning was joking, and you actually came back here to practice your smile in the mirror? Really? That’s what we’re doing now? But hey—how’s it feels, huh? Getting a gift today—aren’t you happy?]

Sensing Pei Ji’s growing irritation, the sword spirit quickly cleared its throat:
[Okay, okay, listen. No one smiles with just half their mouth! Try using both hands, lift the corners of your lips evenly. Go ahead—up and out—there! That looks way more natural.]

Ying, the spirit that acted like a love-obsessed, middle-aged bachelor, was someone Pei Ji had never taken seriously.

But right now, without a word, Pei Ji lowered his head obediently and followed the instructions.

He used both hands to gently pull up the corners of his mouth.

Ying’s voice turned warm and affectionate, like a mother praising her child for the first time:
[Yes, like that! A bit wider—perfect! Pei Xiao Ji, this is it! This is how you’re gonna smile from now on, okay? Hahaha! Amazing! What a heavenly beauty descending from the stars!]

But by the time it finished, Ying couldn’t hold back and went from motherly pride to clucking laughter like an overexcited hen.

Pei Ji didn’t move. He just stared at his reflection.

What he saw was the same sharp sword-like brows, those still, bottomless black eyes, the tall bridge of his nose…

And then—the ridiculous curve of his lips, forced into a grin, with his cheeks puffed up from his own fingers like two soft, doughy dumplings.

This time, it really wasn’t a fake smile.

He looked like an idiot.

Pei Ji: “…”

He’d been played.