A flood of memories crashed over Ye Yu like a tidal wave.
That Communication Stone belonged to Hanyue Xi for contacting her parents. When theyâd parted so hastily before, sheâd fled before Ye Yu could return it. To keep it from mixing with his own, Ye Yu had tucked Hanyue Xiâs Communication Stone into his robe, intending to give it back the next time they metânever imagining this mix-up.
From Little Whiteâs expression, their conversation had been extremely unpleasant. How unpleasant, Ye Yu did not know. He seized Little White and demanded it repeat, word for word, [N O V E L I G H T] what had happened.
Through Little Whiteâs narration, Ye Yu finally understood everything.
In Little Whiteâs eyes, Ye Yuâs slumber was indistinguishable from seclusion cultivation. After all, once one became a god, who simply went to sleep? And seclusion cultivation required absolute silenceâany disturbance could lead to madness.
To ensure Ye Yuâs safety, Little White had stood guard outside. When it heard the Communication Stone vibrate, it entered the roomâand saw Ye Yu frown in response to the disturbance. Fearing for his safety, Little White snatched up the Stone and took it outside to explain: âBig Brother is in seclusionâplease wait.â As soon as it infused divine power to connect, the voice on the other end barked:
âWhere are you?â
Little White frowned. âYou want to reach my Big Brother Ye Yu, right? Heâs currentlyââ
Before it could finish, the stranger cut in: âYe Yu? Whoâs Ye Yu? Who are you?â
Their tone grew impatient and harsh. Thus began a half-hour-long barrage of insults between beast and god:
âIâm Little White!â
âWhat a crappy nameâlike some mutt. You trying to fool me? Kid, youâre dead meat.â
âI suggest you be respectful.â
âRespect myâ! Hand over the Stone, or Iâll turn you into a dog for real!â
âIâll slip you a banana peel on your face! You dogâyouâre the dog, you big black dog.â
âHow dare you call me a dog? Youâre in troubleâyouâre in big trouble! I am Hanguâdare you tell me your true name? Iâll come find you right now!â
âMy nameâs Little White, in Balance Cityâcome find me if you can! Letâs see if I donât eat you first!â
âIâll eat you first! When I find you, Iâll stew you into soup!â
âIâll stew your egg!â
âIâll stew both your eggs!â
...
In the end, Little White was outmatched. Lacking vocabulary, it lost the war of wordsâand in frustration leapt so hard it cracked a huge pit in the hall and shattered the Communication Stone.
Ye Yuâs head throbbed. Why had things gone sideways into a shouting match? And since Hanyue Xi likely remembered this dream-vision too, his carefully constructed lie was blown apart. As if that werenât enough, he now also had to deal with her fatherâs feud with Little White. Life was indeed hard.
But Hanguâs temper was legendaryâflaring at a so-called âfusion freakââand undeniably entertaining. Ye Yu decided to wait in Balance City with Little White for Hanguâs arrival. Any misunderstanding could be cleared up civilly; no need for a murderous brawl.
After all, Hanyue Xi had said her parents cultivated in the Ancient God Realm. Little White could already swallow Ancient God-realm deities whole. If her parents arrived, theyâd be delivering trouble, not a humble offering. Swallowing oneâs in-laws would lead to an unbridgeable riftâno friends afterward. Better to explain slowly... assuming theyâd listen.
Hangu: even the name sounded unapproachable. As Ye Yu pondered, a cold aura descended on Balance City. A middle-aged gentleman scholar appeared, streaked gray at the templesâyet rather than seeming old, he exuded gravitas. One might well call him âhandsome elder.â
It was none other than Hangu, the common father of Hanyue Xi and Hanyue Zhang. His face darkened as he realized the Communication Stone heâd brought for family use was now in someone elseâs handsâproof his daughters were in danger. Urgency drove him to seek âLittle Whiteâ for information and to pray both children were alive.
But when Hangu produced the Stone to call Little White, it would not connect. Panic rose. Hangu had even tried to deduce Little Whiteâs origin by divinationâyet failed. It shouldnât exist in the Divine Realm at all, let alone be alive.
Was someone targeting the Hangu clan?
Hangu narrowed his eyes, pulling a cloak over his face and disguising his divine aura. He resorted to the simplest method: questioning every vendor in the market, saying in a low voice, âAre you Little White?â and watching their reaction. Shock meant a true match; confusion meant a false one. Though clumsy, with no other lead and countless Divine-realm traders in Balance City, Hangu persevered.
He never considered the City Lordâs mansionâBalanceâs Lord Yu Buxia was a woman with unrivaled connections. To strike at the Hangu family, sheâd have had far easier means. Besides, the voice on the Stone sounded masculine. By elimination, the mansion was ruled out.
Thus Balance City saw two parallel scenes: Ye Yu and Little White waiting patiently in the Lordâs mansion, while Hangu prowled the outer city stalls, interrogating everyone in sight. Good-natured vendors merely asked who Little White was; ill-tempered ones snapped back, ââWhiteâ your grandfatherâyouâre the dog here!â
Hangu, equally short-tempered, retorted in kindâuntil the city rang with shouts, gods and mortals alike trading insults in a bizarre chorus.