The Mirror Master

「End of Bluestone Alley. Willow Shade Courtyard.」

Lu Bai found the place, cradling the Black Dog in his arms. He didn’t bother with pleasantries and burst straight through the door.

Inside was a rather spacious courtyard shaded by willow trees on both sides. A small bridge arched over a flowing stream, creating a pleasant and scenic view.

Directly ahead was a spacious main hall.

In the distance, he could see a stunningly beautiful woman in an apricot-yellow Daoist Robe. She sat upright on a meditation cushion with a duster resting in the crook of her arm, meditating with her eyes closed.

Lu Bai rushed straight into the main hall. "Daoist Yu," he said, "I’m sorry to bother you, but please, take a look. Can the Black Dog be saved?"

"Brother Lu, please sit. Don’t worry."

Yun Luo gestured to a meditation cushion beside Lu Bai.

The cushion was placed as if Yu Daoxuan had known all along that he would be coming.

But Lu Bai was in no mood to sit. He simply stared at Yu Daoxuan, his heart filled with a mixture of hope and dreadful anxiety.

’If even the Daoist before me can’t save the Black Dog, then I’m truly out of options.’

Yu Daoxuan opened her eyes and beckoned gently.

The Black Dog floated out of Lu Bai’s arms, hovered in mid-air for a moment, and then drifted down to land gently in front of Yu Daoxuan.

"Rest assured, he won’t die."

Yu Daoxuan said softly.

Hearing this, Lu Bai was overjoyed. He bowed deeply and said, "Thank you for helping, Daoist Yu. As long as you can save his life, I’ll pay any price. I don’t even want the Mountain Demon Hat anymore."

Yu Daoxuan extended a delicate hand and placed it gently on the Black Dog’s wound. A pure white radiance suddenly bloomed from her palm.

The next moment, the Black Dog could move!

In the blink of an eye, some life returned to the dog, and the focus sharpened in its once-dazed pupils.

He struggled to get up, but instead of looking toward Lu Bai, he inched his way closer to Yu Daoxuan.

His nose twitched as he sniffed at Yu Daoxuan’s palm.

Yu Daoxuan didn’t seem to mind. She looked at the Black Dog with a gentle expression, stroking his forehead softly. "You won’t need to pay to save him," she said quietly.

Seeing that the Black Dog was alive, Lu Bai finally let out the breath he’d been holding. The weight on his heart was lifted.

Lu Bai’s ears perked up at Yu Daoxuan’s words.

At first, he had assumed the Black Dog was approaching Yu Daoxuan to thank her for her kindness.

But her words seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

"Daoist Yu, do you recognize this Black Dog?"

Lu Bai asked tentatively.

Yu Daoxuan replied, "I’ve heard of him."

"Oh?"

Lu Bai pressed, "Is he some kind of Exotic Beast or Fierce Beast? What’s his origin?"

Yu Daoxuan smiled and shook her head. "He’s just an ordinary black dog. Not an Exotic Beast, nor a Fierce Beast."

’That’s strange.’

Lu Bai was puzzled.

’Yu Daoxuan wouldn’t lie to me about something like this.’

’But Ah Mo is clearly different from other black dogs.’

’He’s incredibly intelligent.’

’Not only can he help me hunt ghosts, but he can also read and even cultivate.’

’How are Exotic Beasts or Fierce Beasts any better than that?’

In that short time, the Black Dog was already able to stand and had returned to Lu Bai’s side.

Lu Bai crouched down, gently removed the bandages from the Black Dog, and took a closer look.

The wound had already healed, leaving only a scar.

"That man dealt him a mortal wound," Yu Daoxuan suddenly asked. "What do you intend to do about it?"

Lu Bai fell silent.

’He had wanted to kill him from the very beginning!’

’Even though the Black Dog survived, what if I hadn’t met Yu Daoxuan? Without her miraculous, life-restoring technique, he would be dead already.’

’Since I’ve decided to kill, I have only two choices.’

’Kill him in the open, or assassinate him in secret!’

’But how?’

’But success depends on secrecy. This isn’t the kind of thing you can just tell anyone.’

Yu Daoxuan spoke up, "Are you considering killing him in the open, or assassinating him?"

Lu Bai froze.

’Can this woman read my mind?’

"Brother Lu, your killing intent is so strong,"

Yun Luo said with a smile, covering her mouth.

Lu Bai felt a flush of embarrassment.

After what had happened to the Black Dog, his heart and mind were in turmoil, and he hadn’t been able to control his emotions.

’Even a four-year-old like Yun Luo could see it. Yu Daoxuan must have noticed long ago.’

Yun Luo patted the little squirrel on her shoulder. "Brother Lu, I understand," she said. "If someone tried to kill my Little Squirrel, I’d fight them to the death!"

Since they had already seen through him, there was no point in hiding his intentions.

Lu Bai sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion before him and cupped his fist. "I’m not familiar with the methods of Qi Refiners. I would like to ask for your guidance, Daoist Yu. I am at the Six Acupoints of Inner Strength. What are my chances of victory against a Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator?"

’In terms of Cultivation Realm alone, the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining is a step above me.’

’Even Luo Mingzhao, an expert at the Innate Realm, was defeated by that man. I really don’t have much confidence.’

’Back during the fight at the ruined temple, Li Yue’er had been overpowered.’

’But he’d heard from Xiaodie that the circumstances had been special.’

’Her opponent had set a trap, and Li Yue’er, caught off guard, was subdued at close range by that woman.’

’Even so, she had still managed to kill three of them with her Flying Sword in retaliation.’

’But in a one-on-one duel against Mo Shaohan, the situation would be completely different.’

’What’s more, Mo Shaohan was at the Ninth-Layer Qi Refining.’

’To say nothing of his other abilities, his skill and speed in controlling his Flying Sword were likely several levels beyond Li Yue’er’s!’

"In terms of pure strength, you are certainly strong enough."

Yu Daoxuan said, "But in a real fight, your chances of victory are slim."

Lu Bai asked sincerely, "Please enlighten me, Daoist Yu."

"In the early stages of the Martial Dao, such as the Inner Strength Realm and the Innate Realm, Martial Artists are indeed at a disadvantage against Cultivators,"

Yu Daoxuan explained. "But Cultivators are not without weaknesses. Especially those in the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage—their physical bodies are frail. If a Martial Artist gets close to them, they will be at a disadvantage.

This is hardly a secret, but even so, an early-stage Martial Artist has almost no chance of victory against a Cultivator."

"Why is that?"

Lu Bai asked.

Yu Daoxuan said, "Let’s take the Inner Strength Realm, for example. For an Inner Martial Artist to evade a Qi Refiner’s Flying Sword and close the distance is next to impossible.

Unless the Inner Martial Artist has cultivated a top-tier Body Technique, or possesses extreme explosive power and heightened senses, they might be able to dodge the Flying Sword. And even then, they cannot pause or hesitate for even a second if they want a chance to get close."

After a short pause, Yu Daoxuan continued, "And that’s just the first hurdle. Even if you get close, a Qi Refiner still has ways to defend themselves. At their level, they can already cultivate some basic Magic.

It takes a Qi Refiner a moment to cast a spell, but if they have a Self-defense Talisman, they can simply tear it to instantly form a Magic Barrier around their body.

If you get close but can’t break through that Magic Barrier, you still won’t be able to harm them."

Lu Bai fell into deep thought.

’So even if I get close, I might not be able to hurt a Qi Refiner. Any delay and their Flying Sword will be on me, putting me right back in danger.’

’In that case, assassination is the only option left.’

Lu Bai asked, "Daoist Yu, when will the Mountain Demon Hat be ready?"

"It will still be a few days."

Yu Daoxuan saw through Lu Bai’s intentions. "Assassination is even more impossible," she said.

"What do you mean?"

Lu Bai asked.

Yu Daoxuan explained, "With the Luo Family’s downfall, the Xuanjian Sect has acquired the Profound Iron Ore mine. They won’t linger in Bluestone City for long. By the time you get your Mountain Demon Hat, they will have already returned to the Xuanjian Sect, and your opportunity will be gone.

Those two are currently staying at the County Government Mansion, which is heavily guarded. Even with the Mountain Demon Hat to conceal your presence, you don’t know any Lightweight Body Techniques. While sneaking in, the slightest unusual sound will get you discovered and alert your target."