The Prank and the Runaway Disciple

Feiluo gazed fearfully at the white-clothed little girl before her, her face betraying an unbridled panic. Glancing back at the profound darkness she had just traversed, she found it remained as terrifying as it had appeared before her entry.

Feiluo alternated her gaze between the white-clothed little girl and the inky blackness behind her, hesitating for a moment before gritting her teeth and advancing towards the weeping girl.

‘What is there to fear!’

‘I am a Nascent Soul stage cultivator!’

‘I wouldn’t be afraid of a mere vengeful spirit!’

‘…Probably.’

Feiluo took small, hesitant steps, cautiously approaching the white-clothed little girl.

“Li-little… little sister, wha-what’s… what’s wrong?” She strove to keep her voice from trembling as she questioned the white-clothed little girl.

Upon hearing Feiluo’s inquiry, the white-clothed little girl’s sobs faltered, and her shoulders, which had been shaking with grief, stilled. Immediately after, Feiluo heard a clear, somewhat familiar voice enter her ears.

“Wuwuwu… my favorite person is gone, wuwuwu…”

Before she could properly ponder the familiarity of the voice, Feiluo’s mind was consumed by the little girl’s words.

‘Her favorite person is gone?’

‘Hiss, isn’t this the classic horror story trope?’

‘Unable to cope with the reality of losing someone dear, she chose suicide, transforming into a vengeful spirit that now questions every person she encounters.’

‘She asks where her favorite person has gone, and if anyone fails to answer, the vengeful spirit will instantly turn, reveal its terrifying true form, and drag that person into an unknown darkness.’

In an instant, Feiluo conjured countless horrific fates of those who had encountered vengeful spirits in horror tales. Picturing such nightmare-inducing scenes for a loli like herself, Feiluo’s body trembled, and she couldn’t help but shiver.

She desperately wanted to ignore the white-clothed little girl and simply turn to leave, but she knew that failing to answer a vengeful spirit’s questions could very well cause it to revert to its terrifying true form. Therefore, Feiluo had no choice but to continue questioning the white-clothed little girl.

“Then, little sister, where did your favorite person disappear?” Fortunately, her voice no longer trembled.

“Wuwuwu… they disappeared on the mountain.” The white-clothed little girl rubbed her hands across her eyes, seemingly wiping away tears.

‘Disappeared on the mountain? Could this little girl be an ancient mountain spirit?!’

‘Why has this ancient mountain spirit come to the city? Can’t you just stay in the mountains where you belong?!’

Feiluo steeled herself, feigning composure, and pressed on, asking, “Who is your favorite person, then? What is their name?”

“That person…” Hearing this, the little girl’s sobs ceased, and she slowly began to stand.

‘This is bad!’

‘I’ve triggered a keyword!’

As she watched the white-clothed little girl gradually rise, Feiluo’s expression turned to one of terror, and though she faced the girl, her feet subtly retreated. Feiluo yearned to turn and flee, but she recalled that even if she plunged into the darkness behind her, it would be futile; she would invariably find herself back in this very spot.

Thus, she could only watch as the white-clothed little girl stood up, abruptly turned her head, and shouted:

“Wah! That person is you!”

“Wuyii!”

Feiluo was startled by the sudden shout, and faint tears could even be glimpsed at the corners of her eyes.

Seeing her obedient disciple so frightened that tears welled up, Moxi panicked. She quickly embraced Feiluo, patted her back, and soothed her, “Don’t cry, don’t cry, it’s just me.”

“I’m not crying!” Feiluo retorted, having already understood the situation the moment she saw the white-clothed little girl turn around to reveal Moxi. The inescapable darkness, the weeping white-clothed little girl—all of it was nothing but an illusion, deliberately crafted by Moxi solely to scare her.

“Alright, alright, my obedient disciple isn’t crying.” Moxi humored Feiluo.

“…You bad person! How dare you deliberately scare me!” Nestled in Moxi’s embrace, Feiluo hugged her slender waist, vigorously nudging Moxi’s chest with her own small head.

“I merely wanted to play a little prank on you,” Moxi said, stroking Feiluo’s head.

“Hmph!” Feiluo huffed and continued to vigorously nudge Moxi’s chest.

Moxi, sighing helplessly, pressed down on the restless little head nestled against her, then cupped Feiluo’s cheeks, her gaze fixed intently on her.

“Who told my obedient disciple to run away from home? I merely intended to give you a small punishment.”

At the mention of ‘running away from home,’ Feiluo’s expression stiffened as she recalled that she had indeed run away.

“So, I was just about to go back, wasn’t I?” She glanced at Moxi, her confidence wavering, and stammered.

“Mm, I know.” Moxi nodded.

“You knew?” Feiluo tilted her head.

“That’s right, I’ve been watching you all along, my obedient disciple.” Moxi said with a beaming smile.

“Watching me all along? Since when?” Feiluo exclaimed in surprise.

Moxi pondered for a moment, then said, “Hmm, I suppose since you stepped out of your room.”

‘Doesn’t that mean she’s been watching me from the very beginning?!’

The thought that Moxi had been observing her since the moment she left her room made Feiluo feel utterly foolish, having been watched without ever realizing it.

‘Would Moxi think I’m silly? To be under her watchful eye and still not notice.’

She hugged Moxi, her voice muffled as she asked:

“Then why didn’t you stop me from leaving?”

“What good would stopping you have done?” Moxi shook her head. “Even if I had prevented you from leaving this time, you would have done the same thing again next time. Since that’s the case, it’s better to wait for you to come to your own realization.”

“……Then, will you think my running away from home was silly, especially since I didn’t even realize you were watching me the whole time?” Feiluo hesitated for a moment, then posed the question.

Moxi paused, then gently pinched Feiluo’s small face, her soft, tender cheek molding in Moxi’s hand as she said helplessly, “What on earth are you thinking with that little head of yours?”

“Whash w’ong? I’ve been undew youw watch th’ whole time, don’t you think my actionsh wewe silly?” Feiluo mumbled indistinctly.

“Of course not!” Moxi gazed into Feiluo’s golden eyes, her expression utterly serious. “I never once thought any of your actions were silly, my obedient disciple!”

“Weally?”

“Truly!” Moxi declared with absolute certainty.

Meeting Moxi’s fervent gaze, Feiluo’s face flushed. She pulled her hand free from Moxi’s grasp and said, “Alright then. Just so you know, I don’t care about my image in your eyes, oh no, I just… I just…”

Feiluo paused, a pretext forming in her mind, then continued, “I just don’t want you to look down on me! After all, I was once your opponent, wasn’t I?”

“Yes, yes, yes, my obedient disciple’s image in my heart is that of the best obedient disciple in the whole world!” Moxi said with a smile, watching Feiluo revert to her tsundere demeanor.

“…I already said I don’t care about that!”