Chapter 24

Chapter 24: Star-Plucking Tower

The carriage didn’t carry them far before it stopped again.

They had arrived at the inn.

The attendant lifted the curtain. “Miss Bai, Young Master Bai, please step down.”

The moment Bai Meng Xing touched the ground, he shouted, “Wow! We’re staying here?”

It was the towering building they’d seen when entering the city—seven floors, carved rails, pale stone like polished jade, luxuriously built. Above it, a lantern platform glowed, and lamps floated and spun in midair like a river of stars poured into the mortal world.

Bai Meng Xing looked ready to turn in circles from excitement.

Bai Meng Lian tapped his forehead. “What status do you think Elder Yi Ming has? We’ve been staying in good places all along the way.” Her gaze sharpened. “Wipe the drool off your face and don’t embarrass the elder.”

Bai Meng Xing hurriedly wiped his mouth, then realized there was no drool at all. “Elder Sister! You’re teasing me again!”

Bai Meng Lian couldn’t be bothered with him and went to meet Elder Yi Ming.

Bai Meng Jin stepped down last. When she saw the three characters on the signboard—Star-Plucking Tower—she paused, a strange feeling stirring in her chest.

Time had flowed for a thousand years. People and events had changed beyond recognition, but the Star-Plucking Tower still stood tall.

Only a handful of people in the world knew that Yu Mo—Bai Meng Jin—kept a guest room here that was never surrendered. Whenever she didn’t want anyone to find her, she came to this place. Even when she wasn’t here, messages could be delivered to her steward through the tower.

Bai Meng Jin lifted her eyes and saw Shang Lian Cheng standing by the counter, giving instructions with an expression of brisk importance.

She almost smiled.

What a coincidence.

This kid really did have fate with her. She met him when she was down on her luck, and now that she’d been reborn, she ran into him again so soon.

But Boss Shang was riding high right now. It wasn’t time to tug his leash.

Bai Meng Jin followed Elder Yi Ming inside, keeping her presence low.

As she passed, she caught fragments of Shang Lian Cheng’s orders.

“Serve them carefully. Give them whatever they ask for, but don’t meddle.”

“Arrange the rooms well. Don’t let them run into each other.”

“Let me see the menu. Don’t let anything go wrong.”

Bai Meng Jin’s brows knit slightly.

Important guests.

She turned her head—and there it was: that luxurious carriage parked in a corner, the Kaiming Beast lazily swinging its tiger heads as it ambled toward the spirit-beast stables.

So Young Sect Master Ling was staying here too.

That made sense. In Phoenix Parasol City, what inn could compare to the Star-Plucking Tower?

On Elder Yi Ming’s side, everything was arranged quickly. The steward took one look at the Cinnabar Cloud Palace insignia and became so attentive it bordered on reverent, leading them onto the cloud lift.

“This way, honored guests. The sixth and seventh floors have the best rooms in our Star-Plucking Tower. The views are the finest and it’s the quietest. I guarantee you’ll be satisfied.”

The cloud lift stopped on the sixth floor. The steward opened a window with a practiced flourish, and cool night air poured in, bringing Phoenix Parasol City’s glittering skyline into full view.

Bai Meng Xing gaped and asked without thinking, “Then why not the seventh floor? Isn’t higher better?”

The steward’s smile didn’t change. “Young master, a guest took the seventh floor before you arrived. But the furnishings on the sixth floor are the same. Formations separate the floors, so you won’t be affected.”

He pointed to the spiral staircase that rose through the center of the building. “If you want to go to the rooftop to enjoy the view, you may go up from there.”

“Are those lights on the roof?” one of Elder Yi Ming’s young disciples asked, curiosity winning out.

The steward’s smile brightened. “Yes. That is called the Myriad Phenomena Star River—our Star-Plucking Tower’s signature.”

Elder Yi Ming wasn’t picky. Once he confirmed the rooms were acceptable, he settled in.

Bai Meng Jin and Bai Meng Lian shared a room. Bai Meng Xing was shoved into a room with the other disciples, which he loudly claimed was cruelty.

As the sisters reached their corridor, they passed familiar faces: maids filing out from the far end, heads lowered, expressions stiff.

Bai Meng Lian leaned close and whispered, “That’s Young Master Mo, isn’t it? Looks like he’s staying here too.”

Bai Meng Jin glanced once and looked away. “Not just him. The one on the seventh floor should be Young Sect Master Ling. No wonder Boss Shang is being so careful.”

Bai Meng Lian’s brows lifted with delighted mischief. “Oh? Enemies really do meet on a narrow road. Do you think they’ll stir up trouble again?”

“Probably not,” Bai Meng Jin said dryly. “Young Master Mo wouldn’t dare provoke the Limitless Sect. Even if he dragged his ancestor here, he’d still have to bow in front of Young Sect Master Ling.”

Bai Meng Lian’s gaze softened, thoughtful now. “Back home, people called us Miss with respect. I thought we had some status.”

She exhaled. “Only after leaving did I see what real sect families look like.”

“No matter how good your background is,” Bai Meng Jin said, “it can’t compare to strong cultivation.”

She nodded toward the elder’s quarters. “Look at Elder Yi Ming. Does he care about petty anger? No one dares slight him either.”

Bai Meng Lian nodded slowly. “You’re right. Strength is the foundation. We don’t need to compete over show.” Her eyes steadied. “Once we reach the Nascent Soul Stage or the Divine Transformation Stage, respect will come on its own.”

Not long after the sisters washed up and changed, Bai Meng Xing came knocking like a storm.

“Elder Sister! Sister! Want to go downstairs and eat?”

Bai Meng Lian hadn’t begun fasting yet, so she still needed meals. Bai Meng Jin no longer needed food to survive, but she’d kept the habits of a mortal even in her last life. The higher your cultivation, the more you drift from the human world; if you sat cultivating all day, sooner or later your mind would go strange.

That was why so many cultivators, even after they could fast, still ate and lived like mortals. Otherwise, why were immortal cities so prosperous?

Night had only just fallen, and the Star-Plucking Tower was at its liveliest.

Bright pearls hung overhead, lighting the lobby like daylight. People came and went, laughter spilling through the air. In the center of the hall, a raised stage hosted a song-and-dance ritual play, music bright and sharp as wine.

Bai Meng Xing looked like he didn’t have enough eyes. “This is what living looks like. What were we doing back home?”

Bai Meng Lian snorted. “If Elder Yi Ming weren’t taking you, do you think you’d be qualified to step in here?” She flicked his forehead. “Check your pocket. With your 100 spirit stones, can you afford a banquet? Can you tip a singing girl even once?”

Bai Meng Xing wilted. “Elder Sister, you always pour cold water on me.”

“That’s called making you see reality.” Bai Meng Lian grabbed his sleeve and marched him along. “If you don’t cultivate properly, you won’t even be qualified to run errands in here.”

Bai Meng Xing glanced around. Even the shop clerks and maids had higher cultivation than him. His shoulders sank.

To save spirit stones, Bai Meng Lian chose a corner seat. The view wasn’t great, but it was quiet.

The moment Bai Meng Xing sat down, he leaned in mysteriously. “I’ve got news. Young Sect Master Ling is staying on the seventh floor.”

Bai Meng Lian didn’t even blink. “We know.”

Bai Meng Xing nearly choked. “How do you know?”

Bai Meng Lian exchanged a look with Bai Meng Jin, then smiled. “Not telling you.”

Bai Meng Xing refused to give up. His eyes gleamed. “Then I also found out something about Young Sect Master Ling that you definitely don’t know!”