(continued)
---
That night, silence blanketed the Azure Sky Sect.
The lanterns floated lazily in the sky, half of them slightly scorched (thanks to a certain someone). Most disciples had gone to rest after a long day.
But Li Ming couldn't sleep.
He lay in bed, staring at the ceiling. "I feel like… something's watching me."
Bai Guo cracked open one eye. "Probably your guilt."
Li Ming frowned. "No, really. Look!"
The door creaked open by itself.
"AHH!" Li Ming leapt up, clutching his blanket like a sword. "Bai Guo! There's a ghost!"
Bai Guo yawned. "Calm down, descendant. It's probably wind."
But then… a broom floated past the door.
Both of them froze.
"…Bai Guo."
"Yes?"
"Why is the broom… moving?"
"Maybe it got promoted."
The broom paused. Turned. Pointed straight at Li Ming.
Li Ming whispered, "It's angry."
Then it charged.
---
Li Ming screamed and rolled across the floor. The broom swung like a sword, smacking him in the back.
"Ow! What did I do to you?!"
Bai Guo flapped up onto a shelf. "Descendant! Use your cultivation energy!"
Li Ming stood, eyes narrowed. "Alright… you want a fight? Let's dance!"
He gathered qi in his palms and launched a glowing strike.
The broom sidestepped.
"…You've got to be kidding me!"
It spun midair, smacking him on the forehead.
Bai Guo shouted, "It's using martial arts!"
Li Ming shouted back, "HOW DOES A BROOM KNOW MARTIAL ARTS?!"
The broom jabbed again. Li Ming ducked, grabbed a pot, and shouted, "Counterattack!"
He swung the pot—missed—and broke a table instead.
"Great, now I'm losing to furniture!"
---
The broom backed him into a corner, bristles raised like a challenge.
Li Ming clenched his fists. "Fine… I didn't want to use this…"
He pulled out the Frog Bun from lunch. "Taste your doom!"
He tossed it. The broom paused, sniffed, then hit it away.
The bun landed in a lantern flame and exploded in a small puff.
Bai Guo gasped. "It's evolving!"
Li Ming groaned, "This is ridiculous!"
He closed his eyes, gathered more energy, and—
BOOM!
A shockwave blasted through the room.
When the dust settled, Li Ming stood triumphantly… holding half a broom.
The rest of it lay twitching on the floor.
Li Ming panted, "See… told you… totally under control."
Bai Guo looked around. "Descendant… you destroyed your entire room."
Li Ming blinked. The walls were cracked, the window shattered, and his bed was upside down.
"…I'll sleep outside."
---
Outside, Li Ming sat under the moonlight with Bai Guo perched on his shoulder.
"Why would a broom attack me?" he muttered.
Bai Guo rubbed his beak. "Maybe you offended the spirit of cleaning."
Li Ming groaned. "I've offended too many spirits…"
Then, suddenly—a soft glow shimmered near the old training hall.
Li Ming squinted. "Bai Guo, you see that?"
"Yeah… maybe we shouldn't—"
Too late. Li Ming was already walking toward it.
The glow flickered, revealing a small spirit—a misty figure clutching a scroll.
Li Ming gulped. "Are you… here to haunt me for breaking library shelves?"
The spirit tilted its head. "You are the one called Li Ming?"
"Uhh… depends who's asking."
"I was sent… to deliver this."
It handed him the scroll and vanished into the mist.
Li Ming stared at it. "Did a ghost just give me homework?"
Bai Guo leaned in. "Open it, descendant."
Li Ming carefully unrolled it. Inside, a single line was written:
> "Your next mission awaits at dawn.
Come disguised, and trust no one."
He blinked. "Come disguised?!"
Bai Guo tilted his head. "Descendant, what does that mean?"
Before he could answer, a voice behind them spoke.
"Li Ming."
He turned. Standing in the shadows was Lan Yue, her eyes serious.
She stepped closer, handing him a folded bundle of cloth.
"Tomorrow," she said quietly, "your task begins."
Li Ming took the bundle. "Uh… what's this for?"
Lan Yue sighed. "You'll need to go undercover."
He frowned, opening it—then froze.
Inside was… a frilly pink dress.
Bai Guo blinked. "Oh. This is going to be good."
Li Ming's face turned pale. "Wait, wait—why do I have to wear this?!"
Lan Yue crossed her arms. "You're the only one who can pull it off."
Li Ming shouted, "THAT'S NOT A COMPLIMENT!"
Bai Guo smirked. "Descendant… time to unleash your inner lady."
Li Ming fell to his knees. "Heaven, why must you test me like this…"
---
> Next Chapter: "Mission: Miss Li Ming?!"
A new undercover quest begins, and our hero's pride faces its greatest challenge yet… heels and hairpins.