Chapter 323: “Steamed Bun”

Night had fallen, yet Eternal Slumber City was ablaze with lights, as bright as daytime—perhaps no less luminous than the imperial capital of the Great Qian Dynasty.

In the mortal world, oil lamps were quite expensive, and outside the heartland of the empire, few merchants or commoners would bother lighting up their doorsteps so brilliantly.

In small counties like Lexiang County, most people would retire early at night. Even in summer, when villagers gathered to cool off, they would simply find a moonlit spot, grab a palm-leaf fan, and chat idly for a while.

Of course, the reason Eternal Slumber City was “brightly lit” was not due to ordinary oil lamps. Instead, the city was illuminated by small insect demons, each about the size of an egg. These tiny creatures dotted the city like glowing “light bulbs.”

Sitting by the window, Gu Ning’an watched as one of these insects, emitting a soft, warm yellow glow, flew toward him.

Shaped like an egg, the insect resembled a firefly but was different—it glowed entirely except for a pair of tiny, rice-grain-sized eyes.

It had two pairs of delicate wings, and as they vibrated, they left behind faint orange arcs in the air, creating a mesmerizing sight.

“Sir, do you need a light? One wisp of spiritual energy per hour.” The insect hovered at a comfortable distance from Gu Ning’an, waiting for a response.

With its arrival, the dimly lit guest room instantly became much brighter.

“Spiritual energy? You’ve already refined your throat bone and can speak human language—why can’t you absorb spiritual energy on your own?” Gu Ning’an asked curiously.

“You must be an outsider, sir…” The insect responded. “We are a unique species in Northern Huangtian called ‘Blaze Bugs.’ We are naturally capable of refining the throat bone, allowing us to speak.

“But to survive, we need spiritual energy for nourishment. However, we are born with a flaw—we cannot absorb spiritual energy on our own. That is why you see so many Blaze Bugs serving as living lamps in stores.”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an frowned slightly. “So from birth, you have to rely on others to stay alive?”

The Blaze Bug fluttered its wings. “Yes, sir. This is our fate. Would you like a light?”

“If not, I must find another customer soon—otherwise, the spiritual energy within me might not last until morning.”

“I’ll take an hour.” As he spoke, Gu Ning’an flicked his finger, and a small vortex appeared beside the Blaze Bug, drawing in rich spiritual energy and infusing it into the creature.

The next moment, the Blaze Bug—having eaten its fill for the first time—let out a deeply satisfied sigh, surprisingly human-like.

“Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!”

“May you be blessed, sir! May fortune smile upon you!”

“May you be wealthy beyond measure, have many children, and prosper endlessly!”

Overwhelmed by the sudden windfall, the Blaze Bug kept spouting every blessing it could think of.

Gu Ning’an waved a hand. “Alright, alright… where did you even learn all these phrases?”

“Ah, just things I’ve picked up from others,” the Blaze Bug replied. “Sir, where would you like me to stay?”

“No need to call me ‘sir’—just call me ‘teacher.'” Gu Ning’an pointed at the desk beside him. “You can sit there.”

Buzz—

With the soft hum of its wings, the Blaze Bug landed steadily on the table. Its glow became even brighter. “Teacher, do you want more light?”

Gu Ning’an waved his hand. “No need. Your light consumes spiritual energy too—just dim it and keep me company for a chat.”

“It’s fine! With the energy you just gave me, I think I can live for several more months!” The Blaze Bug said happily.

“No worries. Just lower the brightness. I’m not writing anything right now, and too much light is blinding.”

Upon hearing the word “blinding,” the Blaze Bug quickly dimmed its glow to the level of a candle flame.

Seeing this, Gu Ning’an smiled and asked, “Do you have a name?”

The Blaze Bug wiggled slightly. “No, we Blaze Bugs have about the same status in Northern Huangtian as livestock—like pigs raised for meat. We’re seen as disposable, with no tomorrow. We never bother naming ourselves. Everyone just calls us ‘Blaze Bugs.'”

“Teacher may call me whatever you like.”

“Hmm…” Gu Ning’an paused before saying, “You’re round and plump—I’ll call you ‘Doubao’ (Steamed Bun).”

The Blaze Bug flapped its wings, and in its tiny, rice-grain-sized eyes, a hint of joy gleamed. “Thank you for the name, Teacher! From now on, I shall be called Doubao!”

“Hmm?”

Gu Ning’an paused for a moment before smiling. “Are you familiar with the various factions in Eternal Slumber City?”

Hearing this, Doubao hurriedly replied, “Of course! Of course! I’ve been making a living in Eternal Slumber City since the day I was born. I may not live long, but I know every faction in this city like the back of my hand!”

Gu Ning’an nodded with a smile. “Then, could you tell me about them?”

“Absolutely!” Doubao responded enthusiastically and immediately began to explain the details of the various factions within the ancient city of demons…

An hour later, Gu Ning’an pushed his teacup forward and said with a smile, “Alright, the hour is up. You can have some tea and then go rest.”

“Huh?”

Doubao hesitated before saying, “Sir, you might not know this, but we Blaze Bugs don’t need to drink water or eat food—just spiritual energy is enough.”

“Also, you gave me way too much spiritual energy earlier. I could easily keep providing you with light for hundreds of hours! Even though I’m just a low-level demon, I can’t go around taking advantage of people like that!”

Seeing Doubao’s firm stance, Gu Ning’an chuckled. “I won’t be staying in Eternal Slumber City for long…”

“How about this? For the next few days, you can be my guide. Once I leave, we’ll consider your ‘work hours’ paid in full. How does that sound?”

Doubao responded cheerfully, “That works for me!”

“Alright, then turn off the light. I’ll be going to sleep soon.”

As soon as Gu Ning’an finished speaking, the glowing Doubao dimmed instantly. The little creature scuttled over to a corner of the desk, curled up into a small ball, and said, “Sir, rest well. If you need light, just call me anytime,” before settling down.

Meanwhile, Gu Ning’an stood up, leaned against the window, and gazed into the distance.

The nighttime sandstorm was fierce, dyeing the drifting clouds in the sky a murky yellow. As the wind moved the clouds along, the pale crescent moon appeared and disappeared in the haze.

The streets outside the inn remained lively—vendors selling food, street performers showcasing their skills, people drinking and reveling, and even fights breaking out in the open. It was pure chaos, a gathering of all kinds of strange and unruly beings.

Compared to humans, demons certainly had a much more vibrant nightlife. However, the sheer noise of it all seemed rather contradictory to the name “Eternal Slumber City.”

Perhaps that Void Emperor was simply fond of sleeping and named the city after his own habits…

Closing the window, Gu Ning’an found that the ruckus outside still hadn’t died down in the slightest. With no other choice, he cast a “Silencing” spell before making his way to bed and lying down…