Kongheng rode the wind back to Mount Qingdu. By now, night had completely fallen. Li Xuanxuan was already waiting in the grand hall. The old man was still shaken and unable to recover from the terrifying scene just moments ago.
When the two landed steadily, Li Xuanxuan hurried over to greet them. When he saw that both were safe and sound, he allowed a smile of relief to appear. But after glancing at one, then the other, he noticed Li Ximing’s look of melancholy and Kongheng’s complicated expression, and his joy began to fade.
"This is..." muttered Li Xuanxuan.
"Elder." Kongheng pressed his palms together, bowed respectfully, and said gently, "This humble monk is about to depart for the various prefectures... leaving Jiangnan behind and heading elsewhere."
"What?!" Li Xuanxuan froze for a moment before quickly saying, "Is it that there are places or people here who have wronged you, Kongheng... after all these decades we have been through..."
The old man thought for a moment, then quickly added, "That Fuxia monk’s rambling was most certainly aimed at my family! You need not take it to heart, Kongheng..."
As Li Xuanxuan spoke, Kongheng simply pressed his palms together in a bow and said gently, "Elder, you bear the visage of one blessed with fortune. Though your first half of life was pressed and wearied, there will not be many obstacles ahead. It is better to worry less."
Li Xuanxuan could not answer him and could only nod. Kongheng then spoke softly, "As for the matter of Zhouwei, I have long given it thought. I originally thought that a Veiled Yin spirit item is rare and troublesome to purchase overseas. Fortunately, I have heard that your esteemed family has also obtained a Veiled Yin dharma artifact, which can be used to perform the needed spell."
He drew a manuscript from his sleeve and handed it to Li Ximing. The paper was filled with neat, fine characters, evidently penned by the monk himself.
Kongheng said, "By performing the method written in this book, it will be possible to preserve the lady’s life and suppress her spiritual nature, so that the child will not be affected by Bright Yang."
Li Ximing was deeply moved and promptly put it away. Kongheng said apologetically, "However, since I will not be personally casting the spell, the degree of force may be difficult to control. If the Veiled Yin is too strong, it could also bring about trouble. You must take great care and handle it cautiously."
"Alright!" Li Ximing agreed, and the monk bade farewell to Li Xuanxuan. He then walked out, following the stone steps down to the mountainside, where a stag lay motionless by the roadside, quietly watching them.
Kongheng stopped and sighed. "He should not have treated you this way."
The monk took out the Exquisite White True Jade Demon-Subduing Staff from his sleeve. The treasured artifact had already shrunk into a short rod about the length of a forearm and the thickness of a finger. It gleamed brilliantly under the moonlight, with faint patterns still visible on its surface.
Kongheng sighed again and said, "This means I must go north, for these things should be returned to the North Demon-Subduing Temple! The Exquisite White True Jade Demon-Subduing Staff and the Profound Coffer Tiger-Patterned Kasaya are precious, and the Sarira Pearl should be returned to the stupa all the more."
Li Ximing had already guessed what Kongheng was going to say, and his heart felt bitter, That old bald donkey was shrewd to the end, using schemes and countless twists, even at the cost of his own life, to force Kongheng to go north. Kongheng’s worth as a cultivator of the Ancient Dao is no small matter. His future path may be free of danger to his life, but his Dao lineage might not be preserved...
This treasured artifact was truly extraordinary. Just taking it out caused layers upon layers of five-colored radiance to spread across its surface. Li Ximing took a closer look, calculating in his mind, This is absolutely not at the Foundation Establishment Realm. At the very least, it matches a Purple Mansion Realm spirit artifact. Three such items in a row, he truly spared no effort.
Kongheng held the treasure and gently tapped it on the stag’s head. "Your crime is not so great. You should be released."
The stag let out a whimper, then struggled to its feet. Its fur scattered to the ground like leaves swept by the wind, bursting into a bloody heap, from which a man rolled out.
His face was covered in deer blood, his expression dazed. He bowed and said, "Many thanks, Master Monk."
Kongheng draped a garment over him and said softly, "The dead cannot return to life. Mourn, then move on."
The man lowered his gaze, his eyes filled with confusion, and said quietly, "I have been poor and destitute since childhood, and always cold and hungry. Even upon reaching adulthood, I had nothing to my name. My humble wife married me from thousands of kilometers away, and we supported each other through every hardship. Now that she has died unjustly, I no longer have the will to live..."
Kongheng lowered his head to look at him. His heart perception circulated, and he sensed that this man had already formed the will to die, so he turned to the side.
Had I agreed to the Wrathful Manifestation Emperor Scion back then and closed the karmic thread, not only could he have fulfilled his fate to become a Deer-bodied Arhat, but his wife might have gone on to the Pure Land.
Fortunately, this man was from Jiangnan, and not a citizen of Zhao State. If he had some understanding of Buddhist law, he might have borne resentment toward Kongheng. Now, having been harmed and then saved by the monk, his eyes held only confusion.
Kongheng sighed softly, "Why not come north with me, and we can seek out the North Demon-Subduing Temple together?"
The man froze for a moment, a trace of resentment flashing in his eyes, but he nodded. His black hair fell away in a sudden cascade. He put on the monk’s robe draped over his shoulders and silently followed Kongheng.
Li Ximing nodded at the sight and escorted them all the way to the lakeside. The night was deep, while the shore was silent and empty. The only sound was the crunch of two pairs of footsteps on the bank.
"This is far enough, Ximing." Kongheng pressed his palms together.
Li Ximing stopped, quietly studying him, and suddenly realized, Once Kongheng leaves, of all my peers from years past, I alone will remain.
He then said softly, "If, in years to come, Master Monk happens to pass by Moongaze Lake, stop and rest here. I will offer the best hospitality I can. But perhaps by then, Ximing will have failed and perished, and all will have changed. This place may no longer bear the Li name."
A smile suddenly came to Li Ximing’s face. The youth’s usual faint unease was gone, and he said calmly, "When that time comes, Master Monk, do not perform rites to send me on. Let me die completely. I would have no face to meet the ancestors and elders of past generations."
Kongheng pressed his palms together in prayer, sighed without speaking, and took his leave. Li Ximing watched as the two walked farther and farther under the moonlight until they disappeared into the northern woods. Then, he finally rode the wind back to the mountain.
The cultivation of the Jewel Steps was so slow that it made Li Ximing bristle with frustration. This time coming out of seclusion had not disrupted much, since he had made little progress. By his estimate, he had barely mastered one or two parts out of ten.
"It will likely take ten years," muttered Li Ximing as he descended back to the peak, his heart weighed down with heavy thoughts.
————
The Eastern Sea.
Palaces stood in rows upon the back of the Bicolor Scaled Beast, yet there was one spot left open, which contained a tall platform of pure blue. Three jadeite tables were set there, with Dingjiao seated high at the head.
Below, two aquatic beasts were locked in fierce combat. One was a thick-scaled, long-tusked water elephant with snow-white scales and razor-sharp tusks. The other was a long-tailed, single-horned serpent with the horn at the center of its brow gleaming brilliantly.
It shone pale blue and cast a mist over the space before it. The thick-scaled, long-tusked water elephant rolled and thrashed as blood gushed from its eyes like a spring. Blood streamed down its scales and turned into rolling pearls upon the ground.
"Minghuang!" Dingjiao’s clear and commanding voice drew Li Zhouwei’s gaze back. The dragon crown prince leaned against a throne of jadeite coral, its armrests adorned with two pristine Hooked Serpent heads that were bright as jade.
"What do you think of this profound light?" asked Dingjiao.
Li Zhouwei set down the jade cup in his hand, nodding as he said, "This Ever-Flowing Converging Water Profound Light may be a fourth grade item, but while it excels in transformation, it lacks killing power. Its many variations can dazzle an opponent but it cannot truly harm them. In single combat, it would still fear foes skilled in defense."
Dingjiao nodded at these words. Below, the two exotic beasts fought to the death, while the crown prince watched with pale blue eyes, sipping his wine idly as if his thoughts lay elsewhere.