Chapter 2: Reunion Part 2

Golden light slashed across the world. The sheathed sword hummed like a living thing. Barely three-tenths unsheathed, its radiance blinded Xiao Kun, exploding before them like crashing waves.

With a clear ring, Xiang Xian resheathed, locking Xiao Kun’s Tang Dao.

“Go!”

With immense thrust, Xiao Kun smashed into the Hanging Temple, bursting through the outer wall toward the Shakyamuni statue. He reacted swiftly, dissipating momentum before landing and sprang up, facing the sky.

Xiao Kun panted fiercely. From on high came Xiang Xian’s voice: “Fine skills.”

Xiao Kun gripped his Tang Dao, wounds from stabs and gashes healing rapidly. As he assumed a side-bow stance to stroke the blade for a heaven-shaking strike, Xiang Xian made a “see you later” gesture and vanished beyond the temple.

Xiao Kun calmed, sheathed his blade with a crisp sound, and pursued Xiang Xian.

Xiang Xian dashed across high cliff suspension bridges, leaving the Hanging Temple area. Glancing back, he had shaken Xiao Kun.

That guy’s got real skill, Xiang Xian thought. Haven’t had a fight like that in ages. What does he want? Delaying a night, plus the earth-shaking brawl outside the temple—it had surely alerted the Jin Army in Datong Prefecture. Wanyan Zonghan, humiliated, would not rest easy.

Xiang Xian stood atop the snowy peak, gazing afar as Jin Kingdom troops converged.

He leaped down into the valley several times, examined the map in cover, seeking the secular disciple Gongsun Bang’s hiding spot. That day, threading Xuan Yue Mountain’s hidden paths, Xiang Xian reached a secluded village of just over ten households—all Datong Prefecture folk who had fled into the mountains when the Yanyun Sixteen Prefectures burned.

“Do you know a man called Gongsun Bang?” Xiang Xian asked.

The villagers eyed him warily. Xiang Xian explained, “I’m sent by Master Liuyun.”

“Don’t know.” A villager fetching water replied. “Leave. We live apart from the world, ignorant of your grudges.”

Xiang Xian felt a touch annoyed. Many gathered at the village entrance to watch. Moments later, their gazes shifted to his jade pendant.

Xiang Xian had earlier pinned the Dragon-Shaped Jade Pendant taken from Xiao Kun in place of his waist badge. Now it emitted faint light and buzzed softly.

Most magic treasures recognized their master; this one, forcibly taken, called for its original owner—but Xiang Xian had more pressing matters.

An idea struck him. Gravely, he said: “Gongsun Bang, disciple of Buddha Palace Temple, was entrusted in crisis with safeguarding a dharma artifact. I am the temple’s guardian; Master Liuyun sent me to retrieve it. If you have word of him, please share, benefactors.”

With that, Xiang Xian produced the feather and cupped it in his palms. His body ignited with warm flames that swirled around him, faintly evoking the youthful Fire God Zhurong.

The villagers startled and knelt, murmuring prayers toward him.

“He’s in Nine Dragons Cave to the north!” one said. “He’s been cultivating there awhile. Follow the path north of the village, eighty li.”

“Thanks.” Xiang Xian dispersed the spells; flames vanished. He turned and departed, leaving the half-kneeling villagers exchanging bewildered glances.

Jin Troops closed in fast. The journey dragged too long, with a predatory, ill-intentioned assailant on his tail—Xiang Xian grew irritated.

Jin scout eagles filled the sky; Xiang Xian guessed his movements lay bare to the enemy.

Ordinary men, no matter how many, were no match for him in one go. Only that guy proved troublesome.

What school’s techniques? Xiang Xian recalled his knowledge—no exorcist sect used Tang Dao as weapon. A hidden cultivator? Trailing him thousands of li for one purpose: the Heaven’s Mandate Box.

With Liao Kingdom fallen, Jin Kingdom sent Wanyan Zonghan. This “accomplice” must be the one Zonghan mentioned—also infiltrated the Jin camp recently. Enemy to Jin Kingdom, not ally. From Western Xia? Tubo? Dali Kingdom?

None fit.

Liao Kingdom remnant?

Possible.

Xiang Xian quickened through dense woods toward Nine Dragons Cave entrance: a narrow, low valley with a stream running through, ending in a white veil of waterfall. He washed his face in the bone-chilling stream. The Dragon-Shaped Jade Pendant at his waist glowed stronger, warning Xiao Kun drew near.

Xiang Xian leaped the stream and heard clamor from beyond the ravine.

Enemies arrived.

Unlike expected, only about a hundred Jin Troops—a scouting party. With his skills, he could dispatch them in moments.

Xiang Xian sat on a central boulder in the stream, eyeing the Jin Troops arraying outside the ravine.

“How fares the Great General?” Xiang Xian laughed.

No answer. Front ranks raised shields, rear fell back into an iron-barrel formation. From the center emerged a scholar-clad man, sallow-faced with upturned brows—a sinister cultivator.

Xiang Xian grew solemn. Wanyan Zonghan deemed him a demon, so no ordinary tactics. He’d hastily summoned another “demon” to counter.

This man was no mere cultivator—he reeked of heavy Demonic Aura!

The scholar said, “Long heard of the Great Song Exorcism Envoy’s fame. How does Master Shen?”

“My master has ascended to immortality.” Xiang Xian took the words seriously. “And you, senior?”

The scholar smiled dismissively. “No one knows this old man nowadays. No matter. Who leads Bianjing Demon Exorcism Office?”

“Lord Guo, Guo Jing.” Xiang Xian replied, hand slipping behind to grasp his sword hilt.

“That famed sword in the tales?” The scholar sighed. “So young, yet wielding it—impressive youth, impressive!”

As he marveled “impressive youth,” Xiang Xian sensed the trap—the foe would strike!

Indeed, the scholar flicked his hand, unfolding a folding fan with a snap.

Simultaneously, Xiang Xian unslung his Pei Sword. The valley boomed, sand and stones flew, the waterfall reversed, darkness filled the sky, and a mighty qi blast dispersed.

“This is the Mountain God of Wangwu Mountain,” the scholar’s voice rose amid chaos. “Subdued and refined by me one hundred twenty years ago. Let me see how much of Shen Kuo’s skill his direct disciple learned.”

The black-qi-wreathed Mountain God appeared, ten zhang tall, body of massive rock, charging Xiang Xian. Caught off-guard, Xiang Xian flew back from the colossal impact!

Rocks tumbled in the valley. Xiang Xian tried several times to slip from under the Mountain God but could not escape the behemoth. It roared, rampaging, cornering him.

With no retreat, as Xiang Xian moved to draw, a clear shout rang: “Get lost!”

Xiao Kun appeared! His Tang Dao gathered indigo Blazing Flame, carving through the enemy rear. Jin Troops toppled in chaos. The scholar leaped airborne, fanning surging black qi at Xiao Kun, who ignored it, piercing the formation to reach the Black Mountain God’s back.

Xiang Xian now faced both behemoth and Xiao Kun, scrambling. “We’ll settle accounts later!”

Xiao Kun was ferocious, dragging his Tang Dao inverted for a straight cleave.

Xiang Xian cheered.

The Black Mountain God whirled with a roar, flinging both men. Xiang Xian shouted, “Don’t linger! Go first!”

Xiao Kun hesitated. The Mountain God exploded into countless rolling stones, rising like a meteor shower, millions of jin crashing down—even top spells could not save them from being pulped.

At the last instant, Xiang Xian soared, grabbed Xiao Kun’s waist, and rolled them behind the waterfall.

Darkness engulfed them. Countless boulders whistled. They tumbled into the natural cavern behind, but the scholar’s incantation outside recombined the stones—the Black Mountain God rose anew!

“Run!” Xiang Xian roared.

They scrambled up in the cave passage, fleeing desperately. Behind, rocks collapsed massively. The Black Mountain God shattered the narrow channel after reforming, triggering chain cave-ins. Deafening crashes echoed as darkness fully closed, and Xiang Xian with Xiao Kun plummeted into the abyss.

A muffled thud, then the world fell silent.