A layer of white mist rose over the river surface in winter, and the riverboat hurried to set sail. After all, it was the end of the year; after one round trip, they had to return to Gongzhou for the New Year. The boatman did not want to spend the New Year on the river. Fortunately, the winter river currents were not as turbulent as in summer or autumn, and the journey proceeded without incident. Departing from Gongzhou, they first passed Baidi City along the way. The shores were full of pines and cypresses, a deep green expanse. The chill surged from the river surface, accompanied by the hazy pale sky, like a landscape painting blurred by ink.
“Too beautiful!” Chaosheng finally woke at noon and sat at the bow warming himself by the fire. The mountains of the Three Gorges and those of Kunlun Mountain were like two different worlds. If not for entering the mortal realm, he would never have seen such scenery in his life.
The boatman brewed a pot of fish soup in the cabin and laughed, “It’s just that the young master has never been here before, so he’s amazed. We’ve seen it many times up and down the river.”
It was also Xiao Kun’s first time sailing down the Three Gorges. He stood at the bow, gazing upward. Amid the cloud-shrouded peaks, who knew how many Scattered Demons cultivated in hiding.
Xiang Xian emerged from the cabin and sat with them. He said, “Baidi City is my housekeeper Wu Yingzong’s hometown.”
“Oh?” Chaosheng said, “I’ve never heard you mention him.”
“He’s also of the Yao Clan,” Xiang Xian said, “but he’s been with me for many years. This time leaving Kaifeng, I sent him to Shangjing to inquire about the Heart Lamp’s whereabouts everywhere.”
“Clearly the wrong place,” Xiao Kun said flatly. “There are no records in the Liao Kingdom Exorcism Department either.”
Xiang Xian smiled at Chaosheng again and said, “His greatest wish in this life is to make a pilgrimage to Kunlun Mountain. You two would surely get along.”
“Many of the Yao Clan want to go to Kunlun,” Chaosheng said. “When I go home, I’ll definitely take him with me.”
Xiang Xian said, “He’d be more than willing to die for that.”
Xiao Kun asked puzzledly, “Is a pilgrimage that important?”
Xiang Xian said, “Legend has it that Kunlun is where all life in the world first sprouted, home to the world’s first tree, and also the garden of the Queen Mother of the West.”
The boat made a brief resupply at Baidi City’s dock and continued eastward along the Yangtze River. Chaosheng initially found it novel, but soon grew tired of the sight. By the second day, he was thoroughly bored and played chess with Xiang Xian at the bow of the cabin. Xiao Kun, however, always sat silently at the bow.
In the depths of winter, Chaosheng shivered from the cold, but Xiang Xian remained a furnace of heat and had him sit by the fire brazier.
A massive black shadow slowly passed beneath the river in the thick fog.
“Xiang Xian.” A Huang, who had been curled on Xiang Xian’s shoulder, suddenly opened his eyes and spoke.
“A Huang spoke again!” Chaosheng said in surprise.
The bell on Xiang Xian’s Waist Badge rang “ding ding ding.”
Xiang Xian exited the cabin. Xiao Kun pressed one hand to his blade and turned his head toward Xiang Xian.
“How far to Wu Gorge?” Xiao Kun asked.
“One hundred twenty li,” Xiang Xian said. “Where is that Demonic Qi coming from?”
The bell vibrated more intensely, the “ding ling ling” sounds merging into one. The next moment, Xiang Xian shouted, “It’s coming for us!”
“Protect Chaosheng!” Xiao Kun snapped back to attention and shouted. “The enemy is in the river!”
The Exorcism Division’s Chief and Deputy Emissaries had yet to figure out why they were suddenly attacked on the navigation channel when a towering surge of Demonic Qi erupted from the river bottom, flipping the small boat. The vessel spun and flew through the air. Xiang Xian rushed to the cabin, while Xiao Kun leaped onto the cabin roof, drew his Tang Dao, and charged toward the black flying shadow!
Chaosheng shouted loudly. Xiang Xian struck like lightning, scooping him up lightly with one hand while grabbing the unconscious boatman with the other.
Xiao Kun slashed in midair, flinging out a streak of radiance. Under his Magical Power, a strip of ice formed on the river surface, extending toward the shore.
When the boat fell again, it shattered on the ice. Xiang Xian slid Chaosheng and the boatman along the ice path Xiao Kun had created, sending them toward the riverbank.
“A Huang! Protect Chaosheng!” Xiang Xian shouted to A Huang as he flapped his wings and flew over. Turning back again, he saw a giant serpent erupting from the river, its entire body bursting with black fire, opening its jaws toward Xiao Kun’s exposed back.
Xiao Kun spun sharply, blocking with his Dual Knives. Under that mountain-like impact, he was smashed into the water.
Xiang Xian flew to rescue him. Chaosheng had already activated the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map, pushing his hands forward. Massive waves surged from the riverbank, lifting the mountain-sized giant serpent out of the water. In the black serpent’s mouth was Xiao Kun, struggling to hold it off with his Dual Knives.
