Xiao Kun said, “I said back then the most likely reason was a probe. At first, I suspected it was one of Shan Yu Hong’s underlings testing my and Chaosheng’s Cultivation Base. Your sudden arrival drove off that scout, so she couldn’t gauge my strength. In hindsight, Shan Yu Hong must have reported to her superior ‘Mu’ right away.”
Xiang Xian understood. “When we subdued Lady Hua Rui and left Chengdu, Shan Yu Hong gave us that letter, knowing we’d follow its guidance downstream to Wushan.”
“Exactly!” Xiao Kun said.
“With Shan Yu Hong’s power, I don’t think she could command Ba She,” Xiang Xian realized during their discussion, his thoughts clarifying. “So Ba She must have been sent by ‘Mu’. By the time we arrived separately in Chengdu, this trap was already set. ‘Mu’ didn’t anticipate we’d exorcise Shan Yu Hong—that was an accident. But delivering the letter and laying the trap were all part of his plan!”
Xiao Kun said, “Now the question is: what does ‘Mu’ want?”
“What if they’re hiding in the Wushan Mountains right now?” Xiang Xian suddenly said.
If “Mu’s” hideout was in Wushan… that was entirely possible! He had seized the Demon Seed from Ba She and used its power to tempt Shan Yu Hong, control Ba She, and somehow gathered a band of subordinates. They lurked in the Wushan Holy Land, waiting for Baleful Qi to reach its peak and the moment of Heavenly Demon Reincarnation.
Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun sank into thought.
A monkey chattered as it climbed onto the second-floor private room and bowed respectfully to Wu Yingzong, presenting the Dragon Soaring Jade with both hands—the very magic treasure Xiao Kun had lost in the river.
Wu Yingzong exuded a king’s bearing when dealing with monkeys. A glow emanated from his hand as he casually pressed it to the little monkey’s body, infusing it with Cultivation Base as thanks. The monkey bowed deeply and departed.
“Thank you.” Xiao Kun expressed his gratitude once more. The incident temporarily derailed Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun’s train of thought.
“Your tether cord breaks too easily,” Xiang Xian said.
Xiao Kun tied it back to his waist. “Ever since you stole it last time, it’s been… What?”
“Hand it over,” Xiang Xian said. “I’ll make you a new one. Guaranteed not to fall off again.”
Xiao Kun placed the Dragon Soaring Jade on the table, and Xiang Xian took it.
“Whose side is he targeting?” Xiao Kun returned to the earlier topic. “Clearly not Chaosheng’s. I’d bet they still don’t know Chaosheng’s identity and don’t see him as a threat.”
Xiang Xian glanced at Chaosheng, who had gotten drunk and was leaning against Wu Yingzong. Xiang Xian said, “Carry Little Brother back to your room and get some rest. No need to come out and serve anymore—you’ve had a tiring day too.”
“Yes.” Wu Yingzong had been gazing at the pitch-black night outside. He now picked up Chaosheng and headed back to their room.
Seeing Xiao Kun watch Wu Yingzong’s retreating figure, Xiang Xian could roughly guess his thoughts. He said, “I rescued Wu Yingzong seventy years ago in Penglai while traveling with Master. A pill refiner had captured him there for drug experiments—no need to go into details. He’s always been very docile and affectionate toward people.”
Xiao Kun murmured an acknowledgment.
Xiang Xian continued, “Getting back to the moment Ba She appeared—at first, I thought its target was you.”
“Is that so?” Xiao Kun’s brows furrowed deeply.
Xiang Xian said candidly, “To be honest, I thought it wanted to capture you. But not long ago, you clashed directly with ‘Mr. Ying’. If they really wanted you, why didn’t ‘Mr. Ying’ make a move?”
Xiang Xian clearly held back other words. Xiao Kun seemed shrouded in mysteries, but since he didn’t volunteer them, Xiang Xian didn’t pry. This was far enough.
“I think it was coming for you,” Xiao Kun said. “Remember the final moment, when you pierced Ba She with the Wisdom Sword?”
“It cuts out.” Xiang Xian said. “It’s always like that—my memory gets fuzzy after drawing the sword.”
Xiao Kun asked, “Do you not remember either when the Demonic Qi from Ba She vented and a Demon Person appeared?”
“There seems to have been something like that.” Xiang Xian strained to recall.
“I suspect that was ‘Mu’,” Xiao Kun said.
“You saw it?” Xiang Xian asked.
Xiao Kun replied, “No, I didn’t even hear a clear voice. It was just a feeling from deep inside.”
So far, only Xiao Kun had formally clashed with this enigmatic foe. Xiang Xian thought for a long time before asking, “What exactly happened at the time?”
“The Demon Person that emerged from Ba She’s body grasped the Wisdom Sword,” Xiao Kun said. “I don’t know what he intended.”
Xiang Xian pondered, then stood and fetched the Wisdom Sword from his room. He drew it in front of Xiao Kun.
“Don’t be nervous,” Xiang Xian explained. “Without injecting Magical Power, it won’t erupt in golden light and start slashing everywhere.”
Xiao Kun said, “When you wield the sword, you can’t control yourself. What about Wu Yingzong?”
“He stays far away,” Xiang Xian said.
This was also Xiao Kun’s first time beholding the legendary ancient Divine Weapon that shook the world.
“This isn’t the original Wisdom Sword from ancient times,” Xiang Xian said. “During the Battle of Fei River, the first Wisdom Sword was reforged into the Heavenly Demon Spear. The Grand Demon-Exorcist Chen Xing forged this new sword for the Martial God Xiang Shu, but the Seven Great Primordial Lights contained within remain.”
The Wisdom Sword was pitch-black overall, inscribed with strange Talismanic Runes. The two stared at it for a moment but couldn’t decipher the symbols’ meanings. The blade was ancient and plain; without Magical Power to empower it, it was just an ordinary antique sword.
Xiao Kun lightly touched it with a finger, and nothing happened. The edge wasn’t particularly sharp either.
“Seven Great Primordial Lights.” Xiao Kun recalled the fragments he’d read in the Exorcism Division’s archives during his training—scraps of history.
