“Upstanding in conduct,” Wu Yingzong replied. “During my investigation, I befriended several remnant officials of the Northern Court Yilibi of the former Liao Kingdom. They spoke highly of Xiao Kun, saying he never lied. During Emperor Yelu Yanxi’s reign, when court ministers colluded corruptly, Xiao Kun was the only one daring enough to remonstrate directly—even drawing his sword on the Great Liao court assembly.”
“Mm.” Xiang Xian’s expression grew quite complex. He had done such things himself. Compared to the Great Song, internal corruption and chaos in Liao were no better, or it would not have invited national destruction. During the Song-Jin alliance, in the years when Great Liao’s fate waned, some still strove desperately to turn the tide. In the end, Xiao Kun fled with the young sovereign—Xiang Xian wondered what mood that had been.
“Besides, he protected many Han People and funded an orphanage in Shangjing, supporting dozens of orphans with his salary,” Wu Yingzong said. “Some speculate this stems from his father being of Han descent. In Liao Territory, when Han and Khitan clashed occasionally, Shangjing’s Han People sought his aid.”
“Getting too involved in worldly affairs is no good,” Xiang Xian said. “Send a letter to Prince Kang Zhao Gou as soon as possible and ask him to help track down the fates of those orphanage children. Continue—Xiao Kun served steadily in the Exorcism Division? How was his performance in the role?”
Wu Yingzong said, “At sixteen, the Exorcism Division was entrusted to him, making northern border demon subjugation his duty. While traveling to vanquish demons, he also handled local officials’ requests. Upon returning to Upper Capital, he submitted memorials to the palace, attempting to address regional famines, people’s livelihood issues, and such. But Emperor Yelu Yanxi ignored most of them.”
Xiang Xian’s knot entered its final stage as he asked, “How many people were in the Liao Kingdom Exorcism Department?”
“Back then, the Exorcism Division split north-south. Many clans migrated south, leaving the north without fresh blood. Over a century, the original northern exorcists passed away one by one. In the end, only he remained, so the title of Northern Great Exorcist fell to him alone, with no one else. Two years ago, at twenty-two, he tried taking disciples. After selection, there were twelve. But most youths could not endure hardship or had poor aptitude, failing his standards. He gave up in the end—after all, spells mostly rely on fate; one cannot force them.”
“Mm.” Xiang Xian knew well that becoming an exorcist required more than diligence. And after mastering spells, one faced even more constraints: no using Cultivation Base for wealth or fame, no wanton killing, no battlefield sorcery like summoning gales or thunderbolts against armies to claim merits and become a Great General.
Being an exorcist brought little gain and endless worries—pointless.
“Intelligence on Northern Great Exorcist Xiao Kun amounts to this much,” Wu Yingzong said. “I feel he resembles you in some ways, Master.”
“I rather like that kid,” Xiang Xian thought for a moment and replied.
Wu Yingzong offered no comment on that, watching Xiang Xian finish the knot. Xiang Xian said, “This time, I ran into him and Chaosheng by chance.”
“Chaosheng told me,” Wu Yingzong said as he fetched the Pruning Scissors.
Xiang Xian took them and said, “Truth be told, without Shuhu’s prophecy, I might have one day sworn brotherhood with him.”
A Huang: “You’re giving him the Heavenly Gold Silk too?”
“Mm.” Xiang Xian produced a strand of gold thread from his Qiankun Bag. “Never found a proper use for it—might as well use it now.”
“Not only do you wish to form a golden brotherhood with him,” Wu Yingzong said politely, “but you’ve woven the Heavenly Gold Silk into the red cord as well.”
Xiang Xian stopped him from saying more. “I’m just afraid he’ll lose the Dragon Jade Pendant again.”
Xiang Xian had woven into the red rope one of his treasured Magic Treasures, a relic from his master: Heavenly Gold Silk. Refined from another treasure, even the sharpest divine weapons could not sever it. It was a chain that, once fastened, could never be undone—originally the Thousand Mechanism Chain.
“I thought we’d find leads on the crucial Heart Lamp in the north,” Xiang Xian said to Wu Yingzong. “Didn’t expect we’d stumble upon one of its former hosts from years ago.”
Wu Yingzong said, “Regarding the Heart Lamp, I obtained important news you’re sure to find interesting.”
Xiang Xian never imagined Wu Yingzong’s northern trip would uncover the Heart Lamp’s whereabouts.
“A migratory bird,” Wu Yingzong said, “from a northern-migrating Yao Clan. Forty years ago, on a moonlit night, it spotted the Heart Lamp near Guanjiangkou, not far from the base of Yulei Mountain. It streaked like a meteor toward the northwest.”
Xiang Xian: “!!!”
Xiang Xian’s face filled with disbelief. Wu Yingzong continued, “It was a cultivated snipe, over a hundred years old. Using its power, I traced south and found another bird that had wintered along that path. The Heart Lamp Master perished in autumn, when many migrants would have seen it pass. But most birds don’t live decades, lack cultivation, and cannot speak.”
A Huang: “You should have asked the geese clan—geese range farther.”
“Get to the conclusion.” Xiang Xian grew tense.
Wu Yingzong, ever steady and deliberate, returned to his room and fetched a map. As he entered and exited, Chaosheng called out, “Big Brother! You’re awake—”
Fortunately, the main business was done. With Chaosheng up, Xiao Kun would awaken soon too.
“I went all the way to Chagan Lake, showed A Huang’s tail feather, and indeed questioned the geese flock, marking the Heart Lamp’s path,” Wu Yingzong said. “A swan told me the general route.”
Wu Yingzong drew a line on the Shenzhou Map, from Shu Region toward the distant Western Regions.
Xiao Kun had risen too; Xiang Xian heard the washing sounds from his room.
Moments later, Xiao Kun emerged in a single layer of clothing, pushing the door open.
“Found something?”
