“Xiang Xian? Xiang Xian!” Xiao Kun knew that Xiang Xian needed rest at this moment, but as the newly appointed Grand Demon-Exorcist, he was unfamiliar with the Song Court. Faced with this chaotic situation, he simply couldn’t clean up the mess without Xiang Xian waking up.
Xiang Xian awoke, his breathing heavy. He lay in Xiao Kun’s arms and struggled to prop himself up. Noticing the wound healing on Xiao Kun’s palm, he asked, “Are you alright?”
Xiao Kun breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t expected Xiang Xian, who was utterly exhausted, to concern himself with him first thing upon waking.
Xiang Xian forced himself to stand and looked around. He saw a corner of the Great Song Imperial Palace that had nearly become ruins.
“How much will this cost to fix?” Xiang Xian muttered.
“You’d have to ask yourself,” Xiao Kun replied, equally at a loss.
“Was it all my doing?” Xiang Xian asked.
Xiao Kun braced himself and said, “We can’t put it that way. Chaosheng… helped a bit too.”
The Daojun Emperor Zhao Ji had been taken to Yanfu Palace. The ruler of a nation was already scared out of his wits by the sudden upheaval.
Crown Prince Zhao Huan, meanwhile, immediately summoned the ministers to inspect the damage in Kaifeng City.
Wu Yingzong knelt on one knee and said, “It’s all my fault, Master.”
Xiang Xian waved him off instinctively and asked, “What exactly happened? Did the Official Family fall to demonic possession?”
Chaosheng recounted the first half of the events, and Xiao Kun filled in the latter half. Xiang Xian hadn’t listened long before he decisively said, “Let’s go. We can’t stay here.”
“Where to?” Xiao Kun asked.
“Run first and talk later!” Xiang Xian said. “Over the wall—let’s go!”
The group of four reached the southwest corner of the palace amid the chaos, ready to slip away, when Zhao Huan hurried back and called out, “Halt… please stay, everyone!”
Xiao Kun rubbed his forehead.
Now the Chief and Deputy Emissaries of the Exorcism Division couldn’t dodge it anymore. Xiang Xian could only force a bright, sunny smile, hoping to reassure Zhao Huan. But Zhao Huan paid no mind to what had just happened and showed no concern for his father. He asked, “What exactly occurred today?”
“It’s… a long story,” Xiang Xian said.
Xiao Kun instantly understood the situation. Though the demon’s appearance had caused extreme chaos, for Zhao Huan, his goal had been achieved: he hoped the emperor would step down sensibly!
After the melee, Gao Qiu arrived late with the Imperial Forest Army. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun had no choice but to go to Purple Chen Hall and explain themselves to the assembled officials. But Xiang Xian himself hadn’t yet sorted out all the details, so he did his best to tell them that the Daojun Emperor had been possessed by a demon.
This possession was akin to the common folk’s tales of “being bewitched.” Then came the ministers’ questions: Why would the sovereign of the nation, the embodiment of the Purple Tenuity Star, fall to bewitchment? What was the cause? Inevitably, this dragged in the emperor’s pursuit of immortality, and the explanations grew more tangled.
Zhao Huan wouldn’t let them leave no matter what. From his standpoint, he had to make all the ministers know that Zhao Ji was no longer fit to rule Great Song.
Xiang Xian, as a Song person, was wary of court factional struggles and held back in his explanations. Xiao Kun, however, felt little allegiance to Great Song. In the end, Xiang Xian couldn’t cover for Zhao Ji anymore and simply steeled himself, letting Xiao Kun speak.
“So the demons’ chaos,” Xiao Kun had lost his patience and didn’t want to hype things up for Zhao Huan anymore, “is precisely why the Exorcism Division was formed. Crown Prince, there are many details we ourselves haven’t uncovered yet. Are you sure you want to keep questioning us here?”
Zhao Huan’s face darkened—this turmoil ultimately stemmed from the Exorcism Division’s negligence. Xiang Xian had guarded Kaifeng for years yet never discovered the demon operating right under their noses. He couldn’t escape blame. Yet Zhao Huan was the biggest beneficiary, so he temporarily relented and agreed not to pursue it further.
“Fine,” Zhao Huan said to the ministers. “See, the ‘Heavenly Mandate’ that Lord Xiang brought back concerns the very survival of our Great Song.”
The courtiers had heard bits and pieces. The last time Xiang Xian had spoken frankly, it enraged the emperor, and rumors about the Heavenly Mandate had swirled for months, even reaching the common folk. Now, there was no doubt.
“I might be able to restore the damaged palace. Want to give it a try?” Chaosheng saw the tense atmosphere and quietly offered to salvage a bit of the situation.
Wu Yingzong signaled to Chaosheng that it was fine. Just as Xiao Kun showed clear impatience, Zhao Huan finally knew when to stop and let them go.
Xiang Xian breathed a sigh of relief. From start to finish, they hadn’t made him pay for the palace damage. As he left Purple Chen Hall, his smile returned.
“Help them fix it up, Chaosheng?”
“What are you laughing about?” Xiao Kun was utterly exasperated with Xiang Xian.
“The fight’s over,” Xiang Xian said. “Finally, we can go home!”
This year had been a complete headache. Though they still hadn’t figured out the demons’ origins or goals, at least they’d gotten the job done. Xiang Xian remained thoroughly optimistic.
At that moment, a middle-aged man hurried in from outside the palace, clearly just having heard the news.
“You must be Lord Xiao?” The man wore casual clothes, and even the Imperial Forest Army didn’t dare stop him.
Xiao Kun stood outside Purple Chen Hall, sizing him up, when Xiang Xian said, “Cai Xiang.”
Hearing the title, Xiao Kun knew this was the famous Great Song Tongping Zhangshi, Cai Jing. Back in Liao, he’d heard the ministers mention the name countless times. Cai Jing had once held sway over the court, his power unmatched. His daughter-in-law was Zhao Ji’s daughter, Maode Diji—a true pinnacle of power. Later, in the fourth year of Xuanhe, he suffered a great defeat against Liao, drew criticism from all sides, and feigned illness to retire.
“I heard Lord Xiao had taken over the Exorcism Division but haven’t had the chance to pay a visit,” Cai Jing said. A veteran of officialdom, he was very perceptive. He’d learned early that Xiao Kun would be the Chief Emissary. Without much small talk with Xiang Xian, he first cupped his hands toward Xiao Kun.
