“Oh! So that’s a War Dead Corpse Ghost!” Xiang Xian nodded and said, “Found it. Let me see—Zenggu Drum, Great Si Ming Flute… oh, not low-grade at all.”
Xiang Xian raised no questions and didn’t even look at Xiao Kun—he just accepted it.
Xiao Kun’s expression grew extremely complex for a moment; he didn’t know what to say.
Xiang Xian: “?”
“Nothing,” Xiao Kun said. “What does the book say?”
Xiang Xian read from the chart, “Great Si Ming Flute—legend says it can release the soul-transferring power of the Corpse Immortal Drought Fiend, turning dead corpses into living corpses. The Zenggu Drum grants ‘Fiends’ Divine Sense, awakening their intelligence from slumber… Either one can command the Ghost Clan. Hmm, seems like it. The Great Si Ming Flute revives the dead, but these living corpses lack consciousness, like tools. The Zenggu Drum’s power gives them self-awareness. Both Magic Treasures can control the Ghost Clan, but the Great Si Ming Flute seems a bit more powerful.”
Xiao Kun had not yet recovered. He exchanged a glance with Xiang Xian and then said, “Let’s go back to the room to talk.”
Xiao Kun suggested returning to the room, so they couldn’t continue discussing—it might wake their companions. Xiang Xian was exhausted and fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed. Xiao Kun could worry for him.
Xiao Kun was indeed very worried. He tossed and turned, unable to disturb the sleeping Xiang Xian beside him, and pondered all night.
The next day, the light rain continued. The inn entrance was already muddy. In such perfect sleeping weather, Chaosheng would never rise early. Wu Yingzong was still keeping him company, while Hulü Guang had already started drinking tea in the outer room.
“You didn’t sleep a wink last night?” Xiang Xian yawned as he sat at the table and noticed Xiao Kun’s fatigued state.
“What do you think?” Xiao Kun thought: You actually slept soundly?
“Are we going today?” Xiang Xian stretched his neck. Hulü Guang promptly poured tea for them.
“Of course,” Xiao Kun replied. “We’re already here—we can’t turn back.”
The enemy had detected their movements and must have set a trap at Kizil long ago. In the past, Xiao Kun might have sought another way in, but now with Xiang Xian, they could still fight relying on his strength—after all, Xiang Xian’s Wisdom Sword was a bane to demons.
“Think positively,” Xiang Xian said. “The Heart Lamp is definitely here! We guessed right, didn’t we?”
Xiao Kun was still pondering—they had speculated that demons couldn’t obtain the Heart Lamp directly, as its nature countered all darkness and Baleful Qi-born things. The enemy couldn’t even see it, as Mr. Ying’s mention of “manifesting” proved.
So the enemy patiently waited, setting a trap for them to find the Heart Lamp first, then seize it.
“Where are you all going?” Hulü Guang said.
“Kizil,” Xiao Kun said. He no longer kept it secret, since the enemy already knew their destination.
Hulü Guang said, “North bank of the Wuzat River, Thousand Buddha Cave—I know the place. I’ll lead the way for everyone.”
Xiao Kun pondered for a moment, then said, “Today is just reconnaissance. Either you stay at the inn… never mind, Master decides.”
Chaosheng finally got up, refreshed from sleep. He knew nothing of last night’s events. He went outside, looked around, and said, “Eh? Still raining?”
Wu Yingzong, however, knew that Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian had left in the dead of night and that something must have happened.
Xiang Xian briefly recounted what occurred, omitting many details, and simply told them that the Demon Race was also investigating Thousand Buddha Cave.
“Too dangerous,” Wu Yingzong said. “Still going?”
“Old Wu, you’d best stay behind,” Xiao Kun guessed there was definitely a trap. If it were just him and Xiang Xian, they could escape in time, but with Chaosheng and Wu Yingzong, it would be difficult.
“But, Big Brother, I want to help you too,” Chaosheng said worriedly.
Xiao Kun said, “The place we’re going is extremely dangerous.”
Xiang Xian suddenly interrupted Xiao Kun and said, “The reason you need to stay behind is that I have a task for Old Wu.”
Wu Yingzong knelt formally and said earnestly, “Master, please instruct me.”
Xiang Xian said, “Capture that guy in the City Lord’s Mansion. He must be the advisor to Li Er Man that the Gaochang King mentioned. He’s a War Dead Corpse Ghost of unknown origin, but with your skills and Chaosheng providing support, it shouldn’t be hard to take him down.”
Hulü Guang immediately said, “Yes! When I was in Gaochang, I heard that after a certain advisor appeared by Li Er Man’s side, he began plotting rebellion.”
Wu Yingzong replied, “I’ll go right now.”
Xiao Kun understood Xiang Xian’s intent and said, “But Old Wu must prepare thoroughly before acting—don’t alert the enemy.”
Xiang Xian took out the Magic Treasure he had retrieved from Shan Yu Hong—the folded Red Cloth Demon-Subduing Banner—and said, “Wu Yingzong can’t use the Demon-Suppressing Banner, but Chaosheng is an immortal. You know how to capture demons, right? Seal him inside the Demon-Suppressing Banner, and we’ll interrogate him thoroughly when we return from investigating.”
“Hulü Guang can come with us,” Xiao Kun suddenly thought of something and had an idea. “Old Wu, I have a plan. Take this to see Li Er Man.” He took out a Cloth Package and said, “I’ll retrieve it later.”
Xiang Xian glanced at it, guessing it was an extremely important token from the Liao Kingdom, but since Xiao Kun didn’t open it, he didn’t ask.
The group finalized their plans. Xiao Kun explained the process in detail to Wu Yingzong, instructing him to approach Li Er Man as per his own strategy.
Xiang Xian added, “I don’t care what methods you use to capture him in the end. First, ensure your own safety—don’t take risks at any cost. Second…”
“Ensure Chaosheng’s safety,” Wu Yingzong said. “I know, Master.”
Xiang Xian said, “If you don’t have absolute certainty, don’t act rashly.”
A Huang volunteered, “I’ll go with you. If anything happens, I’ll come back to notify Old Wu right away.”
Xiang Xian patted Wu Yingzong’s shoulder. Xiao Kun and Hulü Guang were already waiting on horseback. Hulü Guang waved to Chaosheng, and the three set off out of the city.
