Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian sat side by side by the pool. Xiang Xian said, “Qingshan, you can manipulate dreams. So through dreams, can we recall past events?”
Mu Qingshan sat up but didn’t answer. He glanced at Xiao Kun, who silently peeled pine nuts to eat.
Xiang Xian: “The dreams we had along the way—were they all real events that happened?”
After peeling a pine nut, Xiao Kun fed one to Xiang Xian, just like the parrot feeding fruit kernels to A Huang.
“Don’t ask me,” Mu Qingshan stretched lazily. “Ask your beloved.”
Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian exchanged a glance, both a bit embarrassed.
Xiao Kun said, “Has this same conversation happened before?”
Mu Qingshan looked indifferent. “Guess even further back. Maybe in the previous life, someone asked me to find you again after the Wheel of Fate regressed once more and awaken all your memories?”
Xiang Xian felt a chill at these words.
Xiao Kun merely hummed faintly, still eating pine nuts. “So in the previous life, we knew each other too, right?”
Xiang Xian said incredulously, “Qingshan, you remember everything?”
“My understanding of dreams differs from yours,” Mu Qingshan said. “Those fragmented memory snippets to you are past events I can truly recall. Though unfamiliar, piecing them together lets me infer what happened.”
Xiang Xian: “What exactly happened in the previous life? As the god of dreams, can you make us remember our past lives? Awaken those dreams again?”
Mu Qingshan: “Do you really want to know?”
Xiang Xian: “Of course!”
Xiao Kun read more from Mu Qingshan’s hesitant expression.
“Tell me what once happened,” Xiang Xian urged, “but was reversed by King Mu. It’s crucial for defeating the Heavenly Demon!”
Xiao Kun had another thought and interrupted. “What did I tell you in the previous life, Qingshan? Was it ‘Even if everything happens again, I don’t want to remember what occurred’?”
“Yes.” Mu Qingshan said flatly.
Xiang Xian abruptly stood and looked at Xiao Kun.
After a brief pause, Mu Qingshan continued, “But Xiang Xian said that no matter what, find him again in reincarnation and help him recall the past.”
Xiao Kun: “…”
Xiang Xian couldn’t comprehend. “My decision and Xiao Kun’s were completely opposite?”
“King Mu regressed the Wheel of Fate at least twice,” Mu Qingshan answered. “The first time, Xiang Xian led everyone into the Heavenly Demon Palace. The second, Xiao Kun took the lead.”
“The night before the final battle,” Mu Qingshan said, hand on his neck as he stretched, “you each mentioned the Wheel of Fate to me. Xiang Xian, your decision was: if you meet Xiao Kun again in reincarnation, have me find you and help you remember.”
“And the second time, Xiao Kun told me you no longer wanted to live another life.” Mu Qingshan turned to look at them. “So your opinions conflict. You might need to discuss it first.”
A quarter-hour later:
“Why?” Xiang Xian chased after Xiao Kun.
“I don’t know!” Xiao Kun seemed distraught, walking ahead. Finally, he turned back to Xiang Xian, hesitating to speak.
Xiang Xian was at a loss. “You find it hard to accept?”
“That was the previous life’s decision,” Xiao Kun calmed himself and said to Xiang Xian. “How could I remember?!”
Xiang Xian: “I want to know what happened before. I’ll go find the White Deer.”
Xiao Kun said, “I haven’t thought it through! You… Xiang Xian! Come back!”
With the greatest mystery about to unravel, how could Xiang Xian tolerate Xiao Kun’s hesitation now?
“This was just my initial guess,” Xiao Kun explained hurriedly. “I didn’t expect you tonight. You disrupted my plan, Xiang Xian!”
“What plan?” Xiang Xian was even more puzzled. “What plan can’t you tell me?”
“A plan to locate the Heavenly Demon Palace and enter the Demon King’s stronghold,” Xiao Kun answered, glancing at Xiang Xian.
Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun locked eyes.
Xiao Kun said, “Give me time to think. My thoughts are too scattered right now.”
Xiang Xian didn’t press further and watched Xiao Kun’s retreating back to his room.
“Do you remember Shuhu’s words?” Xiang Xian suddenly said as they parted.
Xiao Kun stopped but didn’t turn.
“I do,” Xiao Kun answered, back to Xiang Xian. “The third prophecy: we must completely trust each other, entrusting ourselves without reservation… It will be the lone light remaining in this dark catastrophe.”
“Do you think Shuhu knew everything that happened?” Xiang Xian looked up at the Sacred Tree Jumang, then distracted by the moonlight, murmured, “Look, tonight’s moon is truly beautiful.”
Xiao Kun said, “The White Jade Palace is very close to the moon, much closer than the mortal world.”
They stood side by side under the moonlight, both looking up at the full moon.
“I won’t force you,” Xiang Xian said frankly. “But I want to know. I’m going to find the White Deer now. I feel that every prophecy of Shuhu might be accurate beyond doubt.”
Xiao Kun looked at Xiang Xian, his gaze extremely complex.
Xiang Xian merely smiled at him and turned back toward the poolside.
“I think in the previous life, many heartbreaking things must have happened,” Xiao Kun counted the pine nuts in his hand and muttered to himself, “Otherwise, why wouldn’t I want to remember?”
But Xiang Xian did not hear him; he had already walked far away.
At the edge of Ten Thousand Flowers Pool, Mu Qingshan saw Xiang Xian approach alone.
“When I was little, I loved dreaming the most,” Xiang Xian muttered to himself. “Come on, White Deer. Did we really know each other once?”
Mu Qingshan asked, “Have you thought it through?”
Xiang Xian sat down by the pool, then lay back down, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, closed his eyes, and smiled faintly.
Mu Qingshan transformed into deer form, stepped across the pool surface, stirring ripples everywhere, as the herd of deer parted.
“Is lying like this okay?” Xiang Xian asked like an obedient child, hands folded over his chest, perfectly still.
