He gestured for Sa Luan to step aside and explained in a low voice. Sa Luan’s eyes brimmed with baleful qi, glancing at Xiang Xian repeatedly.
Xiang Xian understood Xiao Kun well—traveling with such a troublesome kid must have been exhausting. But given the circumstances, he couldn’t treat a fallen crown prince lightly.
After repeated assurances, Xiao Kun finally said, “Xiang Xian is my friend. I’ve seen him… Anyway, he’s absolutely trustworthy. He doesn’t care for these national struggles and won’t betray us.”
Sa Luan reluctantly accepted, and the group headed to Dujiangyan.
Along the way, Xiang Xian wanted to exchange intelligence with Xiao Kun, but Sa Luan kept interrupting. Only when they settled in Dujiangyan did a light snow fall outside. With Sa Luan asleep, Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian finally sat drinking in peace.
“This can’t go on,” Xiang Xian said. “What’s your plan?”
Xiao Kun countered, “What can I do?”
They sat in silence. Xiao Kun slowly continued, “At first, I thought of sending him to Yaojin Palace, but Sa Luan has nothing left now and can’t accept his kingdom’s fall. Or send him to Kedun City with the Imperial Jade Seal to Yelu Dashi.”
Xiao Kun knew his duty was to purify the Heavenly Demon. Otherwise, when calamity came and Shuhu’s prophecy came true, Shenzhou Great Land would be destroyed regardless of nation or ethnicity, lost to war and demonic qi.
“Take him to Kaifeng?” Xiang Xian suggested. “As long as we keep it quiet, it shouldn’t draw attention.”
“And then? I go out on business with you? You think he won’t cause trouble?” Xiao Kun replied.
Xiang Xian tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully.
“You need to resolve this mess quickly,” Xiang Xian said. “In this world, the only person I can truly rely on is you. I need assistance.”
“This is my responsibility too,” Xiao Kun said flatly. “From the day I followed Master in learning the arts and became an exorcist, exorcising and purifying the Heavenly Demon has been my fate.”
Hearing this, Xiang Xian had no more doubts, a glint of admiration in his eyes.
“Give me some time,” Xiao Kun said.
A terrified shout suddenly rang from the room. Xiang Xian jumped, but Xiao Kun said, “Sa Luan is dreaming again. He often does this.” With that, Xiao Kun rose and went inside to soothe him.
“Do you think he’s reliable?” A Huang asked from Xiang Xian’s shoulder.
“We’re the only two who heard Shuhu’s Prophecy,” Xiang Xian thought and replied. “From the moment we opened the Heaven’s Mandate Box, fate has been at work in the shadows.”
The dream shifted again. In Qingcheng Mountain, Lady Hua Rui erupted with demonic qi amid the Mani Heap’s resonance.
“Watch out—!” Xiao Kun shouted.
Xiang Xian held the Wisdom Sword but did not unsheathe it. He and Xiao Kun wove through the exploding black qi and thorns. Sa Luan stood far off, stunned. Moments later, thorns lashed toward Sa Luan. Xiao Kun blocked a strike for him, and Sa Luan cried out in panic.
Xiang Xian struck Lady Hua Rui hard with sword and sheath. Xiao Kun swiftly spun his blade, severing her vines in two, then slashed again, cleaving her body. Lady Hua Rui’s blood burst out, staining the clearing red.
“Show mercy!” Xiang Xian called, too late to stop it. “Shan Yu Hong wanted me to capture her…”
In the heat of the moment, Xiao Kun had struck lethally and couldn’t retract. Lady Hua Rui’s mangled body sprawled on the ground.
“Why did you harm innocent people here?” Xiang Xian crouched before her, looking down.
“I was once… a divine servant of the Queen Mother of the West in Kunlun Mountain’s White Jade Palace. My old name, I’d almost forgotten—Fei Hui… Yes, I am Fei Hui…” Blood overflowed from Lady Hua Rui’s mouth. She gazed at the sky, regaining clarity in her final moments. “Zhang Sheng… I… am coming.”
Lady Hua Rui died, her soul’s glow swirling upward toward the heavenly veins. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun watched the scene.
“Now I can’t explain this when I go back,” Xiang Xian said to Xiao Kun.
Xiao Kun replied flatly, “She wanted to kill Sa Luan. I had to go for the kill. Either way, I’ll go with you to the Chengdu Demon Exorcism Office and apologize to the envoy?”
Xiang Xian naturally couldn’t let Xiao Kun apologize to Shan Yu Hong—he hadn’t done anything wrong.
“Never mind.” Xiang Xian released the imprisoned men and said, “Let’s go check on the Heart Lamp first.”
In front of Ge Liang’s Former Residence, Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian examined the wall painting left by the Heart Lamp Master before his death. Sa Luan hadn’t spoken the entire way.
“Sa Luan?” Xiao Kun noticed his fear and said, “Rest a bit, have some water.”
Xiao Kun didn’t dare leave Sa Luan at the inn alone—with his temperament, in Song territory, trouble was inevitable. He had to keep him close. This was Sa Luan’s first time witnessing Xiao Kun capture a demon firsthand. Xiang Xian could tell from his eyes that he was terrified.
“Are you okay?” Xiang Xian reached out to touch Sa Luan’s forehead to calm him, but Sa Luan shouted and shoved his arm away. “Don’t touch me! You… you… monsters… monsters!”
Any ordinary person would be shaken by Lady Hua Rui’s horrific death throes. Sa Luan had no mental preparation and suffered the shock abruptly, giving him more nightmares at night, utterly miserable.
“Let me think…” Xiang Xian said. “This wall painting’s brushstrokes, style…”
Xiao Kun patiently waited for Xiang Xian’s analysis but turned to see Sa Luan had wandered off.
“Sa Luan!” Xiao Kun juggled official business and guarding the crown prince, never catching a break, truly mentally exhausted.
“I’m leaving!” Sa Luan, still gripped by fear, backed away continuously, then bolted down a path. “I’m leaving! I don’t want to stay here!”
Xiang Xian emerged from Ge Liang’s Former Residence and called loudly, “Where to?”
