Chapter 27: The Aftermath Part 2

Xiao Kun returned the courtesy.

“How is the Official Family?” Cai Jing asked.

Xiang Xian said to Chaosheng, “Come on, Chaosheng. Your turn.”

Chaosheng understood and summoned his magic treasure, the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map. Radiant light flowed, and the collapsed Chongwen Court and gardens—earth, stones, bricks, and tiles—flew up under the power of this peerless treasure.

Cai Jing witnessed this miracle and gaped, forgetting to ask more. Hearing the commotion from Purple Chen Hall, the Crown Prince and ministers rushed out in a swarm.

At dusk, the palace emitted a massive rumble. Chaosheng floated in the air, immortal aura swirling around him, as he began repairing Chongwen Court.

The ministers were utterly shocked. Many dropped to their knees on the spot. Zhao Huan coughed, and those halfway down realized it was improper and struggled to stand straight. After all, by the Zhao family’s rules, even civil and military officials didn’t kneel to the emperor in court.

But this otherworldly power was too astonishing. In the end, an old minister trembled and knelt, crying, “An immortal! An immortal!”

“Please rise, my lords!” Xiang Xian hurried forward to help them up. They stood, only for Chaosheng to turn around, prompting them to kneel hastily again. Up and down they went, repeatedly, like spring shoots after rain popping up one after another. Chaosheng said, “It’s… fixed. Doesn’t look great, but it’ll do for now.”

“Thank you, Immortal,” Zhao Huan said, leading the ministers in cupped hands outside.

“You’re welcome,” Chaosheng replied. “Take good care of your rivers and mountains. Don’t let any more mishaps happen.”

Before he finished, Xiang Xian covered his mouth and dragged him away.

Back at the Exorcism Division:

“Lord Xiao is back! Lord Xiao is—”

“I’m so sick of these two stone lions,” Xiang Xian said. “You all go ahead. I’ll toss them into Longting Lake.”

“Nooo—” the stone lions wailed in unison.

Everyone was bone-tired. Xiao Kun pulled Xiang Xian onto the main couch and lay down, not wanting to move. Wu Yingzong went to change clothes and prepare dinner. Xiang Xian said, “Old Wu, rest a bit too.”

Wu Yingzong didn’t reply and turned toward the back courtyard.

Xiao Kun gestured for Xiang Xian to scoot over and leaned on the couch himself.

“Where’s Guo Jing?!” Xiang Xian suddenly remembered.

“They took him for treatment,” Xiao Kun said. “He’s still alive.”

The two exchanged looks, both still shaken. The demon person who appeared out of nowhere exceeded their knowledge—it could silently possess a mortal’s body, a rarity in historical records.

If Xiang Xian hadn’t insisted on returning to Kaifeng this time, and the Daojun Emperor had been controlled by the demon, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

“What did he do in the end?” Xiang Xian knew nothing of the later events.

“While you were slashing around wildly, the Demon King suddenly appeared and took a black seed from the Official Family’s body,” Xiao Kun said. He no longer cared about “your emperor” versus “our emperor.” He was an official of Great Song now, and against demons, there was no distinction.

“What could I do?” Xiang Xian was frustrated too. “I couldn’t control this sword.”

“No blame meant,” Xiao Kun soothed, patting the back of Xiang Xian’s hand. Xiang Xian sighed. In the end, this disaster stemmed from his own incomplete mastery.

Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun held hands briefly, but Xiao Kun quickly pulled away. “Are you a child?”

Xiao Kun noticed that though they’d successfully exorcised the demon person, everyone seemed quite dejected.

“Good thing you didn’t go down with the ship,” Xiang Xian said. Learning of the Demon King’s appearance, he knew that was what Xiao Kun cared about most.

“No,” Xiao Kun mused. “Now we know the Demon King’s subordinates include Mr. Ying, Mr. Qin, Zhou Wang, Shan Yu Hong, the demon person from the Ba Mountains, and the one today—called ‘Heavenly Sovereign’ by Mr. Qin, so that must be ‘Mu,’ their boss.”

Xiang Xian said, “Seizing Guo Jing’s body and kidnapping Chaosheng and Old Wu were just setups. What’s their real goal?”

“Control the emperor?” Xiao Kun pondered. “I think they might’ve wanted to grab Chaosheng too.”

Just then, Chaosheng hurried in. “Old Wu seems really down. What should I do?”

Xiang Xian drank half a cup of cold tea and got up to check on his steward. Wu Yingzong sat dazed on a stone bench in the back courtyard, eyes red. Chaosheng hugged him from behind, whispering comforts in his ear.

Xiang Xian understood: Wu Yingzong felt useless for failing to protect Chaosheng and causing them trouble.

“Old Wu?” Xiang Xian said.

“Master,” Wu Yingzong stood.

Xiang Xian placed a hand on his shoulder. “You weren’t their match. That’s normal. We still don’t even know where the enemies are.”

Wu Yingzong nodded. Xiang Xian knew such comfort wouldn’t help much but sat beside him anyway. “After Master died, I often felt I couldn’t shoulder this burden.”

Wu Yingzong fell silent. Xiang Xian smiled. “Back then, you comforted me. What did you say?”

“You can do it, Master,” Wu Yingzong said gravely. “I’ll assist you, guard your side until the day I’m no longer useful, Master.”

Xiang Xian spread his hands toward Wu Yingzong. “This time, without Xiao Kun, we wouldn’t have exorcised the demon—might’ve died in the palace.”

At the same time, cold sweat broke out on Xiang Xian’s back. It seemed true: if Xiao Kun hadn’t changed his mind and come back, they might’ve all been done for today! With Wu Yingzong and Chaosheng trapped, himself losing consciousness after unleashing the Wisdom Sword, and the Demon King appearing at the last moment—who knew what would’ve happened? It had been a close call.

Wu Yingzong nodded. Xiang Xian said, “Many things I can’t do alone, but as long as we trust each other, there’s hope, right?”

Wu Yingzong sighed. Knowing his deep self-blame, Chaosheng added, “If you hadn’t broken through the Qingyu Golden Chalice in time, I’d definitely have been taken. Alright, stop moping. I’m starving now.”

“I’ll prepare dinner right away,” Wu Yingzong said. He handed Chaosheng the Broken Scissors. “I broke this too.”

Chaosheng said, “It’s fine. Did you use it to break the Qingyu Golden Chalice’s barrier?”

Wu Yingzong remained uneasy, but Chaosheng pocketed the damaged little treasure and said to Xiang Xian, “We have plenty more of these Pruning Scissors in White Jade Palace.”

“Mm.” Xiang Xian nodded. “Someday I can try fixing it.”