Xiao Kun glanced at his father, surprised that a traitorous subordinate feared him so much. The War Dead Corpse Ghost Clan feared not even death—what special methods must his father possess?
“What is the credential to enter the Divine Palace?” Jing Pian Ge asked.
Zheng Yong shakily picked up a stone and drew a strange talismanic rune in the sand.
Jing Pian Ge nodded to Xiao Kun, who memorized it carefully.
“What is Mr. Liu’s mission?” Jing Pian Ge asked seriously.
Zheng Yong’s mouth hung open, unsure whether to answer or not. Spilling everything would mean betraying Mr. Liu, with dire consequences.
But defying Jing Pian Ge now would bring even crueler torment.
After agonizing, Zheng Yong submitted to the immediate threat.
“W-While the exorcists headed to Kizil, seize the Wisdom Sword… and capture the Sword Holder, Xiang Xian.” Zheng Yong answered.
Jing Pian Ge: “And?”
Indigo-blue light emanated from Xiao Kun and Jing Pian Ge’s eyes simultaneously, enveloping Zheng Yong. Knowing he could hide nothing, Zheng Yong continued, “After completing the task assigned by King Mu, Mr. Liu was to use Xiao Kun as a hostage to find… your whereabouts, exchange for the Zenggu Drum, and use the Great Si Ming Flute to awaken the dead in the Tianshan Mountains, seize… Gumo, Kucha, Gaochang… then await the Heavenly Sovereign’s order to enter the pass via Shazhou, for… for…”
Xiao Kun’s heart pounded fiercely as Zheng Yong finished, “…for the Heavenly Demon Rebirth one year from now, assembling the troops.”
This matched Shuhu’s Prophecy perfectly! Xiao Kun harbored no more doubts.
“You know quite a bit,” Jing Pian Ge said. “What else do you know?”
Zheng Yong trembled and said, “N-Nothing… this lowly one knows nothing more.”
“He served by Mr. Liu’s side,” Xiao Kun said gravely. “He must have heard plenty. Zheng Yong, I’ll give you a chance.”
Zheng Yong was already dead; otherwise, he would have been drenched in sweat.
“Do you know Mr. Ying?” Xiao Kun asked.
Zheng Yong nodded and replied, “Mr. Liu’s task was to capture Xiang Xian and retrieve the Wisdom Sword; Mr. Ying’s task was to obtain the Heart Lamp; Mr. Qin’s task was to capture Li Chaosheng…”
Jing Pian Ge raised his hand, conjuring a Stone Coffin from the sand. Zheng Yong’s voice changed instantly as he scrambled toward Xiao Kun, recognizing him as the only one who might spare him. “I also know Mr. Qin went to Kaifeng! To use the seed granted by the Heavenly Sovereign to recreate a Song Emperor!”
Xiao Kun: “Why do that?”
“The Heavenly Sovereign needs sufficient Baleful Qi…” Seeing Jing Pian Ge pause, Zheng Yong sold out the Demon Generals’ plan completely. “To gather Baleful Qi requires slaughtering cities! The Western Regions don’t have enough people; they must start a war in the Central Plains. After replacing the Song Emperor, they’ll make him launch wars, kill enough people to amass abundant Baleful Qi, and enable the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation!”
Xiao Kun finally understood. He recalled his disagreement with Xiang Xian at Zigui. Drawing from the previous life’s experience, King Mu had anticipated they might part ways—him to the Western Regions, Xiang Xian and Chaosheng back to Kaifeng, or all to the Western Regions. Regardless, Mr. Qin would succeed in swapping Zhao Ji for a Demon Person… The thought was utterly bizarre.
“Don’t put me in the Maggot Coffin!” Zheng Yong crawled to Jing Pian Ge and begged, “General Jing! This lowly one was wrong! I shouldn’t have betrayed you! When Mr. Liu came, I had no choice! I swear to you! I’ll never betray you again!”
“Spare him,” Xiao Kun suddenly said. “I need him to guide us.”
Though he did not know his father’s methods, Zheng Yong’s pitiful state suggested torment a million times worse than death.
“You’re not yet our clan’s leader,” Jing Pian Ge said calmly. “We’ll discuss it after you conquer the Divine Palace.”
His tone hinted at softening. Chaosheng asked, “What’s a Maggot Coffin?”
“Once comrades, then oath-breakers,” Jing Pian Ge explained politely to Chaosheng, “they’re sealed in a Stone Coffin filled with demonic maggots, sunk deep into the earth, denied sleep, suffering eternally.”
Xiao Kun shook out the Demon-Suppressing Banner and commanded before his father, “Capture Demon!” Thus, he took Zheng Yong back in.
Jing Pian Ge said, “Go save your companion. There’s one year left before the Heavenly Demon descends.”
Xiao Kun said no more, mounted the Skeletal Warhorse, and galloped toward the Northern Regions.
“Aren’t you going?” Chaosheng asked.
Jing Pian Ge made a “shh” gesture, mysteriously narrowing his eyes and pointing at the sky, wagging a finger.
Chaosheng: “?”
Though he did not understand, Chaosheng vaguely felt it related to “fate.” Wu Yingzong immediately transformed into a Giant Ape, scooped up Chaosheng onto his shoulder, and chased after Xiao Kun alongside Hulü Guang.
Inside the Abyss Divine Palace, it stood empty. All Stone Coffins lay open, and not a single War Dead Corpse Ghost remained under Mr. Liu’s lead.
They just left? Xiang Xian could hardly believe it. He surveyed the underground palace and confirmed no War Dead Corpse Ghosts lingered—everyone had fled clean. Moments later, he whistled between his fingers.
A Huang flew down from the high passage and landed on his shoulder.
“Where is Xiao Kun?” Xiang Xian asked.
“I don’t know,” A Huang replied. “After you passed out, I had no choice but to follow you. I hid behind you when we came in and nearly got flattened.”
Xiang Xian approached the cave wall. The giant flowers growing everywhere sensed his approach and immediately opened their petals, unfurling their buds. Xiang Xian grabbed A Huang and yanked him back to prevent the bud from swallowing him.
“What are you so nervous about?” A Huang said.
