Chapter 47: Pilgrimage Part 1

That day at noon:

“Can you give it to me?” Xiang Xian picked up the Imperial Jade Seal and tossed it in his hand.

“What do you want it for?” Xiao Kun asked. “It will only bring disaster.”

“Just say if you can give it to me or not.” Xiang Xian said.

“It’s not mine,” Xiao Kun replied. “It has to be returned someday.”

“Oh? Returned to whom?” Xiang Xian asked. “To its original owner? Who is the true owner?”

“Take it, take it.” Xiao Kun gave in. After hearing Yelu Dashi’s speech about proclaiming himself emperor that day, he realized that even if they rescued Sa Luan, there was no hope left for restoring the kingdom. What kept him going now was the Liao Emperor’s dying entrustment; he could not betray the Yelu Family.

Xiao Kun had thought it through and let it go. He said, “In the end, it does not belong to the Liao Kingdom. It was obtained by the Khitan People from Li Congke. The inscription says ‘By Heaven’s Mandate, may it long endure with eternal prosperity,’ yet the Great Liao lasted only two hundred years. No dynasty in the world has ever endured for a thousand autumns or ten thousand generations. When the Mandate ends, it falls, and even with the jade seal, what use is it?”

Xiao Kun asked again, “Whom do you plan to offer it to? The Song Emperor?”

Xiang Xian replied, “I’ll keep it safe for you first. I want it myself—can’t I just play with it? What if one day I decide to become emperor?”

It was a supreme treasure that drove countless people mad with desire. Xiang Xian took it from Xiao Kun simply to put an end to the matter, to relieve him of this burdensome responsibility and free him from being shackled by an external object.

Xiao Kun finally said, “Heavenly Mandate is not decided by a single jade seal.”

“At first, I thought Yelu Dashi was quite clear-headed,” Xiang Xian said. “But seeing him try to steal the jade seal like that—it was truly too embarrassing! Hahaha!”

That day, Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun went to the Royal Palace to bid farewell. Li Er Man had suffered severe injuries in the great battle, losing one leg. Cavalry scoured the entire city for it, but with so many severed limbs on the battlefield, they searched in vain. Fortunately, Chaosheng’s Miraculous Hands Bring Back Spring staunched the gushing blood from the stump and saved his life.

Li Er Man leaned on a crutch to see them off.

Chaosheng said, “I’ve done all I can. Even if the leg is found now, it can’t be reattached.”

Bila Ge said, “No matter. For the rest of his life, I’ll take care of him.”

Li Er Man had fought bravely on the battlefield, leaving a deep impression on Xiang Xian. From then on, he completely changed his view of this Grand Vizier.

“I have one matter I must remind His Majesty the King about,” Xiao Kun said seriously to Bila Ge, revealing Yelu Dashi’s true motives. He knew that when Yelu Dashi had passed through the Gaochang Uyghur earlier, Bila Ge had received him with great ceremony, bestowed lavish gifts, and even lent him Tingzhou.

But as for mortal wars, Xiao Kun did not wish to meddle too much or influence Bila Ge’s decisions. He knew Bila Ge must have his reasons.

“Mm.” Bila Ge listened and said lightly, “Thank you, Crown Prince Tutor. You’re a good man—I didn’t misjudge you.”

“When the time comes for the decisive battle with the Heavenly Demon,” Xiao Kun said, “we will still need aid from the mortal world.”

“As long as I live,” Bila Ge replied, “if you send a request for aid, Gaochang will spare no effort.”

Bila Ge had witnessed King Mu’s appearance with his own eyes and knew full well the great price they had paid to defend Gaochang.

Two hundred thousand from the Ba Army had assaulted them. No matter how many mortal soldiers there were, they could not withstand it. Without the Exorcists, Gaochang would have become a city of the dead by now.

Everyone bid farewell to Bila Ge. The Gaochang King prepared many gifts, but Xiao Kun politely declined them one by one, saying they were in a hurry and could not carry too many things.

“Can’t we hitch a ride on Xiao Jin back to Kunlun Mountain?” Chaosheng asked curiously.

Hulü Guang asked, “Who is Xiao Jin?”

Wu Yingzong replied, “A dragon.”

“Where is the dragon?” Hulü Guang had only heard the name but never seen it, and he had been curious for a long time.

In the afternoon, they stood in the center of the Gobi Desert outside Gaochang City.

Xiao Kun rubbed the Dragon Soaring Jade in his palm with his finger and said, “It’s up to you now, Bai Ju Er.”

Hulü Guang: “?”

Xiang Xian said, “Let me explain. The thing is, around Lord Xiao’s waist, there used to be a dragon…”

Xiao Kun: “Speak properly!”

Xiang Xian said seriously, “But this dragon was corrupted by Demonic Qi. If released, it goes berserk and bites everyone. Only the Heart Lamp can purify it.”

“Got it!” Hulü Guang said. “Leave it to me!”

Chaosheng: “Can you handle it? I’m afraid it will bite you.”

Xiao Kun: “Whether it works or not, let’s try first.”

Hulü Guang said to Chaosheng, “No worries. If it bites me to death, little brother, just save me.”

Xiang Xian looked at the jade pendant swirling with black qi. Xiao Kun hesitated greatly and said, “Maybe forget it? We’ll try later.”

Hulü Guang eagerly awaited the chance to contribute: “I can do it! As long as it doesn’t bite off my head, Chaosheng can save me.”

Chaosheng: “That’s exactly what I’m afraid of—it biting your head.”

Wu Yingzong said, “In a crisis, Hulü Guang can release the Heart Lamp. It might work.”

A Huang said, “Plan it properly first—which part of his body to offer up to be bitten.”