Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun rested in a villager’s house, gathered around the fire stove, sipping hot milk tea. Nearby residents brought tsampa and other foods. A Huang summoned flying birds and sent them to White Jade Palace to deliver a message.
The Pilgrimage Road of Jade Bead Peak was nearly at its end. If no one from the palace came to guide them, they would have to find their own way up the peak tomorrow.
“The White Deer and Cyan Wolf are the gods of dreams in the Northern Lands,” Xiang Xian said. “They must know many secrets about the Heavenly Demon Rebirth.”
Xiao Kun replied, “Do you think it will help us?”
Xiang Xian said, “The calamity of the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation is a matter concerning the entire world.”
As they spoke, a young man slightly taller than Chaosheng entered the room. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun exchanged looks, then both turned to him.
“Can you walk?” Hulü Guang, still worried, supported him from the side.
“Mm.” Another voice said, “Where’s Chaosheng?”
“He went to buy food with the housekeeper. Please sit.” Xiao Kun immediately cleared a spot and invited the guest to sit.
The youth had snow-white skin, short hair, and emerald-green eyes. He looked only a bit older than Chaosheng, with a dazed and anxious expression like someone who had just woken up. His hair was a mess, giving him the look of someone who had been bullied, his face full of dissatisfaction.
This person reminded Xiang Xian of an old saying from his hometown: “Everyone in the world owes him money.” The vibe this guy gave off was the perfect embodiment. Though handsome and refined, he carried a wildness, dressed like a hunter, and looked punchable.
To put it precisely, he was handsomely punchable—completely different from Chaosheng’s vibrant vitality or Hulü Guang’s exotic charm.
“I’m Mu Qingshan,” the youth said lazily. “Just call me Qingshan. Thanks for saving my life twice before—in Daming Palace and today.”
Even as he thanked them, Mu Qingshan seemed reluctant, giving Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian an unenthusiastic bow: one hand over his forehead, then released. He made a similar gesture toward Hulü Guang.
“I didn’t save you,” Hulü Guang clarified. “No need to thank me.”
Xiao Kun stared at Mu Qingshan for a long moment, silent.
“Hey!” Xiang Xian nudged him with an elbow.
Xiao Kun snapped back and said, “Have we met before?”
Mu Qingshan’s gaze drifted, as if nothing could hold his attention. Even sitting opposite them, his mind seemed elsewhere, impossible to tell if he was listening, and he did not reply.
“No, I don’t think so,” Mu Qingshan answered.
Xiang Xian studied Mu Qingshan for a moment and said, “You’re not surnamed Lu, surprisingly.”
“What rule says the deer’s incarnation has to be surnamed Lu?” Mu Qingshan frowned in response.
Xiang Xian: “How old are you?”
“Twenty,” Mu Qingshan said.
“He’s a few years older than Chaosheng,” Xiang Xian said to Xiao Kun, “but they look about the same age.”
Mu Qingshan did indeed have a youthful face. Compared to the gentle and cheerful Chaosheng, Mu Qingshan exuded a world-weary teenage vibe. Xiang Xian had seen plenty of such lads in Yue—usually carrying a sword, despising heaven and earth, annoyed by everything, even themselves, always looking ready to jump into a river or slit their throat.
If Mu Qingshan donned the garb of a Bianjing noble son, he’d be a decadent young lord full of ennui—having enjoyed all life offered, bored with existence, perpetually listless.
“You must come from a wealthy family in the mundane world,” Xiang Xian remarked.
“Wrong.” Mu Qingshan said coolly, “I was born to an unremarkable family beyond the passes. Both parents are dead.”
Xiao Kun simply did not want to hear Xiang Xian’s banter. At crucial moments, he always prattled on.
“Which one is the Grand Demon-Exorcist?” Mu Qingshan dug in his ear and asked.
Xiao Kun replied, “Me. But last time we parted, during the journey to Kizil, I failed to obtain the Heart Lamp. It must be fate.”
Mu Qingshan looked bored and turned to Hulü Guang beside him.
Hulü Guang hesitated silently. Xiao Kun said, “Yes, Brother Hulü obtained the Heart Lamp.”
Mu Qingshan raised his hand, placed it on Hulü Guang’s forehead, emitted a faint light, then carelessly said, “Mm.”
Chaosheng returned and, seeing Mu Qingshan in human form, laughed: “Wow! You…”
Mu Qingshan replied, “Look great, huh? Yeah, I think so too.”
“Uh.” Chaosheng realized he was being a bit too enthusiastic. He had to be careful of Wu Yingzong’s reaction, so he first observed Wu Yingzong’s expression.
Wu Yingzong, having been through the previous incident, harbored no strong hostility toward Mu Qingshan. After sizing him up, his attention returned to Chaosheng, serving him as he sat and preparing milk tea.
“Can I check his injuries?” Chaosheng asked Wu Yingzong.
“Of course.” Wu Yingzong blushed—after all, everyone was present, and Chaosheng’s question essentially announced to all that he was the jealous type.
Mu Qingshan asked, puzzled, “Why ask him?”
Chaosheng: “Because he gets jealous.”
Xiang Xian burst out laughing. “Where’d you learn that term?”
Wu Yingzong’s face turned beet red. “I don’t—I don’t get jealous.”
Wu Yingzong kept his head down, serving tea to everyone. Hulü Guang hurriedly took over: “I’ll do it, I’ll do it!” This made Wu Yingzong even more embarrassed; he didn’t know where to put his hands and could only rest them on his knees.
Chaosheng smiled and stroked the back of Wu Yingzong’s large hand a few times before going to examine Mu Qingshan’s injuries.
Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian couldn’t help but glance at Wu Yingzong. For a moment, everyone felt terribly awkward.
Soon, after confirming Mu Qingshan’s wounds had mostly healed, Chaosheng returned to Wu Yingzong’s side.
The room fell quiet, save for the faint crackle of firewood in the brazier.
Mu Qingshan knew everyone awaited his explanation but was too lazy to speak. If they didn’t prompt him, he wouldn’t either.
Finally, Xiang Xian said, “What happened after we parted last time? Don’t you have anything to tell us?”
“Too lazy to say,” Mu Qingshan replied, clearly impatient. Paired with his world-weary face, he contrasted sharply with Chaosheng. “Fine, whatever—you can see for yourselves.”
