“Apologies for the intrusion.” Though usually carefree, Xiang Xian adopted the poise of a noble son in formal settings. “I left Kaifeng recently with urgent business to see Lord Shanyu.”
“The journey was arduous. My master has awaited you long,” the disciple said. “Please enter.”
The Chengdu Demon Exorcism Office was cramped: one courtyard, one hall, east and west wings, hidden deep in Qingyang Palace. Yet it was the oldest Exorcism Division on Shenzhou Great Land. Amid Central Plains upheavals, the southwestern Chuan-Shu branch never relocated. Xiang Xian had visited at nine with Master Shen Kuo and knew its leader was Shan Yu Hong, over 120 years old.
That was thirteen years ago; now she was over 130.
“Pardon this old body for not coming far to greet you, Deputy Envoy Xiang.” An aged voice spoke slowly.
An old woman sat on a hall couch, back against a floor-reaching wooden rest, holding a radiant Heavenly Pearl.
“This junior pays respects to Senior Shanyu,” Xiang Xian bowed properly. Though under Bianjing Demon Exorcism Office oversight, her seniority was immense. From Tubo, she had married into Han lands in youth. Over a century later, her old acquaintances were all gone. Among exorcists, her generation was the highest; even Lord Guo treated her deferentially.
“How is Lord Guo?” Shan Yu Hong’s face was full of wrinkles, clad in Tubo-style robes, her voice kindly yet authoritative. Xiang Xian knew her Heavenly Pearl was no ordinary item and glanced at it more.
“Thank you for your concern,” Xiang Xian said. “Lord Guo is hale and hearty, striding with vigor.”
“Mm.” Shan Yu Hong continued, “Which path did you take into Shu, Deputy Envoy?”
“Jinniu Path.” Xiang Xian remained patient, not pressing his request. Meeting her eyes, he caught a hint of amusement.
The female disciple served a tray of freshly brewed tea and hot Sugar Oil Fritters.
Xiang Xian: “…”
Xiang Xian could only drink tea; he truly couldn’t eat more.
“Ten days ago, this old body heard many rumors,” Shan Yu Hong said. “I hear Deputy Envoy Xiang beat Wanyan Zonghan?”
“Er,” Xiang Xian said, “couldn’t hold back.”
Shan Yu Hong: “Back in Kaifeng, you scolded the Emperor too?”
Xiang Xian: “Also couldn’t hold back.”
“The Song Emperor was furious and jailed you. Any other news from Kaifeng?”
Xiang Xian figured his imprisonment by Zhao Ji had spread everywhere and picked unimportant details to share. Shan Yu Hong merely hummed meaningfully, gazing into his eyes.
Wait… Xiang Xian suddenly sensed wrongness. When mentioning Shuhu, she showed no surprise? Living over 130 years, worldly-wise? No, her expression didn’t change at all. Even the most experienced shouldn’t react so.
Had she already known Shuhu’s Prophecy? Such swift news?
Xiang Xian observed her briefly and decided not to fool her.
“Here’s the thing,” Xiang Xian said. “Two months ago, Lord Guo obtained a record on the ‘Heaven’s Mandate Box,’ sending me to Datong Fu Fogan Temple to investigate. I thought it held Great Liao’s lost Imperial Jade Seal hidden in Shanxi…”
Shan Yu Hong nodded.
Xiang Xian detailed encountering Shuhu. She remained unsurprised.
“So, that demon head told you the Heavenly Demon revives in two years?” Shan Yu Hong said.
“Exactly.” Xiang Xian thought “demon head” fit perfectly. Clearly, Great Song’s fall meant little to her; she’d seen much.
Sipping tea, Xiang Xian said, “This junior still seeks the Ba She from the prophecy, hoping for Demon Seed clues.”
“Mm.” Shan Yu Hong said, “To be frank, before you entered Qingyang Palace, a young man visited.”
Xiang Xian instantly understood!
Shan Yu Hong continued: “Speaking much like you, he was the Liao Exorcism Envoy.”
Xiang Xian: “As expected, Xiao Kun.”
“Claimed descent from Empress Dowager Xiao Chuo,” Shan Yu Hong said. “But this fellow seemed ignorant of manners. He barged into the rear courtyard after entering, tone hostile, mostly talking to himself.”
Xiang Xian recalled Xiao Kun’s temperament. At their first meeting, they’d fought without reason—though Xiang Xian bore some blame, Xiao Kun’s quick-to-violence temper was the main cause.
He explained awkwardly: “He’s… straightforward, but good at heart. Please don’t take it to mind, Senior Shanyu.”
“Do you two know each other?” Shan Yu Hong said faintly.
Xiang Xian hurriedly clarified, “We met once, but when Shuhu spoke of the ‘Heavenly Mandate,’ Xiao Kun was there as well.”
“In that case, you two are the only ones in the mortal world who have heard of the ‘Heavenly Mandate,’” Shan Yu Hong said. “Besides, he brought along a follower. Pardon my poor eyesight, but I couldn’t identify the young lad’s origins. The follower didn’t enter the back courtyard and waited in the front hall instead. He was clumsy, knocking over two of my vases and even eating the offerings in the hall. Truly lawless.”
Xiang Xian replied, “That… I don’t know him.” At the same time, he wondered inwardly: Was it a member of the Liao Kingdom’s imperial family under Xiao Kun’s protection?
Xiang Xian asked again, “What brought Xiao Kun all the way here from afar?”
Shan Yu Hong fiddled slowly with the Heavenly Pearl, pondered briefly, and then said, “He was inquiring about the whereabouts of the Heart Lamp.”
“Ah—” Xiang Xian had guessed that Xiao Kun would come to his senses after returning and no longer obsess over restoring his kingdom. Dealing with the Heavenly Demon came first. “Xiao Kun is a Demon-Exorcising Envoy, but with the north and south divided, it’s hard to determine the true orthodoxy of the Exorcism Division nowadays.”
Shan Yu Hong said, “Wherever the Heart Lamp and Wisdom Sword are, that is the true orthodoxy of the Exorcism Division. A century ago, though the Luoyang Demon Exorcism Department relocated to the Yan Region, it lacked the inheritance of ‘Shanhai’ and ‘Mingguang.’ For a Liao Person to rashly command Chengdu—I would never accept it.”
“Indeed.” Xiang Xian thought for a moment, then changed the subject. “But in my humble opinion, with a great enemy at hand, if Shuhu’s words are true and calamity will descend soon, amid this crisis, we really shouldn’t cling to sectarian divisions.”
Shan Yu Hong said coolly, “Deputy Envoy Xiang possesses such magnanimity—truly rare.”
