Xiao Kun: “I have a plan. Soon there’ll be the True Lord’s lifted pavilion procession. They’ve likely already selected someone, and among us three, one must impersonate Xiansheng Zhenjun, sit in the pavilion, and be paraded through the streets.”
Xiang Xian: “You’re serious?”
Xiao Kun: “I’m Semu People—too eye-catching. Chaosheng is too young. It has to be you, brother.”
Xiang Xian: “You’re just messing with me!”
“Oh! Great idea!” Chaosheng said. “Lure the monsters out and let them grab Big Brother?”
Xiao Kun: “Among us three, no one’s more suitable than you. Unless you want Chaosheng to go?”
Xiang Xian thought it over. He couldn’t let Chaosheng be bait, and it was a good plan, so he relented but said: “How do you know the monsters will pick me and grab me?”
Xiao Kun: “With your looks, they definitely will.”
Chaosheng: “Then we follow him?”
“Mm.” Xiao Kun said, “This way, we can find their lair fastest. Though I don’t know what that Flower Demon wants with young men.” He reassured Xiang Xian: “But don’t worry—we won’t abandon you.”
Xiao Kun reentered the mountain gate to find Lingqing. By noon, gongs and drums sounded below as preparations began for Xiansheng Zhenjun’s lifting the pavilion.
In the Chuan-Shu region, during folk temple fairs, it was customary to have someone impersonate a deity, seated in a wooden pavilion lifted and paraded through the streets—called “lifting the pavilion.”
Xiang Xian was led to the rear hall of Erwang Temple, where the wooden pavilion stood ready. Xiao Kun greeted Lingqing and swapped out the original occupant. Inside was chaos—people changed Xiang Xian into armor, painted his eyebrows, and applied makeup.
“Where’d you find such a handsome Little Bro?” someone laughed.
Xiao Kun: “Just smear it on roughly. No need for much.”
Xiang Xian was seated in the pavilion’s center, dressed in Erlang Shen’s silver-white armor. His hair was tied up, and someone handed him the Three-Pronged Double-Edged Spear to hold.
Xiang Xian placed his sheathed Pei Sword under the seat and said gravely: “We agreed—no letting them do anything weird to me.”
“Relax,” Xiao Kun said. “Chaosheng will follow behind.”
“Wow, Big Brother! You look amazing!” Chaosheng stared at Xiang Xian in awe.
Xiang Xian donned Yang Jian’s martial robes: gleaming scale armor on top, black martial pants below, snow-white war boots, a three-peak hat. His face was like carved jade, eyes like stars; the hat cords accentuated his handsome profile. Coupled with an exorcist’s innate heroic immortal aura, even Xiao Kun couldn’t help but look a few extra times.
This guy really is handsome, Xiao Kun had to admit.
Previously, Xiao Kun had paid no mind to others’ appearances. But ever since Shuhu uttered that third prophecy, Xiang Xian’s looks had inexplicably stirred him.
Xiang Xian smiled at him, and Xiao Kun quickly said: “I have things to do. Chaosheng, I’ll find you two later.”
“Go ahead,” Chaosheng said, still his usual self—perfect chance to grope Xiang Xian.
“Don’t mess up his armor,” Xiao Kun instructed, waiting outside Erwang Temple.
A Huang finally returned, flapping his wings into the pavilion and landing on Xiang Xian’s shoulder.
“What’s this now?” A Huang’s tone brimmed with confusion.
“Wow! You can talk!” Chaosheng reached to pet A Huang, who hopped onto his hand, then up his arm to his shoulder.
“You’ll see soon enough,” Xiang Xian said. “What did you find?”
A Huang replied: “Nothing. I didn’t get too close—they’ve seen me and might suspect you sent me. I perched on the rafters and heard nothing strange. That old lady seemed normal.”
The fair’s gongs and drums thundered. At noon, the mood peaked. Erwang Temple’s gates opened with a resounding gong. Pipes and flutes played as the wooden pavilion emerged, crowds surging toward the main entrance.
Tens of thousands gathered before Yulei Mountain. Xiang Xian temporarily became Erlang Shen, sitting solemnly—though his eyes darted about. People tossed broken silver and copper coins into the pavilion; Xiang Xian subtly leaned to collect them.
“Little Bro! You can’t pick up the money folks throw in!” a porter noticed and stopped him. “That’s for the temple!”
“Didn’t take it, just looking,” Xiang Xian quipped, aping Chaosheng perfectly.
Xiao Kun waited at the market’s edge, following the procession with the crowd. Seeing Chaosheng searching for him, he waved. Xiang Xian nearly dozed off several times, woken by porters. The massive procession carried the pavilion down Yulei Mountain, along Neijiang’s riverbank, over wooden bridges, into the city’s east.
“Huh?” Chaosheng asked. “Big Brother, why are your eyes glowing?”
Xiao Kun: “I’m reading the monsters’ minds. Look at that group.”
Chaosheng noticed too. Along dozens of zhang, scattered monsters exchanged glances. Their clearest difference from mortals: all stared fixedly at the pavilion, neither cheering nor kneeling.
“The Little Demons are eyeing men for the big monster in the mountains,” Xiao Kun said. “Xiang Xian fits perfectly—they’re discussing how to take him back.”
Xiang Xian nearly slept. Winter’s midday sun was soporific, surrounded by smoky scents; the pavilion was soft and warm. As the quiet descended in the city’s east alleys, a cold wind roused him.
The procession looped here, heading north back to Yulei Mountain to end the lifted pavilion.
Passing a narrow alley, the Bell on Xiang Xian’s Waist Badge suddenly dinged.
Xiang Xian’s eyes snapped open. Porters looked around, confused.
Instantly, black qi erupted from one side, slamming the pavilion. The Bell rang wildly. Porters shouted in panic as Xiang Xian rolled out from the center.
A Demon Beast lunged, biting Xiang Xian—not injuring him, but tossing him into a large vat. Xiang Xian played his part: “What’s this! Who?! Demons—! Help!”
A Huang: “……”
A Huang couldn’t watch and flew off flapping.
Another demon sealed the vat with a wooden lid, slapped on a strip, and rolled it onto a cart. They chained it securely with practiced ease.
“This the one?”
“Yeah, this kid!”
“Don’t suffocate him.”
“Left gaps! Hurry, no chatter!”
The monsters worked seamlessly: Tiger Demon grabbed, Rabbit Demon sealed, Jackal Demons secured, Wild Boar Demon pulled the cart. They turned down a side path and vanished in moments.
“Madam will love this……”
Mission complete, the monsters dispersed joyfully.
