Chapter 16: Longevity Part 2

“No need.” Xiang Xian said. “After tonight, we’ll set off for Bianjing.”

After leaving, the three checked into an inn in the city.

“What did you want to say at Qingyang Palace today?” Xiang Xian asked Chaosheng.

Chaosheng: “Forgot.”

Xiao Kun sat cross-legged on the floor, piecing together the fragments from the red cloth package. It was a tattered paper from long ago, with nearly illegible writing. Thousands of tiny pieces needed to be assembled into an ancient scroll—a delicate task indeed.

Xiang Xian and Chaosheng watched from the side. After dinner that night, Chaosheng turned in first, unable to stay awake. Xiao Kun said, “Your turn. I’ve done half.”

“I don’t know how to do this,” Xiang Xian said righteously. “Can’t do it.”

Xiao Kun: “Then I won’t do it either. Whoever wants to can.”

Xiang Xian: “Fine, fine, I’ll try.” He had no choice but to take over. By the time the rooster crowed the next day, the exorcism office’s envoy and deputy had collaborated to assemble all the fragments and paste them onto paper.

Xiang Xian, exhausted, had fallen asleep in his clothes.

“Huh?” Chaosheng’s voice said. “I see the characters ‘Yao Ji.'”

“This is a letter Yao Ji wrote to the Chengdu Demon Exorcism Office’s Department Envoy,” Xiao Kun explained. “This envoy predated Shan Yu Hong and Ge Liang, named Changpingzi. He must have been in charge of Qingyang Palace.”

Xiang Xian yawned and woke up. Xiao Kun read: “Since I arrived at Wushan, seventy-five years have passed. Chaoyun is tormented day and night by the Demon Seed, his temperament greatly changed. With my immortal power, perhaps we can temporarily seal it, preventing the Demon Seed from reincarnating and harming the human world…

“…But Chaoyun has always refused such a resolution. With my abilities, I can only help him stabilize the Demon Seed. Alas, baleful qi grows thicker on Shenzhou Great Land daily. I don’t know when the seal will fail, fearing a repeat of the Mingde Chaos. Not long ago, an old acquaintance came and mentioned taking away for Chaoyun…”

The writing after that was completely missing, impossible to guess.

“Didn’t get it.” Chaosheng was baffled.

“I don’t fully understand either.” Xiao Kun roughly guessed that Yao Ji was seeking help from Department Envoy Changpingzi but couldn’t discern her main goal. He asked, “What is the Mingde Chaos?”

Xiang Xian knew some history and said: “Mingde was the reign era of Shu Emperor Meng Zhixiang, about 190 years ago. During the Mingde years, the world was in great chaos. Taizu hadn’t unified the Central Plains yet, with slaughter everywhere, generating much baleful qi. The monsters from Wushan Holy Land all emerged, trying to conquer the Central Plains, but were repelled by united exorcists and driven back to Wushan.”

Xiao Kun immediately understood: “Seeing the Demon King Chaoyun influenced by the Demon Seed, Yao Ji feared war between demons and humans would erupt again. So she wrote to the Chengdu Demon Exorcism Office for help. Like that?”

Xiang Xian nodded gravely: “According to Shuhu’s Prophecy of ‘Ba She loses its Demon Seed,’ Yao Ji’s worry was resolved? The Demon Seed was removed, so the monsters in the holy land wouldn’t be commanded by Chaoyun to attack the human world?”

“Possible. So the ‘old acquaintance’ helped by taking away Chaoyun’s Demon Seed.” Xiao Kun pondered. “Who could it be?”

Xiang Xian: “Unclear. But now I think seeking help on Kunlun Mountain was a most wise move.”

With Chaosheng, the youth raised in White Jade Palace, they learned many secrets of the immortal realms beyond. Otherwise, Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun alone would have more doubts piecing it together.

Xiang Xian picked up the map and examined its backed, mounted side under the sunlight—a landscape painting.

“Things are relatively clear now,” Xiang Xian said. “After the great battle with the Heavenly Demon over three hundred years ago, Ba She, as Demon King, sealed the Demon Seed within himself.”

“Mm.” Xiao Kun said. “This Demon King senior upheld his duty faithfully, but perhaps influenced by the Demon Seed, it bred killing intent he couldn’t control. One day Yao Ji came, and with her company, things improved somewhat. Later came Shuhu’s Prophecy, and the Demon Seed was taken by someone named ‘Mu.'”

“‘Old acquaintance’ is ‘Mu’?” Xiang Xian asked Chaosheng puzzledly. “Does your White Jade Palace have this person?”

“No,” Chaosheng looked blank. “I’m sure.”

Xiao Kun said: “Yao Ji left Kunlun long ago. Maybe someone she met wandering the mortal world.”

Xiang Xian now found everything quite baffling: “Shuhu’s exact words were, ‘Ba She loses its Demon Seed, Black-Winged Great Peng appears, a new ‘tree’ is about to be born, the Heart Lamp will reemerge from the Heaven-Earth Veins, and what awaits you is destiny that repeats again and again, endlessly.’ So what is this ‘endlessly repeating destiny’?”

He regretted not asking clearly back then, making Shuhu’s Prophecy foggy in recollection.

“The mission of the Heavenly Demon Reincarnation, I suppose,” Xiao Kun was calm. “Historically, it has reincarnated more than once. This time, we can surely defeat it.”

Xiang Xian nodded solemnly: “If the Demon Seed was taken, then Yao Ji and the Demon King Chaoyun might still be in Wushan. We should ask them directly. I’m very curious about ‘Mu’s’ identity now.”

Xiao Kun: “This letter is decades old. They might not be in Wushan Holy Land anymore.”

Xiang Xian: “No rumors of Ba She elsewhere. If they eloped, there’d be tales. High chance they’re still there. Master once reminded me that someday I’d bring the Wisdom Sword into Wushan Holy Land to eliminate Ba She and destroy the Demon Seed. Now without the seed, we can spare it.”

“You’re right,” Xiao Kun said. “Regardless, we must confirm.”