Chapter 17: Ba She Part 1

Chengdu’s Qingyang Palace had endured a world-shaking battle, and soon the Chengdu Prefect arrived in person, ordering the entire city to enter a state of alert to first figure out what had happened.

However, under the gaze of tens of thousands of people, a miracle suddenly occurred. The ruins of the temple spontaneously rose into the air and returned to their original positions. The bluestone slabs reassembled, filling in the battlefield. Everyone witnessed the divine spectacle and was overcome with excitement, kneeling one after another as thunderous cheers echoed through the city.

Atop a residential rooftop in a dark alley half a li away, blue light projected through the mist. Chaosheng held the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Map, his robes fluttering as he hovered three chi off the ground. He wielded the magic treasure with effort, restoring the damage they had caused. The temple complex’s layout and trees all flew up, methodically returning to their original spots.

“That’s about enough!” Xiang Xian said. “The mist is about to clear.”

“It doesn’t look very good,” Chaosheng said. “I’m no good at building with blocks. I keep thinking their layout could use some improvements.”

“That’s fine, don’t do anything extra,” Xiao Kun said, fearing the locals would notice them. “Let them handle the rest of the repairs themselves.”

“Should we prepare some Soul-Dispersing Flower Powder to make them forget everything clean?” Xiang Xian observed the distance.

Xiao Kun: “Did you bring any? Why don’t you take it out?”

Xiang Xian: “I didn’t bring any. I thought you did.”

“Why ask if you didn’t bring any? Enough talk.” Xiao Kun urged Xiang Xian on. Chaosheng had restored Qingyang Palace to about seventy or eighty percent, though it was still a bit crooked and slanted. He silently chanted, “Lord Taishang has great magnanimity; do not hold this against us,” before following Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun out of Chengdu.

By the Min River outside the city, Lady Hua Rui was released once more.

“You can go,” Xiao Kun said.

Lady Hua Rui was filled with surprise. “You’re just letting me go like this?”

Xiao Kun: “First, return to Guanjiangkou and apologize to the men you abducted.”

Chaosheng said: “Since you hail from the White Jade Palace, you must have cultivated the Sheng Rong Technique.”

“Yes.” Gentle light filled Lady Hua Rui’s eyes as she said, “The Sheng Rong Technique forges nurturing bonds with ten thousand trees, ensuring endless vitality. I will plant a peach branch at their doorsteps or in their courtyards, using immortal technique to bless them with halls full of descendants and thriving lineages.”

“Very good,” Xiao Kun said. “With that, we’re even. From now on, you must not commit any more evil.”

“Thank you,” Lady Hua Rui said softly.

Chaosheng laughed. “You can go wherever you want now, Fei Hui. You’re free.”

“Could I return to the White Jade Palace?” Lady Hua Rui asked.

“You’re no longer seeking Meng Chang’s reincarnation?” Xiang Xian said.

Lady Hua Rui said no more, only letting out a long sigh. By then, the trio had already taken to the official road. Xiao Kun waved a distant farewell gesture and walked away from the Shu Region.

After leaving Chengdu, the mist fully dissipated, and sunlight blazed everywhere.

“Where are we headed now?” Chaosheng asked.

“Gongzhou,” Xiang Xian replied. “We’ll rest there for a few days, then take a boat down the Three Gorges to check out the Wushan Mountains.”

They waited on the road for about a quarter of an hour before encountering a small merchant caravan traveling between Chengdu and Gongzhou. Xiang Xian used silver to board the cart escorting goods, making their journey much easier.

Xiao Kun and Chaosheng sat in the cart bed, which carried mostly Shu embroidery, salt, and cinnabar.

Xiang Xian sat on the other side of the cart. Xiao Kun unfolded Yao Ji’s letter and examined it under the sunlight, deep in thought.

“What exactly is Hui Lun?” Xiao Kun asked.

“It’s…” Chaosheng seemed a bit troubled. Xiang Xian shot him a look, signaling Xiao Kun not to press.

“No.” Chaosheng read the two big brothers’ expressions and explained, “As long as one lives in Kunlun, whether divine servant or beast, they are all eternal. You brothers know that, right?”

Xiang Xian: “That good? So if we send the elderly into the barrier, they’ll never die?”

Chaosheng: “That’s how it is.”

“But once they leave the White Jade Palace’s barrier range,” Chaosheng thought for a moment and continued, “Lord Jumang’s influence weakens, and they must follow the rules outside the barrier.”

“Mm.” Xiao Kun said, “They age and die. Immortal cultivation just lets them live a bit longer than ordinary mortals. When their lifespan ends, they still reincarnate.”

Chaosheng hummed in agreement, then added: “Lord Jumang is a tree—you’ve seen it with your own eyes.”

Xiao Kun nodded.

“Trees bloom,” Chaosheng said. “When it blooms, there’s flower nectar. According to White Jade Palace records, Lord Jumang has only bloomed twice.”

“Oh?” Xiang Xian didn’t know why the topic had turned to blooming but followed Chaosheng’s lead. “Why only twice?”

“I don’t know.” Chaosheng’s expression held a hint of bewilderment. This touched on the deepest secrets of the Shenzhou Great Land and the mysteries of how the ancient gods maintained the world’s operation—far too profound for him.

“In any case, blooming produces flower nectar, and legend says divine servants who drink it gain a miraculous power called ‘Hui Lun.'” Chaosheng said. “Under Hui Lun’s effect, they are unaffected by the great force of reincarnation. Perhaps because Lord Jumang itself is part of the Heaven-Earth Veins? It regards those who drank the flower nectar as part of its own body?”