Chapter 18: Ape Immortal Part 4

Wu Yingzong wore an expression of utter bewilderment.

Xiang Xian felt his heart nearly seize up. He no longer knew how to describe Chaosheng and suddenly had the thoughts of “Who am I?” and “What is this?”

Xiao Kun had also arrived and sat down across from Xiang Xian. He said, “If you imagine your housekeeper in his true form, it won’t seem strange.”

If Wu Yingzong were in his true form right now, it would be Chaosheng hugging a Giant Ape and rubbing against it—which would look perfectly normal. But in human form, it came across as far too intimate.

Xiang Xian suspected that in Chaosheng’s eyes, all Yao Clan members presented in their true forms.

“Let’s eat together,” Chaosheng said to Wu Yingzong. “The Master said so.”

“Alright.” Wu Yingzong had no idea how to respond to this sudden affection and hurriedly said, “I’ll feed… I’ll serve you while you eat.”

Wu Yingzong felt as if he were floating to the heavens from being rubbed by Chaosheng’s Immortal Seed. Just the immortal aura wafting from Little Fruit caused his Cultivation Base to surge wildly. There had never been a more blissful moment in his entire life as an ape.

“I want to sit with him.” Chaosheng added, “Big Brother, you move over there.”

Xiao Kun had no choice but to shift to Xiang Xian’s side and sit shoulder-to-shoulder with him, yielding the two spots on one side of the low table for Chaosheng and Wu Yingzong to cuddle.

Seeing Xiang Xian still not moving, Xiao Kun said, “Eat.”

Xiang Xian replied, “Use your chopsticks first. Aren’t you the superior?”

Xiao Kun thought to himself that such formalities were pointless—hadn’t Xiang Xian already quit his post under Guo Jing? But he didn’t dampen the mood. After he picked up his chopsticks, Xiang Xian poured wine for everyone. Xiao Kun raised his cup casually, and they all toasted one another.

“Ever since we first met Shan Yu Hong in Chengdu, we’ve been plotted against every step of the way,” Xiang Xian said after taking a sip of wine. He lacked his usual casualness and spoke seriously instead.

“Indeed, I’ve thought the same.” Xiao Kun had sorted out his thoughts today. The ambush in the Yangtze had served as a wake-up call, allowing him to connect the events into a preliminary outline.

While adding wine for the two of them, Wu Yingzong occasionally noticed Chaosheng and picked food for him. Xiang Xian and Xiao Kun ignored Chaosheng and Wu Yingzong as they ate their Winter Solstice reunion meal and analyzed the traps they had encountered along the way.

“Let’s start with Shan Yu Hong,” Xiang Xian said. “She’s been corrupted by Demonic Qi for some time now.”

Xiao Kun said, “I have a hypothesis—care to hear it? Chaosheng, drink a little less. Be careful not to get drunk.”

“I’m going to sleep with Big Brother tonight,” Chaosheng said.

Xiang Xian replied, “Even if you two got married right now, I wouldn’t object. Wu Yingzong, have the innkeeper set up a bridal chamber for you later, in whatever style you like. Don’t interrupt us anymore.”

“No, no, Master…” Wu Yingzong hastily tried to explain, but Xiang Xian gestured for him to stay quiet—he wanted to discuss serious matters with Xiao Kun.

Xiang Xian now cared only about their next moves. The sudden appearance of Ba She today had caught them off guard, but it unexpectedly turned a stagnant, deadlocked situation around. At the very least, the crucial force of “demons” that had always lurked behind everything had finally revealed itself and declared war on them.

Xiang Xian motioned for Xiao Kun to scoot closer. They turned sideways to face each other as they spoke.

“I thought too simply,” Xiang Xian said. “I originally figured we’d get some clues out of Ba She once we saw it, but it had been corrupted too.”

Xiao Kun said, “Assume ‘Mu’ is the mastermind behind it all. He tempted Shan Yu Hong, driving her into demonic corruption through her obsession. He captured Ba She, controlled it, and sent it to attack us. That explains everything neatly.”

Xiang Xian asked, “But how did he know we were heading to Chengdu?”

Xiao Kun replied, “Do you remember the Heaven’s Mandate Box in Xuan Yue Mountain?”

Xiang Xian said, “I’m absolutely certain that the only ones present when we heard the Shuhu Prophecy were you and me.”

Xiao Kun said, “What I’m getting at is that weng—the Weng Immortal Zhou Wang.”

“Yes… wait,” Xiang Xian said. “He had Demonic Qi on him too.”

Xiao Kun replied, “Exactly. Our Master once gravely wounded him back in the day.”

“Le Wan Shuang?” Xiang Xian asked.

Xiao Kun confirmed, “Yes. What if the Weng Immortal Zhou Wang is one of ‘Mu’s’ subordinates?”

Xiang Xian looked puzzled. He twirled a white jade porcelain cup on his slender, nimble fingers as Xiao Kun continued, “Assume ‘Mu’ has more than one subordinate.”

“That makes sense,” Xiang Xian said. “As the Demon King, he couldn’t handle everything personally. That Young Master disciple of yours who was captured…”

Xiao Kun said, “Sa Luan.”

“Right, Sa Luan.” Xiang Xian analyzed, “Assume the ‘Mr. Ying’ who ambushed you and took Sa Luan is one of ‘Mu’s’ chief generals.”

Xiao Kun said, “So far, ‘Mu’s’ known subordinates are Zhou Wang, Shan Yu Hong, and ‘Mr. Ying’—three in total.”

Xiang Xian fell silent.

Xiao Kun added, “I doubt his forces are limited to just these few. They could be scattered across the Shenzhou Great Land, concealing their Demonic Qi and not appearing openly on ordinary days.”

Xiang Xian nodded. “So you think when we went to Chengdu seeking the Heart Lamp, Shan Yu Hong reported it to her master ‘Mu’.”

“Yes,” Xiao Kun said. “Do you remember the people who attacked me and Chaosheng on the road when we first met? That’s crucial.”

Xiang Xian had completely forgotten about it, but the reminder jolted him. “Right! We were both baffled at the time. It was a Demon Person too—we just didn’t know its true form.”