This time, every prisoner sat up, watching the man stride through the Heavenly Prison.
“Xiang Xian?”
It was none other than the Crown Prince Zhao Huan!
Xiang Xian was stunned too. Zhao Huan said, “Why did you suddenly return?”
Xiang Xian exchanged a glance with Xiao Kun, who immediately recognized Zhao Huan’s identity and signaled Chaosheng to curb his curiosity and not ask questions.
Xiang Xian: “Business finished, naturally I come home.”
“That great chaos in Chengdu,” Zhao Huan ordered the jailers to open the cell. “Your doing, right?”
The battle between Qingyang Palace and Shan Yu Hong had wide repercussions, and news had already reached Kaifeng.
“The details are extremely complex,” Xiang Xian said seriously. “That’s another reason I had to return and report to Lord Guo.”
Xiang Xian thought Zhao Huan would enter the cell, but he stood outside with hands clasped behind his back. Xiang Xian realized then that the three of them could leave!
“I’ve spoken thoroughly with Father,” Zhao Huan said. “About last time’s heavenly… that box… We’ll talk another time.”
Xiang Xian signaled to Chaosheng and Xiao Kun that they could go.
“And these two?” Zhao Huan prompted Xiang Xian, who had not introduced them.
“Both my brothers.” Xiang Xian did not make them bow to the Crown Prince—Chaosheng would not know what to say, and as a Liao Person, Xiao Kun had no desire to engage much with the Song royals.
Zhao Huan glanced at them and, out of respect for Xiang Xian, nodded.
Outside Dali Right Temple, Zhao Huan’s attendants brought horses. Zhao Huan added, “After the New Year, I have many matters to discuss with you in detail. For now, stay in the capital and don’t stir up trouble. Keep a low profile for a few days.”
Xiang Xian nodded, understanding that Zhao Huan had personally vouched for their release. He cupped his fists in salute.
“Lord Xiang is back! Lord Xiang is back!”
“Lord Xiang has finally returned!”
The two Stone Lions in front of the Exorcism Division started calling out. Wu Yingzong had already set up a feast. Seeing Xiang Xian, Xiao Kun, and Chaosheng enter, he asked, “Why so long?”
Xiang Xian flopped onto the main couch. “Don’t ask.”
“Master, dinner first or bath first?” Wu Yingzong said.
“I want a bath!” Chaosheng said.
“I’ll take you.” Wu Yingzong took Chaosheng’s hand and asked, “Where did you all go?”
“We went to get locked up…”
Xiao Kun eyed the half-reclining Xiang Xian. They exchanged looks.
Xiao Kun: “Didn’t expect you to be so close with the Crown Prince.”
Xiang Xian: “If I told you we’ve spoken fewer than five sentences total, would you believe it?”
Xiao Kun stood in the hall, gazing up at the “Mountain-Sea Bright Light” plaque. “What exactly happened to make him so eager all of a sudden?”
“No such thing as unmotivated courtesy.” Xiang Xian stood again, placing the Wisdom Sword on the central sword rack.
Both said in unison: “It’s either adultery or theft.” Then they could not help but laugh.
“The Great Liao Demon-Exorcism Division has a plaque like this too,” Xiao Kun said. “I asked Master what ‘Mountain-Sea Bright Light’ means.”
Xiang Xian undid his belt in the hall and removed the Qiankun Bag. “The Wisdom Sword and Heart Lamp are the two supreme treasures guarding the Exorcism Division. Neither can be missing.”
Xiao Kun: “Master said the same. But the Liao Demon Exorcism Division has neither Mountain-Sea nor Bright Light. So this Grand Demon-Exorcist title of mine has always been hollow.”
Xiao Kun also removed his two Tang Daos. He walked forward to a rack, placed the Dual Knives on the sword stand alongside the Wisdom Sword. Thus, in the center of the hall, from top to bottom, stood the three Divine Weapons: Senluo, Wanxiang, and the Wisdom Sword.
“There wasn’t even a Southern Exorcism Division originally,” Xiang Xian said. “If I hadn’t brought my family heirloom, the Wisdom Sword, to Kaifeng, Guo Jing probably wouldn’t have dared to call himself a Grand Demon-Exorcist.”
Xiao Kun refrained from mocking Guo Jing. For Xiang Xian’s sake, he decided to restrain himself as much as possible and avoid commenting on the Song, even though the two countries had been enemies not long ago, and the Song-Jin alliance had led to the complete downfall of the Liao Kingdom.
“Let’s go!” Xiang Xian clapped Xiao Kun on the shoulder again and said, “Clean up first, change clothes, then have dinner. I guarantee no one will disturb us tonight.”
A special Barrier surrounded the exterior of the Exorcism Division. No one except Guo Jing could intrude without permission. After dinner, Xiang Xian sent Wu Yingzong to inquire about Guo Jing. Wu Yingzong returned and reported, “He said he knows. Come see him tomorrow morning once you’re settled.”
“Lord Guo certainly takes everything in stride,” Xiao Kun remarked, which was rare for him.
“What is he doing?” Xiang Xian asked.
Wu Yingzong replied, “At his residence, playing hide-and-seek with his concubines.”
Xiang Xian was speechless.
It was late at night when he finally returned. They each retired to rest, no longer needing to toil as they had while traveling. Xiao Kun slept alone in a room that Xiang Xian had given up for him. Wu Yingzong had tidied it up temporarily and added a brazier. Xiang Xian slept in the study, while Chaosheng stayed with Wu Yingzong in the west wing.
On the shelf in Xiang Xian’s room sat numerous Magic Treasures, most of them half-finished products that had been abandoned midway.
Wearing only a single layer of clothing, Xiao Kun examined a small sand table Xiang Xian had made. It was covered with wooden soldiers and horses. Once the mechanism was activated, the warriors on the sand table would rotate back and forth, engaging in battle.
There was also a qin in front of the desk. Xiao Kun plucked the strings idly a few times.
As he drifted off to sleep, faint flute notes drifted in from outside, graceful and lingering, and melodious.
This guy even knows how to play the flute. He’s learned quite a few instruments, Xiao Kun thought.
“One cup of wine for a new lyric,” Xiao Kun sang along with the flute melody, though he had already lain down. “Last year’s weather, the old pavilion…”
“…Helplessly the flowers fell away, familiar swallows return once more…”
At the third watch, fine snow began to fall in Kaifeng. Amid the warm lamplight of the winter night, for the first time since leaving Shangjing, Xiao Kun felt a sense of “home.”
