In the dream realm:
Xiao Kun held the Wisdom Sword blazing with eerie blue flames in his left hand and the Senluo Blade in his right, facing Xiang Xian, who was shrouded in rolling black qi.
Heart Lamp Light surged forth like a vast sky from his chest. Xiao Kun’s body was already battered beyond recognition, with exposed white bones on his arms and thighs, crimson blood trickling down, resembling a charred corpse scorched by fire.
The Heart Lamp Light swept forward like ocean tides, dispersing the Demonic Qi around Xiang Xian and revealing his true form. The blade of the Wisdom Sword pierced his chest, golden blood erupting forth.
His eyes regained their luster. With one hand, he grasped the Wisdom Sword and yanked it from his body, sending blood spraying everywhere.
“Leave it to me,” Xiang Xian said in a low voice. “Let me use my own heart fire…”
The Heart Lamp Light vanished, and Xiao Kun finally collapsed. Before them loomed the massive Heavenly Demon, comparable to a mountain range.
The Heavenly Demon roared as it separated from the demon-possessed Xiang Xian. It spread its arms, embracing the Baleful Qi between heaven and earth. Xiang Xian gripped the Wisdom Sword and let out an angry roar before leaping into the air!
The phoenix gently unfurled its wings, causing orange-red Blazing Flame to erupt from Xiang Xian’s chest, incinerating his heart completely. The Wisdom Sword burst forth with orange-gold light!
Xiang Xian twisted his body, gripped the sword with both hands, and invoked Mingwang Descent. He transformed into a comet and pierced through the Heavenly Demon’s chest and abdomen!
Xiao Kun abruptly opened his eyes and sat up, gasping violently.
It was early morning, and the Great Song Exorcism Division was blanketed in accumulated snow. The “whoosh whoosh” sound of Wu Yingzong sweeping snow reached the room.
“Lord Xiao,” Wu Yingzong said upon seeing Xiao Kun awake, “the Master has been waiting for you to have breakfast for a while.”
Xiao Kun nodded. Though the Exorcism Division had only Wu Yingzong as its housekeeper and lacked other servants, he was a great monster who handled everything with spells, saving much effort and keeping all affairs in perfect order.
Upon entering the main hall, Xiao Kun saw Xiang Xian speaking with Chaosheng.
Xiang Xian sat in the lower seat on the left, while Chaosheng sat on the lower right. The two chatted idly, with tea and pre-breakfast snacks prepared on the central couch.
“Where should I sit?” Xiao Kun asked.
Xiang Xian gestured for Xiao Kun to take the central seat.
“Isn’t this Lord Guo’s position?”
“You’re a Grand Demon-Exorcist, so of course you sit there.”
“Isn’t Guo Jing coming?”
“He’ll arrive shortly,” Xiang Xian said. “Don’t worry about him.”
Xiao Kun did not ask what would happen when Guo Jing arrived if he took the seat. Since Xiang Xian had arranged it, he sat in the central position. He noted that the tea set and dishes on the table were all uniform celadon Ru ware in a pale sky blue—simple and elegant without ostentation, yet each piece was priceless. Back in Shangjing, the imperial family treasured even a single set of Ru ware; here, they were as common as clay pots and vases.
After Xiao Kun took his seat, Wu Yingzong brought in the food boxes. Only then did Xiang Xian and Chaosheng begin breakfast. Xiao Kun asked, “What’s on the agenda today?”
Since arriving at the Great Song Exorcism Division, Xiao Kun had not mentioned leaving. He sat naturally in the Grand Demon-Exorcist’s seat without the slightest awkwardness, as if he were born to be its master. His demeanor and speech also adapted remarkably well.
Chaosheng said, “Can I go shopping?”
Xiao Kun replied, “Have Old Wu take you.”
Xiang Xian said, “Rest for a few days first. The journey was tiring, and I have miscellaneous matters to handle in the capital.”
“I’ll write the couplets,” Xiao Kun said. “Tell me what to write.”
It was New Year’s Eve that day. Wang Anshi had a poem: “A thousand gates, ten thousand households lit aglow, replacing old charms with new peach wood strips.” This captured Kaifeng’s festive atmosphere perfectly.
On New Year’s Eve, the markets in Kaifeng closed at noon to make way for the evening market and fireworks festival. After nightfall, it would usher in the year’s most prosperous time, with people reveling through the night until dawn. On the first day of the new year, at the rooster’s crow, thousands of households would head to Kaibao Temple on the mountain outside the city to pay respects.
“What to write on the Yichun Post?” After breakfast, Xiao Kun prepared ink and brush to write the couplets.
Xiang Xian thought for a moment and said, “With wine, wish the east wind well; willow-lined purple paths stroll at ease. Revelry suits the young; this year’s flowers outshine last…”
“You’re quite fond of Ouyang Xiu.”
“Mm.” Xiang Xian had adapted a stanza from Ouyang Xiu’s Waves Scouring Sand for the Yichun Post. At the time, Song people wrote couplets quite casually, using whatever lines they liked without strict adherence to parallelism. There were ones like “Fallen red petals fly past the swing” or “Swallows in the halls of Wang and Xie.” Xiao Kun pondered and felt Waves Scouring Sand somewhat heavy, but as exorcists, they did not mind omens and indulged Xiang Xian’s whim.
“Lord Guo is here! Lord Guo is here!” the two Stone Lions at the entrance called out.
Xiao Kun paused his brush. Guo Jing entered the Exorcism Division, having changed into full gold-and-white robes, clearly preparing for the New Year’s banquet on Wansui Mountain that afternoon.
“Oh, writing the Yichun Post,” Guo Jing said.
Xiang Xian gestured for him to sit.
Guo Jing rarely visited the Exorcism Division. Though Xiang Xian was nominally the Deputy Emissary, he was effectively the head. At that moment, he carried the air of a host entertaining a guest.
Guo Jing glanced around and sat to the side. Xiang Xian was about to call Wu Yingzong but remembered he had gone out, so he personally prepared tea for Guo Jing.
Guo Jing watched Xiao Kun write the couplets without speaking a word. Xiao Kun did not even glance at him directly.
“Should you speak first, or I?” Guo Jing said. “Let’s get this over with while there’s half a day free and settle matters clearly.”
With that, Guo Jing produced an item from his sleeve and said, “This is the Yichun Post granted to the Exorcism Division by His Majesty.”
Xiang Xian nodded but did not take it. Guo Jing chuckled, “Still sulking, eh?” He placed the couplet inscribed by Zhao Ji on the table’s edge.
