Chapter 23: Fireworks Part 3

Xiao Kun looked at the lake’s colorful boats. “I believe as long as you have the heart to protect what matters, Wisdom Sword or Heart Lamp—power or not—doesn’t matter. I suspect Saint Immovable Venerable still tests you.”

“My master guessed the same,” Xiang Xian said. “What test?”

“I don’t know,” Xiao Kun replied. “Perhaps trials on the path ahead. Relax—even without full acknowledgment, so what? You’re still you. Don’t let objects or fame bind you. Do your best.”

Xiang Xian’s gloom lifted suddenly; he nodded. “You’re right.”

Xiao Kun suddenly understood Xiang Xian’s feelings—he relied strangely on him?! As head of the Great Song Exorcism Division, Xiang Xian seemed omnipotent to outsiders, yet inwardly brimmed with insecurity.

Xiao Kun laughed.

Xiang Xian: “What’s so funny?”

“Nothing.” Xiao Kun saw through him, tempted to say, “Leave it to me—Big Brother will protect you.” But too intimate, like Xiang Xian’s style, not his.

“If the Heart Lamp’s unclaimed now, maybe I could gain its favor?” Xiang Xian asked.

“Impossible,” Xiao Kun replied instantly. “Near-impossible. In three millennia, Heart Lamp and Wisdom Sword united in one person only once. You haven’t mastered the sword—don’t rashly draw the Heart Lamp.”

“You want the Heart Lamp?” Xiang Xian asked.

Heart Lamp purified Demonic Qi wherever it went; Wisdom Sword severed demon forms and roots.

“Barring surprises, yes,” Xiao Kun said. “Ideal: I get the Heart Lamp, you the Wisdom Sword. Find Heavenly Demon Palace, slay the Demon King early, prevent Heavenly Demon’s rebirth; avert Great Song’s doom too.”

Xiang Xian: “And find your Young Master, restore Liao.”

Xiao Kun: “Mm.”

Nearing the third watch, city lights dimmed, awaiting midnight fireworks.

In the dark, Xiao Kun said, “Restoration later—if Sa Luan lives, that’s heaven’s grace.”

Xiang Xian: “Think we can pull it off?”

“Definitely,” Xiao Kun said. “Sound like a pipe dream?”

Xiang Xian burst out laughing. Xiao Kun said seriously, “You don’t believe? Why laugh?”

“I do,” Xiang Xian replied at once. “I believe!”

Xiang Xian leaned on the railing, turning sideways, extending a hand. Xiao Kun casually reached to clap it when the last lights extinguished, plunging everything into darkness. New Year’s fell on new moon; thick clouds blotted the sky.

“Fireworks!” Xiang Xian said. “Back for Chaosheng?”

“Let’s watch here,” Xiao Kun said, leaping down. “Don’t want to move.”

“I’ll take you somewhere,” Xiang Xian slung an arm over Xiao Kun’s shoulder. “Best view’s south shore of Longting Lake!”

Suddenly, a bell tinkled—short, clear bursts, three vibrations, then silence.

Xiao Kun and Xiang Xian’s gazes snapped to the Demon Shaking Bell dangling from the Wooden Plaque at his waist. They fell silent, holding their breath.

Xiao Kun: “It’s ringing?”

No one else nearby—the brief sound came from Xiang Xian’s Demon Shaking Bell.

“Who made this magic treasure?” Xiao Kun asked, wine fully sobered.

“It came from Master’s hand.” Xiang Xian knew what Xiao Kun wanted to ask. He untied the wooden plaque and handed it to him, saying, “It’s been used for fifty years now. It might be a bit faulty.”

“Master Shen Kuo’s magic treasure couldn’t possibly break so easily.” Xiao Kun glanced around and asked, “How far is its detection range?”

“In theory, it’s unlimited,” Xiang Xian replied, “depending on the concentration of demonic qi. But usually, beyond ten li, the demonic qi weakens, and it stops ringing, making it harder to detect.”

Xiao Kun was extremely puzzled. He leaped onto the roof of a pavilion at Dragon Pavilion Lakeside and surveyed the surroundings in the pitch-black night. When demonic qi appeared, the Demon Shaking Bell would ring. He had already seen it once before Shan Yu Hong at the Chengdu Demon Exorcism Office.

“When the demonic qi hides, the Demon Shaking Bell stops making noise,” Xiang Xian said irritably. “You can’t spot it with your eyes.”

“Has it ever rung in Kaifeng before?”

“Never.” Xiang Xian said, “You know there are very few demons in this world.”

“It’s not broken,” Xiao Kun said, “and it’s very sensitive. Something must have just happened, in the direction we were heading… I’ll go check it out.”

“Hey!” Xiang Xian called. “Wait, you’ll get lost! There are no lights here!”

Dragon Pavilion Lakeside was where officials and wealthy merchants lived, in grand vermilion-gated courtyards of wealthy and influential families. After two streets, it was all flying eaves and tiled roofs merging into the darkness.

Xiao Kun leaped onto the flying eaves in a few steps but couldn’t sense the demonic qi. In a short instant, the demon’s trail had already vanished.

Xiang Xian caught up in a few steps, stepping onto a household’s roof, and shouted, “Xiao Kun! Xiao Kun!”

Xiao Kun leaped toward a higher spot. When he reached the rooftop of a three-story building, Xiang Xian shouted again, “Stop running, Xiao Kun! Zhen Nu!”

“Zhen Nu! Xiao Zhen Nu!” Xiang Xian bellowed into the silent night. Xiao Kun nearly slipped and fell—this name hadn’t been called in nearly twenty years, and it shook him to the core.

“How do you know my childhood name?!” Xiao Kun turned back, remembering that Xiang Xian had seen his birth paper when they first met.

Xiao Kun stopped and turned, wanting to punch him, but in the darkness, he could only make out Xiang Xian’s vague silhouette.

Xiang Xian waved at Xiao Kun, who knew he had found something. He leaped down from the high place.

“Here!” Xiang Xian said. “Why are you running around wildly? Did you find the demonic qi?”

Without a word, Xiao Kun hurried to Xiang Xian’s side. Xiang Xian gestured for him to look to the other side.