The ice platform descended vertically at a steady, uniform speed. Li Si passed through layer after layer of multicolored ice palace interfaces. Countless tall halls with jade railings and deep palaces with cloud tops swept past Li Si’s vision like passing clouds. Though he already knew of the Spring and Autumn period’s Mozi’s supernatural craftsmanship, only now did he truly comprehend the unprecedented absoluteness of this glacier cold palace. The fat Daoist and Gongyang Yan shared the same thoughts.
The ice platform continued descending. A Mu didn’t say a word, and Li Si didn’t know how to speak either. Time passed in the spatial transition. Just when Li Si felt this ice platform would descend forever, it suddenly stopped. Li Si found himself in the coldest, deepest layer of the ice palace. Surrounding them swirled what seemed like living ice vapor. This was also the only ice palace interface without pavilions, towers, or halls. All around the space were crisscrossing ice cave paths. A Mu slowly stepped down from the stone platform. “Carefully follow me. If you get lost here, you’ll only freeze to death.”
Li Si deeply trusted A Mu’s words and obediently followed her. A Mu turned left. In the first row’s ice hall with ten ice caves, she chose the second ice cave. Emerging from the ice cave, they entered a cold, piercing ice crystal corridor. At the corridor’s end was the second row’s larger ice hall with ten caves. A Mu chose the fifth ice cave and went deeper. Emerging from the ice cave again, they came before a breathtaking remnant ice mountain. The extraordinary jagged ice mountain was about twenty zhang tall. Before Li Si could continue marveling, A Mu had already turned into an even narrower ice crystal corridor on the ice mountain’s left side. After walking another quarter hour, the ice walls’ color on both sides of the corridor deepened, gradually creating the illusion that the ice walls were flowing. Being within felt like walking through a deep sea dragon palace.
At the corridor’s end was a semi-enclosed ice cave. The surrounding ice walls displayed a deep blue, dazzling color. In the ice cave’s center stood a massive, towering ice pillar. The ice pillar emanated a profound, flowing blue light, like a small piece of ocean. Li Si looked at the deep blue mask on A Mu’s face, feeling its material was nearly identical to the ice pillar. And at the ice pillar’s center was a stone table with a stone box placed on it. The Form Person Master technique should be inside.
“The entire ice pillar seems to be flowing. This is truly miraculous!” Gongyang Yan couldn’t help but exclaim in wonder.
A Mu’s voice rang out ethereally. “This ice pillar is the Blue Heart Ice Marrow from a ten-thousand-year glacier. Ten thousand years of floating and sinking have given the ice marrow a hundred thousand minute facets that can infinitely cut and separate incoming light into mesmerizingly flowing colors, just as you see now. Beyond this, primordial ancient tribes once called billion-year ice marrow ‘immortal jade,’ already transcending the mortal world, able to transform decay into magic.”
“Is your mask also Blue Heart Ice Marrow?” Li Si suddenly asked.
A Mu slightly parted her cherry lips. “Yes. Teacher Mozi made this for me. The ice marrow mask is also the hub controlling the ice palace’s many mechanisms.”
“Let’s begin.” A Mu’s voice was like an ethereal orchid. She slowly approached the ice pillar. The ice pillar’s surface and mask faced each other. Both simultaneously began spinning rapidly like a deep blue vortex. Suddenly with a “crack,” the ice pillar slowly separated left and right, revealing the stone table within. A Mu took the stone box from the table and walked before Li Si and the other two. “I’ve faithfully kept Teacher Mozi’s words for exactly five hundred forty-five years. Today I can finally complete Teacher’s trust and fulfill the century-old promise.”
A Mu suddenly paused and turned to look at Li Si. “Constable Li Si, guess to whom I’ll give the stone box?”
Li Si’s expression was subtle. He smiled faintly. “Naturally not me. But I don’t need to guess. It must be him!”
Li Si casually pointed, indicating precisely the fat Daoist.
The fat Daoist smiled foolishly without speaking. A Mu asked curiously, “Why?”
“When we first entered Fuwa Village, Gongyang Yan was attacked by the three-handed outcast. Everyone went there except the unconscious you and the drowsy fat Daoist. Later, the fat Daoist came from the opposite direction of where he was sleeping, which happened to be where your wooden building was. Additionally, when the fat Daoist returned, he had a faint scent of Green Snake Sharp wine on him, and you had just drunk Green Snake Sharp wine due to physical weakness. From that time on, I always felt there was an inscrutable relationship between you and the fat Daoist. Starting from Fuwa Village, the fat Daoist also repeatedly showed tension about your condition.” Li Si’s eyes gleamed. “You and the fat Daoist should have revealed your identities to each other then, correct?”
A Mu smiled and blinked. “You truly are a formidable constable. I must say so.”
“At Ten Directions Mountain when avoiding the poisonous miasma, I nearly rolled down a stone slope. At the critical moment, the fat Daoist saved me. I inadvertently glimpsed a strange patch on the inside of his tattered Daoist robe. The patch had torn open, revealing half a wooden talisman carved with a nine-infant fierce beast. The nine-infant is the ancient divine beast worshipped and supported by the Muyi clan. Over five hundred years ago, Mozi gave wooden talismans carved with nine-infant patterns to Shi Cong’s family as tokens. At that time, I wondered if this slovenly fat Daoist before me could be a Shi Cong descendant. My emotions were unsettled. Along the way, I always wanted to chat privately with the fat Daoist, but only before falling unconscious did I mouth the words ‘Form Person Master’ to him. Fortunately, the fat Daoist noticed.” A Mu paused slightly. “As for the unconsciousness, that was real. Each time I leave the mountains, I fall gravely ill. I’ve never drunk alcohol, much less strong liquor like Green Snake Sharp, so after getting drunk, I accidentally vomited on the fat Daoist’s robe, which also left an oversight. The fat Daoist came to the wooden building and revealed his identity to me, producing the wooden talisman. On the talisman besides the nine-infant pattern was Teacher Mozi’s personally carved name ‘Di’—it was undoubtedly authentic. The fat Daoist also told me of Wu Yan’s various evil deeds in Xingtian City. To avoid alerting the enemy, the fat Daoist and I decided to hold our forces and not move.”
“In Xingtian City, I was confined by Wu Yan to the Star Palace. Though I escaped the restraints to find the fat Daoist, I couldn’t find him anywhere in the stone dwellings. By chance, you bumped into me, so I had a change of heart and brought you to the ancestral temple. This is a later matter. The fat Daoist held the holy token, so I wasn’t worried about him. I obediently returned to the holy land’s secluded realm with Wu Ying. What happened after that, you’ve seen with your own eyes—no need for elaboration.” A Mu finished telling of matters with the fat Daoist.
Li Si glanced at the fat Daoist. “Since you came to fulfill the five-hundred-year appointment, why were you forty-five years late?”
The fat Daoist blew his beard and glared. “It’s all that old ghost Wu Yan’s fault! My Shi Cong descendants suffered repeated persecution, living a life of wandering and displacement. Several clan leaders decided to wait five hundred years for absolute safety. Who knew that after five hundred years, just as clanspeople arrived at Ten Directions Mountain, they were captured by Wu Yan? Past Great Elders of the Gu Yao Sect all bore the mission of awaiting the Saintess’s immortal friend, but Wu Yan was utterly deranged. He actually imprisoned my clan’s people and cruelly tortured them to death. Fortunately, my clan leader was deeply calculating and dispatched two groups. The second group fought desperately and retrieved the corpses and wooden talismans, but from then on formed a grudge with the Gu Yao Sect. To see the Saintess again, they could only find another way. This Poison Hand Holy Physician act was also a helpless method, only to gain Wu Yan’s trust and create an opportunity to meet the Saintess.”
“Wu Yan wanted the treasure for rebirth so desperately, he probably thought you were connected to the holy land’s treasure, so he wanted to eliminate all witnesses.” Li Si sighed deeply.
“Fortunately, heaven has eyes. Evil people get their just deserts!” The fat Daoist said huffily.
“Past karma ends, future matters follow fate. Reincarnation has cause and effect; people cannot escape it either.” A Mu raised the wooden box. “Having said this much, let’s open the box.”
The wooden box had no lock. Its front had a three-cun wide indentation. The fat Daoist tore the wooden talisman from his tattered Daoist robe. This time Li Si understood why the fat Daoist couldn’t bear to throw away this tattered robe—there was another mystery. The fat Daoist tremblingly pressed the wooden talisman into the indentation. After several crisp “crack crack” sounds, the stone box slowly opened, revealing a thin silk book.
On the silk’s first page were three flowing seal script characters—Form Person Master.
The fat Daoist carefully took the silk book and respectfully tucked it in his bosom. A Mu said peacefully, “The five-hundred-year promise is fulfilled.”
“You should leave. Return by the original route. The ice platform is still stopped in place.” A Mu’s gaze was distant, not knowing where it looked.
The fat Daoist asked worriedly, “What about you?”
“What about me? This is my home where I’ve stayed five hundred years. Don’t worry, nothing will happen to me.” A Mu looked at the fat Daoist. “You now bear a heavy responsibility. How to safely bring the silk book back to your clan is what you should most consider. Each moment’s delay adds a portion of danger. Go quickly!”
Sweat the size of beans rolled down both sides of the fat Daoist’s temples. A Mu’s words were like enlightening wisdom that made him fearfully alert. The fat Daoist moistened his dry lips and gazed deeply at A Mu. “You’re right. A Mu, you… take great care.”
The fat Daoist turned and drilled into the corridor. His form disappeared. A Mu murmured, “Go.”
Li Si whispered a few words to Gongyang Yan. Gongyang Yan clasped his fists toward A Mu and also entered the corridor.
Only Li Si and A Mu remained in the ice cave. A Mu gazed at the ice pillar for a long time, watching the dazzling deep blue ripples. After a while, seeing Li Si still there, she asked, “Why aren’t you leaving?”
“The fat Daoist and Gongyang Yan left because their matters are finished. I’m not leaving because my matter isn’t finished.” Li Si answered calmly.
“So, what matter of yours isn’t finished?” A Mu said equally calmly.
“You once said searching for Su Shenghua was no longer for an answer but to complete your promise to him. Mu Sanxing, your unwavering devotion is moving. Now please allow me to give you an answer.” Li Si’s face revealed a smile laden with deep meaning. A Mu stared blankly at Li Si.
“I’ll take you to find Su Shenghua.” Li Si said.
“Ah?” A Mu’s weak body swayed like a candle in the wind. Looking at Li Si’s resolute gaze, A Mu seemed to regain vitality. She said softly yet firmly, “I’ll go with you.”
In life, besides him, all becomes bubbles. Ice crystal corridor, ice mountain, ice platform—after ascending to the giant ice, the fat Daoist and Gongyang Yan’s figures could no longer be found. Li Si led and A Mu followed. Onto the iron chains, traversing the Ink Star Rock corridor, climbing out of the fire vent, returning to Eagle Beak Cliff. The ancient tribe remnants on Eagle Beak Cliff had already disappeared, probably returning with Mita. Then retracing the original route through the Dark Forest, desolate hills, banishment ground, Xingtian City. In the Seventh City, Mita and You Huai were gathering tribespeople to explain the Ground Golden Immortal’s miraculous effects. The fat Daoist and Gongyang Yan waited in the stone dwellings. Li Si led A Mu like a phantom. When others had no time to pay attention, they came before the dilapidated wooden door behind the Hall of Ten Directions. Pushing the door open, then traversing the ancestral temple corridor, they found the hidden cave entrance in the main hall. Then the rugged stone steps, the emerald water pool in the stone hall. Li Si stopped before the pool’s stone wall, suddenly feeling as if separated from another lifetime.
Li Si inserted the five broken bones hidden in the water pool into the stone wall’s indentations. Inside the wall came chirping pivot sounds. The stone wall first retreated then sank, revealing another layer of stone wall inside. On the stone wall was a wooden door. Li Si took a breath and turned to A Mu. “He’s behind the door.”
Unprecedented excitement showed on A Mu’s serene, calm face. She reached out, fumbling several times before finally touching the wooden door. Behind the door was pitch darkness. Beneath her feet, rumbling earth-shaking sounds issued from the deep cold fissure. A mass of black shadow swayed above A Mu’s head.
A Mu slowly raised her head. That was… an enormously huge bronze coffin!
The bronze coffin’s four corners were fixed to the hard blue-gray stone walls with eight iron chains. The coffin body was over a zhang, suspended horizontally in netherworld-like darkness. A Mu gazed blankly. Li Si said from behind, “Su Shenghua is in the bronze coffin. I’ll carry you up.”
Li Si carried the slender maiden on his back. His body like an ape, he climbed the stone wall using hands and feet, approaching the bronze coffin, then leapt and jumped onto it. The bronze coffin lid was carved from some kind of transparent purple stone. One could hazily make out the refined young man’s features inside the coffin. A Mu only glanced once before tears streamed down. She tremblingly traced the young man’s features with her hand, choking, “It’s him, it’s him. I found him… I found you, Su Shenghua!”
“Step back a bit. I’ll open the coffin lid.” Li Si placed the distraught A Mu at the edge and gripped the coffin lid’s gap with both hands, lifting with force. The purple coffin lid was lifted, then pushed open. The closed-eyed young man inside seemed to have just fallen asleep, the corner of his mouth still holding a trace of smile. The young man wore plain clothes, his chest covered with misty gauze, a date-red lacquer box beside his head.
The lacquer box had already been opened. Inside lay an incomplete ancient scroll.
A Mu tightly embraced the young man Su Shenghua, murmuring in his ear as if to awaken her lover. Li Si watched A Mu with a somber expression. After she whispered for a moment, he said, “A Mu, Su Shenghua is here. Haven’t you noticed the clues yet?”
“What clues?” A Mu shook her head.
Li Si exhaled. “Over five hundred years have passed, yet Su Shenghua’s remains haven’t decayed. Touch his cheeks and limbs again.”
To the touch, smooth and cold. A Mu instantly froze. She gently lifted the misty gauze. Beneath the gauze on the bare chest was a shocking wound. Inside the wound—no heart!
A Mu murmured in confusion, “Five hundred years without corpse decay, flesh becoming jade quality over time, missing the heart—all this conforms to a Form Person Master’s body… Su Shenghua is a Form Person Master?!”
“How could Su Shenghua possibly be a Form Person Master? Impossible, this is impossible!” A Mu’s eyes vacant, she grabbed Su Shenghua and shook him. “Su Shenghua, tell me why exactly?”
Li Si silently handed the lacquer box to A Mu. “The answer is in the latter half of the ‘Gu Yao Sect Records.’ A Mu, read it yourself.” The first half of the Gu Yao Sect Records was in the lacquer box in the hidden cave’s water pool. The latter half had slumbered with Su Shenghua in the bronze coffin. Li Si had already discovered this on his first exploration.
A Mu wiped away cold tears and gently opened the latter half of the Gu Yao Sect Records. The latter half was likewise recorded by Shi Ze’s own hand, but what it described was no longer Gu Yao Sect trivialities. Instead, it was a story told in another person’s voice. This person was Su Shenghua.
After half a year’s journey from Flame Moon Island, I finally reached the North Sea, but a sudden maritime hurricane attack caused the ice palace to lose control and crash into Ten Directions Mountain’s belly. When I awoke, I could still feel the heaven-collapsing, earth-splitting aftershocks. Looking around, this was a mountain bottom secluded realm with churning, surging lava. Ancient tribe member Shi Ze, who witnessed the heaven collapse’s shock, came to the secluded realm. With him came a beautiful, lovely maiden. The maiden was called Mu Sanxing. She was Shi Ze’s daughter.
The maiden was lively and cheerful, her eyes bright and shining. She smiled sweetly and spoke. “Hello, my name is Mu Sanxing. Man Kua said on the night I was born, the three stars of the Zhen constellation shone brilliantly in the sky, so he named me Sanxing.”
“My name is Su Shenghua—Su of the ancient surname, Shenghua meaning creating flowers from nothing. When Master named me, he hoped I could create flowers from nothing, living strongly and bravely.” Su Shenghua touched the back of his head, not daring to meet the maiden’s passionate gaze, smiling foolishly.
The story gradually merged with yet diverged from the fragments in A Mu’s memory. Young man Su Shenghua, young maiden Mu Sanxing—the two unknowingly spent half a year in the secluded realm. Feelings gradually grew in their hearts. During the day, Su Shenghua brought Mu Sanxing to chase mountain birds and clear winds. At night, the two lay atop the ice palace gazing at the scattered stars of the Ink Star Rock. Su Shenghua suddenly said, “Legend has it that at heaven’s edge, beside the starry river, there’s a mysterious ancient country where every maiden is transparent and clear as crystal, just like you.”
“Beside the stars?” Mu Sanxing looked forward with longing. “That must be very beautiful. Unfortunately, I’m not from beside the stars. By the way, where is your hometown?”
“My hometown is an island in the ocean’s depths called Flame Moon Island. My master is there.” Su Shenghua said, looking at the twinkling Ink Star Rock in the secluded realm. Mu Sanxing laughed straightforwardly. “Can you take me there?”
Su Shenghua’s face reddened. “I don’t know how long until I can return. If you still want to go when the time comes, I’m willing to take you.”
Mu Sanxing nodded happily. Su Shenghua gazed at his beloved maiden’s eyes and brows, saying intimately, “Master taught me feng shui and fate reading. A Mu, you belong to the ominous Water-Fire dual fate—only one person in a hundred thousand has such a fate. Girls with Water-Fire fate hide both coldness and passion in their hearts—sometimes cold as ice, sometimes passionate as surging waves. But most importantly, she has a sincere, kind heart. All my life I’ve yearned to meet a sincere and kind heart. Sanxing, remember what I say—I love you!”
That night, that moment, Su Shenghua thought he and Mu Sanxing would transform the instant into forever and never part again. But what he didn’t expect was that Mu Sanxing would fall ill. Shi Ze was heartbroken. Mu Sanxing’s grandmother had died of heart pain, and unexpectedly Mu Sanxing also contracted the same serious illness as grandmother. Mu Sanxing’s heart felt like knives stabbing, but she still gave Su Shenghua a pale smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll get better. I still have to… go with you to Flame Moon Island.”
Su Shenghua looked at the unconscious maiden, then at the empty, secluded ice palace, falling into deep thought. On the fifth day of Mu Sanxing’s illness, the maiden had fallen into critical condition, still calling Su Shenghua’s name. Su Shenghua tightly held her hands, feeling the maiden’s life flowing away bit by bit. He made his decision: he would save Mu Sanxing, no matter the price.
Su Shenghua entrusted what followed to Shi Ze. He carried Mu Sanxing deep into the ice palace’s bottom layer, using the bottom layer’s ten-thousand-year ice marrow to create a deep blue mask. Su Shenghua utilized Mozi’s memory-enhancing method coordinated with the ice marrow immortal jade’s mysterious unpredictability to reshape Mu Sanxing’s memories, covering and transferring various memories of knowing Su Shenghua. Then in the swirling ice-blue cold air, Su Shenghua cut open his chest and removed the Form Person Master’s heart—the Five-Colored Asura Stone. Trembling, he transplanted the five-colored stone into Mu Sanxing’s body. The Five-Colored Asura Stone was heaven and earth’s naturally favored essence, able to revive all things in the world. Su Shenghua watched Mu Sanxing gradually regain color and tightly embraced her, as if using all his remaining life’s strength.
On the second morning, Mu Sanxing awoke. In her memory, she was the Form Person Master, and Su Shenghua became the young master wandering the four directions. Su Shenghua smiled and proposed parting to Mu Sanxing. In the maiden’s reluctantly attached gaze, Su Shenghua quietly departed. He could feel Mu Sanxing’s deeply expectant gaze, but he couldn’t turn back, because a Form Person Master without the Five-Colored Asura Stone could only survive two days.
Su Shenghua entered the ancient tribe’s ancestral temple as agreed and slept eternally in the bronze coffin Shi Ze had prepared. As the purple coffin lid slowly descended, he said to Shi Ze: If one day Sanxing learns the truth and wishes to see me one more time, I’ll teach you a method to let her see me. That will be our last meeting in this life.
Shi Ze sealed the ancestral temple and established the Gu Yao Sect to protect Mu Sanxing.
Also, following Su Shenghua’s method, he recorded and left behind the “Gu Yao Sect Records.”
In the blink of an eye, five hundred years of time had passed…
A Mu read the ancient scroll’s final content. Tears had long since flowed down. A Mu sobbed, “Why leave me behind alone and forlorn? Su Shenghua, how cruel you are! You can’t just leave me alone.”
“Perhaps fearing you’d be lonely, Su Shenghua didn’t erase himself from your memory. Leaving beautiful thoughts is much better than lonely anticipation. Or perhaps until death, Su Shenghua couldn’t sever his attachment to you. He’s still waiting for that final meeting with you in the future.” Li Si said with emotion.
“Will he?” A Mu asked softly, then answered herself, “He will.”
A Mu caressed Su Shenghua, sleeping like an infant, then struggled to lift him. Her face turned toward Li Si with a brilliant smile. “Help me with one thing. I want to take him back to the ice palace.”
Li Si saw A Mu’s sunny, bright smile for the first time and couldn’t help but feel his heart stir. With one hand holding Su Shenghua and carrying A Mu on his back, his other hand steadily climbed down. Again following the original route, Li Si and A Mu returned to the secluded realm’s giant ice and descended from the ice platform to the ice palace’s bottom layer. A Mu’s face grew increasingly pale. Li Si remembered that in the Gu Yao Sect Records, Su Shenghua had said that after the Five-Colored Asura Stone replaced a human heart, though it wouldn’t fail, it would also dissipate over time. As the Five-Colored Asura Stone dissipated, the Form Person Master’s life force also decreased. After over five hundred years, he didn’t know how much the Asura Stone had actually diminished. Li Si looked at the pale-faced A Mu and couldn’t help but worry deeply for her.
Li Si and A Mu returned to the deepest ice cave. A Mu donned the Blue Heart Ice Marrow mask. Blue strange light again spun like a vortex. Then with a “crack,” the ice marrow ice pillar slowly separated left and right. A Mu took Su Shenghua and slowly walked into the ice pillar. Li Si suddenly said, “A Mu, what are you doing?”
A Mu smiled as stunning as crabapple blossoms, her tone resolute. “I want to return his to him.”
“You can’t! You’re human. If you remove the Five-Colored Asura Stone, you’ll die!” Li Si wanted to stop A Mu, but the mechanism activated. The ice marrow ice pillar suddenly closed. Li Si heavily struck the ice pillar, calling out to A Mu. A Mu’s ethereal voice still transmitted out. She smiled sweetly. “Don’t worry, I’m not foolish. I’ll return half the Five-Colored Asura Stone to him, because I’ve tasted the bitter, desolate waiting of a hundred years of loneliness. I don’t intend to let either of us endure lonely torment again. I want us both to live. If we can’t, then even to hell’s Yellow Springs, I’ll accompany him.”
“A Mu, you…” Li Si wanted to persuade A Mu, but the words reached his throat and became somewhat choked. If he replaced A Mu with himself, he’d probably do the same thing. Bai Zhenzhu’s tear-filled smile suddenly flashed through Li Si’s mind. The girl would do the same.
“Li Si, quickly leave the ice palace. Extracting and mobilizing the Five-Colored Asura Stone requires gathering ten-thousand-year ice marrow for preservation. Ice marrow is also the source of the ice palace’s millennium condensation. Once the ice marrow is exhausted, the ice palace will melt and collapse.” A Mu inside the ice pillar, bearing parting meaning, said lightly, “If by chance we survive, I’ll go with Su Shenghua to that ancient country beneath the starry edge. Let’s meet again then.”
“What about you when the ice palace collapses?” Li Si said anxiously.
“Inside the ice marrow stone pillar, we’ll remain safe. Don’t worry about us anymore. Time is scarce. Escape quickly!” A Mu had already begun extracting the Blue Heart Ice Marrow. She urgently urged Li Si.
Li Si nodded toward A Mu, wanting to say farewell words, but when they reached his lips, like Mita and the fat Daoist, he only said, “Take care.”
A Mu gazed deeply at Li Si. Her cherry lips parted slightly. “Take care.”
Li Si ascended the ice platform and returned to the giant ice surface. He stood slightly dazed on the ice, then stepped onto the iron chains. Just as he reached the opposite corridor, he heard behind him rumbling tremendous sounds. Looking back, the thousand-zhang ice palace was melting and collapsing from the bottom. Unceasing rumbling vibrations came from the endless iron chains’ other end accompanied by cold wind. The ice palace’s bottom had already turned to ice water falling into the abyss. Immediately after, layer upon layer of tall halls with carved dragons and painted pillars successively shattered, likewise falling into the churning fire-red lava. In no time, the entire miraculous ice palace that Master Mozi had painstakingly created had completely fallen. Faint sounds of cold and heat fusing echoed in the cold, dark secluded realm.
Li Si turned back mournfully, talking to himself. “Let’s go.”
Li Si returned to Xingtian City in a daze. Mita and You Huai had already gained all tribespeople’s support and abolished the Gu Yao Sect. Mita was elected as the ancient tribe’s new clan leader. You Huai kept his word, fully assisting Mita to save the ancient tribe. Yun Yan continued as priest. Purple Dream Creeper also became known to ancient tribe people. From then on, the ancient tribe would no longer suffer persecution.
The fat Daoist secretly contacted Shi Cong clanspeople outside the mountains, waiting for them to come receive him.
Gongyang Yan was the first person to bid farewell. To deliver the Ground Golden Immortal into the holy land, he’d subdued Ban Na, but unexpectedly was stabbed by Ban Na in the fire vent and injured. However, the narrowly escaped Ban Na didn’t meet a good end either. He was punched in the crown by the blood-soaked Wu Ying who rushed out from the Ink Star Rock corridor, his head smashed flat. Gongyang Yan himself said Ban Na’s stab not only gave him another scar but made him deeply remember the scenes at Ten Directions Mountain and a group of friends who shared hardships. Gongyang Yan said to Li Si, the fat Daoist, and others, “I hope to tell the story of this place to my descendants, tell of my growth and experiences at Ten Directions Mountain, tell of several friends I knew—the living and those no longer here. If such a day comes, I hope when they listen to the story with great interest, the rest of you are all still alive. This is my wish before leaving. Take great care.”
Gongyang Yan left. What remained in Li Si’s vision last was a gradually full and solid back.
Next, the fat Daoist also left. The fat Daoist never abandoned that tattered Daoist robe patched a hundred times. He laughed heartily, saying, “Once you’re used to wearing it, you truly get used to it. Perhaps I’ll consider actually becoming a Daoist. If one day you encounter a haggard, pitiful Daoist master asking you for a drink, you absolutely must be generous once. Hahaha!”
The fat Daoist left behind his laughter, and also the method to help Bai Zhenzhu resolve the Dark Blood Plague poison, but the fat Daoist said he couldn’t guarantee the method would fully work. If anything happened, Li Si could again seek him at Master Cave in Nanxian Prefecture.
Only Li Si remained. Li Si bid farewell to Mita. He hesitated several times wanting to tell Mita the truth about A Mu but ultimately chose silence. A Mu probably didn’t want one more person grieving for her. Since things were this way and could make everyone happy, why do something unnecessary? A Mu and Su Shenghua’s story would remain a secret buried deep in his own heart. Li Si thought this way. Mita spoke with Li Si for a long time about A Mu but didn’t have the courage to find A Mu.
“On some day in the future when I truly become strong, I’ll go find A Mu. Let her see a different Mita.” Light sparkled in Mita’s eyes.
Li Si waved farewell to Mita and You Huai, also declining ancient tribe people who wanted to escort him down the mountain. Li Si left Xingtian City alone. As his gaze turned back, a faint, comfortable smile appeared. An ethereal voice seemed to drift to his ears: If by chance we survive, I’ll go with Su Shenghua to that ancient country beneath the starry edge. Let’s meet again then.
“Then I look forward to meeting again.” Li Si said softly.
Li Si’s silhouette gradually disappeared. In an inner mountain corner, Wu Ying, looking like a homeless dog, lay at the banishment ground’s edge, covered in blood and filth. Shattered bones had pierced through his flesh, making him wish for death rather than endure such pain. He gritted his teeth to stay alive because he had too much unwillingness. Wu Ying struggled to try to crawl up but heavily fell again, bloody gore continuously flowing from his mouth. He lay face up on the stone surface, looking at the sky. The sunlight in the sky was surprisingly dazzling. Once upon a time, he had happily gazed at the sun while frolicking with his younger brother.
His limbs gradually grew cold. As Wu Ying’s consciousness scattered, suddenly a hand covered in black hair entered his pupils. That abnormally swollen hand pulled Wu Ying. In a daze, he heard a voice ring out: “Brother… brother…”
Wu Ying instantly collapsed. His perseverance and unwillingness instantly crumbled. He cried like a helpless, dependent child. His crying was so sorrowful it moved people. The black-haired large hand lifted Wu Ying. The hand’s owner said laboriously, “Go… home.”
Wu Ying slept peacefully. He dreamed of the distant yet familiar home. Kind grandmother, happy Wu Jiong—he smiled among them like a child.
“I’m… going home now.”