He Bang spent an hour helping Ye Tian guide her soul back. By the time she emerged from the room, Ye Tian had already regained consciousness. Zhuang Haotian and Zhuang Haoyu hurried inside to tend to her. Chunyu Lin leaped down from the scholar tree, one arm wrapping around He Bang’s waist while the other hand kneaded her shoulders. “Are you hungry? What would you like to eat?”
The exhaustion had not yet faded from He Bang’s face, but her thoughts had clearly already wandered elsewhere. “Someone promised me three liang of meat. Go and fetch it.”
Chunyu Lin’s brow furrowed slightly. “Your Majesty, the situation is unusual right now. The Three-Eyed Snakes have openly appeared four times already, and we still don’t know their true numbers. Rong Chen Zi’s Daoist arts are, after all, formidable. If he recovers from his injuries, we’ll save ourselves considerable trouble. Why would you add injury upon injury for a momentary craving?”
He Bang’s round eyes went wide. “But he promised me!”
Chunyu Lin soothed her gently. “He is a man of integrity. Once he acknowledges it, he would never go back on his word. Let’s put it on account for now — there’s no harm in bringing it up after we’ve dealt with the Three-Eyed Snakes. I’ll make Your Majesty a few small dishes in the meantime, all of Your Majesty’s favorites.”
He Bang brightened a little at that. “Fine then, we’ll put it on hold for now. Hmph.”
Chunyu Lin walked with her, half-embracing her, toward the kitchen. He Bang was unaccustomed to eating around strangers, so he had been cooking her meals privately these past few days. As they walked, he still couldn’t quite make sense of things. “Though the matter of the Three-Eyed Snakes is strange, it doesn’t seem to pose any threat to the Sea Clan. I’ve never been able to understand — Your Majesty could observe all of this in peace from the Sea Palace. Why wade into these troubled waters?”
He Bang glanced left and right. Seeing no one nearby, she lowered her voice. “I have my reasons. When the first four-eyed snake appeared, it was impersonating Rong Chen Zi, and the very first thing it did upon returning to the Qingxu Temple was seek me out. When I detached my soul to return to the Sea Clan and then came back to the Qingxu Temple, the snake impersonating Liu Qinfang was already standing guard before my body. Though I don’t know what it was doing, I doubt it was entirely without purpose.”
When she analyzed things, she was just as focused as when she ate. “The third Three-Eyed Snake impersonated Zhuang Shaoqin. Its first priority wasn’t to find the gravely wounded Rong Chen Zi — it came to find me among the Sea Clan. As for the fourth Three-Eyed Snake, though it did go to Rong Chen Zi, that was only because it saw he was badly injured and wanted to seize his essence and soul.”
Chunyu Lin’s expression gradually grew grave. “Your Majesty’s meaning is… that the Three-Eyed Snakes may have come for you?”
He Bang gave a cold laugh. “Unknown. But I have not the slightest interest in these creatures. The best course of action is naturally to help Daozong eliminate them while the opportunity presents itself.”
Chunyu Lin understood. “For now, we can only let this group of Daoists believe the Three-Eyed Snakes are after Rong Chen Zi, or that they seek to overturn the mortal realm. Otherwise, relying on just the two of us to deal with these mysterious snakes of unknown origin would be more than we could manage.”
He Bang bounced ahead of him. “Enough of that — I’m starving to death! Chunyu Lin, would you walk a little faster?!”
That night, Ye Tian woke. Zhuang Shaoqin and Xingzhi Zhenren went out to search, but found no trace of the Three-Eyed Snakes. Zhuang Shaoqin went to check on Ye Tian; she was not seriously harmed, though her consciousness had only just returned and she was still somewhat dazed.
The various parties gathered in Ye Tian’s room. Ye Tian still remembered what had happened. “The servants at the Liu Mansion prepared hot water for me. Lady Liu was speaking privately with Liu Qinfang, and I thought she wouldn’t do anything, so I shut the door to prepare for my bath. But then my fingertips suddenly went numb, and almost instantly, I lost consciousness.”
Rong Chen Zi’s thick brows furrowed deeply. “Could it be snake venom?”
Zhuang Shaoqin nodded. “Possibly. But even if she was poisoned — a living, full-grown person — how could she have appeared inside the wall of an abandoned garden without a sound?”
Rong Chen Zi looked at Xingzhi Zhenren. “Certain formations contain techniques to shift and transfer space. But could these creatures — part snake, part demon — truly understand such profound ancient formations?”
Xingzhi Zhenren did not seem particularly surprised. “They may not understand them themselves. But do not forget — the formation sealing the monster beneath Changgang Mountain is itself an ancient formation. If the creature within it understands such things, then this comes as no surprise at all.”
Everyone nodded. He Bang ate the crispy duck, mushroom braise, and shark fin congee that Chunyu Lin had made for her, and without warning glanced up at him, silent.
Zhuang Shaoqin raised the matter of the ancient formation beneath Changgang Mountain, speaking with his usual measured gravity. “In order to deal with these strange snakes, we must first understand their habits. My thought is to make another expedition to Changgang Mountain. The slime from before — I suspect it may be eggs. If we can bring back a few, that should at least give us some leads.”
At this, Xingzhi Zhenren shook his head. “If anyone who has descended the cliff risks being impersonated by a Three-Eyed Snake, how would we tell the real from the false when we return?”
Zhuang Shaoqin’s expression was resolute. “It’s our only lead right now. Besides, I went down before, and I’m not afraid to go again. This time we can use sticky poles or nets, but the rope must be long enough — that place is truly unfathomably deep.”
Everyone’s brows were creased, expressions grave. The great He Bang swallowed the mushroom braise in her mouth, her own expression equally solemn. “I wonder if snake eggs taste better steamed or boiled.” She considered for a long moment. “Perhaps we should try a steamed egg custard with snake eggs.”
Everyone: …
There were more deaths in Lingxia Town — the situation was growing increasingly dire, and a heavy, indescribable tension hung over the Liu Mansion. The Emperor in the palace was infatuated with Daoist arts. Zhuang Shaoqin had a degree of genuine skill, and combined with his silver tongue and talent for persuasion, he managed to coax the Emperor into sending over a precious phoenix saliva from the palace stores. Phoenix saliva was a sacred remedy for injuries, extraordinarily effective in healing external wounds.
Rong Chen Zi had initially refused to use it, but seeing that the threat of the Three-Eyed Snakes was growing ever worse while he himself was entirely unable to contribute, he reluctantly accepted a measure of it. Phoenix saliva needed an external force to catalyze its medicinal properties. At present, Zhuang Shaoqin and Ye Tian were sitting cross-legged, circulating their energy to assist him. Yuyang Zhenren was keeping watch over the others in the Liu Mansion. Xingzhi Zhenren stood guard. The great He Bang, having eaten her fill, reclined at Chunyu Lin’s side.
Both groups maintained vigilant formations, guarding against the Three-Eyed Snakes making use of any opening.
He Bang’s stomach was full, but her mouth refused to stay idle. She was leaning against Chunyu Lin’s back, gnacking on pea cakes. Chunyu Lin’s clothing was entirely soft to the touch, and he wore not a single ornament. It was because this He Bang had delicate skin, and he feared anything hard would press against her uncomfortably — in ordinary times, he never wore gold or jade, and even his sash was always chosen from the softest of materials. He Bang had long grown used to treating him as a bolster. Whenever she sat, she leaned against him almost without thinking, and he had long since grown equally accustomed to it.
The room fell very still for a moment — only the sound of He Bang gnawing, intermittent and mouse-like.
Zhuang Shaoqin and Ye Tian formed hand seals, and together with Rong Chen Zi they formed a perfect Heaven-Spanning Seal, their breaths flowing in harmony. All three had their eyes closed. Rong Chen Zi was by nature stern, and since his injury he had grown even less given to expression, yet with his eyes shut, the contours of his features looked somewhat softer.
He Bang gnawed on her pea cake and looked him up and down. Within two quarters of an hour, her thoughts had already leaped elsewhere — I’m owed quite a few liang of meat now… where should I cut from when the time comes…
The legs? The chest? The backside?!
Goodness, well, the root of his descendants is absolutely not something I’d want. Too tough — would be difficult to chew.
She pondered this very seriously.
The following morning, Rong Chen Zi’s injuries had indeed improved greatly. However, his body still bore a fundamental deficit that no medicine, however miraculous, could restore — only careful recuperation could address it. He took it in stride. The Daoist path offered many methods of cultivation and health preservation, and techniques for circulating breath and blood, nurturing essence and spirit, were all things he excelled at.
No sooner had his injuries stabilized than he immediately proposed going to Changgang Mountain. “The situation is now quite clear. Anyone who has descended Changgang Mountain could potentially be impersonated by a Three-Eyed Snake, which makes it safer for me to go.” His gaze fell on He Bang without intent, but its meaning was plain — regardless of how the Three-Eyed Snakes might impersonate, He Bang could always identify the real him.
The blood of a god could not be replicated. No matter how similar the form, the intoxicating fragrance of divine flesh could never exist on the body of a snake. And that fragrance was a temptation no demon could resist.
Zhuang Shaoqin studied He Bang casually, his tone somewhat uncertain. “Senior Brother, your injuries have only just stabilized…”
Rong Chen Zi waved a hand to cut him off. “I am fine. You remain here and continue to investigate the Three-Eyed Snake’s whereabouts. If all else fails, have the entire town cover its roads with wood ash — wherever a snake passes, it will leave a trace. I trust a lead will present itself soon.”
Zhuang Shaoqin nodded, then glanced at He Bang again. “I’ll have people spread ash and lime across Lingxia Town at once. A lead on that snake should turn up before long.”
Rong Chen Zi nodded, and called for Qingxuan and Qingsu, intending to set out for Changgang Mountain. Zhuang Shaoqin stopped him. “Senior Brother, if you must go, allow His Majesty the Sea Emperor to accompany you.” He turned to He Bang, his expression grave. “His Majesty’s immortal arts are exceptional. Even should danger arise, I trust it can be resolved safely.”
Rong Chen Zi had not yet declined when He Bang was already protesting. “I’m not going anywhere with him!” She slung her arms around Chunyu Lin’s neck. Chunyu Lin, outwardly composed, took her hand, and said evenly, “His Majesty is accustomed to having me attend to her. I must accompany her.”
Rong Chen Zi was equally opposed. “It’s only a matter of retrieving a few snake eggs. There’s no need for such fanfare — I’ll go quickly and be back shortly.”
Zhuang Shaoqin’s eyes shifted slightly. He stepped forward to ease Chunyu Lin aside. “It won’t take but a moment, and His Majesty will be with my Senior Brother. Sacrificial Priest Chunyu, there’s no need to worry. Today we’re spreading lime powder across all of Lingxia Town — when the Three-Eyed Snake’s location is flushed out, we’ll still need your assistance.”
Chunyu Lin looked at He Bang — naturally, he deferred to her. He Bang gave a languid stretch, her graceful curves prompting Rong Chen Zi to instinctively turn away. “Then Chunyu Lin and I will go, and you all stay behind.”
She couldn’t be bothered to even say Rong Chen Zi’s name. Zhuang Shaoqin was unwilling. “My Senior Brother’s mastery of formations is far superior to the Sacrificial Priest’s. Besides, if the Sacrificial Priest descends, how would we tell the real from the false?”
He Bang pouted, clearly reluctant. But Rong Chen Zi had no wish to waste more time. His words seemed addressed to Chunyu Lin and Zhuang Shaoqin, yet anyone with eyes knew who his true audience was. “Quick trip, quick return — half a day at most.”
He Bang dragged her feet. “But I still don’t want to go.”
Chunyu Lin trusted Rong Chen Zi’s character well enough. Thinking that half a day wasn’t long, and that more delay would be improper, he finally coaxed her. “Then Your Majesty may accompany Zhiguan. But do not descend the cliff — remain at the top to receive Zhiguan when he comes up. Be careful in all things.”
He Bang made a sound through her nose and said nothing. Rong Chen Zi could only soften his voice and say, “Then let’s go — quickly, and back quickly.”
Leaving the Liu Mansion, Rong Chen Zi walked in front. He Bang trailed behind him, not close, not far. Qingxuan and Qingsu could only follow at a distance. Qingsu nudged Qingxuan with an elbow, keeping his voice low. “Senior Brother, do you think Master won’t be deceived by that demon again?”
Qingxuan straightened his expression. “What business of ours is it to speculate about our elders?” Having reprimanded his junior brother, he stole another glance at Rong Chen Zi’s tall, broad-shouldered silhouette. “You know Master’s disposition. Don’t bring this up again.”
To use their swords, summon beasts, or ride the clouds — Daoist arts all required a breath of true energy. Rong Chen Zi had only just recovered from his injuries and dared not recklessly expend his. Qingxuan and Qingsu lacked the cultivation for sustained sword-flight over a long distance. Traveling by horse and carriage would take over two hours.
Rong Chen Zi was still deliberating whether to forcibly muster his true energy and fold two paper talismans when ripples of water suddenly spread through the air all around them, and a surge of clear, translucent spiritual energy billowed outward. Qingxuan and Qingsu both felt a flash before their eyes, and in an instant, they were already at the foot of Changgang Mountain.
He Bang had been cautious — using spiritual arts carelessly at this moment might disturb whatever lay beneath the mountain. But Rong Chen Zi was stunned. He had known this great clam’s cultivation was respectable, but now he realized it was not merely respectable — she was at least two thousand years in age.
A two-thousand-year inner cultivation could not possibly be a mere petty king of some coastal sea domain. Who exactly was she?
But He Bang gave him no time to ask. She sat down beneath a cypress on the mountainside. The weather was already quite cold. She transformed into her original form, using her two great shells to shield herself from the cold, and with an expression that made clear she had no interest in looking at Rong Chen Zi for another moment: “I’ll take a nap. Wake me if anything happens.”
Rong Chen Zi was not going to quarrel with her. But she thought better of it and added one more sentence: “Bring several eggs up when you come back.”
No one asked her what for. =_=
After the group had set out, Xingzhi Zhenren ran into Zhuang Shaoqin hurrying back to the Liu Mansion. Xingzhi Zhenren looked him over several times, deeply suspicious. “When did the National Advisor leave?”
Zhuang Shaoqin’s expression was sheepish. “Two more people had their souls drained by the Three-Eyed Snake in the middle of last night. I led men in pursuit all the way to the City God Temple, but it still escaped.”
Xingzhi Zhenren’s expression changed drastically. “So after treating Daoist Master Rong Chen Zi last night, the National Advisor never returned to the Liu Mansion?”
Zhuang Shaoqin’s gaze went sharp as a needle. “What do you mean?”
Behind him, Yuyang Zhenren was already aghast. “Then who was it, this morning, that persuaded the great clam spirit to accompany Zhiguan to Changgang Mountain?!”