“Your Majesty, the Sea Emperor?” Zhenren Xingzhi let out a long, quiet sigh. “Please set your grief aside for now. Rong Chen Zi must not have sacrificed himself in vain.”

He Bang finally looked at him. Those eyes, ever-lively in other times, had taken on the frozen chill of winter. “You’re the one sacrificing — your whole family sacrifices, your entire household registry sacrifices.”

Zhenren Xingzhi was terrified she might lose herself in this moment, unable to tell friend from foe, and immediately tried to soothe her. “This poor Daoist spoke rashly, spoke rashly… But…”

Before he could continue, He Bang said softly once more, “But what you said also makes sense. Heaven and earth are boundless, and time is long. There will be endless time ahead for grief. Why must it all be felt right now?”

Chunyu Lin had just been struck by Rong Chen Zi’s yuan spirit and was also wounded by the dragon energy. But with only the three-eyed serpent and Zhuang Shaoqin, he still had some fight left in him.

He Bang’s right hand tightened slightly. An ice spike slowly took form in the air. Chunyu Lin was exerting himself to fend off Zhuang Shaoqin and the three-eyed serpent, yet still had energy to spare for a soft laugh. “Is Your Majesty going to kill me?”

He Bang had planted a blood pearl within it. She did not answer. She simply raised her bare hand, and the ice spike swept forward on a wind, shattering the air with the force of ten thousand catties. Chunyu Lin used the water current to slow the spike’s momentum, and after a moment, caught it in his hand and squeezed it to pieces. “Rong Chen Zi brought this upon himself. Why should Your Majesty give it any thought? His yuan spirit is already destroyed — do you think Daozong would still be willing to shelter you? Come back to my side.”

He Bang fixed her gaze on him, then suddenly gave a faint smile. Her red lips parted, her voice clear as water. “Resonant Serpent — in truth, Chunyu Lin never once loved He Pan.” The ever-refined and gentle Chunyu Lin suddenly erupted into wild agitation. He Bang’s gaze held a profound and heavy compassion. “He was only under the influence of my magic.”

“No!” Anguish beyond expression crossed Chunyu Lin’s face. Fire-aligned techniques could not adapt to a water-aligned physical form. He had maintained the balance between the two solely by relying on the remnant consciousness of Chunyu Lin. And now, with Chunyu Lin’s consciousness on the verge of collapse, his torment was unbearable. He endured a sword strike from Zhuang Shaoqin and threw himself toward He Bang.

He Bang neither dodged nor moved aside. Her right hand produced another ice spike, which struck him squarely in the heart. The force drove him back several steps. The water and fire within his body clashed violently, and his agony was extreme. “Vile woman — I’ll kill you, kill you!!”

He Bang formed another ice spike, her voice cold as frost. “And do you think I could have loved the physical form cultivated specifically to serve your purposes? It was nothing more than ensuring that even as the path ahead shifted, he would remain devoted and attached to me. So that one day, should we become enemies — whatever the outcome, I would always have a way to survive.”

Chunyu Lin let out a wail of anguish. His blood began to ignite, flames burning through his body from within, light scattering in every direction. He Bang pressed her lips together. A third ice spike pierced through his body. The three-eyed serpent expelled another jet of flame. He could no longer stand, and plunged into the lava.

He Bang’s vision suddenly blurred. She ran forward quickly and seized Chunyu Lin’s hand. The temperature of that hand was terrifyingly hot. Water droplets fell, one by one, onto his wrist, his cheek. Chunyu Lin raised his head. His entire body blazed with flames. “You’re crying?”

He Bang’s dislocated hand had long since gone numb, and her heart had gone numb as well. She only knew to hold him tightly like this, and there was even something like a faint smile on her face. “Yes. But my tears are worthless — I cry eight times a day, half a catty each time. I’ve long since grown used to it.”

Chunyu Lin was still smiling. “That may be so. Yet for some reason I cannot fathom, your tears… are even hotter than my blood. Cough, cough.”

The temperature was too extreme. The pearl within him shattered with a crack, and his entire form blazed up into a dazzling column of flames. He Bang still held that hand — still so soft and slender. Amid Yugu’s weeping, Zhuang Shaoqin rushed over and forcibly pried her five fingers open one by one. And that hand, too, fell into the churning lava. He Bang slowly closed her fingers. The searing, bone-deep heat was all that remained in her palm.

A tremor ran through the corridor entrance. The three-eyed serpent took Rong Chen Zi in its mouth and carried Yugu, Ye Tian, and the others on its back, running with all its might toward the exit. Zhuang Shaoqin took He Bang’s hand, not daring to pause for a single step. He Bang looked back at that vast expanse of fiery red lava. Something was torn from her heart — raw and bleeding — and left behind in what had passed.

The corridor sank slowly down. He… he too had become the past.

Qingxu Temple on Lingxia Mountain.

The wood hibiscus blooms had opened across every hill and vale once more.

The wind before the courtyard had grown somewhat cool. He Bang took a cape and draped it over Rong Chen Zi’s shoulders, then leaned against him. “Zhiguan, the back mountain has so many flowers — every one of them is large and beautiful. But this year I’ve been very good. I haven’t picked a single one, you know.”

She murmured on beside Rong Chen Zi. “The spring water in the back mountain is especially clear this year. I only tossed in one stone, and the old man came running over to berate me soundly — and you didn’t even speak up for me.”

“I’ve looked at the heavenly dao with the Dream Grass countless times. It refuses to reveal the outcome. The pages after — one by one — are all blank. Perhaps it needs me to make a choice. But there’s nothing much left to choose, is there? I can’t go anywhere now anyway.” On the bamboo-woven rattan chair beside her, Rong Chen Zi lay in peaceful stillness — silent, motionless, unresponsive. He Bang held him close and pressed a kiss to his lips. “The wind is picking up. Let us go inside.”

Rong Chen Zi had no reaction. He Bang used wind transference to carry him back to the bedroom, and helped him lie down on the bed. Outside, footsteps drew closer and closer. Before long, Zhenren Yuyan walked in, followed by gifted recluses and eminent scholars gathered from distant sacred mountains and scenic waters who knew not from where.

Upon entering the room, he seemed to take no notice of He Bang whatsoever, and led his company in taking Rong Chen Zi’s pulse on his own.

Rong Chen Zi’s illness left him indisposed, and Ye Tian had temporarily taken over as head of the temple. Zhenren Yuyan had been unable to return to the grotto-heaven for a long while. His hair had grown whiter, and the formerly straight, upright posture he had carried was now stooped and curved. The elder who had once spoken with resounding energy now looked like an old man nearly at the end of his road.

This reclusive master likewise found no effective treatment. He Bang did not despair, and still stood vigil by Rong Chen Zi’s side every day.

Ye Tian also came often — partly to look in on Rong Chen Zi, and partly to keep He Bang company. But He Bang neither cried nor made a fuss. She was composed to a frightening degree, and Ye Tian could not find a place to begin even the words of comfort.

It was He Bang who ended up comforting her instead. “Before, when anything went wrong, I’d cry a bit, and someone always stepped in to fix it. Now that crying doesn’t work, I have no choice but to fix things myself. I am fine. Because there is nothing to be done even if I were not fine — so I hope that all of you will be fine as well.”

Word of what had befallen Rong Chen Zi quickly spread, and countless demons and monsters, hearing the news, stirred into motion. Openly and in shadow, they all converged in pursuit of the flesh of an immortal. Zhenren Yuyan intended to transmit word calling on all of Daozong to come to the rescue — but by the next day, not a single demon dared make any further reckless move.

He Bang had hung a thousand-year serpent demon from the gate of Qingxu Temple. She had split its belly open while it was still alive, used bamboo skewers to pry apart its hide and flesh, and then used a spoon to scrape out its five organs — one spoonful at a time — for two full days. The serpent demon’s screams of agony terrified innumerable demons and monsters. Its spiritual energy did not extinguish, and it continued wailing for four days before gradually dying.

The wind-dried serpent carcass hung from the temple gate like a dried branch, and proved more effective than any demon-warding talisman. No demon dared approach by so much as a single step.

The common people of Lingxia Town, however, came more frequently than ever. From time to time, devout visitors requested to pay their respects to Rong Chen Zi. Ye Tian naturally declined them all. Still, those who came kept coming in an unbroken stream, and many villagers had prepared spirit tablets bearing Rong Chen Zi’s name, making offerings morning and night.

He Bang declined Daozong’s offer of assistance, and also turned away the soldiers that Zhuang Shaoqin had sent to guard Qingxu Temple. Qingxu Temple stood unmoved, and continued to receive visitors as usual. Every young Daoist acolyte went about his own duties. Everything proceeded as normal.

Daozong had suffered a sudden great upheaval, and to prevent it from fracturing, Zhenren Yuyan exerted himself to hold the situation together. But his years were advancing, and there was much he could no longer manage with his strength alone.

With the Serpent King dead, the Resonant Serpent clan was left without a leader. He Bang sought out Zhenren Xingzhi and came straight to the point, concealing nothing. “The Resonant Serpents scattered throughout the human world — they contacted you first whenever anything happened, which means your standing among them is very high, and you are the one they trust most. Now that the Resonant Serpent clan is like a handful of loose sand, once those of Daozong take notice, there may be a catastrophe of annihilation for the whole clan.”

She was so calm that Zhenren Xingzhi did not dare provoke her. “Your Majesty, please speak plainly.”

He Bang rummaged through the teacups on his table. “Have you step forward and recommend the three-eyed serpent as the new Serpent King — reunifying the Resonant Serpent clan.”

Zhenren Xingzhi had in truth already suspected something of the sort, but he still had reservations. “Your Majesty, this poor Daoist will speak plainly as well. Though this three-eyed… ahem, Resonant Serpent has grown considerably in strength and also rendered great merit in the last battle, it has no distinguished lineage or background to speak of. This poor Daoist fears…”

He Bang raised a hand to stop him. “It will take me as its master. Its internal cultivation methods will come from my school. As for all other courses of study, they will be passed down by National Preceptor Zhuang Shaoqin.”

Zhenren Xingzhi understood at once. “This poor Daoist thanks Your Majesty.”

The next day, He Bang bestowed upon the three-eyed serpent the name He Wei, and together with Zhuang Shaoqin and Zhenren Xingzhi summoned all the Resonant Serpents to assemble. Though He Wei was of little seniority, it had Zhenren Xingzhi’s strong recommendation, He Bang’s backing, and Zhuang Shaoqin as its guarantor — and it had rendered great merit in destroying the Serpent King. The Resonant Serpents pledged their allegiance one after another, and the clan returned to temporary stability.

This three-eyed serpent had become the Serpent King, but it remained as hopeless an idiot as ever. From time to time it caught a few fish or brought up some meat and presented them to He Bang as a filial offering. But He Bang’s appetite had been poor of late, and she was not sleeping well either. Whatever food it brought, it was very difficult to please her.

As Zhenren Yuyan struggled alone without support, he at last decided, after a long while, to have Zhuang Shaoqin temporarily lead Daozong. Although Zhuang Shaoqin’s prestige was not equal to Rong Chen Zi’s, he now occupied a position of authority, and the disciples of Daozong did not dare voice any objection.

In the night, the fragrance of osmanthus drifted across every hill.

He Bang moved Rong Chen Zi to the edge of the courtyard pool and soaked herself in the water. As there was no one in the courtyard, she simply removed Rong Chen Zi’s shoes and socks and washed his feet.

“I don’t know why, but before, whenever I was by your side, I always felt especially sleepy. Now that you’re ignoring me, I feel especially like sleeping — but no matter how I try, I can’t. Sometimes I think, perhaps I should have jumped into the lava back then and died, because these days are truly too unbearable. And what’s most unbearable of all is that I’ve discovered I no longer even have the courage to leave.”

Rong Chen Zi still did not speak. He Bang, afraid he might catch cold, dried his feet and put his shoes and socks back on him, carefully, one piece at a time. As she dressed him, she slumped her whole body against him, nestled in his arms. “Zhiguan, the moon is so round tonight.” She pulled Rong Chen Zi’s arm around her own waist. The moonlight drifted down, and the evening breeze sent fallen blossoms scattering through the air. He Bang brushed the fallen petals from his clothes, then murmured softly in his ear, “Old Daoist, if you don’t wake up soon, I’m going to bite off your ear and eat it.”

Rong Chen Zi stared blankly at the moonlight spilling across the ground. He Bang actually gave his ear a lick. “I’m really going to bite!”

Rong Chen Zi remained motionless. He Bang licked a while longer, then could not help but sigh. “Before, when you wouldn’t let me do this — I wanted to. I thought about it every single day. Now that there’s no one to stop me, somehow I can’t bring myself to.”

There was a faint sound outside. She turned her head, and saw Zhuang Shaoqin walking slowly toward her. “It’s getting cold. Let’s bring Senior Brother inside.”

He Bang curled up in Rong Chen Zi’s arms, reluctant to move. “He’s wearing thick clothes — it’ll be fine.”

Zhuang Shaoqin let out a quiet sigh and sat down beside her. “Xiao He — supposing — I say supposing — Senior Brother never wakes again. What will you do?”

He Bang pressed her face to Rong Chen Zi’s chest. “What can I do? Stay put and look after things properly. Otherwise, the day he wakes, he’ll find — oh, the head of Qingxu Temple has been replaced, Daozong has new leadership, and even the vessel has disappeared somewhere — wouldn’t that be terribly sad?”

Zhuang Shaoqin let out a pained laugh. “You really are…”

He Bang’s voice rang clear as moonlight. “So I will stay obediently by his side. When he wakes, he will see his senior brother, his junior sister, his disciples — they are all here. Qingxu Temple is still here. Daozong is safe and sound. And I… am still here too.”

“Since that’s how you see it, I won’t try to persuade you otherwise.” Zhuang Shaoqin took Rong Chen Zi’s pulse once more, and after a long while said, “In the future, whatever you need — send word to me.”

He Bang gave a sound of acknowledgment, then turned to look at him. “Are you returning to the palace?”

Zhuang Shaoqin nodded. “I know what you want to say. The Emperor, as a member of the imperial family, certainly knew the secrets of the mausoleum’s mechanisms. He deliberately arranged for us to enter the mausoleum at the final moment — most likely calculating that we and the Resonant Serpent would destroy each other. But I must go back, because someone must remain at his side to ensure that Daozong continues to prosper safely. Only when we ourselves are secure can we do more and better work for the people.”

He Bang raised an eyebrow, but made no argument. “Do you know why every single remedy prescribed by all those masters and physicians for Zhiguan has produced absolutely no result?”

Zhuang Shaoqin was finally at a loss. “Why?”

He Bang raised her head. Moonlight fell into her eyes, glimmering and rippling. “Because I never gave any of it to him.”

Zhuang Shaoqin’s gaze sharpened like a blade. “Go on.”

“Zhiguan’s yuan spirit was damaged by dragon energy. Any spiritual power channeled into his body will be devoured by the dragon energy. The more abundant the spiritual power, the weaker his soul will become. I drained away all the spiritual energy within his body.”

The anxiety and alarm on Zhuang Shaoqin’s face was plain to see. “No wonder — I couldn’t sense the circulation of any spiritual power within Senior Brother’s body at all. But without spiritual power to sustain him, his physical form will only grow weaker and weaker. If no solution is found, before long his body will die.”

“Long ago, when Chunyu Lin’s demonic tribulation was pressing in, a bowl of Zhiguan’s heart’s blood delayed it indefinitely. That was because the blood of a divine lineage neutralized the demonic energy, rendering it invisible to the heavenly dao. Now Zhiguan’s yuan spirit has been damaged by dragon energy. As long as he remains within his body, no amount of recuperation will allow him to fully recover. The current Emperor, though not a worthy ruler, is still a sovereign chosen by the heavenly dao. If one could obtain a bowl of his heart’s blood…”

Zhuang Shaoqin’s expression shifted drastically. “You mean…”

He Bang looked at him directly. “Right now, Zhiguan has no spiritual energy within him whatsoever. His body can fully receive dragon blood. When the dragon blood circulates within him, the dragon energy will be at his disposal — not only ceasing to harm him, but bringing him boundless benefit.”

The doubt and astonishment in Zhuang Shaoqin’s eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of hope. “A brilliant idea. But His Majesty — he may…”

He Bang did not hesitate. “He will die. When I observed him the last time we met, his energy was depleted and his blood was weak. Even Rong Chen Zi, with his level of cultivation, nearly lost his life from giving a bowl of heart’s blood. As for the Emperor…”

Zhuang Shaoqin got to his feet. “If he dies, he dies. For Senior Brother’s sake, nothing else matters.”

He Bang reached out and gripped his shoulder, then leaned forward and pressed him back down into his seat. “Do you truly intend to walk in and hold him down and dig a hole in his chest to take the blood?”

Zhuang Shaoqin’s eyes narrowed. “So?”

He Bang’s hand pressed down on his shoulder with a slow, steady force. “Tell him — the dragon energy of the imperial mausoleum has dissolved the Resonant Serpent’s yuan spirit. While its spiritual power will extend the nation’s fate by fifty years, the sinister energy within the Resonant Serpent has also dissolved into the dragon energy. From this point forward, this dynasty is fated to lack virtue in its rulers.”

Zhuang Shaoqin looked puzzled. “This is the truth. But if we report it truthfully… he will certainly command us to find a way to resolve it. What does this have to do with obtaining his heart’s blood?”

He Bang withdrew her hand and wrapped her arms around Rong Chen Zi’s waist. “And how does one resolve the sinister energy within the dragon energy?”

Zhuang Shaoqin turned it over for a long while. “The sinister energy has mixed into the dragon energy. Without purging the dragon energy itself, how could the sinister energy be eradicated at its root?”

He Bang nodded. “The affair of the imperial mausoleum last time was certainly the result of someone advising the Emperor and urging him into it. There are surely many accomplished masters and Daoist practitioners within the palace?”

Zhuang Shaoqin spoke with a thoughtful tone. “Mm. His Majesty reveres the Dao, and there are many who cultivate the Dao within the palace.”

He Bang felt that Rong Chen Zi’s body temperature had dropped slightly, and quickly helped him to sit up. Zhuang Shaoqin hoisted him onto his back and carried him back to the bedroom. Once he was settled, He Bang said, “You need only report this matter to the Emperor. As for what you don’t understand — just admit plainly that you don’t understand.”

Zhuang Shaoqin was thoroughly confused, but as long as there was a chance to save Rong Chen Zi, he had to try. “Very well.”