As the evening approached, Nan Rao went to find Ao Guanghan for a chat, bringing wine along. The beauty contest between Nan Rao and Chunsun remained unresolved, but her attention was quickly drawn to the Dao Sovereign’s discussion on the proper laws for the cultivation world.
“Is Ying Zewei truly just a demon? The three major crimes set by the Dao Sovereign are already harsh enough, yet he wants to add ‘interspecies marriage’ and ‘heresy’ to the list. He even convinced my dragon parents,” Ao Guanghan said, snatching the wine from Nan Rao’s hand and taking a swig. “The others are bad enough, but the one that concerns us most is this ‘interspecies marriage’ crime. It states that human cultivators are forbidden from marrying other species, and any offspring must be killed immediately.”
Naturally, Nan Rao was displeased upon hearing this. Ao Guanghan’s true dragon bloodline aside, she was a mixed-blood of the Chongming Great Demon and human races. Ying Zewei’s proposal to criminalize interspecies marriage seemed to target her specifically.
“Is he trying to provoke me? If he’s so averse to mixing with demon races, why doesn’t he just call off that engagement? There are countless interspecies relationships in this world. As long as they’re not causing harm, who is he to dictate who can be with whom?” Nan Rao retorted.
Ao Guanghan explained, “Mixed-blood offspring often possess unique talents. We’ve had monkey-people, lizard-people, snake-people – hundreds of different races when the Demon Kingdom still existed. He argues that if we implement this law from the moment the Heavenly Dao Monument is established, these races will gradually disappear. Meanwhile, our clans, already superior to ordinary humans, will maintain our bloodline advantages, making it easier to rule over various regions.”
Nan Rao fell silent for a moment before asking, “Then how does he explain the concept of ‘heresy’?”
“Dao Sheng Tian aims to consolidate all the great Daos under heaven. Each school’s teachings must fall within the approved scope to be passed down. Anything outside the great Dao or any unauthorized creation of new Daos will be considered heretical and must be eradicated,” Ao Guanghan replied.
“Absurd,” Nan Rao scoffed, already half-drunk. She carelessly tossed her wine cup aside and said lazily, “How can the Dao under heaven progress without innovation? Refusing to adapt is the path to ruin. He’s so intelligent, always lecturing us with his theories, yet now he’s being so foolish.”
“He’s not being foolish at all. If his proposal gains approval from the various sovereigns, he’ll become the leader of our generation in both ability and prestige,” Ao Guanghan mused. Recalling the Red Emperor’s intention in sending Nan Rao to study at Dao Sheng Tian, he sulked for a moment. Suddenly feeling a tug on his hair, he turned to see a drunken Nan Rao twirling his hair around her finger. Irritated, he swatted her hand away.
“What are you doing?” he snapped.
“Why are you so angry, little one?” Nan Rao asked, gently rubbing her sore finger against her lips. “You may not like him, but you can’t deny he’s the most outstanding person of our generation. If you were born just two or three years later, you’d probably have to call him ‘senior.'”
“Nan Rao!” Ao Guanghan exclaimed.
“Why are you yelling? The rules of the cultivation world are survival of the fittest. Strength isn’t just about cultivation; wisdom counts too. If I could write such lengthy, detailed regulations like him, I’d be lurking in his backyard with a sack to catch people by now.”
Ao Guanghan stood up to open the door, his face expressionless. “It’s getting late, and you’ve had enough to drink. You should leave.”
Nan Rao groaned, sprawling on the table. “Life is short, just a few hundred years. Each glance is one less. We’re so close, won’t you let me stay?”
Irritated, Ao Guanghan dragged her up and pushed her towards the door. “Get out, out, out! I don’t want to deal with your drunken antics all night again.”
The door slammed shut in front of Nan Rao. She tried to scratch it open, calling out, “Ao Guanghan? Hanhan? Chang’e? Little dragon cub?”
“My drinking behavior is excellent. Even if you won’t give me a bed, the table will do…”
“The floor… even the roof is fine. I’m not picky.”
Silence fell from within. Nan Rao crouched by the door, feeling the cold wind. With no other choice, she grabbed her half-full wine jug and staggered across half of Mount Daoqung. As she neared her quarters, she suddenly swayed and hid, then climbed a tree with a sickly expression. Parting the branches, she spied a tall young man standing at her door, sword in hand.
This man was Meng Xiaolou, her new nemesis and the main reason she had avoided her quarters for the past two nights.
It all started with a misunderstanding. One night, bored and captivated by the beauty of Zizhou’s Soul River Waterfall, she attempted to brew wine using its water. Ao Guanghan caught her, and in a moment of rational judgment, she kicked him into the Soul River when he wasn’t looking.
The next day, as Ao Guanghan chased her with a knife, they accidentally fell into the men’s bath of Mount Daoqung… where Meng Xiaolou happened to be.
Sword cultivators are known for their dedication. It’s said that a true sword cultivator’s only lifelong companion is their sword.
After Nan Rao compromised Meng Xiaolou’s chastity that day, she heard he had sworn a blood oath to pursue her relentlessly. He now stood guard at her door daily, forcing her to flee at the sight of him.
… She had no interest in testing a sword cultivator’s blade with her head.
As midnight approached, patrolling disciples of Dao Sheng Tian passed by her quarters and spoke with Meng Xiaolou.
“Senior Brother Meng, it’s the middle of the night. Lady Nan won’t return. You should go back,” one suggested.
Meng Xiaolou, eyes closed and sword in hand, replied, “No need.”
The patrolling disciple persisted, “Senior Brother Meng, you’re a prodigy favored by the Dao Sovereign. Why waste your energy on Lady Nan, who has such a poor reputation?”
Meng Xiaolou ignored him. “If you have no business here, please leave.”
Nan Rao was known for her carefree nature, which many of the more conservative Dao Sheng Tian disciples disapproved of. As the patrolling disciples left, Nan Rao overheard their whispers.
“… She dares to stay out all night in our Dao Sheng Tian. Who knows which man she’s meeting in secret? I’ve never seen someone so promiscuous.”
“Indeed. If I ever take a Dao partner, I’d never choose someone like her.”
Nan Rao was used to such gossip. Seeing that Meng Xiaolou wouldn’t leave, and being unconcerned about where she slept, she simply turned over on the tree branch and fell asleep.
As Nan Rao slept soundly until the next morning, raindrops falling through the leaves onto her forehead finally woke her. Rubbing her eyes as she sat up, she noticed Meng Xiaolou had left, replaced by a Buddhist figure standing quietly in the misty rain below.
“Oh!” Nan Rao nearly fell from the tree but steadied herself. “Master… do you need something?”
Jiming, who seemed to have waited for a while, raised his hand to offer a scarlet hair ribbon now that she was awake.
“Young Meng waited for you until dawn, not to cause trouble, but to return the ribbon you dropped at Qianyang Spring that day.”
Nan Rao sat up straight, dangling her feet from the branch. Noticing Jiming’s rain-soaked robes, she asked, “Weren’t you discussing the establishment of the Hall of Righteous Law in the Upper State?”
“We’ve outlined a framework, so I had some free time. I came here just as Young Meng needed to practice his sword intent, so I offered to return this for him.” Though he had waited for some time, when Nan Rao looked at him intently, Jiming lowered his eyes, avoiding her gaze. He said softly, “You should come down now, Lady Nan. You shouldn’t miss the Dao Sovereign’s morning lesson.”
“When is your morning lesson?” Nan Rao asked.
As one of the Six Sovereigns visiting, Jiming was expected to take turns teaching the Dao Sheng Tian disciples, as per custom.
Jiming replied, eyes downcast, “Buddhist teachings are dry. Lady Nan probably wouldn’t find them interesting.”
Nan Rao countered, “In the eyes of Buddhists, all living beings are equal and should be taught equally. Why do you keep your distance from me alone?”
Jiming had no answer. In the silence, a demon cultivator who had come with Senlu to visit Dao Sheng Tian arrived. Seeing Nan Rao, he bowed and presented a jade box.
“The Demon Master has other business in Si State and instructed me to deliver this. Please accept it, Lady Nan.”
Good riddance, thought Nan Rao. She instinctively felt the jade box contained nothing good and gently pushed it away. “It’s not a holiday. What’s this for?”
The demon cultivator explained, “Yesterday, the Demon Master agreed to cooperate with Dao Sheng Tian in establishing the Hall of Righteous Law. He consented to hand over those who lose their minds to demonic cultivation and kill indiscriminately, as well as those involved in interspecies marriages, to the new Hall if their realm can’t handle them. He’s gone to deal with the remaining demon-human hybrids in Si State… To be frank, Lady Nan, we have a remnant tribe of Chongming bird demon-humans in our realm.”
Nan Rao quickly turned to look at Jiming, who was frowning slightly.
After a moment, he said, “Yesterday, the Dao Sovereign only mentioned prohibiting demon-human hybrids from abducting humans for breeding. What is the Demon Master’s intention?”
“Si State has always been decisive in its actions. The Demon Master merely wishes to take the initiative in cooperating with Dao Sheng Tian, making an example. He always follows through on his word. Of course, if anyone wishes to save the Chongming bird remnants, they can accept this Seal of the Netherworld, symbolizing Si State. As a Dao partner, whatever they do, the Demon Master will naturally allow.”
Chongming birds… He was certain Nan Rao wouldn’t refuse.
Nan Rao tilted her head back and suddenly laughed. “Interesting. I thought I’d mellowed out in recent years, but I didn’t expect people to think I’d become a good person. What do other people’s lives matter to me? Do they prevent me from roaming freely or enjoying wine and pleasure?”
The demon cultivator ignored her words and continued, “The Demon Master only instructed me to deliver the Seal of the Netherworld. With this seal, you’ll have unrestricted access throughout Si State. The decision is entirely yours, Lady Nan.”
“Indeed, a useful item.” Nan Rao levitated the Seal of the Netherworld into her hand, weighing it. After dismissing the demon cultivator, she jumped down from the tree. As she walked away, she heard Jiming’s soft words carried by the wind.
“Will you go?” he asked.
“Who’d want to go to such a godforsaken place?” Nan Rao replied.
Ten days later, a rumor spread through Dao Sheng Tian — Lady Nan had allegedly accepted the Dao Sovereign’s marriage arrangement and would soon hold a union ceremony with the Dao Sovereign’s top disciple.
The rumor spread rapidly. Within half a day, Demon Master Senlu in Si State was furious. After leveling a mountain with one palm, he prepared to storm into Yin State to demand an explanation.
Meanwhile, Nan Rao and Ao Guanghan, who had just been tricked into coming to Si State, looked at the demon-mist-covered Cliff of Demons. Still in the Nascent Soul stage, they felt the weight of their task.
Nan Rao asked, “Chang’e, do you think I look pretty today?”
Ao Guanghan retorted, “Call me that again, and I’ll kill you before we even reach the Cliff of Demons to save people.”
Nan Rao persisted, “Fine, do you think my beauty today surpasses a pot of bamboo shoots by a hundredfold?”
Ao Guanghan snapped, “Has your brain malfunctioned before battle? We’re here to save people, not for you to embarrass yourself. If you want to do that, why didn’t you bring Meng Xiaolou? He’d be happy to suffocate with you.”
Nan Rao explained, “Aren’t we close? I just think it’s a bit rash for two Nascent Soul cultivators to storm the lair of a Deity Transformation cultivator. If something goes wrong…”
Ao Guanghan began, “You finally realize that you’re making the Red Emperor send off—”
Nan Rao pulled out a small mirror and adjusted her bangs. “If something goes wrong, I don’t trust others to do my funeral makeup.”
Ao Guanghan sighed, “…Go charge in by yourself. I’m going back.”