The deeper the tunnel went into the mountain, the more difficult the digging became. As night fell, Yuyan Zhenren had no choice but to order a halt to the excavation. Rong Chen Zi looked up at the sky and felt a quiet urgency — if it grew much later, the He Bang back at the inn would be waking up. If she woke and found Rong Chen Zi absent, she would certainly not let him hear the end of it.
Yuyan Zhenren could also see that his mind was elsewhere, and his face immediately fell: “The Daoist tradition does have its own forms of dual cultivation, and I had originally supposed that even if you kept a sacred vessel, it would not be such a serious matter. But now look at you — parted for only a short while, and your very soul is nearly spirited away. Since ancient times, the embrace of beauty has been the tomb of heroes — how much more true is this for those of us who have left the secular world, who should above all else distance ourselves from the distractions of the senses and suppress all desires. You, I’m afraid, are unmoved by reputation and worldly gain — but this one entanglement of the heart may be your undoing.”
Rong Chen Zi’s expression was abashed. What reason had he not to understand these principles? Over many years he had explained them to his own disciples countless times. Yet the threads of feeling had no form — they corroded heart and bones alike, and what blade could sever them?
He said quietly: “I am grateful for Zhenren’s guidance, and will take it to heart. Only, her nature is unruly — if I do not return in the evening, I fear she will make a commotion that the guesthouse staff will have no way to manage.”
Yuyan Zhenren’s expression showed a flicker of anger: “From the sound of it, my words went in one ear and out the other! So be it — now that old friend Zixin has passed, you are the head of your sect, and no one can govern you any longer.”
He was an elder, after all, and with Yuyan Zhenren having shown his displeasure, Rong Chen Zi could not very well leave. He had no choice but to remain where he was, keeping watch over the progress of the digging.
The keel-serpent incident had caused such a great upheaval that Zhuang Shaoqin, in his position as national preceptor, had also been keeping a wary and anxious eye on developments. Receiving Yuyan Zhenren’s message, he dared not delay, and immediately set out with a dozen or so nimble soldiers for Lingxia Town.
His original intention was to meet with Rong Chen Zi first. Learning that Rong Chen Zi had already gone ahead to the Great Wind Slope, he also wanted to catch up with him. On his way through town he encountered Yugu, who had gone out to buy ingredients and who gave him such a fright that he thought a stray keel-serpent had turned up — and subjected her to another round of thorough questioning.
Upon learning that He Bang was still at the guesthouse, he felt a sudden impulse of magnanimity — and decided to bring the creature along to his senior martial brother. So he went to the guesthouse and woke He Bang from a perfectly sound sleep… ==
After waking up, He Bang was not in a good state. She was furious enough to spit fire, and immediately wanted to storm the Great Wind Slope and take a bite out of Rong Chen Zi. Zhuang Shaoqin, though gifted with a glib tongue, was no match for someone who was first and foremost a lover of food. He rubbed his brow and watched He Bang rush off in a torrent of water, sighing softly: “Senior brother, you were born as a reincarnated true deity — surely you will escape this calamity… probably?”
Right at the moment when all the Daoists were digging with the greatest enthusiasm, He Bang appeared. All the Daoists turned around and saw her at once. Having just woken up, her hair was slightly disheveled, and she was still wearing that feathered robe. She had picked up the hem of her skirt with both hands and was barefoot, the golden bells at her ankles still in place. All sound fell away from the world around her — she was like a luminous verse of embroidered splendor walking out of an ancient scroll, or a trail of clear dew flowing through dense green leaves in bloom.
Everyone held their breath, afraid that even the smallest sound might disturb this moment of beauty on the mountainside. He Bang, to everyone’s surprise, did not cry or make a scene. She could see that the old Daoist here was more formidable than most, and that crying and carrying on would certainly do no good.
She stood three steps away from Rong Chen Zi, her face still carrying the bewitching blush of sleep, those eyes as though wiped clean by some quiet sorrow, glistening with a soft, wet luminance. The last light of the setting sun fell slanted and scattered, and she lifted her chin slightly, tears trembling at the edge of her lashes without falling: “Old Daoist — you don’t want me anymore?”
Rong Chen Zi, who had resolved not to further antagonize Yuyan Zhenren, stepped forward in an instant and drew her into his arms: “What nonsense are you talking?”
He Bang let herself be held close, sobbing quietly. Then, from behind Rong Chen Zi, she turned her head — and stuck out her tongue at Yuyan Zhenren, who was standing to one side with an expression like iron. Yuyan Zhenren nearly had a stroke.
At dinnertime, Zhuang Shaoqin arrived, naturally bringing He Bang’s attendant Yugu with him. He Bang and Rong Chen Zi sat together. Zhuang Shaoqin was just marveling at how blessed and fortunate his senior martial brother truly was when he caught sight of He Bang taking a steamed bun and dipping it vigorously into a dish of sugar.
Rong Chen Zi divided her dishes and placed each in her bowl, while simultaneously discussing the strange occurrences in the tunnel with Yuyan Daozhang: “From what I observed, the sinister energy in the tunnel is deep and thick — I fear the number of evil creatures is considerable. Whatever formation is in place, there are bound to be gaps. If even one of them escapes, Lingxia Town may once again find no peace…”
While he was speaking, the steamed bun in He Bang’s hands had already been dipped until the sugar was thicker than the flour. She lifted her hand cheerfully and held the bun up to Rong Chen Zi’s lips. Rong Chen Zi normally ate plainly and lightly — how could he possibly bear this much sugar? He took one taste and his thick brows drew together immediately.
He Bang acted as though she had noticed nothing, dipped the bun heavily one more time, and held it up even higher to feed him. Rong Chen Zi lowered his gaze to look at her, and seeing her smile bloom like a flower, gave a quiet sigh — then slowly parted his lips and, unhurriedly and without any particular fuss, let her dip and feed him almost half a steamed bun’s worth of sugar. After a while, He Bang grew a little suspicious — was this sugar perhaps not sweet enough?
She looked at the piece remaining in her hand, and could not help bringing it to her own mouth for a bite. Rong Chen Zi, without drawing any attention to what he was doing, took it from her and swallowed it together with a spoonful of plain porridge.
The tunnel had broken through to the root system of the bamboo grove, and the smell of rot grew stronger with every moment. Rong Chen Zi had not originally intended to let He Bang come along, but there was simply no stopping someone with her appetite for excitement. Even with Rong Chen Zi gripping her wrist tightly, she barely managed not to be the first one to rush inside.
What lay within was more horrifying than anyone had imagined. The cave was filled with the corpses of young women — clearly not only from the Great Wind Slope, but from villages all around. The time was not long past, but the bodies had all been stripped of their clothing. Some had begun to decay, others were still very fresh; all of them had died in wretched fashion. Among them were the bodies of many pregnant women. The fetuses had been torn from their wombs, and amniotic fluid, blood, and viscera lay scattered in pieces across the ground. Rong Chen Zi sheltered He Bang behind him, his voice low and grave: “Fetal energy is the most potent, and those who die violently carry the strongest resentment — both are the finest remedies for the most sinister of dark practices. Whatever creature this is, it is urgently attempting to replenish its own power.”
In the cave filled with the stench of decaying bodies, no one spoke. So many lives — if this was a consequence of the keel-serpent matter being left unresolved, then the entire Daozong bore responsibility.
After a long silence, Zhuang Shaoqin finally spoke: “The creature has surely retreated to the deepest part of the cave. No doubt there is still a difficult battle ahead — put your emotions aside, all of you.”
Yuyan Zhenren said in a grave voice: “A creature that shows such utter disregard for human life deserves to be cut to pieces!!”
The Daoist members’ fury had finally found a channel, and every sword was unsheathed, every ritual implement consecrated and raised, all in readiness to slay the creature lurking at the bottom of the cave.
Yet when they truly reached the cave’s depths, Rong Chen Zi frowned. There was indeed a group of creatures gathered here — numbering no fewer than a hundred — but they were all newly transformed young demons, surely awakened to intelligence by the sinister energy left behind by the keel-serpent. They came in many kinds: spotted bamboo, plant life, and even more in the form of domesticated animals.
At the sight of the Daoists advancing with killing intent, they shrank back into the corners in fear, their not-yet-fully-transformed pupils overflowing with terror.
The two sides faced each other. The furious mob of humans found themselves, strangely, in something of an awkward position. Yuyan Zhenren exchanged a glance with Rong Chen Zi. The situation was plain — the overwhelming majority of these creatures had no capacity to harm anyone. It appeared they had been coerced by a greater demon. Now that the greater demon had escaped, all that remained was this wretched band of weak stragglers who could barely even be called demons.
Rong Chen Zi slowly sheathed his sword: “The most urgent matter is to capture the one who escaped.”
Yuyan Zhenren said nothing. A Daoist by the name of Xuanyunzi spoke quietly: “What is to be done with these small demons?”
Rong Chen Zi was looking at the mass of frightened and confused creatures, deep in thought, just about to speak — when without warning a gust of wild wind rose from nowhere, sweeping directly toward the demon group. The small demons had absolutely no power to resist. There was a single wretched shriek, and in an instant four of them were shredded into bloody masses.
Rong Chen Zi seized He Bang by the wrist with a shout: “He Pan!!”
He Bang’s right hand formed a hand seal, and another gust of wind surged forth. The small demons, thrown into a panic, began fighting back with everything they had, desperately trying to escape. But their legs were barely formed — how could they break through the encirclement of a group of eminent Daoist masters?
In the reeking cave, the sharp metallic smell of blood began to spread. He Bang turned to look at Rong Chen Zi, her voice perfectly calm: “They must die.”
Rong Chen Zi’s five fingers tightened around her fair wrist by degrees: “They have absolutely no power to harm anyone. They were clearly used by someone else. Can the sword of righteous demon-subduing be wielded to slaughter livestock and bamboo shoots?”
No one spoke. Only the pine torches crackled and burned. The Daozong’s purpose was, after all, to subdue demons and eliminate evil — not to slaughter the innocent. The Daoists, though they were preventing the small demons from escaping, were all hesitating, not yet going so far as to wipe them all out.
What surprised everyone was that both Yuyan Zhenren and Zhuang Shaoqin were also keeping silent. He Bang removed Rong Chen Zi’s hand from her wrist and said quietly: “If you cannot bear to watch, go outside.”
Every person stood still and watched as she slaughtered the small demons one by one. Some of the creatures, red-eyed, fought back with desperate ferocity, but their cultivation was too shallow. She took three steps to each kill, and was soon spattered from head to foot in fresh blood.
In approximately the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, every last small demon lay dead. Yugu was trembling from head to toe, yet still held up the shark-silk cloth and helped He Bang wipe the bloodstains from her body. Yuyan Zhenren’s voice carried an echo as it rang through the cave: “Drag the demon bodies outside and burn them at the cave entrance. Notify the people that the troublemaking demons have been brought to justice by our party. Let them come and identify the bodies.”
Zhuang Shaoqin responded in agreement. Seeing that Rong Chen Zi was still standing motionless, he had no choice but to take him by the arm and lead him out together. The small demons’ bodies were dragged out one by one, and the ground was stained entirely with blood. Among the villagers, some wept aloud in grief, others were moved to gratitude, kneeling before the Daoists in prostration.
Zhuang Shaoqin ordered the soldiers to douse the bodies with lamp oil. In no time, a great fire roared skyward, and the mountain wind carried the smell of cooked meat drifting on the air.
Yes. Regardless of the circumstances, they had to die. If they did not die — if there was no ground soaked in blood and littered with severed limbs — how could the villagers’ righteous fury be appeased? If they did not die — if there were no battle results to show — how would the Emperor in the palace evaluate the Daozong? If the court’s trust were lost, and the people’s reverence undermined, might a new religion rise to take its place? If the Daozong’s prestige and authority ceased to exist — what would become of so many temples and Daoist priests?
On the road back from the Great Wind Slope to the guesthouse, neither Rong Chen Zi nor Yuyan Zhenren said a word. Zhuang Shaoqin consoled the villagers. Yugu attended to He Bang’s bath and helped her change her clothes. Yuyan Zhenren called Rong Chen Zi to the study. Rong Chen Zi’s brow still held that look of conflict and self-reproach. Since he had entered the Daoist order, he had always pursued self-cultivation and moral rectitude — he had never imagined there would come a time when he found himself without the freedom to choose.
Yuyan Zhenren was also lost in his own thoughts. After a long while, he dropped a thumb ring into the tea in his cup, then slowly lifted it back out with two fingers: “In truth, this world is like this cup of water — if you want to reach inside and retrieve something, you will inevitably get your hands wet.”
Rong Chen Zi naturally understood what he meant, and gave a slight nod: “I will bear Zhenren’s guidance in mind.”
The evening meal was a vegetarian one. Throughout the course of it, the Daoists spoke little, the atmosphere heavy and subdued. Only the great river clam sat beside Rong Chen Zi — fork in her left hand, knife in her right — eating heartily and busily, without a care in the world. Zhuang Shaoqin, meaning to break the awkward silence, and being genuinely grateful to He Bang — without whom the report he would be sending to the palace would have been rather difficult to write — said: “The most pressing matter now, I would think, is to catch the mastermind who escaped.”
At this, everyone was at least momentarily able to set aside what had happened before: “We should have kept a few of them alive. How are we to find this greater demon now?”
He Bang’s dinner had been made specially by Yugu, and included both fish and meat. She was eating with both cheeks puffed out like a little squirrel: “I have a Dream Chasing Grass — using it as a medium I can glimpse the workings of Heaven’s Dao. I will take a look afterward and we will know.”
At these words, every Daoist’s expression changed dramatically. Dream Chasing Grass was a treasure from the realm of legend — according to tradition, Dongfang Shuo had once presented it to Emperor Wu of Han. No one had expected this river clam to have a sprig of it in her possession. Rong Chen Zi was using communal chopsticks to pick the fish bones out of He Bang’s food, and seemed quite uninterested in the grass. Zhuang Shaoqin was more attentive: “Did you go looking for my senior martial brother because you had already used it to glimpse the workings of Heaven and seen things in advance? Knowing it would nearly cost you your life, you still came along to covet my senior martial brother’s flesh and blood — you really are quite the bold creature.”
He Bang was displeased: “What do you mean ‘glimpsed’ — I looked at it entirely above board and honestly! Besides, I was deceived by it, wasn’t I? When I looked at the time, part of Zhiguan was in my mouth, so I just assumed I would be able to eat him! How was I to know I would almost die?!”
Rong Chen Zi placed a piece of snow-white, tender fish belly into her bowl, and was still in something of a dejected mood: “Which part of me was in your mouth—”
Before the words had finished leaving his lips, he threw himself across the table and clapped his hand over He Bang’s mouth. The assembled Daoists held their severe expressions in silence for a moment — then burst out laughing in unison. Yuyan Zhenren rose in fury and swept out of the room. Rong Chen Zi’s entire face was on fire — Yuyan Zhenren, please come back, I swear upon heaven, that particular method has genuinely never been used…
On this side, He Bang was still indignant: “Back then, in order to see more clearly, I even borrowed the waters of the East Sea — blasted thing, I went to all that trouble and it still wouldn’t say anything clearly!”
Zhuang Shaoqin placed a spoonful of stir-fried greens into her bowl and couldn’t help himself from speaking up in defense of Heaven’s Dao: “Ahem, well, in truth… it already was… quite clear…”
“What?” He Bang narrowed her eyes and looked at the assembled Daozhang in the room. “Quite clear?”
The twenty-one Daozhang present all nodded with solemn expressions of compassion — how urgently important it was, in this day and age, to see to the comprehensive development of a demon’s moral character, wisdom, and physical cultivation…
—End of online version—
—The following is the printed edition content, transcribed by hand—
The next morning, Rong Chen Zi had barely finished washing and dressing when Yuyan Zhenren summoned him to the study. Although Rong Chen Zi had long presided over Qingxu Temple’s affairs and was deeply respected within the Daozong, in the presence of this elder he remained rather deferential. Yuyan Zhenren settled into his seat at the writing desk, and after a long while finally said: “Word has come down from the Emperor — the keel-serpent incident has caused widespread unease throughout the realm. The Emperor fears it is Heaven’s punishment upon our dynasty, and has commanded the Daozong to set up an altar and conduct a National Rite.”
Rong Chen Zi’s expression grew solemn as well. A National Rite was not the same as an ordinary Daoist ritual. The Daoist ritual ceremonies were divided into the upper three altars, the middle three altars, and the lower three altars. The upper three altars were held to pray for the nation’s blessings, the middle three for officials, and the lower three for commoners and scholars. Among the upper three altars, there were further distinctions: the Altar of Harmony with Heaven and Flourishing of the Nation, the Altar of Extended Fortune and Protection of Life, and the Altar of Prayer for Harvest and Blessing of the Seasons. A National Rite was the Altar of Harmony with Heaven and Flourishing of the Nation, encompassing three thousand six hundred stellar positions, constituting a Universal Grand Rite. Its scale and grandeur went without saying.
Yuyan Zhenren drank a sip of tea and finished making his point: “The last National Rite was conducted when my master was still alive, and he served as the High Merit Priest. My master has long since ascended to immortality, and the Emperor’s original intention was to have me serve in his place. However, Rong Chen Zi — I have already reached the age of knowing heaven’s mandate. Among the younger generation of the Daozong, who truly has the makings of a leader? Shaoqin’s mastery of the Dao is excellent, but his temperament is ultimately too unruly; my disciple Shouyi has more than enough loyalty and integrity, but still lacks experience.” He gazed steadily at Rong Chen Zi, who was standing with bowed head before him, and sighed again. “Sooner or later, the Daozong must be placed in your hands. Before old friend Zixin departed, he made countless entreaties — and all along I have been treading carefully, terrified that worldly affairs and fame might disrupt your cultivation.”
How could Rong Chen Zi fail to understand his well-meaning intentions? He was about to speak when Yuyan Zhenren raised a hand. “But now I see before me, I fear it is not worldly fame that shall be your undoing — rather, it is the allure of physical beauty, the pink-skulled temptation of the flesh. I have already sent word to the Emperor recommending you for the post of High Merit Priest. From now on the entire Daozong will look to you for leadership, and you must set an example. That woman — though she possesses unusual abilities and is listed in the immortal registry yet has not truly entered the immortal path — may harbor unfathomable intentions. You absolutely cannot keep her by your side any longer.”
The two of them spoke privately for a full hour. He Bang had already finished her breakfast by the time Rong Chen Zi finally emerged. Seeing the weight of thought on his face, she leaned against him out of habit: “Is that old man talking badly about me?”
“Mind your manners.” Rong Chen Zi was somewhere between exasperation and amusement, but fearing Yuyan Zhenren might take exception, he brought her to his room and sat down at the table with her: “Yuyan Zhenren had a long conversation with me today. He is very concerned about you.”
He Bang draped herself entirely across his lap, her pert little face full of displeasure: “So are you going to send me away?”
Rong Chen Zi took hold of her soft, tender little hand and gently rubbed his thumb across it: “Don’t talk nonsense.”
He Bang burrowed further into his lap: “Then what if he doesn’t like me?”
“Yuyan Zhenren, at heart, truly means well. Having little knowledge of you at this point, he naturally harbors some misgivings — but given time, he will come to understand.” Rong Chen Zi had his arms full of warmth and softness, yet did not forget the matter at hand. “Take a look at where that creature from the Great Wind Slope has gone. We must stop it before it harms anyone else.”
He Bang was still not entirely reassured: “Even if he doesn’t like me, Zhiguan won’t listen to him, will he?”
Rong Chen Zi was somewhere between amusement and exasperation: “Mm — don’t let your imagination run away with you.”
That afternoon, a messenger from the palace arrived with an imperial decree. No one knew what accomplishments Zhuang Shaoqin had claimed in his report, but the Emperor was greatly pleased, and the assembled Daoists were all commended. He even suggested that Rong Chen Zi come to the palace for a stay, so that he might seek his counsel on Daoist arts and methods. Yuyan Zhenren strongly urged Rong Chen Zi to go — if the Daozong could gain the support of the imperial court, it would be of great benefit both to the Daozong as a whole and to Rong Chen Zi personally.
At the time, He Bang was in her room eating popped rice — Yugu had come up with the idea of stir-frying it, and she was very fond of it. Yugu was quick-witted, and had gone outside to listen to the news before reporting back to He Bang. He Bang held her paper tube of popped rice, her attention seeming to be entirely on the food: “Yuyan Zhenren is surely urging Zhiguan to go to the palace, isn’t he?”
Yugu nodded: “Indeed, he was in the middle of urging him when I left. Mistress, perhaps you could find an opportunity to please him a little — at least it would spare you from his ongoing suspicion and misunderstanding.”
He Bang raised an eyebrow, then gave a light laugh: “If I were good at winning people’s favor, how would I have arrived at today’s situation?”
Yugu poured her a cup of honeyed tea. She seemed to have at last adapted to her role over these past days, and had begun to read He Bang’s intentions: “But Yuyan Zhenren’s relationship with Zhiguan is after all unlike anyone else’s. If he maintains his wariness toward you indefinitely, I worry that…”
He Bang took a sip of tea, her tone distant: “Our Zhiguan has a mind of his own. Otherwise — why do you think he is pushing Zhiguan to accompany the Emperor to the palace?”
Yugu thought about it, and said in sudden alarm: “Could it be that he intends to harm you?”
He Bang cradled her popped rice and settled onto the daybed, her expression serene and smiling: “He is, after all, Zhiguan’s elder, and if something were to befall me, Zhiguan would surely not hold him accountable. Moreover, those who cultivate inner strength — even with great depth of cultivation — are inherently quite fragile. To suffer an unforeseen mishap in the midst of fierce battle is really the most ordinary thing in the world.”
Yugu’s face drained of color: “Then you must quickly persuade Zhiguan to stay.”
He Bang laughed: “Stay?” She continued eating her popped rice. “This flavor really is excellent — go stir-fry some more.”
Seeing that she had no wish to say more, Yugu dared not press further, and withdrew with a knot of unease in her stomach.
A short while later, Rong Chen Zi entered the room. His expression had been heavy and preoccupied, but at the sight of He Bang sitting on the daybed reading the Nanhua Jing with snacks never stopping at her mouth, even this master of the Daoist school could not help but let the corners of his lips lift slightly: “Eating again on the daybed.”
Though the words were reproach, was there even the slightest reproach in the tone?
He Bang stretched lazily. Rong Chen Zi took a face cloth and helped wipe her hands and mouth, then sat down beside the bed and mentioned lightly the Emperor’s summons to the palace. He Bang rested her head in his lap, looking for all the world like she was actually considering the matter: “That actually sounds like a good thing — if the Emperor takes a liking to you, won’t he grant more funds for building temples and supporting Daoist priests in the future?”
Rong Chen Zi suppressed a laugh: “The words may be blunt, but the reasoning is sound.”
He Bang was quite decisive: “Then go, Zhiguan. Come back soon — I’ve heard the palace has all kinds of good things to eat, so remember to bring plenty back for me.”
Rong Chen Zi patted her head: “But the creature responsible for the deaths at the Great Wind Slope has not yet been identified, and Yuyan Zhenren is getting on in years — I am truly uneasy about leaving.”
He Bang tilted her head: “There’s still me — me, me, me.”
Rong Chen Zi stroked her slightly cool long hair, and after a long while said softly: “I have already written to Xingzhi Zhenren asking him to come and help. Today, let us first determine the creature’s origins and whereabouts. Once Xingzhi Zhenren arrives, I will bring you back to Qingxu Temple, and then go to the palace to pay my respects to the Emperor.”
He Bang looked up, gazing at him intently. Rong Chen Zi gently touched her smooth cheek: “Take a look tonight at where the creature is — I will guard your spirit for you.”
The decision to summon Xingzhi Zhenren and bring He Bang back to Qingxu Temple met with fierce opposition from Yuyan Zhenren. But Rong Chen Zi held firm, unmoved by all of Yuyan Zhenren’s arguments. In the end, Yuyan Zhenren also lost his temper: “Are you worried I intend to harm her?”
Even Zhuang Shaoqin quietly urged him: “Senior martial brother, though He Pan has an appetite for food, with her here our demon-subduing work will certainly be twice as effective for half the effort — why must you insist on…? If you’re worried, I’ll escort her back to the temple once the demons are dealt with.”
Rong Chen Zi gave a slight shake of his head and said quietly: “You don’t understand, Shaoqin — if I let her stay here alone, I will… think of nothing else, day and night.” Zhuang Shaoqin was momentarily taken aback and said nothing more. Rong Chen Zi then turned to bow deeply to Yuyan Zhenren: “Zhenren, I am fully sensible of your good intentions, and I hold them in the deepest gratitude. In any matter that benefits the Daozong or the people, I will go through fire and water without hesitation. But she — though she has her unusual abilities, her constitution is ultimately delicate. In truth, those who cultivate inner strength should be kept in deep courtyards and fine houses, waited upon with fine clothing and food and numerous attendants. For her to travel all over the place with me is already improper as it stands. I truly cannot leave her here alone.” When Yuyan Zhenren was about to say more, Rong Chen Zi steeled himself and said with finality: “Zhenren… just consider me bewitched.”
Not long after, Yugu brought in water to clean He Bang’s shell, and mentioned the events just passed: “Zhiguan is going to bring you back to Qingxu Temple, and he even had an argument with Yuyan Zhenren over it — though Zhenren agreed in the end.”
He Bang turned over in her shell and blew a stream of bubbles: “He should be thanking Rong Chen Zi. Hmph — he’s gotten back a life for free.”
Yugu’s face changed color: “You were thinking of—” She dared not finish the sentence, and took up the specially made scrubbing cloth to wipe He Bang’s shell with care.
That evening, Rong Chen Zi guarded He Bang’s spirit as she used the Dream Chasing Grass to glimpse the workings of Heaven’s Dao. For He Bang this was well-trodden ground, and she paid it little concern — she stretched her limbs and let her soul travel toward Changgang Mountain. Rong Chen Zi was far more cautious, setting up a formation around the outside to prevent sinister energy from intruding.
After about one quarter of an hour, the He Bang who sat cross-legged on the bed suddenly went ramrod straight. Rong Chen Zi immediately anchored her soul. Shortly after, she returned smoothly and without difficulty.
“What did you find?” Rong Chen Zi used the shark-silk cloth in her arms to wipe away the fine beads of perspiration at her temples, then poured out some sugar water and fed it to her. He Bang drank half a small cup of the sweet broth before lowering her eyes: “About two hundred and seventy-some li to the east of the Great Wind Slope, there is a place called Sui Mountain — that is where the creature is. I observed it has no more than a thousand years or so of cultivation. There should be no serious trouble for the elder and Shaoqin if they go together.”
Only then did Rong Chen Zi feel at ease. He also said in a low voice of mild reproach: “You are not to address people so disrespectfully!”
The next day, Xingzhi Zhenren arrived with his disciples in tow. Rong Chen Zi brought He Bang and a few of his disciples and prepared to return to Qingxu Temple. They set out before dawn. He Bang was still fast asleep. Rong Chen Zi called her name several times, but disturbing her sleep was the one thing she truly could not tolerate — she began to sob in spurts of distress. Rong Chen Zi was somewhere between amusement and helplessness, and had no choice but to transform her back into her river clam form and bundle her up, slinging her over his arm. Yuyan Zhenren was inclined to urge him again, but observing his tender and doting manner, he finally just sighed and said nothing more.
Zhuang Shaoqin noticed his expression and couldn’t help but feel puzzled: “Zhenren, though this river clam is unruly, ever since she has been with my senior martial brother she has done nothing more terrible than eat too much — there have been no other wrongdoings. Now that she carries within her the water and wind spiritual essences, and has even ascended to the immortal path, everyone in every corner covets her. For her to follow my senior martial brother is not at all a bad arrangement. And besides — from his earliest years through all of his life, there has never been a single person or thing that he truly set his heart upon. Now that he at last has a place to put his affections, why must you worry so much?”
Yuyan Zhenren’s brow did not ease: “Shaoqin, one person’s honey may be another’s poison. What others scramble after may not suit just anyone. Though this river clam has ascended to the immortal path, Rong Chen Zi is after all a heaven-born true deity. Their private feelings — once he returns to his divine station, I will trouble myself no further. But if something goes wrong in the meantime, how am I to answer to old friend Zixin and to the entire Daozong…?”
Zhuang Shaoqin’s nature was most carefree and unrestrained, and this sort of borrowing-trouble-before-it-arrived manner of thinking was entirely beyond his comprehension. Fortunately, Yuyan Zhenren did not require him to understand: “Notify Xingzhi — we set out.”
Traveling on his sword, Rong Chen Zi made it back to Qingxu Temple in no more than half an hour. It was just growing light. It was a summer morning in the seventh month, and the cicadas on the mountain had just begun their first song. The air carried the scent of soil and growing things. Walking through it cleared the mind and refreshed the spirit.
Rong Chen Zi brought He Bang to his own room first. She was still sound asleep, occasionally blowing bubbles from outside her shell. Rong Chen Zi gave his head a quiet shake, touched her grey-black shell: “I need to go first to the palace to pay my respects to the Emperor. The Emperor has decreed a National Rite to pray for the country’s blessings — the National Rite is a sacred event, and during it I will find it difficult to see you. I expect it will take about two months. You must be obedient and listen to Xiao Ye’s instructions, and not go wandering off.”
He Bang was sleeping soundly. Having someone prattle near her ear was not to be borne, and she irritably closed her shell even tighter, and stopped blowing bubbles altogether.
Rong Chen Zi came out of the room. For this National Rite, he planned to bring Qingxuan and Qingsu along with him. The temple’s affairs were again left in Ye Tian’s hands — in her, he had full confidence. He only instructed her to activate the mountain-protecting formation. Ye Tian was meticulous by nature, and she had lived in the palace with Zhuang Shaoqin and was quite familiar with this particular Dao-devoted Emperor’s preferences, and so she mentioned several things about the Emperor’s likes and dislikes. Rong Chen Zi paid no particular attention: “Senior martial brother’s purpose in going is not to curry the Emperor’s favor — all those tedious details, there is no need to remember them.”
Qingxu Temple was thriving with incense and worshippers. The mountain gate had barely opened before streams of devotees had begun to arrive. Ye Tian was busy receiving and guiding the faithful, and He Bang had also woken up. Upon waking she found that Rong Chen Zi was gone.
The young Daoists of the temple, afraid she would cry and make a scene, had prepared all kinds of food for her — and on top of that, Yugu had made extra dishes just for her. Rong Chen Zi’s room was filled in every corner with delicious things to eat. He Bang looked left and right, and finally began to gnaw on a dried vegetarian duck neck, thinking things over as she ate. That old Daoist had certainly gone to the palace, she concluded, and would not be back for a while — eating first and then crying would be perfectly acceptable.
She read the Investiture of the Gods as she ate. She knew relatively few characters, so her reading was half-guessing. She kept this up until noon, at which point she grew drowsy again. She rubbed her eyes. Yugu hurried over to feed her a small cup of loquat and lotus root sweet broth, then wrung a face cloth half-dry and wiped her face and hands, and afterward carried away the bones, fruit rinds, and seeds that had accumulated in the bamboo basket beside the bed.
The summer heat was at its peak, and though the mountain temperatures were considerably cooler, He Bang was by nature unable to bear the heat. The young Daoists had specially bought her a porcelain pillow — cool and refreshing against her head, greatly to her comfort, so that the summer heat troubled her not at all.
In the afternoon, Ye Tian came to check on her. Seeing her sleeping quietly and well, she did not disturb her, only instructed Yugu to look after her carefully. By this point she held no ill will whatsoever toward this river clam — in truth she was simply a naive little demon, whose world contained only three kinds of people: enemies, friends, and strangers. Enemies must be killed. Friends must be well protected. Strangers need not be acknowledged.
A life like that — simple, carefree, and unburdened — was a happier one than most people in the world would ever know.
Ye Tian had barely stepped out of the room when He Bang sat up. Yugu immediately came forward to attend her. He Bang only waved a hand: “Keep watch outside. Do not let anyone disturb me.”
Yugu bowed in agreement, pulled the door shut behind her, and took up her position at the entrance. He Bang formed her hand seals. Before long she had sent her soul traveling, heading in the direction of Changgang Mountain. The midsummer afternoon sun blazed like fire. Without a physical body there was no sweating, but He Bang found the heat genuinely unbearable. A short while later she stopped at the well in the Li Family Village. The mortals around her could not see her in her soul form — she sprang down into the water.
The well water was cool and refreshing, but she had no time to enjoy it, and made her way downward. Beneath the well was an entirely different world. A stretch of red star-shaped water weeds extended ahead, and at their end stood a crystal palace — somewhat smaller in scale than the Sea Clan King’s palace at Lingxia, but exquisite and refined. He Bang walked in unhurriedly. Newly-transformed fish demons bowed to her in respectful greeting.
The interior of the crystal palace was not unlike the Sea Clan King’s palace. One person was arranging food on the table — the dishes were displayed in fragrant array: steamed swimmer crabs, spicy shark throat, jellyfish salad, and others. He Bang’s footsteps were very light, but the person at the table did not turn around: “Your Majesty has come.”
Those red robes and black hair, even that voice and manner of speech — all of it was familiar. He Bang felt a sudden disorientation: “Who exactly are you?”
“One more dish of scallion-braised sea cucumber and it will be ready — come, sit down quickly.” He pulled He Bang to sit before the table and placed a fragrant conch snail in her bowl. Imagining that smooth, tender snail meat, the fresh sweetness melting on the tongue — He Bang immediately regretted why she had needed to travel here in soul form.
Seeing how pleased she was, the eyes of the person before her overflowed with warm amusement: “I’ll go prepare a food box — Your Majesty can take it back.”
Everything seemed unchanged — he was still Chunyu Lin of the Lingxia waters. He Bang said quietly: “Now that you have escaped, you should find a peaceful place to cultivate properly. Why must you bring harm upon the world of mortals?”
Chunyu Lin did not answer. In a short while he returned with the scallion-braised sea cucumber. He carefully packed every dish into the food box. He Bang pushed him hard: “Speak!”
He stepped back slightly, and after a long while raised his eyes with a faint smile: “I am unwilling to leave Your Majesty’s side.”
He Bang slowly reached up and touched his face. He stood quietly and still, his beauty enough to stun the world. After a long moment, He Bang finally made up her mind: “Go. Whether you are the keel-serpent or Chunyu Lin — leave this place and keep away from people. Within a thousand years, I do not want to hear any news of you whatsoever.”
She turned and walked away with broad strides, but then turned back, gathered up every food box, and using the water to travel, returned directly to Qingxu Temple.
By the time of the late afternoon hour, word came from Yuyan Zhenren’s side that the evil creature at Sui Mountain had been eradicated. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and began preparing for the National Rite. The Emperor’s temperament was something Zhuang Shaoqin knew best — though the High Merit Priest role had been entrusted to Rong Chen Zi, Zhuang Shaoqin was still the national preceptor, and any aspect of the affair had to be discussed with him. Sui Mountain was no place to negotiate — and besides, it was not very far from Qingxu Temple, so the assembled Daoists made their way to Qingxu Temple, where the young disciples of the temple helped to purchase all necessary equipment.
Qingxu Temple now had an even livelier feel. Seeing its affairs in perfect order, Yuyan Zhenren naturally praised Ye Tian. Since Zixin Daozhang’s ascension, he had felt himself to be something of an elder to the three disciples. A teacher for a day, a parent for a lifetime — this father-figure was strict with both Rong Chen Zi and Zhuang Shaoqin, but was gentle and kind with Ye Tian alone.
Ye Tian was polished in her manners, and never presumed upon her favored standing. In his presence she always conducted herself with dignified propriety. As he drank tea and discussed Daoist teachings with Ye Tian, watching her every gesture and movement, measured and graceful, he could not help but think of the careless, frivolous He Bang. This eminent and esteemed Daozhang could not help but feel baffled — Rong Chen Zi was in every way upright and proper. How was it that, with Ye Tian right before his eyes, he had gone and fallen in love with a girl like that, who had not the slightest sense of shame?
Zhuang Shaoqin and the assembled Daoists finished discussing the National Rite arrangements and, seeing no sign of He Bang, made his way to Rong Chen Zi’s bedchamber. By then the sun was high and bright. Yugu stood at the courtyard gate, on guard without a moment’s lapse. Zhuang Shaoqin nodded in her direction, intending her to go inside and let He Bang know he was there. She opened the courtyard gate instead — her face, reddened from baking in the sun, actually showed a trace of a smile: “My mistress has said that no one from the Daozong is to enter freely — but you, surely, are of no concern.”
Seeing her drenched in perspiration, Zhuang Shaoqin felt some of his antipathy soften: “I have asked the other Daoists not to come and disturb anyone here — you may go and rest.”
Yugu lowered her head in response, but still did not dare leave her post. Zhuang Shaoqin gave a small shake of his head and walked into the courtyard.
The first thing to catch his eye was the pond, inside which the lotus flowers, with complete disregard for the blazing summer heat, were blooming with all the vigor of life — evidently, at a single glance, not the sort of thing produced by the ordinary mortal world. He Bang was sitting in the shade of the lotus flowers, playing with the water. She was barefoot as ever, her two small feet soaking in the pond, swishing them unceasingly back and forth, splashing up arcs of water that startled the fish within to keep their distance.
Zhuang Shaoqin sat down beside her. His gaze could not help but travel to those two small, delicate feet. They were truly exquisitely fashioned by nature, and now washed clean by clear water, catching the light of the full afternoon sun, they shone white as snow above frost. He had no particular foot-related preferences of his own, but he did love beauty — and for a moment he quite simply could not look away.
He Bang did not turn around, but suddenly asked: “Do they look nice?”
Zhuang Shaoqin answered reflexively: “They do!”
He Bang was clearly put out, and said in a sulky tone: “Everyone who has seen them says so. Only Zhiguan has never said it.”
Zhuang Shaoqin couldn’t help letting out a laugh: “Those words are simply beyond him.”
He Bang pouted, her voice carrying a note of grievance: “It has been so many days — he hasn’t come back once!”
“Ah — you miss senior martial brother.” Zhuang Shaoqin settled cross-legged on the ground. He knew the rites and rituals of the Daoist tradition best of all, and began explaining them to He Bang: “The Emperor has entrusted him as High Merit Priest for the National Rite, and this National Rite is a great undertaking requiring forty-nine days in all. During this time he is still in the palace. Once the National Rite begins next month, he will be stationed at the ritual temple, and there is no way he will be able to come back, no matter what.”
He Bang grew anxious: “Then can I go find him?”
Zhuang Shaoqin only shook his head: “The National Rite is no small affair. If word got out that the High Merit Priest had brought a woman with him, not only senior martial brother — all of Qingxu Temple’s people would suffer the consequences.”
He Bang turned back to look at the lotus flowers, her expression sullen and downcast: “Hmph — Yugu already told me, there are so many beautiful palace ladies in there. He certainly doesn’t want to come back!”
Zhuang Shaoqin was somewhere between exasperation and amusement: “Senior martial brother is a Daoist — no matter how many palace ladies there are, the ones attending him would certainly be eunuchs. There is no need to worry about that.”
He Bang finally identified the source of her concern, and exclaimed loudly: “Then he must have fallen in love with some eunuch!”
Zhuang Shaoqin couldn’t help laughing. He had no choice but to offer reassurance: “That is really rather… beyond anyone’s imagination. Don’t let your thoughts run away with you — senior martial brother really does have serious business to attend to. Two months — it goes by very quickly. If you’re bored, spend more time with Qingyun, Haotian, and the others.”
In mid-seventh month, the National Rite officially began. In his role as national preceptor, Zhuang Shaoqin naturally had to return to court. To demonstrate the occasion’s importance, every Daoist person of any standing was expected to attend. Ye Tian was somewhat inclined to go as well — after all, the National Rite was a grand occasion, rarely encountered even once. It was unexpected, then, that Yuyan Zhenren excused himself from attending on grounds of illness. Every person of the Daozong understood — he was truly and genuinely intending to place the weight of the Daozong on Rong Chen Zi’s shoulders.
At Qingxu Temple, Yuyan Zhenren and Ye Tian sat across from each other drinking tea. He tested her on various classical texts and aspects of the Dao, and she answered each question fluently and with ease. He stroked his goatee, greatly satisfied: “Old friend Zixin was lucky — all three of his disciples are capable of achieving something. Wherever he may be beyond this life, I imagine he can rest at peace.”
Ye Tian offered a modest response. Yuyan Zhenren then added: “This National Rite is a rare occasion — you should go as well. It will broaden your horizons.”
Ye Tian had her own difficulty: Yuyan Zhenren’s eyes were sharp as ever: “You need not worry about Qingxu Temple’s affairs — once Rong Chen Zi completes this National Rite, the assembled Daozong members will certainly come to Qingxu Temple to offer congratulations. In the coming days I have nothing urgent to attend to, and will remain here — you may go with peace of mind.”
With him there, everything would certainly be in safe hands. Ye Tian was reassured: “Then… this junior will go to the ritual temple. I will leave Qingxu Temple’s affairs in Zhenren’s care.”
Yuyan Zhenren smiled and waved a hand: “Go.”
That afternoon, Ye Tian packed her things and prepared to descend the mountain. Before leaving she went to look in on He Bang one more time, and seeing her taking her afternoon nap, she did not disturb her, only gave repeated and thorough instructions to Qingyun to look after her carefully and not let his attention slip.
After Ye Tian’s departure, He Bang’s difficult days began.
In the first few days, Yuyan Zhenren paid little attention to this river clam’s whereabouts. Rong Chen Zi’s discipline had always been strict, and the young Daoists of Qingxu Temple had long since grown accustomed to each fulfilling their own duties without needing direction. Even now, with him gone for many days, the temple’s affairs ran in smooth and proper order.
Yuyan Zhenren made a thorough inspection of the temple from end to end and found nothing amiss. What truly drove him to anger was something trivial — someone in the temple was privately preparing meat dishes, and not once or twice, but several times a day. He caught Yugu red-handed at the kitchen stove and demanded to know: “This temple is a place of pure cultivation! How dare anyone bring meat and fish in here?”
Yugu naturally recognized Yuyan Zhenren, but had no idea what had gone wrong — making extra dishes for He Bang had always been something everyone in the temple knew about and no one had ever objected to. She could only force a smile and say: “This woman pays her respects to Zhenren. Zhenren may not be aware — my mistress does not enjoy vegetarian food, and so each day I add a few meat dishes. Previously when Zhiguan was here, he was aware of this arrangement.”
Her worst mistake was bringing Rong Chen Zi up. At the mere mention of him, Yuyan Zhenren erupted: “Absolutely outrageous! As Zhiguan he publicly violates the Daoist order’s rules of discipline, treating propriety and law as though they were nothing!” He turned furiously to the young Daoists standing at the side with bowed heads: “From today onward, all members of this temple will eat according to a uniform standard. Not one person is to receive special treatment. Furthermore, from now on the dining hall will be open for a half-hour in the morning, one hour at noon, and one hour in the evening. After these times, no further food will be provided under any circumstances.”
In truth, the Daoist tradition had an unwritten rule regarding a temple’s inner cultivators: except within the quarters of the one they served, they were not permitted to move freely about the temple, lest it give rise to gossip. At any time, an inner cultivator’s position was an extremely awkward one. It was generally only girls from poor families who sold themselves to Daoist practitioners in exchange for a full meal. Ordinarily, they were not treated harshly — but their standing was, in truth, utterly negligible.
No wonder Yuyan Zhenren had been so displeased when Rong Chen Zi brought He Bang along everywhere on his travels.
But He Bang was an exception. She spent her time in Rong Chen Zi’s own quarters not because she was forbidden from going elsewhere, but because she was too lazy to bother. This, of course, held only when food was adequately supplied. Within two days she noticed that every one of her favorite foods had vanished without a trace. She was given only three meals a day, all vegetarian — cabbage and steamed buns, and if there were any buns at all, they were filled with cabbage!
Furthermore, she kept irregular sleeping hours and was never awake at mealtimes. By the time she woke up the food was always cold, and by then the dining hall was already closed, so there was nowhere to warm it. After this happened several times, she couldn’t help tilting her head to look at Yugu when she came to deliver food. Yugu, not daring to provoke her displeasure, had no choice but to explain the situation in the temple fully and frankly.
And so, on this particular sun-drenched afternoon, He Bang finally walked out of Rong Chen Zi’s courtyard. Devotees were coming and going, and the young Daoists were all busy with their various tasks. She had on a thin yellow silk skirt, with no shoulder wrap — only two silk ribbons crossing over her jade neck and tied lazily in a bow behind. The skirt’s hem was wide and full, the fabric soft and light to an extraordinary degree. As she walked, the hem swirled like flowers bursting into bloom, while the waist was cinched very tightly, the chest edged with a white gossamer border. Without her shoulder wrap, a large expanse of smooth, warm skin was exposed — her human form was slender and fine-boned, her collarbone elegantly shaped, her shoulders even more luminously fair. As she walked along, she drew the eyes of a number of devotees until they practically fell out of their sockets.
Yuyan Zhenren was at that moment sitting in meditation in his room. When he had no duties, the young Daoists did not dare disturb him. He Bang, however, paid that no mind whatsoever, and kicked his door open with a single foot. Yuyan Zhenren, more old-fashioned and conservative even than Rong Chen Zi, had never encountered such a completely shameless mode of dress, and nearly spat blood. He Bang paid this no attention either, glaring with her large, round eyes, thoroughly furious: “Old man — why are you withholding my food?”
Yuyan Zhenren’s hands and feet were shaking with fury: “You — you — you… do you not know the rule that an inner cultivator is not permitted to move about freely?!”
He Bang hadn’t the faintest idea: “I didn’t know that — why aren’t you allowed to move around?” She bounded all over the room, trampling across bookshelves and writing desks in turn. “Why aren’t you allowed to move around?”
Qingyun rushed in trying to coax her out first, but she refused to be coaxed, and would not leave for any food offered. Yuyan Zhenren slammed the table in fury: “Outrageous — what a disgrace! Qingyun, have her expelled from Lingxia Mountain immediately and bar her from ever crossing the mountain gate again! When your master asks, tell him to come to my immortal’s retreat and answer for this himself!”
Qingyun was also inwardly miserable, and could only persuade this elder who stood in the position of a grandmaster-in-law: “Zhenren — she is really not normally like this, and she rarely comes out of my master’s quarters. This time she is only here because she is hungry. Please — could we not give her some separate food…”
Before he finished, He Bang had already started shouting: “What a foolish and unreasonable old man you are! Do I need your permission to go out? I am not kept by you! I am going out regardless, going out and going wherever I please! You are nothing — a perfectly good immortal retreat of your own you don’t bother to stay in, you come running here to cause trouble, acting as if you own the place! By what right?! The nerve! Dare to slam that table one more time and I’ll chop off your hands!”
Yuyan Zhenren’s beard curled up in fury. Qingyun grabbed He Bang in a frantic rush: “Mistress, please say less, please, can we go back to your room first? I promise, I’ll make food right away — no, right this very moment. Please go back first.”
He Bang’s expression was stormy: “I won’t! I absolutely won’t!”
Yuyan Zhenren wanted to strike her but felt it beneath his dignity. His hands and feet were trembling: “Drive her off the mountain! Drive her off the mountain!”
The young Daoists were all as stricken as though at a funeral — their master cherished her greatly, who would dare actually drive her off the mountain? But they could not ignore Yuyan Zhenren’s words either…
Seeing the young Daoists hesitating and uncertain, Yuyan Zhenren’s anger flared even hotter, and he was about to take matters into his own hands — but He Bang’s clothing was scanty. He produced a yellow talisman paper, intending first to force this river clam back into her original form. The moment he made his move, He Bang stopped being polite!
In an instant a wild wind rose within the room, and the young Daoists watching from outside could only see the stone-built temple spouting water like a fountain, the column of water reaching over a foot in height. The devotees thought it a divine sign and gathered to watch without dispersing.
The young Daoists were frantic with worry and did not know what to do. After approximately the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, He Bang came running out of the room — wailing and weeping, running straight into Rong Chen Zi’s bedchamber. Yugu rushed after her to attend to her, only to find her in the process of packing up all her favorite clothes, toys, and jewelry.
Yugu had no idea what had happened and assumed only that she had been bullied by Yuyan Zhenren, so could only help her pack along with her.
The young Daoists rushed anxiously to find Yuyan Zhenren, intending to plead once more on their mistress-in-law’s behalf. But the moment they pushed the door open, they were struck dumb. Yuyan Zhenren looked like a drowned rat — his jade hairpin had been snatched away, and his hair had been whipped by the raging wind into a shock standing in all directions. His goatee had been yanked out in ragged patches. There was a scratch across his face. His neat Daoist robes had been shredded into tatters. His cheeks were swollen, and when he spoke his tongue barely moved properly. That wretched sight — as though he had been thoroughly battered by forty-nine mighty men, forty-nine times over…
The assembled Daoists nearly coughed up blood at the sight — Mistress, you…
Yuyan Zhenren in this state — the young Daoists wanted to leave but didn’t dare, wanted to enter but couldn’t bring themselves to. While they were all crying out inwardly, He Bang had already finished packing and, with Yugu in tow, descended the mountain.
Yugu was still offering consolation: “Yuyan Zhenren is, after all, a Daoist — it’s perfectly normal for you not to be able to beat him, Mistress. But now that we can no longer stay at Qingxu Temple, where will we go?”
He Bang’s tears weren’t even dry yet, and she was already thinking of other things: “Yugu, what is an inner cultivator? Why did the old man say they weren’t allowed to move around?”
Yugu was still a little shy about this: “An inner cultivator… it is when a Daoist practitioner, in order to harmonize Yin and Yang, purchases young women and keeps them in a chamber, using dual cultivation when needed… to advance their power.”
He Bang still didn’t entirely understand: “Then why aren’t they allowed to move around?”
Yugu, now in a body with an entirely different constitution, was considerably stronger than an ordinary woman, and found the mountain path not very taxing. She walked along supporting He Bang: “Well… because an inner cultivator is not something one is meant to let others know about — since the master doesn’t want people to find out, he doesn’t let them come out and go about freely.”
He Bang seemed somewhat deflated, and after a long silence gave a quiet: “Oh.”