When the same person hurts you, they cannot give you the same pain twice. When they wound you again and again, the wound has grown accustomed to it. The feeling has gone numb. No matter how many more times they hurt you after that, it will never be as painful as the very first time.

Qingxu Temple, Lingxia Mountain.

The Hibiscus flowers had bloomed again across the whole mountainside.

The wind at the courtyard entrance had grown a little cool. He Bang took a cloak and draped it over Rong Chen Zi’s shoulders, then leaned against him: “Zhiguan — the rear mountain has bloomed with so many flowers, every one of them large and beautiful. But I’ve been very good this year — I haven’t picked a single one.”

She went on speaking softly beside him: “The spring on the rear mountain this year is especially clear — I only threw one stone into it, and the old man came running to scold me soundly, and you didn’t even stand up for me.”

“I’ve used the Dream Chasing Grass to look at the workings of Heaven countless times, and it won’t tell me the outcome. The pages that follow, one after another — they’re all blank. Perhaps it means I need to make a choice, but there isn’t really anything to choose, is there? I won’t be going anywhere.”

In the bamboo chair beside her, Rong Chen Zi lay quietly — not speaking, not moving, entirely still. He Bang held him, and kissed his lips: “The wind is picking up. Let us go inside.”

Rong Chen Zi made no response. He Bang used wind-travel to bring him back to the bedchamber and helped him lie down on the bed. Footsteps outside drew closer. Before long Yuyan Zhenren entered, followed by a succession of eminent reclusive masters he had found from one sacred mountain or renowned retreat after another.

Coming into the room, he seemed to have no awareness of He Bang’s presence. He led the group straight to Rong Chen Zi’s bedside to take his pulse.

Rong Chen Zi had fallen ill. In his absence, Ye Tian was presiding over the temple in his stead. Yuyan Zhenren had also been unable to return to his immortal retreat, and his hair had grown even whiter. That once perfectly straight posture had become bent. The elder who had once been so vigorous and full of energy now looked like a man approaching death.

This reclusive master, like all the others, found no effective treatment. He Bang was not disappointed, and continued day after day to stay by his side.

Ye Tian also came often — partly to see Rong Chen Zi, partly to keep He Bang company. But He Bang neither cried nor made a scene, and was frighteningly calm. Ye Tian didn’t even know where to begin with words of comfort.

He Bang was the one who comforted her: “Before, whenever anything happened, I only had to cry and someone would always step in and fix it. Now that crying doesn’t work, the only option is to handle things myself. I am well — because being unwell would accomplish nothing, and so I hope you are all well too.”

News of Rong Chen Zi’s misfortune spread quickly. Countless demons, catching wind of it, began moving — some openly, some in shadow — all converging on the scent of immortal flesh. Yuyan Zhenren intended to send word calling the entire Daozong to his aid. But the following day, not one demon dared to make any further rash move.

He Bang had strung a thousand-year serpent demon from the mountain gate of Qingxu Temple — she had split open its belly and used bamboo skewers to prop its skin and flesh wide open, then used a ladle to scrape out its organs one spoonful at a time, continuing for two full days. The serpent, its life force undying, cried out in anguish for four days before gradually expiring.

The dried serpent carcass, hung like withered branches at the mountain gate, was more effective than any demon-repelling talisman. Not a single demon dared approach.

The townsfolk of Lingxia Town came even more frequently. Now and then, well-wishers requested to see Rong Chen Zi. Ye Tian turned them all away. But the stream of visitors never ceased. Many villagers had prepared longevity tablets for Rong Chen Zi and offered incense and prayers before them morning and night.

He Bang refused the Daozong’s offer of assistance, and also turned away the soldiers Zhuang Shaoqin sent to protect Qingxu Temple. Qingxu Temple remained unmoved and steady — and continued to receive devotees as usual. Every young Daoist carried out their own duties. Everything went on as before.

The Daozong had been struck by sudden great upheaval, and in order to prevent a split, Yuyan Zhenren worked hard to hold the situation together — but he was getting on in years, and many things were increasingly beyond his strength.

With the death of the keel-serpent king, the keel-serpent tribe was left without a leader. He Bang went to find Xingzhi Zhenren, and came straight to the point without any evasion: “Whenever a keel-serpent living in the mortal world runs into trouble, they contact you first — you must be the one they trust most and hold in the highest esteem. Now that the keel-serpent tribe is scattered like a pan of loose sand, if the Daozong people become aware of it, there may be a purge that wipes out the entire tribe.”

He Bang was so unnaturally calm that Xingzhi Zhenren did not dare to provoke her: “Please speak directly, Your Majesty.”

He Bang looked through the teacups on his table: “You will step forward and recommend the three-eyed serpent as the serpent king, to reunite the keel-serpent tribe.”

Xingzhi Zhenren had already guessed something like this in his heart, but he still had reservations: “Your Majesty — to speak frankly, this three-eyed serpent — ahem, this keel-serpent, though it has made great strides in power and performed admirably in the last battle, has no lineage or established background. I fear that…”

He Bang raised a hand to stop him: “It will take me as its master. Its inner cultivation techniques will come from my school. All other coursework and studies will be transmitted by National Preceptor Zhuang Shaoqin.”

Xingzhi Zhenren understood at once: “This humble one is deeply grateful to Your Majesty.”

The next day, He Bang gave the three-eyed serpent the name He Wei, and together with Zhuang Shaoqin and Xingzhi Zhenren, she summoned all the keel-serpents and brought them together. The three-eyed serpent’s qualifications were still young — but it had Xingzhi Zhenren’s strong endorsement before it, He Bang as its shield behind it, and Zhuang Shaoqin as guarantor in the middle, not to mention the great merit of having eliminated the keel-serpent king. The keel-serpents pledged their allegiance one after another. The tribe was settled, at least for the time being.

This three-eyed serpent had become the serpent king, yet still managed to be spectacularly foolish. Every now and then it would catch a few fish or bring some meat up as an offering for He Bang. But He Bang’s appetite had not been good lately — sleeping was difficult too. Whatever food it brought, it was almost impossible to win her favor.

Yuyan Zhenren, standing alone against too much, at last decided after a long while to have Zhuang Shaoqin take temporary leadership of the Daozong. Zhuang Shaoqin’s prestige was not on par with Rong Chen Zi’s, but now that he held a high position, the Daozong members did not dare raise objections.

One evening, the fragrance of osmanthus flowers drifted across the whole mountain.

He Bang had moved Rong Chen Zi to the edge of the pool in the courtyard. She soaked herself in the pool. Since there was no one else in the courtyard, she slipped off Rong Chen Zi’s shoes and socks and washed his feet.

“I don’t know why — before, when I was beside you, I always felt especially sleepy. Now that you’re not paying attention to me, I really want to sleep, but I can’t no matter what. Sometimes I think — I should have jumped into the lava and died back then. Because the days now are truly terrifying. And what’s most terrifying is — I’ve realized that I no longer even have the courage to leave.”

Rong Chen Zi still said nothing. He Bang was afraid he would catch cold, and dried his feet, putting his shoes and socks back on him. In the middle of dressing him, she tucked herself entirely back against his chest, against him. “Zhiguan — the moon tonight is so perfectly round.” She pulled Rong Chen Zi’s arm around her own waist. The moonlight shimmered in silvery ripples, the evening breeze carrying a scattering of fallen petals. He Bang brushed the petals from his clothes and murmured in his ear again: “Old Daoist — if you don’t wake up, I’ll bite your ear off.”

Rong Chen Zi stared blankly at the moonlight pooled across the ground. He Bang actually licked his ear: “I’m really going to bite — are you ready?”

Rong Chen Zi remained completely still. He Bang licked at it for a while, then couldn’t help sighing: “Before, when you wouldn’t let me eat — I wanted to, every single day. Now that there’s nothing stopping me, I can’t bring myself to.”

Outside came a faint sound of footsteps. She turned her head, and there was Zhuang Shaoqin walking toward her: “The nights are growing cool. Let us bring senior martial brother inside.”

He Bang was burrowed against Rong Chen Zi, unwilling to move: “He’s dressed warmly. It’s fine.”

Zhuang Shaoqin sighed softly and sat down beside her: “He Pan — hypothetically — I say hypothetically — if senior martial brother never woke up again, what would you do?”

He Bang pressed her face against Rong Chen Zi’s chest: “What would I do? Stay here, of course. What else? Otherwise — one day when he woke up, and found that the head of Qingxu Temple had changed, the Daozong had a different person in charge, and even the sacred vessel was gone… wouldn’t that be a very bleak situation?”

Zhuang Shaoqin couldn’t help but smile with a touch of bitterness: “You really are…”

He Bang’s voice was clear as moonlight: “So I am going to stay here, good and obedient, until he wakes up. And he will see his junior martial brother and junior martial sister here, and his disciples, and Qingxu Temple still standing, and the Daozong safe and sound — and me… still here.”

“Thinking of it that way, I won’t try to persuade you otherwise.” Zhuang Shaoqin took Rong Chen Zi’s pulse once more. After a long while he said: “From now on, if you need anything, send word to me.”

He Bang gave a soft murmur, then looked at him: “Are you going back to the palace?”

Zhuang Shaoqin nodded: “I know what you’re thinking. The Emperor, being of the imperial family, certainly knew the workings of the imperial tomb’s mechanisms — and he deliberately arranged for us to enter the tomb at the last moment, almost certainly planning for us and the keel-serpent to destroy each other. But I have to go back — because someone must be in his presence, ensuring the Daozong’s safety. Only if we ourselves are secure can we do more and better for the people.”

He Bang raised an eyebrow, but offered no objection: “Do you know why every prescription those method-practitioners wrote for Zhiguan has had absolutely no effect?”

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

He Bang looked up. The moonlight fell into her eyes like rippling water: “Because I have not been giving him any of it to drink.”

Zhuang Shaoqin’s gaze sharpened like a blade: “Continue.”

“Zhiguan’s soul essence was wounded by the dragon energy. Any spiritual energy introduced into his body will be devoured by the dragon energy — the more spiritual energy, the more his soul will weaken. I have drained every trace of spiritual energy from his body.”

The anxiety and concern on Zhuang Shaoqin’s face became impossible to conceal: “No wonder — I couldn’t sense even the slightest movement of spiritual energy in senior martial brother. But without spiritual energy to sustain him, his physical body will grow weaker and weaker — if no solution is found, before long his body will die.”

“When the keel-serpent’s calamity was imminent, Zhiguan’s bowl of heart’s blood deferred it indefinitely. That was because the blood of a divine being neutralized the demon energy, making the Workings of Heaven unable to detect it. Now Zhiguan’s soul has been wounded by the dragon energy — even if he rests within his body, recovery will be close to impossible. The current Emperor, though not a worthy ruler, was chosen by the Way of Heaven as sovereign — if we could obtain a bowl of his heart’s blood…”

Zhuang Shaoqin’s face changed entirely: “You mean…”

He Bang looked straight at him: “Zhiguan’s body right now has no spiritual energy at all — it can fully accommodate dragon blood. When the dragon blood flows within him, the dragon energy will work in his favor instead of against him. Not only will it cause him no harm — it will benefit him enormously.”

The alarm in Zhuang Shaoqin’s expression gradually faded, replaced by the first flicker of hope: “Excellent idea. The Emperor… I’m afraid he will…”

He Bang said without hesitation: “He will die. The last time I observed him, his energy was depleted and his blood thin. Even Rong Chen Zi, with his cultivation, nearly died from giving a bowl of heart’s blood — how much less so the Emperor?”

Zhuang Shaoqin rose to his feet: “Let him die then — for senior martial brother’s sake, we cannot afford to be squeamish.”

He Bang pressed one hand on his shoulder and pushed him back firmly into his seat: “Were you planning to just rush at him and dig a hole in his chest to get the blood?”

Zhuang Shaoqin stared: “Then…?”

He Bang pressed down on his shoulder with a steadily increasing force: “Tell him — the dragon energy of the imperial tomb has dissolved the keel-serpent’s soul essence. Though the creature’s spiritual energy is sufficient to extend the nation’s destiny by fifty years, because its sinister energy has also mingled into the dragon energy — this dynasty from now on will inevitably suffer a decline in the virtue of its rulers.”

Zhuang Shaoqin was puzzled: “This is the truth — but reporting it honestly… he will certainly order us to find a way to resolve it. What does this have to do with obtaining his heart’s blood?”

He Bang drew Rong Chen Zi’s hand back and cradled herself against him: “How does one resolve sinister energy that has mingled with the dragon energy?”

Zhuang Shaoqin thought long and hard: “If the sinister energy has merged with the dragon energy, one cannot drain all the dragon energy — so how could the sinister energy be eliminated at its root?”

He Bang nodded: “The last time, the palace matter must have been the result of someone advising the Emperor and goading him into it. The palace has quite a few eminent masters and practitioners, doesn’t it?”

Zhuang Shaoqin said thoughtfully: “Mm — the Emperor cultivates the Dao, and there are many who practice the Dao at court.”

He Bang could sense that Rong Chen Zi’s temperature had dropped slightly, and hurried to help him sit up. Zhuang Shaoqin carried him back to the bedchamber. Once he was settled, He Bang said: “Just report the matter to the Emperor — and when you don’t know the answer, simply admit honestly that you don’t know.”

Zhuang Shaoqin was utterly bewildered — but as long as there was any hope of saving Rong Chen Zi, he had to try: “All right.”

Two days later, Zhuang Shaoqin returned to the palace and reported the matter to the Emperor. The Emperor had been seeking a solution to no avail, and was displeased by Zhuang Shaoqin’s honest admission of ignorance. On the third day, a practitioner presented the Emperor with a proposal — claiming to know a method for resolving the sinister energy in the imperial tomb, but that it required five hundred young boys and girls as blood sacrifices.

Upon hearing this, Zhuang Shaoqin was profoundly shaken. Several Daoist monks in the palace also made every effort to dissuade the Emperor. But with no better solution to offer, the Emperor flew into a rage and berated Zhuang Shaoqin and the others soundly, then ordered every prefecture and county to present young boys and girls for tribute.

Furious beyond measure, Zhuang Shaoqin swept back to Qingxu Temple that same night on his sword.

At the time He Bang was feeding Rong Chen Zi water. Seeing his furious expression, she only asked mildly: “What happened?”

Zhuang Shaoqin took the water from her hands and drank half a bowl himself first: “That worthless ruler! He listened to the slander of a petty villain and plans a blood sacrifice of five hundred boys and girls. Though the souls of children may be pure, innocents murdered in such a way — would they not be full of resentment? What difference would that resentment mingled into the dragon energy be from sinister energy?”

He Bang smiled faintly: “You, as national preceptor, should have no trouble obtaining the names and family registers of those several hundred children’s parents, should you?”

Zhuang Shaoqin still hesitated: “He Pan — I understand your desire to bring senior martial brother back. But this involves the lives of several hundred people. If senior martial brother knew of this, he would absolutely not allow us to sacrifice hundreds of lives to save him. I can easily get close enough to the Emperor — killing him is even easier — why not just…”

“Be quiet!” He Bang helped Rong Chen Zi lie back down and pulled the bedcover over him carefully: “Taking his head would be effortless enough — but do you know what crime in the eyes of the Way of Heaven it would be to assassinate the true dragon Emperor? You might be cast into the beast realm, never to be reborn as a human! Listen to me — from among the parents of those tribute children, find one strong and bold person, get me their birth date and time, and bring it to me.”

Zhuang Shaoqin was genuinely apprehensive: “Don’t do anything reckless — if it’s discovered, it’s a crime of extermination of the entire clan.”

He Bang narrowed her eyes at him: “Can he even come down into the water and arrest every single river clam?”

Zhuang Shaoqin was helpless: “I am not joking with you.”

He Bang pushed him toward the door: “Go, go — stop nagging!”

One month later, the palace forcibly conscripted several hundred young boys and girls, drawing a wave of resentment and protests from the people. Three days later, in the night, the Emperor was assassinated. Someone had used an extremely sharp bamboo tube to pierce his heart, causing him to bleed to death. Even the consort sleeping right beside him had not seen who the killer was.

The palace fell into chaos. Qingxu Temple remained a place of peace. Ye Tian entered Rong Chen Zi’s bedchamber to find Yugu supporting Rong Chen Zi while He Bang fed him a soup — vivid red as blood. Ye Tian couldn’t help moving closer: “What is this?”

He Bang shooed her away with a smile: “Medicine, of course — would I harm him?”

Ye Tian set down the sweet broth she had brought. Her eyes were still red and swollen: “I have been dreaming of senior martial brother constantly lately, and all sorts of old memories keep coming back to me. This happening to him so suddenly — I feel as though the whole sky has gone dark. He Pan — are you all right?”

He Bang fed Rong Chen Zi spoonful by spoonful, her expression soft: “What does it matter if I’m all right or not?”

Ye Tian turned to look at her: “He Pan — I am frightened, truly frightened. Master died. Yuyan Zhenren is growing more haggard by the day — he is burning himself down to nothing. Senior martial brother is willing to return to that palace — his heart holds nothing but the title of national preceptor! And if Yuyan Zhenren also… what will become of Qingxu Temple?”

He Bang looked at her. She who had once been reasonably tall and full-figured had now grown thin enough to be skeletal, and where once there had been a resilient steadiness in her gaze, now only helplessness and unease remained. Though she had walked the path of cultivation, she had been cherished and loved from birth, and had never, truly, been through anything. Even when Zixin Daozhang had ascended, Rong Chen Zi and Zhuang Shaoqin had handled everything — all she had needed to do was grieve.

He Bang set down the bowl and slowly opened her arms to hold her: “Zhiguan will wake up. Shaoqin still has you all in his heart. Qingxu Temple will certainly come through this safely. Don’t be afraid.”

Ye Tian in her arms let the tears come freely — she had been carrying too much worry, and her heart was too small to hold all of this weight: “If you hadn’t saved me back then, your hand would have been unharmed. You wouldn’t have fallen into the keel-serpent’s hands. And senior martial brother would have been fine! It was all because of me! Why didn’t I just fall on my own? If I had fallen, senior martial brother would have been fine!”

He Bang patted her gently on the back: “No one needed to fall. We must all live.”

Ye Tian, for the first time in her life, showed her vulnerability — and she showed it before He Bang. She pulled free from He Bang’s arms, wiped her eyes, and said in a voice still thick with tears: “He Pan — sometimes I truly wonder whether your feelings for senior martial brother are real. And at other times, I’m afraid you’re just putting on a brave face and wearing yourself out inside.”

He Bang smiled faintly and picked up the bowl again to feed Rong Chen Zi. The displeased Yugu couldn’t help herself: “How can you say something like that — my mistress takes care of Zhiguan in every way, personally attending to everything herself. Yuyan Zhenren scolds her all day long and you do nothing, and then you go and doubt her.”

He Bang gave her a soft kick, still speaking very quietly: “Sweetie — right now I am the most pitiable inner cultivator in the demon world. And He Wei carries on the bloodline of primeval divine creatures, with the Sky Fire spiritual essence on top of that — its power now is only just below Jiang Haoran’s. It is my disciple and there is still my blood pearl in its body — it will absolutely not dare to go against my wishes. As long as I hold it in hand, the demon world will not stir up trouble. Right now the Daozong has few people of real capability — even if the old man dies, the Daozong will not turn the world upside down. With Shaoqin in the palace, the Daoist order will continue to hold influence at court, and everything will remain unchanged. Don’t be afraid.”

That unhurried, undisturbed tone put people’s hearts at ease invisibly. Ye Tian drew a deep breath and gave a firm nod: “All right.”

After that, He Bang began staying up late and rising early. Every day she gathered the essence of the sun and moon, accumulating spiritual energy. Sometimes Ye Tian would go days without catching sight of her — even Yuyan Zhenren felt her presence had grown considerably more faint. Even when he wanted to scold her for a satisfying release of frustration, he would have to search half the temple to find her.

Within a few days, news came from the palace that the Emperor had been assassinated. The capital went under lockdown, and Zhuang Shaoqin could not move about freely. By the end of the tenth month, a new Emperor had just ascended to the throne. To win the people’s hearts, he adopted the advice of Zhuang Shaoqin and others, released all five hundred boys and girls previously conscripted by force, and the matter of the imperial tomb sacrifice was quietly dropped.

In the eleventh month, Zhuang Shaoqin found a moment to return to Qingxu Temple. Ye Tian was still angry with him and could only go to find He Bang. He Bang was delighted to see him: “Shaoqin — don’t you think Zhiguan’s color looks much better?”

Zhuang Shaoqin took his pulse, and felt the vital energy within him more abundant and vigorous than ever before. He could not help feeling some happiness himself: “I hope senior martial brother wakes up soon.”

He Bang leaned against Rong Chen Zi’s arm, her eyes soft as water: “He will.”

Zhuang Shaoqin still had something he wanted to ask: “You… how exactly did you obtain the former Emperor’s heart’s blood?”

He Bang had Rong Chen Zi’s hands and face wiped clean, passing the face cloth to Yugu: “Very simple. I entered a child’s father’s dream and told him that if a new Emperor came to power there would be an amnesty, and his child would be saved. I also gave him a bamboo tube and taught him a concealment technique. He was clever, and used the concealment technique to sneak into the palace, killed the Emperor, and I collected a bowl of heart’s blood.”

Zhuang Shaoqin quietly broke out in a cold sweat: “He Pan — there has always been something I wanted to ask you.”

He Bang said without concern: “Ask.”

“Last time — the Emperor dreaming of ants devouring a serpent. Was that your doing?”

He Bang glanced at him and smiled without speaking. Zhuang Shaoqin drew a sharp breath: “I have always wondered — the imperial tomb was an extreme state secret. The keel-serpent had barely recovered and couldn’t manage its own affairs — how would it have found that place? You deliberately revealed the location of the imperial tomb to it, lured it there. Then you sent a dream to the Emperor to have our group go to subdue it — all so the dragon energy would dissolve the sinister energy in its body. After a hundred years or more, once the dynasty’s fortunes had run their course, you could bring it out and let it start cultivating again. That was a clever plan.”

“What wrong was there in it? Placing the keel-serpent in the imperial tomb would extend the dynasty’s destiny by fifty years. I never intended to harm him. If he had not set off the imperial tomb’s mechanisms himself, intending to trap us all and destroy us, and thereby damaging Zhiguan’s soul essence — why would I have needed his bowl of heart’s blood?” He Bang touched Rong Chen Zi’s forehead, then tested the temperature against her own, and laughed beautifully: “This is cause and effect. When it all comes down to it, he brought it upon himself.”

Zhuang Shaoqin looked at Rong Chen Zi, who lay asleep without waking, on the daybed: “You truly were devoted to that fish demon — even with only the faintest remnant of a soul left, you could not bear to let go.”

He Bang lowered her eyes: “Shaoqin — you and I are different. You all have large hearts, and can hold many, many people in them. But my heart is very small, and holds very little. So everyone it holds inside becomes extraordinarily, enormously important.”

“And yet… you still let him go.” Zhuang Shaoqin sighed softly. He Bang had already made her peace: “I said so — my heart is small, and holds little. When someone needs to come in, someone else naturally has to go out.”

She pressed her face against Rong Chen Zi’s cheek, smiling with both satisfaction and mischief: “Right now you can only feel sorry for me — but once Zhiguan wakes up, all you’ll be able to do is envy me!”

Zhuang Shaoqin allowed a trace of a smile, but his gaze turned to the Rong Chen Zi on the daybed: “Actually, right now I already envy senior martial brother a little.”

That winter, Yuyan Zhenren began coughing blood. Ye Tian and his disciples attended to him around the clock without rest. Zhuang Shaoqin was also very busy — the new Emperor had barely ascended and his position was unstable, requiring much careful attention.

For Rong Chen Zi, naturally only He Bang was left to care for him. He Bang gathered spiritual energy for him daily, and now that his body had fully adapted to the dragon energy, his internal breathing ran smoothly and evenly — yet the whole person remained without consciousness.

Yuyan Zhenren leaned on his walking staff and came inside. He sat down at the bedside. His beard had gone completely white, and by appearances he would not survive to next winter. Qingxuan followed him in, also with a furrowed brow. Yuyan Zhenren took Rong Chen Zi’s pulse once more. He did not understand — Rong Chen Zi’s body had somehow adapted to the dragon energy, and now his internal breathing was smooth, his spiritual energy full and abundant — and still he did not wake.

He sat there letting out long sighs for a while. Then suddenly that three-eyed serpent He Bang had named He Wei came crawling in. Seeing He Bang was absent, it was somewhat disappointed, and then seeing Yuyan Zhenren’s entire aura of gloom and despair, it could not help but try to offer some encouragement: “Zhenren — in my view, Zhiguan has already recovered — he might just — bam! — wake up from the shock of something!”

Yuyan Zhenren had no fondness for He Bang, and even less for it. In this moment he let its words go in one ear and out the other — after all, Daoists viewed subduing demons as their sacred purpose. How could they associate with demonic creatures?

Fortunately He Wei’s skin was thick, and it took no offense. It asked Qingxuan: “Qingxuan — where is my master?”

Qingxuan regarded it as a junior martial sibling, and was considerably more amiable toward it: “Your… hmm, the Sea Clan King has been gathering spiritual energy frequently lately and isn’t here much. Go check the rear mountain.”

He Wei acknowledged this and went off toward the rear mountain. The tail held up high behind it still had a piece of dried fish dangling from it.

After He Wei left, Qingxuan said quietly: “Zhenren, this junior believes what He Wei said has some merit — perhaps if we give master a shock… master might truly wake up?”

Yuyan Zhenren was also out of options. Desperate times called for desperate measures. He gave a quiet sigh — as long as it didn’t become too outrageous, they might as well try.

The young Daoists thought through every possible thing that might startle Rong Chen Zi, and then: first came Qingxuan bursting through the door, calling out from far off: “Master! Master! The water vat in our dining hall has caught fire! Master, please wake up!”

Then Qingsu following close behind: “Master! Master! The keel-serpent has come out to eat people again!”

Then Qingyun charging in: “Master! Master! The authorities want to buy Qingxu Temple and turn it into a foot-washing parlor…”

After this sort of carrying-on for three days, Rong Chen Zi still did not wake.

One day, He Bang took advantage of the warm sunshine to move Rong Chen Zi out to the courtyard for some sun. She sat at the edge of the pool playing with the water. The lotus flowers plucked from the South Sea’s Guanyin had never once stopped blooming in the pond all year round. He Bang sat beside the pool with Rong Chen Zi for a while, and seeing no one else in the courtyard, she began to sneak off her clothes.

Her skin was delicate, and she had never been fond of the restriction of clothing. Now with no one to keep her in line, she was even less inhibited — and besides, the weather was warm, there was water, and there was sunshine. She was inevitably tempted to soak in it. She lay on top of Rong Chen Zi and looked left and right: “Are you still not waking up?” Rong Chen Zi naturally gave no response. He Bang simply began pulling off her robes and skirts one piece at a time and laying them on him: “Then you hold my clothes for me.”

In a trice she had stripped herself entirely clean, and slipped into the water without a sound, like a fish. She played and swam about for a while, then came back to the surface. The pale gold of the sunlight blended with the shimmer of the water, gilding her with a soft and beautiful halo. Jet-black hair soaked through by water, pressed close against her form — black and white together, making her skin look even more like jade. She stretched her arms in a long, languid arch, touched one toe down to balance on a lotus flower, and pressed her hands into a hand seal, slowly producing from her lips a pearl — rounder and more translucent than any gem.

The pearl hovered above her palms. All the sunlight around seemed drawn to it, slowly pouring inward. Its light flowed in shifting colors, brilliant with all the hues of the spectrum.

“He Pan!” He Bang was absorbing the essence of the sun when from behind her came a sudden shout. She turned her head and found Rong Chen Zi in the bamboo chair, his expression furious: “You — in broad daylight — dressed like that — what if someone saw?!”

He Bang withdrew her inner core, tilted her head and looked at him: “Dressed like what? I’m clearly wearing nothing at all!”

Rong Chen Zi’s body, having gone so long without moving, was somewhat unresponsive. He struggled to his feet, pointing at He Bang with a shaking hand: “Come up this instant — put your clothes on, quickly!”

He Bang stood on the lotus flower and did not move. All of this felt too much like a dream. She was afraid that if she moved even slightly she would wake up, and Rong Chen Zi would still be lying in the bamboo chair — not speaking, not responding, no matter how she called him.

But Rong Chen Zi’s voice had brought the others running — first Yugu at the gate, rushing in with a cry: “Zhiguan! Zhiguan, you’ve finally woken up!”

Rong Chen Zi still had He Bang’s clothes in his arms. He was afraid Yugu’s noise would bring others, and was even more frantic — and could only lower his voice in a hissed scold: “I’ve barely woken up and you’re already trying to drive me to death!”

He Bang thought about it, blinking slowly. Finally she gave a single light leap and landed at the edge of the pool. Rong Chen Zi swiftly wrapped his outer robe around her. The next to arrive were Qingxuan and Qingsu, who threw all propriety aside and threw their arms around him, calling out just the one word — Master — and then said nothing more.

Then Ye Tian came running in, and the whole of Qingxu Temple was stirred into life. Rong Chen Zi’s thoughts were elsewhere: “Go to your room — get properly dressed at once!” He Bang turned and ran for the bedchamber. Rong Chen Zi quickly added: “Go to the secret chamber to change!”

Yuyan Zhenren heard the commotion and also hurried over. Rong Chen Zi let them all crowd around him — with this awakening, everyone had much to say. Seeing the haggard look on Yuyan Zhenren and Ye Tian’s faces, he felt his heart ache with guilt and self-reproach. He knelt before Yuyan Zhenren: “This junior has been incompetent — and has caused Zhenren so much worry.”

Yuyan Zhenren reached out and lifted him up, his eyes warm with heat: “As long as you are safe. As long as you are safe.”

“Senior martial brother!” Ye Tian held tightly to him, her tears soaking his robe. Rong Chen Zi patted her back: “It is over now. These days… you have all worked so hard.”

After much was said, everyone was worried for his health. Yuyan Zhenren shooed everyone else out: “Circulate your inner energy and check whether anything remains amiss.”

Rong Chen Zi nodded. Yuyan Zhenren also left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

Rong Chen Zi immediately pressed the pine branch on the wall and entered the secret chamber. He Bang was sitting on the bed, still wrapped in his outer robe, with an array of clothing before her, clearly conflicted. Rong Chen Zi’s brow furrowed: “Still not dressed?”

He Bang was deeply aggrieved: “I was just trying to decide which outfit looks best!”

Rong Chen Zi’s heart, in that instant, became infinitely soft. He went forward and drew He Bang tightly into his arms: “He Pan looks beautiful in anything — looks best in everything.”

It was a very long while before He Bang returned the embrace: “Zhiguan — you’re not going anywhere again, are you?”

“No—” Rong Chen Zi kissed her gently on the forehead. “Never again.”

He Bang opened her mouth and bit down firmly on his shoulder: “If you ever leave again — before you go, take a sword to me.”

Rong Chen Zi felt it like a blade through his heart: “Foolish talk.”

Rong Chen Zi had only just recovered, yet the Daozong, old friends, and faithful devotees — the stream of visitors came to pay their respects without end. Yuyan Zhenren did everything he could to keep them at the door.

Rong Chen Zi’s body was fine now, and yet he rarely saw visitors. He Bang had been extraordinarily clingy lately. One day he was helping He Bang clean her shell, and suddenly realized with a shock that she had grown so much thinner — even her shell had gotten smaller. He was inwardly alarmed, and now that he paid attention, he noticed she always slept poorly at night and had been eating little lately.

Rong Chen Zi arranged for Qingyun to cook his best dishes every day, and turned a blind eye to Yugu preparing meat dishes. But she still barely ate, and spent every day glued to him — if she didn’t see him for even a moment she would search everywhere for him.

Late one night, she was still turning restlessly and refusing to sleep. Rong Chen Zi held her in his arms and soothed her gently: “I am right here. Sleep.”

He Bang pouted: “I can’t sleep. What if I fall asleep and you fall asleep too, and then you don’t wake up again?”

Rong Chen Zi held out his hand for her to lick: “What would it take to make you eat properly and sleep properly?”

He Bang wrapped her arms around his neck, staring at him with her wide, round eyes: “How about I eat you? Swallow you whole into my stomach. That way I won’t have to keep missing you.”

Rong Chen Zi unfastened the buttons of his collar and flipped himself on top of her with a very generous offer: “Go ahead and eat.”

The lamp in the room was extinguished. A very long while passed before He Bang’s voice was heard: “I meant eat with this mouth up here, you insufferable man!”

The next day before dawn, Rong Chen Zi opened his eyes to find He Bang’s dark, bright eyes had been watching him — no one knew for how long. Before, anytime there had been nighttime activity, she would sleep until the sun was high. Rong Chen Zi got up and dressed, and after a long while took He Bang’s hand, his voice solemn as a vow: “If ever we are separated again in the future — I will end your life before I go.”

He Bang closed her eyes and in no time had fallen asleep.

Rong Chen Zi, newly awakened, faced an inevitable round of testing his disciples’ martial arts and knowledge of Dao — not to mention the various visitors. He had many close friends, and was thoroughly exhausted managing it all.

That evening, Ye Tian prepared many dishes, and Qingyun made his full culinary efforts evident across a table laden with food. Every young Daoist had gathered in the dining hall. The long-silent Qingxu Temple had at last returned to the sound of laughter and voices. At the table, Yuyan Zhenren sat at the head of honor, Rong Chen Zi to his right, and He Bang naturally seated beside Rong Chen Zi.

“How does the true energy flow within you?” Yuyan Zhenren’s expression was warm, even the sickly pallor on his face diminishing slightly.

“Thanks to Zhenren’s concern — all is well.” Rong Chen Zi answered with respectful deference. Yuyan Zhenren was relieved: “Going forward, all actions must be cautious and measured — never be careless again.”

Rong Chen Zi naturally agreed. It was Ye Tian who placed food in Yuyan Zhenren’s bowl: “Zhenren — can’t this wait until after dinner?”

Yuyan Zhenren also smiled: “Everyone, eat.”

The young Daoists inevitably used their tea to stand in for wine, toasting Rong Chen Zi one after another. Rong Chen Zi received them in rapid succession. He Bang grew quite displeased, picked up two chopstick-loads of food and ate them with no joy, sat there a bit longer, and simply went back to her room.

The room was quiet and still. He Bang lay on Rong Chen Zi’s daybed for a while, tossed and turned and couldn’t sleep. She climbed up in a fit of frustration and ran back to the secret chamber daybed and lay down properly.

Some time passed, and she drifted in and out of a vague half-sleep.

Before her eyes was the rear mountain of Lingxia. He Bang walked along, one foot stumbling in front of the other, muttering to herself: “You’d think whoever arranged this dream might know I don’t like walking — who does this, making people walk even in their sleep — really too inconsiderate!”

A laugh rang out from ahead, clear and brilliant: “Child — come here.”

He Bang was deeply displeased, but walked over anyway. Ahead was a large outcropping of rock. On it lay a few small dishes of food. A white-bearded, white-haired old man sat on the other side — kindly-looking in every way, wearing a Daoist robe, with a horsetail whisk tucked under one arm. He Bang hadn’t even sat down when she grabbed a pair of chopsticks with one hand. Her mouth hadn’t touched anything yet — but then she noticed Yuyan Zhenren coming carefully along the mountain path.

“Old friend — it is good to see you well.” The white-haired old man invited Yuyan Zhenren to sit as well. He Bang suddenly had a flash of insight: “You wouldn’t happen to be the one called Zixin — Rong Chen Zi’s master, would you?”

The white-haired old man smiled with gentle warmth: “Truly a keen and clever child.”

He Bang could not resist flattery of any kind, and immediately felt a measure of goodwill toward this old man: “Your eyes are quite good, old man — I am of course the cleverest of all. Ha ha ha.”

“My eyes are more than merely good.” The white-haired old man placed a morsel of food in her bowl. He Bang tasted it, smacked her lips with satisfaction: “Your cooking is good too — oh, oh, oh — I heard you died quite a while back?”

The white-haired old man gave a smiling nod. He Bang looked genuinely regretful: “What a pity — heaven is not fair — those who shouldn’t die, die.” Having said that, she cast a sidelong glance at Yuyan Zhenren and went on murmuring: “Those who should die somehow live on.”

Yuyan Zhenren nearly choked on his own blood. Zixin Daozhang reached out to stop him. “Child — Rong Chen Zi has woken up. Are you happy?”

He Bang tilted her head: “Obviously, I should be happy—” She thought about it more: “But somehow I’m also not quite happy. Old man — why does Zhiguan have so many people who care about him? So many people who treat him well?”

The white-haired old man placed another morsel in her bowl: “Because that is his Dao. He is a true deity — born to uphold the order of the Way of Heaven. His Dao is benevolence and virtue, bringing salvation to the people and delivering all beings. Child — and what about you? What is your Dao?”

He Bang bit down on her chopstick handle, frowning as she thought hard for a long while: “I don’t know — what is my Dao?”

The old man looked at her with affectionate tenderness and stroked her head: “You have been thinking about it for four or five thousand years, and still have not found the answer?”

He Bang shook her head: “Before, I only wanted to live — and eat lots and lots of good things. When Zhiguan’s soul essence was being dissolved by the dragon energy in the imperial tomb, I wanted him to live. Now that he has lived — should I just go on eating lots of good things?”

Over there Yuyan Zhenren was exasperated to the point of tooth-grinding: “You are a pig! All you know is eat, eat, eat!”

He Bang erupted: “You old wreck, dare to call me a pig one more time and I’ll hit you!”

Zixin Daozhang stopped Yuyan Zhenren, placed a piece of pan-fried tofu skin in He Bang’s bowl. He Bang took a bite of the tofu skin and immediately calmed considerably. He waved a hand casually, and a tea pot appeared on the rock, along with three bamboo cups. He rose to pour tea: “Child — when you are lost, there are two choices. One is to simply pick a direction and walk. The other is to follow someone who knows the way.”

He Bang seemed to partly understand: “You mean I should follow someone who knows the way?”

The old man handed her the tea, his voice warm: “At least you won’t take a wrong turn, isn’t that so?”

He Bang nodded, but was still a little sulky: “But there are so many people who care about him — doesn’t that mean I’m not important at all?”

Yuyan Zhenren felt that communicating with women was simply beyond comprehension: “In your mind there is only this petty love and sentiment. You carry within you the Sky Wind and Sky Water spiritual essences, and have even come to ascend to immortality by a fortunate chance — yet you have not even a fraction of the broad-heartedness that befits an immortal being!”

“Psh!” He Bang sprayed tea leaves right into his face. “Don’t come at me with that talk you use to deceive people. You mouth ‘broad-heartedness of the immortal’ — but it’s because I come from a demon background that you look down on me, isn’t it? Or perhaps you’re jealous of Zhiguan and want to kill me and have him all to yourself?”

Yuyan Zhenren nearly coughed up blood. The old man refilled her cup: “In your heart there is only him, yet his heart holds many people — you feel this is unfair, don’t you?”

He Bang pouted. The old man smiled warm as sunshine: “Child — look up. In the sky there is only one sun. This single sun must shine upon many, many people. And yet every person beneath the sun receives its warmth.”

He Bang, in a rare moment, actually worked her mind. She thought about it for a while and repeated softly: “Follow someone who knows the way…”

The old man stroked his beautifully neat beard: “This person will take you carefully and gently, along the most correct path of all.”

He Bang looked down and started eating again: “Old man — your tofu skin is really good!”

The old man stroked her head again: “The young attendant in this humble one’s abode is most skilled at making this delicate pan-fried tofu skin — come, have another piece…”

Having eaten the tofu skin, He Bang woke up. The three people who had sat around the outcropping of rock were now only two. Yuyan Zhenren was still indignant. Zixin Daozhang smiled like a bright moon and a cool breeze: “She does not know proper manners, and her methods are admittedly not always above reproach — but a demon of four thousand and more years, how much has she weathered? More decisive than Rong Chen Zi, wiser than Shaoqin, stronger and more freely spirited than little Tian — old friend, she is also a good child.”

The next morning at breakfast.

He Bang was drinking the fresh shrimp and crab roe congee Yugu had prepared when she suddenly remembered something: “Zhiguan — last night I dreamed of your master!”

Rong Chen Zi put a piece of stir-fried sweet potato into her bowl: “What did master say?”

He Bang chewed on her chopstick handle, frowned in concentration for a long while — then had a sudden flash of inspiration: “Oh, I remember now! Your master said — his young attendant was the most skilled at making pan-fried tofu skin!”

At the head of the table, Yuyan Zhenren’s body tilted — thump — he fell over backward, chair and all.

After Rong Chen Zi made a full recovery, Qingxu Temple returned to its former demeanor. Zhuang Shaoqin was overjoyed and rushed back to spend an entire night in candlelit conversation with Rong Chen Zi — then with tremendous eagerness kicked the great burden of the Daozong straight back to him.

He Wei began treating Qingxu Temple as something of a fixed residence. Since it now led the keel-serpent tribe, there was no getting around it — Rong Chen Zi had to teach it something. He Wei was also eager to learn, and every day followed alongside Qingxuan and the others to study Daoist arts. He Bang decided that since Rong Chen Zi was going to be teaching them anyway, she might as well push Yugu over to join in too.

Life in Qingxu Temple was highly structured. Rong Chen Zi was up every morning before dawn, leading all the disciples in the morning lessons. After morning lessons he would carry He Bang out to eat breakfast. After breakfast Qingxu Temple opened its mountain gate to receive devotees.

Rong Chen Zi would either receive visitors, or read, practice calligraphy, train with his sword, or perform divination. The great river clam would either play with Qingxuan, Qingsu, Ye Tian, and He Wei, or play with the cats and dogs in the temple, or play with the flowers and plants and mountains and streams on the rear mountain.

At noon after lunch, Rong Chen Zi led the disciples in the midday lessons. He Bang, in general, would be asleep.

In the afternoon, Rong Chen Zi taught the disciples sutras and music, how to identify common medicinal herbs, and basic medical knowledge. He Bang, once she woke up, would continue playing. When she played happily, silver-bell laughter could be heard all the way across half of Qingxu Temple.

By evening, after dinner, Rong Chen Zi led the disciples in the evening lessons. He Bang had also worn herself out with playing, and Yugu would give her shell a cleaning. After her shell was clean, she would play with Rong Chen Zi for a while before sleeping.

Regarding this pig-like existence, Yuyan Zhenren had long maintained a range of objections — but thinking of Zixin Daozhang’s instructions, he simply kept one eye open and one shut, and didn’t bother with it.

Half a month passed. Yuyan Zhenren, assured that Rong Chen Zi had truly recovered, set off back to his immortal retreat. Rong Chen Zi continued as before to go down the mountain frequently with his disciples, driving off demons and catching monsters for the nearby villages. The nearby villagers continued to come up to Qingxu Temple for medicine whenever anyone had a headache or a fever.

That year on New Year’s, Lingxia Mountain had an extraordinary heavy snowfall. Qingxuan and Qingsu led the junior disciples to finish pasting up the paired couplets, and the great river clam was overjoyed — she went to the rear mountain and built a great big snowman, and also rolled snowballs with Qingxuan and the others.

Rong Chen Zi was a stern and serious person, too conscious of decorum to take part. He sat to one side making tea. He Bang and Ye Tian and Yugu formed one team. Together the three of them bombarded every young Daoist until they were covered head to foot in snow. He Wei ordered the keel-serpents to bring up a great supply of fireworks and firecrackers from the mountain, and seeing everyone running about everywhere throwing snowballs, found its tail beginning to twitch with the urge to join in. It curled its tail and launched a great snowball with mighty force. Truly one never knew what fate might bring — the snowball landed with a thud squarely on He Bang’s head.

He Bang, caught without warning, was furious on the spot. She chased after He Wei and threw snowball after snowball, pelting it until it cried out in distress and ran for its life, covering its head.

Not even Rong Chen Zi made any move to stop the chaotic fun, and simply kept his head down looking at his book. He Bang pelted He Wei into submission, made it kneel in surrender, and finally felt satisfied. She looked up, saw Rong Chen Zi sitting over here making tea and reading, and on an impulse bounded over: “Zhiguan!”

Before she arrived, a snowball came flying first. Rong Chen Zi flicked his robe sleeve to deflect it, a mild note of reproof in his voice: “Stop fooling around.”

He Bang dove into his arms like a swallow returning to its nest, burrowing her head against him. The fur collar of her wrap — soft, warm rabbit fur — pressed against the curve of his neck: “Zhiguan — come play with us!”

Rong Chen Zi took a sip of tea, turning the pages of the Daoist scripture in his hands: “A grown person acting like a child, and a child acting even less like a child — what sort of behavior is this?”

He Bang grabbed a fistful of snow and without warning shoved it right down the back of his collar, and laughed with a combination of cunning and delight. Rong Chen Zi, afraid the brazier might burn her, twisted sideways and pinned her down into the snow, and refused to let her move: “Act up one more time, and believe me, I’ll hit you — shall I, hm?”

He Bang struggled left and right beneath him, and with her small amount of strength she was like a mayfly trying to shake a great tree. She was afraid of Rong Chen Zi shoving snow down her own collar in return, and immediately set up a wail of false crying, even screaming in between sobs: “Help! Help!”

Rong Chen Zi, worried the snow would melt in her collar, just slipped his hand in there to warm it, and He Bang squirmed desperately with both legs: “Sweetie! Sweetie, save me!”

Ye Tian came running over to find the two of them tangled together in the snow, only He Bang’s two small feet kicking and writhing beneath Rong Chen Zi. She fled red-faced with Yugu — even He Wei the simpleton knew to walk a wide detour around them. Who was really going to rescue her?

Once a year, the Daozong also held an assessment of the martial arts and Daoist cultivation progress of the younger disciples. This was the Daozong’s annual grand gathering — a chance to give younger disciples some recognition, letting capable timber reveal itself early. In years past, the assessment had always been held at Yuyan Zhenren’s immortal retreat, presided over by Yuyan Zhenren, and any Daoist of some standing was required to attend.

This year, per Yuyan Zhenren’s wishes, it had originally been scheduled to take place at Qingxu Temple. But Rong Chen Zi, considering Yuyan Zhenren’s health, insisted it be held at the immortal retreat as usual.

Rong Chen Zi’s nine Qing-generation disciples were all qualified to participate. He brought them all, and set off together. A lively place like this — He Bang was certainly going. Rong Chen Zi tested each of his disciples’ distant-travel techniques, and Qingxuan, Qingsu, Yugu and the others all made their own ways. He Bang stood on Rong Chen Zi’s sword, the cold wind funneling relentlessly into her collar. She burrowed into Rong Chen Zi’s arms. His voice was gentle: “When we arrive at the immortal retreat, you must behave. Yuyan Zhenren, whatever else may be said of him, is still my elder — and has not been in good health recently. You absolutely must not antagonize him.”

He Bang pursed her lips: “Then if he antagonizes me, you won’t do anything about it?”

Rong Chen Zi kissed her on the forehead: “You must be good.”

He Bang glared at him with her large, round eyes: “I won’t be good!”

“Smack.” Rong Chen Zi’s palm came down on her head: “If you won’t be good, next time I won’t bring you out to play!”

The immortal retreat was at its most lively — countless Daoist elites and prodigies had gathered. He Bang was sucking on a piece of hard candy, still nursing her grudge: “If you don’t bring me, who are you bringing?”

Rong Chen Zi also knew that small people and women were the hardest to manage, and paid her words no mind. Along the way many people came to greet him. He Bang followed in a huff.

The immortal retreat was also a large sect, with countless disciples. Rong Chen Zi held He Bang’s hand, drawing many looks — some openly, some furtively — from all sides. Rong Chen Zi walked and quietly instructed: “Remember what I said.” He Bang hmmphed, uncooperative. Rong Chen Zi added softly: “Get back and I’ll catch you a Fei Fei.”

He Bang’s interest perked up at once: “Really?”

“Mm.”

Just when they entered, Yuyan Zhenren, on account of his poor health, had not come out to receive them. Rong Chen Zi and the group went in to pay their respects. Yuyan Zhenren, though he had plenty of objections to Rong Chen Zi bringing He Bang along everywhere, said nothing with everyone present.

He Bang sat beside Rong Chen Zi. The junior disciples naturally had to offer New Year’s wishes to Yuyan Zhenren and say something auspicious. Rong Chen Zi slipped a piece of dried fruit into her mouth without making it obvious: “Be good.”

He Bang was cooperating quite well this time, and said not a word throughout.

Yuyan Zhenren had prepared red envelopes for every junior person — the amount wasn’t large, just for good luck. Every disciple permitted to come pay him New Year’s respects in person was among the lineage disciples and outstanding students of each sect — all listed and registered in advance. When he was distributing them, Yuyan Zhenren immediately noticed a problem — one was missing.

In the Daozong’s direct-lineage disciples there were only a few dozen. He looked up and understood the reason at once — Rong Chen Zi had brought He Bang in. There had never been any precedent for giving red envelopes to a sacred vessel — so the registered disciples had naturally not dared to include her.

Though Yuyan Zhenren had no fondness for He Bang, he was still an elder, and whatever the circumstances, could not embarrass a young woman publicly. He distributed the red envelopes without showing any sign of difficulty, one to each person — except to his own senior disciple Yu Shouyi.

He Bang turned the red envelope over and over, having never seen such a thing before: “What is this?”

Rong Chen Zi smiled faintly: “A lucky money envelope. At the start of each new year, an elder gives it to the young to ward off evil and usher in good fortune.”

He Bang opened it and looked inside. Rong Chen Zi knew this would not end well — but her mouth was faster than his hands, and He Bang had already muttered aloud: “This little bit of money — can it actually ward off evil?”

A few disciples nearby burst out laughing. Yuyan Zhenren didn’t know whether to be angry or amused either, and cleared his throat after a while: “Shouyi — you are my senior disciple, and sooner or later the heavy responsibilities of the immortal retreat will be passed to you. And so this year, your master will not give you lucky money. You are already grown.”

He passed the mastership seal of the immortal retreat to his senior disciple.

With so many junior disciples present, Yuyan Zhenren could not help feeling much moved: “At the Dao, I still frequently think of those past years — you were all half-grown children, impetuous and reckless, acting without thought for consequences. Now you have all grown up, and become the backbone of the Daozong. Ahem, ahem…” He coughed without stopping. A disciple nearby quickly passed him medicine. He drank a sip of tea and then slowly said on: “People always — just go on living, and find themselves old. Before you realize it, the hair has gone completely white. I do not have much time left — but seeing all of you today, it is as though I am seeing the rising sun, and it fills me with hope.”

The atmosphere fell suddenly heavy. He Bang poked her head out from behind Rong Chen Zi: “Look, old man — no need to be so gloomy. I can see your body and bones are still doing fairly well — you’re not going to die just yet.”

Once she spoke, inevitably many gazes turned her way. He Bang added, nodding her head: “Don’t worry about whether it’s morning sun or evening sun — don’t worry whether the hair is black or white. A heart that small—” she made a small circle between her hands, then spread them wide— “and you try to pack in that much — no wonder you’d die early.”

Rong Chen Zi fed her another piece of dried fruit: “Innocent words from an innocent child.”

After another half-hour, no one wished to continue disturbing Yuyan Zhenren’s rest and rose to take their leave. As Rong Chen Zi led He Bang past Yuyan Zhenren’s daybed, He Bang bent down and quickly tucked a piece of preserved apricot into his mouth: “I mean it, old man.”

Yuyan Zhenren didn’t have time to react, and suddenly found his mouth flooded with sweetness. He had never eaten snacks from childhood onward, and his brow furrowed immediately. Rong Chen Zi couldn’t help giving He Bang’s head another pat: “No mischief.”

Lunch was laid out in the main hall of the immortal retreat. Since there were too many Daoist members, Rong Chen Zi could not arrange separate meat dishes for He Bang. Fortunately, Yugu had plenty of dried meats on hand. Coaxed and persuaded, He Bang didn’t make a scene, and obediently finished her meal.

After lunch Rong Chen Zi still had many social obligations. He Bang on the other hand couldn’t stay still. The snow had not yet melted, and beside the immortal retreat was a lake, the snow piled in drifts, the fish inside the lake frozen still and no longer swimming. He Bang saw more fish gathered at the bottom of the water than she had ever seen in one place, and was so delighted she went to play at the lake’s edge.

She fashioned a fishing net from the shark-silk cloth and pulled fish up one by one. The fish were fat and plump, and she was so tempted she could barely stand it — the thrill of the hunt satisfied her in a particular way, and she was happily occupied.

It was cold outside, and Rong Chen Zi had made sure she wore the white feathered robe — the protective garment kept the winter cold at bay. The robe had no sleeves. Ye Tian had made her a pair of rabbit-skin long gloves that covered all the way to her arms. Around her neck she also had a white rabbit-fur collar. On her head sat a white rabbit-fur pompom flower. In the wind, she looked like a small, soft, fluffy animal — delicate and adorable.

“Where has this young girl come from, that she dares trespass in the immortal retreat?” A low shout from behind. He Bang looked up and saw a blue-robed Daoist walking slowly toward her — by the look of it, likely a gate-guarding disciple of the immortal retreat.

He Bang tilted her head and looked at him: “Who trespassed? How rude.”

Her voice was soft and tender. The arrival was momentarily taken aback. As he drew closer, his composure was shaken even further — for all that she had played until she was covered in snow, her appearance was remarkably beautiful. The lake was in a secluded location where few people ordinarily came. An unsavory intention took root in the arrival’s mind.

He Bang was still there netting fish. One side of her had already piled up more than a dozen. The man moved quietly behind her, and without warning suddenly grabbed hold of her from behind.

She turned her head. Standing behind her was a Daoist man of around twenty-five or twenty-six, with ordinarily fine features — yet unable to conceal a pair of lascivious eyes. He Bang narrowed her gaze: “What are you doing?”

The man’s throat tightened with longing, and he buried his face in her neck and inhaled deeply: “Why have you come up the mountain? Looking for someone? Seeking medicine? Pretty one — as long as you are willing to comply with me just this once, I will give you whatever you ask.”

He Bang tilted her head: “But I don’t need to look for anyone or seek medicine.”

The other party didn’t concern himself with such details. His right hand clasped her ankle, and the hand slowly crept upward. He Bang right hand produced a small spoon — leftover from the last time she had eaten crab. The Daoist had his hand nearly at her thigh, when she abruptly withdrew the spoon. A sharp call came from behind them: “What are you two doing?!”

He Bang noticed Yu Shouyi first, Rong Chen Zi right behind him.

“Doing what?” He Bang was puzzled: “I’m catching fish.”

Rong Chen Zi’s gaze, however, was on the Daoist still clinging to her — and the filthy hand still resting on He Bang’s thigh. Yu Shouyi kicked the man aside, his face burning with shame: “It is this one’s fault for not disciplining the disciples under his charge — to produce such a reprobate is truly a disgrace to the immortal retreat’s name. I entrust this person entirely to senior martial brother for handling. I will go now and beg the master’s forgiveness.”

The young Daoist, coming to his senses, knelt and begged repeatedly for mercy.

“I think you had better not,” He Bang said, climbing to her feet and brushing the snow from herself. She was entirely unconcerned: “The old man’s health is already not good. His heart is small to begin with — better not to anger him to death.”

Yu Shouyi looked toward Rong Chen Zi. Rong Chen Zi stepped forward and took He Bang by the hand: “What is the immortal retreat’s rule for those guilty of lecherous behavior?”

Yu Shouyi drew his sword: “Both hands severed. Expelled from the sect.”

“Master, please have mercy!” The young Daoist knocked his head against the ground repeatedly. Rong Chen Zi’s voice was cold: “Let the rules of the sect handle it.”

Yu Shouyi nodded. Rong Chen Zi was already leading He Bang back to their quarters. He Bang asked conversationally: “Zhiguan, how did you find your way here?”

Rong Chen Zi simply led her along back toward the guest quarters, without a single word. He Bang leaned against him trying to ingratiate herself: “Weren’t you chatting with all those Daoist practitioners?”

They reached the room. Rong Chen Zi closed the door, and was fully intending to give this river clam a sound thrashing. He Bang saw things were going badly, and immediately burst into loud, theatrical weeping. Rong Chen Zi’s raised hand did not come down. She wept for a while, then saw Rong Chen Zi sitting at the table drinking tea in dark silence, and couldn’t help rubbing her eyes and shuffling over: “Zhiguan — are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.” Rong Chen Zi took several deep breaths, then set down his teacup. After a long pause, he erupted again: “If I’m not angry then I’m not human — a man with evil intentions, and you just let him take advantage of you, stood there and let the scoundrel be improper with you! You didn’t even think to run away or kill him?!”

He Bang was afraid he would actually hit her, and quickly retreated back to the daybed: “The protective robe has three layers of barrier — he didn’t even actually touch me. And I swear I was just about to dodge away when you two arrived.”

Rong Chen Zi thought again of that unbearable scene, and his fury surged right back up: “And you still have the nerve to argue with me!”

He Bang shrank back, and then inched back toward him, wrapping herself around his arm and being winsome: “Well I was playing there and I didn’t know some bad person would come along.”

Her body was soft and tender. One thought of that lecherous man harboring such filthy intentions toward her, and Rong Chen Zi was ready to burst with rage: “You are to go back to Qingxu Temple right now, and from this day forward you will stay in the temple and do nothing but read and practice your calligraphy!”

He Bang was stricken with horror: “Zhiguan — I was wrong, I will never do it again!”

Rong Chen Zi began to pack up her clothes. She panicked, and now she was genuinely crying: “I got taken advantage of by a bad person, and you’re still scolding me! Wuuu, wuuu, wuuu — I came out to play with you, and you wouldn’t buy me anything to eat, and you didn’t pay me any attention, just went around chatting with a bunch of people. Wuuu — now you even want to send me away…” She wiped her eyes and peeked through her fingers, and seeing Rong Chen Zi still packing up the clothes, wept even louder: “I want to go back to the East Sea, I want to find Jiang Haoran — wuuu, wuuu…”

Rong Chen Zi paused. He Bang immediately saw an opening and cried even harder: “Jiang Haoran at least knows how to take me out to play, and buy me things to eat… wuuu — he would deal with the bad people, and he doesn’t scold me.”

Rong Chen Zi took a long while before letting out a breath: “Come here.”

He Bang stumbled over, still weeping. Rong Chen Zi held her hand, and after a long time said: “From now on, when there’s no particular reason, stay inside and play. If you want to go out, have Yugu come with you. When I finish my obligations I’ll take you for a walk outside. Once the assessment is done, we’ll go to Huo Mountain to catch Fei Fei.”

He Bang finally dried her tears. She tucked her whole self into Rong Chen Zi’s arms, lifted her head, and pressed a firm kiss onto his chin — and then was all sunshine and smiles again: “All right. Zhiguan is the best!”

Rong Chen Zi let out another long, long sigh, slowly opened his arms, and held her tightly.

The fifteenth of the fifth month — the Lantern Festival.

The Daozong assessment had just concluded. There was a lantern fair down the mountain. Rong Chen Zi naturally brought He Bang. The night was at its most lively — lanterns hung in clusters the length of both sides of the street. In the center, a lantern wheel fashioned from colored paper rose over ten zhang high, hung with countless lanterns. Seen from a distance, it was like an immortal pavilion.

He Bang looked eagerly left and right, overflowing with delight. The crowd was packed and jostling. Rong Chen Zi, afraid she would get lost, held her hand the entire time. Where there was play, there was also food. He Bang made her way from tofu pudding all the way through to grilled meat skewers. Rong Chen Zi wiped the sauce clean from the corners of her mouth, at once reproving her for being greedy and always looking for the next good thing to eat or see.

Ahead, gongs and drums thundered. There was stilt-walking and lion-dancing. He Bang pushed her way forward. To one side was a small river. Where the water curved around in a crook, it enclosed a grassy clearing. Because it was near the water, the authorities had designated it for setting off fireworks and firecrackers.

He Bang poked her head in, then quickly squeezed her way back out. Rong Chen Zi caught her: “What’s the matter?”

She was eating an egg cake, and after a long while deliberated: “They are setting off firecrackers in there.”

Rong Chen Zi nodded: “Come on — let’s go buy some.”

A cracking firecracker went off somewhere nearby. He Bang flinched: “Still… maybe not.”

Rong Chen Zi now realized she was afraid of firecrackers. He was somewhere between amused and fond: “No wonder you didn’t play with the fireworks He Wei lugged up the mountain last time either.”

He Bang rubbed her nose: “Once, a long time ago — when I was still just a river clam — I crawled up onto the bank, and someone threw a firecracker I don’t know where — bam! It exploded right on my shell. So annoying!”

Rong Chen Zi was overwhelmed with the urge to laugh. He led her to push their way to the sparkler stall, and bought a great many sparklers. At first He Bang didn’t dare. As soon as Rong Chen Zi lit one she backed far away. But then she saw that the burning sparklers made nothing like the deafening noise of firecrackers, and she inched hesitantly closer. Rong Chen Zi took her hand and passed the burning sparkler into her hold.

She grew bolder as she played, eventually swinging a handful of burning sparklers around in every direction. Her laughter was mixed into the crowd. That many-colored light danced and leapt at her fair hand, tearing the deep midwinter night into tatters, burning away an entire season of cold.

Rong Chen Zi stood to one side, watching.

Only lamplight before pavilions, and the world full of fireworks.

She stood at the edge of the little river, laughing more brilliantly than any fireworks.

Qingxuan and Qingsu were wandering the lantern market with Yu Shouyi’s crowd. Yugu’s eyes were sharp, and spotted He Bang from far away playing wildly by the river.

“Mis—” Recalling that the word “mistress” would sound a little odd out in public, she decisively changed: “Young lady, this servant should go over.” Yu Shouyi put out a hand to stop her: “Yugu, young lady — I believe they have no need of attendants at this moment. Please continue walking with us.”

He Bang tired of the sparklers and wanted fireworks. Rong Chen Zi, afraid she might burn herself, held her hands with his and they set them off together. The fireworks burst open in the vast sky, dotting the river with points of gold that shimmered. Even the water grasses were tinted with color. He Bang leaned back against Rong Chen Zi and all of a sudden said quietly: “Zhiguan — I love you.”

Rong Chen Zi wrapped an arm around her waist, resting his chin on top of her head, and after a long while said: “Mm.”

He Bang turned to look up at the fireworks. Rong Chen Zi drew her head down to meet his gaze: “After a hundred years — will you come with me to the heavens?”

He Bang, for the very first time, did not play dumb. She tilted her head with a thoughtful air. Rong Chen Zi, knowing her mind did not move at its quickest, laid everything out carefully for her: “Now that the keel-serpent has been eradicated, I may return to my divine station. You have already crossed your immortal tribulation. We can return to the heavenly realm together. If you are unwilling, I will cultivate in a mortal body as an earthbound immortal — with the immortal fate I have accumulated, it should not be a problem. In that case I will be by your side, across all the skies and seas — that is also possible.”

He Bang still took a long while thinking: “But they say the heavens have so many rules — one wrong move and you get cast down to the mortal world. I don’t want to go.”

Rong Chen Zi only smiled faintly: “Who told you such nonsense?”

He Bang spoke with great conviction: “That Curtain-Rolling General of the western legends — he only broke a glass, and was sent down to the mortal world!”

Rong Chen Zi held her closer, and thought it over carefully: “That is true — though throwing things from a height is also quite an uncivilized behavior by any standard, is it not?”

“What?” He Bang’s understanding of the world cracked a little: “Wasn’t it because it was something the person up above liked most?”

“A single glass vessel is nothing — heaven’s court judged it as reckless endangerment from altitude. That is what was improper.”

“Hmm…”

After the assessment, Rong Chen Zi brought He Bang back to Qingxu Temple. Life returned to its peaceful rhythm. Time went by a year at a time, very fast. In the third year, Yuyan Zhenren ascended to immortality. Rong Chen Zi brought He Bang to the immortal retreat and, in the capacity of a disciple, helped Yu Shouyi attend to all the funeral arrangements.

Since they would be observing mourning, He Bang was left at Qingxu Temple. He Bang made no fuss and played docilely with Ye Tian.

Two days later, there was a zombie outbreak in Qian Family Village fifty li outside Lingxia Town — for three consecutive days livestock had been found drained of blood and dead. To give Qingxuan practical experience, Rong Chen Zi simply let his disciples handle it themselves.

Qingxuan, worried that delay would let the evil creature grow stronger and harm people, set off for Qian Family Village that very night. He Bang happened to be gnawing on a passionfruit at the time. Seeing him and Qingsu about to leave, she immediately wanted to come along.

Qingxuan could only laugh helplessly: “Mistress — master said this time only we are to handle it ourselves. No elders assisting.”

He Bang tilted her head: “Then I’ll just go to watch. I won’t help.”

Qingsu also tried to dissuade her: “But master said to ask you to stay in the temple and play…”

He Bang was unwilling: “It doesn’t matter. I’m going, going, going!!”

Qingsu gave Qingxuan a look. The two of them immediately employed a stalling strategy: “Mistress — I just realized I have a little something to deal with. The Qian Family Village matter isn’t urgent either — let’s go in two days.”

He Bang, having no other choice, had to give up, and went back to her room to gnaw on her fruit.

Qingxuan and Qingsu slipped quietly out of Qingxu Temple, going down the mountain with all the stealth of thieves.

He Bang woke at midnight, and with great satisfaction brought along her toys and snacks, and water-traveled straight down the mountain. Qingxuan was still riding his sword. Qingsu stood behind him and suddenly tugged at his sleeve: “Senior brother.”

“Mm?” Qingxuan turned around. Qingsu jerked his thumb behind him. Qingxuan looked in the direction indicated — and there on the sword stood He Bang, laughing with an expression of cunning and satisfaction.

The two had no options left and could only bring her along.

Around the second watch of the night, the three arrived at Qian Family Village. Qingxuan and Qingsu moved through the village holding their compasses. He Bang followed behind, yawning continuously — ordinarily she would have been asleep long ago at this hour.

Walking a while longer, she decided she simply did not want to walk anymore and sat down on the ground and refused to move. Qingxuan could only let her transform back into her original form, tied her into a bundle with the shark-silk cloth, and slung her on his back.

Rong Chen Zi, still keeping watch over his disciples’ progress in his mind, reached Qingxuan through a message-transmitting talisman. Qingxuan’s side reported they had found the evil creature’s trail and were pursuing. Rong Chen Zi was about to say something more when from the other end came a delighted exclamation: “Peanuts! Oh boy, I want peanuts!”

Qingxuan couldn’t speak with his master — he had to rush after her: “Mistress — those are other people’s peanuts, we cannot just take them without permission!”

Rong Chen Zi frowned: “Who brought her along?”

Qingxuan sounded completely innocent: “She insisted on coming. Even a beating couldn’t get rid of her!”

Rong Chen Zi’s brow furrowed deeper: “You hit her?”

Qingxuan immediately changed his words: “Who would dare hit her, master — coaxing didn’t work either!”

Rong Chen Zi said in resignation: “Have you seen the evil creature?”

Qingxuan nodded: “I have — it has human form, a strong smell of blood, the compass is reacting — it may truly be a zombie.”

Rong Chen Zi thought briefly: “What color are its eyes? How fast does it move?” Qingxuan answered each question. Rong Chen Zi had his assessment: “Tell Qingsu to bring her to me. Handle the Qian Family Village matter yourself.”

He Bang arrived at the immortal retreat. Everything was the same as always. Many members of the Daozong had come to pay their condolences. Rong Chen Zi also took her to the mourning hall and lit a stick of incense for her: “Come — pay Zhenren respect.”

She didn’t cause any trouble, and properly burned the incense, even murmuring as though it were perfectly natural: “Old man — your disciples are very capable. Go in peace.”

Rong Chen Zi brought her back to the room and stroked her head. He Bang turned back and gave him a hug: “Zhiguan, don’t be sad.”

Rong Chen Zi held her close: “Mm.”

Several more years passed. All nine of Rong Chen Zi’s Qing-generation disciples had taken on a few disciples of their own with solid potential. Lingxia Town enjoyed perfect peace and tranquility. Once He Wei’s Blazing Yang Technique cultivation had reached a certain level, He Bang promptly kicked it over to Xingzhi Zhenren. Yugu’s body was now made of jade — a jade spirit, whose cultivation path was broadly similar to He Wei’s. Now that He Bang had Rong Chen Zi to look after her, she kicked Yugu out to go along with He Wei. Rong Chen Zi would sometimes go into seclusion, sometimes take He Bang out traveling. They were often absent.

More than a decade later, Rong Chen Zi calculated that his mortal lifespan was drawing to an end. He called all his disciples before him and gave detailed instructions about his affairs: “All the important principles that should be said have already been said. From now on, Qingxu Temple is in your hands. There is only one thing that must be remembered — when my body is finished, have it cremated, and scatter the ashes on the rear mountain. There is no need to spread word of the passing. If old friends ask, simply tell them I have gone traveling.”

He Bang lay in his arms, still as fresh and vivid as ever — bright and tender as a girl of eighteen. Rong Chen Zi held her hand. Among all his disciples, his heart was most at ease about them — they were all steady and measured young people, who knew what they were doing. The one most unable to be at ease about was the creature right before him.

“Returning to one’s stellar position involves complex procedures. I must first go to the underworld to complete the accounting of my mortal years, then report at the heavenly court. You just stay here at Qingxu Temple and wait a while. Once the formalities are done, I’ll come back to take you — all right?”

He looked down at her. He Bang’s clear, still eyes reflected his face back at him. Rong Chen Zi coaxed her softly: “There is plenty to eat here. The nine regions of the world are vast, all nine thousand li of it — I truly can’t bear to have you running about exhausted for my sake.”

He Bang was actually quite reasonable about this: “Oh.”

The result was that the following day at noon, Rong Chen Zi had bathed, changed into fresh robes, and was prepared to yield to his fate. All the disciples had changed into plain white mourning clothes and performed three deep bows nine times. He Bang then flung herself around Rong Chen Zi and wept in floods of tears, refusing to let go. A stellar return was a matter of great importance — celestial music drifted from the sky, auspicious clouds in thousands of colors, and the underworld naturally had people come to receive him.

In full public view, the face of the underworld’s representative had frozen into a stiff smile as they had exhausted every kind word they could think of. He Bang simply wept and wailed on.

Rong Chen Zi pulled her hands away: “Be good — it will not take long at all.”

He Bang gripped him in a death-grip, tears raining down: “Zhiguan — don’t leave me behind!”

Rong Chen Zi was startled — and suddenly held her hand tighter than before. A bitterness welled layer by layer in his heart. He drew her into his arms, carefully wiping every tear from the corners of her eyes. He let out a long breath. Setting aside all dignity now, his voice went gentle: “I haven’t even had enough time to cherish you yet — how could I possibly be willing to throw you away?”

The underworld’s representatives at this point had no idea what to do. Rong Chen Zi waved a hand: “All of you may return first. I will come on my own tomorrow.”

The other party had no option but to accept his word and withdraw.

The next day. Li Family Village.

Old Xu from years past had long since passed away. His son Xu Tiezhu had grown somewhat older, but from that single drop of He Bang’s primal essence he had received, his complexion showed not the slightest sign of age. Xu Tiezhu naturally recognized Rong Chen Zi. When he opened his door in the morning to find Rong Chen Zi standing outside, he was overjoyed: “Zhiguan — what has brought you here? Please come in, come in. Tiezhu’s wife — Zhiguan is here, hurry and make something to eat!”

Rong Chen Zi, his white robes immaculate as snow, led He Bang inside and waved a hand to stop the family from troubling themselves: “How was this year’s harvest?”

The Xu family welcomed them to sit at the table and answered all his questions one by one about the harvest. Rong Chen Zi gave a mild nod. From outside someone had already brought in the biggest, reddest orange of the season. He Bang was overjoyed at the sight of an orange. Rong Chen Zi peeled them for her one by one. She ate until her face was covered in juice.

They lingered there for the better part of a day. As the sky began to lighten, the morning mist started to lift. The Xu family had laid out a generous breakfast, but Rong Chen Zi gently declined it. He carefully wiped He Bang’s face and hands clean, and led her out through the door. The Xu family accompanied them all the way to the gate. Outside, a sudden commotion — someone came running from the direction of the mountain road, panting: “Rong — Rong Zhiguan passed away last night.”

The Xu family was greatly shaken. But when they turned to look — the mist had already cleared. Where had Rong Chen Zi and He Bang gone?

Only the table inside the house still had a few pieces of orange peel.

At the end of the mountain road, He Bang was walking slower and slower: “Zhiguan — I’m tired.”

Rong Chen Zi transformed her back into her river clam form and wrapped her carefully in the shark-silk cloth, binding it at his chest. The mountain air was cold and damp, the path ahead hidden in mist — boundless and endless. Rong Chen Zi held her and walked the mountain road. He Bang opened her shell and gave a yawn, and before long had fallen fast asleep. She didn’t ask where Rong Chen Zi was going.

After all — he knew the way. What did it matter where?

[The End]