The following day, Rong Chen Zi had barely finished washing up when Yuyan Zhenren summoned him to the study. Although Rong Chen Zi had long held the position of gatekeeper at Qingxu Temple and commanded great respect within Daozong, he still felt rather restrained in the presence of this elder. Yuyan Zhenren sat down at his writing desk and was silent for a long while before speaking: “His Majesty has sent word down — this business with the Crying Snake has unsettled people’s hearts, and it is feared that Heaven is visiting punishment upon our dynasty. He has commanded Daozong to erect an altar and conduct a National Offering.”

Rong Chen Zi’s expression also turned solemn. A National Offering was unlike an ordinary ritual ceremony. In the Daoist tradition, ritual ceremonies were divided into three upper altars, three middle altars, and three lower altars. The upper three altars were for praying on behalf of the nation, the middle three for officials, and the lower three for commoners and gentry. Among the upper three, they were further divided into the Altar of Harmonious Heavenly Rule, the Altar of Prolonged Fortune and Preservation of Life, and the Altar of Prayer for Grain and Seasonal Blessings. The National Offering was the Altar of Harmonious Heavenly Rule, encompassing three thousand six hundred stellar positions — the grandest offering under all of Heaven. Its sheer scale went without saying.

Yuyan Zhenren took a sip of tea and finished his words: “At the last National Offering, my own master was still with us, and he served as the Presiding Ceremonial Master. Now that my master has long since ascended, it was His Majesty’s intention to have this humble Daoist take his place. However, Rong Chen Zi — I have already reached the age where one knows the will of Heaven. Among the younger generation of Daozong, who has the makings of a true leader? Zhuang Shaoqin, though masterful in Daoist arts, is in the end too unruly in temperament; my disciple Shouyi is loyal and honest, but lacks real-world experience.” He fixed his gaze on Rong Chen Zi, who stood with head respectfully lowered before him, and sighed again. “Daozong will sooner or later be placed in your hands. Before my good friend Zixin passed on, he entrusted me with this many times over. All this while, I too have felt apprehensive and fearful, worrying that worldly matters and mundane affairs might impede your cultivation.”

How could Rong Chen Zi not understand the painful care behind these words? He was about to speak when Yuyan Zhenren waved his hand: “But now, observing you, I fear what is truly ruining your cultivation is none other than the dust of mortal passions — the seductions of beauty, the painted skeleton of desire. I have already memorialized His Majesty, recommending you to serve as Presiding Ceremonial Master. From here on, all of Daozong will follow your lead — you must set an example. That woman… though she possesses unusual abilities and holds an immortal registry, she has not yet ascended the immortal path. I fear her heart and intentions are unfathomable. You must on no account allow her to remain at your side any longer.”

The two spoke in private for a full hour. He Bang had already finished her breakfast by the time Rong Chen Zi finally emerged. Seeing his troubled expression, she habitually leaned against him: “Did that old man say bad things about me?”

“Do not be rude.” Rong Chen Zi was both amused and exasperated, but still fearful that Yuyan Zhenren might take offence. He brought her inside and sat down with her at the table: “Yuyan Zhenren had a long talk with me today, and he is quite uneasy about you.”

He Bang draped herself entirely across his lap, her pretty little face full of dissatisfaction: “So you’re going to drive me away?”

Rong Chen Zi clasped her soft, tender little hand and gently stroked it with his thumb: “Don’t talk nonsense.”

He Bang snuggled into his arms: “Then what do I do about him not liking me?”

“Yuyan Zhenren, in the end, also speaks out of deep care and concern. Since he knows so little of you at present, it is only natural he harbors worries. Given time, he will come to understand.” Rong Chen Zi held soft warmth close, yet did not forget the matter at hand. “Check on the creature that escaped from Dafeng Slope. Make sure to stop it before it harms anyone again.”

He Bang was still a little uneasy: “Even if he doesn’t like me, Zhiguan still won’t listen to him, right?”

Rong Chen Zi was both amused and exasperated: “Mm. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

That afternoon, someone came from the palace bearing an imperial decree. No one knew exactly what accomplishments Zhuang Shaoqin had reported, but in any case, His Majesty was greatly pleased and bestowed commendations upon all the Daoist practitioners. The Emperor even extended an invitation for Rong Chen Zi to take up residence in the palace for a time, so that he might seek guidance on Daoist methods and arts. In response, Yuyan Zhenren earnestly urged Rong Chen Zi to accept — if they gained the support of the imperial court, it would greatly benefit both Daozong and Rong Chen Zi himself.

At that time, He Bang was in her room eating popcorn — Jade Bone had prepared it for her in an inventive way, and she was quite fond of it. Jade Bone, being sharp-witted, had first gone out to hear the news and then came back to report it to He Bang. He Bang held the paper tube in her arms, her attention seemingly entirely on the popcorn: “Yuyan Zhenren must be the one urging Zhiguan to enter the palace, isn’t he?”

Jade Bone nodded upon hearing this: “I left just as he was in the midst of persuading him. Mistress, why don’t you find an opportunity to win his favour? Otherwise he’ll keep misunderstanding you.”

He Bang raised an eyebrow, then smiled lightly: “If I were good at winning people over, how would I have ended up where I am today?”

Jade Bone poured her some honey tea. In these past days she seemed to have finally grown accustomed to her role and begun to read He Bang’s thoughts: “But Yuyan Zhenren’s relationship with Rong Zhiguan is different from that of others. If he continues to harbour resentment toward Mistress, I only fear…”

He Bang took a sip of tea, her voice indifferent: “Our Zhiguan has a mind of his own. Otherwise, why do you think he is urging Zhiguan to enter the palace to attend the Emperor?”

Jade Bone thought about it, then cried out in alarm: “Could it be that he intends to harm Mistress?”

He Bang carried her popcorn and settled onto the couch, her expression serene and smiling: “He is Zhiguan’s elder after all. If something were to befall me, Zhiguan would hardly be able to hold him accountable for it. Moreover, an internal cultivator, however profound in the Dao, is also extremely fragile. To suffer a mishap in the heat of battle — that would be the most natural thing in the world.”

Jade Bone instantly went pale: “Then you must quickly persuade Zhiguan to stay!”

He Bang laughed: “Stay?” She continued eating her popcorn. “The flavour really is quite good — go make some more.”

Seeing that she had no wish to say more, Jade Bone dared not ask further questions, and could only leave the room with an anxious heart.

After a short while, Rong Chen Zi entered the room. He had been wearing a grave expression, but upon seeing He Bang sitting on the couch reading the Nanhua Sutra with a steady stream of snacks going into her mouth, even this Daoist grandmaster could not help but curve his lips slightly upward: “Eating on the couch again.”

Though the words were a reproach, there was not a trace of reproach in the tone.

He Bang stretched lazily. Rong Chen Zi picked up a handkerchief and wiped her hands and mouth, then sat down on the edge of the couch and mentioned the matter of the Emperor’s summons to the palace in a light and casual manner. He Bang rested her head in his lap, and she too wore a contemplative expression: “That’s actually a good thing — if that Emperor likes you, he’ll probably give more money to renovate the temple and support more Daoists in the future, right?”

Rong Chen Zi suppressed a laugh: “The words are plain, but the reasoning isn’t wrong.”

He Bang was quite direct: “Then go, Zhiguan. Come back early, and I’ve heard the palace has all kinds of delicious food — remember to bring back lots, won’t you?”

Rong Chen Zi patted her head: “But the creature behind the Dafeng Slope murders has yet to be identified, and Yuyan Zhenren is getting on in years. I still cannot set my mind at ease.”

He Bang tilted her head: “But there’s still me, me, me.”

Rong Chen Zi stroked her slightly cool long hair, and after a long while, said quietly: “I have already written to ask Xingzhi Zhenren to hasten here and lend assistance. Today we will first determine the creature’s origins and whereabouts. Once Xingzhi Zhenren arrives, I will escort you back to Qingxu Temple, and then go to the palace to pay my respects to His Majesty.”

He Bang tilted up her rosy face and gazed at him deeply. Rong Chen Zi gently touched her delicate cheek: “Tonight, take a look at where the creature is hiding. I will guard your spirit while you do.”

The decision to invite Xingzhi Zhenren and send He Bang back to Qingxu Temple was met with fierce opposition from Yuyan Zhenren. But Rong Chen Zi held firm to his position and remained unmoved no matter how much Yuyan Zhenren tried to persuade him. In the end, Yuyan Zhenren also lost his temper: “Are you worried that I will do her harm?”

Even Zhuang Shaoqin tried to quietly dissuade him: “Elder Brother, though He Pan is greedy for food, having her with us will certainly double our efficiency in expelling the demon. Why must you necessarily…? If you are worried, I will escort her back to the temple after the demon is dealt with.”

Rong Chen Zi gave a slight shake of his head and said quietly: “You cannot understand, Shaoqin. If I let her remain here alone, I will… be tormented with longing day and night.” Zhuang Shaoqin was momentarily taken aback and said no more. Rong Chen Zi then turned and bowed deeply to Yuyan Zhenren: “Zhenren, your heartfelt care is something Rong Chen Zi treasures to his very core. For anything that benefits Daozong or the common people, I am willing to go through fire and water. But she… though she possesses extraordinary powers, her constitution is ultimately delicate and frail. Generally speaking, internal cultivators ought to be kept in the shelter of deep courtyards and grand residences, waited upon with fine clothes and rich food and a multitude of servants. That she has been travelling through all manner of hardships with me is already improper — I truly cannot leave her here alone.” Yuyan Zhenren was about to speak again when Rong Chen Zi steeled himself, as though arriving at a firm resolution, and said: “Zhenren… just consider me… possessed by a ghost.”

Not long after, Jade Bone brought in water to scrub He Bang’s shell and, inevitably, relayed to her what had just transpired: “Zhiguan wants to escort Mistress back to Qingxu Temple. He even got into an argument with Yuyan Zhenren — but the Zhenren did agree.”

He Bang rolled over and blew a string of bubbles: “He ought to thank Rong Chen Zi. Hmph — a life saved for nothing.”

Jade Bone’s expression changed: “Do you mean to say…” She did not dare say any more, and picked up the specially made bathing cloth to carefully clean her shell.

That night, Rong Chen Zi guarded He Bang’s spirit as she caught a glimpse of the Heavenly Way. For her, this was well-worn and familiar territory, and she paid it little mind — with a lazy stretch, she separated her soul from her body with the help of the Dream Grass, while Rong Chen Zi, ever more cautious than she, set up a formation outside to ward off demonic intrusion.

After approximately a quarter of an hour, He Bang, who had been sitting cross-legged on the couch, suddenly went rigid. Rong Chen Zi immediately steadied her soul, and before long, she returned quite smoothly.

“How did it go?” Rong Chen Zi used the shark-silk handkerchief at her breast to wipe the fine beads of perspiration from her forehead, then poured some sugar water and fed it to her. He Bang drank half a cup of sweet soup before lowering her eyes and saying: “About two hundred and seventy li to the right of Dafeng Slope, there is a place called Sui Mountain. The creature is there. From what I observed, it has only around a thousand years of cultivation at most — the old man and Shaoqin going together will surely be more than sufficient.”

Only then did Rong Chen Zi set his mind at ease, then quietly reprimanded her: “You are not permitted to address people so carelessly!”

The next day, Xingzhi Zhenren arrived with his disciples, and so Rong Chen Zi made ready to take He Bang and a few of his own disciples back to Qingxu Temple. They set out before dawn, and He Bang was not yet fully awake — Rong Chen Zi called to her several times, but she was the most impossible person in the world to disturb while sleeping, and in no time at all was whimpering and weeping pitifully. Rong Chen Zi, both amused and exasperated, had no choice but to transform her back into a river clam and tuck her into a bundle that he carried over his arm. Yuyan Zhenren had more he wished to say, but watching Rong Chen Zi’s tender, affectionate manner, he could only sigh in the end and hold his tongue.

Zhuang Shaoqin noticed his expression and could not help but feel puzzled: “Zhenren, this river clam, though mischievous, has committed no evil deeds beyond being a little greedy for food since she began following my elder brother. Now that she possesses the celestial essence of Heavenly Wind and Heavenly Water, she has even ascended the immortal path — everyone everywhere is vying for her. Her being with Elder Brother is not a bad thing. What’s more, Elder Brother has never once, from childhood to now, allowed anything or anyone to enter his heart. Now that he has finally found someone he cares for, why must you be so worried?”

Yuyan Zhenren’s brow remained troubled: “Shaoqin — one man’s honey is another man’s poison. What others scramble to possess may not be suitable for everyone. This river clam, though she has ascended the immortal path, Rong Chen Zi is after all a heaven-born divine being. If it were merely a private affair of the heart, I would stop fretting once he returns to his divine post. But right now, if something were to go wrong, how would I face my good friend Zixin, or all of Daozong…?”

Zhuang Shaoqin was by nature the most carefree and unconventional of men, and he was entirely incapable of understanding such self-inflicted worry over things that had not yet come to pass. Fortunately, Yuyan Zhenren did not require him to understand: “Inform Xingzhi. We depart.”

Rong Chen Zi flew on his sword and returning He Bang to Qingxu Temple took only half an hour. Dawn had just broken — on a midsummer morning in the seventh month, the cicadas were just beginning to call in the hills, and the air carried the scent of earth and green growing things. Walking through it all, one felt a clarity of mind and a freshness of spirit.

Rong Chen Zi first took He Bang back to his own room. She was still fast asleep, blowing bubbles from her shell every now and then. Rong Chen Zi shook his head softly and touched her grey-black shell: “I am going into the palace first to see the Emperor. His Majesty has decreed that a National Offering be held to pray for the nation’s blessing — a National Offering is a sacred undertaking, and during that time it will be difficult to see you. It may well take two months. You must be good and listen to Little Ye, and don’t go wandering off.”

He Bang was sleeping soundly. There was someone nattering away unceasingly beside her, and she was displeased — she snapped her shell shut in irritation, and even stopped blowing bubbles.