“You’ve returned?”

This sentence emerging from the darkness nearly drove Han Zhe to madness. Although he had long ceased hoping for familial affection, upon hearing these words, he still wanted to rush forward for a fight to the death.

“I called your sister back.” The person sitting in the chair lowered his voice and cackled with laughter. “She came back on the ninth day.”

“What do you want to do? If you think I deserve to die, then let me die. Don’t toy with her. Ever since I became sensible, I’ve been hoping that one day you’d die in that chair, or die in Shaolin Temple. Why won’t you die?” Han Zhe walked step by step toward that chair, his hands convulsively clenched into circles, desperately squeezing inward, as if strangling someone’s throat.

“As you wish, now I’m truly going to die. Zhe’er, I gave birth to you when I was eighty years old, gave birth to your sister when I was eighty-three. At that time, I grew new teeth, my eyebrows turned black, my body was full of vitality. I thought I had achieved rejuvenation. Who knew that all of this would ultimately still be empty? Zhe’er, I’m really dying soon. Don’t be too anxious—perhaps I’ll die tomorrow.”

Han Zhe’s footsteps froze. Standing there, he said softly: “I’ve thought this way for a very long time. Yet you always don’t die. I thought that even if I died, you still wouldn’t die.”

“Believe me, son. Immortality is truly a great joke. I’ve tried countless methods. I tried the methods from the *Classic of the Plain Girl’s Yin Techniques*. I also tried the methods from the *Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon*. I even attempted elixirs, only to discover that was the path to death. I secluded myself in Shaolin Temple actually just wanting to see whether Bodhidharma had truly died or not. Now I can tell you—he died long ago. That Bodhidharma who came back to life was a second foreign monk. They all looked similar. Originally those foreign monks wanted to keep Bodhidharma alive forever, but your father killed them all off. So Bodhidharma died. Now it’s my turn. Those principles Bodhidharma spoke of—I disdained to heed them. A swindler’s words are hard for me to believe. Therefore, all the world’s paths to longevity are deceiving people.”

“You clearly know most things in the world. Why still insist my sister and I marry? This is the principle of self-destruction—you couldn’t possibly not know it, right?”

“Of course I know. Marrying within five degrees of mourning inevitably invites heavenly punishment. How could I possibly not know this principle? It’s just that I thought I had already reached the realm of immortality, so naturally I would ignore these worldly ethical norms. Since I could live forever, you and little sister could as well. Since achieving immortality, there would inevitably be no more offspring. This is the Great Way—with one gain necessarily comes one loss. The laws of heaven and earth won’t permit you to both live forever and have endless descendants. As long as you and little sister don’t bear children, there’s no problem. The path of immortality is long—your union would be the best result.”

“Do you still see it this way now? Since we can’t achieve immortality, should we still marry?”

“How would that work? If the path of immortality doesn’t work, naturally it’s not feasible.”

“How do we count in terms of ethical norms? Deep in the cave, there’s still someone you used as a stud horse. Should I still call him father? Should you have me call him brother, or call him father?”

Han Zhe sat on the burning hot stone, pointing toward the deep cave and asking the person on the chair.

“What stud horse? What other father? Your father is me—no one else.”

Han Zhe suddenly leaped up and ran with all his might toward the cave’s depths. Both sides of the deep cave were covered with oil lamps. The deeper he ran, the hotter it became. When he reached the end, he discovered great changes there. Originally everywhere were women—now not a single one remained. Originally this place was hung with fine silk and satin, filled with delicacies—now there was nothing, only a large pile of dust-covered miscellaneous items.

“Son, what did you see? Your father already told you—there’s nothing in the cave. What you saw was an illusion, or you’re dreaming? Don’t think too much. You’re the future king of this mountain valley. Don’t be troubled by those small worries.”

Though clearly far away, the voice appeared right beside his ear. Han Zhe irritably tore off his collar and stuffed it into the mouth of a tube. Much better now—finally quiet.

Han Zhe turned the entire hall upside down but still found nothing. Dejected, he walked back to the cliff edge and asked: “What do you want me to do? Just say it. This time you’ve obliterated all the things I most hated seeing. It’s not as simple as just wanting me to be your successor, right? Speak clearly. I’ll just do it. We’re also human, not some divine beings. Now I most hate hearing those two words ‘divine being.’ In the future, whoever mentions those two words in front of me, I’ll dismember them.”

“I’ve heard that Yun Ye has two jade tablets in his hands that record the secrets of the White Jade Capital. Yun Ye hasn’t taken this to heart. This is wrong. How can one not be enthusiastic about one’s own origins? If he won’t do it, we’ll help him do it. It’s inconvenient for me to go out—you should go get those jade tablets from Yun Ye and bring them back.”

Han Zhe covered his face with both hands and sat down, saying sullenly: “Fine, I’ll go ask Yun Ye for them. Just wait.”

“Ask?” That sharp voice rang out again: “Jiang Li and Lü Zhu have already disappeared from heaven and earth. They originally planned to drive Yun Ye mad before making their move. Result? Alive, their bodies aren’t seen; dead, their corpses aren’t seen. You’re going to ask Yun Ye?”

“That’s right. Prepare a gift, present a visiting card, then exchange pleasantries, mutually inquire about well-being, casually chat about the past, finally present my request. What do you think?” Han Zhe said indifferently to the person on the chair.

Han Zhe didn’t wait for that person to answer. He patted his behind and walked out of the cave. He extremely detested the strong sulfur smell in the cave and didn’t want to stay even a moment longer.

Exiting the cave, he saw Pang Zhun standing guard at the cave entrance with hands hanging down. The cave entrance was very high, making Pang Zhun appear even more short and comical.

“Prepare a gift for me—choose something expensive, not elegant. I’m going to Chang’an to pay a visit to someone. While I’m at it, I’ll send little sister to the Academy.” As soon as Han Zhe emerged, he told Pang Zhun.

“Young Master, Chang’an’s winds are high and waves fierce. Going now may not be a good time. The Bai Qi Si is everywhere. Most of the divine servants in Guanzhong have already been captured. The remaining few old immortals aren’t permitted to appear anymore either. Moreover, this time to rescue the Young Master, we mobilized Shandong personnel. The Emperor has already become aware and is preparing to perform the Feng and Shan sacrifices at Mount Tai. This will inevitably cause great chaos in Shandong—not good for us.” Pang Zhun hurriedly reported the intelligence he knew.

“No need. Buy me some servants. I don’t need to mobilize them. I’ll go to Chang’an by myself. Since matters have reached this point, I’ll entrust little sister to you. Living at the Academy is very beneficial for her. I can see she’s no longer as androgynous as before—she has more cheerfulness. Not bad. Pang Zhun, you’ve done very well in this matter.”

Pang Zhun bowed his head in acknowledgment and hurriedly departed.

Pang Chier sat on a huge stool, playing very intently with the kitten Bai Nu. Seeing Han Zhe walk in, she paid no attention, just continuing to play with Bai Nu. This room was Han Zhe’s. That stool was Han Zhe’s bed. He most liked sleeping on wooden boards, moreover without laying anything down. Upon entering the room, immediately a woman with a large head and short body brought him face-washing water. Beside it was also placed a set of moon-white robes.

Han Zhe washed his face and prepared to remove his clothes. Seeing his sister still hadn’t left, he said: “I need to change clothes. It would be better if you left.”

Pang Chier used her long hair to tease Bai Nu’s nose, watching its mouth open and close adorably. Hearing Han Zhe speak to her, she turned her head, glanced at Han Zhe, and said disdainfully: “I won’t peek. If you want to change, just change. It’s not like I haven’t seen you when we were small.” Having finished speaking, she continued playing inseparably with Bai Nu.

Han Zhe asked no more. He stripped down to just his loincloth. Just as he was about to put on clothes, unexpectedly Pang Chier turned her head around, glanced at Han Zhe, saw him hastily using clothes to cover his body, and laughed so hard her branches trembled. From a bundle she had brought over, she took out two pairs of underpants, placed them on the stool, and said: “When bored at the Academy, I saw the Academy sisters learning to sew undergarments for their closest relatives. Little sister also followed along and made two pairs. Try them. They’re much more comfortable than loincloths.”

Having finished speaking, she carried Bai Nu out of the room. One person and one cat continuously spoke words no one could understand, casually closing the door. Han Zhe tossed aside his clothes and picked up the underpants on the stool to examine carefully. This was the only gift from a relative he had received since childhood.

The fabric was cotton, soft in his hands, fitting close to the body. Most rare was that the waist had a section of soft cow tendon, allowing the shorts’ waistband to expand or contract somewhat. He tried them on—very fitting. Han Zhe yanked off his loincloth in one motion and picked up a pair of blue floral underpants to put on. He kicked his legs, twisted his waist, jumped twice—indeed not bad. He specifically stood before the glass mirror to examine himself—indeed not bad. The youth in the mirror had an upright figure, broad shoulders, narrow waist, proportionate muscles. As long as he put on that set of moon-white robes, who wouldn’t say he was a fine young gentleman of this turbid world? He suddenly felt full of confidence about his Chang’an journey.

That person was that person; he himself was himself. They needed to be viewed separately, just like the dumplings Yun Ye wrapped—they needed to be eaten one bite at a time. Life’s flavor needed to be slowly savored.

Going to Chang’an this time, he’d just try it out. He wouldn’t guard against anyone, nor would he deliberately harm anyone. Removing his final disguise, he’d open his heart to meet people. If he failed and was captured, then he’d escape, come back, and discuss again. However, as long as Yun Ye didn’t speak up, no one should be able to recognize him, right?

The short servant woman set out a table full of food for Han Zhe. Although Han Zhe was very hungry, he still had the servant call his sister over to eat together. This too was an experience. Previously, meals never had this concept of sharing.

Little sister was also very excited. This experience wasn’t one-sided but mutual. The two ate with smiles and laughter filling the air. Han Zhe recounted the process of his failed magical duel with Yun Ye. Little sister told him about her experiences at the Academy, incidentally mentioning how annoying Yun Ye’s disciple called Xiao Wu was.

That short servant woman, having finished serving the dishes, still stood to the side without leaving. Holding a hemp cloth, she busily wiped here and there, yet stretched her ears long, her eyes full of intoxicated fantasies. For the first time, Han Zhe didn’t chase her away. When speaking about being ambushed with a club, he laughed heartily.