Chapter 100: Gazing at the Moon
"She asked me to find her at the Goddess Peak after everything was over."
"Who?"
"Yao Ji."
Transformed into a black dragon, Lu Xiu carried Jiang Hong flying over the highest peaks. His body gleamed with golden runic seals, twinkling between the mountains.
"Over there, right?" Jiang Hong asked the black dragon.
"I know," the black dragon replied, "let's take a stroll first. I want to take you for a ride."
Jiang Hong laughed, "Sure!"
He sat atop the dragon's head. This time, it flew steadily, gliding with the mountain winds, soaring over clouds two thousand meters high. From there, Jiang Hong saw the distant Wuling County.
Wuling County, nestled in the mountains, was aglow with lights, like an oasis of peace in a tumultuous world.
The dragon accelerated towards Chongqing, where the lights on the ground resembled a vast chessboard.
"Let's fly higher!" Jiang Hong was worried about being seen.
"It's okay," the black dragon lifted its head, speaking gently, "Do you want to go outside the atmosphere?"
"No, no," Jiang Hong hurriedly replied, "I don't, but anywhere is fine as long as I'm with you."
The dragon suddenly ascended, and Jiang Hong, feeling his heart leap, clutched the dragon's horns tightly. "Are we going to the moon?"
The moonlight was bright in the sky, and the dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, passed through the thick clouds, stirring up the mist, with silver moonlight twinkling at the top of the sea of clouds like a shimmering ocean.
"Would you like to go there?" the dragon asked.
Flying straight towards the moon, the sound of wind roaring, a rotating barrier appeared around the dragon's horns, shielding them from the fierce wind.
It was incredibly beautiful! Jiang Hong looked at the world in awe, hardly believing he was experiencing this fantastical journey on the back of a dragon.
But the dragon eventually stopped in mid-air.
"We're very high up now," Jiang Hong stood up, gazing at the moon, "but it's still far away. We can't reach the moon."
"Yes," the black dragon calmly replied, "we can only look from here. I can't take you to the moon."
Jiang Hong felt a bit reluctant, but he sensed that it was almost time for Lu Xiu to return to his original form.
"Shall we go back?" Jiang Hong suggested.
As the black dragon flew with Jiang Hong over the sea of clouds, it said, “I want to name this Western sword.”
“Sure!” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful here. What do you think it should be called?”
Black Dragon: “Let’s call it ‘Fenghua’.”
“That’s a beautiful name!” Jiang Hong smiled.
The dragon then dived back into the sea of clouds, mist splashing on their faces. Soon, Jiang Hong found himself back in Wushan, the fog dissipating, revealing clear, crisp sounds of a zither from the ground.
“Huh?” Jiang Hong saw a figure at the highest point of the sacred land, sitting cross-legged. It was the Ghost King, imposing in stature, clad in armor and a war skirt, playing a seven-stringed ancient zither.
The Ghost King played “Fishermen's Evening Song,” the heavy clouds parted, revealing the bright moon.
The zither's melodious sound, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, flowed over the mountains and spread across the sacred land. Under the moonlight, it carried an ancient charm, especially during the continuous strumming part, where the music flowed like a river, engulfing Wushan.
Then, the Ghost King gathered the notes, the widespread music suddenly drawing into a gentle interlude.
Amidst this music, broken trees rose, reborn, and collapsed buildings groaned as if being righted by an invisible giant hand. The surging river tides came and quickly receded, calm as a serene ocean.
The black dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, slowly flew past the Ghost King.
“The spring river's tide reaches the sea, sharing its rise with the moon above. Billowing over thousands of miles, where on the spring river is there no moonlight?”
Trees straightened, rolling stones lifted. As "Fishermen's Evening Song" played faster, a flood of glowing butterflies burst from the forests, eventually fading into the sky.
Under this monumental power, the sacred land was restored to its original state.
The Ghost King looked up, watching the black dragon fly towards the Goddess Peak.
The dragon's body shimmered with runes, signaling their time was up.
Lu Xiu, cradling Jiang Hong in his arms, landed at the Goddess Peak.
On the north bank of the river, amid rugged rocks, Yao Ji sat looking out over the flowing Yangtze River, facing the distant Three Gorges. Under the night sky, boats navigated the river, fog rising from the water. In the mist-veiled distance towards Baidicheng, it seemed as if a troop of monkeys were wailing.
Yao Ji spoke softly, “I told you, you would obtain the Vajra Arrow.”
Jiang Hong, a little embarrassed, stood hand in hand with Lu Xiu in front of her.
Lu Xiu said, "Yao Ji."
Yao Ji turned her head to look at Lu Xiu and said, "That was your inner demon, wasn't it?"
Lu Xiu nodded and replied, "Yes, it was a fragment of resentment I once abandoned. Using my blood, Yingxuo created another version of me."
Yao Ji remarked, "If we hadn't abandoned parts of ourselves, they wouldn't have had anything to exploit. But since it's already happened, it signifies that this world has a long path ahead."
Jiang Hong didn't fully understand Yao Ji's words, but he sensed she seemed much weaker than when he had seen her in the seal barrier.
"Are you alright, Yao Ji?" Jiang Hong asked.
Yao Ji responded, "My time is running out. The demonic blood that seeks to destroy the world and the divinity I've used to protect it are repelling each other. I might completely disintegrate at any moment, turning into a pool of putrid blood..."
Lu Xiu interjected, "Wait, how much do you know about Yingxuo?"
Yao Ji answered, "It's like being in a long, long dream. Maybe Yuan Kun will respond to you?"
"Yao Ji," another voice said, "hello, nice to meet you. I'm Fang Yifeng, the Head of the Special Investigation Department of the China Exorcist Committee."
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong turned simultaneously, not realizing someone had approached. Standing behind them was Fang Yifeng!
Fang Yifeng was no longer in his technician guise, now dressed in the official suit of the Exorcist Committee, wearing sunglasses, exuding an aura completely different from before!
He approached the three, showing his credentials, and said, "This is my ID. Following orders from the Exorcism Committee, as an S-rank exorcist, I’ve come to investigate the resurrection of Yao Ji in the sanctuary. Chen Zhen tasked me with expelling the demonic energy. Yao Ji, the human world is wonderful, but one should not cling to it."
"You entered the cycle of the world's energy twenty-four years ago. What remains in Witch Mountain is just a divine fragment of your worldly affections."
"Yes, I know," Yao Ji said softly, "Thank you, send me on my way. Jiang Hong, if you ever see Xiao Chengshi, tell him I love him, I’ve always loved him, and never regretted giving birth to him."
"Wait!" Jiang Hong hesitated, still wanting to save her. Was there really no other way?
Fang Yifeng observed Jiang Hong through his sunglasses and suddenly said, "Jiang Hong, you look just as I imagined, a very handsome young man."
Lu Xiu signaled to Jiang Hong not to interfere, and Fang Yifeng stepped past them, facing Yao Ji and removing his sunglasses.
Yao Ji, with her eyes open, gazed at the vast rivers and mountains under the moonlight, and her body turned to stone, becoming a graceful statue atop the Goddess Peak.
"I thought Chen Zhen would come in person," Lu Xiu said.
Fang Yifeng replied, "The incident in Xi'an alarmed the higher-ups, so the organization sent me instead. But Chen Zhen and Cao Bin might arrive soon. Thank you for what happened in Wuxian; I'll report it truthfully to the Exorcism Committee. I also recorded a video, which I think should clear you of suspicion."
"How did you defeat Liu Heng?" Lu Xiu asked again.
"Anything that lives has a weakness," Fang Yifeng answered, "My Petrifying Gaze just happened to counter him, that's all. No matter how fast he is, he can’t outrun sight."
"The drone is ready for Lao Sun, and thank you for looking after Her Majesty," Fang Yifeng quipped to Jiang Hong in the end.
Jiang Hong: "Hey!"
"I must return to report now, until we meet again!" Fang Yifeng made a suave 'farewell' gesture, then leaped off the Goddess Peak. In the blink of an eye, his staff appeared beneath him, carrying him through the sky like sword flight, swiftly disappearing into the horizon.
The next day, the sanctuary returned to normal. Lu Xiu was boredly listening to Feng Li report the casualty situation in the main hall.
"The will of the people, no, the will of the demons... it shows that there is still discontent towards humans," Feng Li said.
"That's normal," Lu Xiu responded. "It's not my responsibility anyway. Let Xiang Cheng deal with it when he returns."
Feng Li said, "The Eagle King was defeated by Fang Yifeng, and the urgent matter now is to choose a new King of the Birds. Currently, the He family has the highest reputation... The He family's disadvantage lies in their eldest son participating in this rebellion..."
Lu Xiu indifferently said, "I’ve said it before, let bygones be bygones."
Feng Li: "But others don’t think so."
Lu Xiu: "Let them elect someone themselves. Are you feeling better?"
Feng Li's face still had bruises, treated with medicine. His half-grown hair tied at the back, making his injuries particularly noticeable.
"It's nothing serious," Feng Li replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty. The aquatic tribes also need to choose a new leader."
Lu Xiu: "Let them elect on their own, I won't interfere. If you want my recommendation, Huang Shan is also suitable; he protected many students down the mountain."
Feng Li hesitated to speak, but Lu Xiu gestured for him to go on. Feng Li then said, "Are you really leaving?"
"It's my destiny," Lu Xiu answered simply. "Anything else?"
Feng Li remained silent for a while before speaking, "The students from Cangqiong University, their internship period isn't over yet."
Lu Xiu: "Let them continue their internship as originally planned... What are you doing now?"
Jiang Hong sneaked into the main hall, removing the pot from his head, and smiled, "You left early in the morning, aren’t you tired? You didn’t even have breakfast, I came to check on you."
Lu Xiu said, "I was just thinking of going back. Let's have breakfast together."
Last night, Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong back to the palace. Jiang Hong slept soundly, waking up when the morning light shone, only to find Lu Xiu already gone, so he searched everywhere until he reached the main hall.
"The Ghost King was injured; you've had a hard time during this period," Lu Xiu said.
Feng Li replied, "It's okay, he doesn’t do much even when he's not injured, always playing with his drone. I'm used to it."
"What?" Jiang Hong was shocked and asked, "The Ghost King is injured? Is it serious?"
Feng Li casually answered, "Not serious. He twisted his waist accidentally when he came down from the roof after playing the piano yesterday."
Jiang Hong: "………………"
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong returned to their spacious bedroom, sitting on the floor. A group of pandas carried over a large tray, setting up a lavish breakfast with a table full of Cantonese dim sum. A panda wearing a chef’s hat was cooking boat congee and rice noodles at a live cooking station.
"We made all these breakfast dishes ourselves," the panda in charge of serving said, "Definitely not from the central kitchen. The rebellion of the Demon King yesterday caused some damage to the radish cakes, but they're still delicious. Please enjoy, Your Majesty."
Jiang Hong: "Mmm, no problem! It’s delicious! Oh, right! Lu Xiu! If it wasn't for Da Wan and the others protecting me yesterday..."
Lu Xiu guessed what Jiang Hong wanted to say, "They've already received a raise and promotion. All the pandas' treatment has been upgraded by one level. Da Wan has been promoted to Demon King, solely in charge of their tribe. Now there are five Demon Kings."
Jiang Hong: "Ahahaha, that's more like it, you're really generous."
Lu Xiu clearly wasn't very fond of these pandas, always vying for attention regardless of the situation. However, after this incident, even he had to admit that these pandas had some real skills to have survived in the Divine Land for so long.
Midway through the meal, Da Wan and a group of pandas came over, bowing deeply in a 'thank you, boss' manner, expressing gratitude for the promotion. Jiang Hong was delighted and stopped correcting the small detail of being called 'Your Majesty,' petting Da Wan and saying, "Rise, rise, you all worked hard. Go and celebrate properly!"
"Also! Reporting to the prince, reporting to Your Majesty!" Da Wan said, "These two were acting suspiciously outside..."
"What suspiciously!" Keda was furious, "I’m an acting demon king! You turncoats! Don't you recognize me?!"
Keda, accompanied by He Zhi, had come to the upper area. Jiang Hong hurriedly said, "Come in, join us for breakfast?"
Before Lu Xiu’s return, Keda had acted as demon king for a while. Eventually, Keda couldn't stand it, had a fight with his lover Feng Li, and returned to Cangqiong University, leaving the sanctuary without a leader for a while, until Lu Xiu returned to take charge.
Had Keda not left the sanctuary back then, Xiang Liu might not have been able to execute his plan so easily.
But now that Xiang Liu had been vanquished, the past didn’t matter anymore.
Keda looked upset, his injuries a bit more severe than Feng Li’s, with his right hand in a cast. Jiang Hong comforted him, saying, "He's my practical class teacher."
The pandas, quick to adapt, immediately changed their attitude, rushing to fetch a spoon to feed Keda.
"Go away, go away," Keda said, "I get annoyed just looking at pandas now."
He Zhi entered, startled, and glared at Jiang Hong: "Jiang Hong! You... you..."
Jiang Hong's heart sank. The students were eating in the cafeteria below, while he was enjoying a feast in the upper area, even with live cooking! Would the dean give him trouble for this?
"You rascal, you eat so well every day?" He Zhi said incredulously, "Do you know what your counselor and I usually eat? Don't you feel guilty? Where's your conscience?"
"It's only for today!" Jiang Hong quickly said, "Since you and Teacher Keda were coming, I asked... um, Lu Xiu to have them prepare a bit more."
"Can I eat then?" He Zhi asked.
"Uh, yes... of course!" Jiang Hong said, "Director, please have some too, if you don’t mind..."
"I don’t mind!" He Zhi said, "I need to replenish my energy, I spent too much yesterday... Jiang Hong, you performed very well yesterday. I didn't expect that someone who enrolled as a human could now perform exorcisms, it’s amazing!"
Relieved, Jiang Hong quickly explained and let He Zhi have the dim sum, urging him to eat more. Although he had fired the last arrow yesterday, everyone had been helping; it wasn’t something he could have done alone.
"Hey," Keda, after sipping some tea, said to Lu Xiu, "Cao Bin is coming, you should be prepared."
"Mm," Lu Xiu glanced at Keda and nodded.
Silence fell at the table for a moment, only the sound of He Zhi eating heartily.
"Um, Director, please eat slowly," Jiang Hong hurriedly poured tea for He Zhi.
"I'm sorry," Lu Xiu suddenly said to Keda.
"It wasn’t you," Keda waved his hand, indicating it was okay, understanding Lu Xiu was referring to what he had done under the control of his inner demon to Feng Li and Keda, and added, "I should thank you for giving me the chance to play the hero."
Lu Xiu asked, "Has he calmed down?"
"Sort of," Keda replied casually, "Let it be, I don't want to force things."
Jiang Hong listened silently, saying nothing, as he had no place to advise him, and there was still the unresolved matter between Xiaopi and Lian Jiang.
"Chen Zhen will also come," Keda said, "Fang Yifeng has to go back to submit his report."
Lu Xiu responded, "He left last night."
Keda: "Well, anyway, just consider it a snack."
Just as He Zhi put down his chopsticks, he heard and asked again, "What snack? Is there more food?"
Lu Xiu: "Okay, pack some snacks for Teacher He to take home. Hey, pandas! Go get some takeaway boxes!"
"Right, right," Jiang Hong said, "Pack it for the counselor! No, tell the kitchen to make a fresh batch and send it to the counselor."
"Okay!" The panda immediately went to pass the message.
"Jiang Hong," He Zhi, having finished eating, wandered around the bedroom.
"Ah?" Jiang Hong, fearing He Zhi had found something else 'inappropriate' in his room and bracing for a scolding, heard He Zhi suddenly change the topic: "Can I have some of these shower gels and shampoos in your room?"
"Of course!" Jiang Hong immediately replied.
"And the sugar packets, you don’t drink instant coffee, right? Oh, you have a coffee machine in your room?" He Zhi noted.
"All yours!" Jiang Hong said again, "Hey panda! Send a coffee machine to Director He’s room!"
So He Zhi scavenged around Jiang Hong's room and then asked, "This electric toothbrush..."
Jiang Hong: "That's mine. My mom brought it for me..."
He Zhi: "Oh, okay..."
"For so many years," Keda said, "no one has successfully communicated with Wangkun, not even Xiang Cheng. Wangkun only revealed its power to him once, more than a decade ago."
Lu Xiu said, "Maybe it just doesn’t want to communicate with anyone."
"But Jiang Hong can," Keda said, "Yesterday, Fang Yifeng clearly knew about this, and he will surely report it as well."
Lu Xiu: "So what?"
Keda said, "I guess this is the real purpose of the Exorcism Committee. Why doesn’t Wangkun enter the cycle of reincarnation? What is it waiting for?"
Lu Xiu remained silent, and Keda added, "The kun has existed since the era of Zhuangzi, and it's the only one left in the world."
"It's already dead," Lu Xiu replied. "Since it's dead, it can’t be considered as 'the only one left,' but rather 'once existed.' The Phoenix has lived the longest."
Keda said, "Si Gui’s life form is different from it."
"There's no eternity," Lu Xiu said, "only different forms of reincarnation."
Feng Li appeared outside the bedroom. Although Keda's back was turned to him, he sensed Feng Li's arrival immediately, without turning around.
"The Grand Exorcist has come to visit," Feng Li said expressionlessly, "accompanied by three people."
"Only four people?" Lu Xiu asked, "Where are they now?"
"They are already at the mountain gate," Feng Li replied. "Should I let them in?"
Lu Xiu: "Let them in. Jiang Hong, you play with the pandas. I’ll go meet them."
"Okay! Sure," Jiang Hong happily replied.
Being a 'Your Majesty' is truly blissful.
Sometimes Jiang Hong even thought of adjusting his life goal to "become a Your Majesty."
Chapter 100: Gazing at the Moon
"She asked me to find her at the Goddess Peak after everything was over."
"Who?"
"Yao Ji."
Transformed into a black dragon, Lu Xiu carried Jiang Hong flying over the highest peaks. His body gleamed with golden runic seals, twinkling between the mountains.
"Over there, right?" Jiang Hong asked the black dragon.
"I know," the black dragon replied, "let's take a stroll first. I want to take you for a ride."
Jiang Hong laughed, "Sure!"
He sat atop the dragon's head. This time, it flew steadily, gliding with the mountain winds, soaring over clouds two thousand meters high. From there, Jiang Hong saw the distant Wuling County.
Wuling County, nestled in the mountains, was aglow with lights, like an oasis of peace in a tumultuous world.
The dragon accelerated towards Chongqing, where the lights on the ground resembled a vast chessboard.
"Let's fly higher!" Jiang Hong was worried about being seen.
"It's okay," the black dragon lifted its head, speaking gently, "Do you want to go outside the atmosphere?"
"No, no," Jiang Hong hurriedly replied, "I don't, but anywhere is fine as long as I'm with you."
The dragon suddenly ascended, and Jiang Hong, feeling his heart leap, clutched the dragon's horns tightly. "Are we going to the moon?"
The moonlight was bright in the sky, and the dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, passed through the thick clouds, stirring up the mist, with silver moonlight twinkling at the top of the sea of clouds like a shimmering ocean.
"Would you like to go there?" the dragon asked.
Flying straight towards the moon, the sound of wind roaring, a rotating barrier appeared around the dragon's horns, shielding them from the fierce wind.
It was incredibly beautiful! Jiang Hong looked at the world in awe, hardly believing he was experiencing this fantastical journey on the back of a dragon.
But the dragon eventually stopped in mid-air.
"We're very high up now," Jiang Hong stood up, gazing at the moon, "but it's still far away. We can't reach the moon."
"Yes," the black dragon calmly replied, "we can only look from here. I can't take you to the moon."
Jiang Hong felt a bit reluctant, but he sensed that it was almost time for Lu Xiu to return to his original form.
"Shall we go back?" Jiang Hong suggested.
As the black dragon flew with Jiang Hong over the sea of clouds, it said, “I want to name this Western sword.”
“Sure!” Jiang Hong exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful here. What do you think it should be called?”
Black Dragon: “Let’s call it ‘Fenghua’.”
“That’s a beautiful name!” Jiang Hong smiled.
The dragon then dived back into the sea of clouds, mist splashing on their faces. Soon, Jiang Hong found himself back in Wushan, the fog dissipating, revealing clear, crisp sounds of a zither from the ground.
“Huh?” Jiang Hong saw a figure at the highest point of the sacred land, sitting cross-legged. It was the Ghost King, imposing in stature, clad in armor and a war skirt, playing a seven-stringed ancient zither.
The Ghost King played “Fishermen's Evening Song,” the heavy clouds parted, revealing the bright moon.
The zither's melodious sound, like pearls dropping onto a jade plate, flowed over the mountains and spread across the sacred land. Under the moonlight, it carried an ancient charm, especially during the continuous strumming part, where the music flowed like a river, engulfing Wushan.
Then, the Ghost King gathered the notes, the widespread music suddenly drawing into a gentle interlude.
Amidst this music, broken trees rose, reborn, and collapsed buildings groaned as if being righted by an invisible giant hand. The surging river tides came and quickly receded, calm as a serene ocean.
The black dragon, carrying Jiang Hong, slowly flew past the Ghost King.
“The spring river's tide reaches the sea, sharing its rise with the moon above. Billowing over thousands of miles, where on the spring river is there no moonlight?”
Trees straightened, rolling stones lifted. As "Fishermen's Evening Song" played faster, a flood of glowing butterflies burst from the forests, eventually fading into the sky.
Under this monumental power, the sacred land was restored to its original state.
The Ghost King looked up, watching the black dragon fly towards the Goddess Peak.
The dragon's body shimmered with runes, signaling their time was up.
Lu Xiu, cradling Jiang Hong in his arms, landed at the Goddess Peak.
On the north bank of the river, amid rugged rocks, Yao Ji sat looking out over the flowing Yangtze River, facing the distant Three Gorges. Under the night sky, boats navigated the river, fog rising from the water. In the mist-veiled distance towards Baidicheng, it seemed as if a troop of monkeys were wailing.
Yao Ji spoke softly, “I told you, you would obtain the Vajra Arrow.”
Jiang Hong, a little embarrassed, stood hand in hand with Lu Xiu in front of her.
Lu Xiu said, "Yao Ji."
Yao Ji turned her head to look at Lu Xiu and said, "That was your inner demon, wasn't it?"
Lu Xiu nodded and replied, "Yes, it was a fragment of resentment I once abandoned. Using my blood, Yingxuo created another version of me."
Yao Ji remarked, "If we hadn't abandoned parts of ourselves, they wouldn't have had anything to exploit. But since it's already happened, it signifies that this world has a long path ahead."
Jiang Hong didn't fully understand Yao Ji's words, but he sensed she seemed much weaker than when he had seen her in the seal barrier.
"Are you alright, Yao Ji?" Jiang Hong asked.
Yao Ji responded, "My time is running out. The demonic blood that seeks to destroy the world and the divinity I've used to protect it are repelling each other. I might completely disintegrate at any moment, turning into a pool of putrid blood..."
Lu Xiu interjected, "Wait, how much do you know about Yingxuo?"
Yao Ji answered, "It's like being in a long, long dream. Maybe Yuan Kun will respond to you?"
"Yao Ji," another voice said, "hello, nice to meet you. I'm Fang Yifeng, the Head of the Special Investigation Department of the China Exorcist Committee."
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong turned simultaneously, not realizing someone had approached. Standing behind them was Fang Yifeng!
Fang Yifeng was no longer in his technician guise, now dressed in the official suit of the Exorcist Committee, wearing sunglasses, exuding an aura completely different from before!
He approached the three, showing his credentials, and said, "This is my ID. Following orders from the Exorcism Committee, as an S-rank exorcist, I’ve come to investigate the resurrection of Yao Ji in the sanctuary. Chen Zhen tasked me with expelling the demonic energy. Yao Ji, the human world is wonderful, but one should not cling to it."
"You entered the cycle of the world's energy twenty-four years ago. What remains in Witch Mountain is just a divine fragment of your worldly affections."
"Yes, I know," Yao Ji said softly, "Thank you, send me on my way. Jiang Hong, if you ever see Xiao Chengshi, tell him I love him, I’ve always loved him, and never regretted giving birth to him."
"Wait!" Jiang Hong hesitated, still wanting to save her. Was there really no other way?
Fang Yifeng observed Jiang Hong through his sunglasses and suddenly said, "Jiang Hong, you look just as I imagined, a very handsome young man."
Lu Xiu signaled to Jiang Hong not to interfere, and Fang Yifeng stepped past them, facing Yao Ji and removing his sunglasses.
Yao Ji, with her eyes open, gazed at the vast rivers and mountains under the moonlight, and her body turned to stone, becoming a graceful statue atop the Goddess Peak.
"I thought Chen Zhen would come in person," Lu Xiu said.
Fang Yifeng replied, "The incident in Xi'an alarmed the higher-ups, so the organization sent me instead. But Chen Zhen and Cao Bin might arrive soon. Thank you for what happened in Wuxian; I'll report it truthfully to the Exorcism Committee. I also recorded a video, which I think should clear you of suspicion."
"How did you defeat Liu Heng?" Lu Xiu asked again.
"Anything that lives has a weakness," Fang Yifeng answered, "My Petrifying Gaze just happened to counter him, that's all. No matter how fast he is, he can’t outrun sight."
"The drone is ready for Lao Sun, and thank you for looking after Her Majesty," Fang Yifeng quipped to Jiang Hong in the end.
Jiang Hong: "Hey!"
"I must return to report now, until we meet again!" Fang Yifeng made a suave 'farewell' gesture, then leaped off the Goddess Peak. In the blink of an eye, his staff appeared beneath him, carrying him through the sky like sword flight, swiftly disappearing into the horizon.
The next day, the sanctuary returned to normal. Lu Xiu was boredly listening to Feng Li report the casualty situation in the main hall.
"The will of the people, no, the will of the demons... it shows that there is still discontent towards humans," Feng Li said.
"That's normal," Lu Xiu responded. "It's not my responsibility anyway. Let Xiang Cheng deal with it when he returns."
Feng Li said, "The Eagle King was defeated by Fang Yifeng, and the urgent matter now is to choose a new King of the Birds. Currently, the He family has the highest reputation... The He family's disadvantage lies in their eldest son participating in this rebellion..."
Lu Xiu indifferently said, "I’ve said it before, let bygones be bygones."
Feng Li: "But others don’t think so."
Lu Xiu: "Let them elect someone themselves. Are you feeling better?"
Feng Li's face still had bruises, treated with medicine. His half-grown hair tied at the back, making his injuries particularly noticeable.
"It's nothing serious," Feng Li replied, "Thank you, Your Majesty. The aquatic tribes also need to choose a new leader."
Lu Xiu: "Let them elect on their own, I won't interfere. If you want my recommendation, Huang Shan is also suitable; he protected many students down the mountain."
Feng Li hesitated to speak, but Lu Xiu gestured for him to go on. Feng Li then said, "Are you really leaving?"
"It's my destiny," Lu Xiu answered simply. "Anything else?"
Feng Li remained silent for a while before speaking, "The students from Cangqiong University, their internship period isn't over yet."
Lu Xiu: "Let them continue their internship as originally planned... What are you doing now?"
Jiang Hong sneaked into the main hall, removing the pot from his head, and smiled, "You left early in the morning, aren’t you tired? You didn’t even have breakfast, I came to check on you."
Lu Xiu said, "I was just thinking of going back. Let's have breakfast together."
Last night, Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong back to the palace. Jiang Hong slept soundly, waking up when the morning light shone, only to find Lu Xiu already gone, so he searched everywhere until he reached the main hall.
"The Ghost King was injured; you've had a hard time during this period," Lu Xiu said.
Feng Li replied, "It's okay, he doesn’t do much even when he's not injured, always playing with his drone. I'm used to it."
"What?" Jiang Hong was shocked and asked, "The Ghost King is injured? Is it serious?"
Feng Li casually answered, "Not serious. He twisted his waist accidentally when he came down from the roof after playing the piano yesterday."
Jiang Hong: "………………"
Lu Xiu and Jiang Hong returned to their spacious bedroom, sitting on the floor. A group of pandas carried over a large tray, setting up a lavish breakfast with a table full of Cantonese dim sum. A panda wearing a chef’s hat was cooking boat congee and rice noodles at a live cooking station.
"We made all these breakfast dishes ourselves," the panda in charge of serving said, "Definitely not from the central kitchen. The rebellion of the Demon King yesterday caused some damage to the radish cakes, but they're still delicious. Please enjoy, Your Majesty."
Jiang Hong: "Mmm, no problem! It’s delicious! Oh, right! Lu Xiu! If it wasn't for Da Wan and the others protecting me yesterday..."
Lu Xiu guessed what Jiang Hong wanted to say, "They've already received a raise and promotion. All the pandas' treatment has been upgraded by one level. Da Wan has been promoted to Demon King, solely in charge of their tribe. Now there are five Demon Kings."
Jiang Hong: "Ahahaha, that's more like it, you're really generous."
Lu Xiu clearly wasn't very fond of these pandas, always vying for attention regardless of the situation. However, after this incident, even he had to admit that these pandas had some real skills to have survived in the Divine Land for so long.
Midway through the meal, Da Wan and a group of pandas came over, bowing deeply in a 'thank you, boss' manner, expressing gratitude for the promotion. Jiang Hong was delighted and stopped correcting the small detail of being called 'Your Majesty,' petting Da Wan and saying, "Rise, rise, you all worked hard. Go and celebrate properly!"
"Also! Reporting to the prince, reporting to Your Majesty!" Da Wan said, "These two were acting suspiciously outside..."
"What suspiciously!" Keda was furious, "I’m an acting demon king! You turncoats! Don't you recognize me?!"
Keda, accompanied by He Zhi, had come to the upper area. Jiang Hong hurriedly said, "Come in, join us for breakfast?"
Before Lu Xiu’s return, Keda had acted as demon king for a while. Eventually, Keda couldn't stand it, had a fight with his lover Feng Li, and returned to Cangqiong University, leaving the sanctuary without a leader for a while, until Lu Xiu returned to take charge.
Had Keda not left the sanctuary back then, Xiang Liu might not have been able to execute his plan so easily.
But now that Xiang Liu had been vanquished, the past didn’t matter anymore.
Keda looked upset, his injuries a bit more severe than Feng Li’s, with his right hand in a cast. Jiang Hong comforted him, saying, "He's my practical class teacher."
The pandas, quick to adapt, immediately changed their attitude, rushing to fetch a spoon to feed Keda.
"Go away, go away," Keda said, "I get annoyed just looking at pandas now."
He Zhi entered, startled, and glared at Jiang Hong: "Jiang Hong! You... you..."
Jiang Hong's heart sank. The students were eating in the cafeteria below, while he was enjoying a feast in the upper area, even with live cooking! Would the dean give him trouble for this?
"You rascal, you eat so well every day?" He Zhi said incredulously, "Do you know what your counselor and I usually eat? Don't you feel guilty? Where's your conscience?"
"It's only for today!" Jiang Hong quickly said, "Since you and Teacher Keda were coming, I asked... um, Lu Xiu to have them prepare a bit more."
"Can I eat then?" He Zhi asked.
"Uh, yes... of course!" Jiang Hong said, "Director, please have some too, if you don’t mind..."
"I don’t mind!" He Zhi said, "I need to replenish my energy, I spent too much yesterday... Jiang Hong, you performed very well yesterday. I didn't expect that someone who enrolled as a human could now perform exorcisms, it’s amazing!"
Relieved, Jiang Hong quickly explained and let He Zhi have the dim sum, urging him to eat more. Although he had fired the last arrow yesterday, everyone had been helping; it wasn’t something he could have done alone.
"Hey," Keda, after sipping some tea, said to Lu Xiu, "Cao Bin is coming, you should be prepared."
"Mm," Lu Xiu glanced at Keda and nodded.
Silence fell at the table for a moment, only the sound of He Zhi eating heartily.
"Um, Director, please eat slowly," Jiang Hong hurriedly poured tea for He Zhi.
"I'm sorry," Lu Xiu suddenly said to Keda.
"It wasn’t you," Keda waved his hand, indicating it was okay, understanding Lu Xiu was referring to what he had done under the control of his inner demon to Feng Li and Keda, and added, "I should thank you for giving me the chance to play the hero."
Lu Xiu asked, "Has he calmed down?"
"Sort of," Keda replied casually, "Let it be, I don't want to force things."
Jiang Hong listened silently, saying nothing, as he had no place to advise him, and there was still the unresolved matter between Xiaopi and Lian Jiang.
"Chen Zhen will also come," Keda said, "Fang Yifeng has to go back to submit his report."
Lu Xiu responded, "He left last night."
Keda: "Well, anyway, just consider it a snack."
Just as He Zhi put down his chopsticks, he heard and asked again, "What snack? Is there more food?"
Lu Xiu: "Okay, pack some snacks for Teacher He to take home. Hey, pandas! Go get some takeaway boxes!"
"Right, right," Jiang Hong said, "Pack it for the counselor! No, tell the kitchen to make a fresh batch and send it to the counselor."
"Okay!" The panda immediately went to pass the message.
"Jiang Hong," He Zhi, having finished eating, wandered around the bedroom.
"Ah?" Jiang Hong, fearing He Zhi had found something else 'inappropriate' in his room and bracing for a scolding, heard He Zhi suddenly change the topic: "Can I have some of these shower gels and shampoos in your room?"
"Of course!" Jiang Hong immediately replied.
"And the sugar packets, you don’t drink instant coffee, right? Oh, you have a coffee machine in your room?" He Zhi noted.
"All yours!" Jiang Hong said again, "Hey panda! Send a coffee machine to Director He’s room!"
So He Zhi scavenged around Jiang Hong's room and then asked, "This electric toothbrush..."
Jiang Hong: "That's mine. My mom brought it for me..."
He Zhi: "Oh, okay..."
"For so many years," Keda said, "no one has successfully communicated with Wangkun, not even Xiang Cheng. Wangkun only revealed its power to him once, more than a decade ago."
Lu Xiu said, "Maybe it just doesn’t want to communicate with anyone."
"But Jiang Hong can," Keda said, "Yesterday, Fang Yifeng clearly knew about this, and he will surely report it as well."
Lu Xiu: "So what?"
Keda said, "I guess this is the real purpose of the Exorcism Committee. Why doesn’t Wangkun enter the cycle of reincarnation? What is it waiting for?"
Lu Xiu remained silent, and Keda added, "The kun has existed since the era of Zhuangzi, and it's the only one left in the world."
"It's already dead," Lu Xiu replied. "Since it's dead, it can’t be considered as 'the only one left,' but rather 'once existed.' The Phoenix has lived the longest."
Keda said, "Si Gui’s life form is different from it."
"There's no eternity," Lu Xiu said, "only different forms of reincarnation."
Feng Li appeared outside the bedroom. Although Keda's back was turned to him, he sensed Feng Li's arrival immediately, without turning around.
"The Grand Exorcist has come to visit," Feng Li said expressionlessly, "accompanied by three people."
"Only four people?" Lu Xiu asked, "Where are they now?"
"They are already at the mountain gate," Feng Li replied. "Should I let them in?"
Lu Xiu: "Let them in. Jiang Hong, you play with the pandas. I’ll go meet them."
"Okay! Sure," Jiang Hong happily replied.
Being a 'Your Majesty' is truly blissful.
Sometimes Jiang Hong even thought of adjusting his life goal to "become a Your Majesty."
