Chapter 101: Inquiry
"Shouldn't you go see Principal Cao?" Jiang Hong asked curiously while riding on a panda's back.
"Don't want to. I'm mad at him," Keda said. "Go about your business, don’t mind me."
Jiang Hong: "Why are you mad? You should be resting to heal."
Keda replied, "Because his ambush plan also trapped me. I don’t want to just sit around."
Jiang Hong: "?"
Jiang Hong let Keda ride with him, but Keda was reluctant, preferring to walk slowly behind Jiang Hong. Today, except for those who had to work, all other demons and interns in the sanctuary were on holiday. Initially planning to visit the Ghost King and then play with his classmates, Jiang Hong also dismounted from the panda and decided to walk with Keda.
He Jian had disappeared somewhere, and Zhang Xiting was also not around, leaving only Jin Zhen in his room, in his original form—a golden-haired lion, lazily lying on the floor, half of his body on a low table, using his paw to hit the enter key on a laptop, organizing a list of names.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Adjusting personnel for the Demon Association," Jin answered, "Feng Li asked me to help... Hello, teacher, would you like something to drink?"
Keda said, "You do your thing; don't worry about me."
"Wow." Jiang Hong leaned over. Jin's fur was comfortable and glossy, without any animal smell but rather a faint scent of sandalwood and perfume.
Jiang Hong remembered Jin was interning under Feng Li and likely earned a lot of favor for his family during the rebellion in the sanctuary. He asked, "Will you come to the sanctuary after graduation?"
"It depends," Jin said, "Feng Li hopes I stay. The sanctuary is quiet, suitable for cultivation."
The quiet and empty sanctuary might be boring for those who love excitement, but it was perfect for Jin.
Jiang Hong then visited Xiaopi and Lian Jiang’s room, but they were also out, with a sign on the door—[Back in the evening]. They must have gone out to play.
Leaving Jin’s room, Keda asked, "Today's a day off, where do you want to go next?"
Jiang Hong, unsure, asked, "How are things between you and Feng Li?"
Keda: "Just like that, can’t you see for yourself?"
After a moment, Keda added, "Do I look like a drowned dog? Heartbroken, lost so much combat power, got beaten half to death..."
Keda had been showing a lot of resentment lately, but Jiang Hong knew this was his way of treating his own people and didn’t mind. After all, no matter what Keda said, he was a good friend.
"I got heartbroken too," Jiang Hong tried to find common ground, "Same here, sigh."
"You and Lu Xiu, that's different," Keda said, "But anyway, do you want to ride me?"
"Ah?" Jiang Hong remembered Keda was a wolf and said, "Is that... okay? Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Ke Da replied, "Come up, I'll take you around. Where do you want to go?"
Kadarton transformed into a gray wolf, swiftly unwrapping the bandages. A faint scar was visible on the wolf's head. Jiang Hong climbed onto its back; the wolf's front right leg was slightly unstable, but it could still carry a person without issue as long as it didn't run too fast.
"Why did you and Feng Li separate?" Jiang Hong asked.
"We had incompatible personalities," the gray wolf replied.
Jiang Hong inquired, "Can you elaborate?"
The gray wolf explained, "It's not quite the right analogy, but would you engage in an online romance with a grade-schooler in a game?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh, of course not..."
The gray wolf said, "A nine-tailed fox spirit who has lived for over a thousand years might see me as just a grade-schooler in his eyes."
Jiang Hong initially thought that despite incompatible personalities, if there's love, what can't be overcome? But hearing this, he could only respond, "Okay, but how did you two get together initially?"
The gray wolf said, "When he accepted my confession, perhaps the nine-tailed fox thought I was a mature grade-schooler? He never truly loved me. It was just that everyone was pushing us together, and he thought, 'Well, it's good enough.'"
Jiang Hong found this sad but also amusing.
The gray wolf asked, "What about you? Why did you experience heartbreak?"
Jiang Hong briefly shared his story. The gray wolf listened silently, offering no opinion, and finally said, "Cherish the time you have together."
Jiang Hong hummed in agreement, saying, "I don't mind now. As long as we're both fine, liking or not liking isn't important... Oh! I remember now, I'll take you somewhere! Let's head to the main hall first..."
The gray wolf carried Jiang Hong towards the main hall, but the doors were closed, and Lu Xiu seemed to be discussing something inside. Jiang Hong said, "There's a storage room behind the main hall, do you know about it?"
"I know," the gray wolf replied. "What are we going to do at the storage room?"
"I found two things there that I think might have been left for you and Feng Li," Jiang Hong said. "Let's go take a look."
The gray wolf suggested, "There's a window here that leads to the resting room behind the throne. I'll take you there. Hold on tight."
The gray wolf leaped from the platform, covering nearly twenty meters in the air to land on a protruding wooden column. It then pushed open the window with its front paws and easily jumped into the resting room behind the throne.
"Huh?" Peering through the crack in the door of the resting room, Jiang Hong spotted Cao Bin's figure. He whispered, "Can we eavesdrop?"
"Sure," said the gray wolf. "Let's go together, but keep your voice down."
Jiang Hong knew Kadarton loved eavesdropping; he had even taught him how to peek through door cracks.
"Ah, who's that?" Jiang Hong whispered.
The gray wolf warned, "They've heard us! Keep it down!"
Cao Bin: "......"
Inside the main hall, Cao Bin was struggling to control himself, not looking at the crack behind the throne.
Lu Xiu sat silently on the throne. Feng Li stood below the steps, facing Chen Zhen, Cao Bin, and two unfamiliar men. On the side stood the brothers He Jian and He Rong. The atmosphere was tense, as if they had just had a major argument.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Among the two unfamiliar men, one looked to be in his early thirties, appearing young, almost Cao Bin's age. The other was in his forties or fifties, with a few strands of white in his temples and an aura reminiscent of Jiang Hong's father. He seemed to be having a heart attack, breathing heavily.
"Who's that?" Jiang Hong asked quietly.
"He Youzhong," the gray wolf replied, his attention focused on Feng Li. But soon, a crisp sound echoed from inside the main hall.
The middle-aged man turned and, in front of everyone, fiercely slapped He Rong!
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
"Unfilial!" The middle-aged man, infuriated, grabbed He Rong by the collar and dragged him forward to kneel before Lu Xiu, shouting, "I sent you to the sacred land, and yet what has blinded you?"
He Jian trembled on the spot, finally mustering all his strength to step forward and protect his elder brother, pleading, "Dad!"
Lu Xiu spoke up, "Don't hit the child here!"
Jiang Hong thought: The logic is right, but why does the phrase "hit the child" sound so odd?
"Mr. He," Cao Bin interjected, "please show some mercy."
Unable to stand it any longer, Cao Bin pleaded for He Rong. The middle-aged man, identified as He Youzhong, kicked He Rong twice more before stopping.
He Rong staggered to his feet, his mouth bloody and his forehead covered in bruises, standing behind his brother.
The middle-aged man pleaded, "Your Majesty, I beg you to allow me to take this unfilial son back for discipline..."
Lu Xiu then said, "Discuss this matter later; let's focus on the important issues now."
Jiang Hong noticed that Lu Xiu's presence was overwhelmingly commanding. Whether it was because he was a dragon or because he had successfully quelled the rebellion in the sacred land, the hall fell silent the moment he spoke.
"The He family, relying on having many sons," the gray wolf whispered, "likes to play both sides."
Jiang Hong remembered Lu Xiu mentioning that He Jian's elder brother He Rong served with the Eagle King in the sacred land, their second brother He Lanshan was a demon hunter in the Exorcism Committee, and He Jian was at Cangqiong University. It seemed their family had already planned out his path.
It appeared the He family was thriving, indeed possessing real talent.
The other young man remained silent. From Jiang Hong's angle, he vaguely thought the man resembled Zhang Xiting. Could he be his brother? But Zhang Xiting had never mentioned having a sibling.
Inside the main hall, Chen Zhen continued, "We came because we received reports that the Kun god is still alive and can communicate with humans. The report came from Fang Yifeng, who mentioned in it..."
Lu Xiu interrupted, "No need to elaborate, do you want to meet Yuan Kun?"
Chen Zhen answered, "Yes, is that possible?"
Lu Xiu didn't respond directly. Chen Zhen explained, "Zhuangzi is the god of the Endless Dreamscape, and Yuan Kun, as his steed, can foresee the future through it. This meeting could determine how we understand and approach the war with Yinghuo, and perhaps avoid some misfortunes."
Lu Xiu said, "So far, only Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting have successfully communicated with Yuan Kun, and that was only regarding Yao Ji. I'm not sure if he'll entertain you."
Chen Zhen replied, "It's worth a try."
Oh, is that so... Jiang Hong didn't quite understand why the spirit of Kun was so important. It seemed to Chen Zhen and the others, the rebellion in the sacred land was a minor issue. Their real purpose was to consult Kun about the future?
Inside the main hall, Lu Xiu glanced at Feng Li, who nodded and left.
"Regarding the rebellion in the sacred land," Chen Zhen finally brought up the topic, "should I offer congratulations or condolences?"
Lu Xiu casually said, "Either is fine. I was just fulfilling King Xiang's duties."
Chen Zhen nodded, and Cao Bin then asked, "What about Jiang Hong?"
Jiang Hong thought to himself: You've seen me, why ask knowingly. Lu Xiu, aware that Jiang Hong was right behind him, replied, "You'll see him in a bit. He'll join us to meet the Kun god."
"Let's go," said the gray wolf. "Nothing more to hear here, shall we head to the storage room?"
Jiang Hong was about to ask if they would be looking for him soon when Kadarton, the gray wolf, suggested, "Let Cao Bin wait a bit longer. They're dawdling; no rush. Let's go."
The gray wolf, carrying Jiang Hong, entered the storage room. The staircase to the attic was narrow, so Kadarton resumed his human form. Jiang Hong said, "There's a seal here, let me think how to..."
Kadarton said, "This is Xiao Duo's seal," and effortlessly unsealed it.
"The consort of King Xiang?" Jiang Hong heard another consort's name.
"Yes," Kadarton replied. "What about this place?"
They continued up the stairs to the attic. Kadarton glanced around, frowning slightly.
"Take a look at this card?" Jiang Hong handed the card to Kadarton.
"This was from the Lantern Festival activity in the sacred land," Kadarton explained. "If you made it through the final challenge, you'd win an invention by Chi Xiao Duo as a prize."
"Ah!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "So that's it! But why didn't anyone claim it?"
Kadarton replied, "Feng Li and I had an argument. I had already reached the main hall following the clues, but then he left."
"Oh..." Jiang Hong said, "That's really a pity, but I think you could..."
Kadarton snapped his fingers, activating some sort of magic, and the card began to emit sound.
"You're amazing! You actually found this place..." a clear, youthful voice rang out.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Kadarton listened with an indifferent expression, picking up a bottle from the table.
"Wait..." Jiang Hong quickly said.
Kadarton interjected, "Don't interrupt now, let me listen first."
Jiang Hong clearly remembered this voice; was this Chi Xiao Duo? Was this the same conversation between a man and a youth he had heard countless times in his dreams?
"Shout your feelings towards your beloved with this megaphone, and they will surely speak their true heart. In love, we often say the opposite of what we feel. I hope this invention allows people to confront their true feelings and become more sincere..."
"...To avoid accidents, I've put a limit on it: it can only be used three times! After three uses, it will self-destruct, so use it carefully. Whoever ends up with it, good luck!"
Kadarton picked up the megaphone, examining it closely.
"Can I have it?" Kadarton asked. "Jiang Hong, I'd be grateful for a lifetime."
Jiang Hong replied, "What are you talking about! This was made for you, wasn't it? It's just that..."
Kadarton said, "But it was you and Lu Xiu who found it."
Jiang Hong laughed, "We just stumbled upon it by chance. You take it!"
Kadarton earnestly said, "Thank you."
Kadarton then tucked away the megaphone. Lu Xiu's voice suddenly rang out, reminiscent of the day they were searching for Jiang Hong, suggesting the sacred land had a special amplifying spell.
"Jiang Hong? Where are you? Come to the courtyard."
"On my way!" Jiang Hong shouted into the air, realizing Lu Xiu was looking for him. Kadarton transformed back into the gray wolf and carried Jiang Hong towards the courtyard.
"Right!" Jiang Hong finally remembered. "Was that voice Chi Xiao Duo's?"
The gray wolf hummed in confirmation, and Jiang Hong shared his dreams. The wolf asked, "You've dreamt of them?"
"More precisely, I've heard their conversations in my dreams," Jiang Hong responded.
The gray wolf said, "Zhang Jing is an expert in the Endless Dreamscape. You can ask him later."
"And who is Zhang Jing?" Jiang Hong asked, puzzled.
"He's the other person who came with He Youzhong," the gray wolf explained. "Alright, we're here, you can get off now."
Jiang Hong dismounted from the gray wolf's back. The wolf seemed reluctant to leave, so Jiang Hong patted its head and bid it a temporary farewell.
Lu Xiu was standing with Cao Bin, Chen Zhen, and the man named Zhang Jing. Seeing Jiang Hong, Lu Xiu's calm expression softened slightly.
"Jiang Hong!" Next to Zhang Jing stood another person — Jiang Hong's roommate, Zhang Xiting.
During the recent rebellion in the sacred land, Zhang Xiting had been exceptionally protective of Jiang Hong, fighting alongside him from start to finish, deepening their bond. Seeing Zhang Xiting, Jiang Hong felt a surge of happiness.
"This is my father," Zhang Xiting introduced.
"Oh, no wonder," Jiang Hong smiled. Seeing Zhang Jing's face in the courtyard, he looked exactly like a mold of Zhang Xiting.
"I married young," joked Zhang Jing. "I had Xiting when I was in my teens. Don't we look more like brothers?"
Jiang Hong greeted Cao Bin and Chen Zhen, feeling a sense of long-awaited reunion with Cao Bin, as if he had found a pillar of support.
Lu Xiu said, "Let's go now."
Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong's hand, leading the group out of the courtyard and onto an elevator, heading deeper into the sacred land.
"This was a successful ambush," Chen Zhen remarked.
Everyone was silent, and Jiang Hong wondered who Chen Zhen was addressing. Lu Xiu? Probably not. Was he referring to the course of the rebellion in the sacred land?
Cao Bin naturally responded, "Even the most successful ambush requires cooperation. In this regard, we owe immense gratitude to the faculty and students of Cangqiong University, and especially to Director Fang Yifeng for his brave stand."
Jiang Hong: "......"
Jiang Hong felt Cao Bin might be implying something sarcastic but couldn't quite grasp it. Yet, Cao Bin's "gentlemanly snark" was undeniably amusing.
However, Zhang Jing couldn't control his laughter and was the first to chuckle.
Zhang Xiting, always composed, immediately signaled his father with a glance. Zhang Jing instantly returned to a serious demeanor.
Cao Bin then gave Jiang Hong a barely noticeable wink.
Jiang Hong looked at Cao Bin skeptically. Could everything that happened in the sacred land have been a trap set by Cao Bin from the start? No, even with Cao Bin's capabilities, without Lu Xiu's cooperation, it couldn't have been possible.
He then looked at Lu Xiu, who had a smile in his eyes but gave no reaction.
It must have been a scheme they concocted together! Starting with the disaster created by the 'dark' Lu Xiu, Cao Bin used the enemy's setup to suggest Lu Xiu's return to the sacred land... Jiang Hong slowly pieced it together. Then they lured out the rebels, Lu Chao Yang and Eagle King Liu Heng... No, maybe it started even earlier! From the day Kadarton resigned as the acting Demon King and returned to school, Cao Bin left enough room for the enemies in the sacred land to plan!
So after realizing this, Kadarton would say "I'm angry with him". It all makes sense now!
It was all your doing! Jiang Hong finally understood, as if awakening from a dream, looking at Cao Bin.
"The lessons in setting traps weren't wasted," Cao Bin, clearly aware of what Jiang Hong wanted to say, commented, "You also played your part well, Jiang Hong. I think you deserve an 'S' for this semester."
Lu Xiu added, "Jiang Hong's grades are solely upheld by his comprehensive exorcism studies."
Jiang Hong: "......"
As they left the elevator, Chen Zhen seemed preoccupied with thoughts, while Zhang Jing and Zhang Xiting were walking at the back, chatting occasionally, probably about the sacred land internship, the food, and other topics.
Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu walked at the front. Jiang Hong hesitated to speak, and Lu Xiu, noticing this, asked, "What do you want to say?"
Jiang Hong wanted to tell him about the dream he had of Xiang Cheng and Chi Xiao Duo conversing, but hesitated because of the others present. Lu Xiu said, "It's okay, just say it."
Jiang Hong then recounted everything to Lu Xiu, who initially looked puzzled but soon understood.
"Have you had such dreams since?" Lu Xiu asked.
The last time Jiang Hong dreamed of the conversation was right before he woke up, but he had almost forgotten it. As he was trying to recall, Lu Xiu said, "It's okay, Zhang Jing can help you remember."
"You dreamt of Xiao Duo?" Chen Zhen overheard.
With Chen Zhen's personality, unless it was something important, he wouldn't intervene in their conversation, even if they were discussing how to raid the Exorcism Committee.
"Yes... yes," Jiang Hong felt somewhat uneasy inside.
Chen Zhen said, "I thought only Lu Xiu could receive communications initiated by Xiang Cheng."
"Because I taught him Dragon Tongue," Lu Xiu answered. "Xiang Cheng sends important messages through Dragon Tongue, transcending time and space to me. But the chances of receiving them are rare, and the time frames are incomplete."
"Oh, is that so!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "No wonder!"
Thinking back, it made sense. The first time Jiang Hong dreamt of the conversation was after Lu Xiu had taught him Dragon Tongue.
Cao Bin then asked, "During this period, has Xiang Cheng contacted you?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Not this month."
Chen Zhen continued, "What about before? Have you sorted any useful information from those messages?"
"Time is linear for us, but for them, it's fragmented," Lu Xiu explained. "It's very chaotic. Due to missing messages, I don't even know at which point in time they are."
Jiang Hong asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Lu Xiu explained, "They're retracing time. They might go back a thousand years, two thousand years. For instance, today I might receive a message from three thousand years ago, but next month, I might get one from six hundred and fifty years ago."
"Oh." Jiang Hong understood. If Xiang Cheng and Chi Xiao Duo's journey through time was like a movie, then what Lu Xiu received were like scrambled, out-of-order scenes from the movie, which he had to piece together like a puzzle, with the added challenge of missing frames.
It indeed sounded frustrating, but the fact that Dragon Tongue could transcend time was already quite remarkable.
"We're here." Lu Xiu unlocked the seal, revealing steps leading downward. Everyone descended to a shallow area.
The skeletal remains of Kun still lay in the pool, with gentle ripples spreading across the calm surface of the water.
Like Zhang Xiting's first visit here, Zhang Jing was awestruck at the sight of Kun, bowing in reverence.
"Is it possible?" Chen Zhen asked.
"Yes," Zhang Jing nodded and said, "Who will communicate with Yuan Kun?"
"If possible," Chen Zhen said, "include all of us in the dream."
Zhang Jing replied, "That will make the dream unstable. The soul of the deceased Kun has weakened over the years. Also, we can't use any magic in the dream that isn't inherent to our souls."
Cao Bin asked, "Should I stay outside?"
Chen Zhen replied, "No, come in with us. I need you to understand all the details, in case I miss something."
Cao Bin said, "Then, let's begin."
Jiang Hong stood beside Lu Xiu, their hands intertwined.
"Xiting," Zhang Jing instructed, "you draw the magic circle."
"Okay," Zhang Xiting responded, starting his spellcasting. Unlike what Jiang Hong had seen before, starlight crisscrossed in front of Zhang Xiting. It soon rippled along the water surface, spreading out and encircling the remains of Kun in a huge rune.
Zhang Jing levitated in the air, his slender figure in a suit floating above the water. Suddenly, his entire body radiated blue-white light, illuminating the vast cave like particles of light!
"In one dream, all life emerges!" Zhang Jing proclaimed loudly. "Yuan Kun, the 146th successor of Zhuang Zhou, awaken now!"
The light burst forth. Zhang Jing's dream light was different from the light of the heart lamp. While the heart lamp illuminated everything, the dream light shimmered gently in blue and white.
"All phenomena are like dreams, like illusions," Yuan Kun emerged from the light. "Who knows if the mortal world is but a dream, or if dreams illuminate everything? As a descendant of Zhuang Zhou, enter my dream."
The next moment, the brilliant light converged again. Jiang Hong felt a force beyond his control and, with a loud noise, was drawn once more into Yuan Kun's dream along with the light!
Chapter 101: Inquiry
"Shouldn't you go see Principal Cao?" Jiang Hong asked curiously while riding on a panda's back.
"Don't want to. I'm mad at him," Keda said. "Go about your business, don’t mind me."
Jiang Hong: "Why are you mad? You should be resting to heal."
Keda replied, "Because his ambush plan also trapped me. I don’t want to just sit around."
Jiang Hong: "?"
Jiang Hong let Keda ride with him, but Keda was reluctant, preferring to walk slowly behind Jiang Hong. Today, except for those who had to work, all other demons and interns in the sanctuary were on holiday. Initially planning to visit the Ghost King and then play with his classmates, Jiang Hong also dismounted from the panda and decided to walk with Keda.
He Jian had disappeared somewhere, and Zhang Xiting was also not around, leaving only Jin Zhen in his room, in his original form—a golden-haired lion, lazily lying on the floor, half of his body on a low table, using his paw to hit the enter key on a laptop, organizing a list of names.
"What are you doing?" Jiang Hong asked curiously.
"Adjusting personnel for the Demon Association," Jin answered, "Feng Li asked me to help... Hello, teacher, would you like something to drink?"
Keda said, "You do your thing; don't worry about me."
"Wow." Jiang Hong leaned over. Jin's fur was comfortable and glossy, without any animal smell but rather a faint scent of sandalwood and perfume.
Jiang Hong remembered Jin was interning under Feng Li and likely earned a lot of favor for his family during the rebellion in the sanctuary. He asked, "Will you come to the sanctuary after graduation?"
"It depends," Jin said, "Feng Li hopes I stay. The sanctuary is quiet, suitable for cultivation."
The quiet and empty sanctuary might be boring for those who love excitement, but it was perfect for Jin.
Jiang Hong then visited Xiaopi and Lian Jiang’s room, but they were also out, with a sign on the door—[Back in the evening]. They must have gone out to play.
Leaving Jin’s room, Keda asked, "Today's a day off, where do you want to go next?"
Jiang Hong, unsure, asked, "How are things between you and Feng Li?"
Keda: "Just like that, can’t you see for yourself?"
After a moment, Keda added, "Do I look like a drowned dog? Heartbroken, lost so much combat power, got beaten half to death..."
Keda had been showing a lot of resentment lately, but Jiang Hong knew this was his way of treating his own people and didn’t mind. After all, no matter what Keda said, he was a good friend.
"I got heartbroken too," Jiang Hong tried to find common ground, "Same here, sigh."
"You and Lu Xiu, that's different," Keda said, "But anyway, do you want to ride me?"
"Ah?" Jiang Hong remembered Keda was a wolf and said, "Is that... okay? Your injuries haven't healed yet."
Ke Da replied, "Come up, I'll take you around. Where do you want to go?"
Kadarton transformed into a gray wolf, swiftly unwrapping the bandages. A faint scar was visible on the wolf's head. Jiang Hong climbed onto its back; the wolf's front right leg was slightly unstable, but it could still carry a person without issue as long as it didn't run too fast.
"Why did you and Feng Li separate?" Jiang Hong asked.
"We had incompatible personalities," the gray wolf replied.
Jiang Hong inquired, "Can you elaborate?"
The gray wolf explained, "It's not quite the right analogy, but would you engage in an online romance with a grade-schooler in a game?"
Jiang Hong: "Uh, of course not..."
The gray wolf said, "A nine-tailed fox spirit who has lived for over a thousand years might see me as just a grade-schooler in his eyes."
Jiang Hong initially thought that despite incompatible personalities, if there's love, what can't be overcome? But hearing this, he could only respond, "Okay, but how did you two get together initially?"
The gray wolf said, "When he accepted my confession, perhaps the nine-tailed fox thought I was a mature grade-schooler? He never truly loved me. It was just that everyone was pushing us together, and he thought, 'Well, it's good enough.'"
Jiang Hong found this sad but also amusing.
The gray wolf asked, "What about you? Why did you experience heartbreak?"
Jiang Hong briefly shared his story. The gray wolf listened silently, offering no opinion, and finally said, "Cherish the time you have together."
Jiang Hong hummed in agreement, saying, "I don't mind now. As long as we're both fine, liking or not liking isn't important... Oh! I remember now, I'll take you somewhere! Let's head to the main hall first..."
The gray wolf carried Jiang Hong towards the main hall, but the doors were closed, and Lu Xiu seemed to be discussing something inside. Jiang Hong said, "There's a storage room behind the main hall, do you know about it?"
"I know," the gray wolf replied. "What are we going to do at the storage room?"
"I found two things there that I think might have been left for you and Feng Li," Jiang Hong said. "Let's go take a look."
The gray wolf suggested, "There's a window here that leads to the resting room behind the throne. I'll take you there. Hold on tight."
The gray wolf leaped from the platform, covering nearly twenty meters in the air to land on a protruding wooden column. It then pushed open the window with its front paws and easily jumped into the resting room behind the throne.
"Huh?" Peering through the crack in the door of the resting room, Jiang Hong spotted Cao Bin's figure. He whispered, "Can we eavesdrop?"
"Sure," said the gray wolf. "Let's go together, but keep your voice down."
Jiang Hong knew Kadarton loved eavesdropping; he had even taught him how to peek through door cracks.
"Ah, who's that?" Jiang Hong whispered.
The gray wolf warned, "They've heard us! Keep it down!"
Cao Bin: "......"
Inside the main hall, Cao Bin was struggling to control himself, not looking at the crack behind the throne.
Lu Xiu sat silently on the throne. Feng Li stood below the steps, facing Chen Zhen, Cao Bin, and two unfamiliar men. On the side stood the brothers He Jian and He Rong. The atmosphere was tense, as if they had just had a major argument.
Jiang Hong: "???"
Among the two unfamiliar men, one looked to be in his early thirties, appearing young, almost Cao Bin's age. The other was in his forties or fifties, with a few strands of white in his temples and an aura reminiscent of Jiang Hong's father. He seemed to be having a heart attack, breathing heavily.
"Who's that?" Jiang Hong asked quietly.
"He Youzhong," the gray wolf replied, his attention focused on Feng Li. But soon, a crisp sound echoed from inside the main hall.
The middle-aged man turned and, in front of everyone, fiercely slapped He Rong!
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
"Unfilial!" The middle-aged man, infuriated, grabbed He Rong by the collar and dragged him forward to kneel before Lu Xiu, shouting, "I sent you to the sacred land, and yet what has blinded you?"
He Jian trembled on the spot, finally mustering all his strength to step forward and protect his elder brother, pleading, "Dad!"
Lu Xiu spoke up, "Don't hit the child here!"
Jiang Hong thought: The logic is right, but why does the phrase "hit the child" sound so odd?
"Mr. He," Cao Bin interjected, "please show some mercy."
Unable to stand it any longer, Cao Bin pleaded for He Rong. The middle-aged man, identified as He Youzhong, kicked He Rong twice more before stopping.
He Rong staggered to his feet, his mouth bloody and his forehead covered in bruises, standing behind his brother.
The middle-aged man pleaded, "Your Majesty, I beg you to allow me to take this unfilial son back for discipline..."
Lu Xiu then said, "Discuss this matter later; let's focus on the important issues now."
Jiang Hong noticed that Lu Xiu's presence was overwhelmingly commanding. Whether it was because he was a dragon or because he had successfully quelled the rebellion in the sacred land, the hall fell silent the moment he spoke.
"The He family, relying on having many sons," the gray wolf whispered, "likes to play both sides."
Jiang Hong remembered Lu Xiu mentioning that He Jian's elder brother He Rong served with the Eagle King in the sacred land, their second brother He Lanshan was a demon hunter in the Exorcism Committee, and He Jian was at Cangqiong University. It seemed their family had already planned out his path.
It appeared the He family was thriving, indeed possessing real talent.
The other young man remained silent. From Jiang Hong's angle, he vaguely thought the man resembled Zhang Xiting. Could he be his brother? But Zhang Xiting had never mentioned having a sibling.
Inside the main hall, Chen Zhen continued, "We came because we received reports that the Kun god is still alive and can communicate with humans. The report came from Fang Yifeng, who mentioned in it..."
Lu Xiu interrupted, "No need to elaborate, do you want to meet Yuan Kun?"
Chen Zhen answered, "Yes, is that possible?"
Lu Xiu didn't respond directly. Chen Zhen explained, "Zhuangzi is the god of the Endless Dreamscape, and Yuan Kun, as his steed, can foresee the future through it. This meeting could determine how we understand and approach the war with Yinghuo, and perhaps avoid some misfortunes."
Lu Xiu said, "So far, only Jiang Hong and Zhang Xiting have successfully communicated with Yuan Kun, and that was only regarding Yao Ji. I'm not sure if he'll entertain you."
Chen Zhen replied, "It's worth a try."
Oh, is that so... Jiang Hong didn't quite understand why the spirit of Kun was so important. It seemed to Chen Zhen and the others, the rebellion in the sacred land was a minor issue. Their real purpose was to consult Kun about the future?
Inside the main hall, Lu Xiu glanced at Feng Li, who nodded and left.
"Regarding the rebellion in the sacred land," Chen Zhen finally brought up the topic, "should I offer congratulations or condolences?"
Lu Xiu casually said, "Either is fine. I was just fulfilling King Xiang's duties."
Chen Zhen nodded, and Cao Bin then asked, "What about Jiang Hong?"
Jiang Hong thought to himself: You've seen me, why ask knowingly. Lu Xiu, aware that Jiang Hong was right behind him, replied, "You'll see him in a bit. He'll join us to meet the Kun god."
"Let's go," said the gray wolf. "Nothing more to hear here, shall we head to the storage room?"
Jiang Hong was about to ask if they would be looking for him soon when Kadarton, the gray wolf, suggested, "Let Cao Bin wait a bit longer. They're dawdling; no rush. Let's go."
The gray wolf, carrying Jiang Hong, entered the storage room. The staircase to the attic was narrow, so Kadarton resumed his human form. Jiang Hong said, "There's a seal here, let me think how to..."
Kadarton said, "This is Xiao Duo's seal," and effortlessly unsealed it.
"The consort of King Xiang?" Jiang Hong heard another consort's name.
"Yes," Kadarton replied. "What about this place?"
They continued up the stairs to the attic. Kadarton glanced around, frowning slightly.
"Take a look at this card?" Jiang Hong handed the card to Kadarton.
"This was from the Lantern Festival activity in the sacred land," Kadarton explained. "If you made it through the final challenge, you'd win an invention by Chi Xiao Duo as a prize."
"Ah!" Jiang Hong exclaimed. "So that's it! But why didn't anyone claim it?"
Kadarton replied, "Feng Li and I had an argument. I had already reached the main hall following the clues, but then he left."
"Oh..." Jiang Hong said, "That's really a pity, but I think you could..."
Kadarton snapped his fingers, activating some sort of magic, and the card began to emit sound.
"You're amazing! You actually found this place..." a clear, youthful voice rang out.
Jiang Hong: "!!!"
Kadarton listened with an indifferent expression, picking up a bottle from the table.
"Wait..." Jiang Hong quickly said.
Kadarton interjected, "Don't interrupt now, let me listen first."
Jiang Hong clearly remembered this voice; was this Chi Xiao Duo? Was this the same conversation between a man and a youth he had heard countless times in his dreams?
"Shout your feelings towards your beloved with this megaphone, and they will surely speak their true heart. In love, we often say the opposite of what we feel. I hope this invention allows people to confront their true feelings and become more sincere..."
"...To avoid accidents, I've put a limit on it: it can only be used three times! After three uses, it will self-destruct, so use it carefully. Whoever ends up with it, good luck!"
Kadarton picked up the megaphone, examining it closely.
"Can I have it?" Kadarton asked. "Jiang Hong, I'd be grateful for a lifetime."
Jiang Hong replied, "What are you talking about! This was made for you, wasn't it? It's just that..."
Kadarton said, "But it was you and Lu Xiu who found it."
Jiang Hong laughed, "We just stumbled upon it by chance. You take it!"
Kadarton earnestly said, "Thank you."
Kadarton then tucked away the megaphone. Lu Xiu's voice suddenly rang out, reminiscent of the day they were searching for Jiang Hong, suggesting the sacred land had a special amplifying spell.
"Jiang Hong? Where are you? Come to the courtyard."
"On my way!" Jiang Hong shouted into the air, realizing Lu Xiu was looking for him. Kadarton transformed back into the gray wolf and carried Jiang Hong towards the courtyard.
"Right!" Jiang Hong finally remembered. "Was that voice Chi Xiao Duo's?"
The gray wolf hummed in confirmation, and Jiang Hong shared his dreams. The wolf asked, "You've dreamt of them?"
"More precisely, I've heard their conversations in my dreams," Jiang Hong responded.
The gray wolf said, "Zhang Jing is an expert in the Endless Dreamscape. You can ask him later."
"And who is Zhang Jing?" Jiang Hong asked, puzzled.
"He's the other person who came with He Youzhong," the gray wolf explained. "Alright, we're here, you can get off now."
Jiang Hong dismounted from the gray wolf's back. The wolf seemed reluctant to leave, so Jiang Hong patted its head and bid it a temporary farewell.
Lu Xiu was standing with Cao Bin, Chen Zhen, and the man named Zhang Jing. Seeing Jiang Hong, Lu Xiu's calm expression softened slightly.
"Jiang Hong!" Next to Zhang Jing stood another person — Jiang Hong's roommate, Zhang Xiting.
During the recent rebellion in the sacred land, Zhang Xiting had been exceptionally protective of Jiang Hong, fighting alongside him from start to finish, deepening their bond. Seeing Zhang Xiting, Jiang Hong felt a surge of happiness.
"This is my father," Zhang Xiting introduced.
"Oh, no wonder," Jiang Hong smiled. Seeing Zhang Jing's face in the courtyard, he looked exactly like a mold of Zhang Xiting.
"I married young," joked Zhang Jing. "I had Xiting when I was in my teens. Don't we look more like brothers?"
Jiang Hong greeted Cao Bin and Chen Zhen, feeling a sense of long-awaited reunion with Cao Bin, as if he had found a pillar of support.
Lu Xiu said, "Let's go now."
Lu Xiu took Jiang Hong's hand, leading the group out of the courtyard and onto an elevator, heading deeper into the sacred land.
"This was a successful ambush," Chen Zhen remarked.
Everyone was silent, and Jiang Hong wondered who Chen Zhen was addressing. Lu Xiu? Probably not. Was he referring to the course of the rebellion in the sacred land?
Cao Bin naturally responded, "Even the most successful ambush requires cooperation. In this regard, we owe immense gratitude to the faculty and students of Cangqiong University, and especially to Director Fang Yifeng for his brave stand."
Jiang Hong: "......"
Jiang Hong felt Cao Bin might be implying something sarcastic but couldn't quite grasp it. Yet, Cao Bin's "gentlemanly snark" was undeniably amusing.
However, Zhang Jing couldn't control his laughter and was the first to chuckle.
Zhang Xiting, always composed, immediately signaled his father with a glance. Zhang Jing instantly returned to a serious demeanor.
Cao Bin then gave Jiang Hong a barely noticeable wink.
Jiang Hong looked at Cao Bin skeptically. Could everything that happened in the sacred land have been a trap set by Cao Bin from the start? No, even with Cao Bin's capabilities, without Lu Xiu's cooperation, it couldn't have been possible.
He then looked at Lu Xiu, who had a smile in his eyes but gave no reaction.
It must have been a scheme they concocted together! Starting with the disaster created by the 'dark' Lu Xiu, Cao Bin used the enemy's setup to suggest Lu Xiu's return to the sacred land... Jiang Hong slowly pieced it together. Then they lured out the rebels, Lu Chao Yang and Eagle King Liu Heng... No, maybe it started even earlier! From the day Kadarton resigned as the acting Demon King and returned to school, Cao Bin left enough room for the enemies in the sacred land to plan!
So after realizing this, Kadarton would say "I'm angry with him". It all makes sense now!
It was all your doing! Jiang Hong finally understood, as if awakening from a dream, looking at Cao Bin.
"The lessons in setting traps weren't wasted," Cao Bin, clearly aware of what Jiang Hong wanted to say, commented, "You also played your part well, Jiang Hong. I think you deserve an 'S' for this semester."
Lu Xiu added, "Jiang Hong's grades are solely upheld by his comprehensive exorcism studies."
Jiang Hong: "......"
As they left the elevator, Chen Zhen seemed preoccupied with thoughts, while Zhang Jing and Zhang Xiting were walking at the back, chatting occasionally, probably about the sacred land internship, the food, and other topics.
Jiang Hong and Lu Xiu walked at the front. Jiang Hong hesitated to speak, and Lu Xiu, noticing this, asked, "What do you want to say?"
Jiang Hong wanted to tell him about the dream he had of Xiang Cheng and Chi Xiao Duo conversing, but hesitated because of the others present. Lu Xiu said, "It's okay, just say it."
Jiang Hong then recounted everything to Lu Xiu, who initially looked puzzled but soon understood.
"Have you had such dreams since?" Lu Xiu asked.
The last time Jiang Hong dreamed of the conversation was right before he woke up, but he had almost forgotten it. As he was trying to recall, Lu Xiu said, "It's okay, Zhang Jing can help you remember."
"You dreamt of Xiao Duo?" Chen Zhen overheard.
With Chen Zhen's personality, unless it was something important, he wouldn't intervene in their conversation, even if they were discussing how to raid the Exorcism Committee.
"Yes... yes," Jiang Hong felt somewhat uneasy inside.
Chen Zhen said, "I thought only Lu Xiu could receive communications initiated by Xiang Cheng."
"Because I taught him Dragon Tongue," Lu Xiu answered. "Xiang Cheng sends important messages through Dragon Tongue, transcending time and space to me. But the chances of receiving them are rare, and the time frames are incomplete."
"Oh, is that so!" Jiang Hong exclaimed, "No wonder!"
Thinking back, it made sense. The first time Jiang Hong dreamt of the conversation was after Lu Xiu had taught him Dragon Tongue.
Cao Bin then asked, "During this period, has Xiang Cheng contacted you?"
Lu Xiu replied, "Not this month."
Chen Zhen continued, "What about before? Have you sorted any useful information from those messages?"
"Time is linear for us, but for them, it's fragmented," Lu Xiu explained. "It's very chaotic. Due to missing messages, I don't even know at which point in time they are."
Jiang Hong asked curiously, "What do you mean?"
Lu Xiu explained, "They're retracing time. They might go back a thousand years, two thousand years. For instance, today I might receive a message from three thousand years ago, but next month, I might get one from six hundred and fifty years ago."
"Oh." Jiang Hong understood. If Xiang Cheng and Chi Xiao Duo's journey through time was like a movie, then what Lu Xiu received were like scrambled, out-of-order scenes from the movie, which he had to piece together like a puzzle, with the added challenge of missing frames.
It indeed sounded frustrating, but the fact that Dragon Tongue could transcend time was already quite remarkable.
"We're here." Lu Xiu unlocked the seal, revealing steps leading downward. Everyone descended to a shallow area.
The skeletal remains of Kun still lay in the pool, with gentle ripples spreading across the calm surface of the water.
Like Zhang Xiting's first visit here, Zhang Jing was awestruck at the sight of Kun, bowing in reverence.
"Is it possible?" Chen Zhen asked.
"Yes," Zhang Jing nodded and said, "Who will communicate with Yuan Kun?"
"If possible," Chen Zhen said, "include all of us in the dream."
Zhang Jing replied, "That will make the dream unstable. The soul of the deceased Kun has weakened over the years. Also, we can't use any magic in the dream that isn't inherent to our souls."
Cao Bin asked, "Should I stay outside?"
Chen Zhen replied, "No, come in with us. I need you to understand all the details, in case I miss something."
Cao Bin said, "Then, let's begin."
Jiang Hong stood beside Lu Xiu, their hands intertwined.
"Xiting," Zhang Jing instructed, "you draw the magic circle."
"Okay," Zhang Xiting responded, starting his spellcasting. Unlike what Jiang Hong had seen before, starlight crisscrossed in front of Zhang Xiting. It soon rippled along the water surface, spreading out and encircling the remains of Kun in a huge rune.
Zhang Jing levitated in the air, his slender figure in a suit floating above the water. Suddenly, his entire body radiated blue-white light, illuminating the vast cave like particles of light!
"In one dream, all life emerges!" Zhang Jing proclaimed loudly. "Yuan Kun, the 146th successor of Zhuang Zhou, awaken now!"
The light burst forth. Zhang Jing's dream light was different from the light of the heart lamp. While the heart lamp illuminated everything, the dream light shimmered gently in blue and white.
"All phenomena are like dreams, like illusions," Yuan Kun emerged from the light. "Who knows if the mortal world is but a dream, or if dreams illuminate everything? As a descendant of Zhuang Zhou, enter my dream."
The next moment, the brilliant light converged again. Jiang Hong felt a force beyond his control and, with a loud noise, was drawn once more into Yuan Kun's dream along with the light!
