ZhouYan set flight soon after hearing of the Jiang's. He set course towards the imperial city, to scout for information. He had an inkling were madam Jiang had remarried, but he had to make sure. As an imperial historian, he knew everything about the officials and their families. He had written it all down. Too bad, after he and his brothers were executed, all of his hard work and documents were burned along with them.
When the rest of the crew reached the gates of HeHua a few days later, PingZe stormed off to the city and soon disappeared into the mass of people. As XiaoHe wondered where the demon went in such a hurry, the girls snickered and XiaoFu said, "Uncle PingZe is attracted to red lanterns like moths to a flame."
PingZe had a habit of spending weeks at a time in the whorehouses, without stepping foot out of his room. XiaoHe was awfully red after hearing this and mumbled, "Promiscuous."
MingYu only shook his head, PingZe never changed, always women and booze. At least ZhiYi had matured!
Unlike other big cities, Buildings in HeHua at their tallest only reached two stories high. What they lacked in height they made up with hundreds of blooming lotus ponds. Buildings were built around these pools of water so that one could drink, and enjoy the music while admiring the lotus flowers. The streets curved along the side of the ponds and white lanterns hung on the buildings. Light purple curtains framed every window, flowing against the dark wood frames and walls.
XiaoFu and XiaoFen took hold of LongHai and parted with the crew as they went to explore the city. XiaoFen threw suspicious looks at MingYu before they disappeared among the mass. XiaoHe's stomach was weeping, so ZhiYi guided the monks to a teahouse overlooking one of the largest ponds in the entire city. The lotus flowers were in full bloom, and their sweet fragrance filled the air, as they seated in the table closest to the pool.
A pot of tea and a plate of purple buns were placed before them. The monks stared at the buns in amazement, never in their lives had they seen a purple bun! Seeing their marvel, ZhiYi said, "HeHua is famous for their lotus buns. They might have a strong colour, but the taste is very faint. Try them."
MingYu took a bite, and the bun melted in his mouth instantly. The soft fragrance of the lotus mixed with the sweetness of the dough was overwhelming and MingYu's eyes fluttered with pleasure. He had never tasted anything like this! XiaoHe munched one bun after the other, he was in pure bliss.
XiaoHe only ate plain bread with whatever edible greens they could find during their stay on the mountain. Occasionally they could find yams or sweet potatoes, but that was it. With the nutrition they received, it was amazing ShiBai grew to be that big. XiaoHe was short compared to many, but he was still growing.
MingYu hadn't eaten anything this tasty in centuries. He reached for another bun, and the sensation repeated itself. It was like Heaven on Earth!
ZhiYi enjoyed the tea while the monks devoured the buns. Seeing the plate almost empty, he signaled the waiter for another plate. He seemed to think the monks were starving. MingYu wasn't complaining. After another plate was emptied, the monks were on a brink of splitting by their navels. MingYu patted his belly with content.
"Satisfied?" ZhiYi mused. XiaoHe burped, and ZhiYi took that as a yes. The three sat in silence, enjoying the calm melody of the zither being played. Suddenly, the faint flutter of butterflies carried over to their ears and ZhiYi stiffened. Deep purple robes with butterfly embroidery stepped into their view. A lavender butterfly jade was hanging next to a thin whip on the flowy waistband, and as ZhiYi raised his gaze, sharp eyes were inspecting him. Zhu ZongYing was smiling, but the smile didn't reach her eyes.
The monks gaped as five disciplines in different shades of purple robes, with drifting sleeves and slender swords, trailed behind ZongYing silently. Silver butterflies adorned their silky hair. They were doubtlessly a treat for the eyes, but Zhu ZhongYing was like a painting brought to life. MingYu could have sworn the lotus flowers shrunk in her presence. The teashop had quieted down as the patrons gazed upon the picturesque scene. The sound of the zither had stopped when ZhiYi stood up to greet her. As the two stood together, the beauty combined was blinding. MingYu had to look away to take in a shaky breath to calm his heart.
"Wang ZhiYi, I must say, you have changed your taste in companions." ZongYing ran her eyes over the two monks and gave a disapproving look before turning back to ZhiYi. "What brings you here?"
"We are merely visiting. My companions have never tasted the lotus buns before."
"Hm, these buns pale in comparison to that of the Diefa sect's. But I guess for some, these are the best they can ever have." She noticed MingYu's stare and studied him in silence. ZongYing's gaze was almost stabbing in nature, and MingYu was turning blotchy red, both from her remark and her gaze. Then, as if she made up her mind that the monks were beyond ugly for her eyes, she turned to address ZhiYi, "The sects had a meeting not long ago. Why weren't you present? The supreme leader demanded every sect leader to attend."
ZhiYi didn't look peeved the slightest as he said. "What was the meeting about?"
"I can't reveal it, as you were not there. Supreme leader's orders." ZongYing looked awfully pleased with the situation.
ZhiYi and PingZe were on a leave, but none of the other demons knew of this. ZhiYi forced a polite smile, as ZongYing turned to leave.
"Sect leader, we are not staying?" A male discipline asked in a surprise, they had just arrived there and hadn't even had the chance to try the famous buns.
"The view here is not to my liking." She ran her eyes over the monks as she said the words, then nodded her goodbyes to ZhiYi.
When the last of the group was out of sight, XiaoHe said, "Who was that?"
"She seems delightful to be around." MingYu added dryly.
"That was the Diefa sect leader, last crown princess of the Zhu Dynasty, Zhu ZongYing."
During his time in Heaven MingYu had learned of the demon sects. All demon sects were derived from one true leading sect, the Ziwei sect, led by none other than the first demon, who merely went by the name, the supreme sect leader. A pompous and arrogant man, thought MingYu. Who in their right mind named a demon sect after an emperor star, then be so high and mighty to address himself as supreme anything.
Out of the five existing demon sects, the Diefa sect was a disciplinary sect that produced the most beautiful and the deadliest demons. Their reputation was not exaggerated.
"ZongYing never leaves her sect grounds, unless she is on urgent matters, and HeHua is far from her territory." ZhiYi said grimly.
MingYu had a bad feeling, it didn't seem coincidental that the moment his punishment was issued, demons seemed to be on the move. His thoughts were disrupted as PingZe stepped into the teashop and sauntered over, grinning widely.
"Guess who I ran into?" PingZe asked, as he plopped down between XiaoHe and ZhiYi, took a cup, and poured himself tea. XiaoHe was staring at him with a disapproving face. PingZe noticed it and said, "What?"
"Shameless!" XiaoHe said as his cheeks turned a pretty shade of red.
PingZe leaned closer to the monk, looking very smug, "I'm shameless in many ways, you have to specify what you mean."
PingZe laughed as XiaoHe turned darker than a beetroot. ZhiYi scolded him, "Don't tease him. Besides, why are you back so soon? This is not like you."
PingZe leaned on the table and sighed, "There are no new girls there, I have already gone through everyone last time. Only male prostitutes are new, so I left."
Now XiaoHe was steaming red, as he heard the words 'male prostitute'. He hadn't even thought of them existing. The image was most obscene and he bowed his head in shame for thinking such lewd thoughts.
ZhiYi smiled at PingZe's misfortune. It had been quite a while since PingZe last visited any red-light districts where he hadn't been to before. Following ZhiYi had its limitations to how much PingZe could roam around in his wanton ways.
PingZe shrugged and said, "But enough with that. Aren't you going to ask me, who I ran into?"
"Don't need to, I already know." Said ZhiYi, as he poured more tea for himself.
"Oh, how?"
ZhiYi told PingZe of the encounter with Zhu ZongYing. PingZe was quietly drinking from his cup, then he said, "Do you think this has something to do with Xie Qiang?"
ZhiYi nodded quietly.
XiaoHe said, "Who is Xie Qiang?"
"That pesky wolf that followed you on the mountain." PingZe said and XiaoHe shivered at the reminder. Seeing this, PingZe addressed the monk, "If you're cold, you can lean on me. I'm hot-blooded."
MingYu choked on his tea, ZhiYi's lips quivered. PingZe didn't seem to notice the effects of his innocent words. XiaoHe looked like he was about to pop from pressure. PingZe tried the monk's temperature with his palm and XiaoHe flinched at the touch.
PingZe looked worried, when he said, "You're burning, are you ill?"
XiaoHe shook his head and huddled closer to MingYu's side. PingZe shrugged and waved at the waiter to bring more buns.
At that moment, XiaoFu and XiaoFen entered the teashop and went straight to their father's side. XiaoFen was the one who said, "Father, uncle ZhouYan is back."
***
From what ZhouYan had informed them, madam Jiang had remarried and relocated with her two children to Lunan. The road from HeHua to Lunan took at least two weeks to travel by foot. The road had no rest-stops or villages between, as it was mostly dried, cracked land. The only other choice was to take a detour through the Gui village. PingZe wasn't in the least pleased with the decision. The last time the two demons were in that cultivator village, it had been - memorable.
The Sun was peeking from behind the horizon when the group was to set out for Gui. Problems seemed to rise as soon as XiaoHe realised that they were going to travel on horses.
Horror was an understatement for what XiaoHe felt. PingZe was pushing and shoving him toward one of the larger horses in the back, but XiaoHe had planted his feet on the ground and was now shoveling sand with them. He grabbed onto PingZe and wouldn't let go. After a while of struggling, PingZe stopped and asked, "What is wrong?"
"I-I... never... h-horse." XiaoHe heaved. His freshly shaved head was sweating droplets. Seeing this, PingZe got on the horse first, then pulled XiaoHe on, seating in front of him. Holding XiaoHe steady, he guided the monk to hold on to the reigns with him. XiaoHe sat like a stone statue, every muscle in his body was on full alert and ready to jump. PingZe said, "Relax. If you are scared, the horse will sense it."
XiaoHe was still as stiff as a stick. Sighing, PingZe released one hand of the reigns and proceeded to rub the back of XiaoHe's neck to relax his muscles. Instantly the monk slumped back, resting against PingZe like a dead body. It was an uncomfortable position, but it was either this or XiaoHe walking, so PingZe accepted his fate.
MingYu wasn't doing any better. He wasn't scared of the animal, but he didn't stay on the animal either. For an imperial general of Qin who led troops to battle, this was the lowest of lows. On his third time trying to mount the horse, he slipped and face planted in the dirt.
MingYu used to ride horses without reigns, keeping himself perfectly balanced as he wielded a sword. ShiBai's body was clumsy and awkward. It didn't help that the horse seemed to dislike him. Every time MingYu lifted his feet over the horse, the animal moved so he couldn't regain his balance but fall. He would have to be tied to the horse to stay on.
XiaoFen was trying to hold in her laughter as she hung onto the reigns of MingYu's horse, secretly enjoying his suffering. In the end, MingYu ended up riding LongHai, who tried to kick him a few times before succumbing to his fate as a donkey.