On the third floor of Mogao Cave, snow began to fall from the sky. The Ghost King's cloak fluttered in the wind. As Hongjun looked up, a corpse ghost guard arrived behind him.
"Your Highness," the guard said. "The Ghost King invites you."
"You can actually speak!" Hongjun said in surprise.
"We all can," the guard replied. "But unless it's necessary, we don't speak in front of mortals. Please."
Hongjun asked, "But why do you call me 'Your Highness'?"
The guard didn't answer. He only politely led Hongjun to a higher floor. After passing by the stone stairs of Mogao Cave, Hongjun looked down.
Mo Rigen was in a daze on the second floor. The Ashina Chong went in and out, looking at the murals in Mogao Cave.
There were thousands of caves in Mogao Cave. Many painters were gathered in groups of three to five in the corridors of each floor, listening to Atay play the Barbat. The melodious music drifted in the wind. In front of the ninth floor of the cave, a large number of Yu Men soldiers gathered. Only then did Hongjun realize that there were so many people in Mogao Cave?! He didn't see them when he arrived, but now they were all out.
It was very noisy and lively. It was as bustling as a small town.
Hongjun was worried that something would happen to the Ghost King and his guard, but when he saw Li Jinglong talking to a group of soldiers in front of the ninth floor, he guessed that he would be able to deal with it, so he was no longer worried.
The corpse ghost guard and Hongjun passed by the second floor. Along the way, they passed by many paintings. When the painters resting outside the caves saw the corpse ghost, they put their hands together and bowed slightly. Obviously, they had already seen the corpse ghost.
Hongjun turned to look at the painters and bowed. The guard just nodded and went up another floor. He brought him to the center of Mogao Cave and entered one of the caves.
A painter was drawing a statue of a Bodhisattva. His skin was snow-white and extremely gentle. His eyes were filled with benevolence. Behind him was a flying statue with colorful clothes fluttering in the wind. The painter was a young man about the same age as Hongjun. It was the twelfth lunar month of the winter, and the fire in the cave was burning brightly. His shoulders and back were bare, and he was only wearing a pair of loose trousers. He was barefoot, and he was sitting cross-legged on a high shelf. His expression was full of piety, and he was painting the arm of the Bodhisattva stroke by stroke.
"Do you know him?" asked the Ghost King.
Hongjun shook his head; he was amazed by the painter's age. There were more than a thousand painters in Dunhuang, some one in a grotto, some several in a grotto. The grottos had either wooden or clay sculptures, while the murals were a riot of colors, solemn and dignified, making people could not help but feel deep veneration.
It was a tremor that reached deep into the soul, making Hong Jun almost unable to breathe. Standing in front of the Bodhisattva, he only felt that in a certain world that was distant and unreachable, yet real, the Gods and Buddhas were looking at his soul with pity.
When the painter saw that there was a guest, he put down his brush, clasped his hands together towards Hongjun, and temporarily left the grotto.
"Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva," said the Ghost King, "freeing all living beings from the bloody sword. Mogao Grotto is also known as the 'Thousand Buddha Grotto'. After the mortals lived a mediocre life, they gave up all their wealth and hired these children to be painters. In the grotto, they carve the body of the Buddha and draw the image of the Buddha, hoping for salvation. Every time I go to Mogao Grotto, I often wonder if the Bodhisattvas are also protecting us demons. "
Hongjun said, "These painters don't seem to be afraid of you. Do they all know you?"
"Yes," said the Ghost King. "The people here call us' Asura '."
The Ghost King lowered his head, looked at Hongjun's appearance, and said, "You look like someone I've seen before, but forgive me for seeing too many people in my life. My memory has long been blurred, and I can't remember who you are."
Hongjun took off his peacock plume, held it in the palm of his hand, and showed it to the Ghost King.
The two of them were silent. The Ghost King stretched out his finger, picked up the jasper peacock plume, and murmured, "Five-colored Divine Light, you are the child of Kong Xuan. That day …"
Hongjun trembled, and the Ghost King's eyes turned to look at him.
"You've seen my father?"
The Ghost King's brows furrowed. Hongjun knew that the Ghost King must have a relationship with the Dazzling Gold Palace. He gasped and said, "Ghost King, what kind of person was my father?"
The Ghost King turned and left the grotto. Hongjun immediately chased after him. The Ghost King walked up the stone stairs in front of Mogao Grotto's palace. The sun was setting in the west, descending into the winding Great Wall and the vast desert outside Jade Gate Pass.
Hongjun's heart was filled with urgency. He didn't ask his uncle Jia Zhou, because his father would only be like a mortal in front of him. He also didn't ask Chong Ming or Qing Xiong, because their meaning was already self-evident: you have to find it yourself.
In front of the Ghost King, Hongjun felt more like he had found a long-lost friend of his father's generation.
The Ghost King sat down at the top of Mogao Grotto, and motioned for Hongjun to sit as well. Hongjun didn't understand, and stared blankly at the Ghost King.
"When you mentioned Chong Ming on the way here." The Ghost King replied, "I vaguely felt that it might be the son of an old friend. How are your parents?"
"They both passed away." Hongjun replied sadly. He knew that the Ghost King was always sleeping in the coffin, and didn't understand the affairs of the world. However, since the Five-colored Divine Light was in his hands, it meant that his father had already passed away.
Sure enough, the Ghost King wasn't surprised. He just nodded and said absentmindedly, "That day, he came to West River to find me. We were sitting right here."
Instantly, a strange feeling welled up in the depths of Hongjun's heart. The Ghost King said thoughtfully, "Unknowingly, so many years have passed since I woke up."
"Back then … what did he come here for?" Hongjun asked.
The Ghost King pondered, looked at Hongjun, and replied, "He wanted to hand you over to me, and let me and Liu Fei raise you."
Hongjun: "…"
"I only have this lonely grave." The Ghost King said to himself, "Liu Fei likes you very much, but living in the ancient tomb for so long is always depressing. Now that I think about it, fortunately, I made a mistake and didn't let you stay. "
"I'm a burden to him." Hongjun said in a low voice.
"No." The Ghost King realized Hongjun's disappointment and immediately said, "Why do you say that? When you were young, your physique was special, so there were always demons eyeing you. He needed to free up his hands to deal with Xie Yu, so I'm afraid it would be difficult for him to protect you and your mother, so … "
Hongjun understood and nodded gratefully.
The Ghost King reached out and put his hand on Hongjun's shoulder.
"Chong Ming raised you very well." The Ghost King saw that Hongjun still seemed a little disappointed, and added, "Of course, if you stayed by my side, I think you would be fairer now."
Hongjun was sad, but when he heard this, he smiled.
The Ghost King muttered, "That year, he left the Jade Gate Pass behind your mother's back and came to see me. The White Deer's soul and spirit were protected, so it must be fate that brought you together …"
"What?!" Hongjun realized that the White Deer's reincarnation had something to do with his father!
"You don't know?" The Ghost King said indifferently, "When he saw me that year, he felt that Xie Yu wanted to capture the White Deer, so he intervened and interrupted Xie Yu's magic."
Hongjun couldn't help but gasp violently. No wonder he always felt that Lu Xu had a different feeling when facing him.
The Ghost King listened to Hongjun's description and replied, "That's it. When the White Deer reincarnated, he must have seen your father in his soul form. You look similar to your father, so he often remembers you."
Hongjun took a deep breath and nodded.
"Why …" he asked again, and at the same time, his heart beat violently, "Why would the Demon Race … come to find me?"
In his dream, his parents had been moving all the time in order to avoid the annoying intrusions. When he was young, he even said, "There's a demon living in my body."
The Ghost King muttered to himself for a moment, and then replied, "I think you should ask your adoptive father about this. Perhaps he's the one who understands the cause and effect of this matter the most. "
Hongjun never thought that he would get such an answer.
"Tell me, Ghost King … Uncle." Hongjun said nervously, "You must know, you must know!"
The Ghost King fell silent again. Hongjun frowned and looked at him anxiously. The Ghost King gave him an inexplicable glance.
"They sent you down the mountain to find the boy with the Mind's Lantern?" The Ghost King suddenly asked.
Hongjun was even more puzzled. He grabbed the Ghost King's arm and thought back to the past. He told the Ghost King everything about how Qing Xiong sent him down the mountain that day, how she gave him three tasks, and how she gave him the Mind's Lantern.
"Then … I think, maybe they didn't plan to hide it from you." The Ghost King said in a low voice, "I see …"
"Why?!" Hongjun said anxiously.
The Ghost King only looked at Hongjun in silence. After a moment, he said, "Little peacock, you're still not ready to accept it."
Hongjun almost begged, "I just want to know, what happened to me."
The Ghost King suddenly said, "If you could go back in time and have the right to choose, would you be willing to come to this world?"
Hongjun lost his patience and said, "I don't want to hear this anymore! You know everything, why don't you tell me?! "
"Answer me." The Ghost King said seriously. There was a faint majesty in his words, just like how Chong Ming stood in front of Hongjun and lectured him every time.
"I …" Hongjun's heart was in a mess. He didn't know why, but he remembered the joy of everyone's reunion in the Exorcism Division.
"Of course, that's good." Hongjun replied.
"Then even if you die tomorrow, you won't regret it?" The Ghost King said, "This is very important, little peacock."
Hongjun said helplessly, "What's there to regret? I … "
The Ghost King nodded and replied, "Since that's the case, there's no harm in telling you. Eighteen years ago, you were born in place of your father's calamity."
Hongjun, "!!!"
Then, the Ghost King raised his sword finger and pointed it between his eyebrows. Then, he slowly moved it away. His finger emitted a gentle blue light, and he gently pointed it between Hongjun's eyebrows.
With a "buzz", Hongjun's consciousness was instantly pulled into the Ghost King's memory.
Eighteen years ago.
Kong Xuan sat cross-legged at the top of Mogao Cave, where Hongjun was sitting. The sun was setting, and the young Hongjun leaned against his chest, tilted his head, and fell asleep while sitting.
"Xie Yu has always been looking for the Tianma seed." Kong Xuan murmured, "I've tried everything, but I can't get it out of Xing 'er's three souls and seven spirits."
"Asking for benevolence and getting benevolence." The Ghost King said in a deep voice, "Isn't this the guidance your two brothers gave you back then?"
"I don't know." Kong Xuan's eyes showed confusion, and his voice became hoarse as he said, "Being a father is actually such a happy thing …"
Ghost King: "The one who will become Tianma should have been you."
Kong Xuan: "That's right. Two hundred years later, the one who will become Tianma should have been me."
The golden light of the setting sun shone on Mogao Cave, illuminating the hundreds of thousands of Buddhas in the Thousand Caves, compassionate to all living beings.
"The one who started the trouble needs to end it," the Ghost King said in a deep voice, "If you don't beg your brothers, what's the use of stumbling in the human world?"
Kong Xuan sighed and replied, "Chong Ming and Qing Xiong only asked me to find a random mortal woman and teach her the Yin-Yang Life Injection Technique. They wanted me to inject my demonic seed into her and create a demonic fetus. They didn't care about the rest."
"After all, in their eyes, only my life is the most important … Now, perhaps even they didn't expect that I'm deeply in love. I can't give up Yuze, and I can't sit by and watch Xing 'er turn into a demon. Now, I'm asking for help everywhere …"
Ghost King replied, "It's not that I don't want to help you. Kong Xuan, even if I turn your son into a zombie, the demonic seed can't be eliminated. The only thing that can get rid of the demonic seed is the Immovable Wisdom King Dharma Form, when the six artifacts become one."
"Maybe the Mind Lamp can." Kong Xuan sighed. "I have to find the Mind Lamp."
"You can't do it." Ghost King said in a deep voice, "The demonic energy in the soul of a person who has turned into a demon can be expelled by the Mind Lamp. But the one in your son's body is the Tianma Seed. He is the primer that condenses the demonic energy in the world. It's the mission you've been shouldering since the creation of the world. Gods and demons as one, the tribulation that exists and perishes together … "
With a loud bang and a flash of white light, the Ghost King's finger left Hongjun's forehead.
Hongjun felt as if he was in a dream. He murmured, "This is all real."
"Your father often blamed himself when he was alive." Ghost King said, "He regretted that he made a mistake …"
"Why?" Hongjun asked with a trembling voice. "Why?"
Ghost King replied, "There's evil energy in the world, so there's the demonic energy. Time goes by, and if the demonic energy is too strong, there's always a way to purify it. The demonic seed in Mahamayuri's body is the seed that attracts the demonic energy. After he turned into a demon, the ancient Dipankara Buddha used the Mind Lamp to illuminate the world. The power of the Immovable Wisdom King Six Artifacts got rid of the Tianma Seed. Kong Xuan entered the cycle of reincarnation and reincarnated, and so on. "
Ghost King said in a deep voice, "Now, answer my question again, little peacock."
Hongjun, "…"
"If you're destined to die in this life, will you still regret coming to this world and going through it?"
Hongjun stood up, his eyes were a little absent-minded.
"All living beings will die one day." Ghost King said again, "Now, I think you understand what your adoptive father said."
Hongjun's consciousness was blurred. He slowly walked down the stairs, turned around, and staggered along the path toward the end of Mogao Cave. His heart was filled with lightning, thunder, wind, and snow, but his expression was incomparably calm.
The light of the setting sun shone into the thousand caves and ten thousand Buddhas. He passed by the entrance of each cave, and the Buddhas in the heavens looked serene as they quietly watched his figure. He was just a lonely passerby in this trichiliocosm, who came from nowhere and went nowhere.
In the evening, Li Jinglong quickly walked out of the ninth floor. Atay whistled down and asked, "Where are you going?"
Li Jinglong did not answer. As the sun was setting in the west, a group of people came from afar. When they got close, they dismounted and saluted Li Jinglong, saying, "The general said that the defense of Yumen Pass is of great importance, so he did not dare to leave his post without permission. He ordered this subordinate to bring wine and food."
Li Jinglong said, "You've worked hard. Send them all in."
The soldiers moved the supplies into the ninth floor. Li Jinglong looked up and said, "It's almost the New Year. This year, we'll spend the New Year here. There's no need to trouble ourselves."
Only then did Atay remember that there were still three days until the end of the year. Ashina Chong said, "I didn't expect that we would spend the New Year here."
Li Jinglong replied, "The most unfortunate thing is that Yongsi didn't come. Otherwise, everyone would be here. Mo Rigen! Come down and help! "
Mo Rigen was still in a daze on the third floor. Hearing this, he looked down and sighed.
Before nightfall, Li Jinglong put away the supplies and handed them over to the soldiers. The people accompanying him wanted to see their nephew. Considering that Hongjun and the Ghost King were together, Li Jinglong sent them back first, saying that they would return to Yumen Pass soon to report that they were safe.
"Hongjun!"
Li Jinglong ran up and down, looking for Hongjun everywhere. However, in front of the cave where Lu Xu was sleeping, he saw Mo Rigen standing there like a wooden stake.
"Chief Shi." Mo Rigen said, "Let's talk. What time is it now? You still have the mood to celebrate the New Year?"
Li Jinglong replied, "There will be a way."
"Say it!" Mo Rigen said anxiously.
Li Jinglong was silent. He stood side by side with Mo Rigen, facing the outside of Mogao Cave. The moon had risen, and the sand dunes were bright.
"What can I do?!" Li Jinglong glanced into the cave. Under the mural, Lu Xu was still sleeping. He whispered to Mo Rigen, "Why don't you teach me?"
Mo Rigen said, "The Grey Wolf and the White Deer are destined to be a pair."
"Yes." Li Jinglong patted the railing and said, "Why don't you do it?"
"Hey, forgive me for interrupting. Have you two asked Hongjun's opinion?" Before going down to the next floor, Atai stuck his head out and asked Li Jinglong.
The Carp Demon interrupted, "What's there to ask? There's no need to ask. Chief Shi, you two are really a match made in heaven! "
Ashina Chong said, "I don't understand. In your eyes, is love something that can come at will? That's not right. Li, are you that confident? You want me to teach you a few moves? "
"I didn't say that!" Li Jinglong said impatiently.
Mo Rigen said angrily, "Turk, do you want to fight?"
Li Jinglong pointed to the side and signaled Mo Rigen to go to the corner to talk, then pushed him away.
Mo Rigen said, "Come on, what do you have this time? Don't you always tell us not to worry? You'll definitely do what you promised, right? "
Li Jinglong said, "You know the art of disguise, right? Or you can ask the Ghost King and the demons if there's any magic that can make you look like me, and then I'll look like you … "
Mo Rigen said, "But what's the difference?! Even if you disguise yourself as me to talk about love, won't it be the same in the end?! "
Li Jinglong thought about it and said, "Why don't you go in the end? I'll be on the side … "
Mo Rigen said, "What's the difference if you don't interfere the whole time and put a mind lamp on the side?"
"That's just a possibility!" Li Jinglong said seriously, "Can't we try?"
Mo Rigen didn't want to answer.
Li Jinglong thought of another plan when his first plan didn't work. He thought about it and said, "Why don't we ask around and see if we can transfer our souls? Let me attach my soul to your body … "
Mo Rigen said, "Elder, is there a difference?"
"I said," Li Jinglong said earnestly, "You'll still be you, just temporarily attach my soul to your body."
Mo Rigen suddenly thought that it was possible to have two souls in one body, but how?
"Is the mind lamp in your soul or in your meridians?" Mo Rigen asked.
Li Jinglong suddenly remembered and immediately said, "It's in my meridians, no, no!"
Mo Rigen was speechless.
Ashina Chong looked at him curiously and shrugged at Atay.
Atay smiled and said, "You must be used to being carefree in the past, that's why you're so confident, right?"
Ashina Chong nudged Atay and motioned for him to look.
Under the moonlight, Hongjun dragged his feet and sighed. He seemed very tired and looked left and right.
Ashina Chong smiled and said, "Hongjun?"
Hongjun didn't answer and entered one of the caves.
Lu Xu lay quietly in front of the mural. The Ghost King's personal guards lit up seven lamps on the ground above his head, shoulders, waist and abdomen.
"What kind of magic is this?" Hongjun asked.
The personal guard replied, "Your Highness, this is the Seven-Star Lamp to calm his soul."
Hongjun nodded and suddenly remembered that the God of Plagues and the Mysterious Fairy were still alive. He didn't know where they were hiding and whether they were planning to make a comeback. But since the Ghost King was awake and wasn't afraid of the plague or the cold, he didn't enter the dream. Presumably, these two monsters wouldn't be stupid enough to provoke him again.
He leaned against the mural and sat beside Lu Xu. He reached out his hand and placed it on Lu Xu's forehead.
Back then, his father wanted to save his son's life, but he didn't expect that he would save Lu Xu instead. For some reason, he hoped that Lu Xu would wake up and let him return to the dream. He wanted to see his father and mother and say a few words to them, even if the dream was full of his own memories.
Had he ever regretted making this decision?
Did his mother know everything that happened behind the scenes?
Although these things were long gone and didn't have much meaning, Hongjun still wanted to know every bit of the past. His past was a fog and his future seemed to be uncertain. When would he replace his father and become Tianma? And where would the Immovable Wisdom King, who would kill him then?
The Ghost King's words made him fall into confusion. It was as if his life in this world was meaningless and his value was nothing more than a sacrifice in this world.
"Lu Xu," Hongjun said in a low voice, "My father was a good man, wasn't he?"
Lu Xu lay quietly, still in a deep sleep.
Hongjun smiled bitterly and said, "He saved your life, but left the cruelest thing to me."
He turned his head to look at Lu Xu. At this time, he didn't know who to talk to, but he knew subconsciously that when Lu Xu let him enter the dream, he must have seen everything in his memory, including his past and his life.
Lu Xu's eyelashes moved slightly. Hongjun frowned and approached him to examine him carefully.
He opened his eyes and answered Hongjun, "Your fate is far more cruel than what you see now."
Hongjun: "…"
Suddenly, Lu Xu grabbed Hongjun's arm and pulled fiercely. Hongjun shouted, "Let go!"
A monstrous black aura surged and enveloped the two. Hongjun pushed Lu Xu away and shouted, "Your horn is broken! You have no magic power left! "
Then Lu Xu laughed coldly and said in a hoarse voice, "I still have my soul." Then, the black aura burst out from Lu Xu's body and rolled towards Hongjun. Hongjun's heart suddenly ached. When he looked down, he saw that the black aura on Lu Xu's body was connected to his chest. Then, the black aura exploded and engulfed the entire cave!
At the same time, Li Jinglong grabbed Mo Rigen's collar and wrestled with Mo Rigen. Li Jinglong shouted, "Mo Rigen!"
Suddenly, Mo Rigen let go. The two of them turned their heads and looked at the cave not far away.
Monstrous black aura burst out from the cave. The Ghost King, the bodyguards, Atay, and Ashina Chong all stopped at the same time.
"Hongjun has gone in!" Ashina Chong shouted.
The black aura rushed out of the cave accompanied by hoarse screams and erupted!
Li Jinglong and Mo Rigen ran at almost the same time. They rushed towards the entrance of the cave. In the blink of an eye, the entrance of the cave that was spewing out black aura suddenly closed inwards!
"Lu Xu!" Mo Rigen shouted.
Li Jinglong: "Hongjun!"
Inside the cave, Lu Xu and Hongjun lay side by side. The black aura was quickly retracted and poured into the mural. In an instant, it was absorbed into the mural and disappeared with a flash of light.
Li Jinglong: "…"
Mo Rigen: "…"