Yet on the shore, there was still not a single soul behind them!
Xie Lian had kept Fangxin at hand during their entire trek, and the moment he saw the reflection, he stabbed behind him. But while his attack had clearly pierced the black shadow, it felt like he had stabbed a ball of water that broke up into ripples and disappeared on the spot. Hua Cheng cocked his head and knitted his brows as he stared in the direction where the black shadow had disappeared.
Soon after, more and more shadowy figures appeared in the water's reflection. Their stark, ghastly pale faces and hands were the only illumination that the black night offered.
Xie Lian kept up the assault with his sword and shouted, "General Pei! Go to the water! Look at the reflection! The water can reveal the creatures!"
Those little ghosts normally wouldn't be able to even approach a heavenly official, but things were different in the Demon Lair. Pei Ming hadn't been able to see the enemy, but now that he understood what was happening, he stared at the water's surface and easily felled all the ghostly shadows surrounding him with but two swings of his sword.
Shi Wudu also finally noticed the strange reflection, and he knelt by the water to shout into the lake. "Qingxuan?! Are you there?!"
The black water and black iron prison blurred together, making it hard to make out details aside from that single white hand. Suddenly, a face appeared between the iron bars —it was Shi Qingxuan!
He didn't seem able to see Shi Wudu kneeling outside the prison, and his expression was one of absolute terror. He clutched onto the iron bars with both hands and desperately tried to squeeze his head out. It looked like he was crying for help, yet not a single sound passed through. And his pleas were short-lived—several wizened hands grabbed at him, seized his head, his face, his neck, his shoulders, and then forcibly dragged him down!
Shi Wudu cursed at the sight. Pei Ming pulled him back before he could leap into the water himself.
"Water Master-xiong, you can't! How do you know this isn't a trap? You can't manipulate the waters of the South Sea. Even as a Water God, you're at someone else's mercy when you enter their water territory!"
Shi Wudu patted his shoulder and said simply, "Then help me by standing guard out here."
With that, he pushed him away and leapt into Black Water Lake!
Once he submerged, he did not resurface.
"Water Master-xiong!" Pei Ming called out.
But he couldn't follow. He knew there was most likely a "boundary" at the bottom of this lake. Much like mechanisms in ancient tombs, outsiders could open the gates and intrude, but once they were inside, the doors would slam shut. They couldn't be opened from within, and the graverobbers would be trapped and left to die. It was hard to say whether this boundary worked in a similar manner.
"General Pei! Don't go after him!" Xie Lian called out.
"There's a corpse right by your feet. T ake it and hurry back to the beach! Use it to build a coffin and prepare for evacuation.
I'll go myself!"
"Your Highness? Are you in fighting shape?!" Pei Ming asked.
"This place has sealed off nearly all of your spiritual powers; we're about the same now. And I have more experience than you when it comes to fighting with bare fists!"
Pei Ming glanced at Hua Cheng, who was standing next to Xie Lian, and recalled that he could float on the water's surface. The two of them would be much more useful than him in this situation, so without further argument, he picked up the little ghost's corpse and rushed back into the woods.
Xie Lian turned to Hua Cheng. "San Lang, will you lend me a little spiritual power again…just a little! Just a little, tiny bit is enough!"
Without a word of complaint, Hua Cheng gently patted the small of Xie Lian's back. A giant beam of white light sprung forth from Fangxin, and when Xie Lian swung, every little ghost surrounding the lake was killed by the sweep. Xie Lian was speechless for a moment, then simply sheathed his sword.
"I'm off!"
The two jumped into the water together. There wasn't anything strange at the bottom of Black Water Lake besides abnormally cold lake water. In fact, this water was much more normal than the strange, ship-sinking waters of the Black Water Demon Lair; one could float in it no differently than in an ordinary lake. Puzzled, Xie Lian kept swimming downward.
It didn't take long for him to reach the bottom, but there weren't any strange mechanisms, and he didn't see Lord Wind Master or Lord Water Master. Brows knitted, he mused on the matter for a moment before swimming back up.
Upon surfacing, he gasped a few breaths and wiped his face. Once his sight was clear, he noticed that a different shore stretched out before him!
An iron prison loomed over Black Water Lake. It was the same one that had been reflected in the lake's waters.
Other than the prison, everything on the shore was exactly the same as he remembered. The oppressive quiet made the atmosphere all the more haunting. Shi Wudu was already ashore, angrily smashing the giant lock on the prison gates with a big rock. He was the heavenly official who controlled water, but he had entered the domain of another water master and couldn't call forth the water he ruled. He was like a ferocious beast that had been defanged and declawed.
The moment Shi Wudu saw Xie Lian and Hua Cheng climb ashore, his eyes lit up and he raised his hand to beckon them over.
"A martial god! Perfect timing! Quick, use your martial god ways to take care of this!"
"..."
Maybe now everyone will understand the benefits of having a martial god around? Xie Lian thought. He approached wordlessly and unleashed a kick, which nearly cracked the lock in two. Another kick, and the prison gates opened.
Shi Wudu rushed inside, crying out, "Qing—" Before he even made it through the door, a mob came rushing out, wailing and howling hellishly.
"Ohhhh—ahhhh—woooo—wahhhh—!"
The people were disheveled and unkempt, emaciated and gaunt; their ragged clothes covered nothing and revealed rows of ribs. They were so filthy it was like they hadn't bathed in over a decade. Their eyes were glazed as they stomped their feet, swung their hands randomly, and grabbed and beat at their own chests. They roared and cried incoherently, creating an exceedingly horrifying scene as they streamed out like a wave of polluted water. Shi Wudu was left petrified in shock.
However, they were simply trying to escape; they didn't stick around to harass anyone. Even if Shi Wudu was momentarily stunned, he didn't actually care about what they did and continued his charge into the building.
"Qing—!"
Before he could even make it a few steps, he staggered so hard that he almost fell—the ground was extremely slippery! There was an indescribable putrid smell emanating from within the iron prison; Xie Lian could even smell it from outside, and he held his breath. Shi Wudu covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve and continued his charge inside, finally able to yell the full name.
"Qingxuan?!"
It was pitch-black within the prison, and from all around them came the sound of weeping and strange whispered murmurs. Moments later, a weak voice came.
"...ge…" In the deepest part of the iron prison, Shi Qingxuan was slumped against the only wall with a high window. The moonlight leaking through it illuminated him and blanched him white as a sheet. He was surrounded by a group of filthy wretches. Some had festering sores covering their entire bodies. Some were snorting like pigs, and some were pecking for grain like chickens. Some were hugging Shi Qingxuan, wailing and declaring him their baby. All of them were clearly insane.
Shi Qingxuan had once been an esteemed heavenly official. Never before had he fallen to such a state.
Shi Wudu stormed forward and shot a blast from his hand. "Get lost! What in hell are these ghosts?!"
Though he and Shi Qingxuan resembled each other, their bearing was completely different. Shi Wudu's spiritual powers might be greatly diminished right now, but that only doubled his overpowering presence, and it made the madmen scramble away in fear.
Xie Lian couldn't help but feel sympathy, and Shi Qingxuan also chided, "Ge, don't attack them! They're not ghosts. They're…living humans!"
This was true. Although they looked more ghostly than ghosts, they were all human. Xie Lian was shocked by the sight.
Why would Black Water Demon Xuan lock all these people up here? he wondered.
Shi Wudu, however, had no such regard for their suffering. Clutching the longevity lock pendant in one hand, he grabbed hold of Shi Qingxuan's arm with the other.
"How did you get here? Where are you hurt?"
Shi Qingxuan was certainly dirty, but he didn't seem injured aside from a cut on his leg that was bleeding a bit. "I don't know how we got here. A wave surged and knocked us out. When we woke up, we were already imprisoned. This is just a scratch; it's nothing serious! Ming-xiong's injuries are more severe."
Only then did the others notice that Ming Yi was lying on the ground nearby. He looked ashen, but not from displeasure. Patches of purple and blue mottled his face.
"What happened to Lord Earth Master?" Xie Lian asked.
"I think he was bitten by those creatures in the sea," Shi Qingxuan replied. "Those bonefish have green moss growing on their teeth and spikes, and they're poisonous! I applied all the medicine I had to him, but…sigh."
Xie Lian crouched to take a closer look at him, but the disgusting stench that permeated the air almost knocked him out. He looked around. There were wooden buckets filled with swill placed around the prison, and they emanated a musty, putrid smell. There was also the rotten stink of sores and blood and the horrifying odor of chamber pots that Xie Lian suspected hadn't been emptied for months.
Shi Wudu's tolerance had run dry. "Such revoltingly bad taste. It seems this Ship-Sinking Black Water has little class to speak of. Qingxuan, let's go!"
He pulled Shi Qingxuan to his feet and started to drag him out, but Shi Qingxuan spoke up.
"I'm fine, no need to assist me."
He then helped Ming Yi upright and supported him as they slowly exited the iron prison.
However, it was easier to come than go. The boundary passage in Black Water Lake was sealed shut. They dove into the waters and surfaced a few times, but the scenery never changed—proving that they were being held inside the boundary of Black Water Lake, unable to leave.
"Where's General Pei?" Shi Qingxuan asked.
"I had Pei-xiong stay on the other side. He should be trying to think of a way in as well," Shi Wudu replied.
"I told General Pei to build a coffin boat, so once we're out, we can evacuate then and there," Xie Lian said.
"If he finishes the boat, he could also go back to report on the situation and then return for us," Shi Wudu said.
However, Ming Yi was wounded—they might not be able to wait that long. While they weren't sure how powerful the poison was, it would still be better to leave as soon as possible.
After some contemplation, Xie Lian said, "Black Water Demon Xuan might live in seclusion out here, but surely he must leave sometimes? He wouldn't want to cross the entire Black Water Demon Lair every time he wants to go out, right?"
"Yes, that's a very good point," Shi Wudu said. "There must be a spot on this island where one can cast the teleportation array."
Shi Wudu hadn't particularly cared for Xie Lian at first, but he looked at him differently now that they were shouldering hardships together and he'd seen Xie Lian save Shi Qingxuan time and time again. Thus, he agreed to Xie Lian's suggestion without argument.
Ming Yi weakly raised his hand, and Shi Qingxuan asked, "Ming-xiong? Is there something you want to say?"
Ming Yi didn't speak, only raised his hand higher. It seemed like he was trying to conserve his strength. The others looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a gloomy black building standing in the depths of the forest.
Ming Yi dropped his arm and said, voice raspy, "That place…what's it for? Do you know?"
"No," Xie Lian said. "We didn't see it on the way here."
Shi Wudu squinted. "That must be the Nether Water Manor of Black Water Demon Xuan." That was the rumored name of Black Water Demon Xuan's residence. That conclusion made, he declared, "Let's go."
He started toward the manor, shockingly fearless of any retribution. Although it seemed impetuous and rude, what other choice did they have under the current circumstances?
One could say they had been going around in circles in someone's backyard, and now they were about to break into their home through the front door.
"San Lang, you don't need to come along if this is awkward for you," Xie Lian whispered to Hua Cheng.
Hua Cheng's face was serious as he replied, "Quicken your pace, gege. Get out of here as soon as possible."
Xie Lian nodded and didn't say any more. Hua Cheng seemed wary, but not about the master of this land—Xie Lian could tell it was something else. He kept feeling that something was off, and the thought of all the little questions they'd accumulated made him uneasy.
The group hiked through the forest, paying no mind to the band of madmen that was now running wild and free.
Finally, they arrived at the haunting black building.
They only noticed upon their arrival that the Nether Water Manor was actually a large, majestic palace—in fact, its build was very similar to the peerlessly splendid Palaces of Wind and Water. The group ascended the countless steps and stood before the tightly shut gates.
Xie Lian knocked. "Pardon the intrusion!" he brightly called out. "It is purely by accident that we have most bluntly offended you by our indiscretion. We deeply apologize."
No one answered. Collecting himself, Xie Lian carefully pushed open the palace doors.
Xie Lian knew from years of experience that, even if there was something waiting for them inside, it wouldn't pop out and "greet" them the moment the door was opened. But it seemed today he would have to eat his own words—the first thing he saw was something petrifying.
Sitting at the center of the grand, spacious entrance hall was someone dressed all in black, their face snow-white… It was a skeleton!
Wham! Xie Lian immediately shut the door. Did I perhaps open it incorrectly? Something like that usually doesn't show itself so quickly…?
He wanted to start over and try his greeting again, but Shi Wudu had already walked past him and pushed open the doors with a humph.
"We're already here, so what does it matter if he doesn't welcome us?"
The group slowly stepped into the palace and cautiously approached the skeleton dressed in black. Xie Lian examined it carefully. T o whom do these bones belong? Why are they enshrined here?
Ming Yi knitted his brows. "...Wasn't…General Pei…left behind? It's not him, is it?"
It was possible. Shi Wudu was slightly rattled and looked the skeleton over a few more times before he could refute the idea.
"I don't believe so. The bone structure is flatter than General Pei's."
"Wait," Shi Qingxuan said all of a sudden.
The group looked at him, and Shi Qingxuan continued, "Isn't it obvious? This is the Nether Water Manor. Naturally, the only one that could be worshipped inside the Nether Water Manor is…" Xie Lian understood what he was trying to say, but he dismissed the idea just as quickly. "Black Water Demon Xuan?
That's impossible."
Xie Lian gazed at Hua Cheng. "For those in the Ghost Realm, their ashes are their life source—and also their fatal weakness. Why would he put something so important on display?"
Hua Cheng had told him this when they first met. While he stated the fact quite seriously, for some reason his mind unconsciously wandered to the other thing Hua Cheng had said about ashes.
Hua Cheng was watching him intently, and Xie Lian lost himself for a moment. He twisted his gaze away and softly cleared his throat.
"Then…who could these bones belong to?" Shi Qingxuan wondered.
The group surrounded the eerie skeleton to investigate it, and Xie Lian was the first to voice his findings.
"First, it's a man."
"We see that," the group said.
"Second, the man's hands and feet must've been fairly dexterous. Particularly his fingers," Xie Lian continued. "He likely practiced some sort of martial art, but his skill may not have been strong. Exceptional martial artists start training at a young age, and their bone structures wouldn't look like this."
In contrast, Shi Wudu only gave the skeleton a cursory look before he turned away. "As long as it's not in our way, it doesn't matter who it was. Lord Earth Master, where do you think we can cast the T eleportation…" Before he could finish, the skeleton raised its head and lunged at him without warning!
Fortunately, Xie Lian reacted swiftly and felled it with a single chop of his hand. The skeleton clattered to the ground in a heap of shattered bones.
"Ge!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed.
Of the five present, Xie Lian was the only martial god.
And Hua Cheng would never help or protect anyone aside from Xie Lian, so Xie Lian had now become quite important.
Although Shi Wudu had just been attacked, he remained fairly collected; he had only taken a single step back even after an attempt was made on his life.
"What's with this skeleton? Does it still have a soul lingering within?"
Xie Lian crouched to rifle through and inspect the bones, then shook his head. "That's weird."
"What's weird?" Shi Wudu asked.
Xie Lian rose to his feet. "It doesn't have a single breath of its soul left. If it did, we would have noticed strange disturbances when we approached."
"If that's the case, then how did it manage to pounce at me?" Shi Wudu asked.
Humming for a moment, Xie Lian answered, "I think it's terminal lucidity."
Shi Qingxuan was puzzled. "T erminal lucidity? Doesn't that only happen to the living? Those on the verge of death… are still alive, I guess."
"The dead experience it as well," Xie Lian explained.
"The Seventh Day is a form of terminal lucidity, when the souls of the deceased return to greet family. In fact, it's the same for anyone—the living, dead, and all in between. I think Lord Water Master must've provoked it, which was why it gathered the last of its strength and made a move."
Because his theories made sense, Shi Wudu valued his words more and more. "Then in the opinion of Your Highness, what was that provocation?"
"It was either something you said or something on your person," Xie Lian said.
"What did I say?" Shi Wudu wondered.
Ming Yi blew out a breath. "...'As long as it's not in our way, it doesn't matter who it was.'" Shi Qingxuan scratched his head, puzzled. "Was there something wrong with that…? Could our friend here have a violent temper?"
Nothing conclusive could come from further discussion, so Xie Lian said, "In any event, the soul has dissipated. Let's drop the matter."
He collected the remains of the bones and settled them upon the altar anew, then clapped his hands together in prayer and bowed a few times. Shi Qingxuan came over as well and randomly bowed a few times, following his lead.
After that was settled, the five of them wandered the Nether Water Manor. There wasn't anyone around—it seemed the legendary Black Water Demon Xuan wasn't home. The water manor's structure was complex, with many branching side chambers both big and small. However, there was one that was particularly hidden and cramped. There were strange spells scrawled upon its doors—traces left over from the use of the teleportation array.
It would appear there was a place where the teleportation array could be used on Black Water Island, and that place was this tiny side chamber. Setting up a room to serve as a dedicated connection point drained a lot less spiritual power than drawing a completely new array every time.
Considering they didn't have much spiritual power available at the moment, this was perfect.
Ming Yi was the expert, and he was able to grasp the chamber's specifics with a glance. "This array only allows one-way transport."
Xie Lian understood. "Meaning that it can only send forth; one cannot come here from elsewhere, correct?"
Ming Yi nodded. "It further reduces the spiritual power required."
"Isn't that exactly what we need?" Shi Qingxuan said.
"We just want to leave, so this is great! Let's get outta here before the master of Black Water discovers us."
Hauling the Earth Master along with one arm, Shi Qingxuan moved to push open the doors with his other hand.
"Stop! There's a trap!" Ming Yi exclaimed sharply.
Shi Qingxuan stumbled back a meter when he heard this. "What trap?!"
Ming Yi was dragged along with him, stunned speechless for a moment. He gestured for Shi Qingxuan to help him approach again, and they walked to the door once more.
There, Ming Yi thoroughly inspected the spells scrawled upon it.
"It's a trap," he stated firmly. "Arrays drawn in this chamber can send only one person away at a time."
"That's a thing?!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed. "Then what happens if two people go together?!"
"You'll find they've been crushed into one person upon reaching their destination," Ming Yi answered coldly.
"..."
Among those present, only Ming Yi had advanced knowledge on this topic. The rest of the group consisted of one water god, one wind god, and one martial god, none of them particularly knowledgeable in this subject. Xie Lian's first reaction was to look at Hua Cheng—he was intently staring at the array, but he didn't voice any objections. It seemed Ming Yi wasn't lying.
Xie Lian hummed. "If that's really the case, then any ignorant intruders attempting to activate this array to escape would have an…atrocious end. A trap, indeed."
The skies rumbled outside. T wisted lightning crawled across the gloomy clouds and flashed white and blue upon the faces inside the Nether Water Manor. They looked like a congregation of menacing ghosts. The group exchanged looks of dismay.
"Ge, it's another…" Shi Qingxuan said.
Shi Wudu's face darkened, and he did not respond. But everyone knew this was his Heavenly Tribulation in pursuit of him again. Pei Ming's unintentionally ominous words faintly echoed in Xie Lian's mind again: "Water Master-xiong, you're really unlucky this time…" "Since we can use the teleportation array, let's hurry and get out of here," Shi Qingxuan urged. "If Heavenly Lightning struck here and destroyed the water manor, then…" Then they'd only elicit greater animosity. Dismantling a heavenly official's temple was an attack on their brand, and they would surely develop a deep hatred for the culprit. It was unclear whether the Ghost Realm had the same taboo, but surely no one would like it if their house was demolished for no reason.
Ming Yi dipped his fingers into the blood from his wounds and stood with some difficulty to prepare the array.
"Where to? And who is going first?"
"Lord Earth Master, you have to go first. You're wounded," Xie Lian said.
However, Ming Yi shook his head. "The array needs to be redrawn after each use. None of you know how to draw it, so I have to stay behind."
"Then Ming-xiong, I'll stay with you and go second to last," Shi Qingxuan said.
"What are you saying?" Shi Wudu snapped. "Right now, you're… Even if you stay, you'll be of no use. Leave first, right now, and go to the East Sea!"
"Right now, everyone is equally useless—so what does it matter?!" Shi Qingxuan countered. "This whole thing had nothing to do with Ming-xiong, but he had to suffer like this.
I…" He sighed. "I feel really bad."
"We're all being sent to the same place anyway; it won't take long. What are you afraid of?" Shi Wudu persisted.
In the past, Shi Wudu would lecture a word or two at most, and Shi Qingxuan would always listen. Things were different now, and Shi Qingxuan wasn't listening anymore; he pushed against each of Shi Wudu's demands.
"If we leave like this, what about General Pei? Won't he be left behind?"
Shi Wudu also noticed that his little brother wasn't as obedient as he once was, and his expression grew complicated. A moment later, he replied, "It's fine, Pei-xiong's stubborn and resilient. He'll be able to hang on until we get reinforcements from heaven."
"..." Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Although his instincts told him the Water Master was right and didn't mean any harm by his words, he still felt sorry for Pei Ming.
After a pause, he said, "Hold on a minute."
The group looked at him.
"Lord Earth Master, are you sure this chamber can really be used for the teleportation array?" Xie Lian asked. "Could there be any unforeseen issues? I don't think it's wise to rush in so carelessly. Why don't we test it first?"
At that, Ming Yi's hand really did pause. "How? We'll still need a volunteer to test it."
Shi Qingxuan raised his hand. "Then I volunteer!"
Hua Cheng hadn't spoken throughout the whole conversation, but now he crossed his arms and announced his thoughts. "Sorry to interrupt. Have none of you realized the problem with that?"
"And what is My Lord's expert opinion?" Ming Yi asked.
"How will you know if the volunteer arrives at the intended destination?" Hua Cheng pointed out.
Xie Lian blinked. "That's true… Lord Earth Master did say this array only goes one way."
Which meant the person would not be able to return after being sent out and couldn't let the others know if they'd safely arrived at their proper destination. They'd forgotten to consider this matter—this deserted island was isolated from the outside world, and the spiritual communication array was blocked. It would appear they'd come to a dead end.
"So. Further discussion is meaningless," Hua Cheng concluded. "It's one simple decision: go, or leave. Get this over with quickly. Scared? Then stay."
Although Hua Cheng was smiling, Xie Lian could sense he was uneasy—like he wanted to leave this place as soon as possible. He'd been anxious ever since they were brought back to the island by the dragon Shi Wudu summoned, and it was only getting worse.
Shi Wudu also didn't want to wait any longer; Heavenly Thunder was crashing in his ears, it would strike sooner or later if he didn't leave, and that would be an unpleasant time for everyone. So he stormed into the side chamber and slammed the door behind him. Ming Yi quickly finished drawing the array, and when they opened the door once more, faint smoke wafted from inside the empty chamber.
"Done," Ming Yi said. "Next."
"Then, Your Highness…" Shi Qingxuan began to speak.
Before he could finish, Ming Yi grabbed him and stuffed him inside the chamber. He slammed the door shut and completed the array. The second time he opened the door, Ming Yi looked at the remaining two.
"San Lang, why don't you go first?" Xie Lian offered.
However, Hua Cheng pulled him along into the chamber.
"Gege, we go together," he said darkly.
Xie Lian was confused. "But doesn't this array only allow for one at a time…" "I'm not a living human, don't worry," Hua Cheng said.
Xie Lian still felt there was something worrisome afoot, but he couldn't put his finger on what it might be. Hua Cheng brought him inside the chamber and gave a curt order to Ming Yi.
"Puqi Shrine."
Ming Yi nodded in silent reply. The door slowly closed in front of Xie Lian, and through the closing gap, he could see Ming Yi's ashen expression.
In spite of himself, he wondered, Can Lord Earth Master really make it through this?
Hua Cheng pulled the door fully shut himself, waited for a moment, and then reopened it.
They were greeted by the interior of Puqi Shrine. It was the middle of the night, and Qi Rong's snores roared like thunder. He was sprawled out like he'd been violently murdered and was hogging the blanket. Guzi used to have a proper sleeping posture, but his cheap dad's bad influence had taken its toll. Presently, he was draped over Qi Rong's stomach like a dead fish. In contrast, Lang Ying was curled properly in a corner, using a few shirts as covers. Xie Lian lifted the blanket covering Qi Rong, suppressed the urge to smother him with it, and instead covered the two small children.
"We're…back?" he whispered.
Hua Cheng closed the door behind him. "Yes. It's over."
"Not yet, I don't think," Xie Lian said. "We don't know if Lord Wind Master and the others are safe."
Pushing the door open very lightly, he walked outside.
Only then did he raise his voice to call out in the spiritual communication array they'd set up earlier.
"Lord Earth Master? Is everyone back?"
There was no response. Xie Lian thought that perhaps Ming Yi might not have made it back quickly, so he entered the communication array of the Upper Court. He had no way of knowing before he entered, but it was complete chaos inside. He jumped in surprise at the noise. Every heavenly official was yelling, and even Ling Wen was throwing a fit.
"Don't throw every bit of useless information my way— how much do you think I have to go through every day?!
Don't any of you know how to use your brains before asking me?!"
"Ling Wen!" Xie Lian called out hastily. "Have Lord Water Master and the others not returned?!"
Ling Wen instantly caught hold of him, and she seemed to change into a completely different person. "Your Highness!
Why is your voice so loud…? Have you returned from the East Sea? Where did Lord Water Master and General Pei go? Why haven't we heard from them?"
"I came back from the South Sea," Xie Lian said.
"The South Sea?"
"The South Sea. Specifically, the Black Water Demon Lair."
Ling Wen was dumbfounded. "But…how did you end up there?! We never go near that place. Are Ol' Pei and the others still there?"
"It's a long story," Xie Lian said. "While Lord Water Master was facing his Tribulation, we accidentally stumbled into the Black Water Demon Lair. We just escaped. He and Lord Wind Master left before I did, so they should've reached the East Sea by now. Have you not seen them?"
"No!" Ling Wen said. "The East Sea calmed down a while ago, and those two-hundred-something fishermen have all been rescued. But there's no trace of those two on the shores or in the sea!"
"How can that be?!" Xie Lian exclaimed. "Unless…" Unless what?
"Unless what?" Ling Wen asked anxiously. "Your Highness? Your Highness…do you have something else to say? Should we send heavenly officials to the South Sea right now?"
"It's too late," Xie Lian muttered. He shut down the communication array and whirled around. "San Lang."
Hua Cheng seemed like he'd already anticipated his question. His hands were clasped behind his back as he gazed at him in solemn silence.
"Did the two of you reach some sort of agreement a long time ago?" Xie Lian asked.
Hua Cheng didn't immediately respond. Just as he began to move his lips, Xie Lian quickly assured him of his intent.
"No, no, no, don't tell me! You don't have to answer. If you had a prior arrangement with someone, don't go back on your word on my account. I wouldn't want that. It's my fault for asking so suddenly; I didn't mean to put you in a difficult position."
"I'm sorry, Your Highness," Hua Cheng murmured.
Xie Lian shook his head. "Don't apologize. I should've thought of this before. That arrangement must have prevented you from interfering, and from directly telling me the truth."
Hua Cheng had tried to talk him out of it, but he hadn't interfered with Xie Lian's wishes. He accompanied and protected him the whole way, with an escape plan already prepared—except at every turn, something always came up that dragged Xie Lian deeper into the heart of the affair.
"I should be thanking you," Xie Lian said.
"You've figured everything out?" Hua Cheng asked.
Xie Lian nodded. "Pretty much. In fact, I should've figured this out a long time ago. He really is incredible. I'd often overthink it and dismiss my own suspicions, and I wound up overlooking the most straightforward possibility."
After a pause, he continued, "And he really did give you face. He put in considerable effort to send me away peacefully and wasted a lot of time on the detour."
"Your Highness," Hua Cheng said, "this whole thing ends here. It's over."
Xie Lian sighed. "I wish that was the case. But he might have crossed the line."
There was a moment of silence, and then Hua Cheng said gently, "Let them take care of their own affairs. You made it home, and there's no way for you to get back to the Demon Lair anyway."
"Don't be so sure," Xie Lian said.
Hua Cheng froze upon hearing this.
"I have an idea. It only came to me just now. I have a way to connect with Lord Wind Master," Xie Lian said.
He started forming a hand seal.
"So, I'm sorry, San Lang. I have to go back for a little while."
Hua Cheng caught on the moment he saw that hand seal. He clearly hadn't expected this move, and his eye widened.
"Gege…?"
Xie Lian said, loud and clear: "Soul…Shifting…Spell!"
As he closed his eyes, a familiar weightless sensation seized him—like his soul was yanked out and hurled high into the air before plunging back down. When he opened his eyes again, the sight before him wasn't Hua Cheng's face. He found himself fleeing through mountainous woods under an endless, starless night sky. Xie Lian could hear harsh breathing coming from his mouth and the violent pounding of his heart.
Success!
The Soul-Shifting Spell wasn't used often, and it burned a great deal of spiritual power. It was stronger than spiritual communication and considered pretty questionable, so its use was fairly rare. The blocking parameters of spiritual barriers usually didn't take it into consideration.
He and Shi Qingxuan had used the Soul-Shifting Spell that fateful night, and Shi Qingxuan hadn't had the chance to seal his spiritual consciousness before he lost his powers and became mortal. T o explain further, it was like the two of them had exchanged the keys to each other's houses and made use of each other's home. After they switched back, Shi Qingxuan should've changed the locks on his door so Xie Lian couldn't reenter. Because he didn't, Xie Lian could still use the key from before. However, Shi Qingxuan could no longer open Xie Lian's door, so the two were now using the same body. Xie Lian's own body probably had gone limp and collapsed… Perhaps Hua Cheng had caught him before he hit the ground?
Shi Qingxuan was out of breath and completely overwhelmed with terror. It seemed he was fleeing from pursuit. Xie Lian listened intently and heard the sound of hellish wailing from behind them—it was the band of madmen that had been locked up in the iron prison. They seemed very fond of Shi Qingxuan—even to the point of yearning for him.
They pursued him relentlessly, with their eyes rolled back and their tongues lolling from their mouths. Shi Qingxuan's ribs and lungs were burning with the strain of his flight. He was on the verge of tears, and he wanted to scream but had no voice to do so. Xie Lian could tell that he was running without mind or method; he wouldn't last much longer like this. So he assumed direct control of his body.
"Lord Wind Master!"
He used Shi Qingxuan's mouth to speak, and Shi Qingxuan was so surprised he almost bit his tongue.
"Who?! Who's in my body?!"
"My Lord, please calm down!" Xie Lian said. "I've come to you using the Soul-Shifting Spell! Give me your body—I'll help you run."
Xie Lian felt two lines of hot tears fly from Shi Qingxuan's eyes. "Your Highness?! How reassuring! You're so dependable! Thank you!"
"No need for thanks!" Xie Lian said. "Listen to me, Lord Wind Master! Run away!"
"Aren't I already running?!" Shi Qingxuan exclaimed.
"I don't mean like this," Xie Lian explained. "I mean you need to escape…" As he spoke, several filthy madmen leapt from the woods and lunged at Shi Qingxuan. Xie Lian cracked his knuckles and vaulted into the air to unleash thirty rounds of power kicks. The madmen were knocked to the ground, left crying and unable to get back up. Shi Qingxuan's jaw dropped.
"Did I do that? That's amazing. Martial gods are so awesome! I want to be a martial god too now."
Xie Lian, however, earnestly killed his joy. "My Lord, you can't. Your physique isn't made for the martial path…" The two talked using the same body, as if one person were asking and answering their own questions. From an outside perspective, it was truly bizarre.
"Lord Wind Master, where's Lord Water Master?" Xie Lian asked.
Shi Qingxuan scanned the area. "I don't know where Ming-xiong or my brother went. When I opened the door, I was still in the Nether Water Manor; I was only sent to a different room. I don't know where things went wrong…" Without warning, Xie Lian rolled from the balls of his feet onto his tiptoes and leapt into a tree. Shi Qingxuan didn't understand this change of route, but having his body spring about and move so freely was a curious feeling, so he allowed Xie Lian to control him as he willed. They lightly and nimbly shimmied onto a tree branch.
"Your Highness, why did you suddenly…" Before Shi Qingxuan could finish, Xie Lian covered his mouth…which was also his own mouth. Xie Lian quickly crept to the tip of the branch and kept himself low to hide in the dense leaves.
At the end of the road, a slender shadow stumbled into view. Upon closer inspection, it was Ming Yi. He still looked tragic, which gave a dead air to his good looks, though he could still manage to walk. Shi Qingxuan was overjoyed and dropped his hand to call out to him, but Xie Lian immediately raised his hands to cover his mouth again. This time he used both hands, smothering himself so firmly he could hardly breathe. Shi Qingxuan wasn't a rash person and knew that Xie Lian must be doing this for a reason, so he didn't fight it, simply watched as Ming Yi walked past them down that little path. Once he was gone, Xie Lian loosened his grip and stealthily slipped out of the tree, then snuck back into the dense woods.
After they'd run for a while, Shi Qingxuan glanced back and whispered, "Your Highness, why didn't you let me call out to Ming-xiong earlier?"
Xie Lian's only response was to bring their mad sprint to a dead stop. Shi Qingxuan glanced ahead, and his pupils shrank in an instant.
Ming Yi clearly should have been far behind at this point, but here he was, standing right in front of him. Or rather, them.
Ming Yi supported himself with a nearby tree and frowned at the sight of Shi Qingxuan. "Why are you here too?"
"I…" Shi Qingxuan blurted.
Xie Lian didn't speak but instead moved a hand behind his back and waved—a sign not to let anyone know there was a third "person" present. Shi Qingxuan understood, but the furrow of Ming Yi's brow only deepened.
"What're you doing with your hand behind your back?
Are you hiding something?"
Shi Qingxuan urgently shoved both hands forward, palms open, to show him. "No!"
Xie Lian could feel his blood run cold and waves of numbness run down his spine. Although Shi Qingxuan considered Ming Yi very dependable, it seemed his abrupt appearance also gave him quite a fright.
Ming Yi looked bewildered. "I didn't mean I actually wanted you to show me."
His expression was one of disdain, but it was also incredibly familiar. Shi Qingxuan sighed in relief, and the goosebumps that had raised on half his body began to fade.
In contrast, Xie Lian was immensely anxious, but he didn't dare to speak rashly and remained silent.
"Where's Lord Water Master?" Ming Yi asked.
"You haven't seen my brother either?" Shi Qingxuan replied. "I've been looking for him everywhere. Didn't you say you could send us off Black Water Island? How come His Highness made it back, but we're still here?"
Xie Lian listened and grew more apprehensive with each word spoken between them. While he did his best to suppress Shi Qingxuan's involuntary reflex to giggle when nervous, it wasn't like Shi Qingxuan to speak so seriously. Thus, he furiously tugged at his own hair and pointed at Ming Yi, yelling accusations.
"Ming-xiong! Didn't I tell you to practice more in your free time?! Did you draw the array wrong again because you're rusty?!"
The act was a bit exaggerated but rather effective all the same. Sure enough, Ming Yi's face dropped.
"Screw off! Draw it yourself if you have the skill."
He said that, but he walked over nevertheless— evidently, he hadn't noticed anything amiss. Shi Qingxuan was still frozen in place, so Xie Lian hurriedly moved on his behalf. He went over and put his arm under Ming Yi's shoulders, assisting him.
"Ming-xiong, how are your injuries? The poison isn't getting worse, is it?"
Ming Yi shook his head. "It's fine. Let's find Lord Water Master first."
Shi Qingxuan nodded, and the two slowly made their way along the forest path. Xie Lian groaned with frustration, unable to find a chance to warn Shi Qingxuan of his suspicions. Suddenly, he felt his mouth fall open—Shi Qingxuan was soundlessly moving his lips. Xie Lian paid eager attention to the shapes he was forming.
"Just what exactly is going on?" he said.
Ming Yi was so close to them and would surely notice.
For fear of being discovered, Xie Lian lowered Shi Qingxuan's head slightly and responded with his lips as well.
"He's fake."
The moment the words fell from his lips, Xie Lian could feel goosebumps spring up on his arms.
Shi Qingxuan's eyes bulged. "Fake?! Then who is he?!"
he mouthed to him.
Xie Lian gave his soundless answer.
"The Reverend of Empty Words," he said.
Shi Qingxuan drew in a sharp breath.
Ming Yi's voice came from ahead. "What is it?"
Shi Qingxuan inhaled that sharp breath completely, then exhaled. His voice trembled as he replied. "I'm scared."
Ming Yi was quiet for a moment, then said, "It's too early to be scared."
In the past, such a response would no doubt have been interpreted as a twisted form of comfort. But right now, it sounded like a threat, and the words radiated an unspeakable chill.
Shi Qingxuan lowered his head and mouthed to Xie Lian, "No way. The Reverend of Empty Words can't shapeshift!"
Truthfully, Xie Lian had felt "Reverend of Empty Words" wasn't quite appropriate even as the words left his mouth. It was too disrespectful, too impertinent. A few days ago, the Reverend of Empty Words that Shi Qingxuan had bumped into was no more than a minion, a pathetic clone, some leftover crumbs of the real thing.
And so, he gave a second answer.
"Black Water Demon Xuan."
Shi Qingxuan tripped.
"What's with you now?" Ming Yi demanded.
Shi Qingxuan's teeth were chattering. "I want to die…" "Dream on," Ming Yi responded coldly.
There it was again, that familiar frosty tone of voice and those equally icy, cruel words. It was the same as it had always been, but now it took on a completely different meaning. This was far from over.
Xie Lian soundlessly gave a third name.
"He Xuan."
Shi Qingxuan seemed unable to take it anymore, as Xie Lian could feel his heart pounding like a drum.
Coincidentally, they were just crossing a small creek.
Making a decision on the spot, Xie Lian said through Shi Qingxuan's mouth, "Ming-xiong, I think you'd better rest a little before we continue searching!"
"You think we have time to rest right now?" Ming Yi replied.
"You're poisoned. The more you move, the more the poison will circulate," Xie Lian said for Shi Qingxuan. "Even if you don't want to rest, mortals like me have to. Sit down, I'll go get some water."
He forced Ming Yi to sit on the grass, trying his best to keep their hands and feet steady and to stop any visible shivering. He went to the creek alone, and once he got there, Xie Lian used the noise of the current to cover their hushed conversation.
Shi Qingxuan cupped a palmful of water and splashed it on his face to calm down. "Your Highness, what are you saying?!" he hissed. "Who exactly is the person behind me?!
Did one of those three shapeshift into Ming-xiong?! Or did they all possess him at once?!"
"Lord Wind Master, calm down!" Xie Lian said. "It's not them, it's him! There's only one person next to you right now.
It's always been that same person, right from the start. No one shapeshifted. No one was possessed!"
"But…but Ming-xiong, he…" Shi Qingxuan mumbled.
"Don't call him Ming-xiong anymore. The real Ming-xiong is long dead!" Xie Lian said.
"How do you know? Did you see?" Shi Qingxuan pressed him.
"I wasn't the only one who saw," Xie Lian said. "You did too. The real Lord Earth Master was the skeleton worshipped inside the Nether Water Manor! Why do you think he couldn't properly control the Earth Master's crescent shovel? It's because it didn't belong to him in the first place! The one behind you…his original name, given centuries ago, was He Xuan. After cultivating into a supreme, his name became Black Water Demon Xuan. He devoured the real Reverend of Empty Words and had it chase you. He imprisoned and murdered the real Earth Master. He took on the Earth Master's name long ago and assumed his position in the heavens!"
Just as he finished, he froze.
A hand had tapped his shoulder without warning.