Xiaoling and Weisheng sat before each other on Xiaoling's study table. They looked at each other with narrowed eyes, observing each other. The talismans on the wall were still working. Therefore, evil spirits couldn't come and disturb them. Xiaoling hadn't suppressed the curse, but Weisheng's 'split personality' refused to make another appearance.
So, they sat there observing each other.
"I don't get it," Weisheng said with frustration, "Master, you need to think about it yourself. The Supreme Demon Lord knows you."
Xiaoling sighed, "I guess we'll wait for Ru to return. He might suggest something."
"You seem to trust Mr. Ru a lot," Weisheng murmured, "Is there a reason for that?"
"He's intelligent," Xiaoling shrugged, "I suspect he was a scholar or something in his mortal life. I can't reach his intelligence level. I'm only good at talismans and music."
"And hoarding…"
"Yeah, that, too."
Xiaoling shamelessly admitted to her shortcomings before leaning back in her chair. Although she was a successful sorceress, the Cursed Eye was something even she couldn't cure.
"He said no one dares tell him what to do," Xiaoling narrowed her eyes while thinking, "Do you think no one else is involved then?" She asked, "No enemies, no opposing sorcerers?"
"Is a sealed Demon Lord capable of cursing someone like that?" Weisheng asked.
"I'm not sure. According to the legends, the Supreme Demon Lord was strong enough to slice the world in half, build another world, start new lives, end Gods, and even destroy the Heavens." Xiaoling said, "I won't be surprised if you were cursed by him personally."
"He sounds too strong to be sealed away like that…" Weisheng murmured.
"Lord Hou Hai, the God of War at the time of the Tian War, almost died while sealing him," Xiaoling sighed, "I'm guessing his seals are weakening, considering the Supreme Demon Lord can put his consciousness in you."
"Is the world ending, then?" Weisheng asked innocently.
Xiaoling chuckled, "You seem uninterested whether the world ends or not."
"No," Weisheng nervously chuckled, "I'm just curious."
Xiaoling shrugged, "Thousands of years ago, the Supreme Demon Lord wanted to end the world out of revenge. I don't know if he still holds onto his vengeance or not."
"Vengeance…" Weisheng narrowed his eyes, "Didn't you say he liked a woman and she died?"
"Yeah, that's what the rumors say," Xiaoling confirmed.
"Then maybe you look like that woman," Weisheng suggested, "Which might be why he feels so sad when he looks at you."
"That doesn't explain his eccentric words," Xiaoling disagreed, "What does he mean by 'You're still the same' and that weird nickname?"
Weisheng sighed, lost once again.
"Forget about it," Xiaoling stood up restlessly, "We'll just let Ru solve this one. You should go and take a rest. You have work tomorrow."
Weisheng nodded slowly and stood up to leave.
"Wait," Xiaoling murmured as she walked closer to him.
She put her hand on his eyes to suppress the curse once again. She was scared to let him go to sleep with the curse. What if he never woke up? After getting the curse suppressed, Weisheng left the room. As he slowly went to his room, he ran into Xiaoling's Godmother.
"Um," Weisheng murmured confusedly, "Good evening, Lady Ren."
She glared at him and scoffed scornfully, "Why are you coming out of Xiaoling's room at this hour? How indecent!"
Weisheng's eyes widened, "N-No, it's not like that!" He was flustered, "We were… um-"
"I don't want to know the details!" She frowned, "Just know that I won't tolerate it if you hurt her. Be nice to her or I will banish your seven generations!"
Weisheng coughed slowly, "Um, yes… Of course. I guess you can count on me."
"You guess?!" She scoffed, "Hmph!"
With that, she dashed away lest he anger her more. Weisheng took a deep breath. He slowly walked back to his room. When he closed the door of his room, his head started spinning around.
He quickly sat down on the bed, pouring himself water. He gulped it down, but his head didn't stop aching. Suddenly, he heard a voice from within.
"Run away somewhere far before I lose my sanity," A deep monotonous voice uttered.
Weisheng held his head as it ached before he suddenly felt drowsy. He fell on his bed and closed his eyes. Before he knew it, he fell asleep.
—
Weisheng woke up in the morning to a loud voice of multiple people laughing their lungs out. He rubbed his eyes and got out of the bed. He washed his face and did his hair before stepping out of his room.
As he reached the origin of the noises - the lounge - he opened the door and stepped inside to witness a circus.
Everyone was laughing at Ru, who had finally returned from the Heaven Realm.
"W-What happened to him?!" Weisheng asked in surprise.
Ru looked at Weisheng lifelessly. His face was filled with black ink marks. A round ink patch was drawn around his eyes with cross marks, squiggles, and questionable scribbles all over his face.
"Please pose for the picture first!" Hai enthusiastically stood with a camera to capture the beautiful moment.
Weisheng's eyes caught Xiaoling and Qiang whispering to each other while laughing. Ru didn't seem bothered about that.
"Mr. Ru… What happened?" Weisheng sat before him and asked.
"Another day in the Heaven Realm, I suppose," Ru sarcastically uttered, "The immortal sect in charge of the Duyi Lake were all ruffians," He sighed, "They insisted that I engage in some sort of game, or else they wouldn't give me information about the lake."
"That sounds… rough…" Weisheng muttered.
"It's okay. I don't feel bothered by it," He murmured, "Besides, I got some information that might be helpful for your recovery. There's only one problem." He said all that amidst the loud waves of laughter and camera clicks.
But Weisheng was attentive, "What problem?" He asked.
"Mortals aren't allowed to go near the Duyi Lake," Ru broke the news, "You must ascend to immortality before you step into the lake. Otherwise, you risk damaging your primordial spirit."