Section 13
Luna Wu poured a glass of water for Leo Lee, and the clock on her phone indicated that they had been dreaming together for four minutes. The ceiling light in the living room was not functioning, so Luna turned on the bedroom light, which provided ample illumination.
"At first, I wasn't sure if that person even existed," Luna recalled, "but then I realized I could see the three leaves in the basin before anyone else—by the way, did you see carp or leaves?"
"Carp."
"Then how did you know the leaves were part of the man in the conical hat's trick?"
"He uses talismans and hand gestures," Leo explained. "Most people at the fish market are locals from Nanhai County; illusionists are rare, and the locals, unfamiliar with illusions, are prone to mistake them for spirits."
"Is the man in the conical hat an illusionist?"
"To be precise, he is a sorcerer."
"What's the difference?"
"Illusions are commonplace in large cities and can be understood as a form of entertainment akin to magic. Sorcery, on the other hand, is used to capture demons and commit murder; talismans and hand gestures are basic tools of the trade."
Luna was taken aback, recalling the gruesome scene of the bee attack at the Lu family ancestral hall. Although she had witnessed fishermen being killed, she had never truly grasped the weight of the word "murder." Hearing Leo mention it so calmly left her perplexed. "I keep forgetting to ask, where are you from? I mean... are you from ancient times or modern times?"
Leo did not respond.
At that moment, they sat on the sofa, only a short arm's length apart. Just ten minutes earlier, Luna had never imagined being in the same room with a stranger, knowing almost nothing about him beyond his name.
Leo set his glass back on the coffee table and suddenly relaxed, leaning against the sofa. "Why don't we make a guess?"
"If you keep asking me to guess, I'll feel like you're testing me."
"Half true."
"Half is a test, and the other half?"
"Curiosity—I'm curious about what kind of person Miss Wu is."
"I'm not particularly intriguing; my life is quite simple." At that moment, Luna understood why she felt at ease with him—they had both experienced the extraordinary together, twice.
"The simpler it is, the more intriguing it becomes. Why you?"
Leo's gaze was sharp and piercing, causing Luna to feel a slight pressure. "...What do you mean, why me?"
"You asked me where I'm from; I'm curious about your reasoning."
Luna pondered for a moment and replied, "I initially thought you were like me, a modern person, but your demeanor in that world was relaxed and at ease, unlike here."
Leo's face was shrouded in darkness, making it difficult to read his expression. He remained silent, and suddenly, Luna felt a bit embarrassed. "I suppose my intuition isn't very accurate."
"Miss Wu's observations are quite astute; human physiological reactions are hard to fake."
Luna was astonished. "So you really are from ancient times?"
"Half true."
"In which dynasty were you born?"
"The Tang Dynasty you visited."
"Then how did you... come here?"
"You mentioned that in the logic of parallel worlds, two of the same person cannot exist on the same timeline," Leo spoke slowly. "I want to tell you that this logic may not hold true."
Just as Leo finished speaking, a gust of wind blew in from outside, neither too strong nor too weak. It was mid-summer, and the temperature was high; even if there was wind, it should have been warm. Yet, when this wind touched Luna, she felt a shiver run through her, uncontrollably trembling.
Section 14
On this journey south, Victor Wei came for the strange bees.
He had spent several days in the county, gathering information about the events that had transpired at the Lu family ancestral hall since the twenty-eighth of the twelfth month. Using grouper to deal with the strange bees was an age-old remedy among the locals of Nanhai County. It required the right conditions: the roasted grouper had to be placed on a long pole and positioned in the sunlight, casting its shadow over the beehive, which would incite the seabirds that favored the grilled fish to attack the hive.
Deprived of grouper, Victor Wei resolved to scout the Lu family ancestral hall at night.
Agreeing to join forces was not his original intention.
Even in Chang'an, a gathering place for talented individuals, Victor Wei had always operated alone; even high officials treated him with caution. This was not solely due to his superior skills in sorcery, but also because of his infamous fearlessness.
All of this stemmed from two days prior.
After leaving the fish market, Victor became aware that someone was following him.
Along the way, he employed illusionary techniques to lay numerous "roadblocks," conjuring paper soldiers and horses in rapid succession. Even if an ordinary person escaped unharmed, they would have been quickly outpaced. However, the person behind him dispelled each obstacle and continued to pursue him.
Having exhausted too much energy, Victor sought a secluded place to recuperate. When he stumbled upon an abandoned temple, he did not hesitate to step inside.
Following the chase, Victor understood that, in terms of stamina or strength, he was no match for the person trailing him. In his travels, Victor adhered to a principle: he would spare those weaker than himself; those stronger must be eliminated at any cost.
Thus, he prepared a final spell for his pursuer—should they dare enter the temple, they would surely meet their end.
Victor sat quietly in the dilapidated hall for a moment when he suddenly heard a clear voice: "Leo Lee from Dengzhou, coming uninvited, a friend, not a foe."
The intruder had not triggered any protective spells, indicating he had not entered the temple. Uncertain whether the other party had discovered something, Victor replied coldly, "I do not know any friends by the name of Lee from Dengzhou."
"You don't know me, yet you wish to kill me."
"In my presence, uninvited guests are foes, not friends," Victor declared. "Since you know I wish to kill you, does your presence here mean you intend to fight?"
The man chuckled lightly. "Can you still fight, sir?"
Though his words sounded courteous at first, his laughter betrayed him. Victor's face paled further, the brim of his hat failing to conceal his grim demeanor. By this point, he was quite certain that this Mr. Lee had recognized his fatigue. "What do you want?"
"I come to inquire about something."
"Speak quickly."
"Do you have those three grouper?"
Victor scoffed. "Whether I do or not is of no concern to you."
"If the fish are with you, the situation simplifies. You could trade or even render them invisible; your skills in illusion are evidently profound," Leo said. "Thus, what you seek may be achievable."
"…And if they are not?"
"If they are not with you, you will face formidable adversaries, and accomplishing your goal alone may prove difficult."
This revelation struck Victor.
He had been falsely accused of stealing fish at the market, subsequently followed, and in his haste to extricate himself, he had forgotten to consider how the three fish had vanished right beneath his nose. If his pursuer employed illusion, it indicated a power surpassing his own; if they did not use illusions—
Then it was an even more troublesome matter.
After a moment's contemplation, Victor said, "How do I know the true thief isn't you?"
"From your perspective, why would I steal fish only to seek you out?"
"Why don't you just tell me why you're looking for me?"
The man outside fell silent for a moment before responding. "As I said, I am not your enemy. Nanhai County is mostly rural villagers; a small fish market could not possibly attract so many skilled individuals in a single day. We both know that the grouper is merely bait; the truly important matters lie elsewhere."
Victor pondered for a long time before abruptly gesturing, dispelling the protective spell at the entrance. "Come in."
Thus, by this chance encounter, Victor and Leo agreed to meet again two nights later at the Lu family ancestral hall.
The full moon hung high in the sky when Leo arrived as promised. Victor crouched behind the wall, listening intently, and without hesitation, he launched three talismans at him.
Victor poured all his strength into the talismans, which transformed into arrows piercing through the night, targeting Leo from three directions.
With his back turned to the newcomer, Victor heard the soft sound of the arrows being deflected by a weapon. Suddenly, a figure landed beside him, their voice following closely: "Is this how you treat your guests, Mr. Wei? It's rather disheartening."
Victor snorted softly, redirecting his gaze from the sword at Leo's side. "It's pitch black; how can one discern if you're human or beast? If you were hit, it would be a testament to your lack of skill, unworthy to stand with me."
Leo appeared unfazed, ignoring Victor's retort.
Victor couldn't help but glance at his sword again. "That sword has quite the history."
"Your eyes are keen."
"Your surname is Lee; are you of noble blood?"
"There's more than one family named Lee in the world."
"An ordinary Lee wouldn't possess your skill or carry an ancient divine sword." Victor sensed the evasiveness in Leo's words and scoffed. "I'm not interested in who you are, but if you are a royal, it's best to inform me sooner rather than later to avoid complications."
Leo chuckled lightly and leaped down from the wall.
"Remember, tonight is merely a reconnaissance; no fighting," he whispered.
Victor rolled his eyes. "You'd best mind your own business."
"You've yet to see the six male bees outside; if they arrive, we might find ourselves in dire straits."
"Only six?" Victor scoffed, having heard from the villagers that there were hundreds.
"A queen requires only six males to mate at one time."
Victor fell silent as they stepped into the main hall. Since the unusual occurrences began, the temple had ceased offering incense, and the ancestral tablets of the Lu family had long been removed. Thus, the hall was filled with the stale scent of decaying wood and dust. Having grown accustomed to various haunted ruins since childhood, Victor did not regard this temple as a significant threat, especially after hearing Leo mention only six male bees.
The crack where the queen was concealed lay before them. Despite Victor's usual composure, he could not help but feel a rush of excitement. Since childhood, under the guidance of a master, he had studied sorcery and received a few ancient texts. His sole aspiration in life had been to discover extraordinary treasures and wonders.
The tales of strange bees had traveled from Lingnan to Chang'an for over a month. The sorcerers in Chang'an were aware of the rumors, but none took them seriously. First, they doubted that a poor, remote place like Nanhai County could produce anything of value; second, their narrow vision kept them focused solely on the capital, preoccupied with serving the affluent, wasting their talents.
As Victor rushed forward to the western pillar, he unexpectedly found Leo seizing the opportunity.
A colorful prayer flag suddenly blocked Victor's path, completely obscuring the narrow gap between the pillars.
Though the temple lacked candles, the moonlight from the seaside poured in, illuminating the hall. Victor could not see anyone in front of him and was bewildered by how the flag had moved. In a moment of confusion, he quickly turned around to find Leo behind him, his expression unclear.
"Can you perform illusions?" Victor inquired.
"I cannot."
"Yet you moved the prayer flag?"
"You know very well it was not me."
Victor's gaze flickered, and he suddenly felt a surge of excitement. He stepped forward, determined to uncover what lay behind the flag!
After several attempts to move the flag, Victor found it immovable. Before him lay the most commonplace of prayer flags: a long pole and a piece of coarse cloth. Despite their lightness, Victor sensed an immense force bearing down from above, making it impossible for him to budge them.
Turning to seek Leo's assistance, he found him retreating to the entrance, clearly intending to stand aside.
"Ha ha ha." A sudden woman's laughter echoed in the hall. "Have you two already disbanded?"
Upon hearing the unexpected voice, Victor released his grip and involuntarily took a few steps back. "Are you human or spirit?"
"You're the ghost!" the woman retorted. "Your face is as pale as powder; you must have a short lifespan."
The speaker did not reveal herself, but her voice resonated nearby. Victor sensed her ill intent and began to conjure a spell.
The woman scoffed, "Save your energy, pretty boy. Your little tricks might frighten others, but they won't harm me. The beehive inside is mine, and you two are mere mortals, incapable of competing."
At that moment, Victor had retreated outside the hall. He disregarded her "advice," unleashing his talismans in quick succession, directing them toward the prayer flag with the speed of the wind.
Unfortunately, none of the talismans struck their mark; they fell like scraps of paper before the flag.
Conversely, Victor found himself drained after his relentless casting
, nearly collapsing to the ground from fatigue.
Leo promptly supported him.
"Let's go; I won't harm you," the woman said from within the hall.
"Thank you," Leo replied.
As Leo assisted Victor, the woman's voice suddenly approached: "Aren't you afraid of me?"
Before Leo could respond, her voice shifted around them: "If you were afraid, I would let you go. But if you're not afraid, I cannot spare you."
Victor, propped up by Leo, took a moment to catch his breath and managed to say, "If you wish to kill me, then do it. There's no need for idle chatter."
The woman's laughter was bright. "You're exhausted from throwing a few talismans; your life is drawing to a close."
As she proclaimed that his "life was drawing to a close," Victor felt a surge of anger and attempted to retort, only to realize his belt had been undone, his robe loosened. Before he could react, the belt had twisted around his mouth, silencing him.
All that emerged from him were muffled sounds.
"I've been waiting here alone for days, growing tired of the solitude. Since you two aren't afraid of me, why not keep me company for a while?" she suggested.
Victor glared into the void where the woman's voice emanated, producing muffled sounds.
"If you insult me again, I'll strip you bare and let you die of shame."
"…"
"Where do you hail from?" she asked Leo.
"Dengzhou."
"Dengzhou is near Penglai, where the old sages reside. No wonder you're unafraid of me."
Leo paused before responding, "Which clan do you belong to, young lady?"
"...You know my background?"
"If I know, I shan't ask."
"Where did you acquire that sword?"
"It's a family heirloom."
"Are you of noble descent?"
"I am."
Upon hearing this, Victor shot a glare at Leo, muffling his indignation at his lack of transparency with him while easily divulging information to others.
The woman let out a melodic laugh. "You're not afraid of me because you rely on that sword?"
"If you can unravel Mr. Wei's belt without effort, taking a life must be a trivial matter for you," Leo said. "I'm not afraid because you've assured us you won't harm us."
"Your words are quite flattering," the woman replied. "Hurry and leave while I'm still feeling merciful."
Beyond the Lu family ancestral hall lay an open expanse close to the sea. Leo helped Victor mount a white horse, but he himself did not climb aboard.
Victor noticed Leo murmuring to the horse and exclaimed, "Are you planning to confront the woman alone?"
"My horse will lead us to a secluded spot; you should focus on recuperating," Leo replied.
"Do you realize she's a fairy?" Victor pressed again.
After hearing this, Leo smiled faintly but said nothing, giving the horse a gentle pat, which made it rear and gallop into the dark night.