Mu Gesheng’s first instinct was that he had to get out—and fast. Now was absolutely not the time to be browsing memories. Everything outside was a mess; if he remained trapped here, there was no telling how things would end.
However, he wasn't Chai Shuxin. He didn't have the Red-Stained Blade, and he couldn't simply shatter the illusion at will. He struggled for a long time, but his efforts remained futile.
Illusions came in many forms. The memories An Ping had seen in his dreams were the gentlest kind; the observer could only watch, unable to touch anything, and could wake up easily. The memories of Penglai that he and Chai Shuxin had witnessed were more advanced—one could interact with the environment and even communicate with the illusion’s master, like the little monk.
But the more realistic an illusion was, the higher the risk. If the master of the illusion harbored ill intent, the observer could easily become lost within it.
The Heavenly Calculation lineage never showed mercy when pranking their own; in fact, they seemed to revel in it. Even if this was an illusion the little monk wanted him to see, there was no guarantee it wasn't a trap. Mu Gesheng sharpened his focus and surveyed his surroundings.
He was in a detached courtyard. The furnishings looked familiar. He pushed open the door and saw two cypress trees planted outside.
Mu Gesheng suddenly remembered where this was.
This was their convalescence home in Penglai after the Ghost Soldier Riot.
This was Song Wentong’s courtyard.
***
The moment Mu Gesheng lost consciousness, his body pitched forward. Even Lin Juansheng was startled, reaching out quickly to catch him.
Chai Shuxin erupted instantly. "Let go!"
A crimson blade-light exploded in mid-air, clashing violently with Lin Juansheng’s whisk. In an instant, the earth shook and the mountains swayed; the entire building shuddered.
Seeing the situation turn dire, Zhu Yinxiao grabbed Wu Biyou with one hand and An Ping with the other, shouting, "Yanyan!"
Chai Yanyan knew exactly what he meant. She kicked off her high heels in two swift motions and leaped onto Zhu Yinxiao’s back. Dust and stones flew everywhere as Chai Shuxin’s blade whipped up a massive vortex in the air. She had to scream to be heard: "Great-Uncle, you owe me a pair of shoes!"
"I’ll pay you back once we’re out!" Zhu Yinxiao roared. "Hold on tight!"
Before his voice could fade, bricks and beams came crashing down. A tooth-grinding sound of snapping wood echoed, followed by a thunderous *boom* as the entire tower snapped in half.
The collapse of the high-rise drowned out the rising screams.
***
An Ping was kicked awake.
Zhu Yinxiao had been holding him by the collar so tightly he’d nearly been strangled, eventually passing out. When he woke, Chai Yanyan was checking his eyelids. Wu Biyou sat nearby; seeing him wake up, the boy huffed, "Weakling."
An Ping managed to sit up. When he saw the scene before him, he was completely stunned. "What happened?"
If this wasn't a hallucination caused by a concussion, they were currently sitting on a broken folding screen, drifting across a vast, endless ocean.
Where was the Mirage? Why had it turned into a sea?
"The Mirage—a Fata Morgana. Legend says the Mirage was originally built upon the sea." A voice came from behind. An Ping turned to see Zhu Yinxiao standing behind him, propping himself up with a punting pole. "You probably noticed when we came in, kid. The entire Mirage is built on the back of a giant Mirage Monster, and that monster floats within the Sea-Sky Realm."
An Ping recalled the wonders they had seen upon entering and nodded.
"The Mirage has a protection mechanism. When the structure is threatened, the monster dives underwater, using the sea to protect the tower from further damage. At the same time, the Sea-Sky Realm has its own defense system: anyone who causes damage to the Mirage is marked for 'clearing.'" Zhu Yinxiao sighed. "The clash between my brother and the Master of Longevity shook the whole tower down. The defense mechanism activated, the seawater rushed in, and now we’re all targets to be cleared."
"Then shouldn't we leave, fast?"
"If we could leave, we’d be gone already." Zhu Yinxiao gave a bitter smile. "The Mirage is built in an extraterrestrial domain—an independent space. When the defense mechanism starts, the entrance closes. It won't open again until all life forms within the space have been cleared."
An Ping’s head throbbed at the explanation. He looked around. "Is it just us? Where are the others?"
Zhu Yinxiao shook his head. "The tower collapsed in a split second. I only had time to grab you three."
"The members of the Medicine Group have their own ways of protecting themselves," Chai Yanyan said softly. "Though they’re scattered, they won't just sit and wait for death."
"What about the Half-Immortal and the Spiritual Pivot?"
Wu Biyou’s voice sounded like it was being squeezed through his teeth. "The old fossil is lost."
Lost?
"He was closest to the Master of Longevity; he was likely taken by him." Zhu Yinxiao sighed. "Immortals have the power to fly and tunnel through the earth; he might have a way out. As for my brother..."
He pointed into the distance. "Over there."
An Ping blinked. The sea was vast and seemingly calm.
In the next instant, a monstrous wave surged. Zhu Yinxiao hurriedly punted backward, but the four of them were still drenched from head to toe. A silver light burst from the seabed, roaring at the heavens and triggering countless waterspouts.
An Ping stared, wide-eyed.
Zhu Yinxiao patted his shoulder. "You’re not seeing things. That’s a dragon."
"Do you remember all those silver fish in the Sea-Sky Realm when we entered? Those were actually dragon scales. This is part of the defense mechanism. Once the seawater floods in, this dragon wakes up to attack everyone."
An Ping didn't even know what to say. It was impressive, sure, but didn't this defense mechanism have an identification system? What was the point of attacking your own people?
"Actually, it’s specifically to prevent 'insiders' from stealing. The Seven Families have a thousand-year heritage, and the Mirage houses countless treasures; it’s hard to prevent someone from the inside getting greedy. Besides, this entire space was crafted by the Mohist School. If anything goes wrong, the Mo Master would surely arrive immediately—he knows how to flip the switch." Seeing An Ping’s look, Zhu Yinxiao waved his hands dismissively. "Don't look at me. Just because I lived here with the Second Brother doesn't mean I know everything."
An Ping pointed at the dragon in the distance. "So how do we solve this?"
Before he finished, another figure burst from the sea, rising through the waves. A massive blade-light coiled around the dragon’s body, erupting in a spray of blood.
"You’re not seeing things. That’s my brother." Zhu Yinxiao patted his shoulder again. "He’s been fighting that dragon for quite a while, but it looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer. For now, nobody go near him. When my brother goes feral, he doesn't recognize his own kin."
This was the first time An Ping had seen Chai Shuxin truly enraged. Looking at the battling figures in the distance, he felt as though the entire world was filled with nothing but killing intent.
"This is the Rakshasa’s true form," Zhu Yinxiao sighed. "With the Fourth Brother taken by the Master of Longevity, it’s hard to say when my brother will calm down."
Chai Yanyan was trembling slightly. Wu Biyou, unable to withstand the pressure of the killing intent, lay flat on the screen, gritting his teeth. "So what do we do now?"
"It’s fine." Zhu Yinxiao punted the 'boat' along. "Big Brother is here."
The four of them drifted on the sea for a long time, soaked repeatedly by the waves. Except for Zhu Yinxiao, An Ping and the other two couldn't even sit upright; the wind and waves kept knocking them down, so they ended up lying in a heap like three soggy salted fish.
Chai Shuxin and the silver dragon drifted further and further away until only faint roars and crashes could be heard.
Finally, the sea grew calm. Zhu Yinxiao tossed the pole aside and clapped his hands. "We’re here."
An Ping sat up. "Where is this?"
"The edge of the Sea-Sky Realm. If we want to leave, we have to start here." Zhu Yinxiao knelt to wring out the hem of Chai Yanyan’s dress, then produced three tail feathers and handed them over. "Dry yourselves off. Don't want you catching a cold."
The vermilion feathers shimmered with light, radiating warmth. As the heat transferred to their hands, it quickly spread through their bodies, making them feel as warm as spring.
Wu Biyou shook his head. "How do we actually get out?"
"I have a backup method, but it’s a last resort. I need to get you all out quickly," Zhu Yinxiao said. "But only one person can go at a time. The next person has to wait twenty-four hours."
Wu Biyou and Chai Yanyan pointed at An Ping simultaneously. "He’s the weakest." "Let him go first."
Zhu Yinxiao looked at An Ping and smiled. "Then it’s you, kid. After all, if another disaster strikes, you’ll have the hardest time protecting yourself."
There was no point in being modest now. An Ping nodded.
"Time flows differently in the Sea-Sky Realm compared to the outside world. One day here is about a month out there. With all of us gone, the Seven Families might face some upheavals." Zhu Yinxiao patted him. "You’re one of the Seven Families now. For these next two months, you have to hold the line."
"In a moment, I’ll pry open a rift and send you through. Just relax. It might hurt a little."
An Ping braced himself, ready to say 'bring it on,' only to see Zhu Yinxiao take a few steps back, lean his head back, and dive headfirst into the sea.
An Ping: "???"
Wu Biyou blurted out, "Crap! What’s he doing?"
Chai Yanyan rushed over, about to peer into the water, but found the temperature rising rapidly. The seawater turned a warm, glowing red.
In the next second, a brilliant crimson soared into the sky. A clear, resonant cry rang out as massive vermilion feathers unfurled. Red wings spread against the wind, and in an instant, the horizon was filled with fiery clouds.
The Vermilion Bird—the God of Fire. Its essence forms dragons, its spirit coalesces into birds; all beings of the ten directions look up in reverence.
An Ping stared dumbfounded at the shimmering Vermilion Bird. Its red feathers were radiant, its bearing magnificent; it was impossible to reconcile this with the scruffy little chick in his memory.
Wu Biyou and Chai Yanyan were clearly seeing Zhu Yinxiao’s true form for the first time as well. The three of them stared in awe. The great red bird lowered its head, playfully nuzzling their clothes with its feathered crest.
The Vermilion Bird winked at An Ping. Before he could react, he was snatched up by the collar and carried high into the sky. They circled through the clouds once before he was tossed out.
The wind whistled in his ears as if flames were burning through the cloud layers. The scorching heat seared his skin; An Ping felt himself hurtling through an invisible tunnel, pushed forward by an unseen force.
After an unknown amount of time, the temperature grew so high that he finally lost consciousness.
***
He had that dream again.
The revolving lantern turned slowly, a cold fragrance floating in the air.
He ran down a long corridor and burst through a set of large doors. Floral candles hung high; red silk curtains draped the bed. On a mahogany table sat a pair of wine cups next to a golden wedding scale.
The groom stood with his back to him, leaning down to take the bride’s hand. The candle wick popped with a spark. He seemed to be saying something, his voice very soft. The tassels on the large red veil trembled slightly.
This was the third time he’d had this dream. From the initial terror to later bewilderment, An Ping was now left only with a heart full of doubt.
Why did he keep dreaming of this place? Where was it? And who were the people getting married?
After everything he’d been through over the past few months, he was no longer the ghost-fearing high schooler he once was. The mystery in his heart grew, and curiosity gradually overcame fear. He stepped forward, wanting to tap the groom on the shoulder and see who it was.
However, his hand passed through a phantom.
An Ping tried several times, discovering he could touch everything in the room except the groom himself. Just as he was wondering what to do next, he found that while his hand passed through the groom, he could actually touch the bride.
How was that possible?
Regardless, he couldn't figure it out. If he couldn't see the groom’s face, he might as well see who the bride was. Steeling his nerves, An Ping reached out and yanked off the bride’s veil.
Then, he felt as if he’d been dropped into an ice cellar.
An Ping stared at the face, frozen in shock, his mind reeling.
*How is this possible?!*
The groom was—
An Ping bolted upright.
"Are you okay?" someone nearby asked with concern. "You were screaming in your sleep. What happened?"
An Ping was drenched in cold sweat. It took a good while for him to recover. He looked around; he was at the Yushui Zhuhua.
A waiter stood beside him—a member of the Yin-Yang family he had seen before.
"Didn't you guys go into the Mirage?" the waiter asked, puzzled. "How did you end up in the elevator?"
An Ping steadied himself. "You found me in the elevator?"
"Yeah. The Young Master has been gone for days. I thought you went into the Mirage with them, but when I opened the elevator tonight, I found you passed out inside. What happened?"
They were in a private room; An Ping was lying on a sofa. He grabbed a few tissues to wipe his sweat while quickly processing the situation. Zhu Yinxiao had said he would pry open a rift in the extraterrestrial domain to send him out. Though he didn't know why he’d ended up in the elevator, it seemed the method had worked.
Based on the time difference between the Mirage and the human world, it would be at least two months before Chai Yanyan or Wu Biyou could come out.
Before leaving, Zhu Yinxiao had warned him that the Seven Families might face upheaval and told him to hold the line. Considering the ambiguous relationship between the Yin-Yang family and Fengdu, once the news of Wu Biyou’s disappearance spread, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At this point, the best course of action was to suppress the news and stall for as long as possible.
An Ping spun a lie to smooth things over, then hurriedly left the Yushui Zhuhua.
He was one of the few who had returned from the Mirage. You couldn't keep a fire wrapped in paper; once the news of the Masters' disappearance got out, trouble would follow. The priority was to find a place to stay—somewhere safe where he could still maintain contact with the Seven Families.
The Yin-Yang family’s territory wasn't safe, he didn't know where the Zhu family was, the Medicine family was likely in internal chaos, and he didn't even know how to get to Penglai. There was only one place where he could truly feel at ease.
He returned to the City God Temple.
***
An Ping pushed open the door. The backyard was silent.
Mu Gesheng’s enamel mug was still in the kitchen. An Ping made himself a cup of brown sugar water, the steam rising in the air.
He sat on the veranda. A half-finished chess game sat on the steps, likely left there by Mu Gesheng.
His mind was a mess, and his attempts to calm himself only made him more anxious. He needed something to distract him. Finally, his gaze settled back on the chessboard, and he suddenly noticed something.
The layout of the pieces was very strange. After staring for a long time, An Ping realized what was wrong.
This wasn't a half-finished game. This was a map of the Seven Families' power distribution.
Heaven knows if Mu Gesheng had anticipated something before entering the Mirage and left this hint in the courtyard. An Ping studied the board intently. The black and white pieces were distinct, and his thoughts began to organize themselves, becoming clear.
If the Seven Families were to fall into chaos, the collapse of the Mirage was the spark. When the city gate is on fire, the fish in the moat suffer; the most unstable family would be hit first. And right now, the one most likely to have trouble was undoubtedly—
"Young Master An, what are you doing here?" A voice broke An Ping’s train of thought.
An Ping looked up to see Huang Niu, the gatekeeper. He didn't know if the man was trustworthy and didn't dare say too much. Before he could speak, the man asked, "Do you have a phone?"
An Ping froze. He’d left his jacket in the Mirage; he was currently penniless, and his phone was gone with it.
"I figured." Seeing his expression, Huang Niu understood. "Did you leave without telling your family anything? You’ve been in the Mirage for over ten days, and the world outside has gone crazy. Your parents are looking everywhere for you; they even spent a fortune to put it on the trending searches. Now everyone knows a rich young master has gone missing..."
An Ping’s head throbbed. He was screwed. He hadn't known about the time difference and thought he’d be back in a day. There was no signal in the Mirage, so his parents obviously couldn't reach him. This was a disaster!
His first instinct was to rush home, but as he stood up, Huang Niu said, "Young Master, since you’ve already entered the City God Temple, it’s best if you don't leave."
An Ping paused. "What do you mean?"
"A few days ago, Director Chai of the Medicine Group escaped from the Mirage. Now the entire Seven Families know that the Pan Geng Oracle Bone’s lineage is broken. The Medicine Group has already had a falling out with the main Medicine branch."
An Ping: "..."
Great. So much for trying to hide the news.
But if Chai Puti had escaped while Chai Yanyan was still missing, the main branch had no one to lead. This was the worst-case scenario.
"The Rakshasa is, after all, connected to the Medicine family. These past few days, people from the Medicine Group have been staking out the City God Temple every day, but they don't dare come in. If you go out, there’s no telling what they’ll do."
Hearing this, An Ping didn't dare move recklessly and stayed put in the temple. He couldn't easily contact his parents either; once he showed his face, he’d be forced to go home, but the current situation wouldn't allow him to leave. Plus, the An family had been doing business with the Medicine family lately, which complicated things further.
He was a variable. The best move was to stay still and wait for the situation to change.
In the evening, An Ping tried his hand at cooking and, predictably, burnt a pot. In the end, he had to ask Huang Niu to go out and buy him some instant noodles. An Ping searched his pockets; for the first time in his life, his entire net worth was five yuan.
"Probably not enough for the bowls. Just get the packets." An Ping rubbed his nose, feeling quite embarrassed. "I’ll use the Half-Immortal’s enamel mug."
"It’s fine, Young Master. Just make a list of what you want, and I’ll bring it tomorrow. For tonight, just make do." Huang Niu rummaged through the shrine and pulled out two large bags of food—pickled vegetables, sausages, marinated eggs, and Old Tan Pickled Cabbage Beef noodles, in bowls.
An Ping looked at the bags; they looked familiar. "This is...?"
"Did you forget, Young Master?" Huang Niu chuckled. "The first time you came to the City God Temple, the Heavenly Calculator tricked you into buying two big bags of food."
An Ping remembered then. Mu Gesheng had told him to buy offerings, including two packs of digestive tablets, claiming the City God had indigestion.
"I don't actually eat this stuff," Huang Niu said. "But if the Heavenly Calculator had you buy it, he must have had his reasons."
An Ping looked at the chessboard on the veranda, then at the plastic bags in Huang Niu’s hands, unsure of what to say.
Even though Mu Gesheng was the one who had dragged him into the world of the Seven Families and often swindled him, seeing how the man had quietly arranged everything made his heart settle.
"I’ll go boil some water." Huang Niu said. "Those people from the Medicine Group are loitering outside every day. Since you’re back, Young Master, even if you can't leave, there’s no reason to hide."
"You’re holding the Heavenly Calculator’s cup. Whether he’s here or not, it’s the same."
A moment later, the gates of the City God Temple swung wide. An Ping, holding the enamel mug in one hand and pickled vegetables in the other, sat on the threshold with Huang Niu to eat instant noodles.
"There’s one at that corner, one at the street entrance, and more in those shops on the second floor and rooftops." Huang Niu pointed around with his plastic fork. "All Medicine Group people."
An Ping looked in those directions. Their blatant display of eating noodles on the doorstep caused a subtle stir. A moment later, a car pulled up at the street entrance. A young man in a white Tang suit stepped out; his features bore a slight resemblance to Chai Puti.
"They couldn't wait." Huang Niu kept his head down, eating. "That’s Director Chai’s cousin."
The young man walked to the temple gate, smiling before he even spoke—a clean, pleasant face that naturally inspired trust. "I heard from the staff that the An family’s young master had returned. I came as fast as I could, and sure enough."
He handed over a business card. "I wonder if I might treat you to a simple meal?"
"Oh, it’s Young Master Chai. Sure, sure." An Ping wiped his mouth and patted the large plastic bag beside him. "I’ve got plenty here. Old Tan Pickled Cabbage, Mushroom Braised Chicken... what flavor do you want?"
The man’s smile stiffened. "There are too many eyes here, and the atmosphere is a bit... common. I’ve booked a table at Chunshao Yipin. Would Young Master An do me the honor?"
"That might be inconvenient." An Ping raised the enamel mug. "I have to wash the dishes after I eat. If I just leave them here, I’m afraid I’ll get a beating when I get back."
The enamel mug was white with red lettering—a common item worth a few yuan at a street stall. Yet, when An Ping held it up, the man was forced to take two steps back.
"Does Young Master An truly have no time?" The man looked regretful. "I also wanted to discuss the future cooperation between our two families."
An Ping shook his head. "For that, please talk to my mom. I don't handle the family business."
"Madam An has been frantic looking for you. Aren't you going back to see her?"
"Hey, kid." Huang Niu spoke up. "Are you really going to act like I don't exist?"
"How would I dare?" The young man bowed to him. "Lord City God."
"When the Rakshasa and the Heavenly Calculator are here, I’m just a gatekeeper. When they’re not, I’m the City God." Huang Niu slurped his noodles. "But now that the An family’s young master is back, your intelligence shouldn't be so bad that you don't know my current status."
"Yes." The young man said softly. "The Rakshasa has his own 'Rakshasa Family,' and the second-in-command is you, Lord City God."
An Ping choked on his noodles, nearly coughing them up, and quickly gulped down some soup.
"Since you know, then get lost. I’m having dinner with Young Master An; don't ruin our sunset." Huang Niu waved him away. "If the news of Young Master An’s return spreads, I’ll hold you responsible."
He glanced at the young man. "Your cousin is a lunatic. The Medicine Group has no shortage of lunatics; what it lacks is people with common sense."
The young man was silent for a moment, then turned to An Ping. "Young Master An, though I don't represent my cousin, I truly hope to reach a cooperation with the An family. These next words are my personal opinion, unrelated to the Seven Families."
An Ping: "Go ahead."
"The main Medicine branch is in chaos. Miss Chai has met with an accident, and many things cannot be decided. Although the main branch has deep roots, without a head, the elders can't even open the vaults." The young man continued, "The main branch’s capital chain is broken; they’re having trouble with turnover. Even from a purely business perspective, the main branch is no longer a good choice."
"That is all." The young man bowed slightly. "I shall take my leave."
An Ping finished his noodles and sat on the threshold, clutching the enamel mug in a daze.
Huang Niu patted him. "Don't overthink it, Young Master. Miss Chai knows your situation. Even if the An family can't help, she won't blame you."
"I know. That’s not what I’m thinking about." An Ping pondered for a moment. "Roughly how much capital does the Chai family need for turnover?"
That stumped Huang Niu. "You really want to help, Young Master?" He pulled out his phone and sent a few messages. A moment later, he said, "I asked Miss Chai’s butler. It’s this much." There were so many zeros it took him a while to count.
An Ping took the phone. The screen showed a nine-figure sum.
He thought for a bit. "Tell the butler to hold on for two days. He should have the money in about a week."
This time, it was Huang Niu who choked. "Are you serious, Young Master? Weren't you the one who couldn't even afford bowl noodles just now?"
"How should I put it?" An Ping struggled to find the words. "It’s not the same thing."
Huang Niu stared at him for a long time, then sighed. "The Heavenly Calculator really has an eye for people. He didn't choose wrong."
"But then again, where are you going to get that kind of money?"
"Oh, that." An Ping opened his notepad and typed out a number. "Send a text to this phone."
"Whose number is this?"
"My mom’s." An Ping said. "Just say you’ve kidnapped me and the ransom is two hundred million."
***
**Glossary**
