In his dreams, blood stretched endlessly, and a fire consumed the verdant mountains.
Mu Gesheng sat by the window for a long time before he was certain he had truly awakened from the illusion.
Everything in his memory felt like a lifetime ago—he and Chai Shuxin had remained within the Yin-Yang Stairs for an eternity, until Xiao Feng and the others became the first batch of Underworld Soldiers. Then, Chai Shuxin had opened the Yin-Yang Stairs once more, and the two of them departed.
He had initially thought Chai Shuxin would head straight for Kunlun to reunite with Second and Third, but instead, the man had turned toward Penglai. Mu Gesheng first assumed they were rushing to attend the cremation of his own corpse, but the reality was the exact opposite.
It wasn't his corpse being cremated, but the entirety of Penglai.
From the moment Chai Shuxin stepped through the mountain gates, he seemed to have lost all reason. He severely wounded disciples and set the mountains ablaze; the long mountain paths were stained with blood, as if they had become a second Yin-Yang Stairs. His strikes were both frenzied and cold-blooded; the Penglai disciples who engaged him were wounded and forced into retreat, yet not a single one died.
Until Hua Bucheng intervened.
The Eternal Life and the Rakshasa—the two fought for a day and a night. Penglai was transformed into a sea of fire as the winds and clouds shifted and the world turned upside down.
"You're awake."
Someone pushed the door open. Clad in green robes and carrying a horsetail whisk, it was Lin Juansheng.
Mu Gesheng looked at him, unable to snap out of it for a moment.
In the final scene of the illusion, Hua Bucheng had plummeted into the deep sea, and Chai Shuxin had walked down the long stone steps, treading through blood. Only one person had stood at the mountain gate to block his path.
Chai Shuxin had looked at Lin Juansheng, who stood ready with his sword, and shook his head. He said calmly: *I will not kill you.*
And the only answer he received was the whistling of a blade.
"You're awake," Lin Juansheng said, holding a bowl of medicine out to Mu Gesheng. "You've been unconscious for many days."
Mu Gesheng was still dazed. After a long pause, he asked, "...He didn't kill you?"
Lin Juansheng’s movements stiffened. He gave a bitter smile. "It seems you know everything now."
Lin Juansheng recounted the events of the past few days. When the Mirage collapsed, he had no choice but to bring Mu Gesheng out of the Water-Sky Realm in a hurry. Because Mu Gesheng remained unconscious, he had temporarily settled him in Penglai.
"The timing of your coma was too coincidental, so I surmised there might be something within the Pan Geng Oracle Bone." Lin Juansheng took out an object and handed it to Mu Gesheng—it was indeed the Pan Geng Oracle Bone they had brought out from the Mirage. "I tried a few methods and discovered residual traces of an illusion on it."
"I dreamed of some things from back then," Mu Gesheng said. "Things that happened after I died."
Lin Juansheng sighed. "As I thought."
"So... Sanjiutian didn't kill you?"
"No." Lin Juansheng shook his head. "But back then, I was no match for the Rakshasa. I spent many years in seclusion to recover from my heavy injuries. During that time, Penglai was slowly restored. Once I recovered and left seclusion, I inherited the title of the Eternal Life."
"I didn't intend to tell you," he said softly. "It's all ancient history."
Mu Gesheng fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "The lineage of the Soul Pivot was severed because Sanjiutian bore a Heavenly Curse, which in turn led to the decline of the Seven Houses."
Lin Juansheng was startled. "Who told you that?"
"That's not important." Mu Gesheng shook his head and looked at Lin Juansheng. "Senior Brother, tell me the truth."
"The reason Sanjiutian bore a Heavenly Curse was that he committed an act that defied the heavens—was that act the killing of the Eternal Life?"
Lin Juansheng remained silent for a long time, long enough for the answer to become self-evident.
Mu Gesheng let out a long sigh. "I understand."
"Your constitution is unique, and you've just woken from an illusion. You need rest," Lin Juansheng said. "Stay in Penglai for a while. Do not overthink things."
"I want to rest too, but there are truly too many things to do." Mu Gesheng stood up, leaning against the window sill. "With the collapse of the Mirage, the Seven Houses will surely fall into chaos. The younger generation is too small; I can't not be there."
"A block of ice three feet thick isn't formed in a single day's cold; the decline of the Seven Houses didn't happen overnight either." Lin Juansheng sighed. "You've already done enough."
Mu Gesheng didn't speak. He pushed open the door, only to see the mountains covered in white snow.
Only then did he realize he was in the Sword Pavilion.
"You haven't been here before. Though the Sword Pavilion bears the name of a blade, it originally housed books," Lin Juansheng said, walking to his side. "Later, the great fire of Penglai burned many of them. The survivors were moved to the Sutra Library."
"The scrolls in the Sutra Library are as vast as the sea; it's a place you would like," Lin Juansheng continued. "You haven't had a good look at Penglai yet. Since you have the chance this time, I'll take you around."
Mu Gesheng shook his head. "No need."
Though he had never been here in person, he had already seen it all.
"Senior Brother." Mu Gesheng turned around and looked at Lin Juansheng. "Play a game of Go with me."
How long had it been since they last played? Eighty years? Ninety?
Mu Gesheng placed a stone, remembering the time he helped his Master finish a remnant game. That day, he had won by a mere half-point, forcing Song Wentong to slaughter the chicken he had painstakingly raised. Chai Shuxin had helped in the kitchen, making a pot of pig stomach and chicken soup.
That had been the final game between the two brothers.
In the century that followed, they were separated by ten thousand miles, and eventually, by the veil between the living and the dead.
"I actually never understood the reason for the discord between you two," Mu Gesheng said. "Sanjiutian never said a word."
"The Rakshasa has reason to hate Penglai." Lin Juansheng placed a stone. "And you, Junior Brother, have reason to hate me."
"Senior Brother, I thought there was no need for such talk between us."
"My mistake." Lin Juansheng smiled. "Then what about you? What do you plan to do next?"
Mu Gesheng pondered for a moment. "I don't know how much longer I can keep living. My remaining lifespan determines how much I can accomplish."
"Although I guessed before that this Heavenly Curse would be troublesome, I didn't expect it to be this exaggerated. It really is something Sanjiutian would do." Mu Gesheng sighed as he spoke. "The severance of the Soul Pivot lineage, the decline of the Seven Houses... I will try my best to find a way to resolve these things."
Lin Juansheng was somewhat surprised. "You're going to help the Rakshasa?"
"What else?" Mu Gesheng said helplessly. "The things he did would be considered unpardonable by the Seven Houses. If I don't help him, who else can get it done?"
He sighed again. "Regardless, I won't just sit by and watch."
"Junior Brother," Lin Juansheng said. "You must understand that breaking a Heavenly Curse is nearly impossible."
"I know, so I'll just do my best." Mu Gesheng looked at the board and suddenly said, "By the way, if it really can't be done, is it okay if I die with him?"
Lin Juansheng’s hand faltered, and the Go stone clicked as it fell onto the board.
"I know it's not easy to make a Rakshasa die, but if you add a Heavenly Calculator to the mix, maybe it's possible. Once everyone is dead, will the Heavenly Curse vanish?"
Lin Juansheng seemed stunned by the question. It took him a long while to say, "Junior Brother, if your skill at Go weren't the same as always, I would think you'd suffered brain damage."
Mu Gesheng was surprised. "That won't work either?"
"It's not a question of whether it works." Lin Juansheng struggled to find the words. "You are the Heavenly Calculator... why go to such lengths?"
"Even if the Rakshasa saved you before, you have also helped him many times. You two are even," Lin Juansheng said. "You might not yet know what a Heavenly Curse entails. Being willing to lend him a hand is already more than enough."
"Setting aside the stance of the Seven Houses," he continued, his voice softening, "you are my junior brother. More than anyone else, I care about your life."
"I know you're on my side, Senior Brother," Mu Gesheng said. "But after all these years, Sanjiutian has truly become very important to me."
Lin Juansheng was slightly taken aback.
"Aside from Second and Third, he is the one who has walked this entire path with me."
"In a blizzard, even strangers can walk side by side," Lin Juansheng disagreed. "His feelings are one-sided; you shouldn't use that to trap yourself. Moreover, there are no promises between you."
"For life or for death, however separated," Mu Gesheng murmured. "To you, I give my word."
Lin Juansheng was completely speechless. He looked at Mu Gesheng as if looking at the foolish son of a wealthy landlord—utterly beyond saving. "...What kind of bewitching potion did the Rakshasa feed you?"
"The medicine he brews is bitter enough to kill; even a dog wouldn't drink it." Mu Gesheng placed a stone. "Senior Brother, don't look at me like that. Maybe I really can find a way to break the curse. What I just said was only a last resort."
"...Fine, I can't win an argument against you." Lin Juansheng looked at the board and finally conceded the game. "I'll think of something regarding the Heavenly Curse. Don't be in such a hurry to seek death."
"I knew it." Mu Gesheng propped his chin on his hand, smiling. "Senior Brother is the best after all."
"There's been a lot of trouble in the outside world lately. I'll have someone organize the news and send it up later. For now, don't go wandering off."
"Got it." Mu Gesheng waved him off. "And bring some food while you're at it. I'm hungry."
"I'll go see if the kitchen has any meat," Lin Juansheng sighed. "Don't go catching the white cranes; they really don't taste good."
Lin Juansheng told Mu Gesheng to rest, but of course, this man was incapable of being obedient. The moment the other left, Mu Gesheng prepared to head down the mountain.
However, the path from the Sword Pavilion was too long; walking down from the peak would take at least a day and a night. Mu Gesheng simply caught a white crane and rode the wind away.
He didn't leave Penglai immediately. Instead, he went on a looting spree—treasures from the Jade Terrace, gold and silver from the Jasper Towers, and he even swiped a backscratcher from some elder's room. He stuffed a large bag with all sorts of odds and ends, making it so heavy the crane could barely fly.
Penglai had restrictions; it was easy to leave but hard to enter. Even as the Heavenly Calculator, he couldn't come and go as he pleased, so he made sure to get his money's worth before leaving.
Even if he didn't know the current state of the outside world, in any era, one could never have too much money.
Mu Gesheng remembered that Penglai's security used to be quite lax. The fact that it had become so strict was likely due to the deep psychological trauma Chai Shuxin had left everyone when he stormed the mountain gates.
When he finally felt he had enough, he decided to find some food at the kitchen before leaving. He couldn't brazenly walk through the front door, so he took up his old trade from years ago—sneaking around and climbing walls.
However, perhaps because his limbs had grown rusty from years of disuse, Mu Gesheng landed right on someone the moment he jumped off the wall. "Fuck! Are you trying to die?!"
The other person was a youth dressed as a Penglai disciple. His voice sounded incredibly familiar. Mu Gesheng grabbed the boy by the collar—it was actually Wu Biyou.
"Silly daughter?"
"You old geezer!"
The moment Wu Biyou saw him, he yelled, "I finally found you!"
"What are you doing in Penglai?" Mu Gesheng let go of him. "Why are you looking for your father?"
Wu Biyou was holding a chicken leg, clearly here to steal food as well. He hid his hand behind his back, a classic case of self-deception. "I've been looking for you for half a month! I have serious business! Come with me, now!"
"Keep it down, unless you want to draw a crowd." Mu Gesheng swung his bundle over his shoulder with one hand and grabbed Wu Biyou with the other. "There are too many eyes and ears here. Let's talk somewhere else."
The two ran to a secluded spot. Mu Gesheng swiped the chicken leg from Wu Biyou’s hand and ate as he spoke. "Alright, talk. What's the matter?"
Wu Biyou looking for him definitely meant something serious was afoot, and it had to be urgent. Otherwise, this kid wouldn't have staged a "thousand-mile search for kin"—the round trip alone was enough time for him to have a hundred bouts of teenage angst.
"You've been missing for over half a year!" Wu Biyou said. "You didn't even say a word! Who else was I supposed to look for?" The youth was fuming. "Since you're awake, why didn't you come back?"
"I just woke up today." Mu Gesheng gestured to the large bundle on his back. "I was just packing up my belongings to head back. By the way, how did you get in?"
"Anping has a Penglai Jade Token that can bypass the restrictions. I've been looking for you for half a month; I've even searched every latrine. Where on earth were you?"
"The place I was sleeping is quite high up. Even at the fastest pace, it takes a day and a night to get there." Mu Gesheng pointed toward the distant Sword Pavilion. "With your height, 'daughter,' it would probably take even longer."
Wu Biyou was so angry he couldn't speak. He grabbed Mu Gesheng’s wrist and started pulling him toward the exit.
"Walk slower, 'daughter.' It's not good to exercise vigorously right after a meal," Mu Gesheng said. "Where are we going?"
"To the First High School," Wu Biyou said. "My dad left something there for you."
***
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