Chapter 121: Healing with Wine

I have not seen Erpang since he returned the Mountain God Token. Every time I recall the cold indifference he displayed when we last met, a knot of distress tightens in my chest.

We grew up together. Because of the rumors surrounding my origins, the villagers viewed me as an outcast, and other children were forbidden from playing with me. This made my childhood personality extremely introverted and isolated, bordering on reclusive.

Only Erpang never cared about such things. He was big and burly, and he called me "Boss"—not because I possessed any great skill, but simply so that the other children, hearing him call me that, would be too afraid to bully me. In the world of my youth, aside from my grandfather, he was the closest thing I had to family; he was like my own brother.

"Erpang, I'm sorry," I whispered. Deep down, I knew it was my fault he had become the man he was today. If I had never gone to the Lesser Underworld, if I had never chased after that so-called opportunity, none of this would have happened.

But it was too late for regrets.

The fresh grave before me belonged to Erpang’s mother. The auntie was truly gone. Erpang had built the grave with his own hands, which meant he had been back recently. Yet, I had not seen him, and I had no idea what his current situation was.

I took out incense and spirit money, offered them to his mother, and burned the paper. I don’t know if it was just my imagination, but even though Hu Yuyan accompanied me and we searched the surrounding area, we found no sign of him. Still, I felt as if he were watching me from somewhere nearby.

"Should I help you look again?" Hu Yuyan asked.

I waved my hand and said, "No need."

Afterward, Hu Yuyan and I left the old burial ground and headed back into the mountains toward the Mountain God Temple. Little did we know, as I stood before the grave, a figure draped in black robes stood in the nearby woods, his face obscured by shadow, watching us.

Back at the Mountain God Temple, Grandfather and Grandma Wang already knew about Weiyang. They didn't bring it up, and I understood they were trying to spare me the pain.

Daoist Li and Niu Dahuang were not at the temple. When I asked Grandfather where they had gone, he explained that chaos had been rising everywhere lately. After some strange occurrences in Cangmang Town a few days prior, they had gone to investigate, suspecting the Demon Clan was stirring trouble in the shadows. However, Grandfather added that these were likely just the remnants of the clan and posed no major threat. He expected them back within a few days.

I recalled Hu Yuyan mentioning the Demon Clan earlier, so I asked Grandfather what they were all about. He told me the Demon Clan had been wiped out over a thousand years ago. At that time, the twelve True Gods of the Heavenly Dao had intervened directly, sealing the Demon Ancestor, Luohou, beneath the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array. After a millennium, surely the Demon Ancestor had long since turned to ash.

I nodded. My primary goal in returning was to ask for Grandfather's help in tracking down Ma Zhenlei and the Southern Gu King, Luo Jinhong.

Grandfather mentioned he had heard of Luo Jinhong; he was a dangerous man known for his ruthless mastery of gu-sorcery. Moreover, he was elusive, making him difficult to track. However, Grandfather said he could use his status as a Mountain God to make inquiries, much like he would contact the Mountain God of Changbai Mountain, to see if other deities had any leads on the man.

Ma Zhenlei was in league with Luo Jinhong, and they were the ones who had killed the Luoshen Protector. With Ma Zhenlei absent from Maoshan, it was highly likely he was doing Luo Jinhong’s bidding. If I could find Luo Jinhong, Ma Zhenlei would not be able to escape.

Grandfather cautioned me that this investigation would take time and urged me not to be impatient. I was still injured and needed to rest.

***

In my idle moments, I asked Grandfather about my father, but he only shook his head. He knew little about my mother, and even less about my father. Thinking back on the memories I had of my father's attitude toward my mother, I felt a surge of resentment. Had it not been for him, my mother might not have been left vulnerable to the venomous schemes of those Daoists when she lost her soul.

The Mountain God Temple was incredibly quiet. Once a person is still, the mind becomes impossible to control. In the dead of night, I found it hard to sleep, my mind consumed by thoughts of Weiyang. I sat on the mountain path, clutching the scraps of red silk and the blackened hairpins, lost in a daze.

Before I knew it, my face was drenched in tears.

Footsteps approached. Grandfather sat beside me. I hurriedly wiped my eyes, but he sighed softly and asked, "Child, what are you thinking about?"

My heart was heavy, and I didn't want to speak, so I only shook my head.

"Are you thinking of Weiyang?" he asked.

I nodded.

"Child, Weiyang is gone, and she certainly wouldn't want you to remain so despondent. You have a life to live, and your burdens are heavy." He paused, then added, "You could start over. Weiyang once told me that Lin Yi is a dragon destined to soar ninety thousand miles; she never wanted to be your anchor..."

"Grandfather, I know. I'm just tired."

I knew what he was going to say, but my heart was full of Weiyang; there was no room for anyone else.

As I stood up to leave, I saw Hu Yuyan wiping away tears as she walked away from the temple gate. Grandfather patted my shoulder and said, "I can tell, she likes you."

I didn't respond and followed Grandfather back inside. The next day, I made up my mind to head to the Thirteen Ravines of Yunmeng and return to the Lesser Underworld.

Before descending, I went to the Guicang Forest to see the Flower Maiden. She was planting spider lilies. I asked her why she was so certain that Weiyang would return. She replied that her mistress had promised her that, no matter what, she would never abandon her.

I needed the spider lily brew to enter the Thirteen Ravines, and the Flower Maiden had it. I took the jar but found I couldn't put it down. Since my life-root had returned to the Void, I knew I wouldn't sprout scales from the alcohol. The Flower Maiden stayed with me, and we drank for an entire day. I was so drunk I could barely stand, yet the pain in my heart only sharpened, and my memories of Weiyang became clearer than ever.

The Flower Maiden was also dead drunk, laughing and crying as she leaned against her hut. Hu Yuyan watched us drink like madmen; she couldn't bear to stop us, yet she couldn't help but shed tears in silence.

Leaning against the hut, the Flower Maiden pointed at me, her expression a mix of laughter and tears. "Lin Yi, I... I’ll tell you a secret... you... you must not tell my mistress... do you hear me..."

"Fine... I won't tell her. What... what is the secret?" I asked.

"My mistress once said... she is of the Phoenix clan... she... she cannot die. The phoenix is reborn in fire, Lin Yi... have you ever heard? She... she won't die... she will come back..."

With that, the Flower Maiden slumped over, the wine jar rolling onto the ground as she fell into a deep sleep. I, too, could no longer hold on, and I collapsed.

***

When I woke up, I was lying in the hut. Hu Yuyan was gently blowing on a bowl of soup. The Flower Maiden emerged, clutching her head; she seemed to have drunk too much, stumbling as she walked, the effects of the alcohol still lingering.

I sat up, my head dizzy and aching. Hu Yuyan gave me the hangover soup, and I felt slightly better. I had a vague recollection of the Flower Maiden saying something the day before, but when I asked her about it, she claimed she was too drunk to remember. Hu Yuyan, who hadn't touched the wine, told me we had just rambled on about nonsense and that she didn't remember anything either.

I had come here to go to the Lesser Underworld, but the drinking had caused a delay. Once sober, I headed to the Lesser Underworld alone, leaving Hu Yuyan to wait in the Guicang Forest.

Beneath the Thirteen Ravines of Yunmeng, everything remained unchanged. I followed the ghostly soldiers into the black sedan chair and traveled until we stopped before the Hall of the Yama King.

I stepped inside. The hall was empty and cavernous, with white banners fluttering in the air and spirit money swirling in the gusts of ghostly wind. As I stepped through the threshold, the great doors behind me creaked shut.

"I didn't expect to see you again so soon!" the Little Yama King appeared and declared.

"There is something I wish to ask," I said.

"Speak. But be warned: the Lesser Underworld has its price. If you want to uncover certain truths, you must exchange something for them," the Little Yama King said, his voice carrying a wicked undertone.

I had already considered this before coming. I nodded. "Fine. I know your rules."

"Excellent. Then ask away!"

"What exactly did I lose at the River of Oblivion? Was it Weiyang, or was it Erpang?" I asked, cutting straight to the point. There were things I refused to believe because there were still doubts.

The Little Yama King was momentarily stunned. "It has been so long, and you still haven't found the answer?"

"I don't believe the answer I found."

"An answer is an answer. Whether you believe it or not changes nothing," he replied.

"You are the Yama King of the Lesser Underworld. You rule everything here, don't you?" I asked.

"Naturally!" he replied, seemingly pleased by the recognition.

"Good. Then I have a request. Since you rule over everything here, help me retrieve what I lost on the River of Oblivion!"

The Little Yama King froze, looking genuinely surprised. He hadn't expected such a demand. He roared, "The Lesser Underworld has its own order! Do you think you can just change it as you please?"

Suddenly, ghostly winds whipped up, sending banners and spirit paper flying. The entire hall became terrifyingly grim.

"Have you ever seen this sword?" I asked, drawing the Qingping Sword.