The group moved at a pace that was neither fast nor slow. Those carrying someone on their backs were manageable enough, but the ones shouldering the large drum-vats had no way of hurrying even if they wanted to.
Along the way, Xiang Lanzhi seemed to think of something. She suggested a brief rest and beckoned her three fellow disciples aside to mutter a few words.
When they set off again, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie did not follow. They stayed behind to continue resting. Yu Qing had no objection to this, though it made the others rather curious.
The Bee King in particular kept glancing back at the two who remained behind, wondering what they were up to.
By the time the rest of the group reached the entrance of the immortal mansion, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie were still nowhere to be seen.
In a hollow among the hills near the entrance, three hidden figures watched the scene in silence. They were none other than Yan Yao, who had been ordered to guard the exit, along with two accompanying disciples. They knew nothing of what had happened to Huan Yushan and the others. All they could see was that Qin Fujun had fallen into the hands of Xiang Lanzhi and her companions, and they dared not act rashly.
Beneath the jade archway, whatever needed to be set down was set down, and whoever needed to be put down was put down.
Xiang Lanzhi walked over to Yu Qing and urged him, “What are you dawdling for? How do you open the gate?”
Yu Qing glanced at the sky, where dusk was already settling in, and shook his head. “It is not the right time yet. Only once it is completely dark can it possibly be opened.”
Xiang Lanzhi gave a soft “oh”. “Opening this exit depends on the hour as well?” Yu Qing nodded. In truth, he had no real certainty about whether it could be opened at all. By now, things had likely gone wrong both inside and out. He was no longer in control of his own situation, and things were probably no better for the vine demon on her end.
One thing, however, was certain. Both the vine demon and he understood that whether one side quietly opened the dwelling or the other quietly slipped in and out, it had to be done at night. No one would brazenly do such a thing in broad daylight.
At the very least, “knocking” during the day was not something Yu Qing should be the one to do. The vine demon would assume it was someone else.
Of course, under the present circumstances, he did not know whether the vine demon would open the gate at night either. After all, someone had already knocked before, both by day and by night.
Even if the vine demon refused to open the gate, he was not worried. It would simply mean staying inside the immortal mansion a little longer. If he and his fellow disciples failed to appear for too long, Gao Lao’er would spread word of it. Once those great powers made their move, the vine demon would not be able to keep the golden fruit used to open the gate hidden any longer.
Seeing that he put it this way, Xiang Lanzhi did not press him. As she turned to leave, Yu Qing suddenly called out, “Grand Traveller.”
Xiang Lanzhi stopped and turned back to look at him, waiting for what he had to say.
Yu Qing had meant to ask about the events of the previous night, but when the words reached his lips he dared not speak them. He glanced at the others watching him and in the end said something he did not truly mean. “Grand Traveller seems to know why the vine demon did not seek anyone else, but insisted on having me enter this immortal mansion. May I ask you to shed some light on it?”
Hearing this, everyone turned to look at Xiang Lanzhi.
Xiang Lanzhi said, “Did she not already say so? It is because you once found ‘Xiao Yunjian’.”
Yu Qing did not understand what she meant and asked, suspiciously, “What does that have to do with me having found ‘Xiao Yunjian’?”
Xiang Lanzhi replied, “You found ‘Xiao Yunjian’, and you also managed to find ‘Jinghua Xianyuan’. Do you really not understand what that implies? Would you dare speak of it openly?” With that, she walked away. The others all suddenly realised what she meant.
Yu Qing understood as well. So this was what the Grand Traveller was thinking. It did make sense. That the vine demon had dared to reveal herself and cooperate with him was indeed partly for this reason. Time passed bit by bit, and the sky gradually darkened.
It was not until well past the hour of Xu that Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie finally appeared beneath the stars and moon, still carrying the drum-vat.
The Bee King and Xiang Zhen were wondering what the two had been doing, but as soon as the drum was set down, the pair headed straight towards them.
Xiang Zhen immediately stepped in front of the Bee King and demanded of the approaching men, “What do you think you are doing?”
Mu Aotie produced a cloth bundle and untied it, revealing a small handful of pink pollen inside.
Xiang Zhen frowned, not understanding what this meant.
The Bee King, however, understood at a glance. He finally realised what the two had been up to. They had gone to gather Soul-Melting pollen.
Xiang Lanzhi strolled over gracefully, her smile bright. “Your Majesty, for everyone’s peace of mind, I am afraid we must trouble you.”
The Bee King said, “Is this really necessary?”
Xiang Lanzhi glanced at Yu Qing. “There is no help for it. He cannot be sure of opening the exit. If things drag on until Your Majesty has recovered, I fear Your Majesty may not be as easy-going as you are now.”
The Bee King said, “If we truly cannot get out, and it really does drag on until then, then even if I cannot recover, my two subordinates will. You still will not be able to stand against them.” Xiang Lanzhi said cheerfully, “Which is exactly why we must keep Your Majesty firmly in our own hands. With Your Majesty in our grasp, surely they will not dare act rashly, yes?” The Bee King’s expression darkened a little at once.
Xiang Lanzhi gestured towards the pollen in Mu Aotie’s hand and said, smiling warmly, “Your Majesty, please.”
The Bee King raised a hand and gently pushed Xiang Zhen aside, murmuring a word of reassurance. “It is all right.”
Having moved him aside, he walked over to Mu Aotie himself. He stretched out one finger to dip into the pollen, but the instant before his fingertip touched it, he hesitated. He hesitated for a long time.
Anyone who had dealt with him knew he was not the sort to waver like this. He had always been open and composed, his manner even verging on the free-spirited and unrestrained. Yet this pollen truly struck at the greatest weakness of his physical condition.
Outsiders could not understand the enormous psychological revulsion involved, a revulsion so strong that his body reacted with violent rejection as well.
His finger remained suspended in the air for a long time. In the end, he simply withdrew it. After taking a deep breath, he said to Mu Aotie, “Do me a favour.”
With that, he opened his mouth of his own accord and closed his eyes. Even a fool would understand what he meant. Mu Aotie nodded, but just as he took the first step, Nan Zhu, who stood to one side, suddenly said with a grin, “You are too clumsy with your hands. Do not be nervous. I will do it.”
He snatched the pollen straight out of Mu Aotie’s hand.
Mu Aotie stared at him in stunned silence, wanting to ask which eye had told him he was nervous.
The Bee King opened one eye to glance at the fat man leaning in. Seeing that the pollen was already being brought over, he closed his eyes again.
Nan Zhu stepped forward and got to work with no hint of courtesy. He shoved the entire handful of pollen straight into the other man’s mouth. Apparently deciding the mouth was not open wide enough, he even pressed down on the Bee King’s head and rubbed the pollen hard against the inside of his mouth. It looked as though he were pinning the Bee King down and force-feeding him medicine.
The sight left everyone somewhat stunned. Yu Qing, eyes wide, could not figure out what had got into Old Seventh to make him so bold, even braver than Yu Qing himself. A line even flashed through his mind. When a dragon is stranded in shallow waters, even the shrimp take liberties with it.
Only Mu Aotie, standing right beside them, seemed to notice something. The corner of his mouth twitched violently, and the look he gave Nan Zhu was as if he were staring at a monster.
The Bee King let out two muffled sounds and shoved Nan Zhu away. His mouth was absolutely full of pollen as he smacked his lips. He pointed at the water flask at Nan Zhu’s waist and called out, “Water.” Nan Zhu touched the flask, looking somewhat reluctant.
The flask had in fact also been taken from the divine tree, and the water inside had been scooped from the spring at the foot of the tree.
No matter what the Bee King said, and regardless of whether that spring water came from the Heavenly Spring or the Human Spring, the three brothers had all gone to soak in it earlier. Nan Zhu had even insisted on filling a flask with some to take away.
The others could not tell what Nan Zhu was thinking, but Yu Qing and Mu Aotie understood at once. Ever since Old Seventh had struck it rich in the Golden Ruins, where even a casually picked fruit turned out to be a treasure, he had developed the habit of helping himself to anything that might be valuable. He simply could not stop himself now.
Yu Qing could hardly bear to watch and urged him, “Give it to him.”
Only then did Nan Zhu, with great reluctance, unclip the flask and hand it over to the Bee King.
The moment the Bee King got hold of the flask, he began pouring water into his mouth and splashing it over his face.
Seeing that more than half the water was gone, Nan Zhu immediately reached out and snatched it back. “That is enough.”
The Bee King raised a hand to wipe his face, and for once a fierce, dangerous light gleamed in his eyes as he stared at Nan Zhu. Only then did Nan Zhu feel a wave of belated fear. His heart sank and he retreated, shrinking to one side. Yu Qing stepped in at the right moment. “Old Seventh, the time is almost here. Go and knock.” Although he too disapproved of Nan Zhu’s behaviour, the man was still his own brother. When trouble came, they had to stand together. If they did not even back their own, then nothing made sense anymore.
Nan Zhu was hardly likely to miss his good intentions. He hurried over beneath the jade archway and began striking the mirror-like void with one palm blast after another.
The mirror-like space beneath the archway began to ripple ceaselessly. The force of the blows was considerable, yet the sound was not loud.
One by one, the group roused themselves and fixed their eyes on the scene.
After watching for a while, Xiang Lanzhi could not help walking over to Yu Qing. “Is this your plan? This alone can open the gates of the immortal mansion?”
Others, herself included, had tried similar things before, even with far greater force, and it had done no good at all.
Yu Qing could only say, helplessly, “Let us give it a try.”
The Bee King also walked over of his own accord and stood beside Xiang Lanzhi. He spoke up. “Brother Xiang, once the gate opens, you will be the first to go out.” Then he turned his head towards Xiang Lanzhi. “Big sister, you have no objection to that, do you?”
Everyone understood at once what he meant. He feared Xiang Lanzhi might go back on her word and insist that Xiang Zhen leave first. Once night fell, if Xiang Zhen slipped away ahead of them, he would not be easy to catch, especially someone like Xiang Zhen who could fly on a sword.
“No objection. As long as he keeps his word, that is enough.” Xiang Lanzhi agreed calmly. Her gaze slid sideways towards Xiang Zhen as well, and she smiled without smiling. “That girl with the scar on her face is a fortunate one. Brother Xiang must treat her well. Be sure to remember your promise. If even half a word that should not be said slips out, dragging another person around with you will hardly be convenient. Would you not agree?”
Xiang Zhen’s expression changed instantly. He stared at her, fixed and hard, unable to fathom how she could know of that woman’s existence.
He had not stopped to think that after making such a spectacle of himself at the Chaoyang Assembly, the Great Works Bureau would certainly have looked into his background. Some of his private affairs could be hidden from ordinary people, but before the vast reach of the Great Works Bureau, that was not necessarily so. Xiang Lanzhi had long since obtained certain information about him and had simply kept it in reserve until now.
Seeing the reactions of the two, everyone understood that Xiang Lanzhi was threatening Xiang Zhen.
With things said to this point, the Bee King too fell silent. Once they were outside, there was little more he could do for Xiang Zhen. He quietly put in, “The outside can see in. People like us, who are rather conspicuous, had best keep out of sight. If Du Niang sees that we are here, she may well refuse to open the gate.”
There was reason in what he said. Xiang Lanzhi at once grew suspicious. Could it be that her own “knocking” had failed for this very reason?