“You wanted to take a mortal as your disciple?”

“I was only teaching some things. He’s not my disciple.”

“He’s only six years old, right?”

“Yes.”

Manyue couldn’t help but think to herself: a child of six who comprehended the Sword Heart. Many immortal sects would want someone like that.

“You’re always this generous?”

“Hmm?”

Chen Changsheng paused. He looked up. “It has nothing to do with me. I just swung my sword once. It was Ping’an who gained clarity on his own. He has great understanding.”

Manyue didn’t argue further. She turned to look at the Phoenix Flower in the tree.

“That flower you keep loves eavesdropping,” Manyue said.

Chen Changsheng followed her gaze to the Phoenix Flower.

Hearing this, the Phoenix Flower hesitated and settled down.

“Probably didn’t sleep enough,” said Chen Changsheng. Then he picked up his wine jug and stood up.

Just as he was about to pour some wine, the Phoenix Flower trembled.

Chen Changsheng went “hmm” and asked, “Will you die if I pour more?”

The Phoenix Flower was badly hurt. It had suffered a Lightning Tribulation escaping the Desolate Sea. Now even one jug of wine was hard for it to handle. Since arriving in the mortal world, its injuries hadn’t healed—worse, they’d grown more severe during its unconsciousness.

It thought Chen Changsheng would stop.

Unexpectedly, Chen Changsheng said, “Have a little.”

And poured the wine anyway.

The Phoenix Flower wanted to cry but had no tears. It could only watch helplessly.

“I’m quite hospitable,” Chen Changsheng remarked. Then he put the jug down.

Seeing this, Manyue shook her head. “Why not put it out of its misery?”

Chen Changsheng was indifferent. “It endured being trapped in the Spirit Cage for years. If it can’t handle this bit of pain, can it even be called an Evil Spirit?”

Manyue thought that made sense. Frankly, she didn’t much care whether the Phoenix Flower lived or died—though better dead, maybe.

As the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao, she detested Evil Spirits most of all.

The Phoenix Flower fainted again. Even drunk, it managed a few angry mutters of protest.

Tonight the sky was clear, bright with the moon and stars.

“Off to the Opera House again?” Manyue asked.

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “No. Don’t want to set a bad example for the boy.”

“You truly pamper that girl,” Manyue sighed. “Wonder how you treated Yu Xuan back then.”

Chen Changsheng paused. “I am who I am. Not someone else.”

“Think whatever you want,” Manyue breathed out. “She’s gone now anyway. Karma and old ties are broken. Even if she truly entered Reincarnation, no one could ever find her.”

“I probably owe her something,” Chen Changsheng said. “Like that Sutra of Rebirth.”

Manyue raised an eyebrow. “That’s harsh.”

Chen Changsheng just watched her calmly. “I’ve said it: I am who I am.”

Manyue sighed softly and said nothing more.

She returned to her tree branch, silent.

She just felt Yu Xuan deserved more.

Such an ending…

Affection and obligation are two different things!

But to Chen Changsheng, he’d done nothing wrong. He truly wasn’t familiar with this Yu Xuan he’d never met. That forced sense of affection had nothing to do with him.

………

Over several days, chaos suddenly erupted in the mortal world.

Thousands of years ago, undead cultivators had plagued the the mortal world. Cultivators descended from the heavens and resolved the calamity, wiping them out entirely. Yet now, the undead way was reappearing.

Because of this, a small city in the Northern Frontier became a dead city in a single day. From afar, one could sense heavy Death Qi mixed with the stench of decay.

On another side of the Borderlands, a Night Parade of One Hundred Demons appeared. Soldiers’ Souls lingering on ancient battlefields, controlled by unknown hands, rampaged in the world.

Strange happenings arose in the Southern Region too. Rumors spoke of a mountain echoing with beasts’ mournful cries every night. Those who scaled it found only a thick smell of blood—not a single living thing remained.

And more…

Reports of these disturbances reached Chen Changsheng through the Old Dragon King’s recounting.

The Old Dragon King said, “These Evil Spirits have disrupted the Mortal Dynasty’s Fortune. Now is the perfect time for unification. Fortune will rise. I, as the Dragon Lord, am bound to the Human Dao’s Fortune—when it flourishes, I flourish; when it suffers, I suffer. I cannot stand idly by.”

“You didn’t say that before.”

“Things change.”

Chen Changsheng said, “So you came seeking my help?”

The Old Dragon King nodded. “I can manage minor troubles. But that undead plague in the Northern Frontier… it’s severe.”

“Oh?”

“Do you recall Northern Mang?”

Chen Changsheng thought for a moment. “The Northern Mang that rebelled against Jing Era during Beixiang’s invasion? Wasn’t it later destroyed by Zhao Zhen?”

“It was,” the Old Dragon King confirmed. “But a remnant force of nearly ten thousand soldiers survived. Military men, steeped in Baleful Aura. When the undead plague spread… they became harder to handle. Burdened by obsessions, they turned south once becoming part of the undead horde!”

Chen Changsheng considered this. “I’ll go take a look with you shortly.”

“I’ll feel better with you there,” the Dragon Lord exhaled in relief.

He wasn’t worried he couldn’t quell the undead plague.

Mainly, he feared the Evil Spirit causing the chaos might escape amid the turmoil, leading to endless trouble.

Before leaving, Chen Changsheng told Ruyi and Ping’an.

“Stay at home. I need to handle some business. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Uncle Chen, can Ping’an come?”

“No.”

Ruyi stepped forward. “Promise you’ll come back tomorrow! Don’t lie!”

Seeing her earnest expression, Chen Changsheng nodded. “Wouldn’t lie to Ruyi.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Ruyi relaxed upon hearing this.

As if afraid he’d run away again.

……

Chen Changsheng departed through the city gate at noon. Within an hour, he followed the Dragon Lord to Da Xiang’s Northern Frontier.

This was once the land of Beixiang.

“No armies?” Chen Changsheng asked.

The Old Dragon King answered, “Likely Zhao Zhen mobilized everyone to the Frontier Pass.”

Chen Changsheng murmured, “Zhao Zhen…”

“How is he these years?”

The Old Dragon King chuckled. “That man? Interesting. Stepped down as emperor. Issued a royal decree, dumped the burden on the Crown Prince. The old man—wrinkled as he is—donned armor and marched to the frontier. Seems he intends to die there.”

Chen Changsheng remembered Zhao Zhen fleeing the mountain that day. “Suits his character.”

The Old Dragon King asked, “You prefer Zhao Zhen?”

Chen Changsheng shook his head. “I see promise in both sides.”

“Guess so. No wonder it’s dragged on this long.”

The Old Dragon King muttered. He paid close attention to the frontier war—it affected his water clans’ Fortune too.

“The outcome is unification,” Chen Changsheng said. “Whichever side wins, it will be good for you, Dragon Lord.”

“Exactly.”