The date of the duel between Guo Jing and Yang Kang had originally been set for the fifteenth of August at the Misty Rain Tower in Jiaxing.

Since there were still nearly two months until the agreed day, Guo Jing, after learning the truth about the bloodshed in Niujia Village eighteen years ago, decided to head north to the Jin Kingdom first to assassinate Wanyan Honglie and seek revenge.

Thus, the current time was June, midsummer.

Yet when Yang Kang, along with Wanyan Honglie disguised as an ordinary person and a group of Jin soldiers, arrived at Baoying City, what they saw was a scene of early spring in March.

Carried by the warm breeze and fragrant air, Yang Kang clearly saw a cluster of peach blossoms stirred up beside the official road at the city gate.

“It’s actually… actually real…”

His eyes were filled with shock and terror, his entire body frozen stiff, feeling a chill creeping all over him.

Beside him, Wanyan Honglie, disguised as a Song citizen, felt his back turn cold.

The cold and clear female voice that had echoed throughout Baoying City the night before, accompanied by the blazing red clouds rolling across the sky, had surged forth beneath the sudden rise of the sun during that dark night, reaching deep into the dense forests outside the city.

It had been heard loud and clear by both Wanyan Honglie and the unexpectedly encountered Yang Kang.

— Ouyang Ke had been invaded by an evil force and had already fallen into corruption.

— A Celestial Maiden under the ancient righteous Celestial Donghuang Taiyi descended on clouds, slaying the demon and purging evil.

Although the Jin Kingdom was more powerful than the Song, the strong assimilative power of Han culture meant that the upper ranks of the Jin were not unfamiliar with Han classics. What’s more, the prosperous and wealthy Central Plains region of the Jin Kingdom was traditionally Han territory.

As a prince of the Jin, Wanyan Honglie had also read various famous works. He knew exactly who Donghuang Taiyi was.

A righteous Celestial of the land of Chu!

In the days when the great Han dynasty dominated the world, he was acknowledged by the court. 

For such a brilliant and righteous Celestial’s maiden to descend into the mortal world and personally slay demons—how terrifying must the demon have been?

Thinking that he had once treated that demon as an honored guest, Wanyan Honglie couldn’t help but touch his own neck.

Fortunately, it was still there.

“Good heavens! You should’ve seen it—when the Celestial Maiden thrust her sword, the world changed color! Flowers bloomed across the whole city!”

“Look at these peach blossoms—aren’t they blooming beautifully?”

“Hey, hey! Don’t move! That’s a celestial  miracle left by the Celestial Maiden! You foolish man—plucking flowers, are you not afraid of offending a Celestial?”

“Did you hear? The county magistrate has already had the long street sealed off. The Celestial Jade left by the Celestial Maiden suppressed the demon, and now no one is allowed near that jade!”

“I saw it! It’s two men tall, crystal-clear, priceless!”

“And inside it is the demon—it can still be clearly seen, very creepy!”

The people around rushed into Baoying City. Hearing the noisy chatter, Wanyan Honglie gritted his teeth and said, «Kang’er! Let’s go take a look!»

«Father!» Yang Kang was alarmed. «That Guo fellow is also in the city. Earlier, I only pretended to travel north with him to find you. If you show up now…»

«I will be careful and bring people to hide in the shadows. Kang’er, you stay in the open. Go check it out first.»

After their discussion, the group stealthily blended into Baoying City.

The closer they got to the long street where the great battle had taken place the night before, the more densely packed the crowds became. Eventually, it was shoulder to shoulder, and they could move no further.

On both sides of the street, restaurants and tea houses were crammed with people. Everyone was leaning out from upper levels, trying to catch a glimpse of the celestial  miracle left by the Celestial Maiden.

Even the rooftops were packed with people, leaving no space.

But upon closer inspection, it became clear that although there were many tall trees in Baoying City, not a single person dared to climb them.

All because the trees in Baoying City, under a single sword strike from Li Mochou, had reversed seasons—returning to the early spring of March!

Inside a certain teahouse, a storyteller slapped the table with a loud clap, raising his voice in rhythmic cadence:

“…Now let us speak of that Celestial Maiden! As a Celestial Maiden, she must possess the bearing of a celestial being, clad in violet clouds, descending on clouds, wielding a sword infused with the essence of the great sun. Naturally, she has the power to suppress demons and purge evil…”

“…With a single glance, the demons surrendered; with a single breath, her voice traveled ten thousand miles, cleansing the world of all wickedness…”

Scenes like this were too numerous to count throughout Baoying City. Those who couldn’t squeeze into the long street to witness the miracle could only retreat and settle for second best—listening to storytellers repeat the same story over and over in various teahouses and taverns, their heads nodding in rhythm, enchanted and never tiring.

And in the courtyard of the inn where Xuan Yuan   was staying, there was also a girl who couldn’t get enough.

«Hehe… hehehe…»

«Celestial Maiden… hehe… Celestial Maiden… I’m the Celestial Maiden!»

«They’re calling me Celestial Maiden! Hehehe…»

«So nice to hear!»

Before Li Mochou was a glowing screen, divided into over ten small windows, each showing a storyteller praising her with exaggerated flattery.

(Does this mean… I’ve obtained Celestial fate too?)

Huang Rong was also using her Xuan Bird to monitor the outside world. But compared to Li Mochou, who only cared about the storytellers’ flattery, Huang Rong was more focused on the government’s reaction.

«Brother Xing! Good news!»

«The magistrate of Baoying has already sent a fast rider to report the matter to the capital, and has also decided to demolish the nearby residential houses around the Celestial Jade that subdued the demon. With the Celestial Jade as the center, they’ll build a shrine to the Celestial Donghuang.»

Xuan Yuan   smiled and pulled Huang Rong into his embrace, kissing her cheek, making the girl let out a soft squeal.

«This is a matter of righteous Celestial worship. Starting a temple and burning incense—can a mere county magistrate make such a decision? Shouldn’t it require approval from the Court of Rites?»

Blushing furiously, Huang Rong lifted her chin proudly and snorted, «That’s because all those other Celestials are useless. Brother Xing is the real deal, who can manifest miracles! Who dares not believe? Who dares oppose? Who dares decide? Who is even qualified to approve? Even that old emperor isn’t qualified to question Brother Xing! Hmph!»

Although the entire operation had been orchestrated by this little girl, after its success, she attributed all the credit to Xuan Yuan  , proudly basking in reflected glory.

This moved Xuan Yuan   deeply. He pinched her nose and then lowered his head to kiss her tender, blushing lips.

Mu Nianci had never witnessed such disregard for decorum. Adopted by Yang Tiexin since childhood, and being a very traditional man, she had always abided by strict propriety, even as a daughter of the martial world.