The night wind, a cruel sculptor, tore at the lovers' clothes, each gust chiseling against their faces. Ahead, the moon, a spectral eye in the inky sky, cast a pallid glow upon the winding path, illuminating the solitary figure of the man the lovers followed.
Then, the man suddenly stopped, which made the lovers pause their pacing in the distance, careful to avoid being caught by him and those with whom he worked.
The voices that the lovers heard were those of the man they had followed into the woods and also of a woman, whose voice was lustful as she giggled softly at the end of every sentence.
The woman said in a very sweet voice, "Baoshi, you have to be careful. Don't overdo it."
"What's wrong? It's been five hundred years, Qingyu. Don't worry," Baoshi replied, his voice gruff.
"You know what will happen if you get caught. I don't need to remind you," Qingyu warned, a hint of steel beneath her sweetness.
"Nothing will happen to me," Baoshi insisted confidently.
"Since the last incident, the Souls Collection Realm has been highly protected," Qingyu continued, "Every immortal who enters the gate needs to hold a key pass."
"You have done it back then, you can do it again," Baoshi urged.
Qingyu grabbed Baoshi's collar, her grip surprisingly firm. "Because of your stupidity, we were caught last time! Don't let you become our downfall again!"
The lovers were unsure whether Qingyu was truly angry or not, as she had been giggling and speaking very softly throughout the conversation. Then, a tall shadow emerged from the distance and joined the two strangers. The lovers' eyes widened. It was Lim Peizhi. Qingyu walked directly to Lim Peizhi and kissed him deeply on the lips.
"You are still the best vessel," she purred, stroking his chest. Then her hand slowly dropped to his waist, sliding into his trousers, gently squeezing Lim Peizhi's member.
"This vessel is nothing compared to the one I saw recently," Lim Peizhi said, his eyes closed, the image of Guo Baiyu flashing through his mind. "If there's a chance, I will take that vessel."
"Is it better than this one?" Qingyu asked, a possessive edge to her voice.
Lim Peizhi pulled her closer and gave her another passionate kiss on the lips. He said, "Qingyu, you never change."
Suddenly, a piercing sound from a guzheng blasted straight towards the group. Qingyu quickly plucked a leaf from a nearby branch and sent it directly into the powerful sound wave. Qingyu's leaf effortlessly destroyed the magical sound waves.
"You leave now!" Qingyu snapped at Lim Peizhi, her sweet demeanor vanishing. Lim Peizhi quickly took off, disappearing into the woods.
Twenty red flags with dark, written symbols floated past and surrounded Baoshi, creating a magical barrier. He stretched out his hand, but an invisible wall shocked him, preventing his escape. Approaching from the other end was the Red Moon Hunter.
"Hunters?" Qingyu giggled, a mocking sound.
"Yes," Huang Hongse replied, drawing her sword, its blade glinting in the pale moonlight.
Qingyu giggled and said, "Ah... I fear no hunters." She burst out laughing lustily, a chilling, unhinged sound.
Huang Hongse lunged towards Qingyu, her sword a blur. Huang Yueliang sat calmly on the ground, her guzheng on her lap, playing the magic guzheng with fierce intensity. The mournful, powerful sound of the guzheng made Baoshi scream in agony.
"Sister... Help... Me...!" Baoshi screamed, covering his ears and kneeling on his knees, writhing in pain.
"Mask," Guo Baiyu murmured to his companions.
The lovers quickly covered their faces with dark cloth masks.
"Baoshi, abandon the vessel!" Qingyu shouted, her voice urgent.
A hazy spiritual energy floated from the young man's body, then hovered beside Qingyu. The slender young man, now unresponsive, lay motionless in the magic flag circle. The true form of Baoshi was revealed: a very fat, large man, about three hundred pounds, five feet and two inches tall. His mouth was large and wide, filled with many small, sharp teeth. His eyes were small and narrow, probably because his cheeks were too fat. The droop of his two ears almost fell to his shoulders. Baoshi snarled loudly, a guttural sound, and stomped on the ground. His stomps shook the very earth around them.
Qingyu sent three long, sharp vines directly towards Huang Yueliang. Huang Hongse, reacting swiftly, cut off two vines to prevent them from hitting Huang Yueliang, while the third vine shot straight towards Huang Hongse.
Zhao Renshu jumped over and pushed Huang Hongse down, saving her.
Guo Baiyu's magic arrow, conjured from thin air, accurately pinned the remaining vine to a nearby tree, stopping its advance.
Zhao Renshu and Huang Hongse fell to the ground. Zhao Renshu fell right onto Huang Hongse's face, his lips accidentally brushing hers. Huang Hongse's eyes widened in shock. Zhao Renshu quickly got up, his own face surprised. Huang Hongse, however, remained frozen on the ground, stunned.
Qingyu turned to Baoshi, stroking her fingers on Baoshi's grotesque face. She said with a chilling smile, "Let's kill these hunters, and you can eat them."
The deep voice of Baoshi laughed softly, a low growl. "Sister... heh... heh... heh... heh... heh... I like it when you touch me like that... heh...heh...heh...heh...."
Suddenly, a sword rushed directly at the two criminals. They flipped back, narrowly avoiding the attack, and then the sword hovered menacingly behind them. The criminals jumped up, desperate to avoid the flying blade. The flying sword flew back, floating right in front of Ping'an, its hilt turned towards her.
"You... Impossible!" Qingyu gasped, her face pale with shock. She grabbed Baoshi's shoulders, and the two souls vanished into a dense dark mist, retreating from the powerful sword.
The sword of Ping'an retracted to the size of a hairpin, then floated gently to her right hand. Zhao Renshu picked up the sword from her hand and, with a tender gesture, pinned it to her hair, securing it.
"There, it's perfect," Zhao Renshu smiled, his voice soft.
Guo Baiyu broke into the magic circle. He picked up the young man, the vessel of Baoshi, in his arms and carefully placed him outside the magic flag circle. He placed one talisman on the young man's back, one right in the middle of his chest, and then one in the middle of his forehead. A magic circle appeared where the young man had been sitting, cleansing the residual energy.
Guo Baiyu leaned close to the young man's left ear. "Your name," he murmured.
The young man murmured, barely audible, "Fu... Li."
Guo Baiyu stood in front of Fu Li and snapped his fingers. Fu Li's eyes fluttered open.
When all the talismans volatilized into smoke, Fu Li closed his eyes again and fell to the ground, unconscious. Guo Baiyu picked Fu Li up onto his right shoulder, and the lovers walked away from the scene.
Huang Hongse finally stood up, sword in hand, and shouted, "Guozhao Renshu, you pervert!" She fired her sword, sending it directly towards Zhao Renshu's back.
Zhao Renshu quickly turned around, kicked his right foot into the upcoming sword, deflecting it, and then swung his left foot directly into Huang Hongse's upper chest. She blocked his kick with her left arm, but the strong impact made her stumble backward several steps. She pointed her sword at him; her face contorted with fury.
Zhao Renshu took off his cloth mask. "Hey," he said, a triumphant smirk on his face, "I saved your life; you should thank me!"
"Pervert!" Huang Hongse snapped, tightening her lips in disgust.
"Pervert? Me?" Zhao Renshu pointed at himself, feigning shock. "Miss Huang, no matter what you are thinking, my perverted mind is never towards you. That is a promise." He winked conspiratorially at Ping'an. "Anyway, I am exhausted. If I don't teach you a lesson, you will never learn it. Attack me!" He provoked her with a frivolous smile, knowing it would infuriate her further.
Huang Hongse lunged at Zhao Renshu with her sword, a whirlwind of furious attacks. He effortlessly dodged all of her strikes. When she tried to stab him in his abdomen, he grabbed her hand and gently patted her arm. Immediately, her entire right side became heavy, and she knelt on her right knee, unable to move that side of her body.
"Get rid of the spell!" Huang Hongse shouted, her voice strained.
"Renshu, hurry up," Guo Baiyu urged, wanting to leave.
Huang Yueliang walked to Huang Hongse. "Are you okay?" she asked, concerned.
Zhao Renshu knelt on one knee beside Huang Hongse. "Consider this a lesson," he said, his voice softer, "so that you will remember in your mind: 'there are heavens beyond heavens'." He scratched his head with a finger in feigned confusion. "I don't know what that means. I stole that line from Baiyu, but you are a smart lady; you can figure it out." He got up and walked away. Then he shouted, "Once the sunrise, the spell will be broken! Good luck kneeling!" He waved and laughed, disappearing into the night.
The next morning, Ping'an sat on the side of the bed, tired, trying to wake Zhao Renshu. "Wake up," she said gently, "it's almost nine o'clock."
Zhao Renshu opened his eyes and yawned, stretching languidly. "Strengthen my energy with a morning kiss," he mumbled, pulling her closer.
Ping'an lowered her head and kissed Zhao Renshu's right cheek.
Zhao Renshu still closed his eyes. "One more time," he murmured, "but a little longer."
Ping'an lowered her head again and kissed Zhao Renshu's cheek. Once her lips were on his cheek, he smoothly moved his head to the right, his lips sliding and meeting hers in a lingering kiss.
"Don't fool around," Ping'an said, her voice firm but tender. "We have to meet Mr. Fu."
Zhao Renshu stretched his arms and sat up. He embraced Ping'an tightly, then whined playfully, "Ping'an, I love you." He leaned his head on her right shoulder and kissed her neck gently.
"I love you too," Ping'an smiled, kissing him on his left temple.
Zhao Renshu rose from his bed, slipped on his robe, and walked with Ping'an to meet Li Fu. When they reached the downstairs table, Guo Baiyu and Li Fu were already seated, waiting. Zhao Renshu and Ping'an joined them, sitting opposite Li Fu.
"I'm sorry," Fu Li said sadly, pushing his food away, "I don't want to eat. It's just that the taste of the food has made my stomach sick."
Zhao Renshu chuckled. "This is a good thing that your stomach hasn't exploded," he commented, referring to Fu Li's previous eating habits.
"Tell me about it," Fu Li sighed, a shudder passing through him.
"How did you end up being possessed by this spirit?" Guo Baiyu asked, his voice gentle.
"It's my fault," Fu Li admitted, his head bowed. "That day, I quarreled with my father because he ate the pears I stole from the fruit vendor. I was angry and rushed out of the house. I was cursing how unfair life is. Then I heard a voice asking me to make a deal."
"The deal was he possess your body?" Guo Baiyu clarified.
"Yes," Fu Li nodded. "At first, it was only once a month, then once a week, then once every other day, and then every day." He sighed, a profound weariness in his voice. "Once I realized it, he completely owned my body. I could only see the movements through my eyes, but my thoughts and movements were controlled by the spirit."
"Therefore," Ping'an observed, a quiet understanding in her voice, "this means that these seven spirits cannot possess anyone unless they have their consent."
Fu Li lowered his head and shook it, shame evident in his posture. "This is my fault."
"Remember," Ping'an said softly, her voice filled with empathy, "no one will love you more than your family. You must cherish every moment you spend with them, because they will not live with you forever."
Fu Li lowered his head further, tears silently falling. "I know now," he whispered.
Mr. Fu walked into the restaurant, and this time the greeter did not stop him. Mr. Fu saw his son sitting at the table with the Guozhao Hunters. He was overwhelmed with joy, tears welling in his eyes.
"Li'er!" Mr. Fu shouted, running towards the table.
Fu Li was still crying and stood up to hug his father tightly. "Father, I'm sorry," he sobbed.
"Mr. Fu, please sit down," Guo Baiyu invited.
Just then, the Red Moon Hunters rushed in through the front door. Zhao Renshu glanced at them, and Huang Hongse's tired, disheveled expression made Zhao Renshu laugh.
"Bring us some food!" Huang Yueliang called out to a waiter.
"Miss Huang, you two can sit here," the waiter offered, pointing to a table beside the lovers.
"I don't want to sit next to these people," Huang Hongse said impatiently, glaring at the Guozhao Hunters.
"But this table is the only table that is available right now," the waiter explained.
"It doesn't matter, we'll sit here," Huang Yueliang decided, pulling Huang Hongse to a seat. "Hongse, please don't make trouble."
The Huang sisters sat at the table beside the lovers' table.
Old Mr. Fu took out thirty coins tied to a black rope from his shirt and put the money on the table, pushing it towards the Guozhao Hunters.
"I know this is not much," Mr. Fu said, his voice humble, "but this is what I have. Please accept."
Zhao Renshu untied the rope and took out a single coin from the string of money. Then he tied the rope back and returned the remaining money to Mr. Fu.
"Please accept!" Mr. Fu said loudly, pleading, and the customers dining in the main dining hall looked at them, intrigued.
"If you feel you owe something from us," Guo Baiyu said, his voice gentle, "next time, when we visit Waterfall City, you can treat us to a cup of tea."
"I don't know what to say except thank you," Mr. Fu replied, overwhelmed with gratitude.
"And that is enough," Guo Baiyu smiled. He looked at Fu Li. "You are lucky to have a father who loves you. Not many people are as lucky as you. Remember that."
Fu Li nodded, tears still in his eyes, as the father and son said goodbye to the lovers and departed.
Then, a sudden noise from the front of the Inn made everyone dining in the restaurant turn to the front door. Many people walked in, surrounding two new arrivals.
"Move aside for the famous hunter Zhao Renshu!" one person announced.
Everyone in the main hall gasped.
A middle-aged man in his thirties walked into the inn with a young man. On the back of his robe, he wore black and white clothes with Yin and Yang symbols printed on it. He dressed like a Taoist priest, his hair tied up with a black ribbon.
"He is the real deal!" Man One exclaimed. "I heard that Zhao Renshu is a very handsome man, but he himself looks very ordinary in person."
"Many people claim to be Zhao Renshu," Man Two added, "This one looks legit."
"Wearing such clothes, he is definitely the real Zhao Renshu!" Man One insisted, convinced.
Zhao Renshu, sitting at his table, started to cough violently after drinking his wine, clearly amused.
"Mr. Hunter, we have no seats," the waiter said to the newcomer, "I'm sorry."
"What?" the young man with the imposter scoffed. "You don't have a seat for the great hunter Zhao Renshu?"
Zhao Renshu waved at the waiter. "We are leaving," he said, a smirk on his face. "You can clean this table for him."
Ping'an put seven coins on the table. "Let's go and see the market," she suggested.
"I need to go to those clothing stores," Zhao Renshu whined.
"Neither," Guo Baiyu said, his voice firm, pointing towards the door. "We are visiting the mayor."
Both Ping'an and Zhao Renshu frowned disappointedly, their plans thwarted. Then the lovers walked out the front door.
"I will crush anyone who says his name down into the ground!" Huang Hongse declared angrily, glaring at the departing imposters.
"The real Renshu doesn't seem to care," Huang Yueliang observed calmly. She looked at Huang Hongse. "Why do you care? Don't get into trouble."
A homeless old lady was begging for money with a broken bowl outside the Inn. Zhao Renshu, as they passed, discreetly dropped the coin they had received from Mr. Fu into the beggar's bowl. He quickly followed Ping'an and Guo Baiyu to the Mayor's residence.