Shi Yang stroked his chin, his rusted blade still faintly humming in his grip. His gaze didn't leave the flawless figure before him as he asked, voice calm but edged,
"Zhou Yuan… would that be the same puppet expert who passed on within the last two centuries?"
At that, Master Zhou's expression softened with faint melancholy. She nodded, her voice quiet but touched with something rehearsed. "Yes… my maker. The great Zhou Yuan is no longer of this world."
Then her eyes lifted, gleaming with sharpness that broke through her poised smile. "But do not worry about my identity, fellow Daoist. I can see you've already pieced together enough. Still—no one dares come seeking trouble this close to Azure Dragon City. And likewise, if you were to speak too freely, I doubt my brother would allow you to live."
Her lips curved upward, but her gaze carried a naked threat.
Shi Yang's grin flickered, more amused than unsettled.
"But this," she continued smoothly, her tone shifting back to businesslike grace, "was not why I approached you. Consider me nothing more than a strange Daoist brother who enjoys dressing in this way—pleasing to the eye, don't you think? Now, let us return to the matter at hand. Tell me—would you be interested in auctioning your captures with us?"
Shi Yang tilted his head, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. A puppet threatening me as if it were flesh and blood… interesting. I wonder if I could charm such a creation.
Before he could answer, a sharp voice cut through the air.
"Shi Yang!"
Xiu Mei descended from above, hammer still faintly glowing, her robes fluttering as she landed at his side. She looked at the white-robed woman with suspicion. "Who's this?"
Han Jie followed close behind, talisman smoke still clinging to his hands. Little Yoke and White came jogging up, their youthful faces flushed with excitement after wrangling the scattered qilin. From the distance, the rumble of wheels announced Yueqin, guiding the horse-drawn carriage forward, the reins tight in her grip as she maneuvered to them from afar.
Master Zhou bowed gracefully, unbothered by the sudden gathering. "I am but a representative of the Celestial Reliquary Auction House. I happened upon your battle, and I could not help but be impressed. To subdue a herd of qilin… and a Fountain Realm beast among them…" Her smile deepened. "Truly remarkable. Which is why I ask—would you consider placing them up for bidding in our halls?"
Shi Yang glanced at her, then turned to his companions instead, deliberately ignoring the hidden weight in her words. Best not to discuss her identity yet. No need to spook the others. And besides… it may be worth testing how far one can charm a puppet.
"What do you two think?" he asked, looking at Han Jie and Xiu Mei.
Han Jie folded his arms. "Depends. How much does an auction house like this take?"
Xiu Mei's hammer rested on her shoulder, eyes narrowed on Zhou. "Yes. What cut are you taking from us?"
Master Zhou's reply was immediate, smooth as flowing silk. "Normally, our rates fall between ten to fifteen percent, depending on the rarity of the items and beasts placed for bidding." She let her words hang before smiling, just faintly tilting her head in a gesture both elegant and deliberate. "But since I was the one to approach you first, I am willing to offer a smaller share—only seven percent of the total pro fit. The rest will belong to you."
They exchanged glances.
"I don't see why not—especially with a discount like that," Han Jie said, before turning his gaze across the battlefield. His eyes lingered on the herd of qilin still writhing in restraints, their flames and manes dimmed from exhaustion. "There are twenty-two in total… and I assume there's a higher starting bid for female spirit beasts, yes?"
"Of course," Zhou replied without hesitation. Her eyes shifted back to Shi Yang, a glimmer of satisfaction in her smile. "So, then—we have a deal?"
Shi Yang glanced once at Xiu Mei. She gave a firm nod of agreement. That was enough.
"I'm pleased to say," Shi Yang said, his voice low but steady, "that we and the Celestial Reliquary Auction House now share a partnership."
He extended his hand. Zhou took it, her grip unexpectedly firm, her smile refined yet unreadable.
The matter settled, they began to move. Zhou turned gracefully, her white robes flowing like ripples of moonlight, and returned to her entourage. Her group mounted their flying carts and the guards opened their wings, while her elegant hawk-drawn carriage lifted into the skies with practiced ease. In moments, she was leading the way, her retinue following in disciplined formation.
Shi Yang waved his hand, and the battlefield emptied as the subdued qilin—every last one—was drawn into the cold surface of his storage mirror. The storm-torn plain grew silent again, as if nothing had happened.
The others returned to their own carriage. Yueqin urged the horses forward, the wheels crunching over the battered earth as they resumed their journey. The qi-rich wind carried the faint scent of blood and ash behind them as they followed the road toward Azure Dragon City, their future growing heavier with each passing mile.
"now that where here, can one of you fill me in on what did I miss while I was in meditation?"
"That's what we should be asking you," Han Jie teased. "How did you turn into that Dao dragon? Was it because of those koi you manifested before going into deep meditation?"
"I suppose you could say that," he nodded, summoning the two elemental fishes. Their watery and fiery bodies swirled in a yin-yang pattern above his shoulders. "After Xiu Mei showed me how to follow my Dao, I entered my spirit sea. There, I faced an evil aspect of my mind. It wielded water, and I fought with fire. The figure had countless tricks—turning into water, shaping serpents, spears, even becoming a dragon. I forced it to reveal more as I advanced by leaps and bounds. In the end, I turned into a dragon myself…"
"That's amazing, Uncle Shi!" Xiu Mei beamed, her eyes sparkling. "So you entered your spirit sea and came out with even more tricks in your arsenal!" She laughed happily as she watched him stroke White's fur, much to Yoke's jealous growling at seeing its future partner so content on Shi Yang's lap.
Yoke rumbled lowly, but Han Jie calmed it with a few ear scratches. Her expression grew thoughtful. "I don't think it's that simple. From what you described, it sounds like you battled one of your inner demons." She looked him over seriously. "Normally, inner demons manifest once you've reached mid Foundation Establishment. Your regrets, sins, and temptations take form and test you in unexpected ways, with no rhyme or reason."
"I wouldn't have thought it was an inner demon until you mentioned fire," she continued, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That was your secondary Dao—the one that just awakened."
Shi Yang tilted his head, thoughtful. "And why is that?"
"Because that's the first trial most face. Your primary Dao becomes unusable, stripped from you as doubt gnaws at your heart. You begin questioning your mastery, your efficiency, even yourself. That is what I believe happened to you—until you broke free. You fought with your new Dao, reclaimed your old Dao, and found unity between them."
Her fingers lifted, pointing toward the two fishes circling one another behind him.
Shi Yang stroked his chin, eyes narrowing slightly as Han Jie's words sank in. "So that's what you believe I faced—an inner demon."
Han Jie nodded. "The signs point to it. Your spirit sea gave birth to a foe that mirrored your weaknesses and doubts. That is the very essence of an inner demon—an enemy that grows stronger the more you falter within yourself."
Xiu Mei tilted her head, frowning softly. "But Uncle Shi didn't falter. He fought, and he won."
"Not everyone does," Han Jie replied quietly. "Some lose themselves entirely, or linger in endless struggle until their Dao crumbles."
Shi Yang gave a short laugh, though there was no arrogance in it. "I can't say for certain whether it truly was an inner demon. Perhaps it was, perhaps not. But either way—I'm glad I went through it. The experience tempered me. I'd rather meet such a foe early, than be caught unprepared later."
Both women studied him in silence for a moment, before Xiu Mei broke it with a small nod, her voice bright again. "Well, now that you've filled us in on what happened during your meditation, I should tell you what happened outside."
Shi Yang looked at her with mild curiosity. "Oh? Go on."
"After you entered meditation, Han Jie and I discussed what to do next. In the end, we decided to head toward Asura Dragon City—that's where your Daoist friend told you to meet, wasn't it?"
He inclined his head in agreement.
"So we started on the road there," Xiu Mei continued, "but before long we heard the thunder of hooves and the roar of something powerful. When we went to investigate, it turned out to be the Qilin. At first I wasn't sure what it was, so I hurried back to wake you… but by the time I reached you, you had already opened your eyes."