Volume One, Chapter Thirty: The Serene Melody Divine Palace

Hongqin rode a flat cake up the mountain. Though she wobbled and struggled, it was, after all, a small triumph. What she dreaded most was revealing herself in front of others.

Upon entering the palace gates, Hongqin hurried toward the rear hall. Only one fat man had broken in, but she reckoned the others must have freed themselves by now. It was wise to report to the Master of the Embracing Simplicity first.

As she stepped into the hall, she saw the Master reclining on the bed, beckoning to her with a gentle wave. Clad in a plain blue Daoist robe that tightly wrapped her graceful figure, only her jade feet lay bare, strikingly conspicuous.

“Master…” Hongqin began, but the Master pressed a finger to her lips, “Why panic? It’s only a few intruders.” Hongqin couldn’t help but admire her—truly a master, foreseeing everything.

“Don’t you have the Sheep-Devouring Mirror?” The Master curled her legs, the robe falling aside to reveal her fair calves.

“But…” Hongqin hesitated, uneasy at the sheer number of enemies.

“I’ll give you this as well. No one can escape it!” The Master tossed over another object. On closer look, it was a river clam, its shell polished to a gleaming shine.

“This is the Empty Clam. Lean in.” The Master adjusted her robe to cover her exposed legs. Hongqin hurried closer, listening intently as the Master whispered instructions.

“Thank you, Master…” Memorizing the spell, Hongqin quickly tucked the Empty Clam into her bosom.

“All right, go now. I am feeling rather tired.” The Master yawned and turned over.

Hongqin wanted to speak, but seeing the Master’s back, she swallowed her words.

“Tonight, I’ll await the little sheep you’ve caught,” the Master murmured softly.

“Yes!” Hongqin bowed and withdrew.

Flat Cake spent a long time in confusion before finally settling down. Seeing the world from a sheep’s perspective was certainly unsettling. In the vast sheep pen, dozens of sheep wandered—human faces atop ovine bodies—a chilling sight.

Suddenly, a familiar sheep face appeared before him, both strange and recognizable. After much thought, he realized it was Ruzhen, the handsome youth from the Jade Immortal Sect, though his once refined face had grown gaunt and hollow.

“Brother Ruzhen!” Flat Cake hurriedly raised his hoof in greeting, only to see Ruzhen’s forelegs lifted instead. Ruzhen glanced at him, his gaze empty, as if his soul had fled. Without so much as a word, he turned and wandered off. Flat Cake stood awkwardly in place, feeling rebuffed.

“You’re from the Misty Cloud Sect, aren’t you…” A spirited sheep squeezed over. On closer inspection, it was Ruzhen’s senior brother, Xuanshan.

“Yes, my name is Flat Cake. Senior Brother Xuanshan, we’re here to rescue you!” Flat Cake moved closer.

“Rescue us?” Xuanshan looked dubiously at the plump sheep before him.

“Oh, I was caught by them, but there are more brothers and sisters outside. They’ll soon break in to save us!” Flat Cake glanced at the grass around the pen, inexplicably tempted to eat.

“Hm…” Xuanshan lowered his head in silence.

“Don’t worry, brother! There are at least ten of them—they’re sure to get us out!” Seeing Xuanshan’s doubt, Flat Cake hastened to reassure him.

“It’s not that… I’m grateful, truly. But…” Xuanshan gestured at the sheep pen, “Look at them. Even if we’re rescued, not everyone will go with you.”

“Why? Staying here is dangerous!” Flat Cake looked around at the listless sheep, baffled. Xuanshan glanced at Flat Cake but said nothing; even he felt uncertain.

Climbing the steps, the mist grew thicker until they could barely see their hands before their faces. Suddenly, the view opened up, and Hongkun and the others found themselves before a palace. Looking up, its gilded halls gleamed, dazzling the eye. Above the gate, the characters read “Palace of Clear Melody,” flanked by two black serpent statues, lifelike in their fierce gaze.

“It’s obviously a cave, yet they call it a palace!” Meiniang scoffed.

“It’s not even really a cave!” the chubby girl pouted.

Hongkun suddenly stopped, pulling a talisman from his robe. With a swift incantation, the talisman transformed into a butterfly, soaring over the wall. Jin Guishan’s face lit up.

“We can use magic here!” Hanyu exclaimed. Hongkun nodded quickly, “I’ll send word out, just in case!”

“Will the butterfly get out?” Biyi asked anxiously.

“Boundaries bind people, not magic. The butterfly sees nothing and goes as it pleases!” Seeing all eyes on him, Hongkun explained.

“Brother Hong thinks of everything!” Jin Guishan praised.

“Not at all…” Hongkun was about to demur when a cold laugh rang out behind him. Turning, he saw Hongqin leading a band of female demons.

“Oh my! This brother comes uninvited—how eager you must be for me! Heehee…” Hongqin flirted, the demon women behind her bursting into laughter.

“Pah! You little vixen! Hand them over!” Hanyu leapt forward, the first to confront her.

“Hand over whom? Did your man run off?” Hongqin feigned surprise.

“That’s right! You seduced him, you little demon!” Meiniang swung her staff at Hongqin.

“Oh dear, your man—why so anxious?” Hongqin dodged, a whip appearing in her hand, lashing toward Meiniang’s waist.

Instantly, the two were locked in combat.

“Haha, I do love other people’s men!”

“Oh, the competition’s here!”

“So what if I steal?”

“You can’t steal!”

As they argued, Hongqin’s whip transformed into a giant black serpent, lunging at Meiniang. Meiniang’s black fox staff unleashed a dark mist; within it, a black fox leapt out, left paw striking at the serpent’s eyes, right paw aiming for its vital spot. Hongqin was startled—the serpent’s head recoiled, but its tongue extended, stabbing for Meiniang’s eyes. Meiniang rolled aside just in time.

“Oh! A fellow traveler!” Hongqin cried out, the black serpent coiling protectively as she realized Meiniang was a fox demon.

“Heh! Aren’t you a serpent demon yourself?” Meiniang had intended a decisive blow, but her injuries left her short of power.

“Impressive! You’re even more seductive than me…” Hongqin said as she drew closer, seeing Meiniang was clearly wounded.

“Rest, Meiniang!” Hongpeng suddenly stepped in front of her.

“Meiniang! The way you say it makes me melt!” Meiniang blushed.

“Vixen!” “Vixen!” Hongqin and Hanyu cursed in unison, glaring at each other.

“Just call me Meiniang!” Meiniang paid them no mind.

“Come down now!” Hanyu dragged the lovestruck Meiniang away. Hongkun and Biyi frowned.

“Oh, plenty of men for you!” Hongqin taunted.

“That’s right—not like you, who has none and steals others!” Meiniang coughed and laughed.

“Steal your head!” Hongqin scowled, her serpent whip growing and coiling above Hongpeng’s head. Hongpeng poised his sword upward, ready for battle.

“Darling, divorce him!” Hongqin had yet to strike, but already sensed Hongpeng’s fierce sword energy. She and her serpent twisted in unison. Yet Hongpeng’s eyes were fixed on the serpent, oblivious to her seductive posture and cries. Seeing Meiniang’s mocking smile, Hongqin wished she could sink into the ground.

“Hey! I’m calling you!” Hongqin shouted angrily.

“Me?” Hongpeng finally looked at her. She blushed, breath quickening, waist swaying, her body undulating like a wave, as if beckoning him.

“Yes, darling…” Hongqin’s voice grew intoxicating.

“Junior brother!” Hongkun’s voice rang out sternly.

“Yes, senior!” Hongpeng immediately turned away, his face calm as water. Hongkun felt ashamed: “My junior is stronger than I am! I’m already burning with heat, but he’s utterly unaffected.”

“Beware her charm!” Hongkun called out, his voice booming. It was both a warning for Hongpeng and a reminder for the others. Jin Guishan and the rest, though their blood surged, had already suffered Meiniang’s spells and thus were more prepared, growing steadier after his shout.

“Miss, please!” Hongpeng turned back, wasted no words, and spun his sword. The air around him surged like water, forming a whirlwind that swept the black serpent within. Hongqin was caught off guard; the serpent tried to retreat but was too late, the whip carried off by the whirlwind. Seeing Hongqin disarmed, the demon women rushed forward with their whips, blocking Hongpeng’s path.

“Everyone, together!” Hongkun cried. Jin Guishan and the others pressed forward. Yet the demon women fought with order and discipline, advancing and retreating in harmony, like a giant serpent weaving and striking, leaving Hongkun’s group no opening and surprising them at every turn.

“Form the array!” Jin Guishan commanded. The chubby girl and others hurried to their positions, assembling the Black Tortoise formation. Hongkun hesitated, then leapt to the Spirit Serpent position.

“What formation is this?” Hongqin was astonished. Others might not see, but she noticed their positions countered her at every step.

“Black Tortoise formation!” Jin Guishan replied.

“Oh! Fine, then we’ll match you with our Anaconda formation!” Hongqin, though disdainful, quietly slipped the Sheep-Devouring Mirror into her hand.

In an instant, the two formations clashed. The Anaconda formation coordinated head and tail—strike the head, the tail responds; strike the tail, the head moves; strike the body, both head and tail converge—like a giant serpent, both offensive and defensive. The Black Tortoise formation, though not yet perfected, had grown stronger after two battles. Head meets head, tail meets tail, when both come together, all four limbs strike, aided by surprise attacks from the Spirit Serpent position. Within a few rounds, the demon women were pressed from all sides, their formation unraveling.

Suddenly, a loud clang—a small object fell to the ground, yet its sound thundered in their ears. All eyes turned: a river clam spun on the floor.

In a flash, its shell opened, releasing a rainbow beam, dreamlike and enchanting, mesmerizing everyone.

Hongkun saw within the light a celestial figure, robed in gauzy silk, dancing closer and clearer, singing a seductive melody that whispered and moaned, soul-stirring and irresistible. He couldn’t help but approach.

As he drew nearer, Hongkun sensed something amiss, but couldn’t bear to stop. In his torment, he saw Biyi dazedly walking toward the celestial as well.

“Brother Hong!” Suddenly, a sharp voice rang in his ear.

“Huh?!” Hongkun snapped awake. Meiniang glared at him, brows furrowed.

“Stop staring! If you keep looking, you’ll be drawn in!” Meiniang quickly shielded Hongkun’s eyes with her sleeve. Only then did he realize he was moving toward the river clam, not the celestial.

Ashamed, Hongkun grabbed for Biyi, but she struggled to go forward. Suddenly, Hanyu appeared and slapped Biyi, spinning her halfway around.

“What are you staring at? You’re bewitched!” Seeing Biyi’s angry glare, Hanyu shouted. Meanwhile, Qi Yuanxiao and the others had already been sucked into the clam.

“I…” Biyi blushed deeply. Looking over, the chubby girl was dragging Jin Guishan and Hongpeng back with all her strength.

Hongqin was the most shocked! Meiniang and Hanyu were demons, immune to temptation—but the chubby girl reacted not at all, as if nothing had happened.

“Chubby girl, don’t go!” Hongqin raised the Sheep-Devouring Mirror toward her, but the chubby girl kept dragging Hongpeng and Jin Guishan, not even turning her head.

“Don’t look back!” Hanyu shouted, “Don’t let her mirror catch your face!”

“What?!” The chubby girl reached Hanyu, only to find she was dragging two sheep!