Bingxue and Changqing, Mirror

Penglai Immortal Island, White Jade Palace garden.

The White Deer Immortal lay in a chair, staring at the water mirror ahead. After Chen Renfeng returned, he took a jug of wine from the table and had a sip. A comfortable warmth spread through his entire body. As expected of immortal wine.

Chen Renfeng took another bunch of grapes and handed it to the white crane behind him, repaying her for making the trip. In truth, she had also taken care of quite a few matters of her own.

Since arriving at Penglai, Chen Renfeng had worried about Chen Qing and Bai Xue in the Small World inside the jade pendant, while also keeping an eye on the pair's tribulation in case he missed anything important. He was also thinking about when he would break through to the Golden Immortal Realm, so he could cross the barrier between the immortal and mortal realms himself.

Gradually, the scene in the water mirror drew his attention.

The image showed a wooden house atop Gushan Island in the middle of Luoqie Lake. A little girl lay on the bed, tucking the quilt around herself, while a little Daoist priest slept sprawled against the edge of the bed.

Sweat covered the little girl's forehead. Her hands were clenched tight, and her whole body strained as she struggled to break free from her nightmare.

"Mother!" Suddenly, the little girl shouted and sat up, her eyes darting around.

The little Daoist priest sprang to his feet in fright. He glanced at the little girl, rubbed his eyes, and yawned!

The little girl stared at him and called out, "Hey! Who are you? I think we've met before!"

The little Daoist priest casually sat down beside the bed again and asked with a smile, "My name is Changqing. What's yours?"

Seeing the dimples on his dark face and the clear look in his eyes, the little girl blurted out, "My name is Bingxue. Why are you in my house?"

"This is your house?" Changqing asked doubtfully.

"Of course! This is the wooden house on Gushan Island in Luoqie Lake. Every year, when we fish for the big black carp in winter, my mother brings me here to play," Bingxue said innocently.

"Big black carp?" Changqing asked in surprise.

"Yes! There are lots of big black carp in the lake. My grandfather and uncle bring ten thousand soldiers to catch them. It's so much fun." Bingxue gestured as she spoke.

"Ten thousand soldiers?" Changqing asked, puzzled.

Seeing that he did not believe her, Bingxue declared loudly, "My grandfather is King Ziqi! Mother said he has several million subjects."

Changqing reached out and rubbed her head, saying with a smile, "You've been asleep for three days and three nights. You must be starving and confused. I'll get you some porridge!" Changqing went out to the kitchen in back.

Bingxue struggled out of bed, put on her shoes, and walked outside.

It was a suite. When she reached the outer room, the sight before her left her stunned.

The white-robed man who had carried her down the mountain was sitting cross-legged on the floor. Behind him, a Daoist had both hands pressed against his back. Sweat beaded the white-robed man's forehead, and mist rose from the top of his head.

A man was lying beside them. White bandages had been wrapped around his shoulders in layer after layer, and blood seeped out from beneath them. Bingxue carefully studied his face, then cried out in shock, "Uncle Abu... Uncle..." With that, she ran over.

The man awoke at her cries. His face was pale, but he smiled. "Bingxue, it's you. You're back. Where's your mother?"

"My mother... I don't know," Bingxue replied.

She looked around again, then pointed at the white-robed man meditating. "Uncle Abu, he carried me into the mountains. When I escaped at the end, I fell off a cliff."

Just then, Changqing came in carrying a bowl of porridge. Seeing Bingxue helping her Uncle Abu sit up, he hurried over to lend a hand.

Suddenly, Bingxue cried out in shock, "Uncle Abu, your arm... Your arm is gone..."

Abu shook his head helplessly. He raised his eyes toward the white-robed man, his expression changing dramatically. "Brother Su, why are you here? What happened to you?"

Su Xue did not answer. The Daoist behind him spoke instead. "If you don't want him to die, be quiet. He's at a critical point in treating his injuries."

Hearing this, Bingxue pointed at Su Xue in confusion. "Uncle Abu, who is he?"

Abu shook his head helplessly.

Changqing, however, said in surprise, "Huh? My master and I met you on the roadside. We thought you were father and daughter because you look so much alike."

Bingxue grew angry. "Don't talk nonsense! My father is Gao Mingqing, the Third Young Master of the Marquis Manor. He's not this beggar!"

Abu was displeased when he heard this and scolded her, "Bingxue, don't talk nonsense. Don't mention Gao Mingqing again."

Bingxue stared at Uncle Abu in astonishment. He had never scolded her before.

Abu knew his tone had been too harsh, so he spoke more gently. "Help me up. We'll wait outside for your mother to return. Don't disturb Brother Su while he treats his injuries."

It was already afternoon. Bingxue supported her Uncle Abu outside, while Changqing followed behind to look after them.

After three days, around dusk, more than a hundred ships sailed over from the distance and stopped a mile from Gushan Island.

"Uncle Abu, ships... So many ships!" Bingxue hopped excitedly and pointed at them.

Abu rose from the rock and glanced over. Long strips of white cloth hung from every ship's masthead. Unease pressed heavily on his heart, and he let out a deep breath. He said slowly, "Your grandfather and the others have arrived."

"Grandfather is here? Wonderful! Wonderful! I'll go meet him!" Bingxue ran down the mountain, hopping as she went.

Abu tried to reach out and stop her, but his shoulder only moved slightly before a fierce pain made him grit his teeth. Then he dropped heavily back onto the rock.

"Little brother, please go look after Bingxue," Abu said to Changqing beside him.

Changqing immediately chased after her.

Half an hour later, loud wails rose from the foot of the mountain. A squad of soldiers wearing mourning cloth on their heads led the way, carrying white funeral banners. Nine bare-chested men, also wearing mourning cloth, followed close behind, carrying a plain wooden coffin. At the rear, more than a dozen people wept and scattered paper offerings for the dead. The funeral procession headed toward the mountaintop on the eastern side of Gushan Island.

Abu looked uneasy. Suddenly, someone shouted, "Abu... Abu, where are you hurt?"

Abu was Bai Bing's younger brother. He followed the voice and saw his eldest brother Alu and second brother Age protecting their father, King Ziqi, as they hurried over. Their father held the unconscious Bingxue in his arms.

The four father and sons reunited and recounted what had happened over the past few days, their grief rising into cries.

After a while, Bingxue awoke. She glanced at everyone, then suddenly burst into tears. "Mother, I want my mother!"

King Ziqi sighed and said, "Let's go. We'll see Bai Bing off together."

Bai Bing's grave had been built atop Gushan, facing Luoqie Lake. After the coffin was lowered into the grave, King Ziqi led Bingxue and the family around the pit, each scattering a cupful of earth over Bai Bing. The soldiers in mourning clothes began filling in the grave.

Suddenly, a white figure flew over and leaped into the pit. He struck the coffin lid with one palm and shoved it open.

Inside, he saw Bai Bing dressed in burial clothes, lying there peacefully.

It felt as though an elephant had slammed into Su Xue's chest. He collapsed against the coffin and began to weep bitterly.

Bingxue finally managed to stop crying, but when she saw her mother's face, she also jumped into the pit and lay down, sobbing uncontrollably.

King Ziqi was displeased at the sight and shouted, "Pull them out!"

Several soldiers were about to jump in when Su Xue sent them flying with his true qi. The other soldiers immediately drew their weapons.

Abu shouted, "Stop!"

The soldiers put away their weapons. Abu urged, "Brother Su, my sister is dead. She's dead. Can't you let her rest in peace and be buried?"

Su Xue quieted and asked coldly, "How did she die?"

Before Su Xue could receive an answer, Bingxue suddenly rose and lunged at him, striking him with both fists as she cried, "Go away! Don't touch my mother, you beggar!"

Su Xue neither dodged nor resisted, allowing her to hit him.

Abu endured the pain in his shoulder and shouted angrily, "Bingxue, stop at once! He's your father. Don't be rude!"