A Wei Returns, Mirror

In King Ziqi's sleeping chambers, only his closest kin were present. His granddaughter suddenly knelt before the couch, burying her face in his embrace and sobbing.

A child without parents, truly heartbreaking. Bai Bingxue's maternal grandfather and her three uncles also shed tears. Cousin Hong Yun followed suit with a bout of sobbing, releasing much of the pent-up emotion from the past few years.

King Ziqi gently patted her shoulder and said, "Child, don't cry. Whatever grievances you have, your grandfather will see justice done. Get up now, don't kneel." Looking at Bai Bingxue, King Ziqi seemed to see the image of his daughter, Bai Bing. He felt he had failed his daughter, yet loved her the most. At this moment, his love extended to her granddaughter.

Uncle Alu also said, "Good niece, don't cry. Your tears make everyone's heart heavy. Speak your mind."

"I miss my mother," Bai Bingxue wailed. A child without parents is most vulnerable.

Her grandfather and three uncles felt distressed again. Hong Yun went over and tugged at Bai Bingxue, "Cousin, please stop crying. Grandfather is old and cannot bear too much sadness." Only then did Bai Bingxue slowly stand up. Hong Yun handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears and snot.

"Grandfather, I want to avenge my mother. I want to kill Gao Mingqing and Su Xue with my own hands. They killed my mother," Bai Bingxue said, her eyes red.

King Ziqi looked at his three sons and sighed, speaking to Bai Bingxue, "Child, your mother's death is something your grandfather still deeply regrets."

King Ziqi stood up, paced a few steps in thought, and said, "Bingxue, Gao Mingqing is your adoptive father. He raised you for ten years. Su Xue is your biological father. Killing these two would go against the Heavenly Dao and human ethics."

"No, Grandfather, I want revenge," Bai Bingxue cried, clenching her fists, holding back a surge of anger.

King Ziqi sighed, "Child, this is all my fault. The lives of the Gao clan, I will take. The revenge for my daughter, I will exact."

Bai Bingxue wiped away her tears and asked, "Grandfather, why did my mother marry Gao Mingqing? And what was her connection to Su Xue?"

King Ziqi sighed, shook his head, and said to Abu, "Fourth son, go back and talk to Bingxue... alas... counsel her!"

"Yes, Father," Uncle Abu replied respectfully.

"Second son, you and your brothers prepare for tomorrow's court assembly. On the day of the Winter Sacrifice, the leaders of the thirty-seven tribes will lead a hundred thousand warriors to Luoqie Lake to worship the Dragon King and hunt for green fish."

"Yes, Your Majesty," General Age replied.

"Eldest son, tomorrow you and Cang Cao will melt down the Namo Zimingzun Buddha statue gifted by Su Xue and recast it into gold coins. Use this money to go to Tengyue, Wumeng, and other places to purchase warhorses, and then resell them at a higher price to Gongjiao Country. These three thousand taels of gold are the capital I am providing you."

"Your Majesty, then the Zimingzun..." General Alu's words were cut off by his father.

"All of you, withdraw. I am tired," King Ziqi waved his hand and closed his eyes.

Bai Bingxue looked at her grandfather and sighed inwardly, "Grandfather is such a hero, yet he harbors countless sorrows and loneliness behind him."

The next day, A Wei could not be woken up. Bai Bingxue examined him but found no cause.

General Abu invited Suni, a witch from Ziqi Country. A Wei's mother implored her to save her son.

Suni fiddled with her drumstick, leaned over to look at A Wei's peaceful face, and reassured him, "Don't worry, Madam!"

Suni asked A Wei's mother to find a lidded soup pot, put buckwheat and salt inside, and slaughter an old hen. She had A Wei's mother carry the basin while she herself tapped a sheepskin drum and walked ahead of everyone, chanting as if singing:

"A Wei, return, soul return, A Wei, return, soul return. Return from high on the roof beam, Return from deep beneath the floor tiles, Return from the magpie's nest in the tree, Return from the mouse hole beneath the tree, Return from the towering mountains and steep ridges,..." The sorceress Suni recited the Soul-Calling Sutra, walking from A Wei's room to the place where his soul was lost, within the great hall of Ziqi Country. She knelt and drew a circle, lit a fire with pine and cypress branches. A Wei's parents and a group of relatives stood solemnly, listening intently:

The fine wine at home is like jade nectar, The delicious food at home is steaming hot, The whole family is searching for you, Your family awaits your return, Waiting for your safe return.

After singing the Soul-Calling Sutra, she began to walk back. Upon reaching A Wei's room, the sorceress Suni loudly asked, "Has A Wei returned?" Everyone answered in unison, "He has returned!" Suni closed her eyes, muttered incantations, and suddenly reached out, letting out a long hiss. A small beetle appeared out of thin air between her fingers – that was A Wei's soul, blood-red in color.

Under the ancient incantations, amidst the ethereal smoke, the tiny beetle seemed to possess a magical power. Everyone watched devoutly, not daring to make a sound.

Suni threw the beetle into the soup pot, closed the lid, allowing A Wei's soul to find peace among the salt, blood, and grain. She walked up to A Wei and gently asked him, "Prince A Wei, have you returned?"

At this moment, it was a miracle. A Wei, who had been unwakeable, suddenly opened his eyes and softly replied, "I've returned, A Wei has returned!" Then he looked around and fell into a deep sleep again.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the pain from his abdominal wound woke A Wei up. Everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A Wei's lost soul had been found and seemed to be properly settled within him. This was a wondrous event, but no one was overly surprised.

In Milu City, everyone believed in souls; they could be lost and found. Almost everyone had experienced a similar process.

Bai Bingxue quietly followed behind Suni. Not seeing what method she used, she sighed inwardly, "Perhaps souls truly exist."

Penglai Immortal Island, White Jade Palace Garden.

"Saved the next ruler of Ziqi Country, Karma Value increased by ten thousand." The Karma Value notification appeared in the water mirror.

White Deer Immortal clapped her hands excitedly, "Bai Yu's Karma Value has increased again."

Happy Arhat responded, "The Ziqi clan melted down their golden bodies and gave up their worship, benefiting the people of their entire country. Such good deeds naturally result in a much higher Karma Value for their descendants."

Hearing Happy Arhat's affirmation, White Deer Immortal, too lazy to look at the two Emperors snoring on their chairs, turned and smiled at Chen Renfeng.

Chen Renfeng rarely saw the White Deer Immortal smile so happily at him; he almost lost his senses.

The White Crane patted him on the side, and he quickly responded, "Immortal, Bai Yu's name in this life is Bai Bingxue."

The White Deer chuckled, "That's right, call her Bingxue from now on. Bingxue sounds nice!"

Chen Renfeng replied, "Immortal, keep reading, it gets more exciting."

As evening fell, A Wei's abdominal wound ached so much that tears streamed down his face.

Bai Bingxue rushed over to examine him and said with a smile, "Cousin, pain just proves you're alive. After taking my medicine, you'll be able to walk again in a few days."

A Wei endured the pain and nodded in response.

General Abu said, "A Wei, you've survived a great disaster, and fortune will surely follow. Take good care of yourself; your father and Ziqi Country need you." Tears flowed from A Wei's eyes, a mix of pain and happiness. He thought to himself, I've never had my father care about me this much before.

Bai Bingxue took out a bottle of Four Seasons Jade Dew Pills and gave it to Hong Lian, instructing her to take one pill every morning and evening. These Four Seasons Jade Dew Pills were made from the dew of flowers from the four seasons, mixed with honey into pills the size of longans. They could stabilize the foundations of the four seas and were a divine medicine from Nine Dragon Valley, with only a few bottles being refined each year.

Bai Bingxue also instructed Hong Lian, "Cousin cannot eat or drink for the next few days. If he's thirsty, he can only sip water. For now, use the pills to sustain him."

Hong Lian was obedient and had a deep affection for her brother. She silently took note of Bai Bingxue's instructions, following them to the letter.

Bai Bingxue's duties as a doctor were now complete. She thought of her own matters and walked out of the room.