When Wang Wei and the others saw their teacher standing in a pear blossom tree, they all froze.
They even wondered if they were seeing things.
Hadn't their teacher retired to his hometown?
Why had he come to the Luo River?
And why had he even saved a white boa?
Bai Ruxue glanced at Xiao Mo. She wanted to go help him.
But reason told Bai Ruxue—
she had to hurry down the river and out to sea.
Otherwise, no matter how much she tried to persuade Xiao Mo, he wouldn't leave.
And if she stayed here any longer, she would only hold him back.
Looking at his three most promising disciples, Xiao Mo smiled. "I never expected His Majesty to send the three of you."
"Teacher, what are you—?" Zhuge Qing asked, taking a step forward.
"Escorting her to the sea," Xiao Mo replied calmly.
Xu Shan Gao looked troubled. "Teacher, she's a demon."
Xiao Mo nodded. "I know."
The three of them fell silent.
"His Majesty must have sent you to stop her from going down the river." Xiao Mo stroked his graying beard. "If so, then do your duty. Don't worry about anything else."
The three exchanged glances and quickly reached a decision. They bowed deeply to Xiao Mo. "Teacher, forgive your students for what we're about to do!"
As soon as they finished speaking, the three men's official robes billowed, and the fortune of the realm took the form of three Ink-colored Long Dragons, coiling up into the air.
Zhuge Qing struck first. A hundred golden remonstrances flew from his sleeve, each character as sharp as a blade. "A minister must set right what is wicked and demonic!"
"Good."
Xiao Mo nodded, his eyes filled with approval.
Xiao Mo's withered fingers swept through the air. The