Within the Guardian of Rectitude Palace, Zhang Yu and Daoist Feng sat upon a broad platform, facing each other across a table as they played chess and awaited news from Chang Yang.
At that moment, the divine being on duty came to report, "Court Executive, Venerable Chang has arrived."
Zhang Yu said, "Bring him here."
The divine being on duty bowed and withdrew. Before long, Chang Yang ascended the broad platform and bowed to the two of them. "Chang Yang pays his respects to the two Court Executives."
Daoist Feng asked, "Venerable Chang, how did this trip go?"
Chang Yang respectfully replied, "In reply to Court Executive Feng, Chang has attempted to lay out the gains and losses for the two of them. However, if we are to gain anything, I fear we must wait a while longer." As he spoke, he took a prepared letter from his sleeve and presented it with both hands. "All of Chang's exchanges with those two from Origin Xia have been recorded here."
He understood when to stop. After revealing that Celestial Xia was the final realm Origin Xia intended to eradicate, he said no more and rose to take his leave. Nor did he attempt to persuade the two to surrender, for he knew well that some things were best left unspoken, allowing them to think them through themselves.
He also knew that the two had never set aside their suspicions of him. But so what? Everything he had said was the truth. So long as they remained self-serving people, they would certainly rack their brains to scheme for their own benefit.
Daoist Feng took the letter and read it, nodding unconsciously. He then handed it to Zhang Yu and said, "You have worked hard, Venerable Chang. We will still need you to