At New Black City Monastery, Shangguan Xingyue had long since changed into a monk's robe.
She had been carrying a tray with several plates of snakes, rats, toads, centipedes, and geckos. These venomous creatures had been coated in flour and fried golden brown, giving off a surprisingly tempting aroma.
For a considerable stretch of time, this had been her life.
Her mind remained clear, but she had no control over her body.
As she approached, she suddenly felt as though something had left her.
It was an exceedingly insubstantial figure, streaking toward the Main Hall at a frantic speed!
Her hand trembled slightly.
The tray nearly tipped over.
Shangguan Xingyue's pupils contracted, and the color of her pretty face shifted slightly.
She steadied the tray, her knuckles turning faintly white.
Her body... was back under her control?
Why...?
Her heart began beating faster and faster!
At that moment, it was as though a storm had swept over Black City Monastery. A vast number of deities surged toward the Main Hall!
Trying to calm her racing heart, Shangguan Xingyue hurried toward the Main Hall at a jog!
Kong An was in the Main Hall.
She still had to go!
She could not escape, so she had to find out what had happened!
Soon, Shangguan Xingyue entered the Main Hall.
Not a single deity was in sight.
They had departed as quickly as they had arrived.
Kong An's small, thin body faced away from the hall doors. His arms extended forward, for he was sitting with his palms together.
Shangguan Xingyue pressed her lips together slightly.
She did not know whether Kong An knew she had regained control of herself.
She walked slowly forward, trying to maintain her usual pace.
When she reached Kong An, her hands trembled again.
The tray fell,