The battered little van belched black smoke as it gradually disappeared from sight.
The voice, full of release and unrestrained spirit, gradually faded too, until only a dreamlike murmur drifted gently over on the wind.
It sounded like a lonely whisper:
"Immortals..."
Zhang Xiao could not describe the feeling. He only knew that those tangled emotions had shaken him too.
A lifelong pursuit fulfilled at last, yet it was like flowers in a mirror or the moon reflected in water-visible, but forever out of reach.
Anyone who could let go of that was already far from ordinary.
"Dad."
Zhang Chengdao let out a long breath and said reflectively:
"You want to ask what's special about that Daoist, don't you?"
"Yes."
"Because he's a true Daoist...
"Xiaoxiao, China is enormous. Excluding the young disciples and those who must remain behind, only thirty percent of the Daoist Order can leave their mountains.
"Although the [Heavenly Court] keeps them in check, ghosts aren't the only things threatening the world. They account for only a tiny fraction.
"There are spirits and fiends, demons and monsters. Take him, for example."
Zhang Chengdao pointed at Zhang Guangyi, who scoffed and turned his head aside.
"He's a fiend. That cat I told you about is a demon. Leng Qianyu is a ghost, and her younger brother... could be considered a monster."
Zhang Chengdao shook his head as he spoke:
"I never expected such a small case to bring together a demon, a fiend, a ghost, and a monster.
"That's certainly rare."
Zhang Guangyi was tongue-tied. He wanted to argue, but did not know what to say.
Zhang Xiao waited silently for his father to continue.
"That's why there are Daoists like Mao Xuexian. They're only ordinary mortals, relying on what they've learned.
"They fight demons, fiends, ghosts,