Three Brocade Pouches

"So that's it."

Watching Xie Bi'an go through all those maneuvers, Fan Wujiao finally understood his intentions.

Fan Xiaoguo and Du Yu?

Not a bad match at all.

As an Operator of the Legend Management Bureau, Du Yu was more than worthy of Fan Xiaoguo. Even any of the seven sisters stationed at the Jade Pool would be a suitable match.

Having an Operator backing their lineage would not only give them the power to rewrite history, but also ensure their lineage's lasting prosperity.

That was why the Xie and Fan families had gone to such lengths to curry favor with He Suoyi back then.

But Zhan Qisheng...

At the thought of Zhan Qisheng, Fan Wujiao clenched his fists.

Who could guarantee that Du Yu wouldn't become the next Zhan Qisheng?

"Enough fooling around," Dong Qianqiu said. "Du Yu might not even make it back alive. Isn't it a little early to be talking about this?"

Xie Bi'an chuckled. "He'd better come back, or our little Xiaoguo will be widowed the moment she marries into his family..."

"Seventh Ancestor!" Fan Xiaoguo cried, her face flushed. "When did I marry into his family?"

Lying on the bed, Du Yu went over all his clues again.

This trip with Da Yi to slay Nine-Infant had revealed a great deal of crucial information.

First, Da Yi was no ordinary mortal. He had an immortal treasure protecting him.

Second, Da Yi wanted to shoot down the suns, but lacked the ability.

Third, succeeding in the mission would trigger the "Chang'e Flying to the Moon" ending. He needed to find a way to satisfy both sides.

It was time. Du Yu felt his belt pouch, which held his only remaining soul-Han Chancellor Crouching Dragon, Zhuge Kongming.

"Sister Qianqiu, how do I use this?" Du Yu asked, holding the glass jar and studying the pure white mist inside.

"Swallow it."

"Swallow it?" Du Yu asked, puzzled. "Just like that?"

"Yes. Different souls produce different effects after you swallow them, but they all last only five minutes."

"Got it." Du Yu nodded and put his hand on the lid.

"You're going to invite Mr. Kongming to possess you now?" Dong Qianqiu felt uneasy. Wasn't this too soon?

"If no one helps me untangle these clues now, I won't be able to do anything over the next few days."

Du Yu twisted off the lid and immediately tipped the glass jar toward his mouth. An icy chill slipped down his throat and into his body, making him shudder all over.

But once that moment passed, Du Yu found that nothing about him had changed.

"That's it? Am I a little Zhuge reborn now?"

Before he finished speaking, Du Yu suddenly threw his head up, and white light poured from his mouth and eyes. It felt like vomiting uncontrollably after drinking too much, as though his entire body were being hollowed out.

A moment later, he "spewed" out a human figure, who stood before him.

"So Mr. Kongming manifests his soul outside the body," Dong Qianqiu murmured.

Du Yu recovered and looked up to find a man standing before him. The man gazed out the window and muttered, "Ten suns? What is going on?"

He stood eight chi tall, his face as flawless as polished jade, with a silk headscarf on his head and a crane-feather cloak around his shoulders. He had the ethereal bearing of an immortal.

"Mr. Kongming?" Du Yu blurted out. Wasn't he supposed to possess me? Why is Kongming standing right here?

Kongming turned to look at Du Yu, then examined himself. "Young brother, I should have died long ago. What is happening? And what is the meaning of those ten suns outside the window?"

Du Yu looked at Kongming, nearly moved to tears. At last, someone dependable.

He gathered his thoughts and explained the situation as quickly as he could, including the Legend Management Bureau, Da Yi's current circumstances, and everything that had happened over the past few days.

He spoke so quickly and chaotically that even Du Yu could barely follow his own explanation.

Kongming froze for only a few seconds before breaking into a smile.

"Ah, so that's it."

"You understood all that, Mr. Kongming?" Du Yu exclaimed. "You truly are Crouching Dragon in the flesh!"

"You jest, young brother. I am no longer 'in the flesh.'" Kongming waved a hand and sat down cross-legged.

"M-Master..." Seeing Kongming so composed only made Du Yu more anxious. "Did I not explain clearly? I wanted you to help me work out a plan. How can I shoot down those nine suns?"

"Hahaha." Laughing, Kongming picked up a charred stick. "Do not fret, young brother. I have heard the legend of Yi Shoots Down Nine Suns. But hoping to shoot down suns with mortal strength is utterly impossible."

"Impossible...?" Du Yu slumped to the floor as well. If even the man universally acknowledged as the cleverest said so, didn't that mean there was no solution?

Kongming picked up the sheet on which Du Yu had written his clues and tore it into three long strips.

"Mr. Kongming, what are you doing?"

"Patience, patience." Kongming took the charred stick and began writing swiftly on the paper. "Young brother, what do you call this paper? Its craftsmanship could put ghosts and gods to shame."

Du Yu sat listlessly on the floor. "It's called A4 paper. Take it if you like..."

I shouldn't have listened to that old man and brought Zhuge Kongming. The five minutes are almost up, and he still hasn't done anything.

"You would give this paper to me?" Zhuge Kongming waved his hand. "No, a gentleman does not take what another cherishes. Not only will I decline it, I will give you three things instead."

"Three things?"

Zhuge Kongming folded each of the three strips of paper and said to Du Yu, "I present you with three ingenious plans in brocade pouches."

Ingenious plans in brocade pouches?

Du Yu reached out excitedly to take them. Has Kongming come up with a strategy?

"My time is nearly up, is it not?" Kongming asked, looking at his wavering body.

"Yes, Mr. Kongming. There isn't much time left." Du Yu thought it over. There should only be a little over a minute remaining.

"Very well. I shall leave you with a few more words before I go." Zhuge Kongming stroked his beard. "All your clues led in the wrong direction, so I tore them up for you."

"The wrong direction?"

"Yes. If you focus solely on 'how to shoot down nine suns,' those suns will never fall from the sky. What you must consider from today onward is-'why did nine extra suns appear in the sky?'"

Why did Nine Suns appear?

Du Yu had truly never considered that.

Where had these nine suns come from, and what had brought them into being?

Kongming continued, "I have heard the legend of Yi Shoots Down Nine Suns many times. There is one person in that legend who was especially delighted when the suns were shot down. Who was it?"

Before Du Yu could think it through, Kongming stood up.

"Young brother, when you grasp the meaning of my words, open the first pouch. When you draw close to the truth, open the second. When you find yourself utterly at a loss, open the third."

Before Du Yu could fully understand Mr. Kongming's words, his body had already begun to fade.

"Young brother, there is one more thing I wish to ask." Kongming turned toward Du Yu.

"Please ask, Master!"

"In your era, have the wars ended? Do the common people live in peace and contentment? Do the children have enough to eat?"

Though his heart ached, Du Yu managed a small smile. "Rest assured, Master. Where I live, there is no war. The people live in peace and contentment, and no one has to worry about food or clothing."

"That is good. That is truly wonderful..."

A breeze blew past, and Zhuge Kongming's soul dissolved before his eyes. The spot where he had stood was completely empty, as though he had never appeared at all.

Clutching the three pouches, Du Yu felt a jumble of emotions.

"Sister Qianqiu, what will happen to Mr. Kongming? Will his soul scatter into nothing?"

"No. Don't worry. What remained here was only a wisp of his soul. The real Mr. Kongming was reincarnated long ago."

"I see." Du Yu felt relieved.

There was no denying that Kongming had pointed him in a crucial direction.

Someone had been delighted to see Da Yi shoot down the suns.

Who was that person?

Was it the common people throughout the world?

No, it wasn't that simple.

No matter how delighted all the common people were, their joy could not outweigh this one person's.

Du Yu pulled out the legend script-

"The Queen Mother of the West!"

The Queen Mother of the West had been overjoyed to see Da Yi shoot down the nine suns and bestowed upon him an elixir of immortality. A mortal who swallowed it could attain fleshly sainthood.

A pill of that caliber appeared in very few legends.

It could spare a mortal a thousand years of cultivation and let them join the Celestial Roster in a single day.

"But why was the Queen Mother of the West so delighted?"

Combining this with Kongming's words, Du Yu had essentially found his answer. Those nine suns in the sky absolutely had something to do with the Queen Mother of the West.

"So that's what Mr. Kongming meant."

Du Yu looked down at the three slips of paper and recalled Kongming's words: "When you grasp the meaning of my words, open the first pouch."

Without hesitation, Du Yu opened the first pouch. A passage was clearly written inside:

Whoever you believe this person to be, confront them face-to-face. Only by understanding the causes and consequences can you prescribe the right remedy.

"Exactly what I had in mind."

Dong Qianqiu could no longer sit still. "Du Yu, what are you planning to do? This is the Queen Mother of the West we're talking about."

"Only the right remedy can cure the ailment." Du Yu put away the pouch. "Sister Qianqiu, since the Underworld really exists, the Heavenly Court must exist too, right?"

Dong Qianqiu pressed a hand to her forehead. "Why are you trying to act so cool? If you actually make it back this time, I'll give you some remedial lessons. The Queen Mother of the West doesn't live in the Heavenly Court. She lives at the Summit of Kunlun."

"Uh..." Du Yu felt a little embarrassed. "I only asked whether the Heavenly Court existed. I never said I was going there..."

"Fine." Dong Qianqiu answered indifferently.

"How do I use this Teleportation Talisman?" Du Yu took out the talisman.

"Stick it to your forehead and silently repeat your destination."

Du Yu carefully stuck the talisman to his forehead and repeated the destination several times in his mind.

As soon as he finished thinking "Summit of Kunlun" once, wind roared in his ears. He felt as though he had taken flight and dared not open his eyes. A few seconds later, the wind stopped. Du Yu slowly opened his eyes to find that the Teleportation Talisman on his forehead had vanished. He stood in a mist-shrouded clearing, surrounded by white.

"So this is the Summit of Kunlun?"

Du Yu ventured forward. This place didn't seem much like Mount Kunlun-the terrain was far too flat. Yet the thick mist, which limited visibility to five or six meters, looked exactly like the Heavenly Court in television dramas.

Before Du Yu had taken ten steps, someone slowly approached him. The newcomer wore silver armor, had a lean, fit build, and carried a long spear. He looked like a guard stationed here.

Before Du Yu could decide how to strike up a conversation, the other man spoke.

"Where did you come from, wandering immortal? Why are you loitering here instead of following Her Majesty the Queen Mother of the West's orders to search for someone?"

Wandering immortal? Search for someone?

He could understand being called a wandering immortal. After all, anyone who could appear here was unlikely to be mortal. But what was this search about?

After a moment's thought, Du Yu came up with a plan.

"Take me to the Queen Mother of the West at once. I've found the person!"

"You found them?!"

Overjoyed, the guard immediately changed his attitude. "Please follow me, High Immortal. I'll report this at once!"

Du Yu smiled faintly and nodded.

"Hey, what trick are you cooking up now?" Dong Qianqiu was already so accustomed to this side of Du Yu that she couldn't even be bothered to interfere.

"What choice do I have, Sister Qianqiu? How will I know who she's looking for unless I meet the Queen Mother of the West?"

"Fine... The Queen Mother of the West has an unpredictable temper. Don't think she'll be that easy to fool."

Du Yu stopped responding to Dong Qianqiu and followed the guard along the broad, empty avenue. There wasn't another person in sight.

"Say, my guard friend, are you usually the only one here?" Du Yu tried to strike up a conversation.

"How could I normally be the only guard in the Kunlun Immortal Paradise?" The guard shook his head, a trace of anxiety creeping into his otherwise calm voice. "Everyone is out searching now. Only one guard stays here each day to protect Her Majesty the Queen Mother of the West."

"I see."

"Now everything will be fine. Since you've found the Celestial Venerable, High Immortal, all the immortals can return to their posts."

"Ah, yes." Du Yu pursed his lips. "The Celestial Venerable... That's right. The venerable old fellow is eating and drinking well. Still hale and hearty."

"Eating and drinking?" The guard turned his head, puzzled. "Does the Celestial Venerable no longer abstain from food?"

"Stop asking so many questions," Du Yu said awkwardly. "Just take me to your boss."

They crossed a vast, mist-shrouded plaza. Du Yu could vaguely make out enormous pillars around them, but the mist was too thick to see clearly.

Before long, the guard led Du Yu to a huge archway. "High Immortal, please wait here while I announce your arrival."

Du Yu nodded slightly and watched the guard pass through the archway.

"This place is pretty nice. Immortal mist drifting everywhere." Du Yu rubbed his hands. "Just a little damp. I wonder if the Queen Mother of the West has rheumatism."

After a short wait, the guard emerged, bowed respectfully, and said to Du Yu, "High Immortal, please enter for your audience."

Du Yu patted the guard on the shoulder. "Young man, you have a bright future ahead of you."

The guard looked at him in bewilderment. Though he had stood watch here for many years, this was the first time he had encountered such a strange wandering immortal.

Dispensing with further courtesy, Du Yu plunged straight through the archway. Beyond it seemed to be an enormous hall, but the mist inside was far too thick. Who on earth would live in a place like this?

"Boss... where are you?" Du Yu called tentatively.

"This Dowager is here. Come closer."

Du Yu followed the voice and discovered a dark silhouette seated on a stone stool. When he took a closer look, the sight before him left him stunned.