Wandering Gods of Day and Night

Not only did Lady Hong Guan's face turn ashen, the expressions of the others weren't much better.

The Fire Sect has truly become a headache now.

The painter sighed and said, "『Xiang and Fire』 is the Guardian of Jing Country's time-space world. According to the laws set by Jing Country's will, he cannot intervene in the human realm—only, today's circumstances are different."

The matter of the constellations today was originally due to the incense fire Taoist's negligence two centuries ago. To make amends for his past mistake, he has no choice but to act, even if begrudgingly.

That goes for Star Covering as well; once her whereabouts are exposed, the incense fire Taoist will intervene to detain her just the same.

But the Fire Sect has no ties to the incense fire Taoist. If they come, the old Taoist likely won't interfere.

"The Fire Sect… even Hidden Dragon Mountain, once safeguarded by the Nine Incenses, has been bloodbathed. We, who know the Kongming Mirror, are also likely to be hunted by them."

"Don't panic, why all the sighing?"

Zhou Xuan sat atop a massive lion head, gently stroking the Monitoring Bronze Tripod, and said, "Old Hua, I told you last time I have a way to deal with those black-clad men… the ones from the Fire Sect… Plus, let's not forget, this tripod isn't entirely impossible to repair."

"Young Master, this tripod is the foundational Magic Artifact of the God Traveling Department. Jing Country only has nine. Once damaged, it's absolutely irreparable."

The painter explained to Zhou Xuan about the ancient tripod, and the Music Master chimed in as well: "This ancient tripod isn't something that can be fixed by casting copper or forging iron. Right now, it might survive for a few more days, but after that, it's doomed to shatter and be destroyed."

"Ordinary methods can't fix it, but there are other ways to repair it," Zhou Xuan replied.

"What way?" The painter, hearing Zhou Xuan speak so confidently, presumed he must have thought of a method. Setting aside whether the method was viable, he was at least curious to know the details.

"The Will Heavenly Book."

Zhou Xuan declared.

"The Will Heavenly Book? What kind of Magic Artifact is that?" The painter and the Music Master asked.

『Will Heavenly Book』—even the old incense at the storyteller's Tangkou hadn't heard of it before, let alone the painter and the Music Master.

Only Mr. Feng, who nearly ascended to the rank of Eight Incenses, had gained insight into this treasure.

Zhou Xuan explained: "It's a Heavenly Book that storytellers can condense, capable of fulfilling the wishes we storytellers declare."

"If my wish is to repair this Monitoring Bronze Tripod… once the Will Heavenly Book takes effect, the wish must come true, and the tripod will be restored."

"Your storytellers' Heavenly Book is really so miraculous?" The painter was almost disbelieving what he had heard.

"If that's the case, then I wish for Jing Country's citizens to live peacefully, with each household prosperous and wealthy—would that work?"

"Theoretically, it's possible."

Zhou Xuan explained, "The Will Heavenly Book was originally bestowed upon storytellers by Jing Country's will, for the purpose of helping storytellers supervise Jing Country and ensure it improves."

Though he spoke with a practiced ease, in truth, he was simply parroting the words Mr. Feng had shared shortly before his death.

"Then how is this Heavenly Book condensed?"

"Mr. Feng said it requires the Wash Away Injustice Talisman, as well as the Wish Power of common folk towards storytellers. For us storytellers to gather Wish Power and accumulate incense offerings, we need to take the stage and tell stories."

"You know how to tell stories?"

The painter, Music Master, and Lady Hong Guan simultaneously looked at Zhou Xuan with disbelief, as if witnessing something extraordinary.

"Are you insulting me? Try asking around Ping Shui Prefecture—whose storytelling is the best?"

Zhou Xuan grew increasingly indignant as he spoke, pulling out his folded fan and tapping its frame on each of their shoulders in turn to vent his frustration. Finally, he said, "Alright, leave this tripod to me. Tomorrow, I'll take the stage and tell stories."

With that, Zhou Xuan mounted the Big Black Donkey, clutching the lion head, and left the God Traveling Department.

"Does this Will Heavenly Book truly have such mystical power?"

After Zhou Xuan departed, the Music Master asked Li Chengfeng.

However, the question touched upon the limitations of Li Chengfeng's scholarly knowledge. Shaking his head, he replied, "Who knows? Still, I suspect the Will Heavenly Book, like Young Master's Mountain and River Map, is likely a means discovered after Nine Incenses rank."

"If the nine Tangkous of Nuo could each gain a means like this, wouldn't they be invincible?"

The Music Master, upon hearing this, suddenly realized the critical point.

The storytellers' 『Will Heavenly Book』 and the Tattoo Hall's 『Mountain and River Map』—these abilities alone were terrifying. Moreover, Zhou Xuan already had two incenses burning within him,

Dragon Seeking Incense and Dunjia Incense. If Zhou Xuan completes these two Tangkous, his post-Nine Incenses means would total four… Who could possibly stand against that?

"No wonder disciples of Nuo who've mastered even six or seven Tangkous are practically unmatched in the world. It's beyond frightening."

The Music Master muttered, then looked towards the painter.

The painter remarked, "I think Young Master isn't limited to mastering just six or seven Tangkous…"

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts grew restless. If Zhou Xuan truly surpassed five or six Tangkous as the painter suggested, then even without all Nine Incenses, he could ascend to the Heavenly Dome, slay gods,

And at that point, everyone would confidently proclaim: I was among Young Master's earliest followers…

...

Tonight, the stars in the sky seemed somewhat sparse.

Zhou Xuan returned to the shop, already late into the night.

Carrying the lion head, he pushed open the door to find Peng Sheng and Yun Ziliang—two old "ghosts"—sitting at the counter, chatting about their experiences playing cards.

"With mahjong, I feel like you have to memorize the tiles," Peng Sheng said.

"Memorize what tiles? It's all about luck. We lost money because our luck was bad, but luck always turns eventually."

Yun Ziliang patiently countered Peng Sheng's strategy.

Upon overhearing this, Zhou Xuan chuckled and said, "You two lost money again, didn't you?"

"I lost on purpose," Yun Ziliang retorted without losing his composure. He rotated his arms in a dramatic arc and declared, "Luck is only so abundant. This place just used up more of it…"