On the way back to the Evernight Palace, the night sky returned to its usual blue. Unable to cope with the Thousand-Faces' crushing pressure, Xiao Hu didn't dare to ask more questions. For most of the trip, Xinzi didn't spare her a glance either—making her wonder why he even bothered to bring her along in the first place.
"Will you cut my hair?" Out of nowhere, one odd question broke the silence, making Xiao Hu crease her brows and scratch her head as she wondered if her mind had received so much damage that she started imagining things.
"Never mind, they'll grow back instantly," Xinzi said, clarifying Xiao Hu's doubts. Confusion replaced doubts, and her frown deepened. One had to admit that the Zhen-body defied human standards of perfection. Oozing divine light aside, the eyes, jaw and musculature all seemed carved by a God-Smith dispatched by Heaven's Will to produce a result both sizzling and inviolable. The mane of ink-colored hair only added to the mystic—making Xinzi look like a lion whose mere presence reduced all living things to docile sheep.
If not for the Thousand-Faced Shadow, Xiao Hu could have spent an entire day watching, just sitting in the carriage and wondering what went on in that flawless deity's head. The Evernight Palace came into view, and the sea dragon started its descent—marking the end of the trip.
At the palace's entrance, elders and noble officials gathered, opening the carriage doors to let their master out. Xinzi's gaze brushed past them, and satisfied by Yuemi's absence, he glanced at the elders. "I will give you the coordinates of the Northern Dark Sea Palace. Investigate its structure and defenses, but do not rashly send troops in. The goal is to figure out who can go in, not to lose valuable troops over a probe."
"As you command, Greatest One!" The elders bowed at Xinzi's words, and subsequently, he filled their minds with the Northern Dark Sea Palace coordinates. Night Spirits from the Eternal Night Archipelago rose in the hundreds, each leading battalions of Elemental Spirits and Sea Beasts to the Northern Dark Sea.
As this went on, Xinzi had Xiao Hu brought back to her chambers, and returned to his. To keep one human girl, heaven-blessed or not, so close by at all time, would be a terrible look, and likely bring Xiao Hu more misfortune than blessings. From above the Evernight Palace, Baxian watched all this, stroking his chin as his eyes darted back and forth between Xiao Hu and Xinzi.
Back to his chambers, Xinzi sat before a tall mirror encrusted with shimmering silver pearls that came from rare oyster beasts. "The more time they spend in mortal shells, the more susceptible Divine Spirits are to behave like humans. This accumulation of frivolous luxuries is the best example. And yet, they disdain mortals, making them look like self-imbued aristocrats sneering at commoners. Divine Mother, don't you agree?" Xinzi asked, almost as if talking to his reflection in the mirror. But it was to the Thousand-Faced Shadow that he addressed himself. It answered with silence.
"What about you, Lord-Regent?" Yuemi had yet to push open Xinzi's door that he sensed her presence. Her lips curled up, and she vanished, crossing space to appear at Xinzi's back.
"I don't really care. If it's pretty, I like it. If I like it, I keep it. Grand considerations about ifs, whats, and any manner of philosophical question bore me to death. Then again, I'm immortal, so I can't die…theoretically." Yuemi stretched her hands out, wrapping her arms around Xinzi's neck.
Yuemi's retort reminded Xinzi of Dong Ling. Yes, this was probably the type of counter that she'd come up with. Except that in her case, keeping the things that she liked didn't involve people or beasts trapped in gilded cells—or death if she lost interest.
"Zhen'er, do you despise me?" Hands wrapped around Xinzi's neck, Yuemi brushed her face against his mane of hair and asked in an oddly mellow tone.
"Hengye Yuemi, you cultivate the 100 Virtues of the Queen Mother. This privilege is also your curse, for throughout the four realms of existence, there is only person that Divine Mother will allow to have power over me: herself. One day, my Divine Mother will kill you. She could just take away the mnemonics and erase your cultivation, but that's more trouble than a trivial Divine Spirit deserves, so she will kill you, and there's nothing you or I can do about it.
In my Xinzi-body, I do loathe you. Often, I even want to kill you. But here, I just find you pitiful. Perhaps it's because you know that you have no future…that you dare to be so bold." Unprepared for Xinzi's reply, Yuemi flinched. But right afterward, her smile returned, brighter than ever, and her grip tightened around Xinzi's neck.
"That is correct. My maids are worrying about a future that likely doesn't exist. But until then, Zhen'er, I will make sure that even 10,000 years after I'm gone, my memory will still make your blood boil. I already found the perfect method. Hope you don't get too angry, though. Would be a shame if you killed me before my time."
"Suit yourself…" Xinzi didn't mind Yuemi's grip, too weak to cause any harm to his unbreakable mortal shell. In the mirror, he no longer saw Yuemi. Another woman replaced her. Taller, clad in a long, trailing dark dress, with her face covered by obscure mist. That woman's figure heightened and chilled Xinzi's senses—both at the same time.
"Zhen'er, I really hate your Xinzi body. But at the same time, I can't help but love it. I'm sure that it'd give me more reactions than the Zhen-you can. Maybe even some warmth…or love. Something to cling on. But it's not perfect, unbreakable or irresistible. It's too mortal, fragile and malleable. Zhen'er, how great it would be if you could give me all that I want without losing your perfection."
"Hengye Yuemi, you and I are monsters, and monsters have no need for mortal emotions," Xinzi said, but though the words seemed aimed at Yuemi, again, it was to the shadow that he addressed himself.
His eyes shut tight, and his thoughts drifted to past events.
…
"Divine Mother, Divine Mother! I've just seen a mortal performing wild theatrical acts with water coming out of his eyes. He said strange things about "feeling?" What does it mean to 'feel?'" Still in his Fetal Spirit form, a young Xinzi asked Yongye, who stood beside him, sprawled on her massive throne.
"Oh? Come with me," Yongye said, and the two vanished, crossing unknown expenses of land to appear in another Divine Palace, right before a throne carved in divine jade. One man sat on that throne, dressed in spotless white robes, with his long silver hair hanging on his thighs, the man's eyes looked partially open, and yet showed no sign life.
"Zhen'er, this is your Divine Father. I allow you to study the mortals of various worlds and lands so you can get enlightenment in their practices, broaden your horizons and lay down a strong foundation for when you start practicing Lianism. You'll do it in a vulnerable mortal shell, Divine Mother will not be there to save you from the roller coaster of emotions that mortals have to deal with, so engrave this in your mind, and never forget that this—Zhen'er—is what mortal emotions will lead you to.
Thanks to this idiot, you and I stand above all. Supreme and without peers, we can use, abuse, sacrifice, discard and destroy all to achieve our goals. In mortal terms, we are monsters, and monsters have no need for emotions.
Follow the path that Divine Mother laid out for you, stay loyal to Divine Mother, and when Divine Mother replaces the Primordial Source, all worlds and creatures will be yours to do with as you see fit."
…
The memories ended here, Xinzi returned to the present, and his eyes opened wide, alerted by the realization that he'd neglected something.
"Wait, what do you mean by 'perfect method'?" Breaking free of Yuemi's embrace, Xinzi leaped out of his chair, spinning towards the Lord-Regent.
"Oh….you got alarmed sooner than I thought," Yuemi said, and her lips stretched into a broad, fiendish grin.