Zhang Xiaofan gazed at the bead for a long while, his breath gradually steadying. But apart from noticing its dimmer luster, he could discern nothing else and had to tuck it back into his chest. He turned to look at Tien Ling’er beside him; she was still unconscious, but her face now had a hint of color, indicating a significant improvement in her condition.
He picked up the Amber Vermilion Silk, examining it closely for the first time. It felt soft and comfortable to the touch, and as he recalled Tien Ling’er’s graceful figure soaring through the air, a wave of envy swept over him.
After a moment, he mimicked Tien Ling’er’s earlier movements with the silk, calling out, “Rise!”
But the Amber Vermilion Silk remained motionless, as lifeless as a dead snake.
“Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp,” came the sound of the gray monkey, who had fallen to the ground clutching its belly, laughing uncontrollably.
Zhang Xiaofan glared at the monkey, but the shared ordeal had created a sense of familiarity, and any previous animosity had dissipated. He stuck out his tongue at the monkey and ignored it, placing the Amber Vermilion Silk next to Tien Ling’er and then directing his gaze to the pond in the clearing.
The small pond, with no visible source, seemed to be fed by underground springs. The water was a deep emerald green, and its depth was hard to gauge. On the western side, there was a small gap where the water flowed out, forming a winding stream.
In the center of the pond, a pile of jagged rocks of various sizes and shapes protruded slightly above the water. Among them, a black rod, about a foot long, was partially submerged, its dark surface giving off an eerie vibe.
Finding the place increasingly strange, Zhang Xiaofan thought it best to leave. But Tien Ling’er, though calmer, was still unconscious and could not be roused.
In contrast, the gray monkey was extremely lively, scratching and picking at itself, never still. Occasionally, it scampered into the trees, returning with some wild fruits, tossing two to Zhang Xiaofan before settling down to eat its own.
Zhang Xiaofan bit into one of the fruits, savoring its sweet, juicy flesh. His hunger, which had built up since dawn, was finally sated. He quickly ate another, then gently placed the remaining fruit next to Tien Ling’er.
With his hunger slightly assuaged, Zhang Xiaofan stood and stretched, looking around. The ancient, towering trees and the gentle, trickling stream made for a rather serene yet eerie scene.
Just then, Zhang Xiaofan felt a sudden warmth in his chest, followed by a series of dull crackling sounds, as if something was breaking.
Alarmed, he quickly retrieved the bead, only to find it glowing intensely, with a fierce, wolf-like aura raging within. The “卍” mantra, meant to subdue the evil, was growing fainter, about to give way.
Unbeknownst to Zhang Xiaofan, this seemingly ordinary bead was the notorious Bloodthirsty Bead, a fearsome object that consumed the life essence of living creatures. Over a thousand years ago, it had been wielded by the elder Blackheart, becoming a powerful magical artifact. After Blackheart’s death, the bead vanished, resurfacing decades later when the venerable Master Puzhi discovered it in the Great Western Swamp. To suppress its evil, he used the Buddhist power of the Jade Prayer Beads, confining the demonic spirit within the bead.
However, during the battle at the Grass Temple Village, Puzhi, mortally wounded, gave the bead to Zhang Xiaofan, instructing him to discard it in a deep valley. But Zhang Xiaofan, out of gratitude, kept the bead as a memento, leading to the current crisis.
Puzhi’s restraining power had waned, and the malevolent energy within the bead was now close to breaking free. Zhang Xiaofan, unaware of the full extent of the danger, grasped the bead, channeling his meager knowledge of the Mahāprajñāpāramitā to try and reinforce the mantra.
The two forces clashed, and the bead’s aura brightened momentarily, but soon dimmed again, as a cold, sinister force invaded Zhang Xiaofan’s body, causing numbness.
The gray monkey, seeing Zhang Xiaofan’s pained expression, grew anxious. Zhang Xiaofan, however, was too focused on the internal struggle. His blood seemed to flow towards the bead, while his Mahāprajñāpāramitā was no match for the cold, invasive force. The pain was unbearable.
Unable to bear it, Zhang Xiaofan stumbled and fell, feeling the familiar nausea wash over him. The monkey, desperate, continued to call out, but dared not enter the clearing.
Zhang Xiaofan, on the brink of despair, struggled to his feet, using the last of his strength to draw on the celestial qi and transform it into Mahāprajñāpāramitā, alleviating the pain briefly. But the cold, malevolent force was too strong, and the nausea nearly overwhelmed him. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and nearly fainted.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoed, and the bead’s aura intensified, enveloping Zhang Xiaofan in a dark, malevolent glow. In the center of the pond, the waters churned, and the black rod shot out, colliding with the bead. The impact sent Zhang Xiaofan flying, and the ground beneath him was torn open.
As the bead and the rod engaged in a fierce struggle, Zhang Xiaofan, covered in blood, watched in horror. The bead, drawing on his blood, began to fight back, overpowering the rod. The cold, nauseating force slowly receded, and Zhang Xiaofan, though weakened, was somewhat relieved.
Tien Ling’er, finally awake, called out, “Xiaofan! Xiaofan!”
Zhang Xiaofan, still dazed, opened his eyes to see Tien Ling’er’s worried face. She helped him sit up, and he looked at his hand, finding it unmarked, except for a paleness. Confused, he wondered if it had all been a nightmare.
“Xiaofan, are you alright?” Tien Ling’er asked, her voice filled with concern.
Zhang Xiaofan forced a smile, “I’m fine, Sister.”
She helped him to his feet, and they decided to leave the strange place. But as they were about to go, the gray monkey, carrying the black rod, appeared, grinning and chattering.
They returned to the Bamboo Peak, where Tien Yizhe, their master, was pacing anxiously. Seeing them, he relaxed, but his anger was evident. Zhang Xiaofan, intimidated, hung his head, and the monkey, perched on his shoulder, playfully scratched his head.
Tien Ling’er, trying to diffuse the situation, explained that they had been chased by the monkey, and Zhang Xiaofan had been defending her. Her mother, Su Ru, interjected, suggesting it was likely due to her overexertion with the Amber Vermilion Silk.
Tien Yizhe, still fuming, dismissed them, and Zhang Xiaofan, still hungry and weak, retreated to his room. The gray monkey, now his companion, bounced around happily, while Zhang Xiaofan, after a long, restless night, finally fell into a fitful sleep.
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