Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

Mao woke up in a bad mood, the wound, like a cursed one, was in no hurry to heal, although such wounds should not cause discomfort at all. After trying to heal her again, he cursed. It was as if there was no light energy at all. Its insignificant grains were not enough even for this. Having risen from the bed, he sat up and saw his own legs. Two thin, pale feet hung above the floor. Raising his gaze higher, he froze. A girl, no other way…

A new shock awaited him in the reflection of the mirror. Quickly running up to it, the young man felt himself in horror, not ceasing to curse Liu Yang in his thoughts, he remembered the name well. What a mockery. Not only is the body effeminate, but the face is the same too.

Having done his business, he went to the prepared clothes and smiled. A neatly folded maroon hanfu was waiting for him.

Having dressed, he looked at himself again. Horrible! An immortal spellcaster, a hero of legends, according to Liu Yang. The one who cast many spells and the one who gave hope for victory over the dragons is now the height and appearance of a maiden.

Having left his room, Mao went to look for the one whose name he remembered. It took some effort, but after a while he was already standing at the desired door. After thinking for a bit, he knocked.

Liu Yang

There was a pile of papers and scrolls on the table, the demon carefully looked through the texts and frowned with displeasure. There was not even the slightest mention of what he wanted to find. Of course, there were interesting facts there, which his tenacious memory put off for later.

A knock on the door distracted him from his work. Who else came here? Yang frowned, but remembering that anyone could have come, he turned to the door.

— Come in.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

Having received the invitation, he entered with a displeased look.

— So this is the kind of respect and honor you told me about in the Fortress of Damned Souls? — he pointed at himself, — tell me, did you think that I would be happy to receive such an insignificant body, in which the magical power is like a dog's?

Liu Yang

He smiled broadly. This is the one who can help find a solution. He came himself. Making an inviting gesture, he pointed to a free chair.

— I am glad to see you in good health. Sit down, it will be more comfortable to talk.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

He frowned. The young man seemed not to have heard anything at all. Snorting, he asked again:

— You are either deaf or pretending. I asked you about your conscience. Did you use it when you resurrected me? How did you even think that I could be glad to find myself in such insignificance? I am an immortal spellcaster. Do you even know what that means? Did you even understand what you were talking about in the Fortress?

From excitement, the voice itself rose, and the wound made itself felt. A sharp pain forced him to grab it with his hand, and warm moisture immediately ran between his fingers. Looking down, he again turned his gaze to his interlocutor.

— Where is your mother, and how did she raise you? What kind of ignoramus is your father? How dare you upset the balance of the world and insult the dead like that?

Liu Yang

Instantly appearing next to him, he pressed his hand to the wound, cursing silently at the incompetent healers who still hadn't been able to heal it, and at his own knowledge of healing. Sending a stream of energy to heal, he stopped the bleeding. Of course, if he were a healer, such a stream would be enough to completely heal a dozen such wounds, but Yang was not strong in this art.

— You're too nervous about little things, — he muttered under his breath.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

He wanted to push him away, but stopped, watching his actions. It is clear that the young man is not good at healing, but he tries, for which one cannot help but praise him. Unfortunately, too much offended by the body he received after the resurrection, Mao is now in no condition and not in the mood to shower him with gratitude.

Wiping his hand on the hem of his hanfu, he narrowed his eyes.

— Liu Yang, I do not need advice. I need answers to my questions. Who are your parents? How did the Shanlu fall into such ignorance?

Zui He

Zui He, once again playing with his hearing, caught an interesting conversation. More precisely, he was attracted by the tone, but the speech... Oh...

The demon poured tea from a boiling teapot into a bowl and, adding cold water, returned the vessel to the fire.

Having settled down in a chair, he began to twirl the container with the drink in his hands, mentally apologizing quietly, not wanting the addressee to hear his apologies: “Brer Yang, forgive Zui He for this mistake. How was I supposed to know that the library does not appreciate beauty? Zui He is not to blame, it is you, Brother Yang, who did not specify what kind of body you needed.” Brushing off the invisible something, he sipped the drink from the bowl, continuing out loud:

— Brer Yang, your library, you sort it out, and do not touch Zui He in the near future. I am not a bone for dogs to be set on me.

Liu Yang

Having followed the actions, he took out a white handkerchief trimmed with exquisite lace and wiped his hand. Smiling with the corner of his lips, he threw it into his sleeve.

— What difference does it make who my parents are? They disappeared long ago. And the body, — Yang looked closely at Mao Kung and, remembering Zui He's words, almost laughed, — is quite beautiful.

Taking a deep breath, he remembered Zui He with an unkind word.

— You were already immortal, who is stopping you from achieving it again? Especially since your knowledge remained with you. Isn't that right?

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

This is not the kind of beauty Mao would have wished for himself. He suppressed his irritation. Still, he could not deny that his own eye would have caught something like that. The rest was also true. All the knowledge was there, it was not damaged, and this was good. But to pump up the body again...

There was no other way out. There was a lot of work to do. Since such a chance has arisen, and the memory is with you, it is necessary to find Shi Tiang. Taking a deep breath of cool air, he remembered where to search and immediately looked at his interlocutor.

— Demons. How long have they been in the Shanlu and how many of them are here? Where do they live?

Liu Yang

Looking at the caster with curiosity, he sighed. It seems like he doesn't understand who he's talking to, although it's even funny.

— You see, you have your own questions, and so do I. So why are we standing at the threshold? Let's continue our conversation over tea. Besides, I don't think you should be on your feet for too long now. I must tell you that healing is not one of my strong points.

Pointing to the chair again, he headed toward the table where the tea utensils were.

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

Wanting to get answers to at least some of his questions, especially since the young man did know something, Mao took a deep breath. It was really hard to stand. The body is still far from normal. Walking deeper into the room, he sat down in the offered place and smiled at his own thoughts. They certainly won't poison him here; it would be stupid to be afraid to drink and eat. Having settled down more comfortably, he looked questioningly.

Liu Yang

Having poured some tea, he took a plate of pastries that had recently been sent from the kitchen and placed them in front of the spellcaster. Pleased with himself, he sat down in a chair.

— Why do you need demons? It seems to me that this is not the best company for you now, at least in this state. This body is really too weak... for now and needs treatment. But you have your wisdom, and I wanted to ask you. You told me how to bind a soul to a body by renewing a contract with a master, but do you know a way to break this contract of service? How can we give freedom to a soul once enslaved, but at the same time keep its soul in the body?

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

The self-confident young man does not want to answer questions, well then…. A game is a game. His gaze caught on his nails. The person imitates demons or is simply showing off. The first is sad, the second is a youthful thing. In any case, this is not what interests him now. Mao sipped the offered drink and, taking the treat, smiled.

— I see you are smart, cunning and persistent. But I am not as simple-minded as you would like. I have an answer to your question, but you can't get it without answering mine, — taking a bite of the cake, he continued, not caring about his mouth full, — why I need demons, it shouldn't concern you. These are questions that will open the way to the answers to yours. So, how many demons are there in the Shanlu, how long have they been here and where do they live? I think these answers are an acceptable price for your question.

Liu Yang

Leaning back, he looked over the spellcaster from head to toe.

— Answer for answer — that's fair. Are you offering a deal?

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

— Yes, until either there are no more questions or someone wants to answer the question asked, — Mao twirled the bowl and finished his treat, — and the questions must be proportionate. You can't ask a question, for example, how to kill a dragon and get an answer, how to heal a wound. Do you agree?

Liu Yang

He came up and poured tea into the guest's cup. It was impossible not to admit that the stories about the intelligence of the founder of Thanshu clearly had some basis. Returning to his place, he continued the conversation.

— Let me assume that the purpose of your questions is the desire to personally meet the demon. Am I right?

Thanshu Mao Kung (Chang Ming)

The spellcaster smiled and accepted the drink with pleasure, taking another treat and twirling it in his hand.

— Yes, but I am interested in one single demon that I want to meet. And you live in the Dark Tide Citadel and clearly have some connection to the Hu Order. Tell me exactly what.

Liu Yang

A difficult question, but an agreement is an agreement.

— I am a member of the Hu Order, but not of the clan. Do you want to meet the demon living in the Citadel? I can help with that. So what about my question?