Rising Phoenix

When Feng Zhiwei had visited the Dama the previous night, she had quietly swapped the Dama’s Dharma Vessel while she adjusted the light of the oil lamp. Inside the counterfeit vessel, she had placed a fragrant powder that Zong Cong had made to smell like walnuts, the aroma of Gu Zhixiao’s beloved Gu Nanyi.

Feng Zhiwei had hatched the plan after noticing how reliant Gu Zhixiao was on Gu Nanyi, though even this was just a backup in case Gu Nanyi was unable to attend this important event. The little girl had a surprisingly sensitive nose and had always been especially attentive to Gu Nanyi’s smells, and so she easily smelled the walnut fragrance as soon as the Dharma Vessel appeared.

While the ceremonial Dharma Vessel typically carried by a boy Lama could be easily tampered with, the Buddha Beads were by the Dama’s side day and night and could not be easily reached.

And so the giggling Gu Zhixiao clutched the Dharma Vessel while the head Lama lifted her with trembling hands; all the Lamas in the courtyard knelt and kowtowed as they chanted their sutra, a wave of deep rhythm like a gust of wind sweeping over the vast steppes.

New blood will be ushered in, and dying blood will be cast out. The old and the ancient will be swept clean and the new and fresh will be brought in.

Hoktu, the Eighteenth Living Buddha, was born.

When Gu Nanyi returned from chasing Kereyid, his Gu Zhixiao had already taken on a new identity.

Gu Nanyi listened quietly as Feng Zhiwei explained what had happened, and his reply cut straight to the heart: “You sold her.”

Feng Zhiwei had no response. Who had thought this young master was stupid? What incisive words.

Meanwhile Gu Zhixiao played guilelessly in Gu Nanyi’s arms, sniffing the holy Dharma Vessel as if it were a toy and pawing the Dama’s Buddha Beads without any trace of respect. If the head Lama were still here, he would have instantly realized that this successor baby was fake.

Gu Zhixiao was originally supposed to leave for the Hu Yin Temple immediately, but when the head Lama had tried to take her away, Gu Zhixiao had struggled and cried. Finally, Helian Zheng had stepped in and suggested that since the successor was still an infant she could stay in King’s Court for the moment, after all the Living Buddha Succession Ceremony could not be held until the Imperial Envoy arrived. When the ceremony was finished, they could reconvene to discuss whether the new Living Buddha’s should leave for the Hu Yin Temple. The head Lama could do nothing but agree, and he turned away to organize the Dama’s funeral while Helian Zheng sent messengers to the Imperial Court.

The Coronation Ceremony was still in limbo; the koumiss had been poisoned, the Living Buddha was dead, and the new successor was too young to officiate. The curious attendants and guests had not yet dispersed, and soon Helian Zheng was mounting the platform, a bright smile on his face as he loudly announced: “This King has received the Mandate Of Heaven and his heart is filled with a great brilliance. The enlightenment has arrived and everything is settled.”

With those simple words, he placed the crown on his head and immediately set off to take command of the King’s Army and their suppression of Gadd’s rebellion.

As he left, he turned and met Feng Zhiwei’s eyes with a deep contemplative look, but in the end he said nothing.

Feng Zhiwei sighed to herself. Helian Zheng was also a very clever man, and for him to still allow her such freedom in her affairs, he truly trusted her to an almost unimaginable degree.

The man had a heart greater than the heavens and vaster than the earth; when weak, he would protect you with all his loving heart; when strong, he would set aside everything to assist you.

Feng Zhiwei stared off after Helian Zheng for a long moment, lost in her thoughts. Finally, she reined in herself and turned to Gu Nanyi. 

”Kereyid escaped?”

Young Master Gu ignored her, unhappy. Zong Chen was the one to explain: “Kereyid really is a disciple of a cult. I’ve only heard of the Humo Sect in Mount Gedamo; they’re said to trace back to a religious group some centuries ago. The Humo Sect was a branch that fell into a dark path — all their Kung Fu is eccentric and of myriad origin, and their disciples excel at illusionary arts. The black mist before his escape was one of their tricks. Kereyid must have been exiled to the snow mountain when he was a child and found his way to the cult.”

“Even Brother Gu lost him?” Feng Zhiwei asked with amazement.

“I called him back. These border sects have tricks that the Jiang Hua has never heard of, and… I could not allow him to risk himself alone.”

Feng Zhiwei nodded. “Did Narta flee with Kereyid?”

“No.” Zong Chen answered. “I was focused on Nanyi, but I’m still certain that Narta went nowhere near Kereyid. Someone among the guests had rushed for Narta, and we think it was Hongji Le’s spy taking advantage of the black mist to save their master’s daughter.”

“Her rescue is fine.” Feng Zhiwei smiled. “Narta hates Kereyid now, and Hongji Le will soon understand what had happened. Kereyid must have promised him a lot for this alliance, but now his true viciousness has been revealed. Hongji Le will be unable to trust Kereyid in the future, and Golden Roc and Fire Fox can fight amongst themselves.”

As they spoke, Gu Zhixiao shuffled around in Gu Nanyi’s arms. The little child offered the Buddha Beads to her papa, but how could Young Master Gu take such a filthy object? The Buddha Beads dropped into his hand and he immediately let it drop to the floor. A disappointed Gu Zhixiao stared teary eyed at her heartless father.

But her dad was completely unmoved, calmly enjoying his walnuts. Soon distracted, Gu Zhixiao reached up for this mysterious treasure, begging in a wordless coo until her daddy offered her a piece of shell…

The Gu Family baby refused to give up, and after some struggle to recover the Buddha Beads, she turned and stuffed them into Feng Zhiwei’s hands before pushing those hands towards Gu Nanyi.

Feng Zhiwei had to hold back her laughter as she let the little baby push her over. Gu Nanyi stared at her, cocking his head in confused hesitation before finally pinching the string of Buddha Beads with great disgust and forbearing.

Zong Chen smiled beside them, his eyes glittering behind his dark mask. “Nanyi treats you differently. Even Zhixiao has noticed.”

Feng Zhiwei paused as she pulled her fingers out of the little baby’s grasp, smiling easily as she replied: “Perhaps it is because I am very gentle.”

Zong Chen smiled and shook his head, calmly answering: “I have watched him grow, and even people who have been by his side for decades are not allowed so close.”

Feng Zhiwei had no response, so she quickly changed the subject: “Zhixiao is almost a year old, why is she not speaking?”

But Zong Chen refused to be distracted. “In truth, to live a life without understanding, without emotion, may be a blessing. The cruelest thing would be to open up only to be rejected.”

Feng Zhiwei lowered her eyes. She stared at her hands — had she pulled him out of his peaceful world not into a color and beauty, but rather more pain and torment?

Gu Nanyi sat peacefully beside her with Gu Zhixiao lying prone on his knees. Feng Zhiwei looked up and into his white veil, almost able to make out the man’s bright eyes and the smiling curve of his lips.

Such tranquility… even the reserved Zong Chen felt pushed to preserve it.

Feng Zhiwei shifted, straightening and moving aside, but Gu Nanyi immediately noticed and met her eyes, very naturally shifting with her to keep them side by side.

Feng Zhiwei stiffened and stilled, and Zong Chen sighed quietly before silently taking his leave.

As he opened the door, the hinges creaked sharply, and Feng Zhiwei’s heart ached…

In the awkward silence that followed, Feng Zhiwei was almost glad to hear a sudden shrieking.

“I’m not going — I’m not leaving! I’d rather die here than leave…”