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Wu Kong let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. He realized that Xi Shi was not someone easy to fool. Fortunately, he had come up with a clever excuse in a moment of desperation, allowing him to pass through the situation.
Seeing Xi Shi's approval, Lu Niao raised the colorful bowl and tossed the dice into it, calling out loudly, "For the second roll, it's again no two!"
Xi Shi pretended to be troubled and said, "You all have it easy, but I find it difficult."
Lu Niao asked in surprise, "What trouble do you have, sister?"
Xi Shi scolded playfully, "You are intentionally trying to embarrass me! Don't you know that I have served two husbands?"
Lu Niao laughed and said, "What does that matter? Among us sisters here, who isn’t of different surnames? Sister, I have a suggestion: why not call out King Wu in one line and Mr. Fan in another?"
Xi Shi agreed and began:
"Mr. Fan, the beautiful youth of Liu Creek;
King Wu, the great man of the palace.
Mr. Fan, with Kunlun's vows so sincere;
King Wu, under the warm wutong tree at peace.
Mr. Fan, with the crescent moon over five lakes;
King Wu, intoxicated by parting sorrows."
Lu Zhu covered her face and wept, tears rolling down like scattered pearls, shattering in the cups filled with wine. She sighed softly, her tone filled with bitterness:
"Pearls like tears fall endlessly,
Holding fragrant memories in sorrowful hearts.
One day beneath the snow-covered green tombs,
A lonely soul drifts without anyone knowing."
Her voice was filled with sorrowful lamentation that broke the hearts of those who heard it.
Seeing Lu Zhu so heartbroken moved Xi Shi as well. But then she thought about how she too was not free from her own struggles against fate's whirlpool. She forced herself to regain her composure and feigned anger, saying, "This is unacceptable! This is unacceptable! I intended to hear some joyful verses but ended up with such sorrowful ones! Lu Niao, you should quickly drink a cup to dispel this bad luck!"
Lu Niao smiled sweetly and raised her cup to drink it all in one go, as if trying to cast away all her worries.
As the wine flowed for the third round, Si Si wanted Wu Kong to recite a poem. However, Wu Kong waved her hand and pushed the bowl towards Si Si, indicating that she should go first. The two exchanged polite refusals, and after a while, neither had made a move. Seeing this, Lu Niao's eyes sparkled with mischief as she suggested, "I have an idea! Why don't we have Sister Si Si say one line, and then the beauty can respond with another? With two beautiful ladies—one bold and spirited, the other gentle and graceful—how perfectly they would complement each other!"
Xi Shi frowned slightly and hesitated, saying, "How can that work? The Overlord of Chu is mighty and imposing, while Mr. Shen is charming and refined; they are worlds apart. How can they possibly match?"
But Si Si laughed confidently and replied, "It doesn't matter. He is he, and I am I. I have my own thoughts in my heart. Let me go first." After a moment of contemplation, she began to recite:
"Weeping Moon on the Southern Tower." Her voice was cool and carried a hint of sorrow and determination that made one's heart tremble.
Wu Kong, already distracted, instinctively responded to her line:
"Praying to Buddha in the Western Paradise."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lu Niao pointed at him in mock surprise and exclaimed, "Beauty, are you feeling troubled? Why would you pray to Buddha in the Western Paradise? Are you perhaps wishing to leave behind the mundane world and enter a life of seclusion?"
Wu Kong snapped back to reality and thought to himself that this was not good. He hurriedly explained, "Oh dear, Lu Niao, you don’t understand! The meaning of this line is quite profound; it requires careful consideration to grasp. 'Heaven' refers to my husband; 'West' signifies Xi Chu; 'Pray' means to return; 'Buddha' represents the heart. This line essentially means that I want to place my entire heart on my husband from Xi Chu. Though he may despise me, my heart belongs only to him!" As he spoke, he discreetly observed everyone's expressions, fearing he might reveal a flaw.
Lu Niao listened intently and then exclaimed with realization, "So that's it! The beauty's thoughts are truly delicate; even a single line of poetry contains such exquisite depth and emotion—it's truly admirable!"
As the wine continued to flow and dishes were served one after another, the banquet felt like an endless torment for Wu Kong. He found it hard to sit still; he had not come for merriment but was burdened by thoughts of Qin Shi Huang's whereabouts—a heavy stone pressing on his heart. He pretended to burp loudly, gagging slightly as his brow furrowed in discomfort.
Noticing this, Xi Shi asked with concern, "What’s wrong with you? Are you feeling unwell?"
Wu Kong suppressed his churning stomach and waved his hand weakly. "It's nothing serious; perhaps I indulged in too much fruit wine today and feel a bit tipsy."
Xi Shi understood and said gently, "If that's the case, then there's no need to force yourself. Let's take a stroll in the garden to enjoy the moonlight; it will help clear your head."
The other beauties agreed enthusiastically. Wu Kong eagerly seized the opportunity to leave the smoky banquet behind and stood up with them as they headed towards the Garden.
As night fell and stars twinkled above, moonlight bathed the Garden in silvery glow. The rockeries and ponds were lush with flowers and greenery—a beautiful sight indeed. Yet Wu Kong had no mind for appreciation; all he could think about was how to escape and search for Qin Shi Huang.
"Oh dear..." Wu Kong clutched his chest tightly, his brow furrowed as beads of sweat formed on his forehead, displaying an expression of unbearable pain.
Seeing this, Lu Niao rushed forward to support him and asked anxiously, "Beauty, what's wrong? Is your chest hurting?"
Wu Kong weakly nodded, gritting his teeth as he said, “This old ailment has flared up again, and it hurts terribly. I’m afraid I can’t stay with you ladies any longer. I’ll head back to rest.”
“What are we to do?” Lu Niao’s face showed concern. “I’ll send someone to fetch Elder Qi to treat you.”
“No need!” Wu Kong quickly interrupted. “Those quacks will only prescribe useless remedies that won’t cure my illness. I’d rather return to my residence and rest; perhaps I’ll feel better by tomorrow.”
Seeing his firm attitude, Lu Niao didn’t press further and instructed four maidservants to escort Wu Kong back home.
With the help of the maidservants, Wu Kong staggered out, turning back to flash a faint, weak smile at the beautiful ladies, as if he had exhausted all his strength.
Under the cover of night, no one noticed the fleeting glint of cunning in the corner of Wu Kong’s mouth. He felt like a bird that had escaped from its cage, eager to return to the sky that belonged to him.
The incense platform towered a hundred feet high, surrounded by fragrant winds that spiraled up into the clouds, yet Wu Kong’s heart felt as cold and hard as the steps he descended. Supported by the four maidservants, he walked down from this lavish place step by step, each footfall feeling like he was treading on blades. This incense platform was resplendent with gold and jade, but it imprisoned a soul yearning for freedom. He glanced back at the brightly lit palace, a smirk of derision curling at his lips; this wealth and glory were nothing but fleeting illusions to him. What he truly desired was a life of unrestrained freedom and unbridled emotions.
At the bottom of the steps lay a wide avenue paved with white marble, shimmering coolly under the moonlight. After walking a few steps, Wu Kong found it dull and stopped, turning to the maidservants behind him. “You can go back now; there’s no need to escort me further. Please send my regards to the lady and young miss, and tell them I’ll visit again tomorrow.”
The four maidservants exchanged glances; they had never encountered such an arrogant and disrespectful “beauty.” One bolder maidservant mustered her courage and said, “Lu Niao instructed us to ensure you reach Chu King’s Manor safely; we dare not disobey.”
“And what if you do?” Wu Kong sneered inwardly while maintaining an impassive expression.
“This…” The maidservants looked troubled; they were merely servants and dared not defy Lu Niao’s orders.
Seeing their submissive demeanor only heightened Wu Kong’s impatience. He raised his voice sharply, “Are you truly unwilling to leave? Then don’t blame me for being rude!”
Before his words fell silent, a flash of golden light sparkled in his eyes as a Ruyi Jingu Bang appeared in his hand, radiating dazzling brilliance. With a gentle wave, it stirred up a fierce wind; the four maidservants didn’t even have time to scream before they turned to ashes, dissipating into the night.
Wu Kong snorted coldly as he returned the Ruyi Jingu Bang to his ear and transformed back into his true form. Clad in golden chainmail armor with a phoenix-winged crown atop his head and wearing cloud-soled shoes made of lotus silk, he held the Ruyi Jingu Bang with an imposing presence that resembled a deity descending from heaven.
He looked up at the sky where countless stars twinkled against the bright moon but felt lost within himself. He had been pursuing Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s whereabouts but remained clueless amidst this chaotic world, feeling like a headless fly bumping around aimlessly—when would he find answers?
Letting out a long howl towards the heavens, he vented his anger and frustration. Afterward, he suddenly thought of someone who might be able to help him.
Thus, he rode on Cloud Somersault towards the direction etched in his memory. Before long, he arrived at a towering mountain shrouded in mist that resembled an otherworldly paradise. Wu Kong knew this was Nuwa’s cave.
As he beheld Nuwa’s cave from afar, he suddenly felt dazed; how could Nuwa appear in his memories?
Shaking his head clear of confusion, he descended from the clouds and approached the cave entrance only to find two large black lacquer doors tightly shut. A yellow paper was affixed to them that read: “In twenty days’ time, I shall attend a banquet at Xuanyuan Family and will return ten days later. If esteemed guests come calling during my absence, I hope for your understanding; please visit again later.”
After reading it, Wu Kong thought to himself: “It seems Nuwa is not home; I’ll come back another day.”
As he turned to leave, three crowing roosters suddenly sounded nearby. Looking up, he saw dawn breaking in the east—the sky was about to brighten.
Wu Kong felt a chill run down his spine as time seemed pressing. He flew aimlessly for several hundred miles without any sign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
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