The shore-bound flowers bloomed all along the passageway.
The vibrant red blossoms competed to open, appearing like splashes of blood, so dazzling, so eerie.
"Miss Yang, Miss Yang, wake up quickly."
Hu Bayi tugged at Shirley Yang, but no matter how he called out, Shirley Yang remained unresponsive.
"What's happening to me?"
Instead, it was the Loulan princess who, after the Corpse Incense Myriad-Flower was slain, regained consciousness.
She looked at Zhang Qilin, who had been her opponent, her head feeling a bit fuzzy.
"You've been hallucinating."
Zhang Tian spoke, his gaze fixed on Shirley Yang. For some reason, he could sense an evil aura emanating from her.
"She's possessed, possibly related to something inside."
Zhang Qilin added, his voice low but his expression serious.
"Lao Hu, take Miss Yang over there to rest."
Seeing the situation, Zhang Tian knew he couldn't let Shirley Yang continue. If she went further, she would reach the coffin, and handling it then would be very difficult.
"But boss, I can't control her."
Hu Bayi held onto Shirley Yang, but he had no idea where she was getting her strength from; he couldn't budge her.
"Town-evil charm."
Zhang Tian produced a talisman and began drawing it on the spot. Once one's cultivation reached a certain level, their hands could draw talismans, though it required their own blood.
Zhang Tian's blood, tinged with a trace of Qilin blood, amplified the charm's ability to suppress evil.
On the passageway filled with shore-bound flowers, Zhang Tian placed the talisman on Shirley Yang's forehead. Instantly, the evil energy receded, and Shirley Yang's body slumped. She seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep.
Hu Bayi, holding Shirley Yang, nodded at Zhang Tian.
"Thanks, boss."
Hu Bayi said, then quickly retreated. He gently laid Shirley Yang on the ground, not tending to her, but running back to Zhang Tian.
"Boss, let's uncover the truth together."
Hu Bayi spoke earnestly. Zhang Tian nodded, his gaze sweeping towards Fatty, wondering what he was doing.
At this moment, in Fatty's illusion.
His consciousness was guided by the heart of the Corpse Incense Myriad-Flower, leading him smoothly into the depths of the princess's mind.
"Holy crap, where is this? It looks pretty good."
Fatty looked at the scene before him, his face etched with shock.
It was a palace, a wooden structure that seemed lively.
The place was adorned with festive decorations, and many people were dressed in red.
"This, could it be Fei Fei's illusionary world?"
Fatty pondered, following the path inward.
"Hey, you there, where did you come from? The Emperor is bestowing a consort, and you, a third-rate person, aren't allowed in?"
A sharp voice came from a eunuch-like figure.
He sized up Fatty. Yes, still very fat.
"Third-rate? Fatty here is at least second-rate!"
"Bah, what second-rate? You said the Emperor is bestowing a consort? On whom?"
Fatty asked curiously.
"That would be, Imperial Consort Yaoguang."
"You, who can't even get in, where do you think you're going?"
The eunuch waved his hand dismissively.
"Yaoguang? Phew~ thankfully it's not Fei Fei."
"Wait, Fei Fei's name isn't Yaoguang, is it?"
Thinking of this, Fatty was stunned.
No way, Fatty didn't want to be a gigolo again.
"Damn it, what kind of monster is this, stealing Fatty's beloved consort? They're asking for death."
Fatty's face was filled with rage, but seeing the heavily guarded palace before him, he didn't try to force his way in.
Instead, he slowly stepped back.
Seeing that the man understood his place, the eunuch didn't press further and turned to go welcome the wedding procession.
Fatty watched the "囍" characters plastered on the wall from outside.
"Damn it, stealing my person, I'll make you regret it."
Fatty muttered, recalling Zhang Tian's words.
"Right, boss said, when you encounter trouble, don't panic, stay calm first. Fatty will go find Fei Fei."
With that thought, Fatty headed towards Yaoguang's residence.
In the Yuanwai mansion, there were also festive decorations, but these lights weren't for Fatty, but for the monarch.
Fatty still had some skills and managed to sneak into the consort's room, where he smoothly encountered the weeping, pure consort.
"Good heavens, Fei Fei has this side to her?"
Looking at the pure young Fei Fei, Fatty's heart fluttered again.
"Who are you? Why are you in my room!"
Seeing the unfamiliar Fatty, Yaoguang's face was filled with wariness.
"I am Wang Kaixuan, your most handsome King."
Fatty exclaimed excitedly.
"What Wang Kaixuan? I don't know him."
Yaoguang shook her head, bewildered.
"Right, it seems it's Fei Fei's childhood now. Heh heh, this makes it even easier."
Fatty rejoiced inwardly.
Yaoguang looked to be around sixteen, a fully grown young woman.
Fatty chuckled to himself, thinking, could he, with his silver-tongued skills learned from Da Jinya, not trick a young girl?
"I am a wandering swordsman. Seeing the young lady weeping in her room, I came to offer my assistance."
"Young lady, are you willing to marry that Emperor as a consort and live a life of debauchery? Why don't I take you away and help you pursue your true desires?"
As Fatty spoke, he struck a noble pose.
"I cannot. If I leave, my father will die."
Yaoguang said, her expression growing even more pained.
"I will take your whole family away."
Fatty declared. She let out a chuckle.
"My family has over a hundred people, how can you take them all?"
"You should leave, lest you get implicated."
Saying this, she waved her hand, ushering Fatty out.
Outside the door, Fatty pondered how to execute his plan.
Outside Fatty's illusion.
Zhang Tian and the others had already arrived before the Kunlun Divine Coffin.
"I want this coffin."
The Loulan princess was the first to claim ownership.
"Of course, that was agreed upon, but what about the star iron?"
Zhang Tian looked around.
"It's here."
The Loulan princess said, pointing beneath the coffin.
Beneath the coffin, placed as a base, was star iron.
A whole piece of star iron, three meters long, and exceptionally thick.
"Back then, nearly all the star iron in the desert was monopolized by the Queen.
"And the star iron in our ancient city of Loulan is only one of the few pieces in the world."
"This entire piece of star iron, as a base for the coffin, allows the coffin to condense more heavenly and earthly energy to nourish the soul."
The Loulan princess explained. Zhang Tian inhaled sharply.
The Queen of Jingjue was truly extravagant.
Such a heaven-defying object was merely used as a stepping stone.
If Zhang Tian had it, he would never be so wasteful.
"Second brother, what are you looking at?"
Bayi asked Zhang Qilin, puzzled.
Zhang Qilin remained silent, his gaze fixed on the ghost eye, as if deep in thought.
"It's very strange down there."
Zhang Qilin spoke. Zhang Tian glanced at the bottomless ghost eye, wondering what lay beneath.
His gaze returned to the contents of the coffin.
The Queen lay still, looking exceptionally eerie.
"Why were you afraid to come closer, yet you dared to approach only after we arrived?"
Zhang Tian asked the Loulan princess, something that had puzzled him.
"The Corpse Incense Myriad-Flower controlled me, and the Queen is very powerful. Without strength, I dared not come."
The Loulan princess answered truthfully.
She did not mention that the eye from before was also a crucial obstacle.
Zhang Tian didn't press further, his gaze fixed on the Queen.
"I want to see what that Queen truly looks like."
Zhang Tian said, reaching for the mask on the Queen's face.
At that moment, the atmosphere became tense.