In the northwestern reaches of this cultivation star lay a labyrinth of outer mountain ranges. Here, the very air thrummed with spiritual energy, nourishing dense jungles that stretched beyond the horizon. So thick was the canopy that sunlight rarely kissed the earth, leaving the soil perpetually damp.

Deep within this verdant mountain wilderness stood a solitary peak, a humble spire veiled in swirling mists. From afar, it resembled a phantom mountain, its form indistinct and ethereal.

Suddenly, a radiant array of iridescent light burst forth from within the lonely peak. The luminous beams pierced the heart of the mountain, shimmering through the surrounding mists like celestial fireflies.

The spectacle lasted but a few breaths, before the light gradually waned.

Hidden within the mountain’s embrace was a cavernous grotto, steeped in shadow and imbued with an unsettling aura.

Within the grotto resided a teleportation array, the very source of the radiant light. As the light dimmed, three figures materialized within the array’s shimmering field: the Mad King and his retinue.

The Mad King blinked, surveying the dim surroundings. He scratched his head, muttering to himself, “Blast it all! This portal has twisted my mind into knots! Where in the nine hells are we?”

Xu Liguo, barely containing his elation, hastily stepped out of the array. He cleared his throat and, with a deferential smile, addressed the Mad King: “Your Majesty, we have arrived! This is the place. If you would be so kind as to wait, I shall see if the fair maiden is prepared for your arrival.”

The mention of “fair maiden” instantly banished the King’s confusion. His eyes lit up, and he clapped his hands with glee. “Ha! Excellent! I shall judge for myself if she is as comely as you claim. If I am pleased, rewards shall be bestowed!”

Liu Jinbiao emerged from the array and, with a flourish of his sleeve, summoned a stone chair from a nearby recess. A servile smile plastered on his face, he assisted the Mad King into the seat, then took his place behind the King, kneading his shoulders with practiced skill.

Jinbiao’s ministrations were both vigorous and soothing, striking the perfect balance. The Mad King, utterly relaxed, closed his eyes and abandoned himself to the sensation.

After a time, Jinbiao ceased his massage. He stepped beside the King, face still fixed in servile obedience, and presented his cupped hands, bowed his head, and remained silent.

The Mad King waited, then opened his eyes, peering at Jinbiao with a puzzled expression. He scratched his head, a flicker of confusion in his gaze. “Finished already? That was quick!”

“A boon, Your Majesty!” Jinbiao did not raise his head, maintaining his obsequious posture.

The Mad King blinked, muttering, “A boon for a few kneads? Preposterous! My blood is far too precious! Why, back in the day, that what’s-his-name…”

Before he could finish his tale, Jinbiao lifted his gaze to meet the Mad King’s. His expression was grave, his voice a low rumble. “I implore Your Majesty for a boon!”

The Mad King’s composure shattered. He leaped to his feet, bellowing, “No! I say no, and I mean it!”

Unfazed by the King’s outburst, Jinbiao remained calm. “Since Your Majesty’s arrival upon this cultivation star, the food, the drink, the entertainments, all have been procured by my hand, and at no small cost of spirit stones…”

“I simply refuse!” The Mad King’s bellow, though defiant, had noticeably diminished in volume.

“Furthermore, the silver and baubles used in the mortal cities, they too have been acquired through my efforts… Every single expense has been meticulously recorded,” Jinbiao stated, his voice steady and unwavering.

“Er, it wasn’t that much… You fellows are the ones who dragged me along to spend it!” The Mad King’s voice shrank further still.

“In the thirteen days since Your Majesty’s arrival, the total expenditure has amounted to seventy-three thousand spirit stones and nine million, eight hundred and eighty-five thousand taels of silver. Would Your Majesty care for a detailed accounting?” Jinbiao fixed the Mad King with a steady gaze, reciting the figures with impeccable precision.

The Mad King’s eyes widened, his memory a hazy blur. Over the past fortnight, it had seemed as if little was spent. Whenever he fancied something delightful or amusing, he had simply commanded Liguo and Jinbiao to acquire it.

Now, as Jinbiao recited the long list of expenses, beads of perspiration began to form on his brow.

“Of course,” Jinbiao continued, his tone shifting, “Our lord commanded us to care for Your Majesty. It is our duty, after all. And Your Majesty is certainly not the kind of person to be miserly, merely temporarily short of spirit stones. Perhaps Your Majesty’s treasures are entrusted to Little Rouge?”

“Ah, yes! Seek out Little Rouge! Ha! If you obtain it from her, rest assured, I am no miser! Not at all! Everything is with Little Rouge. All my possessions reside with her!” The Mad King, unconsciously wiping his brow, nodded furiously.

“Your Majesty is most generous. I am certain you would not wish my efforts to go unrewarded. Though the spirit stones and silver represent the sum total of my savings over millennia, I would gladly consider it a gift to Your Majesty, negating the need to trouble Little Rouge,” Jinbiao demurred, sighing softly and turning away. He stared at the cave wall, adopting an air of profound dejection.

Witnessing Jinbiao’s despair, the Mad King scratched his nose, a pang of guilt piercing his heart. After a moment of deliberation, he bit his fingertip and squeezed out a single, precious drop of blood, offering it to Jinbiao with a pained expression.

“You are a good man, like that Liguo fellow. I am no miser! I am magnanimous! I shall not leave you unrewarded!” the Mad King declared, bearing the pain of his sacrifice with admirable fortitude.

Jinbiao, barely suppressing his excitement, accepted the drop of blood, his face still impassive. He bowed his head, murmuring a quiet expression of gratitude.

The more Jinbiao played the wounded benefactor, the more the Mad King felt indebted. With a grimace, he squeezed out seven or eight more drops of blood, offering them to Jinbiao in quick succession.

Jinbiao’s body trembled, his elation finally breaking through his carefully constructed facade. He hastily accepted the drops, bowing deeply to the Mad King.

Just then, Liguo emerged from a passage deeper within the grotto, approaching the Mad King with a sly grin. “Your Majesty,” he whispered, “The fair maiden awaits you. Shall we proceed?”

At those words, the Mad King instantly forgot his sacrifice. He jumped to his feet, nodding eagerly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Liguo chuckled, his gaze upon the Mad King akin to that of a miser admiring a walking treasure hoard. Together with Jinbiao, they ushered the King deeper into the grotto’s embrace.

Within the depths of the cavern lay a secluded chamber, its entrance shrouded by a curtain of shadow, revealing only a hazy silhouette within. Seated in lotus position within the chamber appeared to be a lone figure.

“Your Majesty,” Liguo whispered with a lascivious grin, “The fair maiden awaits you within. Do proceed. Jinbiao and I shall await you outside.”
The mad lord, a grotesque grin plastered upon his face, emitted a series of guttural growls. As he turned toward the secluded chamber, he paused, fixing Xu Liguo with a strangely sober gaze. “Tell me, knave, is it truly as… diverting as you claim?”

Xu Liguo, with a flourish of his hand against his chest, affirmed, “Your Lordship, I speak naught but the truth! Venture forth and discover the delights within!”

Excitement flickering in his eyes, the mad lord plunged through the shimmering veil that masked the chamber’s entrance. His gaze fell upon a solitary figure, a young cultivator clad in black robes, his features strikingly handsome, seated in meditative repose.

“Ha ha! Fair maiden,” the mad lord boomed, “reveal your name to me, and a royal bounty shall be yours!”

“I am Fahua-zi, ascete of the Dao,” the youth replied, his brow furrowing in displeasure.

Outside the chamber, Xu Liguo wrung his hands together, a gleam of avarice in his eyes as he addressed Liu Jinbiao. “A cunning ruse, old Liu! We’ve harvested a king’s ransom in vitae from those earlier portals. Fear not, our pact remains: seven parts to thee, three to me!”

Liu Jinbiao chuckled softly, shaking his head. “A mere trifle, this is no true artifice! The souls I once ensnared were of sharper wit and greater power. To trap such prey, one must weave a web of intricate design, flawless in its execution. But this madman… his mind is a simple thing. My elaborate deceptions were lost on him, like pearls before swine. Thus, I employed a scheme of utmost simplicity, riddled with flaws, yet effective nonetheless.”

“Hah!” Xu Liguo bellowed, clapping Liu Jinbiao on the back. “We must hasten, for other venues await our attentions. Swiftness is key, lest the Reckoner return and discover our…” Xu Liguo’s voice trailed off, a tremor of genuine fear running through him. He glanced at the heavens, reckoning the passage of time, and then crushed a jade slip in his fist.

As the jade disintegrated, the chamber’s portal flared to life once more, bathing the space in an ethereal light. Through the gateway surged a band of grim-faced warriors, their leader a woman whose face was an icy mask. Without a word, they advanced upon the chamber’s heart.

Meeting Xu Liguo and Liu Jinbiao, the woman allowed a flicker of a smile to grace her lips. Xu Liguo, with practiced speed, staggered towards the chamber entrance, emitting a heartrending cry.

“Your Lordship! Woe betide us! The companion of Fahua-zi has arrived, seeking vengeance!” With a theatrical cough, he spat forth a mouthful of spiritual essence, collapsing into a pathetic heap on the ground.

Liu Jinbiao followed suit, striking his chest and spewing forth a jet of crimson.

The woman snorted, and with a wave of her hand, her retinue tore through the shimmering barrier and into the chamber.

Inside, the mad lord, seated opposite Fahua-zi, gaped in bewilderment at the swarm of warriors that now filled the room. “What… what is the meaning of this? I… I…” Terror bloomed in his eyes, the truth of his predicament yet to dawn.

“Silence!” the woman snapped, her gaze a venomous glare. “You dare commit such an atrocity!” The warriors behind her echoed her fury, their eyes burning with righteous indignation.

“Ah? We have done nothing wrong! I… I merely asked his name… I…” the mad lord stammered, his voice cracking with desperation.

The black-robed youth, his face flushed with shame, rose and retreated to the shadows, his silence a damning indictment.

“Spare your lies! Fill these ten vessels with your lifeblood, or I shall slay these wretches before your eyes!” With a flick of her wrist, ten jade urns materialized before the mad lord. She pointed to the rear, and Xu Liguo and Liu Jinbiao were dragged forward, pierced with blades and writhing in simulated agony.

“Your Lordship, pay us no heed! Flee while you still can!” Xu Liguo howled, his voice choked with pain. Liu Jinbiao, despite the daggers embedded in his flesh, cursed inwardly. With a flicker of calculation in his eyes, he began to shriek,

“Your Lordship, we are ruined for your sake! You, with your princely generosity, must save us!” None among them noticed the figure that had emerged from the shadows behind them, clad in white and radiating an aura of chilling fury.

“Xu Liguo, Liu Jinbiao… you dare such treachery? Very well… *very well indeed*!”