Extra 2: Records of Heavenly Gangs and Earthly Fiends

(one)

The Nine-Layered Heaven, in the Purple Sky Palace.

The Emperor of Heaven stroked his long beard, gazed at the shattered Wheel of Fate in the Mirror of Heaven, and sighed softly. The mirror reflected the desolate scene of Liaoerwa—Song Jiang's tombstone collapsed, Li Kui's grave lay barren, and the crooked tree where Wu Yong and Hua Rong had hanged themselves whimpered in the wind.

"One hundred and eight star souls, can they ultimately not escape this calamity?"

Taibai Jinxing, standing by, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, the Celestial Beings and Dishas were supposed to train in the human world for a lifetime, returning to their starry positions upon completion. Now, the killing calamity is too heavy, and the resentment is rising to the sky, fearing that it will harm the harmony of heaven."

The Emperor of Heaven remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the dim stars on the Wheel of Fate. Leopard Head Lin Chong, dying of illness at Liuhe Temple, chanted the word "innocence" before his death; the wanderer Wu Song, after losing his arm, converted to Buddhism, only to be awakened by nightmares every night; and the graceful Hu Sanniang, perished in a foreign land, with no one left to collect her body...

Not to mention those who died in battle, poisoned, or committed suicide, none of them had a good end.

"They were truly outstanding, and they shouldn't have ended up like this," the Emperor of Heaven finally said. "Taibai, what do you think?"

Taibai Jinxing calculated with his fingers: "Your Majesty, if you use your great magical power to reverse time and space, allowing them to have a second life, perhaps you can make up for their regrets. However..."

"Just what?"

"The secrets of heaven cannot be completely altered. We must choose someone who retains memories of their past lives to serve as the fulcrum for changing fate. This person must be both cunning and able to keep their mouths shut; they must value friendship and loyalty, yet be able to make calm decisions."

The Emperor of Heaven's gaze scanned the Wheel of Fate and finally stopped on a star shining with green light.

"The Prodigal Yanqing..."

(two)

When the first ray of morning light shone into the courtyard of the Lu Mansion in Daming Prefecture, Yan Qing suddenly sat up from the bed, his clothes soaked with cold sweat.

He had a very long dream.

In his dream, he saw Mr. Lu drinking poisoned wine and writhing in agony among the weeds of Liaoerwa; he saw Wu Song, after his arm was severed, silently reciting scriptures under the green lanterns of Liuhe Temple; he saw Hu Sanniang lying in a pool of blood, her bright eyes gradually losing their luster...

There were also Song Jiang, Wu Yong, Li Kui, Lin Chong... all the familiar faces died before his eyes in the most tragic way.

"No..." He covered his chest and gasped violently.

This wasn't a dream. The memories were so clear, so real, as if they had just happened. He could remember every detail, every pain.

At this moment, a vague voice sounded in his mind:

"The Heavenly Gang and the Earthly Demons have re-entered the cycle of reincarnation. Only you are awake and can restore order."

Yan Qing stood there in shock. Is this... an oracle?

He trembled as he got out of bed and walked to the bronze mirror. The young man in the mirror had handsome features, just like he would have looked at twenty. But his eyes held a sense of vicissitudes and compassion that didn't belong to his age.

It turns out that those weren't dreams. They were real past lives. And now, he has a chance to live again.

"Prodigal son Yanqing, do not let down the grace of heaven." The voice sounded again, and then gradually faded away.

Yan Qing looked at himself in the mirror and slowly clenched his fists.

(three)

Heaven, observatory.

Taibai Jinxing, whisk in hand, surveyed the scene below. Yan Qing had already begun to act—secretly reminding Xu Ning, cleverly arranging Zhu Tong, and instructing Hu Sanniang... Every move was perfectly timed, altering fate without leaving any trace.

"This boy is indeed smart." Taibai Jinxing nodded with satisfaction.

Just then, a dark shadow passed over the observatory.

"Old Taibai, you arbitrarily reversed time and space and disrupted the cycle of reincarnation. What crime should you be punished for?"

The visitor was wearing a black robe and had a sinister face. He was none other than the Star Lord Tian Xing, who was in charge of cause and effect.

Taibai Jinxing said calmly, "Xingjun, your words are wrong. The Tiangang and Disha are originally star officials of my heavenly court. Now, they are causing too much harm in the mortal world, and their resentment is so strong that it has affected the tranquility of the heavens. This old man is doing this to dispel the resentment and maintain the balance of the heavens."

Tian Xing Xingjun sneered: "Sounds so high-sounding! Aren't you afraid that they will go back to their old ways in this life?"

"So I chose one person to preserve his memory as a guiding light."

"Hmph, what if this lamp goes out?" A cold glint flashed in Tian Xing Xingjun's eyes. "What if he can't bear this burden and goes mad?"

Taibai Jinxing stroked his beard and smiled: "That depends on his luck."

(Four)

In the human world, Yan Qing is experiencing unprecedented torment.

Every time he changed his fate, he had to endure the backlash of karma. He suffered from splitting headaches and sleepless nights, and the memories of his past life followed him like a shadow, tormenting him every moment.

What made him even more miserable was that he couldn't tell anyone the truth. Even to Mr. Lu, whom he trusted the most, he could only guide him secretly and not tell him openly.

One day, he overheard a conversation between Lu Junyi and his housekeeper, Li Gu. Memories of his past life suddenly flooded back to him—it was this Li Gu who later colluded with the Jia family and framed Lu Junyi for imprisonment.

"Master," Yan Qing couldn't help but say, "We need to pay more attention to this man Li Gu."

Lu Junyi didn't care: "Xiao Yi, you're worrying too much. Li Gu has been with me for so many years and has always been loyal."

Yan Qing hesitated to speak. He knew that without evidence, it would be futile to say more.

That night, he drank alone in the courtyard. The moon was bright in the sky, yet he felt more lonely than ever. This God-given responsibility was like an invisible yoke, trapping him tightly.

"Why choose me..." He looked at the moon and muttered to himself.

In a trance, he seemed to see a figure in the moon, smiling at him. That smile was compassionate and wise, as if saying: Because only you can bear this weight.

(five)

Heaven, Peach Garden.

The Emperor of Heaven and Taibai Jinxing were playing chess. On the chessboard, the black and white pieces tangled in an endless struggle, reminiscent of the fates of the Celestial Beings and the Disha in the lower realms.

"Yan Qing seems to be a little shaken recently." The Emperor of Heaven gave up a child.

Taibai Jinxing smiled and said, "After all, we are mortals, so it is normal to have such doubts. But Your Majesty, please look at this——"

He waved his hand and a water mirror appeared in the air. In the mirror was reflected the figure of Yan Qing, who was secretly protecting Lu Junyi and resolving crises time and time again.

"Although I was confused, I never gave up. This kind of mentality is rare."

The Emperor nodded: "I hope he can hold on to the end."

At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps could be heard. The celestial general guarding the South Heavenly Gate hurried over to report, "Your Majesty, this is bad! The Star Lord of Heavenly Punishment has descended without permission, seemingly attempting to interfere with Yan Qing's actions!"

Taibai Jinxing's expression changed slightly: "This Tian Xing really won't give up!"

The Emperor of Heaven pondered for a moment and said, "No need to stop me. This is also a test for Yan Qing."

(six)

In the human world, Yan Qing met an unexpected opponent.

One day, he was asking for information in a teahouse when a fortune teller suddenly blocked his way.

"Sir, I see your forehead is black, I'm afraid you'll have a bloody disaster."

Yan Qing looked up and saw a black-robed Taoist priest with eyes as sharp as a knife. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable pressure.

"Master, you are joking." Yan Qing remained calm.

The Taoist sneered: "Whether you are joking or not, you know it clearly. If you go against the will of heaven and change your fate, you will be punished by heaven. You better take care of yourself."

After saying this, the Taoist turned and left, disappearing into the crowd.

Yan Qing's heart was filled with alarm. This Taoist knew his secret? Who was he?

In the following days, this mysterious Taoist appeared repeatedly, always destroying Yan Qing's plans at critical moments. He reminded Li Gu to be careful of Yan Qing, warned Wu Yong to be wary of Yan Qing, and even secretly informed Gao Qiu that Yan Qing was plotting something bad.

Yan Qing's situation becomes increasingly difficult. On the one hand, he has to change the fate of his brothers, on the other hand, he has to deal with this mysterious opponent, and on the other hand, he has to endure the pain of karma backlash.

There were times when he almost gave up.

But every time this happened, he would recall the tragic scenes from his past life: Mr. Lu's painful expression, Wu Song's empty sleeves, Hu Sanniang's unwilling eyes...

He can't give up.

(seven)

Heaven, observatory.

Taibai Jinxing looked at the scene in the water mirror with a frown.

"Tian Xing Xingjun has gone too far! He wants to kill Yan Qing!"

The Emperor of Heaven said calmly, "This is also his duty. After all, we did disrupt the cycle of reincarnation."

"But..."

"Don't worry." The Emperor smiled slightly, "Look."

In the water mirror, Yan Qing's steps were arduous, but his eyes were increasingly resolute. He dealt with the mysterious Taoist priest in the teahouse, battled wits with Li Gu at the Lu Mansion, and played chess with Wu Yong at Liangshan... Each time, he encountered danger, but he always managed to escape it safely.

Even more remarkable is that, despite the immense pressure he endured, he never forgot his original aspirations. While protecting the main characters, he also secretly helped the lesser ones—saving a child about to be hit by a carriage, helping an elderly man being bullied by a bully...

"This boy is not only intelligent, but also compassionate." The Emperor nodded approvingly, "I am relieved to leave the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends to him."

Taibai Jinxing was still worried: "But Your Majesty, the greatest test is yet to come..."

(eight)

The first year of Xuanhe was a critical moment for recruiting.

Yan Qing knew that this was the most dangerous step. In his previous life, it was because of the improper recruitment that led to the tragedy.

He must ensure that the recruitment in this life goes smoothly, so that his brothers can have a good end without arousing suspicion from the court.

However, the mysterious Taoist priest reappeared. This time, he met directly with Emperor Huizong and told him that the Liangshan bandits harbored evil intentions and would surely rebel if they were recruited.

When the news came, Liangshan was shocked.

"Brother Xiaoyi, what should we do now?" Song Jiang asked anxiously.

Yan Qing pondered for a long time and finally made up his mind.

"Brother, I want to go to Tokyo myself."

It was a risky decision. In his previous life, he had nearly lost his life in Tokyo. But this time, he had the memories of his past life and knew how to deal with it.

Before leaving, he went to say goodbye to Lu Junyi.

"Sir, if I don't come back from this trip..." Yan Qing hesitated to speak.

Lu Junyi patted his shoulder and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Go early and come back early. We will wait for you."

Looking at Lu Junyi's trusting eyes, Yan Qing felt a warm current in his heart. For the sake of those who trusted him, he must succeed.

(Nine)

Heaven, Lingxiao Palace.

All the immortals gathered together, all paying attention to the game in the lower world.

In the water mirror, Yan Qing has arrived in Tokyo and is dealing with powerful officials. He cleverly exploits the conflicts between factions and dismantles the conspiracy of the mysterious Taoist priest.

"Smart!" An immortal couldn't help but admire.

What is even more amazing is that when meeting Song Huizong, Yan Qing was neither humble nor arrogant, and he just right demonstrated the value and sincerity of Liangshan.

"If this boy were to serve as an official in the court, he would surely be a capable minister in governing the country." Taibai Jinxing sighed.

However, just when the enlistment was about to succeed, a mysterious Taoist suddenly attacked. Using some unknown magic, he made Song Huizong want to kill Yan Qing.

"Tian Xing Xingjun has used his magic!" Taibai Jinxing exclaimed, "This is against the rules!"

The Emperor's expression was solemn: "Let's see how Yan Qing responds."

(ten)

In the human world, Yan Qing felt an unprecedented crisis.

The imperial guards had already gathered around him, their swords drawn, flashing with cold light. Song Huizong's eyes were icy, as if he were looking at a dead person.

In his previous life, he died in such a scene. Is he going to repeat the same mistake in this life?

No! He can't die here! His brothers are still waiting for him in Liangshan. He promised to give them a better ending!

In a flash, Yan Qing recalled a detail from his past life. He took a deep breath and said aloud:

"Your Majesty, do you remember the Yellow River bursting its banks in the second year of Zhenghe?"

Song Huizong was stunned: "How do you know this?"

"Not only do I know about this incident, I also know that someone presented a flood control map, which resolved the flood." Yan Qing said calmly, "Your Majesty, do you know who presented the map?"

This was a secret from a previous life. The unknown person who presented the map was actually the young Emperor Huizong of Song. Only a very few people knew this.

Song Huizong's face changed drastically and he waved his hand to let the guards retreat.

"Who...who are you?"

Yan Qing smiled faintly: "I am just a messenger from Liangshan, ordered by Brother Song Gongming to come and express my loyalty to Your Majesty."

The crisis is resolved.

(eleven)

In the Heavenly Palace, bursts of praise erupted in the Lingxiao Palace.

"Great! How did he know this secret?"

"This boy is truly extraordinary!"

Even the Emperor of Heaven showed a relieved smile: "It seems that we chose the right person."

Taibai Jinxing breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty, the recruitment has been completed. The fate of Tiangang Disha has changed. Yan Qing has lived up to your trust!"

In the water mirror, the imperial edict for the surrender had been issued. This time, the terms were generous, with no traps or conspiracies. The Liangshan heroes each got what they wanted, and everyone was happy.

However, just as the immortals were celebrating, the Star Lord Tian Xing suddenly appeared in the hall.

"Your Majesty, I surrender." Tian Xingjun bowed and said, "This boy is indeed extraordinary. However..."

He changed the subject: "I want to know, after all this, where will he go?"

All the immortals quieted down and looked at the water mirror.

(twelve)

In this world, everything has settled.

The heroes of Liangshan all found happy endings: Lu Junyi lived out his days in peace, Wu Song lived a peaceful life in Liuhe Temple, Hu Sanniang opened an embroidery shop in Suzhou, and Li Jun established himself in Southeast Asia...

Only Yan Qing chose to leave.

"Xiao Yi, are you really leaving?" Lu Junyi asked reluctantly.

Yan Qing nodded: "Sir, all good things must come to an end. Seeing that everyone is doing well, I feel relieved."

"where are you going?"

"I don't know. Maybe I'll travel around the world, or maybe I'll find a beautiful place to live in seclusion."

In truth, Yan Qing himself didn't know where to go. His mission complete, he suddenly felt an unprecedented emptiness. The memories of his past life were still clear, but they no longer held the same weight.

Maybe this is the best ending.

He took one last look in the direction of Liangshan before turning and leaving, his robes fluttering like the carefree and uninhibited prodigal son he had been.

(Thirteen)

In heaven, all the immortals silently watched Yan Qing's receding back.

"He could have been made a marquis and appointed as a prime minister, but he chose to retire." An immortal sighed.

Taibai Jinxing smiled and said, "This is the true nature of a wanderer. Unencumbered by fame and fortune, unfettered by affection and loyalty, he comes and goes freely, enjoying life to the fullest."

The Emperor nodded and said, "Pass on my decree: When Yan Qing's life is complete and he returns to his star position, he will be promoted to the title of 'Xiaoyao Xingjun', in charge of the free and easy spirit of the world."

All the immortals bowed and received the order.

In the water mirror, Yan Qing's figure gradually moved away and finally disappeared into the sky.

Behind him, a brand new era begins. All those heroes who once met a tragic end will now live out their lives in peace and happiness.

And all of this stems from the prodigal son who seems cynical but is actually loyal and righteous.

The Tiangang and Disha shine brightly in the starry sky.

Only the prodigal son is free and happy.