[Bonus Chapter 3] A Pledge of Allegiance Across the Land (Part 2)

Upon re-entering Xiling, everything had changed. Su Zili shook his head, looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar city. "Things have changed, people have changed! Li Linglan, when I went to Shanghan, I vowed never to see you again. But a promise made then cannot be broken. This time, I helped you, I helped Yanyun, so we are even." Su Zili returned to the place where he used to set up his stall and tidied up. Although he couldn't show himself, he could send someone. The reason he was able to help Li Linglan ascend the throne was because he came from the modern world. What if he brought someone else from the modern world? "Come walk around, take a look, fortune telling, no charge if it's inaccurate!" Su Zili lazily called out, propping his head up. Suddenly, he saw a figure flash by, and a sense of familiarity made him jump up. "Old Tang?... No, it should be Tang Zhaonan's child. Oh my, he's grown so much. Time waits for no one!" Su Zili carefully examined the child. He was good-looking, and definitely took after Old Tang. Thinking of this, Su Zili decided to tease the child and called out, "When it rains, it pours; when the boat is late, it encounters a headwind. These past few years have been unlucky, with good things turning into bad luck!" Sure enough, the child turned to look at him. Oh my, he really was a carbon copy of Old Tang! How come he didn't resemble Gu Silian at all!

"Are you calling me?" The child walked towards her. Su Zili frowned upon seeing his face. How could someone so young have such an unfavorable appearance? He seemed troubled and destined for a short life. However, Su Zili didn't reveal her worry, but instead smiled and said...

"Who else could be having such bad luck here but you?" Su Zili patted the child's forehead with his Bagua fan, then pointed to the seat in front of him. "Sit down, sit down, don't just stand there! I don't rip people off here, a fortune telling is only three coins." The child obediently sat down and cautiously asked, "Sir, can you tell my love life?" Hearing this, Su Zili gradually made a guess, then said, "Of course, I can tell you everything—promotion, wealth, career prospects, marriage, children, and family members. But your divination doesn't look too good..." Su Zili deliberately took out a compass and pointed out the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) to the child. "Look," he said, "East Four repairs West, West Four repairs East. Auspicious stars turn into inauspicious stars. Although both the external and internal aspects are auspicious, it's all useless. You two are inherently incompatible, destined to be together but not to stay together. Deep affection is short-lived! Tsk tsk tsk, oh dear, young master, don't cry!" Seeing the child's face turn red, he finally managed to stammer, "Thank you, sir! But I don't know if this can be resolved..." Su Zili hesitated. Although the opportunity was right in front of him, this was Tang Zhaonan's son. Was he going too far by doing this? But... Su Zili looked at the compass in his hand. "Never mind," he thought, "I'll leave it all to fate!"

"The one who tied the knot must untie it. To put it bluntly, you two were bound together by your own actions. Otherwise, it would be a completely unrelated affair. Now, I can lend you my soul to help you." Su Zili handed the child a spirit-controlling charm. "Lending a soul is no joke. Whether you use it or not is your choice, but let me make this clear: I'm not very confident in lending you my soul. If you don't want to use it, you'll have to return the bell to me afterwards. I know where you live. If you keep it, I'll go to your house and complain."

Seeing the silence, Su Zili tried to tease the child, but he remained unmoved. Looking at the serious-faced child, Su Zili sighed. "Why are kids these days so precocious?" he thought. Then he asked, "Still thinking about it? Still waiting? This isn't a joke; it could cost you your life." This question seemed directed at the child, but also at himself. Su Zili had left Yan Yun Yuan Shang Han years ago, hoping to hear Li Linglan's words. He didn't ask for anything else, only that they could retire together in their old age. But he had waited so long, and Li Linglan simply couldn't let go of his imperial power and wealth.

After hearing this, the child tied the bell around his waist and nodded. "I'll give it a try. If I really die, at least I'll have lived for myself once in my life."

Seeing him turn to leave, Su Zili quickly called out, "Young master, please wait! I haven't asked your name yet!"

"My surname is Tang... and my given name is Feng, the Feng from the poem 'Wild geese soar through the dark sky, the sun and moon shine white, green maple leaves fall red, rain and frost fall.'"

Su Zili shook her head. "Sigh, such an auspicious and stable name, why did you choose a single character? A single character like 'Feng' in your name, what bad luck! Eternal love, the cycle of time—you get neither good! I really don't know if your father consulted a fortune teller before naming you like this."

After some time, Su Zili felt his remaining Spirit Stone faintly stirring in his sleep. He opened his eyes, sighed, and said, "What a fool! So muddle-headed..." Then he realized that he had no right to laugh at others. Wasn't he the same? He had calculated his whole life and saw things more clearly than anyone else, except for himself.

Picking up the spirit-controlling charm tied to Tang Feng's waist, she said, "Little Feng, right? Don't worry, I certainly won't let you down."

With the ring of the bell, the body and soul move as swiftly as the wind, free from the constraints of time zones.

Su Zili returned to the modern world. Since going to Da Ruan, he hadn't returned. Although he had been in Xiling for over thirty years, only a few months had passed in the modern world. Su Zili stared intently at the Spirit Control Device in his hand. Tang Feng had lost his soul at noon, and with yin and yang in balance, he should find someone who died at noon. At this time, Xiling was in the middle of the Grain Rain, Lesser Fullness, and Grain in Ear seasons.

It's currently the Great Heat, the Autumnal Equinox (July 14th), and the Beginning of Autumn (July 25th-8th). The timing is correct, but this person...

Just as Su Zili was thinking, he looked up and saw someone fall from a building. Seeing no one around, Su Zili went to check on them. "Sigh, fallen like that... hopeless." Looking at the person covered in blood, Su Zili shook his head. "Sigh, another case of someone losing their name for some unknown reason. But your birth chart... is quite compatible with Xiao Feng's. You have a lucky star for officialdom; you're destined to be his benefactor!" Su Zili took a spirit-controlling pendant from his waist. Now that he had the soul, he needed a guide. Su Zili looked around and saw a black cat crouching in the grass. Su Zili smiled. "There's no one around now, so why don't you help me out? You'll do it." He then hung the spirit-controlling pendant around the black cat's neck, watching the person's soul slowly rise.

Su Zili also returned to Yanyun. Unsure if her soul clashed with Tang Feng's body, she decided to check. Upon reaching the Tang residence's gate, she heard Tang Zhaonan's furious and angry shouts. Su Zili smiled, "Looks like there's no need to bother you! Your soul and body are truly in sync! Old Tang, you'd better take good care of your son; he'll be an invaluable talent in the future."

"Uncle..." Su Zili looked down and saw a little boy tugging at his clothes, looking up at him. Su Zili squatted down. "Young master, are you lost? You have extraordinary bones; you have the countenance of an emperor!" After saying that, Su Zili took out a bag of candy from behind his back and handed it to the little boy. The little boy probably thought Su Zili had conjured it up for him and clapped his hands happily, calling out "Sir!" Su Zili was taken aback for a moment, then said, "I can't be your sir. From now on, your sir is here." Su Zili pointed to the Tang residence. "If you are willing, let him become your right-hand man and assist you!"

Just then, a woman ran over, grabbed the boy, and said anxiously, "Ninth Prince... we've finally found you! Come back with me quickly!"

Ninth Prince... Su Zili pondered carefully. Indeed, the affairs of the Emperor are difficult to manage! Li Linglan, I've done all I can to help. Our fate has come to this; let's part ways amicably! From now on, I will not let my heart be troubled, nor my emotions bind me, nor fear the future, nor dwell on the past.

So be it... all is well.