Chapter 20

Ting Shu grew impatient, "We came here today specifically for matters concerning the imperial decree. Why bring up the incense conference again?"

When Ning Shiting first fell ill and was barely conscious, he instructed Ting Shu to go to the Immortal Chief’s Mansion and explain that he was currently unwell and unable to attend the previously promised incense testing and guessing conference.

On Ting Shu's first visit, he was turned away, but it didn't seem like deliberate negligence like before.

At that time, Su Yue was not at home, coinciding with his inspection of the labour military affairs in Xizhou.

Ning Shiting had read in the Xizhou Chronicles that in recent years, the reception arrangements for the Nine States' military labour were all managed single-handedly by the Immortal Chief’s Mansion.

Military labour, as the name suggests, stemmed from the ongoing conflicts between the Nine States' divine races and the blood, demon, and ghost tribes on the borders of the major immortal continents. In the current difficult times of spiritual cultivation advancement, protecting spiritual energy and resources became the top priority.

The Immortal Emperor dispatched troops to guard the borders, and over the years, many individuals had distinguished themselves with remarkable feats.

For instance, Gu Feiyin was highly respected among the Xizhou people for reclaiming and suppressing the Xizhou Spirit Mountain, preventing it from becoming a nuisance, and later repelling blood clan invasions from places like Dongzhou and the Jiaoren Sea, earning him the status of a war god among numerous divine races.

Leading a military force was not just about tactical command but also comprehensive logistical planning. This included provisions, routes, warehouses, magical tool reserves, spiritual medicine stocks, and more—all crucial considerations.

Under the Emperor's policy, to alleviate burdens, wherever the troops passed through, arrangements for their reception were typically handled by nearby residents of the continent.

However, the difficulty lay in properly managing the needs of wounded soldiers for spiritual medicines and the requirements of military cultivation for magical tools and treasures, all of which were generally borne by the immortal people.

Mismanagement in this area could lead to considerable hardships for the populace themselves.

According to the Xizhou Chronicles, it was impossible to judge how well the Su family had managed military labour affairs in recent years.  This was because the records only detailed their adopted measures without mentioning final outcomes.

One particular measure that Ning Shiting was concerned about pertains to the obligation under the law for immortal beings to assist in transporting supplies.

To meet this obligation, the explicit rule adopted by the Su Clan Immortal Cheif’s Mansion for several years had been that every three males require one male for transport to reduce magical energy consumption by the army.

However, as Ning Shiting knew, the population of Xizhou far exceeded this number. Requiring one person to assist in military labour for every three individuals would likely expend unnecessary manpower and provoke resentment among the immortals.

Having travelled extensively over the years, Ning Shiting was accustomed to the fact that immortal beings were generally indifferent to the emperor's jurisdiction, and the population figures in each continent had not been updated for a long time.

When he was stationed in the snow-capped mountains on the border, he usually had to dispatch scouts to assess the population before making decisions.

Recognising these shortcomings, Ning Shiting probably knew how to correct them, only waiting for the Qing Wang's Mansion to regain control over Xizhou.

However, the current issue was that Su Yue stubbornly refused to relinquish this authority, even mocking them to some extent.

It was unheard of for the emperor's decree to be intercepted in such a manner!

Ning Shiting specifically sought details from Ting Shu: "Are you certain that the emperor's decree this time was directly issued to the Qing Wang’s Mansion? Dianxia has been away from the Immortal Continent for four years, and previous decrees were also directly sent to the Immortal Chief’s Mansion."

Ting Shu said, "Gongzi, I've inquired around, and indeed the decree was initially sent to our Qing Wang's Mansion. I heard it was the intention of the general leading the troops this time... though I'm not sure of the specifics. Everyone outside knows now that although the Wangye is away, you are currently in charge. Our Qing Wang’s Mansion is not unmanned; they have gone too far."

Ning Shiting fell silent for a moment, sighed, and smiled, "Yes, we are not unmanned."

Ting Shu had prepared the carriage, horses, and a large cloak, with a group of people waiting at the mansion gate for Ning Shiting to arrive.

The young immortal muttered, "Gongzi, maybe we shouldn't care about what others say. Your health isn't fully recovered, and this is a demanding task for your first outing after illness..."’

Ning Shiting glanced at him, "Wasn't the immortal crane carriage at the gate prepared in advance by you?"

Ting Shu sighed softly, "I knew I should have advised you against going out, but you wouldn't listen. Since I knew you wouldn't heed the advice, I had to prepare more before you set out. Here, your gloves, hot water bag, fur collar... and there's also a little old lady."

"And one little old lady," Ning Shiting teased lightly.

Sure enough, Ting Shu puffed up with an aggrieved look, his face resembling a small bun, and he turned away, ignoring Ning Shiting.

Ning Shiting smiled as he climbed into the carriage, pulling Ting Shu in to sit beside him.

Just as they were about to lower the sedan curtain, a flash of bright silver dashed in front of the carriage. The immortal crane leading the way was startled by the sudden beastly aura and chaos ensued.

A maid nearby exclaimed, "It's the little wolf! The one belonging to the Shizi!"

As the little wolf became increasingly bold, it charged forward, stepping directly on the heads of several elegant immortal cranes and clawing onto the carriage door frame before leaping straight inside.

"Little wolf?"

Ning Shiting felt slightly surprised himself.

He leaned over to pull back the curtain, and the silver-white creature had already squeezed in, crouching by the seat inside, watching him.

With a hint of caution in its azure wolf eyes.

Ting Shu frowned hesitantly, "Gongzi, this is a serious matter and this wolf..."

Before he could finish, Ning Shiting smiled, "It's alright, let it come in."

With a joyful glint in his eyes, the Jiaoren first carefully put on his gloves and veil, dressed himself securely from head to toe, then leaned down to pick it up.

With a swift sweep, the furry little wolf cub was lifted into his arms, placed properly on his lap.

Ting Shu complained, "Gongzi seems to like this little wolf more than he likes me."

Ning Shiting gently tapped his head, "You were jealous of the Shizi before, now you're jealous of a wolf cub. You've been spoilt."

The little wolf in his arms twitched.

Ning Shiting lowered his head to meet its eyes, softly coaxing, "Can you be obedient or not?"

He felt the little wolf quietly sitting on his lap, motionless. The sharp claws of the Jiaoren gently pressed through his clothing, almost piercing his skin, causing a slight discomfort.

He coaxed softly, "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, just nestle here in my arms, alright? Come, sit down."

His fingertips lightly touched the top of the little wolf's head, stroking back along its forehead, then rubbing its ears.

After a long while, he finally saw the little wolf relax and settle down in his arms.

Ning Shiting felt at ease holding this small silver wolf, as if holding a warm hand warmer, even dismissing the need for the hand warmer Ting Shu had just given him.

The knees of the Jiaoren were slender and fragile, despite being wrapped in layers due to the wintry weather. Even now, he could feel their frailty under the layers, which were not very stable.

Gu Tingshuang couldn't explain why he instinctively chased after using the body of the little wolf. He just acted on impulse.

Chasing out, following the lingering scent, he caught up before his footprints were buried in the snow.

Inside the carriage, the air was filled with the clear, concentrated scent of lily incense, warming each other's body temperatures between man and wolf.

Gu Tingshuang was stiff all over, but Ning Shiting kept comforting him, warming him with his own body heat, until his ears softened and his tense claws slowly loosened.

It was a distant memory now, recalling the joy he felt in the warm bed on winter days, before he embarked on the path of cultivation, experiencing the pure happiness of being a complete mortal. Similar fondness quietly grew within him.

He had learned in these days how to suppress the consciousness of the little wolf to its lowest level, but now he couldn't find the same feeling he had when he first controlled the wolf's body and encountered Ning Shiting. He had been held by the Wangfei when he was a child, by the nursemaid when he was learning to speak.

Ning Shiting's embrace was different from anyone else's.

He raised his eyes to look; the Jiaoren still covered half of his face with precious pearls and jade gauze, revealing a delicate and fair chin. Upon closer inspection, with the carriage bumping along, the pearls and jade swayed, and he could see those gentle eyes, faintly smiling.

The fragrance on him was intoxicating.

This embrace was firmer than a woman's, yet it had a peculiar sensation, like holding one's breath underwater, where all sound ceased except for the dull thud of a heartbeat. A tingling sensation spread throughout his body, like being electrified.

At that moment, Gu Tingshuang thought of a phrase, "warm fragrance and soft jade," and his spirit tightened even more.

Fortunately, this torment didn't last long.

Soon, Ning Shiting's carriage came to a stop, and someone outside said, "Gongzi, we've arrived at the Immortal Chief’s Mansion. But the display outside seems unusually grand. It may be a deception."

Ning Shiting looked out upon hearing this.

Gu Tingshuang also sharpened his senses, jumping down from his knee and looking out with him.

Gu Tingshuang hadn't left the Qing Wang’s Palace in four years, but through the eyes of the pack of wolves, he still knew everything about the affairs happening in Xizhuo, naturally knowing what kind of place this Immortal Chief’s Mansion was.

Today at the entrance of the Immortal Chief’s Mansion, two golden dragons were invited, adorned with decorations. They were accompanied by red flowers and silk banners, with drums resounding loudly, as if celebrating a grand occasion. Servants and guards were arranged on both sides, unlike the previously planned formal "discussion" setup.

Looking further inside, it seemed that many ordinary immortal citizens from Xizhuo had also come. As soon as people outside saw Ning Shiting's carriage approaching, they immediately sang loudly, "Qing Wang’s Mansion—Ning Gongzi!"

Inside, a wave of discussion immediately arose.

"He's really here! This should be interesting!"

"This year's Opening Treasure features the Yellow Spring Yin Fire's rarely shown Soul Returning Incense.(1) I think this is the most difficult fragrance to replicate in recent years... I wonder what the Immortal Chief’s Mansion and Qing Wang's Mansion are up to now..."

"What's going on?"

Ning Shiting's voice sounded somewhat lost amidst the grand display outside.

Ting Shu got off the carriage first and went to escort Ning Shiting out.

Before Ning Shiting got off, he didn't rush to face the sudden situation. Instead, he turned back and reached out to the little wolf inside, saying, "Come here little wolf."

Gu Tingshuang stood still where he was, showing no signs of resistance, appearing somewhat dazed.

Ning Shiting found the little wolf particularly amusing and docile today, so he bent down, picked it up, and held it calmly in his arms as before, whispering softly, "Don't move, alright?"

With a silver-white little wolf in his arms, he walked inside.

The Immortal Chief’s Mansion had cleared out the front courtyard, setting up long rows of jade and stone tables adorned with various spices. Each type was elegantly packed in wooden boxes, accompanied by burning and dripping artefacts for sampling.

The steward of the Immortal Chief’s Mansion respectfully welcomed him in, saying loudly, "Welcome, Ning Gongzi from Qing Wang Mansion. We've heard that you were unwell recently and couldn't visit after receiving our invitation. Our master had heard of your expertise in incense making and didn't want to miss out, so we postponed repeatedly until today, especially waiting for your arrival."

Ting Shu raised an eyebrow and asked, "What does that mean? Last time I came to inform you that our Gongzi was unwell and couldn't leave home, so we couldn't attend this fragrance-smelling event."

The steward continued to smile, "Since Ning Gongzi is out today, it must mean he's recovered. Therefore, our master has prepared this welcoming ceremony in advance. How about it? If Gongzi can go out, why not participate in this incense conference?"

Ting Shu grew impatient, "We came here today specifically for matters concerning the imperial decree. Why bring up the incense conference again?"

The steward calmly replied, "We can manage both matters. If the Gongzi wishes to discuss the decree with us, of course, he may. But isn't it fortunate? Today, our Immortal Chief’s Mansion has organised this incense gathering, and Qing Wang’s Mansion surely wouldn't prevent us from carrying it out, right?"

"Ting Shu."

Ning Shiting lightly patted the young immortal’s back.

The young immortal looked puzzled but obeyed, stepping back behind Ning Shiting.

Ting Shu remained puzzled, but Gu Tingshuang understood what was happening.

Ning Shiting had heard about the invitation to the fragrance event a few days ago. However, due to his injury and subsequent illness from his visit to Spirit Mountain, he had been bedridden for several days and couldn't possibly attend the incense gathering.

Unexpectedly, the Immortal Chief’s Mansion repeatedly postponed the event to lure him over, even going so far as to intercept the imperial decree to force Ning Shiting's presence.

Ning Shiting's body was far from fully recovered. He had been experiencing fever and weakness every day. If it weren't for the urgency of the military affairs involving the labour troops, he wouldn't have been able to leave home for at least another three to five days.

In his current state, enduring even a short period of sitting was challenging, let alone participating in an incense guessing event.

This seemed like a trap.

What puzzled him most was that the incense guessing event wasn't particularly crucial. While a skilled perfumer could enhance their cultivation with spirit fragrances, it wasn't uncommon for the Qing Wang’s Mansion to lack a prominent perfumer. So why was the Immortal Chief’s Mansion so fixated on this issue?

Wasn't it more straightforward to confront Qing Wang Mansion over intercepting the decree than to focus on the incense guessing event?

Ning Shiting sighed, "Well, it's better to hurry than to delay. Since we've run into this, I can't afford to break my promise and become a laughingstock. Please proceed."

Feeling the small silver wolf stir in his arms, he gently restrained it and stroked its fur. When he noticed it was simply trying to climb onto his shoulder, he let it be.

Gu Tingshuang placed his paws on Ning Shiting's shoulder, allowing the small wolf to peek out and observe the surroundings.

At the moment when the fluffy little silver wolf poked its head out, someone with sharp eyes quickly noticed its presence and exclaimed, "An Ancient White Wolf!"

Immediately, all eyes were drawn to it, and a silence fell over the room involuntarily.

The Ancient White Wolves were a group that struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the Nine Immortal Realms. These beings, blessed by both gods and demons, were unpredictable, guided solely by their own interests and whims.

One recent notorious incident involving the Ancient White Wolves was the night the wolf king died when the pack playfully killed a person. How they did it exactly remained a mystery; all that was known was that the person was found with no external wounds, but died with their heart and liver burst open, likely scared or exhausted to death.

Later, a beast tamer used spiritual sight to approach and question the birds in the mountains, learning that the reason the White Wolf Spirit attacked that person that night was that the gold jade forehead ornament he wore resembled the wolf king's burning golden eyes, which had thousands of wolves worshipping and chasing him, directly frightening the person to death.

In the past, there were also stories of the White Wolf Spirit returning lost and missing children.

With their unpredictable actions, this group of beings left everyone uncertain. Just as older generations in the mortal realm used Yama to scare children, in the immortal realm, they used the White Wolf Spirit.

Everyone grew up hearing stories of the White Wolf Spirit scaring children, naturally maintaining a respectful distance from such creatures.

Therefore, now that everyone saw someone from Qing Wang’s Mansion carrying a silver wolf, the atmosphere in the room immediately became tense. Those present were all uneasy and apprehensive.

Ning Shiting remained composed and sat down as guided by the steward.

Ironically, it seemed the people of the Immortal Chief’s Mansion were also startled by the small wolf—besides Ning Shiting's Ice Mayfly, there was also an ancient divine wolf by his side.

Concerned that the wolf might cause trouble, they also prepared a seat for it.

Servants brought over a stool in an orderly manner.

Gu Tingshuang had been in Ning Shiting's arms for a long time, holding his breath and not daring to move. Seeing someone very politely prepare a seat for him as well, he immediately wanted to jump out of Ning Shiting's arms.

However, his plan failed as soon as he stretched out his paw.

Ning Shiting lowered his head to block him and held him tighter, smiling, "This little wolf likes to stay with me. Thank you for your trouble."

Gu Tingshuang: "..."

Ting Shu whispered, "Does the Gongzi like the little wolf? It's nice and fluffy to touch, just don't get it wrong."

Ning Shiting glanced at Ting Shu, and the young immortal smirked and kept quiet.

After a while, the murmurs among the people also subsided.

A person with a black face and the appearance of a rakshasa walked through the door, surrounded by a crowd.(2) As he stepped in, the surroundings fell silent.

The incense conference was not confined to any specific location. Although this gathering seemed to be hosted at the Immortal Chief’s Mansion, Su Yue was not its true master.

The stages of comparing incense, testing scents, and guessing scents gather perfumers from all over the Nine States, each with their own specialities.

Some have long hidden in the mountains and forests, others were active in the public eye, often selling elixirs and spiritual medicines alongside their incense. The Su family provided the venue, acting as the host, but the attendees were a diverse group, impossible for any immortal leader to fully control, ranging from Rakshasas to celestial gods.

The highlight every year was the scent-guessing contest, where participants unravelled the mysteries of extraordinary fragrances. Whoever decrypted the secrets of a particular scent and replicated it would gain fame, and the title of the best perfumer in the world would shift to them.

Just entering the door was the mysterious black-faced and rakshasa-like figure, known respectfully as the "Black Jade Bodhisattva". He had consecutively won the top spot for four years among perfumers worldwide.

There existed an ancient secret recipe for a fragrance called "Soul Returning Incense", known only to him. However, it was rumoured he had never unlocked its mysteries himself, awaiting someone fated to find its true owner.

Turning to Ning Shiting, Ting Shu asked, "Gongzi, what is Soul Returning Incense?" 

Glancing up, Gu Tingshuang also raises his head.

As he did, Ning Shiting instinctively reached out to pat his head.

The mellifluous voice of the Jiaoren sounds overhead, softening each word like a sigh, making it pleasant to hear.

"Soul Returning Incense is said to revive the dead in the underworld with its fragrance spreading for hundreds of miles. It can revitalise corpses, allowing the flesh to regenerate, and even call back the spirits of the deceased. Originally a divine artefact, it has somehow found its way into the mortal realm, used even as a tribute to emperors. Legend has it that in the mortal realm, after an emperor's ten-year reign, longing for a deceased consort, they would light Soul Returning Incense and see their beloved once more in its smoke. Whether this is true or false remains debatable."

As they were speaking, four or five servants carried in a withered millennium-old Teng Cypress tree, displaying it around each person's seat in the room.

Ning Shiting himself did not practice immortal techniques, nor could he discern the subtleties of such matters.

After inspecting it, Ting Shu informed him, "Gongzi, this is a millennium-old tree that is dead beyond death itself. Its essence and spirit have completely dissipated, it's not even comparable to roadside pebbles."

Gu Tingshuang also stood up from Ning Shiting's embrace, sniffing with the little wolf's nose and then using his enhanced spiritual senses to examine it, spotting a faint trace of spiritual fire in the Teng Cypress, almost extinguished.

This faint glow was lighter than the lingering spirits in a grave.

But despite its faintness, it hadn't completely vanished as Ting Shu described.

"Please, everyone, take another look—"

The servants moved the Teng Cypress to the centre and first lit a spirit-light lamp beside it.

Spirit-light lamps were highly sensitive to immortal techniques and spells. If anyone used such methods, the lamp flame would spontaneously ignite. These lamps were always used in past incense conferences to prevent cheating and preserve the integrity of the fragrances.

Now, the spirit-light lamp burned quietly, its flame steady. A fragrance master waved a fan over it, but the flame showed no signs of flickering. Thus, he declared, "The lamp is fine, and the cypress has been examined—both are without issue."

The black-faced Rakshasa-like figure spoke expressionlessly, "We can begin. Today, whoever among you can replicate the Soul Returning Incense exactly, I will gift this incense to them. The name of the world's top fragrance master will also belong to this individual."

He took out an exquisite jade box from his sleeve, and as soon as he opened it, everyone in the room leaned forward to take a breath.

In that instant, the room filled with fragrance, washing away the dust and noise, bringing a sense of clarity and purity as if the air had suddenly cleared after a storm, permeating through everyone's body.

Even Gu Tingshuang faintly felt that a previously blocked part of his spiritual consciousness had opened up significantly.

And this was just the fragrance without even being lit; it already possessed such power.

The room fell into a moment of complete silence.

The black-faced Rakshasa-like figure seemed accustomed to this scene, picked up a small incense grain, placed it in a hole at the top of the Teng Cypress, and then ignited it with a flick of his fingertip, emitting a faint blue radiance.

Everyone in the room remained silent. Unable to contain his curiosity, Ting Shu asked Ning Shiting in a hushed voice, "Gongzi, what kind of fire is this?"

Ning Shiting extended his hand towards him, wearing thin gloves, and wrote a few words in his palm: "Yellow Spring Yin Fire, the Fire of Utmost Tranquility."

In the immortal realm, the most fierce and vigorous fire is the Phoenix Fire, which burns endlessly once ignited, followed by the Samadhi True Fire.(3)

Using either of these fires to light incense is akin to tossing it into a roaring furnace, wasting its essence.

The Yellow Springs Yin Fire emitted no heat, only light, gently igniting the incense and allowing it to release the full essence and fragrance of the ingredients, in a calm and stable manner.

As Ning Shiting wrote, Gu Tingshuang also crawled up to take a look.

From Ning Shiting's perspective, the little wolf seemed to want to join in the excitement in everything. He chuckled lightly, lowered Ting Shu's wrist, showed it to the wolf, and casually stroked its head.

There was a hint of indulgence in his eyes.

Gu Tingshuang endured silently again.

Once the incense was lit, the initially captivating aroma became increasingly intense.

Unlike ordinary incense that could be overpowering when strong, causing discomfort, the fragrance of the Soul Returning Incense instead made one's senses clearer and sharper as it grew richer.

The faint blue incense flowed slowly along the ancient Teng Cypress's grooves, resembling a mist of light blue water vapour.

This was the retrograde incense favoured by scholars and poets across the Six Realms. However, unlike typical incense that would form oily residues after dropping, this incense turned into transparent yellowish vapours.

As the pale blue smoke gently flowed into the base of the ancient cypress, a startling phenomenon occurred: near the petrified branches of the cypress, green shoots sprouted, and pale green moss grew on its withered and cracked surface. Its branches extended, roots expanded, as if a graceful maiden awakening from a deep slumber under the sunlight, shedding the bleakness of winter.

To Gu Tingshuang's eyes, such changes were only superficial.

He activated his spiritual consciousness, focusing on the ancient cypress on the table, and could clearly see that the Soul Returning Incense contained a large amount of unique spiritual essence. This spiritual absorption was a natural creation of heaven and earth, resonating with the faint spiritual flame within the ancient cypress that was on the verge of extinguishing. Every inch of its branches, every pore, every leaf that once grew there, could absorb this celestial and earthly spiritual energy.

The spiritual essence within this incense resonated perfectly with Gu Tingshuang's own cultivated spiritual consciousness.

This Soul Returning Incense possessed its own consciousness, and it was a robust kind that seemed more like a natural divine artefact than mere incense. Spontaneously, it used its own consciousness to transform and revitalise every decaying part!

Such incense was akin to the Dust-Repelling Pearl embedded in the Emperor's Imperial Seal—rare and elusive. While the Dust-Repelling Pearl could purify and cleanse all toxins and impurities, this incense could awaken even the faintest spiritual consciousness.

There was nothing else that could better complement his cultivation practice!

Excited murmurs filled the room as everyone discussed fervently:

"From flesh to bare bones, it's real! Absolutely flawless—I just witnessed it, that Teng Cypress was long dead!"

Those who had participated in past incense ceremonies chimed in:

"No mistake! Last year, they exhibited a fish with its belly upturned and white, its soul scattered. With a touch of Soul Returning Incense, the fish immediately came back to life! We can all feel it—just a touch of this incense, and it feels like our seven apertures have been cleansed, surpassing even the effects of Laozi's marrow-cleansing pill!"

Ning Shiting felt the little wolf at his knee stir, its claws tensing beneath his clothing, almost piercing through his flesh. He gently patted it.

The silver wolf turned its head, eyes gleaming brightly. In that moment, it seemed to possess both divinity and allure, leaving Ning Shiting momentarily stunned.

"Seems like Ning Gongzi's little wolf is quite fond of this Soul Returning Incense. Aren't you going to reveal your skills, Gongzi?"

Beside him, Su Yue, surrounded by a retinue of servants, casually fanned himself and asked.

As he spoke, the demonstration of the Soul Returning Incense had already concluded.

The perfumers around couldn't sit still anymore, each leaning in to sniff the fragrance and observe the particles in the smoke. Some who had been studying the Soul Returning Incense for years already had a rough idea in mind, and they had already headed to the Wanxiang Pavilion to pick out scents, preparing to replicate it for everyone present.

Most of the audience had left their seats and gathered around, with a few curious immortals just taking a look here and there.

Many still remembered the recent rumours that the Qing Wang’s mansion had accepted the Immortal Chief's invitation to the incense conference to compete in guessing competion for the Return Soul Incense, which had stumped everyone for four consecutive years.

The reason for such widespread attention was twofold: first, people loved to see the drama of the "Immortal Chief’s Mansion versus Qing Wang’s Mansion," and second, there was genuine anticipation to see whether the Qing Wang’s faction or the Emperor's faction could decipher the ingredients of this extraordinary incense.

Ning Shiting was dressed as usual today, with jewels covering his face, his silver-white hair partly tied up and partly cascading down.

Due to the snow yesterday, he was dressed warmly, even indoors. He had only removed his cloak, with the fur collar covering part of his delicate jawline, presenting himself as a refined young nobleman.

Ning Shiting had always maintained this appearance outside, where people couldn't see his face clearly or figure out his background. They only knew that this young man seemed a bit frail and spoke softly.

Ning Shiting smiled, "With so many perfumers around, I wouldn't want to embarrass myself. If Su Gongzi wishes to find someone to discuss with, there are plenty of talented individuals here. Allow me to take a moment to relax quietly."

"Is Ning Gongzi suggesting that he waits until everyone else has tried it before making his move?" Su Yue looked up, his tone neutral, "No wonder he's from the Qing Wang’s Mansion, he's quite confident."

The incense conference was halfway through, with a brief break in between.

Ning Shiting's body still hadn't fully recovered, and this time, surrounded by various medicinal fragrances in the room, he felt a bit dizzy.

Ting Shu was worried about his health. While pulling him out for a walk, she lowered her voice and asked, "Gongzi, can you tell how the fragrance of the Reincarnation Incense is blended?"

Ning Shiting chuckled softly, "Right now, my body is not much different from an ordinary person's. I can't even smell the filling in the dumplings you made for me today."

Gu Tingshuang was still being held by him, a furry bundle nestled in his arms.

This Jiaoren particularly liked to pick up this little wolf and hold it in his arms. Gu Tingshuang was really annoyed, but every time he struggled, Ning Shiting would hold him tighter.

It wasn't that he couldn't break free, but he always felt that Ning Shiting's weak and boneless Jiaoren arms were not very reliable. If he struggled, this delicate Jiaoren might break an arm.

Counting back, it was this illness that he had eagerly stuck with, which had caused him to fall.

Listening to what Ning Shiting had said, Ting Shu cursed uncomfortably, "These people are really malicious. They intercepted the imperial decree meant for our residence and used it as a trap to deceive Ning Gongzi. They must have seen that Ning Gongzi was ill and couldn't smell anything, so they used this to make us lose face. If you ask me, Gongzi, we might as well go back now and tell them that you're not feeling well."

"Now, leaving would only give people something to gossip about," Ning Shiting said calmly. "You don't need to worry. Even though my sense of smell is off due to my illness, I still have other means. Besides, that Soul Returning Incense..."

"I've also studied it for a few years out of curiosity. But because I've never found a real Soul Returning Incense, I've had nowhere to start."

Gu Tingshuang lay in his arms, raising his gaze to see the look in Ning Shiting's eyes hidden behind the pearl curtain.

In the slightly blue eyes of the Jiaoren was a certain emotion, as if he had fallen into some kind of past, with a hint of melancholy... and sadness.

With keen eyes, Gu Tingshuang saw behind the two men, Su Yue and the steward made a gesture, retiring to another room, apparently discussing something.

Their eyes scanned over once, clearly looking towards Ning Shiting, as if testing his position, whether their conversation could be heard.

Gu Tingshuang was curious, leaning directly on Ning Shiting's shoulder, and then his hind legs kicked away.

Ning Shiting didn't catch him at once and turned to call him, "Little Wolf——"

The Jiaoren’s movements were unexpectedly fast, directly grabbing him by the back of the neck to pull him back.

"There are many people here. No running around, understood?"

Then he grabbed him and held him in his arms again.

Gu Tingshuang was about to be annoyed to death by him and could only let out an "aowū" sound as elegantly as possible to show his protest.

Still, it was a single sentence from Ting Shu that saved him. He said to Ning Shiting, "Why not let the little wolf walk around a bit too? A lively little wolf like him probably isn't keen on staying in one place for so long."

Upon hearing this, Ning Shiting indeed withdrew his hand, but still bent down, earnestly looking into the little wolf's eyes. "Alright then, no running around, no causing trouble, understand? There are many people here whom we can't afford to offend. If you cause trouble, I might be very busy later and won't have time to find you snacks like suanni meat or qilin meat, understand?"

Gu Tingshuang quickly nodded and was then patted on the head by him. "Good boy, come back soon."

Ning Shiting then withdrew his hand.

After running a few feet away, Gu Tingshuang turned back and saw Ning Shiting still squatting there, looking at him with a gentle smile.

For some reason, seeing this smile made him slow down, a tingling sensation running down his spine to his tail.

His tail seemed to lift uncontrollably, wagging happily.

In the pavilions and terraces, he followed the footsteps of Su Yue and the steward to a secluded little house. 

No one noticed him, and he ran fast, but the door closed in front of him. 

He perked his ears and circled around, then crawled under the bed to listen carefully.

At the same time, he released his spiritual awareness. Besides Su Yue and the steward, there was a third person in the room.

Gu Tingshuang sensed it and roughly formed an image of the third person in his mind—a striking resemblance to the owner of the Soul Returning Incense just now, the black-faced Rakshasa.

Su Yue: "Are you so sure he will attempt to match the Soul Returning Incense? This person is unpredictable, accompanied by an ancient silver wolf and an ice mayfly spirit. We can't fathom his depths. Do you truly know his origins?" 

The Black-faced Rakshasa: "My estimation is nearly certain. If he is who I think he is, I could consider myself an acquaintance of his. If he doesn't eventually act, I will still honour our agreement and hand over the remaining Soul Returning Incense to you. In my business dealings, I never go back on my word." 

Su Yue: "Rakshasa King, you know as well as we do that behind our Immortal Chief’s Mansion stands the lineage of the Immortal Empress. We don't just want the remaining box of Soul Returning Incense. Where is its recipe? We've tried and retried, gathered all other ingredients, but the crucial ingredient, the incense, remains elusive."

 The Black-faced Rakshasa replied succinctly, "I only know the most crucial ingredient in the Soul Returning Incense, and that ingredient is only possessed by Ning Shiting. As for the rest, I'm not informed. That's why today I must wait for Ning Shiting to make his move. The Incense Conference is fair; whoever replicates it, the Soul Returning Incense belongs to them. Your Immortal Chief’s Mansion must not disrupt the rules."

There was silence for a moment.

The steward of the Su Mansion spoke up, "So, Rakshasa King, do you have anything else to add? This person's background is a mystery. Investigation reveals he's close to the Qing Wang, loved dearly. Judging by his hair colour, he's a Jiaoren, rumoured to be a descendant of a Jiaoren and a Phoenix, but his past remains entirely elusive." 

The Rakshasa King lowered his eyes to the incense box in his hand and, after a moment, began to speak.

"To the north of Dongzhou, on the coast of the Jiaoren Sea, the Qing Wang waged war against the Blood Clan."

"About two or three years ago, for some unknown reason, an entire city's population died overnight. Everyone... all soldiers, civilians, passing merchants and travellers, spirit beasts... all of them... died. In the end, the only one saved was a boy of fifteen or sixteen."

"The Qing Wang favoured that child greatly. At that time, he didn't even have a name; everyone simply called him—"

"Little Jiaoren." 

"Or, the Gongzi."

The Rakshasa King squinted his eyes and smiled, "If you want to know his background, perhaps you should start investigating the snow-capped mountains on the northern coast of the Jiaoren Sea. Whether it's him or not, I have the answer. His identity is hidden within the Soul Returning Incense, and he himself will reveal it. I'll say it again, there are things your Immortal Chief’s Mansion shouldn't mess with. Otherwise, the consequences... are unpredictable." 

With that said, he moved to leave but was abruptly stopped by the steward, "Wait, Rakshasa King..."

The Black-faced Rakshasa halted, hand on the mask on his face, paused in his footsteps, and turned back, "Don't ask what shouldn't be asked. What I want is Ning Shiting, and coincidentally, you want him too. This deal makes sense. But I must remind you of one thing: if you want to save face for the Qing Wang’s Mansion, you can do anything, but first, you absolutely should not let Ning Shiting guess the incense."

The steward's face turned pale, "What... what do you mean?" 

"Ning Shiting's mastery of the art of blending fragrances is unparalleled. He excels in both the Way of Fragrance and the Way of the Sword, and at the age of fifteen, he mastered an ancient method, crafting a scent called Zhen Tan Incense, which he casually gave to a passerby, who then made a fortune.(4) Zhen Tan Incense, also known as the Death Repelling Incense, precedes the Soul Returning Incense. The Jiaoren tribe's strength lies not in their sense of smell but in their sense of taste. Now that he's ill, do you really think he can't replicate the Soul Returning Incense?" 

"Secondly, you absolutely should not have intercepted that edict. Do you know why the annual military task was always assigned to the Immortal Chief’s Mansion, but this year it went to the Qing Wang’s Mansion?" 

"Although the general leading the troops isn't a member of the Qing Wang’s retinue, he is of the Ice Mayfly clan. That Ting Shu beside Ning Shiting is the long-lost younger brother of this general. Do you intend to seize credit for the general's benefactor in front of the general? Even when flattering, you must be aware that not everyone can afford to flatter." 

There was a touch of pity in the Black-faced Rakshasa's gaze, "Such a pity."

The Author has Something to Say

Ningning hugs.

Persimmon: Annoyed.

Ningning pats on the head.

Persimmon: Annoyed.

Ningning smiles.

Persimmon: Damn, so annoyed by this Jiaoren, I'll just wag my tail at him, ba!

(On the self-cultivation of being a persimmon wolf.)

The Translator has Something to Say 

Oof! Thank goodness none of the other chapters are this long!

Foot Notes

1. 返魂香 (fǎn hún xiāng) or Soul Returning Incense is a legendary medicine recorded in various texts. Although it did not actually have the power to bring people back from the dead, it was sold on the Silk Road and legends of the incense persist in other cultures. 

2. 罗刹 (luó chà) or “Rakshasa is a demon or malignant spirit both in Hinduism and Buddhism. They have black skin, red hair, and green eyes and are known for eating humans.

3. 三昧真火 (Sānmèi zhēn huǒ) or the Samadhi Fire is the fire that consumed Buddha's body when he entered Nirvana. 

4. 震檀香 (Zhèn tán xiāng) or Zhen Sandalwood Incense is also a real legendary medicine which is noted to be an ingredient of the Soul Returning Incense.