Luo Shuiqian's spell conjured a human-height luminous sphere, its halo radiating outward as a transparent barrier gradually revealed the visage of a village.
She reached up to ruffle Ming Xuan's long hair. "Come, let's investigate."
Hand in hand, they stepped through the barrier.
Bailing Village manifested exactly as she'd described - warm sunrise glinting on dewdrops, layered dwellings in the distance. The villagers moved through fields and markets with tranquil expressions, an ancient utopia frozen in time.
As they approached, villagers waved enthusiastically at Shuiqian. Several girls with braids reaching only to her waist bounded over, chirping "Sister!" with crystalline childhood innocence. A boy thrust a grass-woven dragonfly into Ming Xuan's hand, demanding approval of his craftsmanship.
By a wooden cottage, an elderly woman in crimson robes beckoned with grandmotherly benevolence: "Safe return, A-Shui! Demon-hunting's perilous - you must take care!"
"I'm perfectly fine. I'll join you later for mushroom soup," Shuiqian called back.
As they walked, villagers sought her counsel - treating bite wounds, antidotes for scorpion venom, protective talisman placement. Ming Xuan might as well have been invisible to them.
"A-Shui, my son was bitten by a spider two days ago..." A farmer presented a child with slightly swollen shoulder.
Before Shuiqian could respond, Ming Xuan interjected coldly: "Superficial injury. Crush three liang* of mint and Fangshu grass, apply twice daily. Heals in five days."
The villagers stiffened, muttering thanks before hurriedly departing.
"Unexpected herbal knowledge."
"Basic comprehension." He discreetly pocketed a foxtail weed.
Guided through Bailing's idyllic lanes - verdant foliage, blooming flowers, playing children - Ming Xuan realized: "This is Bailing as you perceive it, isn't it?"
Shuiqian smiled cryptically. "Merely a dream."
"You don't truly cherish humans. We should return."
Exiting the barrier, Shuiqian stared downward, still clutching Ming Xuan's hand as if clinging to fading memories. The foxtail in his sleeve crumbled to dust.
"I... must soon depart for Mourningfall Mountain. Though peaceful, this remains within Liuzhou's domain - no true sanctuary. The cabin's yours if you stay."
Ming Xuan shook his head. "Unfinished business here. You saved me, Shuiqian. Our souls resonate. I'll escape this spell-world. We'll meet again."
Meeting her lake-deep eyes now glimmering with unshed tears, he closed his eyes and brushed his lips against hers. Unspoken words hung between them - half-month's intimacy, the chasm between undead and exorcist, his smoldering rage...
Finding kinship at life's extremity, only to part.
He intuited their paths would diverge drastically, yet their fated connection might someday transcend time itself.
In remaining days, he emptied his mind, savoring each present moment with Shuiqian - forgetting pain, confusion, humanity's ugliness, impending farewells.
On the seventh night, white fog choked his dreams. The Witch-Priest's incantations echoed, those same arrogant verses that banished him between worlds. Thorns coiled around his legs as long-suppressed fury erupted.
With restored magic, he conjured twin blades. Severing thorns tore his flesh, blood transforming white mist to crimson haze that revealed fragmented paths. He advanced ruthlessly, blades shredding fog - determined to sacrifice the Witch-Priest.
Six bound humans materialized as human shields, birth charts plastered on their chests. Recognition struck - these were Bailing villagers from Shuiqian's illusion. Hesitation flickered...
Blades flew. Six chests blossomed crimson. Blood-soaked papers dissolved.
Confronting the Witch-Priest through blood-mist, Ming Xuan's blades quintupled in size. One strike shattered prayer beads; the next aimed for the priest's neck, eyes blazing with feral bloodlust.
"Amitābha." The priest vanished before the killing blow.
Fog dissipated. Ming Xuan awoke gasping.
Dawn revealed Shuiqian's absence - hunting bow gone, breakfast kept warm in the pot. Her lingering scent told him she'd already departed.