A Loyal Friend

 At home, Linda was thinking what could be holding Stanley from returning as he had wasted a good time outside. After sometime she heard a knock on the door and answered thinking it was Stanley.

Dumb g... Linda stopped abruptly after seeing the lady who had helped them upon their arrival in the between land. Aunty? What are you doing here?

She gave a soft laugh and said "your husband asked me to bring this prepared herbal tonic to you. He cooked it personally and didn't want to bring it himself. What happened? Did you two have a fight?

Eeehm... But where is he?

He has left. Don't worry it's normal for couples to have a quarrel, it's fine as long he has you in his heart. It will be okay. Drink the medicine while it is hot so it will be effective. But are you sick?

Hmmm, just a cold, Linda replied. 

Linda took the medicine and bid her goodbye. Afterwards she thought to herself "Stanley where have you been?". 

 Immediately after leaving the medicine in the woman's care, Stanley visited the Zihua book pavilion. He came in through a mirror that was used as a door, but the place was only filled with different materials but no one inside. He looked around and shortly after, he heard a horrible laughter coming from the entrance mirror. He turned to see his reflection on the mirror laughing at him but he wasn't moved like he has experienced it before. 

Come out elder Mo.

His reflection stopped laughing and came out from the mirror and turned into the old man who cured Cynthia's face. He looked exactly like the dean at the academy because he was a part of him before, but the good side of him decided to split from the evil side. That was how the dean of the academy came into existence.

Go back! He said.

Why do you say so? Stanley asked.

The formula can only be transferred once it is used.

What is the solution?

The only solution is that you cut off the love, that is the only way to survive this disaster.

But Stanley wasn't convinced and asked "what do you want?" 

What do you want? elder Mo asked in return.

I want Linda to live.

Hahaha, elder Mo laughed loudly. Other people came to me to exchange something unimportant for something important. Are there such ridiculous deals in the world? My principle is to exchange something good for something people think is important but the most worthless thing.

So what do you want from me? Stanley asked.

Hahaha, he laughed again. About phoenix's life, there's nothing I can do. Divine lord please go back.

Stanley immediately felt all hope was lost. But suddenly he heard a loud scream coming from the entrance mirror, it belonged to Linda. He turned to look and saw a vision where he personally struck Linda down with his spiritual power and she cried out blood. This was the exact solution to the formula but he still didn't understand.

What is this dream? He asked distressingly.

Deities don't dream, elder Mo replied. That is destiny.

What do you mean? He turned sharply to look at him before asking. Emotions beginning to build up within him. 

People have to face their destiny sooner or later and if you tend to avoid it or refuse to face it, maybe it will come sooner.

I don't understand, Stanley replied.

No, you know where the answer is, he said pointing him in the face. But you don't dare to face it.

Stanley became mute, not knowing what to say any longer. Elder laughed and disappeared through the entrance mirror. 

Impossible! This is impossible, he thought to himself. By this time, he had remembered his mission. 

 The restriction on Alice had just ended but she still stayed indoors, she sat at her study table dosing but couldn't take it after a while.

No! Let me go out for a walk! She said and stormed out.

 In a huge farm land, while the rain god Frank, Stanley's immediate younger brother was strolling through the farm and admiring the crops, Jennie the caretaker if the farm ran to him panicking.

The god of rain god of rain, there is trouble.

What trouble? Frank asked.

There is a section of the crops that have bent over as if dying, I have tried everything to revive them but they wouldn't stand firm again.

Take me to see it, he said.

She led him to the crop section where the crops looked withered. He looked at them and said "come out".

Who should come out? Jennie asked.

Frank used his vital energy on the withered area of crops and behold Alice lay there drunk, holding a wine bottle and spouting some nonsense. 

Isn't this the kitchen god of the heavens? What is she doing here? Jennie asked in surprise.

There are many grasses in the world, Alice said. Oh did I crumble your crops? Uhh! She sobbed. Without sesame seeds you still have watermelons, without my sister you still have me.

What is she saying? Sesame seeds and watermelons? What is it about? She asked without getting a response. Kitchen god kitchen god wake up! Jennie went to help her sit up and make her sober. 

Sorry I crushed your seedlings. 

Jennie help her to sort things out, Frank said and left. 

 In the demon realm, the demon lord came with his right hand man again to check on Mark.

Have you made up your mind? Cyrus asked.

Hearing the question, Mark woke up from his almost unconscious state, his body unmovable from being frozen, eyes dully opened and replied "please do me a favour".

Where...is the phoenix? Cyrus asked.

After I die, tell Zina that Mark doesn't betray his friends and men who don't betray their friends, don't betray their women.

The demon lord got confused as he began to understand something.

What was your agenda for getting close to the phoenix? He asked him.

The phoenix could help our devil clan eliminate our problem of thousands of years, the lack of females in which the bloodline is weak.

How will she help you with that? 

Why should I tell you? Mark replied sarcastically. Anyways if she helps us, fine. And if she doesn't, I won't force her.

It was then he realized that Mark was a friend and not a foe.

What about the phoenix? My lord? What about the phoenix? Cyrus's assistant asked in desperation. 

"That's all", Mark said and closed his eyes, breathing his last. The assistant went to check him and confirmed.

My lord, he is almost gone.