Chapter 3

After returning to Heaven, Yuan Yi ordered the Goddess of Light Ye Qing, the Moon God Liu Yan, and the Goddess of Flowers Zi Fu to descend to the mortal world and bring him the remaining parts of Zhao Li's mirror.

After learning that the Heavenly Lord had sent three Gods to the northern lands, where the first fragment of the mirror was found, Shi Yu delivered a message for Yuan Yi with the desert scorpion.

"Lord Ming Yuan Yi, give up your decision to get the black mirror," – it implied.

After receiving a piece of paper soaked in poison, Yuan Yi laughed for a long time, and then, gathering the remaining Gods, headed north, where an army of demons, led by Shi Yu, was already waiting for him.

The Demon Lord was dressed in sparkling armor of white gold, and his magnificent hair, tied with a gray ribbon, shone a rich blue in the light, although everyone knew that they were blacker than the night itself.

– Didn't the Heavenly Lord receive my letter? – Shi Yu asked, lazily stretching on the back of a huge dragon. – You know how much I dislike boredom, Yuan Yi, – he yawned mockingly. – And with your shamelessness, you forced me to ascend into the world of people, in which the most interesting entertainment – is a death.

– I know that the Demon Lord spends all his free time in entertainment, – Yuan Yi made a disgusted face. – But I didn't force you to gather an army and march with him, Shi Yu. You could have stayed in your palace, whiling away the days with strong wine and young concubines, but still, you decided to challenge me.

Shi Yu smiled broadly.

– Yuan Yi ge-ge, – he said, stretching out each syllable, – my concubines are undoubtedly beautiful, but none of them can compare with the Heavenly Lord, whose beauty is praised in three worlds. It's a pity that at our last meeting ge-ge refused to become part of my harem, because I honor only the very best with such an honor.

Hearing his words, the demons hooted, and the Heavenly Lord, flushing, blushed.

– Impudent! – Yuan Yi exclaimed, and a heavy crease appeared on his forehead. – And how do you have the courage to speak in such a tone with the Supreme God?

– You're mistaken, Yuan Yi, – Shi Yu yawned again, – I've been drinking my courage for a long time. I am an ordinary coward who hides behind the backs of other demons so as not to get my hands dirty in blood. But ge-ge, even if I didn't say anything, you still came here with the intention of killing me, – he pointed with a nod at the naked blade trembling in the hand of the Heavenly Lord.

– Only to die before the start of the battle is not fun at all, – Shi Yu whispered something to the dragon, and the beast, furiously snarling, hit the rock on the left with its tail, bringing it down on the Sun Goddess Wang Mei, – therefore, I will take some of your servants, ge-ge, – Shi Yu waved his right hand, in which appeared a curved, like a sickle, the sword of nine deaths...

***

Many soldiers of both sides died in that battle. What was especially annoying for Yuan Yi – was that the fragment he found, was irretrievably lost again, disappearing forever. Of course, after the truce was concluded, the Heavenly Lord more than once secretly tried to find other fragments of Zhao Li's black mirror. But neither he nor anyone else has managed to find out where they are.

While healing the wound inflicted on him by the Sword of the nine deaths, Yuan Yi came to the conclusion that the Demon Lord deliberately cheated to make fun of him and other immortals.

"This rascal must have hidden the mirror somewhere else," – he reasoned to himself. "I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out that he stole my shard, too. Well, Shi Yu, I can imagine how much fun you're having right now."

Yuan Yi had no idea that the part of the mirror that everyone thought was missing, having fallen into a pool of blood, had become overgrown with flesh and skin, turning into the child thanks to whom the truce was concluded.