Ning Chen just sat there in a daze until dawn.

He got up, washed and went straight to see the old Heavenly Master.

He was sure the old Heavenly Master knew something.

The old Heavenly Master had just gotten up too and was eating breakfast.

He took one look at Ning Chen's bloodshot eyes. "Didn't sleep all night?"

Ning Chen nodded. "Old Heavenly Master, I've forgotten a lot of things I ought to remember perfectly clearly. Please help me make sense of it."

The old Heavenly Master slurped his thin rice porridge noisily and said through a full mouth, "Everything has its appointed course. If you've forgotten, there's a reason you've forgotten. It's like eating when you're hungry and drinking when you're thirsty. Why tie yourself in knots over it?

My lord prince only needs to remember one thing."

Ning Chen asked, "What?"

The old Heavenly Master smiled mysteriously. "Nothing in this world matters more than life and death. So, my lord prince, do you choose life or death?"

Ning Chen didn't even have to think. "Life, of course."

The old Heavenly Master laughed. "Since you've made your choice, then fight with everything you have to live... Next to life and death, the things you've forgotten don't matter.

Remember, my lord prince, the Great Xuan needs you, the people need you, and everyone around you needs you alive."

Ning Chen felt a headache coming on. None of it made any sense to him.

"Old Heavenly Master, could you quit talking in riddles and just say it straight?"

The old Heavenly Master smiled. "The secrets of heaven can't be given away... Come have something to eat, my lord prince. A full stomach settles the heart."

The corner of Ning Chen's mouth twitched. He was about to grumble that the old Heavenly Master was playing at gods and ghosts when Chen Chong hurried in.

Ning Chen asked quickly, "Did you find Kang Baobao?"

Chen Chong shook his head. "The Inspectorate and the garrison searched all night and didn't see so much as her shadow... It's like the woman vanished from the face…