While the matter about the children was being attended to, Ruomei made occasional trips to the Heavenly Realm, to search the library adjacent to the hall where the Records of Fate were kept. The fruit-seller's daughter was still ill, and Ruomei examined every book she could find about herbal remedies or other methods to treat the girl's symptoms, to then try to follow the steps outlined when she returned to the Mortal Realm.

"You've been spending a lot of time on this," Zhulin commented one day in regards to Ruomei's improvised medical studies. She had spent hours poring over books in the library, and now back in the Mortal Realm – already four days later there – she had set off immediately into the nearby forest to search for the specific herbs that had been mentioned.

"I've got to try something," Ruomei defended, not looking back as Zhulin followed her through the undergrowth. She crouched down to examine a mushroom, then finding it not of the required variety, stood up and moved on. "If the fruit-seller can't afford the doctor, the next-best thing is to teach ourselves about the remedies that can cure his daughter."

"And what if she can't be cured?" his voice was hesitant but firm. Ruomei paused, a hand in the air as she held back a branch. She had half a mind to let it fall back and hit him in the face for even suggesting such a thing.

With great restraint, she slowly lowered the tree limb instead, and turned back to face the Demon lord. Zhulin's gaze flickered to the branch for a moment, but he didn't say anything.

"Why would you think she can't be cured?" Ruomei asked him.

"I'm just reminding you that there are things that are out of even our control," he said gently. He inclined his head – a passive gesture, but the truth of his words was a challenge.

"Easy for you to say, when you haven't even tried to help solve the problem yourself," Ruomei snapped, her worries for the girl's safety causing her to lash out. "You keep disappearing off to the Demon Realm, and not to research cures, I think."

"That's an entirely different matter," Zhulin said with a frown. "What I'm trying to say is that if the girl's death is written in the Records of Fate, there's nothing we can do."

"Except choose how to react?" Ruomei shot back, echoing the words he had told her weeks earlier. "That's ridiculous. Where's her choice in all this? Her death may be a hardship that others have to learn to deal with, but for her it's the end. She doesn't get a chance."

"She can choose to accept her fate," Zhulin said quietly. "And her spirit will be reborn again, in a different life."

"But not this one!" Ruomei protested. "What's so wrong about her staying in the life she has already?"

Zhulin shook his head. "If it's written, then there's no helping it. She's been sick for weeks now, and while you were away, her condition has only worsened."

Ruomei turned on her heel with a huff and stomped further into the forest. "You're just guessing at things to upset me," she announced, trying to ignore the fact that he was still following her. "I can't give up yet. Not while there's still hope."

She came to a stop in front of a tree, her gaze unfocused as she tried to control her breathing. Zhulin came to a stop beside her, and she could feel his gaze on her, studying her.

"What?" she snapped, wiping her eyes with a quick swipe of her hand.

"Tell me what herbs you're looking for," he said quietly. "I'll help you look for them."

"Elderflowers," Ruomei said with a sniff, trying to regain her composure. "Or catnip – or yarrow. Catnip might be the best for her condition, but any of those will do."

Rather than start his search immediately, Zhulin slowly raised a hand to Ruomei's shoulder, giving it a squeeze.

"Whatever happens, you did your best," he said quietly. All too soon, his hand was gone, and Ruomei's shoulder felt cold in its absence as she watched Zhulin walk away. She knew he had meant well, to try to warn her, and she hadn't meant to be so mean – she only hoped that he understood.

They began their search in relative silence, each of them rustling through bushes and under leaves as they searched for the herbs in question. Finally, they both were able to find a patch of elderflowers, and Zhulin even discovered a small bunch of catnip.

"Here," he said, adding the herb to Ruomei's basket. "This should be enough."

Ruomei was interrupted before she could thank him, or apologize for her earlier outburst.

"Zhulin!"

Chenguang came crashing through the bushes, coming to a stop in front of Ruomei and the Demon lord. Zhulin stepped forward, a concerned frown across his brow.

"Chenguang? Is everything all right?" he asked.

"She's – " Chenguang let out a tired breath. "Lady Bingling – she's found out you've been coming here," she finally managed in a rush.

"The heart?" Zhulin asked.

Chenguang shook her head. "Still secure."

Zhulin exhaled, short and fast. "I'll be right there. Stay here and help Ruomei with things in the village."

She shook her head. "No – I'm coming with you."

"You are not. We need you here."

"That's not true! They have things handled." Chenguang looked to Ruomei for confirmation. "Right?"

Ruomei was torn. "I – Zhulin, if you're sure you're okay...?" She vaguely remembered the name of the lady Chenguang had mentioned, and from Zhulin's earlier comments to the Heavenly Lord, the woman had sounded like a force to be reckoned with.

"I –"

"She's challenging your legitimacy to rule, Zhulin," Chenguang said. "You need everyone you can have there to support you in this."

Ruomei's eyes widened. Perhaps she had been too harsh in judging Zhulin for his frequent trips to the Demon Realm.

"Why?" Ruomei asked. "What does Lady Bingling have against you ruling the Demon Realm?"

"Nothing, except the power he has because of it," Chenguang said.

Ruomei turned to Zhulin for an explanation. "Power?"

He sighed. "It's a long story."

Ruomei continued to look at him hopefully, just a hint of a pout on her lips.

"All right, fine." He waved a hand in a bid for her to stop. "Ever since the Heart of Ice was created by the last great water dragon, it's posed a danger to the six realms," he explained. "Your teacher, Lisong, was actually tasked to bring it out of the East Sea and seal it away where no one could use it for harm."

"Lisong?" Ruomei frowned. "Why him?"

"He's one of the most powerful High Immortals," Chenguang interjected. "If anyone can deal with a powerful artifact, it's him."

Ruomei's mouth opened in a silent "oh", wondering why Lisong had never mentioned it. Zhulin continued.

"Bingling was in the Heavenly Realm at the time," he said. "And when she learned about the Heart of Ice, she grew curious and wanted to experience its powers for herself."

"Ooh, I wish I could've seen it," Chenguang said, with an almost-satisfied grin on her face.

Ruomei frowned. "I assume it didn't go well?"

Zhulin shrugged, seemingly indifferent. "By some accounts, she was knocked back over thirty feet."

Ruomei lifted a hand to cover her mouth, unsure of whether to gasp or laugh at the mental image as Zhulin elaborated. "Some say it even froze her soul. At any rate, she wasn't powerful enough to wield it, and Lisong managed to lock it up in the Netherworld, though it came at a price – the artifact's power weakened him, and he had to spend time in the Mortal Realm."

Ruomei clutched her basket of herbs tighter. "And what happened to Bingling?"

"She took the opportunity of Lisong's absence to start amassing enough power to handle the artifact," he replied, weariness slumping his shoulders. "When she moved to the Demon Realm soon after, I had my soldiers follow her movements. She only disputes my power because if I slip up at all and am unable to defend my ability to rule, it's an easy power grab for her."

"But what if something happens to you?" Ruomei asked.

"Oh, well she's sent her assassins several times already," Chenguang said, not sounding too concerned. "But they're never as effective as a hearing at the palace in front of the officials. Besides, Zhulin's already declared that if he ever goes missing, I'm to take control of the throne until he comes back."

"You'd both better go, then," Ruomei urged. "I don't want to imagine what Bingling would do if she is ever powerful enough to use the Heart of Ice."

Zhulin looked grim. "Thank you, though I'm afraid it's only a matter of time. If she's unable to take over the Demon Throne, it just means she'll be delayed in achieving her goal."

"If only the Heavenly Lord would listen," Chenguang growled.

"I could talk to my teacher – see if he could do anything..." Ruomei began.

"I'm pretty sure that would only make things worse," Zhulin said with a shake of his head. "But thank you for offering."

Ruomei frowned. "How would it make things worse?"

"They know each other, or used to," Chenguang said. "She was once his student – and they were lovers."