Chapter 10: Flooding Jinshan Temple
When Bai Suzhen learned that Xu Xian was being held at Jinshan Temple, she and Xiaoqing immediately went to demand his release. They stood at the gates of the temple, their voices echoing through the mountain.
"Fahai! Release my husband at once!" Bai Suzhen cried, her magic surging around her. "He does not belong here. He belongs with his family."
Fahai appeared on the temple walls, looking down at them with disdain. "He has chosen to stay here for his own protection. A spirit like you has no right to claim a human soul. Leave this place before I am forced to act."
"I will not leave without him!" Bai Suzhen declared. She called upon the spirits of the water, and the river began to rise. A massive wave crashed against the mountain, flooding the lands around the temple.
The battle was fierce. Fahai used his golden bowl and sacred chants to hold back the water, while Bai Suzhen and Xiaoqing used their magic to keep the pressure on. The sky darkened, and the sound of crashing waves filled the air. However, Bai Suzhen was still weakened by her pregnancy. She could not maintain the flood forever.
"Sister, we must stop!" Xiaoqing shouted over the roar of the water. "The flood is causing harm to the innocent people in the valley. This is not what we wanted!"
Realizing the suffering she was causing, Bai Suzhen finally relented. The waters receded, leaving behind a path of destruction. She had failed to rescue Xu Xian, and she had committed a great sin by harming the innocent. Exhausted and heartbroken, the sisters retreated to Hangzhou, unaware that Xu Xian had witnessed the entire battle from the temple windows. He saw the power of her love, but he also saw the destruction it could cause. His heart was more divided than ever.