"The Lord of Heaven is unsettled, the rites no longer bring harmony. Xia Houqi, kill her to mend the Heavenly Dao!"
"Nüwa mended the heavens—when the stone fell to Tushan, it was but a leftover stubborn stone from her work. Having acquired the Nine Arguments and Nine Songs, you should slay her."
"Should you spare her, and the Heavenly Gate cracks open again, bringing another deluge, do you think you possess your father's virtue? Are you capable like your father was? You've already killed Boyi; why not slay one more?"
Around the altar, large and small witches pleaded with blood-streaked tears. In the distant sky, heavy clouds gathered; it seemed as if another all-encompassing flood was brewing. The nine cauldrons forged by Dayu stood silent; the heavens were unresponsive.
...
Chen Yi suddenly opened his eyes.
His mind was a swirl of chaos. As he looked around, the witches who surrounded the nine cauldrons had disappeared.
"Is this… Xia Houqi's memory?"
