Chapter 41: The Arbiter of Fate

The distance from Blackfire Lake to the Western City is devoid of towns and cities for two primary reasons. First, the path is obstructed by a vast mountain range known as the Qinling Mountains. Stretching for over a thousand miles, these mountains divide the Western Border from the Great Zhou, leaving only two traversable passages: North Hot Springs and Nanyang Pass.

Second, the Qinling Mountains are infested with demons that frequently emerge to harm travelers. As the Qinchuan region was the fief of the Marquis of Qin—a land of abundant fertile plains—the mountains were considered worthless to him. He allowed the demons to proliferate, using the area merely as a private hunting ground for military drills. While a few small villages and settlements of wild tribes existed, they lacked any strategic importance or garrisons, and over the years, they were left to their own devices.

Naturally, while these mountain demons might be a threat to humans, they posed no obstacle to the group from Tianshan, especially not to the likes of Liuchou. At this moment, he and Guanlan were trekking through the mountains, heading east.

The fall of Blackfire City was not their doing as commanders, and since they held a sub-commander’s order, they could rightfully claim they were retreating under orders. Their goal was to return to the pass to report, which meant heading back to Hot Springs Pass. However, upon preparing to move, Liuchou discovered that the area around Blackfire City was swarming with demons. Scouts patrolled to both the north and south. Harboring a deep wariness of the two old men from the city, a brilliant idea suddenly struck him.

Cross Blackfire Lake!

The reason Blackfire Lake was impassable was due to the oil sludge—bitumen—within it. The bitumen in the lake was like thick batter; it lacked the viscosity to solidify, yet it was heavier than water, making it impossible for boats to float. It served as a natural barrier that both humans and demons of the era found insurmountable. But for Liuchou, who possessed memories of a later age, he knew exactly how to handle it.

Sleds!

The motive force for pulling the sleds would be the "Reed-Crossing" talismans Liuchou had recently acquired. Since one could carry three people, why not use them to pull a sled and carry even more? As for the demon cores, Liuchou had plenty on him. Though the consumption would be immense, it was well within his tolerance.

When Liuchou proposed this, Guanlan and the others looked at each other in confusion. Yet, seeing Liuchou’s unwavering confidence, they followed his instructions. They felled trees, trimmed them into runners, and quickly fashioned a light, portable sled similar to those from the future.

As Liuchou boarded the Reed-Crossing to pilot it, the sled soon glided smoothly across the surface of Blackfire Lake. While the Reed-Crossing was not particularly fast as a flying tool, its utility for pulling a sled was astonishing. The scenery flashed by like a passing goose, leaving Guanlan and the others gasping in shock.

But the novelty was short-lived. Before long, Guanlan and the others began to feel dizzy and nauseous. It is unclear who started it, but soon, everyone on the sled was retching violently, vomiting until they brought up bile. Yet, they dared not ask Liuchou to slow down, so they could only lie on the vessel, groaning and retching intermittently.

For a time, the sound of vomiting on the sled was incessant. Liuchou dared not stop until they had traveled nearly twenty miles, at which point he found a mound rising from the lake to take a break and replace the demon cores. Though he only used one Reed-Crossing at a time, he had tied all three together, fearing he wouldn't find a place to rest at the twenty-mile mark. As expected, the second time, they had to travel over thirty miles to find a new mound. They rested again, then resumed their journey.

By now, they were dozens of miles from Blackfire City, but Liuchou did not dare to slacken. They continued their dash, changing cores twice more, until he saw that the others were truly at their limit. Only then did he find a larger mound to rest for the night.

Over the next three days, Liuchou and his group forced their way across more than four hundred miles, finally crossing Blackfire Lake and reaching the far shore. Before them lay a vast, endless mountain range—the sheer cliffs of the Qinling Mountains, where even birds and beasts struggled to pass.

A poem from a later age describes it:
*The connected peaks are but an inch from the sky,*
*Withered pines hang inverted against the sheer walls.*
*Flying torrents and waterfalls roar in rivalry,*
*Crushing cliffs and rolling stones sound like thunder in the ten thousand gullies.*

The group began their arduous journey through the rugged wilderness, climbing and edging their way eastward along the sheer cliffs.

***

A hundred fathoms beneath the Qinling peaks lay a vast, empty cavern.

It was a silent, soundless space, devoid of light, save for a pool of clear luster in the center that emitted a faint indigo glow. Beyond this glow lay an endless darkness, the boundaries of the space unknown.

The pool of luster was not water, but a swirl of light, like an interdimensional rift from a science-fiction film. It flickered unsteadily, appearing as a passage to an unknown space. Beside the glow floated a small, hazy sphere of light. Within it stood a miniature world of wonder—a glimpse into a realm that was no different from the outside world, filled with birdsong, flowers, mountains, and rivers. Beneath a towering mountain stood a thatched hut, and inside sat a wooden, clay-sculpted figure, covered in dust, cobwebs, and fallen leaves.

"Wuhuanzi..."

A thunderous voice suddenly echoed through the silent space, calling out a name. As the sound resonated, the figure within the miniature world stirred. The colorful dust fell away, revealing a thin, gaunt face with a striking, divine aura, though a trace of lingering malice flickered in the eyes, never truly dissipating.

Opening his eyes, the man moved. In an instant, he detached from the sphere of light and appeared before the pool of luster, kneeling to bow: "Master, have you awakened? Can you be reborn? If you have a command, Wuhuanzi will surely fulfill it!"

The magnificent voice resounded once more, echoing through the empty cavern: "After a long slumber, I feel the opportunity for revival has arrived. The Wheel of Fate has moved a small step; this is a sign that the Master of Fate has begun to influence the entire Heavenly Dao. His destiny has begun to change, born of causality. The Heavenly Dao is vast, and the variables of the future have begun to turn."

"Master, is it the one beyond the Aolai Sea?"

"...No, it is that Master of Fate in the Meishan Mountains."

"Is that the one you called neither human nor demon? What should I do? Do you wish for me to bring him before you?"

The voice fell silent, as if in thought or hesitation. After a long time, it spoke again, lower and less clear, as if drifting away: "Bring him! In the shadows, he seems to have a strange connection to me. I have a vague intuition—it would be good to see him."

Wuhuanzi remained kneeling, his expression frozen like a mask, as if he were controlling his own emotions to ensure that the thin thread of malice could only linger on his face and never penetrate his heart.

"Your disciple will go at once. Before long, he will surely appear before you."

"No, you have other matters to attend to. Go quickly to Mount Lingtai to establish a dojo and found a sect. Another Master of Fate is showing signs of movement; this cannot be ignored," the voice rejected Wuhuanzi's request. "There may be variables beyond what was anticipated. It is time for you to emerge from the mountains as well."

Wuhuanzi did not change his tone at his master's refusal; he remained calm. "Then what is Master's will?"

"Go and carry out your duties. As for this Master of Fate... hmm, it shall be you. Come!"

When the word "come" rang out, a squeaking sound suddenly emerged from the darkness. From the depths, a marten scurried out. It was an ordinary beast, neither a demon beast nor a lesser demon. Summoned by the voice, it ran to the pool of luster, stood on its hind legs, and began to bow repeatedly.

Simply by this summons, the beast gained the intelligence of a demon. Even without further instruction, it would only be a matter of time before it became a demon beast, and subsequently, a demon.

The thread of divine intent seeping from the pool possessed such power—the scale of which was truly inconceivable.

However, as this divine intent now acted directly upon the marten, the creature's body began to swell. It rapidly transformed from a beast into a demon beast, then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, it shed its fur, gradually stood upright, and took human form. It underwent the transition from demon beast to lesser demon, its demonic power climbing until it reached the peak of the lesser demon stage, before finally turning into a monster.

Seeing this transformation, a glimmer of surprise finally appeared on Wuhuanzi’s face. "Master, can your divine powers already permeate the void?"

"Yes, but the speed is still too slow. At this rate, it would take at least four hundred and seventy-six thousand years for my divine intent to roam the four seas. By then, the world will have already undergone turbulent changes, no longer resembling its former self."

"This disciple understands. I will act at once."

In these few exchanges, the marten was already panting and kneeling on the ground, its body covered in sticky filth, blood, and bodily fluids. Though its consciousness was still chaotic, it knew who was in charge. After transforming into its demonic form, its first reaction was to kneel before the pool and kowtow incessantly.

The voice seemed somewhat dissatisfied, sighing leisurely: "Only a monster? As expected, my divine intent is still lacking."

Wuhuanzi said: "Master, a monster is enough. That Master of Fate is only at the lesser demon stage. By suppressing him with a higher rank, there should be no problem."

"Not enough, not enough! The Master of Fate is tied to the hub of heaven and earth; he is governed by the laws of the Heavenly Dao and cannot be judged by common sense... Since his demonic power cannot be further elevated, I will upgrade your innate demonic art... Hmm, wind control? Very well, I shall infuse your bones with a gale, and grant you a terrifying speed!"

The kneeling marten suddenly let out a sharp cry and collapsed. White and yellow mist began to rise from every pore of its body, swirling around it. The mist hissed; looking closely, it was composed of countless tiny, sharp gusts of wind, dense and numerous, taking on a pale yellow hue.

"Yellow skin, yellow fur, and surrounded by yellow winds. In that case, you shall be named Yellow Wind! Is my command clear?"

"Squeak... clea... squeak... clear... squeak..."

The marten trembled on the ground, cold sweat drenching its back, yet it forced itself to squeak a reply, not daring to show the slightest negligence.

"That is good, that is good..."

The voice gradually faded, and the light of the pool brightened once more. Wuhuanzi glanced at the Yellow Wind still lying on the ground and pointed a finger. The marten flew into the air, and Wuhuanzi stepped forward as if walking through a door. He and Yellow Wind vanished from the cavern instantly, leaving no trace.

***

The Qinling Mountains were high and steep, making travel difficult. Although Liuchou and his group possessed skills, their progress was not fast. Climbing consumed a massive amount of physical strength, requiring them to rest every night before continuing the next day.

Today was no different. As night approached, everyone felt exhausted and sluggish, their formation stretching out. Liuchou and Guanlan began to survey their surroundings, looking for a place to spend the night.

But at that moment, Liuchou suddenly sensed a faint killing intent, like a falling comet, locking firmly onto him.