ATEG Chapter 109

As the disturbance at the city gate stirred, dark undercurrents rose again within Shezhou City.

Chang Andu was entirely unaware of this. He had felt uneasy about the refugees for only a brief moment before returning to his earlier topic: the knight-errant who had saved him.

“As luck would have it, he shares your surname, Mister. He is also surnamed Li — his name is Li Shi…”

Among the dense web of karmic threads, one stretched from Chang Andu’s body, reaching far outward beyond the walls of Shezhou City, connecting to a powerfully built, tall man. And likewise, a karmic thread returned from that man, falling upon… Li Chi.

The same surname Li — it was no coincidence.

This was the only karmic thread still attached to him when he had awakened within the Li Manor of the Li family, nestled in the foothills of the Daqing Mountain Range. Over five hundred years ago, the Li clan had suffered an inexplicable decline. After exhausting every means without finding a solution, they had no choice but to leave their ancestral land, hoping to find a remedy elsewhere. That had been over two hundred years ago now. When the Manor Spirit remained behind in Li Manor, he had said that the once-flourishing Li clan had dwindled to only seven people when they departed — and after two hundred years, only a single bloodline of the great Li family still survived in the world.

An inevitable decay, a rescue at the very edge of oblivion… All the coincidences and helplessness of the human world so often compelled people to sigh and call it “fate” — yet from where does fate arise?

Li Chi cradled his teacup, listening quietly to Chang Andu’s account. He lowered his gaze to the tea, and in the steam rising from the cup, a pair of ink-dark eyes were reflected on the water’s surface — eyes that seemed to hold a vast and boundless fog within them, or perhaps it was merely an illusion born of the tea’s rising heat.

Karmic threads, endlessly long.

That Li Shi had saved Chang Andu was an accident — at least, that was how Li Shi saw it. But it was an accident he was very fond of. There was no particular reason for it; it was simply that after rescuing Chang Andu, all of his expenses had been covered by the man.

When Li Shi saved Chang Andu and brought him to the nearest safe settlement of ordinary people, and Chang Andu treated him to a bowl of hot noodle soup, Li Shi had nearly moved himself to tears. This was not strange. If anyone had been as destitute as he was — unable to afford even a single flatbread, surviving for a long time in the wilderness by hunting and foraging, with such poor cooking skills that he could barely manage to make food edible — and then after more than half a year finally ate a proper meal like any normal person would, they would be just as moved.

In all honesty, when he saved Chang Andu, it had been out of pure goodwill. He had expected nothing in return. In this war-ravaged, chaotic world, even if he could not save everyone, why not lend a hand when it was within his power to do so? Who could guarantee that they would never themselves need someone else’s helping hand in the future?

That said, his later decision to escort Chang Andu all the way to Shezhou City — it would be hard to say that the prospect of free food and lodging played no part. Chang Andu was an ordinary person; taking him along was like dragging dead weight. The normal choice after saving someone would have been to leave them at the nearest safe place.

But Li Shi had already planned to head to Liang’s capital, and the road passed right through Shezhou City anyway — so why not treat himself a little?

And so Li Shi escorted Chang Andu all the way to Shezhou City. Naturally, all travel expenses along the way were borne by Chang Andu. Chang Andu was not stingy, and Li Shi was not extravagant. One repaid kindness with gratitude; the other acted with a warm and generous nature. That the two became friends along the way was only natural.

Upon reaching Shezhou City, the two had been set to part ways — Chang Andu’s livelihood was here in the city, while Li Shi needed to continue on to the capital. Yet Li Shi had not gone on to the capital. Before entering Shezhou City, he seemed to have discovered something troubling, and so he had changed his plans. After seeing Chang Andu safely inside the city, he had hurried out again, and thereafter moved back and forth between the city and its outskirts — sometimes returning within a few hours, sometimes gone for several days.

“Li Shi is a very remarkable person. He has no cultivation, only a body trained in martial prowess — yet he has methods for dealing with demons and malevolent spirits, and he is extraordinarily skilled at it, as though he has long been accustomed to dealing with such things. In this day and age…” Chang Andu let out a soft sigh, his tone complicated. People all around were avoiding demons and spirits, pretending not to see even the most unusual occurrences. As a friend, he hoped Li Shi could stay far from those supernatural dangers — after all, Li Shi was just an ordinary person without any cultivation. But if Li Shi were not that kind of person, they never would have met in the first place, and Chang Andu might already have died that night.

The myriad external circumstances of the world cannot be changed — such as Chang Andu falling into the hands of demons in a desolate wilderness temple. Yet external circumstances can be transformed by the inner state of the heart — such as Li Shi’s compassionate nature giving Chang Andu back his life. All external circumstances of the past are already fixed; the inner thoughts of the present continue forward into the future, moment by moment. Inner and outer together constitute the principles of destiny.

The pale porcelain tea lid swept across the surface of the water, nudging aside the dense, soft tea leaves. A single leaf, like a little boat, drifted open on the suddenly stirred waves of tea, scattering the eyes reflected on the water’s surface.

The Great Calamity. The state of the world.

Since Xu Chang had ascended to the throne of the King of Liang, the Luo Sect had become the most powerful of the many crooked and deviant factions standing throughout the Liang Kingdom. But this was something held beneath the surface, unspoken — those who needed to know were already aware of the Luo Sect’s formidable strength, while ordinary people still believed that Shezhou City was the same solid bulwark guarding the Liang capital as it had always been.

Since the rise of the Great Calamity, the Disciplinary Bureau had found it increasingly difficult to maintain control over affairs within the Liang Kingdom, and the Xuanqing Sect had risen swiftly, swallowing one faction after another.

The Liang Kingdom was like a fragrant and sweet pastry. Its owner had already lost the strength to guard it, and so it was inevitable that others would scramble to snatch pieces away. But when some ate too much, others naturally got less.

Destiny principles like a net, karmic threads like fog — both dense and layered, blanketing the human world.

Such was the external state of things. Whether or not those common people who had no part in any of it knew about the struggles in the upper echelons, they had already been swept into it all the same.

Several days ago, Li Shi had followed the scattered traces he had uncovered, tracking them all the way to the Luo Sect’s trail.

Li Shi had not told Chang Andu what he had discovered, because what he had found had gone far beyond anything Chang Andu could handle — the Luo Sect intended to perform a blood sacrifice of the people under its protection and its lower-ranking followers in exchange for power.

Li Shi did not move to stop the minor lackeys setting up the ritual formation arrays. He simply and quietly, carefully withdrew, and returned to his secret temporary lodgings. He understood his own capabilities clearly — against a colossus like the Luo Sect, a man with no cultivation was nothing but a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

“You should not have gotten involved in something like this.” The empty room held only Li Shi, yet a voice — extremely aged and ancient — rang out within it.

Li Shi reached into the front of his robe and drew out a jade pendant, setting it on the desk. He lit three sticks of incense and offered them reverently, yet said nothing in response.

The one dwelling within the jade pendant was an ancestral spirit of his Li clan. The curse that had brought about the Li clan’s inexplicable decline had never been resolved, and had not only reduced the Li bloodline to him alone, but also made it utterly impossible for him to cultivate. Li Shi had no choice but to train in ordinary martial arts; his ability to deal with supernatural demons and spirits relied more on the ancestral spirit inhabiting the jade pendant than on himself. But the ancestor was reduced to only a spirit soul, and Li Shi himself could not cultivate — the means at their disposal were far too limited.

Yet he was also not the kind of person who could pretend he had heard nothing after learning of the Luo Sect’s intentions.

Incense smoke curled upward. The room was utterly silent. When the three sticks of incense had nearly burned to their end, the aged voice sighed from within the jade pendant. “What do you intend to do?”

“Tell the Xuanqing Sect,” Li Shi said.

The Xuanqing Sect’s territorial expansion had already created increasing friction with the Luo Sect, to the point where the Luo Sect felt threatened. If the Luo Sect was launching a great blood sacrifice, the most likely target was the Xuanqing Sect.

“That’s one way,” the Li clan ancestor said.

The deep furrow in Li Shi’s brow eased somewhat. When the three sticks of incense had burned out completely, he put the jade pendant back on and walked out of the room.

He would go seek out the Xuanqing Sect.

****

“…Li Shi never told me, but I can see it — he wants to cultivate. I just don’t know why he hasn’t been able to.” Chang Andu finished speaking and fell silent, holding his teacup perfectly still, as though carefully choosing his next words.

Much of the steam had dissipated from the tea. The temperature was just right now. Li Chi lowered his head and took a slow sip.

The causes planted in the past had ripened into the fruits of today, giving shape to today’s external circumstances. Today’s inner state of the heart, in turn, caused new seeds to be planted today. Inner and outer circumstances, made manifest within the weave of karmic threads.

****

Within the nearest Xuanqing Sect outpost to Shezhou City, Li Shi was staying as a guest. He had not wanted to become too deeply entangled in this matter — ideally, neither side would know his identity. Even if the Luo Sect were defeated, that was not something an ordinary person with no cultivation could afford to face. Unfortunately… his ancestor’s concealment had not held up against the Xuanqing Sect’s search. After being found by the Xuanqing Sect’s people, he had been respectfully escorted back to the very place from which he had sent his message. A Daoist named Feiying received him, and after questioning him in sufficient detail about the Luo Sect’s affairs, gave him treatment generous enough to demonstrate the Xuanqing Sect’s gratitude.

Li Shi was now free to leave the Xuanqing Sect’s outpost at will, but since he had already been discovered, he was in no hurry to go. He would wait until the matter with the Luo Sect was settled. Who knew whether his presence had already been exposed to the Luo Sect’s eyes? For cultivators, finding a person was far too simple. Right now, the Xuanqing Sect’s stronghold was certainly safer than his own secret hideout. Better to wait until all this was over and the Luo Sect had no free hand before he left.

Li Shi had been living quietly within the Xuanqing Sect when he suddenly heard someone passing by mention a familiar word. “…Shezhou City…”

Li Shi started, and stepped forward to inquire. “What does this have to do with Shezhou City?”

“Shezhou City is Luo Sect territory,” the person said, puzzled. “Did you not know?”

“How can that be? Is Shezhou City not the shield of the Liang capital?” Li Shi’s brow furrowed tight.

“That’s what it looks like on the surface. After Xu Chang became King of Liang, the city was quietly handed over to the Luo Sect. Haven’t you heard the recent rumors? Xu Chang…” The person then told him everything about what had happened twenty-three years ago.

Li Shi had no heart left to listen carefully. He gave a hurried bow and farewell, then ran swiftly out of the Xuanqing Sect’s stronghold.

“What are you going back to Shezhou City for at a time like this?” From within the jade pendant, the Li clan ancestor shouted. “Stay put in the Xuanqing Sect!”

Li Shi pressed two talismans to his legs. “Chang Andu is still in Shezhou City.”

“Shezhou City is a great city — the Luo Sect may not be willing to strike at it, and besides, hasn’t the Xuanqing Sect already gone to stop them? What need is there for you to meddle!” the Li clan ancestor barked.

Li Shi was unmoved. He lowered his head and checked his belongings. “If Shezhou City truly has nothing to worry about,” he gathered his energy and bolted forward, “then why bother stopping me from going?”

Who could say whether the Luo Sect might not go mad? And who could say how much effort the Xuanqing Sect was willing to expend, or whether they would spare any thought for the lives of ordinary people?

****

Outside the city gate, a carriage that had just departed could not move an inch. Ragged, destitute refugees had surrounded it on all sides, layer upon layer. The wheels could not turn, the horse could not lift its hooves, and from inside the carriage a young child said in frightened bewilderment. “I don’t want to go up the mountain anymore. I want to go home!”

A middle-aged woman’s voice answered — soothing the child while fuming with anger. “The city garrison soldiers suddenly let the refugees in without any advance warning — when we get back, have your father deal with them!” Then she called outward asking about the situation. “Lu’er, let’s go back for today!”

Jiao Lu responded, his brow locked in a tight furrow. He cracked his whip empty in the air and shouted to clear the way, then half-turned back to reassure those inside when he heard their voices, “Mother and younger brother, do not be afraid. The city gate is still open and soldiers are on guard. I have sent the escorts to seek help from the city garrison. We’ll be able to go back very soon.”

Through the crowd, a thin and dirty hand reached out, gripping a sharp piece of stone, and slashed at the horse’s flank. Greedy fire blazed in the eyes — that was meat!

Jiao Lu was startled, and lashed down with his whip.

The city gate was still open.

Those inside the city still knew nothing of any of this.

****

Chang Andu seemed to have settled on his words at last. He set down his teacup and turned to Li Chi with a request. “Might I ask you to examine Li Shi and determine why he is unable to cultivate?”

The corners of Li Chi’s mouth held a gentle smile, yet his eyes were vast and calm, reflecting something unknowable. “Of course.”

****

At the city gate.

The soldiers on guard had vanished without a trace. The refugees poured into the city like water through a broken dam.

A startled horse dragged the carriage careening wildly; the carriage body lurched and nearly overturned, and from within came the sound of frightened weeping. Jiao Lu had nearly been thrown from the horse, and the white, flowing paper-like robe he wore was already torn to shreds.

A tall and powerfully built man came running from a distance. As he neared the crowd, he suddenly leaped high into the air and, landing on a small patch of open ground, plunged into the chaos. With one hand he hauled up the man who was falling to the ground and shoved him back into the carriage, then with a single strike of his blade severed the carriage shaft. The carriage gave a heavy lurch and came to a stop in place, while the startled horse bolted away dragging the broken half of the shaft with it.

Jiao Lu gasped in shock for a long moment, sweat beading on his forehead, before he managed to recover from the terror of nearly being trampled beneath a runaway horse’s hooves. He instinctively opened the carriage door; the refugees on all sides were rushing toward the city gate, and that figure had already been swallowed by the crowd.

****

“Of course.”

Chang Andu felt genuine joy rise up in his heart. He stood, just about to bow in gratitude. “I—”

Bang!

The room door was suddenly slammed open, and a figure came stumbling in.

“Li Shi?!” Chang Andu cried out in shock.

“Move — Shezhou City isn’t safe anymore!” Li Shi grabbed him by the arm.

“Wait, what’s happening?” Chang Andu was yanked into a stumble and asked in alarm.

“Shezhou City is Luo Sect territory. The Luo Sect wants to blood-sacrifice the entire city. Move, now!” Li Shi’s words came rapid-fire.

“Hold on — Mister Li…” Dragged forward several steps, Chang Andu turned back, looking anxiously toward Li Chi.

“Do not worry,” Li Chi said, still seated composedly in his chair, the teacup in his hand not yet set down.

Remarkably, Chang Andu actually stopped. He turned to Li Shi and said, “Li Shi, this is the Mister Li I mentioned to you before. Don’t rush yet — what has happened? How can Shezhou City be Luo Sect territory? Why would they want to blood-sacrifice the whole city?”

“Shezhou City was a deal the King of Liang made with the Luo Sect in exchange for his throne. There’s no time — they let the refugees into the city precisely to have more people for the blood sacrifice!” Li Shi said urgently.

“But Shezhou City offers them far more in ongoing benefit — why would they slaughter the goose that lays the golden eggs?” Chang Andu asked.

“Because the pressure the Xuanqing Sect has placed on them has already far exceeded their calculation of the cost,” Li Chi’s calm voice came from behind him.

“There will be no trouble,” he said, setting down his teacup and rising to walk toward the door. “Come — let us go outside and see.”

He pushed the door open. Light flooded in sharply. Along with the brightness came the sounds of riotous brawling, weeping, desperate scrambling, and furious shouts. The city garrison soldiers were nowhere to be seen. The refugees had poured in wholesale from outside the city, forcing their way into every corner, grabbing anything and everything that might keep them alive.

Chang Andu was so shocked he could not speak.

The ground suddenly shuddered. Something taut and stretched in the air abruptly dissipated.

A thin, mosquito-faint voice drifted into Li Shi’s ear from the jade pendant. “The blood sacrifice formation array beneath the ground has been broken.”

Li Shi’s expression remained dark. Even if the Xuanqing Sect had resolved the Luo Sect’s blood sacrifice arrangement, the chaos within the city was not something that could be calmed easily. The disturbance from just a moment ago had made the situation on the streets even more turbulent.

Yet in that very instant, the frenzied refugees began collapsing one after another. In no time at all, a great swath of them lay fallen in the streets. Within no more than three breaths, there was not a single person still standing in the entire street.

Li Shi’s expression shifted abruptly. He shoved Chang Andu back inside with one hand, then strode quickly over to a collapsed refugee and crouched down to examine them. After a moment, he stood again, checked several more of the fallen, and his expression grew stranger still.

“…What is going on?” Chang Andu asked.

“They’ve fallen asleep,” Li Shi said. The refugees had all sunk into unconscious slumber. That was a fortunate outcome — the riot had been brought under control without any need for casualties. Judging by the way the Xuanqing Sect handled the resettlement of refugees in other places, receiving this entire group would not be a difficult task for them. But still… he couldn’t help letting his gaze drift toward Li Chi.

Li Chi still stood at the doorway, looking out with perfect composure at the street full of sleeping figures. How remarkably similar this scene was to what had once occurred in Shuigu Town because of the Dream-Eating Tapir.

He withdrew his gaze and met Li Shi’s eyes, smiling gently. “Why look at me? Is this not the result of your own efforts?”

“This was all done by the Xuanqing Sect?” Li Shi murmured, frowning. “How is that possible…”

The Luo Sect had been entrenched in Shezhou City for over twenty years, while the Xuanqing Sect had only just risen to prominence during the Great Calamity. From the moment he had discovered the Luo Sect’s blood sacrifice intentions, only a few days had passed before he notified the Xuanqing Sect. And this was the Luo Sect’s primary stronghold — under normal circumstances, even if the Xuanqing Sect managed to stop the Luo Sect, they would surely have paid a steep price and would have been hard pressed to attend to the ordinary people within the city. How could the situation have come to look like this — like an absolute crushing landslide?

“If the Xuanqing Sect did not possess such capability, how could it have pushed the Luo Sect to the point of resorting to blood sacrifice?” Li Chi said. “Let us go back inside.”

Li Shi stared at Li Chi’s retreating figure. He had originally assumed that this “Mister Li” was one of the Xuanqing Sect’s people — which was why he had seemed so serenely certain that nothing would go wrong within the city. Yet Mister Li’s manner of speaking just now, that half-smiling, ambiguous expression, suggested he was not at all on the same side as the Xuanqing Sect…

He nudged Chang Andu beside him. “What is the background of this ‘Mister Li’?”

Chang Andu shook his head. “What I know is only what I told you before. Mister Li once saved my life. And we only ran into each other again today.”

Li Shi asked nothing more, and pulled Chang Andu along as he turned to go back inside.

Chang Andu hesitated: “What about all these people on the street?”

“Someone will come to deal with them,” Li Shi said. Since it had been the Xuanqing Sect’s people who had acted, they would naturally handle the aftermath as well.

Li Shi pulled Chang Andu back into the room and, turning to face inward, closed the door behind him. The light narrowed again as the door shut, growing dim through the crack at the bottom. His gaze had never left that composed figure inside the room. The sound of water being poured rang out, clear and melodious — Mister Li was lifting the pot to refill his own cup of tea.

From the moment the refugees arrived at the city walls to the silent, traceless vanishing of the blood sacrifice — it had all passed in no more time than it took to drink a single cup of tea.