By the end of the month, Shi Wuduan had, after notifying Gu Huaiyang, sent a secret missive to the king of the yao in “General Gu’s” name.
It was nearly to the point already, that the victor of this war between humans would be decided by which side of the bench this third party decided to sit their asses on.
After Lu Lu’s wedding, Shi Wuduan left Huaizhou once more and appeared for the second time at the Dasheng Sect’s Bodhi Mountain.
At first, he wandered around at the base of the mountain, yet didn’t ascend it. Bai Li, with his exceptional sight, was able to see that there was a circle of mysterious light closely encircling Bodhi Mountain, and that the spiritual energy that had accumulated at the mountain over thousands of years of cultivation was slowly seeping away southwards through the Sanyang Pass along the severed Dagu Road.
Bai Li was very sensitive towards spiritual energy. The reason the ancients had the saying “spiritual places nurture people of talent” was because everyone, no matter whether they were human or yao, needed a source of spiritual energy in order to cultivate. Now, the collapse of the Dagu Road had destroyed the three sect’s point of confluence, which was something like what one would get if they bunched all a bunch of perfectly functional vessels into one spot. If they were lucky they’d just be paralyzed, and if they weren’t, then they’d croak right then and there.
But even with his sight, he wasn’t able to tell where the man-made chasm in the Dagu Road was diverting all that spiritual energy to.
As Shi Wuduan gazed at the snowy summit of Bodhi Mountain, he said quietly, “Say, if I climb this mountain, do you think that old fox will kick me off after I’d conned him that time?”
Bai Li was silent for a moment, really not knowing what he should say. He kept thinking that if this guy wasn’t dragged out and beaten to a pulp, he’d have more blessings than he could count. A long while later, he reached out and gathered Shi Wuduan’s hair, messed up from the carriage ride, off to the side and asked, “Why can’t you ever do anything good?”
“I’m always doing good.”
“That’s not what it looks like to me,” Bai Li said bluntly. Even if it was Shi Wuduan, he’d grown too used to being a high-handed demon lord to show a bit of tact, “Aside from your eldest brother, it doesn’t seem like anyone else is benefitting from your actions. A lot of people died because of you. Zou Yanlai’s books are all filled with ‘benevolence, righteousness, etiquette, wisdom, integrity, magnanimity’ and whatnot, but even though some of it is wrong, it at least looks like it’s got some sense. You tell me then, which one of those do you have?”
Shi Wuduan glanced up at him and asked crabbily, “Then what’re you following me for?”
“Enough,” Bai Li cut him off indifferently, “Don’t get riled up. I said before that I’m not going to fight you anymore, so I’m not going to fight.”
Seeing that Shi Wuduan was glaring at him, Bai Li continued, “It doesn’t really matter anyway. I’m just an outsider awaiting your judgment, who saw something they didn’t understand and asked a question, nothing more.”
Shi Wuduan sighed, nudged Bai Li’s arm away, and brazenly pillowed his head on his legs, his face turned slightly to the side. He said wearily, “Let me lay down for a while.”
Bai Li reached around his shoulders and pulled him closer to himself so that he might lie more comfortably. It looked like they were intimately embracing.
A long time later, Shi Wuduan finally closed his eyes and said lightly, “Bai Li, the person you like is actually the carefree youth of Jiulu Mountain from twenty years ago. He didn’t understand much of the world at all. All he ever knew was play and mischief. He had no worries, no hatred. His heart was too clean, and because of that, it was big enough to accept anyone.”
Bai Li’s heart tightened painfully.
Shi Wuduan continued, nearly inaudibly, “But he’s already dead.”
Bai Li didn’t speak. Shi Wuduan opened his eyes and met his gaze.
Bai Li’s arms suddenly tightened around him. His eyes were nearly black as the abyss; too deep to see the bottom. He abruptly tugged Shi Wuduan up and started biting his lips like a wild animal. His hot breath puffed against Shi Wuduan’s cheek, which trembled as if it’d been burned.
Bai Li’s hand pressed against his back, up until Shi Wuduan, nearly out of breath, forcefully shoved him away. He glared at Shi Wuduan and fumed, “Can’t you just let me be in a good mood? Even if it’s just a lie?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
He looked like he had a wound that was on the verge of bursting open. He looked like he’d been bitterly tormented and infuriated by the wound, yet, like a wild beast, didn’t know how to vent.
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The carriage stopped and they heard the driver say, “Lord Sixth, there’s someone blocking the road.”
Shi Wuduan asked, “Who?”
They heard a man answer in response, “I am a ‘Jian’ generation disciple of the Dasheng Sect. The sect master ordered me to wait here to receive honored guests.”
Shi Wuduan straightened out his robes, stroked Bai Li’s cheek, and mouthed, “It’s alright, stop being mad.”
He hopped off the carriage. Aside from the faint redness of his lips, he seemed, as ever, so unperturbed he wouldn’t blink if the sky fell down and turned into a blanket. He saluted the disciple of the Dasheng Sect and said, “Many thanks. If you could be troubled to lead the way.”
The driver drove the carriage at a leisurely pace alongside him. Bai Li stayed inside the entire time; Shi Wuduan thought he was still working off his anger, but really, Bai Li was just sitting there blankly, his hand resting on the cheek that Shi Wuduan had touched.
They’d traveled for a while when suddenly, Bai Li snapped out of his daze and his expression frosted over. The driver felt a gust of wind pass him by, and before he could figure out what happened, Bai Li had already yanked Shi Wuduan behind him and pressed his sharp claws against the Dasheng disciple’s throat as he glared at him coldly.
The disciple was frightened, but though his icy killing intent had startled him, he had after all come from a lauded sect. He was flustered, but not panicked. He hoarsely opened his mouth, “Honored guest…. is there a problem?”
Bai Li said, “There’s a yao stench.”
Shi Wuduan asked confusedly, “What stench?”
Bai Li’s gaze was still stabbing into the disciple as he said, “Yao normally cultivate amongst themselves and avoid karmic entanglements with humans, otherwise the consequences are immense. Only the murderous, those whose hands are stained with human blood, would have this kind of scent.”
“Ah.” Shi Wuduan nodded in understanding, “No wonder. I arranged a meeting here with the King of a Hundred Beasts. It’s said that his true form is that of a tiger’s. I didn’t think your fox nose would be so keen, to be able to smell him from so far away.”
Bai Li’s expression stiffened. He awkwardly retracted his nails and turned to look at Shi Wuduan, his face frozen.
Amused Shi Wuduan impulsively patted him on the head, and continued up the mountain behind the startled disciple.
Only then did Bai Li grudgingly follow along and ask, “Aren’t you guys at war?”
Shi Wuduan replied, “It’s not like we have a blood feud or anything. If we can’t talk morals, we can still talk business. Sitting down and coming to an agreement is obviously better than stabbing each other with spears.”
Bai Li’s expression shifted. Shi Wuduan knew that that was an expression of incomprehension. A smile creeped tardily onto his face as he thought, a silly fox like you doesn’t need to know anything more than eating, sleeping, drinking, fighting; why get involved in all this mess?
A moment later, Bai Li couldn’t help asking, “Didn’t you say that Gu fellow wrote a secret letter or something and wanted to meet face to face? Why not wait until he arrived?”
Shi Wuduan didn’t even look back as he answered, “If even you know about it, is it really a secret?”
Bai Li asked incredulously, “It’s fake?”
Shi Wuduan said, “Not exactly, it’s real. A while later I’ll probably have to make a trip to Huaizhou and arrange the meeting.”
Bai Li was bewildered again; the air of violence and blood about him diminished significantly. He was a bit like that rabbit who’d hang limply when dangled by the ears. Thus, he decided he might as well stop thinking about it. If anyone had the guts to get in the way he’d just kill them, simple as that. No point in thinking about this and that. Not only were there secret meetings, but there were even secret secret meetings.
He found that despite having been advised by the sect master, he still didn’t understand these people. Following behind Shi Wuduan, he yawned as he thought, why’re these people so boring?
Soon, they arrived at the small pavilion where the sect master and the King of a Hundred Beasts were waiting for them. The yao king looked like a middle-aged man. Unexpectedly, he wasn’t overbearing or aggressive. Wearing a plain, simple set of robes, the color fading from age, he looked like a down on his luck scholar.
Bai Li stood at a slight distance. If it weren’t for the other’s scent, he’d almost think he was mistaken — he really didn’t seem the slightest bit like a tiger yao.
The sect master didn’t have any particular reaction to being conned. He very placidly invited Shi Wuduan and Bai Li to take a seat.
The King of a Hundred Beasts was rather well learned. He called himself Zhao Rong. His gaze was almost gentle. It was only when he focused intently on another that his eyes flashes with sharp keenness.
Shi Wuduan seemed to be rather familiar with him. Upon meeting, he said, “Seeing once beats hearing a hundred times. Thank you for coming, Yao King.”
Zhao Rong nodded, his eyes drifted towards Bai Li. He observed him for a moment and asked, “Is this the Demon Lord then? The king of foxes, Lady Bai, has been rather concerned about you these last few years.”
After the destruction of Cangyun Valley, the fox king had taken her remaining tribe members to the Amu Grasslands to seek the protection of the Yao King.
Bai Li crossed his arms in front of his chest. Instead of sitting, he leaned against a pillar and sneered, “Thanks so much for telling me.”
Zhao Rong looked at him as he leisurely continued, “Back then, a young lady of the fox tribe had been corrupted by demonic power and lured onto a ruinous path, such that she was begotten with demon spawn. It took an entire forty-nine days of arduous labor to birth the child, which she entrusted to Lady Bai in her last moments. Even in the moments before she closed her eyes for the last, she thought only of that demon down in the nine hells. Foxes are licentious by nature, yet there are many such lovesick fools. When the Hall of Demon’s seal had been disturbed, Lady Bai truly had no other choice but to put you on the altar. After all, Demon Lord… you are not our kin. So, if you would, let go of your grudge.”
Bai Li replied plainly, “Since you name me Demon Lord, you must know that I’ve no ties with the fox race. The less you say, the better.”
Just because he let Shi Wuduan run his mouth and call him “little fox,” it didn’t mean his tolerance extended to others as well.
Zhao Rong chuckled bitterly and shook his head, “Apologies.”
Then, he said to Shi Wuduan, “We have already handled the matter you discussed with us, Lord Sixth.”
Seeing Shi Wuduan’s lack of anger or surprise, Bai Li suddenly had a guess. Perhaps the hundred thousand yao army blocking Gu Huaiyang’s way had been his doing? What was the purpose?
Perhaps… he didn’t even trust Gu Huaiyang?
Seemingly noticing his suspicious, the sect master suddenly explained, “So, you controlled the grain market in the northwest to lure the imperial court’s armies there, then when you sealed the Dasheng Sect and cut off the Dagu Road, the northwest was instantly caught between enemies on both sides. Then, in the chaos, you ordered others to open a path and exploited the secret treaty between us to divert the spiritual energy into the Amu Grasslands. Am I correct?”
Zhao Rong said, “I’ve yet to express my gratitude, Lord Sixth.” — Over the last few years, the war had forced many yao tribes to migrate to the Amu Grasslands. Yet, the grasslands were barren to begin with, so their arrival was an unsustainable strain on their resources. That meant that Shi Wuduan’s “selfless” action had both solved their most pressing issue and drawn a clear border between humans and yao. Underneath everyone’s notice, the order of the world, in which humans and yao intermingled and cultivated side by side, had been quietly written anew.
The Amu Grasslands would henceforth be the land of the yao, forever apart from the world of humans. Bai Li looked at Shi Wuduan and wondered, is it possible that he intends to erase humanity’s potential for cultivation?
“No need.” Shi Wuduan retrieved a small scroll from the fold of his robes and placed it on the stone table. He said to Zhao Rong, “This should’ve been brought out during the evening banquet in Huaizhou, it’s just that I don’t quite feel reassured; no offense, Yao King.”
Bai Li skimmed it over and knew that it was another secret treaty. Each line was meticulously written. If Zhao Rong signed it, then the yao would, from that moment, be forbidden from intruding into the human realm lest they suffer great punishment.
Zhao Rong replied in the affirmative, but still carefully examined each line of the contract. Then, they spent the rest of the afternoon negotiating in excruciating detail, neither of them amenable to compromise, as Bai Li watched from the side.
Unfortunately, Zhao Rong’s position was comparatively weaker, and he knew that the person across him must have other bargaining chips up his sleeve. He’d already sorted out the human realm, the sects, and the yao. It remained to be seen how he’d deal with the Demon Lord. Shi Wuduan never showed his hand. No one ever knew what he was plotting for his next step. This was a man brazen enough to trick heaven itself, not to mention a mere king of the yao.
He only wanted to… do as much as he could to better his people’s circumstances.
Bai Li listened to them nitpick little by little, bored out of his mind. He turned his attention to the sect master, who was sipping tea. Seeing that he was unruffled as ever, he asked curiously, “You aren’t mad?”
The sect master looked up at him.
Bai Li asked, “He tricked you into signing the secret treaty, then drained your sect’s spiritual energy. Aren’t you angry?”
The sect master laughed, “Lord Sixth promised that my Dasheng Sect would be the monarch’s ancestral temple for every generation to come. I don’t think he’d go back on his word. Hasn’t he given us quite a lot of dignity?”
Bai Li frowned.
The sect master continued, “My Dasheng Sect isn’t like the Xuan Sect, which favors martial arts, or the Mi Sect, which studies arcane arts. We fear the heavens and earth, know when to step back, understand the natural lifecycle of all things. These are the true teachings of the Dasheng Sect. The strength of a sect’s Daoist arts doesn’t mean much at all. What does it matter if spiritual energy no longer flows through the mountains and valleys? My sect will still hold the reverence and respect of the people, will still have innumerable pilgrims travel to pay their respects and seek guidance for their woes.”
Bai Li was still frowning.
The sect master said lightly, “In the future, all sects will disappear, whether it’s old sects like mine or future sects to come. The chaos will end imminently, and the human emperor will become the highest power of the human realms. Only my Dasheng Sect will be preserved as the ancestral temple, holy shrine, and sacred land. Isn’t it a great blessing?”
Shi Wuduan couldn’t help glancing at him, thinking — old people are just canny like that.
Bai Li fell silent for a long time. The words of a children’s story suddenly surfaced in his mind — long, long ago, the heavens and earth were originally formless mass until the great deity, Pangu, came into existence, raised his mighty axe, and cleaved apart the formlessness; the pure became the heavens and the impure became the earth, the mountains were split from the waters, the moon from the sun…
So this was the true lantern that turned the fate of nations.
Bai Li looked at Shi Wuduan’s slightly slouched back, suddenly wanting to go up and hug him. He recalled Shi Wuduan’s silence in the carriage and couldn’t help but think, why didn’t you say anything?
Then he suddenly stood, interrupting Shi Wuduan and Zhao Rong’s negotiations, and under Zhao Rong’s shocked stare, hugged Shi Wuduan from behind, drawing him tightly against his chest.
Why didn’t you say anything?
Because… if you said it no one would believe you?
How could a mere mortal ever accomplish the deeds of a deity?
(灬ºωº灬)♡
At last. A❤️
💙💙💙
im miserableee,, im soo sadddd.
Finally, he’s understanding how deep SWD’s work goes, how actually important it is, important enough to have put his own happiness last. I’m so moved by the significance of SWD’s gift to the Dasheng sect. He offered them true legacy that will outlast petty dynasties. It makes me think of a manga i read as a teen where the hermit gave love potions out and called them longevity, because only by loving someone and growing your family could your memory be honored decades to come.