Chapter 128: Bearing the Sword

The characters reflected on the mirror’s surface were delicate and graceful, imbued with joy. The young Daoist raised his hand and set down his brush, replying with a single word: “Alright.” The writing rippled like water, spreading in waves before vanishing without a trace. But no response came immediately. From this, it was clear, the girl must have written it in a moment of happiness and hadn’t remained by the mirror to await a reply.

She had likely encountered something amusing.

The young Daoist carefully put the mirror away.

He left enough coin on the table to pay for two bowls of noodles, then wandered off at a leisurely pace, making his way to a stall selling freshly baked sesame cakes.

Steam curled upward, and the air was thick with the rich fragrance of sesame filling.

“My sesame cakes are best eaten hot! Once they’ve cooled, the crust won’t stay this crisp!”

“Come, come, is this your first time visiting my little shop?”

“There are also two sesame balls—just a little something extra. If you find it tasty, young Daoist, be sure to come by often.”

The shopkeeper was warmly enthusiastic. He could tell this young Daoist had never visited before, so he added the two sesame balls without asking for more coin. Beaming with pride, he praised the taste of his pastries and urged him to return again. Without pressing further, he turned back to tending the flow of other patrons—people came and went, smoke rose in coils, and the mortal world bustled on.

The young Daoist tucked the box into the sleeve of his robe, placing it within an inner pocket.

He sealed it with a thread of Innate One Qi.

The heat would not escape, nor would it burn him.

In this way, Yun Qin should still be able to taste the flavor of the mortal world—the freshness of something just out of the oven.

To cultivate the Dao is to refine and elevate one’s own existence; such transformation reflects wholly in every action, in how one eats, lives, dresses, and moves—not merely in displays of divine abilities or combat. With that, he made his way, unhurried and composed, toward the Mingzhen Dao Alliance. Last time, he had needed to borrow the moonlight as a passage. But the branch host of the Dao Alliance had since informed him of the proper method to come and go—there was no longer a need to wait three months.

The young Daoist knocked on the door and ascended the stairs.

It was once again the same youthful attendant who stepped forward with a smile and greeted him: “Ah, so it’s Fellow Daoist Qi…”

But after taking only a few steps, he sensed from the young man before him a strand of energy—pure and untainted—belonging solely to the Daoist path: Innate One Qi.

He paused in his movements, then asked: “You… have broken through?”

The young Daoist replied: “Yes.”

“A few days ago, I gained clarity on some matters.”

“And thus, I broke through.”

Gained clarity on some matters… and thus broke through…

The young attendant opened his mouth but said nothing. Several expressions flitted across his face in quick succession. Within his heart, a feeling arose—one he could not quite name.

He stood in a daze for a long while. Though there was a trace of disheartened loss, he was, after all, a cultivator. He gathered up those emotions of helpless longing, and simply cupped his hands in salute:

“Then, please, Daoist Master, take the seat of honor.”

Though he had always been polite and mild before—especially after witnessing the young Daoist’s extraordinary display—this time, a genuine thread of reverence appeared on his face. It was not the respect for status or position, but the reverence a cultivator held toward one who walked further along the Dao. He said:

“I shall go inform the supervisor.”

“And I will bring spirit tea for the Daoist Master.”

Not long after, accompanied by the sound of footsteps, the same middle-aged man from before ascended the stairs. Upon seeing Qi Wuhuo, he clasped his hands in greeting while still at the stairway, laughing heartily: “When I saw Daoist offering insight last time—so calm and assured, as though the Great Dao itself dwelled within your heart—I already knew your attainment and cultivation were profound. I thought your breakthrough would come soon, but I did not expect it to arrive even sooner than I had predicted.”

“My congratulations—truly.”

“At this rate, perhaps one day, I shall have to address you as ‘True Person.’”

After a few words of courtesy, the middle-aged supervisor asked the young Daoist of his purpose in coming. Upon hearing that he wished to consult the Dao Alliance’s records and ask about the point cost, the man couldn’t help but laugh aloud. Noticing a trace of confusion still on the young Daoist’s face, he smiled and explained: “There’s no need, no need. These records, while numerous, do not require coin or compensation from you.”

“For those who have attained Innate One Qi—Daoist Masters, temple heads, and those of such rank, the basic records of the Mingzhen Dao Alliance are open and freely accessible.”

“In truth, these are but embellishments upon the foundation.”

“These materials do not contain the core transmissions of true Daoist methods. For one who has cultivated to this level, they are not difficult to obtain.”

“Some of these texts are likely already present in one’s own collection—this is merely a leisurely visit to browse through them. Since that’s the case, why should our Dao Alliance concern itself with trifles like money? Better to offer some convenience to fellow Daoists. Come, Daoist Master Qi, follow me. I shall lead you to the Book Repository.”

The middle-aged Daoist stood and smiled as he guided the way, making casual conversation about interesting matters within the Dao Alliance. Though the path was short, the guest was never made to feel bored.

Upon entering the Book Repository, he found a quiet corner and had someone send up a fine pot of spirit tea, as well as a snack box made from sixteen kinds of preserved fruits—eight dried and eight fresh. There were also three boxes of various pastries: crispy fruit confections, sweet cakes, and osmanthus jelly. He smiled and said: “Daoist Master, should there be anything in particular you wish to eat, simply say the word. I wouldn’t dare speak for what lies beyond, but as for delicacies from all over the country, our Mingzhen Dao Alliance lacks for none.”

After a pause, he continued: “Would the Daoist Master be free this evening?”

With natural ease, the middle-aged Daoist extended the invitation: “I heard that fresh fish from the far northern lands just arrived. It’s to be served as fish kuai—sliced so thin it floats like drifting snow, translucent as the lightest spring frost. The flavor is truly exquisite. If Daoist has no prior engagements, might I host a simple meal this evening?”

The young Daoist offered thanks and gently declined: “Many thanks for the kind offer.”

“But I already have plans for today.”

The middle-aged man was surprised, then chuckled: “If it’s the Daoist from Lianyang Temple and that little fellow, we could send an invitation on your behalf.”

“Two more at the table wouldn’t trouble us at all.”

Qi Wuhuo shook his head and said: “It’s not them.”

“Oh?”

The middle-aged man blinked in slight astonishment, then looked over to see the young Daoist seated by the window—black hair bound with a wooden hairpin, a robe of interwoven blue and white, a twig tucked askew at his waist. He was calm and unrestrained, as if all things were already understood. The man laughed heartily and said: “Hahaha, so that’s how it is! In that case, the next time the Daoist Master has free time, you must allow me to be your host.”

“Please, take your time browsing the texts. I shan’t disturb you further.”

“If you wish for more spirit tea, just call out, and someone will see to it.”

When he stepped outside, he let out a sigh of wonder.

“I truly wonder what delicacy could it be, that even surpasses this fish kuai of mine?”

The middle-aged Daoist pondered for a long while, but could not come to an answer. What in this grand city of Zhongzhou could possibly be more worth savoring than the dish he had specially acquired—with great effort and care—from beneath the icy frost of the far northern plains, carved by sword arts and divine skill, sliced thin as drifting snow?

He did not know.

It was merely a sesame cake, still steaming from the oven, from the world of mortals and red dust.

The middle-aged Daoist brought over all the texts Qi Wuhuo had requested—those related to the workings of Human Dao Qi Fortune—and placed them to the side, convenient for him to reach and peruse. Qi Wuhuo took a sip of tea. The taste was rich and fragrant, laced with a hint of fruit aroma. Threads of spiritual energy lingered faintly within it. Though such things held no real use to someone who cultivated with Innate One Qi, they were exceedingly pleasant on the tongue.

He continued reading through the texts.

Only by fully understanding how [Human Dao Qi Fortune] operated could Qi Wuhuo possess absolute, unwavering confidence in accomplishing what he intended to do.

The young Daoist read swiftly. His spirit was strong enough to allow him to absorb and comprehend knowledge at a speed far beyond the norm. Even so, the sheer number of texts in this place was staggering. Though he read with such pace, by the time twilight fell and dusk deepened outside, he had still not made it through even one-fifth of the collected works. Yet in his heart, he now held a more structured and comprehensive understanding of the Qi Fortune of the Human Sovereign.

Human Sovereign…

The young Daoist muttered those two words to himself. Then suddenly, he said,

“A thief.”

In Qi Wuhuo’s eyes, the current way in which the Human Sovereign’s Qi Fortune operated was that of a thief.

A tyrant!

Daoist cultivation is the refinement of the Primordial Spirit, Primordial Qi, and Primordial Essence.

There is also the teaching that the Sun governs one’s nature, the Moon one’s life; and that rivers, lakes, and seas—their rising vapors—are Qi.

This is the doctrine that “the human body is a small Heaven and Earth; and Heaven and Earth are a great human body.”

But the cultivation of Qi Fortune by the Human Sovereign lies somewhere between these two paths.

It is the gathering of the essence of countless members of the human race, then using oneself to stand in for the collective intent of those myriad beings.

It may well be said that, by various means, one draws off a portion of each person’s Primordial Qi and Primordial Spirit, and channels it all into the construct known as the [Human Emperor]. The bearer of this mantle thereby holds the power extracted from endless generations of the common people, its upper limit unknown.

“No wonder the imperial courts and royal dynasties call those of us who cultivate our own path ‘untamed beings from beyond the borders of governance’.”

“Heaven and Earth are vast and boundless, yet within them exists the rule of kings and the teachings of propriety.”

“But we, we stand beyond the mundane.”

The Dao of the Human Sovereign is a path of plunder—it is the path of [taking from the lacking to nourish the excess].

Yet after poring over the scrolls, the young Daoist finally came to a most troubling realization: the path of Human Sovereign destiny is without limit. The Heavenly Court does not interfere in the affairs of the mortal realm. And in the mortal realm—who could possibly triumph over the Human Sovereign, formed by the convergence of the essence and spirit of the human race throughout the ages?

Once one attains the summit, there is no force left to hinder them.

Then, even the most minute desire of the heart will begin to swell and expand.

To restrain it by self-discipline alone—nearly impossible.

As the young Daoist read through the scrolls, all he saw were phrases such as: [If the ruler commands the vassal to die, the vassal must obey], [If the lord is disgraced, the servant must perish], [The ruler is the standard of all under Heaven]. Such writings spoke of nothing but subjugation. And yet, there existed no power in the mortal realm to strike fear into the heart of a Human Sovereign. The young Daoist lowered his gaze, recalling the Yellow Millet Dream, and came to a realization.

To ascend the throne as sovereign…

Is to stand above all.

And it is under such boundless authority that desire will only grow without check.

In that case, even if another were to take the same position, they too would inevitably be changed.

Qi Wuhuo pondered for a long while, his palm supporting his chin, though he felt regret that within that Dream of the Golden Millet, he had not been able to truly comprehend what [Human Dao Destiny] felt like. If he had, perhaps he might have thought of a way.

Yet still, to gather the will of the people, to draw upon the essence of all living beings, and to unify the hearts of the people in obedience—that is the destiny of a Human Sovereign.

Then, what of that sword…

It too gathered the will of the people, drawing upon countless threads of vital force from all living things.

All their indignation, defiance, their cries of vengeance against traitors and demons—each of them born from the instinct to survive—coalesced into one force, and yet it was for the sake of the people.

Majestic, and yet violent.

Its composition resembled that of Human Dao Destiny, yet was not the same. It appeared similar, but at its core, it was different. In a way, it seemed to be a complete inversion of the Human Sovereign’s Destiny. One is to sacrifice the many to glorify the one; the other, to forsake the self to safeguard the multitude.

It was worth a try…

The young Daoist mused, one hand holding a scroll, while his right hand formed a subtle incantation gesture.

Having reached the stage of Innate One Qi, he could now shrink the sword case to a single foot in length and store it within his robes.

At this moment, his Primordial Spirit flowed forth and entered the sword case. The sword within, inscribed with the cloud-seal characters “Kill the Thief”, was suddenly stirred by his spirit. He then attempted to use his own comprehension to condense a force [akin to the Human Dao Qi Fate]—but not the same. Not the Human Sovereign’s destiny of taking from the surplus to feed the lacking, but another kind altogether: To forsake the self and protect all beings under Heaven.

A trace of resentment left behind by the three million wronged souls of Jinzhou.

The sword let out a fierce cry. Even within the confines of the sword case, its resonance could not be contained. 

The young Daoist lowered his eyes. His Primordial Spirit guided the Primordial Qi, which in turn transformed the “Decree” character upon the sword, drawing out the qi dynamic within in an attempt to refine it.

The land was soaked in the blood of the people’s cries—

All for but a single thought:

To save the living from their suffering.

Faint strands of crimson bloodlight began to surface along the Kill The Thief Sword, refined and condensed to an extreme. With a slight motion of Qi Wuhuo’s palm, the sword leaped forth from its case and landed squarely in his grasp. At this moment, there was no spiritual brilliance upon the blade—no so-called divine aura—only a force of qi that was immensely close to, yet distinctly different from, the Human Dao Destiny. As Qi Wuhuo held the sword, it was as if he could sense something utterly antithetical—completely repellent to the sword’s essence.

Through the sword, Qi Wuhuo’s Primordial Spirit seemed to faintly perceive that from within several of the nearby marketplaces and districts, threads of Human Dao Destiny were rising.

They belonged to officials within the Human Dao Dynasty system.

And among them, there was one presence that, to any who could sense the workings of Human Dao Destiny, could never be overlooked—a vast and majestic qi.

The Crown Prince…

The young Daoist gazed toward that direction.

The words of the fortune-teller from earlier came to mind—“To peer into another’s spirit with my own”—such was the nature of Heaven’s Will divination. Countless phrases used to describe the calculations of Heaven’s mechanism surfaced in his thoughts. With the  Shazei Sword in hand, the young Daoist lifted his gaze and looked afar, and in that moment, he caught sight of the pillar of Human Dao Qi Fate that belonged to the Crown Prince. Faintly, he also sensed another stream of yin, supple Human Dao Qi Fate surging in secret toward the Crown Prince. [TL_Note: From now on, I’ll also use Shazei Sword for Kill the Thief Sword]

Was it that member of the Hidden Dragon Guard?

Qi Wuhuo understood.

His thoughts turned to that jar of poisoned wine, the old village head, and that aged military officer.

The young Daoist lowered his gaze.

With the Shazei Sword in hand, he slashed in that direction.