Chapter 144: A Chance Encounter

The calamity began in the late spring and early summer of that fateful year. Centuries later, people across the land still remembered with vivid clarity the terrifying and frenzied days that followed.

In the far south, within the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, countless monstrous beasts and strange creatures suddenly emerged, their numbers too great to count. Each was bloodthirsty, attacking men, women, and children indiscriminately. Many of these foul creatures feasted on human flesh, leaving a trail of carnage in their wake.

This calamity first erupted in the southern regions near the Ten Thousand Great Mountains and quickly spread throughout the entire area. The five tribes of Nanjiang—Miao, Zhuang, Tujia, Li, and Gaoshan—rose up in resistance.

However, against the endless hordes of monstrous beasts and especially the dozen or so particularly powerful and magically gifted beasts, the five tribes’ resistance was like an ant trying to stop a cart. In no time, their defenses were shattered, and the people of Nanjiang were left to suffer, their lands ravaged and littered with corpses.

This disaster soon shook the world, spreading fear and panic. People in the Central Plains were in constant alarm, unable to find peace. Many fled northward, hoping to escape the approaching doom.

Cultivators across the realm were shocked, and even the eternal rivals, the orthodox and the demonic paths, temporarily set aside their enmities to watch the developments in the south and plan their responses.

Fengxiang Valley, a major orthodox sect in the south, narrowly escaped the calamity as its leader, Yun Yilun, had led most of his disciples to Azure Ethereal Conclave to visit Daoxuan Zhenren.

Rumors circulated that upon hearing of the suffering in Nanjiang, Yun Yilun, filled with anguish, struck his chest and lamented his inability to prevent the evil from harming the people. His self-reproach was so deep that he contemplated suicide, but was dissuaded by his disciples and the elders of Azure Ethereal Vapors. Yun Yilun then vowed to use all the resources of Fengxiang Valley to avenge the people of Nanjiang.

Not long after, Yun Yilun issued a call to all cultivators, revealing that the calamity was caused by a powerful beast demon. This demon’s ferocity and magic were unmatched, and it could only be defeated if the entire cultivation world united. With this, Fengxiang Valley and Azure Ethereal Vapors jointly called for the forces of righteousness to gather and eradicate this scourge.

Days later, Tianyin Temple officially responded, supporting the call from Azure Ethereal Vapors and Fengxiang Valley. They dispatched emissaries to join the alliance.

The righteous factions were in a frenzy, planning and strategizing, and sent several groups of elite disciples to scout the monstrous creatures and their origins, for knowledge was power in battle.

Meanwhile, the usually arrogant and aggressive three major demonic sects—the Ghost King Sect, Venomous Sect, and Joyful Union—fell strangely silent, seemingly observing each other and not rushing to act. Amidst this eerie calm, the Central Plains lay in a strange and uneasy peace.

This uneasy calm was finally shattered on the eve of the summer solstice when the monstrous beasts and strange creatures, having ravaged Nanjiang, pushed into the Central Plains.

Initially, civilian casualties were minimal, as most people near the southern border had already fled weeks earlier. But the number of these beasts seemed to grow, and they spread more rapidly, threatening the heartland. It was clear that the time of true suffering for the people of the Central Plains was at hand.

Startling news and dubious rumors abounded, each one more shocking than the last. One day, a village was said to have been massacred; the next, an entire city reduced to ruins. Each day passed in fear and dread, affecting everyone profoundly.

For those who had lost hope, even the end of the world seemed irrelevant. Gui Li, along with Zhou Yixian, Xiao Huan, and Ye Gou, had been together for over a month. He wasn’t sure why he stayed with them, perhaps because he had nowhere else to go.

Among them, Zhou Yixian was the most opposed to Gui Li’s presence. Not only did Gui Li eat for free, he also did nothing useful, unlike Ye Gou, who helped with tasks. Instead, Gui Li spent his days drinking and sleeping, often needing others to take care of him.

As for eating, Gui Li only drank a little wine. Zhou Yixian’s main annoyance was actually the three-eyed monkey, Xiao Hui, which ate and drank far more than Gui Li. If not for Xiao Huan’s insistence, Zhou Yixian would have fled long ago.

Since that night when Ye Gou had attempted to kill Gui Li but was stopped by Xiao Hui, and subsequently spared by Gui Li, Ye Gou had become more silent, rarely speaking for days.

Over the past few days, however, both the grumbling Zhou Yixian and Xiao Huan, and even the silent Ye Gou, noticed a change in Gui Li. Though they couldn’t put it into words, Gui Li was becoming more lucid. Most noticeably, he drank less, sometimes going entire nights without a drink, but his behavior remained odd—he often sat with Xiao Hui, gazing northward, lost in thought.

As refugees from the south fled north, the news of the calamity spread. Zhou Yixian and the others learned of the situation. Zhou Yixian, upon hearing this, pondered deeply, shaking his head and sighing about where to flee.

The others, while worried, didn’t share his concern. Gui Li and Ye Gou appeared preoccupied, while Xiao Huan, who enjoyed her time with Xiao Hui and occasionally tending to Gui Li, found some joy in their daily lives.

Under Zhou Yixian’s insistence, they continued northward. He reasoned that the further they were from the south, the safer they would be. However, as more refugees from the south arrived, the news became increasingly dire. The monstrous beasts and strange creatures from the Ten Thousand Great Mountains were advancing relentlessly.

A few days prior, a rumor spread that the beasts had reached a city hundreds of miles behind them. This terrified Zhou Yixian and the others, prompting them to hasten their journey. Although the rumor was later proven false, the fear and dread remained palpable.

One night, the group camped on a small hill, with a fire pit in the center. Only Gui Li sat apart from the others.

Xiao Hui, emerging from the darkness with a bundle of wild fruits, leaped onto Gui Li’s shoulder, settled down, and began to eat.

Zhou Yixian glanced at them, paused, and then turned to Xiao Huan and Ye Gou, “I have something to tell you.”

Xiao Huan looked at him curiously, “Grandpa, what is it?”

Just as Zhou Yixian was about to speak, Xiao Hui, perched on Gui Li’s shoulder, let out a loud, “Chirp!” Everyone was startled and stood up, following Xiao Hui’s gaze. In the dim light, they saw a group of weary refugees, men, women, and children, walking on the ancient road below the hill.

Zhou Yixian sighed, “These are people fleeing from the south.”

They fell silent, and after a moment, Zhou Yixian continued, “I wanted to say that we need to move faster. We don’t know what’s happening in the south, but the monsters and beasts are killing people. We should hurry north.”

Xiao Huan frowned, “Going north is right, but where can we hide? The monsters are said to be fast and have keen senses.”

Zhou Yixian glared, “You haven’t heard the rumors? Some of these beasts are very skilled. No matter where you hide, they’ll find and eat you. I’ve calculated that the safest place now is Azure Ethereal Conclave.”

Xiao Huan, Ye Gou, and even Gui Li, turned to look at him, surprised. Zhou Yixian, feeling proud, chuckled, “The Cloudy Ethereal Assembly, the Immortalbane Nexus, and the Ten Thousand Great Mountains are all gathering there. Plus, ten years ago, the Azure Ethereal Vapors’ ‘Divine Sword Array’…”

Gui Li’s body tensed at these words.

Zhou Yixian continued, “If we go to Azure Ethereal Conclave, we’ll be in the safest place. There are many cultivators there, and they won’t let us die.”

Suddenly, a cold snort interrupted him. Gui Li, standing up, said, “Those righteous high-minds won’t just let us die; they’ll kick us while we’re down.”

Zhou Yixian, feeling humiliated, retorted, “Pah, you’re a wicked devil. You’d be chased out anyway…”

Xiao Huan shouted, “Grandpa!”

Zhou Yixian, realizing he had gone too far, stopped. Xiao Huan turned to Gui Li, “Please, ignore him. He’s just… blunt.”

Gui Li, however, walked away, saying, “No need. I have my own path.”

Xiao Huan, worried, called out, “Where are you going?”

Gui Li didn’t answer, his figure disappearing into the night. Xiao Huan, feeling a sudden emptiness, almost cried.

Gui Li, flying alone, found himself in a dark, stormy sky. The clouds were heavy, and the world below was dark and desolate. He landed on a dense, unexplored mountain, where he used his demonic staff to clear a space. Xiao Hui, sensing the change, scampered off into the forest.

Deep in the night, a low growl sounded. Gui Li, opening his eyes, saw Xiao Hui return, dragging a large wild boar. Gui Li, surprised, asked, “Did you catch this?”

Xiao Hui, nodding, placed the boar before them. Gui Li, sighing, said, “I’m not hungry.”

Xiao Hui, however, persisted, and Gui Li, smiling, agreed to help. With deft hands, he skinned the boar, washed it, and began roasting it over a fire.

The fire cast a warm glow, and Xiao Hui, mesmerized by the aroma, watched the meat cook. Suddenly, a low, powerful growl sounded, and from the shadows emerged a young man, dressed in vibrant silk, followed by a grotesque beast, a Taotie.

The young man, seeing the boar, laughed, “Your cooking is excellent! No wonder the Taotie was restless.”

Gui Li, standing, said, “Taoties are known for their voracious appetite. A roasted boar is nothing to them.”

The young man, amused, said, “This Taotie is different. It’s not interested in ordinary food, yet it’s drooling over your boar.”

The Taotie, indeed, was salivating, and Xiao Hui, sensing the tension, jumped between the beast and the roast. The two stared at each other, and Gui Li, sensing the danger, said, “The boar isn’t ready yet. What are you fighting over?”

The Taotie, understanding, reluctantly backed away and sat down, still drooling. The young man, intrigued, said, “Who are you, that you can make a Taotie behave?”

Gui Li, turning the boar, said, “In the end, we are all just seeking sustenance. Humans and beasts, we are not so different.”

The young man, nodding, smiled, “True. But there is a difference. Humans have emotions, love, and hate.”

Gui Li, looking at the flames, said, “I have a great regret, a sorrow that gnaws at my soul. I live, hoping for redemption, for to die would be to betray my feelings. Such pain, such longing, a pig cannot understand.”

The young man, his eyes softening, said, “Perhaps you are right. Emotions, indeed, set us apart.”