Xu Qing menemukan patung yang tepat untuk duduk bersila di atasnya. Saat itulah Ling'er mengulum kepalanya dari lengan baju Xu Qing, melihat sekeliling, dan dengan pelihatannya berkata, 'Kakak Xu Qing, tempat ini sepertinya terhubung dengan spesiesku, Ancient Spirits.'
Xu Qing jantungnya berdegup kencang. Ia melihat ke bawah ke arah Ling'er. Saat itu dia masih meneliti tempat itu.
Ling'er melanjutkan, 'Kakak Xu Qing, patung-patung ini semua adalah citra ilahi dari spesiesku. Orang-orangku terlihat seperti ular saat kecil, tetapi kita dapat mengambil bentuk manusia saat dewasa. Jika kita memiliki darah yang kuat, maka saat kita mematahkan dasar kultivasi kita, kita akan mendampingi naga sepanjang hidup. Dari titik itu, kita akan selalu dilindungi oleh naga dan ular.'
Berdasarkan tata letak tempat ini, aku perkirakan bahwa ini adalah makam dari anggota penting spesiesku. Biasanya orang-orangku membuat makam dengan多个 level. Kakak Xu Qing, perkiraanku bahwa ruang makam utama kemungkinan berada di bawah kita. Ini hanya level pertama. Aku dapat merasakan mantra pelindung di bawah. Kakak Xu Qing, aku bisa membuka masuk ke level berikutnya.'
Ling'er merasa senang bisa membantu.
Setelah mendengar penjelasan, Xu Qing memeriksa area itu. Lalu ia mengelus kepala Ling'er dan berkata, 'Jangan buka. Orang yang bertanggung jawab di tempat ini meminta kita untuk tidak mengganggu apa-apa. Tunggu hingga Heavenfire Skycrossing selesai, lalu kita pergi.'
Xu Qing biasanya orang yang sopan, dan karena dia sudah masuk perjanjian, ia tidak akan melanggar syarat kecuali benar-benar perlu.
Ling'er berpikir dan menyimpulkan bahwa Big Bro Xu Qing berbeda dengan ayahnya. Ke depan, ia akan ingat itu, dan berusaha berusaha seperti Big Bro Xu Qing.
Setengah bulan berlalu dalam sekejap.
Heavenfire Skycrossing semakin menakutkan. Langit dan bumi terbakar, makhluk hidup yang tak terhitung musnah, dan yang selamat gemetar ketakutan. Dari jauh, hampir terlihat seperti kemarahan dewa. Sangat mengejutkan. Gemuruh seperti guntur bergema. Tinggi laut Heavenfire Sea semakin rendah, karena lava di dalamnya disedot ke kanopi langit oleh lengan yang terputus.
Dalam tambang, di makam Ancient Spirit, Xu Qing memegang janjinya. Ia tidak mengambil satu langkah pun ke luar gua kuil. Sebaliknya ia tinggal di tempat dan bekerja pada kultivasi. Duanmu Zang tidak kembali. Semua damai dan tenang.
Ling'er berkelaku baik. Ia tidak mencoba menyusup ke bagian dalam makam. Baginya, ia lebih senang hanya bisa menemani Big Bro Xu Qing. Satu-satunya downside adalah kadang-kadang ia merasa tidak berguna.
Aku benar-benar perlu cepat menyerap semua kekuatan aura takdir leluhur kaisar. Lalu aku bisa meningkatkan level darahku.
Dengan pemikiran itu, Ling'er mulai bekerja.
Pada hari ketujuh belas kultivasi Xu Qing, ia terganggu oleh pengunjung.
Beberapa jauhnya, tanah gua kuil mulai bersinar saat teleportasi diaktifkan. Seorang figur muncul dengan khidmat dari cahaya itu. Bukan Duanmu Zang. Sebaliknya, adalah seorang pria muda manusia yang memakai jerkin hijau.
Xu Qing membuka matanya.
Ini adalah orang yang sama yang ia selamatkan setengah bulan yang lalu. Ia masih terlihat lemah, tetapi sudah pulih dari lukanya. Ternyata baju zirah itu benar-benar berguna. Duanmu Zang harus ikut campur untuk menyelamatkannya. Namun, efek api masih ada. Ia memiliki noda bakar dan bahkan bagian kulit yang meleleh dan tidak tumbuh kembali. Karena itu, ia terlihat cukup menakutkan.
Saat Xu Qing melihat, pria muda itu melihat kembali dengan gelisah. Lalu ia bergegas mendekat dan berlutut di depan Xu Qing.
'Senior, aku Shi Pangui. Terima kasih, Senior, atas kebaikan menyelamatkan hidupku!'
Xu Qing melihat pria muda itu dari atas ke bawah. Namanya agak aneh, tapi Xu Qing tidak menanyakan itu. 'Tidak apa-apa. Jika aku tidak melakukan sesuatu, Senior Duanmu akan menyelamatkanmu.'
Namun, Shi Pangui memberi hormat tiga kali, lalu menatap ke atas dan dengan gelisah berkata, 'Bagaimanapun juga, Senior, engkau yang menyelamatkanku. Aku tidak akan pernah melupakani kebaikan itu.'
Dengan itu, ia mengambil kotak makan dan meletakkannya di sisi.
'Ketahui bahwa kultivasi basis Senior tinggi, dan aku tidak memiliki hal berharga untuk ditawarkan. Ini adalah makanan yang dibuat oleh istriku. Terima kasih, Senior!'
Dengan itu, Shi Pangui berdiri, memberi hormat pada Xu Qing, lalu mundur dengan hormat ke portal teleportasi. Sebentar kemudian, ia menghilang.
Xu Qing melihat kotak makan itu. Isi penuh dengan kue-kue aromatik yang jelas membutuhkan usaha.
Karena keterampilan Xu Qing dalam dao racun, cukup dengan satu hirupan ia dapat memeriksa racun dalam makanan. Ia tidak mendeteksi racun, jadi ia mengambil satu. Melihat Ling'er mengairu di sisi, ia menggigit untuk memastikan aman. Lalu ia memberi sepotong ke Ling'er.
Saat dia menggigit, matanya menyipit dengan kesenangan.
'Coo. Coooo.' Rasa itu begitu indah sehingga Ling'er tidak bisa membantu tapi berbicara seperti anak-anak.
Melihat kebahagiaan Ling'er, Xu Qing tersenyum. Ia akhirnya memberinya semua kue-kue. Kemudian, ia menutup mata dan kembali ke meditasi.
Beberapa hari berlalu. Shi Pangui kembali mengunjungi beberapa kali, dan setiap kali ia membawa makanan lezat. Ia selalu sepertinya punya sesuatu di pikiran, tetapi selalu ragu-ragu untuk mengatakannya. Akhirnya, ia tidak bisa menahan diri lagi. Mata penuh harap, ia berkata, 'Senior, kanselir mengatakan bahwa engkau dari daerah lain? Jadi... bagaimana keadaan manusia di luar?'
Shi Pangui jelas gelisah, tapi harapannya melampaui kegelisahan itu. Ia hidup seluruh hidupnya di Moonrite Region, tidak bisa pergi, dan ditakdirkan pada takdir yang tidak bisa diubah. Namun, sejak kecil, ia mendengar orang-orang bicara tentang kemuliaan manusia, dan tentang betapa kuatnya manusia. Tapi semua yang ia lihat adalah betapa lemah dan lemahnya manusia, hingga They hampir tidak lebih dari makanan untuk non-manusia. Ia melihat penderitaan dan duka yang meninggalkannya terguncang dan bingung.
Dan kenyataannya, apa yang Xu Qing katakan tidak akan mengubah situasinya. Tapi ia masih ingin mendapatkan jawaban. Ia ingin tahu apakah yang dikatakan oleh manusia tua itu benar, bahwa masyarakat manusia di luar Moonrite Region itu mulia dan indah. Hanya itu yang akan memberinya kebanggaan dan kekuatan.
Xu Qing melihat Shi Pangui untuk beberapa napas.
Saat waktu berlalu, cahaya di mata Shi Pangui pudar.
Xu Qing tersenyum dan dengan lembut berkata, 'Manusia di luar hidup dalam damai dan bekerja dengan gembira. Mereka memiliki kehidupan yang baik. Sedikit pertempuran, dan semua orang rukun. Kaisar kita yang berkuasa memiliki kemampuan luar biasa dan visi yang luas. Baru-baru ini kita berperang dengan Nightshades, dan kita menang. Non-manusia membunguk di depan kita. Mereka memilih untuk bergabung dengan kita, atau kita musnahkan mereka. Yang lebih penting, kaisar kita dengan tegas percaya bahwa suatu hari nanti ia akan dapat mengubah hal-hal di Moonrite Region.'
Kata-katanya, dan senyumnya, menyebabkan mata Shi Pangui menyala, dan hatinya berdebar. 'Aku tahu! Aku dan Zhou Wangbei berdebat besar kemarin malam. Dia mengatakan bahwa manusia di luar adalah yang terendah. Aku bilang itu tidak mungkin! Manusia kita memiliki darah mulai. Mungkin kita lemah dan tidak berdaya di Moonrite Region, tetapi di masa lalu, kita menaklukkan Revered Ancient, dan itu berarti kita pasti mulia di luar! Terima kasih, Senior!'
Shi Pangui dengan bersemangat memberi hormat pada Xu Qing, lalu bergegas pergi untuk memberitahu istrinya, teman, dan keluarganya apa yang ia temukan.
Xu Qing menonton dia pergi. Ia menghela nafak. Sekarang ia memahami makna di balik nama Shi Pangui. 'Pangui' merujuk pada kembali ke kemuliaan untuk semua manusia.
Nama lain, Wangbei, berasal dari fakta bahwa Imperial Region manusia terletak di utara.
Beberapa hari terakhir, Xu Qing mulai menggagas apa yang terjadi di level bawah makam. Sepertinya ada koloni manusia yang tinggal di sana, dan 'chancellor' yang Shi Pangui sebutkan tidak lain adalah Duanmu Zang. Manusia mencari perlindungan di sana untuk menghindari kehidupan pahit yang akan mereka alami di luar. Itulah sebabnya Duanmu Zang meminta Xu Qing tidak meninggalkan gua kuil.
Merasa kehormatan tiba-tiba bangkit di hatinya, Xu Qing berdiri, merangkak, dan membungkuk.
Saat ia melakukannya, Duanmu Zang muncul di salah satu patung lain. Melihat tempat di mana Shi Pangui menghilang, ia berbalik ke Xu Qing. Saat berbicara, suaranya agak serak.
'Terima kasih. Apakah manusia di luar benar-benar memenangkan kemenangan besar?'
Xu Qing mengangguk dengan khidmat.
'Wilayah Holytide sekarang milik manusia. Dan kita memiliki harta domain.'
Duanmu Zang melompat dari patung dan berjalan mendekati Xu Qing. Ini adalah kali terdekat mereka pernah ber satu sama lain. Di masa lalu, mereka selalu berinteraksi dari jarak jauh. Duanmu Zang duduk, mengambil genteng alkohol, dan melemparkannya ke Xu Qing.
'Jelaskan semuanya,' kata Xu Qing.
Xu Qing minum panjang, mengerutkan kening, lalu mengambil sebotol alkohol dari kantong penyimpanannya, yang ia berikan kepada Duanmu Zang. Mata Duanmu Zang bersinar, dan ia menerimanya.
Dan dengan demikian, keduanya minum bersama saat Xu Qing memberi Duanmu Zang gambaran umum tentang peristiwa terbaru. Tentu saja, ia tidak mengungkapkan identitas sebenarnya. Ia menceritakan semua dari perspektif seorang pengamat.
Duanmu Zang tidak mengatakan apa-apa selama itu. Ia hanya mendengar dengan saksama.
Xu Qing menyelesaikan cerita tepat saat mereka selesai minum alkohol.
Mata menyipit, Duanmu Zang berkata, 'Apa yang Anda lihat adalah tindakan Pangeran Ketujuh. Dan Anda mendengar perintah kaisar. Tapi Anda melewatkan satu hal. Ibu Pangeran Ketujuh dan rakyatnya!'
G Xu Qing mengeras.
'Sebagai pangeran kekaisaran, masuk akal bahwa ia berani dan sembrono. Tapi melihat gambaran besar, jelas ia alasan yang lebih dalam untuk percaya diri. Cara ia menangani hal-hal rumit dengan mudah membuatku percaya bahwa ibunya mungkin bukan manusia. Dan bahkan jika dia manusia, dia pasti tidak dari stok biasa!'
'Adapun kaisar, aku menemukan tindakannya sangat menarik. Semua yang dia lakukan tampaknya ditangani dengan sempurna.... Tetapi alasan itu adalah Anda melihat hasilnya, dan tampaknya hasil dari semua sepenuhnya di bawah kendalinya. Tetapi sepertinya ada kekuatan lain yang lebih besar di belakang layar, dengan sengaja mengatur segalanya.'
Duanmu Zang menatap ke atas ke Xu Qing. 'Semua yang Anda ceritakan sejauh ini... itu hanya permulaan. Jika aku adalah kaisar, aku akan sejak dulu menempatkan seseorang di Sea-Sealing County yang aku percaya. Untuk menjadi mataku di sana, dan memantau semua hal. Siapapun orang itu, ia tidak akan memiliki kultivasi basis yang sangat tinggi, karena itu akan menarik terlalu perhatian.'
Xu Qing tidak menunjukkan reaksi, tetapi di dalam, ia terguncang.
Duanmu Zang tidak mengatakan apa-apa lagi. Terapung ke udara, ia melihat ke kejauhan untuk waktu yang lama, lalu kembali ke Xu Qing. 'Apakah Anda ingin melihat rumahku?'
Xu Qing found an appropriate statue that he could sit cross-legged atop.
That was when Ling’er poked her head out of his sleeve, looked around, and quietly said, “Big Bro Xu Qing, this place looks like it might be connected to my own species, the Ancient Spirits.”
Xu Qing’s heart flip-flopped. He looked down at Ling’er. She was still studying the place.
“Big Bro Xu Qing, these statues are all Ancient Spirit divine likenesses. My people look like snakes when we’re young, but we can take human form when we grow up. If we have a strong bloodline, then when we break the shackles of our cultivation base, we’ll gain heavenly dragons as lifelong companions. From that point on, we’ll be forever guarded by dragons and snakes.
“Given this place’s layout, I’d say it must be the tomb of an important member of my species. Usually, my people will make tombs with multiple levels. Big Bro Xu Qing, my guess is that the main tomb chamber is probably below us. This is just the first level. I can sense the warding spells down below. Big Bro Xu Qing, I could probably open an entrance to the level below.”
Ling’er was feeling really excited at the prospect of finally being able to really help her Big Bro Xu Qing.
After hearing Ling’er’s explanation, he studied the area again. Then he stroked Ling’er’s head and said, “Don’t open it. The person in charge of this place now asked us not to disturb anything. Let’s wait until the Heavenfire Skycrossing is over, and then we’ll leave.”
Xu Qing was generally a polite person, and since he had entered into agreement, he wouldn’t break the terms of the deal unless it was absolutely necessary.
Ling’er thought about it and came to the conclusion that her Big Bro Xu Qing did things very differently than her papa. Going forward, she would remember that, and try to do things more like Big Bro Xu Qing.
Half a month flew by in the briefest of moments.
The Heavenfire Skycrossing grew more terrifying. Heaven and earth were scorched, countless living beings were destroyed, and those who survived trembled in fear. From a distance, it almost looked like the fury of a god. It was completely appalling. Rumbling like thunder echoed out. The sea level of the Heavenfire Sea grew lower and lower as the lava inside was sucked up into the canopy of heaven by the severed arms.
Deep in the mine, in the Ancient Spirit tomb, Xu Qing kept his promise. He didn’t take a single step outside of the cave temple. Instead he stayed in place and worked on cultivation. Duanmu Zang didn’t come back. Everything was peaceful and quiet.
Ling’er was on her best behavior. She didn’t try to sneak down into the deeper parts of the tomb. As far as she was concerned, she was more than happy to just be able to keep her Big Bro Xu Qing company. The only downside was that she occasionally felt useless.
I really need to hurry up and absorb all the power of that ancestral emperor destiny aura. Then I can improve the level of my bloodline .
With that thought in mind, Ling’er got to work.
On Xu Qing’s seventeenth day of cultivation, he was interrupted by a visitor.
Some distance away, the ground of the cave temple started glowing as a teleportation activated. A figure solemnly stepped out of the light. It wasn’t Duanmu Zang. Instead, it was a young human man wearing a green jerkin.
Xu Qing opened his eyes.
This was the very same person he had saved half a month before. He still looked weak, but had clearly recovered from his injuries. Apparently that armor had really proved useful. Duanmu Zang must have intervened to save his life. However, the effects of the fire still lingered. He had many burn patches and even parts of his skin that had melted away and not grown back. As a result, he looked quite ferocious.
As Xu Qing looked over, the young man looked back nervously. Then he hurried over and knelt in front of Xu Qing.
“Senior, I am Shi Pangui. Many thanks to you, Senior, for the kindness of saving my life!” [1]
Xu Qing looked the young man up and down. He had a rather strange name, but Xu Qing didn’t inquire about it. “It was nothing. If I hadn’t done something, Senior Duanmu would have saved you.”
Nevertheless, Shi Pangui kowtowed three times, then looked up and nervously said, “Either way, Senior, you’re the one who saved me. I’ll never forget that kindness.”
With that, he took a meal box out and placed it off to the side. [2]
“I know you have a very high cultivation base, Senior, and I have nothing of value to offer you. This is some food my missus made. Many thanks, Senior!”
With that, Shi Pangui stood, bowed to Xu Qing, then respectfully backed up to the teleportation portal. A moment later, he disappeared.
Xu Qing looked at the meal box. It was filled with aromatic pastries that someone had clearly taken much effort to prepare.
Given Xu Qing’s skill in the dao of poison, all it took was a single whiff for him to check for poison in food. He didn’t detect any such poison, so he picked one up. Seeing Ling’er salivating off to the side, he took a bite to make sure they were safe. Then he gave a piece to Ling’er.
When she took a bite, her eyes narrowed with pleasure.
“Coo. Coooo.” The flavor was so wonderful that Ling’er couldn’t help but speak in the way she had as a child.
Seeing how happy Ling’er was caused Xu Qing to smile. He ended up giving her all the pastries. Later, he closed his eyes and went back to meditation.
More days passed. Shi Pangui came back to visit a few times, and each time he brought delicious food with him. He always seemed to have something on his mind, but was always hesitating to give voice to it. Eventually, he couldn’t hold it in any longer. Eyes brimming with hope, he said, “Senior, the chancellor said that you’re from another region? So... how are we humans doing out there?”
Shi Pangui was obviously nervous, but his hopefulness seemed to surpass that nervousness. He had lived his entire life in Moonrite Region, unable to leave, and doomed to a fate he couldn’t escape. That said, even in childhood, he had heard people talking about the glory of humankind, and about how powerful humans were. But all he saw was how weak and feeble humans were, to the point where they were little more than food to the nonhumans. He had seen misery and grief that left him shaken and dazed.
And the reality was that it didn’t matter what Xu Qing told him. It wouldn’t change his situation. But he still wanted to get an answer to his question. He wanted to know if what the older humans said was true, that human society outside the Moonrite Region was glorious and beautiful. That alone would give him pride and strength.
Xu Qing looked at Shi Pangui for a few breaths of time.
As the moments ticked by, the light in Shi Pangui’s eyes faded.
Xu Qing smiled and softly said, “Humans on the outside live in peace and work happily. They have good lives. There’s little fighting, and everyone gets along. Our reigning emperor has outstanding ability and grand vision. We recently fought a war with the Nightshades, and came out victorious. Nonhumans bow their heads in our presence. Either they choose to join us, or we destroy them. What’s more, our emperor firmly believes that one day he will be able to change things here in the Moonrite Region.”
His words, and his smile, caused Shi Pangui’s eyes to light up, and his heart to race. “I knew it! Me and Zhou Wangbei got into a big argument last night. She said that humans on the outside are the lowest of the low. I told her that’s impossible! We humans have noble blood. Maybe we’re weak and powerless in Moonrite Region, but in the past, we conquered Revered Ancient, and that means we’re definitely glorious on the outside! Many thanks, Senior!”
Shi Pangui excitedly bowed to Xu Qing, then hurried away to tell his wife, friends, and family what he’d found out.
Xu Qing watched him leave. He sighed. Now he understood the meaning behind Shi Pangui’s name. ‘Pangui’ referred to a return to glory for all humankind. [3]
The other name, Wangbei, came from the fact that humankind’s Imperial Region lay to the north. [4]
Over the past few days, Xu Qing had begun to speculate what was happening in the lower levels of this tomb. It seemed likely there was a colony of humans who lived there, and the ‘chancellor’ Shi Pangui had mentioned was none other than Duanmu Zang. Humans took shelter here to avoid the bitter life they would otherwise live outside. And that was why Duanmu Zang had told him not to leave the cave temple.
Feeling a sudden swell of respect in his heart, Xu Qing stood, clasped hands, and bowed at the waist.
As he did that, Duanmu Zang materialized on one of the other statues. Looking at the spot where Shi Pangui had disappeared, he turned to Xu Qing. When he spoke, his voice was a bit hoarse.
“Thank you. Did humans on the outside actually win a big victory?”
Xu Qing nodded solemnly. “The Holytide Region belongs to humankind now. And we have a domain treasure.”
Duanmu Zang hopped off the statue and strode over to Xu Qing. This was the closest they had ever been to each other. In the past, they had always interacted at a distance. Duanmu Zang sat down, took out a jug of alcohol, and tossed it to Xu Qing.
“Explain everything,” he said.
Xu Qing took a long drink, frowned, and then took out a jug of alcohol from his bag of holding, which he handed to Duanmu Zang. Duanmu Zang’s eyes lit up, and he took it.
And thus, the two of them drank together as Xu Qing gave Duanmu Zang a general overview of recent events. Of course, he didn’t reveal his true identity. He told everything from the perspective of an observer.
Duanmu Zang didn’t say anything the entire time. He just listened intently.
Xu Qing finished the story right about the time they finished the alcohol.
Eyes narrowing, Duanmu Zang said, “What you saw was this Seventh Prince’s actions. And you heard the emperor’s orders. But you overlooked something. Seventh Prince’s mother and her people!”
Xu Qing’s gaze hardened.
“As an imperial prince,” Duanmu Zang continued, “it makes sense that he’s daring and reckless. But given the bigger picture, it’s clear he has deeper reasons for being so confident. The way he handles complicated matters with such ease leads me to believe that his mother might not be human. And even if she is, well, she’s definitely not from ordinary stock!
“As for the emperor, I find his actions very thought-provoking. Everything he does seems to be handled perfectly.... But the reason for that is that you’re looking at the outcome, and it seems like the outcome of everything is completely under his control. But it seems to me that there’s some other bigger force behind the scenes, carefully manipulating everything.”
Duanmu Zang looked up at Xu Qing. “Everything you’ve described so far... it’s just the beginning. If I was the emperor, I would have long since put someone in Sea-Sealing County that I trusted. To be my eyes there, and keep watch over everything. Whoever this person is, they wouldn’t have a very high cultivation base, otherwise they would draw too much attention.”
Xu Qing didn’t react visibly, but inside, he was shaken.
Duanmu Zang didn’t say anything beyond that. Floating up into the air, he looked off into the distance for a long moment, then turned back to Xu Qing. “Would you like to see my home?”
1. Shi Pangui. Shi is listed #61 on the list of 100 common surnames. It means “stone.” Pan means “hope for, long for, expect.” Gui means “return, go back to.” Madam Deathblade says that because the name has a fairly literal meaning (longing for something to return), it’s a very sad and melancholy name, which is somewhat unusual. Generally speaking, it’s not very common in Chinese culture to give children sad, melancholic names. ?
2. Most dictionaries will translate ‘meal box’ as ‘lunch box.’ However, considering what the word ‘lunch box’ conjures in the minds of most readers, and how many people don’t read the footnotes, I went with something slightly different. Boxes like this were common in ancient times and nowadays as well. Here is a small gallery of some of the more ancient-looking varieties. ?
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