Young Jiang Ziya

The world changed the moment the tower gates closed.

Instead, light and shadow shifted, and Lü Shang suddenly felt his feet sink into the ground, experiencing a sense of weightlessness.

He instinctively closed his eyes, and when he opened them again—

The sunlight was dazzling, and the birdsong was melodious.

He stood in a dense jungle, vines entwined, wildflowers everywhere.

This is not the snow-capped mountains on the border of Beichong, this is... the forests of Xiqi.

"Lu Shang! What are you daydreaming about?"

A familiar voice came from behind me.

Lü Shang suddenly turned around.

Ji Fa stood not far away, dressed in light hunting attire, carrying a longbow on his back and a quiver at his waist.

His face bore that familiar smile, tinged with youthful spirit—a relaxed smile that Lü Shang hadn't seen in a long time.

"Ji Fa?" Lü Shang blurted out, then realized his mistake, "Ah, I meant—"

"That's right." Ji Fa walked over and patted his shoulder hard. "I've told you so many times, don't be so reserved in private. We've been through so many life-and-death situations together, it's okay for you to call me by my name in private."

Lü Shang was stunned.

"What's wrong? Did you lose your true soul today?" Ji Fa waved his hand in front of his eyes.

"It's just a hunting trip, why are you so nervous? Don't worry, I've got your back today. I'll show you the skills of the number one archer in Xiqi."

hunt?

Lü Shang's brain was working at lightning speed.

He looked around—it was just him and Ji Fa.

Moreover, Ji Fa seemed to have no memory of Beichong, or even the purpose of their trip.

Perhaps it's an illusion.

Lu Shang could sense that the surroundings were filled with a pure and vast spiritual energy—the power within the tower.

This force weakened the barrier of the nearby sky, causing them to "enter a dream" and temporarily forget reality.

Perhaps this is... a trial arranged by the goddess.

Lu Shang took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

He was unclear about the rules of the trial, but he knew he must not disrupt its progress.

"No, I just...didn't sleep well last night." Lu Shang scratched his head, trying to appear natural.

"Stayed up all night again?" Ji Fa had a "I knew it" look on his face. "Mr. Shi Yuan is too strict with you. Come on, let's stretch your muscles today."

Ji Fa turned and walked into the depths of the jungle, his steps light and quick.

Lu Shang followed silently, his mind racing.

The jungle was deep, and sunlight filtered through layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows.

Occasionally, a small animal would dart across the grass, and Ji Fa would stop, nock an arrow, and then shake his head and lower the bow.

"Too small, no fun," he said. "If we're going to fight, let's fight the big ones and show Father what I'm capable of."

After walking for about half an hour, unusual traces appeared ahead.

It's not a small animal.

There were clear hoof prints on the ground, each about the size of a bowl, deeply imprinted in the soil.

The bushes nearby showed signs of being gnawed, but were neatly arranged, as if carefully selected by some gentle animal.

"The big one is here." Ji Fa's eyes lit up. "Lü Shang, go around to the left and see what's ahead. I—"

He stopped mid-sentence, looking around in confusion: "That's strange, where are the guards? Weren't they just following us?"

"We might have gone the wrong way," he said. "Should we go back first? Just the two of us, what if we encounter a wild animal..."

"A ferocious beast?" Ji Fa laughed, a laugh tinged with an air of self-assured confidence.

"Lu Shang, have you forgotten that I'm the champion of the autumn hunt? Besides, if there's real danger, aren't you here? You run so fast, surely you can get reinforcements in time?"

These words were half a joke and half a serious statement, but the certainty in them made Lü Shang's heart tighten.

"Alright, I'll go take a look." Lu Shang stopped trying to persuade him; he knew he couldn't change his mind.

He picked up a dead branch for self-defense.

The further you walk, the brighter the surrounding light becomes, and a strange, refreshing fragrance permeates the air.

After passing through the last bush, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a clearing in the woods, with a spring in the center.

At the spring, a deer is bowing its head to drink water.

But it's not an ordinary deer.

Its fur shimmers with nine colors—a dazzling display that changes with its breath and the light.

The antlers are not branched tree-like, but crystal clear, as if there are galaxies flowing inside.

Its eyes were pure amber, and when it looked at Lü Shang, there was no wariness, only gentle curiosity.

The Nine-Colored Divine Deer.

Legendary auspicious beasts, extremely rare, appearing only once every hundred years.

The withered branch in Lü Shang's hand fell to the ground.

He was stunned.

It wasn't just because of the deer's beauty, but also because he could sense that the deer emanated an extremely pure and sacred spiritual energy.

That was not the power of a beast, but a radiance approaching divinity.

"Lu Shang? What did you find?" Ji Fa's voice came from the right, very low.

Lü Shang suddenly came to his senses.

No. Ji Fa can't see it. No—

But it was too late.

Ji Fa peeked out from behind the bushes and saw the nine-colored deer.

His expression changed from confusion to shock, and then to ecstasy.

He slowly took down the longbow and nocked an arrow.

They moved gently, afraid of startling their prey.

"Wait!" Lü Shang said urgently in a low voice, "Ji Fa! That's an auspicious omen, we can't kill him!"

A step too late, the arrow arrived unexpectedly, its sharp sound piercing the air.

"Pfft—"

The arrow pierced its neck with pinpoint accuracy.

It let out a mournful cry, like a pure creature's lament before its death.

The nine-colored radiance began to dim.

Ji Fa ran over excitedly, his face beaming with the elation of a successful hunt: "Hit! Perfect! Lü Shang, did you see that? A single arrow to the throat, spot on!"

Lü Shang stood there, his hands and feet icy cold.

He walked to the deer's side, knelt down, and tenderly stroked its body, which was gradually losing its warmth.

"I'm sorry..." he said softly.

"Sorry for what?" Ji Fa asked, still caught up in his excitement.

Lü Shang raised his head, as if to say something.

But when the words were about to come out, he froze.

Because behind Ji Fa, someone appeared at some unknown time.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a simple white robe, had a dignified expression that transcended the years.

He stood there quietly, looking at the fallen nine-colored deer, his eyes filled with deep sorrow, not anger.

Their eyes met.

The old man's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.

But the next second, he disappeared.

It's as if it never existed.

"What's wrong?" Ji Fa turned around and looked at him. "You don't look well."

"N-nothing...it's nothing." Lü Shang lowered his head. "Maybe...my eyes are playing tricks on me."

---

The front courtyard of the Marquis's residence in Xiqi Royal City.

The carcass of the nine-colored deer was carefully placed on a wooden platform covered with silk.

Although it was dead, the nine-colored radiance that remained on its body still flowed in the sunlight, drawing gasps of amazement from onlookers.

Ji Chang walked around the wooden platform three times, his admiration undisguised.

"Good, good!" He patted Ji Fa on the shoulder. "As expected of my son, Ji Chang! The Nine-Colored Divine Deer is a rare sight, appearing only once every hundred years, and you managed to hunt it down!"

"Father, you flatter me." Ji Fa bowed, but the smile on his lips was hard to hide.

Ji Chang laughed heartily, "Send out the order: today the whole city shall celebrate! Let everyone see what a young hero has emerged from Xiqi!"

"My lord," Shi Yuan stepped out from the crowd, his face grave, "the nine-colored deer is indeed an auspicious omen. Ancient texts record that those who kill an auspicious creature... may face misfortune."

The celebratory atmosphere in the arena paused slightly.

Ji Fa frowned: "Mr. Shi Yuan, aren't you making a mountain out of a molehill with what you're saying?"

"I am merely... relaying what has been recorded," Shi Yuan said tactfully, but his meaning was clear.

"Fa'er is right." Ji Chang waved his hand. "Shi Yuan, you're overthinking it. Legends are just legends, not to be taken too seriously. Today is a joyous day, don't spoil the fun."

Shi Yuan opened his mouth, but ultimately lowered his head: "...Yes."

But Lü Shang saw a deep worry in the old doctor's eyes as he looked at the corpse of the nine-colored deer.

"Legend" is just a more euphemistic way of putting it by Shi Yuan.

---

For the next few days, Lü Shang was restless.

Ji Fa, on the other hand, was completely immersed in the joy of success.

"The deer was at least a hundred paces away from me at the time, and it was moving."

Ji Fa gestured dramatically, "I nocked the arrow, drew the bow—whoosh! One shot, and it hit the target! You didn't see it, but when the deer fell, the light on its body suddenly illuminated the entire forest!"

"Your Highness is mighty!" the soldiers exclaimed in unison.

Lü Shang stood on the periphery of the crowd, watching silently.

"Lü Shang!"

Ji Fa's voice pulled him back to reality.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Ji Fa walked over with a big smile. "Come on, come with me to the training ground to practice archery. Lei Kai isn't here today, so we can play a little longer."

The two walked side by side on the streets of the royal city. The sun was shining brightly, and people were coming and going on the street. When they saw Ji Fa, they all bowed respectfully and addressed him as "Your Highness".

"Do you think Father will record this in the family register?" Ji Fa suddenly asked.

"Probably... yes," Lü Shang said.

"That's good." Ji Fa nodded in satisfaction.

Lu Shang felt a pang of sadness.

In truth, Ji Fa wasn't a bad person, he was just... too young, and like a child, he liked to show off his achievements.

***

On the training ground, Ji Fa demonstrated his superb archery skills. He fired three arrows in quick succession, all hitting the bullseye a hundred paces away, drawing cheers from the soldiers watching.

"How was it?" Ji Fa put away his bow and looked at Lü Shang triumphantly.

"Impressive," Lü Shang said sincerely.

"That's right." Ji Fa handed him the bow. "Would you like to try it too?"

Lü Shang took the bow, clumsily nocked an arrow, and drew the string—he really didn't have much talent for archery.

The arrow flew off crookedly, barely landing on the edge of the target.

Low laughter came from all around.

Just then, a soldier rushed into the drill ground:

"Your Highness! The Marquis has summoned you urgently! Something terrible has happened!"

***

Outside Xiqi City, there should have been green wheat fields.

But now, what comes into view is a withered, yellow landscape.

The wheat stalks were shriveled and lay on the ground, the leaves were curled and charred, and the soil was cracked.

When the wind blows, there are no waves of wheat, only a rustling sound, like bones rubbing together.

Ji Fa stood on the edge of the field, his face pale.

"This...how is this possible?" he murmured. "She was perfectly fine yesterday..."

Ji Chang stood beside him, his face ashen.

Shi Yuan squatted on the ground to examine it, and only stood up after a long time: "It's not insect infestation, it's not drought... it's like its life force has been suddenly drained."

"Blood plague?" Lei Kai asked in a deep voice.

"It doesn't seem like it." Shi Yuan shook his head. "There are no signs of contamination. It's more like... some kind of curse."

The moment the word "curse" was uttered, everyone fell silent.

Without prior arrangement, their gazes all turned toward Ji Fa.

Ji Fa noticed and turned around abruptly: "Why are you all looking at me? Do you think this is my fault?"

No one responded.

"Absurd!" Ji Fa's voice rose. "My hunting of a single deer can cause the crops of the entire Xiqi to wither and die?"

"Your Highness, please calm down," Shi Yuan said. "The most urgent task is disaster relief. The granaries have begun distributing relief, but the reserves are limited."

The situation deteriorated rapidly in the following days.

First, all the farmland around Xiqi withered and died, and then the villages further away were affected.

Long queues formed in front of the grain warehouse, and panic began to spread.

On the fifth day, the first incident of grain looting occurred.

Lei Kai personally led troops to pursue and capture them, and that afternoon, the heads of those dozen or so people were displayed at the city gate.

"Anyone who steals relief grain shall be executed immediately." The order spread throughout the city.

But hunger is more terrible than death.

Then, an even greater disaster struck.

All the wells in Xiqi City dried up overnight.

All that came up was sand, not a drop of moisture.

The atmosphere in the Hou Mansion's council hall was extremely oppressive.

"A warlock," Lei Kai said decisively. "Only warlocks possess such abilities. There must be a powerful warlock hiding within Xiqi, and he's seeking revenge."

"Revenge on what?" Ji Chang rubbed his temples.

"Retaliation for our control over warlocks, retaliation against the Tower of Purity."

Lei Kai's gaze swept over everyone present. "It's even possible... that this warlock is right among us."

---

At night, Lü Shang left the Marquis's residence and came to a dried-up well.

He crouched down and put his hand into the well.

Spiritual energy circulates.

The sand did not react at all.

"**Gather**".

The sand shifted slightly, but remained dry.

"**Tracing back**".

This time, it didn't even move.

Lu Shang withdrew his hand, his expression grave. This was no ordinary curse; the caster's abilities far surpassed his own.

"Lü Shang?"

Ji Fa's voice came from behind.

Lü Shang turned around. Ji Fa stood not far away, dressed only in simple casual clothes.

"Your Highness... Ji Fa?" Lü Shang corrected himself, "What brings you here?"

"I can't sleep." Ji Fa walked to the well, looking at the dry bottom. "I came out for a walk and saw you here... What are you doing?"

"Let's see if we can get any water out."

"Will it work?"

Lü Shang shook his head.

Ji Fa remained silent for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Lü Shang, tell me the truth... do you think these things are related to me killing that deer?"

Lü Shang opened his mouth.

"No need to say anything, I know what you're thinking." Ji Fa smiled bitterly.

"Perhaps the fault lies not in hunting," Lu Shang said softly, "but in... why we hunt."

Ji Fa was stunned.

Just then, a dark shadow flashed past the street corner.

"Who?" Ji Fa instantly became alert.

The two exchanged a glance and, in unison, gave chase.

The dark figure moved very fast, weaving through the deserted streets.

After turning three street corners, the dark figure disappeared into a dead-end alley.

An elderly man with white hair and beard stood at the end of the alley with his back to them.

It was the same old man that Lü Shang had met before.

"You've arrived," he said gently.

"Who are you?" Ji Fa asked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

"I am the master of that deer," the old man said, "the Primordial Beginning."

Ji Fa's expression changed: "You're the one who brought these calamities upon us, aren't you? Because I killed your deer, you're taking revenge on the entire Xiqi!"

Yuanshi shook his head: "No."

"Then how do you explain the crops withering and the wells drying up?"

"The misfortunes that Xiqi has suffered are not calamities I have brought upon it," the old man said calmly, "but rather they are because of you, Ji Fa."

"Nonsense! What did I do? I only hunted a deer—"

"The Nine-Colored Deer itself is a kind of seal."

Yuanshi said, "It guarded an ancient rift in the earth's veins of Xiqi. Now that it is dead, the seal has been broken, and the rift has begun to devour life."

He looked at Ji Fa: "So, it wasn't me who cast the curse. The calamity of Xiqi is entirely your own fault."

Ji Fa's face turned deathly pale, and he took a step back.

"No...it's impossible..." he murmured, "I don't know...how could I possibly know..."

“Ignorance is no excuse.” Yuanshi’s tone remained calm. “As the prince of Xiqi, every decision you make concerns the lives of countless people.”

Ji Fa was speechless.

"Now, you command me to retract the 'curse'." Yuanshi looked at him, "But I am powerless. You were the one who broke the seal; only you can save Xiqi."

"What...what should I do?" Ji Fa's voice trembled.

"Prove yourself," said Yuan Shi. "Prove that you are worthy to be the king of this land. Prove that you understand the true meaning of 'king'—"

"Specifically? What do I need to do?"

"You've passed the test." Yuan Shi's figure began to become transparent.

"What if... what if I don't pass?"

"Then the cracks will remain forever, and the vitality of Xiqi will be forever withered."

As soon as he finished speaking, the old man vanished completely.

Only Ji Fa and Lü Shang remained in the alley, along with the cold moonlight covering the ground.

Ji Fa stood still for a long time.