Young Jiang Ziya

The smoke of battle had not yet cleared from Chaoge City, and the weight of victory weighed heavily on everyone's hearts.

Shi Yuan's passing was like a silent thunderclap, reverberating throughout the core of the allied forces. When Ji Fa learned the truth, he remained silent for the duration of an incense stick burning, ultimately only patting Lü Shang's shoulder forcefully, his Adam's apple bobbing, without uttering a word.

He Xu personally collected Han Ling's remains and cremated them according to the ancient rites of the Crimson Eyebrow Watchers. The ashes were placed in a specially made pottery jar, which He Xu held tightly in his arms. He said to Ji Fa, "I will take him back to Frosty Snow Mountain and bury him in the Watchers' Hall of Heroes. His mission is complete; he can rest in peace."

Ji Xiao, representing the newly formed demon tribe, formally established an alliance with Ji Fa. "The curse has been lifted, the shackles removed. From now on, the demon race and the lords of the four directions will fight the blood plague together, helping and supporting each other." His arrow wound had been hastily bandaged, but his eyes were much brighter than when they first met. "Friends are always welcome on the banks of the Luo River."

Shen Gongbao stood on the ruins of the Star Gazing Tower, gazing at the gradually cleared battlefield, his face grim. When Lü Shang found him, he was caressing a broken talisman.

"Old Han died a peaceful death," Shen Gongbao said in a hoarse voice without turning around, "but that old man Shi Yuan... died a miserable death."

Lü Shang remained silent.

"But at least," Shen Gongbao turned around, his eyes still bloodshot, yet with a chilling clarity, "the Demon Lord is truly dead. The source of the blood plague has been cut off, and the remaining blood puppets are like headless flies, no longer a threat. This world... can enjoy some peace for a while."

Can things really be peaceful? The unease in Lü Shang's heart did not dissipate with the death of the Demon Lord; on the contrary, it intensified with Shi Yuan's departure and the complete disappearance of Ogata. He felt that he had overlooked something, forgotten something.

***

Three days later, the situation in Chaoge was initially stabilized. News also came from the war in the North Sea: King Zhou and Grand Tutor Wen Zhong had defeated the barbarian tribes and were returning to the capital. Ji Fa had no intention of meeting the main force of the Yin Shang at this time. After leaving some supplies to assist in the reconstruction of Chaoge, he led the allied forces on their way back.

The road back to Xiqi was even more silent than the way there.

The ranks were missing familiar faces, replaced by many empty saddles. The joy of victory was overshadowed by sorrow, and even the spring breeze carried a sense of desolation.

Passing by the Luo River, the demon race held a simple farewell ceremony. Mu Ke did not appear, reportedly because he was extremely weak after the curse was lifted and was in seclusion. Ji Xiao led his men to see them off for ten miles, and before parting, he called out to Lü Shang alone.

"Before the Goddess Daiqing vanished," Ji Xiao murmured, a faint silver glint in his eyes, "she left a vague message in my consciousness. She said... 'The balance has been broken, the rift is widening. The key has been turned, and the gatekeeper must be vigilant.' I didn't understand the meaning, but she asked me to pass it on to 'that boy with the aura of nature.'"

Lu Shang's heart skipped a beat: "What else did she say?"

"Just this one sentence." Ji Xiao shook his head. "The goddess is an ancient spirit, and what she sees and thinks is beyond our full comprehension. But since she specifically instructed me, it must be important. You... take care."

Key? Gatekeeper? Crack?

These words swirled in Lü Shang's mind, intertwining with the name "Jiang Ziya" and the saying "the darling of the Protestant Church" that Xuan Feng had mentioned, like a fog.

***

Upon returning to Xiqi, Ji Chang led his people out of the city for ten miles to welcome him.

The triumphant ceremony was solemn, yet it couldn't conceal the sorrow. When Ji Fa recounted the sacrifices of Han Ling and Shi Yuan, Ji Chang remained silent for a long time, eventually turning his back and waving goodbye. That night, someone saw the Marquis alone in the ancestral hall for a long time.

Rewards were given for meritorious service. Ji Fa was officially established as the heir apparent of Xiqi, and his prestige soared. Lü Shang was promoted to steward of the mansion for his merits and was given an independent courtyard, but he hardly ever lived there. He spent most of his time in Shi Yuan's now-empty old courtyard, sorting through his belongings.

Shi Yuan didn't have many possessions: medical books, medicinal tools, and some scattered notes. Lü Shang found several pages of hastily written notes about "soul swapping" and "the deduction of the principles of the Pure Vase and the Holy Grail" in an old notebook tucked inside the *Compendium of Materia Medica*. The handwriting was fresh, clearly recent. Shi Yuan had already studied the ritual Ogata had described and even made improvements to its deductions. His decision wasn't impromptu; it was a preordained one.

The last few lines of the letter were written with a trembling hand, yet were exceptionally clear:

"Ah Shang is exceptionally gifted and of a simple and honest nature, yet his destiny is extraordinary, perhaps not destined for mere existence. After I depart, I hope he can maintain his integrity, discern good from evil, and not be swayed by power or bound by fate. The path of this world is treacherous; only 'faith' and 'righteousness' can guide him. Ji Fa is benevolent and can assist him; however, he must ultimately cross his own path. If he encounters anything he does not understand… he may consult Xuan Feng, or go to Bi You."

Biyou? Is that the overseas demon sect "Biyou Palace" that took Shiyu away? Why did you mention it specifically, sir?

Lu Shang closed the letter, his doubts growing even stronger.

***

In the days that followed, Xiqi was busy with reconstruction and relief efforts, while Ji Fa began to truly take over some military and political affairs. He seemed to want to use endless busyness to dilute the pain of losing his teachers and comrades. Only Lü Shang noticed that Ji Fa would occasionally look north alone, and the red mark between his brows would sometimes feel slightly warm—a side effect of drinking the blood of the Blood Puppet, and also a trace of connection with the residual power of the blood plague.

Lü Shang himself was also secretly searching. He repeatedly sneaked into the underground cave, trying to get more clues about "Jiang Ziya," "the key," and "the rift" from Xuanfeng. But Xuanfeng was always vague, or rather, it only knew fragments.

"Your path is one you must forge yourself." Xuanfeng's golden eyes gazed at him in the darkness. "The old gods have vanished, the new order is yet to be determined. You are both a variable and an opportunity. But remember... knowing everything too quickly is not always a blessing."

This answer was tantamount to saying nothing. Helpless, Lü Shang had no choice but to turn his attention to the "Biyou Palace" mentioned in Shi Yuan's notes. He secretly consulted ancient texts and asked learned senior officials such as Yun Zhen, but the information he obtained about Biyou Palace was extremely limited: an overseas immortal island, a holy land of the demon race, worshipping ancient gods, and rarely interacting with the Central Plains.

Just when Lü Shang was about to give up on this line, an unexpected visitor knocked on his gate on a rainy night.

It was Yi Jiang. She held an umbrella, the hem of her dress damp, her expression showing hesitation and a hint of...fear?

"Lu Shang," she said, glancing cautiously at the door after entering the room, then lowering her voice, "I...I've been having strange dreams these past few days."

"Nightmare?" Lu Shang poured her a cup of hot water.

"Not entirely..." Yi Jiang held the cup, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim. "There were no blood puppets in the dream, no fighting. It was... a boundless sea, shrouded in gray mist. In the mist... there were enormous shadows moving about, I couldn't make out what they were, but they felt ancient, very... sorrowful. Then I heard a voice, as if coming from the very deep seabed, repeating a single word..."

She looked up, her eyes filled with confusion: "'Guixu'. Lü Shang, do you know what 'Guixu' is? I asked Grandpa Yunzhen, and his face changed. He only said that it was the 'place where all things end' recorded in ancient books, a legend, and told me not to think about it."

Guixu? Lü Shang's heart skipped a beat. He recalled Xuan Feng's mention of "Biluo," a different dimension where spiritual energy and negative emotions accumulated. What, then, was Guixu?

"And..." Yi Jiang's voice lowered, trembling, "Last night's dream was clearer. The fog lifted a little, and I saw... many... eggs floating on the sea. Huge, faintly glowing eggs. One of them... cracked open, and inside... it was empty."

She grabbed Lü Shang's sleeve: "Lü Shang, am I going crazy? Or... is it a side effect of the blood plague? Sister Daji said she hasn't been sleeping well lately either, but she's not as clear as I am."

Lu Shang patted her hand reassuringly, "Don't be afraid, it's just a dream. You've probably been too stressed lately." But alarm bells were ringing in his mind. Yi Jiang was just an ordinary maid, so why would she have such a vivid and bizarre dream? Could it be related to some hidden trait within her? (He remembered Luo Xuan's interest in Daji's "special" qualities.)

After seeing Yi Jiang off, Lü Shang did not sleep all night.

The Ruins of Return. The Giant Egg. The Sounds of the Deep Sea. The Warning from the Goddess of Azure. The Hidden Words of the Black Phoenix. Ogata's Purpose in Taking Away the Essence of the Demon Lord... All these fragmented clues seem to be strung together by an invisible thread, pointing to a larger shadow that he has yet to see clearly.

***

A few days later, a more direct message arrived, breaking the brief peace in Xiqi.

Urgent military intelligence from Dongyu: Along the East China Sea coast, several fishing villages were shrouded in an unidentified black fog overnight. After the fog dissipated, all the villagers had vanished, leaving only empty houses and some huge, sticky footprints that resembled neither human nor animal on the beach. Some survivors claimed to have heard a "deep singing" coming from the seabed before the black fog arrived.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Eyebrow Watchers outpost on the southern border of Hubei reported that the activities of the underground Blood Puppets had not completely ceased due to the death of the Demon Lord. On the contrary, they showed signs of "organized migration" in some areas, seemingly... avoiding something, or moving in a common direction.

Ji Fa urgently summoned his advisors. The atmosphere in the court became tense once again.

"The Demon Lord is dead, and the Blood Puppet should have collapsed." Wu Dan frowned. "This strange movement is definitely not ordinary."

Yun Zhen stroked his beard, his expression more serious than ever before: "The black mist of the East Sea, the enormous footprints... this reminds me of some extremely ancient records, considered mere gossip. Legend has it that in an era even older than the demon race, there were 'guests' from the deep sea..."

"This is not the time for reminiscing!" Lei Kai interrupted, but a hint of unease flickered in his eyes. "The most urgent task is to find out the truth! Both Dongyu and Nan'e are in dire straits; we cannot stand idly by!"

Ji Fa looked at Shen Gongbao: "Senior Shen Gongbao, what do you think?"

Since returning to Xiqi, Shen Gongbao had lived a secluded life. Now that he had been summoned, his face was still pale, but his eyes were sharp.

"The Demon Lord is the 'core' of the Blood Plague, but not its 'source.' The Blood Plague is formed from the filth of the Azure Heaven, and the Demon Lord is the most powerful individual consciousness within it."

The core is now destroyed, but the azure sky remains, though the filth has not been cleansed.

These anomalies... may be a new trend of 'convergence' arising after the filth lost its core constraints.

As for the East China Sea…” He paused, “I once heard my master mention that deep within the ocean, there are vulnerable points connecting to other ‘realms,’ called ‘sea eyes.’ If subjected to a powerful external impact or a special phase influence, they may… develop fissures.”

Cracks! That word again!

Standing behind Ji Fa, Lü Shang felt a surge of turmoil. Could this be what the goddess Dai Qing's warning about "the rift widening" referred to?

"Report—!" A messenger rushed into the hall, knelt on one knee, and gasped for breath. "Reporting to the Marquis and the Heir Apparent! Urgent report from Beichong! An unusual earthquake has occurred at Frostbite Snow Mountain! The Crimson Eyebrow Watchers headquarters reported that from the depths of the snow mountain came... an 'inhuman roar,' and a bottomless fissure has opened in the mountain, from which chilling black energy continuously pours out! General He Xu has already led men to investigate!"

Northern Chong! Frosty Snow Mountain! The headquarters of the Crimson-Eyebrowed Watchers!

Bad news followed one after another, with strange omens appearing in all directions.

Ji Chang suddenly stood up, his face ashen. Ji Fa clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.

A deathly silence fell over the hall. The brief peace brought by the Demon Lord's annihilation shattered completely, like fragile glass. Everyone realized—

The end of the blood plague may not be the end of the disaster.

Instead, it's a much larger and more unknown storm...

prelude.

Lu Shang looked out at the gloomy sky outside the palace, as if he could see the gray fog covering the sea, the cracks in the frozen snow mountain, the blood puppets migrating silently underground... and the faint whispers calling for "Return to the Void" from the depths of the sea.

The key has already been turned.

How should a gatekeeper be vigilant?

He didn't know. But he did know that he, Ji Fa, and all the surviving people on this land had been swept into this turbulent, unfathomable undercurrent.

The journey has only just begun.