Destiny in Cinders

Something was off. He could feel it in his bones. Frowning, An Jing thought to himself, It's not like the plot of a dramatic novel, is it? Could Gu Yeqi's father have hidden in the northern frontier under an alias after falling out with his family, only to encounter the snow calamity? And after being forced to sell his daughter, he had to swallow his pride and crawl back to his powerful parents for help. Then, as they searched, they realized the situation was far more serious. The buyers were cultists and things began spiralling out of control...

That's too much of a cliche. Shaking his head, An Jing brushed aside the ridiculous theory.

In any case, with this newfound connection, An Jing no longer feared for his companions' future. Gu Yeqi was a kind girl and as his helper, she was certainly talented.

While the demonic cult's selection process was undeniably brutal, it also meant that every survivor was exceptional. With Yvelbane's approval, An Jing had shared a mind-strengthening section of Sword of Tranquility with Gu Yeqi and Cang Linzu to protect them from being tainted by fiend qi.

Cang Linzu was a genius whose talent and insight were second only to An Jing's, and also one of the few who could trade a few blows with him. Naturally, he mastered the technique quickly, but Gu Yeqi proved even faster. She clearly had a natural affinity for this.

Then again, the sheer number of talented individuals within this small manor implied that Grand Chen had more in mind than just a rescue. It was quite likely they were there to capitalize on it.

"Does your Spark contain knowledge of so many folk tales?" Sensing An Jing's thoughts, even Yvelbane's curiosity was piqued. "Hmmm, the plot is good, even with the cliches. An Jing, did you roam the world with a sword as a storyteller in your past life?"

"I don't think so." An Jing clicked his tongue. "Your memories are incomplete and mine aren't much better. We're rather alike in that sense."

"In time, your Spark can fully awaken. Perhaps you'll have to reconcile with your past self, or perhaps your past self has no interest in living another life." The sword soul seemed dejected at the mention of that. "But my memories were stripped away by the heavenly fiend. Fortunately, we think alike."

"Really?" An Jing sighed as he glanced at the disaster children and Crimsonguard. "I feel like I don't belong."

Inside the camp, the others stood out in the sun, appearing to have finally cast off the lingering gloom. Meanwhile, An Jing remained tucked away in the shade of the trees along the cliff, watching everything unfold with mixed feelings.

"They can't understand my rage. My thoughts, ideas, and character were shaped by the Spark and my gifts. They don't see the gravity of cannibalism; they can even brush off murder. I'm starting to wonder if I'm just overthinking things. Maybe the snow calamity messed with my head and made me this sensitive and... well, paranoid.

"Perhaps this is just the way the world is. It can't sustain everyone, so they resort to cannibalism. Maybe I've been lost in my own fantasies for too long. I won't change, but the others..."

An Jing spoke his mind. He was sure of his own path, but he wavered at the thought of involving others.

"If you were just anyone, you'd be right," Yvelbane said, ignoring An Jing's dispirited state.

"What can a single tree branch achieve? It does little more than float, drifting with the current. It has no ambition to build temples or serve as a pillar. And even if it should be ignited, the light it gives off is fleeting, too dim to illuminate a face in the dark or cut through the mist, let alone temper steel to forge a sword.

"But you're a cultivator, a genius marked by a miracle arc and the one chosen to wield me. One day, when you come into your strength, your back will hold up the temple of justice, your bones will be the pillars of the world, and should you ever ignite, you'll set the entire world ablaze.

"Lost in your own fantasies? No, An Jing. We cultivators use our fists and our swords to hammer the world in the image of our desire, carving it into existence. If this world stands in your way, then beat it till it yields to your will!

"If others can't understand you, then let them live in the world you have forged, generation after generation, until they accept it as the natural order and heavenly justice."

The sword soul's logic was that simple. It didn't even have to think to refute him, but that was exactly the kind of blunt[1] clarity An Jing needed.

The boy paused for a moment, then chuckled. "That's right. I don't have to be like them. And the truth is, I never was."

An Jing closed his eyes.

Perhaps this era was indeed a blood-soaked, backward age of corruption and greed. Yet, even here within Grand Chen or even the demonic cult itself, there were those who still loved their land and its people. There were honest, honorable souls who clung to their integrity, men and women of order who refused to fester, remaining untouched by greed, cruelty, or depravity.

Such were the times, but that didn't mean everyone had to fall in line. It didn't mean that "this was how things had always been," and it certainly didn't mean he had to follow suit.

Besides, he possessed strength, genius, and a divine sword. He, An Jing, could upend this world, rewrite it, or crush it underfoot!

"Not bad. You snapped out of that fast. It's perfect for tempering your dao heart."

Yvelbane noticed An Jing's shift in mindset and started to offer a word of praise when it stopped halfway. The sudden solemnity in the sword soul's voice caused An Jing to snap his head up in alarm.

"This feeling, this suffocating fiend qi... It's a heavenly fiend! An Jing, run!" Yvelbane shouted, its voice thick with disbelief and fury. "There's a heavenly fiend hiding among the incoming Crimsonguard unit, and it's powerful. It's here for me... I can't let them find me! What's wrong with this place? How could it be so deeply eroded by the heavenly fiends?!"

"What?!"

An Jing bolted upright, catching Cang Linzu off guard. Even Gu Yeqi, who had been asking the soldiers about her family, instinctively jerked to look at An Jing.

"Big Brother Jing, what's going on?"

They watched in astonishment as An Jing leaped into the air, dissolving into a blur as he dove headlong into the deep wilderness.

"Move! Get away from Direlife Canyon now!" Just before vanishing, An Jing threw out a stern warning, "There's a heavenly fiend hiding among the approaching Crimsonguard unit! It intends to free the heavenly fiend in the canyon! Cang, after I'm gone, you and Yeqi have to teach the contemplation technique to the others! Make sure you do it!"

"What?! A heavenly fiend! What proof do you... Damn it! Listen up! Get into formation and retreat!"

While Cang Linzu stood there in utter shock, the long-bearded Crimsonguard captain broke off his conversation with Gu Yeqi to demand for answers, but stopped abruptly. He recalled the rumors about a heavenly fiend sealed within the canyon. It was better to be safe than sorry.

Furthermore, as the primary contact for the mole, he understood the extent of An Jing's true power far better than any of the other soldiers. The young genius who was highly prized by the demonic cult was truly extraordinary. Perhaps he was sensitive to fiend qi.

Whatever reasons drove him to abandon his usual protective stance and bolt off remained a mystery. Regardless, An Jing was already out of reach, so their only choice now was to retreat.

In an instant, over a hundred Crimsonguard soldiers mobilized, sweeping the dazed disaster children away from Direlife Canyon and down to the foot of the mountain. Crimson flames surged from their armor, weaving an enormous formation centered around their captain, enclosing everyone within.

"Big Brother..." Cang Linzu hadn't quite processed what was happening. Only moments ago, An Jing had been laughing and joking, doing his best to cheer him up. Why had he suddenly left, leaving him behind?

However, Gu Yeqi stared into the dark woods where An Jing had disappeared and seemed to connect the dots.

The fiend qi in Direlife Canyon was so dangerous that even the Crimsonguard were terrified to set foot near it, yet An Jing led them right into the canyon to hide. He must have a special method for dealing with fiend qi. Perhaps he even had a secret related to the heavenly fiends themselves, one that would give off a warning if any were nearby. He must have taken off abruptly to keep the others from being involved.

"What?!"

As the Crimsonguard closed in on the canyon, an unremarkable soldier noticed they were actually leaving. He exclaimed in surprise, "They actually sensed something? Heartdoubt, what's going on? How did these weaklings catch on? Oh, nevermind."

He said regretfully, "It's a pity the show has to end so soon."

"Fan Jin, what did you say?" Assuming the words were meant for him, another soldier turned back, looking clearly confused.

"It's nothing," the soldier named Fan Jin replied with a smile. "It's a shame, really. But goodbye."

Then the world was plunged into darkness. An intensely sweet, fishy rot permeated the squad. Heavy fiend qi oozed from Fan Jin's body and seeped through his armor plates. In an instant, the grease-like fiend qi, radiating a sickly iridescent glow, swallowed the entire squad like the tide reclaiming the shore.

1. Ryo: Ironic for a sword, haha! ☜