Pitter-patter. Pitter-patter. Bitter rain fell from the heavens and onto the streets of the Capital City.
Wuzhi, who was walking the wide, orderly-built streets of the Capital, had a hop in his every step and a wide, brimming smile on his shadowy features. His body was clothed in familiar clothes, a large, bamboo hat concealed his head, and a suitcase was carried in his left hand.
Stepping onto a junction crossing, Wuzhi suddenly twirled with his body and broke out into far-reaching, resounding laughter.
"HAHAHAHAHA! I—I cannot—!! AHAHAHAHAHA!!"
His body folded like a cooked prawn in the middle of the street, the innocent nature of his echoing laughter drawing attention from the hundreds of spectators surrounding him.
"I— I— AHAHAHA!!!" He even found himself unable to form coherent words. The laughter spilling out of his throat ensured that he would remain unable to do so.
Wuzhi was happy. Very, very happy. Even if he were to collect all the previous happiness of his twenty years long life and merge them into one collective sum, it would not be greater than his current happiness.
"Ahh!~" A content moan escaped his lips as he wiped the tears of happiness from the corners of his eyes. His body, sprawled in the middle of the busy crossing, cringed, and then relaxed as his heart thumped with overwhelming excitement.
Honks from cars, shouts from carriage drivers, and curses from people poured towards Wuzhi. However, the young scholar did not care about any of it. He simply remained lying on the cold, hard ground as rain battered his body.
After twenty long years, Wuzhi had finally met the remainder of his so-called 'family.'
He had met with the man who had impregnated his mother, talked with his 'step-mothers' whom he had only heard and read about, and interacted with his 'half-siblings' whose names resounded throughout the entire world.
Wuzhi had often dreamt about such a meeting before. He had dreamt about how they would look, the conversations that they would have, the topics that they would exchange, and finally the dramatic meeting that they would have.
He had dreamt about such a meeting countless times, and to such a point that each one of those dreams seemed as vivid as reality.
Though, having finally met with them in reality, Wuzhi had to admit; reality had surpassed even his wildest dreams!
His stepmothers' beauties far surpassed his imagination. His half-siblings' characters and talents were in a realm that even 'he,' as their 'actual' Eldest Brother, stood with awe. The entire Mu Household had this genuine warmth and harmony, which was seldom seen in families their size.
He had to admit. He felt a little envious.
He, who had lived a caged life in a small, backwater town and had only had his mother to call 'family,' had lacked that genuine warmth and familial affection. His recent meeting even made him uncharacteristically wonder about how his life would have been, had he been part of that family. And he had to admit, it would have certainly been a good life.
Still, Wuzhi unhesitatingly shook his head. To be 'envious' was one thing but to have 'regrets' was another. He allowed himself to feel envious but would never be caught up in his regrets.
If his journey and experiences through the last month had taught him something, it was that the outside world was an endlessly interesting place with endlessly new experiences for him to discover. To even spend an instant in regret would mean wasting an instant of time away from new possibilities.
Wuzhi did not regret meeting with his family and did not regret walking away from it at the end of his errand. It was simple responsibility and curiosity that led him to this meeting. And having completed his responsibility and sated his curiosity, Wuzhi left without looking back.
He had great plans for his life's journey and the outside world still beckoned him to explore and understand its infinite profundities!
He would never allow himself to be slowed down by such distractions unless the 'distraction' itself proved to be equivalent to his plans.
Getting up from the road, Wuzhi sincerely apologized to the people around him for causing trouble and disappeared into the rain-covered night. As he left, his shadowy face grew even more concealed as his lips absentmindedly muttered.
"With the meeting, I have realised my 'scheme' to cripple Sovereign Mu Wudi's strength. The guilt and sin eating at his heart will soon morph into an unresolvable 'Heart Demon.'"
[AN: 'Heart Demon' refers to the metaphorical concept or physical manifestation of a cultivator's 'trauma' and 'regrets.' If you've read enough 'xianxia' novels, you should know what this word entails.
More information about this term will be given later.]
"His Path will reach ultimate stagnation and his power will continue to fall. The other Sovereigns may make use of this opportunity to rid this world of a Sovereign."
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
Mysterious characters flashed across Wuzhi's argent eyes as he sunk into further calculation.
"I must make a stop at the 'Black Moon Trading Company' and lay the foundations for my later 'Grand Strategy,' before heading to the port."
Wuzhi stared at the tumultuous heavens, a self-serving smile filling his face.
"The Will of the Heavens seeks to unite this chaotic world. Self-serving humans should fall and power must be returned to the world."
"Such is the 'will' of the Heavens!"
---
The Black Moon Trading Company was the world's foremost and largest mercantile trade corporation. They are a private company under the Crown of the Heavenly Spirit Empire and are the wealthiest, most well-connected company in existence.
There was a famous saying in this world, 'Where the Black Moon shines, civilisation prospers!'
To illustrate this saying, it had to be known that even the discovery and colonisation of the Isilda Continent were accomplished under the efforts and leadership of the Black Moon Trading Company!
With branches and businesses scattered throughout the world, it went without saying that the Capital City of the North Aislu Continent also had a branch. The very same establishment which Wuzhi had currently entered.
Walking through the tall, richly constructed main floor, Wuzhi quickly made his way to one of the manned counters. Fortunately, no queue made up a line, saving Wuzhi from the wait.
"Greetings, dear customer. Have you come to buy or sell from the Company?" A young lady warmly asked Wuzhi.
The young scholar politely returned her greeting before replying. "I have come to sell."
"Is it an item or information?"
"It is information."
"Understood. And what Grade would you propose your information belongs to?"
Flashing a smile, Wuzhi replied, "Grade 0."
The young lady paused. Her eyes then raised to look at Wuzhi with confusion before turning serious. With a low voice, she advised. "Are you certain about that, mister customer? Take it as my warning but should your information not reach the 'Grade 0' standard, you will be heavily fined and penalized. Even imprisonment is a possibility!"
"I understand the rules regarding the exchange of information. Young Lady can rest assured. I am not being foolish," Wuzhi warmly replied.
The young scholar's soft voice and even tone seemed to have a magnetic temperament to it and caused the young woman to blush. However, she soon assumed the mask of professionalism and continued with her work.
"Understood. Please follow the instructions written on this sheet of paper and you will reach a private room. There, someone will arrive to commence the exchange."
Pointing to the gates behind her, she directed. "You can enter through those gates behind me. Good luck and thank you for your business!"
Nodding his head, Wuzhi chose a gate behind the counters and entered. He then walked a series of intricately constructed corridors following the set of instructions in his hand. After about ten minutes of walking, Wuzhi found himself sitting inside a small, dark room.
The exchange room was partitioned into two halves by a black, hanging curtain. The curtain not only blocked the sights of the two parties undergoing the exchange but it also blocked the extraordinary senses of cultivators.
An exchange veiled in anonymity was hence created.
Wuzhi's wait did not last long as he soon heard a gruff voice from the other side of the curtain.
"This meeting is not being recorded or video-graphed. Please speak the information that you are willing to exchange."
Taking a deep breath, Wuzhi spoke. "The Heaven Scheming Devil will no longer take part in worldly affairs. He has retired."
Silence sunk into the small room as Wuzhi's voice fell.
After an unknown amount of time, the other voice said, "Are you certain?"
Although the voice tried to hide its emotions, Wuzhi noted the underlying shiver in his tone. However, he did not point it out and instead smilingly continued.
Cryptically, Wuzhi replied, "'Do not speak the Devil's name in vain lest you disappear into the darkness of the night.'"
"Understood." The gruff voice replied. "Do you have any other information to sell or should I close this transaction?"
"Just one more," said Wuzhi. With an even tone, he spoke. "The war in South Aislu will conclude at the latest in fifteen months. The Imperial Family will unite the continent."
At this shocking revelation, the voice on the other side was no longer able to hide the tremble in his voice. "C-can I consider these two pieces of information to be related?"
"Oh, not at all," Wuzhi hurriedly clarified. "They are completely unrelated to each other."
"I see." The voice fell to silence. An inordinate stretch of time passed before it spoke once again. "Your two pieces of information have earned Grade 0 classification. Please state your request for purchase."
Having finally heard the words that he had been waiting to hear, Wuzhi immediately put forward his request. "I would like a bond of 'Right to Trade' authorised and guaranteed by your company."
'Right to Trade' was a bond invented by the Black Moon Trading Company. Basically, its purpose was to allow its bearer to open a trade channel, under the Black Moon name, and have it recognised by all legal authorities and forces while guaranteeing its safety and protection.
This bond was invaluable to merchants seeking to open a business on foreign soil or while trading 'controlled' goods that would otherwise be seized by governing authorities in the name of 'regulation.'
"Understood. A 'Right to Trade' authorised directly by the Crown shall be given. May I ask to whom I should address this deed?" He was basically asking to whom this bond would belong.
"Leave it blank. I shall personally fill it later," Wuzhi casually replied.
"Your request shall be met. Is there anything else that you would like?"
"A pen and paper."
The voice on the other side seemed thrown off by this utterly mundane request. However, he quickly recovered and replied, "There is a set on the table adjacent to you."
"Ah!" Following his instruction, Wuzhi found the items. He then immediately grabbed the pen and started writing something on the paper.
After he finished writing, he found an envelope to put the letter in and sealed it with a wax stamp. Carrying the freshly sealed letter, Wuzhi spoke his request.
"I would like you to send this letter to the North." His words once again were cryptic.
However, the voice on the other side seemed to understand his request. "Understood. Please leave the letter on the table. We shall deliver it without fail."
"Un!" Wuzhi nodded his head and left the letter. Just as he was about done, a knock resounded on the door behind him. Following the knock, a sealed parchment slid into the room from under the door.
Taking the sealed parchment, Wuzhi opened the seal and confirmed the contents. It was the bond.
A smile appeared on his face. He said, "My business here is done. I will be leaving then."
"Thank you for your patronage," replied the voice before disappearing.
Wuzhi also did not stay more than necessary and left. He then exited the establishment, boarded a horse-driven carriage, and made his way to the port.
His next stop would find him at the final destination of his journey; the South Aislu Continent!