“Master, What do we do now?” Shi Liu asked. Zhu Mo Shi turned, eyeing Shi San’s decapitated head with disgust and resolute anger.

He knew the lad wasn’t as simple as he portrayed himself to be, but he also knew he had a knack for proving himself.

“I’ll soon reach the Qi Perception Realm” Zhu Mo Shi scoffed, “A true master would’ve realised the difference you fool!”

Shi Jiu and Shi Liu knelt before Zhu Mo Shi as he paced back and forth, quelling his frustration. Shi San’s death troubled him more than he wanted to admit, and admitting that to Shi Jiu and Shi Liu would equate to showing weakness.

...and that was something he was not.

Weak.

To Zhu Mo Shi, Shi San was always a willful brat, but after seeing his shocked expression after having his guts and head splatter across the sand.

He wondered to himself if he did the lad an injustice. No...I didn’t He thought prudently. Shi San was in league with the Emperor. He should die with him! If you want to save the world…hard choices must be made and drawing a line must be part of the equation.

“Master...” Shi Liu repeated. “What do we do now?”

“Stop questioning me Liu’er!” Zhu snapped. “I’m thinking!”

A large pool of dark aura surrounded Zhu Mo Shi as he surged his Qi through her merdians.

The Qi that enshrouded left the croaking crickets, hooting birds and snivelling weasels rustling in the background.

A wave of Qi exploded from Zhu Mo Shi and the once sniveling weasels, hooting birds and croaking crickets, retreated into silence.

A cold damp wind caressed the area, further soiling Zhu Mo Shi’s mood…until he warmed himself up with his Qi.

Shi Jiu rested a cloak around Zhu Mo Shi shoulders, then returned to his kneeling position beside Shi Liu.

“Shi Jiu retrieve Shi San’s Sword and hand it over to Prince Zhenjin. Shi Liu continue hiding the Red Fox Band and the Axsumite’s bodies. However, if there’s something you’re wary of, let me know.”

“Yes, Master!” The two shouted in response.

“Master!” Shi Liu shouted.

“What is it?”

“I request to ha—“

“Denied. Continue to clean up…I’ll handle Tou Fui.” Zhu Mo Shi spat.

“Yes, Master!”

In a blink of an eye, Shi Liu turned, soaring three feet across the river bed and sped across the river, heading towards the other side of the Red River.

Shi Jiu in turn snapped up Shi San’s sword and then shot up towards the nearest tree, heading south in the direction of Anqing.

Zhu Mo Shi turned and walked over to Shi San’s corpse, blood still spilling onto the sand from his decapitated head.

As he stared at the corpse, his anger began to swell. As he reminsced of all the years he’d spent training him, ensuring that he’d become a fine warrior.

He did, but he was loyal to a fault, and that was something Zhu Mo Shi could not have…not in the slightest. “You were never smart enough to think for yourself Shi San. You believed any and everything you were told. I’m sorry, but your enhances before I take the Black Cauldron” Mo Shi said grimly.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

As sweat, dirt and grime accumulated across Zhu Mo Shi’s body as he watched Shi San from afar. He knew that a show down was in inevitable.

Zhu Mo Shi and his men had purposely pulled the Axsumite corpses to the side of the river bed and pulsed their Qi continuously, forcing him to stay at the top.

Fear.

That’s what guided Shi San’s heart, despite him believing himself to be a capable Dingshi, but a Dingshi that couldn’t recognise pulsing Qi, but also made him fearful, it showed how weak he was…despite being of the Accentuation Realm.

A crumpled piece of paper peeked out from Shi San’s robes, it drew Zhu Mo Shi’s attention making him kneel to inspect it. “What is this?” Zhu Mo Shi asked.

He broke the seal, pulled the envelope free and began reading the letter, only to spat in disgust “I can’t understand a word of this!” He hissed, “Is this the Axsumite demon language?”

Zhu Mo Shi held the letter and was about to rip it apart, but he stopped. Not allowing his fury to get the better of them. “This can help Prince Zhenjin. This is more than enough proof that Prince Zhenjin needs to go up against the Emperor.

He took a deep breath, calming himself further then tucked the letter into his robes. Then he sat down, crossing his legs and positioned himself in the lotus position.

Zhu Mo Shi began reciting the sutras that were passed onto him by his long-dead predecessors. His body began to react without thought, as he practiced his Internal Arts, allowing his Qi to through his meridians as ripples.

His Qi surged back and forth between his Soul, Core and Mind Dantian. His mind slowly became clearer as he purged the images of Shi San’s death from in front of him.

Zhu Mo Shi may have been hard on his students, but he wasn’t a monster…not yet at least.

Shi San was someone he raise, prepared him for his duty as a Dingshi. Yet, he died by his hands, all because he believed in a traitorous Emperor.

Was it fair to take his life? Yes, because life wasn’t fair. Sacrifices had to be made if Huaxia were to survive. Shi San just happened to be one. One that’ll turn into millions, if the Emperor isn’t stopped! Zhu Mo Shi thought.

Three hours passed Zhu Mo Shi’s mind was clear. His resolve was solidified further, not that it had ever been quelled, but with the Emperor’s letter in hand…he was vindicated as any true patriot would.

Zhu Mo Shi’s ascension to the Qi Perception Realm was no small feat, especially compared to those who spent a majority of their lives cultivating their Internal Arts.

He may not have been part of the Jianghu, but his Internal Arts certainly did warrant for people to be scared of him.

The Swallowing Star Manual was a vicious Internal Arts cultivation technique, but if one could master the first three realms, their battle prowess would soar.

He’d consider the chance of entering the Arhat Realm or the Immortal Realm…the Realm of Enlightenment.

A realm where only two men have been known to reach. Bodhidharma and the first Emperor of Huaxia…Tian Hao.

The Emperor who united Huaxia to defeat the invading Evil Emperor of Axsum!

Zhu Mo Shi felt as though, if he could reach the Intrinsic Tyrant Realm. No one could stop him, not even the Matriarch of the Emerald Jade Palace.

It was known that she was of the Qi Perception Realm, but he heard she’d been in seclusion for some time. And he knew full well, she wasn’t going to come out unless she reached the Arhat Realm.

The Patriarch of the Heavy Sword Sect would have to do the same, as he too, was only of the Qi Perception Realm.

Lao Tu, the Chief of the Golden Bowl Sect, now was a different matter. He, unlike the others, was already of the Arhat Realm, and possibly on his way to the Intrinsic Tyrant…that that bothered him.

The Golden Bowl Sect Zhu Mo Shi thought, was the most troublesome sect of them all.

The Sect that fought alongside Emperor Tian Hao has remained a militia-like army ever since. And have retained a strong retinue to the Imperial Family.

The Golden Bowl Sect’s history was rich, and their martial arts profound. “If Prince Zhenjin is to become Emperor…then the Golden Bowl Sect must be restrained…some how.”

He harrumphed, realising that wasn’t his called, but the Prince’s own. “The Red Fox Band was today’s problem.”

Sand, pebbles and stones began to float around Zhu Mo Shi…even Shi San's blood began to float around him.

The tranquil touch of the moon’s light, hit him directly in the forehead, exactly where his Mind Dantian was. His eyes may have been closed, but he could feel the Heavens answering his questions whilst he cultivated.

“Yes, Zhu Mo Shi…what you do, is for the best of Huaxia. Emperor Tian Hao didn’t unite all of Huaxia, for Axsumites to enter freely…when they were the ones who tried to conquer Huaxia us.”

Zhu Mo Shi finished his cultivation after a further two hours, but like most days, he couldn’t make the breakthrough he sought.

“I’ve failed to break through again,” He said bitterly.

Was Zhu Mo Shi frustrated? No…He knew that was all part of the path to enlightenment…as was purging all the Axsumites from Huaxia’s land as Emperor Tian Hao did, all those centuries ago, as it surely provided the light to the nation needed in its darkest time.