497. Finishing (Patreon)

Deep in a dark cave, a thousand golden steles pointed toward the sky. Dust hung heavy over their surfaces. The air hung perfectly still, stagnant with a thousand year’s worth of nothing.

The darkness stirred. A faint wind blew.

The smallest spark of light appeared in one of the steles. From the depths of the inscription, a thin line of gold light beamed out. The light grew brighter and brighter, filling the inscription. The light spilled out, crawling over the entire stele.

A second stele lit up, then a third. One after another, the steles beamed out. The dark space filled with brilliant light.

As the steles lit, beams of light shot from their tops. The beams struck the same point in the air. The spot of light where they joined together grew brighter and brighter. The light took shape. A wavering, formless shape, that slowly became more. Above the thousand steles, a golden figure slowly condensed.

Gui Delun opened his eyes. He flexed his hands, looking at his translucent palms. “That bug. Daring to take the life of the magnificent me. Luckily, I had this reincarnation array set up, in case someone dared to—”

A crow cawed.

Gui Delun froze. His head turned sharply. “How did a crow get in here?”

“Haaa, I wonder,” Chen Wuya said. He flapped over and landed on one of the steles.

Gui Delun scoffed. “It’s too late. Already, my rejuvenation is nearly complete. In just another moment, I’ll be back and more powerful than ever!”

“Oh. Is that so,” Chen Wuya said dryly.

Crows dropped out of the darkness. One landed on each of the steles. When they landed, they cut off the light. The beams of light darkened one by one, and Gui Delun’s glowing body began to fade.

Chen Wuya lifted one of his claws and scratched the back of his head. “That Xiao Hui told me to look for your resurrection formation. I usually overlook that kind of thing. After all, even if you manage to resurrect, it’s not like you’ll ever pose a threat to me again.

“But, well… that coward asked me to check, so… well, I owe him a favor.”

“You—you—” Gui Delun snarled. He clenched his fist. “I won’t allow you—!”

Chen Wuya froze. He looked up at Gui Delun. “You won’t allow?”

Lowering his claw from his head, he clenched his claws down on the stele. Cracks spread across the golden surface. Light leaked from it in all directions, breaking free of the cracks.

A vein throbbed in Gui Delun’s incorporeal forehead. “Don’t you dare—”

Across the cave, all the crows tightened their grips on the steles. Cracks burst through every stele in the cave.

Chen Wuya laughed. “The thing I hate most is people who think they can ‘allow’ me!”

He closed his claws, and all the crows followed suit. The thousand steles shattered into golden dust.

Overhead, the image of Gui Delun reached out, a silent scream on his lips. The image blinked out.

Chen Wuya fluttered his wings. Primly, he adjusted a few flight feathers, then fluffed himself up. “There you go. I’ve done my part. Just like you asked.”

On Starbound Peak, Hui looked up at the sky. I heard Senior Chen Wuya’s voice? Ah… he must have found it. Gui Delun’s reincarnation formation.

If my novels have taught me anything, it’s that any Senior worth their salt is going to have a reincarnation technique of some kind or another! Especially if that Senior is a villain like Gui Delun. There’s no way I’m going to leave that thread hanging. If Gui Delun still lives, cut off that final thread and send him directly to the underworld!

“Are you sure about that?” the reaper asked.

Hui snorted. “Better he plagues me than goes after those I love.”

“You’re quite firm about that, aren’t you?” the reaper said.

“Once upon a time, there was a little boy who took on a lot of debt because his father was a deadbeat piece of shit,” Hui said flatly to the sky. He turned his head to take in the reaper. “I don’t want to leave that same kind of legacy.”

“Ah, it’s good to be mindful of your legacy,” the reaper said, nodding.

“Elder Sister, you haven’t tried to reap me?” Hui asked.

She sighed. “Don’t tempt me.”

“Ah! My apologies! Please forgive—”

The reaper waved her hand. “You’ll come along soon, won’t you?”

“Soon,” Hui agreed.

The reaper sighed. “Hurry it up. The boss is breathing down my neck.”

“It won’t be much longer. Just a little more, a little more,” Hui said.

The world went back to color. Hui ran on, down the hill. A group of laughing, drinking disciples wandered down from the top of the peak. On reflex, Hui ducked behind a tree until they passed. He dodged on, darting around crowds and slipping around disciples. One or two glanced in his direction, but he quickly fled before anyone could call out to him.

This is nice. Peacefully watching from the sidelines as everyone enjoys what I’ve worked so hard for. Exactly what I’ve wanted.

“Hey!”

Hui jolted. He turned. “Who…?”

Xixing grinned at him, her cheeks faintly pink. “What’re you doing out here in the forest?”

“Ah, I’m… taking a walk?” Hui said, scratching the back of his neck.

Her nose wrinkled. She leaned in. “You smell funny. Almost like…”

Hui dodged away. I don’t want to test a pill cultivator’s nose. I know what I smell like. Or rather… who. “Elder Sister, how are you enjoying the party?”

“Huh? Oh. I like being alive again, anyways,” she said, stretching. She bit her lip. “But… I’ve got to work hard. We all have to. For us to end up in that state… we need to get much stronger, so no sect can ever oppress us again.”

Hui nodded. “That’s right, Elder Sister. That’s the right attitude to have!”

Xixing scowled and punched Hui. Her fist bounced off his arm harmlessly. “Ahhh, what are you saying, you seventh-realm cultivator? If we could all cultivate at your speed, we wouldn’t have any problems!”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” Hui said, putting his hands up.

She sighed and shook her head. “Thanks.”

“No need to thank a small cultivator like me—”

“No. Thank you. From all of us. I know the Sect Master won’t say it, but I know he’s grateful too. He might not like you, but… ultimately, the sect owes you everything. Even if he tries to dodge his responsibilities, I, and Li Xiang, and everyone else—we won’t let him!” Xixing declared.

Hui blinked. He bowed. “Th—”

“You’re welcome. There. That’s what you say!” Xixing said, slapping him on the shoulder. She laughed and gave him a wink. “Go on, back to your lady or whatever. I won’t tell.”

Hui nodded and hurried off. I’d love to go back to Li Xiang, but if this is the end, then, then there’s one last thing I want before I go!

Around the final corner, a familiar building loomed up in his vision. Hui walked up to the back door and crouched, quietly knocking on the door.

“Wait, wait, I’m coming. Phew, they have me working a banquet out here, and—” Sis Mei opened the door.

Hui smiled up at her. “Hi.”

Her eyes widened. A smile spread across her face. “Xiao—”

Hui jumped up and covered her mouth. He put a hand to his lips. “Shhh!”

Sis Mei nodded. Carefully, Hui removed his hands.

“What are you doing out here? You should be inside with everyone else! Enjoying the banquet I’ve worked so hard over!” Sis Mei said, putting her hands on her hips and shaking her head at Hui.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Hui gave her a little cheeky smile. “Er, I… more than anything, even… more than the incredible things Sis Mei must have cooked for the banquet, I… wanted a taste of your chicken congee again.”

Sis Mei tutted playfully. “I’ve worked so hard, and you’re still demanding more?”

Hui bowed. “My apologies! I shouldn’t have—”

“No, no. You wait right there, and I’ll be right back,” Sis Mei said, patting him on the shoulder with a smile. The door shut.

Hui sat down on the back step of the kitchen, his back against the door frame. He let out a sigh. This. After everything, I’ve finally achieved everything I want to. I lost more than I meant to during the process, but… soon, I’ll…

The door opened again. Sis Mei bustled out, carrying a warm bowl of congee. “Here you go. It might be a bit low-realm now, but…”

“Sis Mei, it’s fine. This is everything I wanted,” Hui said. The warm scent filled his nose, comforting in its familiarity. He took a bite, and had to pause. Tears welled up. At last. I can taste Sis Mei’s cooking again!

Sis Mei shook her head, but a smile pulled at her lips. “Do you want some pork bao to go?”

Hui shook his head, cheeks full. With some effort, he swallowed. “I’m good. This is all I want.”

“Are you sure?” Sis Mei asked, concerned. “You’re so skinny. It worries me.”

“No, no. I’m…” Hui nodded. “I’m happy.”

Sis Mei smiled. “Good. Come back here any time. I’ll always have something for you to eat.”

“Of course,” Hui said.

She watched him eat for another few moments, then glanced into the kitchen. “I can’t stay long. They’ll need me at the banquet. Leave the bowl at the door, and I’ll come collect it when you’re done.”

Hui nodded. “I understand, Sis Mei.”

With one last look, Sis Mei nodded and retreated.

Time passed. Hui stood, setting his bowl neatly beside the door. That’s everything. Now… there’s only one thing left.

A small beam of light flew up from behind the kitchen, darting directly to the top of Unrivaled Peak.

Hui landed lightly beside the familiar old hut and the familiar old well. He lifted a hand and gently freed the sleeping Zhubi from around his neck. Walking into the hut, he set Zhubi down on his bed.

“I found you here. You’ll be the safest here on Master’s peak, where nothing can bother you.”

Zhubi shifted slightly, hissing in his sleep. He settled down immediately, nestling in the soft blanket.

Hui watched him for a moment, then turned away. His gaze landed on the small stone arch in the ground, just barely visible from where he stood. Now I understand. Every expert must leave a grave behind with their inheritance for those that follow. And now… it’s my turn to leave behind my inheritance! That’s what Peak Lord was building. That’s what he was attempting to create. And now I fulfil his prophecy.

Hmm, I wonder if every expert gets the same instinct I did when Peak Lord felt I was dying? It would explain how so many of them go out and create inheritance zones, when no living cultivator ever wastes their time on organizing a grave or inheritance zone! In fact, a living cultivator is far more likely to spend a lot of time creating a reincarnation array or attempt to extend their life, but I suppose the death instincts must drive different reactions?

Ah, I’m not sure, but… it’s the best thought I’ve come up with!

He walked into the arch, descending into the ground. The temperature fell as he entered the stone room. A maze stretched before him, full of traps and all the tricks Peak Lord could muster, carefully designed as a confounding array to trap those up to the fifth realm, but for Hui, he simply waved his hand. The stone maze groaned, stone scraping over the ground as it rearranged itself into a straight line. Hui walked directly into its center and laid down in a stone coffin. He waved his hand again, and the maze formed around him. The lid of the stone coffin raised up and settled over his body.

Hui crossed his hands over his chest and closed his eyes. “Alright. I’m ready.”

The reaper laughed. “I don’t think I’ve met anyone else who so kindly took care of their own dead body as you did.”

Hui shrugged. “Well, I know I’m dying, so… I might as well minimize the troubles for everyone else.”

Lifting her sword, the reaper shook her head at him. “You are definitely the strangest cultivator I’ve seen in a long time.”

“Small cultivator doesn’t deserve such compliments,” Hui said demurely.

The reaper snorted. The sword fell.

--

END

…Ah, hey. It’s not the end yet! This small cultivator… still has a long way to go, you know?

HUI’S ADVENTURES CONTINUE IN VOLUME 6

A/N: Thanks everyone for all the support, all this time! As stated above, this is not the end! Just a volume break. As usual, I'm taking a week break between volumes. I'll return in a week with the start of Volume 6!