Chapter Five: Origins

“I see. Could it be that you fell into a trap?” the old voice asked.

“Something like that,” Ye Xin replied.

“Heh heh… You? You fell for someone else’s trap?” The old voice sounded rather delighted.

Ye Xin did not respond. He steered the carriage off the main road, plunging into a mire of mud and wetlands.

“Heaven’s Wrath Battalion… Heaven’s Wrath Battalion?” the old voice sighed. “I finally know where you truly come from.”

“Who am I?” Ye Xin asked.

“When the God of Slaughter rises, the Demon Finger brings disaster, Heaven’s Wrath ascends, and the Grand Summoning falls!” The old voice recited, “I’ve heard children singing this rhyme. It’s said that a new commander appeared in Heaven’s Wrath Battalion, calling himself the God of Slaughter, and led the battalion to fight alongside the Celestial Wolf Army, achieving remarkable military feats! But… Heaven’s Wrath Battalion is a den of wolves and tigers, full of the most heinous criminals. Each year in Great Wei is a term, and any who fail to distinguish themselves in battle are beheaded. When you first entered Heaven’s Wrath Battalion, you were just a child. Tsk, tsk… How did you possibly tame those savage, unbridled criminals and become their commander?!”

“Why are you so sure I’m the God of Slaughter?” Ye Xin countered.

“Because men don’t spring from cracks in rocks,” the old voice said. “I’ve watched you closely these past two years. Your scheming and depth far surpass those fellows in Destiny City, though you’re slightly lacking in power. If you advanced just a bit more, you wouldn’t even need to defeat them completely—just match any one of them, and with a few years’ maneuvering, you could likely unify Destiny City! Heh heh… Someone like you couldn’t possibly lack a formidable background. If you’re the commander of Heaven’s Wrath Battalion, everything falls into place.”

“Didn’t expect you to have moments of cleverness,” Ye Xin replied.

“What did you say?” the old voice snapped, then paused. “Forget it, I won’t bicker with you. You still haven’t answered me—how did you subdue those condemned men?”

“The commander of Heaven’s Wrath is always chosen by the soldiers themselves. Kill a few, borrow some momentum, nurture your own faction, and with a bit of luck, that’s all it takes,” Ye Xin replied.

“Luck?” The old voice paused. “When Wolf Marshal Ye Guanhai was assassinated and the Celestial Wolf Army fell apart, you were left with Heaven’s Wrath, surrounded on all sides by the Grand Summoning Kingdom. You led the battalion across thousands of miles, broke Gold Mountain seven times, burned Spirit Peak thrice, and finally defeated Xiao Demon Finger at Taishui Plain. Was all that just luck?”

“It was luck, naturally,” Ye Xin said.

“I don’t believe it. How did you defeat Xiao Demon Finger? He’s a Grand Pillar, famed for his killing techniques, and called the greatest strategist among the Nine Kingdoms! What kind of luck allowed you, with a shattered force, to break through Taishui’s natural defenses and defeat him?”

“Xiao Demon Finger, for all his brilliance, is still human. And every human has weaknesses.” Ye Xin paused briefly. “I admit I couldn’t beat him in a straight fight, but he had no choice but to let me pass. He simply had to.”

“Let you pass? Are you sure about that?” The old voice was full of doubt.

“If he hadn’t, I’d be dead already,” Ye Xin said. “Perhaps you’ll meet him yourself one day—no, you certainly will. If you’re so curious, ask him then.”

“Sounds like you two know each other?” the old voice said.

“We only met in battle,” Ye Xin smiled. “Definitely not friends. If he had even the slightest opportunity, he’d crush me without hesitation.”

“I see…” The old voice let out a long sigh. “After Heaven’s Wrath broke through at Taishui Plain, they vanished without a trace. Did you disband the battalion?”

“I did.” Ye Xin nodded, no longer shrouding his origins in mystery.

“Why disband them?” the old voice asked.

“Three thousand elite soldiers, and in the end, fewer than a hundred remained. They’d done more than enough,” Ye Xin said quietly. “Besides, we fought from spring’s first bloom to the depths of winter, and back to spring again. They finally broke through the first barrier of their lives—there was no need for them to be manipulated by Great Wei any longer.”

“The silt is washed away by the great wave; from three thousand to one hundred, those who remain are pure gold!” The old voice chuckled. “Frankly, you never wanted these true warriors to serve Great Wei anyway, did you? Especially when you still have revenge to take! Ye Guanhai’s death can’t be separated from Emperor Ironheart. Ah, now I see!”

“What have you figured out now?” Ye Xin asked helplessly.

“They are your real wings!” the old voice exclaimed. “No wonder you turned down the warriors of Destiny City when they wanted to follow you. You looked down on them from the start!”

Ye Xin did not answer. Suddenly, he stopped the carriage, lost in thought as he gazed at the night sky.

“It must have been the Wolf Marshal who helped you rise in Heaven’s Wrath, right?” the old voice changed the subject.

“The day Ye Xin entered Heaven’s Wrath, he deserted in fear of punishment and has been missing ever since,” Ye Xin replied. “The one who led Heaven’s Wrath was the God of Slaughter. He and Ye Xin are unrelated.”

“You didn’t deny it just now,” the old voice said.

“Deny what?” Ye Xin was momentarily confused.

“That you want revenge on Emperor Ironheart of Great Wei.”

“Of course I want revenge. Unfortunately, at most I can only avenge half of it,” Ye Xin lowered his head.

“Why?” This time, it was the old man’s turn to be confused.

“Because I’m an accomplice too.” Ye Xin’s expression turned grim.

“What do you mean?” The old man was startled. He had occupied Ye Xin’s spiritual palace for two years, but this was the first time he had seen Ye Xin so moved and shaken.

“When we invaded the Grand Summoning Kingdom, Emperor Ironheart sent an envoy to recruit me,” Ye Xin said slowly. “The old marshal’s merit overshadowed his lord, and Ironheart had long suspected him. He only tolerated the marshal because he feared no one else in Great Wei could withstand Xiao Demon Finger. My appearance made Ironheart’s thoughts more active. I feared that refusing him outright would draw his wrath, so I tried to remain neutral—neither agreeing nor refusing. I thought I needed three or four more years before I could confront Ironheart directly. I hoped my neutrality would keep him indecisive and slow his hand. I never imagined he would act so impatiently.”

The old man was silent for a long time before speaking softly, “You shouldn’t blame yourself. Even without you, the marshal would have had a hard time surviving. Wei Juan’s return was the real reason.”

“At the very least, I miscalculated,” Ye Xin’s face was ashen. “If I had rejected Ironheart outright and drawn his attention, he might have targeted me first, buying the old marshal some time.”

“Would it have helped?” the old voice replied. “With your cunning, I’m sure you warned the marshal every possible way that Ironheart might strike. And what happened? I know the marshal’s character—he was too upright, always fighting fairly and openly. He had no talent for intrigue. Even the women of the royal palace in Nine Cauldrons City could have destroyed him with ease. The only reason he stood firm was that Ironheart needed him against the Grand Summoning Kingdom. In truth, the day Wei Juan returned was the day the marshal was doomed.”

“That’s why I was wrong,” Ye Xin said, utterly exhausted. “I thought I had everything under control, but I overlooked Wei Juan! I had no men at that time, couldn’t plant enough eyes in Nine Cauldrons City, and by the time I heard the news, it was already too late…”

A wisp of smoke drifted from Ye Xin’s brow, forming a faintly discernible face, which gazed at him. After a moment, the old voice spoke again, “You should let go of this burden. Wei Juan had to die, didn’t he?”

“It’s not enough for just him to die. I want his entire clan eradicated,” Ye Xin replied coldly.

“I never imagined there was so much entanglement here,” the smoky face nodded slowly.

“Now that you know my background, you haven’t told me yours,” Ye Xin said.

“Me? Even if I told you, you wouldn’t know,” the old voice replied.

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Ye Xin answered.

“I know you have the Wolf Marshal’s Celestial Book of Strategies, but my name isn’t written there, because…” The old voice hesitated, “because I’m not from this world.”

“Tell me anyway. I’ve shared my story—wouldn’t it be unfair if you didn’t share yours?” Ye Xin said.

“My name is Zhong Zhengnan,” the old voice chuckled. “All you need to know is this: my divine power is unrivaled here. Give me enough time, and I will make you the greatest man in the world!”

“In truth, names matter little,” Ye Xin smiled as well. “I’ve read in some books that having an old grandpa by your side is wonderful. He can give advice, offer assistance, even help you fight—ha ha…”

“What does it mean to carry an old grandpa with you?” the old voice asked, confused.

“It doesn’t mean anything, really. Maybe you’re just too old, missed out on those stories,” Ye Xin changed the subject. “Let’s go. If we don’t move now, the pursuers will catch up.”