Breaking Army - Chapter 12

Taibai walked through the Celestial Realm and noticed that Acacia trees were indeed common, deeply loved by many. Their bright red blossoms were breathtakingly beautiful, enough to make anyone stop and stare. Taibai paused beneath one such tree and raised his hand, catching a petal as it drifted gently into his palm.

He pinched the petal, noting its delicacy and fragrance. It was a harmless thing, never once used in medicine or as a medicinal catalyst. Why then, was it added to the poison? This toxin was unheard of, and Xiao Chen might be its first victim. To be lethal enough to take the life of a Star Lord, it had to be incredibly potent, not something an ordinary person could possess.

While Taibai was lost in thought, a set of footsteps approached him, strange and contradictory, they sounded expectant yet hesitant, urgent yet heavy. Curious, Taibai looked up to see a general standing before him. The man’s expression mirrored the sound of his steps. Under Taibai’s questioning gaze, the general spoke with difficulty. “I am Zhong Gui. My greetings, Star Lord. How have you, how have you been all these years?”

Taibai understood immediately. The man had mistaken him for the original Taibai. He offered a gentle reminder. “I am not him, nor am I your old friend. You must be General Zhong Gui, who assisted Xiao Chen greatly during the war of the three realms. You have my thanks.”

The former Taibai was dead. Though the current Taibai shared his face and temperament, they possessed different souls, making them two entirely different people.

Taibai’s soft sentence shattered the courage the man had struggled to gather. The general looked suddenly disheveled and miserable, but he murmured, “I know, I know you aren’t him, but, I, I just…”

He just really wanted to see that face one more time.

Since he was a friend of the former Taibai, he is a friend of the Star Realm. Perhaps I should comfort him, Taibai thought. However, given his identity, he couldn’t speak for the previous Taibai, nor should he. That would only add to the man’s grief. After a moment, Taibai simply said, “I have been very well these years.”

It was a way to give the man a graceful exit.

The general managed a faint smile. “That’s good, that’s good.” Then, he fled in a panic. Taibai sighed as a voice came from behind the Acacia tree. “You could have given him a bit of hope, comforted the poor soul. Since the previous Taibai fell, Zhong Gui requested to be stationed at the Heavenly Chasm. Alone in that dull, tedious place, he stares at the site of Taibai’s death every day, torturing himself.”

“I shouldn’t, and I cannot.” Taibai turned and gave a polite bow to the newcomer. “Your Majesty, the Heavenly Emperor.”

The Emperor emerged from behind the tree, hands behind his back. He looked up at the falling petals, his voice sounding hollow. “But a little bit of hope can keep a person going for a very long time. Even if one lives in solitude for hundreds or thousands of years, with that one thought, one can keep walking.”

The former Taibai had died during the sealing, and the Emperor’s beloved Goddess had also perished. It was unclear if he was speaking of Zhong Gui or himself.

The Heavenly Emperor still clung to the hope that the Great Seal might return the Goddess to him. If Taibai could be reborn, why couldn’t she? Though the Great Seal and the Life Stars were fundamentally different, the Emperor stubbornly thought: No one can say for sure, and if no one is certain, isn’t there still a possibility?

Taibai looked at the ruler of the Celestial Realm with pity. The Emperor now resembled a wandering soul, tethered to the world only by a single thread of hope.

The Emperor turned his gaze toward him and smiled warmly. “You actually aren’t like him. Though you were carved from the same mold, you aren’t as lively as he was.”

Taibai smiled back. “I also lack his breadth of spirit. Currently, I only think of protecting the small patch of land around me. The weight of all living beings is too heavy, I fear I lack the strength to carry it.”

“There is nothing wrong with thinking that way,” the Emperor murmured, his gaze drifting toward the distance. “Nothing wrong at all.”

If the Goddess hadn’t cared so much for all living beings, would she still be by my side, alive and well?

“We shall take our leave today. Thank you for your hospitality.”

The Emperor nodded. “I hope the person who harmed His Highness Broken Army is found soon. Safe travels, Lord Taibai and Lord Gouchen. I shall have someone escort you out.”

The poison was strange, and the Celestial Realm was actually quite unsettled. Many celestial soldiers had followed Xiao Chen back then, and if this poison could take down someone as strong as him, it would be all too easy to use against others.

Taibai politely declined the escort. He and Gouchen were going back, but two of their group were still lingering. If those two caused any trouble, the Star Lords would have to apologize later. It was better to remain polite for now.

Besides, with “Acacia” being part of the poison, it was hard to say how deeply involved the people of the Celestial Realm were.

While the Star Lords had identified the Acacia, Rong Yuan had discovered the Yellow Spring Water. However, Rong Yuan hadn’t made much more progress. The demon who had previously trespassed into Listening Wind Creek had nothing to do with Xiao Chen’s poisoning.

“Sovereign, the demon caught at Listening Wind Creek is dead. His soul passed through the Hall of Yama. The crimes he committed during his life were unrelated to the poisoning of His Highness Broken Army. The Judge has already passed sentence for his other crimes.”

Rong Yuan nodded, and his writing drifted into the air: “Handle it according to his crimes.”

“He was a follower of the former Demon King,” Zuo Yi added, “which is why he hated His Highness Broken Army so much.”

The former Demon King was still suffering in the eighteenth level of hell, held by soul-chains that Rong Yuan had personally placed. Years ago, some demons had tried to sneak into the Underworld to free him. Most died in the first seventeen levels, their bodies dying and their souls unable to escape. One demon, slightly more powerful, had witnessed the miserable state of the former King’s soul before being killed by Rong Yuan in the eighteenth level, his soul scattered until nothing remained.

Having learned to restrain his temperament, Rong Yuan could now be ruthlessly efficient with a calm demeanor.

After Zuo Yi finished his report and withdrew, Rong Yuan finished his official duties and returned alone to the Ghost Lotus Palace. He paced his study, eventually stopping behind a bookshelf. With a flick of his finger, he broke a spiritual seal to reveal a box. Inside were old mementos kept in two layers. Rong Yuan opened it; the top layer held a clean white handkerchief, while the second layer held a vividly colored ghost mask.

He used to carry the handkerchief with him, only putting it away just before Xiao Chen entered the Underworld. Xiao Chen likely didn’t remember the handkerchief at all, as he hadn’t paid it much mind back then. As for the mask, when Rong Yuan had first chosen it, his master—the previous Sovereign, had lamented his taste for a long time. But back then, Rong Yuan felt the mask suited him perfectly. An “evil ghost” should wear a ghost mask.

Later, on the battlefield, a small piece of the mask had been chipped away. Someone had flicked a finger against the mask and asked him why a perfectly fine person felt the need to wear such a thing.

And so, Rong Yuan had taken off the mask and learned to try being a “person.”

It seems that seeing a mask still makes Xiao Chen think of ‘Ghost Mask’, Rong Yuan thought, holding the mask and wondering if he should just destroy the evidence. It was better for that ill-tempered brat to be forgotten. But this mask was the witness to their first meeting, and he truly couldn’t bring himself to throw it away.

Rong Yuan lingered in the study for a long time before finally putting the mask back in the box and storing it away exactly as it was. As long as Xiao Chen doesn’t find out, it’s fine, he thought.

He was personally investigating the sample of Xiao Chen’s poisoned blood. Since discovering the Yellow Spring Water, he didn’t feel comfortable leaving it to anyone else. He trusted Zuo Yi and You Chang, but he didn’t want them to know how much effort he was putting in for Xiao Chen. If they asked for a reason, Rong Yuan wouldn’t be able to explain it easily.

The excitement of the Lantern Festival had not yet died down, but Xiao Chen and Mu Qing had already returned to the Reunion Inn and retired early.

Xiao Chen hadn’t dreamed for many years, but the saying “what you think of by day, you dream of by night” apparently applied to him too. As he lay in the inn, he drifted into a dream of the days when Ghost Mask followed him.

When Ghost Mask was first brought to his side, the boy wasn’t as prickly toward him as he was toward others, but the wariness remained, like a small beast constantly on high alert. Xiao Chen wasn’t afraid of difficult personalities, having gained plenty of experience dealing with Geng Xie. After Xiao Chen saved Ghost Mask on the battlefield once, the boy became quite obedient, though he remained a person of few words.

A battlefield was no pleasant place, but there was no peace to be found anywhere in the three realms. Conflict was everywhere, and people were dying at every moment. Xiao Chen’s army was able to grow rapidly because more and more people were tired of the war. Instead of killing and dying pointlessly, it was better to pick up a blade and fight for a clear purpose. There were many young generals in the camp, but the most capable fighter among them was Ghost Mask.

Xiao Chen had personally tested his moves and spiritual power. The boy was probably only a hundred years old. A truly formidable youth. Even though Ghost Mask was from the Celestial Realm, he wasn’t close to the other celestial soldiers. While he was cold to everyone, hiding behind his mask and responding with few words or cold snorts, Xiao Chen always felt he harbored a deeper loathing for the celestial soldiers. Unless absolutely necessary, he refused to even stand near them.

Xiao Chen’s suspicion was soon confirmed. One day, Ghost Mask got into a fight with a celestial soldier. It was a massive scene. Ghost Mask even attacked those trying to pull them apart, and the situation nearly spiraled out of control. By the time Xiao Chen arrived, Zhong Gui was already there, but even he couldn’t hold the boy back. Blood was seeping out from under Ghost Mask’s mask, yet he still tried to lunge forward recklessly.

How deep is this grudge? Xiao Chen was startled. “Little brat!”

Hearing this, Ghost Mask paused, his aggressive stance freezing. He stiffened his neck and slowly turned around.

He stopped. The other person he had been fighting was also brought forward. That person was no match for Ghost Mask; if it hadn’t been for the bystanders absorbing the boy’s rage, he would have been crippled if not killed. He was also a youth, not very old, and he had used his sleeve to haphazardly wipe the blood from his face and mouth.

Blood was dripping from under Ghost Mask’s mask, but he wouldn’t dream of taking it off in front of everyone. He just let the blood drip, ignoring it. Xiao Chen placed a hand on Ghost Mask’s shoulder. The boy’s body went rigid. Xiao Chen pulled out a handkerchief. “Don’t move.”

Xiao Chen wiped the blood for him. Sensing the boy’s stiffness, he pressed the handkerchief into his hand. “Wipe it yourself. Now tell me, what happened?”

He didn’t just ask Ghost Mask, but the others as well. It turned out no one knew why they had suddenly started fighting. The young celestial soldier kept his head down and refused to speak, and Ghost Mask remained silent as well. Xiao Chen nodded calmly. “Neither of you wants to talk? Military law forbids private brawls. Since you have no respect for discipline, there is no need for you to stay in the army”

At those words, both Ghost Mask and the young soldier were startled. Ghost Mask said in a panic, “Don’t! You can punish me, I can take whatever…”

“If you are punished but don’t know your mistake, you’ll do it again. What is the point of punishment then?” Xiao Chen didn’t buy it. “I’ll give you one chance. Speak. What happened?”

The young soldier grit his teeth and finally spoke. “Coming off the training grounds, I said I couldn’t stand his rotten attitude, and he said I was useless! Then I, then I…”

He likely knew that what he said next wasn’t anything good. He could shout it in a fit of rage, but he was too embarrassed to say it now that he had cooled down. Since he was embarrassed, Ghost Mask said it for him: “He said I had no upbringing. He said that if my parents could give birth to someone like me, they certainly weren’t anything good either.”

“You don’t insult a man’s parents! What is wrong with you?” a celestial soldier standing nearby said, slapping the young soldier on the back. “Apologize! Do it now!”

The young soldier’s eyes were red. Young people are always competitive and stubborn. “He called me useless first…”

Xiao Chen asked, “Who provoked whom first?”

The young soldier lowered his head. “It was me. I’m… I’m sorry. I’ll take the punishment, just don’t kick me out. I won’t do it again.”

Ghost Mask dropped to one knee and said to Xiao Chen, “Being so easily provoked proves I am nothing special. Highness, I will change. Please don’t send me away. I will accept any other punishment.”

“Handle it according to military law.” In a camp, there is no order without rules. If a mistake is made, a penalty must be served. However, Xiao Chen’s meaning was that he was letting them stay. Ghost Mask breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Chen looked at the two of them and sighed. “You’re young. Don’t use words meant to pierce the heart as weapons against your own people. That isn’t skill. You must realize that while words don’t draw blood, they can be fatal.”

Both received a lashing. Ghost Mask was now Xiao Chen’s personal guard. Normally, no one stayed in the outer area of Xiao Chen’s tent, but now there was a cot for Ghost Mask. No other guard had such treatment. After receiving his punishment, Ghost Mask returned to find Xiao Chen sitting in the outer room. He froze in place, not knowing whether to enter or retreat.

Xiao Chen patted the spot beside him. “What are you dazing for? Come here.”

Ghost Mask walked over in silence and stood. Xiao Chen huffed. “Must I tell you every single move? You aren’t usually this obedient. Sit.”

Ghost Mask sat as told. Xiao Chen placed a palm against the boy’s back, circulating spiritual power to heal the wounds from the lashing. A muffled voice came from behind the mask. “The handkerchief…”

Xiao Chen had forgotten. “What handkerchief?”

Ghost Mask: “The one you used to wipe the blood. Once I’ve cleaned it”

Xiao Chen: “Oh, it’s fine. Just throw it away when you’re done.”

Ghost Mask swallowed the words “return it to you” and fell silent again. After hesitating for a long time, he actually opened up about his own life. “When he mentioned my mother today, I couldn’t hold back. My… my mother was very good, but she’s gone…”

Xiao Chen’s hand paused, then he gave a comforting pat on the boy’s back. He keenly noticed that Ghost Mask was only angry because his mother was insulted, and hadn’t mentioned his father. Sure enough, the boy slowly squeezed out the rest. “I don’t know who my father is, but he isn’t anything good. The insult wasn’t wrong there.”

Xiao Chen found it strange. “You don’t know who he is, yet you know he isn’t anything good?”

Ghost Mask insisted, “He just isn’t.”

It seemed Ghost Mask’s isolated personality was indeed linked to his parents. Xiao Chen thought for a moment. “Do you want to know who your father is? I can perform a divination for you.”

The brat’s voice finally showed a significant change in emotion. He asked in surprise, “You can calculate that?”

On the battlefield, Xiao Chen mostly showed his side as a God of War. People often forgot that Star Lords were also diviners. Xiao Chen nodded. “I can. But calculating blood relatives requires a specific array and takes some effort. With the war so intense right now, I can’t spare the time. Once the conflict settles, I’ll calculate it for you.”

Unfortunately, Ghost Mask didn’t stay with him until the end. After three years together, the boy left a letter and vanished in a hurry. The letter was scribbled haphazardly with many crossings-out. The general meaning was: ‘Something came up and I must leave. Thank you for taking care of me.’ And so, their agreement was put on hold.

As Xiao Chen drifted in his dream, he wondered if Ghost Mask had ever found his father.

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