Beastmaster of the Ages

The incident concerning Tianming and Suishen Yao was the topic of every discussion for a long while. It would feel too stifling not to talk about it with fellow gossipers. Even those who were cultivating in seclusion were dragged out to talk about the piping-hot drama.

”Top fugitive? And the punishment is the extermination of his mundus? Isn’t that too harsh?”

”That’s right! He’s a minor pathkeeper of House Suishen at the end of the day. The two only loved each other. It’s normal for impulsive young people to mess up. It’s just a house matter, yet they’re going to punish this transgression with the harshest judgment in Myriadpath Valley, and even exterminate an entire mundus!”

”I really don’t understand what’s going on here. What in the world does Eminent Ranxing think about him that he would want to kill him so bad?”

Unlike the angry members of House Suishen, who felt that their reputation was completely ruined, the rest of the cultivators of Myriadpath Valley were rather lukewarm. At most, it was an unfilial act by a rebellious child. Some in-house discipline was enough for such behavior. Using Myriadpath Valley’s authority to issue a bounty to kill a minor pathkeeper seemed like it was going too far.

”I just don’t get it.”

”House Suishen’s too narrow-minded at the end of the day. They’ve shown that they aren’t able to truly accept a minor pathkeeper with a different surname. Eminent Ranxing probably just wanted a good reason to get rid of Pathkeeper Li.”

”After all this, it’s clear to me that even though the Three Exalted Houses look like they have conflicts between each other, they’re actually united. Us normal folk are easily swayed to be their cheerleaders and cannon fodder.”

”Don’t say that without thinking it through.”

”I did think it through. In fact, that’s what most other people are saying right now. For instance, the other august totemancer houses congratulated House Suishen after hearing about Pathkeeper Li inheriting two great Suishen legacies. But Eminent Ranxing didn’t even let them meet him in person.”

”Be honest with me. Will you guys go hunt down Pathkeeper Li for three kegs of springwater?”

”Some might try their luck, but I won’t bother. It is tempting, no doubt, but I’m not likely to be the one who finds him. Not to mention, I don’t really like how everything turned out. I believe we don’t need to go so far when it concerns our children. My daughter also picked her own partner. I was angry, sure, but I never killed anyone over it.”

”Sigh! We don’t call the shots in Myriadpath Valley.” No matter how exciting it sounded, many cultivators felt sympathy for the poor young couple.

”He ruined his future for the sake of a relationship and became pursued. Pathkeeper Li is truly impressive, despite his young age.”

”I knew something would happen sooner or later. If that child didn’t have that kind of attitude, he couldn’t have risen in Myriadpath Valley so fast.”

”Guess we’ll see how everything ends.”

Most myriadpath saints and disciples sympathized with Tianming, while those of the Three Exalted Houses cursed him without exception. A huge rift appeared between the elites and the rest of the cultivators. While Tianming would be ignorant of that, Jian Qinghe and Uncle Hei took it all in.

***

Deep in Suishen Cave was the Midsky Well. From within, loud howls and groans could be heard. The burly Suishen Yue held his head low and walked to the depths of the Midsky Well until he reached a black, endless abyss.

”Suishen Yue!” A man with messy hair crawled out of the hole. He looked at the youth that resembled him with some puzzlement. ”You came here to see me even though it’s supposed to be your wedding day. A day of joy and celebration. Did you get hit in the head or something?”

Suishen Yue slammed his head on the ground. With a hoarse voice and a torn expression, he said, ”Father, something went wrong. The marriage didn’t happen!”

”How’s that possible? They announced it a year ago and made preparations during that time. How could he possibly regret it now? Even if that kid obtained two legacies of the great Suishen steles, it’s impossible! Ranxing treasures his reputation!” Suishen Hongtian said, shaking his head with disbelief.

”That isn’t the reason. Instead....” Suishen Yue grit his teeth as he forced each word out of his mouth. It felt like blades were cutting up his throat and tongue. ”Yaoyao doesn’t like me and she’s far too rebellious. Yesterday, she remained hidden in the Jiguang Sea and gave her Suishen Blood to that tainted beast!”

”What?!” Suishen Hongtian roared. His expression contorted with anger as he seethed. ”That wench is truly shameless! What a horrible upbringing! That taint worked hard to gain the recognition of the elders of House Suishen, yet he dared to act with such audacity and cause trouble for all of them? Isn’t he afraid of death?”

”That’s why he escaped Myriadpath Valley,” Suishen Yue said, grinding his teeth.

Even though Tianming’s future had been ruined after escaping Myriadpath Valley and ruining the trust of House Suishen, Suishen Yue didn’t let the hate go. Instead, his woman had been defiled by a crook who’d even managed to get away with it. Suishen Yue wanted to kill Tianming and tear him to pieces.

”He escaped?! Then he’s ruined everything he’s built here! What’d Ranxing say?” Suishen Hongtian asked.

”He was really angry and labeled that taint a top fugitive and set a bounty of three kegs of springwater for him. His friends and family will also be killed! Yaoyao’s also being punished with imprisonment within Suishen Cave for five centuries.” He sounded far less pained when he recalled that, a sign that he had accepted the punishment.

”Top fugitive and a bounty of three kegs of springwater, huh....” Suishen Hongtian’s rage cooled somewhat. He looked at his crestfallen son and smiled. ”Don’t feel too down. This is actually good for your future.”

”It is?” Suishen Yue’s eyes opened with confusion. His fiancee had been taken from him and he was widely regarded as a cuckold all across Myriadpath Valley. He didn’t even dare to step out of Suishen Cave in fear of seeing the two million cultivators outside who had a lot to say about him. How could it be a good thing?

”That’s right!” his father said. ”As you said, I believe that taint is actually an unprecedented monstrous genius. House Suishen would’ve been pressured to nurture him because he obtained those two legacies, despite the other two houses’ disapproval. Given that, even if you really had obtained Yaoyao’s Suishen Blood and cultivated according to my instructions to suck away her talent for yourself, that monstrous taint might still keep you pushed down. It’d be difficult for you to become the valley lord. In fact, he might even hold Yaoyao’s marriage to you against you and forever keep you down!”