《Celestial Gambit: The Rotten Axe Chronicles》 The Chess Game The serene mountain forest was alive with birdsong and floral fragrance, while the cool air by the mountain stream brought soothing comfort. A group of people bustled about, cheerfully assembling tents and building a campsite. This was a privately organized camping trip by company colleagues - naturally all youngsters, as carrying tents and equipment for mountain trekking proved too strenuous for older members. Though initially hoping for company-sponsored camping, the employees opted for self-organization this year. Tired of the annual tour-bus trips with guides, they entrusted several outdoors-experienced colleagues to lead this mountain expedition. Ji Yuan, with his raven-black hair intact after two years at the software company, naturally fell into the youth category. Having finished tent setup, he was now mobile-gaming with a colleague. "Ji Yuan! Ji Yuan! Give me the ult! Give me the ult!!!! Ah!! I''m dead!" "What''s the point feeding you? You''d die in two seconds anyway. Should''ve kept it myself to escape. Now we''ve gifted them a double kill bot!" "My bad! Next round you play ADC, I''ll support!" "No thanks, I''d rather get a random support." Despite their mountain surroundings, the cell tower visible on distant peaks ensured smooth gaming with minimal latency as they hunched over their phones. Though signal-dead zones still existed in China, most had grown accustomed to ubiquitous connectivity - this infrastructure confidence made people forget about signals altogether. Their tents stood on a relatively flat hillock beside a crystalline stream - perfect wilderness camping grounds. Of the dozen-strong group, most were busy photographing the scenery while others adjusted tents. Only Wang Gang, Ji Yuan, and Li Jun seemed unoccupied. Wang Gang surveyed the campsite while preparing stone blocks for a barbecue pit. Spotting the two idlers, he barked: "Ji Yuan, Da Jun! Quit gaming and gather firewood! Unless you want cold canned food for lunch!" The shout came from a colleague further away. "Got it!!" "Alright!" came their synchronized replies. Exchanging wry glances after being flamed by teammates, Li Jun and Ji Yuan quit the game without ceremony. They rose and headed towards adjacent woodland, entering denser canopy shadows. Dead branches littered the mountain woods. Li Jun dragged a large bough while brandishing it like a staff, shouting "Hya! Hah!" - appearing utterly foolish to Ji Yuan. Fearing contagion of idiocy or accidental strikes from Li''s "mad demon" staff techniques, Ji Yuan quickly distanced himself. Like most contemporary youths, Ji Yuan belonged to China''s one-child generation - though his grandfather had numerous siblings, and his father (while an only son) had several sisters. Perhaps scarcity bred preciousness. The Ji family''s naming tradition evolved from blunt appellations like "Golden Flower" or "National Prosperity" to poetic refinement. Consulting a feng shui master uncle, the grandfather settled on the single-character name "Yuan" (Ôµ - destiny''s thread), much to the family''s delight. "Ah! Mountain air truly refreshes! Scenic spots like this are where travel belongs!" Ji Yuan mused aloud, opting to stroll through the woods first rather than immediately collect firewood - planning to gather branches on his return for efficiency. After barely a minute''s wandering, Ji Yuan stumbled upon several colossal trees whose girth dwarfed surrounding timber by magnitudes. "Da Jun! Come see these giant trees!!" Ji Yuan shouted towards the staff-wielder. Receiving no response beyond continued whooshing sounds, he resolved to investigate alone first. At closer range, the trees'' majesty became overwhelming. The outermost specimen''s exposed roots formed thigh-thick serpentine patterns across the forest floor. Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. Whoa! Such ancient trees exist here? Though Ox-Head Mountain wasn''t famous, its picnic-going visitors should''ve made these arboreal giants social media stars. Dismissing the thought, Ji Yuan rounded the trunk to its obscured side. "Huh?!" His exclamation echoed through the clearing. Beyond more ancient trees stood a tree stump serving as chessboard pedestal amidst the giants. Compelled forward, Ji Yuan reached the stump. No warning signs or players accompanied the chess set. Black and white stones intersected in classic weiqi patterns - the black formations resembling battle arrays, white stones coiling like dragons frozen mid-game. Could this be tourism development? Yet the board lay buried under decaying leaves and bird droppings - clearly untouched for ages, whether as art installation or abandoned game. His gaze then caught something peculiar behind the chessboard - a severely corroded object swollen with rust beside an ancient tree. Approaching, Ji Yuan discerned what might''ve been an axe - now monstrously rusted. Wait! Could this be... the legendary Rotten Axe Chess Game?! The notion amused him, yet the setup''s verisimilitude piqued his curiosity. Returning to the board, the amateur player suddenly perceived flaws in white''s dragon formation - a missing connection point left it vulnerable amidst black''s chaotic encirclement. Compelled by obsessive discomfort at the incomplete dragon, Ji Yuan''s eyes darted to wooden stone containers. Almost involuntarily, he reached for a white stone. The piece felt paradoxically metallic yet ceramic. After furtive glances, he placed it on the central intersection - the weiqi "Tian Yuan" (Celestial Pivot). "There! Finally looks right!" Brushing his hands, Ji Yuan retrieved his phone to document the discovery before summoning others. But repeated button presses yielded no response. "What the hell? Out of battery?!" The device remained dead despite charging attempts, briefly vibrating before dying again. Though at 80% battery earlier, it had mysteriously drained. Seeing no sign of staff-wielding Li Jun, Ji Yuan resolved to fetch his power bank. But within paces, he noticed the oddly dimming sky. Minutes later, confusion struck - the familiar stream and hillock remained, but the campsite had vanished. No colleagues. No tents. What sorcery was this? Not April Fools'', and dismantling the laboriously built camp made no sense. Spotting two uniformed figures resting by the stream, Ji Yuan approached urgently. "Excuse me! Did you see where the campers went? We just set up!" The men startled violently, turning to gape at the seemingly materialized speaker. "Camping? Recently?" One instinctively replied. "Ox-Head''s had no campers lately - everyone''s searching for a missing person." "Huh?" Ji Yuan''s confusion deepened. "Someone''s missing here?" They''d checked safety reports before coming - clear weather, no incidents. "A Ji Yuan vanished fortnight ago during company camping. Wait, who are you with? Didn''t hear about the search?" As rescuers scrutinized his familiar features, Ji Yuan froze at hearing his own name. Missing? Myself? Half a month? First came disbelief, then creeping unease. Before he could speak, violent vertigo struck. Darkness swallowed his vision. His legs buckled as debilitating weakness overwhelmed him. His body withered visibly, lips cracking like sun-baked clay. "Sir?! What''s wrong? Careful!!" "Support him! Support him!!" "Emergency!!! Call reinforcements!!!" Ji Yuan''s final earthly sounds were the rescuers'' distant-sounding exclamations. Mental Torment The three-week search operation on Ox-Head Mountain concluded with tragic finality. Twenty-four-year-old Ji Yuan, once full of promise, succumbed to fatal dehydration despite rescue efforts. According to the two rescuers who found him, the youth had initially remained conscious though weak. Yet his last breath escaped during the frantic hospital transfer, leaving medical intervention futile. The incident cast shadows over both the mountain and Ji Yuan''s company, but his grieving parents bore the cruelest blow. All this remained beyond Ji Yuan''s perception. ... Agonizing stiffness paralyzed his body. This primal awareness greeted Ji Yuan''s returning consciousness. His muddled thoughts swam through needle-like pain permeating every limb. Imprisoned in flesh that refused obedience - eyes sealed, tongue leaden, senses dulled - he could only endure escalating torment. After eons of suffering, the excruciating waves finally receded. Left gasping like a beached fish upon cold, unyielding ground, momentary relief gave way to creeping dread. This was no hospital bed nor home. Icy drafts whispered through unseen spaces, provoking involuntary shivers his frozen form couldn''t suppress. The cloying scent of mildew mixed with distant insect trills and avian calls. Had he been dumped on some desolate road? Drugged and abandoned in wilderness? Time lost meaning in the unbroken silence. No footsteps. No engines. Only nature''s indifferent symphony. Gradually, his hearing sharpened alarmingly - pinpointing cricket chirps and nesting birds with eerie precision, even gauging distances between unseen creatures. If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Yet this hyper-awareness bred not wonder but spiraling panic. Days? Weeks? Eternity? Trapped in sensory deprivation worse than any dark cell, sanity''s threads frayed as he desperately replayed memories. The last clear recollection: two uniformed men by the stream, their shocked cries as darkness claimed him. Rescuers searching for someone missing over half a month. So why wasn''t he hospitalized? What sinister twist separated perception from reality? All threads led back to that accursed chess game beneath ancient trees. The vanished campsite. The rusted axe. Temporal dislocation defying logic. His childhood favorite legend now mocked him - the woodcutter who watched immortals play weiqi, returning to find sixty years evaporated. Like that fabled peasant of Lanke Mountain, Ji Yuan had stumbled into temporal distortion. But where the woodcutter received celestial peaches, he gained only mortal frailty - surviving weeks without sustenance by some cosmic oversight. Unaware his physical form already moldered in a morgue, Ji Yuan''s spirit raged against isolation''s crushing weight. No voices. No footsteps. No rescuers. Western prisons'' solitary confinement punishment suddenly made visceral sense. This endless void wasn''t captivity but abandonment. Come, kidnappers! Curse me! Kick me! His silent screams echoed in the void. Anything to break this maddening stillness. Worst fear crystallized - not predators in the dark, but eternal solitude in some forgotten corner of existence, where even carrion-eaters wouldn''t find him. Chapter 3: The Blossoming of All Things Ji Yuan''s attempts to sleep only amplified his torment. The endless isolation gnawed at even his optimistic spirit. BOOM? Colossal thunderclaps jolted him. In this suspended state, the thunder''s resonance transformed - he soared amidst celestial storms, feeling lightning''s primal dance. This revelation pierced his soul like divine current, scouring away fear and chaos, leaving crystalline calm. POURRRRR? Torrential rain followed. His eyelids fluttered as each droplet''s impact registered - pattering earth, splashing rocks, drumming foliage. Time dilated. Plink-plonk-plash? Raindrops shattered across creation, their echoes rippling through his consciousness. Each liquid explosion painted sonar contours - leaves, branches, stones, fleeing creatures - an ebony-and-silver panorama unfolding behind sealed eyes. Rainfall Reveals Creation, Mind''s Canvas Unfolds! Transcending breath and flesh, Ji Yuan bathed in this synesthetic miracle. Nearby details shone sharp; distant shapes melted into mist. So he lay in some mountain ruin - a decaying temple? How the downpour flushed forest creatures from hiding! Though paralyzed, a ghost-smile touched his lips. Had the chess game granted more than suffering? Then - salvation''s sound. ... Through the deluge trudged bamboo-hatted figures bearing oversized baskets. These contraptions resembled scholars'' book-chests but swollen to monstrous size, draped with oilcloth. Ji Yuan''s rain-mapped vision outlined limbs and baskets, faces blurred. Stranger still - some wore straw rain capes, others nothing. No modern gear in sight. "Quickly! The mountain god temple''s ahead!" "Watch your step! These rocks turn treacherous!" "Close ranks! Shelter and fire await!" Their leader rounded mossy boulders, spotting the crumbling shrine. "Press on! Check for stragglers!" Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "All accounted for!" "Inside! This chill bites to bone!" Twelve figures stampeded into the sanctuary. "Phew! Demon-spawned storm!" The bearded leader shrugged off his dripping cape, inspecting his troop. "Liu Quan! Li Gui! Fetch the charcoal. Let''s get flames dancing!" "Aye!" "Dry patch here! Move the goods!" "Need to roast these soaked clothes..." They were itinerant merchants, hardened to mountain trials. Their baskets always carried tinder - wisdom born of necessity. Their captain Zhang Shilin bore a scholar''s name, though book-learning eluded him. When family fortunes crumbled, he''d shouldered bamboo baskets instead of scrolls. Now he massaged sore shoulders while others worked - a leader''s privilege earned through proven care. The shrine measured barely ten paces across. Cracked walls held against the storm, but the missing doors invited whistling winds. Spiderwebs veiled toppled incense burners; the deity''s statue sat headless in pigeon-stained gloom. "Lucky this ruin stands. When it falls, Ox-Horn Mountain will claim more travelers." Ji Yuan absorbed every word and footfall. Ox-Horn Mountain? Dialect for Ox-Head? These aren''t hikers. "Shilin-ge! Someone here!!" Ji Yuan''s spirit leapt. Found! Call the police! Get me to ER! The merchants clustered around the headless statue''s base. A ragged figure lay there - matted hair, fevered brow. "He breathes, but burns like forge-coals. What to do?" What to do?! Call 911! Ji Yuan''s mental scream went unheard. Zhang Shilin grimaced. "Wilderness mercy - give him warm water if he swallows. Cruel world!" Sighs rippled through the group as they dispersed. Wait! Wait! Don''t leave! Reality crashed upon Ji Yuan - these weren''t modern rescuers. Their apathy wasn''t malice... but lethal medieval pragmatism. Chapter 4: Have I Crossed Worlds? I''m savable! Breathing! Shouldn''t you report a corpse at least? Ji Yuan''s mind reeled at their moral calculus. This was willful negligence! Their archaic speech patterns cemented dread. Were these lunatics? The truth crystallized - they genuinely intended no rescue. A damp cloth on his forehead their sole concession before resuming chores. Zhang Shilin directed the fire''s relocation nearer the deity statue, allowing residual warmth to reach the dying beggar. Clink-clink-clink? Flint struck steel. Sparks kissed tinder. "Flame! Kindling!" "Coming!" "Don''t smother it!" Tender care nurtured the fire''s growth. Itinerant merchants proved efficient - rainwater from bamboo containers soon bubbled in iron pots. Thunder growled as rain intensified. The group stared bleakly at the deluge. "Will this cease by nightfall?" "Not likely." "Spring rains bite bone-deep." "Aye, even oxen starve through Eighth of February." Damp cloaks hung from temple beams as they huddled around flames. Clang-clatter? The boiling pot''s dancing lid announced readiness. Liu Quan ladled hot water into wooden bowls. A youth distributed coarse breads and steamed buns from hemp sacks. "Brother Shilin! Bun or bread?" "Bread." The transaction''s mundanity enraged Ji Yuan. They feast while I rot! If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. "Shilin," wheezed Jin Shunfu through bread crumbs, "Shuixian townsfolk warned of Niu Kui''s unrest. None dare night here. What if..." Zhang studied the storm. "We''ve numbers. That wretch survived alone." He jerked his chin toward Ji Yuan. "Tigers shun crowds." The novice Wang Dong choked on his drink. "T-tigers?!" Laughter erupted. "Still green, eh lad?" "Wang Dong," Zhang chuckled, "Niu Kui spans two hundred ?li. Tigers roam its depths, but our path skirts edges." Niu Kui Mountain? Tigers? Shuixian Town? Ji Yuan''s mental map fractured. Noticing Jin''s unease, Zhang leaned close. "What rumors?" Jin swallowed hard. "Some say... this mountain harbors demons." Gooseflesh prickled both men. "Fool''s tales! We''ve traversed safely before." "Yet this gloom chills my soul..." "Rest, old friend." Their taboo against shoulder-touching went unbroken. Ji Yuan''s phantom form shuddered. These weren''t actors. No film crew hummed beyond rain''s veil. Footsteps approached. Zhang lifted Ji Yuan''s head, bringing a wooden bowl to cracked lips. "Drink." Warmth flooded Ji Yuan''s core like celestial nectar. Through fever-haze, realization struck: Zhang Shilin''s no madman. Their world''s fabric differs... The horrifying, exhilarating truth erupted: Have I crossed into another realm? Chapter 5: The Anomaly Most readers yearn to inhabit adventure tales - Ji Yuan was no exception. Yet now, facing genuine transmigration, he embodied the proverbial Lord Ye who claimed dragon-love yet fled the beast. Panic gnawed his psyche. Fiction''s thrills paled before real interdimensional peril - no authorial safety net against plagues, beasts, or worse. This primitive world''s lawless voids and medical voids terrified him. Worse, his paralyzed form couldn''t swat a rat. Only tactile awareness offered solace: full-body numbness would signal paralysis. This wasn''t that. Will these strangers abandon me? His frenzied mind pleaded. Even hale, wilderness survival daunted him. This wasn''t 2019''s tamed China. Folklore''s man-eating demons likely prowled here - no anime mascots, but fanged horrors. ... Zhang Shilin studied the twitching beggar. "Too frail to move." The unspoken verdict chilled Ji Yuan''s soul. Rain drummed as merchants swapped tales - gossip, bawdy jokes, village beauties. Their trade emerged through anecdotes: foot-carried peddlers trafficking goods between remote settlements. This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report. Ji Yuan''s tears mingled with grime. Did my soul possess this wretch? Is my original body decomposing on Ox-Head Mountain? No hunger pangs surprised him. Paralysis conserved energy cruelly. "Shilin-ge! Rain stopped!" Wang Dong''s voice rang. Zhang assessed gloom-draped peaks. "Night treks kill. We stay." Relief flooded Ji Yuan. Reprieve! Damp firewood stockpiled, the group ignored their dying charge. No cloth changed, no water offered. Twenty-first-century rescue fantasies taunted him. **"Ho! Company in this desolation!"**? The newcomers'' cry startled all. A scholar-boy stood dripping at the threshold. "Lost companions! Dreadful storm! Saw your fire - bandits or saints, I''ll pay passage!" Merchants guffawed. "Warm yourself, bookworm!" "Any imperial exams passed?" "None, none! Mere dilettante..." Their mirth drowned Ji Yuan''s silent scream. Gooseflesh erupted across his body. No footsteps. No crunching leaves. The scholar had materialized like fog. Chapter 6: Dont Follow Him! Having experienced rain''s omniscient whispers, Ji Yuan trusted his hyper-acute hearing implicitly. Yet the scholar''s approach had registered no footfall. Jin Shunfu''s earlier words chilled him anew. A scholar appearing in wilderness midnight? Unnatural. But Lu Xing''s performance proved masterful - frail scholar guise disarming all suspicion. "May this humble one inquire your honored name and provenance?" Zhang Shilin''s literary flourish startled even Wang Dong. Lu bowed gracefully. "This humble scholar Lu Xing hails from Shuixian''s Paimen Quarter, student of Desheng''s Green Pine Academy..." His narrative flowed flawless - lost companions, storm survival, poetic asides. The merchants hung on every word. Green Pine Academy''s prestige awed them. Even Zhang''s wariness dissolved into reverence. Ji Yuan''s soul froze. This creature''s acting surpassed human capacity. Were choices given, he''d forfeit transmigration instantly. One hope lingered: The demon needed subterfuge, implying limitations. It hadn''t detected him behind the deity''s plinth. Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Ah!" Lu suddenly exclaimed. "Though my purse lies light, I''ll gift you mountain''s treasure - ?century-spanning mountain king ginseng!" The merchants leaned in, breath bated. "Nine-leafed, crimson-seeded, bound with three vermilion cords!" Lu whispered conspiratorially. "Mountain foragers'' trick to trap escaping roots!" "True! Elders say ancient ginseng digs deep!" Jin confirmed. Lu''s smile sharpened. "The foragers await harvest moon, but why not claim it tonight?" Feverish excitement infected the group. "Where?!" "Two incense sticks'' walk from my shelter. Best retrieved ere dawn." "But night treks..." Zhang hesitated. "Foragers march at first light! Delay risks losing it!" Lu''s urgency proved contagious. "Jin, Wang, Liu, Li - escort Scholar Lu!" Zhang commanded. As they gathered torches, Lu''s gratitude curdled into a pale, ghastly grin. Ji Yuan''s silent scream tore through astral planes: DON''T GO! Chapter 7: Half-Blind I beg you! Don''t go! Ji Yuan''s voiceless plea burned behind the deity statue. If these merchants perished, he''d be next. He could only listen helplessly as footsteps faded into the mountain night. Eyelids twitching, mouth trembling, his right pinky suddenly jerked. The slight movement electrified Ji Yuan''s spirit. Focusing inward, he realized the sleep paralysis was loosening¡ªseveral fingers now responded weakly. Progress! If he could move, perhaps he could unite the remaining merchants against impending doom. At the temple entrance, Zhang Shilin lit two torches. Cold night winds whipped the flames sideways. "Protect Scholar Lu!" "Understood, Shilin-ge!" "Old Jin, keep alert!" "Don''t worry, Shilin! I''ve got eyes on him!" Jin Shunfu gripped his torch. As seasoned mountain travelers, they feared no brief night trek. When Zhang offered the second lit torch to Lu Xing, the scholar waved it off. "No need! The flame might singe my robe. Let Brother Wang carry it." Wang Dong eagerly snatched the torch. "Heh, my pleasure!" "Rascal." Zhang chuckled, storing unlit torches in Liu Quan''s basket before the group departed. Inside, Ji Yuan''s face contorted in silent struggle¡ªnot illness, but desperate attempts to regain bodily control. The remaining eight merchants returned, faces alight with anticipation. Even common ginseng fetched silver from the wealthy who prized longevity. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. "Captain! The beggar''s convulsing!" They clustered around Ji Yuan''s twitching form. "Epileptic fit! Get a stick!" Ji Yuan gagged as grimy wood forced between his teeth. "Bury him if he dies." You heartless bastards! Rage pulsed through his veins despite their good intentions. ROOOAAAR? The tiger''s roar shook the mountains. Birds exploded from trees in panicked flocks, wings clattering through the night. Cold wind swept through broken doors, making flames dance wildly. "Captain Zhang! What was that?" Zhang paled, shrinking instinctively. "A tiger''s cry shakes the forest!" Gasping filled the temple. "What about Wang Dong and Old Jin?" No one dared voice the fear. "They have torches... The beast sounds distant... Stay vigilant tonight!" Zhang gripped his knife tighter. The roar jolted Ji Yuan''s nerves. Suddenly¡ªcontrol! His right hand flexed. Blurred vision revealed milky-gray irises. Firelight filtered through frosted glass. Not blind. Not yet. "The beggar''s awake!" None heeded him. Blades and clubs gleamed in trembling hands focused on the doorway. Ji Yuan''s attempt to rise collapsed him backward. Skull cracked stone. Gritting teeth, he hauled himself upright using the plinth''s edge¡ªmuscles screaming. Chapter 8: The Tigers Phantom Servant? While Ji Yuan still struggled with dizziness and weakness from sitting up, a voice suddenly approached from outside the temple. "Shilin-ge!!! Shilin-ge!!!" The people inside became agitated. "It''s Wang Dong!! Wang Dong''s back!" Sure enough, Wang Dong''s figure soon ran into the mountain temple from outside, immediately surrounded by the tense Zhang Shilin and others. "Wang Dong, why are you alone? Is Old Jin alright? Where''s the scholar? Did you hear the tiger''s roar earlier?" Zhang Shilin fired off a series of questions, desperate for answers from Wang Dong. Wang Dong panted heavily, his complexion unnatural. He refused the water bowl offered, glanced at Zhang Shilin then looked away. After catching his breath, he began: "Old Jin and the others are with Mr. Lu. We found the mountain king ginseng smoothly, but..." "But what? Spit it out!!" "Don''t interrupt!" Zhang Shilin shouted, staring at Wang Dong''s pale face. "Continue." "The ginseng was on a slope. When we heard the tiger''s roar, Old Jin, Mr. Lu and Liu Quan slipped and fell!" "What? Fell down?" Zhang Shilin grabbed Wang Dong''s arm. "How''s Old Jin? How high was the slope?" The shaking seemed to sober Wang Dong. "The slope wasn''t steep. They only sprained their ankles. Old Jin sent me to get help. Li Gui''s watching them." Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more. "Let''s go then!" Zhang Shilin immediately prepared torches. "I''ll take Xiao Du and Ahua with Wang Dong. The rest guard the temple." Ji Yuan felt ice-cold numbness spread across his scalp. Though Wang Dong''s voice sounded normal, his approach had been utterly silent. Through Ji Yuan''s blurred vision, Wang Dong appeared as overlapping shadows - one normal, the other with a broken neck twitching grotesquely. "Stop!!" Ji Yuan''s clear voice rang out unexpectedly. "Wang Dong''s dead! He''s a ghost leading you to the tiger!" The merchants froze. Wang Dong turned stiffly, his movement making Ji Yuan''s scalp tingle. "Shilin-ge, let''s go! Don''t listen to this beggar!" As Wang Dong stepped closer, torchlight revealed his face - pale skin stretched over a forced smile. "Don''t approach!" Zhang Shilin raised his torch defensively. Before anyone reacted, Wang Dong''s form dissolved into smoke and drifted away. "Ghost!!" Screams erupted as the merchants scrambled back into the temple, clustering around Ji Yuan and the deity statue. Outside, wind howled through trees. Heavy pawsteps vibrated the ground, accompanied by bestial growls. Ji Yuan swallowed hard, his back soaked with cold sweat. "Stay quiet. It''s coming." Chapter 9: Waters That Never Mix The merchants paled instantly, realizing "it" referred to the tiger demon. Though terrified beyond measure, Ji Yuan maintained outward composure. He closed his dry eyes, focusing on the approaching paw-steps - heavy yet precise, crunching leaf litter with predatory grace. Night birds fell silent as unnatural winds whipped through temple cracks. "Roar!!!" The ground-shaking growl sent merchants collapsing to their knees. Sweat soaked Ji Yuan''s rags as he confronted reality - against this supernatural predator, their survival seemed impossible. The tiger''s voice rumbled like subterranean thunder: "We dwelled apart, never crossing paths. Why intervene?" Ji Yuan''s heart hammered. This was no ordinary beast. Steeling himself, he adopted an authoritative tone: "Though our domains never overlapped, I owe Zhang Shilin for his kindness. His life stays under my ward." Silence stretched. When the response came, it carried bestial frustration: "For weeks your stench reeked of death. Why now breathe vitality?" This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. Ji Yuan''s mind raced. Three truths crystallized: The original beggar''s body had neared death His transmigration revived it The tiger perceived this metaphysical shift Summoning memories of cultivation novels, he answered slowly: "Facing oblivion, I found rebirth through epiphany." Outside, claws tore earth. The tiger recalled the heaven-rending lightning strike days prior - celestial wrath that nearly crushed its demonic core. Now realizing the thunder''s source, awe tempered its hunger. "Master..." The title emerged unbidden, "This humble Mountain Lord Lu has cultivated a century without guidance. Might you... impart wisdom?" Ji Yuan nearly choked. Fifty-three human lives confessed through gritted fangs! Yet he pressed on: "How many have you devoured?" "Fifty-three." The admission came reluctantly. "But only sturdy adults, never children or elders! Just as humans hunt beasts!" Merchants whimpered. Ji Yuan''s legs trembled, yet his voice held firm: "True cultivation requires temperance. Cease human consumption henceforth." The tiger''s growl deepened. "And if I refuse?" Ji Yuan gambled everything on bluster: "Then our waters shall mix - with heavenly lightning as the flood." Silence. Then - scraping claws retreating. Winds shifted as the predator withdrew, leaving final words: "This Mountain Lord Lu... will contemplate your teaching." As dawn''s first light breached the temple, eight merchants and one half-blind immortal collapsed in shared tremors - alive through borrowed celestial authority. Chapter 10: Surviving the Terror After answering this question, both the tiger outside the temple and its ghostly servant were filled with anxiety, while the people inside were paralyzed with fear for a long moment, resulting in a period of silence. Ji Yuan once again calmed his emotions, racking his brains on how to peacefully communicate with this man-eating tiger demon. As the tiger outside grew impatient, a drawn-out voice finally emerged from the temple: "Mountain Lord Lu shows remarkable courage. Were our positions reversed, most demons would have lied about their kill count. You haven''t disappointed me!" The scholar-ghost involuntarily clenched his fists inside his sleeves, while the tiger demon Lu Shanjun secretly rejoiced. "Humans are the pinnacle of creation. Some demons consider consuming them most nourishing. What is Mountain Lord Lu''s view?" Without waiting for the tiger''s response, Ji Yuan pressed on. Beyond discouraging cannibalism, he needed to buy time to formulate proper answers. If his ruse failed, they''d all perish. This simple question threw the tiger and ghost into panic again. Lu Shanjun''s massive head turned toward the ghostly advisor. He had no idea how to answer - admitting agreement would be wrong, denying it too simplistic. What if the temple dweller asked "why not"? The scholar-ghost paced frantically, resembling a student grilled by a strict teacher during exams. "Have you thought of it? Have you?" "Don''t panic, Mountain Lord! I''ve got it!" "Speak! Quickly!!" The scholar instinctively raised his sleeve to wipe nonexistent sweat while whispering: "Naturally we can''t agree with the premise. The key is to refute it without contradicting your earlier confession about fifty-three kills. You should say..." Lu Shanjun''s expression shifted from frustration to enlightenment. "You mean any answer would be wrong unless it aligns with my true nature?" "Exactly! Trust me!" The tiger nodded slightly before addressing the temple: Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon. "I''ve pondered deeply on your question, Master. Since gaining sentience in Niu Kui Mountain, I''ve had little contact with other demons. While human flesh nourishes me, your inquiry reveals flaws in this path. Please enlighten me!" He threw the question back. Perfect. As someone who''d surfed the internet age''s information tsunami, Ji Yuan knew crafting profound-sounding answers wasn''t hard when calm. Even motivational quotes could work wonders. This time, he didn''t keep the tiger waiting: "Humans attract elemental essences as spiritual beings, yet harbor the most complex emotions. The karmic resentment from consumed victims accumulates, creating addiction. Demons mistake this corruption for cultivation progress. Over time, rage accumulates, breakthroughs stall, until madness consumes them. This is the path to self-annihilation." The tiger swallowed hard, fur bristling. No one had ever explained why his cultivation stagnated despite growing power. The scholar-ghost''s moralizing texts seemed laughable compared to this revelation. "Master! Any remedy?!" Ji Yuan exhaled discreetly. The hook''s set. "Your self-restraint - sparing the weak, avoiding gluttony - is rare among demons. Perhaps..." He paused dramatically. "...abstain completely." "Your wisdom humbles me!" Seizing momentum, Ji Yuan quoted Daoist scripture: "The Dao of Heaven reduces excess to supplement deficiency; the Dao of Man reduces deficiency to serve excess. Your questions about enlightenment and remedy share this truth. Our fates intertwine, Mountain Lord Lu. I''ve said enough!" For three excruciating minutes, silence reigned. The tiger''s claws flexed in contemplation. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Each approaching footstep hammered Ji Yuan''s heart. Overplayed! I''m dead! Dead! Dead!!! The merchants, convinced of their companion''s divinity, remained relatively calm. Through the broken doors emerged a four-meter-long behemoth - golden fur rippling with black stripes, the character "Íõ" (king) emblazoned on its forehead. Its mere presence made weapons clatter to the floor. The tiger reared up, crossed its forelimbs in a human-style bow, and kowtowed thrice toward Ji Yuan. "This unworthy disciple will never forget Master''s guidance!" Turning to the scholar-ghost, it inhaled sharply. White mist flowed from the specter into the tiger''s jaws. "I promised freedom if you helped. Depart!" The scholar-ghost kowtowed frantically to all present before dissolving into smoke. Wang Dong''s spirit received similar release, fleeing into the dawn. Ji Yuan managed a stiff smile. Alive. By some miracle, alive. "Disturbing Master no longer, this humble Lu Shanjun takes his leave." As the tiger retreated, the unnatural winds stilled. Dawn''s first light revealed eight trembling merchants and one sweat-drenched "immortal" clinging to the broken deity''s plinth. Zhang Shilin''s whisper broke the silence: "Celestial Master... what now?" Ji Yuan''s milky eyes tracked the disappearing predator. "We walk. Slowly. And pray my bluff lasts beyond sunrise." Chapter 11: Never Cursed Before, But Cant Hold Back? When all sounds had completely faded and sufficient time had passed, Ji Yuan slumped against the mountain deity statue, utterly drained. Sweat streamed down his face like an unstoppable flood. The physical exertion felt like running multiple five-kilometer cross-country races back in university. Now he couldn''t even lift a finger, panting against the statue like a dead dog. The merchants, who had been celebrating their survival, grew panicked at this sight. "Master! Master! Are you alright?" "Water..." "Water!! Fetch water for the Master!!" Zhang Shilin and the merchants scrambled - grabbing towels, bamboo cups, some fanning Ji Yuan with their clothes. "Here''s water! Master, drink!" Zhang Shilin attempted to hand over the bamboo tube, but seeing Ji Yuan''s limp arms, carefully tilted it to his lips instead. Gulp gulp gulp Even after Ji Yuan had drunk his fill, Zhang kept pouring until water spilled over. Damn! Use your eyes!!! Ji Yuan clenched his jaw until the flow stopped. "Haaaaah..." The long exhale signaled partial recovery. The merchants collectively sighed in relief. Suddenly, Zhang Shilin knelt before Ji Yuan. Others followed suit. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. "Thank you for saving us, Master! We kowtow to you!!" Thud thud thud - their foreheads hit the floor with genuine force. Heat rushed to Ji Yuan''s face. In his previous life, even a simple bow would embarrass him - let alone full kowtows. "Rise. You should resent me for failing to save Wang Dong and the others." The abrupt statement froze the merchants. Unspoken thoughts hung heavy - If only the Master had acted sooner... Ji Yuan pressed on: "Rescuing you cost me dearly. Breaking through cultivation restraints to save four beyond reach..." His haggard appearance lent credibility. "Remember - beautiful strangers in wilderness nights often mean death." "Thank you for your wisdom, Master!" "Stop with ''Master.'' Call me Sir." The title felt too much like charlatanry. Night passed without further incident. Though terrified, exhaustion claimed Ji Yuan within seconds of lying down. Dawn? Merchants packed the deceased''s belongings with red-rimmed eyes. "How to face Wang Dong''s father..." "Old Jin''s two children..." "We''ll support their families." Approaching the snoring "Master," Zhang left dried flatbread and a bamboo water tube by the statue. "Let''s kowtow farewell." Thud thud thud "Enough! Damn noise!!" Ji Yuan rolled over irritably. "Master''s angry! Go!!" The merchants fled like startled rabbits, vowing never to return to Ox-Horn Mountain. Noon? Ji Yuan stretched luxuriously. "Ahhh... Best sleep ever!" The abnormal quiet registered slowly. Blinking milky eyes, he realized - "Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!!! Zhang Shilin you bastards left me behind!!!!" His roar echoed through the abandoned temple - immortal dignity thoroughly shattered.