Bu Tian Gang

Time was running out.

Dong Zhi looked up and saw the tall mountains in the distance. Not too far ahead, he and Liu Si would have to disembark the vehicle and walk halfway around the mountain before entering the gorge. He could only speed up the progress of reading the notes.

[August 13th, Beijing.

Returning from Yinchuan, the Archfiend was eliminated, and Fujikawa and his party were detained pending trial. I plan to exchange him for Dong Jilan.

However, I also know that Dong Jilan’s chances of survival are slim. Although I have lived for many years and witnessed many regrets with my own eyes, I still remember Dong Jilan’s fearlessness before his departure. Several years ago, when I went to see him off, he had already foreseen that he might lurk in Japan for many years, or perhaps never come back.

Every time I visit the Martyrs’ Cemetery, I can see the solemnity and heroism on the faces of the newcomers. Although humans are indeed small and weak, there is always a noble brilliance shining among them. They are willing to sacrifice for their beliefs, and this belief may not only be for the sake of humanity itself but also for other species or the space for the survival of all species. It is precisely this kind of character that allows humans, despite their many flaws, to still stand above all living beings.]

[August 14th, Beijing.

He Yu and Kan Chaosheng found out about my decision to take on an apprentice and kept asking me about it. I told Kan Chaosheng that, depending on his performance, I could deduct He Yu’s bonus and give it to him appropriately, and then he went to pester He Yu.

This is killing two birds with one stone.]

[August 20th. I overheard a conversation between He Yu and Dong Zhi.

He Yu asked Dong Zhi if he sometimes felt that I was too strict.

I don’t think of myself as strict. People say that the relationship between master and apprentice is like that between father and son. In a sense, it is a responsibility. I am responsible for his life, and the best way to ensure that is by setting strict demands and not allowing him to make any mistakes, so he won’t lose his life in practical action. Dong Zhi had a lower starting point than others, so if he really wants to enter this line of work, he has to face reality.

I thought Dong Zhi would be constrained by emotions and say some ambiguous words or complain to He Yu, but his answer surprised me. He said I am a very gentle person, and all the strictness is only for the sake of others. He mentioned seeing me feed a stray cat, saying I am more like a rambutan, covered in long thorns that seem tough, but those thorns are soft. Peel away the tough exterior, and you will find sweet and tender flesh inside.

I have eaten rambutan before, and it does resemble his description, but I don’t think I am exactly what he described. However, eavesdropping is impolite, even if it was unintentional. I don’t plan to mention this matter to him.]

[August 30th. The assignments for this batch of newcomers have been finalized, and they are about to depart to various places.

This year, we have many new people who managed to stay, each with their own abilities. This is good news. The young will always surpass the old, and the Special Administration Bureau will eventually pass on from one generation to another.]

[August 31st. Farewell.

Dong Zhi bought me a box of mooncakes, saying that he won’t be by my side during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so he’s celebrating it with me in advance.

In fact, I have never really celebrated any festivals. When He Yu and others didn’t come, I spent every year working. After Group 2 was formed, sometimes I would celebrate the Spring Festival with He Yu and others, but it was just having a meal together. I still can’t understand humans’ attachment to reunions. Perhaps I have experienced too many farewells; to me, it’s all just a cycle of gathering and parting.

But when Dong Zhi said to me, “Master, this box of mooncakes represents my heart, and I hope that every year from now on, you’ll be happy and content,” I was suddenly moved.

I think I will remember every word he said, until… my life comes to an end?]

[September 1st. Cantonese-style mooncakes have thick crusts, but I still prefer the thin crusts of Suzhou-style mooncakes.

However, this is the first gift from my first disciple, so I’ll finish them. After writing this sentence, I realized that I have started paying attention to some unnecessary formalities. It’s not a good habit.]

[September 5th. Before leaving, Dong Zhi left me a painting and a sketchbook, both drawn by him. The sketchbook contains the places he has visited in recent years, landscapes, and people. He even drew me in my daily routine, Kan Chaosheng turned into a cat eating, He Yu lying on the sofa playing games, and Zhong Yuyi sitting at the dining table lost in thought.

Before leaving, I infused a trace of my soul into the Changshou Sword, allowing me to sense his dangerous situations at any time. I know this is not ideal, as letting a fledgling bird have no room for retreat is not the best way for him to grow. But as his master, it’s the only thing I can do for him.]

[September 16th. There might be hidden secrets about Otowa Yasuhiko’s identity.]

[September 20th. Otowa may have set up a trap, possibly related to the stone tablets. Still unresolved, needs further investigation.]

[September 22nd. I infused vitality into that Yulu plant. At some level, I feel a connection with it, and I can hear the sounds it recorded. However, I prefer not to indulge in listening.]

Seeing this, Dong Zhi couldn’t help but sigh silently. Many mysteries that had been lingering in his mind were unraveled.

An abrupt brake caused the two people in the back seat to lean forward involuntarily. Along with the driver’s exclamation, Dong Zhi looked up and found that the sky had darkened without them noticing. Fierce winds were carrying sand and debris everywhere, and soon, large raindrops fell, pounding against the car windows, creating loud and noisy sounds.

The driver was a soldier and a local, familiar with the road conditions. Liu Si asked him, “Sir, is this kind of weather common?”

“It’s quite rare. I seldom see the wind blowing this hard,” the driver replied, sounding worried. The speed of the car slowed down, but the rain intensified, turning into a storm. The road was flooded with mud that even the excellent performance of the jeep couldn’t keep it from getting stuck in the mud.

Helpless, the three of them had to get out of the car and push it. Liu Si asked the driver to start the engine while they pushed from behind. After a lot of effort, they finally got the car unstuck. By this time, the rain was so heavy that everything was isolated. Even if two people shouted at each other face to face, they might not be able to hear what the other was saying. Not only rain but also the wind was fierce, making the surroundings hazy and indistinct. The windshield wipers were no longer effective, so the driver had to stop the car and wait for the storm to pass.

But from this sudden downpour, both Dong Zhi and Liu Si could sense that something was unusual.

They weren’t far from their destination, and they didn’t know if this rare weather change was related to the situation on Long Shen’s side.

Back inside the warm car, all three of them shivered.

Dong Zhi took a clean towel, but instead of drying his hair, he wrapped up his notebook to keep it from getting wet. Liu Si saw this and thoughtfully handed him another towel.

With the car unable to move, they could only wait for the weather to clear. There was no use being anxious. Liu Si chatted with the driver about anything and everything, while Dong Zhi placed a towel on his knee and reopened the notebook, flipping to the page he hadn’t finished reading last time.

……

[October 10th. Southeast Asia. It’s likely that someone is plotting something related to demons.]

[October 11th. Dong Zhi may be the target of a curse. Through the infusion of my soul into the Changshou Sword, I saw a man trying to invade his body through dreams. He should be an unformed demon, but the demonic qi is stronger than what I have encountered before.]

[October 13th. The Shanghai International Conference. Originally, I didn’t have to go, but I offered to go in the end.]

[October 15th. Wu Bingtian is getting a bit anxious. He suggested going to Japan directly to kill Otawa Yasuhiko. As we haven’t clarified Otowa’s background, I disagree with acting rashly.]

[October 16th. We argued again.

I don’t deny that Wu Bingtian’s perspective has some validity. Removing Otowa could indeed solve most of the problems, but the other party is unlikely to be unguarded. Perhaps he is waiting for us to come to him.]

[October 22nd. Dong Zhi’s situation is more serious than I imagined.

However, I suddenly realized that the anger from before is no longer an issue at this moment. As long as he can live well.]

……

Dong Zhi noticed that the records related to him ended here. Long Shen didn’t add any new content until the conversation with Zong Ling before their departure, which he recorded. Perhaps, at that time, he already knew that Dong Zhi might see this notebook.

Though the depth of feelings couldn’t be compared, before seeing this notebook, Dong Zhi once wondered if Long Shen accepted his confession due to the uncertainty of his life and the limited time left. However, after reading the notebook, he had no more doubts in his heart. Holding the notebook in his hands felt like holding a heavy heart.

The rain had stopped at some point, and the car hit the road again. However, the road conditions were poor, and the driver drove slowly.

Liu Si looked at Dong Zhi and asked, “Not reading anymore?”

Dong Zhi rubbed his eyes and said, “I’ve finished reading.”

Liu Si glanced ahead and furrowed his brows slightly. “We have to get off and walk. The road ahead is too muddy and dangerous. The car can’t continue.”

Dong Zhi also found that the road ahead was muddy and dangerous, confirming what Liu Si had said.

Two people bid farewell to the driver and walked ahead after getting out of the car.

The Lengele Gorge wasn’t far from this place, but since it wasn’t an open scenic area, there were hardly any people around, and the road was extremely rugged and difficult to traverse. It required ascending to the halfway point of the mountain and then descending diagonally. For an ordinary person, it would probably take several days and nights to walk this distance. However, Dong Zhi and Liu Si were practitioners, so they left most of their luggage in the car and only brought water and dry food with them. Traveling light, they quickly climbed up to the middle of the mountain.

But the terrifying and unpredictable weather struck again. This time, it wasn’t pouring rain, but fist-sized hail.

Dark clouds above condensed into clusters, and hail fell one after another. The two quickly pulled up the hoods behind their down jackets, but the hail hitting their bodies through the clothes was still dangerous. They had to find a place with protruding rocks to take a short break.

While searching for such a spot, they encountered two young people who were out for wilderness exploration.

These two individuals were amateur mountaineers who specifically sought excitement during their vacations. The area they were in had already been sealed off, and no one was allowed to enter. However, the Kunlun Mountains were vast, and these two somehow managed to enter, and even when they realized how dangerous the terrain was, they still dared to venture further in. Supposedly, there was another defense line outside the Lengele Gorge, so even if these two managed to reach there, they would still be stopped.

Upon seeing Dong Zhi and Liu Si, the two explorers assumed they were lost adventurers as well and were overjoyed.

“Hey, buddies, are you also here for exploration? This path is tough. Are you continuing forward? If you are, let’s go together!” said the taller of the two.

Liu Si frowned and said, “There are military activities going on nearby, and they have restricted entry. You shouldn’t go any further. If you continue, you will be stopped!”

The shorter young man was unconvinced. “But why are you still…?”

Before he could finish his sentence, he realized the situation. If the other party knew about the military activities, they couldn’t be ordinary people.

Although they were also dressed casually, the shorter one noticed that Dong Zhi had something resembling a long sword behind his back, which didn’t look like the equipment of “military personnel”.

The hail grew larger, accompanied by lightning and thunder. The edge of the distant cloud clusters even revealed a purplish-black color, as if a vortex was brewing underneath.

The two outdoor adventurers were astonished. Although they pursued mountain climbing as a hobby, they had never seen such strange and eerie phenomena before.

The taller one murmured, “No wonder they say Lengele Gorge is evil. It seems true!”

Just then, a lightning bolt flashed, illuminating the sky as bright as day. Even though it was daytime, the lightning significantly increased the brightness of the sky. Thunder followed closely, exploding in their ears. Before the two outdoor adventurers could react, they saw Dong Zhi unsheathing his long sword-like object and sweeping it overhead.

At that moment, the taller one thought he might lose his head, while the shorter one suddenly realized that his previous guess was correct—the other party indeed carried a sword.

While the thoughts flashed through their minds, Dong Zhi had redirected the lightning away with his sword.

A loud crash brought the two adventurers back to reality. They looked at the nearby stone that had been split into blackened pieces and realized that if it weren’t for Dong Zhi, they would have met the same fate as the stone.

The two men looked at each other, and the taller one cautiously said, “Master, we didn’t know any better just now. Sorry for calling you ‘buddies’. Please don’t take offense!”

Dong Zhi felt both amused and exasperated. “I told you this place is dangerous. Why didn’t you believe me? Hurry and leave. Go that way, bypass the mountain ahead, and you’ll find a road. I’ll give you a phone number, call it, and someone will come to pick you up.”

The shorter one asked in a daze, “Aliens?”

Dong Zhi replied, “…Military personnel.”

Liu Si also found these two quite amusing, but the timing was wrong. They couldn’t allow ordinary people to enter the Lengele Gorge.

The strangeness of the weather here lay in the fact that no matter how terrifying the scene was, it came and went at will. In just a few words exchanged by the four of them, the dark clouds in the sky had already dispersed, the sun had revealed its true face, and the hail had disappeared. Even the thunder strikes from earlier seemed like mere illusions. If it weren’t for the shattered boulder still present, the two adventurers would almost think they were dreaming.

“Um, Master, the hail has stopped, and the sun is out. Can we continue following you two?” The taller one asked cautiously.

Dong Zhi’s expression turned serious. “Didn’t you hear what I just said?”

He casually manipulated the sword flower, and the light and shadows flickered, causing the two men to stop protesting immediately. They thanked Dong Zhi and Liu Si before leaving in the direction indicated by Liu Si.

After walking a distance, the taller man turned back and jogged toward Dong Zhi and Liu Si with a smile. “Hey, Master, could you leave me your phone number? I can never repay you for saving our lives, but once we get out, let us treat you to a meal!”

Since Dong Zhi joined the Special Administration Bureau, he had two phone numbers—one that was operational 24/7 for official business and another irrelevant private number. He gave the private number to the taller man, who expressed deep gratitude before leaving with his companion.

After walking for a while, the brief interlude didn’t delay them much. After all, they couldn’t travel during the hailstorm. However, Dong Zhi was still worried about Long Shen’s safety, so he quickened his pace. They encountered a few light showers and one large-scale thunderstorm on the way, but they didn’t avoid them. As evening approached, they finally arrived outside the Lengele Gorge.

Scattered figures appeared within their sight. They were members of the Special Administration Bureau stationed outside the canyon by Song Zhicun to prevent unrelated people like the two mountaineers from entering recklessly.

After the destruction of the Kunlun Mountain stone tablet, personnel from the headquarters, branches, and local areas were sent over to assist. Among those stationed outside, Dong Zhi immediately recognized two familiar faces—Ba Sang and Gu Meiren. They had entered the Special Administration Bureau at the same time as him and also completed their training together.

The sky darkened once again, and in an instant, dark clouds covered the sky, with purple-black vortexes slowly forming in the cloud layers. It seemed like a sign that something was about to descend. The air masses gradually moved, finally converging above the canyon, right where Long Shen and the others were, making it a thrilling sight.

Although it was a pleasant surprise to meet old acquaintances, there was no mood for pleasantries at this moment. Ba Sang and Gu Meiren must have heard why Dong Zhi rushed over. Without waiting for them to ask, Dong Zhi said, “Boss Long and the others have been inside for two days and two nights. I heard that Sect Master Xin had an accident, and now Boss Song is temporarily taking over!”

Gu Meiren added, “Before you came, Liu Qingbo and the others arrived too. Now Liu Qingbo is temporarily in charge inside.”

Originally, the Special Administration Bureau was under Song Zhicun’s command. However, when Sect Master Xin’s array encountered problems, he was temporarily replaced, which meant both he and Long Shen were inside the array. He Yu had to guard him, leaving no one to oversee the headquarters. It wasn’t possible for everyone to rush over, and the situation became somewhat chaotic with no clear leader. While there were other disciples from various sects with considerable experience here, they couldn’t command the Special Administration Bureau. At this moment, Liu Qingbo, who had brought Li Han’er and Yang Shouyi here, took charge.

Although he lacked management experience, he had served as the deputy team captain during the exchange conference, and no one was interested in competing for power at this critical moment. His loud shout managed to barely maintain order and prevent any disturbance to the people inside the array.

Dong Zhi heard their words but had no time to be amazed at how Liu Qingbo had finally developed a commanding presence. Together with Liu Si, he hurriedly rushed inside.

Watching Dong Zhi’s back, Gu Meiren suddenly sighed, “He has become much thinner!”

Ba Sang said, “But he has also become stronger.”

Gu Meiren nodded. After what Ba Sang said, she noticed that Dong Zhi’s aura was indeed much stronger than before. As cultivators, their senses were more acute and discerning. They had entered the Special Administration Bureau together. Even though Dong Zhi, as an ordinary person at the time, had a lower starting point than them, some people were destined to shine brightly. Even if they were mistakenly regarded as gravel and their brilliance was obscured temporarily, they would eventually astonish the world.

Gu Meiren knew that the current Dong Zhi was incomparable to his past self, and compared to them, he had surpassed them all.

The crisis before them was no longer just about their safety or the situation on Kunlun Mountain. It was a catastrophe involving all living beings. A few people here were holding up the heavens and earth, while the countless beings outside were still oblivious to the impending disaster.

Flying sand and rolling stones.

This was the first impression Dong Zhi and Liu Si felt after entering the canyon. If the feeling outside was not so apparent, then inside the canyon, the further they went, the more they could deeply experience the difficulty of every step.

The sky wasn’t pitch dark, but rather a dimness akin to the period before dawn, permeated with a hazy gray. Accompanying this dimness was the relentless swirling of wild sand, making it almost impossible to keep their eyes open. The sand was mixed with ice pellets that felt like icy blades, stinging their faces.

However, no matter how harsh the weather was, it couldn’t deter Dong Zhi and Liu Si’s progress. They persevered through the fierce wind and faintly saw some figures within their sight. They estimated they weren’t far from Long Shen and the others, thinking that they should walk a little faster.

Suddenly, a loud noise came from ahead, like something had exploded, causing the ground to shake. Dong Zhi heard someone shouting, “Danger in the northeast corner,” and his heart sank.

Guarding the northeast corner was a Living Buddha from the Gelug sect. Although someone capable enough to be invited here must be an outstanding cultivator, this master was already old and weakened. Even though his disciples were protecting him, the continuous consumption for two days and two nights would have long overwhelmed an ordinary person. His ability to persist until now was truly remarkable.

Equally dangerous as the broken seal in the northeast corner was Long Shen at the center of the array.

Black demonic qi swirled like an imprisoned tornado within the array, rampaging and restless, unable to break free. This made Long Shen’s temper become increasingly agitated. The inescapable demonic qi seemed to treat Long Shen as a vent for its rage, wanting to use him as a sacrifice to be devoured and crushed. However, despite remaining motionless and silent, Long Shen wasn’t as easy to “bite” as the demonic qi thought. Instead, he was gradually absorbing it into himself.

The violent wind gradually subsided a bit, but the black mist inside the array became denser. Dong Zhi saw the turbulent demonic qi swirling around Long Shen and noticed him absorbing it. Without anyone explaining, Dong Zhi quickly understood his intention—Long Shen was trying to rely solely on himself to draw all the demonic qi surging out from the abyssal passage into his body and then seal the passage with his own sacrifice.

But in doing so, what was the point of him coming all the way here?

Was he only supposed to watch Long Shen die?

If he rushed in now, he would likely disrupt the array that everyone had worked hard to set up. Dong Zhi clenched his teeth, resisting this idea, and manipulated talismans to stabilize the Living Buddha’s position.

Suddenly, the array trembled violently. Dong Zhi was too focused on maintaining the front position and was caught off guard, falling backward. However, Li Han’er steadied him from behind. Yet, everyone’s attention was soon diverted by He Yu’s exclamation.

All the demonic qi that had been hovering and flowing within the array was suddenly “absorbed” by Long Shen. Everyone watched as Long Shen pulled out a long sword from his hand, and its radiance transformed into thousands. He sealed the gap to the abyssal hell. Then, Long Shen slowly opened his eyes and looked in their direction.

As everyone made eye contact with him, they couldn’t help but shudder at the evil aura inside his eyes, as if they had seen boundless malevolence.

Resentment, greed, jealousy, arrogance, slaughter—those were the demons in everyone’s hearts and also the soil that nurtured the demonic qi.

However, these emotions should never have appeared in Long Shen.

“Master!” Dong Zhi’s eyes filled with tears.

Long Shen trembled slightly, and his bright red eyes seemed to regain some clarity. He fixedly looked at his raised hand, seemingly contemplating what he had intended to do just now. Blood overflowed from the corner of his mouth, as if he had exhausted all his willpower to suppress the raging demonic qi within him.

Then, Long Shen opened his eyes and said a few words to Dong Zhi. Before anyone could react, he stood up and leaped toward the abyssal passage!

The wind whistled with sand and stones flying by. Dong Zhi didn’t hear clearly what Long Shen said, but he recognized it from his lip movements.

Long Shen said, “Don’t come.”