Chapter Seventy-Seven: A Hundred Faces of the Primordial World

Time passed in silence.

Since the Wu Clan had become subordinate to the Celestial Court, humanity once again entered an era of rapid development. Vaster territories and abundant resources brought about even swifter population growth.

The Wu Clan, scattered across the wilderness, had lost their former supremacy due to the lack of top experts and the dispersal of their strength. Now, not only did they no longer dare to look down on humanity, they even avoided provoking the stronger tribes among the demons.

Fortunately, unlike the demon clans, the Wu did not indulge in consuming humans, and so they did not become targets of human hunters. Otherwise, their fate would have been even more tragic.

Yet, as humanity flourished, the number of demon tribes in the wilderness diminished, rendering survival ever more challenging for the Wu. More often than not, they were left to stave off hunger with common wild beasts.

...

Witnessing the plight of their kin, the many great Wu chieftains in the Celestial Court were wracked with anguish. Yet, Li Tian had given strict orders forbidding them from meddling in the affairs of the Wu; none dared defy him. Helpless, they could only daily visit the ancestral Wu, endlessly beseeching them, which left the elder ancestors all the more anxious.

The ancestral Wu could only feel powerless.

They, too, yearned to rebel against the Celestial Court, but one must face reality. By now, the ancestral Wu had come to understand the true meaning behind the saying, “Beneath the Sages, all are as ants...” Should they truly rebel, not only would they fail to save their people, they might even bring calamity upon the entire Wu Clan.

“Xuanming, enough!” In her palace, as she saw Xuanming growing increasingly agitated, Houtu hastened to intervene.

“You mustn’t speak the Sage’s name in secret; a Sage may sense it.”

“Hmph!” Xuanming ground her teeth in hatred but did not lose her composure. With a cold snort, she fell silent.

Seeing this, Houtu could only shake her head. “Compared to the demon clans, our Wu are faring better, at least.”

Though her heart ached for her people, what could she do?

...

Leaving Xuanming’s palace, Houtu ascended a high platform in the heavens. Leaning on the railing, she gazed at the slow-flowing waters of the Heavenly River below, lost in thought.

“Houtu.” At that moment, a gentle voice sounded behind her. Turning, she saw Fuxi approaching with a warm smile.

“Greetings, Emperor Fuxi,” Houtu said, bowing respectfully, but Fuxi gently raised her up.

“There’s no one else here. You may call me by my name,” Fuxi said with a smile, leading her to the railing.

Houtu paused, then nodded slightly and leaned beside him.

“What are you thinking?” Fuxi asked, still smiling. He knew a fair bit about the Wu Clan’s circumstances.

“Nothing much,” Houtu replied, lowering her gaze to the river. In a voice that was half-murmur, half-question, she said, “The waters of the Heavenly River flow past here, circle the heavens, then return to this very place, year after year, round and round, never ceasing... So, when all living things die, might they too be able to reincarnate endlessly, returning again and again?”

“Are you speaking of the All Beings Sect’s doctrine?” Fuxi couldn’t help but smile. The All Beings Sect had acknowledged the Celestial Court, and he was familiar with their teachings, though he’d never taken them seriously. In his view, reincarnation was merely a consolation for the masses.

Houtu shook her head, gazing into the distant, colorful clouds at the horizon.

“Do you think, in this world, reincarnation could truly exist?” She didn’t know why, but suddenly this question had arisen in her heart.

“Reincarnation... There is certainly none in the wilderness,” Fuxi replied. But after a moment’s thought, he added, “But if someone were truly willing to pay any price to create it, perhaps it’s not impossible...”

Houtu frowned slightly. She felt that the future of the Wu Clan might lie in reincarnation, but she couldn’t discern the key.

“How about you come with me to visit the human clans?” Fuxi suggested with a gentle smile, sensing her troubles.

Throughout countless years, whenever vexed, he would disguise himself as an ordinary mortal and wander among the human tribes, experiencing their myriad lives. Each time, he emerged with new insights.

“The human clans?” Houtu regarded him curiously.

Still, she was intrigued. After a brief hesitation, she nodded.

Hand in hand, the two passed through the Southern Heavenly Gate.

Arriving at a human settlement outside Mount Buzhou, they transformed their clothing and adornments to match those of ordinary humans.

“Elder, my wife and I are passing through. Night is falling, and we wonder if you might let us lodge here for a night?” Fuxi knocked at a humble dwelling, smiling at the old man who answered.

“Come in,” the old man replied after a glance, seeing their kindly faces and sensing no malice. He welcomed them warmly.

The humans of this era were still simple-hearted.

“Thank you, elder,” Fuxi replied with a smile, signaling to Houtu before leading her inside.

Hearing Fuxi refer to her as his wife made Houtu feel slightly uneasy, but she showed no strong reaction. Instead, she was more curious about the old man.

He seemed far from wealthy, yet allowed two strangers to stay the night without hesitation... What kind of heart was this? How many among the Wu could match it?

“There’s only me here, so I’m afraid the place is small. I hope you won’t mind,” the old man said, inviting them to sit and pouring each a cup of water.

“Not at all. In fact, we’re the ones imposing,” Fuxi replied.

Fuxi smiled, then picked up the rough ceramic bowl and took a sip. The water was plain, without the slightest trace of spiritual energy, yet to him, it was more comforting than any sacred spring. Of course, at his level, the nature of the water mattered little.

“No imposition at all. When you’re traveling far from home, people must help one another,” the old man chuckled.

Fuxi nodded, understanding his people well.

“By the way, elder, why do you live alone here?” Fuxi asked.

The old man shook his head with a sigh. “My eldest son was taken by a great demon decades ago. A few years past, my younger son heard that some Wu had come over the mountains and went off with some young men to see them. He never returned...”

“I’m sorry to bring up painful memories,” Fuxi said apologetically, but the old man waved it off.

“It’s all right. So many years have gone by—I’ve long since let it go.” He glanced at Fuxi and continued with a smile, “But things are better now. Our three human leaders have, these past years, led our warriors to hunt down all creatures that threaten us. Life is much improved.”

“Yes,” Fuxi agreed. Though opinions in the Celestial Court were divided, there was no denying that all those who fought on the front lines for the survival of the human race were true heroes.

...

After some idle conversation, Fuxi and Houtu stayed the night. The old man, eager to please, prepared food for them and even readied a bed.

Of course, neither Fuxi nor Houtu slept. At their level, a mere thought could conjure an illusion sufficient to fool any ordinary human.

The next day, they bade the old man farewell and resumed their journey. Before leaving, Houtu left him a pill that would prolong his life by a hundred years as a token of gratitude.

Fuxi, watching from the side, did not stop her.

...

In this way, the two traveled for several months. Witnessing the harmony and simplicity of the human tribes, Houtu could not help but form a notion: If, in this world, only the human race remained, would there still be strife?

But she quickly shook her head, for she was an ancestral Wu, and could not help but put her people first.