The first year was called Ji Ba Yuan Nian, the First Year of Cease Battle3—but why did it have to sound like the Year of Cock and Balls?
The second year was called the Second Year of Cock.
Then the Third Year of Cock.
There were those who, behind locked doors, cursed and said, “This is ridiculous. You might as well just go ahead and call it the ‘Age of the Cock’! That way, when you want to ask a man’s age, all you’ll have to do is ask the vintage of his cock! A hundred-year-old man could just be called Centennial Cock!”
After three agonizing years, the time finally came for the reigning title “Ji Ba: Cease Battle” to be replaced. The world waited anxiously to see what His Imperial Majesty the emperor would come up with for the fourth round.
However, by this time, Mo Ran had lost all interest in such matters, because it was in this year that the unrest simmering throughout the lands finally came to a boil. After nearly a decade of weathering Mo Ran’s tyranny, those righteous people, heroes and vigilantes one and all, finally gathered to form an army, millions strong, and banded together against the emperor, Mo Weiyu.
The cultivation world needed no emperor, let alone a tyrant like him.
After many months of bloody battles, the rebel army finally came to the foot of Sisheng Peak. Located within the region of Sichuan, this was a place of steep, perilous mountain bluffs, surrounded throughout the year by curling streams of clouds and mist. At the very summit of it all stood Mo Ran’s grand and majestic palace.
It was too late to turn back now, and their goal of overthrowing the tyrant was but a single strike away. However, this last stretch was also the most treacherous; though the shining beacon of victory lay before their eyes, the previously unassailable unity of the army, joined together in common opposition to Mo Ran, began to fracture. They were all aware that once the old regime was overthrown, a new order would need to be established. Nobody wanted to spend all of their energy in this last stretch; thus, nobody volunteered to spearhead the final charge to lead them up the mountain.
They were all afraid that this cunningly vicious tyrant would suddenly drop from the skies, bare his glinting, bestial teeth, and rip apart all those who dared to surround and destroy his palace, shredding them to pieces.
“Mo Weiyu’s spiritual powers are unfathomable, and the man himself is treacherous,” one person said, face grim. “We must be cautious, lest we fall for his traps.”
All the leaders chimed in with their agreement.
At that moment, an exceptionally handsome young man with proud, haughty features stepped forward. He wore a set of light armor in blue with silver trim and a belt embellished with a lion’s head, and his hair was fastened in a high ponytail, secured at the base with an exquisite silver hairpin.
“We’ve already come to the foot of the mountain,” the young man said with an ugly expression. “What are you all milling about for, so reluctant to go up? Are you waiting for Mo Weiyu to come down himself? What a bunch of cowardly good-for-nothings!”
His words ignited a flurry of responses from the gathered.
“What are you talking about, Xue-gongzi? What do you mean by cowardly? A soldier must always be prudent and cautious. If we were to be as brash and reckless as you, who would take responsibility if something untoward were to happen?”
“Heh, Xue-gongzi is the darling of the heavens, and we are but mere commoners,” another person sneered tauntingly. “If the darling of the heavens can’t wait to fight the Emperor of the Mortal Realm, then by all means, please be the first to go up the mountain. We’ll set up a feast down here by the foot to await your gracious return with Mo Weiyu’s head. Wouldn’t that be nice?”
That comment had gone too far. One of the old Buddhist monks in the alliance swept in to hold back Xue Meng, who was on the verge of losing it, and plastered on a benign expression. “Xue-gongzi, pay heed to these words,” he said in a sympathetic, coaxing tone. “This old monk knows that you and Mo Weiyu share a deep, personal grudge, but this assault on the palace is a critical operation. You must think of the group; don’t let your emotions carry you away.”
The individual whom everyone referred to as “Xue-gongzi” was a youth named Xue Meng. Over a decade ago, he’d been praised by all as a young prodigy, the “darling of the heavens.”
But circumstances changed with the times, and Xue Meng was no longer in his element; now he was forced to suffer their taunts and ridicule, and all so he could go up the mountain to meet Mo Ran face-to-face once more.
Xue Meng’s face twisted with anger, his lips trembling, but with great effort, he suppressed his feelings and merely asked, “Then just how long do you plan to wait around?”
“We’ve got to at least survey the surroundings, right?”
“That’s right. What if Mo Weiyu has set traps?”
“Xue-gongzi, don’t be impatient,” the old monk who’d stepped in earlier added. “We’ve come all this way to the foot of the mountain, so it would be best to remain wary. Either way, Mo Weiyu is trapped inside his palace and can’t come down to us. He’s at the end of his rope with nowhere to go. What use would it be for us to be impatient and act recklessly? There are so many of us down here, and so many illustrious and prominent figures in our company; if they were to lose their lives to rash judgment, who would be responsible?”
“Responsible?” Xue Meng burst with rage. “Then let me ask you: Who’s going to be responsible for my shizun’s life? Mo Ran has had my shizun imprisoned for ten years! Ten whole years! With my shizun right before my eyes, just up the mountain, how am I supposed to wait?”
On hearing Xue Meng mention his teacher, the mob couldn’t help but feel a twinge of guilt. Some looked ashamed and others averted their gazes, mumbling one excuse or another.
“Ten years ago, when Mo Ran gave himself the title Taxian-jun, he laid waste to the seventy-two cities of Rufeng Sect—and planned to do the same to the remaining nine great sects. Later still, when he crowned himself emperor, he was going to kill every last one of you. Who was it who stopped him both times? If it hadn’t been for my shizun, who put his own life on the line for you, would any of you be alive now? Would you even be standing here, spouting these empty words at me?”
At length, someone cleared their throat. “Xue-gongzi, don’t be angry,” they said gently. “With regards to Chu-zongshi, we…all feel guilt as well as gratitude. But as you said, he’s been imprisoned for ten years. If anything was going to happen, it would’ve already… Well, you’ve waited for ten years now; waiting another moment won’t hurt, wouldn’t you say?”
“Wouldn’t I say? I’d say go fuck yourself!”