Chapter Forty-Five: Patterns of the Dao

My master said nothing, but with a sudden leap, he charged forward and became entangled in battle with the Ghost King Qingchen. Yet, the Ghost King Qingchen remained unscathed, while my master was knocked down again and again, only to rise and hurl himself back into the fight each time.

At that moment, I lay unconscious in Senior Chu Feng's arms. In my dream, I wandered across a desolate underworld, where the once murky landscape had turned pitch-black. Crows circled overhead, cawing harshly, and I walked alone through the emptiness. Suddenly, I heard a voice calling from behind. Puzzled, I turned and saw a figure standing in the distance, shrouded in golden radiance, dressed in a white robe, but his face was indistinct.

"Lin Xuan, you really are hopelessly useless," the figure suddenly spoke.

I grew even more confused and replied, "Who are you? How am I useless?"

"How are you not? Look at yourself—so weak and helpless. Your master and the elders are outside risking their lives, and what about you? Hiding within your own mind, unwilling to face reality, cowering like a coward," the figure continued.

A surge of anger rose within me as I stared at him and said, "I'm not a coward! I did my best. I want to protect my master and the elders, but I simply can't. What else can I do? I don't want to hide behind my master forever, but what choice do I have? Can you tell me?"

The figure hesitated for a moment and then laughed. "Choice? There are countless. Do you want to become stronger?"

"Stronger? Is that even possible for me?"

"Of course it is. A person's potential is limitless; what you’ve shown is only the smallest fraction. You need only answer me: do you wish to become stronger?" the figure persisted.

At that instant, I was stunned, gazing at the figure in silence for a long time. Sensing my hesitation, the figure murmured to himself, "Perhaps I misjudged you."

As he began to fade away, I suddenly rushed toward him, shouting, "Wait, don't go! I want to become stronger—I do!"

But just as I reached him, a powerful force hurled me backward. As I lay on the ground, I heard the figure scoff, "Want to become stronger? With what? You’re nothing but a waste."

I was dumbfounded, lying there as his words echoed in my mind. I managed to ask, "What do you mean? Are you toying with me?"

Before I finished, the figure lunged at me, grabbing me with one hand and scolding, "Look at yourself—completely powerless, not even the slightest resistance. Even if you became stronger, you’d still be a disgrace to the Lin family."

His harsh words left me speechless, stammering for a long time, unable to utter a single word. The figure sighed, set me down, and looked at me intently. "Boy, do you truly wish to become stronger?"

I nodded dumbly. The figure continued, "The path of the Dao is endless. Since you've chosen this road, you must walk it to the end. Today, I will help you, clearing all obstacles in your way."

With that, he lifted his hand, and a rune fell onto my palm. I opened my hand and saw a strange, flickering symbol. After a moment, it vanished into my skin. The figure spoke, "All things in the world are connected to the Great Dao. Even the twin fishes of black and white are manifestations of it. This rune is my gift to you. It can fuse with the twin fishes, and when that happens, not only will you be able to handle minor ghosts like Qingchen, but even the old ones of the mortal world will have to show you respect. However, you must wield the rune yourself. I have said all I can—now it is time for you to wake."

I stared at my palm, mouth agape, listening to his words. Just as he vanished, I finally called out, "Who are you?"

"I am you, and you are me. He is also himself. Only by recognizing your true heart can you walk alongside yourself. If fate allows, we shall meet again."

With that, the figure completely disappeared. I gazed in disbelief at my palm, his last words echoing endlessly in my mind.

Back in Shouhun Valley, my master was gravely wounded and could no longer rise. At that moment, I abruptly awoke, gasping for breath, my clothes drenched in sweat and blood. As I sat up, a searing pain ripped through my chest, and I groaned in agony. Senior Chu Feng, seeing me awake, hurried over and said, "Boy, you’re awake! Are you alright?"

I shook my head, glanced around, and asked in confusion, "Senior, where are my master and the others?"

He said nothing but looked behind him. I realized what had happened, then heard him say, "It’s good that you’re safe. Stay here—I’ll go help them."

He stood up, but I grabbed his hand with a smile. "Senior, please rest. Look after my master and the others for me. I’ll end this battle myself."

Grinning, I rose to my feet. The pain in my chest could not halt my steps. I placed the Yangming Jade against my chest; a green light shone forth, and instantly, the pain lessened. Senior Chu Feng watched in astonishment as I strode back onto the battlefield. He tried to stop me, but I vanished into thin air.

Startled, he exclaimed, "Vanished? How can that boy—"

I traversed the underworld, surrounded by swirling runes—an insight I had gained upon awakening. By emptying my mind and channeling the power of the rune, I could disappear and reappear at will, just as my master did.

Soon, I set foot on the ground, materializing before the Ghost King Qingchen. He recoiled in shock, but the sound of Tianyinpo slicing through the air came from behind him. I beckoned, and Tianyinpo flew into my hand, trapping the Ghost King between attack and retreat.

Seeing me, the Ghost King Qingchen exclaimed in disbelief, "You again! A bunch of undying cockroaches—damn it!"

Growing more agitated, he lunged at me with ghostly claws. I neither dodged nor flinched; instead, I grasped his claw with my right hand. In that moment, all present were dumbstruck, and the world fell silent except for the whistling wind. After a while, the Ghost King cried out, "How is this possible? How did you suddenly become so strong?"

I replied with a cold smile, saying nothing. With a flick of my left hand, Tianyinpo transformed into my grasp, and I drove it hard into the Ghost King's chest.

"Ah—!" he screamed, flying backward. Seizing the moment, I vanished again. Golden runes materialized all around, and the Ghost King stared in terror. I reappeared, runes glowing on my right hand, and slammed it down on his head. With a thunderous crash, the Ghost King was struck to the ground.

As he struggled to his feet, I charged at him, wielding Tianyinpo. After dozens of strikes, I pressed my bloodstained right hand against my garment, smeared it with my own blood, thrust forward, and chanted, "Endless is the Great Dao, the rune at the heart of my palm. Banish the evil, destroy the wicked, guard me by my side. Rune, emerge!"

At my words, torrents of powerful runes burst from my palm, swirling around and enveloping the Ghost King. In an instant, he shrieked in agony, his body trembling as he cried out in panic, "What is this? Ah, it hurts—stop, stop!"

I paid him no heed, summoning the twin fishes once more. Now fused with the runes, they were more powerful than ever, swirling above the Ghost King's head at increasing speed, forming a Bagua diagram that shone down upon him.

The Ghost King's screams echoed through the valley, chilling all who heard. I showed no mercy, only intensifying the power of the runes. My master and the others watched in stunned silence from afar. With another thunderous crash, the Bagua diagram merged with the runes, their forces intertwined. The shockwave was even more terrifying than before—I watched as the surrounding mountains and withered trees were cleaved in two, and even the lingering vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts were pulverized into dust.

The Ghost King's agonized cries mingled with the wails of countless spirits, reverberating far into the distance. At that moment, on Mount Boundaryless, a ghostly general, battered and wounded, crouched behind a rock, watching the battle with horror. "Such...such power. It's over! It's over! Lord Qingchen, you made the wrong move after all."

With that, he fled into the distance.

Back in Shouhun Valley, I stood before the dying Ghost King, watching him stumble toward death. He roared in unwilling fury, "No...no! I planned everything perfectly—how did it come to this? I refuse to accept it—I can't!"

I snorted coldly and drove Tianyinpo straight through his heart. His final, blood-curdling scream, filled with unwillingness and rage, rang out across the valley, but under the blade of Tianyinpo, everything came to an end.

The Ghost King Qingchen—a would-be tyrant, his ambitions boundless—fell here and now. The remaining ghost soldiers, seeing their king destroyed, scattered in terror. I ignored them, turning to face the lingering spirits. They all knelt before me, trembling in fear. I considered: rather than let them wander the underworld or cause havoc among the living, I might as well use this opportunity to release them, granting them a new beginning.

With that thought, I raised my hand, and countless golden runes appeared, floating around us. The vengeful spirits lowered their heads, trembling. Smiling faintly, I formed a seal with my fingers and intoned, "All beings bear grudges, deep and hard to resolve. If one grudge is formed in a lifetime, it may take three to be repaid. Today I impart a wondrous method, to dissolve all enmity and karma. Listen with sincere hearts, and foes shall disperse and vanish."

At my words, streams of white vapor rose from the bodies of the spirits. Soon, they lifted their heads, bowing to thank me. Joy welled up within me at this good deed. I said to them, "You know in your hearts where you ought to go. Today I release you from your grudges to grant you a second chance at life. Cherish it, and do good in your next life!"

All the spirits nodded, bowed to me once more with joy, and vanished.