64 Calamity

Cha Ming awoke to the scent of jasmine and a soft pillow. It took him a few moments to realize that the "pillow" was a human one, and the jasmine he smelled was Gong Lan's perfume. He looked up to see her smiling face. Yet he could see grief behind her imperfect façade. That was when he smelled ashes and molten metal.

He sat up quickly, only to discover that he was perfectly fine. The internal injuries he had sustained from the fight had healed, and the poison had subsided. "Did we win?" he asked.

"At a cost," she explained while nodding. "Han Jinlong sacrificed himself, and the so-called Merchant was killed by Zhang Yifeng. The auction master was attacked by three foundation-establishment cultivators. He killed one, the other two escaped. Finally…"

She hesitated to finish.

"Who else died?" Cha Ming asked.

She sighed. "Bei Ling died while killing the county lord. It seems he was involved in the entire plot. Feng Ming and Hong Lai managed to destroy one of the formation eyes, so they were lucky to avoid the bulk of the effects. They are currently out searching for survivors and finding who needs immediate treatment. So many babies and children, so many elderly…" She burst into tears as she finished.

Cha Ming understood that the blood formation had drained vital energy from the whole city. Those with the least vitality, children and the elderly, would be the most heavily affected. Even if they hadn't died, the effect of losing so much vitality would likely cripple their growth and greatly shorten their lifespan. Such was the cruelty of these devil cultivators.

I should go help them, he thought helplessly.

You will do no such thing! yelled an angry voice inside his head. It was the red-bearded man, and the tone of his voice was particularly grave. While you were asleep, someone cast a terrible curse on you from afar. Not only will it give you terrible luck, but it shows that whoever did this knew where you were at the time of casting. While I can no longer sense the thread of karma, someone is bound to come here soon. You need to flee as far as possible, lest you burden everyone around you with this curse.

In addition, you and your fox friend must undergo a Heavenly Tribulation in less than three days. We need to be far away from anyone, and we need ample time to prepare. Otherwise, both you and the fox will become piles of smoldering meat!

Just how bad is this tribulation? Cha Ming asked Huxian.

Brother, it's worse than you could ever imagine. Normally it wouldn't be a problem for me. However, I sense that the tribulation this time will be much worse than normal. You need to remember, you're not even at half-step foundation establishment. You're at best a seventh-level cultivator with a few fortunate encounters. Even foundation-establishment experts would need to be wary of this tribulation.

Although the fox didn't say it directly, Cha Ming could tell from his body movements that he was eager to leave.

Cha Ming sighed. So much effort, so much fighting, just to run away. Cha Ming shook his head. "Gong Lan, I need to leave now."

She looked confused and bewildered at his sudden change in demeanor. "What you do you mean leave?"

"I mean that me and Huxian need to go. A disaster is about to strike us, and if we stay, it will involve the whole city. Stay in Fairweather for a few days. We're leaving now." With these words, Cha Ming began running toward the hole in the city wall where they had entered. Huxian thought this was too slow, so he grew a few sizes larger, and Cha Ming jumped on his back.

The painter and the fox ran off toward the north. They did not turn back, so they never saw the beautiful girl with short-cropped hair crying as she stared out at the skyline.

***

Protector Song heaved a sigh of relief as he flew toward Fairweather. Accompanying the Young Master always gave him the creeps. Not that he had much of a choice in the matter. He had sold his life the moment he'd set foot in the castle. He'd soon found out that he was worth nothing to them. Someone to be trampled on and ridiculed. It wasn't until he was accepted into the Old Master's service that he gained great power. But was it worth it? The price was his soul.

Still, there was no arguing that he felt great satisfaction when he trampled all those who had put him down over the years. Sure, he had to follow orders. But when he was unoccupied, he could do whatever he liked. The young and old masters thought he was stupid, and he didn't try to correct them, lest they get him to take on additional responsibilities. At least this way he could get a game or two in every week.

The breeze this morning was quite refreshing, and the dawn was one of the most beautiful he'd seen in many years. The feeling of flying without a sword was exhilarating, and he took advantage of it whenever he could.

Out in the distance, he saw what remained of Fairweather. Several ant-like figures scurried about, bringing people out of houses on stretchers. Healers were administrating medicine, and doctors were curing the more difficult cases. At the same time, he saw a much larger pile of corpses. They were being collected onto funeral pyres, as there were too many to bury outside the city.

He sat above the city, floating while meditating. His senses reached out, and he picked up pieces of information.

"Why did Cha Ming leave suddenly? That isn't like him," a young man said.

"I don't know," a sobbing voice replied. "All he said was that a disaster was about to strike him and Huxian, so they left. They rode off to the north."

The man listened for a few more moments before heading north, toward the mountains. He wasn't concerned with these small fries. He had things to do, people to kill. Unfortunately, the fengxue compass he had been given to track said people was defective. No matter how hard he tried, the needle refused to budge.

He sped off into the distance, passing by meadows, forests, and all sorts of wonderful land features. There were mountains up ahead. And beneath him, he saw the most beautiful lake he had ever laid eyes on. He tried to ignore it, yet he was attracted to a beautiful weeping willow.

The tree was covered in small buds, which was surprising given how spring had only just started. Despite his urgency, he felt compelled to walk beneath it and appreciate the scenery. The water beside the tree was calm, and the grass was emerald green. If he were a painter, he would have tried to capture the moment.

Suddenly he heard the familiar sound of shaking stones behind him. He was surprised to see that an old man with unruly short hair was sitting beneath a tree in meditation. The white-haired man was sitting down in front of an Angels and Devils board. He was holding a cat, who was sleeping on his lap, purring. Normally, he would have asked the man to play a game. He had a mission to complete, however, so he turned around to leave.

"Just where do you think you're going, Song Qing Rou?"

Protector Song was startled. How does he know my name? he wondered. He turned around and noticed that the man was smiling. He didn't sense a wisp of cultivation from him. That meant one of two things: Either the man was not a cultivator, or he was a supreme cultivator. However, it was very difficult for an ordinary man to appear so far out in the wilderness. He decided to play it safe and replied, "Does Senior require something?"

"Yes, I just happen to need your help with something," the man replied. "I'll be going away for a long time, and I've long wanted to challenge the regional Angels and Devils champion. I would be extremely honored to play a game with you before I leave."

Protector Song faltered when he heard the man's request. How in the world did he know I would come here, and how the hell does he know I'm the regional champion? Even my mother doesn't know! He composed himself before answering, "My apologies, Senior, but I'm off to accomplish an important mission. Could you perhaps wait for half a day before I return? I would be willing to play to your heart's content."

The older man frowned. "I'm afraid I can't wait that long. How about we play a game, and then I'll let you go?"

Suddenly Protector Song felt a stifling pressure bearing down on him. It was complete suppression, and he felt that he barely had the strength to kill a chicken. Meanwhile, the cat sitting on the man's lap got up and stretched. It walked out, step by step, growing with each passing breath. It grew until it became one hundred feet long. It no longer resembled a housecat—rather, it now looked like an impressive demon bobcat.

Protector Song shivered when he saw this and breathed out a sigh of relief when the "cat" stretched out and laid down lazily. "Now, now, Mr. Mao Mao, no need to act so intimidating," the older man said, his eyes shining mischievously. "I'm sure that this man will be very reasonable and play a game with me. Besides, we can't slaughter mere mortals without incurring great karma. That is, unless they insult us. But I'm sure that 'Protector Song' wouldn't be so foolish as to insult us by refusing a game, right?"

The armored man gulped as he heard their conversation. He wasn't sure exactly how the Heavenly Dao operated, but he wasn't about to gamble with his life. I've heard that it's forbidden for Transcendents to murder mortals. But what are their limitations? What rotten luck. He sat down in front of the elder with great humility and placed the first black stone. The devils had made their move, and it was the angels' turn to play.

***

"I object, Your Honor," Wang Jun said, his voice full of confidence. He was standing amidst a dozen seated people, a combination of the best minds available to him and a few select guardians. Protector Ren Wufa was seated near the rear of their group. He appeared to be on full alert, but in reality, he was napping. His alert disposition was just a cheap illusion, barely enough to fool the judge and supervising guards. After all, only a madman would attack them within the courthouse.

"Based on what grounds, Mr. Wang?" the judge asked while calmly adjusting his spectacles.

"On the grounds that this is no longer a matter of private contracts," Wang Jun replied. "Zhou Li and Zhou Jia's manipulation of the country's officials have restricted access to alchemical products from other countries. As a result, they have created a monopoly that greatly inflates prices for the common people. Their breaking of the contract prematurely is not just an inter-company dispute, but rather a precursor to a larger merger, a conspiracy to line their pockets at the expense of the kingdom's welfare. This even extends to the spirit-doctor community, who only has the best interests of the people in mind.

"While this does not infringe on current trade laws, I argue that it will affect the trade relationship between countries and infringes upon the kingdom's Declaration on the Welfare of Citizens, which states that monopolies that threaten the welfare of the people are prohibited.

"There are notable exceptions that have proven a monopoly to be beneficial—both Sijun Iron Refining and Wailin Coal Corporation have proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that their monopoly of the market reduced costs to their end consumers. They continue filing reports to prove things as such. However, what we have seen from the Alchemist's Association is a steep inflation in pricing.Therefore, I ask the court to either break up this newly formed monopoly, heavily regulate it, or open the border to free trade."

The judge massaged his brow as he sat, deep in thought. Then, looking to Zhou Li, he asked, "Does the defendant have a statement before we adjourn for the day?

"Yes, your honor," Zhou Li replied. "This decision to cancel the trade agreement is well within our rights. This is clearly stated in the contract. As for the other considerations, I ask that these be dismissed by the court, as they are superfluous to the current case."

The judge nodded. "Very well, we will reconvene again tomorrow morning. Please stay posted for the exact time. You will be notified one hour prior to court convening." With this, the judge hammered the desk with his wooden mallet.

Zhou Li and Wang Jun met outside the courtroom. "You must be kidding with this joke of a lawsuit," said Zhou Li. "You don't have a case to make. Give it a few days, and it will be thrown out of court. I'll make sure to send you our bill for legal services."

Wang Jun shrugged. "We will see. The Wang family never gives up without a fight. You think you can take our share of the pie without getting your wrist slapped? By the way, you look awfully tired and pale. Have you been sick lately? Or perhaps you haven't been getting enough sleep? No, wait, you were with your sister last night—it all makes sense now!"

He walked away nonchalantly, his entourage in tow. Zhou Li was left seething with rage.

***

Two days passed by in a flash. Huxian and Cha Ming hadn't stopped to rest on their trek toward the mountains. They ignored all sorts of spirit beasts on their way, only stopping when Huxian needed to eat to replenish his energy stores. Neither did they bother to stop for the medicinal ingredients they encountered on the way. Every second counted.

At last, they arrived on a flat surface at the top of a mountain. The sun was just setting in the distance. He could see the wilderness stretching out in each of the four cardinal directions. There were plains to the north, a forest to the south, and a mountain chain to the east and the west. The mountain chain was a natural border to the north of the Song Kingdom. Numerous armies had attempted to flood through its passes over the years, though few had succeeded in the end.

It's time, Cha Ming, said the red-bearded man. I can help you with this tribulation, but it will take a lot out of me. You'll be on your own for the next long while. Remember, though, due to the curse on your body, this tribulation will be much stronger than usual. On the plus side, the curse will not survive the tribulation. Lightning is the nemesis of curses, the enemy of evil.

The last glimmer of sunshine disappeared on the horizon as he finished these words. Cha Ming became solemn but didn't speak. A sigh traveled outward from the Clear Sky Staff in Cha Ming's hands. He was alarmed when he realized that another hand was also gripping it beside him. It was the red-bearded man. He was much taller in reality than inside the Clear Sky World. He wasn't wearing a shirt, only red pants that matched his impressive beard and unruly red hair.

He looked toward Cha Ming with his crimson irises and put out his hand. "I need the Clear Sky Staff and your bag of holding. Then get to the edge of the mountain."

Cha Ming bowed deeply and gave him both items. His bag of holding held all his life savings, and the Clear Sky Staff was his fated treasure. Yet he trusted the mysterious man with his life.

Cha Ming and Huxian sat near the side of the flat mountaintop as they observed the red-bearded man. He clasped his hands in meditation and sat still for a half hour before finally opening his eyes. His aura surged as he lifted the Clear Sky Staff. It transformed into the Clear Sky Brush, its tip glowing with pure white light.

He jumped up in the air and hovered there as he slashed outward with the brush. Wherever he slashed, white ink splashed out and formed rune marks on the mountaintop. There were all sorts of complicated runes and geometric symbols. This continued for two hours, and during this time, Cha Ming saw over ten thousand perfect white runes get laid down one after another, yet he could barely understand one percent of them. They formed a large white circle, which encompassed most of the mountaintop.

"Get in, kids," the man said. Cha Ming and Huxian immediately complied and traveled to the center of the circle. The man flung out his hand, and dozens of purple stones traveled from his hand to various points in the formation. These were all bits of crystalized elemental essence from Cha Ming's bag of holding. His heart ached, yet he didn't speak out. After all, his life was much more important than his wealth.

The red-bearded man formed a thousand hand seals before yelling out, "Circle of Protection—Lightning!" The white formation began to glow even more intensely. The night was now pitch black, and the circle stood out like a beacon.

Following this, he pulled out the bundle of metal stakes tied with a chain. He held them out before his face and breathed into them. As he breathed, the stakes began to glow. Several white runes lit up on each dagger-like object, as well as the chain itself. As they began to glow, he began to fade. He was now a transparent version of his former self. Then, using the last of his strength, he threw the daggers into the air.

They traveled upward for a few dozen feet before finally setting themselves in place. They didn't stop—no, they pierced the sky. The chains connecting all the spikes had formed a complex formation above them.

Cha Ming looked at the red-bearded man worriedly. "You're fading… What's going on?"

"This is all I can do for you kids," said the red-bearded man. "I won't be able to help you with the next one. Now I'll fall into a deep sleep. Make sure you find something to bring me back in the future, okay? I have something important I want you to do."

Cha Ming, who wasn't sure how to react, bowed deeply in thanks.

He hesitated before finally asking a question that had lingered on his mind since they first met. "What's your name?"

The fading man looked reluctant to share this information. After all, he was in such an embarrassing situation, and the loss of face wasn't small.

"My name is Sun Wukong. Remember it well!" With these words, the man faded into mist and traveled back inside the Clear Sky Brush. It was as Cha Ming thought. The red-bearded man was the legendary Monkey King.

"We'll get you back. Don't you worry," Cha Ming whispered. Yet he didn't have time to relax. The moment Sun Wukong vanished, dark clouds began to gather above them and obscure the starry sky. Thunder roared in the skies as these clouds prepared to unleash Heaven's wrath on them.

Brother, let's split up on each side of the circle. Although we are undergoing a split tribulation, we still need to fight it alone. It will be divided into nine strikes of lightning, each one stronger than the last. Fortunately, this is only the first tribulation. Only white lightning will rain down from the sky. You can resist with your weapons and techniques, but items like talismans and formations are forbidden unless they were personally created. I have no idea where Sun Wukong discovered this heaven-defying formation.

The lightning crackled in a threatening manner, warning them that it was about to begin. Cha Ming readied his staff and his rosary. He knew running wouldn't help. Only when he withstood the full might of Heaven's punishment would he be allowed to continue living. Huxian howled at the stormy sky in defiance.

Begin!