Chapter 56 - Tngri

The change in the man’s demeanor was almost instantaneous. While still on his knees and restrained, he bent his head forward until his forehead almost touched the ground.

“Forgive me for not recognizing you, lord Tngri. I meant no disrespect. But what are you doing with these savages?” With his head, he motioned to the soldiers that were all around us -and apparently also in awe of the Dragon-spirit surrounding me.

“I was reborn in their lands.”

“Re-reborn?” The man’s eyes widened as he looked up at my face when I squatted before him again, my other-self retreating back to wherever he existed while immaterial.

“Yes. I’m working on regaining my full powers to aid our people again, but my time is otherwise spent when conflict strikes.” I pointed to the battlefield with a movement of the head. “I have been outside the Heavenly Realm for quite a while, what has become of our people?”

The man sighed and told me a story.

Told me a story of warring tribes and a nomadic life. Of people living with horses and raising sheep, and slowly noticing the changes in the earth and weather. The rain became scarce, cattle died, famine and sickness struck, people despaired then turned on each other. Brother killed brother, sister plotted against sister, and the old ones, those in charge of leading them, lost faith.

When they saw their neighbors living in peace and prosperity, they raged against the heavens that had abandoned them and turned their steel against those that had what they had lost.

“I am sorry, my lord, but our people are desperate for food and water.” I had unchained the man and ordered the soldiers to give him food and drink. They had, of course, protested, but one glare shut them up. We were currently sitting beside the fire while the prisoner, whose name I learned was Delger, practically inhaled a plate of warm soup.

“How many tribes have come to the south?”

“Twelve. Every Xiongnu came together to conquer the southern pastures.”

I sighed. Twelve. Twelve bloody cultures I would have to convince to stop a war.

“How many of them will stop their attack if I bring back the rain?”

Delger’s eyes sparkled, and he smiled at me “My lord!” I allowed him some time to rein in his feelings before repeating my question.

“It is hard to say” he finally answered, “My own has probably already given up on me, and from the twelve I know only of four that still praise the Sky god” He looked down apologetic “My lord, I-”

I raised a hand and he shut up “I know. You’ve really had a hard time, and my powers have been somewhat diminished over time. But I can bring the rain, and I will stop this bloodshed.”

‘We can, can’t we?’

My other self didn’t answer, but I felt its reluctance.

I had controlled a storm before, I was sure I could do it again… what I didn’t know for sure was if I would be able to sufficiently control it to not kill the fields.

‘If that is what you want, we will need more power. At the very least, we will need to reach the first milestone…´that’s the eleventh Tribulation.’

‘That is the first time I heard you speak of milestones, I thought that all Heavenly tribulation were milestones of sorts.’

‘They are, but the eleventh marks the first third of the journey. Passing it causes an immense spike in power… one that you will need if you wish to go forward with his plan of yours.’

‘That’s three more than where we’re at. Can we challenge them that fast? The last one was harder than all the others.’

‘They will only get harder as we progress, but with our current amount of Chi, we should be able to trespass two. The milestone will be the hardest ever. We will need help.’

‘Help from who? I haven’t met any other cultivators, and there is very little about the process in the imperial library.’

‘Not who, but what. Ask him if they still guard the secret of the pearls.’

‘The what?’

‘Ask him!’

I exited my own mind to look at Delger who was licking the bottom of the plate with gusto.

“Do our people still guard the secret of the pearls?”

The man’s eyes flew to mine, and he shook his head despondently.

“Not all of us. My tribe doesn’t. The old ones claimed to have forgotten the way… But perhaps one of the four who still praise you.”

‘We need to find these tribes. If you can convince them to reveal the secret back to you, we might just make it.’

‘Then that is what we’ll do.’ I gazed at the horizon as if it held the answers to the universe while asking my other self about these pearls, but received no information.

“Rest for now, I must think.”

The man knelt in front of me, placing his forehead on the ground. “Thank you, my lord!”

I stood up and looked at the people surrounding me. General Fei and An were close by, as were many of the soldiers, all watching me with surprise and Delger with disgust. I made a beeline for the General and he invited me into his tent. Before entering I addressed one of the soldiers outside, “Make sure that nobody abuses the prisoner, he’s still useful to us.”

He nodded and I crossed the threshold into the General’s tent. It was red and big, with a soft carpet covering the ground and a big desk with plenty of papers to the left. To the right stood a wooden cross for his armor and a small bed was a bit further away.

“Cozy,” I claimed and the General smiled bitterly.

“And too much for me, but appearances must be kept.”

An snorted, making Fei glared at him while I chuckled at their interaction.

“So, have you learned anything useful, your ma-?” to my surprise, An slapped him on the back of the head “forgive me, I forgot myself.”

I snorted and shook my head. “Be it as it may. I might have found a way to stop this war before the Imperial Army had a chance to step out of the capital.”

Both officials stared at me with wide eyes and mouths agape.

“That is great news!” An declared.

“How do we kill these savages?” Fei asked, hopeful. But I shook my head.

“You won’t. If my plan works, there will be very little fighting to be had.”

They exchanged long looks before the General spoke again “Your m-” he slapped a hand over his mouth and stepped back to prevent An from hitting him again. “Forgive me. How will you accomplish this, Long Mu?”

“These people worship the Dragon” I declared. “They are here because they have been abandoned by their gods and their lands have dried up.”

Fei scratched his beard for a whole minute before admitting defeat “I’m sorry, I don’t get it.”

“I will show you tomorrow, on the battlefield.”

The general sighed.

“You really aren’t going to tell us?” An asked, exasperated.

“Even if I told you, you wouldn’t believe me. Seeing is believing, and tomorrow your men and the enemy will believe.” I offered both a baoquan before exiting the tent. The soldier outside informed me that the prisoner had been led to my tent, and I asked him for directions, finding it rather quickly.

Chinese armies were nothing if not well organized.

Inside, Delger was already curled up against the furthest wall and snoring lightly. I dropped on the small cot on the ground and closed my eyes.. I needed all the rest I could get.