43. We, Possessors of the Obsidian Will

In the Kunlun region, there was a small town called Gusu. Among its residents was a wealthy gentleman by the name of Chu, whose family enjoyed considerable renown in the town.

Rumors abounded about the Chu family’s young master, Jianlai, whose birth was marked by strange omens from the heavens. Soothsayers claimed he possessed the potential of a martial god and would surely achieve greatness in the future.

At the age of six, Chu Jianlai became the disciple of a renowned swordmaster, and by fourteen, he had already made a name for himself as an accomplished swordsman throughout the region. The three major sects vied to recruit him, each eager to bring such a talent into their fold.

Chu Jianlai was the pride of the Chu family and a celebrity of Gusu Town. All who knew him praised his elegant bearing and courteous manners, regarding him as a model among the younger generation.

In those days, most who came to Gusu Town did so for one of four reasons: to challenge him, to debate philosophy with him, to propose marriage, or to entice him into joining their sect.

But all of this belonged to the past.

Later, the Chu family was wiped out—because the young master had, by chance, found a peculiar engine known as the "Heart of the Earth's Core."

This device appeared to have been manufactured during the nuclear wars; no one knew its true purpose. What was certain, however, was that it contained enough energy to keep the lights of Night Pivot City blazing for a decade, and that it seemed to be the only one of its kind left in the world.

As the saying goes, "an innocent man gets into trouble because of his treasure." Though the Chu family did everything in their power to conceal the discovery and tried to sell it off as quickly as possible, word still spread through the major sects like wildfire.

Within days, sects from all over the Kunlun region and the great consortiums of Night Pivot City began to assemble, moving in secret toward Gusu Town.

That was the bloodiest day in Kunlun’s history. Invaders, each hoping to seize the core and make their fortune, turned Gusu Town into a battlefield of unimaginable chaos. Some, not even after the Heart of the Earth's Core itself, simply aimed to steal whatever they could amidst the melee.

In the end, the Chu family—all fifty-some members—were slaughtered to the last, and Gusu Town became a ravaged land of death and misery.

...

“So, what became of the young master?” Black Kallith asked curiously after hearing Chen Shang's tale. “You spent so long building this up—don’t tell me that brat died too.”

Chen Shang pondered for a moment, then replied with a smile, “He didn’t die. In fact, he’s still alive and well.”

“Oh? He managed to escape the consortiums’ manhunt?” Chiyo folded her arms, clearly skeptical.

“Of course. Overwhelmed with grief, he swallowed the Heart of the Earth's Core whole, then threw himself off a cliff. Since then, his fate has remained unknown.” Chen Shang waved a fan—procured from who knows where—as he explained.

“His fate unknown…” Chiyo leapt from her chair, trembling as she asked, “Swallowing something like that and then leaping off a cliff—could anyone really survive?”

Chen Shang merely smiled, giving her an expression that seemed to say, “What else do you expect?”

...

“So, you're saying Chu Jianlai might actually be the ‘Midnight Headsman’?” Xu Qing slapped the table, drawing a deep, incredulous breath.

“The likelihood is slim, but right now, everyone in the Daoist world suspects as much,” Master Jade Tally replied, clenching his fists with a grave expression. “We suppressed the aftermath of the incident, and most who knew the truth were silenced… I hope this shadowy story can help you, Young Master Xu.”

Xu Qing exhaled long and slow, a broad smile of enlightenment gradually spreading across his face. “Indeed… This information is very helpful to me.”

“Truly?”

“Even if it’s only a possibility, I’ll use it as a starting point for my investigation.” Xu Qing nodded with confidence, grabbing his coat and preparing to leave the room.

“If this is true, then the Midnight Headsman’s targets are all the sects in Kunlun—and every consortium involved in the massacre of the Chu family!”

At these words, Master Jade Tally suddenly sighed, then posed an ambiguous question: “Young Master Xu, after hearing this tale, do you feel… any qualms about the case?”

Xu Qing caught the implication in the master’s tone, and a faint smile played about his lips as he replied slowly, “If the ‘Midnight Headsman’ truly is the young master of the Chu family, then his becoming a serial killer is perfectly understandable. I can empathize with his feelings…”

“But I don’t care about his so-called vengeance, nor do I owe him any sympathy. If he’s targeting the Daoist sects for revenge, then he’s an enemy of the Xu Consortium. I’ll hunt him down and see to it that his pathetic plans for retribution are buried with him!”

With that, Xu Qing strode resolutely out of the office.

...

“So after swallowing the Heart of the Earth's Core, he fused with it?!” Black Kallith slapped the table in shock, her face contorted with disbelief.

“Incomprehensible… It’s simply unbelievable,” Chiyo murmured, shaking her head.

“It’s a bit fantastical, but that’s the truth,” Chen Shang shrugged and explained patiently. “His heart was replaced by that engine, turning him into an immortal monster.”

“Incredible…” The two young women echoed each other’s astonishment.

After typing something into her computer, Black Kallith spoke up, “If your story is true, then the Midnight Headsman’s enemies aren’t just the major sects, but also the consortiums behind them.”

Chiyo added, “Just the destruction of the Kunlun sects would threaten the interests of those consortiums. If you aim your sights at them as well, things could spiral completely out of control.”

If the Jin Yuchuang incident was merely a cruel joke, then helping the Midnight Headsman take his revenge was tantamount to challenging the very order of Night Pivot City.

Should the plan fail or their identities be revealed, Chen Shang would be branded a wanted criminal, forced to spend the rest of his life scurrying like a rat from one hiding place to another.

“But isn’t it fascinating?” Chen Shang’s lips curled into a playful smile. “To be honest, I’m no justice-obsessed dark knight, nor do I care about his so-called vengeance…”

Chiyo raised an eyebrow, unable to comprehend. “Then why are you helping him?”

“Miss Asougi, it’s precisely because you’ve spent your life in a gilded cage that you can’t understand,” Chen Shang said, picking up a can of some nameless soda, taking a leisurely sip, and sighing contentedly.

“This city is like a landfill. Most people can only scavenge at the bottom day after day, while a select few perch atop the mountain of garbage, looking down on the rest.”

“Some envy the view from the top and will do anything to climb up. Some claim to have seen through the essence of society and choose to lie down amid the refuse, doing nothing. Some, angered by the unfair division of labor in this dump, want to rise up and overturn the existing order.”

“So which kind are you?” Black Kallith asked, raising her hand.

“I am none of them—or perhaps, I could be any of them.” Chen Shang snapped his fingers and answered with a smile. “All I want is to strike a match and watch as the methane ignites and blows this entire rubbish heap sky-high.”