Volume One, Chapter Four: A Fragment of the God of War's Soul

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Chapter Four: A Wisp of the God of War’s Soul

The solid shell formed by the jade dew around Tu Zhe’s soul was shattered with web-like cracks by a sudden burst of blood-red light, almost wounding his very spirit.

The dog, Yama, leapt from Tu Zhe’s unsteady arms, stood with paws on hips, and barked furiously at the fading blood glow, demanding that the assailant show himself.

As the blood light faded, there was a sudden crack in the void, and out from it emerged an enormous hand. Tu Zhe was stunned, barely managing a cry of "What on earth is that thing?" before his mouth hung open in shock.

For now, another equally gigantic hand pierced through the void with a resounding shatter, and with a sweep, the two massive hands tore open the sky as easily as ripping cloth, revealing a pitch-black chasm about the size of a basketball court. In a rush, six more colossal hands, eight pillar-like legs, and a tremendous torso followed. Eight massive hooves stepped out from the void, each one shaking the fabric of space, as if it might unravel at any moment.

Tu Zhe stared at those eight enormous feet, drawing in sharp breaths.

Were those feet? No, they were clearly eight ox hooves. What in the world was this monstrous thing?

He looked up and saw that the creature had a head the size of a two-story building, with two horns thick as beams, curved like crescents, and sharp as divine weapons. As they moved, the void crackled and lightning flickered. Its eyes, the size of lanterns, blazed with cold flames, exuding an intimidating presence. From its nostrils, blue flames pulsed in and out, scorching the void with crackling sounds. Its mouth, wide as a gateway, dripped fresh blood from the corners. Behind its enormous pointed ears, stretching down to the nape of its neck, two massive wings, each a hundred yards long, unfurled. With a single beat, they tore the void apart.

The giant stepped out from the rift, its overwhelming aura surging to the heavens. The explosive power of its limbs and body seemed capable of obliterating everything, should it so wish.

But even wounded, flickering with unsteady light, the giant’s presence bore down on Tu Zhe, causing his soul to ache as if ground to dust.

Tu Zhe scooped up Yama, tossing the dog onto his back.

Yama scrambled up to Tu Zhe’s shoulder, stood upright on his hind paws, still barking with paws on hips. His shrill cries, though lacking menace, were endearingly fierce.

The dog was furious, and the consequences would be serious.

Yama, though smaller than the giant’s fingernail, was undaunted. What did it matter if the foe was a giant? One must stand undaunted before thousands, even giants!

With all his courage, the dog shouted in a childish voice at the giant, “Hurt my Rogue Bro, and you’re doomed! Doomed, you hear me? No one can save you here. Pray, big guy—”

The giant burst into laughter, shaking the void as if to pieces, bouncing Tu Zhe up and down like a ball, leaving him helpless.

The giant stopped laughing and sighed deeply, his voice rumbling, “How many years has it been since anyone dared to shout at me? Little dog, you have spirit. I like that...”

The cold flames in the giant’s eyes softened. He raised a massive hand, reaching through the air as if to stroke Yama’s head.

Yama bristled with rage, leaping and unleashing a blast of black wind, twisting into a massive rope to bind the giant’s hand.

But with a casual wave, the giant’s hand dissolved the rope into nothingness. Yama’s jaw dropped in disbelief at the display of power.

“Don’t be rash, little dog. I mean you no harm,” the giant said.

Yama blinked, then glanced at Tu Zhe’s cracked soul-shell.

“No harm? Then why did you hurt my Rogue Bro? I don’t believe you! Hmph! Don’t think that breaking my Big Black Rope spell means you’re safe. My powers aren’t something you can withstand! Unless you give my Rogue Bro a proper explanation—or a hefty compensation—I’ll unleash all my powers and blast you to pieces, body and soul! Don’t believe me? Just try! And it’s not just an explanation—it’s compensation!” Yama nodded emphatically, stressing the word "compensation."

The giant narrowed his ox-like eyes playfully at Tu Zhe, who was lost in thought. “So this is your Rogue Bro?”

Yama, paws on hips, replied sassily, “What of it? He may be a bit of a rogue, but he’s my Rogue Bro, got it? That means I’ve got his back, especially when it comes to compensation. If he’s too shy to ask, I’ll do it!”

The giant threw back his massive head and laughed heartily, though more softly now, as if wary of startling Tu Zhe again.

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The giant asked, “Little dog, what compensation do you want?”

Yama’s eyes spun with calculation as he scratched his chin. After a long pause, he said, “Not much, really. Maybe a hundred bottles of Heavenly Dew—big bottles, the kind that last eight or ten thousand years. Ten thousand purple Jade Marrow pearls—purple only, other colors aren’t pure enough. Three thousand bottles of Jumu Divine Dew—bottles, not drops, remember. One hundred Bodhi Tree King hearts. As much Great Luo Gold, Yama Gold, Heavenly Gold and Heavenly Silver as you can spare. A thousand or eight hundred of each: Banza Ganpo Stones, Heavenly Blue Glass, Dragon Pearls. A few Universe Bags, Xumi Rings, Vajra Void Bracelets, whatever you can manage—three, five, seven, eight of each will do. That’s not too much, right? That’s all.”

Yama, could you possibly be any greedier? Why don’t you just rob him?

Tu Zhe’s face twitched with exasperation. He yanked Yama from his shoulder and hugged him to his chest, looking at the giant, who was struggling to stifle a laugh.

Tu Zhe spoke: “I know who you are.”

Oh?

The giant’s laughter stopped abruptly, cold flames flashing in his eyes, murderous intent filling the air.

Tu Zhe met the giant’s gaze. “You hail from the primeval wilderness of Earth, am I right?”

The giant frowned. “The wilderness, yes. Earth?”

Yama interjected, “He means Jambudvipa, okay? So ignorant, hmph...”

Tu Zhe clamped a hand over the talkative dog’s mouth and continued gently, “Yama means the world called Jambudvipa, later known as the Southern Continent—different names for the same primordial world. About five thousand years ago, there was a great war between the Xuanyuan and Chiyou tribes…”

The giant abruptly howled at the sky, his fury almost shattering the void and nearly sending Tu Zhe flying. Only Yama’s frantic pawing, tearing through the tidal sound waves, kept him steady. “Are you trying to kill us, big guy?” Yama shouted.

Blood energy surged from the giant’s head like a waterfall or a banner, and the cold flames in his eyes burned brighter.

Tu Zhe nodded inwardly, sure of his guess, feeling a surge of excitement.

After a long breath, the giant fixed his gaze on Tu Zhe and asked in a deep voice, “Five thousand years—it’s been that long?”

Yama scoffed, “Five thousand years in Jambudvipa is nothing, just fifty days to us, fifty naps or so…”

The giant nodded, “I’ve been fleeing in the void without rest, so it feels like only a few dozen days. I never considered the difference in time between the wilderness and this void.”

On the run?

Tu Zhe frowned in thought but could not quite grasp it. “It’s recorded that Chiyou was defeated by Xuanyuan, his body disassembled at a place called Qingqiu, his head buried in Dongping, his shoulders in Juye, and his blood flowed into the Anyi Salt Lake.”

The giant’s eight arms flailed, pounding his chest and stamping his hooves, mouth opening in a silent scream, blood surging atop his head.

Tu Zhe was now nearly certain that this was Chiyou.

“Every October, the people make offerings to Chiyou. The seven-zhang pagoda suppressing his head emits blood-red light. The people know Chiyou’s spirit is restless, his resentment turning into a blood flag called the Chiyou Banner. When Chiyou was killed, his blood dyed the salt lake red, and the people called it Chiyou’s Blood.”

The giant threw back his head, cold flames and tears flying from his eyes—flames burning through the void, tears boring holes in the stars.

“That’s right. I am Chiyou…”

Tu Zhe stared at Chiyou, his soul-phantom’s chest heaving with tumultuous emotion. “After Chiyou died, the good among his people were moved to a place called Zoutu; the rest were exiled to the bitter cold lands of the north, left to their fate…”

Chiyou’s eight hands clenched, veins bulging in anger. “Exiled to a bitter land to die—what a fine Xuanyuan! Why not just destroy my people altogether?”

Tu Zhe’s eyes reddened, his voice hoarse, almost choking, “Those in Zoutu took the surnames Zou and Tu…”

Chiyou was stunned. “You mean my people weren’t wiped out?”

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Tu Zhe nodded. “No, though most no longer know their ancestors. Now, everyone calls themselves descendants of Yan and Huang.”

Tu Zhe’s eyes were full of sorrow and reverence. His voice was rough as he said, “My surname is Tu…”

What?

Chiyou, who had been lost in thought, suddenly looked up, “Tu? You’re a descendant of mine?”

Tu Zhe collapsed, weeping, calling out to his ancestor, unable to speak through his sobs.

Chiyou stood frozen, his expression shifting wildly between laughter and tears, as if possessed.

Yama grabbed Tu Zhe by the neck, trying to pull him up. “Stupid Rogue Bro, now you’ve got me in trouble. I can’t even ask for compensation now. Get up! You can’t just call anyone your ancestor!”

Chiyou stretched out a hand and brought both Tu Zhe and Yama before his eyes. Yama felt as if he would be set alight by the flames in Chiyou’s gaze.

Struggling, Yama shrieked, “Can you not be so enthusiastic? I can’t take it! Ah, ah, ah—”

Chiyou asked, “Your name—Tu what?”

“Tu Zhe…”

Chiyou laughed silently and let go of Tu Zhe. “My descendant, my own descendant—Tu Zhe! Ha ha ha—”

Chiyou stood in the void for a long time, gradually regaining his composure.

Yama sidled up to Tu Zhe and whispered, “Rogue Bro, this big guy is really your ancestor?”

Tu Zhe hugged the dog tighter, confirming with silence.

Chiyou faced Tu Zhe. “Back in the day, I dominated the wilderness, invincible. Xuanyuan fought me nine times and lost every time—I beat him till even his grandmother wouldn’t recognize him, ha! Only later did Xuanyuan get help from the gods, and I was defeated. Without divine intervention, he’d never have been a match for me. I was slain, my seventy-one brothers dismembered, not a one left whole. Dead, but unbowed!”

Tu Zhe clenched his fists, eyes cold and resolute. “Who were those gods? Was it the Mystic Lady of the Nine Heavens?”

Chiyou looked at Tu Zhe with open admiration. “You mean to kill gods, boy?”

Tu Zhe’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. “They killed my ancestor—can I not kill gods?”

Yama, infected by Tu Zhe’s spirit, raised his little paw and declared, “Just a few gods—let’s kill them!”

Chiyou warned, “There are many gods, all powerful. You are not afraid?”

Tu Zhe replied coldly, “I care not how many gods there are, only where my enemies may be found!”

Yama gazed at Tu Zhe, stars shining in his eyes, and squeaked, “Rogue Bro, you’re so cool, so handsome! Don’t you know you could get us all killed that way?”

Before the dog had finished, the void a thousand yards away suddenly shattered. From the breach, a man strode out, sneering, “He won’t just get people killed—he’ll get everyone here killed!”