It was just another sun, another day, another time—awakening and changing the world. Even if change seemed inevitable, it required time and effort to transform anything meaningful. There were no shortcuts, only the path you chose and the actions you took to walk it.
Zhung stood before Li Huang, his face showing nothing. His dark eyes stared without focus, his expression distant and detached. He didn't listen to Li Huang's rambling—his mind was occupied elsewhere, processing a discovery that was both interesting and disappointing.
*So the beasts here don't have any demonic blood or divine blood,* he thought with cold analysis. *All of their blood has been drained and converted to pure beast blood—worthless for cultivation.*
*And apparently it's illegal to own beasts with demonic or divine blood. That explains why no one tried to kill them during the attack. They're valuable as livestock, not as cultivation resources.*
His thoughts were interrupted by Li Huang's voice growing sharper, more irritated.
Zhung refocused his attention and looked directly at Li Huang, whose expression had shifted to open disgust.
"Now, Mister Zhung, were you listening at all?" Li Huang's tone carried barely concealed annoyance.
Zhung simply nodded, offering no excuse or apology.
He noticed Li Huang's clothes had changed since their last meeting—now the merchant wore white robes embroidered with golden rabbit symbols interspersed with dragon motifs. Expensive. Ostentatious. A display of wealth and connections that seemed deliberately chosen to impress or intimidate.
Zhung filed the observation away and remained silent, his face betraying nothing of his thoughts.
*I already felt something was off when I first saw their faces,* he thought, recalling the subtle tensions he'd noticed in the Li family's interactions. *Something bad is coming. Li Huang is planning something that involves me, and whatever it is, it won't end well for at least one of us.*
"Yes, I was listening," Zhung said, his voice flat and emotionless. "You said our departure to the capital of the Gue Empire was scheduled for three days from now, but you've changed it to three years."
Li Huang's expression shifted dramatically—disgust melting into something that looked like greed mixed with relief, as if Zhung had just confirmed something the merchant had been hoping to hear.
"Yes, exactly." He smiled, though the expression didn't reach his eyes. "I changed our departure because the roads to the capital are blocked by the Madam of Red."
Zhung's expression didn't falter. The name meant nothing to him—he had no context for what "Madam of Red" referred to, and his face betrayed no curiosity. He simply waited, knowing that Li Huang would explain if it suited his purposes.
Li Huang seemed to sense Zhung's ignorance, and his smile widened, taking on an edge that suggested he was enjoying holding information the other didn't possess.
"Mister Zhung, you truly don't know what the Madam of Red is, do you?" His tone was almost mocking, as if Zhung's ignorance confirmed some private suspicion. "I suppose someone from your... background wouldn't have encountered such knowledge."
Zhung waited, offering nothing—no defense, no curiosity, no reaction that might give Li Huang satisfaction.
"The Madam of Red is a massive beast—large enough to cover an entire village," Li Huang explained, clearly relishing the role of knowledgeable informant. "It only appears once every three years and stays in a random location for exactly three years before vanishing again. No one knows where it comes from or where it goes. It simply... appears."
Zhung's expressionless gaze faltered for just a moment—genuine interest breaking through his mask—before his control reasserted itself. His dark eyes studied Li Huang's face carefully, searching for any sign of deception or exaggeration.
He found none. The merchant believed what he was saying, which made the information either true or a very convincing lie that Li Huang himself had been fooled by.
"Then what is the Madam of Red, exactly?" Zhung asked, his voice remaining cold and indifferent. "And why does it stay in one spot for three years? Is it territorial? Breeding? Hibernating?"
Li Huang shrugged, his expression becoming more serious—almost grave. "We don't truly know what it is. Some people claim it's a massive spider, but most don't believe that theory. Others say it's a dragon that's lost its wings. A few old texts suggest it might be something even older, something from before the current cultivation era."
He paused, letting the weight of his words settle before continuing.
"What we do know is that empires have sent soldiers—entire armies, in some cases—to investigate or eliminate it in the past." He paused for effect, his eyes gleaming with something between fear and anticipation. "None of them ever came back. Not a single survivor. Not even a body to recover. They simply march into the territory the Madam of Red occupies, and then... nothing. Silence."
Zhung's expression remained unmoved, but internally his interest sharpened considerably.
*A beast capable of destroying entire armies without leaving survivors,* he thought with clinical fascination. *Its rank must be Gold or even higher. Possibly Silver if the stories aren't exaggerated. But more importantly—why does it stay in one place for three years? What purpose does that serve?*
*Beasts of that power level don't do things randomly. There's a pattern, a reason. Breeding cycle? Molting? Guarding something? Feeding on something specific to that location?*
*Still, no one truly knows. Which means approaching it would be suicide... or an opportunity, depending on how desperate I become.*
*And Li Huang seems very pleased that our journey is delayed. Which means he's gained something from this situation—time, perhaps, or an opportunity he wouldn't have had otherwise. The question is: what does he gain from keeping me here for three more years?*
Li Huang's smile returned, wider now, almost predatory. Without further explanation, he dismissed Zhung with a casual wave of his hand, as if the conversation had served its purpose and Zhung's presence was no longer required.
"You may return to your quarters, Mister Zhung. We'll discuss your duties here over the next three years at a later time. For now, consider yourself... settled."
The word "settled" carried an undertone that Zhung didn't miss—not settled as in comfortable, but settled as in trapped, with no immediate means of escape.
He bowed slightly—just enough to maintain appearances—and left Li Huang's office, his mind already working through implications and possibilities.
---
Alone in his quarters, Zhung allowed himself a small smile. He stood at the window, looking out over the city where people and cultivators moved through their evening routines in apparent peace.
The Western Frontier sprawled before him—a mix of permanent structures and temporary merchant camps, of cultivation sects and mundane businesses, all coexisting in the uneasy balance that defined frontier territories. The sun was setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple, and the first evening stars were beginning to appear.
*Li Huang is planning something,* Zhung thought, his mind already working through possibilities. *Something that involves me, and something that will likely result in my death if I'm not careful.*
*He's too pleased about this delay. Too relieved. He's gained time to arrange something, and I'm almost certainly the target. But what? What does he gain from my death? My position as a beast tamer is useful to him—unless he's found someone better, or unless keeping me alive has become more dangerous than killing me.*
*Perhaps I've seen something I shouldn't have. Or perhaps he simply needs a scapegoat for something that's about to happen.*
He turned away from the window and began considering his options, cataloging resources and potential escape routes.
His room was simple but well-appointed—better than what he'd expected, actually. A proper bed, a desk and chair, shelves for books and personal items. The door had a lock, though Zhung had no illusions about whether Li Huang possessed a key. The window was large enough to climb through if necessary, though they were on the third floor, which complicated matters.
*I have three years before the Madam of Red moves on and travel to the capital becomes possible again. Three years to prepare, to gather resources, to become strong enough that Li Huang's plans—whatever they are—won't matter.*
*Or three years to escape. Though escaping into a frontier region without resources or allies would be its own form of suicide.*
"Maybe something will truly happen soon," he murmured to himself, the words barely above a whisper.
The wind shifted direction outside, blowing from the east toward the west, carrying with it the scent of distant rain and something else—smoke from cooking fires, incense from temples, the mingled odors of a city settling into evening.
Moonlight began to filter through the window as the sun finally disappeared below the horizon, casting long shadows across the floor as night fully descended over the Western Frontier.
---
Later that evening, after the household had grown quiet, Zhung sat in his room reading a book about the history of the Western Frontier—stolen from Li Huang's library earlier that day while the merchant had been occupied with other matters.
The text was dry and focused more on trade routes and economic developments than anything immediately useful, but information was information. Zhung had learned long ago that knowledge others considered boring or irrelevant often proved critical at unexpected moments.
His dark eyes scanned the pages mechanically, absorbing details about regional politics, historical conflicts between sects and merchant families, and the gradual expansion of the Gue Empire's influence into frontier territories.
One passage caught his attention:
*"The Western Frontier has always been a place where conventional rules bend or break entirely. Imperial law holds sway in name, but in practice, power determines legitimacy. Cultivation sects operate with near autonomy. Merchant families build private armies. And in the spaces between, those with neither noble blood nor cultivation strength find ways to survive—or they don't survive at all."*
Zhung read the passage twice, feeling a cold recognition. This was the world he'd been reborn into—a place where the strong did as they pleased and the weak endured what they must. Not so different from his cultivation world, really. Just with different names and faces playing the same eternal game.
A knock on the wooden door interrupted his reading.
Zhung set the book aside carefully, marking his place with a strip of cloth. His gaze was tired but sharp despite the late hour. He stood and moved to the door with deliberate calm, taking a moment to center himself before opening it.
He wore his long brown hair untied, letting it fall past his shoulders in the relaxed style appropriate for private quarters. His white hanfu was wrinkled from a full day's wear, and he made no effort to smooth it before opening the door. Appearing too composed might seem suspicious; appearing relaxed suggested he had nothing to hide.
Li Mei stood before him—small compared to his height, looking up at him with an expression that mixed nervousness and determination. Her face was beautiful in that innocent way that made people underestimate her, but Zhung saw the intelligence behind her eyes, the careful calculation that suggested she was more aware than she pretended to be.
"Umm, Mister Zhung, can I talk to you?" Her voice was quiet, uncertain, as if she half-expected to be turned away.
Zhung studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes revealing nothing of his thoughts. The hallway behind her was empty and silent—whatever she wanted to discuss, she'd made sure no one would overhear. That suggested either genuine secrecy or theatrical staging meant to appear genuine.
*A private conversation at night,* he thought, analyzing the situation with cold precision. *Either she has information to share, or this is part of Li Huang's plan. Possibly both. She could be a genuine ally warning me of danger, or she could be bait meant to make me trust her before the trap springs.*
*The question is: which risk is more dangerous—refusing to hear what she has to say, or inviting her in and potentially walking into whatever scheme her father has arranged?*
He made his decision.
"Come in," he said finally, stepping aside to allow her entry.
She hesitated briefly, her eyes flickering with something that might have been fear or anticipation—Zhung couldn't quite tell which. Then she entered the room with small, careful steps, moving like someone walking through a space that might contain hidden dangers.
Zhung closed the door behind her with a soft click that seemed unnaturally loud in the quiet room. He didn't lock it—that would suggest either fear or intent, neither of which he wanted to project. Instead, he simply waited, offering no hospitality or comfort, simply watching to see what she would reveal.
Li Mei clasped her hands in front of her, clearly gathering courage. Her fingers twisted together nervously, and she took two deep breaths before speaking.
"I... I need to warn you about something," she began, her voice barely above a whisper. "About my father's plans."
Zhung's expression didn't change, but he felt a cold satisfaction settle in his chest.
*So she's decided to betray him,* he thought. *Interesting. The question is why—and whether I can trust anything she says. Family betrayal is never simple. There are always layers, always hidden motivations.*
He gestured toward the chair by the window with a slight movement of his hand.
"Speak," he said, his voice cold and indifferent.
They sat opposite each other—one a predator wearing human skin, the other appearing as innocent prey but possibly hiding her own sharp edges. Each carried different motives and unspoken intentions. Each had different reasons and ideals that might never align.
The night deepened around them, and in the distance, wind carried the scent of approaching rain—a storm building on the horizon, ready to sweep across the Western Frontier and change everything in its path.
Whether that storm was natural or man-made remained to be seen.
Li Mei took another deep breath, then spoke words that hung in the air like a death sentence:
"Mister Zhung, you're going to die." Her voice trembled with what seemed like genuine fear. "My father is planning to kill you."
Zhung remained unmoved by the revelation. His dark eyes lazily observed her, his expressionless cold gaze like a mountain—unmoved, composed, eternal in its indifference.
"Die, huh..." He let the words hang for a moment before continuing. "Well, I have no power to stop it. Not yet, anyway."
His cold and indifferent tone echoed in the small room, carrying a fatalism that seemed to unsettle Li Mei more than fear or anger would have.
*As expected from that pig,* Zhung thought with bitter satisfaction. *Even so, I already suspected what would happen. How can two monsters coexist in the same territory? Eventually, one must eliminate the other, or both must reach an understanding based on mutual benefit. And Li Huang doesn't strike me as someone interested in mutual benefit.*
"Mister Zhung, you must escape now! There's a secret path at the back of the city—it leads through the outer wall to the wilderness beyond." Her voice was trembling more noticeably now, and her hands couldn't stop shaking. "You could leave tonight, before my father's plans fully—"
"It's fine," Zhung interrupted, his voice cutting through her panic with cold clarity. "Tell me—why betray your father?"
His dark, empty eyes suddenly locked onto her pink ones with an intensity that made her flinch. The question hung between them like a blade.
The room became quiet and cold, the floor seeming to shout in terror because sitting opposite the apparent prey was actually the predator. Still, she did not run. She faced him, her body trembling but her gaze holding steady.
"Because... I don't really know why," she admitted, her voice still trembling but carrying an honesty that seemed genuine. "Maybe because you saved me, and I'm repaying the debt. Maybe because I'm tired of watching my father destroy anyone who might threaten his position. Maybe because..." She paused, her hands clutching her pink hanfu so tightly her knuckles turned white. "Maybe because I want to believe someone can escape this place without becoming like him."
*Something is truly wrong here,* Zhung thought, studying her face with analytical precision. *I don't trust her fully, but... something is off. Truly off. She's either the most accomplished actress I've ever met, or she's genuinely conflicted about her father's plans.*
*Either way, she's provided useful confirmation. Li Huang definitely intends to kill me, which means I need to accelerate my own plans. Three years is too long to wait if I'm a target. I need to either secure my position or find a way to escape much sooner.*
Zhung stood suddenly, moving with fluid grace to the window. He looked out over the empire and the beauty of the west—the sprawling city, the distant mountains, the endless sky above.
"You can go now," he said, his cold, indifferent voice echoing in the room.
Li Mei stood quickly, her relief at being dismissed evident in the speed of her movement. She hurried to the door, then paused with her hand on the handle.
"Mister Zhung..." she said quietly, not turning back to look at him. "Please don't die. I don't know why, but... I think you might be different from the others."
Then she was gone, the door closing softly behind her, leaving Zhung alone with his thoughts.
He remained at the window, staring out at the moonlit city below.
*The Madam of Red,* he thought, his mind already working through possibilities. *Now I can use it to achieve something—though it will also likely result in my death if I'm not extremely careful.*
*Still so far from my goal. Still unable to reach the heights I need to reach. Yet I must be relentless, enduring everything without rest, because death is near to me now. Nearer than it's been since I arrived in this world.*
*Li Huang thinks he can kill me easily. Perhaps he can. But I've died twice before and found ways to continue. I've walked through lifetimes of betrayal and loss. What's one more merchant's scheming compared to that?*
Looking at the moonlight shining through the window, the hollow within Zhung became deeper, more pronounced. The night was like the void but not quite—sometimes quiet, sometimes loud with the sounds of life continuing despite the darkness.
Truly a Broken Path, he reflected. Full of obstacles, full of walls to climb, full of roads that led in unexpected directions. Never straight, never simple, never offering the comfort of certainty.
But it was his path. And he would walk it regardless of who tried to stop him.
*Tomorrow, something interesting will happen,* he thought with cold anticipation. *Li Huang will make his move, or I'll make mine. Either way, the game continues.*
*And I've always been better at games than people expect.*
He turned away from the window and moved to his bed, not bothering to change clothes. Sleep would come or it wouldn't—his body had learned long ago to rest when possible, because opportunities for rest were never guaranteed.
As he lay in the darkness, staring at the ceiling, his last conscious thought was about timing.
*Three years until the Madam of Red moves. But I won't wait three years. I'll use the beast as a tool, as leverage, as an opportunity.*
*Everyone fears it. Which means everyone will be focused on it.*
*Which means everyone will be vulnerable.*
His eyes closed, and sleep finally claimed him—brief, fitless rest before whatever tomorrow would bring.
The moon continued its journey across the sky, indifferent to the plans and schemes of mortals below. The wind kept blowing. The city kept breathing. And in a small room in a merchant's compound, a boy with too many lifetimes carried in his soul prepared himself for another battle in an endless war.
Because that's what survival required on the Broken Path: endless vigilance, endless adaptation, endless willingness to gamble everything on the slim chance of victory.
And Zhung had become very, very good at gambling.
Another gamble just started.
---
**End of Chapter 15**