The adepti sitting around the table looked at Qiu Bai with some confusion.
"What is it, Immortal Lord?" Mountain Shaper asked curiously, eyes fixed on Qiu Bai.
"I remember that we've only known each other for a few decades."
"So why do you all treat me with such deep respect?"
Qiu Bai looked at the human-formed adepti before him, asking with genuine curiosity.
"Now that you mention it, I'm not sure either."
"It just feels like you're incredibly familiar... like we've already known each other for thousands of years."
Mountain Shaper replied as he looked at Qiubai, trying to explain.
"It really is strange, I always feel like I've known you forever too."
"But a thousand years ago, we had never even met."
Cloud Retainer furrowed her brows, clearly puzzled—she didn't understand it either.
"Not just you all—even I, who passed away two thousand years ago..."
"Also feel this inexplicable familiarity with Immortal Lord."
Skybracer rubbed his chin with a hand, murmuring in confusion.
"Really, Cloud Retainer?"
"Try thinking carefully, are you sure we didn't meet before a thousand years ago?"
Qiu Bai asked as he turned toward Cloud Retainer.
But since they were sitting right next to each other, his sudden turn nearly brought their faces together— Almost close enough to kiss.
This instantly caused Cloud Retainer's face to flush bright red.
"We really didn't meet."
"And you—can't you stay a little farther away from this adeptus?!"
Her shoulders trembled, fists clenched in frustration as she shouted in a flustered and angry tone.
"Hahaha, only Cloud Retainer would dare speak to Immortal Lord like that."
"Their bond must be really close."
Ping'er chuckled, clearly enjoying the scene.
"The Immortal Lord and Cloud Retainer were like this a thousand years ago."
"In mortal terms, you could call them 'bickering lovebirds.'"
Moon Carver said with a light laugh, glancing between Cloud Retainer and Qiu Bai.
"Moon Carver, you old rascal."
"No one asked you—no need to open your mouth!"
Cloud Retainer snapped at him angrily.
"Oh, right—now that I think of it, there is something rather strange."
Cloud Retainer suddenly furrowed her brows again and whispered to Qiu Bai beside her.
She summoned a book into her hand and on its cover, there was a Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol.
"This ancient book... I found it two hundred years ago."
"According to its records, it tells a story from 3,600 years ago."
As Cloud Retainer spoke, she handed the book over to Qiu Bai.
"And the name written in it... is exactly the same as yours."
"Perhaps it's just a fictional work created by some mortal."
Cloud Retainer furrowed her brows as she looked at Qiu Bai, voicing her doubts.
Even she found it strange—3,600 years ago, Qiu Bai hadn't even been born. So how could he possibly be mentioned in a story from that era? It had to be something a mortal made up.
But when Qiu Bai took the book, a look of shock appeared in his eyes.
"This book is formed from the laws of Yin and Yang."
"And it actually has my name written in it?"
With curiosity, Qiu Bai opened the book.
"Year 100 after the founding of Liyue Harbor."
At this time, the mortal world had not yet known of the so-called Seven Nations. Some humans formed nations on their own, while others chose to follow the Archons.
Archons were born loving their people. For the sake of protecting their subjects, they began expanding their lands.
Liyue Harbor relied on mining ores and trading them with other nations for food.
But due to the wars between Archons, living beings across the world suffered immense casualties, cutting off all contact with other lands.
The people of Liyue were gaunt with hunger, unable to fill their stomachs.
We, born without the need to eat, could not truly feel the suffering of mortals.
Morax and I began searching for grain-bearing plants in the mortal world. Finally, five hundred li to the left of Liyue Harbor, we found a few stalks of grain.
But before the plants stood two colossal beasts locked in battle— mountain-sized titans clashing with each other.
The serpent-headed beast spewed flames from its mouth, turning the land into a sea of fire. The ape-like giant held a mountain-sized chunk of ice and hurled it at the serpent.
The giant ape spoke in the tongue of man: "Serpent of flame, Archon of fire, this is my land."
With that, he smashed the massive ice crystal down upon the serpent.
The land upon which they fought burned with an infernal blaze, while flaming shards of ice scattered across the earth.
The grain we had found was reduced to ash in the fire, its remains floating gently up into the sky.
Seeing the food we had searched so long for reduced to ashes, Morax grasped his stone spear, preparing to charge forward.
But I grabbed his arm with one hand and stopped him in his tracks.
Shaking my head, I said to him:
"Morax, you know as well as I do..."
"This is just another senseless internal conflict."
My words caused Morax to lower his weapon. He stared down in silence, then after a long pause, looked up at me.
"For a thousand years... I have heeded your words."
"I never sought to expand my territory, only to protect my people."
Morax looked at me, confused.
"A thousand years have passed, and my people have suffered greatly."
"Why must we continue to endure? Why do we always yield?"
He stared at me, demanding an answer.
"Morax, I will try to put an end to all of this."
"Do you believe in me?"
I didn't look at his face, I only gazed ahead at the battlefield.
"Hmm..."
Hearing my words, Morax said no more. He slowly closed his eyes and let out a sigh.
I smiled faintly, then slowly stepped forward, looking at the scorched remains of the grain plants, turned to ash in the flames.
In my hand, a white glow began to gather like flowing water.
The ashes of the burned plants drew toward that glowing sphere.
Within it, the ash reformed into a tiny, tender sprout.
The glowing white water orb shielded the sprout from the blazing heat,
carefully protecting it within.
"Let's go."
Standing amidst the sea of fire, I looked toward Morax.
The intense flames, driven by violent winds from both sides, rose into a massive fire tornado.
Yet as it swept toward us, it felt no more than a passing breeze.
Neither of us moved to avoid it.
Morax acted as if he hadn't heard me.
He simply lowered his head, staring at the ground.
After a long silence, he finally came to his senses and looked at me.
"Let's go..."
Morax sighed and slowly stepped toward me.
And so we walked across the scorched earth.
Behind us, the clash of the two colossal beasts thundered but gradually faded into the distance as we went.
Morax looked at the grain sprout in my hand, then turned his eyes toward the slowly forming outline of Liyue Harbor.
"With such power in your hands..."
"Why is it that you cannot bring her back?"
He spoke softly, eyes fixed on the forming city.
"I'm sorry for her fall, Morax..."
"But likewise, in the snow-covered lands far away, another Archon has fallen."
I looked at Morax, whose eyes were closed and spoke with remorse.
Turning away, the glowing white orb hovered above my hand as I gazed toward the distant land blanketed in snow.
"The fall of two Archons balances one another."
"As the one who governs Yin and Yang in this world, it is my duty to maintain equilibrium."
I said quietly, still gazing toward that faraway land.
(T/N: Like the story fellow daoist? Read 20 chapters ahead on my P@treon [p@treon.com/DaoistRongyi] Thanks for your support! 😊)