News reached Western Qi.
From top to bottom, everyone in Western Qi feared for their lives.
If Western Qi had nothing to hide, they would have had no reason to be afraid. They could have treated the trip like a vacation. The trouble was, Western Qi's hands were far from clean.
Over the years, Western Qi had finally brought the surrounding states and tribes, large and small, under its control. Its men were sharpening their blades, ready to rebel and cut down Zhou Wang.
And at this very moment, Zhou Wang summoned Ji Chang to court.
What did it mean? Had a traitor informed on them? What if Ji Chang never came back?
Bo Yikao paced anxiously around the room.
"Father, do you think Zhou Wang has discovered our plans?"
Ji Chang himself sat calmly to one side.
"Even if Zhou Wang has discovered them, what can we do? Western Qi is still too weak to confront him head-on. I have no choice but to go to Chaoge."
"Father, the Marquis of Ji Province, Su Hu, has long wanted to rebel. He even fought the North Marquis a few days ago. I think we could join forces with him."
"Kao, you're still too young. The South Marquis is upright and utterly loyal to Yin Shang; the East Marquis's daughter is Zhou Wang's queen; and the North Marquis has always followed Zhou Wang's lead. Which of them would help us rebel?"
Ji Chang sighed and said earnestly, "Unless Zhou Wang drives them to the wall, they won't rebel. Western Qi alone can't fight him head-on. The only path left is for me to go to Chaoge and buy you time."
"Father." Bo Yikao stepped forward and clasped Ji Chang's hand, his eyes brimming with tears.
"Kao, after I leave, I'm entrusting Western Qi to you."
Young Ji Fa peeked through the window, still unable to understand why his father and elder brother clung to each other and wept.
Wheels rattled and horses whinnied all along the road.
After more than half a month of travel, Ji Chang and his party finally drew close to Chaoge.
One afternoon, as they reached Yan Mountain, a torrential downpour fell from the sky and stopped them in their tracks.
With the road blocked, they spotted a lush bamboo grove nearby and hurried into it to shelter from the rain.
Ji Chang stared at the darkened sky, his gaze distant. No one knew what he was thinking.
The rain poured for an hour, and all that time Ji Chang stood staring at the sky in a daze.
Suddenly, Ji Chang turned to his attendants. "Thunder is coming. Be careful."
Before he had finished speaking, lightning turned night to day. Thunder crashed in peal after peal, shaking mountains and rivers until countless peaks split apart and collapsed.
Everyone went pale with fright and huddled close together.
Before long, the clouds scattered and the rain ceased. Wind and thunder fell silent, and the sun emerged from behind the clouds to shine upon the earth once more.
Only then did they come out of the grove.
Soaked through, Ji Chang sat on his horse and pondered for a moment. "Where lightning strikes, a warrior star appears. Such mighty thunder fell just now. A war god destined to dominate an age must have appeared. Go and find that warrior star for me."
His attendants were dumbfounded. A warrior star? In broad daylight? Had the rain addled the Marquis's wits?
Still, not one of them dared to ask, much less disobey. The attendants spread out and carefully searched for this supposed warrior star.
As they searched, they suddenly heard a child crying beside an ancient tomb nearby.
Everyone found it strange. After that deluge, where could a child have come from? Could it be a ghost? Would a ghost dare appear in broad daylight?
A few of the braver men went to the tomb to investigate. Sure enough, a baby lay swaddled beside it.
One of them wondered aloud, "Why would there be a child beside an ancient tomb? There must be something strange about this. Could this be the warrior star the Marquis spoke of?"
Someone picked up the baby and brought him to Ji Chang.
Ji Chang took the baby and studied him closely. His face was as delicate as a peach blossom's heart, and an extraordinary light shone in his eyes. Joy surged through Ji Chang. This is the warrior star Heaven has bestowed upon Western Qi.
An augur once said I would have a hundred sons in my lifetime, but so far I have only ninety-nine children. This must be the hundredth child Heaven has bestowed on me. If I take him as my adopted son, the number will be complete. This truly is a bond ordained by Heaven.
But his journey to Chaoge would take him into a dragon's pool and a tiger's den. How could he bring an infant into such danger?
After some thought, Ji Chang ordered his attendants, "Find a village ahead and place the child with someone there. When I leave Chaoge and return to Western Qi, I'll take him back and raise him myself."
Ji Chang played with the little fellow, smiling. "Little one, you were born of thunder, so I'll call you Lei Zhenzi. Heaven gave you to me as a son. You're sure to be blessed."
Just as an attendant was about to take the child and set off, a white cloud drifted over.
The cloud transformed into a person dressed in a flowing, cloud-white robe, his bearing remarkable.
"Wait!"
Ji Chang looked at him in surprise. A white cloud taking human form—he must be an accomplished Qi Refiner.
"May I ask which immortal stands before me?"
Yun Zhongzi gave a slight nod. "I am Yun Zhongzi, a Qi Refiner of the Jade Pillar Cave on Kunlun Mountain. My master is the Jade Pure Sage."
Ji Chang hurriedly bowed. "I didn't realize you were a direct disciple of the Sage. Please forgive me."
"No need for such courtesy, Marquis of Xibo. I came because I have a request. The infant in your arms is fated to become my disciple. I hope you will allow it."
Ji Chang was overjoyed and handed Lei Zhenzi to Yun Zhongzi.
"It's my son Lei Zhenzi's good fortune to have an immortal as his master. You have this old man's thanks."
Yun Zhongzi took Lei Zhenzi, exchanged a few words with Ji Chang, then rode a cloud back to Kunlun Mountain.
After bidding Yun Zhongzi farewell, Ji Chang and his party continued on and reached Chaoge City early the next morning.
Chaoge City, the Royal Palace.
Dressed in the White Emperor Robe, Zhou Wang sat high above them, looking down with an imposing presence.
"Ji Chang, you dared send an assassin to kill me in secret! By law, you should be executed. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"Great King, I have been loyal to Great Shang for decades without a moment's neglect. Western Qi has always followed Your Majesty's lead. How would I dare send anyone to assassinate you?"
Zhou Wang flicked his hand, tossing a bone covered in writing before Ji Chang.
"How dare you! The assassin's testimony is right here, yet you still try to argue?"
Ji Chang dropped to his knees and bowed low. "Great King, I would never dare commit such a treasonous act."
"Still arguing? Drag him away and behead him."
"Great King, you mustn't." Wei Ziqi stepped forward in protest. "King, if he truly intended to rebel, would he have come to court?"
Following Wei Ziqi's lead, a host of ministers stepped forward to plead with Zhou Wang to spare Ji Chang.
Before setting out, Ji Chang had corresponded with the court's senior ministers. He knew why Zhou Wang had summoned him and had promised them generous gifts in exchange for pleading his case. That was what had led to this scene.
Zhou Wang seethed, but he could do nothing. Though he was the King of Shang, he could hardly go against so many senior ministers. He snapped, "Imprison Ji Chang in Youli. No one is to visit him!"
Ji Chang, you old wretch. I'll spare you for now!