Lu Tai Ablaze

November 14, 2001.

An earthquake suddenly struck Kunlun Mountain, and part of the Kunlun Mountain Range collapsed.

On one side of the collapsed foothills, an unknown substance covered in dark teal scales was exposed, quickly drawing the attention of the authorities.

The stationed troops swiftly advanced into Kunlun Mountain!

The Investigation Team surveyed the unknown substance in the biting wind.

That day, heavy snow fell.

"Whoosh..."

A gust of wind blew past, sounding almost like breathing.

One man looked up at the rock face, then cautiously raised his hand and pressed it against the dark teal unknown substance.

"Director Qin, did you hear something?"

He asked in a low voice.

"A sound?"

Hearing that, Director Qin set down the instrument in his hand and listened closely.

The sound of breathing mingled with the wind and snow grew more distinct.

"It sounds like... breathing?"

The breathing was very faint, almost inaudible.

It seemed...

To be coming from inside the mountain!

Director Qin slowly raised his hand and pressed it against the dark teal scales, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes.

"It seems to be moving..."

At that moment, another team member nearby raised a geological hammer.

He swung it down between two scales!

A metallic clang rang out. The dark teal scales, which had covered the entire rock face, suddenly contracted, then began to writhe like a snake!

The earth rumbled, and boulders tumbled down Kunlun Mountain!

A colossal dark teal Jiao emerged.

"It's... it's alive!"

"Director Qin! It's alive!!"

The team members cried out in terror and stumbled backward. The man who had swung the hammer tripped over a toolbox behind him and fell to the ground.

He stared up in disbelief at the dark teal Jiao emerging from within the mountain.

"Is that... a dragon?"

Chao Ge.

The Anti-Zhou Army had already breached the city gates on every side and was closing in on Lu Tai.

King Shang Di Xin held a torch in one hand and a sword in the other as he walked alone.

Blood stained the tip of the sword.

He looked almost mad. Behind him, the eunuchs of Lu Tai lay in pools of blood along the corridor, long since silenced.

A Green Clothed Girl sat on the eaves, a gourd hanging at her waist as she swung her feet.

"The Zhou Army is here, Zi Shou. Aren't you going to run?"

At the abrupt voice, a vicious glint flashed across Di Xin's face.

He turned with his sword in hand.

"Impudent—"

But when he saw the Green Clothed Girl sitting on the eaves, the viciousness vanished from his eyes in an instant.

He swallowed the rest of his curse.

Only astonishment remained in his gaze.

A long while later, he finally composed himself and let out a soft sigh.

"I was wondering who could be so bold as to address me by name. So it's you, madam."

Verdant Green Maiden jumped down from the eaves and spoke as she walked. "Chao Ge City is full of bold ruffians shouting your name right now. One more makes no difference."

She circled Di Xin once and clicked her tongue, shaking her head.

"Zi Shou, you've grown old."

"That I have. But you're just as you were all those years ago. Truly, you are an immortal."

Di Xin looked at Verdant Green Maiden, his gaze complicated.

He had met Verdant Green Maiden only once, when he ascended the throne.

That was when he learned the Royal Family's secret, known only to each generation of King Shang.

A terror passed down for more than five hundred years!

Shao Dian Qing Nü!

A Banished Immortal of unknown origin, she had once helped Da Yi overthrow the Xia.

The story went that she would take the Last Shang King's Heart's Blood. She was the person every generation of King Shang dreaded meeting most!

Generation after generation, the Kings Shang had prayed to Heaven for divination, seeking a way to escape their fate, but never found one. Yet for hundreds of years, Verdant Green Maiden had never appeared. Eventually, later Kings Shang came to believe it was merely a legend Great Ancestor had left to warn those who came after.

But when he ascended the throne, Verdant Green Maiden had come!

Last Shang King?

Di Xin had refused to accept it! Why should he become the Last Shang King the moment he ascended the throne? So he had worked day and night, campaigning against the lands far and wide!

But the rebel banners rising across the realm had told him, in no uncertain terms:

The Mandate of Heaven could not be defied!

But Di Xin refused to accept this Mandate of Heaven!

"Xi Qi's power spreads like sparks setting the prairie ablaze. Have you been secretly helping them, madam?"

Verdant Green Maiden shook her head.

"The fall of Xia to Shang Tang, King Wu's campaign against Zhou—these are all history. I merely happened to be in the right place at the right time and did what needed to be done."

"Xia Yu, Shang Tang, or Ji Fa—we all got what we wanted."

Hearing this, Di Xin burst into laughter.

"I don't know what you mean by history. To me, you can do anything. You truly are a True Immortal!"

"Even if you flatter me, I still won't go easy on you."

Verdant Green Maiden bared her pointed teeth and waved the dagger in her hand. "Will you do it yourself, or should I?"

Di Xin gave a slight shake of his head.

"No need to trouble yourself, madam. I will give you what you came for. But before that, I have one question!"

Verdant Green Maiden calculated the time, then nodded.

"Ask away."

Di Xin asked, "How do I compare to Xia Jie?"

That was a good question.

Verdant Green Maiden pondered briefly before answering, "You're smarter than he was."

Back then, when Yu Capital fell, Xia Jie had fled with his beloved consort, Mo Xi. Even after Verdant Green Maiden found him, he had refused to surrender his Heart's Blood, and so he had met a gruesome end!

Verdant Green Maiden hated nothing more than a broken promise!

"That's all?"

Hearing Verdant Green Maiden's judgment, Di Xin looked a little despondent and sighed.

"I thought I might have earned a different regard from you."

The cries of battle drew closer.

Di Xin threw his torch to the ground, raised his sword, and pointed it at his own heart.

But Verdant Green Maiden began pulling things out.

Incense and a small bronze cauldron, among other things.

"Madam, what are you doing?"

Di Xin watched her, looking bewildered.

"End-of-life care!"

Verdant Green Maiden set out the incense and cauldron, then snapped her fingers, kindling the incense with the torch's flame.

"Though it was a bargain with your ancestor, I know I merely learned history ahead of time and took a shortcut. Since you're being so accommodating, I should show you some courtesy too."

Watching Verdant Green Maiden chatter away, Di Xin sighed with feeling.

"I never imagined it would be you who saw me off on my final journey..."

"In that case, I have one last wish. I ask you to grant it!"

At this, Verdant Green Maiden looked up in confusion.

Her slit pupils were fierce.

"You're not trying to get out of dying, are you?"

Di Xin shook his head. He looked at Verdant Green Maiden, his gaze deep. "I ask you to set Lu Tai ablaze and offer me as a sacrifice!"

Shao Ji was the grandest sacrificial rite of the Shang Dynasty!

And the Shao King was its most important offering!

"I, as the Shao King in this rite, curse the Zhou Dynasty's Realm to know nothing but turmoil, and never a day's peace!"

As the words fell, Di Xin suddenly thrust the sword inward!

The blade flashed through blood, the bronze sword piercing his heart.

Di Xin dropped to one knee, his face turning deathly pale in an instant.

Yet even then, he held his head high!

Verdant Green Maiden looked at Di Xin, now silent, and sighed. Another celebrated figure from history had ended his life before her eyes.

Had Di Xin been in the wrong?

Of course he had. But had he truly been as debauched and tyrannical, as oppressive and greedy, as history claimed?

That was for each person to judge.

Da Ji?

Verdant Green Maiden had met her.

That infamous enchantress of later generations had been nothing more than a poor soul whose kingdom had fallen.

Verdant Green Maiden went behind Di Xin, drew the Heart's Blood from the sword's tip, and put it into the gourd she carried with her.

There were only two drops of blood inside the gourd.

One was Di Xin's. The other was Xia Jie's.

Verdant Green Maiden picked up the torch and set Lu Tai ablaze.

At the request of our readers, we're now offering an ad-free experience for VIP Members.

Click to view.