Destiny is ashes

Chapter 1132 Rise and Fall of Dynasties (End)

If there is no suffering, there is no need to save. If there is no calamity, there is no need to destroy. If there is no hardship and despair, there is no need for heroes.

A truly good doctor makes people feel that doctors are unnecessary. Therefore, instead of making people grateful and devoted, you should make them despair, lose themselves, fall into the abyss, and then pull them out of the abyss.

Just when the granaries were full enough to allow him to travel back and forth to purchase supplies from various places and provide them to many refugees with his own resources.

Dachen, on the edge of Ximin, is an area secretly controlled by the Heavenly Will Demonic Cult.

The area surrounding Fengying Village.

"The newly arrived refugees yesterday, follow the instructions to meet under the white flag, and then follow the instructions of the junior flag lords to cleanse yourselves in turn. After changing clothes, go to the gold flag to receive your nameplates, and then go to the blue flag for a physical examination!"

"After the inspection, go to the greenhouse over at the Black Flag to rest. Sleep whenever you want, and if you get hungry, go to the Red Flag and collect your food according to the nameplates you are given! Two portions per person per day, no more allowed. If you are found to have taken more, you will be expelled from the refugee camp!"

The Five-Colored Flag Master, who belongs to the Xuan Yin Mountain altar and is directly under Bai Qinghan, is also one of the dozen or so children of calamity who once followed Bai Qinghan. At this moment, he is gathering his strength and shouting loudly to the refugees who are queuing up in an orderly manner outside the village.

His booming voice pierced through the drizzling rain, echoing in the ears of the refugees queuing orderly outside the village. His expression was cold, and his words were devoid of any warmth: "Those who disrupt order and steal food will be killed without mercy!"

"Bully the weak, fight amongst yourselves, and expel them from the refugee camp!"

"If you want to live, if you want to live in a greenhouse and have food, then obey orders. If you don't, there's no place for you here!"

The cold, damp autumn rain fell from the gloomy sky, but the refugee queue did not show any signs of disturbance.

An invisible force enveloped the camp, causing all the rainwater to slide away silently before it could reach people; further away, wisps of smoke rose from the makeshift kitchen, carrying the aroma of food that seemed to have a tangible quality, enough to soothe any restless heart.

Bai Qinghan concealed his figure, standing quietly amidst the misty rain, like a white cloud shadow.

She calmly looked down at the orderly refugee camp below.

She watched as many refugees, upon entering the camp and receiving their first bowl of hot porridge, knelt before the Heavenly Altar of the Heavenly Will Sect, weeping uncontrollably in worship. She watched them weep bitterly over a simple wheat cake, as if it were the most precious delicacy in the world. She watched everyone be moved to tears by these things that should have been commonplace, and even swear on the spot that they were willing to die for the sect...

Her expression remained calm throughout, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

The well-established processes and management plans—these were things An Jing had told her about back in the Suspended Life Manor. She knew they were useful, but she never imagined they would be this useful… These refugees from Da Chen were among the most obedient people in the world. The ruthless methods used by the Heavenly Will Demonic Sect were unnecessary, because they would never disobey orders as long as they heard them.

Is this...something to be happy about?
Perhaps. In any case, it's something to be happy about...

But perhaps... if none of this happens, and everyone lives their lives as usual, a life that feels boring, that might be the best.

"This is what Senior Brother was talking about..."

Bai Qinghan's eyes flickered slightly. She recalled the slight 'weariness' that An Jing had shown when they chatted back then... Now it seemed that what he said was indeed true.

Boredom means that you don't need to do anything right now. In a sense, being able to feel bored is a prerequisite for happiness.

Now, these seemingly excited and devout refugees are actually only feeling joy because they are unhappy.

"Sister Qinghan, there are too many, too many refugees, we simply can't possibly eat them all!"

At this moment, a voice came from within the Divine Sea. Bai Qinghan knew that it was the voice of her Golden Flag Envoy, who was also the deputy captain of her squad back then. Her tone was excited, with a hint of happy trouble: "Many of our followers died during the Blood Sea Calamity. We were wondering what to do, but we didn't expect to have so many refugees to replenish our ranks."

Although it sounded like he was treating people as some kind of resource, Bai Qinghan didn't care: "You must have something else on your mind, so be direct."

"Hehe, Sister Qinghan, it's mainly because some idiots from the neighboring forums wanted to ask us for people, and I got angry and yelled at them. You won't blame me, will you..."

"Good scolding."

Bai Qinghan chuckled lightly, then his tone became slightly serious: "Remember, don't leave any of this batch of refugees for them."

“These people can be ten times more effective in our hands than those brainless apes still playing the game of survival of the fittest. Not to mention, even with our comprehensive care, refugees will still die. Every single one of them is precious and cannot be wasted.”

"Big sister, you still remember that incident?"

Jinqi Shi exclaimed, "That's not our fault. If you ask me, it's all Da Chen's fault! Big sister, don't keep bringing this up. It's just a few deaths. My sister died the same way back then, didn't she? I don't really care anymore. There's nothing we can do about it."

"It's not that I remember..."

Bai Qinghan sighed: "The main thing is that I have a feeling, but I'm powerless to do anything about it. No matter how well I do, I can't accomplish everything."

That happened three days ago. At that time, among the newly arrived refugees, there was a mother and daughter who were both very thin. They were extremely grateful to Fengying Village for taking them in. Bai Qinghan was in charge of the work at that time. In order to show his attitude and appease people, he personally ladled porridge for the mother and daughter and added an extra piece of wheat cake.

"Thank you, Goddess!"

Although the little girl was thin, her eyes were bright. After thanking him very politely, she took small bites of the wheat cake, like a little squirrel cherishing it. Her mother bowed to Bai Qinghan repeatedly, and even kowtowed, shouting "Long live the goddess!"

This was exactly the effect Bai Qinghan wanted. With this mother and daughter as role models, the refugees, who were still filled with fear and anxiety, immediately felt much more at ease.

However, the next day, Bai Qinghan saw the mother in the new cemetery planned for the future, not far from the village.

The cemetery was empty except for two new graves—the graves of two refugees who had choked to death while eating too fast. And now, a third grave has appeared.

The woman, the mother, sat silently beside the small earthen grave. She didn't cry, nor was she overly sad. She simply stroked the fresh soil gently, as if she were stroking her child's cheek.

Bai Qinghan stood at a distance, neither asking questions nor approaching.

She understands everything.

That's how it is. Long-term refugees, hunger, and the consumption of too many toxic herbs, tree bark, and even things like clay, coupled with the environmental pollution caused by the Blood Sea Calamity, make it difficult even for adults to survive. A child would certainly be in even worse shape.

Before yesterday, I could still hold on by sheer willpower, and that bright look in my eyes was perhaps just a final burst of energy before death. But after a good meal and a good night's sleep... once my spirits relaxed... the lamp oil that had already run out could no longer be lit, and the lamp went out when the oil was exhausted.

Bai Qinghan never felt guilty about such things. She had indeed done everything well: cleaning, inspection, food, water, accommodation, resettlement... Her management of her subordinates was just that perfect.

The refugees died; it can only be said that they were unlucky. The mother didn't cry, presumably because she knew that her daughter was unfortunate enough not to live a peaceful life.

only……

Powerless.

"That little girl is very smart and well-behaved, just like me."

With a soft sigh, Bai Qinghan shook her head, while the Golden Flag Envoy laughed heartily, still cracking jokes: "Big sister, are you really that obedient? Oh, you are indeed very obedient in front of Senior Brother!"

"Shut up," Bai Qinghan said irritably. "If you say another word, I'll bury you in the rubble too."

Most of the children of calamity who choose to follow Bai Qinghan are heartless and carefree. Because they have suffered, they don't think that other people's suffering is anything. Managing these loyal but inhuman little things is her daily work.

As his thoughts wandered, Bai Qinghan couldn't help but raise his head and gaze towards the distant capital.
She knew that everything she had done here—taking in refugees and establishing order—was ultimately just a drop in the ocean. The Blood Sea Demonic Cult, along with other forces secretly pushing for the Blood Sea Calamity, had created everything that was happening today. The refugees on the edge of the Western Mountains were a minority, because most of them were heading south, towards the center of the Great Chen Dynasty, where true suffering and terror would occur.

To solve these problems, it is not enough to simply do well today. Because the causes and effects created by yesterday, the elements of death, were already sown in the past.

The present and the past.

Past and present.

Under the gloomy rain, the sun is setting; today will soon become yesterday, and tomorrow will arrive.

If we don't handle things well now, we will sow the seeds of evil yesterday, reap bitter fruit tomorrow, and then face calamity, disaster, punishment, and retribution.

That is at this time.

Bai Qinghan slightly widened her eyes.

She saw it.

I saw a hazy, illusory, yet undeniably real, crimson star appearing in the distant reaches of time and space, and then in the sky above the setting sun in the Realm of Emptiness.

"That is……"

She suddenly had a feeling: "Senior Brother?"

It was at this moment that Bai Qinghan heard a voice.

It's time, Xuan Yin.

It was the voice of a composed old man, and also... the voice of the current leader of the Heavenly Will Sect: "The opportunity has arrived, your karma has come to fruition... Take this with you, and go to the capital."

As she listened, a clear, bright light, like a bright moon, appeared in Bai Qinghan's heart. She didn't ask why, because she knew what the sect leader meant.

"This time, Senior Brother will also be going to Shenjing, right?"

She thought calmly, lowering her gaze. There was no excitement or joy in her heart, only a sense of entitlement: "It is indeed time. Although it is a bit early, it is possible now."

—The time has come.

Cause and effect are converging, and time is flowing. Although it is too early, the earlier the calamity is brought down, the more effective it will be.

—Some worlds have already changed, have already come to an end.

—And some worlds are about to change, about to come to an end.

It will inevitably be reborn, and it will inevitably perish.

—A time of blades and bloodshed has arrived.

The world is being changed.

Many possibilities are being changed.

From death to life, from extinction to prosperity, and even from the imaginable end to the unimaginable future.

At that time, both in the Tianyuan Realm and the Huaixu Realm, one could vaguely see that large, scarlet star at the top of the sky.

In the void surrounding the Tianyuan Realm, in his own grotto-heaven, An Jing, who was meditating with his eyes closed and cultivating his mind peacefully, heard a voice.

【Anjing...】

【Anjing...】

An Jing slightly opened his eyes. He listened to the voice calling his name and pondered, "I am currently located between the Tianyuan Realm and the Northern Heaven Cave Heaven. In my own Void Cave Heaven, the power of the Burning Heaven Divine Weapon is protecting me. If you want to communicate with me, you can only do so through the ancestor of the Cave Heaven's central core."

"Or perhaps, within the innermost part of the Tianyuan World, in the deepest part of the void, at the central hub of all things..."

Upon realizing this, An Jing suddenly understood: "You are... Tian Yuan?"

I used to be, but now, having gained a sense of self, I am no longer, and cannot be...

The voice said softly.

Then, before An Jing's eyes, something extremely faint yet extremely majestic appeared.

Initially, it was a small dot.

This point, like starlight, flickers, trembles, and changes in brightness, making it almost impossible to see clearly.

But then, what seemed to be a huge, grand, incredible explosion, began to grow rapidly, expand, and then transform into countless straight lines, flowing and surging like time, like fate, like branches of infinite possibilities.

These branching streams, in turn, infinitely branch out into infinite tributaries, which in turn eternally fork into infinite tributaries. These tributaries converge, condense, intersect, and merge, eventually transforming into a single stream...

python.

A silver, seemingly forged from steel, or condensed from starlight, an endless, continuous stream that runs through everything, encompassing all time, destiny, and infinite possibilities—the [Python].

But was that a python?
maybe.

Climbing above the river of time, entwined at the top of the tree of infinite possibilities, it is both an infinite circle and an infinite cycle, both the chaos of everything and the anchored multitude.

It is both the beginning and the end, the creation and the termination, the devouring of the future and the generation of the past, and the devouring of the past and the generation of the future.

It is both one and infinite, both nameless and named, both created by man and created by man, encompassing everything yet being surpassed by everything.

That is... the 'spirit' that should not have wisdom, yet possesses infinite wisdom; that should not have a self, yet is the collection of all selves... the ultimate and original 'spirit'.

Its name is...

[The Way of Heaven]

The colossal, endless beast, whose head and tail could not be seen simultaneously, the silver, steel-like serpent of infinite time and limitless possibilities, roared in a voice like thunder and a tidal wave: "I should not have 'I,' I should not be described, I should not have a name, I should not appear before you, nor should I be able to communicate with you."

And now, I can be described.

And so, sadly, I am able to meet you.

(End of this chapter)