Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 680 - 611 Swamp
Manipulating sea beasts wasn’t impossible. During the Pre-Sui Period, the Nine-headed Snake Demon Sect that lurked in the East Sea Region could control sea beasts with specially prepared meat, using them to attack passing ships.
Further back in time, there were the mythical Merfolk of legend, about whom little was known regarding their fiery nature, their kingdom deep within the sea.
The Academic Palace itself had also mastered some techniques for inducing specific behaviors in sea beasts and altering their habits through long-term observation and study.
"We haven’t found any signs of manipulation yet, but we can’t rule it out too soon," Cheng Juxiu said. "The good news is that, just like before, the sea beasts’ ’migration’ is not particularly fast. It’s like a huge circle, slowly moving westward. Without any special circumstances, it would take at least one or two years, or at most three to four years, to approach the coast of Yu Country."
"Let’s all prepare as we would for a Demon Tide, and start as soon as possible," Lian Xuanyao issued the order calmly and reassuringly.
Seeing the Mountain Master remain composed, everyone’s tense hearts gradually eased. Having one or two years of buffer time wasn’t too long or too short. It was certainly better than facing an enemy in haste.
Everyone immediately started preparing in an orderly manner. Some headed to the Book Collection Pavilion to retrieve and improve plans for seawalls and Crossbow Cannons from the Pre-Sui Period. Others went to the back mountain to urgently retrofit the Heavenly Boat, preparing to use it for hunting sea beasts. Still others went to inform the imperial court and designate evacuation strategies for the common people. Some even proceeded to Dongjun Tower to collect Mutated Objects capable of calming waves and driving away demon beasts—though uncertain of their efficacy, they resolved to try them first.
As an Academic Palace Patrol, Li Ang also wanted to go to the Book Collection Pavilion to look up information but was stopped by the Mountain Master. "Li Ang, come with me."
The gazes of Cheng Juxiu, Sui Yi, Tantai Leshan, and others converged on him. Li Ang hesitated for a moment, nodded his agreement, and followed the Mountain Master up the staircase to the top floor of the teaching building.
CREAK.
As Lian Xuanyao pushed open the door to the study, the entire room seemed to come to life. The windows opened by themselves to ventilate the room, the talisman lamp lit up automatically, drawers silently popped open, and stacks of documents needing review flew out, neatly placed on the desk.
The Mountain Master flicked his palm, and the wooden chair in the corner smoothly glided over, stopping in front of the desk.
With another wave of his hand, the porcelain tea set on the shelves floated down and caught water from a palm-sized rockery, slowly heating it to a boil.
The Mountain Master took a seat behind the desk, flipped through the documents, and casually asked, "Care for some tea? Qujiang thin slices."
"Ah? Sure, thank you."
Li Ang rubbed his hands awkwardly. He didn’t have much of a preference for tea, drinking whatever was available at home. His friends in Chang’an, unaware of the full story, thought he was fond of Qujiang thin slices and sent him more and more.
Nevertheless, the fact that the Mountain Master knew his tea preference made Li Ang feel somewhat honored.
A pot of water quickly boiled, and the tea set gracefully floated, infusing, pouring, and presenting the tea as if a tea master were in control.
"Have you encountered the Dream Eater?"
Li Ang was sipping his tea, admiring the floating tea leaves in the cup, when he suddenly heard the Mountain Master’s abrupt inquiry, startling him into a coughing fit.
He managed to suppress his shock and bewilderment, thanks to the composure he had developed since awakening memories of another world, without crushing the teacup. Pretending not to have heard clearly, he asked, "What did you say?"
"Have you encountered the Dream Eater?"
The Mountain Master looked up from the documents, smiling. "The day before yesterday, the Supervision Department captured a group of suspicious Cultivators in Luzhou. Upon investigation, it was found that these Cultivators came from the Judgement Court in Taihao Mountain. Their leader was named Chen Wanyi. He had gone to Luzhou several months ago on his superiors’ orders to find the demon Dream Eater. One of their lodging places was the Yuelai Inn. The Supervision Department connected Chen Wanyi and others to Jin Wusuan, who had recently died of illness at the Yuelai Inn. Tracing the clues further, they discovered that Jin Wusuan had once hired people to venture into the Endless Sea and retrieved something. Following the clues further, they uncovered that Jin Wusuan harbored deep old grudges against Lu Qingya and had developed a meticulous plan for revenge. This intelligence was then reported to me. In summary, the people from Taihao Mountain failed to find the Dream Eater. Jin Wusuan, who had attempted to use the Dream Eater to take revenge on Lu Qingya, died of disease. Therefore, the most likely possibility was that the Dream Eater had escaped."
"I believe that a demon resides within your body. If the Dream Eater escaped by altering memories, you might remember something."
So that’s how it is.
Li Ang inwardly sighed with relief. Chen Wanyi and his group are so unreliable! To think they got caught by the Supervision Department, even implicating me!
Li Ang cautiously responded, "I don’t remember ever seeing the Dream Eater."
This wasn’t a lie. He truly hadn’t seen the Dream Eater’s face, only glimpsing its brownish-yellow, beast-like eyes.
"Is that so?"
The Mountain Master sighed, "That’s truly a pity."
Li Ang put on a puzzled expression, "A pity?"
The Mountain Master said, "I’ve also been on an expedition in the Endless Sea during this time, not in the same eastern direction as Gongyang Deming and his group, but rather in the far southern waters. On an island in that sea region, I discovered Li Country."
Li Ang was genuinely puzzled now. "The mysteriously vanished Li Country?"
"Yes." The Mountain Master nodded. "Li Country was a tiny kingdom situated on the border between Yu and Zhou Countries. During the Late Sui Period, as wars erupted, the borders of Li Country inexplicably grew dense forests, severing all communication with the outside world. When the Central Plains had settled and Yu Country was established, people were sent to investigate. However, the entire Li Country had vanished into thin air, seemingly destroyed by some disaster. This is the history recorded in the Academic Palace’s books. Yet, on that island, I heard a different story."
Li Ang set down his tea cup and sat up straight, showing his earnest attention.
"From the perspective of the people of Li Country, the disaster struck with unimaginable swiftness. News arrived of Emperor Yu’s assassination and the Central Plains falling into chaos. Simultaneously, the lands at Li Country’s borders sprouted a myriad of seedlings. These seedlings grew at an extremely rapid pace. Within seven days, they had overtaken the city walls, forming a boundless sea of trees."
The Mountain Master continued unhurriedly, "These trees were of a strong material, impervious to water and fire. Chopped down with great effort using an axe, a new seedling would grow from the stump the very next day. Realizing this, the people of Li Country tried to make the best of a bad situation. They believed it to be Haotian’s blessing, thinking Haotian had spread the dense forests to surround Li Country’s borders and shield them from the ravages of war.
But soon, the mutation began. Dark, decaying tree roots spread into the fields, turning any crops planted into foul, inedible masses.
People who touched the tree roots contracted diseases. Most died outright. A few barely survived, but paid a heavy price: roots grew all over their bodies, transforming their appearance into something inhuman.
The Haotian Bell and the Heavenly Bell were ineffective, and all medicines could neither cure nor reverse the disease.
A handful of Li Country Cultivators decided to fly over the forest sea to seek outside help. However, as they flew over the dense forest, they suddenly coughed up blood, died, and plummeted—their lungs had also inhaled invisible plant seeds.
No one was able to escape.
The first year saw diminishing arable land and an increasing number of dangerous, mutated wild beasts in the forest.
The second year brought endless rains, turning low-lying areas into swamps, causing countless livestock to fall sick and die.
The third year saw newborns born with fleshy tumors and tree roots emerging on their bodies.
In the fourth year, rebels and common people stormed the Royal City. They hanged the King and suspended his body at the city gates under the sun, hoping to receive Haotian’s understanding.
The fifth year, the wild beasts of the forest began to prey on humans.
In the sixth year, desperate common people dug up the old king’s corpse from his grave. They restored him to the throne, again hoping to receive Haotian’s understanding.
The seventh year, a portion of the people lost faith in Haotian and turned to worship a fabricated deity—the Lord of Flesh and Swamps."
The Mountain Master paused for a moment, calmly saying, "Such a disaster continued for fifty years."
