Chapter 00144: Advance and Retreat
# Advance and Retreat
Chapter 144
Novel: Above Destiny
Chapter 144: Advance and Retreat
The bowl shattered, and the man died.
In just an instant, Lei Yaoxing fell backward, his life draining away in a futile struggle as he bled out.
In the deathly silence, no one spoke.
Only Ji Jue stood stiffly, craning his neck and staring wide-eyed, wishing he could pull out a telescope to examine every frame of what had just happened—what the hell was that? What just happened? What the hell is going on?
A Rebirth-level cultivator, someone who could survive being thrown into a furnace and burned alive, someone whose skin was so tough that even an anti-material rifle pressed against their face couldn’t pierce it... had just been killed by a shard of coarse porcelain that had bounced up from the ground and slit his throat, causing him to bleed out?
He didn’t even have the strength to struggle...
What kind of principle was this? What kind of logic?
Ji Jue’s hair was practically standing on end.
He couldn’t understand it, couldn’t figure it out, couldn’t make sense of it.
In that instant, all he could sense was a faint ripple of spiritual energy that had emerged when the porcelain bowl shattered.
It flowed silently, almost imperceptibly, and then, in the blink of an eye, it swept through the mourning hall.
It pierced through flesh and soul, snatching away life, and in the end, returned to the darkness.
There was no drawn sword, no life-or-death struggle.
It was just a casual, effortless execution.
Everything had happened so naturally, so matter-of-factly, that it completely disconnected from the reality Ji Jue knew, even overturned it, leaving him with a chilling sense of dread.
It enveloped everything.
"Is this the White Deer Hunter?" he murmured in disbelief.
Beside him, Tong Shan turned his head.
"Do you understand what you just saw?"
Ji Jue shook his head firmly.
"That was the White Deer Hunter’s Judgment Execution, a technique even more advanced than the Edge of Flying Light," Tong Shan said softly.
"Among the followers of the White Deer, only three families have been granted the title of Hunter, bestowed with the claws and fangs of supreme virtue. Their duty is to defend the wilderness, maintain the cycle, and eradicate calamities. Like hunters who cull invasive species, they maintain the balance of the ecosystem and the continuity of the wilderness. Among them, the An family’s duty is to eliminate internal threats. All their skills are built upon the foundation of hunting their own kind... Judgment Execution was born from this. Outsiders are destined never to understand it, nor to glimpse its secrets."
He paused for a moment, his gaze growing increasingly subtle as he looked at Ji Jue.
"I used to think it was a miracle that Supervisor Wen could manage a stray White Deer, but I never expected you to surpass even that."
Ji Jue’s face twitched.
Several times, he opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself.
How could someone with such a stern expression, such a serious demeanor, and such a focused gaze be so adept at gossiping? What the hell was going on?
The Tong family really has some issues, doesn’t it?
Ji Jue suddenly felt a wave of despair...
Among all the great families, the Lou family actually seemed the most normal by comparison.
Oh no, what if the Lou family also had some hidden tricks, and Lou Dashao had just been thrown out to become a craftsman without ever learning the real skills?
In the midst of his shock and confusion, the blood on the ground slowly spread.
The corpse grew cold, and all sound ceased.
Even the blessings and spiritual energy had completely dissipated, turning into a mist of nothingness that drifted away with the wind.
If it weren’t for the inappropriate setting, Ji Jue would have rushed over with his toolbox to salvage what he could.
Watching valuable materials lose their worth right before his eyes, he wasn’t sure whether he should feel heartbroken or not.
And so, An Ning silently looked down until the last glimmer of light faded from Lei Yaoxing’s eyes.
In the emptiness, only a dull darkness remained.
She withdrew her gaze, took one last look around, and then, as if bidding farewell, gave a slight nod before turning and leaving.
It wasn’t until her slender figure disappeared into the rain that the frozen atmosphere in the mourning hall finally began to ease, though it remained heavy.
If anything, the tension and fear were even greater than before.
Facing the White Deer Hunter’s Judgment Execution, all one could do was wait for death.
But sometimes, death wasn’t the most terrifying thing.
What was truly terrifying was not knowing what you were about to face.
Would your life even remain in your body?
Around Lei Yaoxing, the spreading blood reached the feet of his closest followers.
Yet, in the silence, none of them dared to move.
They waited in fear for their own fates.
Until, in the midst of the choking silence, Chen Xingzhou’s voice broke through.
"When the lamp goes out, so do the grudges. Out of respect for past kindness, you can help clean him up. After the funeral, bury him together with his father, so as to honor the bond between Lei Laoye and his son."
The man in the wheelchair continued, "Since Lei Yaoxing is already dead, there’s no need to pursue anything further. After settling the accounts, you’re free to come and go as you please. If you want to leave Yacheng, that’s fine too. But I hope you won’t make any foolish mistakes."
From that lofty, indifferent gaze, the expressions of those who had received his favor varied.
Some were as calm as water, others filled with hatred, but most simply bowed their heads in submission.
Lei Yaoxing’s fate had been decided.
Next, as everyone held their breath and waited, Chen Xingzhou finally turned around and smiled warmly at the crowd.
"It’s rare for us all to gather like this. Yacheng has been in chaos for so long. It’s time to choose a leader," he proposed.
"I’ll be the leader. Who agrees? Who opposes?"
"I agree."
Behind him, a short man in a leopard-print jacket with gold teeth was the first to raise his hand, without hesitation.
His fierce gaze swept the room, as if daring anyone to oppose him.
He looked utterly loyal, ready to smash the head of anyone who dared to disagree.
"I agree too!"
"Me too!"
"And me!!"
Everyone in the room rushed to express their approval, afraid that being even a second late would mean certain death.
Some, however, simply stood behind Old Lin, watching everything unfold with a quiet smile.
And so, they witnessed the end of this struggle, the reunification of the Wild Assembly, and the birth of a new leader.
The shadowy battles that had lasted half a month had finally come to an end.
In the reflection of the winding bloodstains.
No, perhaps the battles had never truly ended.
They had only temporarily come to a pause.
And now, standing before the mourning hall, Chen Xingzhou, the newly appointed leader, raised his hand.
With a slight pause, all sound ceased, and silence returned.
Only his hoarse voice echoed through the hall.
"Thank you all for supporting me as the leader for the next ten years. I am not Lei Wuye. The position of leader is not a toy for Chen Xingzhou alone. Ten years from now, if there are rising stars who wish to take the lead, or powerful friends who want to compete for the position, or even dragons from across the river who want to unify the martial world, I welcome them all. We’ll see who comes out on top then. But for these ten years, the Wild Assembly of Yacheng is Chen Xingzhou’s Wild Assembly! The business of the Wild Assembly is Chen Xingzhou’s business! The name of the Wild Assembly is Chen Xingzhou’s name!"
In the cold aftermath of his words, Chen Xingzhou’s face no longer held any warmth.
Instead, it was filled with a cruelty that surpassed even Lei Yaoxing’s.
He asked, "Do you understand?"
Silence.
Not a single sound.
In the distant patter of rain, the beasts bowed their heads like straw in the wind, no longer daring to show any resistance or defiance.
"Good."
Chen Xingzhou nodded slightly and finally clapped his hands.
"Today’s matters are settled. The Wild Assembly is back on track. Finally, let’s offer one last stick of incense to Lei Laoye."
And so, under Chen Xingzhou’s direction, the funeral continued.
One by one, sticks of incense were lit and placed into the incense burner, their flickering light gathering like a sea of stars in the shadows, resembling the eyes of the beasts in Yacheng’s underworld.
Beside the incense burner, the trembling ritual master raised the copper mallet and struck it mechanically.
The sound of the chime echoed distantly through the rain.
Just as it had in the past.
And perhaps, the future would be no different.
---
A month earlier, in the ancient hall of Yingtai Mountain, the same chime had echoed.
The afternoon light spilled down from the dome, divided into countless slanted beams by the window grilles, like blades piercing the darkness and illuminating Chen Xingzhou’s face.
In the shadows, an elderly figure sat cross-legged, idly playing with chess pieces, his voice cold.
"Indeed, in recent years, Lei Wuye’s actions have grown increasingly outdated. Under the constraints of various forces, the Wild Assembly has become a stagnant pool, with only a few mosquitoes buzzing around. It’s utterly devoid of interest."
The figure known as the Hermit asked, "What do you think?"
"Focusing on the trivial and losing sight of the essence."
Chen Xingzhou answered without hesitation, "The survival of the fittest is the true principle of the White Deer. Natural selection is the core of the Wild Assembly."
He paused, then spoke bluntly, "The wilderness doesn’t need a central authority, nor does it need Lei Wuye’s increasingly rigid rules. I believe that after this upheaval, even if there’s some decline, the process of elimination will bring forth many new seeds."
The Hermit chuckled mockingly, "That does sound interesting. After all, natural selection is part of the wilderness. But what if one day... the prey surrounded by wolves becomes you?"
"What difference would it make?"
Chen Xingzhou asked in confusion, "Regardless of victory or defeat... wouldn’t the one sitting in that position just be another version of me?"
He had ten years, at least ten years, to shape Yacheng’s Wild Assembly into the form he envisioned.
The cruel cycle established by Chen Xingzhou would merge with Yacheng’s wilderness over time.
Even if, under his influence, challengers continued to emerge endlessly... wasn’t that the very principle of the Wild Assembly?
If all went well, ten years from now, he could step back and fade into the background.
The cruel cycle of the Wild Assembly would continue, under his watchful gaze.
The Hermit fell silent.
In the shadows, the figure seemed to finally look up, meeting Chen Xingzhou’s gaze for the first time.
"With that mindset... if you work hard, in forty years, you might just become a leader."
"You flatter me."
Chen Xingzhou bowed his head.
"The position of leader is something I dare not aspire to."
The Hermit seemed to laugh.
"Then what do you want?"
Chen Xingzhou was silent.
For a long time.
Then, as if mustering his courage, he said softly, "When I was fourteen, someone told me my fate was like rowing a boat against the current—if I didn’t advance, I’d fall back. So I changed my name to Chen Xingzhou. All I seek is the freedom to advance or retreat, to move or not to move. That’s all."
"Hahaha, hahahaha, hahahahaha—"
As if he had just heard the funniest joke in the world, the Hermit could no longer contain himself.
He laughed uproariously, bending forward and backward, the chess pieces on the table rolling to the ground with a series of crisp sounds.
A black chess piece landed in front of Chen Xingzhou.
Like a reward.
"Get out, Chen Xingzhou."
The Hermit waved his hand, finally telling him, "If you can really climb out of hell, then you can think about freedom."
Chen Xingzhou turned and left.
And so, a month passed.
Winds rose, clouds gathered, tides came, and rain fell.
As the rain gradually thinned and dispersed, the same light shone down, illuminating Chen Xingzhou’s face and the black chess piece in his hand.
Amidst the bowed heads of his subordinates and the respectful greetings and farewells of the beasts, everything became solemn and dignified.
"Freedom."
Chen Xingzhou held the chess piece, gazing at the gradually brightening sky.
"Old Lin, do you think I’m free now?"
"Who knows."
Old Lin shrugged indifferently.
"It depends on who you still think is standing in your way."
Yes, who was left?
Perhaps, for now, no one dared to defy Chen Xingzhou’s orders.
But it was foreseeable that there would be countless obstacles on this path in the future.
Doubt, testing, provocation, even challenges and battles.
Everyone bowing their heads now might one day become his enemies.
Even though Chen Xingzhou had already risen from weakness to strength, leaping over the dragon gate in just half a month, becoming something entirely different from his past self.
His tactics and strategies were indeed terrifying, but his power had yet to be fully proven...
And the other leaders outside Yacheng, who had invested so much, might not give up on this piece of meat that was almost within their grasp.
New challengers would likely appear soon, and they would be more numerous, more dangerous, and more troublesome.
Just as he had climbed out of one quagmire, he had fallen into another, larger and deeper one...
If he wanted to rise, how many more years of struggle would it take?
"Freedom."
He laughed at himself.
Such an audacious wish.
No wonder the Hermit had laughed.
But at least for now, the chess piece was in his hand.
He clenched his fist.
And said nothing more.
Lost in thought, his gaze followed the departing crowd and the distant figure of a young man.
Ji Jue.
---
*I stayed up late last night writing most of this, so I’m posting it early today.
This volume is almost over, but my mind is completely blank about what to write for the next one.
I’m crying.*
*Can I get a monthly ticket? Please?*
(End of Chapter)