Chapter 15: Corruption and Mutation

Year 25 of the Shoutian Calendar, Southern Region of Dayao.

With the first rain of early spring came the Awakening of Insects, yet this year felt different.

The military campaigns in Dayao’s southern territories had concluded, leaving the borderlands peaceful and free from the ravages of war. The local people were ready to rest. Yet on this day, those who emerged from their thatched huts, puzzled by the unusually late dawn, were struck dumb.

At first, a dense, fishy fog blanketed the morning air. Within the mist, swarms of flies and gnats seemed to breed unchecked. By noon, countless flying insects filled the fields, blotting out the sun. Among the clouds of bugs, flies fell to the ground but did not die immediately; instead, they fluttered their wings weakly while lying on their backs, spinning helplessly.

Before the villagers could fear the pests ruining their harvests, a sudden epidemic broke out wherever the insect fog drifted. In the countryside, farmers returning from the fields began to stagger and convulse uncontrollably. Across multiple counties in the south, desperate cries for healers and exorcists filled the air.

The peaceful harmony of the rural areas was shattered, and this disruption was directly reflected in the celestial divinations performed by the Sitiantian officials, the “Yao” hexagrams showing ominous signs.

Following imperial edicts, the Demon Suppression Division, an enforcement branch of the Legalist faction, was dispatched. At the same time, allied cultivation sects issued orders to their disciples who were undergoing worldly trials — among them was Wu Hengyu, newly descended from the Qinghua Sect.

…A mystical martial arts interlude…

Born into a renowned orthodox family, Wu Hengyu quickly blended with other righteous disciples. Drawing on intelligence gathered from outer disciples of various cultivation sects, Wu Hengyu and his companions finally traced the source of the spreading plague in late spring. It was a grotesque, rot-covered demon, swollen with pustules.

This fiend hid within a village whose inhabitants had been turned into living vessels harboring the Five Poisons.

The demon struck a rusted, nearly unrecognizable war drum. From every earthen house emerged geckos the size of small dogs; from wells crawled centipedes as thick as water jars; scorpions burst from the soil; and the branches of the ancient tree at the village gate twisted into venomous serpents.

The villagers themselves had mouths agape in disbelief, but each had a toad where their tongue should be, like a fish louse replacing a fish’s tongue.

The creature brandished tattered cloth strips — “banners,” as they were called. Waving these banners, the poisonous monsters formed ranks before launching their attack. When struck by the righteous swords of the cultivators, the demons oozed pus from their wounds, but the injuries healed rapidly.

Even the disciples’ barrage of dozens of fire talismans only temporarily suppressed the toad-like creatures. After the flames passed, their skin bubbled with blisters that leaked more pus and grew larger, transforming them into grotesque toad monsters.

Ultimately, it took the combined effort of fifty-four third-generation disciples from multiple sects, sacrificing over a dozen spirit weapons, to slay the demon.

As it dissolved into a fetid pool, the demon croaked hoarsely, “We are defeated? No, not defeated. The Golden Dipper, the Golden Dipper… I must return.”

Delivering the final blow, Wu Hengyu retracted his Starry Spear, feeling an inexplicable sensation that the demon had locked eyes with him, as if trying to speak.

…Return to the mortal realm…

After the demon’s fall, Wu Hengyu rode his black steed Wuzhui, channeling thunder as he journeyed to Tianchi City, where the Wu family army was stationed. Upon entering the city, Wu Hanluan’s winged tiger first sensed a threat, crouching low and watching Wu Hengyu approach — the reaction akin to a house cat sensing a wildcat’s intrusion.

Wu Hengyu reined in Wuzhui and descended gracefully into the courtyard.

“Father, your son has returned from studying the Way,” he said, bowing deeply before Wu Hanluan. The elder, clutching a military treatise, gazed at his son but restrained his excitement, instead wearing a stern expression.

“Back? Have you truly mastered your studies?”

“I have,” Wu Hengyu replied, but seeing his father’s wearied countenance, his pride faltered.

Wu Hanluan snorted coldly. Knowing his son well, he recalled how young Wu Hengyu had always been headstrong. When taught swordsmanship, he quit after a few days, wanting instead to become a peerless warrior. When taught military strategy, he learned superficially before abandoning it.

His verdict on Hengyu was clear: intelligent but lacking perseverance. Hence, the sobriquet “Hengyuan” — “constant source” — and the decision to send him to the mountains for cultivation.

Years ago, with only two juniors in the family branch — Wu Fei and Wu Hengyu — Wu Hanluan chose to cultivate Wu Fei, valuing his cautious nature toward warfare. Wu Hengyu’s impulsiveness seemed less promising. Thus, the stubborn “melon” was forced onto the martial path.

Wu Fei’s training proceeded smoothly, and reports from Yongji Pass in the south indicated he was shaping up to be a worthy future “Commander” of the family.

Now, hearing of his son’s return, Wu Hanluan entertained a glimmer of hope that Hengyu’s flaws might be corrected.

Therefore, he greeted his son’s descent with a strict demeanor.

— Page 2 —

Upon learning that Wu Hengyu had severed ties with his sect and intended to serve the family in the coming calamity, Wu Hanluan patted his shoulder. Feeling his son’s robust internal energy, his once critical gaze softened.

“Since you’ve returned, stay in the camp. But do not expect to lead troops independently. You’re not ready. Listen and learn more.”

Wu Hengyu nodded, eyes blazing with eagerness.

Wu Hanluan glanced at his son, harboring doubts: “You’ve always been competitive. Now that you know about the Commander’s inheritance and have met Wu Fei, you won’t let rivalry get out of hand, will you?”

He wasn't worried about discord between the brothers, but feared Wu Fei might seize the opportunity to step aside.

Great generals rise from common soldiers; prime ministers emerge from provincial officials. Wu Hanluan had painstakingly nurtured Wu Fei bit by bit — it would be a shame if his wayward son spoiled it.

…Meanwhile, Wu Fei faced a tangled mess akin to an Indian electrician confronting a jumbled circuit…

At Yongji Pass, the once lively Flower Fairy Pavilion echoed with terrified screams. Guests shouted about monsters and fled in panic.

Half an incense stick’s time later, patrolling soldiers sealed off the area and brought Wu Fei to the scene. A wooden building had been burst from within; through broken doors on the second and third floors, a serpent-scaled tail as thick as a water jar appeared. Clearly, a giant beast lurked inside.

Just as the soldiers hesitated to douse the building with oil and fire, Wu Fei raised his hand, ordering them back.

Because he understood the hissing voice within — pleading not to be killed. Had he not spent time with its owner, he wouldn’t have recognized the thick dialect of the entreaty.

Once the soldiers withdrew, Wu Fei entered the dilapidated building, which was filled with a potent incense scent that felt intoxicating, reminiscent of decadent pleasures. Spotting some inexplicable paraphernalia, Wu Fei realized these were mood-enhancing devices.

In the main hall, the once delicate little Qing had transformed. Her upper body stretched a zhang in length—larger than a woman over eight feet tall—with pale blue skin and scales around her navel. Her lower half was a five-zhang-long snake tail as thick as a water jar, monstrous in scale. At the tail’s end were not a single tip, but four snake heads.

Wu Fei immediately recognized this as a “mutated loss of control.” She had taken a dark path, absorbing unknown powers and channeling them into her spiritual energy.

For orthodox sects within Dayao, enhancing the essence, qi, and spirit was the supreme path. But this extreme mutation was the result of using forbidden arts to pursue that path.

Wu Fei himself relied on external devices and cunning to compensate for his lack of innate talent, having been told three years ago by a Taoist master at Qingyun Mountain that “due to your aptitude, the Tao path is not yours.” Though he denied it, Wu Fei accepted that he was at a disadvantage in cultivating essence, qi, and spirit, and thus took a detour through mechanical expertise.

Sitting on a chair in the Flower Fairy Pavilion, Wu Fei faced the mutated snake-woman and asked, “What did you do to become like this?”

The serpent coiled its tail, its massive upper body bowed within the snake formation, its head lowered. With a toad-like tongue, it could no longer speak.

Little Qing was equally bewildered by her transformation. After acquiring the “Jiding Dew” cultivation method and using the “Sweet Dew” produced within the Flower Mansion as medicine, she had gradually mutated.

As she activated her technique, Wu Fei saw her translucent scales pulse with purple energy beneath the skin’s veins. Drops of sweat oozed, filled with a strange fragrant scent. Feeling his own qi waver, Wu Fei steadied his mind and flicked a small wooden block at her forehead to halt her.

Startled, Qing swiftly retreated into the snake formation, the sound of scales rustling oddly endearing.

Wu Fei rose and took a deep breath, contemplating.

For the first time since his transmigration, Wu Fei resolved to let the system bail him out.

Previously, he had spent 0.2 credits to redeem a “Body Scanner,” a purchase spurred on by the system’s provocations. Over three years, occasional virus scans had alerted him to abnormalities, but he had ignored them, hoping for freebies — much like people in the 21st-century East, oblivious to the burdens their state bore.

Now, however, Wu Fei truly felt the terror of the world’s strange forces.

When the redemption menu appeared, he confirmed another item to exchange: the “Restoration Gem,” worth 0.94 credits.

A brief description revealed its simple mechanism: no matter the damage or mutation, it could restore the original state — even turning a zombie back into a living, vibrant human. A resurrection artifact. Wu Fei had 3.34 credits saved.

The system had completed scanning, revealing the differences between Qing’s human form a month ago and her mutated state through a series of detailed anatomical animations. Wu Fei found the images nauseating and decided knowing the gist was enough.

System: “Since this is your first time using the ‘Restoration Gem,’ you may enjoy one free opportunity, contingent upon completing the following questions.”

Wu Fei: “Hmm? Okay.”

— Page 3 —

The system then presented a sharp series of questions:

1. Analyze your own motivations in this redemption process. Hint: Elaborate on your previous explanation, using the relationship between the ‘young master and the beautiful maid’ as a catalyst for the military-commercial system.

2. Three years ago, you were indifferent to fame and wealth, aspiring to cultivate immortality. Now that you command an army with ease, use your experience to discuss how power corrupts the individual.

3. …

Wu Fei — or rather, Xuan Chong — immediately shut down the entire interface and resolutely said, “Activate the Restoration Gem. Use my credits.”

System: “Are you sure you want to forgo answering? Warning: forfeiting the test will lose your free opportunity.”

Given the urgency and his dislike for the system’s tone, Xuan Chong invoked his “Six Virtues of the Online Gentleman”: Classics, Filial Piety, Urgency, Joy, Restraint, Victory/Mystery.

Xuan Chong: “Cut the crap.” He then angrily kicked a nearby stool away.

The huge snake-woman, seeing her master’s darkened face, seemed frightened. She lowered her upper body from the snake formation, flicked her forked tongue, pushing aside objects that might upset him, and recalled the past.

Months ago, after leaving the main camp, Qing felt hopeless, as if the world had rejected her. But then a voice urged her not to give up.

She had since established the Flower Fairy Pavilion as the young master’s servant, and after confirming the general’s household did not oppose her actions, she had found a new purpose. But now transformed into a monster, that sense of abandonment surged anew. This time, she vowed to stay, even if it meant servitude and hardship.

Her thoughts raced. Though her new body barred her from freely roaming the marketplace, she could still serve as a “combatant.”

In the Dayao Empire, such cases existed: for instance, the “Yellow Turban Strongmen,” ten zhang tall, armored heavily, bent to enter city gates, wielded huge bronze hammers that shattered enemy formations.

Just as the serpent woman pondered her future, Wu Fei placed his hand on her forehead. Instantly, her wild agitation calmed, as peaceful as a baby cradled in a lullaby.

In Wu Fei’s hand appeared a gemstone, seemingly condensed light from deep within the earth. Unknown to him, this light did not come from tens or hundreds of meters beneath, but from the planet’s core, spanning thousands of kilometers.

As his hand touched her, the snake woman relaxed, showing a docile, gentle expression.

Wu Fei’s face revealed embarrassment and hesitation, but after three breaths, he began to chant.

Facing the moon, he sang the theme song of an animated series as an incantation to activate the Restoration Gem.

Suppressing his shame, Xuan Chong sang:

“Heaven’s spirit, earth’s spirit, awaken now, Restoration Gem. Time to revert to origin! Morph within, truth revealed.”

The snake woman paused, then was enveloped in golden light, immobilized. As the light contracted, her recent mutation reversed, her transformation unfolding in reverse over several hours.

During this, the surrounding space seemed to stir, purple energies attempting to interfere. But the golden light, like thunder, penetrated and expelled the dark forces swiftly.

Ten minutes later, Wu Fei exited the ruined building.

Behind him, Qing had been restored, as if nothing had happened — though now she could shift between her massive half-serpent form and normal human shape at will.

Simultaneously, the system issued a special military operation task to the southern borderlands, seeking to uncover all sources of the calamity.

…

But six days later, Wu Fei received a secret order from his uncle commanding him to lead 300 elite troops northward.