Chapter 134: False Hero

The sky hung low and dark, pressing down upon the earth. With the Eastern and Southern Heavenly Pillars broken, dense clouds and drifting stars all slanted southeastward, as though pulled by the weight of calamity. For generations, the common folk had made their homes at the feet of the Four Sacred Mountains, trusting in their renown and protection. So when the earth-shaking rumble of collapse echoed across the land, people poured from their homes in alarm.

“Without reason, the rain has suddenly come!” A village man leaned out from the window, shouting as he scrambled to gather the laundry. “I want death—I just dried these, washed those! Wei!(1) All of you, don’t sleep and get the clothes in!”

They all slept in a shared dormitory. His shout roused the whole room—lamps flared to life one by one. Out on the street, the night patrol stood watch at the crossroads, lanterns in hand. “That loud noise just now—sounded like firecrackers going off right above our heads,” one said, still clutching his chest. “Did you all hear it?”

“Must’ve been thunder. Only thunder explodes like that.”

“No… to me, it sounded like something gave way…”

Even as they spoke, a flurry of hoofbeats came pounding through the rain-slick streets. The nightwatch leaned out from under the eaves, squinting through the thick curtain of storm and fog. Figures in armour, swords at their hips, galloped past in haste.

Dāng!

It was Mu Chao who steered his horse without stopping; in one hand, he held aloft a copper alms bowl. It was etched with intricate script, pulsing with a tremor of its own. Though its vibrations made no sound the common folk could hear, any who walked the path of the Tongshen would feel its call like a temple bell striking their soul, sharp and painful to the ear.

“Two of the mountains have fallen. The Tianhai has broken past its dike. All who walk the way of the Tongshen—come forth now! Help us disperse the people and hold the Heavenly Gate!”

The Heavenly Sea Imperial Guards scattered into multiple units, their steeds thundering like dragons across the land. In the blink of an eye, they had already swept through all six prefectures.

Within the Pei Capital, disciples of every sect crowded around the city gates. One voice rose above the clamour: “The breach of Tianhai is a punishment from the heavens! We who walk the path of the Tongshen should be the first to hold the line at the Sea Gate. Why are you blocking the way? Move aside!”

Cui Changting vaulted into the saddle. Not long ago, he had made a fool of himself in front of the masses, and now, he was determined to reclaim his honour. Hearing the shout, he shoved a fellow disciple aside and barked, “What’s the rush? You’ll have your chance to show off soon enough! When it comes to guarding the Zhenhai, our Qiankun Sect will not shrink back—we were born to take the vanguard!”

The crowd broke into a flurry of jeers and taunts. A senior from the Shaman Sect, Huang Shixiong, scoffed, “By all means, take the lead. After all, it was your Qiankun Sect’s Nanhuang Mountain that collapsed.”

“Brother Huang doesn’t need to be in such a rush to ridicule me. That mountain’s fall wasn’t my doing. The immediate priority is to defend the Pass,” Cui Changting shot back, rummaging through his robe until he pulled out a handful of talismans and slapped them to his chest. “The heavens are already bleeding rain. We’re allied with the Imperial Guard—we can use their path to leap ahead of the tides. When the time comes, we’ll see who’s a fake hero or a real coward!”

Even as they argued, a formation of Heavenly Sea Imperial Guards galloped past. Without hesitation, Cui Changting spurred his horse and charged after them. Not to be outdone, Huang Shixiong led his own sect disciples in hot pursuit. The other sects surged forward in a wave, shouting commands, activating mystic relics, one and all flooding out of the gates.

No one noticed the lone figure who had slipped in among them—a young man clad in simple clothes, an iron sword strapped to his back.

Dāng!

“Two of the mountains have fallen. The Tianhai has broken past its dike. All who walk the way of the Tongshen—come forth now!

This spread from ten, then a hundred, then ten thousand, quickly spreading throughout the Six Prefectures. Clan or sect, old hatred or fresh feud—all were forgotten in the face of Tianhai’s wrath. Before the might of heaven and sea, every heart stood united, as if within the walls of one great fortress.

Torrents of rain poured from the skies. Across towns and roads, countless common folk braved the downpour, fleeing westward with their families and what little they could carry. Like ants moving in a tide, they trudged through the mire, while disciples of the sects waded through knee-deep mud—some guiding the columns, others guarding the rear.

Mu Chao’s horse came to a halt at the rear of the line. From afar, he gazed at the churning storm clouds above.

One of the Imperial Guards beside him spoke: “Dozens of Flying Delivery Orders have been transmitted, but there’s been no word from the Imperial Lord. I fear... I fear the worst.”

“The flashing of the Silver Order proves the Imperial Lord gave his all to seal the Zhenhai. He did not flee the battlefield.” Mu Chao seemed not to hear the latter part. His expression did not change. “What we can do is fulfil our duty with honour. Until the Imperial Lord returns, we hold this line.”

Before them stretched a spiritual formation, five men wide and ten thousand li long. The number of Heavenly Sea Guards was few to begin with—scattered to guard the entire line, their presence looked almost pitiable. Fortunately, the clamour behind grew louder, as hundreds of disciples from the pursuing sects finally caught up.

Cui Changting tumbled off his horse, straightened his robes, and stepped forward with a cupped-fist salute. “Imperial Guard, we are here to—aiya!”

He froze mid-sentence, recognising Mu Chao—and Mu Chao recognised him as well. Yet the latter only nodded calmly and said, “When Tianhai descends, the first wave will be the hardest to withstand. We few cannot stand alone—we will need everyone’s strength to hold the gate.”

Cui Changting was inwardly relieved that Mu Chao hadn’t brought up the earlier matter. He assumed the man had simply forgotten and hastily nodded, replying with forced fervour, “Indeed, indeed! The Zhenhai guarding the Pass should be like this, should be like this!”

Mu Chao continued, “Of the four Great Seals of the Zhenhai, two have already shattered. The remaining two were pinned within the Heavenly Sea by Sanhuan-jun’s sword, and for now, show no sign of loosening. But the Posuo disciples, having just emerged from the Heavenly Sea and now having lost their Sect Leader, will need time before they can arrive.”

Everyone was greatly alarmed. “What? Sanhuan-jun, she…”

The rain poured down, and everyone stared at one another in stunned silence. No one spoke for a long time, until Huang Shixiong finally said, “Today, she fixed the heavens with a single sword. Good… good! The Four Mountains stand as one—if also unite, let's not lose either!”

The crowd all agreed, huddling together like a band of heroes.

“I’ll take the front, you cover the rear.”

“How can that be? Let me take the first wave.”

“We’re all here—what difference does it make who goes first? I say we draw lots. Whoever wins stands at the front.”

They quarrelled endlessly. Partly because they had never faced such a calamity before, and the novelty excited them; partly because in the face of catastrophe, whoever stood at the front would surely become famed across the Six Prefectures. The Heavenly Sea might be fearsome, but could it truly rival the Fallen God or the Tyrant of Yongze?

Amid their arguing, a sudden boom shook the earth beneath their feet, sending them all staggering.

Mu Chao shouted, “It’s coming!”

Dark clouds swirled together, forming a massive funnel. Amidst the storm, waves like mountains surged forth—each like a god’s palm, slamming into the ground with brutal force. The strike left everyone reeling, and when they looked again, countless waves were already charging like fierce tigers down a mountain, rushing toward the front of the spirit formation.

The. Heavenly Sea Imperial Guards formed seals together. Manji, manji, manji symbols appeared along the formation in sequence, and a silver barrier suddenly rose up.

Pēng!

The wave struck the silver screen like a giant hand, slapping the faces of those behind it. There was no time to see who fell first—like fire, the seawater engulfed the guards, and those it touched were licked into bare white bones.

Mu Chao roared, “Do not retreat!”

His hands were already stripped to bone, and it was only through sheer will that he stayed standing.

The spirit formation flickered like a candle about to be snuffed out. And though the Heavenly Sea Guards were determined to stand their ground, the force of the sea was irresistible. The silver barrier was slowly pushed backwards, along with the bodies of the guards themselves.

“I’m here!”

A heavy weight pressed against Mu Chao’s back—someone had stepped up behind him. It was Cui Changting, his face twisted, barely able to hold his expression in the storm. Leaning sideways, he braced Mu Chao with his shoulder, screaming hoarsely, “Let the world see… what kind of man I really—”

The sea swept over him. His body sagged, about to fall, but someone behind him yanked him upright, forcing him to hold the line.

Huang Shixiong pushed forward with all his strength. Finally, he gave Cui Changting a rare moment of approval. In the icy surge of the sea, he roared into Cui Changting’s ear, “What kind of man are you? You’re a fake hero—but not a true coward either! Get up—!”

The thing he was gripping, though, was already a mangled, bloody husk swallowed by theTianhai. Huang Shixiong held it like an oil lamp about to go out. Rain and seawater slammed against his face and body as he shouted, trembling:

“Everyone—!”

The sea engulfed him. Behind him, one after another, people fell like a relay of sacrificial offerings. Bodies piled on bodies, and the spells they chanted—varied and chaotic—merged into a flowing stream of spiritual energy.

Zhenhai!

Voices cried out in unison.

Zhenhai!

Through the wind and rain, a young man in plain robes arrived at a run and stood motionless. The rain soaked his sword. Staring at the scene before him in disbelief, he murmured, “…So this is what Shifu meant by ‘all paths of the righteous converge in the end’…”

The sea howled at him. Wind tore at his clothes. Staring into the waves, he reached for the sword on his back. The iron sword trembled violently with a piercing cry, and his arm shook along with it.

“In those days, you followed Shifu to slay gods in the Tianhai. Later, when her legs were broken, your brilliance dulled as well. In the end, you fell into my hands, nothing more than rusted scrap.” The youth spoke to the sword. “We couldn’t hold the gates of Peidu. But this gate to the heavens—we cannot lose it again.”

The waves surged toward him. The youth suddenly drew his sword. It had no scabbard, but he pulled it with such force it was as if he were wrestling the heavens. With a crackling roar, lightning burst across the blade, shedding flakes of rust.

The sword shimmered like water. One side bore the inscription “Sword That Startles a Hundred Rivers,” the other, “Number One Under Heaven.” As it emerged, a tiger’s roar rumbled through the earth and sky.

The youth said, “Shan Hu.”(2)

Thunder exploded, striking wildly across the spiritual formation. Purple lightning streaked the air, and with him and the Shan Hu sword as the boundary, they clashed head-on with the monstrous waves of the Tianhai.

The gatekeeper held the formation, spine rigid, arms shaking—his very life poured into this moment. In a hoarse voice, he cried into the storm, “My lord—lend the Leigu Sect your strength once more!”

Pēng!

Elsewhere, broken spirit formations were overwhelmed. Tens of thousands were swallowed by the sea. Flocks of crows circled the waves. Wailing and screaming echoed from south to east, endless and unceasing.

Imperial Lord.

Imperial Lord—

Amid the countless cries, Luo Xu had no voice left to answer.

The Author Has Something to Say

After another discussion with the editor today, Xiao Men’er’s (’Little Guo Tian Men’) VIP unlock process is expected to be completed next year. Everyone, please keep an eye out and remember to unsubscribe when the time comes. Thank you for reading~

The Translator has Something to Say

Guo Tian Men is no longer a VIP access series, and thus free to read. I will release the chapters for everyone as long as they remain free to read. Please look for that update.

Foot Notes

1. 喂 (wei) is the standard greeting for answering the phone. It's a lot like "hey", but can be used a bit more agressively like "oi" as well.

2. This is the same Shan Hu sword from volume 1, which belonged to Li Xiangling and then Tian Nanxing.