Noe: (Straightforwardly) "Doanh Lord, my friend, do you have a purpose and a direction for your future life? Or do you just want this mundane life—eating, sleeping, having fun, then dying?" ??
The Doanh Lord nearly choked on his tea ?, coughing violently ??, because Noe’s question was too shocking and direct, unlike his usual flowery and elaborate conversation style.
Doanh Lord: (Hesitantly) "Well, I... I’m not sure. Isn't life good as it is now?"
Noe: (Eyes distant) "Now? Yes, it's very good. You have everything, but hope is missing?" ??
Doanh Lord: (Pondering) "Sometimes I feel that way, too—waking up in the morning and not knowing what to do. It’s a bit boring, isn’t it?" ??
Noe: (Heavy sigh) "Boring? Look over there at the riverbank. There are fishermen who toil all day, the sound of nets cast into the water ??, yet they can't afford to eat. Porters hunch over ?? to earn every meal, the smell of sweat mixed with dust ??. The horse keepers sleep outdoors, enduring the wind and frost, the wind whistling past their ears ??, the chilling scent of night dew. In this whole city, you’re the only one who feels bored."
Doanh Lord: (Awkwardly scratching his head) "I thought it was good, free; everyone does as they please."
Noe: (Points to the sky, eyes sharp) "Don't you see? The weather is changing. The end of the year is getting colder. Last year, it even snowed. The era of eternal spring ?? is coming to an end. If you don't prepare, many people will die!" ??
Doanh Lord: (Indifferently) "Then we can just issue a notice reminding the people to prepare warm clothes."
Noe: (His sigh growing heavier) ????? "If I tell you and you don't believe or prepare, how can the people believe? Besides, most of the populace is illiterate; even if you post a notice, they won't know." The Doanh Lord pulled out a jade token ??, placed it in Noe’s hand, and said: "Here, you take it. Use it to command the soldiers; they will surely listen."
Noe gave a dry "Ugh" in reply. He thought to himself: "Did he invite me here just to handle these trivial matters? Anyone can do this." ?? Noe took the token and left with a cold expression, his steps decisive.
Noe headed straight to the horse stables ??, where ?oàn Chính was working. But after circling once, he didn't see him. He walked out behind the stables, toward the nearby small lake ??? where the horses usually drank. Noe saw ?oàn Chính sitting at the base of a tree, eyes closed, concentrating energy into his finger, then releasing that energy forward, creating a round hole on the tree trunk. A faint "whoosh" ?? sounded as the energy was released.
Noe: (Clapping) "Brilliant! You finally succeeded!" ??
?oàn Chính: (Standing up, dusting himself off) "Sir Immortal has arrived. How may I help you?"
Noe: "That can wait. Do it again for me. Focus the energy in your finger and release it. Try a few times; let's see your limit."
?oàn Chính (LV 270)
They spent the whole morning practicing, and Noe gifted ?oàn Chính a bottle of diluted Elixir Water ?? to help restore his energy. Noe also reviewed acupoints and various herbs with ?oàn Chính. In return, ?oàn Chính would help Noe pick herbs when riding with the horse keepers. Noe never took ?oàn Chính as a disciple but treated him as a friend, maintaining an equal and close relationship.
That year, the weather turned cold abruptly, a chill that only centenarians remembered—a bone-chilling cold ?? that made breaths freeze. Even they didn't know how to describe it. Many people fell ill with alternating fevers and chills, coughing and groaning ?? filling the air. Livestock outside had to be brought indoors, as they could not withstand the biting cold.
But fortunately, Noe and ?oàn Chính had prepared, building sheltered pens, preparing warm coverings, and various fever medicines for the residents. Other physicians in the city were also warned not to raise drug prices. As a result, not a single person in the city died from this unusual cold—a miracle amidst the harsh winter ?.
Villages nearby, however, had not listened carefully and were unprepared, forcing them to rush to Doanh Thành for help. But many did not survive, dying from the cold, their bodies curled up and pale ??. The cold snap spread hundreds of miles to the east before stopping. Hundreds of cities suffered, and all had casualties. Critically, many livestock died, animal carcasses piled up ??, creating a scene of immense sorrow.
If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
After a month, the cold subsided. Several narrow parts of the river were frozen solid ??, allowing children to play on them, their giggles ?? echoing. Rescue teams from the Jewel Kingdom ?? only arrived then, mitigating the aftermath, but the damage was already huge. Along with this, the reputation of Doanh Thành spread far and wide, as they had continuously sent aid teams early, even before the Jewel court.
The Doanh Lord, though acting on his own, was smart; he always announced that the Jewel King commanded them to act, never claiming the glory for himself. This pleased the entire Jewel court, from officials to the King, who highly praised his actions.
Their joy was short-lived, as several waves of Beast Tides ?? began migrating from the West to the East. The animals, hiding from the extreme cold for so long, could no longer bear it. They ran eastward, where the weather was much warmer. Their numbers reached millions, leaving destruction ?? wherever they went, their roars and pounding hooves ?? echoing like thunder. Houses, people, or forest beasts that were too slow were crushed into dust, leaving behind only ruins and desolation.
The Resurgence of the Piper
Qu? ?m (Ghost Sound), who had been lurking in the shadows for a long time, seized his opportunity with the appearance of the Beast Tide. Using his insidious sound magic, the once-sweet, melodious tones of his flute were now transformed into a rallying call, driving the beast tide straight into the fortified settlements.
All the houses surrounding the Strongholds were trampled. Entire villages that possessed no means of defense vanished, razed to the ground, with corpses turning into putrid, stinking slurry. Mass graves began appearing continuously in these regions.
These lands were places everyone shunned, but to Qu? ?m, they were crucial resources for his Demonic Cultivation. Every drop of blood, every piece of flesh, and every bone fragment were essential components for him to forge his own army. Even the wandering souls, lost due to their sudden and violent deaths, were collected and brought back by him.
Doan Chinh and the Wolves
One evening near the Stables outside the City, ?oàn Chính was sleeping when a commotion ?? broke out. Shouts, wolf howls, horse whinnies, and the clash of weapons. He immediately got up, pulled the sword ??? from his bedside, and rushed out to help the horse keepers.
Several hungry wolves ?? had broken in, their eyes red and fangs sharp ??. Some attacked the horses, while others attacked the elderly living in the horse camp. ?oàn Chính focused energy in his hand, shooting it toward a wolf, making it cry out in pain, its body paralyzed. He immediately ran over and killed it with a "whoosh" of his sword. The elderly people in the camp quickly ran in, calling for reinforcements. One took out his hunter's bow ??, another took a two-pronged pitchfork used for hay.
Immediately, three hungry wolves shifted their focus to attack these people instead of the horses, their threatening snarls ?? echoing. ?oàn Chính proved himself the most skilled fighter, continuously killing the hungry wolves and acting as the calmest person that night. He ordered someone to light a fire ?? above the Stables to signal the army inside Doanh Thành. He set up safe positions for those holding bows, forcing the wolves out of the stable area, preventing them from destroying the pens.
A moment later, reinforcements from Doanh Thành arrived. Many people were injured, and a few were killed by the wolves, blood staining the ground ??. The stables were also severely damaged in several places. This was the third wolf attack in the past week, and the size of the wolf packs was larger than before, indicating extreme cold and hardship forcing the animals to flee from the West.
?? White Wolf Stats Sheet (Lv 250)
Noe was currently on a trip across the river to the West with the Doanh Lord’s disciple, Aeris, to observe the large beasts there. Especially the huge animals known as Forest Gods ??. When they moved, thousands upon thousands followed, their footsteps like thunder. Many of these Forest Gods had awakened their Divine Intellect (Linh trí) and could converse. From them, Noe could negotiate agreements, ensuring the safety of the human settlements.
That winter was the most extreme for Noe. He had to rush back and forth ???♂?, dealing with one issue after another, leaving him utterly exhausted. Noe's displeasure with the Doanh Lord also grew. When it reached its peak, Noe sought out the Garrison Lord for a confrontation. If things continued this way, the work would never end.
Noe: (Determined) "How long will you hesitate? Start already!" ??
Doanh Lord: (Confused) "I don't understand, start what?"
Noe: (Annoyed) "The book 'The Art of Kingship: The Art of Leadership and Business'!" ??
Doanh Lord: (Remembering) "Ah! I finished reading it. The story about the three kings, right? It was very good! I liked the first king, the benevolent and kind king, loved by the people." ??
Noe: (Critically) "You didn't read carefully. The first king is the worst king. The fierce king who makes people fear him is average. The best is the balanced king." ??
Doanh Lord: (Puzzled) "Why? A good king who loves his people, why is he the worst king?" ??
Noe: (Explaining thoroughly) "This king is bad because:
- Subordinates and officials will disobey, because they always think they will be forgiven.
- Therefore, officials will freely accept bribes, punish, and plunder ?? the people.
- Promotions for officials only consider family background and connections, not actual talent.
- The official is close, the people are distant. So, officials will keep beneficial policies for themselves, enriching themselves, and neglecting the suffering people."
Doanh Lord: "So what is good about the fierce king? He only makes others more afraid."
Noe: "Fierce has its advantages: Subordinates are obedient. Orders issued from top to bottom are followed. Work flows smoothly and quickly, which is beneficial in many matters. Consolidating everything into one point creates immense power ??."
Noe: "But the best is the balanced king, who combines the advantages of the two. That means being fierce within the law ??; what is stipulated in the law must be done, without differing punishments for king, official, or commoner. But they must also be benevolent, rewarding and helping those in need to attract talented people from all places, disregarding status or family background—only talent matters." ??
Doanh Lord: "So what do I need to do?"
Noe: "That is the law ??: keep your word and covenants. Establish laws to punish those who do wrong or break the rules."
Doanh Lord: (Pondering) "I will try."
Noe: (Angrily, voice full of disappointment) "You must promise, not try! Don't you know? Our hunters have violated the agreement with the Forest Gods. Why haven't you punished or warned them?" ?? Garrison Lord: (Suddenly realizing, eyes widening) "Ah, it's about what happened the other day. I understand, I will go advise them, so they don't go there anymore."
Noe: (Furious, voice growing sharper) "How many times have you advised them?! You are the Doanh Lord! Punish them!" ??
The Forest God's Wrath
There was one occasion when Noe and Aeris ventured into the woods and were surrounded by the Forest God Deer and his Druid retinue, who were itching for a fight to vent their frustration. However, Noe managed to mediate and reason with the Forest God Deer, helping him quell his anger and earning permission for the duo to continue their investigation.
They sought out the local hunters, hoping to find a clue about the disturbances, but found nothing concrete—only strange reports of hunters losing their minds, wandering into the forest, returning with their quivers empty, and their clothes stained with the blood of wild beasts.
The Stronghold guards reported a similar unnerving feeling. Following their instincts, Noe and Aeris eventually stumbled upon a Graveyard deep in the woods—a place of absolute darkness and profound Death Aura (T? Khí). There, they discovered a hidden tunnel and descended together to search.
Suddenly, the tunnel entrance slammed shut, trapping both of them inside.
Desperate Escape
Zombies, shambling corpses from all directions, began swarming out to attack them. Noe drew his bow, accurately shooting arrows into their heads, while Aeris used his Golden Trident to smash them.
But arrows were limited, and the massive Golden Trident was too cumbersome to wield effectively in the confined space. In this urgent and dangerous situation, casting complex spells was nearly impossible. They had no choice but to flee, weaving through the narrow tunnels, descending deeper and deeper, with Aeris constantly leading the way.
Noe called out, "Do you even know where we are going?"
Aeris yelled back, "I don't know! But I can hear water ahead! It might be an Underground River (S?ng Ng?m)! We'll definitely be safe there!"
Noe instantly understood. As the Son of the Sea God, Aeris would be virtually invincible once he reached the water. Noe himself was a Water Mage (Pháp S? Thu? h?); falling into the water was akin to handing him a weapon.
Aeris continuously smashed through walls until they reached the river. He leaped in and shouted, "We're saved!"
At that exact moment, a colossal fish, its mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth—large enough to swallow Aeris whole—shot towards him. Aeris immediately spoke the Merman Language (Ng?n ng? Ng??i Cá): "In the name of the Sea God, I command you, take us out of here!"
The massive fish instantly closed its mouth, turned, and led the way for both of them.
The New Threat
They reported the situation to the Forest God and the Doanh Lord. The two leaders reconciled their differences and launched a full-scale sweep of the region.
Qu? ?m (Ghost Sound), finding himself with no escape route, fled straight into the West Wolf Nation (Tay Lang Qu?c). Later, he would be known across the lands as the Demon Wolf General (Ma Lang T??ng)—one of the most fearsome strategists of the West Wolf Nation.
--------------
Doanh Lord and Noe argued many times, but could not agree, finally Noe got angry and walked out. For a period afterward, no one saw where Noe was, when he arrived, or when he left. Even ?oàn Chính rarely saw him. Noe also withdrew from most of his previous activities, as he had participated voluntarily and promised nothing, so nothing could be said. Some people said Noe had crossed the river to the west to live with the Forest Gods. Others said Noe had gone up the mountain to cultivate, rumors stirring ???.
Doanh Thành continued to develop; more people came to buy horses and breeding horses. Many people came and went; many with good reputations came here seeking opportunities. Some stayed, but the most talented ones left, feeling that something was missing, making them unwilling to contribute their efforts to the Doanh Lord.