The Semblance of Shen Mo

In the Eastern Sea, seven states are allied to each other; Qin, Chu, Zhao, Yan, Qi, Wei, and Han. Qin; the greatest state due to military strength. Other states are wary of Qin for its rapid progress. However, everyone's sudden disappearance alarmed the rest. The most possible suspect for Qin's downfall should be Chu State. Though Chu State is not strong, it has a lot of connections and has the greatest wealth. However, the lack of evidence brought no explanation to Qin's demise.

"Will of Heaven, are you sure this was done by a variable?" Shen Mo asked as they traveled across the vast sea. In the end, he was the envoy Tao Supreme Sect sent. If it wasn't for Wu's security, he wouldn't meddle and boot Gu Cheng here instead.

"Yes. This variable is not simple too. He or she is able to infect millions of people in a day. This variable's existence can easily destroy Wu. The souls of those that vanished can't be traced. Maybe we can head to the Ghost Realm next. In case they are still there."

Will of Heaven is flying next to Shen Mo in the form of a majestic white avian about the size of a lesser eagle. Her talons are long and slender, with wings as mesmerizing as a phoenix in a toned down category. She can change her shape as she will, as long as it is within her control. It enables the Will of Heaven to blend within Wu whenever she longs for.

"Did they disappear in one day?" Shen Mo inquired, knowing arrays that can cause such things but it should have left some fragments of Dao. Yet, according to Gu Cheng, there are no fragments.

"Not just in one day. It was not even a second." Will of Heaven's eyes sharpened. She had never encountered a variable as strong as this.

Usually, the variables she had dealt with are still in her grasp. They are souls from other dimensions that occupied bodies born in this universe she gate keeps. Thus, they can't resist her manipulation most of the time. Very few can almost ascend to immortality. Will of Heaven used every local being in this universe to stop those half variables and it never fails. Unfortunately, a remarkable variable appeared this time. By the day it arrived, in just less than a second, everyone in Qin was gone. It agitated Will of Heaven.

Though she controls the universe, she can't directly meddle with these forces. She indirectly does that through local beings under her wing. For example, Shen Mo. He can be her representative in Wu and he is capable of solving this issue. She is betting on Shen Mo but if he can't, the whole universe is doomed.

"Why are variables being drawn here? Don't they have their own Will of Heaven to stop them from migrating?" Shen Mo sounds dissatisfied with aliens being deported in this world he is protecting. They can wreak havoc in any world they want, just leave Wu out of it or he goes berserk.

"I have no idea why. Just because I am the Will of Heaven, I can do whatever I want. I am only here to weave destinies and decide which is deserving or not."

"Pui! You are fate yourself and look at what you did to other people. Deserving or not, that's nonsense. Your main purpose is to cause misery and drama every day." Shen Mo thought in secret. If he was to voice it out, a Heavenly Tribulation might befall him this second.

"Those variables are not in my control like I said. I've been guarding this world since the start of time but I never detected a soul going to another dimension. I'm afraid these deportees are sent on purpose by their Will of Heaven. As for their motive, I have no idea. The variables I got rid of were similar in one thing. They like being low-key even if they have massive strength. I can't find them unless they go through the tribulation. Sometimes I use tribulations to make them fail, cripple them or even cause their death. It's justifiable anyway."

Shen Mo stared at the Will of Heaven as if he heard something ridiculous. He wanted to retort, she has been trying to kill him for a thousand years. If he doesn't want to be immortal, then fine, she can just corner him through a life and death situation. That was Will of Heaven's logic when dealing with an abnormal like him. Luckily for Shen Mo, he survived every tribulation and reaped benefits. He also took a grasp of Fate and became the first local being to have no destiny.

"Will of Heaven, I can decide my destiny without your intervention. Does that mean I'm a variable myself?"

He raised this question out of curiosity. The Will of Heaven shook her head and explained, "The fate you have originated from me. You are not a harmful variable to this world, but you're a plague for me. You can influence those around you and weaken my control of fate. Fortunately, we are allies and I always take advantage of your destiny for this world's own good. So, I don't bother eliminating you. Not until you become a god."

"Forget it." He scoffed unhappily. Shen Mo knew the Will of Heaven doesn't like him for a bit. She can do everything to dispatch him but she can also use him to secure her yard from aliens. It's all a win-win for her. Shen Mo thought to himself, "Bah, a dog in her yard."

In no time, they arrived at Chu, a state so vast, so resourceful, and brimming with business. The cities are flooded with mixes of cultivators, merchants, and wealthy nobles. The edges of each area are perfect for livestock and farming, the land so fertile with bodies of water to further enhance its capabilities. Chu, their first destination because of Spring Blossom Sect. Its sect leader Hu Xuejia has all the information they need to know.

Spring Blossom Sect is in the rural areas of Chu, the well-known haven of female cultivators in the Eastern Sea. It was established here on purpose to get far from arrogant young masters in the city. After the foundation of Spring Blossom Sect, even outer court disciples are feared. Only a few men are stupid enough to harass its members.

The sect has neverending spring scenery. It was surrounded by a forest and mountains where faunas flourish. Not only were plant and trees blooming, but the disciples are also exceptional beauties. Their sweet giggles can be heard outside the vermillion walls, enchanting those who just meant to pass by.

From the highest peak of the sect stood a pavilion exuding elegance from its softly waving curtains, thin enough to reveal a silhouette of an alluring lady, waiting patiently for her guest. Even with the veil covering her lower face, it is unable to shadow her charm. With her round doe eyes exposed and willow eyebrows to accompany, just a glimpse from her could cause one to shy away.

Ta!

Heels stepped on the tiled pavement leading in her direction. Hu Xuejia turned behind her to see Shen Mo. He is wearing his usual dark cloak and hood to hide his 'cursed' face. Shen Mo has this habit every time he leaves the Mainland. To those who never heard of him, they will just blurt out he looks like a woman. Thus, he prefers to hide his appearance.

"Senior Venerable, you're back." Hu Xuejia smiled underneath her veil, her apricot eyes formed to a sly crescent. She stepped forward and spread her arms in an effort to throw herself at him . "I missed you~."

Tonk!

Shen Mo took out a fan and hit the top of her head, causing Hu Xuejia to squat down in pain. The poor beauty was reduced to a sorry state as she rubbed her head with tears about to flow.

"Undisciplined as ever, hmph." Shen Mo tapped the fan on his palm as if giving her a deadly warning.

"The Senior suddenly barged here, can I not ask for a mere hug? Wuwu!" Hu Xuejia cried out.

"Don't play dumb with me, Xuejia. I came here to talk about Qin State. It's very important." He stated and brought the fan close to her so she could hold it and help her stand.

Upon mentioning Qin State, Hu Xuejia turned serious. She stood up on her own and retrieved a scroll, her demeanor spells 'straight to business during a crisis'. Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. Where has that bullied expression of hers gone to?

"It's all in there. I sent three elders to scout Qin and their reports are odd." Hu Xuejia handed him the scroll quickly.

"There must be a survivor." Shen Mo asserted after skimming through the report.

It was mentioned in the scroll that the elders found food decreasing in some parts of Qin. Other than the food, some expensive clothes and shoes are missing. If it were bandits that attacked Qin, it should have left traces of blood or they would have taken everything they could loot. Yet, according to the elder's observation, only a few amounts of food are decreasing and no valuables are stolen. There are also smokes in some places, proving a trace of a survivor. What puzzled the elders is that they can't find who it was.

"I want to search for Qin." Shen Mo closed the scroll and told her his decision.

Hu Xuejia had expected this. A lot of super forces are trying to investigate Qin's sudden downfall and determine who is behind it all. But, even with the combined forces of the whole Eastern Sea, they failed to find anything. It alarmed everyone for their own lives. Now the Mainland even sent Wu Patriarch for an investigation spelling dire and urgency to everyone.

Qin is as desolate as they described. The once glorious Qin was nothing but an eerie and empty land. No speck of life could be traced and what was left as proof of Qin people's existence were the inanimate objects, carts of goods once thought to be sold, and the dusty wind blew on the faded curtains hanging in every store.

Not until a child stepped out of a hidden passage leading to an underground chamber. It was a young girl in a dirty red dress. She climbed out of the wooden door that is hidden behind a stall of fruit. The young girl was delighted to see the fruits are still fresh. She grabbed countless of them and started eating nonstop.

"Woah! Qin is so empty."

She was instantly alarmed upon hearing a man's voice nearby. The young girl quickly hid behind the counter of the stall just as Shen Mo and Hu Xuejia got close.

"The last time I came here was five centuries ago. It was full of people." Shen Mo said. He looked around but his ear suddenly flinched.

His gaze landed in the store of fruit. He is sure he heard something there. A sound identical to someone eating peaches.

"Senior, if I remember right, you were here to stop my engagement." Hu Xuejia sneered after bringing up that topic. Shen Mo reacted by looking away in avoidance. The pretty lady can't help but giggle. "I never knew you would be so sweet considering how you always beat me up with a bamboo stick."

"It was because you will marry a possessed emperor. Don't twist my motives!"

In the past, Hu Xuejia was bent on currying favor from an emperor in Chu for Spring Blossom Sect's favor in guise of marriage. Coincidentally, the demon Shen Mo was chasing was the one that possessed the emperor. He literally crashed a wedding uninvited and savagely slapped the emperor in front of his subjects!

The memory made Hu Xuejia snicker with the plan to tease him more. Her half-a-senior-brother Shen Mo was rarely flustered and it was a sight to see if ever.

"Xuejia." Shen Mo called and motioned for her to stay quiet.

Hu Xuejia did what he asked and observed the place. Shen Mo approached the fruit stall without producing a sound. He used his divine consciousness to see through the wooden walls and found a scrawny girl eating hungrily.

"Wait a minute." He frowned. Shen Mo turned to Will of Heaven who is standing next to him. No one can see her aside from him or to those she chose to appear at.

Will of Heaven was skeptical. She shook her head in turn. "I don't know her. She doesn't have a name and she seems to be a normal human being. She can't cultivate."

"How come she is the only survivor?" Shen Mo transmitted his voice to the Will of Heaven. They are both confused by this question.

"I'm afraid she is already half a Chaos Bringer. She was infected. I can't see her future." Will of Heaven showed a distressed look. She reached a decision and became serious. "Shen Mo, this child must die."

Shen Mo's gaze was calm. He got closer to the stall and with a wave of his sleeve, everything turned to dust and pulps. However, the girl remained unscathed. Shen Mo met the girl's crystal clear eyes, devoid of any emotion. He was ready to kill her without the use of any weapon but after seeing her personally, there was hesitation in his heart.

That empty glance, fearless and everything else, was the same when he was a boy. She reminds him of his past self.