Chapter Eighty-Five: The Qilin Divine Beast and the Barbarian Kingdom (IV)

Master Shangheng continued, “Though Zhao Haiyan was a cultivator and seeker of the Dao, he was a man of great ambition. When he was born, the Wildlands had just entered an era of flourishing, and all kinds of beings — humans, beasts, and demons — had become immensely active and vigorous. In their struggle for abundant food and vast territory, human groups fought one another, and clashes between humans, demons, and wild beasts became frequent and brutal.

At that time, there were hundreds of human tribes or factions across the Wildlands. Each tribe battled the others for territory, resulting in scenes of extraordinary carnage. Witnessing such misery, Zhao Haiyan’s heart ached, and he longed to dedicate himself to the cause of unifying humanity across the Wildlands. However, lacking the organizational talents required, he chose instead to cultivate his Dao while observing which leader had the greatest capability, strength, and compassion for his people, intending to pledge himself to such a cause.

Thus, he waited and watched.

Eventually, one year, Zhao Haiyan observed that among all the groups in the Wildlands, there was a faction led by a chief named Zhao Renyi, which, in less than a decade, rose to prominence, surpassing all other human factions. Upon further investigation, Zhao Haiyan learned that Zhao Renyi was a man of exceptional martial prowess, deeply compassionate toward his people, and righteous in all his dealings, winning the hearts of his followers. He was eloquent and persuasive and often aided other tribes in defending against invaders. Those who received his help were eager to pledge themselves to him, seeking his protection, for it meant safety.

Zhao Renyi, ambitious in his own right, sought to unite all the tribes of the Wildlands, to bring all humanity together, and to lead them in cultivating the land so they might never again live in daily fear, but instead enjoy peace and prosperity. Therefore, he welcomed every group who came seeking alliance. As Zhao Renyi led his people to assist other tribes in battle, more and more came to join him. In about ten years, his group grew from a small tribe into a mighty faction numbering nearly several million — the foremost human power in the Wildlands.

As the numbers swelled, governance became difficult. Zhao Renyi gathered his most loyal and capable followers, and together they named their domain the Kingdom of the Barbarians. The land was divided into five regions, each assigned to a trusted general who governed it with troops. They then established rules and policies suited to the development of the kingdom, to guide, encourage, and restrain the conduct and labor of the people.

Because Zhao Renyi was diligent and benevolent, beloved by his officials, the laws and policies he devised won the people's hearts. Within a few years, the kingdom flourished, the people were well-fed and secure, and life was peaceful.

Zhao Haiyan, seeing this, was convinced that Zhao Renyi was the sovereign worthy of his lifelong service. He descended the mountain with his qilin beast, intent on pledging loyalty to Zhao Renyi and gifting the qilin as his mount.

Upon learning that Zhao Haiyan was a cultivator of extraordinary skill and cleverness, Zhao Renyi immediately retained him as his strategist. As for the qilin, though Zhao Renyi greatly desired it, he declined the gift, reasoning, “Since the qilin is beloved by my strategist, how can I, for my own sake, take what brings him joy? The sages say, ‘A gentleman does not take what others cherish.’ If my strategist, to please me, gives away his favorite steed, his heart will surely harbor regret. To spare him this, I cannot accept what he loves. Moreover, the qilin has grown attached to him and is accustomed to his company.”

On hearing this, Zhao Haiyan exclaimed, “Truly, our king is a wise and worthy ruler!” and swore lifelong devotion to the Kingdom of the Barbarians.

Indeed, from then on, with Zhao Haiyan’s counsel, Zhao Renyi swiftly conquered and unified over a third of the human factions in the Wildlands.

After Zhao Renyi’s death, Zhao Haiyan continued to serve his son, and, because Zhao Haiyan’s cultivation granted him a life many times longer than ordinary men, he served the grandson in turn. He remained in service until the tenth year of Zhao Jingkuang’s reign, when he finally passed away. The qilin beast, having followed Zhao Haiyan faithfully, vanished thereafter, and has not been seen since.

From the moment Zhao Haiyan died, the Kingdom of the Barbarians fell into decline, until it has become what it is today.”

When Daoist Xuanwu heard this, he said, “It is just as you have said, Master. As long as the qilin beast was present, the kingdom flourished. When the qilin left, decline followed.”

Master Shangheng replied, “The words of the ancients are not to be doubted. The qilin is an auspicious beast; wherever it appears, peace and good fortune follow. Now that fate has brought this qilin beast to you, it proves that our cause of gathering forces to overthrow the current king, Zhao Jingkuang, is just. If we do not act, the people of this land will suffer unending hardship, be overrun by foreign powers, or even destroyed by the beasts and demons.”

“Master, since the qilin beast is such an auspicious creature, let it be your mount,” Xuanwu said. “In this way, you may teach it and travel more conveniently.”

But Master Shangheng replied, “The beast was revived by your hand; this proves a special fate binds you two. Since destiny has brought you together, you must not be separated. I cannot, simply because you are my disciple, accept it as a gift. Just as Zhao Renyi said, ‘A gentleman does not take what others cherish.’ Do you understand?”

Xuanwu had truly wished to give the qilin beast to his master, but hearing these words, he recognized their wisdom.

From that day forward, Daoist Xuanwu and the qilin became inseparable companions. In his leisure, Xuanwu passed on to the qilin the inner cultivation methods he had learned from Master Shangheng, sometimes even infusing his own energy into the creature to strengthen it. He took the qilin with him on his travels, walking side by side. Occasionally, the qilin would lower itself, inviting Xuanwu to ride, but he always refused, for in his heart he regarded the qilin as family. How could one ride a member of one’s own family? Only when exhaustion overtook him would he occasionally accept the qilin’s offer.

Until one day, while recruiting followers, Daoist Xuanwu encountered in the kingdom a boy named Huang Xianlin, orphaned after his parents were slain by soldiers…