Wu Shuai's brow was tightly furrowed, his face etched with bitterness. "What I'm questioning now is this — what if this entire thing is just a scheme? A conspiracy designed specifically to target me and my father, to frame our entire race? 'The Dragonmen shall rise' — perhaps that's nothing but a lie. A fabricated prophecy created by the true culprit to entrap our people."
Gu Liang pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "That possibility is extremely slim. According to your father's account, his ability to come into contact with Destiny Gu was the result of many coincidences stacking upon one another. None of it could have been artificially controlled — many of the critical steps were your father's own choices."
"It is precisely because there are too many coincidences that I suspect foul play."
"Friend, consider this — how did the human race first learn of the Heavenly Mandate revealed within Destiny Gu? Your father's situation is no different." Gu Liang's single retort left Wu Shuai speechless.
At that moment, a booming voice rang out from the sky. A Heavenly Court Gu Immortal had arrived, requesting to visit and check on the condition of Wu Shuai's father.
"They've come so quickly!" Gu Liang's expression changed drastically. "Friend Wu Shuai, decide now! If you delay even a step, not only will all your efforts of a lifetime go to waste — your entire Dragonmen race could be exterminated!"
Wu Shuai's face went deathly pale, the color draining like blood from paper. His body swayed, nearly collapsing.
Cornered by circumstance, Wu Shuai had no choice but to make his decision.
He knew that this decision would haunt him with pain for the rest of his life — but he had to make it!
Even though he could not be certain whether the prophecy of the Dragonmen's rise was genuine, even though it might truly be someone else's frame-up, he dared not take the gamble.
If he lost the bet, the cost would not be merely his own life or his father's — it would be the entire Dragonmen race.
That very day, Wu Shuai's father perished — body and soul annihilated — after suffering the backlash of a failed attempt to construct the Eastern Heavenly Gate.
The Heavenly Court Gu Immortal found no leads. Though suspicion lingered, nothing could be pinned on Wu Shuai, an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, and they were forced to leave.
For the next dozen or so nights in succession, Wu Shuai could not sleep.
Tai Qin comforted him, and Wu Shuai held his beloved and wept bitterly.
Tai Qin spoke gently, "The dead cannot return to life. Please calm your grief, Senior Brother. Father-in-law sacrificed himself in the construction of the Central Heavenly Gate — surely Heavenly Court will commend him."
The true reason, Wu Shuai dared not tell Tai Qin. He could only swallow the bitter fruit alone.
He said instead, "Do you know, Junior Sister — ever since I killed Song Taozi, I have often had a recurring dream."
"In this dream, I become the king of the Dragonmen. I lead our people to rise up, living lives of freedom and peace."
"I reside deep within the Dragon Court, governing through non-interference. The Dragonmen live in contentment and prosperity, equal and secure."
"Huang Wei is still my most capable assistant, handling all worldly affairs on my behalf."
"My father is proud of me. He says to me: 'My son, you truly did it. You are your father's pride!'"
"And you and I live happily together, surrounded by our children, laughing and playing without a care."
At this point, Wu Shuai raised his head and let out a mournful howl. "But now — all I have left is you, Junior Sister!"
Tai Qin's expression was equally sorrowful. In all these years, she had never conceived Wu Shuai's child.
Between two Dragonmen, procreation was abundant — even more prolific than among humans. But between a variant human and a human, the probability of conceiving a child was vanishingly small. This was true not only of Dragonmen but of all variant races.
This dealt Wu Shuai a crushing blow. For the better part of a year afterward, he was consumed by grief.
Gu Liang came to counsel him. "Friend Wu Shuai, I understand your pain with all my heart. But please, be mindful of Heavenly Court — do not let your grief and guilt run so deep that they give you away. If all this comes to nothing at the last moment, wouldn't your father have sacrificed himself in vain?"
Wu Shuai was jolted as if struck by lightning. He wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and clasped his hands in a grateful bow. "Friend, thank you for your guidance — had it not been for you, I would have ruined everything."
Gu Liang nodded with a gentle smile. "You have been too consumed by sorrow these past days. You haven't continued construction of the Eastern Heavenly Gate at all. It's time to resume."
"But the prophecy within Destiny Gu — that proclamation that 'the Dragonmen shall rise' — is it truly real?" Wu Shuai remained haunted by the question, unable to let it go.
Gu Liang smiled. "To verify it, the best approach would be to let you come into contact with Destiny Gu once more. But the risk here is far too great. In truth, you need not be anxious at all. Simply wait with patience, and the truth will reveal itself in time."
"You mean...?" Wu Shuai seemed to grasp something.
Gu Liang nodded. "Exactly. If the Dragonmen are truly meant to rise, then Heavenly Will shall shower great favor upon your race. Your father is like Yu Ji of ages past. When Yu Ji was still a Gu Master, he was nothing more than a slave, tasked with sweeping the Stone People's Holy Temple. Yet by drawing near to Destiny Gu, he came to learn of the Heavenly Mandate — that the human race shall rise. And following Destiny Gu's guidance every step of the way, he stole it away and presented it to the most crucial figure of all — Primordial, who had not yet ascended to Venerable status."
"I know of Yu Ji. He was Primordial Venerable's Guardian of the Dao. He received the Heavenly Mandate, yet did not perish — instead he successfully stole Destiny Gu. So why did my father...?" Wu Shuai's expression twisted with pain.
Gu Liang said, "I have my own suspicions about the reason. Do you remember what I told you before — that Star Constellation Immortal Venerable once merged her will with the Dao? Ever since then, her will has been interfering with Heavenly Will. It is most likely because of this that your father met his tragic end. But he still succeeded in extracting the great secret of the Dragonmen's rise — his death was not without meaning."
Gu Liang continued to console him. "Your father revealed this secret to you, Wu Shuai. It may well be that you are the key figure in the Heavenly Mandate, just as Primordial was. So you must not lose heart, you must not give up — on the contrary, you should strive even harder!"