Immortal Druid

[POV: Hu Gang]

The pavilion outside Freedom City stood in quiet contrast to the unrest gripping the world. Gentle winds stirred the curtains hanging from its wooden beams, carrying the fragrance of distant forests across the stone path.

Upon the worn steps sat a handsome man with short dark hair and eyes that seemed forever closed. His posture remained relaxed, yet no one who recognized him would mistake it for carelessness. Hu Gang slowly drew the long sword resting across his lap, the polished blade reflecting a pale shimmer beneath the morning light.

With practiced movements, he reached into his storage ring and laid out the familiar collection of maintenance tools. A folded cloth, whetstones of varying grit, a vial of refined sword oil, a fine brush for clearing stubborn residue from the guard, and a slender polishing rod were arranged neatly beside him. He began by wiping away every trace of dust left from recent battles before carefully inspecting the blade from hilt to tip. His fingertips glided lightly across the flat of the sword, searching for imperfections too subtle for ordinary eyes to notice.

Finding several tiny chips left behind from severing impossibly resilient flesh, he wetted the whetstone and patiently restored the edge with smooth, deliberate strokes. The rhythmic scrape of steel against stone echoed softly through the quiet pavilion, each motion measured with the same precision he devoted to every sword strike.

There was a great deal weighing upon Hu Gang's mind. Not long ago, he believed the greatest threat facing the continent was the war gathering upon their doorstep. Every kingdom, sect, and cultivator had already been preparing themselves for the inevitable clash. Yet fate rarely cared for mortal expectations. Now another nightmare had emerged from beyond their world itself, forcing everyone to confront enemies that should never have existed. He exhaled quietly as the memory returned to him, the revolting sensation of his blade slicing through writhing tentacles that seemed neither alive nor dead. Even now, recalling that touch made his grip tighten ever so slightly around the hilt.

Fortunately, tending to his sword had always calmed his thoughts. Every stroke across the whetstone pushed distracting worries further away. Every careful application of oil reminded him that no matter how chaotic the world became, there remained simple rituals that never changed.

"It didn't feel that long ago when I was teaching you how to take care of that sword."

The familiar voice carried gentle amusement.

Hu Gang paused before lifting his head. Turning toward the entrance of the pavilion, he found an elderly man approaching with unhurried steps. Time had etched countless wrinkles upon his weathered face, and the once-powerful warrior now leaned ever so slightly upon a wooden cane. Even so, the calm dignity surrounding him remained unchanged.

It was Guo Yupin.

The years had transformed him into an old man, a far cry from the heroic warrior who had once saved Hu Gang's life.

"You've aged gracefully," Hu Gang remarked with a faint smile.

Guo Yupin laughed, shaking his head. "You've never truly been good with compliments. Perhaps that's one of the unfortunate consequences of spending your life being so sly."

Hu Gang chuckled. "And who was it that taught me half those tricks?"

Guo Yupin raised both hands in surrender. "Guilty as charged. We were far too troublesome in our youth."

"Even so," Hu Gang said warmly, "congratulations on becoming the Sect Leader of Serenity Cliff Sect."

The smile on Guo Yupin's face gradually faded. He lowered his gaze, releasing a weary sigh that carried far more exhaustion than relief.

Hu Gang noticed immediately.

"Is something troubling you, old friend?"

"It's nothing," Guo Yupin answered after a brief silence. "It's just... I never wanted to become Sect Leader."

Hu Gang resumed polishing the blade, his voice remaining calm.

"And I never wanted to become king."

Guo Yupin let out a bitter laugh.

Hu Gang continued, "Do you remember something you once told me when we were still young? You said power always calls to people. Not because they deserved it, nor because some grand design decreed it. No. It was because one of two things happened. Either someone sought power... or power found someone."

He finally lifted his eyes toward Guo Yupin.

"In your case, it was the latter."

Guo Yupin silently accepted those words before changing the subject.

"Have you no intention of seeing your son?"

Hu Gang's expression remained composed.

"It is better that the son in question remains ignorant of my existence. Nothing good would come from revealing the truth."

Guo Yupin studied his old friend for a long moment.

"...Have you seen him?"

Hu Gang gave a slow nod.

"I have."

His thoughts drifted back to the chaos caused by the invasion of that otherworldly monster. Amid collapsing buildings, fleeing civilians, and cultivators desperately resisting the impossible enemy, he had seen the young man for only a brief moment.

The boy...

No.

His son had become quite the man.

Even while surrounded by panic, he had taken initiative without hesitation, directing others to safety while protecting those too frightened to move. He had chosen responsibility instead of fear. Watching from afar had been enough for Hu Gang to understand that the child he never raised had grown into someone worthy of admiration.

A quiet sense of pride settled within him.

Without another word, Hu Gang finished applying the final layer of oil before carefully wiping away the excess. Satisfied with the flawless edge, he gathered every tool and returned them one by one into his storage ring. The sword slid smoothly back into its sheath at his waist with a crisp metallic click.

"You should be going now," Hu Gang said. "The Sage and I still have matters to discuss."

Guo Yupin cupped his fists respectfully.

"Then I shall not waste your time any longer. Farewell."

"Farewell."

The elderly sect leader turned and slowly departed along the stone path until his figure disappeared beyond the trees.

Silence returned to the pavilion.

Hu Gang stood up, addressing the unseen.

"It isn't good to eavesdrop."

The air several paces away distorted.

A sickly-looking man dressed in dark robes stepped out from empty space itself as though he had always been there. His complexion appeared unnaturally pale, yet his presence was impossibly concealed until the very moment he revealed himself.

Hu Gang recognized him immediately.

He was the very same man who had stolen a copy of the Four Sovereign Flags' war ultimatum.

"I've seen you before," Hu Gang said evenly.

The stranger inclined his head.

"I believe we have yet to be formally introduced."

Hu Gang rested one hand upon the pommel of his sword.

"Hu Gang. Sword King of the Horizon."

The pale man returned the courtesy with a slight bow.

"Hao Lei of the Ignoble Sect."

A trace of surprise surfaced across Hu Gang's otherwise tranquil face.

The Sage already had Lady Mab and Lady Nyx serving under him. Yet standing before him now was another Immortal.

Hao Lei noticed the subtle reaction and smiled faintly.

"I must say, I'm impressed by your senses. Very few people would've noticed I was listening."

Hu Gang remained expressionless.

"Cut to the chase."

His gaze sharpened.

"Where is the Sage? He promised we would have a talk."

"The Sage sent me here," Hao Lei answered calmly. "He believes the two of us should clear the air between ourselves first and settle our differences. Once that's done, you'll have your audience with him."

Hu Gang pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out a long sigh.

"What exactly is he expecting?" he muttered. "That we embrace each other and pretend everything is fine? You trespassed into my office."

Hao Lei rolled his eyes.

"And you almost killed me."

Hu Gang stared at Hao Lei for a long moment before reaching into his storage ring. His fingers emerged holding a small jade jar sealed with intricate runes. Without another word, he flicked his wrist, sending it through the air.

Hao Lei caught it effortlessly.

Hu Gang folded his arms. "That is a medicinal ointment refined specifically for scars and deep wounds inflicted by my sword. Ordinary healing medicines cannot properly deal with sword intent lingering within such injuries. Apply it once a day, and the remaining traces should disappear. Consider it... an apology."

Hao Lei uncorked the jar just enough to inspect its contents before replacing the lid.

"That will do."

He likewise reached into his own storage ring before producing a black token engraved with an unassuming eye. With a casual toss, the token flew toward Hu Gang.

Hu Gang caught it between two fingers.

"We're even," Hao Lei said. "That token represents the Ignoble Sect. Present it to any of our people, and our intelligence network shall answer whatever you wish to know. If the information exists, we'll find it."

Hu Gang lowered his gaze toward the token. It appeared rather ordinary.

Without waiting for another response, Hao Lei stepped backward. Space rippled around him before swallowing his figure entirely, leaving the pavilion quiet once more.

Hu Gang slipped the token into his storage ring, unconvinced.

He had parted with a precious healing treasure, and in return, all he had received was a token.

"You look disappointed."

The familiar voice appeared before its owner.

Hu Gang instinctively turned.

A young, long-eared man wearing simple robes now stood inside the pavilion as though he had always been there. No fluctuations announced his arrival. No disturbance betrayed his movement.

It was the Sage.

Hu Gang immediately cupped his fists.

"This humble one greets the Sage. Please forgive my earlier hostility toward your subordinate."

Wo Li smiled gently.

"There is no need."

He walked toward the stone table before taking a seat.

"The Ignoble Sect is an intelligence organization equipped with methods unavailable to most of the cultivation world. I also have personal stakes in its continued existence. If Hao Lei's token felt insufficient compared to your treasure, then I apologize."

Hu Gang shook his head.

"Everything is fine. There is no need to think too much about it."

He had absolutely no intention of antagonizing the figure standing before him.

After all, this was the very person who had confronted that horrifying otherworldly existence head-on. No sane cultivator would casually provoke someone capable of surviving such a battle.

Wo Li gestured toward the seat opposite him.

"Please, sit."

Hu Gang complied without hesitation.

A kettle appeared upon the stone table together with two modest teacups. Wo Li calmly heated the water before adding fragrant tea leaves into the pot. The soothing aroma gradually filled the pavilion as steam curled gently into the air.

To Hu Gang's surprise, their conversation began not with monsters or war, but with commerce.

Wo Li requested that the Horizon Kingdom open trade through the Twin Mountains Domain, allowing goods to flow more freely between their territories. He further explained that he had no intention of publicly revealing the relationship between the Stone Spire Sect, the Steel Sky Sect, and the Circle. That secrecy would permit the Horizon Kingdom to establish mercantile cooperation with both sects naturally, while allowing Freedom City to benefit from increased commerce despite its obvious connection to him.

From there, the discussion wandered through diplomacy, military deployment, transportation, technology, logistics, and countless other matters concerning the continent's future. Hours seemed to pass unnoticed as tea was poured and refilled several times.

Only then did Hu Gang realize something.

The Sage had patiently answered every topic while quietly waiting for him to raise the question truly weighing upon his heart.

Hu Gang finally set down his teacup.

"What is your plan regarding the war?"

His expression grew solemn.

"The sects marked for destruction will not emerge unscathed. We need a course of action as soon as possible, but what exactly are we supposed to do? I don't believe this war can be stopped anymore. Even if someone miraculously intercepted the ultimatum before it reached its destination, the Four Sovereign Flags would still move against the Ten Great Sects."

His voice became heavier.

"I stand against this war."

A brief silence followed.

"And yet... I will still have to lead my armies against the Ten Great Sects."

He looked beyond the pavilion toward the distant horizon.

"There are many reasons behind that decision, but one fact remains unchanged. The Ten Great Sects have occupied their seats of power for far too long. Corruption has seeped into their very foundations. That old order must be destroyed so something better may rise in its place."

His fingers tightened around the teacup.

"The tragedy is that the bloodshed waiting ahead may be so severe that nothing remains to rebuild."

Neither man spoke for several moments.

Both understood the true force driving everything.

The Heavenly Domain Sect.

Even so, Hu Gang knew reality was far more complicated.

"Even if the Heavenly Domain Sect disappeared tomorrow, this war would still come. Remove the Ten Great Sects, and eventually the Four Sovereign Flags would simply turn against one another. That is, assuming the Heavenly Domain Sect and the countless outside organizations chose to leave everyone alone."

Wo Li quietly nodded.

"I intend to do what I said earlier. I will visit the Ten Great Sects. If necessary, I will also visit the Four Sovereign Flags."

Hu Gang met his gaze.

"And do what exactly?"

"Talk."

The answer was immediate.

Hu Gang frowned.

"And if talking ends in a fight?"

"I'll win."

Wo Li answered with complete confidence before calmly taking another sip of tea.

"However... that isn't really the question, is it?"

He lowered his cup.

"You are only one person. No matter how quickly you travel, you can only be in one place at a time."

Hu Gang slowly nodded.

That, more than anything else, was the greatest limitation.

From there, he revealed every sect the Four Sovereign Flags intended to strike first. He explained each sect's strengths, weaknesses, leadership, political alliances, defensive formations, and the personalities of those likely to command resistance. Wo Li listened without interruption, occasionally asking concise questions that cut directly to the heart of each issue.

The discussion gradually expanded into countless possibilities. They examined evacuation routes for civilians, methods of preserving valuable inheritances, diplomatic channels that could still be salvaged, opportunities to separate moderate factions from extremists, and ways to reduce unnecessary casualties without interfering with the unavoidable tide of history.

By the time the sun began descending beyond the distant mountains, both men had agreed upon a series of coordinated actions. None of them could prevent the coming war.

But together, they might soften its impact.

Hu Gang rose from his seat and respectfully cupped his fists.

"Thank you for your hospitality, Sage."

He fastened his sword securely at his waist.

"Now... I must do my part."

Wo Li returned the gesture with a small nod as Hu Gang departed the pavilion, already preparing himself for the difficult road awaiting the Horizon Kingdom.