Chosen: Beyond Fate

The bowl shattered, and the man died. In a simple second, Lei Yaoxing collapsed backward. Amid futile struggling, he bled out and died.

Within the deathly silence, nobody spoke. Only Ji Jue craned his neck upward with wide eyes, practically wishing he could pull out a telescope and examine everything frame by frame. What the hell was that? What just happened? How did that happen?

A Rebirth Realm Chosen One could survive being thrown into a furnace alive. Those with stronger defenses could take an anti-materiel rifle round to the face without even having their skin pierced. And yet, a fragment of coarse porcelain bouncing off the ground had slit open Lei Yaoxing’s throat and caused him to bleed to death? He didn’t even have the strength to struggle.

What kind of principle was this? How was this even possible? His hair practically stood on end. He could not understand it, could not make sense of it, could not figure it out at all.

At that moment, all he managed to perceive was a faint ripple of spirit matter that surfaced when the porcelain bowl shattered. Silent and flowing, fleeting and soundless, it swept through the mourning hall in the blink of an eye. Then it pierced flesh and soul alike, stole away a life, and finally returned to darkness. There had been no drawn blades, no desperate life-and-death struggle. The execution had simply been carried out with casual ease.

Everything had felt far too natural, so natural that it completely disconnected from Ji Jue’s understanding of reality. The resulting contradiction overturned everything he knew and sent a chill down his spine, enveloping his entire body.

“So this is what a White Deer hunter is...” he muttered, dazed.

Tong Shan turned around. “Can you make sense of it?”

Ji Jue promptly shook his head.

“That was the White Deer hunters’ Absolute Execution Art, a technique several levels beyond even Flying Light Edge,” Tong Shan replied softly. “Among White Deer’s followers, only three families were granted the title of hunters and entrusted with the claws and fangs of the Supreme Benevolence. Their duty is to defend the wilderness, preserve the cycle, and eradicate calamities.

“Like hunters tasked with eliminating invasive species, they maintain the ecological balance and continuation of the wilderness. Among them, the An clan’s responsibility is the removal of internal threats. Every one of their techniques is founded upon hunting their own kind. Absolute Execution was born from this very principle. Outsiders are destined never to understand it, not even glimpse its secrets.”

He paused for a moment, the look he gave Ji Jue gaining a subtle meaning.

“Before this, I thought Ms. Wen being able to keep a stray White Deer under control was already an anomaly. I never expected you to surpass her.”

Ji Jue’s face twitched several times as he kept stopping himself from speaking.

You’re wearing such a deadpan face, acting all serious, so how are you this practiced at spectating drama?! There’s definitely something wrong with every single one of you Tong people, isn’t there?!

Depressed, Ji Jue suddenly realized that compared to all these aristocratic families, the Lou family actually seemed the most normal?!

Oh no. Don’t tell me the Lou family also has terrifying hidden tricks, except Young Master Lou got tossed out to become a craftsman before learning any of the real stuff?

Amid the shock and numb silence, the blood on the ground gradually spread while the corpse turned cold, utterly lifeless. Even the blessings and spirit matter had completely dissipated, transforming into ghostly mist that scattered with the wind.

If the situation had not been so inappropriate, Ji Jue would have absolutely rushed up there with his toolbox to salvage things. Watching valuable materials lose all worth right before his eyes, he honestly did not know whether he should feel heartbroken about it.

And so, An Ning silently looked down from above until the last trace of light faded from Lei Yaoxing’s eyes. Within that emptiness, only dull darkness remained.

She turned around and gave her surroundings one final look. Almost like a farewell, she dipped her head slightly before turning to leave.

After that slender figure disappeared into the curtain of rain, the frozen atmosphere within the mourning hall finally eased somewhat, though the heaviness still remained. No, if anything, the tension and fear were even worse than before.

When faced with a White Deer hunter’s Absolute Execution, all one had to do was wait for death. But sometimes death was not the most terrifying thing. The truly terrifying part was not knowing what one would have to face next. Would everyone still be alive after this?

Around Lei Yaoxing, the spreading blood had already reached the feet of his trusted subordinates, yet from the profound silence, no one dared to move. They could only wait in terror for their fate to unfold.

Amid a coughing fit, Chen Xingzhou said, “When a man dies, all grudges come to an end. For the sake of the kindness he once showed you, help take care of his funeral arrangements. Once the wake is over, bury them together. Consider it a way of fulfilling Old Master Lei's wish and honoring the bond between father and son.

“Since Lei Yaoxing is already dead, there’s no need to pursue the rest any further. Once the accounts are settled, whether you stay or leave is up to you. If you want to leave Cliff City, that’s fine as well. I only hope you won't make the wrong choice and bring trouble upon yourselves.”

Under that lofty and indifferent gaze, the expressions of those who had received the blessing varied. Some were grim, some looked on with hatred in their eyes, but most lowered their heads in submission.

Lei Yaoxing’s fate had now been settled.

Next, amid the breathless anticipation of everyone present, Chen Xingzhou finally turned around. With a warm smile, he addressed the crowd.

“It’s rare for everyone to gather like this. Cliff City has been chaotic for long enough. It’s time we picked someone to take charge,” he proposed. “I’ll be the one calling the shots. Any objections?”

“I’m all for it!” Right behind him, a short man in the leopard-print jacket with gold teeth immediately raised his hand. Fierce-eyed, he swept his gaze across the room, looking every bit the loyal henchman ready to smash in the skull of anyone who dared oppose his boss.

“Works for me!”

“Same here!”

“Count me in too!!”

Everyone present scrambled to voice their support, terrified that hesitating even a moment longer would get them killed. Others simply stood quietly behind Mr. Lin, silently watching everything unfold with faint smiles.

Thus they witnessed the end of this struggle, the reunification of the Wasteland Assembly, and the birth of a brand new boss. Reflected within the winding trails of blood, the slaughter within Cliff City’s underworld, which had lasted half a month, had finally come to an end. No, perhaps the killing had never truly ended. It had only temporarily entered a lull.

Before the mourning hall, the newly established boss Chen Xingzhou raised his hand. The moment he did, silence descended once more. Only his hoarse voice echoed through the mourning hall.

“Thank you, everyone, for supporting me as the boss for this ten-year term. I am not Lei Wuye. The position of boss is not a toy belonging solely to me. In ten years, if there are still rising talents who wish to rise through merit, or wealthy and powerful friends who want to contest the position, or even a strong outsider who seeks to unify the entire underworld, I welcome them all. We will settle things with our own hands then.

“But during these ten years, Cliff City’s Wasteland Assembly belongs to me! The business of the Wasteland Assembly is mine! The name of the Wasteland Assembly is mine!”

As the last traces of his cold, commanding voice faded, all warmth vanished from Chen Xingzhou’s face. What remained was a chill and cruelty that surpassed even Lei Yaoxing’s. He looked at the crowd and asked, “Am I making myself clear?”

Silence fell once more. As the rain pattered in the distance, the beasts obediently lowered their heads, like straws during a storm, no longer daring to show even the slightest resistance or objection.

“Good.” Chen Xingzhou nodded. Finally, he clapped his hands. “Today’s matter is settled. The Wasteland Assembly returns to order. Lastly, let’s offer one more stick of incense for Old Master Lei.”

And so, under Chen Xingzhou’s arrangement, the funeral continued. One after another, burning incense sticks were inserted into the burner, gathering into a sea of flickering light within the shadows, like the countless eyes of beasts in Cliff City’s underworld.

Beside the censer, the trembling master of ceremonies raised a bronze striker and brought it down with numbed motions. A clear chime rang out, distant and lingering, echoing through the rain, just as it always had. Perhaps the future would be no different.

***

A month earlier, on Islet Peak, the same resonant chime had echoed through an ancient hall.

Afternoon light poured from the dome above, split by the window lattice into countless slanted beams. Like blades, they pierced through the darkness and illuminated Chen Xingzhou’s face.

Within the gloom, the elderly figure sitting cross-legged idly toyed with a chess piece, his voice cold and detached.

“Indeed. In recent years, Lei Wuye’s conduct has grown increasingly decrepit. With every side keeping the others in check, the Wasteland Assembly has turned as dead as a stagnant pool. A few insignificant ripples now and then, but nothing worth getting excited about.”

The one known as the Recluse, the Chief, asked, “What do you think?”

“They've lost sight of what matters and thrown away the very essence of it all,” Chen Xingzhou answered without hesitation. “The law of the White Deer is the survival of the fittest. The essence of the Wasteland Assembly is precisely that the strong prevail and the weak are eliminated.”

He paused, then stated plainly, “The wilderness does not need Origin, nor does it need Lei Wuye’s increasingly rigid rules. I think after this upheaval, even if there is some decline, the purge it will bring will allow many new talents to emerge.”

The Recluse let out a mocking laugh. “Sounds interesting enough. After all, natural selection is also part of the wilderness. But what if one day the prey surrounded by a pack of wolves turns out to be you?”

“What difference would that make?” Chen Xingzhou asked back in confusion. “Whether I win or lose, when that day comes, wouldn't the one sitting in that seat simply be another version of myself?”

He would have at least ten years to shape Cliff City’s Wasteland Assembly into the form he envisioned. The brutal cycle established by Chen Xingzhou over a long passage of time would merge with Cliff City’s wilderness. Even if challengers emerged endlessly under his influence, one after another without end, wasn’t that precisely the true law of the Wasteland Assembly?

If everything went smoothly, after ten years he could simply step away and watch from behind the scenes. The brutal cycle of the Wasteland Assembly would still continue under his gaze.

The Recluse fell silent. In the darkness, he finally seemed to lift his head, finally looking directly at Chen Xingzhou.

“With that kind of mindset, if you work a little harder, maybe in another forty years you could serve as the Chief for a term.”

Chen Xingzhou lowered his head. “You flatter me. I would not dare to covet the position of Chief.”

The Chief seemed to smile. “Then what is it that you want?”

Chen Xingzhou fell silent. After a long while, as if gathering his courage, he said softly, “When I was fourteen, someone read my fortune and said my life would be like rowing against the current. If I do not advance, I will fall back. So I changed my name to Chen Xingzhou[1]. What I seek is nothing more than the freedom to either advance or not advance, to act or not act. Nothing more than that.”

“Haha... hahaha... hahahahaha...” As if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world, the Recluse could no longer hold back. He laughed wildly, rocking back and forth until even the chess pieces on the table rolled to the ground with a clatter.

A single black chess piece came to a stop in front of him, like a reward.

The Recluse waved his hand and said at last, “Get lost, Chen Xingzhou. If you can truly crawl back from hell, then come back and think about freedom then.”

Chen Xingzhou had turned and left. Thus passed a month, with winds rising and clouds surging, tides coming and rain falling. As the rain gradually thinned and faded, the same daylight once again poured down, illuminating Chen Xingzhou’s face, along with the black chess piece in his hand. Under the bowed heads of his subordinates and beasts, under respectful greetings and farewells, everything took on a solemn and dignified air.

“Freedom...” Chen Xingzhou pinched the chess piece between his fingers and looked up at the gradually clearing sky. “Mr. Lin, tell me, am I free now?”

Mr. Lin shook his head indifferently. “Who knows. It depends on who you still think is standing in your way.”

Yes. Who else was there?

Perhaps no one would dare disobey Chen Xingzhou’s orders under this temporary submission, but along the path ahead, countless obstacles, such as doubt, probing, provocation, and even challenges and conflict were expected. Everyone who had bowed their heads today could very well become his enemies in the future.

Even though Chen Xingzhou had already achieved an underdog victory, leaping through the Dragon Gate in just half a month and becoming something entirely different from before, his methods and schemes were indeed terrifying, yet his strength had not been fully proven. The other bosses outside Cliff City would not necessarily give up a piece of meat already within reach.

New challengers would likely appear soon, and there would be a lot of them, more dangerous and troublesome than the ones before them. He had just climbed out of one muddy pit, only to fall into an even larger and deeper one. How many years would it take to struggle free again, let alone rise beyond it?

“Freedom...” He let out a self-mocking laugh. Such an unrealistic wish, how could the Chief not laugh at it?

At least for now, the chess piece was already in his hand. He clenched his fist and said nothing more.

As he pondered, his gaze drifted toward the gradually dispersing crowd, and toward the distant figure of the young man known as Ji Jue.

1. “逆水行舟” literally means “to row a boat against the current.” It is a metaphor for life requiring constant effort just to maintain your position, because everything naturally pushes you back. “不进则退” means “if you do not advance, you will fall behind.” There is no standing still; stagnation equals regression.

Together, the phrase describes a harsh worldview where survival or success demands continuous progress.

Thus, the character renamed himself “陈行舟” (Chen Xingzhou), where “行舟” reinforces the idea of “rowing a boat forward,” symbolizing a life defined by relentless forward motion and struggle against fate or pressure. ☜