NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: The memory Gu (I)
An anomaly had caused profound changes in the world. Elements previously thought impossible now entered the cycle of life, defying scientific explanation. Sorcery became widespread, and mechanical machines and steam trains slithered like black serpents on fiery rails across the land. Yet, more astonishing than these technological advancements were the foundations of another world that had merged with this one.
Among these otherworldly phenomena was a mysterious entity known as "Gu."
"Gu" had many definitions, but it was most famously associated with the great wars of the past. Those who wielded them to perform miracles were known as "Gu masters." These cultivators awakened the Gu path, but their story will unfold later; for now, let's explore what Gu truly are.
These worm-like creatures were believed to serve as the threads of life itself. Introduced by otherworldly cultivators, they now teetered on the brink of extinction. Many wondered about the existence of these otherworldly beings who traversed the rifts, and the answer was a resounding yes. However, cultivating Gu was arduous, raising the question: how could mortals harness them without prior knowledge?
Each Gu possessed unique properties, intimately connected to the will of its master. Zhu Fan himself owned a special Gu known as the "Memory Gu."
The human mind could not feasibly store thousands of years of memories, so Zhu Fan relied on the Memory Gu to safeguard the vast array of experiences he feared forgetting. He held memories of countless mortal lives, trapped in the fearful awareness of death and wary of nonexistence, uncertain if he would ever reincarnate. Thus, he endured the torment of eternal immortality.
It was in the dark caves of a distant island that Zhu Fan first heard the mournful call of a Gu. Compelled by an inexplicable urge, he summoned the creature and brought it into his service. Over centuries, more Gu worms flocked to him, drawn to their master's power. Zhu Fan refined and stored these worms, keeping only the Memory Gu, which contained the essence of his countless lives.
The Eternal Emperor sealed all his memories within the Gu and took on the form of a mortal. He wandered the plains, embedding his memories into the Gu with each life he lived, embarking on a new path. This path was that of an exorcist. For fifty years, Emperor Zhu Fan traversed the central plains, until, entering the sixth decade of the Memory Seal cycle, he arrived at a small village by the banks of the Huan River. He intended to live among the mortals of this region for a while, unaware of the strange events that lay ahead.
The abandoned temple he found in the village intrigued him. No one dared approach it, despite the lush lands surrounding it, rich with medicinal plants and wild fruits. The locals avoided the area for a simple reason: a local legend.
Though passed down orally, the legend kept villagers at bay. It spoke of an ancient curse, a malevolent spirit haunting the temple. As Zhu Fan tended to the Memory Gu, ensuring its power remained intact, a sudden scream pierced the stillness, echoing from the entrance of the temple.
The sound jolted him from his reverie, an urgent reminder of the unknown. Zhu Fan's heart raced, memories of past lives flooding back. Each scream told a story, a warning of danger that had become all too familiar over his long existence. He approached the entrance cautiously, curiosity mingling with apprehension.
What could have caused such a cry? Was it merely a trick of the wind or something far more sinister? As he stepped into the dim light of the temple, the air grew thick with tension. Zhu Fan's instincts, honed over countless lifetimes, urged him to be wary. This village, with its legends and fears, was a new chapter in his long journey—one that promised to unravel the mysteries hidden within the rift and the Gu.