The Fox's Eternal Star: A Tale of Love and Fate

As the heavenly soldiers finished gathering the scattered fragments of Tianxiang Star's spirit, preparing to return to the celestial realm to report their mission, a divine figure descended gracefully, her robes billowing in the wind. The gust she brought with her scattered the clouds and blew away the colorful clouds upon which the heavenly soldiers stood.

"Greetings, Princess Xiang!" The soldiers, recognizing the arrival of the Goddess of the Xiang River, bowed respectfully, their expressions filled with reverence.

Princess Xiang had come alone. She gazed at the radiant starlight captured in the celestial net held by the soldiers and pointed, asking, "Is that Tianxiang Star?"

"Your Highness, it is indeed Tianxiang Star!"

"Hand him over to me!" Princess Xiang extended her palm upward, her gentle eyes now gleaming with a sharp, commanding aura. As the most beloved daughter of the Heavenly Emperor, she was known for her independence and disregard for celestial rules, acting solely based on her own judgment of right and wrong. She had watched enough of the chaos at the end of the Shang dynasty and could no longer remain a passive observer.

Moreover, the white jade stone had been her careless gift to the celestial fox, which had led to the current state of the Shang dynasty. She felt responsible and indebted to the jade stone.

"We have orders to escort Tianxiang Star back to the celestial court for judgment. Please do not interfere, Your Highness!" The soldiers, seeing Princess Xiang's intent to take Tianxiang Star, stepped back nervously. They exchanged glances, silently deciding that if the princess insisted on taking the prisoner, a few of them would hold her off while the rest hurried back to the heavens with their captive.

"Do not be so tense. I am well-versed in celestial laws. I merely wish to bid Tianxiang Star farewell. I have no other intentions," Princess Xiang said with a smile.

The soldiers hesitated, none daring to loosen their grip on the net.

Seeing their indecision, Princess Xiang flicked her sleeve, and the celestial net dissolved. Instantly, specks of silver light floated out, mingling with the clouds and mist, slowly coalescing into a human form.

"Your Highness! This is against the rules! How are we to explain this to the Heavenly Emperor?" If Tianxiang Star escaped, their punishment would be severe.

"Just tell the truth!" Princess Xiang gazed at the now fully formed figure of Tianxiang Star and suddenly took his hand, enveloping it in hers. There were too many predetermined things in this world that they could not change through personal will. Since she could not act openly, she had no choice but to deceive everyone and act in secret.

Tianxiang Star's spirit was not fully restored. A single firefly, glowing faintly, did not merge with the formed body. Instead, while everyone's attention was on Princess Xiang, it drifted away unnoticed.

Princess Xiang noticed but only smiled faintly.

"You have long been deeply rooted in love, your thoughts biased, much like the Star of Destruction, destined to fall into demonic ways. Once the killing begins, you are fated to lose your celestial status and be condemned to the depths of Avīci Hell, suffering eternal torment, never to rise again. Whether god, human, or demon, I now give this to you. What happens next is up to you. No matter what, I will take care of the aftermath." As their palms touched, something cool and fluid passed from Princess Xiang into Zheng's body.

Zheng silently accepted everything, offering no words.

If this was a tragedy decreed by fate, he no longer wanted the option to choose. He would pour everything into protecting Shining Li, even if it meant turning to ash for him. It would be worth it.

"It seems you have made your decision!" Princess Xiang smiled faintly, seeing the determination and attachment in Zheng's eyes.

Outside the northern gate of Chaoge, a mourning tent had been set up. Ministers from the city came to pay their respects, mourning the innocent death of a loyal minister under King Zhou's tyranny.

By nightfall, the mourners had not dispersed. Torches burned brightly as the crowd gathered around the coffin of Bi Gan, silently keeping vigil through the night to honor his final moments.

Deep within the palace of Chaoge, silence reigned.

Shining Li lay alone on the cold stone floor of the bedchamber, his eyes half-closed, staring blankly at a dark corner in the distance.

The air grew cold, and a chilling wind swept into the chamber, causing the curtains hanging from the beams and walls to flutter wildly, dancing in a sorrowful, lonely rhythm. The room was dark, and the shadows of children flickered in and out of view under the moonlight, chasing and playing.

The end of the Shang dynasty was near.

In the distance, a faintly glowing firefly floated in the night sky, its weak light struggling to shine, hoping someone would notice its presence.

It was a beautiful light, persisting against the fierce wind, determined to move forward. It flew and flew, no matter the obstacles in its path, over mountains and across seas, it flew, longing only to return to the one it loved.

Finally, it reached him, but he could not see the light, no matter how hard it tried to shine, no matter how much warmth it radiated.

The one it loved most could not hear or see it.

At last, it landed in his slightly open palm, a small, warm flame igniting an eternal heat that seeped into the deepest, coldest part of his heart.

It was a small, insignificant star among the countless in the sky, but it had chosen to descend to the mortal world to be by his side. In the fleeting moments of life, they had met, weaving a tale of unwavering love amidst the chaos of the world.

Then, he gently closed his hand, holding the firefly within. Though he could not see or hear, he could feel.

Slowly, he closed his eyes, letting the tears fall down his face.

Many years later, King Wen of Zhou passed away, and King Wu of Zhou rose in Xiqi, rallying the feudal lords to overthrow the tyrannical rule of King Zhou. With the support of states like Yong, Shu, Qiang, and Wei, he led a grand army along the Yellow River, clashing with the Shang forces at Muye.

In the 28th year of King Zhou's reign, the war intensified. The Battle of Muye ended in a devastating defeat for the Shang, and the Zhou army marched on Chaoge. The fighting left the fields littered with corpses, and the moat of Chaoge ran red with blood. Eventually, some of the Shang soldiers, unwilling to fight for King Zhou any longer, opened the city gates and welcomed the Zhou army into the capital.

King Wu rode into the city and immediately ordered his soldiers, "Listen, all of you! Find King Zhou at once. King Zhou is a tyrant, and today is the day he dies. I will offer him as a sacrifice to my brother Bo Yikao, to appease his spirit in heaven!"

A large contingent of soldiers marched toward the towering Deer Terrace, a magnificent palace built by King Zhou through the exploitation of the people, constructed over two years and four months with the labor of thousands. Logically, King Zhou, with nowhere else to hide in this critical moment, would have fled to his most frequented place.

However, though the Deer Terrace was brightly lit, King Zhou was nowhere to be found. It turned out that, in King Zhou's heart, the Deer Terrace paled in comparison to another place.

"The Star-Gazing Tower! King Zhou is at the Star-Gazing Tower!" a soldier hurriedly reported.

"All troops, head to the Star-Gazing Tower at once!"

Below the tower, the clamor of soldiers clashing weapons echoed incessantly. Above, the stars shone brightly, their light piercing through the millennia.

Shou stepped away from the window, turning his back on the chaos. His calm expression showed no sign of being affected by the Zhou army's breach of the city. He had long known this day would come. Before this, he had never resisted the fate arranged for him. He had fulfilled his duty to lead the Shang to its destruction, and now it was time for him to let go.

He turned back to the mat where Shining Li lay beside him, like a beautifully crafted jade statue.

Shining Li remained silent, his left hand clenched tightly, never loosening its grip.

Gently stroking Shining Li's soft hair, Shou knew it was Shining Li's most cherished yet distant dream.

"Do you hear that? The sounds outside?"

Outside the Star-Gazing Tower, countless voices clamored, the souls trapped in Chaoge for centuries growing restless as the long-awaited moment approached. Among them were the war slaves of the Shang, the ministers of Yin, the innocent victims of King Zhou's cruelty, and the people who had suffered needlessly.

The Shang dynasty, which had ruled this land for six hundred years, had finally come to an end. No one mourned, no one lamented. The fall of the Shang brought liberation to all, freeing them from the nightmare of absurd cruelty, no longer forced to harm one another.

In Shining Li's lifeless eyes, a glimmer of emotion slowly emerged. He heard the children singing ancient songs, finally going home, finally leaving the city that had bound them for centuries.

Under the moonlight, the walls of Chaoge stood tall, the white stone city glowing with a cold light. It had once stood proudly on the high plains south of the Huan River, forcing all surrounding states to bow before its might. But now the city had fallen, its protective spirits consumed by resentment, blinding the minds of its people, turning Chaoge into a demonic city, pushing them step by step toward destruction.

Bo Yikao had taken his own life, King Zhou had gone mad, Daji had devoured people, Bi Gan had been forced to cut out his heart—no one could escape this relentless fate, destined to perish alongside Chaoge.

Inside the Star-Gazing Tower, only Shou and Shining Li remained. The maids and guards had either fled or were fighting to the death against the Zhou army.

A fierce wind blew, echoing through the empty halls, desolate and cold.

The Star-Gazing Tower, built to chase the stars, was Shou's creation, named by Shining Li. Though the tower had been completed, their hopes remained an unattainable dream. Shou could only watch day after day as the Huan River carried his longing to the sea, while Shining Li emptied himself, becoming deaf and mute.

The Star-Gazing Tower, no matter how grand, could never reach the stars. With their meager power, how could they hope to pluck the stars from the sky?

In the distance, a silver streak flashed across the night sky, followed by a deafening thunderclap. In an instant, the light burst forth, illuminating the night as bright as day, revealing the pale, indifferent expressions of the two men inside the Star-Gazing Tower.

The heavenly thunder was near.

"Go. Survive this third heavenly thunder, and you will ascend to immortality. From then on, you will no longer be a demon scorned by all, but a celestial being." Shou released the control he had held over Shining Li for so long. Chaoge no longer needed them, and it was time to return Shining Li's freedom.

A faint light appeared in Shining Li's eyes. Slowly, he rose.

"The thunder will strike in the north. Do not go north, and you may escape it." This was the last thing Shou could do for him. Over the years, he had seen only visions of Shining Li being struck by the thunder. Perhaps heaven had no intention of letting Shining Li live, his sins too great, destined to be annihilated unless he atoned for his crimes.

"The north..." Shining Li murmured.

"Go!" Shou's hand left Shining Li's hair, and he walked toward the western terrace, gazing at the torches and the fighting soldiers below the Star-Gazing Tower.

He felt he could no longer hold on. The night Bo Yikao died, his heart had been buried with the sword that pierced his chest. It was hatred, the betrayal by the one he loved, a wound deeper than the scar on his throat, a memory that would forever haunt him.

Even now, he could not forget. The hatred had been etched into his soul, perhaps for all eternity.

The torches burned fiercely under his gaze, the strange flames dancing in the wind, igniting the curtains that fluttered below the Star-Gazing Tower. In an instant, the fire spread, the flames climbing the pillars, rapidly engulfing the tower, turning half the sky into a fiery orange.

Inside the tower, a sea of flames erupted, the intense heat fueled by the wind and the restless souls, devouring the Star-Gazing Tower, consuming the last king of Chaoge.

Shining Li watched Shou's figure as he gazed into the distance, just as he had in the past, looking toward the dreamland of Xiqi. Shou stood with his back to him, his royal robes burning with a beautiful flame, smiling fearlessly in the midst of the inferno, standing tall and proud.

Shou had fulfilled his heavenly mandate and no longer needed to force himself to live for the Shang dynasty. Thus, he could leave without regret, with dignity.

But what about him?

Nothing remained...

In that moment, he released the faintly glowing firefly he had been clutching and descended the Star-Gazing Tower, heading north.

If there was nothing left to live for in this world, what use was becoming a god or an immortal? The only thing he wanted was Zheng. Without him, he had no strength to go on.

Inside Chaoge, chaos reigned. Someone shouted, "King Zhou has set himself on fire!"

But as he left the Star-Gazing Tower, he saw the Zhou army arrayed before him, behind them the wounded soldiers of Chaoge and the numerous palace maids. Was this the so-called army of righteousness? They were nothing but butchers, using the pretext of overthrowing tyranny to plunder and kill.

"Daji, that woman is Daji!" Among the Zhou soldiers, those who had defected to Ji Fa pointed at Shining Li, who had emerged unscathed from the flames, shouting, "Quick, kill her! She bewitched the Shang emperor, she executed loyal ministers, she brought chaos to the palace, she personally cut out Bi Gan's heart!

Bi Gan was a man even King Wen and Prince Bo Yikao respected deeply, yet this demon killed him!" In their accusations, they blamed Daji's beauty for all the calamities, the beauty by the side of the Shang emperor, the harbinger of disaster.

Shining Li paid no heed. He no longer had the strength to respond.

Amid the sea of corpses, he found Cui. He walked through the ranks of Zhou soldiers, those who tried to stop him were flung aside with a wave of his hand.

Human life was fragile, he knew, but he had never cared. But when he reached Cui's side and looked down at her pale, lifeless form, a wave of sorrow washed over him.

"Little Li..."

For the second time, he had failed to protect her.

Gently, he lifted her. He felt the coldness of her body, still soft, still carrying her unique scent. Blood seeped from her back, staining the stone ground, forming a pool of crimson. The wind blew, covering her face with dust, her features marred by blood and grime.

Deeply, he held her close. Though his attachment to her was second only to Zheng, the helplessness and pain in his heart were the same.

This night, heaven had taken everything from him, leaving him with nothing.

And so, he headed north to the plains of Muye, carrying her, toward the once-in-a-millennium heavenly thunder.

The firefly descended through layers of yellow sand, penetrating rock and water veins, plunging into the depths of the underworld, falling into Avīci Hell.

Beside a boiling hot spring, steam rose incessantly from the scalding water. The demon guards pushed the most wicked sinners into the spring, letting the boiling water scorch their skin, making them scream in agony. The next day, they would fish them out and throw them into another spring, icy cold and covered in frost, leaving them to struggle and shiver.

This torment continued without end, alternating between extreme heat and cold, an endless cycle of suffering.

The firefly flew and flew, landing on an outstretched palm, bringing the final message from the mortal world, news of the one it loved.

In an instant, the firefly's faint light merged into the palm, returning to its final resting place.

"You, why do you linger in the cold spring? Move to the other side!" A demon guard jabbed at the man in the spring with an iron rake, forcing him to move toward the scalding water.

"Even if you were once a celestial being, now that you've fallen into hell, you're no different from these ghosts. Move!" Another guard mocked. Whether man or god, no matter how glorious one's past, once in hell, they were subject to the guards' whims.

Zheng shifted his feet, but the mark Princess Xiang had left on his palm began to burn. The heavenly thunder was near, and he had to save Shining Li. He had endured the torments of hell for so long, deceiving the heavens, making them believe he had repented, all to wait for this moment, the millennium tribulation.

No one knew that his willingness to suffer was merely a ruse, a way to bide his time until he could save Shining Li, to fulfill his promises, to protect him for eternity.

"Move!" The guard grew impatient.

Suddenly, as Zheng slowly emerged from the water, he willed his palm to close, and the cool object Princess Xiang had left within him slid out, solidifying into a shimmering blue sword.

Water dripped from his wet hair, running down the blade and into the cold spring. The ancient sword, forged by Pangu, radiated an aura of immense power, capable of splitting heaven and earth.

"What is that?" The guards, unable to withstand the sword's intimidating presence, stepped back. Even the spirits by the spring cowered and fled.

"Bitao! It's Princess Xiang's divine sword, Bitao!" One of the more observant guards recognized the legendary weapon.

"Go, inform the King of Hell! Tianxiang Star is escaping Avīci Hell to return to the mortal realm!"

"Destroy him, destroy him! If he reaches the mortal world, we're all doomed!" Panicked voices rose, but none dared approach the sword.

Princess Xiang had lent him this sword, a sign that he could defy the heavens and escape this calamity. But even if he had escaped then, it would only have drawn the attention of the celestial beings, who would have focused on Shining Li, using him to find and capture Zheng again, rendering all his efforts futile.

Thus, he had pretended to repent, staying in hell, waiting for Shining Li's final tribulation, so he could save him, so he could see him again!

He had only one chance, and no god could stop his determination to reunite with Shining Li.

If anyone tried to hinder him, he would kill gods and buddhas alike, even if it meant destroying heaven and earth.

With firm, steady steps, under the fearful gaze of the guards, he left the depths of hell. Princess Xiang was right. He had long been deeply rooted in love, his thoughts biased, destined to fall into demonic ways. But whether god, human, or demon, he was fated to live only for the one he loved.

This was an unchangeable destiny.

And then, the stars shone brightly, and he emerged from the darkness of the underworld, returning to the land where he and Shining Li had first met—the plains of Muye.

"Tianxiang Star, you have defied the warnings of the celestial beings and returned to the mortal realm, breaking celestial laws again and again. What is your crime?" A voice thundered from the night sky, and suddenly, the stars flickered, and the heavenly soldiers descended before him, blocking his path.

A flash of light streaked across the sky, accompanied by a deafening thunderclap.

When he heard the soul-shattering sound of the thunder, he could no longer think clearly. He only knew that Shining Li was somewhere in the vast plains of Muye. With each strike of the thunder, his chance to see Shining Li diminished. He could no longer remain calm. As the heavenly soldiers surrounded him, he raised his sword and struck without mercy.

He did not remember how many bodies fell around him, nor did he care how many wounds he sustained. He only desperately called Shining Li's name across the endless plains until his voice grew hoarse and he could no longer speak. Yet the heavenly soldiers continued to attack, showing no signs of stopping.

A flash of lightning illuminated the desolate plains, revealing the gruesome scene of corpses strewn across the battlefield. The blood of both mortals and immortals pooled together, forming a shallow red stream that slowly flowed into the Yellow River, staining its turbid waters crimson.

Then, by the banks of the red river, he found Shining Li.

Shining Li stood quietly, Cui lying at his feet. He looked up at the sky and closed his eyes, his expression calm, no longer carrying the carefree innocence of his youth. He had been pure and untainted, a stone given life, but the world's endless conflicts had weighed him down. He had accepted everything, never refusing, believing that what he had could last forever, only to find it all gone in the end.

The heavenly thunder struck, and he closed his heart, neither dodging nor resisting.

"Shining Li!"

Zheng saw the brilliant silver streak of lightning descending toward Shining Li, but Shining Li stood still as a rock, unmoving.

Shou's words suddenly echoed in his mind.

"The weight of your sins will determine the power of the final thunder. Look at him, addicted to killing, unable to escape his fate—complete annihilation!"

He would never let Shining Li's soul be destroyed. Never!

And so, he leaped forward, embracing Shining Li, letting the thunder strike him instead, just as he had in that ancient tribulation, willingly bearing all the calamities for Shining Li.

In an instant, the thunder ceased. The silver moon emerged from the clouds, and the stars peered curiously at the mortal world, as if nothing had happened, and peace had returned.

Zheng held Shining Li tightly. The thunder had shaken his soul, burning him from within, but he refused to fall. How could he fall? He could not leave Shining Li alone in this place, at the mercy of the heavenly soldiers.

With the last of his strength, he gathered his spirit, refusing to let it scatter. He called Shining Li's name repeatedly, but he realized that even though he had taken the brunt of the thunder, Shining Li had still been struck.

He was afraid, afraid that Shining Li would never wake up.

"Shining Li... Shining Li, don't scare me... why... why won't you open your eyes..." Zheng was disoriented, but when he saw the heavenly soldiers preparing to move in, he raised the water sword, pointing it at the celestial beings. "I won't let you touch him. As long as I'm here, no one can touch him!"

The heavenly soldiers ignored Zheng's warning and continued to approach. They would take down either one, so they could at least return to the celestial realm and report their mission without facing too much punishment.

"He's fine. The thunder has only dispersed his demonic aura, stripping him of his thousand years of cultivation. He's fallen into a deep slumber."

A soft voice suddenly spoke, and Zheng realized that Princess Xiang had appeared beside him. "He must be alright!" Zheng shouted desperately. If anything happened to Shining Li, he would make the heavens and earth pay!

"Don't worry. Leave him to me. I will take care of him as you would!" Princess Xiang smiled faintly, a hint of sorrow in her eyes, and reached out to take Shining Li.

"No... he... I promised to stay by his side..." Zheng's once-brilliant eyes were now filled with confusion and chaos. He held Shining Li tightly, unwilling to let go.

"You know your own condition. You took the thunder for him, and it has scattered your spirit. No matter how long you hold on, you won't be able to wait for him to wake." Princess Xiang spoke with a heavy heart. "Leave him to me. I will protect him as you would. I promise that as long as I live, no one will harm him in the slightest."

The heavenly soldiers, hearing Princess Xiang's words, quietly stepped back. In the celestial realm, no one dared to offend the Goddess of the Xiang River.

"Princess Xiang... I... I fear nothing... except his sorrow..." Zheng gazed at Shining Li's sleeping face, filled with reluctance.

"From now on, he will live happily. After a hundred years, when he has gathered enough spiritual energy and awakens from his slumber, I will find a good family for him to be reborn into, to start anew. You need not fear anything. Go in peace." She always kept her promises.

"Thank you..." Zheng lovingly looked at Shining Li one last time and finally handed him over to Princess Xiang. He did not want to part with Shining Li, but now there was nothing he could do to change the inevitable.

Princess Xiang took Shining Li in one hand and retrieved the divine sword Bitao, capable of destroying heaven and earth. In that moment, a wisp of white smoke drifted out of Shining Li's body, obscuring Zheng's vision. When it cleared, Princess Xiang held a pure, flawless white jade stone, Shining Li's original form.

Zheng smiled with relief.

A thousand years ago, they had met on this land and fallen in love. That night, when they had held each other's hands, unwilling to let go, they had sealed their fate—a love as intense and passionate as this.

He had truly loved, even if heaven showed no mercy, even if his soul scattered, he would never regret it.

"When Shining Li awakens, tell him that I loved him deeply," Zheng said at last.

"He will know," Princess Xiang promised.

Then, specks of silver light emerged from Zheng's body, floating into the air like fireflies, more brilliant than the stars in the sky, but their light lasted only a moment.

As the wind swept across the plains, the tiny lights slowly faded.

The dust settled, the smoke dispersed, and a heavy rain began to fall. The cold rain washed away the blood and filth of the battlefield, as if trying to cleanse the world of its madness and slaughter.

This was an era built on flesh and blood, a time shaped by the whims of gods and men. No one should bear the burden of its sins, no one should shoulder its weight.

As hatred was buried, all the doubts and passions of heaven and earth should cease.

Yet, in the distance, the fires of Chaoge continued to burn, the rain unable to extinguish them, the wind unable to quell them...

That love... it would break free from the heartless heavens and earth... and continue to spread...