Chapter 31: Heavenly Kingdom
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"While Hong Xiuquan used the name of the Western Heavenly Father at that time, he was practicing local sorcery"
During Christian's lessons with the old ghost, he made it a point to discuss the rumors surrounding the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom.
"Though it may not be documented in official history when they began their journey, they resorted to a malevolent force that might still exist in the southwestern region – the Mandrills."
"Though Mandrills are often referred to as spirits of the mountains, they're essentially mountain gods. Remnants of the wild with extraordinary bodies, but sadly, they're not the most aesthetically pleasing creatures. As humanity transitioned from the primitive era of slash-and-burn agriculture, the worship of these beings gradually faded. They lost their origins, fear, and desire in the human heart, eventually descending from the altar and devolving into mountain spirits and wild monsters. Over time, they gradually vanished..."
While Christian reminisced about the old ghost's teachings, he engaged in a conversation with the enigmatic man with yellow eyes.
"It is rumored that Hong Xiuquan stumbled upon surviving Mandrills in the Qianshan. Under the guise of God's name, he convinced his deceived followers to worship the Mandrill, hoping to resurrect the power of the vanished mountain god. Sadly, with the downfall of the early days of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, it all went to waste..."
Christian paused at this point.
"I had always considered this a mere rumor, but it seems to be true now."
"You're correct."
The yellow-eyed mysterious man admitted simply.
"The Heavenly Uprising did indeed harness the power of the Mandrill, but it's a shame that everything was lost in the civil strife, or rather..."
"Lost? Was it stolen?"
Christian interjected bluntly.
"Let's not digress. What you're currently using, isn't it a Ghost tiger among the Mandrills?"
"Huh!? You can see it? You're young, yet you possess such knowledge"
The yellow-eyed mysterious man appeared somewhat surprised, but Christian remained unfazed.
"Now that you've acknowledged that you were once associated with the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and employed Mandrills, and given the numerous ghosts outside if I hadn't realized they were you doing, my spellcraft would have been a wasted effort"
"Um, sorry, can you please clarify the current situation?"
Having listened for a considerable time, Charlize couldn't resist asking.
She had difficulty understanding the conversation between Christian and the mysterious yellow-eyed man. Though they were speaking Chinese, she was still far from being able to comprehend their dialogue, despite her stint as a model in Japan.
"It's alright; you can explain to this lady. The night is still young, and I'm in no rush."
Although the yellow-eyed mysterious man had been speaking Chinese all along, he appeared to understand English. Perhaps overly confident, upon hearing Charlize's question, he paused and asked Christian to clarify for the girl.
"In other words, this individual is likely a creature from the Heavenly Kingdom about a hundred and fifty or sixty years ago? But what's the significance of this?"
After Christian conveyed the conversation to Charlize in English, the girl seemed to grasp the current situation. Although she was unsure why the other party had suddenly engaged with them, it was apparent that this individual had no clue what Christian was saying, which was vexing. Nevertheless, she remained puzzled about Christian's final assessment of the ghosts outside the cave.
"In simple terms, these so-called 'ghosts' are spirits of people devoured by the Tiger."
Observing the continued silence from the yellow-eyed mysterious man, Christian went on to explain to Charlize.
"In ancient Chinese folklore, it is believed that tigers can control the souls of those they consume, transforming them into ghosts, luring other living beings to serve as their prey, a phenomenon known as 'becoming a tiger.' This legend is, to some extent, true, except that it doesn't refer to ordinary tigers but rather Ghost tigers, the Mandrills. These creatures are neither truly physical nor entirely ethereal; they're unique spirits."
Christian then turned her attention to the mysterious man and what he referred to as the "Ghost Tiger."
"However, your demeanor seems quite lucid, unlike a typical Mandrill. Are you human?"
Christian spoke in English this time to ensure Charlize's understanding.
"As you just mentioned, your demeanor appears quite clear."
The yellow-eyed man, or Guihu, chuckled as if a breeze had swept through the cave.
"Following the chaos that led to the initial decline of the Heavenly Kingdom, Hong Xiuquan, in a bid to regain strength, considered us rebels as potential sources of power. He sought to use living sacrifices to transform us into new Mandrills. I had no special talents; I was selected as a Ghost Tiger due to my ruthless nature. Unfortunately, when I awoke, I found myself on American soil, disconnected from the Heavenly Kingdom, and my fate was sealed..."
He sighed after explaining. However, his tone soon shifted.
"Since you know that I am a Ghost Tiger and you've observed the ghosts outside, all of which were consumed by me over the years, you should understand that I possess magical abilities. So, why did you approach me?"
Christian was about to respond, but Tiger continued speaking.
"Although you possess some spellcasting skills, your mana is limited. While you might escape me on your own, taking the woman with you..."
Christian mentally completed the tiger's unfinished thought. He recognized that he was right; with his current mana, he could barely protect herself. Taking Charlize with him was nearly impossible.
"Annika?"
Charlize exclaimed. At the cave's entrance, Annika, a makeup artist, stood there like a ghost, still wearing her pajamas. Despite the chilling night air outside, she hadn't reacted, clearly under the control of the Ghost Tiger.
Unlike Charlize, who was awakened by Alexis attached to her body halfway through, Annika had been sleepwalking since being lured by the ghost sent by the Ghost Tiger. She had yet to encounter a ghost, which might not be a positive sign and further complicated Christian's predicament.
"With this burden, I can't escape. The Ghost Tiger influences Annika, and there's a real threat. If I don't flee, this tiger will indeed hunt people. Look at the hundreds of ghosts outside; they've all been its victims over the years. After consuming so many souls, this creature must possess considerable mana. Dealing with it won't be easy"
Christian pondered for a moment and decided to take a desperate course of action.
"Ghost Tiger, perhaps we can negotiate a deal."
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